Greetings All: How's your summer going?
It's really been hot and wet here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Today, the temperature reached 96 degrees and it is very humid. Walking outside is like taking a bath with your clothes on.
Last night, I finished the last episode of LOST, season 6. The ending was truly surprising and unexpected (is that redundant?) I highly recommend this series. The only negative thing I can say about it, is that is has consumed my life for the past month. I watched six seasons, one day watching it for eight hours, breaking only to eat and visit the bathroom. In a way, I'm glad it's over so I can get back to a normal(?) life.
I went out of town today to buy groceries, but all I could think about was LOST. I've searched online for answers to questions I have about some of the episodes and found a very good site, can't remember the name of it, that offered theories about a lot of the episodes, especially the last one of season 6. I've got to start watching some other TV shows that I've downloaded from ITunes, just to get my mind off of LOST. Can you believe, the thought actually crossed my mind to start watching it all over again? I must be nuts. I never thought a TV show would so consume my thoughts and actions. I'll make myself watch something else, starting tonight, probably Downton Abbey.
The store I went to, to buy groceries, was Harris Teeter. I went there because they have an abundance of organic products, including produce, frozen entrees, fruit, etc. I found a lot of great produce and my refrigerator is full. The reason I bought so much produce is that I want to start juicing.
I read an article online yesterday, written by a Japanese doctor, stating that cancer was actually a fungus and only thrived in an acidic environment. By flooding the system with alkaline juices, the cancer can't survive and dies off. The die-off produces toxins that can make the body feel pretty bad for a while, but eventually the body will heal itself. I've always believed that the body can heal itself if given the proper foods, supplements, etc. ( I believe there's always been a cure for cancer, but the doctors won't make any money from it, so they don't want us to know about it.) I'm hoping that helping my system become more alkaline will help my arthritis and fatigue. If I only had more energy, I could do a lot more than I'm doing now.
I'm trying to find some interesting recipes. I'm a vegetarian, and eating only vegetables and grains gets a little boring. I do like Indian food, though, and have tried a few Indian vegetarian recipes which were pretty amazing. My new favorite spice is Garam Masala. This spice is composed of several different spices, including turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and cardamon, I think. (I really don't want to get up from the computer and read the label, so if I'm wrong, so what?)
I'm still beading and have progressed to the point that I'm now considered advanced, according to me. I don't bead as much as I used to, but like to read beading patterns to keep my mind active. Keeping the mind active is very important, especially as one gets older. I read, bead, read beading patterns, play the piano, peruse the internet and write scathing emails to all of the liberal media.
I am an American Patriot. I love my country and am very concerned about the path our political system is taking. America has truly become a police state. If you don't believe me, go to www.mercola.com and read some of Dr. Mercola's articles. He is a doctor with an alternative point of view and he tells it like it is. Our government has become so intrusive in our lives that we don't have any privacy or that many rights any more. When is it going to stop? We need less government and more states rights.
Well, I've got to drink two glasses of water and rest awhile before I try to put up the rest of my groceries. Then, it will be time to fix supper. Wouldn't it be nice if we could take a pill that supplied all of our body's nutrituonal needs? That would certainly leave a lot of time to do more fun things.
Be blessed, Nana
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Summer's Nearly Here
Greetings, all: Well, summer is just around the corner. I just can't wait for "snake time". That means I have to be careful where I step and look, look, look, every time I walk out of any door of my home.
It really isn't that bad. Last year I didn't see even one snake. Hallelujah!!!
I'm already praying that the good Lord will keep us North Carolinians and Virginians safe from impending hurricanes. Of course, I want everyone to be safe, but especially we here on the East coast; if that's selfish, so be it.
Spring has come and gone, a month early here in the Mid Atlantic region. Now, the dogwood and azalea blooms are waning and I feel sad. It's been a beautiful spring, and the azaleas, which are still blooming, have been just beautiful. I really hate to see it get very hot; I can't deal with too-hot weather at my age. This has also been the windiest year I can remember. We sure could use a windmill in our yard. I'd love to get off of the electrical grid, but the time for that has come and gone.
The hot weather will be nice for my great-grandchildren, though. Hopefully, the vitamin D that they'll get from the sunshine will perk them up. They've been sick with earaches and congestion most of the winter. My granddaughter has had to take them to the doctor several times, which means she has to leave work and drive an hour there and back with sick children. She's a very strong girl and seems to take things in stride. It certainly pays to have children while you're young.
I haven't been doing much beading lately; I just don't feel the desire to. I had someone take pics of my jewelry, hoping to build a web site and sell some, but I just don't have it in me. I'm just too old to start this. The bookkeeping alone would be overwhelming, not to mention packaging and mailing. I'm only one person; I'd definitely need some help, but there's none available.
I have been doing a lot of reading, which has always been my number one hobby. I love romance and mystery, my two favorite genres. I've discovered Karen Slaughter and Fern Michaels and have read most of their books. I hate to read all of them because then I'll have to find another author I like.
My mother will be 91 yrs. old next month. She hasn't been doing very well lately. It's very hard to have to watch ones parent's health start to decline. It also has to be very hard for her to see this happening to herself, her loss not only of her health but also her independence. She has a sister that will be 98 this month. There is definitely longevity in the family, so I'd better take good care of myself which means eating right and exercising.
