cooking up trouble!

Being troubled by gluten and finally deciding to eat properly, I purchased a pkg of gluten free flour to make blueberry muffins. If I had read the pkg I would have known that I needed Xantham gum to replace the gluten. If I had read the pkg though, I wouldn't have discovered that plain geletan added helps give a better texture. Now I know! I will be driving out to the Whole Foods mrkt today to get what I need and tonight I shall have blueberry muffins!
Blueberry Muffins
On a different note, yesterday was my last day babysitting Caleb and Connor after over 7 years. We shall now have them for weekend visits as grandparents not as sitters! Wahoo! No more getting up at 5am Monday mornings! Now I'm going to work on getting healthy, which sounds like a distant dream but one I feel I can reach, reducing my fibro myalgia symptoms, loosing weight, and building up my stamina. Starting today!
Getting Healthy!

Rain, rain go away!

It has been raining today, not that that is a bad thing. We need our little pond to fill up so the ducks will return...the ground needs greening up...the flowers need perking up...and the winter muck needs to be washed away! Of course we couldn't burn the brush today, but there will always be next weekend for that.

It was, however, a perfect day for cuddling with a grandchild and watching a movie. We watched Nim's Island. I loved it more that he did, of course he is only 3. As I watched the neurotic writer, Alex, deal with her issues, I had to ask if all of us writers are like that? It seems most of us are rather shy and are more comfortable with our own company than that of other humans, the exception being close family members. She even has a germ phobia, I am working very hard at correcting mine. I'm trying to remember that a little dirt is a good thing! Germs in small numbers are our friends! After all I wasn't always like this, there was a time when it wouldn't bother me to eat off the floor, now I cringe if I'm not the one who washed the plate!

Eating out is a definite no-no, tales of waiters spitting where they hadn't aught to fixed that for me. I even have trouble with ground meat and have to tell myself that if I cook it to a high temp. it will kill what ever has been added that shouldn't have been added. Fruits and veggies seem safe enough, if you wash them well and eat organic. If it comes from a package I don't seem to mind. Except there are the dangers of chemicals to consider, so again organic is best.

There is so much to worry about that it becomes exhausting at times. I guess that's where faith comes in. "Trust in Jehovah with all your Heart, and do not lean upon your own understanding." Sometimes that is easy enough, it is when you let your guard down, let that first little worry in, then the next one creeps in and before you know it you're bringing a bottle of sanitizer everywhere you go...oh yeah....I have one in my purse!

My son just got a lesson from His son!

My dear sweet 3 yr. old grandson, Aiden, was watchting cartoons with his dad when a comerical for dolls came on. Aiden says to his dad "I don't want that, it's girl stuff". My son, trying to reinforce masculinity replied "Yeah, that stuff is stupid!". Aiden turned to his dad and looked at him, shook his head and said "No, not stupid, just girl stuff". Way to go Aiden!
Is it any wonder we love these little guys sooooo much?

Writers Block

I haven't written an article for 3 weeks. I have written 3 poems, but what good is that? They did make me feel good, so that is something. I love poetry. It is so fulfilling to take a thought and follow it along to completion, never knowing how it will end, but happy to go for the ride. I have discovered that I really love to write acrostic poems. My favorite acrostic thus far is my "Ribbons Flutter", it gives me a warm glowing feeling, and makes me smile.
I don't even know how I do it, other than to say it is truly a gift,
and when I get an inspiration something gets turned on and the
words skip out. See if this poem doesn't bring a smile and a warm fuzzy feeling!

RIBBONS FLUTTER

R ibbons flutter soft on the breeze
I mpish little girl dances to please
B ouncing here and there she goes
B ouncing high upon her toes
O bliging us our visual treat
N ever faltering on steady feet
S ails to me for kisses sweet

F lickering sunlight on golden mane
L aughing twirling 'round again
U tter delight this afternoon dance
T ime stands still in blissful trance
T ottering now her dance complete
E xhausted dancer rest your feet
R un to me for kisses sweet

Still Dreaming...

...of warm sunshine that is. We did have a nice day Saturday, it was a little cool but not the 20's we woke up to this morning. Anytime the weather is cold I think of soup. I especially love chowders, warm and creamy. I am including a recipe I love that is simple yet delicious, and I hope you try and enjoy it.

