Friday, December 6, 2013

Cruising the Alaska In-Side Passage One

We decided at the last minute to cruise the In-Side Passage of Alaska.  We booked a cruise to Vancouver from Whittier, Alaska and back.  Having never been to South-East Alaska or on a cruise I had no idea what it would be like, other than to expect rain.  We only had three days with rain the entire trip.

We took a bus transfer from Anchorage to Whittier, where we boarded the Sapphire Princess, our home for the next fourteen days. We had a false start on our trip as they told us to go to the Egan Center, only to discover that it was closed due to remodeling. Luckily our friend did not just drop us off, and was able to drive us over to the Deni`na Center.

Bryce met us in Whittier as he was delivering a load of bags to the ship. He came on the ship to have lunch with us, which is one of perks of his job.  He also gave us a brief tour of the ship including where the ice cream counter is.

We had an inside cabin, which was fine as we were only there for sleeping and showers.  We spend most of our time out roaming the ship, out on the deck, or hiking around the towns we stopped at, and I mean hiking. We sailed out of Whittier and were off on our adventure.
The big building in the background is an old barracks that the army built in WWII and is where most of the residents of Whittier live.
Tom and I blowing bubbles as we cast off to sea. We read that this was a fun thing to do since you can no longer throw confetti from the boat. We had fun.







We sailed into Yakutat Bay on the seventh of July and Glacier Bay on the eighth. It was a drizzly day, but the glaciers were incredible.  I always get goose bumps when I see glaciers, and these were even more awe-inspiring than those I have seen in the past.  They are tidal glaciers and we were able to sail within five miles of them. The view was incredible. We saw them calve several times, and it is an amazing site.
 Calving is when a piece of glacier breaks off and falls into the water forming icebergs.

We also did yoga on the ship, three days each way, when the class the offered. It was great fun and good exercise. The only day we had a problem was the day we hit some rough seas on the way down and the boat was rocking very hard so it made it difficult to maintain our balance.
The third person is Kyle who was the yoga/fitness instructor on the ship. He is from Canada and did a great job.
Our first stop on the cruise was Skagway which is a small town that can be reached by road, ship, or plane. It is the only stop in Alaska on the cruise that can be reached by road, but like many places in Alaska you have to go to Canada to get there from here.


Thursday, December 5, 2013

Christmas Break versus Winter Break


-->I started making a comment on my quilting blog and I try to keep politics off that page, so decided to post my thoughts here instead. 
"...January, shortly after Christmas Break. And yes I know that the politically correct people refer to it as winter break, but I am old school and it is Christmas Break." 

Next thing you know the politicians are going to say we can only have one day off from school, if that because of the atheist and others who think we are all so terrible. I think we should have a holiday for Hanukkah as well. Every one who believes in God deserves a day to celebrate that belief, without having to take leave.

I mean give me a break; I am not one of those "happy holidays" people. I say "Merry Christmas!" and if I know you are Jewish I say "Happy Hanukkah" out of respect for your beliefs. I do not try to change your mind and make you see things my way. I respect your right to believe something different than I do. I mean after all Jesus was a Jew and I believe that He will come again, just as you believe He has yet to come. When He does come we are both going to be celebrating His arrival and it will not matter if it is His first or second visit. What will be important is that He is here. 

If you are an atheist, go bury your head in the sand. I believe in God and I celebrate Him and His Son, Jesus Christ.  I do not care if you do not believe, you cannot tell me what I can and cannot do or what I can and cannot believe as this is a free country and God is everywhere.

We have God on our money, and in our pledge, and on buildings all over the country and those who think He does not belong there can go find themselves another country or bury their heads in the sand. Our country was founded on Christian principles and religious freedom.  So stop telling me that I cannot have God, the Bible, and things that represent Him anywhere I want. If you don't like it you don't have to look at. 

Oh, but wait He is everywhere, in the mountains, and the valleys, in the forests, and the seas. God created this land and its people, and the animals, and plants, and all that we see before us, so I guess you will just have to cover your eyes 24/7.

