Monthly Archives: May 2022
Watercolor to Start Your Day
Filed under Watercolors I Love
Getting a Handle on It
Yesterday I finally made some progress in ‘getting a handle on’ how I can make the Mediterranean eating plan work for us. (This is complicated because my husband rarely meets a veggie he likes or will even consider eating.)
Yesterday we had a huge fight-with-technology trying to get a Mediterranean cookbook downloaded onto my Kindle. I hardly ever use it, preferring to hold real, treasured books in my hands, but cookbooks are a different ilk, as far as I’m concerned. There are usually only a few recipes I’ll actually cook in each, so I can download a cook book, use what I like, then decide if I actually want to add it to my collection or delete the book from my Kindle and try another.
Making a long story much shorter, we had to DE-register my Kindle because it was listed under my old email address, then RE-register it under my current email address. THEN call for technical help on getting ads off, THEN fight to get rid of ‘freebies’ I didn’t want. I was able to finally get the cookbook and read it last night. As usual, it focused on eggplant, kale, couscous, tofu, Brussells sprouts, cauliflower, chickpeas, etc. Even after more than 50 years of marriage, I know my husband would leave if I tried to cook these things for dinner.
I thought about it a lot, and finally came up with ‘doing my own thing,’ incorporating as many veggies as possible, concentrating on those to which my husband doesn’t object, and flavoring with meats he likes. That means veggie casseroles with chicken or beef or pork ‘flavoring.’ It also can mean stews of various kinds. And fruit as part of our meals and as snacks.
If I cook these, making enough for more than one meal and freezing the leftovers into individual servings for the freezer, I can have lots of meals both of us like, increasing the veggies and fruit I want in my diet and not causing a revolt-among-the-masses. I can also try the recipes that sound reasonable. If my husband doesn’t care for them, I can freeze any leftovers for ME to eat later when my husband is having a Lean Cuisine, Real Food, or Stu’s frozen meal on busy days. Not a complete plan, by any means, but a workable start.
I’m feeling better every day now, with my digestion getting back to normal. I’m now taking my thyroid medicine first thing, eating a small breakfast an hour or so later, then taking the rest of my meds with lunch. This is workable for me. :0)
It’s still rainy here, so the guy bringing us a truckload of chat for the driveway hasn’t called or come. Neither has the plumber, whose work will be outside in the well house. If we can go to town between showers, we’ll get another timer to join the one we just installed in the well house, to be ready when the plumber does his thing.
Meanwhile, my husband actually NOTICED that I had been working in the pantry yesterday! I’m making my way through the food side of the pantry, getting rid of a lot of stuff, cleaning, and then re-organizing. I may finish the main part by the end of the day today. It feels good to be getting things easily accessible, plus smelling the ‘clean.’
If it ever stops raining, I’ll need to get out to my tomato plants and my garden to catch up there…
I hope you’re having a wonderful Wednesday.
More Stunning Multi-Media Vessels
Filed under Vessels - Multi-Media
The Owls Have It
“Don’t count your owls before they are delivered.” – J. K. Rowling.
“Owl hasn’t exactly got Brain, but he knows things.” – A. A. Milne.
“The crow wished everything was black, the owl, that everything was white.” – William Blake.
“That little owl with a call as steady as my heartbeat was telling anyone who would listen, ‘I am here.'” – Heather Durham
“Owl was telling Kanga an interesting anecdote full of long words like Encyclopedia and Rhododendron to which Kanga wasn’t listening.” – A.A Milne.
Sasa Montiljo – Wood & Clay – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
Pantry
Yesterday was rainy, so I turned my attention to doing things INSIDE.
I vacuumed a dog-and-a-half’s worth of hair from the combination of the first floor tiled areas (pantry, kitchen, dining area, utility room, plus 2 half-baths) and the carpeted areas, (living room, foyer, and office.) I vacuum a lot, but am continually amazed that we have ANY dog left, or that she isn’t completely bald.
Then, since I couldn’t work outside, I cleaned and organized another small area in the pantry. I’m almost completely finished with the ‘supplies’ side of the pantry and am now working on the food side. I’ll try to get another area cleaned up today.
