I'm Still Here

There's this lady named Laura who lives in Eastern USA, has 4 kids and bakes for a living. She's hilarious and every time I read her posts I want to be just like her. Except for the 4 kids, lack of money, broken car, sore neck and husband who's away half the time. You should check her out. Her blog is http://mylifeisapieceofcake.blogspot.ca/  and she's very funny... also an excellent photographer.

My life has been in flux. I have been learning the symptoms of menopause. Muscle pain, hot flashes, confusion, mood swings, extreme fatigue, night sweats, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, memory loss... and that's on top of bleeding (WTF? I haven't had to deal with that for months) and cramping. The muscle pain has been very weird. I kept wondering what I'd done to cause it, (I've done very little lately...)  assuming it was the mattress... 25 years old and sagging where we laid, and it definitely got worse a month ago when I put the better of our two mattresses on our guest bed for our nephew and his wife's visit...  So I'm sure it was partially due to the mattress, but I think too that menopause played a part.

 FINALLY we got our new mattress set. It was to be delivered on March 15th, so April 5th ain't so bad. *I shake my fist at you The Bay*..

The box spring is in two pieces... that's very ingenious... and much easier to get up the stairs. The mattress has no handles, which is probably for the best as I curse the handles anyhow.. they always rip. But how are you supposed to manage the thing? It's huge and it sways and it's heavy. We just moved all the wall art, knick-knacks and tippy furniture between the front door and our bedroom and things went so smoothly we barely argued!

I had a great sleep last night. Not the actual sleeping so much, but the muscle part. No back ache when I woke up this morning, for the first time in a year (psychosomatic... I think so!). I wonder though why my arms still fell asleep. I really felt that they should sink into the pillow top and not have their circulation cut off by my body, but they did. And we're now so high up that I can't see my alarm clock, and I can see everything outside, and I'm about 6 inches closer to the beam on our ceiling that gives me nightmares every time I wake up and see it looming above me. And the moon shone in my eyes and kept waking me... I think I'll sleep well tonight because I'm exhausted from last night, and I was outside so much today I got my first face sunburn, plus I was active and now I'm really tired from that.

This was us yesterday. I started off the day by washing and line drying the bed skirt, sheets, mattress protector, and duvet cover, and machine drying the duvet and feather pillows (don't EVER spend your money on dry cleaning duvets or feather pillows... ask me how it's done!!). Then we drove an hour and a half to Trail to pick up our mattress set, drove home, carried it up the stairs and put everything back to rights. I wanted to post this pic on Facebook yesterday but was appalled at how big my gut is and how you can barely see Norm beside me. But today I figure, meh. It's funny. This is me. Tired. Fat. Loving my new mattress set. Hating my menopause. The saga continues...

Momo the Rooster

Momo is our rooster. He's the cover photo for my blog...

Not only is he beautiful, but he's kind and gentle and a lovely rooster. He never fights unless he feels threatened, he always waits till the girls eat first, and he is constantly vigilant, watching for birds of prey, coyotes, raccoons, and any other creatures lurking in the neighbourhood who like to eat poultry. He's also pretty okay with being cuddled, although I have yet to meet a chicken who really likes it.

Yesterday Momo was sneezing a lot... I laughed. A chicken sneezing is a funny sound. Kind of like the way I laugh when he tries to crow.

Today he was obviously sick, so I brought him in the house. The other chickens will peck at a sick chicken, and who knows if he's contagious or not. Momo has been in a box in my living room all day. He's gasping and wheezing and has a rattle in his chest when he breathes. He's also coughing up blood. It doesn't look good. I posted the story on facebook and a couple of people thought I should take him to a vet. What they don't understand is that chickens are kind of like goldfish. They are wonderful pets, but when they die you just get another one. Spending hundreds of dollars on a vet every time a chicken got sick would be ridiculous (as much as I would love to), so I just try to make him as comfortable as possible and hope for the best.

I have cried more today than I have for a long, long time. I pray that Momo gets better, but if not I hope he goes quickly so he doesn't have to suffer much more. He's quiet now, except for the occasional cough.
Rest in peace my beautiful boy...

Update: Norm came to bed at 12:25 last night and I woke up. Momo was gasping in the most heartbreaking way and Norm said he'd been resting quietly and the gasping had just started about 5 or 10 minutes prior. I couldn't stand it so I went down to sit with him. I put him on my lap and held him while he strained to breathe. He was exhausted and I could tell he wouldn't last long (and if he had I was contemplating murder). It took about 20 minutes for Momo to die, and I am so glad he didn't linger because it was horrible to watch. Now I can imagine a parent with an asthmatic child.

So now there are eight... my girls.

Winter Wonderland

It's been snowing for about 30 hours now... haven't seen a snow plow yet and our little dead-end road is silent and untouched.

Winter is very monochromatic. 

I miss color. 

Everything is shades of white and grey.

