Laundry -- Basil -- Grasshopper

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Laundry

Around our home it just seems to be a never-ending chore even with just the two of us. I did... and I say this with great pride :-) ... two large loads and one super load of laundry this morning. Yep, folded and almost all put away. It took me longer than usual because it plain hurts to use the left arm much. Lucky me... my right arm is strong!

I am used to putting the laundry into the dryer with my left hand, so I had to think about not doing that. It is hard for me to not do something the way I have done it for years.

Good news! I was stretching my arm today and can now hold it up to shoulder level to the front of me, but can't quite make it that far when I raise it from my side and up towards my shoulder. When I do these slow movements I start thinking about the movie Karate Kid for some odd reason.

I also did a bit of vacuuming. Frank had to finish it up and of course I got scolded. That is okay, payback you know. I scolded him a lot after his surgery in February.

In a normal day this all would be a small accomplishment. This bit of chores has tired me and when asked if I wanted to go to a few stores by Frank I said no.

Basil

While walking around the yard today I took a few pictures to share with you.

My mother-in-law gave me three basil plants, each a different variety, a few weeks ago that someone from her church gave her. She said she had no idea what to do with them and thought I might enjoy them. She knows that I have grown basil in the past.

I usually grow this variety, Sweet Basil.

I have not researched what these two varieties are.

Basil is an annual herb belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae (Labiatae). There are over 40 known varieties of basil of which Ocimum basilicum or Sweet Basil is the most commonly known and grown. Ocimum is from a Greek verb that means "to be fragrant." The foliage is easily bruised; just brushing against its foliage releases its pleasing aroma. I sometimes will touch a leaf just to smell the pleasing aroma.

Varieties can grow to a height of 2 1/2 feet and are about as wide. Foliage colors range from pale to deep green, vivid purple and even purple laced with golden yellow foliage. Texture varies from silky and shiny to dull and crinkly. Flowers appear in summer as whorls on the ends of branches and are either white or lavender.

Some of the unusual fragrances and flavors include: cinnamon, lemon and anise. Basil is native to India and Asia having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It is grown there as a perennial in those warm, tropical climates.

I like to use basil fresh in sauces and stews. I like putting it on meat, especially chicken. I have dried it and I have frozen it, but the best is fresh.

Isn't it nice to have someone think of you :-)

Grasshopper

As I walked around the house I picked a fallen leaf from the pecan tree out of the hydrangea and disturbed a couple of flies. This grasshopper, at least I think that is what it is, was just sitting there refusing to be disturbed. Doesn't it just blend in among the leaves?

I wanted to get its face a bit better, but could not stoop that low :-)

The house is quiet and I'm enjoying the sound of the window air conditioner whirring away. The clouds come and go. There could be some more thunder storms later.

Maybe its nap time...

Pot Roast - Laundry - Lunch -Granola

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I had a busy day today. Soon after I got up I got the slow cooker going. The pot roast is ready for tomorrow. It is a chuck roast. On sale for $2.50 a pound. That seems so high for a sale. It was nicely marbled and I didn't cook it until it fell a apart... so it should be good.

It was also garbage day, so I gathered the garbage and rolled the can out to the roadside. So much easier to do with the driveway paved.

Then there was laundry to do. I have them all folded...oops need to put that last load away. I also loaded the bags to give to the Salvation Army into the car trunk. I didn't get them there last week.... remember the driveway was being paved, so that made it too far to tote the bags to the car. After Frank's doctor's appointment tomorrow I'll drop them off. Maybe one day I'll take the time to wander through the store.

Frank wanted steak for today... mmm sounds too much like the pot roast to me. Well it taste a lot different. Different cut of meat and different seasonings. We had a microwaved baked potato on the side along with baby carrots. The carrots were beginning to grow whiskers, so time to use them. I boiled the carrots, drained and added a bit of butter... well Smart Balance... and a little bit of brown sugar and simmered... oh and Frank wanted a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg in them. They turned out pretty good.

I made biscuits today. It has been a while since I've made any. Most of the time I just poke some Pillsbury frozen biscuits in the oven. They just aren't the same as a homemade buttermilk biscuits. I made the biscuits a bit smaller today... a better portion size for Frank and probably me too.

I also made granola today. It has been a while since I've made it too. The recipe is over in my recipe blog: Zaroga's Granola. I really think the recipe would be just as good with about half the oil. I've made a note to try that next time I make it. It is good with milk or it could be used for a yogurt topping.

Here is a picture of the granola and the leftover biscuits.



I had granola tonight for my supper and it was good. Tomorrow morning will I eat granola or will I cut a couple of biscuits in half and slather with butter (Smart Balance), sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar and pop under the broiler... stay tune :-)

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Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime, and too sleepy to worry at night. -- Leo Aikman

Laundry - Trash - Television - Green Onions

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Today is laundry day. I don't like laundry day... but I do it with a smile anyway :-) I try to think of something that makes me happy while doing the dreaded chore. Today was difficult though.

It is trash day. When I took the trash can to the curb I looked up the street and saw the trash pile has grown. Someone dumped this sofa out about two weeks ago.



This morning this sofa joined the pile. It's one of those sectional sofas with the recliner on the ends.


Frank called about the first one the day after he came home from the hospital. Of course the response was: "We'll have someone pick it up tomorrow." Tomorrow hasn't come. He called again this morning. It will probably be months before they are picked up... even with a call every week.

They are not directly in front of our house, but just up the street past our fence line. It spoils my walks... which I'm failing to do as often as I should.

I tend to look out the windows of the bedroom when I fold clothes. So today it was hard to think of something pleasant when my blood boiled every time I looked out the window.

A little further up the street and on the opposite side of the street is a wooded lot. A few years ago someone placed a cabinet television in there. We couldn't figure out how they got it in there because the trees are so tight together.




I got to wondering when color television came into being. I remember in the 1960's a few of my school friends had them. When Frank and I were dating in 1968 his family had a color television and I would go over there and watch Walt Disney. My folks didn't get a color television until years later. Frank and I bought our first color television when we were stationed in Hawaii in 1974. Here is a timeline of Color Television.


I still have laundry to fold... one last load and hopefully I won't forget and leave it in the dryer. I do miss hanging clothes on the line. Years ago Frank made me quit because of my back. There is just nothing like sleeping on sheets fresh off the clothesline.

Frank recorded the Jesse Stone movie and we watched it this afternoon. I want to read the books.

Frank's Mom came over and brought us some green onions from their garden. I need to wash them and put them in the fridge.

The oncologist surgeon's office called and Frank's appointment has been upped to 9 am. He wanted to dance with joy, but couldn't. We think the doctor will remove the drain tomorrow. Not much is draining now.

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Take nothing but pictures.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time.
-- Motto of the Baltimore Grotto, a caving society