So...whats for dinner?

auntienance

Carole, funny story! I tend to just move my lips in church too mostly because I'm an alto and they always sing in the wrong key for me. My dh gets highly amused when I'm wearing my iPod because apparently I sing much louder than I think I am!

At Costco yesterday I got one of the smoked hams Susan mentioned. It's the first time I've gotten one there, I hope we're pleased with it. We'll have it for Easter dinner. I also got some of their lamb chops and asparagus, which will be dinner tonight. Dh has requested a cheese sauce for the asparagus, so I cooked some cream down, added a little white cheddar and a tiny dab of Dijon and we'll call that a cheese sauce. I have some baby golden beets to serve with butter and dill.

MZ, sounds like a fun evening!

Red, I admire your quilting prowess. I don't have the patience for needle arts but appreciate those who do.

MombieZombie

Redhead--Goodness, what a night and day you had! Glad you made it through, but it sounds like it came with a price. I hope you get some sleep tonite. Yay for massage on Tuesday! I am getting one on the 7th--can't wait. I admire people who are quilters. I don't do much, only to be social. But DH's family are big into quilting. Would love to see some of your pride and joy quilts.

Carole--That's hilarious! I think I would brag about that too. So funny! I hope you get some yummy fish tonight.

Auntienance--Dinner sounds good at your house tonight. I haven't had lamb chops in forever. My family raised our own lamb in Arkansas, so I grew up with some really tasty stuff. Once we moved to Washington, my mom quit preparing lamb because she said she couldn't find good quality anywhere to buy. She's picky about how it's butchered so it doesn't get ruined by the lanolin in the wool. I need to find a place that sells good lamb meats.

Dinner plans changed. In-laws invited us to dinner along with all the others who have come to town. Mini reunion time! No one is letting me do any work because I'm under the weather, so I guess I get some free time before we practice daughter's song.

ThinkingPositive

I had my first appointment with the nutritionist in the Cancer Wellness Program offered by the Hospital where I had my chemo. looks like there isn't very much that I can eat!! Basically all she did was give me a list of fruits and vegetables that are good to eat and told me how many servings per day. Cut the sugar and diary. Here I thought I could do fruit smoothies and be okay..she said no, its juice. Need to add other stuff to it to slow down the sugar.. cut the coffee with the dairy. This is not easy. Does anyone have any suggestions as to easy breakfast that is okay for us to eat. ?? Are there any books out there with recipes that anyone has used.

SpecialK

thinkingpositive - I use coconut creamer in my coffee, and for smoothies/shakes I use frozen berries, vegan protein powder, coconut milk, and ground chia seeds - no sugar, juice or dairy - works great.

ThinkingPositive

Thanks SpecialK. Its hard trying to change diet. DeCaff?? what about green tea. I drink unsweetened iced green tea all the time. I have read that its okay, just want to make sure. Any recipe books that you know of for breast cancer?

carolehalston

I use frozen fruit in my breakfast smoothies, too, and ground chia seeds for protein.  I do consume some dairy so add 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt.  Usually throw in a few almonds or walnut halves and splenda for sweetness.  I tried using stevia but it isn't sweet enough.  I have agave but it's high in calories.  I use almost no regular sugar.  Does anyone have a recommendation for healthy sweetener not high in calories? 

I disagree with the nutritionist that blended fruit is the same as fruit juices.  The blended fruit has all the fiber of the fruit. 

Dinner last night was pricey but good.  We ate at a little restaurant in Madisonville called Waterfront Bistro located in an old house.  Very attractive interior.  I had the fish special which was speckled trout fillets served over linguine with a butter lemon sauce and lump crab meat.  Small serving of pasta was just enough.  An alternative to the pasta was spinach but I went for the pasta. The trout tasted really fresh.  DH complained that the food wasn't hot enough for him.  No excuse since the restaurant wasn't crowded on a Thurs. night.  On weekends you need a reservation. 

