Monday, Monday

Snowing.  When will it ever stop????

G has been on the phone most of the morning--making appointments.  Apparently, everyone in Maine who had the right set up--had a heart attack in March.  G has to wait to get into Cardio Rehab and has to wait for appointments with his doctors.  On the positive side: he didn't have the Widow Maker. Others weren't so lucky and their families are planning funerals.  Two that I know of last week.

The Open House was good.  I was very tired when I got home and am happy to have today off.  I have already watered the plants "over-wintering" in the attic-- and they are doing very well--even the geraniums.  I need to start my tomato seedlings. And my pepper seedlings.  And the onions.  And the fennel.  And, I need to take the dog for a walk.  He hasn't had a walk in quite a few days.

What I actually want to do is sit on the cozy couch and read my library book.

The visiting nurse is here.

Spring Open House @ Work

I've gone back to work.  Three part time days and tomorrow a full time day--starting way too early.  I have to go in and water before the Early Bird Sales.  I am NOT an Early Bird.

I went to the grocery today and stocked up on elements.  Sweet potatoes to bake (I like them as a meal).  A roasted turkey breast from the deli.  Sliced ham and cheese.  Some ground beef to add to a can of marinara so G can have "pasta" when ever he desires.  Even a wheat pizza dough ball for an onion and mushroom pizza. Items that can be quickly mix and matched for a low sodium meal or two.  And for me, two large tubs of Greek yogurt as my favorite lunch is yogurt with fresh fruit.  Grapefruit.  Mango.  Peaches and raspberries.  Sounds like Spring doesn't it.

I started watching "DIG" last night.  Jerusalem is the setting.  Plenty of twists, turns, levels, cliffs in the car and on foot chase scenes.  Should be exciting but is mainly confusing. We have to look further and further for things to watch during the basketball playoffs.

Today I moved all the furniture back to the original spots.  G is no longer sleeping on the couch or needing a special chair to sit in (easy to get up and out of).  He looks and acts like he did prior to the heart attack and the surgery.  He may even be feeling better than he did--before.  And yesterday he sneezed and it wasn't the horror he had been led to believe it would be.  His chest didn't split open. Ha!!

Today we are having a light snowfall.  And it's very cold.  But the first crocuses are coming up in the lawn where the snow has melted.  I put all the pots of bulbs outside.  Might as well get used to the real weather.  Tough love.

Well, that's it for now.  I still have the taxes to work on--once I figure out my work schedule.  And then I need to start seeds.  And I have two off site classes to teach on April 14th.  And more classes during the month.  A very, very, busy start to the season.  Whoosh!!!

Have A Seat

We just got back from  this week's visit to the heart surgeon's office.  G can now sit in the front seat of the car, and drive the car, and tuck in his own shirt tails.  Nurse Joanne has been given the heave ho.
In fact, G drove us home and we got him a Butterfinger Blizzard at Dairy Queen to celebrate.

The last bits of "getting back to normal" will be going to cardio rehab for a few weeks.  An exercise program that the local hospital runs.  G has to make appointments with his lung doctor and with his new heart doctor.  But that's it.  Seems anti-climatic doesn't it?  After such an intense three weeks. Of course, G will still be taking 2 or 3 hour naps in the middle of each day for awhile.

Really, that was three weeks???????  Wow.  Amazing what heart surgeons can do these days.

I went in to work yesterday for a few hours.  It was super nice.  Warm and sunny and it smelled like dirt.  My boss was telling people to go see me because "she's happy today and it won't last". I think it will last because I had a glimpse of what "unhappy" might look like and I don't want to go there anytime soon. Now I can tell my boss he can put me on the schedule.  Back to work.  Nice.

Thank you to everyone--your comments waiting for me when I arrived home each evening meant the world to me.  Like getting hugs from people who cared about me.  And your thoughts and prayers were with me on the long drive and the long days sitting next to G in his bed or chair.  I never once felt alone.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I will try my hardest to pay this forward for anyone who has need.  I promise.

Cymbidium Orchids

I was given four pots of these orchids--two quite awhile ago and two more a year or so ago.  They are outside from Spring to Fall and in the house for the Winter.  When they are supposed to bloom. I am having no trouble getting them to grow nice green leaves, but flowering?  Not so lucky.  One of them did  manage a flower stalk but an accident involving G dropping something on the pot--ended the possibility of flowers.  Two plants are white flowering and two are pink.

The "trick" to flowering cymbidium is lots of nitrogen spring to midsummer and then a wallop of  super phosphate in August and September.  I get the nitrogen part every year, but miss the deadline for the bud setting phosphate.  The orchids, with nice leaves and no flowers, are up in the upstairs bathroom.  In the tub.

