So...whats for dinner?

carolehalston

Queen of Endymion. Having bit of trouble managing photo and text in phone post.

carolehalston

carolehalston

Flambeau carriers. The flames are fueled by butane gas. The men carry the bottles strapped to their backs

MinusTwo

Carole - great pictures. Assume that's you and DH? Other than the fact you need more beads (ha ha) - handsome man & lovely lady. Looks like you had a good time.

carolehalston

Ladder with seat large enough for two small children. Many of these on parade route. Kids make out like bandits, get lots of loot.

MinusTwo

Eric - I can sympathize with the tires, sore & dirty. I worked outside most of Thursday pruning roses, mowing up old leaves, trimming bushes. I had sore muscles that I didn't even know I had. But ... I think we'd better keep it 'sotto voce' in deference to our east coast friends. Hoping you all back east will get some relief soon. Bedo - I like the idea of spring seeds.

carolehalston

Minus, we collected two large tote bags of beads. We kept one and our neighbors took one. I keep some of the nicer beads for decorations. We take the rest and give them to kids at the resort in Mn.

auntienance

Eric and minus, if only . . .

carolehalston

Dinner tonight was roasted turkey thighs and a sweet potato mash with Moroccan spices:  ground coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, and red pepper.  We both like sweet potatoes a lot and usually just put butter on them.  This was a nice change.  The recipe called for peeling, dicing and boiling but I roasted the whole potatoes in the skins.  They peel very easily and roasting enhances the sweetness. 

Red, hope you're comfortable tonight. 

eric95us

The dogs got into some glucosomine chews--all 2 months worth. The vet wasn't too concerned, but said it might upset their stomach and to keep them well watered. It did....upset their stomachs. Think a gallon of ipecac, taken a few ounces at a time until gone....... Wow.....enough said.......

auntienance

Oh Eric, poor babies and poor you!

eric95us

Both couches were "impacted". I guess we can bring in the 1960s vintage chaise lounges from the lawn, sit them down in front of the TV, binge watch "Walking Dead" and drink from Red Solo Cups.. :-)

susan_02143

Red, best wishes for you. By now you are in post-surgery mode, probably still woozy from the drugs, and unable to type a bloody thing. Hope you heal quickly.

Eric, one word: YUCK

Carole, okay.... those pictures are flamboyant! If I didn't hate crowds so much, this would be on my list of places/times to visit. But, I do hate crowds. Thank you so much for sharing those pictures. Almost like visiting myself.

Minus, you could trade gardening for snow removal. I have some extra you could practice with!

I fear that Lacey is in caretaker-hell. Snowed in with a husband that she is trying to do PT with. Sincerely hope that her DD2 was able to come yesterday to give her a hand. Unfortunately, she lives just a bit too far away for me to bring her some food [and a large bottle of wine.] The roads around here are still pretty treacherous. And it isn't the snow that is the problem, it is the other drivers. Can't believe how edgy people are being behind the wheels of their car. Just ridiculous how much honking and playing-chicken on these narrow passageway I am seeing.

We have over 70" of snow out there. Probably a bit closer to 90". I really need to force myself to get on some warm clothes so I can take a picture of the sheer quantity of the stuff. Last night, we ate the braised leg-of-lamb stew that I made the day before. I served it over some oven polenta with a big pile of green peas. Since I used the large muscles of the leg, there was no fat in the braise. It certainly cooked differently than a shoulder stew for example, but is very delicious. Tonight, we will have another round of this dinner. The rest goes into the magic freezer.

Who did I miss this time?

*susan*

carolehalston

Red, thinking about you and sending healing vibes. 

Eric, trying not to think about you! 