SpecialK

thinkingpositive - I drink regular coffee, not decaffeinated!  Not giving that up, lol!  I do drink green tea, and I think there is pretty universal agreement that it is good.  I follow the Virgin Diet - it is an elimination, anti-inflammation diet.  It is pretty restrictive and eliminates sugar, soy, dairy, gluten, peanuts, corn and eggs as sources of potential food related inflammation and sensitivity.  After the elimination period you can add things back in to see if you are sensitive, but the author does not recommend adding sugar back in - or corn and soy as they are predominantly GMO crops in the U.S.  I added eggs back in but don't eat them often.  I am not comfortable with dairy due to the hormonal aspect, and I have found that for me it causes GI upset.  I try to eat lean, grass fed, pasture raised or free range protein, organic where applicable (I follow the dirty dozen/clean fifteen rules), and the cleanest possible, least processed food sources.  I don't have a breast cancer specific book, but Anti-Cancer - A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber has good info.  There are a couple of other diet/food related threads on this site too.

Redheaded1

My nutritionist says you can't put fruit thru the juicer, but if you do your smoothie in the blender, it is fine.  She also suggests using fermented dairy---ie greek yogurt, cheeses, etc.  I drink the Horizon Organic, Hormone Free ultra pasturized milk.

I look at the Paleo cookbooks, but primarily try to focus on shopping the perimeter of the grocery store.  Eggs, Oatmeal, grapefruit or other whole fruitm, especially berries with yogurt, are all good choices  You could even do breakfast pizza.

MombieZombie

Thinkingpositive--Not much I can add to what's already been said. I agree that if you use whole fruit in your smoothies, it shouldn't count as just juice. The advice you were given sounds really similar to what my oncological naturopath wants me to do. I am making changes slowly. I gave up most sugar first. I plan to follow what he told me the majority of the time, but I want to still enjoy certain foods that are restricted. So I will have those sparingly. I am keeping yogurts in my diet. I was only told to keep dairy small. The thing I have trouble with is trying to eat the number of servings of veggies and fruit and whole grains, and water drinking. I feel like I have to eat all day to cover it!! And I don't like water much. I am working on making things that I've always made, but I bend them into fitting my new diet requirements. For instance, I made chicken and dumplings two weeks back. I made the soup part of it super healthy. I put the dumplings in for the family. I made quinoa for myself on the side. It was a new experiment, and I had my doubts, but I was pleasantly surprised--it was yummy over the quinoa and I didn't miss the dumplings too much. Not finding it easy to change though.

Anti-cancer, A New Way of Life was recommended by my naturopath. It's next on my reading queue.

MombieZombie

Not cooking tonight. Thought I would share this. It made me think about our struggles to eat healthy when sometimes we just want something "sinful"!

susan_02143

Sorry to disappear for a few days... sometimes life is just too much! Have I mentioned how much I am anticipating this vacation? I really, really need it!

Wednesday I decided to let someone else cook me dinner. Pretty well-known restaurant, and the food was okay. I just wish for the price point it was a bit better. Over the years, our maximum limit per person has crept up to $20 per person for a non-special outing and this meal was at $25. I know, I live in a huge city, with a high cost of living, and I should just get over it! I just compare the cost and quality to home cooking, and most restaurants don't measure up. We split the Rhode Island calamari [which weren't made properly, but were tasty] and I got a tuna burger that was way too big to finish. I threw the leftovers out today since I didn't feel that well that evening.

We continue to work our way through the turkey for lunches, and I added some leek and potato soup to the mix for the past two days. Since it has gotten colder again, it is really nice to have a warm bowl of soup. Last night, I made some black beans and crowned up the braised pork chunks, and served it all with a bit of avocado. Tonight is grilled lamb chops, peas, and a sweet potato gratin.

