Just need to talk to my friends (211)
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I think I have turned the corner to recovery. Stayed up all day but didn't do much. The metallic taste of Flagyl is certainly coming through Though..
My groceries were just delivered (guess WM was super busy on deliveries tonight). Carrying them into the house and putting them away was kind of tiring. Got a couple of things I did not order -double chocolate mini muffins! Wish I could eat one..Not surprising because it was really dark when she brought in things.
I think I will go to bed and watch tv a while. Hope everyone is well tonight..Good night.
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Lorita - I'm glad you've turned a corner on your diverticulitis. It sounds so painful.
Double chocolate muffins don't sound bad. 🙂
HB - about the cuccidati — it might be that they're mostly a Sicilian thing, so not as well known with northern Italians?
Another traditional Italian-Catholic thing - Saint Joseph's Day on March 19. There's a special spaghetti sauce, plus cuccidati, plus as many cookies as you can make. Our best year we made 108 different kinds. There's an alter with fruits, breads, etc on it, which the priest blesses. Then you invite everyone over - including many people you don't even know. At the end of the day whatever is left over goes to the church to give to people who need it.
We did that for as long as I can remember. Does your friend celebrate that day?
Thinking good thoughts on your knee!! Several of my cousins have had that done and it sounds unfun.
There's a lot to love about Portland.
We had a bit of sun today, but fall is definitely here, and I think our warm weather is just a memory. I'm back to wearing sweaters.
Today was an early gym day - my trainer had an MRI scheduled - he's also getting one of his knees done.
The big thing I did at the gym today was assisted pull-ups. He had me do 10 reps at level 10 (complete assist, so pretty easy), 9 reps at level 9, 8 reps at level 8, etc. Then finally 1 rep at level 1, which isn't quite pulling up your full body weight, but it's getting close. This means I'm getting close to being able to do a legit pull-up. Since I've never been able to do one in my entire life, I'm kind of excited.
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Rest up Lorita.
GG—you baked 108 different kinds of cookies? Now that's impressive!
I have to refrain from cookies and other yummies, I recently learned that I am now a diabetic.
Iris
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Cuiccidati means "little bracelet" in Sicilian! I found one recipe showing the cookies in a crescent shape. The secret seems to be very COLD butter and dough. But, it showed a total time of 2 hours from start to finish. Too much for me to tackle. Recipe called for orange marmalade and zest, figs and dates, And walnuts, so no Cuiccidati for Lorita.
My late MIL was of Italian descent. She made the very best sauce. The first time I cooked sauce for a visit, she was stirring the pot and tasted. I mentioned I had put in a pinch of sugar (I mean the amount you can get between two fingers and your thumb) and she said "I know, I can taste it". Ugh. I never did that again. Over the years, by telephone, she taught me many of her recipes. "About a handful, about a cup, about a teaspoon" - never precise amounts because she didn't measure. She was wonderful and I have a few of her bowls, spoons and a HUGE pot that I use all the time.
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good morning
Busy morning, pot luck after service in morning.
Lorita hope you continue to improve
Iris maybe you will feel better as your diabetes gets treated.
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Mornjng, I slept well but have some pain in LLQ this morning, maybe from lying flat all njght. Can't lie on my side because of costo. Thanks to all of you for your good wishes for me to feel.better. Just takes time. I had some yogurt and a !little applesauce yesterday. Maybe today I can have some cream of wheat. You're right, JeriLynn, none of that dish for me but it sounds good.
JeriLynn, my grandma cooked the same way as your MIL- no recipe, just a pinch of this and a little of that. She would make the batter for a cake, then bake a spoonful or two to see if she needed more of something. I loved for her to do that because I got to eat the baked piece while I ate what she left in the mixing bowl. Daddy did sort of the same thing. He made the very best bread pudding and I so wish I had learned what he put in it.
We raised chickens for eggs and food and I would stand by her watching her cut up a chicken, after she wrung it's neck. awful thing to do but guess it had to be done. I didn't learn much because I never cut up one.
Mint, at our Church when we had a Revival, on the last Sunday we had what we called "dinner on the ground". They sit up tables for the food and everyone brought their favorite dish. I can remember angel food cake with strawberries. Iris, I overdid a little bit too much carrying things to the kitchen from the porch last night so I will rest more today. You do the same. Are you taking insulin or just a diet? Charles was diabetic and tried Metformin but had to go to insulin. I remember at the VA Hospital you could tell if a patient was diabetic if they were in the Canteen eating sweets..
