JuneNYsAdventuresPart2

Following President Trumps proclamation that churches could reopen, my churches staff threw away the plan they were working on to reopen gradually, in stages.  They decided to have a service today, but have it outside, with social distancing and masks enforced.  Our head pastor, Craig, drafted an explanation letter and mailed it to everyone who attends church.  In the letter, he seemed to be encouraging seniors to stay home for now.  I had decided not to go, but when I said that to Peggy, she encouraged me to go and to stay in my car.  So that is what I did. In fact, here is a picture someone took of my car.  (the red car). It looks like I am in the process of getting out (which I did a couple of times in order to take pictures). The parking lot seemed full, but drivers were leaving empty spaces between their car and the next.  Lots of people brought their own chairs and blankets and set them up on the lawn.   The service was great.  It included worship, announcements and a grea

The main purpose of this trip to Lewiston was to visit Carrie.  I set it up yesterday, but staff working today had not been given the information.   At any rate, Peg and I only had to wait a minute or two and Tiffany brought her out.  We had a nice visit, and got to know Tiffany a bit.  She recently moved to Lockport. After the visit, I suggested we go to DeCamillo's Bakery so I could get some kimmelweck rolls.  Peg agreed.  I bought four rolls, two slices of pizza, a plain donut for myself and a peanut donut for Peg to take home to David. We decided to leave our car on Main Street (which might actually be Center Street) and walk down to the river to have lunch at THE SILO.  On the way down to the river, we found MANY painted rocks.  I picked up a few, but we left most of them where they were.  Peg picked up one.   I spotted my first one by this statue.   Peggy had never eaten at THE SILO before while I have been a few  times.   She ordered their popular sandwich THE HAYST

There was a produce giveaway (FREE)  at Cornell Cooperative Extension this morning.  Twenty pounds of assorted produce on a first come/first serve basis, starting at ten a.m.  I drove out there shortly after ten a.m. but the line of cars was soooooo long, extending almost to the canal, so I decided to skip it.  I went to Niagara Produce and purchased a few items: a tomato, a yellow squash, a nectarine, some ham salad for sandwiches and some bananas.  It came to less than ten dollars. When I got home, I noticed that the sun had come out so I felt like getting out and spending some time outdoors.  I called Betty, but she was in the middle of a project involving comforters and piles of receipts piled all over her living room.   I called Marlene and she agreed to meet me in the parking lot across from the restaurant at Widewaters.   I called Pam to see if she would like to join Marlene and I  and she was just arriving back at her apartment after picking up her box of vegetables.  She sai

My new gastroenterologist, Dr. Chubineh, suggested that an endoscopy might be helpful to deal with this diarrhea that has been a constant issue since last October.  Today was the day.  Last night, Peg and David dropped off  Peggy's car here.  I drove myself this morning and Peggy met me there and drove me home in my car and then took hers. The procedure went well, probably because I was not at all aware of it.  I did not get to see Dr. Chubineh.  He prescribed a "Stomach Scan for Gastric Emptying".  Immediately upon getting home, I looked this up on the internet.  It does not sound like gastric emptying problems are very serious and also, they are common.  Most likely it will involve MASSIVE dietary changes.  In fact, it appears that I may have been eating all the wrong foods, because my former gastroenterologist recommended lots of fiber and from the little research I have done, fiber would be a NO if someone has a diagnosis of gastroparesis. Anyways, I was told to r

After breakfast I called National Allergy to order masks (after reading all the details on their website) Four ten packs for $64.99 with free shipping.  I think these masks offer more protection than the handmade ones I have, especially for when I go grocery shopping.    I tried to order online, but after I added them to my cart I could not find a spot to actually go to my cart and look at my order.   So, I tried by phone and after a bit of a wait I was able to order them.  I am saving info from the email address for my records here: Thank you for your order from Allergy Control Products. Once your package ships we will send an email with a link to track your order. If you have questions about your order, you can email us at  support@allergycontrol.com  or call us at  800-255-3749 . Your Order  #3000109860 Placed on  May 27, 2020, 10:28:15 AM Billing Info CAROLYN SIMMONS 17 PHELPS ST LOCKPORT, New York, 14094 United States T:  716-433-1199 Shipping Info CAROLYN S