G had a shower today.  He had been apprehensive about getting all the "wounds" on his body wet, so we kept putting it off.  I did sponge baths for him.  But today, he had a shower and loved it.

It's really the small things in life that bring the most pleasure, isn't it.

Will Spring Be Colder Than Winter???

The wind is blowing.  And it's very, very cold.  G is bundled up in as many down items as I can stack on top of him.  He's cold.  Stays cold.  But is getting stronger every day.

We are on that "one day up and one day down" roller coaster that is "recovery". We've had the visiting nurses here.  One just to "check on the household" and today's visit from a very nice RN who checked G throughly, took blood for the doctor's visit tomorrow, and chatted with G about how he feels, is using the pain meds etc.  She wants more walking.  So I got him set up with a heavy sweater, gloves and his chest vent "tote bag" and off he went--around the house.  All by himself.  For 8 minutes.

I used the iPhone to take a picture of the lung vent tube inserted in his right lung.  He had no idea what it looked like.  We also took a picture of the "knob" and"zipper" he now has down the middle of his chest.

He's coughing a bit more than usual today (loosening up the junk in his lungs) and he hasn't had the "sneeze" yet but has been told it's pretty horrible when it happens.

He's eating.  I'm not sure I am making him things he actually would pick off a menu.  Today it was fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Basil leaves.  A crusty bit of baguette. (probably not something for a cold day) Dinner will be pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce.  Familiar favorites. G doesn't like soup other than chicken noodle--salty--so I can't make that.

I bought a nice pork tenderloin and am looking for a recipe for cooking it.  G likes his pork sweet and sticky.  So, I am looking for something Asian inspired.  But not too much soy--as we are low sodium now.

I was going to make his new favorite lasagna "cupcakes" but can't find the package of won ton wrappers I tucked into the freezer.  I have pulled open the drawers three or four times, looking, and still no luck.  I have a small amount of egg noodles in the fridge and might just layer them up with lasagna fixings and bake them.  I think two small oven proof cups.  Easy enough to pop into the oven to bake.

I have the dishwasher going, am in the middle of cleaning my bathroom vanity (ick), have to do the evening pills and we have to be at the hospital by 9:45 for the chest X-ray.  So, we need to leave home by 8:45 at the latest (to find parking)---- it takes quite awhile to get G up and dressed in the morning so I think I will be setting the alarm for "still dark" tomorrow.  Early bedtime.

Is It Spring Yet????

No grass showing but the expected storm--well, it went somewhere else, I guess.  Not that I am complaining.  I was not looking forward to shoveling the driveway.

G is home.  This happened on Saturday morning.  We got settled into a sort of routine with visits to the bathroom (thank you to our daughter for installing the raised toilet seat), naps, adjustments to the wing chair where G is napping, reading email and watching tv.

He slept on one of the two extra long couches in the living room last night because out four poster bed is just a little too high.  The couch is just a little bit too low.  As is the case in most everything, getting down onto the couch was a whole lot easier than getting up off the couch.  We managed with the 9 step program (of my own making) starting with two or three harder pillows being added behind his back to get him into a more "seated position".  We had to stop often while he worked through the discomfort.  He has a lung tube that cause "twinges".

My friend P, asked at her gym this morning, and they are graciously lending us one of their "step" exercise steps.  G will be able to step up on the "step" and then settle his bottom onto the bed and "roll" onto his back.  This also will "twinge" quite a bit.  It looked so much easier when the PT helpers did it.

Best of all, G is finally eating and has some appetite.  I served him a simple pasta with marinara and he had two servings.  Still not happy with the low sodium turkey or ham I got for him but he liked the cracker (only one) and the chocolate chip cookie I home baked for him.  I skipped the salt in the recipe.  G is lucky--not diabetic.  So he gets all the sugar he wants.

I want you all to start looking at the labels on the stuff you eat.  So much sodium in everything. Fat-well I was into that on Atkins and I know what has fat and what doesn't.  The lower the fat content--the higher the sodium.  Wrong on so many levels.  Try to lower your fat intake and they kill you with sodium.  And bread.  Try to find low sodium bread.  Even the multigrain loaf was over the top.  360 grams in one slice.  Limit is 2000g per day.  About a teaspoon.  I will be making my own bread for him to eat.  I think the no knead one you toss into a hot cast iron casserole.

In fact, I will be taking care of him 24/7 and not going back to work until his recovery is complete. Six weeks. I'm not being a saint here.  For better or worse.  He'd do the very same for me.