All our trees and shrubs lose their leaves, so there are just a bunch of naked branches in our yard right now.

My pond has disappeared under a blanket of snow. 

The bridge to the gazebo is pristine and untouched.

Our maples, which are riotous with color in the fall are sound asleep and not trying to impress anyone.

this is what they're like in the fall...

The birds have gone south...

It's very quiet...

A splash of color in the monotony...

The chickens are hunkered down... we built them a lean-to so they can play in the dirt, even in the winter, but they don't like coming outside when there's this much snow, so they're just hanging around inside, doing nothing because there's nothing much to do.

Oops... I guess I was wrong!

I asked my sister to buy me a dwarf Alberta spruce for my birthday a few years ago, to brighten up my yard with greenery in the winter... this is it.

Today is an inside day, except Norm is out snow-blowing with our tractor. We named it Bob - I say Big... Norm says Baby... Orange (we agree on that) - I say Beast Norm says Brute or Boy... we bought it from Bob's widow, our neighbour, and it always reminds us of Bob, who passed away last spring and used to plow us out every winter.

I have assumed the position and plan to remain here much of the day!

AWESOME Kale and Quinoa Salad!!!

I had my parents over for dinner tonight and did a chicken marbella (only with turkey instead of chicken), rice, and this salad... which I halved except for the dressing (and I used almond butter, because I've never heard of pumpkin seed  butter) but otherwise I followed the recipe to a T (oh, I didn't have apple cider so I used homemade apple juice) and it was really excellent!!! Here it is, copied from Chatelaine's website at this address:

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/article/31974--five-reasons-to-include-kale-in-your-thanksgiving-menu

Five reasons to include kale in your Thanksgiving menu

Find out why kale is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. This kale harvest salad with cranberries and pumpkin seeds is a perfect side for Thanksgiving

• By Julie Daniluk, R.H.N. Mon Oct 03 2011

• 
  

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Photo credit: Getty Images

It's got a lot of competition, but kale is one of the healthiest foods available. Just one piece of evidence: a new rating system called the Andi scale rates the density of nutrients per calorie. The scale is ranked zero to 1000 and kale takes the top spot because this leafy green delivers the most nutrients for only 36 calories a cup.


Until recently, we thought about nutrition as vitamin A through zinc, but it turns out that the consumption of a variety of phytochemicals (such as indole-3-carbinol, found in cabbage) helps our bodies to detox and repair, protecting us from disease. That and these five other reasons are why you should pick up some of this in-season veggie during your next trip to the market:


1. Kale prevents inflammation and builds healthy bones:Kale is high in vitamin K, which is important for bone mineral density and osteoporosis prevention. A lack of vitamin K in the diet can also contribute to excessive inflammation in the body, leading to joint pain and symptoms of arthritis.


2. Improve your skin with kale: Vitamin A, found in kale, helps treat and prevent acne because of its anti-inflammatory effects. The retinoids in vitamin A prevent the inflammation of acne and reduce the overproduction of oil in the skin. One cup of kale contains over 100 percent of your required daily intake of vitamin A.


3. Choose kale to prevent gout and kidney stones: Kale is a good source of vitamin C, which prevents the buildup of uric acid in our systems. This acid buildup can deposit in our kidneys and joints and possibly lead to the development of goutand kidney stones.


4. Kale is high in soluble fibre: Soluble fibres are great at binding the bile acids and lipids in our intestine that are used to create cholesterol in our system. This lowers the amount of cholesterol in our systems and can lower our overall risk of heart disease.


5. Kale may help prevent some cancers: Kale contains compounds that play a role in a reduction of the risk of bladder, breast, colon, ovary and prostate cancer by inhibiting the growth of tumors.

Thanksgiving kale saladThe cranberries and pumpkin seeds in this dish will brighten up any Thanksgiving table. The sterols and zinc in the pumpkin seeds help your immune system for the cold winter ahead. The earthy sweetness of the kale is set off nicely by the nutty flavour of the quinoa. I use both red and white quinoa for a nice colour variation.


Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa (yields 4 cooked cups)
2 1/2 cups water, divided
8 cups kale (yields 4 steamed cups), stems removed, cut into ribbons
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries (juice-sweetened)


Dressing:
1/4 cup pumpkin seed butter (use almond butter if you can’t find pumpkin)
1/4 cup apple cider
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 tsp salt (reduce if needed)

Directions:


1. Place quinoa and 1.5 cups of water into a medium pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat for five minutes, then fluff with a fork. Let cool.


2. Place kale and 1 cup water in a large pot and steam for two minutes. Drain well.


3. Place cooked qunioa into kale pot. Add seeds and berries. Mix well to combine.


4. Mix all dressing ingredients together in a bowl and add to pot.


5. Combine well. Serve warm immediately or chill and serve.


Makes nine cups.