Susan, do take some pictures.  The mayor of Boston was interviewed on MSNBC yesterday.  He was stoic.  The lamb and polenta sounds delicious.  I should check into the availability of lamb from a farmer.  Rancher?  Lamb is not a popular meat here in south Louisiana.  Some supermarkets will not have any.  Mostly what is available is loin chops that are now close to $20 a lb, if American.  The NZ lamb is sold at Sam's and even at Fresh Market.  Shanks and leg roasts are in plastic wrap.  We prefer American although the NZ lamb we ate in NZ was very good.  It's an occasional treat for us.  Oh, ground lamb is sometimes available.  I have some in the freezer.

DH wants red beans so he will be cooking a pot of beans today.  First, he will have to go to W/D and buy a lb. of Camellia brand.  I have other beans but not kidney beans.  We'll probably have coleslaw.  And brown rice. 

Happy Mardi Gras!  The New Orleans tv stations will be showing the parades all day. 

carolehalston

Joyce, we were posting about the same time.  What a gorgeous picture!  Snow is beautiful if inconvenient.

SpecialK

Hello all - have been busy, but wanted to check in!  Spent the weekend in Miami at the boat show and seeing DD.  We didn't go out and about too much in the evening - but ran around the show and Lincoln Road.  For some reason all I ate was cheeseburgers - tried Shake Shack for the first time for lunch on Valentine's Day and got BOGO shakes - chocolate for DH and caramel for me - very yummy, but very naughty!  We went up the coast to check on the condo of our friend for whom DH is the executor - dusted and did the floors - cleaned all the glass surfaces and replaced the air fresheners.  All was well - have fingers crossed that the most recent showing will yield a buyer as this is someone who already lives in the country club so the fees would not be a shock for them and they want to downsize from a villa - same thing our friend did.

lacey - hope you and DH are hanging in!

red - hope the surgery was a success and you are getting by.

carole - great pix!

To all in the frozen north - be careful and stay warm!

Tonight I am doing a bacon wrapped pork tenderloin - pork squared, lol!  Will have sweet potatoes and broccoli with it.

 

M0mmyof3

Making kielbasa, mashed potatoes and a veggie

auntienance

Carolyn -- love the pictures! You and Monte look quite festive!

Some of the larger Wal-marts in my area carry American lamb. It's expensive, but not quite $20 a pound expensive. They had a butterflied leg that weighed about a pound and a half for $17. I got ground lamb for $6.50ish a pound. It's about the only place I can find lamb except for Global Foods (theirs is NZ). Haven't heard from my lamb guy. By now his lambs are getting a little long in the tooth and into mutton territory. Not interested in that.

Tonight is grilled smoked pork chops, roasted asparagus and a baked sweet potato. I'm taking a cue from you Carole and using the ras al hanout. Love that spice blend.

It pained me, but I sprang for some Rao's arrabiata sauce. If I like it, I'll try the recipe from their website next time. I would have gotten the puttanesca but the only way DH will eat an olive is if it's drowned in a bloody mary. Tomorrow is pasta making day. The high is supposed to be 7 degrees and the low -7. Not going anywhere tomorrow. Brrrrr!

auntienance

Here's a pic of DH and me at a Galveston Mardi Gras.. My neck hurt from wearing so many beads.

carolehalston

Good picture, Nance!  Yes, the beads do get heavy.  We keep dumping ours into the collection bags.

I did exaggerate a bit on the price of the loin chops.  Saw some in W/D today for $13.99 a lb.  Three packages and that was it for lamb.  There was quite a bit of veal, which is pricey, too.  I went on line today looking for lamb and found a farm in Indiana with a web site and some fairly "reasonable" prices.  The sheep are all pasture raised on grass but there is a period before processing that the lambs are fed grain.  I called the number and got a recording.  Left a message asking about the method of packaging.  Shipping is free on orders $75 or over.  I might take a chance on an order.  I like the idea of getting other cuts of lamb besides just loin chops, even though those are wonderful.  

It also might be a good idea to go to the farmers' mkt. on a Saturday morning and talk to the people selling range chickens and grass-fed beef.  They might know about a sheep farmer.   