Things Are Improving

Another update.  The only thing hooked up to g when I left the hospital room at 4 pm on March 11th were the chest drain tubes.  the oxygen is only being used when he does his "lap" walks around the nurse's station.  And he even tried that with out holding onto the cart handles today.  He also washed his face and brushed his teeth standing up in the bathroom.  Yes, I am bragging on him!!!

I also passed a threshold.  I drove the car to the hospital instead of asking for someone to drive me.
Well, there wasn't anyone to drive me.  So, my choices were to drive myself and be with G or stay at home and feel defeated.

I also had to pump gas.  Since I went as far as the gas station, I decided to go a bit further down the same road and visit work and pick up the floral basket they had made for me.  Beautiful.  Really, really beautiful.  And they were so happy to see me.  The concern was evident on all their faces.

So--it was a four star day today.

Oh, and I walked Riley when I got home (at 4 pm) and he was very, very surprised and delighted.  The floors in the house are covered in dog toys.  I am just going to leave it all out since that's the way he likes it. Riley has been so good.  I leave him in the morning and come home after dark (usually) and he doesn't complain.

G had a feeling that he might be able to go home on Friday.  I'll let you know.

Many, many thanks to all who have mentioned in their comments and emails that they have the two of us in their thoughts and prayers.  As I mentioned to my co-worker --- I can feel the good vibes.
don't ask me how I know that's what it is--but I feel like I am wrapped in happiness and kindness and that feeling is transmitted to G when I sit next to his bed or his chair.  And to Riley who is eating and sleeping and feeling quite positive about his person.

Update

Well, Friday G had his bypass surgery. 11:30 to 3pm. The breathing tube came out at 9:30.

It went very well and three arteries were bypassed.  His heart re-started.  His lungs inflated.

G was back in his room 40 minutes after surgery--this hospital has what is know as "single stay" and he is admitted to a room, stays there prior to surgery, returns to it after surgery (the room had ICU equipment rolled in), does rehab in the room and walks the halls outside his room to build strength and process oxygen, and is then processed to return home from this same room.

No moving around the hospital.  Same staff caring for you from being admitted to being discharged.
Continuity.  Friendship.  Caring.  Establishing who you are as a person--not just a patient.

Which is amazing.  One nurse said "we have to judge the truth of the situation by what is happening with the patient not just judging by the machines".

As my dear, dear friend N was dropping me off at the main door this morning for the fourth day in a row, the iPhone in my purse rang (it's G's) and it was him.  Yes, less than 18 hours after bypass surgery, calling me to ask where his glasses were.  Everyone was looking for them.

Amazing.  N and I shared a very happy high five.

He looks good.  Because of a prior lung condition, they are having to tread lightly with oxygen and other things.  The blood pressure was fluctuating until we realized his hands and fingers were cold.  So, under the blanket they went and the numbers were soon in the acceptable range.

Coughing with a split sternum is not pleasant.

And the reason I am not driving myself is that the return trip would have to be in darkness.  I don't see well in the dark.  And, while the daytime drive would be stressful, the anxiety of thinking about when to leave to miss darkness and rush hour traffic is more than my compromised nervous system could deal with.

My daughter and I are now thinking ahead to discharge day.  Choosing a television room chair that is high enough to get G in and out of without use of arms (by him).  Getting into our tall four poster bed--we are considering some kind of sturdy step--with no arm use to pull up or balance with.  And the toilet.  Ours are not (yet) chair height. We already have a shower seat but no spray wand.  These are all things that we WILL have when the two baths are remodeled.  Because we were PLANNING for when one of us might need special handicapped things thinking it was in our future not our present.  The joke is on us, isn't it?

Well, we'll REALLY KNOW what is needed after this won't we.  A bit late but still.........

No arms (in use) because pressure exerted by the arms puts pressure on the wired sternum.  Pulling the healing bone--apart. Ouch!!!

Life Is Never Boring

I was working on the laundry and the classes.  G was out clearing last night's snow with the snowblower.

He came in, pale, shaking with chest pain.
We talked about what it could be. The chest pain increased. I gave him baby aspirins.

I drove him to the local hospital emergency room (but I had actually tried to talk him out of going).  While I was parking the car about 20 people descended on him and started hooking him up to things, reading the machines, and calling for more doctors. It was serious.

My husband had a heart attack, right there in front of me.

He got a very fast lights and sirens ride in an ambulance to a cardiac unit at a larger hospital.
He had a completely blocked vein which now has a stent.
He may need bypass surgery on an artery, we'll know tomorrow.

