Another day to tuck away in my memory book because you know there will be another 6-8 weeks of crummy, cold weather is ahead of us.  But today is bright, sunny and WARM.  Well, I guess that's a relative term, depending on where you live.  If we were still living in Florida, I would be bundled up in this kind of weather....LOL.  Sounds weird but it's true.  As I am writing this, it is 64 degrees out and the hottest part of the day is still ahead of us.    I have been outside in my jammies, shaking out my dustmop since today is a working day for me.  I'm just glad I got a nice solid 8 hours of sleep for a change.  Even the dog seems to have slept through the night.  At least he didn't wake ME up to let him out. 

I was out in the kitchen for a while, chopping up some of the veggies for my spaghetti dish for our dinner later.  The Beast just looked at it all and made no comment.  Good thing.  I am really not in the mood for any flak from him.  He said he is going to take the dog out for a run a little later and then will do it again before it gets dark.  I think that had something to do with the dog sleeping so well during the night.  He really does need a lot of exercise.  I've often told the Beast that getting a Doberman was not the smartest thing he did since they are extremely active dogs and require a lot of exercise.  He's his happiest when he's been able to run around with another dog until he's ready to drop.  That's why it's nice when Bozo next door is out with his owner.  The two dogs go nuts running all over the field across from us and the guys just let them go for about 10 minutes or so.  They both run hard and fast, making all kinds of turns and leaps over each other.  Bozo is a chocolate Labrador and Baron, of course, is a black and tan Doberman.  You can watch these dark blobs just bouncing all over the place.  Looks funny when the grass is high and they are bouncing up above it one second and you can't see them the next. 

Baron had a bad experience today during his morning run.  He ran down into the creek down the way and got tangled in a briar vine, I guess you would call it.  He was standing in cold water, not moving, when the Beast finally made his way down there.  The briar, with all it's thorns, was tangled all around Baron's front right leg and up under his *armpit*.  The Beast tried breaking it but it wasn't dried up and easy to break.  He ended up having to slowly get Baron's leg up and out of the tangle.  The whole time, Baron never whimpered, whined or barked but let the Beast maneuver his leg until he was free.  I had to remind the Beast to check the dog's leg for any thorns that might have stayed behind.  He can be such a moron at times.  He never thinks of the practical (or what I consider should be the first thing you check for) but I guess that's the mother in me.  Men just never think of those kind of things.

Well, the Beast is at the gun range doing all his last minute adjustments and checking to make sure he can still hit the target.  He says he is going out tomorrow morning to make one last shot at getting a deer.  He *has a plan*.  Oh yeah.  And I am going to hold my breath over that.    It's the last day of deer hunting season.  He said to me, *Of course, after that, I can always go for turkey or something.*  When I said that turkey are harder to get than deer, he kind of laughed and said, *Yeah, because you have to stay so still and use the turkey callers and wait.*  I know that patience is not one of the Beast's virtues so there's something else that I won't hold my breath waiting to see happen.

In a way, I kind of hope the Beast gets to shoot something.  First of all, he's never done it.  Second of all, it WILL give him a feeling of accomplishing something new.  Third, he needs to find out how he feels about shooting something that is alive.  It's a mind frame all it's own.  I know that just from my sitting and thinking about the possibility of having to shoot someone back when my kids were young and we had a prowler that just didn't give up.  I sat with my Baretta out in the open and realized, finally, that I COULD shoot someone if they threatened my family.  The Beast was gone on one of his fishing trips to the Bahamas and the kids and I were alone.  I had called the police and they came out and checked outside.  They found a couple beer cans in an area where someone had concealed themselves.  But, he was back about 15 or 20 minutes after they left.  I spoke to a friend of mine, a sergeant on the force and a neighbor and he told me to get my gun and be ready to use it.  He said if anyone entered a house they knew was occupied, they were dangerous.  But, if you have never faced the idea of actually having to pull a trigger that would hurt or kill someone, you will find out it's not an easy thing to face.

