If you want to make God laugh, so it goes... tell him your plans.

Today: Pack up a gift painting that my sister will give to her oldest daughter, Deb, on the 14th for her burfday. My sis wanted the painting, so we worked out a deal. She buys and sends me bags of Kirkland dark roast coffee beans from Costco (from California) and I send her the painting. It is the one titled HARTFORD FAMILY VINEYARDS. My niece is an entymologist (sp?) and traipses around orchards and vineyards out there collecting and classifying bugs and crawly things, and also prescribes sprays and ways to kill of the non-beneficial vermin.

Tomorrow (Saturday): This is the only day with beautiful rings around it ("Saturday= Saturn Day") Get it?

I must venture north to Reems Farm and buy several biggish boxes of Italian plum tomatoes, some onions, some fresh herbs (parsley, etc.) and see what else is cheap but good. Then I return, wash up the kitchen, begin the process of making pasta sauces and chili sauce.

I have gathered the quart Mason, Kerr and Ball jars. Today (Friday) I will buy more dome lids. I always save the rings.

It is very, very important to sterilize and wash everything. I clean all working surfaces with Clorox Clean-up, scour the sinks, etc. and etc. I wash the three stockpots twice. Then I wear clean clothing, especially washed and set aside once each year just for canning. I use the hot-pack method. With tomatoes you do not need to use immersion canning.

Sunday: Well, this is the day of the big P-A-R-T-A-Y!

Hobbie is ready. He got some nice kitty toyz and I am going to bag them for the other three cats. At about 7:00 pmk EDT Hobbes and I will get on our respective MyBloggerstown blogs and start the party rolling.

You should know by now that Hobbie is a peach and yellow American Shorthair with a very broad body and a great disposition. He has his own blog page.

The party is for Satchel, who will be 9 years old - Rosie (8), and Doobie (3). Hobbie had his 3rd burfday on April Fool's Day.

Monday: Labor Day. Labor Day means we are not supposed to labor that day. I will clean up the barbecue in preparation for smoking a half brisket some time next week. But I will do dinner out there, too. Maybe a steak. I will set up the table and umbrella and enjoy the back yard, toss nuts to the squirrels and chipmunk, and say how much I miss taking Bisbeebird out there to screech at the Cardinals.

Lazy day. No plans other than those.

As for the ribcage: I feel a bit better. Taking it easy though. Sleeping is the hardest part. Any roll or movement and it wakes me up.

Later...