He apologized to me for being in the hospital and having a heart attack. (tears)

My daughter was a real trooper.  She drove from work and was there in the big hospital when he got into his room. (she stayed calm and strong)  (very proud of her)

I had to find someone to drive me  to the big hospital (fantastic neighbors and co-workers).  I was shaking like a leaf after driving home from the emergency room.   I could have gone in the ambulance but I had to go home to Riley.  Make sure he was okay. He knew something was wrong before we left for the ER.  He kept putting his head on G's chest.

Tomorrow I'll take G a library book and his hearing aids.  As the nurse very strongly told me " he isn't going home tomorrow--he had a heart attack today".

I know.  I saw it happen.  On the monitors.

Let The Spring Cleaning Begin

The dust here in the living room finally got to be "too much" and I had G help me take down all the curtains.  Into the washing machine they went and I started in washing the windows, the lampshades (gosh do they get filthy), the tables.  I'm leaving the floors to G.  Once he vacuums, I can go over the hardwood with some Bona.

I'm liking this piece of fabric art I got off the internet, so much, I am thinking of drafting a plan for something "like" this but not this.  I don't have any of these colors in my fabric closet or boxes.  It all reminds me of the very first hand appliqué project I made.  Years and years ago.  In a box, unfinished because I outgrew the primitive look.

Yes, I outgrew it.  For awhile there I was into primitive, depression and civil war because the gals I hung with were and well, it felt okay.

But eventually (I visited California) I started enjoying polka dots in cobalt blue, golden yellow and magenta.

And, as the colors heated up the friendships cooled.

The colors up top make me wonder what friends I would have made if I had chosen coral and aqua instead.

These are the thoughts one has, going into the third month of furlough from work.  I called work today and there is a truck bringing over some perennials to fill the annual house.  The greenhouse is still empty.  I am still not needed.  But, soon.  Another week or two.

This year the furlough has gone so very fast. Whoosh!!  I have been reading, napping and walking the dog with G (sometimes).  The sun has been shining a few days in a row (still way cold) but a few inches of the skylights are free of snow pack.  I am working on two classes we'll (work)be teaching off site in April--which makes the days go by.  Vegetable Gardening and Container Gardening.

I'm thinking of trying my hand (well, G's with me giving orders) at Power Point.  The attention span of the audience: they like to look at pretty pictures and forget anything you said while they look at the pictures. I have pinned a great many container pictures on Pinterest.  A pinning whirlwind. And, was amazed to see a great many emails regarding the "repinning" of the items I pinned.  So odd. The internet is indeed a powerful force.  Which reminds me--I need to print the "pin" of the bathroom vanity I want.

Winter Thoughts At The End Of February

I'm thinking it just might still be snowing in June this year.  Nothing has melted but a few icicles on the south side roof edges.  On a positive note: we can see the black asphalt of the driveway for the first time since all this snow started falling.

Did you see the pictures of our 70 car pile up?  No one died.  Nothing really serious.  Heart attack, broken bones.  All of those people were very very lucky.  Especially the pregnant lady in the folded up SUV and the guy trapped in his car under the bus--he had to sit and wait until they had removed enough cars to finally reach his car.  How do you not get panicky.

Our carpenter (who was going to be doing the bathrooms this month) has a winter job plowing.  He says he hasn't done one tiny bit of carpentry since the snow started falling.  Just endless plowing and then endless repairs on the plows or the trucks.  Sounds depressing.  Since most winter contracts for plowing are for the season----not for endless, twice weekly storms.

I am looking forward.  To planting seeds.  Even as my husband warns--there won't be any place warm to plant them when they need to be planted.

I have been making pots of red chili beans this winter.  From small red dry beans.  No canned stuff. and eating the beans with brown rice.  Healthy Food.  I have been making my own chili seasonings from dry chilies, coffee, chocolate, onions, etc.  Like chemistry.

I have also been making pots and pots of chicken soup for G.  He says it makes him feel "warm" after all the outside work with the snowblower.  He had to make wider paths in the back yard for the dog. We also have paths to all the exits--in case of emergencies.  We see too many homes, on our walks, with no way to get to the front door.  The garage, yes.  The front door, no.  And I bet, no way out the back door, either.

Riley is resting--even though he much prefers being active.  We are trying to keep him off the snowbanks where he likes to do "his business".  So--he isn't the happiest of dogs.  Not even looking out the window at the squirrels and big fat black crows.  If you can't chase them, why look?

