Wordless Wednesday

Wishing you and yours a blessed Samhain.  Happy Halloween.

Tuesday Ramble

Good Tuesday morning.  Weather seems to be warming up some, but the heat continues to blast in here.  I ended up putting the fan on.  The heat will feel good in the dead of winter, but right now?  Forget about it.  It's very uncomfortable.

This is weigh in week for me so I am being super good.  Last night's dinner.  Couldn't get any healthier than this.  I could eat salad every night, and to be honest, there are many days that salad is my dinner....especially on weigh in week.  I try to add different veggies to them so I don't bet bored.  In this one I added romaine, green cabbage, red cabbage, escarole, chicory, a 4 bean salad I tossed together, and crunchy broccoli salad....all topped with my all-time favorite Bragg's Organic Sesame Ginger dressing.

Busy day ahead.  A nurse from Matrix Medical is heading out here this morning for an assessment, and then later I have an appointment with my doctor for my yearly wellness checkup.  I don't know if he can do much for me about the pain, but I'm going to speak to him about it.  And I don't know if this nurse is a waste of my time or not.  Matrix Medical has joined my insurance plan, Emblem Health, and will do home visits.   What I don't like is that there is no set time....anytime between 8 and 2.  I don't like that.  Ties up my whole day.  Thinking about canceling it.  But, gosh, now I don't know where I put the phone number.  

Well, they finally swept and mopped the lobby so after I did my banking,   I began cleaning in earnest. Yesterday I dusted the living room. We still have some touch ups with paint and light fixtures and smoke alarms to be put in on the ceiling, but we're well on the way to getting back to normal. Finally.  I'm not pleased with the furniture polish I got--Endust Free.  It grabs up the dust all right, but doesn't leave a shine....or that heavenly lemon smell that Pledge always does.  Lesson learned.  Won't be purchasing it again.  

Have a wonderful day.

 

Monday this and That

Good Monday morning everyone.  A little rain is on the way, but nothing like what we had on Saturday.  Boy did the sky open up.  Glad I didn't have anyplace to go.  No place I really have to be today either.  It's the 5th week of the month so there are no classes.  I guess they only pay for four weeks worth of classes, because any 5th class is canceled.  That's okay.  I have stuff to keep me busy. 

Results of Saturday's storm.  The wind and rain woke me at 4, and when I saw that hubby wasn't home yet, I got couldn't go back to sleep.  I worry about him driving in that kind of weather.  

Blew the makeshift fence over in the back yard.  The satellite dish had been standing up next to it.  That blew over as well.  In my building we can't have satellite dishes or anything else  on the roof, so if one wants cable they are pretty much limited.  Wonder if Cablevision had to pay them for sole access to our building.  (Of course, that's just my thoughts.  I doubt much that Cablevision would dish out money to this building.  They have plenty of money coming in.)

Did some shopping yesterday, and when I got up to the register I decided to have it delivered.  It would only have been two bags, but HEAVY bags, and I know now that I cannot carry things like I used to.  Delivery was free aside for a tip so why not take advantage of it.  And it arrived 15 minutes after I got home.  Didn't have to wait at all.  Of course, I know there are times I will have to wait, but that's okay. 

Felt like some hot soup yesterday so I made a huge pot of vegetable, lentil and bean soup. 

Peppers and onions
Carrots
Celery
Mix veggies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can lentils (rinsed)
1 can cannellini beans (rinsed)
Spinach (I used frozen)
Sodium free chicken broth packets (I used 5...or was it 6.  Oh well, according to taste)
Harissa seasoning
Baharat spice
Garlic powder
Parsley flakes
Thyme
Garam Marsala
And of course water. 

I make up these recipes as I go.  Most work out, but some like last week's soup are a flop.  The seasoning was okay with the soup I made, but I used fresh kale, and I kind of think maybe all the grit wasn't rinsed off, (but I sure did wash it well) or one of the spices I used didn't dissolve and remained gritty. (I checked them out and found one mix that had sort of a crunchy pepper in it).  Needless to say, it wasn't harmful, but because of this, it wasn't appetizing to me. 

