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Fake it when you make it

Today is the day--the day to open the first jar of apple butter. One thing you may not know is that spices can get really strong during the canning process. Some spices actually change their flavor when canned. Notorious for going bitter in canned products is sage. But, with apple butter, it's all about the spices. So, I've been a little concerned about tasting this stuff now that it's canned.

It really tastes yummy. The only thing I notice is that it's a little watery. That amazes me in that it cooked for a good 36 hours in the crockpot on high, hours of that time with the lid cocked to the side to allow the juices to boil off. The good thing is that when I opened the jar, i noticed a bit of liquid on the top. I stirred that liquid in on the first jar. In the future 8 pints, I'll drain that bit off which will help the "watery" problem. 

The good news is that it tastes just as good canned as it did while it was cooking.

Now, here comes my "true confession". I made this from applesauce. Yes, I did. If you remember, I made this after making the sweet pickle relish. I did have to do some knife work on that, but my mind told me it was minimal knife work. I made a vertical cut in each of 5 cukes. I then cut each half cucumber into 3 pieces. I also cut the "cheeks" off of 2 red peppers and then cut them up just enough to use the vidalia chopper. Same with an onion. When the chopper needed some muscle behind it, I used my forearm and maybe even some of my body weight. My point is that I did not use my wrist a whole lot. But, even being careful, my wrist ached a lot the next day or so.

I do not own one of those magical machines that cores and slices apples simultaneously. So, if I had used apples, I would probably have really crippled myself up for days and days. I ordered 4 large jars of applesauce totaling 6 quarts of applesauce, from Kroger. Why 6 quarts? Well, because that is the capacity of my slow cooker. I got the cheap stuff, knowing I was really going to spice it up to make it taste like apple butter, so I wasn't fussy about the brand. So, if you had visions of me standing for hours, peeling, cutting, and coring apples, I just popped your bubble. Sorry about that...........

One other blow to that bubble--I used apple pie spice for the bulk of the flavoring. However, apple pie spice contains 3 of the 5 apple butter traditional spices. It does not contain ginger or ground cloves. So I used 2 Tablespoons of apple pie spice and 1/2 teaspoons of the ginger and ground cloves. It worked out pretty well. Maybe, I could have used another couple of teaspoons of the apple pie spice. I don't think I would have wanted more of the ginger or cloves.

Anyway, I could not find a recipe to make apple butter with apple sauce anywhere on the interwebs, though there are many many recipes for traditional ingredients. In that it tastes really good, I'm gonna pat myself on the back, say "well done" and move on.

I am concerned

I am thinking there's a possibility I'm sprouting a UTI. Without exageration: I used the restroom, and to minimize trips, I made as sure as I could that my bladder was empty. I walked to the kitchen, made a cup of coffee in the Keurig, added a quart of water to the Berkey, walked to the office, sat down and reached for my coffee cup. And I was off to the restroom again to answer an urgent call. Literally, no more that 10 minutes between trips. Does NOT bode well.

Last night's dinner was some home canned sauerkraut mixed with some storebought Polish Sausage, and some drop dumplings. It was okay but not outstanding. I felt like there was some sort of odd aftertaste in the sausage. And the sauerkraut was VERY mild. You could almost mistake it for cooked cabbage. 

I have never had much luck with the regular method of making sauerkraut. I am worn to a frazzle before I am able to generate enough liquid from the cabbage to form a brine. And, if you don't have enough brine, the cabbage will mold rather than just fermenting. The cabbage has to be covered to keep from molding. In essence, it molds if it becomes accessible to oxygen, so the amount of brine as well as something to weight the cabbage down during the process--both of these things are essential. I haven't been able to master either of these things. Sadly, the nutritional benefits far outweigh what I am getting from my home canned mild "kraut". But, I will probably try again. I don't know if you've bought sauerkraut at the grocery store, but it's pricey--particularly given the relatively low price of cabbage if you can make your own.........

I can't use this as an excuse for mucking up previous batches of sauerkraut, but I can tell you that the pain in my wrist tells me I am not ready to attempt "normal" sauerkraut anytime soon. I told you that I made some sweet pickle relish. That required that I cut 5 cucumbers and 2 peppers into chunks to put them through the Vidalia Chopper. Now, neither cucumbers nor peppers are hard to cut up (I mean, it's not like trying to hack into a winter squash like butternut or acorn) but just the little bit of cutting I had to do really made my wrists hurt. Still lots of pain the next day, though the relish was probably worth it. Yes, it's really that good..........