And there are no rabbits here in Maine (not even polka dotted ones).  I've often wondered why that is, as I saw rabbits all the time in Illinois.  Perhaps it's the Fishers.

It's All Good

When the Vet had Riley all knocked out and ready to do the aspiration of what he felt might be a  dangerous cancerous lymph gland, he said to his tech--"let's just take it out" and so they cut and took out the ...... ta da fatty tissue ball.  Not a swollen lymph gland.

At this point Dr H. and the tech nearly broke out into the happy dance and high fives.

People. (!!!!!)

Man.  Are we all happy right now.  The fatty mass is going to the lab.  Riley is on pain meds for the incision and is very Zombie-like.  He's drinking water, sleeping and going out on the leash to pee.  He'll eat treats but not his food.  An hour ago he barked.

It's all good.

Oh, the lymph gland is still in Riley and other than being a bit irritated by rubbing against the fat ball, looks normal.

Walking The Dog

That's about the only reason G and I have for going outside these February days.  How many storms in the past few weeks?  Coming two or three in a week.  No melting.  The snow is piled up so high that Riley is way up over our heads as he climbs to the top and then swims (walks) across the top. The roadways are getting more and more narrow and G and I have to tuck ourselves into the slush so cars can pass safely.  It gets tricky if on coming traffic has bald tires.  I though my ticket would be punched as a newspaper delivery guy lost control of the car and--luckily for me---plowed into a snow bank and not my knees.

The restaurant G used to manage is being closed and he has been invited to join the Breakfast Club in their last meeting there tomorrow morning.  He should go.  The Breakfast Club will be happy to see him one more time.

Riley has a vet appointment tomorrow morning regarding his lymph gland.  Aspiration.  To see what it's all about.  So, it would be good for G to have somewhere happy to go while that is happening.

My daughter is enjoying her new job.  Not the drive to work, this winter.  But her co-workers are very nice and she has her own office.  I am very thankful she is happy.

My son is enjoying his new job (it's been almost a year now) and he has just moved into an new apartment.  NEW.  After living in a1950's rental with no updates for too many years.  He did a very brave thing (well, moving was pretty off the charts as well) by deleting a large pile of "things he no longer needed" before moving.  He took only what he loved or needed with him to the new place. A fresh start.  He sends us pictures of his new home. I am very thankful he is happy.

Our neighbor across the street is moving.  And I wish she was getting rid of the things that no longer matter.  Instead of getting rid of things she is packing up the past (her failed marriage) and trying to take it with her into the future.

She wonders why we stay here.  In ice cold Maine. But as I told her, it's only 2.5 months.  And then it's almost May when Maine is absolute perfection.  And, it's home.

Happy New Year

The year of the ram.  I don't know how that translates for the dogs that G and I are. We'll see. But I will be taking the Swedish wooden horse down off the mantle and replacing it with the Irish wool ram I received as a gift from Ireland when G was a "traveling man".

My Winter Minestrone is way too heavy on the tomato.  A 28 ounce can of pureed tomatoes.  I have added more water and tried to lower the carb count by not adding the pasta in the recipe.  I will be adding MORE water to the next 100 bowls (it made so much) and I will be adding the pasta.  It doesn't taste bad.  It just has a "one note" taste.  Tomato, tomato, tomato.  All the nice vegetables: celery, carrots, butternut squash, kale, onions, garlic, white beans and potato are lost.  I looked at the picture posted on the blog where I first noticed this recipe--and it is indeed pretty tomato-y but the broth looks more watery than mine.  Sometimes a recipe is good from the beginning.  And other times it takes work to get it right.  And sometimes the effort to fix a recipe is wasted.  I have a perfectly perfect vegetable soup recipe I didn't use. Duh!!

We had another storm last night.  The plow just went by the driveway so I think I will jump up and look out the window and see how high the pile is at the end.  Well.  Not high enough to keep us from blasting through it at some speed.  But it still needs clearing.  G is getting ready to go out and get the newspaper--along with his trusted assistant Riley.

It was calm and sunny the past two afternoons and we took Riley for a walk on neighborhood streets.  He, typically, climbed every high snowbank (and they are taller than G or I) and typically--chose to poop on the top of the tallest pile.  G got to climb up and collect both days.  BUT, the up and down is really excellent exercise for a large muscular dog like Riley.  Not so much for a 60 something dog owner.

These twice a week storms are tiresome.  And the Blah, Blah, Blah of the weather men on the news is even more tiresome.  After the last "oh, gosh, it missed us" storm they are now saying "might" more than "it's gonna bury us".  We were supposed to get 6 to 10 inches of new snow last night and possibly-- the hype-- up to 12 to 20 inches.   Looks like 3 to me.  We'll see who is right when G goes out to shovel the back deck.

