Oyster Stew
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 Pint Oysters (do not drain)
3/4 cup cold water
1/2 tsp Celery Salt
1 tsp. Paprika
Salt to taste
4 cups WHOLE milk (I often use 2% milk)
Check oysters and remove any shell pieces.
Melt butter or margarine. Add oysters - water, salt, celery salt and paprika
Cook until oysters curl at edges then slowly add milk.
When mixture just reaches boiling point - quickly remove from heat.
NOTE: I often dice onions, celery, green pepper and mushrooms, sauté them in the butter and cook with the oysters.
Black Eyed Pea Jambalaya
1 1/2 pounds Andouille or smoked sausage
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large chopped onion
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 TBSP Creole seasoning
2 cups chicken stock
2 TBSP minced pimiento
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 1/2 cups cooked black eyed peas
1/4 cup chopped green onion, both white and green parts for garnish
Brown the sausage in the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic and Creole seasoning. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Add the stock, pimiento, rice and black-eyed peas, bringing the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and cook until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed, 20 - 25 minutes.
Friday, December 31, 2010
December 16 - 31
December 16 Thursday Laundry or go naked day! Sure miss the nice Laundromat in Marshalltown! Woke up to 66 degrees; the low last night was 63 degrees! Cold front coming thru this evening - going back into the 40's at night. Oh, well, take the warm sunny days when I can! LinCare delivered an oxygen concentrator. My, they sure don’t waste any time around here!
I had planned on going to the potluck 'friendship supper' but I've still not re-covered from my CPAP-less nite! I bought some olive, pickles, etc to make a relish tray but they will keep until next week. Besides, don't want to get over-tired -- ladies lunch coming up on Friday!
When the cold front blew thru, all of a sudden it was cloudy and the winds from the north. There was not doubt it was cold from the north!
Woke up to 53 degrees on December 17th! Must be winter! Ladies lunch Friday at Key Allegro. Windy down on the harbor -- white caps on the water -- even the cranes and pelicans are huddled together! Had grilled flounder and rice pilaf! Now wasn't that healthy! AND --HOT TEA!
The local weatherman has been lying to me -- told me that it was going to be in the low 40s Saturday nite and in the 30s Sunday nite -- well, it's been in the 60s both nights, maybe I need a new weatherman! At least I have had plenty of practice moving my plants in and out!
Sunday I put my last piece of Iowa pork in the crock pot with some mushroom onion gravy -- made spaetzel with my potato ricer! Just like going to the Amanas -- well, not quite but close! I even fixed some cottage cheese with chives. Didn't fix any saurkraut or mashed tators!
Li'lBit and I spent about an hour at the picnic table -- she loves to lay there and get brushed.
Woke up to 63 degrees Monday AM - some fog, but with a little breeze, the fog doesn’t stay around long. Sure do like that oxygen at night -- don't want to get out of bed in the AM! Only one problem...I'm not as tired during the day and not taking as many naps -- and Li'lBit doesn't like that at all!
Li'lBit and I took a run to the fish market to get our oysters for oyster stew for Christmas Eve.
I started thinking about doing steak & lobster for Christmas dinner. I had a small ham, but can eat that anytime....they had a good price on fresh lobster tails at the market....except steaks down here are so high and it isn’t Iowa beef!
Highs in the 70s, lows in the 60s all week, then a chilly Christmas - highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s-40s thru the weekend. Bummer! Still a lot of empty spaces in the park. Wonder if they will fill up after Christmas or if folks just aren't traveling.
I missed the eclipse on the first day of winter, saw the first part of it – went to bed, when I got up a couple of hours later it was too overcast. Guess I'll just have to plan on seeing the next one - someone said the next total eclipse to coincide with the winter solstice will be in 2095. Not sure I'll be around then!
Picked up my tamales. That's the TX Christmas Eve tradition -- yummy -- oyster stew & tamales! WHEW! Some traditions probably shouldn’t be merged!
Maybe I should have avoided the coffee Tuesday AM - got myself into baking cookies and nut bread for the New Years Eve 'finger-food' get-together and the New Years Day breakfast! Sure wish my oven worked better - or was bigger -- nothing seems to cook even.
December 22 Wednesday AM Weather alert for fog. 61 degrees! Air is heavy but at least I can still breathe. Ran some errands (can you believe the grocery store did not have cranberries!) As much as I hated it, I braved the crowds at Walmart to get some cranberries and then met Deryl & Elke for dinner at Pepitos.
Terry was by and started working on the roof. While up there he noticed a vent cover missing so he picked one up the later. He has the patch on. I certainly like this “home repair” and not having to take it in to the service department for repair. That’s such a hassle.
December 23 Thursday Christmas is really exciting in the ol' folk's RV Park -- had pot luck supper in the acitivities building, Christmas Eve was 'finger foods' and a white elephant gift exchange, and Christmas day after church, Christmas dinner. Since I Went to Deryl & Elke's for Christmas dinner, I fixed my steak (which ended up being a small standing rib roast – cheaper than the steaks – for Christmas Eve dinner. Rib roast complete with Yorkshire pudding! Yummy – saved the lobsters for New Years.
Christmas Day Deryl & Elke had all the trimmings and smoked turkey. Ate entirely too much and sure I'm gonna hear from it from the doc next appointment.
On Monday Li'lBit and I headed out to the grocery - forget CAT food - Holly was POd this AM when she had to eat DOG food! Now I have one happy kitty! She will probably puke on my floor now 'cuz she will gorge herself. I only put a little down – thankfully she took the hint!
Can't say the temps have varied much here -- yesterday low was 44, high was
48, last nite low was 45 so far today only up to 47!!! Guess I didn't go
far enough south!
Have a pot of "buffalo hunters stew" going in the crock pot. No, I don't have any buffalo meat, I use sausage! Maybe I should change the name to 'pig hunters stew.'
Knock on wood - I haven't been down and out like usual with the respiratory crud I always get when I move. Have had some stuffiness that lasted a few days and slowed me down some, but nothing that resembles pneumonia!
Tuesday Dec 28 Busy, Busy day! Ladies coffee at 9AM, propane truck is in the park and I had an tank! AND, get to see Doc at 2PM! YIPPEE! Lab work OK -- EXCEPT -- she thinks my fasting blood sugar was too high - 128. So Jan 11 we draw it again along with the A1C and then a follow up appt Jan 13. Oh, and she told me I should be more "diligent" about loosing some weight - I'd feel better! After the appointment, I headed off to Hammerheads for some alligator bites! Tinga and I love alligator bites. I’ll work on getting ‘diligent’ tomorrow!
Li'l Bit fell down the steps when we went out and I heard her head crack on the concrete. She's been kinda listless that evening, but did get up and move around. Spent time in the recliner and her bed most of the time. Watched her closely during the night.
Wednesday the 29th Raining! Started the night before - 61 degrees and humid in the AM. Li'lBit was back to being her own self again. I think I woke up a dozen times to check her. We will probably both need a nap this afternoon, 'cuz every time I checked her, if she was in a deep sleep, I woke her up.
Finally got my nails done – been since before Thanksgiving when Chevi did them – boy, did they need some work! Because of the dark red glittery stuff I had on (it wasn't polish, it was in the acrylic), she had to put on a really dark red -- almost a vampire blood red! In two weeks most of the glittery stuff should be gone.
Picked up some Cajun sausage for Jambalaya for New Years Day. Need my black eyed peas. Gotta keep that TX tradition going!
December was drawing to a close. Spent the 30th taking down the Christmas tree, packing it away – even left the decorations on it when I stuffed it the box! So, that job is done – all shades of Christmas have been packed away in the under compartment. Well, all shades of Christmas except some gifts from my sister. She is doing the 12 days of Christmas so I have a gift for the 12 days starting with Christmas, Day One. She is so clever! And I get to enjoy it!
Kathy and Donna both pulled in today – quite a bit of wind so I’m sure it was a tiring drive for both.
Cookies and breads baked for the New Years Eve get-together and New Years morning breakfast. Even made a pan of gingerbread (for me!) while I had the oven going. So I just kicked back watched December go by the wayside.
December 31 – New Years Eve – Happy Hogmanay! A trip to the laundry – at least I’ll start 2011 with clean clothes! Had a nice visit with Kathy and with Donna. Bonnie and Cleo brought me some scalloped ham and potatoes. They had much left from the potluck last nite. It was really good. Even Tinga let out with a "mmmm...good"
Used the last of my oysters for oyster stew – it’s not a New Year’s tradition – until now! Started the crock pot with the Jambalaya – now to kick back and watch 2010 wind down and hope that 2011 will be a year of promise!