A terrific Tuesday to you! :0)
Filed under Organizing/DeCluttering
Raccoon-y, Rainy Tuesday
A critter like this was caught in our humane trap overnight. My husband just returned from taking our trash down to the bottom of the driveway and ‘relocating’ the raccoon about 5 miles away from us, hoping he won’t return. I stayed here to get chili started in the slow cooker for tonight and to answer a call or meet the driveway guy coming to our house.
Yesterday we decided that we really need to do what we can to improve our driveway.
I’ve told you it’s long (650+feet), quite steep, and graveled (or ‘chat-ed.’) Having a concrete or asphalt drive would take our winning the lottery. The last time we priced it (about 15 years ago) it would have cost $15,000+ at the bare minimum. Actually, the gravel gives us more traction when it’s icy or snowy, so it’s fine with us.
When we get the washing, heavy rains we’ve gotten lately, though, the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the driveway stays fine. It’s the rest of it – steeper as it goes down to the road that runs in front of the house – that gets ‘washed’ badly, causing ruts, bumps, etc. making it harder to negotiate.
We arranged for a guy to come with a big truckload of chat. He can leave the top alone, and then ‘tail-gate’ the chat, letting some out slowly and gradually as he drives down our driveway. We’re hoping that ONE truckload will be enough because chat, like everything else, has gone way up in price.
A complicating factor is that you get chat when they will deliver. You can’t say, ‘Oh, it’s due to rain today. Can you deliver it tomorrow instead?” It’s totally up to the guy. He hasn’t called, but he may just be getting the load of chat and coming. He just told us it would be today. Also, he MAY call and want to reschedule due to the coming rain. My second hope is that, if we DO get it delivered and ‘tail-gated’ this morning, the rains don’t immediately wash big ruts into it….
To Eat – Or Not To Eat
I’m trying to regroup on what to eat – or not to eat – since I’m getting my digestive system back in shape after a combination of not being able to handle the fat with my lack of gallbladder, choosing some OTC meds to deal with that, which made my body fail to absorb my thyroid meds. UGH.
Happily, I found an article that lists 11 foods to eat – basically regardless of which diet plan you’re following. The article was on MyFitnessPal.com, written by Jessica Migala
Mostly, it listed things I’m already eating – a confirmation I’m heading in the right direction – leafy greens, avocado, salmon, walnuts, olive oil, berries, broccoli, red cabbage, chia seeds, kiwi, and beans. I’m now trying to concentrate on eating more good veggies, enjoying some fruit, eating meat more as a flavoring than the main thrust of the meal. I’m drinking lots of water, plus enjoying some Chai tea every once in a while.
Today I’m going to do my three short exercises videos from my guy Mike from Australia (warm up, stretches, and weights). I’ll do 15 minutes on my elliptical trainer in the garage, and then half an hour of yoga stretches later this afternoon.
I’m kind of working this out as I go. I’m going through some recipes for Mediterranean style cooking as I have the time.
Getting healthier!
Chilly Monday
A cold front came through yesterday and last night. It’s 57 here now. We have more rain forecast for tonight, tomorrow, and Wednesday, to varying degrees. The sun is shining weakly right now, though. It’s funny to go from 90’s, strong sun, and high humidity to 50’s, cloudy and rainy. Hard to know what to wear – sandals and bare feet, boots for rain or snow, or….
I’m HOPING that this cooler weather will delay the demise of my early spring garden. I still have some broccoli plants in the garden, hoping that they develop offshoots, though the main parts of the plants have been removed now. I did remove the cauliflower to avoid it going bad, harvesting 3 little heads of nice cauliflower – the first I’ve actually had produce a head. There is ONE of those left in the garden right now. My lettuce is getting taller. That’s a clear sign it will bolt soon. I’m hoping that this cooler weather will make it last as long as possible. The same applies to my spinach. Usually, I get until mid June before the early spring plants are finished, but this year Mother Nature has turned my garden on its ear.
I’m back now, after an interruption to go do our errands. I had an unexpected, happy surprise at the post office. I don’t know why it changed, but when I have gone in the past to mail a document to our son in Thailand, I’ve had to fill out a 3-part form that lists exactly the same information I already have on the envelope. The addresses are always quite laborious to write out, and stressful, because I NEED to get it right. Today, the man just asked me what was in the envelope. I said ‘document,’ and he said, please write ‘document only’ on the outside of the envelope. I did, and then he charged me, much less than I paid the last time. Amazing. :0)
I’m not sure what the rest of the day holds. I’m PLANNING to try to work in my garden a bit, plus continue my push to get the pantry re-organization finished. I would like to harvest some lettuce and do some weeding. We’ll see if Mother Nature will cooperate…
Have a wonderful Monday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Survival Skill
My dad taught me to laugh. He developed his strong sense of humor when he was a child. He fell off a horse when he was 3 years old, breaking his arm in three places. Back then, the doctors knew much less about how to set bones, particularly in young, growing toddlers. His left arm was much shorter than his right and the fingers of his hand curled in, making the hand essentially useless for normal tasks. He discovered that he could make other kids laugh, defusing their desire to bully him.