I started walking on the treadmill last week. The treadmill was in my husband's room. I had it moved to the dining room, in front of three windows, so I can walk on it and look outside. I'm walking for 7 minutes at the time. I know this doesn't sound like a lot, but it's all I can do right now. Eventually, I'll work up to at least 20 minutes. Walking on the treadmill also builds bone mass in my legs and hips. The quadricep muscle is the biggest muscle in the body. I also do Yoga, which I've been doing for 50 yrs. This has kept me extremely flexible and also helps protects from injury. When your muscles are tight, you're much more prone to injury.
I have to watch the movie, The Descendants on iTunes. By the way, you'll be surprised to hear that I've found a singer whose music and voice I really like - Lady Gaga; can you believe it? Also I like Savage Garden and David Archuleta.
I bought my great- grandson a Yamaha keyboard for his birthday. He really has some talent in this area, in that he learned a song in a short length of time on the piano, from the notes he'd learned in music class at school. He also can really keep a beat when he puts the drums on and makes up a tune to play with them. I'm so happy that some of my family, other than my daughter, who is a great singer, and myself, has some musical ability.
Well, readers, it's time to close; I have to read some more and get ready for bed. Be blessed, Nana
It really isn't that bad. Last year I didn't see even one snake. Hallelujah!!!
I'm already praying that the good Lord will keep us North Carolinians and Virginians safe from impending hurricanes. Of course, I want everyone to be safe, but especially we here on the East coast; if that's selfish, so be it.
Spring has come and gone, a month early here in the Mid Atlantic region. Now, the dogwood and azalea blooms are waning and I feel sad. It's been a beautiful spring, and the azaleas, which are still blooming, have been just beautiful. I really hate to see it get very hot; I can't deal with too-hot weather at my age. This has also been the windiest year I can remember. We sure could use a windmill in our yard. I'd love to get off of the electrical grid, but the time for that has come and gone.
The hot weather will be nice for my great-grandchildren, though. Hopefully, the vitamin D that they'll get from the sunshine will perk them up. They've been sick with earaches and congestion most of the winter. My granddaughter has had to take them to the doctor several times, which means she has to leave work and drive an hour there and back with sick children. She's a very strong girl and seems to take things in stride. It certainly pays to have children while you're young.
I haven't been doing much beading lately; I just don't feel the desire to. I had someone take pics of my jewelry, hoping to build a web site and sell some, but I just don't have it in me. I'm just too old to start this. The bookkeeping alone would be overwhelming, not to mention packaging and mailing. I'm only one person; I'd definitely need some help, but there's none available.
I have been doing a lot of reading, which has always been my number one hobby. I love romance and mystery, my two favorite genres. I've discovered Karen Slaughter and Fern Michaels and have read most of their books. I hate to read all of them because then I'll have to find another author I like.
My mother will be 91 yrs. old next month. She hasn't been doing very well lately. It's very hard to have to watch ones parent's health start to decline. It also has to be very hard for her to see this happening to herself, her loss not only of her health but also her independence. She has a sister that will be 98 this month. There is definitely longevity in the family, so I'd better take good care of myself which means eating right and exercising.
I started walking on the treadmill last week. The treadmill was in my husband's room. I had it moved to the dining room, in front of three windows, so I can walk on it and look outside. I'm walking for 7 minutes at the time. I know this doesn't sound like a lot, but it's all I can do right now. Eventually, I'll work up to at least 20 minutes. Walking on the treadmill also builds bone mass in my legs and hips. The quadricep muscle is the biggest muscle in the body. I also do Yoga, which I've been doing for 50 yrs. This has kept me extremely flexible and also helps protects from injury. When your muscles are tight, you're much more prone to injury.
I have to watch the movie, The Descendants on iTunes. By the way, you'll be surprised to hear that I've found a singer whose music and voice I really like - Lady Gaga; can you believe it? Also I like Savage Garden and David Archuleta.
I bought my great- grandson a Yamaha keyboard for his birthday. He really has some talent in this area, in that he learned a song in a short length of time on the piano, from the notes he'd learned in music class at school. He also can really keep a beat when he puts the drums on and makes up a tune to play with them. I'm so happy that some of my family, other than my daughter, who is a great singer, and myself, has some musical ability.
Well, readers, it's time to close; I have to read some more and get ready for bed. Be blessed, Nana
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Spring's Just Around the Corner
Greetings All: It's been a while since I"ve posted, but am ready to get back into the swing of things.
There's been a lot going on here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Of course, hurricane Irene slammed into us in August; that was really a trip. We didn't receive much damage, other than a few pine tree limbs in the swimming pool, limbs and pine cones everywhere, but other neighbors did. The clean-up process took a while and some folks are still dealing with insurance companies trying to weasel out of their responsibilities. There's just no accounting for the greed and plain old dishonesty in this great country of ours.
Now, it's time to start thinking of spring approaching and all that it entails. I do love spring. I love the new, green grass coming up, trees budding out, hyacinths, forsythia, dogwood, azalea, daffodills, all blooming, and presenting our eyes and senses with their beauty and fragrance.
Of course, we've had some spring-like days here in North Cariolina every since we moved here, nearly fifty years ago. There's always a few days in February, you can count on it, when one can put on one's bathing suit and lay out in the sun. I used to do this, but stopped at age thirty-five. I'm so glad I did, because I'm always being told how pretty my complexion is. I'm so glad that people can't see the part of me that's either sagging, bagging or dragging. I guess that part is inevitable as one grows older.