Well, the roommate has finally gone off to work. That means I need to vacuum. I have to vacuum frequently, but I refuse to do it while she sits on her behind, watching. 

 

Cooking

Cooking has become a luxury for me, even in my own kitchen. i'm very glad I have home canned food to call on for a quick supper and lunchtime leftovers. A couple of nights ago I opened a jar of my canned pork. I drained off most of the broth and threw some barbecue sauce into a small saucepan. Just as I suspected might happen, I had to use a fork to get the meat out of the jar. And, just as I suspected might happen, just using the fork that way, I had "pulled pork" to add to the barbecue sauce. "Dinner" consisted of that pulled pork open-faced on a slice of bread.

That was quite tasty. However, yesterday I found a recipe on the interwebs for KFC Copycat Cole Slaw. I whipped that up and yesterday's dinner included another open-faced pulled pork entree, however, I was able to add a delish helping of cole slaw on top of the meat. That cole slaw is spot on and so yummy. And I get to eat vegetables--chopped cabbage and lots of shredded carrot. My system is probably in shock, LOL. Most of the time, my allergy symptoms have been so bad in the kitchen, I do not want to be out there long enough to organize a whole meal. However yesterday she was gone to work so the dog wasn't in the kitchen and I had freedom to walk in there and using a disposable mask helped with the breathing, sneezing, and runny nose. Voila'!

Last year I canned some sauerkraut. It's a very mild version, but it's good. I bought some polish sausage on sale at Kroger this week. I am seeing several meals of sausage and kraut in my future. If I plan it right, maybe I can even have some drop dumplings with it. 

Once again the roommate has meddled where she didn't belong. I used my water bath canner to make that most excellent Sweet Pickle Relish a couple of weeks ago. She wanted to know if she could put the pot back out in the garage. (Apparently it was in her way on the stove). I asked her not to do that--it could easily have just been moved aside. I store my canning tools in the pot and they were in the dishwasher awaiting a full load. When I went to bed, she put the canner in the garage anyway. Of course, she went to bed leaving TWO pans on the stovetop instead. More recently, I've canned that apple butter. I can't quite believe it, but she's pulled the same trick again. Why ask if you're going to do the exact opposite? 

That sounds like such a petty thing, right? Except that I have to negotiate a step to go from the kitchen to the garage and then I have to thread my way around the considerable collection of processed foof she has stashed out there. Neither of those things--the step or the collection--is easy for me with my wobbly legs and freaky sense of balance. Oh well, only another 30 days...........

Update on the update

Tonight after she came home from work, I told her she has 30 days to get out of here. She claims she cannot find an apartment she can afford. She's had 7 months of free/very low cost rent from me. I believe I have done my part. I have prayed and prayed about this, wanting to behave as a Christian should. At this point, if she hasn't saved enough money for at least a studio apartment, I don't think that's my responsibility. It was not my problem that she chose to pay up to $400 a month so she could watch movies, etc., on her phone. Choices have consequences.

What IS my problem is the necessity I am facing to live 24/7 in a house, which, thanks to her, is making me sick. It IS my problem that I have to wear a face mask in my own home day and night if I have any hope of minimizing the symptoms I am experiencing. 

I found an article from the American Lung Association describing the symptoms of an allergy to dog dander. They are exactly the symptoms I am experiencing. The bad news is that according to that article, it is likely to be months and months til I beat the bulk of the microscopic dog dander into submission. According to them, it's in the HVAC system, the carpet, the drapes, the soft furniture, sheets, blankets, towels, clothing, etc. 

Her comment was that "I thought that you had dogs before". Yes, of course I did. However, I was working and thus out of the house up to 10 hours a day. Further, I took the dogs to the back yard and brushed them daily, leaving dog hair and dog dander away from my living environment. 

So, anyway, I have prepared a 30-day written notice of the requirement that she be out of here in 30 days. That puts me in position to call the cops to have her evicted if necessary. I truly hope I don't have to do that, but I am sick of being sick in spite of a daily allergy pill, sometimes supplemented by additional benedryl, with massive symptoms and strain on my system anyway.  