I don't think the Beast has thought about it at all.  He's so used to fishing and bringing them home to eat that I am sure he places it in the same category.  But it's different with a gun for some reason.  Maybe it's because it is the idea of a deer being warm-blooded and intelligent that I believe it will hit him differently.  I could be wrong and, if it is, I think I will be disappointed.  I can understand the Indians thanking the deer or bison when they killed them for providing food for themselves.  It's a living, breathing thing and I think they are beautiful.  It saddens me to think of killing a deer.  I could understand it if we had no other choice and the meat was a welcome addition to our larder.  There are many people living in rural areas or those that are truly poor that NEED that protein.  It can mean life or death to them but we aren't one of them.  To the Beast, it's a trophy in itself.  Great White Hunter, indeed.

Well, I have my last load of clothes to fold.  I made my *spaghetti con du fromage* today and it turned out wonderful.  Very tasty.  I made some Texas toast to go with it and a small salad.  Perfect!  Love you all.  Hope you had a great Sunday and that Monday is a good day, too. 

I have to admit, it was the most incredible day today.  We actually had a high of 64 degrees with bright sun and almost no wind.  I thought to myself...*This is a cruel trick to play on me when I know it ISN'T spring and we will be having some nasty weather in just a few days.*  But, I decided to enjoy it anyway.  I opened windows and doors and let the fresh air in.

Baron thoroughly enjoyed it.  The Beast took him out for a run twice today plus he took him with him when he went to the store a couple times, too.  Baron loves to ride in the car.  He's probably the best dog I have ever seen or heard of to take traveling.  The funny thing is watching people make a wide berth of our car when he's in it by himself.  He's big and gets that doberman alertness while he assesses passersby.  If they knew what a pussycat he really was, they wouldn't believe it.

We got our popcorn popper machine today.  The Beast was as excited as a little kid.  He damn near ripped the boxes open and had to set it up immediately so he could see how it looked.  Then he read the instructions.  Now all we need is for the coconut oil and the liquid buttery topping to be delivered and he will be in heaven.  I found a picture of what the popper looks like.  Here it is and, remember, this is only about a foot-and-a-half tall.  

It's really cute and has a light inside so you can really watch what's going on.  I don't think it makes a whole lot at one time (it says use just a half cup of popcorn and only two of the provided spoons of oil).  It's not like the big commercial ones where you can keep it going almost endlessly.  I know.  I used to help out at one at conventions.  Fun! Fun! Fun!  Turned me totally off popcorn for a few years, trust me.

Chewlee woke me up around 7:45am.  All she wanted was for me to turn on the TV for her plus she ended up eating some cereal with half a banana in it, some cheese cubes and her neverending supply of chocolate milk.  She helped me make up my bed once Papa woke up (we let him sleep in).  Baron got up long enough to relieve himself outside and then went back to bed with the Beast.    That was a relief to Chewlee because she didn't have to keep pushing Baron away from her food.  He may not want it but he always seems to need to get his nose into it or at least close to it for some reason.  It's irritating as hell and we've been trying to break him of the habit for ages.  I HAVE, finally, gotten him to back off when I give him the command *back* but he sure doesn't like it.  Like I care.  I keep reminding him that he is a D-O-G and not a people no matter how the Beast treats him.  I'm sure you've seen this picture:
This is not a one time thing.  It's something that takes place every single night while the Beast is watching his nightly news.  Sometimes it's most of the evening and Baron is sound asleep and very happy.

Later, the Princess sent me a text to make sure Chewlee was up and asked me if I had clothes here for her.  I told her I didn't so she wouold have to bring some with her.  She intended to take Chewlee to the park because of how great a day it was.  When I told Chewlee her mother was coming for her, she told me she wanted to stay with me.  But, when I told her that her mother was going to take her to the park, it was a whole different story.  She could hardly WAIT for her mother to get here.  She DID give me a big hug when she left and the Princess was happy to hear that Chewlee had continued being good on the potty (although she DID have one accident because the bathroom door was locked and she had to wait for it to be opened...her fault, too since she turns the lock and then shuts the door).  However, I think the Princess understood that shouldn't count.  Chewlee kept saying she was sorry and it would have pulled on your heart strings to hear how unhappy she was over it.