This dietician's advice seems off to me. The all or nothing approach to eating is simply unacceptable to me. I don't believe in anything fundamentalist, and that is what this sounds like. Modest portions and 80% of your plate as something that came out of the ground seems like the best method of eating. But what do I know??? Special K and Carole have come up with reasonable approaches that take care of their needs to enjoy their food while treating their bodies well. I eat very little dairy, but yogurt and cheese have a role to play [but it better be good cheese!] Since sugar doesn't appeal to me, that has never been a large part of my diet. Back to the dietician, I wish they did a better job of cataloguing what you actually eat and then help you find ways to modify those foods to make them more body-healthy. Zombie's example is a good one.

I am pushing hard to finish all the work on my desk [which is disaster zone] and make sure I have Paris days planned so we don't wander about aimlessly.

*susan*

susan_02143

p.s. And there is no one who can agree on what "healthy" means when it comes to food. Some are all about no sugar, or no carbs, or no fat, or no <<insert word here.>>

p.p.s And I admit that I live to eat; I don't live to eat.

MombieZombie

Susan--My dh feels like you do about restaurant eating. He says nothing is ever better than home cooking. I have a trip coming up on May 1st. So looking forward to it. Paris!! When do you get to go? I'm interested in that sweet potato gratin--what's in it? I like to cube sweet potato, put olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic and bake or broil it. So tasty. Haven't thought of gratin before.

susan_02143

This recipe is from the Ottolenghi book. Here are the ingredients, and then so I don't violate copyright law, I am paraphrasing the recipe instructions:

http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/danielle-s-sweet-potat...

Wash your sweet potatoes very well. you want the darker variety, not the pale ones if possible. Make a mixture of the herbs [I vary them, tonight was sage and rosemary since my sage plant is just about kaput for the winter], garlic, salt, pepper. Slice the un-peeled potatoes to about 5mm, using a mandolin if you have it. Consistent size is important. Toss the potatoes with the herb mixture [which is a waste of time mostly] and then pack them very tightly so they are almost standing upright into a lightly buttered gratin pan. [A ceramic casserole would probably work, but pyrex wouldn't be good.] Any herb mixture left in the bowl should be distributed around the potatoes. I actually work to slip them between the potatoes so they don't get burned on top. Cover with aluminum foil [you can do everything until now and let it hang in the fridge for a day] and put into a 400º oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, pour over the cream, and let it cook uncovered for about 25 minutes. A knife should easily slide through the potatoes when it is done.

*susan*

susan_02143

My vacation:

I leave 24 hrs after I learn what my new treatment protocol will be. So, April 11th leave for Paris. April 20th put my mother on a train to London, and I fly to Malaga, Spain where my husband joins me the next day. April 23rd to Granada. April 25th to Cordoba. April 27th to Seville where we have an apartment for a week. May 4th fly to Valencia for four days, before getting on a train on the 8th to Barcelona. Again we have an apartment in Barcelona for a week. May 15th, fly to Istanbul, Turkiye where we again have an apartment. Home on May 22nd.

We have family in both Paris and Istanbul. Spain is just about the two of us. There may be more details on a previous page... but I don't want to bore anyone with a second post.

*susan*

Redheaded1

Mombie I make sweet potatoes the same way as you but I cut up one of those dark green peppers called Poblano's with it to give it some heat......

Redheaded1

Susan I would insert the word "fun" --take out all that other no's and you have no fun.....Food Is so important..

carolehalston

I would never have associated sage with sweet potatoes.

 

Lacey12

Trying to play a bit of catch up here....

Nance, glad DF's appt went well and I do hope his next treatments alleviate the foot issues. Glad you were able to locate a highly recommended person for his foot care. That Italian dinner sounded wonderful!

And your dinner out sounded so good too, Carole! Funny story about your brother! Ha! I agree with you about the value of the fiber in the whole fruit used in smoothies. I add lots of varied fruits (banana, orange, apple, pear, berries, including aronia berries (mail ordered), Trader's frozen pineapple, and cherries or cranberries)to my morning smoothies along with the vegetables (kale, spinach, and or chard, cucumber, zucchini, carrot,beet....for color AND liver health) and chia seeds. If that sounds like a lot, it is because I make several portions so I can avoid making them every morning. I store them in the fridge in tightly capped containers. I used to add walnuts or almonds, but more recently have decided that I prefer to chew a few for the variety in texture rather than have a whole liquid meal.

