Patty is busily dusting the surfaces and my collectibles around the house in preparation for Easter. At long last! If she gets done in time, I will be able to meet my neighbors for lunch at La Nop, but if not, no big deal, I would rather have the house dusted than a margarita. Did I really say that? Besides enjoying the social opportunity with Tracy, Cassidy, and MamMa, I also enjoy the beef quesadilla and strawberry frozen drink. I should probably avoid eating the nacho chips with salt because afterward, I swell!
This afternoon sometime Justin will be stopping by to vacuum, a change in plans from the original, as often happens. He has to come to OP to have lunch with his father and his lady friend so instead of having to vacuum on Sunday, he will do it today. He is now going to have brunch with his friend Jesse’s family at an area restaurant after the Festival service on Sunday, and then will come over here to help me get things ready. The original plan was for him to vacuum Sunday since we’d have time before everyone arrived. Today is better yet! Even though I have been invited to an event at UNF with some of my neighbors, I believe I will make use of Saturday for my festival meal preparations. Must pace myself, you know.
Back again---Patty ‘swept’ through the house like her pants were on fire- I do not know how she does it!? I won’t look too closely because certainly some dust will be visible. As I used to tell Martie when I had regular housekeepers coming, “If I wanted it to be perfect, I would do it myself…” After Patty left here, I settled in at my desk once more, only to get a phone call from her. She was still in the parking lot, her car empty of gas! I was going to take her to the gas station to get gas, but neither of us had a can to carry it in, thinking we’d have to buy one. Along came Connie who went to the work shed and came back with a can of gas which she dispensed into Patty’s car. Connie told Patty to pump the gas pedal three times and crank it, and sure enough--it started! I then lead Patty to the Gate Station just over Doctors Lake Bridge so she could fill up. Connie would not take any money for the gas, it was the condo’s anyway, but I will make it up to her somehow.
Since I was out anyway, I went on down the road to Publix to get the fixings for our Easter feast. As I headed into the store I was greeted by some little Boy Scouts hawking some discount cards to be used at area stores, including Publix. At first I declined but then recognized the daddy sitting there with the boys. Of course, I had to buy a discount card from Kyle and Kasey, how could I not? For $5, I got this card of coupons, including the $5 coupon for Publix. I could not go wrong with this and made points with my friends’ kids! As little Kasey told me, “You can go to Chili’s to get the free chips and salsa for lunch!” But not today…I’m busy.
A poor lady was frantically searching for a certain type of ham in the bin, a full-boned ham without any brown sugar coating or something like that. The man came out with boxes of more hams and she was asking him about it. She claimed her father would kill her (yikes!) if she came home with the wrong type of ham. That would not be so far off---a few years ago a man killed his son on Thanksgiving Day when battling over the cable bill! Not sure I would kill over a ham bone or partial ham bone situation. You gotta roll with the punches, so to speak. The meat man then found for me a smaller spiral-cut ham and told me that I could serve it room temperature or bake it for a short while to use the brown sugar packet which comes with the ham.
Also, I got several other items for my menu plus stuff not on the menu, including these little cups of instant mashed potatoes not unlike the mac ‘n cheese cups that I like so well. (From the Buy One/Get One bins). A man was looking at them with me and neither of us had heard of them, although they are Idahoan Brand, so I told him I would be the guinea pig and try it. Hopefully they taste decent because that would be such a blessing for a single person---single-serving meals. Plus, I got some frozen veggies to prepare for our feast and pre-made sweet potatoes over which I will place marshmallow Peeps, as I did last year. Justin’s friend, Ron, loves Peeps so I do this for him!
Back again again! Just got home from lunch with my neighbors, joined this time by their other daughter, Courtney, in from GA for the holiday. She is going to help her mom write a grant for a homework assignment as Tracy works toward her doctorate degree. She took a technology class which included starting up a blog, also kicking her butt. Hopefully Courtney can lend her a hand with this.
When I got back home, Justin was just leaving, even though he did not do the vacuuming. He had to get back to the house at the beach to check the final inspection information and await the delivery of pavers. Justin offered to forgo his brunch with his friends on Sunday to take care of the short list of chores but I assured him there was time between when he gets done there and coming over here. He can fly around just like Patty did and get things presentable before our guests arrive. So, now, I must take my rest before getting ready for church tonight. I hope all are nourished and edified by their Good Friday worship!