As soon as they left, I took a nap.  I was tired since I hadn't gone to bed early but I got up after only about four hours of sleep.  When I got up, I remade the guest room bed since it will only be Chewlee using it for the next couple of months.  If we get a surprise visitor, it's an easy fix.  It's easy to make up with clean sheets if necessary.

She about drove me nuts with her constantly asking where Sheepie was.  I kept telling her that Sheepie was at home with HER mommy and she would ask me *Why?*  I told her because that is her home, like Chewlee's home is with HER mommy.  She looked at me and just said, *Oh.*  But she was happy when I told her that Sheepie would be back for Spring Break. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) is going to be wash day for sure.  I have a lot of it to do and it will get out of hand if I don't get to it.  The Beast will be complaining about his socks or something in a couple days and I don't need to hear it.  I'm also going to make my spaghetti con du fromage (as I recall it since I haven't found the exact recipe despite several hours spent on various recipe sites).  I will let you know how it turns out.

Love you all.  Have a wonderful Sunday and I hope you get to spend it with family and/or friends.  Be good, stay happy and please take care of your health.  Oh, BTW...thanks for the prayers for the Boy's aunt.  He took her to the doctor for a check up on how she's healing the other day and he said it's healing well.  The poor aunt is miserable at the rehab center because she says it's noisy all the time and she isn't resting well.  The sooner she heals, the sooner she can go home.  Please continue the prayers for her.  She has problems with her memory due to her epilepsy and her age, too, I'm sure.  The Boy is going to see her as often as he can or weather permits to help his cousins keep up her spirits.  She's a dear soul and he hates to see her unhappy.  I hate to hear she's unhappy, too.  Especially since she tried to be so nice to Bratfink during all those years that *the Mother* was not really nice at all.  Hugs for all!!!!! 

The Princess and Chewlee came over around noon so Chewlee could stay with me while the Princess went to a job interview (or two...not sure).  While she was here, Chewlee used the potty and was sure to call it to my attention.  When I gave her a *high five*, she put her hand on my arm and said, with this intense and sincere look on her face, *Now can I stay, Gramma?*  When I told the Princess, she laughed and told me this:

Since she wasn't working and was both taking Chewlee to preschool AND picking her up, she knew Chewlee would be missing me.  So....*I* became the goal for Chewlee to work for.  First it was that she had to both pee and poop or she couldn't go to Grandma's.  So, for two weeks, she was fantastic both at home and at school.  Then, when she started acting up in school, if she wasn't good in school and didn't take her naps, she couldn't go to Grandma's.  The teachers at school were all aware of what was going on and even that she was going to stay at Grandma's on *gum day* (Friday) IF she was very, very good about EVERYTHING.  Of course, no one counted on her getting sick but she knew and still kept it up.

When she was here earlier, she was telling me that her room was messy and I said to her, *You need to clean up your room or your mommy won't let you come back to stay with me today.*  Later, when the Princess came to pick her up, she asked her what she was going to do when they go home and Chewlee said (without any prompting), *I have to clean my room!*  The Princess was shocked but said, *Well, it's about time!  Mommy needs to clean up, too.*  So, off they went.  Chewlee did clean up her room, not great but she at least tried and it was helpful.

Her good behavior continued when her mother dropped her off later.  She was just happy to be here for whatever reason.  She wasn't sure what she wanted to do first.  We watched Godzilla vs Gigam....well, part of it.  That is such an awful movie that even Chewlee was rolling her eyes over it and she decided it was time for some Harry Potter.  She told me she only wanted to watch it until Hagrid came to get Harry and then when Harry was on the train.  THEN it was time to watch The Lost World (which is the second in the Jurassic Park series).  Personally, I think it's only because she likes the koppies (small dinosaurs that look like upright lizards).  They look cute but are really nasty little things.  When she pulled out Madagascar and Madagascar 2, I knew she wasn't really in the mood for monsters tonight.