Hoping to get out and take care of banking today.  Bill time again.  Just never seem to get caught up.  Tomorrow afternoon I have a doctor's appointment.  My yearly check up.  Don't know if there is anything he can do for me.  I'm healthy as a horse but for this pain, and I am, at this point, totally refusing any pain medications they might prescribe.  I have sent for a back brace.  I remember back when I had slipped discs, the back brace really helped me, so I am hoping it will do it again.  Going to be a busy day for us medically.  Hubby has an appointment with his lung doctor, and I have a nurse coming in the morning and doctor's appointment in the afternoon.  We'll see how this goes.

Have a wonderful day.

Sunday Selections

Received my Autumn Wild Medicine box this past week, and as usual, I am in awe.  They pack it with such amazing items.  With several of the boxes that I canceled, I was only able to use half the stuff and put the rest away to fill little Christmas bags for family members, but with this box, I never part with anything.  I totally love it.

This is when I first unwrapped the box.  So many goodies stuffed into it.

A beautiful light scarf in earthy colors to blend use in your fall wardrobe. 

A bag of lava rocks.

Nice sized bottle of Fir Needle essential oil.  This powerful essential oil is used in aromatherapy for the improvement of respiratory conditions.

A Spanish painted tile.  Place the lava rocks on the tile and sprinkle with the Fir Needle essential oil to create a natural diffuser.  Place anywhere you spend a relaxing moment.

Cold and flu tea.  Ingredients: Nettle, Peppermint, Calendula, Lemon Balm, Orange Peel, Thyme, Yarrow

Calendula (Marigold, Summer's Bride)  is a staple in an herbalists medicine chest. It is used in topical salves, poultices & other skin remedies.  This flower top is also a great addition to your nightly tea and can aid in stomach issues. It is known to be antiviral and antibacterial and is found in many oral health products.

Autumn blessings Palo Santo smudge set.   Includes Palo Santo sticks tied together with an Obsidian Arrowhead, a sprig of Rosemary and a piece of wheat. These smudges are hand made and are imbued with the essence of the ocean.

Pretty little note cards for handwritten notes.  This I will probably put in with the Christmas gifts.  With my arthritic fingers, writing is a lost art. 

Saturday Thought

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return. 

Mary Jean Irion

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday to all.  Oh, how I remember how I used to look forward to this day.  However, I also remember that before I retired, this was always the slowest day of the week for me.  It never seemed like it was going to end. Guess it's because I was looking forward to the weekend so much.  Now Friday is just another day because every day is a weekend day for me.

Slowly getting my house back in order.  They finished the three apartments next to me and across the hall so hopefully the dust will let up some, but first the lobby has to be cleaned, and the super doesn't seem to be doing that. That's the main thing now.  The dust.  I keep a towel under the door, but every time you open it, dust comes in.  I did finish the television area because it is furthest from the door, but only doing a little at a time.

Had an awesome workshop on Wednesday.  I really enjoy that group as much as my Thursday group.  We talked about staying motivated, and I opened up about my inability to stay on track now that I reached Lifetime status.  It's been a struggle ever since, and lately it just keeps getting worse.  I am definitely in sabotage mode, and am having a struggle pulling out of it.  That's why attending 2 workshops or more a week will be good for me.  Went to lunch with the girls after my Thursday workshop and enjoyed the good company and conversation.  After a month of hermit-hood due to the construction, it's feeling so good to get out again.

Christmas decorations up already.  Hmmm!  Guess that's kind of late in today's day and age when Christmas comes long before Halloween.

The other day I bought an 18 count carton of Eggland's eggs.  They cost a bit more, but I've been buying them since the egg scare awhile back.  And they do taste better.  We enjoy them.  I checked the carton before putting it in my cart.  All eggs were perfect.  I came home to find that all but 2 eggs were smashed.   16 eggs ruined.  What the heck did I do?  Like I have money to throw away.  Grrr!!!

Bought another 18 count carton yesterday and took great care to get them home safely, and I did. Not one broken egg. The other day was just a fluke, and I think I can pinpoint when it happened. I got off the stop before mine to get some mandarins at an outdoor market. That made the bag quite heavy. When I got home I just plopped the bag down forgetting the eggs for a minute. The result? 16 broken eggs.