I had never had any problems sleeping until taking Tamoxifen, which left my body in a state of high alert all night long. I have always admittedly been a night person, but after the Tamox, and then retiring (since I was constantly exhausted due to lack of sleep), my sleep habits have not really gotten back on track....mainly going to bed waaaay to late....often 2AM. I have no problems staying asleep since ditching the Tamox last year. However, I did find when I was struggling to stay asleep on Tamox, that theMelatonin CR was helpful, and I had no SEs from that. Maybe I should try that again to try to re-establish more "normal" sleep habits.

Red and MZ, enjoy your massages! Hope I got that accurately in terms of who else besides Red was going to get a massage. ;/

Today I had my hair colored and trimmed...keeping it a bit longer these days. Then hit my favorite discount store where I got some herb seeds (which is funny since we still have big mounds of snow...tho it was great to see Mr. And Mrs. Cardinal finding some nibbles on the few bare ground spots in our yard today...and to watch a cute little junko bathing with abandon in our birdbath of melted snow ); then hit my favorite used children's clothing store, where I can always find adorable tutus to send to DGD who loves to twirl in them. I'm slowly working on a children's story about girls and tutus! Just as I started to feel badly that I didn't have anything interesting to get for DGS (and of course, the boy clothing is usually not as "just like new" as the girls'), lo and behold what did I see but a new Celtic hooded zip up sweatshirt. Mission accomplished! Next door to that shop is a really authentic middle eastern grocery store where I buy lamejun, baba ganoush, and assorted veggies. The car smelled so good on the way home.

Also stopped in to my allergy docs office to pick up my year-round and Spring serums.... And learned that they will be stopping this form of treatment as the ins companies will no longer cover it (since it doesn't build up allergic resistance over time...just alleviates symptoms during each season). So am not sure what form of treatment I will be left with. It doesn't appeal to me to go to their office weekly for shots for 2-5 years, or to take sublingual drops three times a day. But the good thing is that both of those treatments lead to reduced allergic reactions over time. Thank you Tamox for bringing out these allergies in full force! I had weekly shots through my whole childhood and that held me nicely until I started that drug. Allergies smallergies!!

Last night I bought a cooked chicken for our dinner (which we had with brussells sprouts, salad and Italian bread)and to use for chicken stock and then chicken pastina vegetable soup to bring to a friend who could use some nurturance. Plan to make some of my faux french bread to go with the soup. No spinach salad tho since this friend does not touch greens.

Tonight I finished up the leftover pizza I made last Friday (!!!) Love leftover homemade pizza. Put together an arugula salad to accompany the leftovers. DH is off at a retirement dinner for a colleague. He wanted to leave his cane at home, but I strongly suggested that he looks professorial when he usesit. He is at the point of wanting to be back to normal and works so hard at trying to get the strength back in his leg. Fortnately he is a naturally patient person...since this will totally heal only when it does......

MinusTwo

My diet choice is - anything in moderation.

Lacey - so sorry about your allergies. You can imagine we're in full swing here since it's already been 80 a couple of times. Lots of headaches & dizziness.

Susan - Can wandering aimlessly include stopping at outdoor cafes whenever you feel tired? Yes - it's been really hard for me to deal with restaurant prices in a major metropolis. Still, Houston is much cheaper than San Francisco - which probably equates to Boston. Houston prices are now what San Francisco was before BC so I'll be in for sticker shock when I finally travel again after almost 5 years.

Wonder how Bedo is doing?

susan_02143

It doesn't matter if we are aimless or directed, if we get tired, the cafés of Paris will provide us with a place to rest. And we will partake as needed! A little known fact about Paris is if you stand at the cafe bar a coffee will be about €2, but if you sit in a chair it is about double. You are actually renting the chair and can stay as long as you want. I love Paris.

