Back for an Update

I'm so glad we had a long holiday weekend, so I didn't have to take this turd out on a bum leg.  He was very cuddly the first two days of school, but after that, wanted to play and lay around outside.

First visit to the doctor.  First of all, I am lucky to have been at home until second visit.  His first words were, "you should be in the hospital."  Cost for my meds before insurance.  After insurance?  $5 each.   

One of my breakfast meals, served in bed.  Hubby made us bacon veggie omelets.  So good!  So thankful for it too.  I was tired of toast and coffee.  Second breakfast in bed was french toast, scrambled eggs and sausage.

Hubby and Daughter were not all that happy about taking over my chores, and I often heard long sighs, but they did it for the most part.  And although the guys invited Hubby for a bike ride, he stayed home, cleaned my chicken coop and mowed.   He even pulled a few weeds.  I felt awful, but he seemed to want to get stuff done here and help me out.  He was mumbling about the herb garden (photo is a few down on this post).

I read over a real newspaper for the first time in a long, long time.

Good, interesting book with facts, from the library. 

Meanwhile....in the herb garden....4-5 feet tall weeds.  When our 20 year-old was over, she was being attacked by grasshoppers taking over the herb garden.  Said it was "Jurassic Park" out there (second time I was told this, ha ha).  You can't even see my herbs, and I'm pretty sure I lost more than the thyme.

I watched a ton of cooking shows.  I'm surprised I didn't order a smoker after all those recipes I watched.  I watched too many for sure.  I have to say, the "Jazzy" vegetarian is somewhat annoying to watch.  I get tired of her repeating the "jazzy" this or "jazzy" that.

Anyway, I tried to stay off my feet as much as I could, but when Hubby was at work and daughter in school, the puppy duty was still on me.  Along with laundry and meals.

I tried to look at things in a positive way (having to be on my bum with leg up), I plunged into my handiwork, read some of a book, journaled and watched some "I Love Lucy" to add some much needed laughter.  They say laughter is the best "medicine" so that's what I put on the TV.


I got all of these completed while watching a lot of cooking shows.  

Bracelets (just need ends sewn in and buttons), another washcloth, two sets of boot cuffs and 3 sets of pot holders.  Doesn't really look like a lot for 6 days of sitting around though.

My laptop took a pooper, so I can only post from the computer as the pain gets better.   Doctor visit update?  I'm now heading to a surgeon.  More sitting time, but this time he was more stern about it.  It's been very painful.

Edited to explain:  Basically, when the table slammed down on my foot, it caused more pressure in the varicose veins in the lower leg, causing some to literally "explode" at the skin level.  The worst is a group of veins on my inner ankle.  Worst pain ever.  The "explosions" are now open wounds the vein surgeon will determine on next.  

I'll be back soon.  Thanks for visiting. 

Thursday's Thoughts

So, I went and did it again. 

I'll be taking a small hiatus (I typically post a blog post daily) from my blog, but hope to be back soon.  Meanwhile, I'll have my foot elevated. 

About a week and a half ago, I was inside the garage, putting it up, to put camping chairs and tables away.  Daughter's friend put the table against the outside of the door and it slammed down on my foot.  Apparently, if you have varicose veins, an injury (not always, but I'm the lucky one...sigh) can cause pressure in the veins and more injury.

Weeds will be growing and I just don't care.  I hope Hubby and Daughter will help pick from the garden, tend my ladies and gent, get the mail, etc.

I have no idea how to manage a breakfast for the both of them, nor dinner, so we'll see what happens.  I'll manage something.

My survival bag over the next six days.  Praying I don't need it much after that.  Possibly down the road for definite vein surgery. Meanwhile, I'm downing my elderberry tincture for the immune system, and placing an order for real vitamin C.  There will be a prescription picked up today, along with a topical cream, so probiotics are on the grocery list for Hubby to pick up.

Say a prayer, send up good mojo, and good thoughts.  Another decision by my doctor will be made next week after this long holiday weekend.  I'm just glad we didn't have plans, ha ha!  I guess Hubby will be busy, but I'll not be much help to him.

This and That ~ First Day of School

We enjoyed the weekend weather.  Gosh it was so nice out.  Sweatpants and sweatshirt weather.  Oh my.

The sunrise Monday morning had so much color to it.  Just beautiful!

We got more checked off the to-do list - installed another dead blot and two more new door knobs, replaced all the broken drawer brackets, cleaned up two kitchen drawers and reorganized, cleaned one upper cabinet and reorganized, cleaned up a ton of recycling in the garage and delivered it to recycling, got laundry done a day early since rain is due, Hubby fixed our car, installed a new window switch in one daughter's car, got one hour of mowing done and cleaned down all the cobwebs in the chicken coop.

Here is my new thermometer I was telling you about.  It's made by Thermoworks, and is called the ThermoPop.  It can check temps up to 572°F (not that I need that), but this will make grilling steaks so much easier than my non-instant read thermometer.  The ThermoPop was highly recommended by America's Test Kitchen, and it's not too pricey either.  I'm not an affiliate for this, just sharing in case you are needing one.

