Category: It’s All About…

I went back to my Optometrist on Friday and my eye is healing very slowly. Due to that, I still have the special contact lens in and will return to see him on Monday at 12:30.

It’s really funny when I think of all the weird medical things that have been happening during the Pandemic.

All three dogs have had issues, my blasted eye, and Jack ran out of patio blocks and was threatening to go out in search of them until I found them three towns over.

So despite the fact that we are supposed to be sheltering at home, I certainly have been out quite a bit.

I have two things I need to handle next week. Two bits of stupidness. Two bills that never should have been sent. So on Monday, I will spend probably more time than I care to admit, being on the phone to handle these two bills.

I’m also thinking about getting an Air Fryer. Does anyone have one they like? Make and Models and a little about them would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you are having a great weekend!

Monday morning dawned early and bright. I woke in a very good mood since I had planned out the systematic attack of all my duties for the day!

I walked the dogs, put out the bird feeders and then made my banana pancake. Have I mentioned my banana pancake? It’s so good and made with one mashed up banana, a little vanilla, 1/4 cup of egg whites and a teaspoon of Splenda. I mixed it all together and poured it into a preheated frying pan, that’s been sprayed with non-stick spray. OMG! So good!

After that, I pulled my two-tone hair into a little pony-tale and then put a kerchief on my head.

I packed up the car with the week’s recyclables and put on my country version of a Hazmat Suit, and off I went to get everything accomplished.

The Recycling Center was nearly deserted, so I breezed through and got it all deposited in the proper areas.

I came back to the car, removing my gloves and placing them in my trash bag. I then used hand sanitizer and drove the few miles to my local grocery store, where I carefully went through the shop, buying all we would need for the next 10 days. It was not cheap, but I try hard to plan everything out so I do not need to go out during the week.

As soon as I left the store I took off my gloves, deposited them in the trash, and used my hand sanitizer. (I left my mask on the entire time)

I drove to the Post Office and picked up a week’s worth of mail.  Once again I removed my gloves as I have been shown and deposited them in the trash. I then got out my Clorox wipes and wiped off the door handle, steering wheel, my hands, and the keys.

Coming home, I did my usual removal of clothes in the basement and showering before moving the food in and taking care to make sure it was properly handled

And I looked at the clock and it was 12:15 and I had managed to get it all done early! And I was exhausted! However, I felt pretty good about having accomplished so much, safely, in such a short time.

It brightened my spirits because I have started to feel like we will actually make it through this very scary time.

I’ve also learned that I am one tough cookie who can handle just about anything, and find my way through.

I woke up on Monday morning and started my day. It’s part of my morning routine to get my coffee, walk the dogs and then come in and check my email.

As I sat to look through my email, my laptop started doing weird things. It started to shut off all on its own, or disconnect from the Wifi. After the fourth or fifth time, I’d had it! Especially when attempting to do work on Dackel Princess. I’d be in the middle of something and then Bam! I would lose everything to the silly, stupid laptop!

When Jack got out of bed I told him that I want a new laptop. He started to hem and haw, but I told him to forget about it. He has had 2 laptops to my one. And I have had this current one since 2012. It is time for a new machine.

That being said, technology has changed. This found me reading and studying new gadgets and gizmos so I would know what I would need.

I decided that I needed to buy a machine to grow into. There are three Dell Computers that fit my needs at three different prices.

I need to toss out the top of the line, and probably the bottom and buy the middle. It needs to be soon as I believe that this problem will A. Drive me insane, and B. Eventually just plain die on me!

Wish me luck!

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…De-stressing

Yesterday I decided that I needed to chill. Quite honestly, I have been stressed about things that I have no control over. I needed to try to relax and find my tranquility.

So I made a couple of nice meals during the day, went out and did a few errands, which included a short trip to the Recycling Center to bring our old cracked patio chair in, and I stopped at the local grocery store.

I’m actually in this smaller Hannaford’s quite a bit. So much so that I know a lot of the people who work there. People say hello and smile at me and even joke with me and that is such a great feeling.

Yesterday the manager had a small bag of M&M’s and it was a mystery flavor. She had the crew at the grocery check out all trying to guess what flavor it was. She looked at me and asked if I wanted to join the fun? I did, so I tried a piece. Hmmm. I could taste a malted chocolate taste, but also a creamy rich filling. “Candy Corn” I pronounced! And I was right!

I came back home and worked on crafts for the rest of the afternoon. I put on two movies. “She’s Having a Baby” with Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, from 1988 and “When Harry Met Sally” with Billy Cyrstal and Meg Ryan from 1989.

Both I have seen a number of times, so it was nice and easy for me to “watch” while I crafted.

My day ended with me going around and clock adjusting, as our time changed. We all fell back an hour. Now it will be a little more light in the morning, but darkness will fall much faster in the afternoon.

Today, I plan almost a repeat of yesterday, with the exception of not needing to go to the grocery store.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

After standing at the sink with my hands in flocked rubber gloves, washing dishes three times a day, I wondered what man I should be thanking for my automatic dishwasher.

Well, low and behold, when I looked up who invented the automatic dishwasher I discovered that a woman had invented this cherished device!