I believe that God is everywhere and I talk to Him everyday, does that make me one of those crazy Christians who are preaching my beliefs at everyone all the time, no.  I do not push my beliefs on others and I strongly believe that they should not push theirs on me. 

If everyone would just accept others and stop trying to force everyone to conform to their way I think this whole country and the whole world would be better off.  I mean lets deal with more important things like impeaching the idiot in the White House.


Monday, December 2, 2013

The Energy Rating and Upgrading Experience

Doing the energy rating on both houses has been an experience. We had the zero lot line re-evaluated and they told us if we add insulation to the crawlspace and do some more sealing and caulking around the windows we can up our rating to 5 Star on the zero lot line and get reimbursed up to an additional $1,500.00. We thought about changing out the water heater to raise the energy rating, but it will not up the energy rating. At this point in time we decided to leave the old one in.  We did do the additional insulation and qualify to get back up to $7,000.  We spent about $5,000 so should get back everything we put into the house.
Tom unloading insulation.

Insulation, for the attic, stacked up the stairs.
We also worked on our house. We put in two heaters this last winter which was close to $10,000.00. We discussed replacing our water heater and a putting in an on-demand, but they guy who came out to give us an estimate said we should stick with the one we have as it is in great shape and was better for our needs.
The second load of insulation for our house.
We added insulation to both houses in the attic. The zero lot line only needed a few inches, but our house needed almost a half a yard. Quilters out there know that I mean about 18 inches. We had hardly any insulation in our attic and we have already felt a difference. Our neighbor said that the rainy days in the fall were chilly and she has had to turn her heat on, where as we had to open windows at it was in the 70s upstairs.

Now if I could just figure out how to raise the temperature in the downstairs as it is still rather cool down there.  I have decided to invest in a ceramic heater, but my hubby is concerned about the impact it may have on the electrical bill. I would appreciate any feed back you might have on this as well.
Bryce getting his workout for the day.
All set up and ready to go.

We replaced the front door, added attic insulation, insulated the electrical outlets, and added caulking around the windows, as well as adding insulation in the crawl space and putting in a new heater.

The worst things about this whole experience was the aftermath of adding the spray in insulation to the attic. I had to clean every book and knick knack upstairs in the house. It took me a week of dusting, washing, and wiping down to get everything cleaned and back on the shelves. It was a learning experience and if we ever move, we are going to do any adding of insulation and such before we move our furniture and such in to the place. 

We debated adding siding or below ground insulation and decided we should do the below ground insulation.

 We had piles of dirt around the house from where Tom dug out around the foundation. He worked really hard on this a couple hours every day after work and a few weekends.  My job was to take pictures and make sure he was fed. 

We are noticing that the house is warmer, except when we have those well below zero days and nothing is warm.

Tom is also doing a comparison of the heating usage for the last few years and it appears that our usage has gone down some. We will keep checking and see how things go as the winter progresses.

I need to schedule them to come and do the final rating so we can submit papers to get reimbursed for our house.  We are still waiting on the check for Bryce's house to come in and we submitted that in late August.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Carrot Soup

Last night I tried another new recipe experiment.
This one was a carrot soup, and it was very tasty.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3159/2766420644_e658cedebb_z.jpg?zz=1
2 lbs of carrots, washed and chopped in 1" pieces
1 medium orange sweet potato, peeled and diced.
1/2 - 1 cup pumpkin chopped
2 onions chopped
3 cloves garlic
2 onions chopped
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1-2 tsp ginger
1-2 tsp cinnamon
2-4 tsp black pepper

Saute onions in 1-2 tsp olive oil.  

Add all ingredients to a large pot and bring to a boil. Simmer until carrots are tender.

Puree in a blender and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes to let the flavors blend. 

My husband said that the flavor of the pumpkin comes through and adds to the flavor of the soup.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Broccoli Romanesco Soup

Last night I tried a new recipe experiment.  It came out delicious.  It is a keeper.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Romanesco_Broccoli.jpg
2 heads Broccoli Romanesco
1 cup or one medium white sweet potato diced
4 cups chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, diced
2-4 tsp black pepper, depending on taste
1-2 tsp oregano
1-2 tsp thyme
1 cup onions, diced
1-2 tsp olive oil

Saute the onions in olive oil.  