She was in the mood for popcorn and even brought Papa some since we were *sharing*.  After that, it was bath time and she made the most of it.  She easily let me shampoo and creme rinse her hair as long as I didn't expect her to get out right away.  I let her play to her hearts content and she finally called me in and told me she was ready to get out.  I had to fight with her a little bit to get her hair brushed and then I braided it.  I was amazed at how long her braid was....down to her waist.  Even the Beast's jaw dropped when he saw that.

You have to understand that brushing her hair is a feat in itself.  She will yell and accuse you of hurting her with every brush.  I found a nice bristle brush to use on her and she finally settled down and let me do it with only minimal complaints.  She loves to pull her braid over her shoulder and run her hand down it and she will switch it from shoulder to shoulder.  She then shakes her head with the braid down her back and tell you how it *tickles*.  At one point, she pulled out the tie on the braid and it came undone.  When I said, *Chewlee!  Look what you did.*  She told me she was sorry and let me rebraid it.  After only one pulling over her shoulder, she finally left it alone and ended up watching Madagascar intently.  She knows the movie so well, she always tells me what exciting thing is coming next. 

She has finally settled down with her tee-tee on the floor and will be falling asleep soon.  It's time for me to get this posted for your perusal later.  All-in-all, it's been a fun day with her.  It's been especially nice that she is now potty-trained and liking it.  She's also wanted to spend a lot of time in my lap or else she has been combing/brushing MY hair while we are watching DVD's.  She did have one bad moment today.  She accidentally sprayed herself in the face with some body spray that I had told her to put down.  She got herself right in the face and both Papa and I got water on rags (I bathed her face well) while she complained.  When she felt better and we knew she was fine, she looked at me and said, *I'm not mad at you any more, Gramma.*  I asked her why she would be mad at me and she said.....get this....*It was YOUR perfume, Gramma!*  **Insert eyeroll here**  I DID do one thing to make her feel better....I threw the bottle of body spray in the garbage while she was watching.  When I asked her if she felt better now she got this funny look on her face (half mad, half satisfied) and said, *Yes.  Now that the bad perfume is in the garbage>*  I guess everyone and everything is responsible except for her.    Typical little kid thinking.

Oh, don't worry.  She was sent home because she had a slight fever and was coughing a lot.  The doctor told the Princess it's been *going around*.  It's a false kind of strep throat that ISN'T strep throat.  The Princess is well versed in this one since it's what she had about a week ago and they said at preschool that Chewlee might have brought it home with her since most of the kids seemed to have it.  Well, maybe she did but she didn't have it at the time.  NOW she does.

It means I will probably get her for a few extra hours tomorrow when the Princess has to go run a couple errands.  Chewlee didn't want to leave today when her mom told her it was time to go home.  She wanted to stay with Grandma.  **Grin**  But she did do a couple of cute things while she was here.

At first, she just came over with her coat on, clutching her tee-tee and she told me she was sick.  I held her and told her that her mommy had told me but she had some medicine to help make her feel better.  I gave her some liquid ibuprofen for her fever but she gave me a hard time about it.  She said she didn't like *orange*.  So she got about half of what she needed down.  I DID tell the Princess so she could give her more later on. 

She went and laid down on the arm of my recliner and told me she was hungry and wanted some salami.  I got them for her (it's always 3 pieces) and then had to roll each piece because she said her mouth hurt her.  She did eat them, finally, and then got up and shared some string cheese with me.  It's the first time she's eaten string cheese here.  Something about it always turned her off and she wouldn't eat it before.  Today she ate some.  She asked me for some milk, which I got her and then she accused me of giving her water.    I think her taste buds must be *off*, too.  I showed her it was milk so then she wanted chocolate in it so off we went to put some chocolate in it.  I should have just figured she really wasn't going to drink it and saved myself the time.  She didn't know what she wanted to drink.  I'm not sure she was even thirsty.