Haste ye back, we loue you dearly,
Call again you're welcome here.
May your days be free from sorrow,
And your friends be ever near.
May the paths o'er which you wander,
Be to you a joy each day.
Haste ye back we loue you dearly,
Haste ye back on friendship's way.
HAPPY NEW YEAR - HAPPY HOGMANAY
I had planned on going to the potluck 'friendship supper' but I've still not re-covered from my CPAP-less nite! I bought some olive, pickles, etc to make a relish tray but they will keep until next week. Besides, don't want to get over-tired -- ladies lunch coming up on Friday!
When the cold front blew thru, all of a sudden it was cloudy and the winds from the north. There was not doubt it was cold from the north!
Woke up to 53 degrees on December 17th! Must be winter! Ladies lunch Friday at Key Allegro. Windy down on the harbor -- white caps on the water -- even the cranes and pelicans are huddled together! Had grilled flounder and rice pilaf! Now wasn't that healthy! AND --HOT TEA!
The local weatherman has been lying to me -- told me that it was going to be in the low 40s Saturday nite and in the 30s Sunday nite -- well, it's been in the 60s both nights, maybe I need a new weatherman! At least I have had plenty of practice moving my plants in and out!
Sunday I put my last piece of Iowa pork in the crock pot with some mushroom onion gravy -- made spaetzel with my potato ricer! Just like going to the Amanas -- well, not quite but close! I even fixed some cottage cheese with chives. Didn't fix any saurkraut or mashed tators!
Li'lBit and I spent about an hour at the picnic table -- she loves to lay there and get brushed.
Woke up to 63 degrees Monday AM - some fog, but with a little breeze, the fog doesn’t stay around long. Sure do like that oxygen at night -- don't want to get out of bed in the AM! Only one problem...I'm not as tired during the day and not taking as many naps -- and Li'lBit doesn't like that at all!
Li'lBit and I took a run to the fish market to get our oysters for oyster stew for Christmas Eve.
I started thinking about doing steak & lobster for Christmas dinner. I had a small ham, but can eat that anytime....they had a good price on fresh lobster tails at the market....except steaks down here are so high and it isn’t Iowa beef!
Highs in the 70s, lows in the 60s all week, then a chilly Christmas - highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s-40s thru the weekend. Bummer! Still a lot of empty spaces in the park. Wonder if they will fill up after Christmas or if folks just aren't traveling.
I missed the eclipse on the first day of winter, saw the first part of it – went to bed, when I got up a couple of hours later it was too overcast. Guess I'll just have to plan on seeing the next one - someone said the next total eclipse to coincide with the winter solstice will be in 2095. Not sure I'll be around then!
Picked up my tamales. That's the TX Christmas Eve tradition -- yummy -- oyster stew & tamales! WHEW! Some traditions probably shouldn’t be merged!
Maybe I should have avoided the coffee Tuesday AM - got myself into baking cookies and nut bread for the New Years Eve 'finger-food' get-together and the New Years Day breakfast! Sure wish my oven worked better - or was bigger -- nothing seems to cook even.
December 22 Wednesday AM Weather alert for fog. 61 degrees! Air is heavy but at least I can still breathe. Ran some errands (can you believe the grocery store did not have cranberries!) As much as I hated it, I braved the crowds at Walmart to get some cranberries and then met Deryl & Elke for dinner at Pepitos.
Terry was by and started working on the roof. While up there he noticed a vent cover missing so he picked one up the later. He has the patch on. I certainly like this “home repair” and not having to take it in to the service department for repair. That’s such a hassle.
December 23 Thursday Christmas is really exciting in the ol' folk's RV Park -- had pot luck supper in the acitivities building, Christmas Eve was 'finger foods' and a white elephant gift exchange, and Christmas day after church, Christmas dinner. Since I Went to Deryl & Elke's for Christmas dinner, I fixed my steak (which ended up being a small standing rib roast – cheaper than the steaks – for Christmas Eve dinner. Rib roast complete with Yorkshire pudding! Yummy – saved the lobsters for New Years.
Christmas Day Deryl & Elke had all the trimmings and smoked turkey. Ate entirely too much and sure I'm gonna hear from it from the doc next appointment.
On Monday Li'lBit and I headed out to the grocery - forget CAT food - Holly was POd this AM when she had to eat DOG food! Now I have one happy kitty! She will probably puke on my floor now 'cuz she will gorge herself. I only put a little down – thankfully she took the hint!
Can't say the temps have varied much here -- yesterday low was 44, high was
48, last nite low was 45 so far today only up to 47!!! Guess I didn't go
far enough south!
Have a pot of "buffalo hunters stew" going in the crock pot. No, I don't have any buffalo meat, I use sausage! Maybe I should change the name to 'pig hunters stew.'
Knock on wood - I haven't been down and out like usual with the respiratory crud I always get when I move. Have had some stuffiness that lasted a few days and slowed me down some, but nothing that resembles pneumonia!
Tuesday Dec 28 Busy, Busy day! Ladies coffee at 9AM, propane truck is in the park and I had an tank! AND, get to see Doc at 2PM! YIPPEE! Lab work OK -- EXCEPT -- she thinks my fasting blood sugar was too high - 128. So Jan 11 we draw it again along with the A1C and then a follow up appt Jan 13. Oh, and she told me I should be more "diligent" about loosing some weight - I'd feel better! After the appointment, I headed off to Hammerheads for some alligator bites! Tinga and I love alligator bites. I’ll work on getting ‘diligent’ tomorrow!
Li'l Bit fell down the steps when we went out and I heard her head crack on the concrete. She's been kinda listless that evening, but did get up and move around. Spent time in the recliner and her bed most of the time. Watched her closely during the night.
Wednesday the 29th Raining! Started the night before - 61 degrees and humid in the AM. Li'lBit was back to being her own self again. I think I woke up a dozen times to check her. We will probably both need a nap this afternoon, 'cuz every time I checked her, if she was in a deep sleep, I woke her up.
Finally got my nails done – been since before Thanksgiving when Chevi did them – boy, did they need some work! Because of the dark red glittery stuff I had on (it wasn't polish, it was in the acrylic), she had to put on a really dark red -- almost a vampire blood red! In two weeks most of the glittery stuff should be gone.
Picked up some Cajun sausage for Jambalaya for New Years Day. Need my black eyed peas. Gotta keep that TX tradition going!
December was drawing to a close. Spent the 30th taking down the Christmas tree, packing it away – even left the decorations on it when I stuffed it the box! So, that job is done – all shades of Christmas have been packed away in the under compartment. Well, all shades of Christmas except some gifts from my sister. She is doing the 12 days of Christmas so I have a gift for the 12 days starting with Christmas, Day One. She is so clever! And I get to enjoy it!
Kathy and Donna both pulled in today – quite a bit of wind so I’m sure it was a tiring drive for both.
Cookies and breads baked for the New Years Eve get-together and New Years morning breakfast. Even made a pan of gingerbread (for me!) while I had the oven going. So I just kicked back watched December go by the wayside.
December 31 – New Years Eve – Happy Hogmanay! A trip to the laundry – at least I’ll start 2011 with clean clothes! Had a nice visit with Kathy and with Donna. Bonnie and Cleo brought me some scalloped ham and potatoes. They had much left from the potluck last nite. It was really good. Even Tinga let out with a "mmmm...good"
Used the last of my oysters for oyster stew – it’s not a New Year’s tradition – until now! Started the crock pot with the Jambalaya – now to kick back and watch 2010 wind down and hope that 2011 will be a year of promise!
Haste ye back, we loue you dearly,
Call again you're welcome here.
May your days be free from sorrow,
And your friends be ever near.
May the paths o'er which you wander,
Be to you a joy each day.
Haste ye back we loue you dearly,
Haste ye back on friendship's way.
HAPPY NEW YEAR - HAPPY HOGMANAY
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
December Recipes
Shrimp Fried Rice ala Golden Dragon
1 small onion
1 cup peas
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 or 4 tablespoons cooking oil
1 egg beaten in a cup (half teaspoon salt added)
1 cup shrimps
1 -2 slices of bacon (diced) or any ham
Prepare the boiled rice according to package directions. Use a large cup (or mug) of long grain rice.
In a wok, or large based pan, heat the oil. Add the onions and diced bacon.
Stir fry over a moderate heat for 2-3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and add the beaten egg. When it has set, break it up into small pieces and stir.
Turn up the heat and add the shrimps. Fry for 2 minutes.
Add the peas and fry for 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and mix well.
Add the cooled boiled rice and heat through, stirring constantly.