TIME FOR AN UPDATE?

It's been a while. I don't text and I rarely phone anyone. I figured, as a loyal American, I could save the NSA the trouble of trying to figure out what I'm doing from these rarely used sources by simply updating my blog. I will try to do better with my patriotic duties by posting here more often.

The "roommate" or "gate crasher" as I think of her is still here. She continues to make me nutty. She has finally started brushing her dog, though not nearly often enough or thoroughly enough. One of the great dangers of shedding is the release of dog dander. For this reason, my own shedding dogs were brushed daily outside. She brushes her dog in the kitchen. No wonder my nose runs and my eyes water whenever I go out there. However, God forbid she would pick up the vacuum cleaner. I continue to vacuum one area of the house daily and to deposit huge piles of dog hair and dander in the trash can she sits close to in the kitchen. Office on day one, living room/dining room on day two, hall and entryway on day three, and so on. That's about all I can manage and even then, just the main pathways and areas where I see the dog lounging.

So, yes, I sneeze 3-5 times more often than normal. I blow my nose at least 12 times a day and my eyes water all day long. I also wake up with a chestful of congestion every morning. I am now trying to learn to live with a mask over my face in my own home 24/7.

She seems to have decided against a housefire--she is now pretty consistently cleaning the lint filter on the dryer. For this, I thank God. I found, no exaggeration, a ball of lint at least the size of a softball or a grapefruit when first it occurred to me that I would have to check up on this. And that ball of lint was compressed, not just loose stuff lying in the palm of my hand!

i have doubled the blood pressure meds I am taking (with the doctor's blessing) and my blood pressure is still elevated.

She is not at all careful with the utilities. The other day I walked out into the kitchen and found the hot water running at full blast with her standing on the far side of the kitchen by the table. I wash in cold water, she washes in hot. I dry my clothes on a hanging rack, she uses the dryer. And don't get me started on the lights.............

There are spills on the carpet that weren't there when she came here. The back of the hall, by the washer/dryer is particularly bad. My theory is that she has dripped liquid laundry detergent on the carpet and just left it there to gather dirt and grime, which soap is prone to do. I have already purchased carpet cleaner to use in my carpet cleaning machine when she leaves.

She does not use handles or knobs. I learned that this was a good habit long ago. One then only has to clean the handles and knobs frequently instead of the whole door. Recently, it took me 3 tries, with a scrub brush, spread over 3 days because of my wrist, to clean the refrigerator door.

I have one set of dishes. I bought them off of e-bay, just after Pfalzgraf discontinued the pattern. It took me months and lots of $$ to accumulate a service for 12. For this reason, I am VERY careful with them--I cannot afford to replace them, even IF I could find replacements. Though I have asked her 7 times to put her dishes away, she insists on leaving them on the kitchen table. They DO have homes in a cupboard. They CAN be placed in the dishwasher or the sink where they won't be broken if someone bumps them or bumps the slightly wobbly table. But noooooooooo, she refuses to do that. I am now confiscating them and hiding them and replacing them with paper plates one by one. She leaves a plate, bowl, or cup out, I hide it. I still have 2 cups at risk, but I have 10 stashed. I started with 12 bread and butter plates in the cupboard, now there are none. I started with 12 dinner plates, now there are 6. 

I could go on, but this enough for you to wade through for now.

I have been doing some canning again. I decided that having canned food on the shelf is a habit I cannot forego for her convenience. I made 3.75 pints of sweet pickle relish the other day. It's outrageously good. Last night, I finished up 9 pints of apple butter. Breakfast is looking up, if I can remember to reset the toaster from burn down to toast after she's used it. The apple butter is delish.

I originally planned to can a lot of meat this summer to bring down the level of "stuff" in the freezer. I kind of gave up on that because I have limited access to the kitchen unless I want to use it while she is nesting there (which goes against my grain). However, with the expectation of ever increasing prices for food, I do not feel I can continue to avoid canning. My new plan is to have my ingredients prep-ready for whatever my next project might be. Then, the moment I see her leave for work, to work like a demon to get that stuff in the canner before she comes home. I think that will work................

So, this is a summary of some of the nonsense that is going on around here. I'll try to post again soon.