Got this beautiful Christmas scarf in the mail yesterday. Can't wait for the opportunity to wear it. Thank you so much, Lady Caer Morganna from http://thewiccalife.blogspot.com/

A big storm heading this way tomorrow so my plans are to just hang out and maybe get some things done around the house.   I almost went out and cleaned the lobby myself, but then I thought I'm not the one getting free rent to take care of the building.  Why should I have to clean it?  So much as I am anxious to get my floors waxed and my rugs laid, I'll just have to be patient and wait. 

Have a wonderful day.

Thursday Odds and Ends

My great nephew turned 3 this week.  Hard to believe.  This photo was taken in the neonatal  ICU the day after he was born.  He was the biggest baby there.  He had some problems his first year of life.  Kept throwing up every time he had any kind of milk.  They tried them all and nothing worked.  Eventually he grew out of it, and today he is a happy, healthy little boy.

I guess I was about 3 in the above photo taken with two of my favorite people, my grandmother and grandfather.  They were already quite old when I was born.  My mom had been a change of life baby.  My grandmother had one glass eye that she took out every night.  You can imagine how scary it was to a small child to go in her room and see her teeth in one glass and her eye in another.  Never did find out what happened.

Coney Island beach in Autumn.  Deserted.  Best time to go.

My daughter in front with my three grandchildren.  This was a few years back.

My sweet girl helping with the Christmas decorations. She always had a hand in the decorating. This was her last Christmas.  I miss her so much. 

This is a great book for people with eating disorders.  This book is for those who are looking for healing.  I'm a binge eater.  Still am at times.  Had an episode last Friday that I had to check myself on.  I'm pretty sure boredom and a slight depression triggered it, but in a 1 1/2 hour time period I ate a cup of Quaker's Banana Nut Bread with protein instant oatmeal, 3 pancakes, and a huge chunk of Entenmann's Cranberry and Orange Loaf cake.  And after that I started thinking, "What can I eat next?"  That's when I reeled myself in.  Was I really so hungry that I needed something else?  Not really.  I just wanted to go through the motions of eating.

This is one of the first pictures I drew in art class.  LOL!!!

This is actually part two of a series.  Part One "A Symphony of Cicadas: Sometimes the End is Just the Beginning" by Chrissi Langwell. It was only a few weeks before Rachel was to marry John when she and her son, Joey, are killed in a car accident.  She finds herself looking down  at the scene of her death and is confronted with a new reality.  In this new alternate world, she finds that she can manipulate the laws of time and space; she can visit whomever, wherever, whenever she chooses. She is actually in a kind of limbo, a dimension where the spirits of the dead who cannot let go of their connection to the living world, linger indefinitely until they are at last ready to leave and enter Heaven. Unable to take this final step, she becomes obsessed with not being forgotten and haunts John relentlessly. Though he cannot see or hear her, she is, nevertheless, constantly on his mind, preventing him from moving on or even taking care of himself and his son. At first, she does not realize the harm she is causing by clinging  to the living world. It isn’t until her influence almost causes an event as tragic as her own death that she begins to change, to learn what it really means to love, and to accept that the most loving thing she can do… is to let go.  Awesome book

Part Two  follows the story of Rachel's son,  Joey, as he navigates the afterlife. He also follows his best friend’s struggle to deal with Joey’s sudden tragic death, as well as the difficulties and emotions of being thirteen. While Joey struggles in the afterlife to help his best friend Cameron deal with grief and the meanness of the living world and the difficulties and emotions of being 13, other characters bring contrasting ideas to the story.  I love how this story shows that each of us can continue to grow and discover what it really means to live our lives authentically from our hearts.   We only have to open up and tear down the walls we construct to embrace this. 

As one character says to  Joey’s best friend, “There is always something good, even in the bleakest of times. You just have to allow it to reach you by refusing to build walls around you to keep everything out.”