This had been one of the windiest years I can remember. I have to stay inside when it's too windy because any cold wind hitting my head or sinuses inevitably gives me a sinus infection and cold. I'm just getting over one of those now. I've been coughing and blowing my nose for over two weeks now. As I look out of my living room window, I can see, and hear, the wind just howling. It sounds like Irene all over again.
I'm so ready for warm days, spring breezes and clear skys. ( I was going outside, sitting here at the computer with my coat on, and pick some greens for supper, but I think it's just a little too windy for that.)
My husband planted some rape, canola oil is derived from it, that he's going to till under this spring as it kills nematodes. I hope it works, because the roots of most of our garden plants were ruined last year due to these parasitic worms. Our garden, last year, was one of the worst we've ever had.
My great granddaughter will be one year old Friday. I can't believe she's growing up so fast. It seems just like yesterday that she was born. My other two great grands will be nine and three, respectively, in March. I have four birthdays in that month; a great month for births.
My grandson will be twenty years old in February. He lives with me and is such a great help and certainly a great joy in my life.
I'm still beading, of course. I live to bead. I'm trying new designs, of my own, and ideas that I've found on the internet. There's just no end to what one can do with a needle, thread, and lots and lots of tiny seed beads. Beading is very calming to me and I love to see what I'm going to create. I don't have a definite plan in mind when I start, I just pick a focal bead that I like and see where it takes me.
I wanted to have a web site to sell my jewelry on, but don't think that's for me. I want to design and make jewelry when I want to, not when I think I have to. When I have to sit and make jewelry for other people, it cuts into my design time; designing is what I really love. It gives me great satisfaction to see something beautiful that I've created.
Well, my stomach is telling me it's time for lunch. I think I'll have left over spaghetti and marinara that we had for din din last night; it was so good. I love pasta and could eat it every day; I do eat a lot of it, since I'm a vegetarian. Pasta, grains, beans and veggies are all that I eat.
I hope all of you, my readers, have a wonderful day, and God Bless. Nana
There's been a lot going on here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Of course, hurricane Irene slammed into us in August; that was really a trip. We didn't receive much damage, other than a few pine tree limbs in the swimming pool, limbs and pine cones everywhere, but other neighbors did. The clean-up process took a while and some folks are still dealing with insurance companies trying to weasel out of their responsibilities. There's just no accounting for the greed and plain old dishonesty in this great country of ours.
Now, it's time to start thinking of spring approaching and all that it entails. I do love spring. I love the new, green grass coming up, trees budding out, hyacinths, forsythia, dogwood, azalea, daffodills, all blooming, and presenting our eyes and senses with their beauty and fragrance.
Of course, we've had some spring-like days here in North Cariolina every since we moved here, nearly fifty years ago. There's always a few days in February, you can count on it, when one can put on one's bathing suit and lay out in the sun. I used to do this, but stopped at age thirty-five. I'm so glad I did, because I'm always being told how pretty my complexion is. I'm so glad that people can't see the part of me that's either sagging, bagging or dragging. I guess that part is inevitable as one grows older.
This had been one of the windiest years I can remember. I have to stay inside when it's too windy because any cold wind hitting my head or sinuses inevitably gives me a sinus infection and cold. I'm just getting over one of those now. I've been coughing and blowing my nose for over two weeks now. As I look out of my living room window, I can see, and hear, the wind just howling. It sounds like Irene all over again.
I'm so ready for warm days, spring breezes and clear skys. ( I was going outside, sitting here at the computer with my coat on, and pick some greens for supper, but I think it's just a little too windy for that.)
My husband planted some rape, canola oil is derived from it, that he's going to till under this spring as it kills nematodes. I hope it works, because the roots of most of our garden plants were ruined last year due to these parasitic worms. Our garden, last year, was one of the worst we've ever had.
My great granddaughter will be one year old Friday. I can't believe she's growing up so fast. It seems just like yesterday that she was born. My other two great grands will be nine and three, respectively, in March. I have four birthdays in that month; a great month for births.
My grandson will be twenty years old in February. He lives with me and is such a great help and certainly a great joy in my life.
I'm still beading, of course. I live to bead. I'm trying new designs, of my own, and ideas that I've found on the internet. There's just no end to what one can do with a needle, thread, and lots and lots of tiny seed beads. Beading is very calming to me and I love to see what I'm going to create. I don't have a definite plan in mind when I start, I just pick a focal bead that I like and see where it takes me.
I wanted to have a web site to sell my jewelry on, but don't think that's for me. I want to design and make jewelry when I want to, not when I think I have to. When I have to sit and make jewelry for other people, it cuts into my design time; designing is what I really love. It gives me great satisfaction to see something beautiful that I've created.
Well, my stomach is telling me it's time for lunch. I think I'll have left over spaghetti and marinara that we had for din din last night; it was so good. I love pasta and could eat it every day; I do eat a lot of it, since I'm a vegetarian. Pasta, grains, beans and veggies are all that I eat.
I hope all of you, my readers, have a wonderful day, and God Bless. Nana
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Fall Beginnings
Greetings, All: Well, it's beginning to get cool here in the Mid-Atlantic region. I do love this cool, fall weather. Of course, we have some warm weather interspersed with the cool weather, but that's okay. I can deal with warm, not hot, and cool, even cold. I really don't mind the cold weather as I feel alive and I have more energy than in the summertime, which can be so very hot here in North Carolina.