 

Decisions have Consequences

On May 4, roommate and I had a set-to. I was extremely upset. I had discovered that she had not cleaned the lint filter in the dryer, apparently, ever. I checked the filter and came away with a compressed ball of lint the size of a softball. I don't use the dryer unless I do a load of towels, so there was no way she could claim she hadn't done it. I even showed her the ball of lint. I hate to think of the increased risk of a housefire, the strain on the dryer, and the increased cost of natural gas and electricity, trying to push hot air through all that lint. 

I also discussed her failure to put dishes away. For the 6th time I told her "clean dishes belong in the cupboard and dirty dishes belong in the sink or in the dishwasher". By the 10th of May (6 days later), I had collected my dishes, used by her, found on the table 5 different times. By now, I figured, she should know what I wanted with regard to MY dishes in MY kitchen in MY house. Surely 6 requests should be understandable by any but the most severely mentally challenged. Therefore, I reasoned, that she was either rebelling against the idea I had any authority over my own stuff, or simply deciding that her desires were more important than mine and I figured the subject having been raised by me 6 times, surely she ought to be able to comprehend how important this was to me. So I concocted a plan. Every time she left dishes on the counter or the table or the stove, I washed them and then put them away, hidden in file cabinet drawers in the office. She left out dinner plates, bowls, salad plates, cups, and matching glasses, depending on her whim. And since I have a service for 12, it took a while. However, just in the last few days, all the salad plates had been put away in the office. Instead I replaced them with a stack of paper plates of the same size. Last night she finally asked "What happened to the small plates?" I told her I put them away and rehearsed that I'd spoken to her about putting them away 6 times and it was obvious she'd chosen to disregard my wishes. So, I took care of the problem.

She gave me her standard "I was using them". I replied "No, you were at work or asleep. Not once did I pull a plate away from you while you sat there with your fork hovering in mid-air". So, this morning, there are now no dishes on the table, nor on the counter, nor on the stove. Perhaps I have made a small amount of progress? 

I spent months acquiring these dishes on e-bay for the best price I could manage. You can guess it took a while, one plate, one cup, etc at a time--60 pieces in all plus service pieces. Yes, they are important to me. You've heard that I have the world's smallest kitchen. I do. I have many things out on the counters simply because they will NOT fit in the cupboards. Also, the table is very light weight and a little bit wobbly. Finally, I am wobbly/weak legged and having balance problems. I have visions of losing my balance and knocking my dishes onto the floor, broken into smithereens. It doesn't help that if she is home, I have to try to navigate me and my 50 ft oxygen concentrator "cord" around her honkin big dog. 

An Unhappy Memory

I made some dandy fried rice for dinner tonight. It might be the best I've ever made. I don't make it often. But, any Chinese restaurant in town would have serve it proudly.

I grew up in a small town in Florida. To the best of my recollection, there were no 'Asians anywhere around. There were no Asian kids in my school. There wasn't even an Asian restaurant in town. I went to college in Nashville. There you could find plenty of barbecue and biscuits and gravy and greens. I ate in the cafeteria because I was on a meal program. Near the school there was a Krystal, a Burger King and a restaurant/bar. If I went off campus to get food, it was most often either the Krystal or Burger King--I couldn't afford the other place. For most of one year, my boyfriend fed me. He was there on an athletic scholarship and got all the food he wanted. His sharing kept me from hunger that year. After three years I graduated, married the boyfriend and moved to St. Louis. I learned a LOT about Italian food/cooking. The new groom was Italian and his mother was an outstanding cook.

My point is that I had little if any knowledge of Fried Rice or any other Asian food. Eventually, I married my daughter's father. He had spent a while in Okinawa with the military. The woman to whom he was married joined him there though he did not want her to. Apparently she learned to make a decent Fried Rice. 

I knew little about Fried Rice. I knew it was cheap. I knew it didn't take much meat. And I knew he liked it. One evening after a long day at work, I came home and chopped veggies and such to try to make him some Fried Rice for dinner. It was a case of a tired me, trying to be a good wife and feed her husband something he liked for dinner. Truthfully it wasn't good. I put the eggs in after the rice, a bad move. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the heat high enough. And, I had no sesame oil. I doubt I even knew there was such a thing as sesame oil and it's an essential ingredient if you want to make something like you might get in a Chinese restaurant. Still, it was an effort based on love. It should have been treated as such.