Anyway, I think we should go out today and eat some Chinese dumplings and noodles for good luck.

Riley finally--after all these years of chasing them in the yard--caught a squirrel.  G was hoping it was just stunned but it hasn't moved from the spot where G put it in the garden.  Riley can't get into the garden.  We'll see.  Circle of life an all.  But Riley wants to go catch another one.

Wanting Some Color MidWinter

The backyard looks like the surface of the moon.  All white, cold and pitted with surface craters. the "blizzard " brought only a tiny bit of new snow--but the winds (which howled all night) moved the dry snow all over the yard.  It's very very cold.  It's almost like we actually DO live in the Arctic as many of our friends think.

I've been making lists of plants, shrubs and trees.  Thinking about adding a few things to the landscape here. Some things with color.

Edit: the tree in the picture is a Tibetan Cherry (Prunus serrula) good for zones 7 to 10, slow growing and up to 20 or 30 feet at maturity.  This tree is growing at the New York Botanical Garden.

Today's culinary projects include Muffin Cup Lasagna using won ton wrappers instead of pasta.  Well, won ton wrappers are pasta.  I made a muffin pan of 12 for my daughter on Friday.  No report on how they turned out but G has asked for his own pan of lasagna muffins.  I sent him out for more ingredients and found a quarter pound hamburger patty in the freezer--so I think he may get meat and spinach.

G has finished off the pot of chicken soup I made for him on Friday.  I am having brown rice and a few scoops of the red bean dish I made for myself.  I added onions, peppers, tomato sauce, cocoa and guajillo chile puree (the Vitamix) to the cooked beans.  I also added a bit of brown sugar, some honey and some mustard.  I like this batch almost as much as the first pot of beans I made at the beginning of the month.  The first batch got too sweet when I tried to overcome the bitterness of ancho chilies.

The dry chilies I used this time have subtle heat.  Next time perhaps one ancho and four or five of the guajillo.  We'll see.  G got me small red beans and I like them better than kidney beans.

I think I may use the vegetables I have in the fridge to make a small pot of winter minestrone.  I saw it on a blog this morning (Diary of a Locavore) and it looked delicious.  An Ina Garten recipe. You could look it up that way.  

Riley is giving me the dog's version of the "stink eye" so he must want me to go get G and "do something".  The cold and the snow have kept us from the daily walk and the dog isn't too happy about it.  We have a few errands to do.  And that gives the dog a "ride in the car" which--even though it seems less than interesting to me, must be right up there with cheese wrapped pills for the dog.  That's another issue.  Riley doesn't have any more pills to take--so therefore no more cheese.  Not a happy guy.  But he is compensating by licking birdseed off the snow under the feeders.

G is going outside to clear the bottom of the driveway.  Then we'll go do errands.

The sun is shining and the wind has stopped blowing and I finally have room in the freezer for ice cream.  So it's not all gloom and doom around here.

Early Wishes For A Happy Valentine's Day

We'll be getting more snow and some very very frigid temperatures for the holiday so I thought I would post now--just in case.

Things I Have Noticed Lately and Just Don't Understand:

The two books I just read had some connection to old Amsterdam.  The Miniaturist and The Signature Of All Things.  And both books had never had their book spines cracked open.  I was the first to read them.  And, in further investigation, the book I am reading now, Dominion, was never opened either-- in 2 years.

The library where I used to work, used to buy quite a lot of fiction.  Now they don't.  And they removed any fiction from the shelves if it hadn't been checked out in the five years before the day they checked.  The books were taken off the shelves and sent to Goodwill.  Now, when I order books they come from other libraries.

I also checked the three fiction books I purchased at last year's book sale and haven't read as yet.  They also had never been opened or read.  The pages were solidly together.  No gaps when the covers were opened and spread out to 90 degrees. Purchased and then never opened or read.  Gifts?

One is Wolf Hall.  Now in the process of being turned into a Masterpiece production by PBS.  Ahhh!  Loved the book when I read it a few years ago.  Bought the book sale copy so I could read it again any time I wanted in the future.  My library doesn't own a copy but sent this pristine, unopened copy to the book sale rather than add it to the collection.

I remember visiting a newly built library in Georgia.  Built to replace an old, smaller building.  In the new library--all the books were brand new.  Author collections contained only the newest releases.  I asked about the older books from the old library and the library personnel I spoke with said "we got rid of all that old stuff".  It honestly felt like I had been punched in the chest.