It was a pretty hot summer, and quite dry, except for Hurricane Irene who barrelled through our small town in August. (I mentioned this in my last blog, but I think I need to elaborate.) It was pretty scary for a while. The winds did not stop blowing for over 24 hrs. We were without power for over five days. We have a generator but it won't run the whole house, just the refrigerator, freezers, washing machine, dryer, etc.; the important things, like AC, were non existent. I had to use my son's large floor fan, trained directly on my body, in my bed, to get any kind of relief from the heat, which was pretty intense. Our stove didn't work so I found a small Toastmaster cooktop in the attic, with two burners, and we used that. We had drop cords running all over the house, which made it pretty hard to navigate. I, being pretty clutsy sometimes, was constantly tripping over them.
We were very fortunate. We didn't have any damage except a lot of hugh tree limbs in our swimming pool and lots and lots of pine cones and downed tree limbs all over the yard. Our lot across the street was a total mess. It's full of pecan trees and it looked like most of them had lost most of their branches. I do know we lost thousands of pecans from this storm, but that's okay. There's still debris sitting on the side of the roads in our town from Irene, and over a lot of the state as well. I'm so tired of looking at a 12-ft. pile of debris sitting on the lot across the street. One day........
It got up to 82 degrees in my home, which was pretty unbearable, as I'm used to keeping my home temperature at 72 degrees. My granddaughteer suggested we all, she, her three children (her husband's in Iraq) my grandson, who lives with me, and I, get into her jeep and go to a hotel for a couple of days. This is exactly what we did. We went home, hurridly packed inside our boiling homes and got the heck out of Dodge. We went to another, bigger town, about an hour and 15 minutes away. I think we got the last room. Thank God, AC!!!
It felt so good to lay down on a nice, plump mattress and just enjoy the cool air and being away from the constant drone of the generators (ours and our neighbors) and the chirping of the cicadas. I love nature, but enough is enough.
That first night, we went to eat at the Cracker Barrel, three adults and three (adorable) children. The food was pretty good, although I didn't have much to choose from, being a vegetarian. That's okay; I ate lots of good vegetables and had a glass of water. We all went back to the room, had baths, etc., watch a little TV and went to bed. We were supposed to have two queen-sized beds, but had two regular beds. My grandson and I slept on one, and my granddaughter and her THREE children slept on another. I don't know how they slept, but I do think they could sleep on a bed of nails.
The next morning, we all slept in, until at least 8:00, piled in the car and went to get breakfast, I don't remember what we ate. After getting back to the room, my granddaughter and her children all got their bathing suits on the went down to the indoor pool. My grandson and I stayed in the room; he watched TV and I read. Not long after, the swimming- pool group traipsed back into the room saying it was just too cold to swim. It had gotten very cool during the night, which felt great, but definitely not swimming weather, evern in an indoor pool.
Although I had paid for two nights, hoping to stay three, the kids started getting restless so we packed up and left. I surely dreaded having to come home to a hot house, but as the weather had turned cooler, it was actually cool in my house with all of the windows up when I got home.
On the way home from the hotel, my youngest great granddaughter, 7 mos. old, decided she had to fill her diaper, to overflowing. She went so much it was all over her, her car seat, her clothes, and her hands. We stopped the jeep. My granddaughter took her out, seat and all, and set her down on the side of the road. I got some distilled water, doused some tee shirts and cleaned her car seat out while the baby was washed and had her clothes changed using some baby wipes and distilled water. I don't know what we would have done without the water. We bundled all of the offensive clothes and diaper up and laid it in the ditch and drove away. What an adventure! It will be quite a while before I'm ready for another.
All in all, it was a good summer and a super-good fall, so far. Until next time, be blessed, Nana
It was a pretty hot summer, and quite dry, except for Hurricane Irene who barrelled through our small town in August. (I mentioned this in my last blog, but I think I need to elaborate.) It was pretty scary for a while. The winds did not stop blowing for over 24 hrs. We were without power for over five days. We have a generator but it won't run the whole house, just the refrigerator, freezers, washing machine, dryer, etc.; the important things, like AC, were non existent. I had to use my son's large floor fan, trained directly on my body, in my bed, to get any kind of relief from the heat, which was pretty intense. Our stove didn't work so I found a small Toastmaster cooktop in the attic, with two burners, and we used that. We had drop cords running all over the house, which made it pretty hard to navigate. I, being pretty clutsy sometimes, was constantly tripping over them.
We were very fortunate. We didn't have any damage except a lot of hugh tree limbs in our swimming pool and lots and lots of pine cones and downed tree limbs all over the yard. Our lot across the street was a total mess. It's full of pecan trees and it looked like most of them had lost most of their branches. I do know we lost thousands of pecans from this storm, but that's okay. There's still debris sitting on the side of the roads in our town from Irene, and over a lot of the state as well. I'm so tired of looking at a 12-ft. pile of debris sitting on the lot across the street. One day........
It got up to 82 degrees in my home, which was pretty unbearable, as I'm used to keeping my home temperature at 72 degrees. My granddaughteer suggested we all, she, her three children (her husband's in Iraq) my grandson, who lives with me, and I, get into her jeep and go to a hotel for a couple of days. This is exactly what we did. We went home, hurridly packed inside our boiling homes and got the heck out of Dodge. We went to another, bigger town, about an hour and 15 minutes away. I think we got the last room. Thank God, AC!!!
It felt so good to lay down on a nice, plump mattress and just enjoy the cool air and being away from the constant drone of the generators (ours and our neighbors) and the chirping of the cicadas. I love nature, but enough is enough.