He loved all kinds of humor – jokes, stories, pranks, slapstick, puns – you name it. He developed it into an art form, starting as defense, but growing into a wonderful ability to see the humor in most situations rather than allow negativity room to grow. He laughed a lot and drove my brother and me crazy, always asking us, ‘What’s funny about that?’ when there was a joke mentioned.
For a time, my own sense of humor was a bit TOO well-developed. I had trouble accepting a compliment when one came my way. When my DAD said, “Nice dress,” HE was being sarcastic, meaning the skirt was too short. When someone ELSE said it, I tended to react the same way, immediately assuming something was wrong with what I was wearing.
When my dad’s health failed and he was taken to the hospital, he wrote on a napkin there, “Remember me laughing.”
And I do. He would tell elaborate stories, holding everyone around him in thrall, listening to his every word as he built toward the punch line. And HE would laugh, too – helplessly – to the point that, beyond whatever the joke or story was – we laughed watching HIM laugh, full of love for him.
Being able to stand back and see the humor in something really aggravating is one of my survival skills. It makes me able to SEE the aggravation for what it is, and how unimportant it is in the whole of life. It has saved my sweet husband’s bacon the whole time I’ve known and loved him (though I mention that I’m thinking of contracting a man with a backhoe to dig a hole in our back acreage that I can throw my husband in from time to time.) :0) One of the most wonderful things about our life together is how many times we laugh together over something.
Filed under Dying to Laugh, Funny Signs - Humor
Owls of Wood and Clay
Sasa Montiljo – Wood & Clay Owls – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Clay Art, When Wood Comes Alive
Stunning Sculpture
Filed under sculpture
Reading
I’m really enjoying re-reading my collection of Robert B. Parker books. I read the “Jesse Stone” series again, then moved on to the “Spenser” series. I’m on book #20, I think, “Double Deuce” now. Parker’s writing was so CLEAN. You’re never aware of the way he writes, unless one of the characters is poking fun or making a snide remark. He describes things so you can see or feel them clearly, yet you just ‘absorb’ the characters and situations. I find myself reading along, and then he says something so subtle that it takes me a sentence or two to react. And then I snort, or smile, or both, to the point my husband says, “What.” (He appreciates Parker’s dry sense of humor, too, and so understands with little explanation. )
When I finish reading the collection, I think I’ll start on our collection of Lee Child next, with his books about Jack Reacher. I just read that Lee Child has stopped writing Jack Reacher books and is passing the series to his brother, Andrew Grant. (In the media, I prefer Alan Ritchson in the TV series, rather than Tom Cruise in the movie versions. This is nothing against Tom Cruise, really. Lee Child is so good at getting the reader to ‘see’ Jack Reacher, though, that I laughed aloud when I discovered who would play him in the movies. Alan Ritchson in the TV version seems perfect for the role. I hope they continue the series.)
I would go nuts if I weren’t able to enjoy time reading each day.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books, Hobbies, Reading is FUNdamental
Cloudy Sunday
I LOVE this troll! He’s so ugly I want to adopt him, though he looks like he’d wreak havoc on an hourly basis around the house…
A last look at the beach. And what a virtual vacation it was! My SIL is home safe and sound and ready to take up her ‘regular’ life again. I’m hoping I’ll hear more details of her time on the beach soon. A last sunrise over which I can drool. Ahhhhhh.
Here in Arkansas it’s quite cloudy. A cold front is pushing through and the HIGH will be 66 today! Quite a change from the 90 degrees F. we’ve been having the past couple of weeks. At least we did not get any severe weather yesterday as we could have with the change. It looks like we could get rain at any time this morning. What a difference!