 

auntienance

Carole, if you decide to do the mail order -- let me know how you like it.

bedo

Carol, you crazy hippies, you. I hope that you get home without being arrested.

I have a quick question.. I bought "previously frozen cod " from Stop and Shop 2 days ago. This is the 3d day that it has been in my refrigerator. Can I still make it? Still getting used to making fish.

I apologize for not reading all the posts, I have been working.

susan_02143

3rd and 4th day borderline okay... much more than that? not so much. Oh, and put the fish on some paper towels so you can de-water it before cooking. Have you considered fish soup, you soup lover?

*susan*

bedo

I froze the rest of the minestrone just now. There was so much.

I have milk, frozen corn, and the cod, but no potatoes, so I think that I could do something with that? Oh and spinach. But the rest of the green beans went bad. ?

Hazel the Robot is vacuuming and still cracks me up and making the place look great. Thanks Hazel!

susan_02143

Bedo,

You need some fish fumeé I think to pull this off.... it does come in a box at the store. Think of it as a first-course soup if there are no potatoes. Something light with a nice bit of crusty bread, and then it is a meal. Or, if you have some leeks, and celery, carrots, etc, you could make a nice veggie broth that would service you well.

With all this damn snow, improvisation is becoming essential.

*susan*

bedo

OK, I will try lol. There are words that I don't understand. I can't sew or cook, It makes me feel like my brain might implode, but I do really like food and clothes, and reading about them. We'll see what happens. Maybe I will get some red potatoes and make some awful soup that nobody but me would eat.

Thank you

More snow tomorrow. Lets make snow with maple syrup! I can do that.

MinusTwo

What about poaching the fish & serving on rice? You can poach in water, broth, wine, etc. with whatever spices you choose. I personally like dill. And you can poach on the stove or in the oven. Fish doesn't take long to cook.

Lacey12

So much fun checking in and seeing your pix, Carole and Nance. Sweet!

Red, hope your post op is going well. You should come here...we could have a post op party!

To sum up my current life experience, let's just say, I would not be a good candidate for "full time caretaker of a relatively non-ambulatory person (getting to use the crutches more, finally) with lots of requests that sometimes come across too much as demands". With a little bit of micro management that I do not require, thrown in. Guess that is pretty common, given patient anxiety. The hard part is the constancy...always when I have thought I completed all that was needed and could perhaps tend to myself...another need. Very funny to hear everyone I know advising to be sure to pay attention to self-care. Clearly not gonna happen here! Not even enough time to make a smoothie! But I did get into the shower yesterday...yay clean hair...especially since friends of DH (guys, of course) just drop in unannounced and I look (and feel) like the wreck of the Hesperus (?). At least now I have made some banana bread to offer visitors.

Forget about my gym regimen. Whine.... My exercise is all about shoveling. My shoulders do not even hurt afterwards anymore! That part is good...and all that 15 degree fresh air! It actually has not bothered me much at all.

Sadly, I have managed to develop a sore throat and headache (never should have spent so many hours in that first ER given what my role was to become), making all the necessary tasks that much more challenging. Tylenol is my friend. Hopefully this bug will resolve without moving through my body...no time for that!

Yesterday, while it still snowed, I was able to get out while DH slept and clear most of the last two days few extra inches on the walks and drive, and then chop away to carve out space in the frozen mounds in our driveway so that the VNA staff would have a place to park today. Up to now, they have been parking in my neighbor's driveway....but they are home from FL now and hanging out the bedroom windows trying to blow snow off their garage roof with a leaf blower. Creativity all around!

Oops, DH is off his phone meeting....needs lunch.....tuna sand, packaged soup, chips....bad!