That first night, we went to eat at the Cracker Barrel, three adults and three (adorable) children. The food was pretty good, although I didn't have much to choose from, being a vegetarian. That's okay; I ate lots of good vegetables and had a glass of water. We all went back to the room, had baths, etc., watch a little TV and went to bed. We were supposed to have two queen-sized beds, but had two regular beds. My grandson and I slept on one, and my granddaughter and her THREE children slept on another. I don't know how they slept, but I do think they could sleep on a bed of nails.
The next morning, we all slept in, until at least 8:00, piled in the car and went to get breakfast, I don't remember what we ate. After getting back to the room, my granddaughter and her children all got their bathing suits on the went down to the indoor pool. My grandson and I stayed in the room; he watched TV and I read. Not long after, the swimming- pool group traipsed back into the room saying it was just too cold to swim. It had gotten very cool during the night, which felt great, but definitely not swimming weather, evern in an indoor pool.
Although I had paid for two nights, hoping to stay three, the kids started getting restless so we packed up and left. I surely dreaded having to come home to a hot house, but as the weather had turned cooler, it was actually cool in my house with all of the windows up when I got home.
On the way home from the hotel, my youngest great granddaughter, 7 mos. old, decided she had to fill her diaper, to overflowing. She went so much it was all over her, her car seat, her clothes, and her hands. We stopped the jeep. My granddaughter took her out, seat and all, and set her down on the side of the road. I got some distilled water, doused some tee shirts and cleaned her car seat out while the baby was washed and had her clothes changed using some baby wipes and distilled water. I don't know what we would have done without the water. We bundled all of the offensive clothes and diaper up and laid it in the ditch and drove away. What an adventure! It will be quite a while before I'm ready for another.
All in all, it was a good summer and a super-good fall, so far. Until next time, be blessed, Nana
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Summer's End
Greetings, All: It's been a while but a lot's been happening here in the Mid Atlantic region. Of course, hurricane Irene just barreled though and left a lot of devastation in its wake. We had a lot of downed tree limbs, pine cones and detritus on the ground, and especially in the swimming pool, which is now avocado green. I suppose we'll just cover the pool, drain, clean and refill it next summer. It's too much to even consider fixing at this point in time.
It's' been a good summer and a fleeting one. My main goal this summer was to have an organic vegetable garden. I went on line to Seeds of Change and ordered tons of organic seeds. When the seeds came, I got my neighbor to plant them for me, as bending over for any length of time hurts my hips and legs.
I decided not to have the conventional row garden, and planted the garden in small squares. After the garden was planted, I went grocery shopping out of town and when I returned and glanced at the garden, I saw our yard man walking all over my newly- planted seeds. I ran outside, screamed at him, and asked him what in the hell was he doing, walking all over my organic seeds. He, of course, was shocked, as he said he didn't know there were seeds in the ground. I had told my husband earlier that the garden had been planted and to please be careful when he had his tomatoes planted in the space that I had left him. He said, when questioned concerning the stomping of my seeds, that he didn't know there were seeds there. What, are you deaf, I said. Actually, he is a lot deaf.
It took me quite a long time for my ire to be assuaged, but I finally accepted the fact that the seeds probably wouldn't come up and most of them didn't. I did have some carrots, corn, squash and bush beans, but not many and they hardly produced any vegetables. My garden was a failure, after all of the time, money and effort that had been put into it. After a while, I just didn't care any more. One thing we did have was lots and lots of Roma tomatoes. These had been started indoors from seed and after they got their second set of leaves, then their third set of leaves, and had reacthed a height of approximately eight inches, I planted them outside my kitchen door and they thrived. They grew to six feet and produced and produced and produced. In fact, I had my last tomato sandwich for lunch today. Oh well, maybe next year.
I've spent most of the summer inside, as the heat really does a number on me. I've never been able to deal with heat. Any temperature over seventy-five makes me feel like I'm going to lose my mind - really. When I was a teenager, I remember trying to mow the grass in the front yard, using a push mower, and nearly passing out when I was finished. I don't know why, but my body temperature gets too high with a certain amount of exertion.
I have enjoyed spending time with my great grandchildren this summer. They're growing up so fast, it's hard to believe they're eight, two, and seven months now. They're such beautiful and wonderful children. I sound like a true grandmother, don't I?
I have tried to sew a couple of dresses for the girls but find that my heart just isn't into sewing any more. I makes me nervous and I certainly don't need that. I think my sewing days are long gone. It's a shame, because at one time I really loved it and did a pretty good job making clothes for my children, myself and my granddaughter.
I guess I'll just grow old making jewelry and reading. I really love to read. Right now, I'm rereading a book by Rosamunde Pilcher entitled September. All of her books are good, set mostly in Scotland. The best book I've read by her is The Shell Seekers. If you're a reader, don't forget to read this one. You won't be disappointed.
I'm still making jewelry but have branched out into other aspects. I'm working in metal now. I like to hammer metal into shapes, stamp it and use it for bracelets, earrings, rings, etc. I really enjoy doing this and I feel it might be an inherited talent, as my Dad customized cars and was a welder, as well. I could hammer and stamp all day.
I certainly am dreading winter this year with the gas prices being so high. My husband and I are going to try heating our home partly with wood. We have a fireplace insert with a fan that will heat at least one half of the house so we'll use part wood and part propane. Propane has gotten almost cost prohibitive. We spent around $2,000.00 last winter for fuel, not counting the electric bill to run the house. Our electric bill this summer has been at least $450.00 a month. Of course, the pool counts for some of that and I've kept the AC at around 74 degrees. I don't know how people are going to live if things get too much higher.