Wordless Wednesday: The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

Tuesday Ramble

Good morning on this chilly Autumn morn.  Love, love, love this cooler weather.  I come alive in it.  Have to focus, though, when I walk.  One wrong or hard step, and my hamstring lets me know it's not quite healed.  The other day I hurried across the street to catch the bus, and boy, did I feel it. So I walk very slow and very conscious.

So what happened yesterday?  Did I go to class?  No. Was really planning on it despite some tweaks in my hamstring, and a few minutes before the time for me to leave, I put my water bottle under hot water to melt the ice some and forgot about it. Yup, I've been doing a lot of that lately.  Forgetting things. To make a long story short, the water bottle had moved over to the drain and set itself right on top of it.  The entire kitchen floor was flooded. The clothes I had on to wear were drenched.  Then I realized it had also flooded my utensil drawer.   By the time I got that cleaned out, it was way too late.  But maybe it was just that  I wasn't meant to go. Last time I came home feeling miserable. That bus trip really was so uncomfortable with this hamstring issue. I guess everything happens for a reason. I wasn't listening to what my body was telling me so something happened to make me listen.

On a positive note, I now have the cleanest kitchen floors in the entire building.

Took this picture while waiting for the bus.

Loved the way the sun was sparkling through the trees.  Too bad  the picture doesn't show the true beauty of it.

I forgot to mention.  Over the weekend I got to see the inside of the hoarder's apartment.  OMG!!!  I have never seen a stove, refrigerator, bathroom, etc.  so filthy.  How anyone can live in that squalor?  Especially when you see him come out of his apartment to go to work.  Well dressed, shoes shined.  One would never guess how he really lives.   Oh, by the way.  On Sunday they finally closed the hole between his and the old woman's apartment, and her sons came and began painting.  I was so happy for her.  All day yesterday I heard the sounds of furniture being moved back to their rightful places.  I know what a good feeling that is.

Snack time.  

Received my box from Snacksack yesterday, my last one.  Canceled it because it just isn't worth the price.  And now with WW coming out with some exciting new healthy snacks, I'm going to give that a try.

Have a good one.

Monday This and That

Good morning everyone.  Happy Monday.  It's a cool one, but not as cool as yesterday.  Was wishing I had my gloves when I went to church.  Didn't do much at all this weekend.  Actually, I did, but nothing out of the house.  On Friday evening I put in my food delivery order, and they delivered it two hours later. Much as I love shopping in the store,  I just can't do it anymore.  It's torture when I try to carry the bags home.  And as an added benefit, I can only buy what I see on the website which is always the regular items that I buy.  None of the extras that pop  up on special stands in the aisles that entice you to buy what you don't need.  I do pay $7.99 for delivery, but I'm going to pay $3 in bus fare anyway, so it's only $5 and by the time they get done adding up my bill, it's less than had I shopped in person. 

Saturday morning I got up early and made a big pot of Kale and Chick Pea soup.

Carrots, celery, onions, peppers, 1 can Chick Peas, fresh Kale, 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes,  Garam Marsala (lots because I like spicy), garlic powder, ginger powder, 6 packages low sodium chicken broth, white pepper, and water.  So, so good.  Dinner all this week.

Took this picture of the early morning light.  A gray cloudy morn.

I love this liminal period between darkness and light and picturing my neighbors just beginning to stir to start their day.  I love imagining that I am the only one awake and watching this.

Read the new Woman's Day and then put it in the lobby for someone else to enjoy.  Then later I dug out my holiday notebook and started putting together my Thanksgiving lists--what to cook, what to buy, recipes, etc. It will be here before we know it.  

Hubby wanted to take me to  Applebee's for dinner last night, but neither one of us were up to it.  We both agreed to put it off until we can both really enjoy it.  He's overtired and still healing from his cold, and I'm just tired and in pain.  So we just took the day to rest up.  I saw plenty that I wanted to do, but nope, just sat and looked at it.  Tomorrow is another day, and the work isn't going anyplace.

Sitting her now debating whether or not to go to class today. Definitely not ready for qigong or dance and am not happy with the new meditation facilitator. Everyone has their own style,  and hers is not mine. She starts off with 35 minutes of yoga, and I can't do that even when my body is not out of whack. Yoga isn't for everyone. Then she lights a small candle and puts music on. Maybe it's good, but with this hamstring issue, my butt hurts too much to just still still. So it was rather tortuous last time I went. All that's left is arts and crafts and I do love that. Will see. I won't have to leave until later if I go.