Anyway, back in my room, she suddenly spots the Sponge Bob movie (it's actually hers) that I have on my shelf and she grabs it.  She walks over to me and says, *This is MINE!  I need to take it back home.*  She's giving me this look like I stole it or something and I say, *I know it's yours.  You can take it home if you want.*  So, she tucks it under her arm so she won't forget it.  Her mother finally gives up trying to do her taxes online and calls Tara.  She had been reluctant to do that since this is Tara's busy season for doing taxes but she had a couple of questions about questions she's being asked and figures Tara could help.  I have no idea what they were but Tara tells her to just bring everything over tonight and let her do it for her.  So, then the Princess is ready to take Chewlee home but Chewlee doesn't want to go.  She follows us out of the room after reluctantly getting her shoes and coat back on (she's still got Sponge Bob).  While she's protesting that the Princess won't take her over to see Chance (because she's sick), Chewlee is saying, *...but the present!* and I remember that it's Chance's birthday today.  Duh!  However, the Princess tells her that she doesn't want to make Chance sick, does she?  That kind of stops Chewlee for a second and, as she is thinking about this and looking around, she spots the three bananas I have in my fruit bowl.  She goes over, grabs the bunch (there are three LARGE bananas on it) and heads for the door.  Sponge Bob in one hand, the three bananas in the other.  I stop her, take the bunch away, take off ONE banana to give her and she's happy with that. 

However, her mother tells her she has to get tee-tee and Chewlee looks at me and says, *I need a bag, Gramma*.  I give her a Walmart bag that I emptied from the Beast's foray there and give it to her.  She thanks me and puts her banana in it and her Sponge Bob DVD.  She has the bag in one hand, her tee-tee over her other arm and finally heads for the door to go home.  She looked so cute with her *goodies*.  Even the Beast laughed at the picture she made, waiting for her mother to open the door because *her hands were busy*. 

When we were watching the Sponge Bob show on TV, Chewlee was also going over the DVD's since she knows she will be here tomorrow.  She pulled out Godzilla vs. Gigan and told me we would watch that tomorrow.  She also spotted my Yahtzee game on a shelf and made me take it down.  She wants to play it with me and I told her it would have to wait until tomorrow.  Heck, I don't mind showing her how it works.  I don't think it will keep her interest for long but....  She insisted that she carry it into my computer room.  She then looks around, finds the perfect spot for it and puts it there.  She turns to me with one hand patting the box and says, *Now you don't touch this.  Leave it here.  Okay?*  I told her yes and she still feels she has to repeat it....twice!!  Then she is satisfied and feels she can step away.

The Beast asked me today if I wanted to go out to eat and when I asked him what time, he says NOW.  It was 4pm.  I told him that there is no way in hell I am going out for an *early bird* dinner.  So I got up and made him some enchiladas with spanish rice and refried beans that I had here.  It was only because he was hungry because he didn't eat lunch before he went to the gun range.  He's never sure just how long he will stay and he never calls to tell me he's on his way home either.  If he did, because I knew he hadn't eaten lunch, I could make him something so he could eat as soon as or shortly after arriving home.  In fact, I wondered why he didn't just go over to the pizza and sandwich shop next to the gun range and buy himself something.  When I asked him why he didn't do it, he said he *didn't feel like eating anything they had*.  Since they have a wide variety of sandwiches, that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.  And, the way he loves pizza, that amazed me. 

The weatherman got it wrong...again.  We didn't get the ice or snow predicted for our area although they did get it a bit further north from us.  But, as you can probably guess, it was a dismal day, alll-in-all.  So dismal that the Beast and I both went back to sleep after getting up, having about half a cup of coffee and taking a look around.  I felt like a groundhog...just a bit early. 