Well, it's time to go beddy bye, so I'll close until next time. Be blessed and safe, Nana
It's' been a good summer and a fleeting one. My main goal this summer was to have an organic vegetable garden. I went on line to Seeds of Change and ordered tons of organic seeds. When the seeds came, I got my neighbor to plant them for me, as bending over for any length of time hurts my hips and legs.
I decided not to have the conventional row garden, and planted the garden in small squares. After the garden was planted, I went grocery shopping out of town and when I returned and glanced at the garden, I saw our yard man walking all over my newly- planted seeds. I ran outside, screamed at him, and asked him what in the hell was he doing, walking all over my organic seeds. He, of course, was shocked, as he said he didn't know there were seeds in the ground. I had told my husband earlier that the garden had been planted and to please be careful when he had his tomatoes planted in the space that I had left him. He said, when questioned concerning the stomping of my seeds, that he didn't know there were seeds there. What, are you deaf, I said. Actually, he is a lot deaf.
It took me quite a long time for my ire to be assuaged, but I finally accepted the fact that the seeds probably wouldn't come up and most of them didn't. I did have some carrots, corn, squash and bush beans, but not many and they hardly produced any vegetables. My garden was a failure, after all of the time, money and effort that had been put into it. After a while, I just didn't care any more. One thing we did have was lots and lots of Roma tomatoes. These had been started indoors from seed and after they got their second set of leaves, then their third set of leaves, and had reacthed a height of approximately eight inches, I planted them outside my kitchen door and they thrived. They grew to six feet and produced and produced and produced. In fact, I had my last tomato sandwich for lunch today. Oh well, maybe next year.
I've spent most of the summer inside, as the heat really does a number on me. I've never been able to deal with heat. Any temperature over seventy-five makes me feel like I'm going to lose my mind - really. When I was a teenager, I remember trying to mow the grass in the front yard, using a push mower, and nearly passing out when I was finished. I don't know why, but my body temperature gets too high with a certain amount of exertion.
I have enjoyed spending time with my great grandchildren this summer. They're growing up so fast, it's hard to believe they're eight, two, and seven months now. They're such beautiful and wonderful children. I sound like a true grandmother, don't I?
I have tried to sew a couple of dresses for the girls but find that my heart just isn't into sewing any more. I makes me nervous and I certainly don't need that. I think my sewing days are long gone. It's a shame, because at one time I really loved it and did a pretty good job making clothes for my children, myself and my granddaughter.
I guess I'll just grow old making jewelry and reading. I really love to read. Right now, I'm rereading a book by Rosamunde Pilcher entitled September. All of her books are good, set mostly in Scotland. The best book I've read by her is The Shell Seekers. If you're a reader, don't forget to read this one. You won't be disappointed.
I'm still making jewelry but have branched out into other aspects. I'm working in metal now. I like to hammer metal into shapes, stamp it and use it for bracelets, earrings, rings, etc. I really enjoy doing this and I feel it might be an inherited talent, as my Dad customized cars and was a welder, as well. I could hammer and stamp all day.
I certainly am dreading winter this year with the gas prices being so high. My husband and I are going to try heating our home partly with wood. We have a fireplace insert with a fan that will heat at least one half of the house so we'll use part wood and part propane. Propane has gotten almost cost prohibitive. We spent around $2,000.00 last winter for fuel, not counting the electric bill to run the house. Our electric bill this summer has been at least $450.00 a month. Of course, the pool counts for some of that and I've kept the AC at around 74 degrees. I don't know how people are going to live if things get too much higher.
Well, it's time to go beddy bye, so I'll close until next time. Be blessed and safe, Nana
Monday, August 23, 2010
Summertime Is Nearly Over
Greetings, All: Well, here it is August already. Where has the summer gone? It seems that the older I get, the quicker times flies by.
It has been a great summer here in the Mid Atlantic region, although it's been the hottest summer I can remember. Some days when you step out the door, it feels like stepping into a wet oven. The humidity has been unbearable. It was pretty dry the first part of the summer, but now we're having some nice thunderstorms several times a week. Thank the Lord, this nice rain keeps me from having to water all of the plants in my yard, which takes several hours, and since I can't do it anymore, I have to pay someone to do it. Oh well, that's what happens when one grows older. Someone else has to take over and do what you used to do and you have to pay them for it.
I've been under the weather for a few days with throat and sinus congestion. I really am surprised, as I take enough vitamins to sink a battleship. It's been nearly a year since I've had something like this and it really hasn't been too bad this time. I got it Friday, and today, Monday, I seem to be a lot better. One thing that came along with this is inflammation of the upper and lower eyelids. I thought, at first, I had pink eye and that I'd gotten it from my great-granddaughter. If it doesn't get a lot better by Tuesday, I'll go and see the eye doctor; it could be pink eye.
I'm planning a bracelet project. I haven't done any serious beading for a month now; I just haven't wanted to. The bracelet I'm going to make will have an oval-shaped, lime green and aqua, lamp worked bead in the center. On each side of the bead will be a herringbone-stitched tube in two shades of lime green. This will be something new for me and I'm eager to see what the bracelet will look like. I hope it works out, as I have tons of lamp worked beads I bought on E-bay and need to do something with them.
