Winter takes its toll ...

Winter seems to go on forever, doesn't it?  One of the things I hate about winter (besides being LONG, COLD, and DARK) is that ...my ski gets really dry.  We're talking alligator skin.

I feel like I need to slather my skin with hand cream day and night just to keep up.  But worst of all are the tiny little, but extremely painful, cuts I get around my thumbs.

These suckers are PAINFUL!!!! But I have finally found relief.

The first time I applied it, I thought, "Gee, this smells like nail polish."  (And guess what?  It comes with a little brush just like nail polish.)  The instructions said, "To remove, use nail polish remover."

You mean I spent my hard-earned bucks on special liquid bandage fluid when all I really needed was to coat the wound in a little clear nail polish?

The wonders of modern science.

Have you tried any miracle cures lately?

Growing Old Sucks, Part III

Okay, I promise -- after today I won't do another growing old sucks post ... well, not for a while at least.

What's today's topic?  Cholesterol.

My last bloodwork showed my cholesterol was a little high.  We're not talking in the 400 range.  It was 233, and since 200 should be the high end of normal, my doctor has threatened me.  "Get it down," she said.

So, I'm eating oatmeal every day.  (Ick.)

Actually, I don't like my oatmeal too sweet, so instead of brown sugar or even maple syrup, I've been eating it with raisins to sweeten.  And you know what ... it's not half bad.  I can eat it for a few months and not get too bored with it.  (I hope.)

Meanwhile, I also eat a handful of almonds every day. (Well, 10 actually.)

 

And in case the oatmeal and almonds don't do the trick, I've also resorted to . . .

(Double ick.)

Have you tried natural means to try and curb the forces of nature?

Growing Old Sucks, Part II

Another of the wonder things that happens as you age is that your eyesight departs.  Well, partially.  In fact, while my close-up vision has deteriorated, my long-range vision has improved.  So much so that I no longer have to wear glasses to drive.  Yes, I once again have 20/20 vision. 

YAY!

However, as mentioned above, I can no longer read anything in small print.  Not without my cheaters.  That is, reading glasses.

Another thing about aging is that you forget where you put stuff, so I have to have about 20 pairs of the things scattered around the house so that wherever I perch to read, reading glasses will be ready and waiting for me.  Luckily, The Dollar Tree sells them for a buck each, so having so many pairs lying around the house (and in my purse, etc.) wasn't a huge expense.  But why, oh why, can I never seem to find a pair when I need them?

How about you?  Do you have cheaters, too?

Growing Old Sucks

No doubt about it, growing old sucks.

First, women have to suffer with menses for a very LONG period of time.  (Um...about 40 years.)  And then we are blessed with menopause, which is like having a volcano exploding inside you 5-10 times a day, bringing with it lots of heat and no comfort.

So far the only thing good about menopause is that it has allowed me to start collecting fans. Boy, do I have a LARGE collection of fans.  I have electric fans placed strategically in my house. . . .

. . . but I also have a lot of the hand-powdered models, too.

Of course, not only do I have rattan ones like that above, but I also have quite a collection of paper fans that I've picked up at yard sales all over the area.

They come in all shapes and sizes, and one thing they have in common is that they are pretty.  And they actually work, too.

I don't believe in hormone replacement therapy, but I am trying Flaxseed Oil capsules.

... so far so good.

What natural remedies have you  used to fight off the dreaded hot flashes?

It's about (scheduling) time ...

Did you all have a wonderful Christmas?  I sure did.  And not only was santa very good to me, but so were my family and friends.

My friend Tonya Thomas gave me this super keen calendar.  Since we go junking during the summer months, tt seems quite appropriate.

 

What's the subject of the calendar in your kitchen?

Toss it all away?

On Saturday, the Rochester newspaper ran a story that more or less said that to get your life under control you must go through every room in your house and TOSS EVERYTHING OUT.

Um ... that doesn't set right with me.  Okay, they weren't quit as ruthless as that.  They suggested you go through junk drawers (on my list of things to do) and medicine cabinets, and clear out all the clutter.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  (And by the way, what are we supposed to do with all these outdated drugs in the meds cabinet?  They tell you not to flush them, and not to toss them in the trash either.  How about mixing them with dirty kitty litter?)

