willowraven's Friends

233.9

Art of the Season:  J.E.H MacDonald - Canadian Group of Seven

Algoma Waterfall ~ J. E. H. MacDonald, 1920 (worth clicking for large image)

I had a nice Sunday.  I baked Bill a spice cake and decided not to do the boiled caramel icing.  He's been complaining that rich food bothers his stomach, and the ingredients of that icing are cream, butter, brown sugar.  We had a piece and it really didn't need the icing.  I sent the rest home with him.

Later in the evening I had a nice phone call from one of my best friends.  Her latest temp job has ended and the possibilty of work before the beginning of next year is bleak for her.  With her skills (types 60 WPM with no mistakes, knows all the office computer programs, is a data entry wiz, etc) I can't understand why one of these companies don't hire her.  We did have a good talk and promise to visit.

Plan for Today:  Make phone calls to insurance companies.  Do paperwork to turn into the office on the 25th - isn't it nice they gave me 3 days?  The envelope was shoved under my door last night at about 7 pm.  Gotta love 'em.

Menu for Today:  Breakfast - oat bran flakes, blueberries, milk.  Lunch - half a tomato & cheese sandwich and vegetable soup.  Supper - ground beef, tomato and cabbage casserole.  Snacks - tangerine, apple, yogurt.

The forecast is for rain by noon and a high of 48 F, 9 C.  Not my favorite kind of weather at all.  Hope I don't have to go out, but that depends on when the doctor can fit me in this week.  He wanted to see me in one week, but his receptionist never called me back with a time. 

Today:  Hibernate. 

Already tired of it!  The day's not even here, and I want my relatives the hel out of here.  And they are going completly nuts over the food, and I just don't see any reason for it all.  I'm just gonna fix a few things, and they want something else, they can make it, or bring it. 

My mind is in shambles right now.  Acting like a child when there is serious work to be done.  But tomorrow is a new day, and the plan is to put the plastic on the small greenhouse.  I'm pretty scared by all this.  I know I got the time and talent, but can I keep it together mentally to make this thing work. 

Its nuts, but if I don't really try, that means no one can say I failed, I just didn't try.  I know, I too wonder why the state of Indiana lets me walk around loose either.  Afraid to fail, afraid to succeed.  If that ain't nuts, WTF is? 

Gotta show some faith here.  Some faith in my God's, that if I am industrious and hard working I will succeed.  Some faith in the community to support my efforts, and some faith in myself.  The last one is damn near impossible. 

My mind is scrambbled by the hopelessness of it all.  I am awash in sadness, and I simply don't know what to do about it.  Nothing to do but keep on keeping on I guess. 

But what happens when I fall apart next spring?  Ah well.  Maybe best just to sell the place now, and move to somewhere I can't do any damage.

I'm never going to get past this.  Where's death when ya need it.

I was actually able to cook a little yesterday.  I made a pot of turkey stock which was easy because I just cut the vegetables in chunks instead of chopping.  I let it cool and it's in the refrigerator.  When Bill comes this afternoon he'll help me strain it and will wash the pot.  What could be easier?

It was his birthday Friday so this morning I'm baking his favorite - spice cake with caramel frosting.  He is impossible to buy for so I give him what will make him happy, usually a cake or once a freezer full of home made goodies.  He can't cook so he loves it.

We had a sort of impromtu gathering in the afternoon.  Some women made crockpot chili and invited us all to watch a video of one of the past talent shows and share dinner.  I had a great time mostly because it was early in the day before I felt tired.  My neighbor was in this one.  I knew that she was a professional ballroom dancer in her day, but I didn't know she could sing.  We have an idea for a skit for the next talent show, if there ever is one.

Plan for today:  Bake the cake (it's an easy one) make the icing (also easy) and then be quiet and rest until Bill gets here.

Menu for today - breakfast - high fiber cereal, milk, blueberries.  Lunch - tomato and cheese sandwich with lots of tomato and very little cheese, and a cup of vegetable soup.  Supper - turkey (some of the meat I roasted for the stock) sweet potato, spinach. 

I hope the forecast is right today - lots of sunshine.  There are just a few stray leaves left on the oaks and sweet gums.  It's looking wintry out there but we have only had very slight frost at night.  I can't believe that we haven't had a killing frost this late in November. 

Today:  Show the one you love how much you appreciate him, or her.   

this weekend is a hangout/do as little as possible weekend. me and daughter travelled to KC last weekend to see my dad. met peaches and ruxie!!! that was fun!

next weekend i go to galveston to see my mom. bf and his girls are travelling here first then we will all drive to the island. he and my mom have never met.

today i am getting my old computers cleaned off and piled by the door to go to the e-recycler. girlchild returned my ipod since she now has an iphone so i am downloading itunes and getting that all set up.

nothing too exciting but it always feels good to organize stuff - be it old crap computers or music files.

need to get some groceries but the store will be total chaos. ugh. maybe make my list today and go early early or wait...during thhe football game tonight.hmmm...

i need a new pic that shows me at goal weight. maybe i will take it this weekend. i will have to get even more bored first ha.

this journal entry is even putting me to sleep - maybe a gratuitous pic to reward anyone who may have actually read this. a koala taking a bath. random cute. linky

I feel good, look good and am so excited to make this journey. I've researched myself crazy and seem to have a basic game plan. It's 19 weeks out and I am working on putting on muscle and cutting fat, sodium and sugars from my diet. I've started a cycle workout with tri-sets and need to tweak my delt and glute routines...any suggestions? My legs and abs are good, my lats a work in progress. I plan to take weekly photos tracking my progress. I love this site for all the knowledge, tools and support. Any advice or suggestions are welcome.