He ate a few bites of it and grabbed the phone that hung on the kitchen wall. He called his ex-wife and told her "Marci''s just made some driveway patch and called it Fried Rice. I wish you would teach her how to make it". And together, they had a good laugh at me and my "driveway patch". It hurt and the fact that I remember it more than 40 years later is a clue to how much it hurt. And, honestly, it's probably why I rarely make Fried Rice to this day.

I watched a movie last week............

An old, old movie. It was so old it starred Pat Boone! I watched The Cross and the Switchblade. And it has more or less haunted me ever since.

I have never wanted to be in a witnessing situation. It's complicated. I don't speak Elizabethan English. I pray before I read the Bible, but it makes little sense to me. I read words, just words. I could randomly read Luke 6 tomorrow morning and then listen to a sermon on Luke 6 2 hours later. And, I would end up wondering how in the world the preacher got that phenomenal idea (with which I totally agree) out of those words I read 2 hours ago. I don't read ideas, I just read words. 

Worse I have NO memory for Biblical references. Now, yes, I do remember John 3:16, I have a good idea of what's in the first few verses of Ephesians 6, and I can most likely identify verses from Hebrews 11. But, otherwise, I need a concordance (I do wish they made concordances a lot smaller and more portable). Joe had a phenomenal memory. I used to say things like "there's a verse somewhere in the Bible that talks about "suffer the little children". Where is that?" and he'd immediately give me the reference I needed. I swear, as much as I needed him for this sort of thing, I cannot imagine God needed him as much in heaven.....

Anyway, back to the movie. Dave Wilkerson (Pat Boone) gets up to preach to a bunch of New York City gang members. And he doesn't do "the Romans road". He simply tells these young hoodlums God loves them. He tells them the story of Christ's torture and subsequent death on the cross and how it was all motivated by God's love for them. And in about 7 minutes of preaching, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he sees about 1/3 of them give their hearts to the Lord.  

What has been haunting me is the idea that I CAN do that. I can tell people that God loves them. I can recount the passion of Christ. Wow! All these years I could have been telling people how much God loves them and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, led some folks to Jesus. If only I'd known...............

IT'S GETTING HARD TO GET A CUP OF COFFEE AROUND HERE.............

LAST NIGHT I DECIDED TO HAVE ONE MORE CUP OF COFFEE LATE IN THE EVENING. I TRIED TO GET HALF 'N' HALF OUT OF THE FRIDGE. BUT THE VERY LARGE DOG WAS SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE KITCHEN FLOOR. I COULDN'T SAFELY GET TO THE FRIDGE DOOR AND, IF I HAD, I STILL WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN IT FAR ENOUGH TO REACH THE HALF 'N' HALF. WELL, I FIGURED I'D JUST WORK AROUND IT. I ALWAYS KEEP A STOCK OF EVAPORATED MILK ON HAND. I HAPPEN TO LIKE EVAPORATED MILK IN MY COFFEE AT LEAST AS WELL. I OPENED THE PANTRY, GOT OUT A CAN OF EVAPORATED MILK, AND REALIZED I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE MY ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WAS. IT WAS NOT IN IT'S USUAL PLACE.

SHE HAD MOVED IT AND IT WAS BLOCKED BY HER AND HER CHAIR. (I TOLD YOU IT'S A SMALL KITCHEN.) 

I WAS VACUUMING THE OTHER NIGHT, AND AS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE DYSON JUST QUIT. I'VE CLEANED THE FILTER THAT'S IN THE BIN WHERE THE DIRT ACCUMULATES. I KNEW THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE MORE FILTER TO CLEAN. HOWEVER, I NEEDED TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO ON THE INTERNET, SEARCH OUT THE MANUAL, AND FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT. THE ONLY THING I KNEW FOR SURE WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO LAY THE MACHINE DOWN FLAT ON THE FLOOR ON ITS SIDE. I DID THAT AND HURT MY WRIST IN THE PROCESS. THEN I DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED MORE LIGHT. THAT MEANT TRYING TO WORK ON THE VACUUM CLEANER WITH A FLASHLIGHT. I DECIDED IT MADE AS MUCH SENSE TO WAIT TIL DAYLIGHT. BUT, YESTERDAY, WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE VACUUM, SHE'D PICKED IT UP AND STOOD IT IN PLACE. I GOT IT BACK ON THE FLOOR, BUT NOT WITHOUT PAIN. I TRIED WASHING THAT FILTER AGAIN, BUT NOT TIL AFTER I SAW THAT A NEW FILTER WILL COST $52. 