As someone who has spent a lifetime collecting pretty things, it's heresy for me to even think of getting rid of my treasures.  Although ... I must admit that pruning the collection would allow for new additions.

Will I start my Etsy business this year?  It's on the docket.  I just need to find another 10-12 hours in the day.

How about you?  Will you do your spring cleaning early this year?

The glad game!

See you in the new year!

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Junk Food Tonight!

Holy cow!  It's Christmas Eve and you know what that means?  JUNK FOOD TONIGHT!!!

For years the Bend clan (small as we are) has gotten together on Christmas Eve and indulged in stuff that's just plain fattening, definitely not good for us, and De-Lish!  This year will be no different.

The top thing on the menu is Pink Dip.  For as long as I can remember, we've had Pink Dip at every get together.  It's easy.  Eight ounces of cream cheese, ketchup, a little drop of milk, a little minced onion, and mayo.  We don't measure anything.  Just toss the stuff in until it looks and tastes right.  Sometimes I use "horsey" sauce instead of mayo -- sometimes cocktail sauce instead of ketchup.  It's never the same and it's always good.  (With either potato chips or veggies.)

Pizza.  We usually buy it from Sam's Club just because we can heat and serve it when we want, instead of waiting for the pizza delivery guy to show.  It's the one with everything on it -- but we pick off the (icky) canned olive slices.  Sorry, Terri--but you're the only one who likes them.  (Maybe I'll put them in a little Rubbermaid container for her.)

About five years ago, I got an antipasto recipe from Taste of Home magazine.  It's all mixed up together like a salad, instead of the traditional way of serving it.  My family really likes it so I make it every year.

Shrimp with hot (horseradish) cocktail sauce.  The truth is, I'm shrimp intolerant--can't eat the stuff without barfing--but the rest of the family loves it, so it's always on the menu.

We'll also have nuts, holiday peanut M&Ms, and Christmas cookies.  Yum.

And then tomorrow, we'll do it all over again.

What's on your Christmas menu?

Merry Christmas!

Where Did December Go?

I've been meaning to do my holiday baking for weeks now.
Oops!  Suddenly Christmas is only two days away and I haven't even started!

Double oops!

Today my agenda calls for finding a recipe online and collecting three others from the files.  Hitting the grocery store for missing ingredients is next on the list.  I WILL make the dough for the cookies I promised my brother back in December 2009.  (In fact, Dec. 25th, 2009.)


Tomorrow I will bake two cakes and the cookies.

Sunday I will bake a pie before the turkey goes into the oven. (And I have to prepare the veggies, too.)

Why, oh why, didn't I do my baking before this?

Well, Christmas, which seemed so far in the future, suddenly snuck up on me.

Still, we will have cake. We will have cookies.  We will have pie.

I've got that computer-generated calendar going now, so next year I'm scheduling baking a LOT earlier.  Please hold me to it.

What last minute prep is on your list of things to do for the next couple of days?

For the man who has everything . . .

"The only suitable gift for the man who has everything is your deepest sympathy."

-- Imogene Fey, American writer

That tired old wreath

Our Christmas tree is up.  So are the stockings (well, three of them).  Our Christmas cards are hanging in the entryway on the cork wall. (Yeah, 1960s retro, but then that's when our house was built.  I painted it a neutral brown so it kind of disappears, and it's great for hanging the Mariner's Compass quilt wallhanging my Mom made and oh yes!  The Christmas Cards every year.)

The one thing I haven't done is hang the wreath on the front door.

It's a grapevine wreath with a garland of little gold stars and a big red bow.  And I'm sick of it.

I put it together about 12 years ago and like it well enough, but it's the same every year.  I was thinking I should remove the star garland and put something else shiny on it, as well as change the bow, but It's been snowy and I didn't think about it until yesterday and I'm about shopped out.  The idea of going out in the cold and snow one more time is just too much.  And anyway, I was in Micheals the other day and just about everything is GONE.  I waited too long.

Is there some Christmas decoration around your home that's well worn and could use a face lift?

It's all wrapped up!