GG, it is painful so don't wish it on anyone. Those muffins are calling me but I froze them until later. I love cookies but can't imagine baking that many.
Sweetwater, you saying you played house under the fig bushes reminded me that I would hide under the spirea bushes when mother wanted to teach me to read but she always found me.
Time for cooking shows at least I can watch.
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Happy Saturday.
Beautiful morning here and then the heat will set in.
Ron that breakfast looked yummy.
Lorita I'm hoping each day your stronger. Goodness you've had a lot of thing to deal with recently. We have college football today.
GG your doing the right thing trying to help your friend. I know your worried about the house and all of the stairs. Now, about those 108 different types of cookies. Very impressive. My DH would certainly be glad to help consume some of them!
Iris, how did you find out about being a diabetic? Besides the blood test. Were you having symptoms? I'm sorry that's something else for you to deal with.
JeriLynn you writing about your MIL and her recipes gave me a revelation. DH & I have been married 47 yr & dated 2 before that - so I've known MIL 50 yrs. In that time not once has she ever given me one recipe. She gave me a blank notebook to write in the recipes I use , but she's never given one. She wasn't much of a cook, fantastic pie maker, just not a cook. But she's never given me a pie recipe either. I've not ask because well, she'd end up never giving it to me anyway. It's funny that I'd never thought of that before.
HB I can totally relate on the knee replacement. I've had 13 knee surgeries. My right knee has been replaced and had two revisions! That's very unheard of, but then again it's me! I've said if I ever have to have anything done again I'd really like to use the Hospital for Special Surgery in NY. That can't happen with us in TX, but its something I've told myself.
Everyone else I've just run out of time. We are such a good group here. DH has a teeny bit more neck movement. he has his first neck PT Monday. I dread how he'll feel afterwards. His coughing is also a tad better. I've got to get busy here.
Let's everyone be safe.
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Eagle, I can't imagine that many knee surgeties. You are a strong lady! I hurt my knee when I was in my early twenties doing exercises and it still bothers me from time to time. Cannot kneal on it.
I.hope the PT can help your husbands neck but bet it will be sore afterwards.
I need to find out when the Sooners or Cowboys play today and hope it is televised.
What you said about your MIL never giving you a recipe reminded me of an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond Where the MIL finally gave her DIL a recipe but put a label of the right herb over the wrong one so the recipe didn't turn out good.
This is a good group.of people who really care about each.other and help us deal with our problems. I have had a lot to deal with this summer and the support everyone has given me has helped me to deal with everything. Thanks to all of you.
Back later after football. I need to fill the water tank and go to the mailbox to get Grandpa Gus' spray..
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Up…will tackle books again
Lorita …snakes can get. in those windows!!!
Carl…jam v preserves…I will google, Trader Joe's has fig butter…it looks like it would be easy to spread.
Missing 4 inches off my hair. The cut makes me feel 10 years younger.
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Lorita, I hope you continue to feel better. I also like Cream of Wheat.
Eagle, several years ago I had an elevated Hgb A1C and was diagnosed as having diabetes. I told the endocrinologist that I didn't accept that diagnosis and that I would work on my diet. He told me not to eat juices, soda or desserts. At that time I drank about 4-6 glasses of apple or orange juice, also sweetened juice drinks. I didn't drink cola but I occasionally drank a non-cola soda. I rarely ate candy but I did eat a lot of bread, pastries, cookies, muffins and brownies. I cut all of that out and my A1C returned to the normal range. I also lost thirty pounds, so I believed diabetes was not a concern for me.
Last year I was diagnosed as having heart failure. I thought my nocturia was due to fluid retention. Recently I began having pain and tingling in my feet. I put these symptoms together and thought to recheck my A1C, and it was elevated again. At my neurologist appointment yesterday the neurologist diagnosed me as having neuropathy, because my toes are a bit numb.
I am going to be diligent about changing my diet. I will be eating a whole food plant based diet that focuses on unprocessed carbohydrate foods and low fat foods. I bought a glucose meter and I am checking my blood sugars to monitor myself. I am looking forward to positive changes! Diabetes is a disease that can be present with mild symptoms but has a lot of serious complications. I am taking this very seriously!