NOTE: Other vegetables can be added. I frequently used grated carrots, broccoli, diced summer squash.
Marinade for Flank Steak
1/2 cup dry fruity red wine
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Coarsely-ground black pepper, to taste
Fried Apples (Cracker Barrel Clone)
6 Tart Apples, sliced
1 tsp. Lemon juice
1/4 cup Bacon drippings
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 Dash of Nutmeg.
In a large skillet, melt bacon drippings. Pour apples evenly over skillet bottom. Sprinkle lemon juice over them, then brown sugar, then salt. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes until apples are tender and juicy. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Betty Crocker CAKE COOKIES
1 pkg. any Betty Crocker cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 c. nuts, raisins or chocolate chips (or some of each)
Add nuts, raisins or chocolate chips to cake mix. Beat 2 eggs with 1/3 cup oil and add to dry cake mix. Dough will be thick.
Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet or make freezer cookies and bake later. Bake at 350-400 degrees for 5-6 min
Pumpkin Cookies
1 box spice cake mix
1 15 oz can of real pumpkin
Mix together and drop rounded spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Frost if you want, cream cheese frosting.
Lemon Cookies
1 box lemon cake mix
1 carton cool whip
In a large bowl, mix the cake mix and cool whip together.
Try to smooth out any dry cake mix crumbles, until well blended.
Form into balls, and roll in powdered sugar.
Cook at 350 degrees (on greased cookie sheet) for 10 min, or until the bottoms are just turning light brown. Take out, remove from pan and let cool before eating.
Fruit-Infused Honey Vinegars
Use as dipping oil for French bread; on salad greens; makes nice gifts in decorated bottle. (Save your attractive wine bottles!)
2 cups white wine vinegar
2/3 cup honey
Combine vinegar and honey in medium saucepan, then stir in one of the
flavor additions below:
Apricot: 2/3 cup apricot jam (Makes 2 1/2 cups)
Pear: 2 (15 ounce) cans pears, drained and diced (Makes 2 cups)
Raspberry: 1 (6 ounce) basket fresh raspberries, mashed (Makes 1 3/4
cups)
Fig: 2 cups quartered, dried Mission figs (Makes 1 cup)
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool.
Pour through a fine mesh sieve or strainer to remove any solids.
Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Chocolate Drop Fudge
1 bag of Chocolate Drops (chocolate cone shaped candies with white filling inside)
1 C peanut butter
1 Tbsp butter
Handful of chocolate chips
Place in microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 2 minutes (microwaves vary). Mix together making sure to stir in any of the white center that may clump a little. Pour into 8x8 pan and let cool at room temperature.
Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
2 pounds (2 - 16 ounce jars) dry roasted peanuts, salted
48 ounces almond bark white chocolate
4 ounces sweet German chocolate
10 - 12 ounces dark chocolate
Place all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 3 hours. Don't touch. Turn pot off and let rest for 20 minutes. Cover a large surface (about 3 square feet) with waxed or parchment paper. Stir mixture completely. Drop by teaspoons full onto wax paper. Let harden and store in airtight containers.
PEANUT BRITTLE
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
2 cup raw Spanish peanuts
1/2 tsp salt
1 TBSP butter
1 tsp baking soda
2 Greased cookie sheets
In heavy 3 quart saucepan, over medium heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water.
Cook until 234 degrees is reached on candy thermometer.
Add peanuts and salt, stirring constantly up to 305 degrees.
Quickly stir in butter and baking soda.
Pour at once onto cookie sheet. Spread with spatula.
Break up when cool.
HOT COCOA MIX
1 pound box Nestle Quik
1 8 quart box of dry milk powder
1 6 oz. jar instant coffee creamer
1 cup powdered sugar
Add 1/3 cup of mix to cup of hot water.
Frosting Fudge
1 12 oz package chips (2 cups)
1 can frosting (NOT WHIPPED!)
Nuts, if desired
Line 8 or 9-inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges.
Place chips in bowl and microwave on high for 90 seconds. Ovens vary; do not allow to burn. Stir until smooth.
Add frosting to melted chips. Mix well. Microwave 90 seconds. Mix well. Add nuts.
Spread in foil-lined pan. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil. Remove foil; cut into squares.
Make up your own combinations:
Chocolate chips with chocolate frosting
Butterscotch chips with vanilla frosting
Peanut butter chips with chocolate frosting
Chocolate mint chips with chocolate frosting
White chocolate chips with lemon or strawberry frosting
Dark chocolate chips with coconut-pecan frosting
Add any kind of nuts, marshmallows, crushed cookies, pretzels.
Add any kind of flavorings that are complimentary.
So many combinations, so easy, so much fun!
1 small onion
1 cup peas
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 or 4 tablespoons cooking oil
1 egg beaten in a cup (half teaspoon salt added)
1 cup shrimps
1 -2 slices of bacon (diced) or any ham
Prepare the boiled rice according to package directions. Use a large cup (or mug) of long grain rice.
In a wok, or large based pan, heat the oil. Add the onions and diced bacon.
Stir fry over a moderate heat for 2-3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and add the beaten egg. When it has set, break it up into small pieces and stir.
Turn up the heat and add the shrimps. Fry for 2 minutes.
Add the peas and fry for 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and mix well.
Add the cooled boiled rice and heat through, stirring constantly.
NOTE: Other vegetables can be added. I frequently used grated carrots, broccoli, diced summer squash.
Marinade for Flank Steak
1/2 cup dry fruity red wine
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Coarsely-ground black pepper, to taste
Fried Apples (Cracker Barrel Clone)
6 Tart Apples, sliced
1 tsp. Lemon juice
1/4 cup Bacon drippings
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 Dash of Nutmeg.
In a large skillet, melt bacon drippings. Pour apples evenly over skillet bottom. Sprinkle lemon juice over them, then brown sugar, then salt. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes until apples are tender and juicy. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Betty Crocker CAKE COOKIES
1 pkg. any Betty Crocker cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 c. nuts, raisins or chocolate chips (or some of each)
Add nuts, raisins or chocolate chips to cake mix. Beat 2 eggs with 1/3 cup oil and add to dry cake mix. Dough will be thick.
Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet or make freezer cookies and bake later. Bake at 350-400 degrees for 5-6 min
Pumpkin Cookies
1 box spice cake mix
1 15 oz can of real pumpkin
Mix together and drop rounded spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Frost if you want, cream cheese frosting.
Lemon Cookies
1 box lemon cake mix
1 carton cool whip
In a large bowl, mix the cake mix and cool whip together.
Try to smooth out any dry cake mix crumbles, until well blended.
Form into balls, and roll in powdered sugar.
Cook at 350 degrees (on greased cookie sheet) for 10 min, or until the bottoms are just turning light brown. Take out, remove from pan and let cool before eating.
Fruit-Infused Honey Vinegars
Use as dipping oil for French bread; on salad greens; makes nice gifts in decorated bottle. (Save your attractive wine bottles!)
2 cups white wine vinegar
2/3 cup honey
Combine vinegar and honey in medium saucepan, then stir in one of the
flavor additions below:
Apricot: 2/3 cup apricot jam (Makes 2 1/2 cups)
Pear: 2 (15 ounce) cans pears, drained and diced (Makes 2 cups)
Raspberry: 1 (6 ounce) basket fresh raspberries, mashed (Makes 1 3/4
cups)
Fig: 2 cups quartered, dried Mission figs (Makes 1 cup)
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool.
Pour through a fine mesh sieve or strainer to remove any solids.
Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Chocolate Drop Fudge
1 bag of Chocolate Drops (chocolate cone shaped candies with white filling inside)
1 C peanut butter
1 Tbsp butter
Handful of chocolate chips
Place in microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 2 minutes (microwaves vary). Mix together making sure to stir in any of the white center that may clump a little. Pour into 8x8 pan and let cool at room temperature.
Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
2 pounds (2 - 16 ounce jars) dry roasted peanuts, salted
48 ounces almond bark white chocolate
4 ounces sweet German chocolate
10 - 12 ounces dark chocolate
Place all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 3 hours. Don't touch. Turn pot off and let rest for 20 minutes. Cover a large surface (about 3 square feet) with waxed or parchment paper. Stir mixture completely. Drop by teaspoons full onto wax paper. Let harden and store in airtight containers.
PEANUT BRITTLE
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
2 cup raw Spanish peanuts
1/2 tsp salt
1 TBSP butter
1 tsp baking soda
2 Greased cookie sheets
In heavy 3 quart saucepan, over medium heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water.
Cook until 234 degrees is reached on candy thermometer.