*susan*

MombieZombie

Whoa, I blinked and missed a bunch.

Susan--Thanks for the recipe. I'll be wanting to try that some time soon. Wow, gone for a month! What a wonderful adventure. We are going to Hawaii in May. Just one week, but I'm really looking forward to some lazy alone time with my DH.

Redhead--I think I'll try your way with the sweet potatoes too.

Lacey--That's cool that you are working on a childrens story. Are you a published author? My husband wrote a really cute story and my daughter is illustrating it. If you have tips for getting published, I would love your insight. Sorry to hear about the allergy stuff. My son had to go in for 5 years of bee sting allergy shots. It was a pain--worth it, but a pain. I understand why you want an easier regimen. What's faux french bread?

Well, the fundraiser dinner my daughter's youth group put on tonight was a cute success. They served spaghetti, which I was really worried about. I hate bad spaghetti! But they did a good job. And my daughter's performance of Chim Chim Cheree was a hit.

carolehalston

Lacey, maybe I'll try greens in my fruit smoothie again.  Maybe... Probably not!  Do not like the icky color of the smoothie.   How do you heat your leftover pizza?  Spring is usually bad for me with hay fever reactions to the pollen.  I take allegra year round but still have problems in the spring.  Mostly with sinus and breathing, not itching.  My sister has to take allergy med. year round or she itches. 

The only planned trip I ever took was the Collette tour of AUS/NZ.  We saw a lot and I enjoyed being herded around but wished we had two months instead of one month for the trip.  I missed not having a good bit of down time to wander around and experience things by chance. I would love to visit Paris but probably never will. 

I'm sure I would be shocked at Boston prices.  Our bill at a nice local restaurant Thurs. night was $88 before tip.  That seems like a lot to pay for a meal, but dh had a glass of wine.  I had two glasses--one is never enough.  The menu is a la carte.  He had a cup of the soup special, a squash and crab bisque.  I had a salad.  We both had the fish special.  In our area dinner out at a nice restaurant, including tip, is about $50 per person.  A name restaurant in New Orleans like Galatoire's or Arnaud's would be more for dinner.  The best deal at the name restaurants is lunch, when they're open for lunch.   We have many less fancy restaurants with good food that are cheaper.  You can get by with $25 or $30 per person.  Lunch is always cheaper because I usually just drink water for a beverage.  Sometimes iced tea.

Today I'm making a marinated cauliflower salad to take to a barbecue.  I think it's Mary Ann Esposito's recipe that I printed out at some time in the past.  We had a front come through last night clearing out the humidity and we're supposed to have a gorgeous sunny day with the high only up to about 70.  This is an annual gathering of the woodworkers guild and takes place at a member's camp on a little waterway.  Quite a pleasant location.  We all bring our own chairs and some of the men barbecue the meat, usually chicken and ribs and sausage, including some venison sausage contributed by hunter members.  There will be the usual foods, potato and pasta salads, etc.  I always take something healthy I will want to eat.  Last year it was a cauliflower version of potato salad.  Some of the diabetic persons present were happy to eat my salad without the potatoes.  If someone brings brownies, I will indulge!

susan_02143

itissnowingagain! This is the winter that simply won't go away!

Carole, I don't think I would do well on an arranged tour. I am not good at small talk, or meeting people easily. When I am traveling, and sometimes when I am just near home, if something interests me I like investigate at my own pace. I can't begin to count the number of times were would be out looking for one thing, and end up finding something totally different. I would miss that sense of adventure.

Mombie, this is actually a 6-week vacation. Planning has been a distraction from the news that my metastization has spread to new parts of my body and that I will probably return to chemo in the near future. I am very lucky and excited about the trip; but there is an undercurrent of sadness and "last chance" mentality. No matter! My mother is so excited about this trip I am worried she will pee-her-pants! We have made arrangements to see about 34 cousins in Paris. [This branch of the family converted to catholicism somewhere back in the early 1800's and believes in many children. They are French after all.] So far, we have four meals scheduled with family, and I anticipate that this will be the final count as well. Further communication has slowed since they are in the middle of a most religious time.