Josephine Garis Cochran invented the first useful dishwasher in Shelbyville, Ill., and received patent # 355,139 on December 28, 1886. Cochrane, a wealthy woman who entertained often, wanted a machine that could wash dishes faster than her servants, and without breaking them.

Thank you, Ms. Cochran!

I’m amazed that this woman not only designed the machine but with help from a mechanic built it and then marketed it to hotels and restaurants. Kitchen Aid would eventually puy her patent.

So either Tuesday or Wednesday the parts to fix my machine should be here, but in the long run It’s been interesting to learn something about a product I have used since I was in 4th grade and never knew was invented by a woman!

In the last few weeks, I have been thinking a lot about the whole weight loss journey that I have been on for the better part of eleven years. I have had times when I found great success, but it cost me a great deal as far as what I wanted to eat and what I could. Like a petulant child, I wanted what I wanted and points be damned.

However, very recently, I started to look inward at the long term effects of being overweight, at the kinds of food I was putting into my body, and how I could achieve a healthier weight, without missing out on the things I like and enjoy.

It’s called balance.

So, I memorized the zero point foods and I stopped counting points. I mean, I knew how many points I could have in a day, but I tried to plan, enjoy and live with the foods I loved.

Of course, this made me look at my food preparation, what things to eat, and how I could balance the foods in my life.

Diced chicken sauteed with onions, peppers, and mushrooms, served with riced cauliflower with peas and carrots!

Fruits and vegetables have become good friends! Fish and Chicken are in my fridge and freezer, awaiting preparation.

Sauteed zucchini, summer squash, onions, peppers, and mushrooms, with a piece of broiled swordfish.

Every day, I have considered what I wanted to accomplish. If I feel hungry, I drink. I know what I am eating has filled me up, so it isn’t real hunger, but just casual, mindless, eating.

I’m doing well. I’m doing better than expected. And I feel very relaxed about it all. I like the direction this new attitude is taking me.

I feel no pressure to count points, and I also do not feel under pressure to lose X Pounds by X Month. It’s slow and steady and I do not feel anxious about it all.

This is the first positive freedom I have felt about my weight ever. I have been so hung up on either losing or gaining that I was coming to really hate my body. Oh, how cruel we can be to ourselves.

So, this new attitude, has me happy and smiling and enjoying life! And loving my body once again.

So remember, in the end, it’s all about balance and loving your imperfect self!

In the last few days, I have been presented with problems in the lives of people that I feel very close to and are dear to me. There is nothing I can do personally for them. Except, of course, pray. However, it has got me thinking about life in general and how very blessed I am.

First, I have a wonderful loving family. A beautiful and intelligent daughter and when she sees me she smiles and lets me know how important I am to her. Even if it is with a loving smile and a sparkle in her eyes.

Next, I have two happy and healthy grandchildren that I adore. I never expected this. I mean, I’d always hoped for grandchildren, but I was thinking that this might be a pleasure I would not have. Then, Savannah came along! What a blessing! Savannah is my little cuddle-bug and when she sees me, her face lights up and she runs into my arms! Oh, love!

Quinn is a tad shyer, but in the last year when I walk into the room, he gives me the cutest boy smile, with all sorts of charm, and he now hugs me before I leave to come home. Boys are so different from girls, something I had to learn.

Next, on my list of people I am thankful for is my husband of 31 years, Jack. I am so lucky to have had this man in my life, who has always been there for me and never given up on me, even when I have been hard to get along with. Trust me, I am no walk in the park.

I am thankful for my family and friends and for my home. So many people have none of these things, and so I remind myself constantly that in truth, I am blessed!

I wonder why people find it difficult to appreciate what they have and stop nitpicking their lives until they die.

Life will never be perfect. But it’s life! Living, breathing, wonderful life. If you are healthy, have a place to live, a few people you share your life with, perhaps a dog or cat, well, you’ve got it made! So many in this world have almost none of that.

Live, Laugh, Love!

(My sister and I made a heart with our hands over a memorial plaque for our parents.)

Saturday was a very busy day. I accomplished great things in a very short period of time.

We finally finished and got our taxes filed. All I will say is, don’t ask!

I bathed two dackels, got them dry, cleaned their ears and washed all their bedding.

I made three pretty decent meals for us, even if the quiche wasn’t quite as well formed as I would like. After all, I made it a crustless quiche. It did taste good.

Our weather was beautiful! It was up into the mid-’70s and the sun felt so good on my face and arms.

And then at the very end of the day, the sunset was spectacular. All in all, a good day!

I’ve become a bit unhappy with growing out my hair. Call it the 60-ness, but honestly, I dislike having to work hard to style my hair every day, or risk looking like a mad-woman!

I love the color, and my hair is actually is fairly good shape, but after 14 years of having curly-curls hair, I’m ready for a style that I can blowdry quickly and go!

I’ve narrowed it down to four styles that I like. The only thing I will ask my stylist to do is to leave as much length in the back as she can to help hide my scar.

(By the way, Quinn saw my scar the other day and said it was railroad tracks! Then he asked if he had them too! I mean, so sweet and beyond cute!)

Here are the four styles and I ask that you please leave your vote in the comment section.

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2.

3.

4.

So there we are. Four styles that are soft and easy. What do you think? Please leave your vote in the comment section.

Enjoying life!

I saw this on Face book and just had to share it. Children are wonderful and so are their furry friends!