Have a good one.

Sunday Selections

This is one of my favorite boxes and definitely a keeper.  I try out a lot of them which is why you see so many, but most after one month I quit.  Just not worth the money. Nothing skimpy here.  And this month's Halloween box was a real treat.

 Had to save this paper. Couldn't part with it.  Can't really notice it in this picture, but it's black with sparkles.  I'll find use for it.

 Beautiful spider web bag

Inside is a copper bracelet to cleanse energy and purify the body.

Essential Oil Harvest Spice Blend Room Spray to raise energies and freshen the air...and freshen it does.  Orange, cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, and frankincense made with organic essential oils, distilled water, and baking soda.  It smells so good.

Also received this precious little wooden box.

 These were tucked in the wooden box.  A special gift from the shop owner.

Black cat candle provides the amazing scents of the season.  Attracts good luck and spiritual well being.

This soap smells awesome.  It is an Ayurvedic blend of spice powder, shea butter, coconut oil, and natural aloe vera extract.

 Halloween treat bag. 

 Tucked inside. Lollipops are organic, nut free, dairy free, gluten free, and are yummy.

Box value is $40.00. I paid $14.95.

Saturday Thought

Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.

Dale Carnegie

Friday Roundup

Good morning and happy Friday.  We come to the end of another trying week.  It's been crisp and cool here in Brooklyn.  My kind of weather.  Trying to get out every day a little just to enjoy it.  Not much I can really do right now, though.  Can't even walk as long as I used to.  Let's just say I really did a number on myself with all this lifting and moving stuff.  Sometimes I forget I'm 71 years old and just can't do the things I used to.  That's when I get into trouble.

Great news. They came by on Tuesday and filled in my holes. They did a fantastic job.  Had I had them from the beginning I never would have had to sit for 32 days with holes in my wall. And they filled them in none none too soon, either. My neighbor in the front apartment saw a mouse the other day. I expected that, though. She was the one where you could look right down into the basement. I think we got it in time. I'm hoping that if they did come in, they went back through the hole to their nest, and by the time they tried to come back, the hole was gone. No food for them in my house.  Ever since that problem several months ago everything is stored in mouse proof containers.   

Only thing to be done now is the overhead lights and the electronic fire alarms. Oh, and get the dust all out. I mop every day.  It's pretty much gone now. but that's because we put towel around the bottom edges of the door.  Dust problem will end once they finish the apartment across the hall, but it seems the people there are making it difficult on them---make them wait until late morning, move furniture back every night, things like that...so it's taking longer than expected.  I don't understand.  You know that it's going to be done anyway, so why not just let the guys do it and get it over with?  That's the way I think. 

Here is a before and after picture.

Made a WW meeting on Wednesday and on Thursday.  Same topic, but different views.  Also picked up a few tasty hints for enjoying foods that I'd hadn't had on my menu for awhile.  For example, I LOVE bacon, but it is so high in sodium.  One of my favorite breakfasts when I was working was bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll, but I haven't had it in 5 years.  So, I listened, got hungry, and after the meeting ran into the store for a jar of bacon bits.  For dinner I made a teaspoon full of bacon bits, 2 eggs, and some WW American cheese.  Had it on 2 slices of Pepperidge Farm lite whole wheat bread, and I was so satisfied.  Next up...grilled cheese and bacon.

Got some new storage stuff that fits right in with the decor.  These old pre-war buildings don't come with much storage space, and I'm tired of having things scattered about.   These baskets don't take up much space and hide things in plain sight.

 In these wicker baskets I put all my jewelry supplies.  Beads are on the bottom, threads and wires in the middle, and findings and tools on top.  No more searching all over for things.

In these wicker baskets I keep:  The bottom one holds my handheld vacuum.  The next one up holds my scarves.  The third one up holds my herbs and a few candles, and the top one holds all my wax melts.

Have a wonderful weekend.