Bathroom Renovation Plans

I love to have a bath... I take a book and pour out some of my favourite bubble bath and spend an hour just soaking. Unfortunately, the house we've been living in for almost 7 years has a tiny tub and I really don't fit. I know this is a little TMI, but this is how I stretch out (and no, I won't be taking my iPhone in the tub any more, the Telus kiosk guy told me that it can get condensation even in the Ziploc baggie, sheesh... how am I supposed to read my Kobo i-books in the tub now?). 

So we've decided to renovate the bathroom this year, since the kitchen reno went so amazingly well last year. The original goal was to install our beautiful claw foot tub that we bought from the folks down the road, but we were going to lose too much linen closet, plus there's a vaulted ceiling in the bathroom so hanging the shower curtain surround rod for the clawfoot would have been difficult, plus we'd have to tile the walls all around the tub, plus we're getting older and it's a big step in, and neither of us like the shower curtains wrapping around our legs as we shower (does anyone?). So, we decided to buy this tub shower instead, and install glass doors. It's the same length as our current tub, but quite a bit deeper, so I should be able to cover most of myself with water when I soak!

I want to use this needle point that my mom made and gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago as my color palette.

The flooring, I'm thinking will be green slate tiles. I like the slightly rough, or riven, look but I think it would just capture the dirt, so I'm thinking of this look, probably with a darker grout so the mildew won't show (if I ever let it get away from me... but I can't see that happening).

Today I found this photo online, of a marble bowl with the matching vanity counter top. I love the look, and want it! Our vanity cabinetry is oak, and fine, but I'm looking for a change on top.

This is what our bathroom looks like now.

Any suggestions, comments and ideas are welcome!!

My Bogs Blog...

So the big 20% off sale starts tomorrow at Shoes for the Soul, and I wanted to get my Bogs boots before they were any more picked over...  But of course I didn't have to worry. Just look at the selection!

Thanks again Ian and Deanna for your contest, and for picking my name!

Busy Few Days

Christmas Eve started off with a wonderful gift! A local shoe store - Shoes For the Soul - had a contest on Facebook where they were giving away a few pairs of Bogs boots. The last draw was Christmas Eve and I WON!!!! I already own a pair, but because of my weight gain this past year, they're a little snug and wearing them all day causes my feet to go numb... I LOVE Bogs boots and think everyone should own a pair! Waterproof, stylish (for rubber boots) and good to 30 below. What's not to love? These are mine, except the top is black, not brown...

So, after the glow wore off about winning a contest, I began cooking. I'd invited 5 friends for dinner, and the menu included an appetizer of spiced nuts, salmon on daikon, and crab dip. Dinner was baked ham, fluffy potatoes Romanov, Jamie Oliver's Brussels sprouts recipe, beet salad and two pies (chocolate cream and pumpkin) for dessert. I was EXHAUSTED by the time I'd finished cooking and cleaning and decorating...

These were Terry's Chocolate oranges that I wrapped in brown paper with ribbon and lace (inspired by Pinterest... I LOVE that website!!!!) and put at each place setting.

 Norm getting fancy with the photography...

 Working my fingers to the bone...

 Salmon on daikon... very tasty and healthy too (recipe below)

So dinner on Christmas Eve was a success and I ate WAY too much... then there was Christmas Day...

 First it was breakfast at Mom and Dad's... our annual tradition of pork hocks on toast. Mom boils the hocks (yes, pig ankles) with lots of garlic and salt and then cleans the bone, skin and fat away and refrigerates them in the broth, which gels (anyone squeamish yet?). Then we eat the cold chunks of meat, with lots of the jelly on slices of Mom's EXCELLENT homemade bread, toasted. And coffee and Baileys is part of the tradition too, which I think is a GREAT way to start any day!

Then it was home to prepare for the family fondue dinner... 

I was disorganized and tired, but it was a success!

The fondue is Norm's and my tradition (it's pretty slow to catch on with my family - this is the first time they've actually shown up for it, preferring turkey in all years past!). I did beef tenderloin with bagna cauda (an Italian dip from oil, butter, anchovies and garlic... DELICIOUS!!), prawns, onions and mushrooms with batter, cheese with bread and veggies and leftover pie for dessert. Nice day. Now my house smells of peanut oil.

Salmon CanapésSELF | December 2010

by Kerri Conan

Pretty-in-pink salmon is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Yield: Makes 8 servings Time: 20 minutes 4 ounces goat cheese, at room temperature 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (or more to taste) 12 ounces daikon, cut crosswise into 16 slices (1/4 inch thick each) 8 ounces thinly sliced smoked salmon (or lox), cut into 16 pieces 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives Combine cheese, juice and Sriracha in a bowl. Spread a layer of cheese mixture on each daikon slice; top with salmon and garnish with chives. Per serving (per 2 canapés) 93 calories, 6 g fat, 3 g saturated, 2 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 9 g protein Nutritional analysis provided by Self

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Salmon-Canapes-362732#ixzz1hlidiOqU