Add peanuts and salt, stirring constantly up to 305 degrees.
Quickly stir in butter and baking soda.
Pour at once onto cookie sheet. Spread with spatula.
Break up when cool.
HOT COCOA MIX
1 pound box Nestle Quik
1 8 quart box of dry milk powder
1 6 oz. jar instant coffee creamer
1 cup powdered sugar
Add 1/3 cup of mix to cup of hot water.
Frosting Fudge
1 12 oz package chips (2 cups)
1 can frosting (NOT WHIPPED!)
Nuts, if desired
Line 8 or 9-inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges.
Place chips in bowl and microwave on high for 90 seconds. Ovens vary; do not allow to burn. Stir until smooth.
Add frosting to melted chips. Mix well. Microwave 90 seconds. Mix well. Add nuts.
Spread in foil-lined pan. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil. Remove foil; cut into squares.
Make up your own combinations:
Chocolate chips with chocolate frosting
Butterscotch chips with vanilla frosting
Peanut butter chips with chocolate frosting
Chocolate mint chips with chocolate frosting
White chocolate chips with lemon or strawberry frosting
Dark chocolate chips with coconut-pecan frosting
Add any kind of nuts, marshmallows, crushed cookies, pretzels.
Add any kind of flavorings that are complimentary.
So many combinations, so easy, so much fun!
December 1-15: Settling In
Wednesday, Dec 1 woke to 42 degrees -- at least we didn't get down to the 32 predicted! Li'lBit and I went into town first thing -- WalMart, HEB and Walgreens and the Dollar Store -- all right there on the same corner. Picked up the paper to check the sales and decided there wasn’t anything worth running around for so we came home after picking up the ‘essentials’ (milk, bread, eggs, paper towels, cat and dog food)at WalMart. Li'lBit finished her sausage biscuit in the truck -- too cold to go to the beach for breakfast!
Hooked up the cable, the TV is working, picture fuzzy - not bad. When will I remember to shut down the antenna booster when I plug in the cable -- GEEZ! You'd think I've never lived in an RV before! Rockport is the only place where I actually have cable TV – in Iowa and Gatesville, I have to use the converter box.
I took the rug cleaner to spot clean my rug. Have a grease streak (or some dark streak)in my carpeting I can't get out -- straight line -- must be from when the slide was in. Will continue to work on it. Hopefully it will go away one of these days. It will either go away or I’ll have a hole worn in the rug!
The flags needed to be moved from the front of the RV -- too windy, so I have them on the side of the slide by the door.
Went out to get the Christmas decorations from the under compartment,could only reach the Hanukkah Menorah. I parked my truck to close to the RV and couldn’t get the under compartment door open enough to get out the boxes with the decorations! There’s always tomorrow!
Li'lBit and I are enjoying the picnic table and warm afternoons. She's happy! She has a picnic table! That's why we couldn't stay long in Gatesville - -no picnic tables
Stayed close to home - trying to get stuff done -- takes me quite awhile to accomplish anything -- I work for 10 minutes and rest for 20 minutes! I've decided it is best for me to just stay "locked up" for a few days and get used to the new pollen and dust before I wander out.
December 2nd was another 70 degree day. Perfect outside weather for me and the pup!
Went over to the laundry, forgot to take the rugs - guess I can do that next time! In the meantime, they will remain outside under the RV -- they are the ones I use under the kitty litter while we are traveling.
Also need to sweep down my parking pad -- full of acorns -- not the big ones like at Shady Oaks, but little obnoxious crappy things that crunch when you walk on them and slip and slide under your feet. And make a mess all over! The first year I was here I picked up a 'leaf blower' so I can blow the damn things away and not have to sweep the whole thing!
Li'lBit and I have steps -- we are both too old and crippled to be using these little RV steps anymore! A nice sunny afternoon -- good day for doing stuff -- but putting them together took just about all my air for awhile -- will have to catch my breath before I hit the pad with the leaf blower and broom! Can't find my picnic table cloth - I know I have 3 or 4 of them. I'll look later -- one thing at a time when you are old, fat and don't have any lung power!
Finally got into the under compartment to get the Christmas box. Have my Santa with the jingle bells hanging on my door and my candy cane made of bells hanging on the side of the slide by the door. WalMart had a "special" on really nice size poinsettias -- Under $5! I picked up a one red, one pink and one white -- I have the pink and white in the basket of my walker and the red one setting on the little aluminum table by the door! Ain't THAT quaint!
Bonnie and Cleo, from Minnesota, made it in about 5:30 PM. Glad it's not me having to back in with it being almost DARK!! Since Ruth & Walter are in Florida this winter, only Jeanetta and Gayle (Nebraska) are missing from "the 2nd St" group. Kathy & Bob got here last week.
Friday December 3rd was "lunch date" day with the “in town” gang. There were 10 of us at The Beach House – love their sandwiches! Went by Deryl & Elke's for a visit after lunch. Of course I had to stop at Castaways and see what they had there that I couldn’t live without! On the way home, stopped by Whataburger for my free onion rings! Naturally, I had to buy a hamburger to get them, guess what I had for supper! Whataburger had email coupons for the "12 days of Whataburger" and everyday something is free - doubt I'll be taking advantage of ALL of them! But they do have good onion rings!
I will never understand where folks got the idea that the 12 days of Christmas was the 12 days BEFORE Christmas. It's the 12 days AFTER Christmas - from Christmas to the Feast of the Epiphany. Oh, well -- one of those tedious things I just have to put up with!
Called the repair man that makes “house calls” to check my furnace. WOW! Am I embarrassed! A blown fuse! Another one of those, when will I learn deals – furnaces in RVs run on 12 Volts – that means fuses! When Bobby asked me about fuses when he looked at it in November, I told him I'd checked the breakers! I have a working furnace just in time for some predicted ‘cold fronts’ moving into the area.
Sunday Dec 6 I woke up with the "you moved again" crud. Cough, plugged, icky! Sure glad my furnace is working -- and it's so nice to hear it kick on all by itself! I've stayed in most of the day - it's damp, windy, chilly -- never did get over 54 degrees and I don't think the wind ever stopped until the sun went down! I fixed plenty of rice and made shrimp fried rice so don't have to worry about starving - like I EVER worry about starving. Guess I'm back in Rockport -- shrimp on the menu!
Sure is nice to wake up and put my feet on a warm floor Monday morning!
I called the Live Oak Family Clinic --its just about a mile or two from here and several of the RVers go there -- Elke also mentioned her. I had to go in, fill out the paperwork, let them copy my insurance (the only question they asked when I called was "what's your insurance?") Then, they will set up an appointment! YIPPEE! Maybe I won't be Yippeeing so loud after I see her!
Finally, the Christmas tree was up on the table at the back window....moved the Menorah over -- that can be put away Dec 9th this year! Hanukkah came early this year. Under the tree I have my black lab figurines that are decked out in holiday stuff and my snowman figurines. The Hanukkah candy dish can be put away, too. My Nativity scene is only 2 pieces. Always thought I would buy the extra pieces but can’t remember where I bought the ones I have!
Li'lBit, Holly and Tinga have their socks hanging waiting for Santa to fill them.
Went to the doc's first thing Tuesday morning-- easy to get there - the office gal handed me a packet of 8-10 pages and told me I could take it home to fill it out! Good thing! I think it asks everything including when I pooped last!
When I pulled back into the park, since it was Tuesday AM, everyone was going to ladies coffee so I went up for that. Coming out of the coffee, Jeanetta and Gayle (Nebraska) were pulling in -- good to see them -- they are on the same street I'm on -- just a couple spaces up. So the Gang's All Here! Really miss Ruth and Walter and their dog Molly.
Started candy and cooking making. Cookie tasting at the activity building is the
8th. It was nice with the oven going -- only problem was I was making spice cookies and they smelled so good I wanted to eat them rather than save them for today!!! But the recipe makes so few, I didn't have a single one!
Cookie sampling/tasting is a nice little social get-together. Everybody brings cookies to share --(or candy)- then we set around and visit, drink coffee, eat cookies and get a sugar high! There were three of those long pot-luck supper tables FULL of SUGAR -- the entire park was on a sugar high that night! Stuff left over gets put in the fridge for the folks playing cards and parlor games up there to munch on and one night will be a hot cocoa and cookie nite for the park choir after they go carolling in the park. Ain't life grand in the RV park
Ran the paperwork back to the doc’s office on Wednesday. Must have taken me over an hour to fill out the packet! Would have been a good day to stay in – windy, 47 degrees! By noon, the office called with an appointment for 2:30 Monday 13th. She won't do anything with my oxygen until I either get medical records from VA or go thru all the pulmonary testing again. I told her office gal to tell Doc I'll go thru the testing, it will be quicker than trying to get records from VA. Have no idea what it will cost, but insurance will pick up a chunk of it.
