I May Have Said THAT

I have a story to tell you today that will ruin both John's and my reputation. I am placing it at the end allowing those who wish to avert their eyes the ability to do so. 
First, though, I have some tidying up to do as I had been saving lost some photos of happy mail. Happy mail is the very best kind! *Vickie of Sand Flat Farm* sent me a cookbook and a giving plate and a box of candy.

Cooking Through Rose-Colored Glasses is a delight because, as one of Vickie's favorites, it has her notations throughout on all the recipes she has tried: chicken fried steak, her dad's favorite birthday cake, biscuits, and oodles of others. Thank you so much, Vickie! ♥

Another, more recent package arrived with a thud on my deck. Wowzer! It was from *Abby at Little Birdie Blessings* who knows how much I enjoy fabrics and notions and homemade things.

What a precious assortment from books to dryer balls! What fun I am going to have now that I have some thread. More on that in the next portion. Thank you, Abby! ♥
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Moving right along...
Boy, were we ever cranky. It was embarrassing. John was cranky because he is not feeling so great. If this winter doesn't quit soon, it'll be winter 1 and John zip. I was feeling cranky because I am not feeling so great either and when John gets cranky, I catch it. (Maybe that's the other way around.) Add in the fact that his vision and his hearing are bothering him. Yup, it's official: We are older. So we had gift certificates from our respective birthdays awhile back. We decided that Friday would be the day to use them. JCPenney was first up. It has now been several years since I last visited the store so it was interesting to see the changes. John was shopping for t-shirts and a dress shirt. Next thing I know, he's tossing his t-shirts on the counter with a fair amount of attitude. I: Whatsa matter with you? He: I can't see you and I can't hear you! I: Why not? He: Because that big window is over your head and there's too much light shining on you.  I: Well pardon me for not bringing my parasol. (No, I just thought of that as I was writing this up, but I wish that I had said it.) We finally got through the one register in the entire store (not that it was busy...is JCPenney dying?) and headed for my stop—Hobby Lobby. Just one look and I knew that I should not have brought He-Who-is-Not-Feeling-So-Great along. Ohhhh...soooo much to see...great bargains. Well, I needed thread so, alas, the sewing aisles were the only ones I saw.   As John dutifully followed me manning the cart, we made our way to the registers where we found the first two young-chick clerks deep in what appeared to be a meaningful conversation. We continued on to the next register where the "old" clerk was just finishing up with a customer. The old clerk seemed shocked that we were in her aisle when there were two perfectly good registers before and suggested we return to those registers. Are you kidding me, lady? Did you see how this poor husband of mine limped up here?! No, I didn't say that. I said something worse, "I might have done except that they were busy talking."   Would you believe that at that moment young-chick clerk called over and said that she could help us now? I should have stayed right.where.we.were. No, I made my poor, long-suffering husband limp back over there.  Young-Chick clerk was very efficient and quite a little piqued. (I had seen "old" clerk give her the stink eye.) Well I was feeling more than a little piqued, too. When my order did not total the amount of the card, I added another item. Big sigh from clerk. Still not enough; I added another item; Another big sigh from clerk. I started to grin because I was enjoying it way too much. I need to repent. Have I been watching too much Downton Abbey? Probably! We're putting ourselves back on house arrest as it is obvious, to me anyway, that we are not fit to be out in polite society. Did I shock you?