I just don't understand.  A library is a place where books are kept.  Kept.

It's Pantry Clean Out Month

Before I get started on the Pantry Clean out---  We found a Hoosier just like this one at a garage sale down the street from us (that house we bought where we only saw the roof because of the snow) when Spring arrived.  It was coated in paint.  But we stripped it and used in in that house, for 6 years in Germany, in the next house in Chicago and finally here in Maine.  The Hoosier lives with our daughter now but isn't used as a pantry.

I love that the mixer sits in one of the cabinets.  In our Hoosier there is a flour sifter over where the mixer is in this picture.  Same doors and drawers.

Anyway.  In February there are lots of Pantry Challenges on the internet.  The one I remember that first got me interested in this was probably 10 or more years ago.  I sometimes wish I still had the names of those great websites.  I don't.  The idea is to "shop" your fridge, freezer and pantry and use what you already have.

I am interesting in doing it this February because I want ice cream.  And I don't have room in the freezer for even a PINT of ice cream.  Yes, it's that full.  And, Yes, the freezer is that small. Remember I had to remove all the frozen berries and make jam.  It's that space challenged.  I may have to remove the frozen peaches and strawberries in order to make room for ice cream.

The first site that I went on 10 years ago had a few rules.  Such as only being able to buy a few "fresh" things each week.  Usually eggs, milk, bread etc.  Stuff that is best used fresh.

I tried it and it was fun.  Mostly I opened the freezer to see what I might want to thaw out and then checked to see what sort of recipe I could find to use the freezer item and whatever I happened to have in the fridge or pantry.  Can't make pasta if you don't have pasta.  You get it.

I found that the things I had to buy "fresh" were often onions, carrots and potatoes.  With those three things I could make quite a few meals out of whatever was in the freezer.  In fact, most of my recipes start with peeling an onion or two.  Spell correct just said "peeling an opinion or two".  Well that too.

Things I Did Today.
Potted up all the Spring Bulbs I didn't get into the ground in the Fall (and making quite a dirty mess)
Drove to work to buy more dirt to pot up the bulbs.  (first time I have driven the car in 6 weeks)
I am silently sending "love" to someone (in my thoughts) who may need a bit of extra care and love.
I am enjoying The Signature of All Things, my new book
Changed the linens on the bed, started three loads of wash.
Eating the remainder of the Super Kale Salad (with added carrots and red onion)
I found a recipe for Butternut Sauced Penne Pasta which will use up some of the butternut squash I roasted a few days ago.  A Weight Watcher's recipe--8 points whatever that means.  I'll just have it with the brown rice--- in a bowl.

What I Like Today-Thursday 2/5/2015

That my visit to the doctor is a thing of the past.  Not that it was terrible.  She didn't yell but told me I only get "one pass" each year.  And I wasn't one of the sad souls wearing a face mask and feeling terribly sick-- there were many of those.

My biggest decision this morning was whether to eat breakfast and drink coffee before going to the office and being weighed.  I even wondered about removing my boots before stepping on the scale. And--well, to both I said 'screw it".  I am what I am. Weigh what I weigh.

I did have a baseline EKG because I had never had one in all my 68 years.  It was positively normal.

I refused the pneumonia vaccine.

I now have an inhaler ($40 co-pay--boo!!)  which is making my breathing easier.  It should be extra good on cold walks outside.  Doctor checked back into my files and I had inhalers before.  When I worked at the library and it was very dusty with new construction.  I wheezed.  I think every member of my immediate family had some sort of breathing/asthma issue.  Had--no longer with us.

My new favorite thing at the grocery.  It used to be chicken tenders from the deli--all crisp and fried.
Now it's the Super Foods Kale Salad.  I had a small one yesterday and today got a one pound container.   I detected kale, red onion, walnuts and a few blueberries in it.  Whole Foods had one--but they don't anymore and it had some seeds in it.  I liked it very much as well. I have seeds and can always add some.  In fact, I am going to google super foods and find out what they are.

Yesterday I bought a 5.6 pound butternut squash and peeled and cubed it (quite a workout) and roasted the cubes with olive oil.  Today I found a bunch of large beets (organic) and they are wrapped in foil and roasting in the oven.  I also have a big batch of brown rice resting in the rice cooker.  I am seeing a few Rice Bowls in my future with kale, red onion, butternut cubes and beets.  Perhaps a few raisins or dried cranberries.  And walnuts?

I am trying very hard to eat the 5 suggested fruits of vegetable recommended.  I eat larger servings so perhaps I needn't try so hard?  I already had a banana and yesterday I had fresh pineapple with my yogurt.