BF% around %15 starting, 113-114 and feeling good!

I got a lot done yesterday and wore myself out in the process.  In the morning I met with the volunteer insurance advisor from the dept of ageing.  He gave me lots of good information and now I need to make some calls and gather some information before making a decision.  I'd like to have it all done by December 15. 

After that I stopped at the supermarket pharmacy to pick up my prescription and decided to get a few supplies.  They had just baked the whole wheat bread I like for sandwiches so I had them slice me a loaf.  Love fresh bread.

I sat in the lobby to catch my breath then got my cart out to the car, groceries into the cart and back inside.  I simply ran out of steam at that point, so I sat there and chatted for a good half hour the took everything home and put it away.  Then I collapsed into my recliner and fell asleep.

Bubba was restless last night.  He wouldn't let me go to sleep and finally nipped me when I pushed him away.  Then he went on a tear, running and chasing jingle balls.  I must remember to always find them and put them away at night.  He's not usually like that.  I wonder what got into him.

Plan for today:  The visiting nurse will be here but I don't know what time.  I plan to chop some vegetables for turkey stock but I don't want to start it until Tuesday when Lesley is here to help me with the heavy pot and clean up.  The stock is for me to have with the leftovers I'm planning to bring home.  There's never enough gravy!

Menu for today:  breakfast - mushroom and spinach omelette.  Lunch - tuna sandwich and salad.  Supper - pasta with meat sauce, salad.  Snacks - yogurt, fruit, rice cakes, maybe peanut butter if I need the calories at the end of the day.

Yesterday was nice and sunny and it looks like the weekend will be the same, with rain blowing in later.  Of course that forecast can change at any moment.  The sound of people raking leaves is in the air.  Ours are piling up because the landscapers haven't been here in two weeks.  They did a lousy job this year and I'm betting that next year there will be a new company doing the job.

The Canada geese are on the move.  Some fly south and then more fly in from up north in the belief that this is the sunny southland.  I guess compared to Canada it is.  I love seeing the big vee shaped formations in the sky. 

Today:  Spend some time with your pets. 

1547/234.1

Thank you so much, Claire for that gorgeous recipe for real gravy. :)

Art of the Season by Millard Sheets, one of the California Watercolorists in the mid 20th century.

Fall Colors ~ Millard Sheets (click for larger image)

Aside from big problems with edema, Thursday was an ok day.  The nurse came and says my lungs are clear now but my feet and ankles are swollen.  Better there than the lungs.  She cleared me to drive for short distances.  I tried to keep to very low salt all day and I do see the difference this morning.

Plan for Today:  Appointment with an insurance counselor at 9.  Gale should be here by 8:10 and I'll come home to a spotless apartment.  No other plans for the day.

Menu for Today:  Breakfast - soft boiled egg on buttered toast with orange juice.  Lunch - waldorf salad, chicken.  Supper - don't know yet, maybe a pasta dish because I haven't had it for so long.  I've told people I don't need then to bring food because I can now putter around in the kitchen for short times. 

It seems to be a blustery kind of day.  The rain has stopped and the forecast is for sun, but I don't like the sound of that wind.  There are still leaves falling and the last color is the sweet gums and a few maples. 

Something is going on with the Crazy Lady.  My friend who lives directly across the hall and gets the brunt of all the disruptions, says that there were voices in her apartment last night.  Nobody ever comes to see her, so we're baffled.  I think the exterminator still comes to her apartment on Thursday.  We haven't seen any sign of bugs and she does look cleaner, so I hope she's getting some help from social services and the extra attention will keep her quiet and away from us.  My life here was so nice before she showed up.  It still is, but the constant disruption and a little fear has spoiled things. 

Today:  Protect yourself from the weather because it's cold out there. 

1326/234.6

Made light (for me) meatballs last night with lean ground beef and no pork, veal or cream. Browned a little, then braised in a scant 1/2 cup of pasta sauce and about a 1/2 cup of red wine. Made myself stick to the 'to order' method of pasta cooking so as not to be tempted by seconds.

I finally understand why marinara is sometimes called 'gravy'. The meatballs having cooked in the sauce imparted a really rich flavor, so I was more than happy to use only about 2 oz of the pan sauce on a serving of pasta. Heh. I even finished the pasta in the sauce, like a grown up.

Mario would have been proud. :)