We have our yard irrigation system half solved. We got a timer yesterday, but it will only control one outflow. We have it set up for the BACK of our yard so it will handle the two tomato planters and our deck flowers. We’ll need to call our plumber to see if he can arrange another line for the front and then we can put another timer on that. We’ll see what he says.
No big plans for the day yet. I hope your Sunday is a good one.
Filed under Gardening, Mother Nature, Thoughts on a ________, vicarious enjoyment
From the Mouth of a Dog
“I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” – Doris Day
“When an 85-pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it’s hard to feel sad.” –” Kristan Higgins
“Happiness is a warm puppy.” – Charles Shultz
“Some dogs live for praise. They look at you as if to say “Don’t throw balls… just throw bouquets.”
Jhordis Anderson
“A watchdog is a dog kept to guard your home, usually by sleeping where a burglar would awaken the household by falling over him.” ~ unknown
“Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear.” Dave Barry
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
A Debate
I’ve debated and settled on switching from Keto to Mediterranean in my efforts to cure my digestive problems and continue to lose my lard. I have a lot of new good things going for me now –
- I have a supply of Healthy Choice Cafe’ Steamer frozen dinners I can eat while getting my act together on cooking again.
- I THINK I have my digestive problem on the mend now with the combination of new eating of many more veggies and fruit with meat used as a flavoring, plus corrective meds, PLUS taking my thyroid med an HOUR before eating or drinking anything else each morning, giving my body time to absorb it.
- I’m getting back into my exercise regimen again, after taking time off while I wasn’t feeling well.
- I’m drinking lots of water.
- I’m avoiding added sugar, white flour, pasta.
So – I’m optimistic about taking control again. I’m sad about having to give up the keto. I really liked the food, wasn’t hungry, was losing weight. The fact that I don’t have a gallbladder added a complication that none of the suggestions provided would overcome. I’m feeling much better now and will improve each day as my system gets back to normal and my body is absorbing my thyroid medication the way it should.
Filed under DIET!, Mediterranean Eating Plan + Recipes
Challenges
We are going to the local hardware store today, having to admit defeat on several issues. None of the issues is dramatic, but cumulatively, they make us feel we are not in control as we would like to be.
- We are buying a new floor fan for our bedroom. We have made the one we have work for years. Now it acts like it isn’t getting enough oil for lubrication. We have put oil in everywhere there is a place to put it, but it hasn’t helped. So we will get a new one, if we can, today.
- I’ve reprogrammed our yard irrigation system three times in the past three days. My husband tried it the previous several days before that. We will see if we can buy a simpler, more straightforward system that will allow us to water two stations for 10 minutes each every day. Sounds like a simple thing, doesn’t it?
- We are treating my chair in the living room for fleas. I’m washing my throw and the jeans I was wearing yesterday as I type this. We will get a new flea and tick collar for our wonderful cat, who seems to be bringing fleas to bite me. My husband isn’t having any problem at all. (Apparently, he doesn’t taste good to fleas.) Both of my legs have bites from yesterday, when the cat sat on my lap while I was reading. The fleas apparently bit through the throw AND my jeans. UGH. We had a flea collar on her, but apparently it has lost its effectiveness.
- UPDATE – My husband stopped me, wanting to go right to Yeager’s, so we did. We just got back. We have a new fan to assemble, cat flea collar ON the cat (much to her dismay), a new irrigation system timer (we’re not sure that this will integrate with our system), iced tea, cash, gas, and mail. My throw is folded on the couch. We gave Amber, our dog, a combination treatment that is supposed to be one of the best for fleas and ticks. My husband is trying to program the water timer and then we’ll see if it will work with our system. The fan will go upstairs soon for assembly.
SO – we are trying to meet our challenges for the day head-on and prevail. Time will tell.
It’s supposed to be a rainy Saturday here. The sky is very cloudy now. Rain is forecast for this morning, this afternoon, and this evening – which pretty well covers the day…
Have a good one!
Filed under Challenges
Artistic Vessels
Filed under Vessels - Multi-Media
Goodbye to the Beach
Thanks to my wonderful SIL, we have vicariously enjoyed a beautiful week at the beach.
I almost feel as if I had been there, walking along the beach in beautiful weather and in the rain.
I’ll find out later if she was successful in finding shark teeth. She has gathered quite a collection over many years now.
I could enjoy the stunning sunrises and sleep in at the same time, thanks to her gorgeous photos! :0)
I could almost hear the water. I didn’t get to kiss a sandpiper, but maybe next time.