Next to the music, and the lights, and the decorations, I love wrapping Christmas presents best.  Some years I have a major wrapathon (while watching It's A Wonderful Life).  This year I've been drawing the process out.  The other day, I wrapped just the stocking stuffers.  Then I wrapped the baby's toys.  (Yes, we have a baby in the family this year.  Actually, I should say the world's cutest most mellow baby. Even when she's crabby, she doesn't cry.  How her mom lucked out, I just don't know.)
Yesterday I wrapped a bunch of presents, and I'm not finished yet.

I find it difficult to choose the wrapping paper.  I always reserve the prettiest for my Mom.  Mr. I and I always wrap all our gifts with the same paper.  (That is, all my presents will be wrapped the same, and I'll wrap his with a different paper but they'll all be the same.  Then we number them with Post-It notes.)


I'll have to sneak in some more time and do more wrapping later today.

Are you a wrapper?  Do you like it and how elaborate do you get with wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons?

What Are You Serving This Christmas?

Before the turkey had time to cool on our Thanksgiving table, we were already discussing what to have for Christmas dinner.

Holiday meals are pretty much the same in my family.  We start out with snacks and drinks.  For family affairs, this ritual cannot begin without pink dip and potato chips.  (The dip is very easy:  8 ounces of cream cheese, ketchup, mayo, two tablespoons fresh grated onion, and two tablespoons of milk or cream.  I can't give you the exact amount of ketchup and mayo -- the actual recipe has been lost to time.  I just keep adding unti it feels right.  Mix.  Chill.  Enjoy!)  We also have cheese and crackers.  This year I'm contemplating a hot dip to go along with the goodies . . . then again, if we fill up on junk, will we have room for what will be a far too big dinner?

For dinner, we seem to have the same veggies year after year:  Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, roasted potatoes, creamed onions, and a recent addition, butternut squash.  (My brother makes it and it's fantastic.  Odd fact:  he will not eat it.  Go figure!)

Here's what was discussed for the entree.

Spiral Ham

Usually ham is our Easter staple, and I've never really been a fan of it -- until last year.  We had a spiral ham that was absolutely delicious.  We got the leftovers and ate a ton of sandwiches and at least every couple of days ate the easy-peasy Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe.  Oh, I feel like Pavlov's dog just at the thought of that wonderful spiral sliced ham dinner.

Prime Rib Roast

When I was growing up, we had a prime rib roast most weeks for our Sunday dinner, so I always wondered why so many people think it's such a big deal.  Of course in those days, you could get a prime rib roast every week of the year.  These days, it's been made the favorite of the restaurant trade and the only time we ever see them is at the holidays.

Of course, not prime rib is worth eating if you haven't made Yorkshire pudding.  Oh, I love it, especially if the oven and fat is hot enough ant it puffs up all golden and crispy.  Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.  I'll eat it both ways.

Roasted Turkey

Why were we even CONSIDERING another turkey when we had barely begun to eat the one that had been nicely sliced on the table?  But, there we were debating the merits.  My Dad, Bless his Heart, and my Uncle were not fans of turkey, so in years past we would always have a pork roast and a turkey.  Dad's gone and my Aunt and Uncle now have dinner with their immediate family so here we were discussing the possibilities. 

I voted for the ham.  Mr. I wanted to save the prime rib for my Mother's birthday dinner (in the week after Christmas), and the rest of the table voted for roasted turkey--again.  The logic being that we only really eat the bird twice a year--even if it's a month apart.  Let's go for turkey again.

Okay, this is not a hardship on my part because I get the leftovers (again) and I love to make turkey pie, turkey soup, turkey salad, sliced turkey sandwiches, and even turkey curry. 

So, what will be on YOUR Christmas dinner plate next Sunday?

The Weather Outside Is Frightful!

We are not snowed in, thank goodness, but we're sick of it already.  And it isn't even officially winter yet.

Read on the news yesterday that our town will probably be above average for snow for December.
No kidding!

My plans for the day are to rake the roof, shovel the driveway (that Mr. Plowman doesn't get) and STAY INSIDE.

Yesterday I went out five times in the yard for various chores (it was garbage day, took out the mail, raked the roof, shoveled, retrieved the mail) and I couldn't get warm again for anything.  Not even with longjohns, sweats, polar fleece and a granny square afghan.

Hurry April and May!!!  (And I don't mean people.)

What's the weather like where you are?