Getting the technology at my disposal to cooperate has not been easy. It is possible that I have finally wrangled GoogleMaps, MyMaps, and my phone to talk with each other while being location aware. Really, this shouldn't be so difficult. I bet have a decent data plan or my house of cards will collapse.

*susan*

MombieZombie

If I want to warm my pizza faster, but not eat it too soggy, I put it in the microwave for a little bit (not heated through, just warmed), then I switch to a skillet with cook spray and finish the job. It crisps the bottom nicely without needing the oven.

Carole--Wow, AUS/NZ. That must have been wonderful. My DH is a botanist. He especially would love to see the plant life in those places. Carole--I might need that marinated cauliflower recipe too.

Susan--Ugh, more snow. Spring has definitely sprung here. We did have one sunny day, but mostly we've had so much rain that I think I'm beginning to rust. LOL I'm really happy that my anniversary three is leafing out though. We weren't sure it would survive being transplanted due to it's size. Susan, my heart goes out to you. I have many fears of things like that lurking in the future. I keep trying to focus on the now, but it lurks. Well then, I'm all the more excited for you to go out and have loads of well-deserved fun and adventure, and hopefully mental vacation too. Visiting all of that family sounds great. I love meeting up with family like that. I am fascinated with people mannerisms, particularly the ones that are family traits. It's always amazing to me when I meet a cousin I've never seen and find out that they adjust their glasses in the same unique way that aunt so-and-so does, yet they've never met.

I got to spend my morning being lazy in bed. DH stayed with me and we enjoyed just being close and talked quietly, but mostly we were just silent. It was so peaceful. I hurt less during times like that.

We don't have TV in our house, so tonight I am going over to my mom's to watch a church broadcast--amazing speakers and wonderful choir music. Just the sort of uplifting thing I need right now. Anyhow, I won't be making dinner tonight--again. You are all probably starting to wonder if I really cook. LOL I'll be eating whatever mom makes. Looking forward to getting back to my old self so I can cook again. Missing my kitchen!

Lacey12

Susan, your post both saddened and amused me....I'm hoping that your travels will be so enriching and fun that you will all be savoring the moments and perfectly distracted from other realities. I would also do less well with a daily structured tour. We discovered last September in Italy that we do just fine on our own with a few organized tours plugged into our loose schedule. It was good to learn that such a plan works well for us. I did not envy the many groups following the guides with their little flags who had started at 7AM each day. We arranged three half day tours, and a cooking class day, and a Lucca concert evening, before we left stateside. The rest we let develop....worked well. I for one enjoyed wandering aimlessly in Paris when we were there several years ago....and your having relatives there certainly provides its own structure.

As I write this I realize that I never did finish up my little pictorial travelogue of our Italy trip on this thread. Apologies. Maybe I'll look back at photos some day and post a few.

Carole, your day sounds like a fun one, and with oerfect weather! And I can picture the non carbo loading folks lining up for your dish!

Unamused as I am about more snow....I hope Mr. And Mrs Cardinal stuffed themselves yesterday....I'll just try to get to more indoor projects done.....and make some chicken pastina soup. And watch NCAA basketball.

Sorry to whine about the allergy issues...I am just hoping to keep them at bay enough that I don't become a shut in. I'll meet with my specialist on Monday to decide what path to try once the self injection serum is no longer an option. Nancy, how are your itchy eyes doing?

No, MZ, I am NOT a published children's book author. Wishes need work to be actualized! I have one manuscript that I have never submitted to publishers. I keep revising it and never send it anywhere....but have read it to many classes. It is basically a story that includes a lesson I taught kindergarten children about maintaining personal space within their classroom group. It's the kind of story that every teacher of young kids could use at the start of the year, so I really would love to get it published, but need to work on that now that I'm retired...and I seem keep it on the back burner.