And so we say goodbye to the sand, water, calm days and time to relax and regroup.
Even Petr’s acorn people enjoyed it!
Thanks, ML! Safe trip home.
Filed under vicarious enjoyment
I Love Pebble Art
Filed under Rock Art
Never Give Up
This image really hit me between the eyes.
It reminds me that as much as we are overwhelmed by what’s going on in the world, the power lies in each of us to do what we can, where we are, with what we have. It may be enough.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Favorite Pictures
Lovely Gourds
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art, Gorgeous Gourds
Spirit-Lifting Watercolor
Filed under Watercolors I Love
Lesson Learned
I’ve told you I haven’t been feeling sassy lately. I had routine blood work done and was surprised to see that one of my thyroid tests was really high – and that’s bad because I don’t HAVE a thyroid anymore.
I talked to our doctor yesterday. One of the routine things we do every six months is review what meds we’re taking. I take a list, and had added the two meds I’ve added lately to try to get my digestion back under control.
It turned out that the two over-the-counter meds I’ve added may have been helping my digestion problems, but the fact that I take my pills together in the morning was sabotaging my thyroid hormone medication, making it so my system didn’t absorb it. So it was like I haven’t been taking ANY thyroid medicine for about 3 weeks. GREAT.
It never occurred to me. Once I saw that my test was high, it clicked that some other symptoms I’ve been having were associated with my thyroid dosage being off.
I have now learned –
- Next time I’m having a problem for which I’m considering taking new meds, I should check with my good doctor through the portal they provide.
- I should be taking my thyroid med first thing, then giving it an hour or so before I eat or take anything else
- that OTC meds are more serious than I have thought and may interact with other meds to my detriment. DUH.
I’m lucky to have a good, patient primary doctor who takes the time to listen and has the smarts to figure out what I’ve done to myself and how to fix it.
Filed under learning new things, life lessons, taking care of yourself
It’s Friday
Happy Friday!
Sad to say we’re not having Lunch Bunch today. Everyone is under the weather – except for my husband and me – so hopefully everyone will feel better soon and we’ll see each other NEXT Friday.
This is probably the last beach photo this trip from our virtual vacation with my SIL. She’s spending the last day on the beach searching for shark teeth and enjoying perfect weather there. I’m so glad she gets to do this with her friends each year. AND I’m delighted that we get to share the ‘calm’ and beauty with her vicariously. :0)
Yesterday I got out and pruned and staked my 4 zucchini plants. If it isn’t a good thing, it’s not a problem. My husband won’t eat zucchini anyway. If it’s successful, I’ll be a very happy planter. :0)
You can see two of the four plants here.
And here are some of the tomato plants on the other side of the house.
Karin Joijting Art 2
Filed under animal paintings, Karin Hoijting
Cloudy Beach Thursday
I’m getting spoiled enjoying a gorgeous photo of the beach every morning. My SIL hasn’t kissed a sandpiper for me yet, but I’m still hoping. She says it’s cloudy there this morning and they may get some rain. What a lovely thought – walking on the beach in the rain…..
Back in the ‘real world’ in Arkansas, we’re having “spotty showers” this morning and 90’s this afternoon. I’m hoping that I can get out to my garden this morning in a bit and see if I can figure out how to prop up my zucchini plants and prune them.
My husband got frustrated with the yard irrigation system controller yesterday. I told him I would tackle it this morning and just came in from trying to do just that. I reset the whole system, which thought it was January of 2007… Hopefully, I have it reset now, but we won’t really know until this evening, when Station 1 should start watering at 7pm and Station 2 at 7:10. Fingers crossed.
We go to the doc’s office this afternoon. I had Graves Disease years ago and had my thyroid radiated. I’ve taken a medication since then that simulates thyroid hormone. When my levels go wonky, I’m in pretty bad trouble. The thyroid controls a LOT of what goes on in your body. Usually, I go along on the same dosage for years, sometimes, with no problems. My test results showed my thyroid levels are, indeed, wonky now. What I thought was diet-related is probably due to this. I have other symptoms, too, that I haven’t had in a long time. I’ll find out today what my doc thinks is best. Help is on the way. :0)
I hope that you’re having a pleasant Thursday. If not, keep gazing at the gorgeous photo of the beach above, That’ll make it better.
creativeartworksblog 