For dinners, we've been eating leftovers from Sweet Basil and that pasta/chicken/rabe casserole I made on the weekend. along with some good salads. I have to say that some of what is challenging for me is producing all of the meals that DH eats...he is a much more "regular" eater than I and usually takes care of his own breakfast and often lunch so it feels like I have toddler's schedule on my hands....constantly making meals, cleaning up, and back to planning/making more meals... when not taking care of outside house management, laundry, calls to pharmacies, docs, VNA, note taking when the VNA therapists are here, etc. etc. And much as I do not feel like being a mindful food planner at this point, I should be making his meals small and healthy since he is going to gain weight otherwise due to his inactivity. Oy! Just learned that he is less concerned than I.....okay!

So, leftovers all gone...and I will figure something out for tonight. Was going to make some chicken orzo soup yesterday, and could not find the chicken....it was still in the trunk of my car overnight (in a plastic bag when all the other groceries were packed in paper bags as I'd requested). Found it at the end of shoveling/carving. That chicken was so frozen, it will take forever to thaw! So I'll figure something out....

I think your NH home looks lovely, Joyce! It helps to have more land to accommodate all the accumulation...and I think we may have received more snow than you so far....about 97" now. But I agree with you about getting the snow off the roof given the current forecast.

More snow forecasted for thru the week, and possibly some rain....yikes we are all in such trouble when that happens! Over 70 roof collapses already. Our house only has two window frame leaks so far....

DS2 returned home from Chicago on Monday night to discover his top floor condo full of ceiling leaks. He was able to contract with and join some roofer guys for a small fortune to clear the snow and patch at least one failing area. Now he is worried about contributing to flooding to his lower level neighbor's basement when it melts on the ground. There was no option for removal other than to toss it in the backyard....or the street....they'd be in jail or dead!! Of course DS2 is not thrilled about poor Chicago girl (and pooch) arriving here next Wed to live, given all this mess. So we issued platitudes about it being a strong test of their relationship. I should hardly be the one to issue that platitude right now! Ha!

Well, I need to get a couple of more things done before the PT lady gets here...hope she fits in to the spot I carved in driveway. ;/ I sort of do like such challenges and problem solving.....just not all at once!! Enjoyed this escape! Thanks for listening to my caretaker vent...so many of you are much better than I at this. I think I went over the edge yesterday when the home health aide guy came to help DH with the stairs and shower, and managed to pee all over the toilet he used before leaving. That could send me into a total OCD event about now!! But I cleaned it up...and just have to decide if I can help do the shower mechanics for DH and not have to clean up after a sloppy stranger! Good question for the PT this afternoon.

Susan, we really should do something creative with all this available snow! Lamb with frosted truffles?

Pix areof driveway (obviously) and view from our first floor family room window...

Notice lovely almost clear roof over family room...had been three feet with four feet drifts. Now it feels pretty safe after roof guy shoveled it, then most recent snow installment. Ice dams may really get us though....

bedo

Ceiling is leaking from snow in 2 places in the "living room". landlord's are in Texas. He told me to put a pan under it. I told them that I would be emptying it every 5 minutes. He said "go out and get a big bucket, everyone is busy with frozen pipes and roofs and no one can't get there till tomorrow evening, I'm sure that some people are emptying them every 5minutes" at which point I told him, "OK.... it's your roof, I'll be at work tomorrow" . ( I don't see how I would empty it when I'm asleep either)

He's a pain. I have a full time realtor to handle my rental house in Georgia

MinusTwo

Lacey - it may sound selfish - but my recommendation is to shovel when he's awake and take your shower and maybe even read a book or nap when he's asleep. Get him settled and then head outside w/cell phone - that he's not to call unless it's a dire emergency - like a heart attack or a punctured artery. You really MUST take care of yourself, particularly with sore throat. Been there...tried to do that...did not get the award for taking care of myself as caregiver. It's been my experience that men aren't very good patients when they're sick. Maybe a correlation to bossing people around at work? I understand about cleaning up after the aide, but do you really want to take on another major task with DH? Let us know what the PT says.

Bedo - I don't see you you can dump the bucket either. Maybe a child's swimming pool? But I bet that would be hard to find up there right now.