NEXT, I WILL HAVE TO TRY TO OPERATE ON THE BEATER BAR AND REMOVE THE BUSINESS END OF THE VACUUM TO SEE IF THE TUBE IS STOPPED UP. I CAN HARDLY WAIT.............

SHE CAME HOME A WEEK OR SO AGO AND BOASTED THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE STORE HAD HAD THEIR HOURS CUT. SHE, HOWEVER, HAD NOT.  BUT SHE HAS BEEN HOME DAY AFTER DAY. YESTERDAY I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD BE WORKING TODAY. AND THE TRUTH SLIPPED OUT. YES, THEY DID CUT HER HOURS. I'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. HOWEVER, SHE IS NOW MAKING, GROSS, ABOUT $220 A WEEK. AND THE FUN PART IS SHE IS LOOKING FOR A HOUSE TO BUY. (HER SAVINGS ARE VERY LIMITED--BASICALLY WHAT SHE HAS SAVED LIVING HERE AND ANY COVID MONEY SHE HAS GOTTEN.) THERE'S NOTHING LIKE LIVING IN A FANTASY WORLD..................I ALMOST FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT SHE IS GREATLY PISSED THAT I DON'T HAVE WIRELESS SET UP BECAUSE SHE IS USING HER PHONE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET, AND PAYING $400 A MONTH FOR THAT!

TIMES THAT TRY A WOMAN'S SOUL

EVERYTIME i THINK MAYBE I CAN FIND A LITTLE LOVE IN MY HEART FOR THIS ROOMMATE, SHE PULLS ANOTHER STUNT. LAST NIGHT, AFTER I WENT TO BED, SHE "CLEANED" MY KITCHEN. fIRST OF ALL, SHE DIDN'T "CLEAN" IT. SHE REORGANIZED IT TO SUIT HERSELF. IT IS MY KITCHEN, FOR GOODNESS SAKE. i WANT THINGS WHERE I WANT THEM AND USE THEM. SHE STASHED ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN THE MOST GOOFBALL PLACES. FOR EXAMPLE, COCONUT OIL. PRIMARILY I USE 2 TYPES OF OIL, OLIVE AND COCONUT. IN GENERAL, I REACH FOR COCONUT OIL. I DO USE OLIVE OIL IF IT'S SOMETHING I MIGHT WANT TO USE WITH GARLIC OR WITH AN ITALIAN SPICE PALATE. AND, I DO HAVE A SMALL BOTTLE OF OIL THAT IS BASICLY TASTELESS, FOR USE IN SOMETHING LIKE CHOCOLATE CAKE. WELL, IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I COULDN'T FIND MY COCONUT OIL. I ASKED HER AND IT TOOK HER 3 TRIES BEFORE SHE FOUND WHERE SHE HAD STASHED. AND WITH A WRIST THAT SCREAMS AT LIFTING 32 OUNCES OF WATER TO POUR INTO THE BERKEY, I AM NOW EXPECTED TO LIFE A 3 POUND CONTAINER DOWN FROM ABOVE MY HEAD IF I WANT TO COOK. IT'S STORED IN THE CUPBOARD THAT HOLDS PASTA, NOODLES, AND DRIED BEANS. FITS RIGHT IN, DONTCHA THINK?

I HAVE FOUR (COUNT 'EM, 1-2-3-4) DISH DRYING MATS. TWO ARE BLACK, ONE IS CHARCOAL GRAY, AND ONE IS DARK GREEN. SHE REMOVED THE DISH DRYING MAT I HAD JUST PUT OUT THERE AND PUT A BRAND NEW YELLOW AND WHITE DISHTOWEL ON THE COUNTER IN FRONT OF THE COFFEE POT. NOW, YOU KNOW SOONER OR LATER COFFEE IS GOING TO GET SPILLED ONTO MY PRETTY NEW DISHTOWEL, STAINING IT BROWN. LAST TIME I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I WAS PRETTY SURE COFFEE STAINS WOULD NOT SHOW UP VERY WELL ON BLACK OR CHARCOAL OR EVEN DARK GREEN.