Seafood Chowder

1/4 lb. bacon; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 stalk of celery, chopped

Brown the bacon in a skillet, remove the bacon to a towel covered plate to drain. Add the onion and celery to the skillet and saute' on medium low heat until onion is transparent. Put this mixture in stock pot and add the following:

2 cups water; 1 can condensed tomato soup; 1 cup frozen corn
2 cups diced potatoes; 1 bay leaf; salt and pepper to taste

Bring this to a low simmer for about 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Turn heat to low and add the following:

2 cups milk; 1 cup heavy cream; the bacon, crumbled; 1/2 cup each of cooked shrimp, lobster meat, crab meat, and baby clams

Heat this through, about another 5 minutes, serve with sourdough bread.

This is not meant to be a weight reducing food, it's meant to sooth and comfort on a cold day, and believe me it does.

Puppies are cute but they Grow up!

Oh yes, I do love dogs! I must keep telling myself that. Well, I really don't have a problem loving my pretty girl(she is the one with the black face). It is my sons dogs I'm having difficulty with. He has once again move back home, temporarily, and with him comes 2, yes 2, big mixed breed dogs. While he was living away they developed some very bad habits.

If I wish to go to the store I must remember to put the butter up, put any breads in the bread box, put the trash behind a closed door, and make sure all dirty dishes are in the sink if not washed.

I went to breakfast with a friend this morning and performed all the necessary steps to insure my house would be in the same shape as when I left it. Knowing that his male dog is able, and quit willing, to open refrigerators, I should have know that the sink really isn't the safe haven it appears to be. Cereal dishes scattered on the floor, storage container shredded, glass casserole dish shattered. The glass dish was full of soaking water which was now puddled on the floor.

It is my own fault for several reasons:
#1 I should have learned by now to say "NO, find someone else to stay with", although thinking back I did say that...what happened?
#2 Should have stuck to my guns when I said he could come back but not the dogs. Again...what happened?
#3 I should have done the dishes as soon as they were emptied. Yeah right!

We are supposed to love our children unconditionally, well it's wearing thin. All of you who think you're going to miss your kids when they go, you will grow to love the peace and quiet...wish I could!

Winter Dreaming

When will this winter end, with the cold, and the flu's that come with it? I've been looking at real estate in New Mexico (dreaming really), trying to withdraw some of the heat from the beautiful views. I was born in Roswell, but we moved to Aurora Colorado when I was 2. I did get to return for a visit to Alamogordo New Mexico when I was 14. Oh the fun we had. That trip planted a little bug that pokes it's head out every so often creating in me an urge so strong it's almost impossible to ignore. If it were not for familial responsibilities I would be there now. For now, in Massachusetts, winter is not over yet!
Oh, I long for my gardens!

Well, money is tight everywhere, but things still need to be done. I took both of the dog's to get their rabies shots and spent $490. Ouch! that hurt. I thought I was going to get out of it for around $300. Guess I was wrong. My husband and I shop together and joke that we go in for a gallon of milk and it ends up costing us $50, that $50 has gradually jumped to $80 in the past 2 months. How do people on fixed incomes do it? We, as a people, are going to have to get creative.

http://www.helium.com/items/1204976-article-on-bringing-back-old-time-bartering-system

Are You Your Brothers Keeper?

I ask this question because all creation, being created by one creator, are brothers. Even if you aren't a religious person don't you feel that we humans are responsible for caring for those critters who are lower that us? If you are a religious person then you know we were told to care for all the Earth and that which is in it.

On a whole we humans are not doing very well, but how are you doing on a personal level? As with most things, it all starts at home! It doesn't need to require a great deal of money or time either.

*1. Keep your space clean. Is your yard a haven or a disaster? Do your neighbors complain about noise, smells, or looks? Even if they aren't complaining perhaps you could look at your yard from every vantage point. See if there are any eye-sores that require attention.

Using green products is not only good for the environment, but safer for family and pets as well. Don't like poison ivy...pour boiling water at the base of the plant to kill the roots. Need something to Take stains out of the counter top...vinegar and baking soda work wonders.


*2. Keep your animals healthy. If you have pets or livestock they are your responsibility. Keeping them healthy requires keeping them clean, well fed and sheltered. You may not be able to save the polar bears, but by taking proper care of your animals you are setting a good example for your children and neighbors. Good examples breed good behaviors!

*3. Feed the birds. Really you are just supplementing a birds diet when you fill those cute little feeders, but by allowing an area of your yard to stay "natural", you can create an oasis where they can eat the way it was intended for them to eat. This also supplies them with nesting material and it is great fun to watch them hold on to a thin straw and wave in the wind.