Iris
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Don't say that, Judith! I've had enough snakes.. I don't think a snake could/would carry the key fob and masks from the front to back of car. It had to be a squirrel.I do know snakes can climb walls though. How could it get back out of car? Okay, now I need to check under all of the seats!! I did that and no snakes, thank goodness.
Iris, I.hope you can get and keep your glucose under control with the diet. Sounds like you have a good plan. What did the doctor say you can do about the neuropathy? I know I have some in both feet from the Morton's Neuroma. Doesn't bother me too much until I go to bed and the blood doesn't get to my feet too much, or if I flex my toes.
I just watched a really good movie on TV —Where the Crawdads Sing. Have you seen it?
Almost time for the news. Enjoy the rest of your day.
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I think I could still dance if I had the right woman beside me. Like a nurse or chiropractor. 😀
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lol…
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I agree. Good night, sleep tight
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Iris - I didn't personally make 108 different kinds of cookies - I made about 40 different kinds. My aunt made another 40, and then the rest of the family made up the rest. Still, a lot of work! It was always a lot of fun though.
I'm sorry I missed you saying you had diabetes, not sure how I missed that. It sounds like you have a good food plan going forward. What you describe is essentially the ABC diet I've just finished - no alcohol, no bread, no (processed) carbs. You end up shopping the perimeter of the grocery store. I don't think you'll hate this.
To be honest, I'll probably be off the ABCs for this month, and then go back on them for another couple of months. So long as I can have chocolate sometimes, I'm good.
JeriLynn - The secret to cuccidati? It's a two person job. Having children around that you can farm tasks out to is a definite plus. But yes, it really does take that long to make them. It's so rewarding though to have them sitting on a nice plate - they're so festive!
When I was in my early 20s, I got in trouble with my aunt for putting in a non-standard ingredient in the sauce. Oh, the glare I got. I never did that again, ever.
Lorita - I'd never wish diverticulitis on anyone. I actually never wish bad stuff on anyone, it's just not my style.
eaglemom - Thanks (about my former neighbor). He's a wonderful person and I want to do as much as I can to help.
13 knee surgeries?? I can't imagine that. My cousin, who used to do Roller Derby, had 5 knee surgeries and I thought that was a lot.
Carl - Ha!!!
So … my dress (for my class reunion) got here today! I'm really happy with it. It fits perfectly, and is just as drape-y and swirly as in the photo. It's a little long, but if I wear my boots (the ones I wear to Death Guild), it looks just fine. It's this dress. I was worried about the tariffs, but they only added $20 to the price. Irritating, because it's so needless, but not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. So yay!!
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GG, you're right, I'll be mostly in the produce section of the store.
Lorita, the neurologist prescribed a nutritional supplement and said it might help the neuropathy. Fortunately it already has been improving; I think once my blood sugars get under control the neuropathy will resolve.
We've had three days of no hot water in my section of my condo complex. I was told that a plumber had "switched" the pipes, meaning putting the hot water onto the cold water line. I don't know how that would be possible, but apparently it happened. But finally tonight, we have hot water again.
I decluttered a bit today, yea! Now to bed. Good night.
Iris
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Good morning!
Carl, a song from the 50s/60s came on the other day. I threw my can down, grabbed my DIL and showed her hiw we use to rock. The bones in my body started to shake, rattle and roll and after 15 seconds they grabbed my oxygen bottle for me. Those were the days my friends!
Ron
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Good morning. We have a sunny and warm day on tap here today. Perhaps I'll spend a little time in the garden cutting down some of my perennials. My peonies look awful currently and I haven't watered my pots, so I should probably get them stowed ahead of the handyman coming tomorrow.
Ron— That's quite a proper fry-up there. It would have been better with biscuits for sure. Would you consider a good toaster oven to spell you over? When my range's oven kicked in early-Covid-times, I borrowed mom's Cuisinart toaster oven. It, along with my air fryer, got me through for about 2 years. While I couldn't roast a turkey in it, it did a decent job with small batches of biscuits and cookies. I made bread pudding and pies it as well. I will say, too, that it broils more evenly than any range I've ever owned. I saved the air fryer for meats because of ease of cleanup. Theoretically, you could bake with it, but it's convection and very easy to burn things. Mom's was similar to this one.Lorita— There's an old joke that cats are proof that the earth isn't flat. Where the earth flat, cat's wouldn't have knocked everything off it by now.