Chewlee decided (when she was given a choice) that she would rather wait until Friday and spend the night here than come over for a little while today.  I heard her making up her mind (didn't take her long...LOL) and she told me she loved me...almost on the phone.  She didn't want to talk to me on the phone but said it so I could hear it.

Me?  I'm happy.  I'll go to the store tomorrow and pick up a couple snacks I know she likes and we will do our own *monster fest* with the different DVD monsters I have here.  We can throw pillows down on the floor and just have fun being together.  It will be so much better than just a couple hours together.  The Princess and Johnnycakes can use the time to do something together, too.  Even if it's just cuddling up on the couch and watching TV.

The Beast has totally lost his mind.  Guess what he has splurged on now?  No, you wouldn't guess in a hundred years.  He sent away for one of those (cute) little popcorn poppers that look like the ones you see at fairs or in one of the shows.  He also bought some coconut oil, which was what movie theatres bought years ago before the do-gooders got it stopped because of *high cholesterol* concerns.  AND he also sent away for the buttery topping shows use.  We've bought that before and even gave away gallons of it to good friends for Christmas one year.  THAT I really didn't object to but..whoo whee...the coconut oil is expensive with a capitol $$$$$.  It's actually called popcorn coconut oil because there are various ways that coconut oil is used and things that can be added to it.  So sometime in the next week, we will have all the ingredients here to have REAL show-style popcorn popped right here at home.  **Insert eyeroll here**  And this is the guy taking pills for a high cholesterol count.  Well, I'm glad his insurance is all paid up.

Now we are going into a couple days of warmer weather before the cold hits us again.  Keeps life interesting and people sick...fun, fun, fun!  I have to try once more to get this room organized now that the Holidays are over.  I keep finding things (small things) that should be packed away that are still out.  In a house this small, you wouldn't think I could have missed them.  I blame my bad eyes, of course.  Some of it even the Beast missed so it works for me. 

Baron, once again, doesn't know what to do with himself.  He hates winter's cold weather but also both snow on the ground AND wet grass.  He really IS a wuss.  He has become a really good watchdog but his bark is so loud in here that your ears ring.  I wish he would just growl.  His growl is scary all by itself and that would sure scare off any possible intruder.  I told the Beast that I know why some people get those electric collars for their dogs.  I wanted him to get one to help Baron learn NOT to run in front of the ATV's.  It's expensive but a lot less expensive than replacing a dog.  However, since it isn't HIS idea, you know where that suggestion went.....in one ear and out the other.  I thought it might be useful in getting Baron to stop barking in the house, too.  At least for stuff that happens outside that he can't see.

Today the weather was nasty.  It was raining and really overcast.  We didn't get a break on it at all and now we find out that it's going to continue and then, as our temperature drops, it is going to turn into snow.  It also means that under that snow, it will be icy.  Great!

However, it provided the perfect excuse for the Great White Hunter NOT to head out for a deer.  The area he would be in is treacherous when it's muddy.  And, let's face it, the Beast is getting old.  Really old.    He DID take the ATV off the trailer and in the barn to protect it.  He's got his *kit* packed on it (sans the guns and ammunition). 

After putting away the ATV, I found him at the gun safe and I wasn't really sure if he was putting them away or getting different ones out.  It turned out that he decided the .308 was the right rifle to use at the site he intended to hunt.  Don't ask me why.  I haven't a clue.  He also said he needed to spend more time at the gun range after the season was over.  He didn't go into detail and I know better than to ask.  His problem is that he gets TOO detailed and your mind starts wandering.  Know what I mean?

He thinks that, by this weekend (which is the end of season for deer), the weather will be better for him.  He's been talking a lot to other hunters and realizes that he was picking sites (before this) that were totally wrong unless you were prepared to be there 24/7.  Deer are nocturnal and are the most active from dusk to dawn.  I swear, the next thing he's going to get is night vision glasses.  It sure wouldn't surprise me.