Came home and started working on getting the candy made and stuff put away. Tinga keeps getting into my boxes of ingredients. Now why would I think a parrot would be interested in a box full of nuts and dried fruits!
December 9th, 54 degrees and I finally used a tank of propane -- haven't bought any propane since June -- needed one tank when I was in Iowa. Can't complain about using a few tanks down here, I guess, considering December 10th I bought my first tank since summer! New guy on the propane truck and he doesn't set it in for me -- just leaves it on the drive -- Oh, Well! Price is the same $22/tank.
I think I'm finished making candy and cookies-- so I can pack the baking stuff away and get my table back. I don't cook or bake often, but when I do, I really miss the counter space.
The local fish market makes salmon pinwheels – some are stuffed with a lobster dressing and some with spinach and ricotta cheese. I like the dressing better -- but my belly is full of salmon -- one pinwheel isn't enough, two are too many.
Thursday evening I started working on Christmas cards. The boxes that needed to be mailed were wrapped and ready to go. I wanted to have my cards finished when I went to the post office, but you know what they say, “The best laid schemes of mice and men, Go oft awry!”
FRIDAY it was 60 degrees and not too windy. Had to go out and empty my holding tanks – you remember me – the one that never lived in an RV before – GEEZ! How could I NOT open my gray tanks when I got set up! Today my sink started backing up!
I talked to Marvin and Terry about washing my RV -- I need to get a 'permission slip' from Allison and then they would try to get it done next week if the weather cooperates. The weather did cooperate and by December 15, I had a clean RV. Terry checked out my roof and said I did put a slice in the roof when I hit that tree. He would pick up some patch and fix it later.
Went into the post office to mail boxes – the line was so long, I decided to see what was happening at the UPS store! Nice lady, easy in – easy out! No fuss, no hassle. UPS has my business from now on!
Went to WallyWorld to pick up some fruit to make a small basket - Li'lBit wandered across the way while I was switching propane tanks -- Bonnie and Cleo brought her home -- she went to their yard to poop! Cleo cleaned that up! She likes their Chihuahua, Bucky, and constantly wanders over there to visit if I don't have her on a leash!
Have flank steak marinating in the refrig for the weekend -- and a pot of mushroom barley soup in the crock pot. Back to eating healthy -- well, kinda healthy!
Friday it was nearly 70 degrees; Monday I woke to 44 degrees!
Monday the 13th I had my initial appointment with the new Doc. She isn't too bad (yet!). In fact, she went out of her way to try to keep me from having to go into Corpus Christi to have lab work. Tried a pulse-ox reading in the office - of course I have fake nails on and so they tried the toe, but didn't work. She sent an order to LinCare (oxygen provider) to come out to do a night pulse-oxymeter test. And, I left the office with an appointment for lab and return follow/up. No bitching about the weight -- she thought I either had my respiratory status controlled by my own method (doing nothing!) or I was in terrible denial I think she thinks I'm a nurse "heal thyself" kinda person! And, actually for a "lunger" I'm not in the hospital a lot -- could be that I don't go to ERs or the docs a lot!
Tuesday the 14th, I woke up at 4:30 and went out and watched the meteor shower! Between the lites in the park and the lites from the Airport, I didn't see a Hellofalot! After Ladies coffee Tuesday AM, I went to Walgreens to get my flu shot. I’ll probably be so healthy I won’t be able to stand myself.
The respiratory folks came out to set me up with a pulse-ox for the night. That was quick! Wednesday, the 15th, was a horrible nite without my CPAP. I woke up gasping for air and coughing about 5 times between 10PM & 4AM. At 4 AM I woke up vomiting and decided it wasn’t worth it! I took the pulse-ox off; I needed SOME sleep. Put the CPAP on about 4:30 and slept like a log until 7AM!
The interesting thing will be what they will do since I still have oxygen from VA -- That may be the stick in the mud. I'll drive back to Waco and leave the tanks on their doorstep, if I have to! I will (spend the nite at Johnnie's and come back!) I still have my portable concentrator that runs on the truck cigarette lighter or batteries -- except the batteries are only 2 hours at best (I have 2 batteries) but the damn thing is so noisy. I guess for walking it would be OK -- I'd just have to shut it down when I set around to visit and drink coffee -- which I do with my tanks anyway.
I called Mid-Cities oxygen to tell them I would be canceling their oxygen and what did I need to do -- had to call a contact at VA -- met the winner of the bitch of the week award! I told her I was in Rockport and Mid-Cities didn't supply down here -- she said "they have offices all over the Dallas area" -- I think she is geographically challenged. Not sure the company is going to pay someone to drive 7 hours one way to get 4 ‘D” cylinders! She said she couldn't hear me on my cell phone and just kept saying I needed to go to a land line. So, that afternoon I went to town and called from the Wal Mart parking lot -- that's the best place! Don’t know why my Verizon service is so icky here in the park. I can foresee a few weeks of confusion over all of this!
By 11 AM Thursday, December 16th, I had an oxygen concentrator! YIPPEE!
Hooked up the cable, the TV is working, picture fuzzy - not bad. When will I remember to shut down the antenna booster when I plug in the cable -- GEEZ! You'd think I've never lived in an RV before! Rockport is the only place where I actually have cable TV – in Iowa and Gatesville, I have to use the converter box.
I took the rug cleaner to spot clean my rug. Have a grease streak (or some dark streak)in my carpeting I can't get out -- straight line -- must be from when the slide was in. Will continue to work on it. Hopefully it will go away one of these days. It will either go away or I’ll have a hole worn in the rug!
The flags needed to be moved from the front of the RV -- too windy, so I have them on the side of the slide by the door.
Went out to get the Christmas decorations from the under compartment,could only reach the Hanukkah Menorah. I parked my truck to close to the RV and couldn’t get the under compartment door open enough to get out the boxes with the decorations! There’s always tomorrow!
Li'lBit and I are enjoying the picnic table and warm afternoons. She's happy! She has a picnic table! That's why we couldn't stay long in Gatesville - -no picnic tables
Stayed close to home - trying to get stuff done -- takes me quite awhile to accomplish anything -- I work for 10 minutes and rest for 20 minutes! I've decided it is best for me to just stay "locked up" for a few days and get used to the new pollen and dust before I wander out.
December 2nd was another 70 degree day. Perfect outside weather for me and the pup!
Went over to the laundry, forgot to take the rugs - guess I can do that next time! In the meantime, they will remain outside under the RV -- they are the ones I use under the kitty litter while we are traveling.
Also need to sweep down my parking pad -- full of acorns -- not the big ones like at Shady Oaks, but little obnoxious crappy things that crunch when you walk on them and slip and slide under your feet. And make a mess all over! The first year I was here I picked up a 'leaf blower' so I can blow the damn things away and not have to sweep the whole thing!
Li'lBit and I have steps -- we are both too old and crippled to be using these little RV steps anymore! A nice sunny afternoon -- good day for doing stuff -- but putting them together took just about all my air for awhile -- will have to catch my breath before I hit the pad with the leaf blower and broom! Can't find my picnic table cloth - I know I have 3 or 4 of them. I'll look later -- one thing at a time when you are old, fat and don't have any lung power!
Finally got into the under compartment to get the Christmas box. Have my Santa with the jingle bells hanging on my door and my candy cane made of bells hanging on the side of the slide by the door. WalMart had a "special" on really nice size poinsettias -- Under $5! I picked up a one red, one pink and one white -- I have the pink and white in the basket of my walker and the red one setting on the little aluminum table by the door! Ain't THAT quaint!
Bonnie and Cleo, from Minnesota, made it in about 5:30 PM. Glad it's not me having to back in with it being almost DARK!! Since Ruth & Walter are in Florida this winter, only Jeanetta and Gayle (Nebraska) are missing from "the 2nd St" group. Kathy & Bob got here last week.
Friday December 3rd was "lunch date" day with the “in town” gang. There were 10 of us at The Beach House – love their sandwiches! Went by Deryl & Elke's for a visit after lunch. Of course I had to stop at Castaways and see what they had there that I couldn’t live without! On the way home, stopped by Whataburger for my free onion rings! Naturally, I had to buy a hamburger to get them, guess what I had for supper! Whataburger had email coupons for the "12 days of Whataburger" and everyday something is free - doubt I'll be taking advantage of ALL of them! But they do have good onion rings!
