My Life – Page 16 – The Dackel Princess

Another Day

Well, yesterday, after my disaster with the last batch of Heavenly Jam, I set about peeling, pitting and setting about two batches of Jam to work on today.

The biggest problem is that doing the prep work is so labor-intensive. What to do, what to do?

Well, this is what I did:

I cooked the peaches for one minute and fifteen seconds, then toss them in ice water and the skins seemed to slip off very easily. Then I crushed the peaches in my hands until they were in tiny bits.
I juiced the oranges and removed all the pulp inside then tossed the rinds in my food processor and shredded them. This was in place of me sitting there finely chopping them into ribbons.
Then I did sit and dice the cherries. That was a bit labor-intensive, but there is no quick alternative.
I measured out the sugar and mixed it all well, covered them, put that in a cool place and set it to rest.
Later on today I will carefully cook and can these two batches and then I am done!

Jack wants to go to a World War II Museum today and although I would usually be thrilled by this, today I would be happier to stay home, do my jam, and rest. But, he sort of guilted me into it, so I will go.

Meanwhile, I will be making him pancakes this morning. He got a box of pancake mix when we went shopping the other day and wants them for breakfast. Okay, one more thing to cook. As well as a rotisserie chicken for dinner.

Pass my apron!

It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

Last week I was shopping online at Amazon.com. I was looking for a book on Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey. I came upon a book about Highclere Castle and the origins of the castle and the owners of it.

The reviews looked good, but since I wasn’t sure, I thought I would order myself a copy and then if it was any good I would order one for my sister Melodie.

My copy arrived and I was thrilled when I looked it over. So many details of the Castle and so many beautiful pictures. I sat right down and ordered it for my sister. I knew she would just love it!

On Saturday I was contacted by Amazon that the book had been delivered. Since it was pretty early in the morning I wanted to make sure she got the package before the rain set in, so I sent her a text.

“Did a package arrive for you?”

Well, my phone rang almost instantly! She was laughing like crazy! You said between giggles “You will not believe this!”

It seems that my sister had the same idea. So about the same time I ordered this book to review, she had done the same thing! When her mail carrier arrived he delivered two packages with the same book inside!

At first, Mel thought she had ordered two of them! Until my text! Then she knew that we had done this again.

So often we have similar ideas right at the same time! But this was pretty spooky! We are both still laughing about it.

Great Minds…

New Hair

Tuesday morning I got up, only to find my dishwasher had leaked on the floor! Eeeek! Yesterday I had noted a loose seal on the door, but I had tucked it back in place and thought nothing more about it. Tuesday I knew the seal was kaput!

So, I emptied my dishwasher and then did our breakfast dishes by hand. I also looked up our appliance repairman and put a call into him.

However, after washing up the dishes I was off. I was starting with a new hairstylist and I didn’t want to be late!

I was so excited about this, as I decided to go back to my basic real color of medium brown and forever say goodbye to being a blonde. It simply isn’t me. And quite honestly, the chemicals used were too harsh and my hair texture was getting to be like Bozo the Clowns!

Here is my before picture.

Now that is pretty sad, isn’t it? Fortunately, It didn’t last long.

After sitting in a chair for a time with stuff that looked like mud on my head, I was rinsed out and Becca began to style my hair. She listened carefully to me about what I wanted in a style, and before I knew it, she blew my hair dry with a defuser, allowing my curls to pop back into place. Between the color and the curls, I started to feel like myself once again.

Front and back.

I am feeling like a new woman and I just love what Becca has done. I have known her since she was a young girl. I know all of her family too, so this is like coming home to a family member! Becca is so talented and I look forward to our future together!

Monday Musings

On Monday I figured I would bring the two grandchildren with me as I did my errands. I never thought too much about it. After all, I raised two kids who were closer in age than Savi and Quinn. So it should be a breeze with these two.

Well, mostly it was. But I worried a bit in parking lots and at the beach and at the Post Office. But, I managed with a great deal of joy in my heart. Especially at the beach. They loved that, and we are in fact going back tomorrow to swim.

I very seldom go down to Waukewan Lake Beach, (Say, like never), but it was really wonderful to be there and watch the kids swim. Tomorrow I will actually put on my swimsuit and go in too! Of all the things we did today, being at the Lake Beach made them the happiest.

I also must tell you about my darling grandson Quinn. He is three years old. And as we talked today I found out that we were having one of those conversations that any adult will lose. It goes like this.

“Quinn, be careful of Anneliese because she is pretty much blind”

“Why?”

Well because her eyes got a disease and she can’t see too well now.”

“Why?”

“Because she is very old.”

“Why?”

And so it went until I was ready to laugh!

I need to get the kids ready for bed now and then get myself in bed early too. 5 AM comes awfully early!

Happenings

After WW on Wednesday (I stayed the same), I came home and did some cooking for Jack. I like to do some make ahead meals for him as it makes my fish nights easier. It’s not that he doesn’t like fish, but he doesn’t want to eat it as often as I do.

Chunky Tomato, Sausage, Meatball and Basil Sauce

On the stovetop today was a chunky sausage, basil and vegetable spaghetti sauce, and vegetable beef soup. Both came out well and half of each is frozen for last-minute meals.

I also watched three episodes of Downton Abbey, which brought me up to where my sister is with her viewing. Now we can talk and not give things away.

It’s not long now until the movie comes out!