The Princess called me today and said my Chewlee is missing me a lot.  The Princess told her that she could only come to see me if she used the potty ALL THE TIME.  So, for the past several days or so, she's been great.  Warms my heart to know she wants to see me so much.  Anyway, after school tomorrow, she is going to bring Chewlee over and let her stay with me for a couple hours.  It's going to be fun!

It has seemed very weird not to have to go pick her up from preschool.  But, until the Princess finds another job that works with her going to college, the Princess can bring her AND pick her up.  So, it's an unexpected vacation for me.  For that, I am kind of glad since I was sick there for a while and totally not up to having an active 3-1/2 year old around.  And we all know just how active she is, don't we?

If you sew, you already know what bias tape is.  It's kind of a ribbon that you use when you hem something to keep it from unraveling on you.  It also keeps the *hem* from being too bulky. 

I had it on my list.  Right there at the top.  I KNEW I should have pulled the list out of my purse but I thought I remembered everything on it.  DOLT!!!!  So, the bedspread is not done.  Plus, I will have to go out tomorrow and get it instead of having all that done in one trip.  **Sigh**

I did not sleep well last night.  No real reason why that I can figure.  I just kept waking up and then, around dawn, I got a cramp in my foot that just wouldn't go away.  It was the kind that your foot is pulled to the side and you can't get it down flat on the floor.  I would have to stand in one spot, try to relax the foot enough to get it flat and take a step.  The foot would cramp again so it was repeated over and over until I got to my recliner.  I piled up a couple small pillows, lay back with the foot up and fell asleep in about 15 minutes or so.  When I got up, the foot was fine but I was still tired.  I pushed myself to get up and get moving around for a bit. 

It was chilly out but not bitterly cold like it was in Minnesota and other states up North.  The Beast decided to make some Northern bean soup with his ham bone and it smelled delicious.  The end result was better tasting than the smell.  That'll be around another two days at least but I'll make some corn bread to go with it tomorrow for lunch.

The Beast spent his day watching the playoffs and eating, eating, eating.  He ate half a pan of brownies with pecans and walnuts (a large 9x13 pan) and that was just a snack.  I sometimes can't watch him eating when he's watching basketball or football because the sheer variety makes me feel nauseous.  I don't know how his stomach can take all that crap.  He did take the time to make a loaf of fresh bread although it was some good Italian bread that I was craving.  That would have been good with the bean soup, too, with some fresh butter on it.  The Beast told me today to stop stocking up on butter because he found 8lbs of it in the freezer.  When I said, *Is that all?*  I wish you could have seen his face.  I was only kidding but I never did tell him that.  Let him wonder......

Nothing else of importance (or unimportance) happened.  I just did the usual housewifey stuff we all do on a daily basis.  I checked to see what our weather for the next few days should be like and we are supposed to be up into the 50's tomorrow.    No kidding!  The Beast actually hooked up the trailer with the ATV on it but that's about it.  He might be thinking about tomorrow evening going out for a deer because he didn't put his kit together yet.  So I will have to wait and see what happens.

Love you all.  Have a good Monday.  Drive carefully.  Keep warm.  Smile.  Laugh.  Forgive small slights. 

It really WAS disaster day on SyFy.    Everything from the sun frying the earth and people into bacom strips to a Mega-earthquake.   Super tornadoes ravaged Paris, Egypt and Chicago.  That cracked me up.  Bratfink and I sit at our computers and make comments back and forth on the stuff we are watching.  It's actually quite fun to do.  The Beast, of course, thinks we are nuts but I told him that he and his brother talk on the phone while they are playing a game together on Pogo.  They discuss their cards (on Hearts) and strategy to *get* another player.  I think THAT is strange.

As I suspected, the Beast did NOT go on his great white hunter safari for a deer.  It was too cold for him.  I think the temp was about 16 when he got up and he checked online to see what we could expect for later in the day.  Since it was only supposed to go up into the low to mid-30s, he didn't even START putting together his kit.  Since the deer hunting season ends on the 31st, I'm taking bets.  Will he or won't he?  I think that's a no-brainer.  How about you?