I wonder if Grandpa Gus will keep Rusty out of your car being that they are also rodents.
Gothic G— My friend's families come from Rome and Naples so far as she knows. She's no longer a Roman Catholic after her divorce but still goes to the St. Joseph's Day Mass in South Philadelphia and buys herself a Zeppole at Isgro's. She does her cookies at Christmas using a spreadsheet to organize and devoting an entire week to baking in her Cookie Cave (a basement kitchen with a commercial oven and racks).
Yay on you in the pull-up department. LOL, I always watch those scenes in movies where someone is dangling off the side of a building and thinking I'd be dead were it me.
Bummer about the tariff, but at least the package cleared customs. I ordered a used book from an Amazon reseller in the UK 3 weeks ago and the delivery date keeps being pushed forward. The book is no longer in print, and I really want it for my godchild's twins who are at an age where they love sing-songy books. Fingers crossed they don't outgrow it.
Iris— I suspect that sticking to a healthy way of eating should improve things. DH's fasting blood sugar has risen a bit over the years, but his A1C is still in a normal range. Suggestions to watch his diet fall on deaf ears. Literally.
Jerilynn— Lucky you to have had a MIL who was a good cook and generous with her recipes. My MIL (an anorexic) was a legendarily awful cook who had a hate-hate relationship with food. She did have one fudge frosting she made that her sons loved. She did share it with me, but I was never able to replicate the gritty texture. I even had my friend who baked professionally for a time try to reverse engineer it with no luck.
Have the grandchildren stopped by to talk?
Eaglemom— That's kind of odd about the recipes. My MIL has given me a few she claimed were DH's favorites. He swears they were things one of his brothers liked. She was widowed young and went back to teaching and served a lot of casseroles. I have never seen DH willingly eat a casserole in the 42 years I've known him. My mom's mom was a fabulous cook; she almost always followed recipes and gifted her daughters a copy of the book most of her recipes came from. This means we can have most of her specialties whenever we want them. Except for the scalloped fish pie.
What's so special about the Hospital for Special Surgery? The doctor who did my right knee was a big gun with Rothmann Institute at the time but he has since moved on to HSS which is about an hour and a half from my home.
My former neighbor has a knee she's had replaced twice and had several revisions on. She has some skeletal differences which we addressed and then she was in a car accident which undid it all. She's a construction engineer and finds site visits very difficult.
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DS is off to work the Fall Foliage train today. He had a 12-hour shift on the steamer yesterday but is only working 8 on the diesel today. DH and I went out to a movie yesterday evening. We saw the Downtown Abby movie which was pure cornball fluff but pretty and fun.
Catching up on laundry today after I do my Sundy Xword. I hope all have a pleasant day.
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Morning. Not feeling too well today. Have had cream of wheat white grape juice, Pedialyte, tea, and pudding. I did put Ingredients in to make white bread. I have French but white is better for me now.
Closed the driveway gate and opened two others so girls can get in and eat the grass North and West of the house.. Wore me out. I can see several of them are in there now. HB, will keep the windows on the car closed enough so Rusty can't get in. Will only spray under the hood of the car. You know cats can be careful and not knock things off but more often not. I have seen Li!!y be so careful and Sammy like a bull in a China shop.
Zetta, are you in Boise?
Hope you all are well and enjoy the day. Going to be hot here.
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Felt a little better so we took down the trash. Filling the water rank now. I had to open and close one gate but made it. Girls are in the barn now but they are doing a good job on the grass. The loaf of bread is done and Sheena and I had a slice of it toasted. Pretty good with mashed potatoes. I have had bouts of hypo glycemia and that may have been part of my problem earlier.
Eagle, I found out our Chiefs don't play until tomorrow night
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It's good that you're feeling better, Lorita!
My mother learned to cook from her mother, but also used the Betty Crocker Cookbook.
HB, I too was lulled by normal fasting blood sugars. But obviously my A1C crept up over the years. Perhaps your DH could check a 2 hour post prandial blood sugar and see if it warrants some decision making in the way of dietary modifications.
Iris
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Thanks, Iris but not feeling as well as yesterday. No pain just unsteady on my feet.. I cooked from a Betty Crocker cookbook, Better Homes and Gardens and Watkins. Hardly ever use one now because I don't cook that much, just the usual things.