I ordered two shirts from Eddie Bauer that will be here Wednesday. One is lime green and the other is lavender. I hope they fit so I can wear the lime green bracelet with one, and the lavender bracelet I'm planning to make with the other.
My grandson-in-law is in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and will be there for one year. This is something that he absolutely wanted to do. He'll make enough money that he and my granddaughter can pay off everything that they owe and have a lot of dough left over. I think it takes a very strong person to be able to do this. I know I couldn't do it. I just couldn't be away from my children for one whole year. While he's gone, another daughter will be born but he'll be able to come home when that happens. He gets to come home for a couple of weeks every three months. I pray for his safety every day; he's in a very dangerous region of the world.
In January I'll be welcoming my third great-grandchild into the world. It's a girl and her name is going to be Emma Paige. I just love that name; it sounds so old fashioned. I hope she's as sweet and as good as
my other great- granddaughter, Maddie. Maddie is one of the sweetest children I've ever seen. She's always going up to someone, grabbing them around the legs, and giving them a hug. How cute is that! She's fifteen months old now and will be twenty-two months old when the baby is born. I also have a great-grandson who's seven. Ethan is a beautiful child. He has white hair and big, blue-green eyes and is very precocious. He loves to come to my house and "rummage" through my "stuff". I have lots of things he likes to look at and always wants to know if he can take something home, which, of course, I let him do. My grand and great-grandchildren have been a great source of joy in my life and I thank God for them.
Well, I've got to go and do some cleaning, which I really don't want to do, but needs to be done. I'll just take my time and not try to wear myself out. Eventually, I guess I'll have to hire someone to do this for me as well.
I pray for blessings for all of you. Until next time, Nana
It has been a great summer here in the Mid Atlantic region, although it's been the hottest summer I can remember. Some days when you step out the door, it feels like stepping into a wet oven. The humidity has been unbearable. It was pretty dry the first part of the summer, but now we're having some nice thunderstorms several times a week. Thank the Lord, this nice rain keeps me from having to water all of the plants in my yard, which takes several hours, and since I can't do it anymore, I have to pay someone to do it. Oh well, that's what happens when one grows older. Someone else has to take over and do what you used to do and you have to pay them for it.
I've been under the weather for a few days with throat and sinus congestion. I really am surprised, as I take enough vitamins to sink a battleship. It's been nearly a year since I've had something like this and it really hasn't been too bad this time. I got it Friday, and today, Monday, I seem to be a lot better. One thing that came along with this is inflammation of the upper and lower eyelids. I thought, at first, I had pink eye and that I'd gotten it from my great-granddaughter. If it doesn't get a lot better by Tuesday, I'll go and see the eye doctor; it could be pink eye.
I'm planning a bracelet project. I haven't done any serious beading for a month now; I just haven't wanted to. The bracelet I'm going to make will have an oval-shaped, lime green and aqua, lamp worked bead in the center. On each side of the bead will be a herringbone-stitched tube in two shades of lime green. This will be something new for me and I'm eager to see what the bracelet will look like. I hope it works out, as I have tons of lamp worked beads I bought on E-bay and need to do something with them.
I ordered two shirts from Eddie Bauer that will be here Wednesday. One is lime green and the other is lavender. I hope they fit so I can wear the lime green bracelet with one, and the lavender bracelet I'm planning to make with the other.
My grandson-in-law is in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and will be there for one year. This is something that he absolutely wanted to do. He'll make enough money that he and my granddaughter can pay off everything that they owe and have a lot of dough left over. I think it takes a very strong person to be able to do this. I know I couldn't do it. I just couldn't be away from my children for one whole year. While he's gone, another daughter will be born but he'll be able to come home when that happens. He gets to come home for a couple of weeks every three months. I pray for his safety every day; he's in a very dangerous region of the world.
In January I'll be welcoming my third great-grandchild into the world. It's a girl and her name is going to be Emma Paige. I just love that name; it sounds so old fashioned. I hope she's as sweet and as good as
my other great- granddaughter, Maddie. Maddie is one of the sweetest children I've ever seen. She's always going up to someone, grabbing them around the legs, and giving them a hug. How cute is that! She's fifteen months old now and will be twenty-two months old when the baby is born. I also have a great-grandson who's seven. Ethan is a beautiful child. He has white hair and big, blue-green eyes and is very precocious. He loves to come to my house and "rummage" through my "stuff". I have lots of things he likes to look at and always wants to know if he can take something home, which, of course, I let him do. My grand and great-grandchildren have been a great source of joy in my life and I thank God for them.
Well, I've got to go and do some cleaning, which I really don't want to do, but needs to be done. I'll just take my time and not try to wear myself out. Eventually, I guess I'll have to hire someone to do this for me as well.
I pray for blessings for all of you. Until next time, Nana
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Summertime, and the livin' is easy
Greetings, All: It's been a while since we've talked, but that's the way it goes during the summer. I, like everyone else, have been busy doing, doing, doing, since it got a lot warmer; hotter, I should say.
It's been one of the hottest summers I can remember. The temperature today is over 100 degrees, and the humidity is probably eighty percent. I've been in the house, exclusively, for over a week now. I only venture out to go to the bank, the grocery store or the post office. My life sounds real exciting, doesn't it?