I'm dragging my feet a bit on hemming up the bedspread and I know it.  I was going to work on it this afternoon until I saw how cold it was going to be tonight.  So, I told the Beast I will strip the bed tomorrow after we get up, trim it and hem it before I make up the bed with clean linens.

We were both in a lazy mood today so we just nuked leftovers instead of my making the ham and noodle casserole.  The Beast went ahead and cut up the ham for me.   He laid claim to the ham bone but I told him we are cutting it in half (yes, I do have a knife that will do it.  My brother-in-law, the butcher, showed me how.) .  That way he will have part for his Northern bean soup and I will have mine for split pea soup or 15 bean soup.  It will depend on my mood.

As for that 15 bean soup.....I have always meant to actually separate and count the different beans just to see if it really IS 15 different types of beans that are in it.  I've always wondered but was always too busy to stop and check.  I'm retired now.  How can I be too busy? 

Oh, and guess what?  I've lost 6-1/2 lbs.    I've been kind of casually dieting by eating small meals more often and trying to snack on healthy things (although celery with cream cheese may not be REALLY healthy but it's better than a big piece of cake, I'm sure).  I actually get tired of chewing.    But, when my weight got up to 155 and I was having to buy size 11 or 13 (depends on the jeans maker), I thought...*No, no, no!  I don't like this.*   I really would like to drop about 10 lbs more at least but I'll have to wait and see.  It's tough in the winter when you can't really exercise and you aren't busy doing active things like working on a garden.  This spring I want to get Chewlee some roller skates and take her roller skating around the circle here.  I think she will like doing that.  I got her her own spade to use when we start *her* flower garden.  I'm going to give her one that really IS hers and, if she wants to pick the flowers, she can.

Well, I have a couple things I want to get done here.  Tomorrow I really have to do some shopping.  *Sigh*  I should have done it today but Saturdays are a nightmare at Walmart.  Sundays, at least, are a bit better.

The Princess finally got her car back today.  She told me she was afraid at first to pull out on the road with it for fear someone would hit her.  I'm hoping that three is the charm and that ends that nightmare for her until she finally trades it in down the line.  She was glad to have it back AND her own radio (which is much better than the one in the truck).  Now all I have to do is get the Beast out to get us that deer he promised. 

He told the Princess that she had screwed up his hunting by needing his truck.  (Oh sure!) Deer hunting season ends this month.  BUT....since I was such a snot about his promising that was why he was spending us into the poor house with all his arms and ammunition, he NOW claims he is going out tomorrow at dusk.  There's only two times he MIGHT find deer....dawn and dusk.  So, he claims he's going out tomorrow because it will take him a while to get everything ready.  We shall see.  I'll let you know.

As for me, I am slowly but surely getting better.  I feel more and more like my old self.  I'll find out how much like myself I feel tomorrow when I have to change my linens and I am going to shorten the bedspread I just got.  I love it but it's just a shade too wide.  Every time the darn dog lays down on his bed next to me, he pulls the bedspread down just a bit.  Whenever he shifts position, more gets pulled down until there's hardly anything left on the Beast's side by morning.  I know I still have to pace myself but, since I don't have Chewlee on Saturday mornings for a while (until the Princess finds another job), I can do that a lot easier than I would otherwise. 

Tomorrow is ham and noodle casserole day.  We avoided eating ham for the first two days after I made that wonderful ham the Beast bought but I have to start cutting it up and using it now.  Some I will put in the freezer for using for soups and stuff.  I'll grind some up and make ham salad for sandwiches and, of course, the bone will be for soup.    I'll put some ham slices in a baggie for sandwiches, too.  Not everyone is fond of ham salad but I am.  The Beast prefers the sliced if he's in a mood for one.

We ate all the sweet potato casserole.  The Beast said he thought it was the best I ever made and I think he was close.  With just a little more pineapple, it should be perfect.