I slept late.  While I was preparing breakfast (banana, egg, and oatmeal pancakes) Connie called and we talked for a half hour or so.   It upset her when I told her that I plan to start doing my own grocery shopping. I decided to scrub out my tub and the surrounding walls.  That took about an hour and a half, I think.  Then I filled the tub up and ran the whirlpool for a couple of minutes in order to clean the jets out.  Then I took a shower and then did a load of laundry. I spoke to someone from MEALS ON WHEELS, so that I can pass that information on to Mary Anne.  I doubt if she will be interested.  For the price and convenience, if I were in her position, I would give it a try. After my late lunch, I rested.  I was just getting settled in when Betty called and told me she had something for me.  She had found BLACK GRAPES, which I had mentioned to her that I really like.  I had never seen or heard of them before this year.  Then Peggy called and we talked for twenty minutes or

This has to be one of the most boring Memorial Days I have ever had.  I didn't get up until around ten a.m.  While I was eating breakfast, Peggy called and we talked for a bit. I scanned some pictures of Cassy and Tyler that Megan sent me in 2006, and I added them to my flickr account.  I called Connie and reached her, but she could not talk at that time.  She said she will call me back.   I scrolled through an Amish recipe page on facebook and picked out a few recipes to save. I prepared creamed chip beef with toast for my lunch and had a side of the carrots I cooked yesterday.  Rice pudding for desert.   In the 1970's I found some 1950s recipes in a woman's magazine (probably Woman's Day or maybe Family Circle) for creamed chipped beef.  I lost the recipe but I have pretty much memorized it.  I substitute Buddig sliced dried beef for the real dried beef that comes in a jar.  Buddig is much cheaper and its less salty.   This particular recipe calls for mushrooms, u

Leslie and I started to plan for a birthday get together next month.  My birthday is 6/5 and hers is 6/13.    She suggested MENDON PONDS, south of Rochester.  There are geocaches there as well as a trail that has Fairy Houses. I watched ONLINE CHURCH.  Craig announced that church will re-open next Sunday in the back field, but he did not give out any details. I took a short walk and then I spent ten minutes or so pulling weeds out of the flower beds along the front of my house.   I turned on my air conditioner for the first time this year and adjusted the humidity control on the unit. I spoke with Pam on the phone.  She attended RAPIDS BIBLE CHURCH this morning.  She has been attending one of their Bible studies for a while.  This morning the Pastor resigned his position.  Betty called from Niagara Produce where she was shopping and asked me if I need anything besides a couple of grapefruit.  I said no, but she brought me a small bottle of red wine. I talked with Peggy a couple

First thing this morning I watched AKA Jane Roe, a just released documentary which includes Norma McCorvey's deathbed confession that she was bought (paid) by the evangelicals in order to proclaim that she changed  to pro-life.  It seems real, but I know that things can be manipulated, so I do not know what to believe.  If this documentary had been released before Norma died, it would be more believable. I took phone calls from  Mary Anne, Lydia Santiago and Peggy.   Peggy will pick up a few items for me including mushrooms so I can make creamed chipped beef (I put mushrooms in mine). I watched all four episodes of  THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL OF ALL. I made rice pudding using this recipe Peggy dropped off my groceries. Betty called and expressed her concern because she has not heard from me.  I explained to her about the Covid test and how I need to quarantine myself now until after my endoscopy next Thursday.   I talked to Myrna on the phone, she seems to be doing well. 

I got up early in order to go to Mary Anne's house before going over to the Niagara Region Surgery Center for my Covid-19 test.  I need to test negative before my endoscopy next week.   At Mary Anne's house I did some cleaning and straightening.  I left her a couple of WELCOME HOME notes and also some bran muffins and brownies.  I took the old food out of her frig and threw it away.  She will arrive home, after about five weeks in the hospital, this afternoon. The test went fine even though the nasal swab is uncomfortable.  When I got home, I retrieved a phone message from Peggy.  She wanted me to go over to the Gabriel Drive apartments and write down the apartment numbers.  There are sixty units. I called Peg and gave her the numbers of the apartments.   The plan is to send postcards to each apartment announcing a grocery drop off. Once home, I prepared myself a fried bologna, tomato and lettuce sandwich and had that for lunch along with some potato salad and tapioca pu