We heard a commercial on the radio--while driving through town to the doctor on slippery, unplowed streets--- that people can have --21 POUNDS of "stuff" clogging their colons.  The radio guy had a "PRODUCT" we could send for/order which would remove that 21 pounds.  How could this be true???  So people really could be full of s**t.

What I See Outside

I think it is supposed to snow again.  40% chance of more snow.

Tomorrow I go for a doctor's visit.  Postponed (due to weather) from Monday--and previous to that postponed from last Thursday--for weather.  The phone may ring in the morning postponing the appointment yet again.

I ordered books from the Maine Library Service.  Lots of the lending libraries said there was a long holding time. So, I ordered nine.  Thinking it would take time to get them.  Not so.  I have a huge pile on the table. I am working my way through the first one-- The Miniaturist by Jesse Burton.  Takes place in the last half of the 1600's in Amsterdam.  It's quite dark.

Not much else to write about.  G and I took Riley for a walk on neighborhood streets on the leash. He (and us) hadn't been out walking since last Monday.  When we got back home I took Riley out on the paths around the yard.  Riley was running around like a crazy dog and knocked me onto the ground. And---I had fallen and couldn't get up.  Really.  I had hoped G would look out the door and come help me up.  Eventually, I did manage to get up and back into the house.  I was covered in snow.  Riley thought it was all the best sort of fun.  Wanted to do it more often.

I eventually dried off and warmed up.  Riley took a nap.  G had to go out and charge up the battery in my car--I've not driven the car in many many weeks.  Since it started snowing.

Well, back to reading.

Endless, Endless Snow.

G and I went outside today.  Well, G went outside yesterday as well, at 10 pm when the wind finally quit, to snowplow the 8 inches we got during the day.  It seems like 80 inches.  I don't think we got over 5 degrees yesterday--with wind it was below zero.

Today the sun is shining and I had an appointment for a haircut.  The roads---OMG--slushy, slippery, messy.  So, not the way life is here in Maine usually.  At the salon I was being coaxed into another visit in the afternoon for a pedicure.  Massaging chair and the possibility of little flowers on my toenails.   But I am not driving this winter unless the roads are perfectly dry.  And G had a job removing snow (Friday's and yesterday's) from a friend's driveway.

When G gets back, we are going to the library to get me a book.  I need a book.

I also stayed home for a "fact finding interview" by the unemployment office.  One second into the call-- an apology because there was no reason for it. They had made a mistake.  How nice is that? I love when someone, cheerfully, admits to an error and begs my pardon.  Nice.

I made pizza for the Super Bowl on Sunday.  And I even watched the game.  And I was happy I did as the game was a very good one, entertaining and exciting.  50% of the of the multi million $$$ commercials were good.  What a waste of money.  And the Patriots won.  Which was good because G was beside himself with worry and anxiety through the game and by the 4th quarter 11 second mark he was very very sad.  By the 10 second mark he was very very happy.  I hope the very same two teams (Patriots and Seattle) get to do it again next super bowl ---and I have a feeling it will happen.

G made me two planting boxes for my onion and leek seedlings.  Very posh boxes.  I will show them to you when I have them filled with dirt and seeds.

I sorted my seed packets yesterday and chose the items I want to plant this year.  More flowers.  More onions.  More herbs.  More carrots.  No turnips. This year I want kohlrabi instead.  And I want fennel that makes bulbs.  Last year I waited and waited for the fennel to make seeds and it never did.  I need fennel if I am ever to make my own sausages.

I am also going to plant smaller tomato varieties in hopes of more tomatoes--sooner.  We had terrible luck with wilt last year on the tomatoes and struggled to keep the plants alive until the fruit could ripen.  I am starting the seeds WAY earlier than the seed charts recommend.  I need to have really hefty seedlings ready to go into the ground in June if I am to have a good crop of tomatoes.

And I want to have all the items for ratatouille in the garden.  I made three huge pots of the stuff (for the freezer) and it just wasn't enough.  I especially love eating it when it's snowing.

Yesterday I had a Rice Bowl.  Brown rice, wilted kale and spinach, onions and peppers tossed with a very odd Parmesan from Trader Joes that melts and gets sticky.  The cheese made everything stick together in big chewy clumps and it was quite wonderful.  I'm making another bowl today--with a bigger pile of rice and the addition of some edamame since I am almost out of kale.

More snow coming on Thursday and again on the weekend.  Two a week storms for the next 6 weeks? we'll see.