I will never understand where folks got the idea that the 12 days of Christmas was the 12 days BEFORE Christmas. It's the 12 days AFTER Christmas - from Christmas to the Feast of the Epiphany. Oh, well -- one of those tedious things I just have to put up with!
Called the repair man that makes “house calls” to check my furnace. WOW! Am I embarrassed! A blown fuse! Another one of those, when will I learn deals – furnaces in RVs run on 12 Volts – that means fuses! When Bobby asked me about fuses when he looked at it in November, I told him I'd checked the breakers! I have a working furnace just in time for some predicted ‘cold fronts’ moving into the area.
Sunday Dec 6 I woke up with the "you moved again" crud. Cough, plugged, icky! Sure glad my furnace is working -- and it's so nice to hear it kick on all by itself! I've stayed in most of the day - it's damp, windy, chilly -- never did get over 54 degrees and I don't think the wind ever stopped until the sun went down! I fixed plenty of rice and made shrimp fried rice so don't have to worry about starving - like I EVER worry about starving. Guess I'm back in Rockport -- shrimp on the menu!
Sure is nice to wake up and put my feet on a warm floor Monday morning!
I called the Live Oak Family Clinic --its just about a mile or two from here and several of the RVers go there -- Elke also mentioned her. I had to go in, fill out the paperwork, let them copy my insurance (the only question they asked when I called was "what's your insurance?") Then, they will set up an appointment! YIPPEE! Maybe I won't be Yippeeing so loud after I see her!
Finally, the Christmas tree was up on the table at the back window....moved the Menorah over -- that can be put away Dec 9th this year! Hanukkah came early this year. Under the tree I have my black lab figurines that are decked out in holiday stuff and my snowman figurines. The Hanukkah candy dish can be put away, too. My Nativity scene is only 2 pieces. Always thought I would buy the extra pieces but can’t remember where I bought the ones I have!
Li'lBit, Holly and Tinga have their socks hanging waiting for Santa to fill them.
Went to the doc's first thing Tuesday morning-- easy to get there - the office gal handed me a packet of 8-10 pages and told me I could take it home to fill it out! Good thing! I think it asks everything including when I pooped last!
When I pulled back into the park, since it was Tuesday AM, everyone was going to ladies coffee so I went up for that. Coming out of the coffee, Jeanetta and Gayle (Nebraska) were pulling in -- good to see them -- they are on the same street I'm on -- just a couple spaces up. So the Gang's All Here! Really miss Ruth and Walter and their dog Molly.
Started candy and cooking making. Cookie tasting at the activity building is the
8th. It was nice with the oven going -- only problem was I was making spice cookies and they smelled so good I wanted to eat them rather than save them for today!!! But the recipe makes so few, I didn't have a single one!
Cookie sampling/tasting is a nice little social get-together. Everybody brings cookies to share --(or candy)- then we set around and visit, drink coffee, eat cookies and get a sugar high! There were three of those long pot-luck supper tables FULL of SUGAR -- the entire park was on a sugar high that night! Stuff left over gets put in the fridge for the folks playing cards and parlor games up there to munch on and one night will be a hot cocoa and cookie nite for the park choir after they go carolling in the park. Ain't life grand in the RV park
Ran the paperwork back to the doc’s office on Wednesday. Must have taken me over an hour to fill out the packet! Would have been a good day to stay in – windy, 47 degrees! By noon, the office called with an appointment for 2:30 Monday 13th. She won't do anything with my oxygen until I either get medical records from VA or go thru all the pulmonary testing again. I told her office gal to tell Doc I'll go thru the testing, it will be quicker than trying to get records from VA. Have no idea what it will cost, but insurance will pick up a chunk of it.
Came home and started working on getting the candy made and stuff put away. Tinga keeps getting into my boxes of ingredients. Now why would I think a parrot would be interested in a box full of nuts and dried fruits!
December 9th, 54 degrees and I finally used a tank of propane -- haven't bought any propane since June -- needed one tank when I was in Iowa. Can't complain about using a few tanks down here, I guess, considering December 10th I bought my first tank since summer! New guy on the propane truck and he doesn't set it in for me -- just leaves it on the drive -- Oh, Well! Price is the same $22/tank.
I think I'm finished making candy and cookies-- so I can pack the baking stuff away and get my table back. I don't cook or bake often, but when I do, I really miss the counter space.
The local fish market makes salmon pinwheels – some are stuffed with a lobster dressing and some with spinach and ricotta cheese. I like the dressing better -- but my belly is full of salmon -- one pinwheel isn't enough, two are too many.
Thursday evening I started working on Christmas cards. The boxes that needed to be mailed were wrapped and ready to go. I wanted to have my cards finished when I went to the post office, but you know what they say, “The best laid schemes of mice and men, Go oft awry!”
FRIDAY it was 60 degrees and not too windy. Had to go out and empty my holding tanks – you remember me – the one that never lived in an RV before – GEEZ! How could I NOT open my gray tanks when I got set up! Today my sink started backing up!
I talked to Marvin and Terry about washing my RV -- I need to get a 'permission slip' from Allison and then they would try to get it done next week if the weather cooperates. The weather did cooperate and by December 15, I had a clean RV. Terry checked out my roof and said I did put a slice in the roof when I hit that tree. He would pick up some patch and fix it later.
Went into the post office to mail boxes – the line was so long, I decided to see what was happening at the UPS store! Nice lady, easy in – easy out! No fuss, no hassle. UPS has my business from now on!
Went to WallyWorld to pick up some fruit to make a small basket - Li'lBit wandered across the way while I was switching propane tanks -- Bonnie and Cleo brought her home -- she went to their yard to poop! Cleo cleaned that up! She likes their Chihuahua, Bucky, and constantly wanders over there to visit if I don't have her on a leash!
Have flank steak marinating in the refrig for the weekend -- and a pot of mushroom barley soup in the crock pot. Back to eating healthy -- well, kinda healthy!
Friday it was nearly 70 degrees; Monday I woke to 44 degrees!
Monday the 13th I had my initial appointment with the new Doc. She isn't too bad (yet!). In fact, she went out of her way to try to keep me from having to go into Corpus Christi to have lab work. Tried a pulse-ox reading in the office - of course I have fake nails on and so they tried the toe, but didn't work. She sent an order to LinCare (oxygen provider) to come out to do a night pulse-oxymeter test. And, I left the office with an appointment for lab and return follow/up. No bitching about the weight -- she thought I either had my respiratory status controlled by my own method (doing nothing!) or I was in terrible denial I think she thinks I'm a nurse "heal thyself" kinda person! And, actually for a "lunger" I'm not in the hospital a lot -- could be that I don't go to ERs or the docs a lot!
Tuesday the 14th, I woke up at 4:30 and went out and watched the meteor shower! Between the lites in the park and the lites from the Airport, I didn't see a Hellofalot! After Ladies coffee Tuesday AM, I went to Walgreens to get my flu shot. I’ll probably be so healthy I won’t be able to stand myself.
The respiratory folks came out to set me up with a pulse-ox for the night. That was quick! Wednesday, the 15th, was a horrible nite without my CPAP. I woke up gasping for air and coughing about 5 times between 10PM & 4AM. At 4 AM I woke up vomiting and decided it wasn’t worth it! I took the pulse-ox off; I needed SOME sleep. Put the CPAP on about 4:30 and slept like a log until 7AM!
The interesting thing will be what they will do since I still have oxygen from VA -- That may be the stick in the mud. I'll drive back to Waco and leave the tanks on their doorstep, if I have to! I will (spend the nite at Johnnie's and come back!) I still have my portable concentrator that runs on the truck cigarette lighter or batteries -- except the batteries are only 2 hours at best (I have 2 batteries) but the damn thing is so noisy. I guess for walking it would be OK -- I'd just have to shut it down when I set around to visit and drink coffee -- which I do with my tanks anyway.
I called Mid-Cities oxygen to tell them I would be canceling their oxygen and what did I need to do -- had to call a contact at VA -- met the winner of the bitch of the week award! I told her I was in Rockport and Mid-Cities didn't supply down here -- she said "they have offices all over the Dallas area" -- I think she is geographically challenged. Not sure the company is going to pay someone to drive 7 hours one way to get 4 ‘D” cylinders! She said she couldn't hear me on my cell phone and just kept saying I needed to go to a land line. So, that afternoon I went to town and called from the Wal Mart parking lot -- that's the best place! Don’t know why my Verizon service is so icky here in the park. I can foresee a few weeks of confusion over all of this!
By 11 AM Thursday, December 16th, I had an oxygen concentrator! YIPPEE!