I've become interested in Indian cooking. I happened to see a cooking show on the cooking channel, entitled Spice Goddess, and watched as the hostess cooked Indian cuisine. I was totally amazed at how easy she made it seem. I was also very interested in all of the spices she used. I have two turntables in my kitchen cabinets, full of spices. I know some of them are probably years old, but they still have a pungent smell, so I'll keep them for a few more years. Spices are very expensive, especially the ones that are used in Indian cooking.
After looking at my spices, I found I have most of those that are used in Indian cooking. I found one spice, Garam Masala, at Food Lion, much to my surprise and delight. I also ordered two Indian cuisine cookbooks from Amazon.com today, one with meat, and one vegetarian. I can't wait until they arrive so I can try some of the recipes. Being a vegetarian, it will be nice to eat something that's entirely different from what I've been eating.
When I got home from the grocery store, it was time for lunch. I fixed a rice pilaf, Uncle Ben's, that you put in the microwave for ninety-seconds. The rice used is brown rice and it's absolutely delicious; I was pleasantly surprised. I also opened a can of Progresso Lentil soup to which I added garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, a dash of tabasco, a dash of dill weed, a dash of Italian seasoning and a dash of Garam Masala. This tasted awesome! Garam Masala is a combination of spices containing coriander, black pepper, cumin, cardamon and cinnamon. It has a very unusual taste and smell that I like, although some might not.
I've really gotten into cooking now that I have to be on the alkaline/acid balance diet for the rest of my life. I'm beginning to feel a lot better than I have been feeling. Food makes all of the difference in ones sense of well being and is the absolute key to good health.
I also ordered a gluten-free cookbook that uses almond flour, agave nectar with grapeseed and coconut oil. My grandson and I both have problems with gluten. When I get all of my ingredients together, I'm going to make a BIG CHOCOLATE CAKE. I've been craving chocolate cake for months. It will be wonderful to finally be able to indulge my taste buds and I know my grandson will be happy.
I'm still beading, of course. I haven't been doing much lately, as I've been busy trying to get three meals on the table every day. Believe me, when you're on a special diet, this takes some planning, but it's well worth it. I feel good eating "live" food that's not processed and so acidic.
I've started going to church again. I've been out of church for a while and it is so nice to go to church again and praise the Lord. I go to a church that is free in the "Spirit" and that allows you to raise your hands, move around, clap, say Amen, etc. Once you start praising God this way, you can't ever go back to a conventional church service. Being free to express yourself in worship is one of the most satisfying experiences I know. The Word says..."God inhabits the praises of his people."
Well, it's time to eat din din. I don't know what I'll have, but I'm sure I can whip up something delectable in a short amount of time. (?)
Au Revoir, Nana
It's been one of the hottest summers I can remember. The temperature today is over 100 degrees, and the humidity is probably eighty percent. I've been in the house, exclusively, for over a week now. I only venture out to go to the bank, the grocery store or the post office. My life sounds real exciting, doesn't it?
I've become interested in Indian cooking. I happened to see a cooking show on the cooking channel, entitled Spice Goddess, and watched as the hostess cooked Indian cuisine. I was totally amazed at how easy she made it seem. I was also very interested in all of the spices she used. I have two turntables in my kitchen cabinets, full of spices. I know some of them are probably years old, but they still have a pungent smell, so I'll keep them for a few more years. Spices are very expensive, especially the ones that are used in Indian cooking.
After looking at my spices, I found I have most of those that are used in Indian cooking. I found one spice, Garam Masala, at Food Lion, much to my surprise and delight. I also ordered two Indian cuisine cookbooks from Amazon.com today, one with meat, and one vegetarian. I can't wait until they arrive so I can try some of the recipes. Being a vegetarian, it will be nice to eat something that's entirely different from what I've been eating.
When I got home from the grocery store, it was time for lunch. I fixed a rice pilaf, Uncle Ben's, that you put in the microwave for ninety-seconds. The rice used is brown rice and it's absolutely delicious; I was pleasantly surprised. I also opened a can of Progresso Lentil soup to which I added garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, a dash of tabasco, a dash of dill weed, a dash of Italian seasoning and a dash of Garam Masala. This tasted awesome! Garam Masala is a combination of spices containing coriander, black pepper, cumin, cardamon and cinnamon. It has a very unusual taste and smell that I like, although some might not.
I've really gotten into cooking now that I have to be on the alkaline/acid balance diet for the rest of my life. I'm beginning to feel a lot better than I have been feeling. Food makes all of the difference in ones sense of well being and is the absolute key to good health.
I also ordered a gluten-free cookbook that uses almond flour, agave nectar with grapeseed and coconut oil. My grandson and I both have problems with gluten. When I get all of my ingredients together, I'm going to make a BIG CHOCOLATE CAKE. I've been craving chocolate cake for months. It will be wonderful to finally be able to indulge my taste buds and I know my grandson will be happy.
I'm still beading, of course. I haven't been doing much lately, as I've been busy trying to get three meals on the table every day. Believe me, when you're on a special diet, this takes some planning, but it's well worth it. I feel good eating "live" food that's not processed and so acidic.
I've started going to church again. I've been out of church for a while and it is so nice to go to church again and praise the Lord. I go to a church that is free in the "Spirit" and that allows you to raise your hands, move around, clap, say Amen, etc. Once you start praising God this way, you can't ever go back to a conventional church service. Being free to express yourself in worship is one of the most satisfying experiences I know. The Word says..."God inhabits the praises of his people."
Well, it's time to eat din din. I don't know what I'll have, but I'm sure I can whip up something delectable in a short amount of time. (?)
Au Revoir, Nana
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