Something is wrong with Billy. I noticed he was limping yesterday of but still getting around. I mentioned I opened the gates saso they could graze north of the house. I called Mike and today he is at the Fair in Tulsa - his grandkids are showing today. Not sure what it could be, hip, something in his foot, footrot, etc. but he will come and check, probably early or late tomorrow. Will keep Billy up until then. I think it's his hip, probably one of the bulls pushed on him.
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good evening
Carl you made me chuckle, thank you
Next I read yours Ron and I got to chuckle again.
Lorita sorry today is being rough on you
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Carl and Ron— you guys are too funny.
Lorita— Ugh what a couple of months you have had. I hope Billy will be OK.
My cats were a mixed bag. The last himmie was remarkably nimble on his feet, the one before was very dainty despite being the most athletic of the 3 and the Persian was a lummox. The recent himmie wouldn't accidently knock a glass over but in the right mood he'd swat it off the edge for his own amusement.
Iris— DH's A1C is fine, it's his fasting blood sugar that's crept above 100 even with a 12-hour fast. I doubt he'd change his diet at this late date. He's 78 and eats like an indulged child. He has Frosted Flakes with whole milk most mornings; he tends to do something easy for lunch. Today was a PB&J with a diet Fanta and some Milk Duds (yesterday was a bowl of ice cream) for dessert. He likes nice dinners and tends to eat a decent meal if I'm cooking. There's a disconnect— I take Synthroid and need to wait before I eat while he takes a handful of cardiac meds that need to be taken with a meal.
HB0 -
Eating right is important for all of us, but I find it hard to do. Some people eat to live and some live to eat, and I'm in the latter group. I'm going to quit looking for fig preserves, because I know I'll like it and I don't need another sugar goodie on my want list. That being said, if someone put a plate of biscuits and apple butter in front of me right now, I'd eat it.
Went for a walk this afternoon and had a nice visit with the neighbors. The sun will be down and the moon up in a couple of hours, so I'm going to put the trash out and think about supper.
We are coming up on a super moon tomorrow and Tuesday nights, and the moon is getting pretty super already. I think this one is called the Harvest Moon.
Have a good evening and take care of yourselves.
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Right, Carl, it is the Harvest Moon. I didn't realize the full moon was so near but went out to turn off the water and the beautiful, bright moon was reflecting in the pond. Just gorgeous Seems like only a day or two ago it was a crescent.
Both of our guys have a good sense of humor. Good to have a few laughs. Carl, I'm going to stick to peach preserves and blackberry jam. No more figs for me.
We have a slight chance of showers the next two days. I was out in the pastures a couple of weeks ago and the grass was good and green. Today things look dry. Our part of Okla.is now in drought. Hate that in the fall because of prairie fires. I have also noticed that the ponds are down some.
Feeling some better tonight but still kind of wobbly, as my neighbor says. I'll say good night, see you tomorrow.
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Ron and Carl - You guys! 😄
HB - OMG - my aunt used to use a spreadsheet for her cookies too! So funny.
I'm being so careful now about what I order online these days because of the tariffs. I hear you about the books … I've ordered a couple of out of print books too (before the tariffs). I hope your book shows up soon.
I haven't thought about Frosted Flakes in so long. It was one of the few cereals I'd eat - because they would stand up to milk. I always hated soggy flakes, which is what I'd get with Wheaties. Mostly I'd stick to Shredded Wheat, even as a child, because it wouldn't get soggy in milk.
Lorita - Take care and don't overdo. If you're feeling wobbly, best to take it easy for a couple of more days.
Zetta - Thinking of you. Hoping you're in Boise now, and busily unpacking and setting up your new home.
Nothing much going on over on my section of the porch. Today there was a bit of sun, but it was quite cool. I know many of you are looking forward to the hot weather being over, but I'm still wanting a bit more before the rains begin.
Can't believe tomorrow is Monday. Sometimes it just feels like time evaporates.
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Is a spread sheet anything like a cookie sheet?
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No, the spread sheet is much, much larger than a cookie sheet.
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I hope Billy will be okay!
I like for my cereal to get soggy. In fact, I've had to let it sit for several minutes to allow the milk to absorb into the cereal. But don't start me craving cereals now, I'm sticking with steel cut oats until I get my blood sugar under control.
The moon here is full but not shiny, perhaps tomorrow night.
Good night.
Iris
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