Another idea is to self publish thru Amazon, but one needs an illustrator to accomplish that. Your DH and DD might want to do that, and if the book is well received, some publisher could pick it up. As I understand it, the world of publishing has changed a lot in the past ten years...but there are books written about the process. I have a few and should get them back out if I am serious about the tutu story. I often "muse" more than I "do" when I have no imposed structure....which is why I was a much better worker than retiree. One book that could be useful to your DH is "Writing Picture Books", by Ann Whitford Paul. There are plenty of others, too.

We do have a published author on our thread who might have some ideas for you.....:) Good luck! And keep us posted....

The day is moving along.....and the snow is sort of pretty....but annoying at this point

bedo

Red so sorry to hear about your problems with AIs. I hope they find the right one and that you feel better.

MZ your name is hysterical! Why did I not think of that? My first thought when I was diagnosed was "I'm not feeling like I will be a good "Do Be" Therefore the Bedo I'm so glad you joined.

Back from volunteering. 600 people were served and I got allergies in Tenn.

Last night I fractured a rib. The story of how is too stupid to tell. I want to open my UPS box with my Revere Ware and Cuisinart that I sent from storage but can't and my new "stitch fix" which came today but it would hurt too much so I will have to wait to post "the ugliest kitchen" photos.

There will be frozen pizza for dinner. The Cat.. who I blame for the fall will not leave me alone, and want's to know what's the matter Mom? I am mad at him but can't be because he is just a big dummy.

So looking forward to pics from your journey, Susan. We can all live vicariously.

I stopped my AI last week after 3 years. Too much joint pain, will see how things pan out.

An admirer wants to bring me chicken soup! Men can be so sweet and dumb at the same time!

Hello to all I missed. I read every one of your posts and enjoyed every single one.

PS except for eric. eric is not dumb

PPS For dinner in Georgia at a local restaurant I had tater tots topped with melted pimento cheese and a salad. It was one of several tater tot specials and options. My friend Barbara had a hamburger.

MombieZombie

Bedo--Thanks. Mombie Zombie is a nickname from my kids. I probably already mentioned that somewhere, but I claim brain damage from raising kids. What kind of volunteering? Soup kitchen? That's terrible you broke a rib. I'm sure you are feeling it in everything you try to do. Hope it heals quickly.

Lacey--Thanks for the book tips. I'll show my DH. My daughter doesn't want to make a career of it, but she is really very talented as an illustrator. She's 16 and wants to be a kindergarten teacher. She adores children. Here is one of her doodles.

bedo

MZ the picture that your daughter made is absolutely amazing! Especially at 16. I think that her students will adore her, and should she want "extra money" I'm sure she can support it with her art.

I went to Appalachia where my Mother and Grandparents were from to honor them. It was with a group called RAM. I had never been to Appalachia before.

I am getting so hungry.

MZ. When will you be through with your treatment?

Redheaded1

Bedo, oh no!  I can't imagine a fractured rib.  Does it hurt to breath?  I know I coughed so hard I though maybe I had cracked one, but they said I had Pleurisy??  II
s frustrating when you need to open something, or slice something and you can only use one side of your body.....

Bedo which one was you on?  

I think the anastrazole was the right one, but the cholesterol and blood pressure shit scared me too bad.  This one is going in the trash as soon as I talk to him.

I made veggie soup today, but it doesn't taste quite right.  I forgot to buy bullion cubes so I used beef base and I used fire roasted tomatoes instead of the home canned ones at my Dad's. It just doesn't taste right.  I've added more tomatoes and salt and pepper but I don't know what it is missing.  Added more beef base also.  Was planning on taking 1/2 of it to My Dads tomorrow, but bet he will say its not right when he tastes it too....

Mommiezombie, your daughter is really talented.  I saw a sophisticated coloring book for grown ups at Barnes and Noble and I would have bought it but it would probably have taken 20.00 to get enough colored pens for me to enjoy it..... And I probably couldn't stay inside the lines with my left hand !!!!