WEEK of January 5th through January 11th, 2025

 SUNDAY the Fifth:  After church, Marlene, Glenda, Louise and I went to the Davison Road Inn for their brunch buffet.  It is not all that great, and they have eliminated a couple of items since the last time I was there.  When I got home, I called Elizabeth and asked her if she wanted to come over to my house for supper.  She did not sound at all enthused, so I told her that it is fine if she does not feel up to it. I told her I will freeze a portion of COWBOY BEAN SOUP to give to her later and that she and I will get together soon.  I vacuumed the kitchen, dining area and living room floors since they needed it after me sorting through all of my Christmas decorations yesterday.  I got together my first quarter order of OTC items, after calling UNIVERA to find out how much my monthly benefit is this year.  I called Cassandra in the evening and we talked for close to a half an hour.  Karen called to let me know that she WILL be joining us at the PALACE THEATRE tomorrow for the movie WICKED.  It will be me, Michaelene, Dee and Karen.  

MONDAY the sixth: I got an excellent parking spot, very close to the Palace.  Karen had arrived just before I did.  The rest of our group showed up.  Originally, we had six seats in a row but we spread out a bit in order to make it easier to get out and go to the Ladies Room.  Actually, Karen's original seat must have had something wrong with it because it was very uncomfortable, so she went over to "the other side".   It was kind of chilly  in the theatre and there were only 12-14 people in the audience.  

Karen left right away after the movie ended, but the rest of us went to SCRIPTS for lunch.  I had a half of a Reuben sandwich and Pablano Pepper soup, both were very good.  I debated on whether or not to go to the Y after we had lunch but it was snowing and so cold outside and I just wanted to get home and get warmed up.  I had a short nap.  I started going through my cookbooks and reorganizing the shelves in the kitchen where I keep them.  I rarely use cookbooks anymore, but I like having them and I am having a hard time deciding which ones to donate.  I froze the rest of the COWBOY BEAN SOUP for another day.  

While I was gone, Peggy called and left me the message that Bob Johnson's (Gail's husband) nephew committed suicide.  Elaine called in the evening to ask how I enjoyed the movie.  

TUESDAY: First thing this morning, I found out that Betsey Pulver

(sister to my cousin Rebecca) passed away from a heart attack she had a couple of days ago.  I called Peggy to make sure she knew and I suggested that she call Linda Ander (our Aunt).  there is a FREE origami class in the Taylor Theatre at the Kenan Center from one p.m. to two fiftthere is a FREE origami class in the Taylor Theatre at the Kenan Center from one p.m. to two fifteen.  Life Group was excellent today.  Six of us (me, Cindi, Karen, Carol, Glenda and Pam went to PANERA for lunch.  I stopped at Niagara Produce to get some bananas and a couple of other items and then picked up three books that I had requested at the library.  When I got home, I had a message from my brother, Mike, asking if I wanted to join him, Janie, maybe Janie's sons, and Bob Bil, his next door neighbor for going out for supper.  I called him back and said YES and he said to be at his house at five thirty p.m.  I took a nap on the couch and got up just in time to get ready to meet them.  Janie drove her new SUV with Mike, me and Mr. Bil as passengers.  Dillon and Dominic left a few minutes later and joined us at the BROOKSIDE in Newfane.  We had a great dinner and Mr. Bil took care of the bill.  Mr. Bil (who is twenty years older than me) has been trying to get together with me at his house (next door to Mike) since we met and talked last summer at Dillon's graduation party.  He wanted me to get a group of ladies together to go to his house so he could show us items he brought home from his two trips to Israel.  Since I barely knew him, I did not feel comfortable doing that.  So, tonight was a good opportunity to get to know him better.  When we got back to Lockport, he wanted us to all go over to his house (right next door to Mike's house) to see the Israel items.  We all went over except for Dillon.  Indeed, he has some nice stuff.  He gave me a few items to keep (paper items).  Apparently, he has been studying the end times, specifically with relation to Israel) for years and he seems quite sure that he has a handle on the truth.  He is looking for the rapture to happen in September of this year.  I have a standing invitation to join his Monday night Bible study at his house, from both Mike and Mr. Bil.  He is a really nice man, and I like him a lot.  I am kind of glad that I did not go ahead and set up a small group of ladies to go to his place since it is highly likely that they would not necessarily agree with his viewpoints.  I got home a few minutes after eight and got a message from Becky.  Her sister Betsey passed away late last night and I tried to reach her this morning.  She said her phone has been ringing all day, and that she is doing OK.  I called Peggy to relay that information and she had new information to share regarding our friend Betty.  Betty fell and hurt her arm the night before Thanksgiving Day and a couple of days ago she FINALLY had it x-rayed.  She saw an orthopedic doctor in Lewiston today and he told her that her arm is healing well on its own, but he has concerns about her shoulder and referred her to physical therapy.  

WEDNESDAY: First thing in the morning I called both NYSEG and Niagara County Social Services about my HEAP benefit being put into the wrong account.  Mrs Potter called NYSEG and they agreed to move the money to the correct account.  But, I will believe it after I am sure it really happened.  I picked Jan up and we went to the Y and walked the track for a half an hour.  Then I took her home and I went to the Kenan Center for the ORIGAMI class.  I met up with Debbie in the parking lot.  We were the first ones there, but about eight others joined us.  The teacher was Austin, who also works at the Kenan Center.  Austin is passing out supplies in this picture.  