The Buck Stops Here

Or in my case the cookie!

Since things have been busy this summer, I have found it really difficult to stay on a healthy eating plan.

I got a rude awakening at WW Class on Wednesday and I decided that I am not happy where I am weight-wise, so it’s time to take control and get back on track.

If you have never had a weight problem I think it would be hard to understand. I find it hard to cut back and avoid the foods that bring me joy. (Like Fresh Whole Belly Clams, fried in a delicious batter!) I know, however, that this is what I must do.

Being over sixty now is also a challenge to weight loss. It just doesn’t come off the way it once did!

I hate to be counting points every time I put something in my mouth, but honestly, it’s the only way I am going to conquer this!

I’m also an emotional eater. If something upsets me or I start feeling depressed, I find myself reaching for a cookie, chips, chocolate, etc.

Obviously, that is the wrong thing to do and it has only increased my unhappiness as I have watched the numbers on the scale go up and up!

So it’s back to writing everything down and trying to get a handle on my weight. Oh, to be 16 again, when I could miss a few meals and get back to the weight where my clothes fit!

Like that is going to happen! Ha!

Hot Fun In The Summertime

Saturday I decided I needed to get a lot of things done before my trip to see my sister. I needed to cook meals for Jack, do laundry and of course work on packing.

Now mostly it was fine, and I did get things accomplished, but sweet mother of God (!) was it hot!!!

Our thermometer at our home said it was 100. To me, I felt every degree of heat and oh yes, the humidity too!

Yes, hot fun in the summertime for sure!

The spaghetti sauce came out very well. One of the best I have made in a long time. It’s loaded with onions, peppers, garlic, carrots, sweet Italian sausage, and hamburger. I also went out and picked fresh basil off my basil plant, chopped it up and added that to the pot. A little oregano here, a little salt and pepper there and a large can of diced Italian tomatoes and a jar of plain spaghetti sauce. Then it simmered and simmered to perfection!

I also roasted eggplant and I will be making eggplant pizza on a cauliflower crust for myself. That will be amazing!

I measured out all the dog food and labeled it for their breakfast and dinner. I have also put out their cans of food to make it easier for Jack.

Sunday I’m making Beef Stroganoff for Jack to have while I am gone. All these meals he will simply need to warm up.

I’ll be looking forward to going off for a few days, just so I can get out of the kitchen!

Strength

I want you to close your eyes and think back to a time when you were in your prime. Back when you felt you could do anything and always your body would be strong.

Well, that was quick, wasn’t it? I remember a time when I would move my furniture around weekly, because…I could! I could bend, stretch and lift, and all my muscles worked the way they were supposed to.

Me in my mid-teens.

I took gymnastics in school until I grew to be 5 feet 6 inches. But even then, I was strong enough to perform the movements I learned.

That was…yesterday, right? Ha!

I’m not really sure how it is possible to still see yourself being young and carefree when things don’t work quite the way they used to.

The fact is, in my mind, in my soul, I am still that 15-year-old girl, who thinks young thoughts and dreams of a life on the beach. The only problem is, I’m sixty and due to circumstances beyond my control, things don’t work exactly as they once did.

All that being said the good news is that I am finally getting my strength back! My muscles are coming back and I no longer feel like I might drop the frying pan when I am cooking breakfast.

Now you may think this is rather pathetic, but after being so ill in 2017 where I was pretty much convinced I was going to croak, feeling this good is really fantastic!

Best of all, the pain in my neck and shoulders is finally diminishing and I am once again enjoying life!

I am so grateful!

Physical Therapy & Agony!

I wish I was one of those strong people who could go to Physical Therapy and be very brave. However, my therapy is rather different from most, as I am having Dry Needle Therapy to get my muscles to contract and release.

This therapy is painful and I found that Tuesday’s therapy knocked me on my…bottom! Wow! It really hurt.

I called Jack on my way home and told him I would arrive at 2:20 and he should have a stiff drink ready for me. Which he did.

Every time I stopped to relate my experience and pain, he stopped me and told me to drink more.

After that, I took an hour-long nap. And when I woke I was feeling okay. Just okay.

Dinner is frozen lasagna for Jack and Cauliflower Pizza for me. All easy peasy.

I’m working hard with the Physical Therapist because I want to be well. I want my pain level down below 4. I want my life back.

I hope that by tomorrow morning (Wednesday) I will be feeling worlds better.

Fingers crossed!

Clogs

I tend to over keep things. That being said, Sunday, while doing some cleaning, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my toe like I had stepped on a shard of glass!

I immediately stopped what I was doing, took off my 10-year-old clog, that I use as a slipper, and checked the sock and then the clog. Yep, inside the clog, coming up through the sole of the shoe, was a thin nail! Now, this wasn’t anything I had stepped on, it was actually from the construction of the clog! I attempted to get it out, but while trying to do this, I noted the holes and tears of the inside and I finally admitted to myself…”This clog must go!”

That is actually two pairs of clogs I have ditched today. A record for me, because I keep shoes forever! Really. I hate to break in shoes and my Merrell shoes and clogs last me for years.

The new clogs.

Fortunately, last winter, there had been a sale on Merrell Clogs on Amazon and I selected a pair that I would use as slippers. So it is not like I am shoeless.

Still, I’m sad to say goodbye to those shoes. I say this as I am putting a band-aid on my toe to stop the bleeding! Darn clog!