Monday, December 27, 2010
November Recipes
Banana Nut Bread Diabetic
1 c. white sugar twin (like Equal)
1/2 c. margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda in 1 tbsp. sour milk
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1 1/4 c. flour, sifted with 1 tsp.baking powder
Mix in order given. Bake at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Mexican Pick Up Stix (makes 2 quarts)
2 cans (3 ox) French fried onions
1 can (7 oz) potato stix
2 cups Spanish peanuts
1/3 cup melted butter
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
Combine onions, potato sticks and peanuts. Place in 9 x 13 baking dish.
Drizzle with melted butter and stir. Sprinkle with taco seasoning. Mix well. Bake at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Cinnamon Cider A "Southern Living" Recipe
Makes approx 3 quarts
1-1/2 quarts apple cider
1 quart cranberry-apple drink
2 cups pineapple juice
3/4 cup red cinnamon candies
2 teaspoons whole cloves
Cinnamon sticks (optional)
Pour first 3 ingredients into an electric percolator. Place cinnamon candies and cloves in percolator basket. Perk through complete cycle of percolator. Serve hot with cinnamon stick stirrers, if desired.
Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie
1 (9") pie crust (made from polyunsaturated fats), baked
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
2 sm. (4 serving) pkg. Jello sugar free vanilla pudding & pie filling
2 c. skim milk
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Pour milk into a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in pudding and pumpkin pie spice until dissolved. Add pumpkin and blend until well combined. Heat mixture on medium heat until it boils. Gently boil for 1 minute, stirring to prevent burning. Pour into cooled 9" crust. Chill. Mixture will thicken as it cools.
Honey Roasted Munchies
6 c. popcorn
1 (5 oz.) can wide chow mien noodles
1 c. honey roasted peanuts
5 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
In large roasting pan, mix popcorn and chow mien noodles.
Melt butter and sugar together, stir in vanilla and cinnamon.
Pour over popcorn, toss to coat. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Add nuts, spread on paper towels to cool. Store airtight.
Cranberry Jalapeno Relish
12 ounces fresh cranberries
Juice of 1 orange
Zest if 1 orange finely grated
2 teaspoons tequila
1/2 cup sugar
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (Use gloves to protect hands)
Add enough water to the orange juice to make one cup of liquid.
Combine cranberries, orange zest, juice and water, tequila, and sugar in a large pot. Bring to a slow boil, stirring occasionally.
When the cranberries begin to pop, add the chopped jalapeno cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
If the sauce seems a too thick, add a bit more water.
Chill before serving.
1 c. white sugar twin (like Equal)
1/2 c. margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda in 1 tbsp. sour milk
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1 1/4 c. flour, sifted with 1 tsp.baking powder
Mix in order given. Bake at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Mexican Pick Up Stix (makes 2 quarts)
2 cans (3 ox) French fried onions
1 can (7 oz) potato stix
2 cups Spanish peanuts
1/3 cup melted butter
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
Combine onions, potato sticks and peanuts. Place in 9 x 13 baking dish.
Drizzle with melted butter and stir. Sprinkle with taco seasoning. Mix well. Bake at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Cinnamon Cider A "Southern Living" Recipe
Makes approx 3 quarts
1-1/2 quarts apple cider
1 quart cranberry-apple drink
2 cups pineapple juice
3/4 cup red cinnamon candies
2 teaspoons whole cloves
Cinnamon sticks (optional)
Pour first 3 ingredients into an electric percolator. Place cinnamon candies and cloves in percolator basket. Perk through complete cycle of percolator. Serve hot with cinnamon stick stirrers, if desired.
Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie
1 (9") pie crust (made from polyunsaturated fats), baked
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
2 sm. (4 serving) pkg. Jello sugar free vanilla pudding & pie filling
2 c. skim milk
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Pour milk into a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in pudding and pumpkin pie spice until dissolved. Add pumpkin and blend until well combined. Heat mixture on medium heat until it boils. Gently boil for 1 minute, stirring to prevent burning. Pour into cooled 9" crust. Chill. Mixture will thicken as it cools.
Honey Roasted Munchies
6 c. popcorn
1 (5 oz.) can wide chow mien noodles
1 c. honey roasted peanuts
5 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
In large roasting pan, mix popcorn and chow mien noodles.
Melt butter and sugar together, stir in vanilla and cinnamon.
Pour over popcorn, toss to coat. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Add nuts, spread on paper towels to cool. Store airtight.
Cranberry Jalapeno Relish
12 ounces fresh cranberries
Juice of 1 orange
Zest if 1 orange finely grated
2 teaspoons tequila
1/2 cup sugar
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (Use gloves to protect hands)
Add enough water to the orange juice to make one cup of liquid.
Combine cranberries, orange zest, juice and water, tequila, and sugar in a large pot. Bring to a slow boil, stirring occasionally.
When the cranberries begin to pop, add the chopped jalapeno cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
If the sauce seems a too thick, add a bit more water.
Chill before serving.
November 16-30 Settling In; Setting Up
Monday Nov 16 I started sorting and tossing; would be on the road in 2 weeks.
It was definitely getting close to winter. The temp was 41 degrees so I decided to make some "Mexican pick up stix" (munchies) - just an excuse to turn on the oven!
Bobby was here to check the furnace. He pulled a wren nest and dead bird from the furnace fan! But that didn’t seem to fix it. Refuse to pay an RV repair guy $50/hour; will wait until I get to Rockport.
This was a miserable trip back to Gatesville! Takes all the air I have to hit the grocery store -- even having coffee with Johnnie or lunch with friends tires me out. Must be my old age!
Got an email from Rain, they will soon be on the road, heading southeast. Will try to make a stop at Rockport for a couple of days on their way through TX. Would love to see them again!
Missed a chance for a visit with Sherrell, she wasn’t feeling well – take care Dear Friend! See you in the spring!
By Thursday, it was 36 degrees but no wind! Had lunch with Janis. She fixed broccoli/cheese soup, turkey deli sandwiches and cookies. YUMMY!
Have only had a few minutes to talk with Lee & Mary Jane since I’ve been back. I do wish there was more time, but MJ is helping Lee do the estimates so they are on the road a lot. Miss visiting with them.
November 19th we had some excitement in the RV park. About 8:30 or so - flashing red lights behind my truck. An ambulance was taking Ed (owner) to the ER. He had fallen yesterday. Linda called from the ER to say she wasn't sure what they would do. He had fallen a few weeks ago and had been going to physical therapy and on all the standard pain meds and muscle relaxers, etc. She's hoping it was just from the meds, but he couldn't stand by himself and was dizzy when he would get up. The transferred him to Waco and then, prior to the end of the month, to a rehab facility closer to home. I’m glad Buzz and Fred are here in the park to help her.
November 22nd back up to 71 degrees, humid, windy. Supposed to go into the 80s and be this way until Wednesday,then the cold front comes thru with rain, wind and possible freeze. Damn, I love central TX!!!
Thanksgiving Day was spent pigging out at Johnnie’s. What a houseful of family. Got to catch up with her brother and his family and hear about their trip to Ireland. Rudy had his laptop and all of the photos from the trip.
It's been a hectic 6 weeks in central TX -- too many folks to see and didn't manage to get them all seen! So....I'll have to pick up where I left off when I get back to Gatesville in April.
Sunday PM Bobby and Toby came by to hitch me up so I could leave first thing in the AM.
Monday Nov 29 Cloudy, not too windy, heavy air, rain must be on its way.
Turned off the computer, disconnected sewer, electric, water -- off to the tire place and then on the road. Arrived in Rockport about 2:30 to 75 degrees, sunny. Only one hold up coming down, evidentially a bad accident - traffic stopped both directions for over 30 minutes waiting for helicopters to arrive.
BY 4:30 PM, Marv had me backed me in, utilities hooked up, slides out. But what a mess to clean up inside from stuff that tipped over (nothing broken or major). Highway Patrol routed the traffic thru a wooded area to get around the accident, not really any roads, just ruts and trails thru the trees!
Kathy stopped by to remind me that ladies coffee it still at 9AM on Tuesday! Guess unpacking will just have to wait until after coffee!
By Tuesday morning, temps were down to 59 as I was walking up to morning coffee. Glad I wasn’t driving Tuesday, winds 15-30 MPH.
Li'lBit and I went for a short walk and sat at the picnic table for awhile. Li'lBit bounces around outside down here like she does in Iowa. She likes having a lawn and not being parked in gravel.