The class went well and I learned that ORIGAMI is STILL something that I do not do well.  I have tried it a couple of times before with very poor results and the same thing happened today.  I did OK with the boat, needed help with the box, and my swan (or whatever it was supposed to be) turned out awful.  LOL.

Deb did very well, this is her swan:  

  After the class, I went to TOPS and picked up a few sale items that I wanted and then I picked up a drink at PANERA'S. I really like their HIBISCUS POMEGRANET iced tea.  Then I went home where I spent the rest of the day.  Becky called around six p.m. and we talked (well, she did most of the talking) for about 45 minutes.  She seems to be holding up fairly well.  It seems that she had the thought that her sister Betsey was going to pass away soon.  She had a very bad fall last October and broke seven ribs and she never really recovered.  I communicated (on facebook) with Lori and she is going to come here for lunch tomorrow and also pick up the Christmas decorations that I was planning on donating.  So, I started preparing for that meal.  I will put pork ribs in the crockpot first thing in the morning ON HIGH.  I started marinating zucchini and I will make instant mashed potatoes.  I cut up strawberries and tomorrow morning I will cut up a couple of bananas.  I still have cornbread in the frig.  I also did a load of laundry because I want to wear one of the two new pullover tops I got at WalMart last week and felt that they needed washing first.  I watched some of 24 on HULU, but I am getting kind of tired of it.  

THURSDAY:   I started the COUNTRY STYLE RIBS in the crockpot at seven a.m., after browning them on top of the stove.  I spent much of the morning in the kitchen preparing a lunch that was more like a supper for my friend Lori.  She wanted to come over to pick up some Christmas items that I had planned to donate, and since she was coming before lunchtime and planning on going to work after, I thought it would be a good idea to have lunch together.  The meal was barbecue ribs done in the crockpot, mashed potatoes (instant), grilled zucchini, cornbread and cottage cheese, with strawberry shortcake for desert.  We had a nice time together and she took the Christmas decorations home with her.  I was a bit worn out, so after cleaning the kitchen, I got settled in my recliner and put something on YOUTUBE to listen to and I dozed off for a bit.  Pam called around five p.m. I think.  She was upset because she went to Dent Neurology with Marsha yesterday.  Marsha has signs of dementia, but they don't seem to bother her.  Pam is mostly upset because Marsha's grown children are so totally uninvolved.  We talked for at least a half an hour, and then I saw that Becky was trying to reach me, so I told Pam I needed to go and talk to Becky.  Becky just needed someone to talk to.  We talked for 45 minutes or so.  I prepared myself a very light supper (a few crackers and cheese and a spoonful of cottage cheese).  I watched a bit of 24.  All of a sudden it is getting interesting (it has been boring me during the last couple of episodes) with Air Force One being shot down and the question of where is the important black box.  I worked on completing a new EPIC application, even though I am not sure I will need to do one.  

FRIDAY:  I picked Jan up at eleven fifteen and we went to the Y and we walked for about thirty five minutes or so.  Kelly picked Jan up in order to go shopping, so I did not have to take Jan home.  I went to Panera's and picked up a small salad for my lunch and a large Pomegranet and Hibuscus tea.  I had lunch at home and had planned to work on sorting through cookbooks and deciding which ones to keep, but I had a call from Niagara County.  They never received the document they requested and I sent, so I had to pull out my records and find it and make another copy and get it ready to mail tomorrow.  I was worn out after that and laid down for a while.  Peggy called and we started working out details about tomorrow when she, David and I will go to Niagara Falls, Canada to "the tunnels" for a guided tour and to see the light show.  I watched the CALL THE MIDWIVE Christmas 2024 special.  I made reservations at my favorite cabin in ASP:  Fancher F for the week of April 2 through April 7th.  It is kind of early and will probably be chilly, and I will keep watching for possible cancellations for fall 2025, and grab one if I can. 

SATURDAY:  I was still in bed when Peg called so we could finalize our plans for going to Canada today.  Our original plans were to have lunch out someplace before crossing over the Rainbow Bridge into Ontario.  However, I suggested we NOT do it that way, instead maybe have something to eat before leaving and then go out for a meal after we are done at the POWER STATION and we decided to do it that way.  I tackled two small household jobs before getting ready.  I scrubbed the top of my stove, and I completed going through all of my accumulated cookbooks and decided which ones to keep and which to get rid of.  I gathered together all loose recipes and put them in a box and I will go through them at my leisure and decide which ones to keep.  Peggy and David picked me up at the agreed time of 11:45, but we took my car.  First we went to get gas on the reservation and then headed to Canada.  We did not have to wait at all at the border.  We found parking and then walked to the POWER STATION and Peggy picked up our tickets.  We went down and walked all the way through the tunnel

to the end

which was an outdoor section from which we could see the falls. 

And then we walked back to the elevator.  We had time before our tour, so we went to the gift shop.  I found a T-shirt on sale that I liked, but I did not want to carry it around during the tour.  Our tour started at three p.m., and our tour guide was very good.  Our tour guide, Keegan, was very good.   At the end of the tour we saw a brief TESLA light show.

  I went back to the gift shop and purchased the shirt.  Then we walked back to the car and headed to the AMHERST BUFFET for supper.  It was excellent.  I got home a few minutes before seven p.m.  Peggy came in to look at the objects that I am getting rid of but that she might use as raffle items at her next seniors event.