Sweet Abby

Most mornings this is what I see out my bedroom window looking out towards the barn.







There’s Abby waiting patiently for me to come down to the barn.  She’s such a sweet faithful cat. 







It was even raining lightly this morning and she was still waiting.  If it’s raining too much she waits for me in the barn and greets me as I open the door.   But must mornings she’s out there sitting, waiting for me and then she walks with me to the barn for morning chores.  Her quiet companionship is such a joy to me.

Lessons Learned From the Emergency Room

Several weeks ago I had the thought provoking experience of spending the day in the emergency room with my mother.  What started out as a trip to her doctor for what she thought to be a urinary infection turned into a trip to the emergency room with a kidney stone and urinary/kidney infection complicated by a known heart condition and newly discovered COPD, which landed her in the hospital for a week.

First off I must say that the entire staff in the emergency room was really wonderful.  They looked to be pretty busy that day but were still very efficient and very caring.  They kept us informed as much as they could and really made a bad situation a little easier.  And for that I am very thankful.  One of the doctors even bought me a sandwich from the snack bar.  I was starving by that time and really appreciated that.  What a nice guy.

One thing I noticed while I was hanging around waiting while they poked, prodded and tested my mom, was that a good majority of the folks coming into the emergency room not only had a problem needing immediate attention, they looked like a lot of them had other health problems that were complicating things as in my moms case.  This really made me take a harder look at where I was with my own health and where I wanted to be in the future. 

I  have always been pretty health conscious, but this year I will be turning 50.  Wow!  Where did the time go?  And I think that the times that I wasn't so good at taking care of my health have started to catch up with my body.  I have had a few health issues pop up that I'm dealing with.  And while we can't take back the past, we can learn from others and hopefully improve our own future.

So I have stepped up my own healthy efforts a bit.  I am more aware of what I'm eating.  I will still indulge in a Baskin Robbins ice cream occasionally, but the key word is "occasionally".  I am more aware if I skip a few days of working out.  Actually, my body is very good at letting me know when I've missed a few days.

Some health problems we have no control over, but we make choices every day all day long that affect our health.  Sometimes the choices we make don't show up right now.  But years from now, we may have to live with those choices.  My mom has smoked and drank for years and now she is paying the price for those choices she has made.

The good news is that you can still affect your health now and in the future by making better, healthier choices today.

If you smoke, make the choice to quit and get help if you need it.
If you drink too much,  quit or cut way back.
If your eating habits need improving, make the choice to eat better.
If you don't exercise, start.

Start small if you need to, but start somewhere.  And keep building on that.

And if you need some motivation go visit your local emergency room.  Oh, and my mom, she is still in a rehab nursing facility trying to get healthy and strong enough to go home. 

Healthy Microwave Popcorn

Here's an healthy, quick, and easy way to make popcorn.

Take about a 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels and put them in a bowl.  Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over them.  Just enough to coat them when stirred, maybe about a teaspoon at most.  Stir the popcorn to coat it in the olive oil.

Put the popcorn in a paper lunch bag and put some salt in if you would like.  Making about half inch folds, fold the lunch bag over about three times.

Pop in the microwave on high for about 2 minutes.  Microwaves vary so you need to listen and when the popcorn starts slowing down, take it out.  Ours takes less than 2 minutes.  I just set it for 2 minutes and then listen for when to stop it.  Don't let it go too long or it burns.  After a time or two you'll know how long and when to take it out.

Pour it in a bowl and it's ready.  It's pretty dry like this.  I've gotten to where I like it dry.  But you could add butter or seasonings to it.  This way you know exactly what you're adding and how much.  Good idea, especially if you're watching calories.  Or even if you're just trying to be more aware of what you're eating.  It has about half the calories and fat as boxed microwave popcorn.





  

 

a bowl full of lemons

 

The Best Non-Toxic Oven Cleaner Ever

Last week we had to have the appliance repair man out to fix the oven.  The burners and the broiler worked, but not the oven.

So the repair man gets in and is investigating the problem and I am suddenly aware of how dirty the oven and the top of the stove really are.  It was a bit embarrassing.  I'm sure he has seen a lot worse, but this is my oven.  I don't want to be known as the lady with the gross oven.

So he has to order a part and come back next week.  Ah ha! Here's my chance to redeem my reputation.  I got out my Shaklee Scour Off and Basic H Degreaser and went to work.  It was amazing how easily they cleaned it right up.  And no toxic fumes.  I didn't even wear gloves.  I just rubbed Scour Off on with a micro fiber sponge and water.  I used the Basic H Degreaser on some of the greaser areas.  It worked great.  And it took less than half an hour.

The repairman will be so impressed because I'm sure they really notice these things.  OK, so maybe he could care less, but I'm so happy to have a clean oven and stove.  Almost enough to enjoy cooking.  Almost.

And not only are the Shaklee Get Clean products non-toxic, they are also environmentally safe and economical, too. 

The Best Non-Toxic Oven Cleaners Ever

Note to self, " Keep the oven clean.  It might need repairing."  I guess that's kind of along the same lines as always wear clean underwear.  Fortunately I don't have a problem with that one.

Natural Easter Eggs

Even though my daughter is sixteen she still likes to dye Easter eggs.

Now that we have our own chickens we get brown and green eggs.

I wasn't sure how they would turn out the first time we dyed them, but they're beautiful.  The colors are very deep, rich, jewel tones.

And some of them have their own designs already on them.  I'm not sure what causes that, but it adds to their specialness. 

How to Care for Introverts

I saw this and could so relate to it.  I'm an introvert.  My husband is an introvert.  My daughter is an introvert.  We're a family of introverts.

But I think people misunderstand introverts.  They think introverts are shy and don't like being around people.  When in reality they just need a lot of private time and space.

People are surprised when I tell them I'm an introvert because I'm not all that shy and I love being around people.  But I also love my space and time to myself.  As a matter of fact I need time to myself or I start feeling very overwhelmed.

When I read this to my sixteen year old daughter we had to laugh because this is so her.  It fits her to a T.

So the next time you think a person is just "unsocialable" or "stuck up" ( I used to get this a lot because I used to be very shy) think again.  They may just be an introvert.  Or maybe very shy.

Just remember that introverts just need their space and down time.

You Are My Sunshine

The last few days we've had rain, rain, and more rain.  With all of the accompanying mud.  I've had to go out and play in the mud trying to drain horse areas by digging trenches through the mud. Yuck!

So I thought I would post some pictures from the other day when the sun was out and we had some beautiful blooming sunshine.  Daffodils!

Rain, Rain go away
Come again some other day

Like next month.  Please take a vacation somewhere else.