Park is starting to busy -- all of the "leave-after-thanksgiving" gang have started pulling in with Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota plates. Can't believe with the winds we have had that some of these folks have been towing. They must be better at it than I am! Of course, it might be different when there are two of you so you have a co-pilot!
It was definitely getting close to winter. The temp was 41 degrees so I decided to make some "Mexican pick up stix" (munchies) - just an excuse to turn on the oven!
Bobby was here to check the furnace. He pulled a wren nest and dead bird from the furnace fan! But that didn’t seem to fix it. Refuse to pay an RV repair guy $50/hour; will wait until I get to Rockport.
This was a miserable trip back to Gatesville! Takes all the air I have to hit the grocery store -- even having coffee with Johnnie or lunch with friends tires me out. Must be my old age!
Got an email from Rain, they will soon be on the road, heading southeast. Will try to make a stop at Rockport for a couple of days on their way through TX. Would love to see them again!
Missed a chance for a visit with Sherrell, she wasn’t feeling well – take care Dear Friend! See you in the spring!
By Thursday, it was 36 degrees but no wind! Had lunch with Janis. She fixed broccoli/cheese soup, turkey deli sandwiches and cookies. YUMMY!
Have only had a few minutes to talk with Lee & Mary Jane since I’ve been back. I do wish there was more time, but MJ is helping Lee do the estimates so they are on the road a lot. Miss visiting with them.
November 19th we had some excitement in the RV park. About 8:30 or so - flashing red lights behind my truck. An ambulance was taking Ed (owner) to the ER. He had fallen yesterday. Linda called from the ER to say she wasn't sure what they would do. He had fallen a few weeks ago and had been going to physical therapy and on all the standard pain meds and muscle relaxers, etc. She's hoping it was just from the meds, but he couldn't stand by himself and was dizzy when he would get up. The transferred him to Waco and then, prior to the end of the month, to a rehab facility closer to home. I’m glad Buzz and Fred are here in the park to help her.
November 22nd back up to 71 degrees, humid, windy. Supposed to go into the 80s and be this way until Wednesday,then the cold front comes thru with rain, wind and possible freeze. Damn, I love central TX!!!
Thanksgiving Day was spent pigging out at Johnnie’s. What a houseful of family. Got to catch up with her brother and his family and hear about their trip to Ireland. Rudy had his laptop and all of the photos from the trip.
It's been a hectic 6 weeks in central TX -- too many folks to see and didn't manage to get them all seen! So....I'll have to pick up where I left off when I get back to Gatesville in April.
Sunday PM Bobby and Toby came by to hitch me up so I could leave first thing in the AM.
Monday Nov 29 Cloudy, not too windy, heavy air, rain must be on its way.
Turned off the computer, disconnected sewer, electric, water -- off to the tire place and then on the road. Arrived in Rockport about 2:30 to 75 degrees, sunny. Only one hold up coming down, evidentially a bad accident - traffic stopped both directions for over 30 minutes waiting for helicopters to arrive.
BY 4:30 PM, Marv had me backed me in, utilities hooked up, slides out. But what a mess to clean up inside from stuff that tipped over (nothing broken or major). Highway Patrol routed the traffic thru a wooded area to get around the accident, not really any roads, just ruts and trails thru the trees!
Kathy stopped by to remind me that ladies coffee it still at 9AM on Tuesday! Guess unpacking will just have to wait until after coffee!
By Tuesday morning, temps were down to 59 as I was walking up to morning coffee. Glad I wasn’t driving Tuesday, winds 15-30 MPH.
Li'lBit and I went for a short walk and sat at the picnic table for awhile. Li'lBit bounces around outside down here like she does in Iowa. She likes having a lawn and not being parked in gravel.
Park is starting to busy -- all of the "leave-after-thanksgiving" gang have started pulling in with Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota plates. Can't believe with the winds we have had that some of these folks have been towing. They must be better at it than I am! Of course, it might be different when there are two of you so you have a co-pilot!
Friday, December 17, 2010
November 1- 15, Gatesville TX
By the first part of November I was in full-swing getting my fall errands run and my ‘gotta do’ list shortened. I had to have my truck re-inspected due to the window tint being too heavy (new state law). After a trip to Aloha Glass Tinting, I passed the re-inspection. Check off one more job! Oh, and the license plates for the RV are up to date – check off another job!
Tuesday November 2nd was election day – so off to Evant, TX and my polling place. Nice thing about voting in a small town, don’t have to wait in long lines. I think I was number 3 by the time I got there.
Early November temps were colder than I like (or maybe I should say colder than my lungs like!) 45 degrees and rainy – just not my thing. And, for some reason, my furnace doesn’t seem to want to kick in. Decided to wait until I got to Rockport to get it fixed. Two electric space heaters provide plenty of warmth.
As the month went on, the throat got scratchier, lungs more congested, head and sinuses plugged. I think I’m allergic to Gatesville!
Day by day I’m getting my lunch dates in. There are just some folks I really need to have to get into my schedule. And there are places that I have to eat – Ranchers, Swindalls, Pasta place, and the new restaurant in Gatesville….gotta try that out! So I met with Janis and we had their soup and salad special – terrific potato-ham soup. Good food! And I understand they are eventually going to have a meat market in there! YUMMY – hope they have some of that good pan BBQ that I like so well.
Johnnie had a yard sale the first weekend in November – I had wanted to help her with it and take a few of my own things out – but the cold/flu got in the way. Didn’t make the Temple Bird Mart either. Maybe I can get to the spring mart.
I noticed the first time I dumped my holding tanks that I had a major leak in the pipe. Johnnie’s son, Toby, came by and found the leak and repaired it for me! Can’t beat friends like that!
Well into the second week in November and I’m still down with the crud. Even missed a Sunday dinner with Johnnie and her family….and a Sunday Dairy Queen meet with Brenda and the girls. Now, you know I’m down and out when I can’t pull up a chair to Johnnie’s Sunday dinner table or make it to the DQ with Brenda! Even had to cancel a trip to Stevenville to meet with Cindy & Susan at Which Witch.
Although I missed my trip to Stephenville, Cindy dropped by with some beautiful jewelry her daughter had made. I’m going to be the spiffiest lookin’ gal in the RV park! She also brought an absolutely delicious deli sub from Which Witch with sliced turkey, avocado, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, ranch dressing! Can't beat friends like that!
By the 15th of November, was as feeling if I didn’t die from rupturing a blood vessel in the brain from coughing, I was gonna live! If only the weather would cooperate!
Tuesday November 2nd was election day – so off to Evant, TX and my polling place. Nice thing about voting in a small town, don’t have to wait in long lines. I think I was number 3 by the time I got there.
Early November temps were colder than I like (or maybe I should say colder than my lungs like!) 45 degrees and rainy – just not my thing. And, for some reason, my furnace doesn’t seem to want to kick in. Decided to wait until I got to Rockport to get it fixed. Two electric space heaters provide plenty of warmth.
As the month went on, the throat got scratchier, lungs more congested, head and sinuses plugged. I think I’m allergic to Gatesville!
Day by day I’m getting my lunch dates in. There are just some folks I really need to have to get into my schedule. And there are places that I have to eat – Ranchers, Swindalls, Pasta place, and the new restaurant in Gatesville….gotta try that out! So I met with Janis and we had their soup and salad special – terrific potato-ham soup. Good food! And I understand they are eventually going to have a meat market in there! YUMMY – hope they have some of that good pan BBQ that I like so well.
Johnnie had a yard sale the first weekend in November – I had wanted to help her with it and take a few of my own things out – but the cold/flu got in the way. Didn’t make the Temple Bird Mart either. Maybe I can get to the spring mart.
I noticed the first time I dumped my holding tanks that I had a major leak in the pipe. Johnnie’s son, Toby, came by and found the leak and repaired it for me! Can’t beat friends like that!
Well into the second week in November and I’m still down with the crud. Even missed a Sunday dinner with Johnnie and her family….and a Sunday Dairy Queen meet with Brenda and the girls. Now, you know I’m down and out when I can’t pull up a chair to Johnnie’s Sunday dinner table or make it to the DQ with Brenda! Even had to cancel a trip to Stevenville to meet with Cindy & Susan at Which Witch.
Although I missed my trip to Stephenville, Cindy dropped by with some beautiful jewelry her daughter had made. I’m going to be the spiffiest lookin’ gal in the RV park! She also brought an absolutely delicious deli sub from Which Witch with sliced turkey, avocado, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, ranch dressing! Can't beat friends like that!
By the 15th of November, was as feeling if I didn’t die from rupturing a blood vessel in the brain from coughing, I was gonna live! If only the weather would cooperate!
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