I HAVE A RUBBERMAID 1 QUART CONTAINER AND A RUBBERMAID 2 QUART CONTAINER. MY LEGS ARE STILL WEAK. IN FACT, A CLIENT CAME BY YESTERDAY AND WAS IN A TALKATIVE MOOD. WE WERE OUTSIDE AND I LITERALLY HAD TO SHOVE MY KNEE UP AGAINST THE VAN'S BUMPER BECAUSE MY LEG WAS SHAKING SO HARD. TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE TO CRISS CROSS THE KITCHEN, I WILL FILL THOSE RUBBERMAID CONTAINERS AT THE SINK AND POUR THE WATER INTO THE BERKEY. THEN I WILL FILL THE SMALL ONE AND SIT IT BY THE COFFEE POT SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO KILL MY THYROID WITH FLORIDATED WATER IN MY COFFEE OR RISK REPEATED TRIPS ACROSS THE KITCHEN. I ALSO HAPPEN TO OWN A PRETTY 1 QUART GLASS PITCHER WHICH USED TO HAVE COLD WATER IN IT IN THE FRIDGE. WELL, FIRST SHE DECIDED I DIDN'T NEED COLD WATER IN THE FRIDGE. NOW SHE'S DECIDED THAT PRETTY PITCHER SHOULD SIT OUT WITH WATER FOR COFFEE. IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MONTHS, WHEN I WAS WORKING, TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR THAT PITCHER. I DON'T WANT IT BROKEN. SHE HAS ALREADY BROKEN AN IRREPLACEABLE BOWL AND TRIED TO HIDE THAT FROM ME. I KEEP GATHERING UP DISHES, ETC., WASHING THEM AND PUTTING THEM INSIDE CUPBOARDS WHERE THEY BELONG, TRYING TO SAVE THEM. WHY WOULD I WANT THIS PITCHER SITTING OUT SUBJECTED TO EXTRA RISK WITH EVERYDAY USE BY SOMEONE TO WHOM THE PITCHER IS NOT OF ANY VALUE.

I HAD A HEAD OF CABBAGE AND SOME GREEN ONIONS SITTING ON THE COUNTER. SHE DECIDED THEY BELONGED IN A WEST FACING WINDOWSILL. BOTH LOOK THE WORSE FOR BEING SUBJECTED TO THE HEAT AND THE SUN. SHE ALSO DECIDED TO THROW AWAY A JAR OF MY HOMECANNED BLUEBERRY JELLY. SHE FILLED THE JAR WITH WATER AND LEFT IT IN THE SINK, RUINED.

II'VE BEEN TRYING TO VACUUM SMALL PARTS OF THE HOUSE DAILY. I CAN'T DO A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE MY WRIST ACHES WITH THE PUSHING AND PULLING. I HAVE FOR NOW MORE OR LESS GIVEN UP ON THE ROOMBA. THERE IS SO MUCH DOGHAIR SHED BY HER DOG THAT I LITERALLY HAVE TO SPEND UP TO A HALF HOUR CUTTING THE HAIR OUT OF THE BEATER BRUSH AND PULLING THE FRAGMENTS OUT WITH A WIRE BRUSH. LAST NIGHT I WAS WORKING ON THE HALL, WHICH IS ABOUT 3 FEET WIDE AND 20 FEET LONG. THERE WAS SO MUCH HAIR THAT THE DYSON ANIMAL QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDST OF IT. IT HAS ONLY BEEN USED MAYBE TWICE SINCE I GOT HURT IN MID NOVEMBER. SO, IT CAN'T BE THAT THE FILTERS NEEDED CLEANED, THOUGH I'M CLEANING THEM NOW BECAUSE IT'S ALL I CAN THINK TO DO. THE LAST TIME I HAD THE DYSON WORKED ON, JUST A BASIC MAINTENANCE, IT WAS $200. LORD HELP ME...........

I COULD GO ON. IF SHE ACTUALLY CLEANED, I'D BE HAPPY. BUT I DO NOT NEED MY KITCHEN REORGANIZED TO SUIT HER!