This morning was our final FREEDOM Group and it was held on zoom.  I don't know why but zoom would not accept the password Peggy gave me, so I had to do it via phone, which worked fine.  However, during the zoom meeting, I had to take a phone call from the Discharge Planner at Buffalo General regarding Mary Anne.  She will be discharged tomorrow and will go home.  The doctor and therapists feel confident that she can take care of herself.  I notified Alice and Bianca. I was in charge of providing supper for Delores Zinck.  I put together two pork dinners.  I had made brownies last night.  Today, I made bran muffins using this recipe.  The muffins turned out nice, but next time I will add a couple of spoons full of brown sugar.  The recipe does not call for any sugar. https://www.cooks.com/recipe/ay12x4au/apple-cider-bran-muffins.html   In case that recipe is deleted from cooks.com  I am including it in here because I plan to use it again. 1 1/2 c. whole bran cereal 1 c. appl

Betty suggested we go to the refuge today to find a certain bird that is nesting.  She had information on locations.   I agreed and we asked Vicky to join us.  Our plans were to meet at the Visitors Center and pick up maps at 11:30.  I was a bit late due to stopping at the Rochester Road TOPS to get some Minute Rice. (which they did not have), but Betty and Vicky were also late due to Vicky forgetting to bring a mask Anyways, we met up at the Visitors Center and checked out the Purple Martin birdhouses. Then we discussed where to go.  I suggested we try the Onondaga Trail.  Betty was skeptical because the last two times we tried to go there, the road was barricaded.  I said we  should try again.  I led the way and was successful in finding the parking area and trailhead. It is a beautiful trail and we enjoyed it.  We turned right and walked a secondary (very narrow) trail for a bit, too.  The Atotarho Trail was very narrow, and we only walked a small portion of it.

I went back to M and T today and completed the process of being able to act as P of A for Mary Anne's checking account there.  It was fairly quick and simple. I was not ready to go home after leaving the bank and I am glad I remembered to drive to Outwater Park to see the "blossoms".  The flowering trees (I think magnolia) in the center strip are past peak but there is this beautiful tree in the little park that has the fountain. When I got home I decided to prepare a pork roast using this recipe:   https://www.goya.com/en/recipes/roast-adobo-pork-loin which has been on my frig for a couple of months.   This turned out great!  I guess I have always cooked my pork roasts way too long.  This recipe is a definite keeper.  I had two small baked potatoes and a sliced beet with it, and a couple pieces of Russell Stover chocolate for desert. I talked to MA and she gave me her SS # so I can pay her bills over the phone.  I also talked to Betty who wants to go to t

I took both P of A documents (Bianca and myself) to M and T bank and met with an associate who reviewed them, made copies and did something on his computer that seemed to take a very long time.  He then sent whatever he was working on to the main office for approval.  He called back a few hours later and said that the main office approved them, and we set a time for me to go in tomorrow for the final step.  Whew!!!   I was concerned about my inability to use Mary Anne's checking account to pay her bills.  (rather than continuing to pay them out of my checking account). While out, I went to my bank and cashed a check, and then I picked up lunch at Arby's (reuben sandwich with fries and a drink) and took it home to eat.  It was good but not great.  I took a pork roast out of the freezer and will prepare that tomorrow. I took phone calls from Elaine and Peggy and I called Sarah to see how she is doing.  She seems to be doing OK and she has an appointment with the ortho doc com

I was awake early so I put on channel 1301 and watched my church service. q Then I picked up the new Rite Aid flyer and noticed that they were offering yard furniture half price.  the picture showed small folding tables half price, so I decided to go to the nearest Rite Aid and get a couple.  I figure that I can keep them in my car for future picnics since most parks have taken down their picnic tables in order to discourage groups gathering.  I also went to Niagara Produce and got some blueberries, milk and beets.  Now I have an EBT balance of $425.  I also watched the service on the webpage at ten a.m. When it was over I called Betty and asked her I she wanted to go out for a bit.  First she said no and then she changed her mind.  We drove separately to Olcott Beach and parked and walked along Main Street.   These guys at the CAPTAINS GALLEY were providing music for somebodies birthday party. Here is a pic of an empty pavilion.                                And the