Speaking of cooking, here's some of this weeks menu:
-grilled fajitas

-crock pot sweet potato chili and possibly cornbread
-chicken/rice/broccoli casserole, beets
-meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn

-Breakfast, blueberry whole wheat pancakes


Question:  For those who buy Gotu Kola from MRH, where do you buy it when they are out of stock?  I found some at Starwest Botonicals.  Any suggestions?

Also Arnica is sold out at MRH and Starwest Botonicals.  I would love to find some ASAP for making a tea to apply topically to my swelled up ankle (more on that later maybe).  Right now I have to use Epson salts and it's not working all that great.  I have tried to grow it here two years in a row, and both times it didn't like our weather.  If you now of a resource for Arnica I'd love to hear about it.

Finished two bracelets.  No picture.  They went into a shipping box immediately after finishing them.

Daughter picked up my books that were in at the library.  Not sure if it'll be cheaper to build our own bat house or just buy the kit.  I guess Hubby will determine that.

Debby Flowers, I was flipping through my Rosemary Gladstar books and there are tea recipes in them that contain rose hips.  One is the beginner's guide book and the other is the Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health.  Maybe your library has them?

Our 17 year-old starts back to school today.  I'll lose my helper, but Romeo is starting to get into a routine now. I'm definitely getting him a playmate soon. 

We got some rain yesterday and will get more today.  I sure hope the jalapenos are all ripe at once.  I am down to the very last jar of cowboy candy, and jalapenos are anti-inflammatory and aid healthy blood flow.  We love this stuff too.

Sorry for the long ramblings.  I've been away from my blog for a few days.

Crock Pot Jalapeno Creamed Corn

Our jalapenos are starting to roll in.  I picked a few to make crock pot jalapeno creamed corn.  Here is how I make mine.

In a crock pot, heat 6 cups of thawed frozen corn (off the cob - see recipe here).  This corn works great since it already has butter in it.

Add 1/4 stick of organic butter, 8 oz. of organic cream cheese, about 1-1 1/2 cups of organic shredded cheddar cheese and jalapeno to taste.  I just depends on how hot you want it.  Let cook for at least 1 hour, but I have had it in the crock pot for up to 3 at times.  Just watch it and put it on warm if you need to.

It is wonderful to take to cook outs or family gatherings. 

Romeo ~ Life

While picking up chicken feed, I couldn't help but spoil Romeo with a new dog bed.  It's supposed to be on the floor or in his kennel, but obviously it's on the couch, ha ha!  He loves it though.

I got those green beans blanched and put into the freezer.

Just my luck.  Just when we get daughter a car, and I get a vehicle to myself, the car breaks down.  Life.

We canceled our weekend camping  trip to stay home and do the car repairs.  

The weather is absolutely wonderful this weekend too.  Windows are open and air is off. 

Whew! Lots Checked off the "To-Do" List!

Lately, it's been puttin' up, stocking up and just plain busyness in the kitchen vs. housework and garden work.  That time will come soon.  Cleaning that is.  We've been getting rain at night, so weeding has halted.  We got more storms last night again.  

Although not all from my garden, I canned one batch of hot banana pepper relish.  It's Hubby's favorite and we did not grow cucumbers this year, so I won't be canning sweet pickle relish.

It should last the 3 of us all winter too.  The jalapenos in it came from the garden and they are good!

I got some organic asparagus blanched and in the freezer.  Three bunches and the ends were saved for soup this coming winter.  I had 1.6# of ends, and my soup requires 2#, so it was labeled accordingly, and I hope to put up more this week or next.

Got more dandelion greens in the freezer, but I need more chard, collards and kale yet.

I made a pan of homemade granola bars with oats, almonds, blueberries and hemp seeds.

I also made 2 trays of homemade beef bouillon cubes, using real ingredients.  These come in handy for soups etc. when I am out of broth/stock in the winter.  They can flavor any sort of beef dish/casserole, soup or stew.

I even checked on the green beans (shocked I had any to pick), and got some laundry on the line.  I also finished a crocheted bracelet and counted beads for another one.


Hubby and I both have come to the realization, that we'll get no tomatoes this year.  There are some here and there, but there is most likely no way we'll be canning one thing this fall.  Sadly.  The worst garden year in 11 years.

Hot and Humid

It was so hot and humid yesterday.  I had a smoothie for my lunch.  There was spinach and kale in it too.  Yum.

I put together another emergency crochet kit too.  Most items were only $1 each.


Oh what a mess it is.  It's the last thing to try and save.  The potatoes.

Day 1.  It doesn't look like I weeded much of it, but I un-buried about 8-10 potato plants.  

Day 2.  Not gonna happen.  If anything grew I'll know when I go to dig it all up.  Just not worth the aggravation right now.

It's back to the herb garden and flower beds.   All depends on the rain.  We got more last night.  A lot of it.  The herb garden is a total mess this year.  I don't have enough green onions to keep the grass down.  I'm about ready to dig the entire herb garden up and start over.  Hubby said no, but I'm tired of dealing with the grass. All of my thyme died too.  Maybe it is time to dig the entire thing out  and start all over.