Clean and chop Broccoli Romanesco in to 2" pieces.  

Add all ingredients to a large pot and bring to a boil, then simmer 15 to 20 minutes until the Broccoli Romanesco is tender. 

Puree in blender and and simmer on stove for about 5 to 10 more minutes to let the flavors blend. 

Serve with shredded or shaved Parmessan cheese.

I plan to try this using cauliflower next.  It was delicious and tasted great reheated for lunch the next day.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Military Attacks Personal Beliefs

I was upset when I read the article Airmen Punished for Objecting to Gay Marriage. I was upset because I do not think anyone should be punished for their beliefs. I do not know how each of you feel about homosexuality and that is not what I am attacking here, what I am attacking is the fact that the military is telling one man that he is not entitled to his personal opinion.

Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk was put in an uncomfortable position and forced to make a choice.  He said, "“I don’t believe someone having an opinion for or against homosexuality is discriminatory,” Monk told Fox News."
I agree with Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk. Personal opinions should not be called into question.

Monk told his superior that she should use it as a learning experience, and instead he was told that he was not on the same page as his supervisor. She wanted him to have the same opinion that she did and because he knew he could not agree with her he chose not to answer and felt it was better that he leave.

Monk said that essentially, "Christians are trading places with homosexuals." He said that Christians are being robbed of their dignity and being forced into the closet. This is wrong. Each person is entitled to their opinion and should not be punished for what they believe.





This is as bad as people who say you are racist for not believing in Obama's politics. Both are wrong and in this case this man is being told what he believes is wrong, and therefore he must change his beliefs in order to serve in the military under this supervisor.  He has 19 years of service, and yet he is now not a good person because of his beliefs. Having a difference of opinion on this topic is now against military policy according to Master Sargent Monk. In my opinion this is a load of crap.

No one can tell you what you can think or believe. That is a personal right.  Unless we are now living in the past under Nazi rule, we are allowed our own opinions, that is what makes the world what it is. We are each unique and we are each entitled to own opinions and beliefs.



Tuesday, August 6, 2013

I was very upset when I read on Todd Starnes  July 24 2013 Fox News Commentary, that a military chaplain was ordered to remove the following post:
“Chaplain’s Corner: No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II”
By Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes
Many have heard the familiar phrase, “There is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole.”
Where did this come from?
Research I verified in an interview with former World War II prisoner of war Roy Bodine (my friend) indicates the phrase has been credited to Father William Cummings.
As the story goes, Father Cummings was a civilian missionary Catholic priest in the Philippines.
The phrase was coined during the Japanese attack at Corregidor.
During the siege, Cummings had noticed non-Catholics were attending his services.
Some he knew were not Catholic, some were not religious and some were even known atheists.
Life-and-death experiences prompt a reality check.
Even the strongest of beliefs can change, and, I may add, can go both ways – people can be drawn to or away from “faith.”
With the pending surrender of allied forces to the Japanese, Cummings uttered the famous phrase “There is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole.”
In one of my many discussions with Roy, he distinctly remembered a period on the “Hell Ships” – these were ships the Japanese used to bring POWs from the Philippines back to Japan.
They were unmarked and thus ‘fair game’ for attacks from the allies from the air and sea.
Of the 3,000-plus POWs listed on the ships, only 180 survived the journey.
“When our own planes were attacking us,” Roy said, “I remember Father Cummings calming us down by reciting the Lord’s Prayer and offering up prayers on our behalf.
For a brief moment I did not hear the yells and screams of dying men as our boat was attacked by our own men.”
He went on to say, “There was a peaceful quiet during the attack that I cannot explain nor have experienced since.”
Later on during the trip to Japan, Cummings, after giving his food to others who needed it more, succumbed to his own need and died of starvation.
Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular.
Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day; or express relief the doctor’s results were negative.
The real question is, “Is it important to have faith in ‘faith’ itself or is it more important to ask, ‘What is the object of my faith?’”
Roy never affirmed or expressed whether his faith was rooted in religion or not, but for a moment in time on the “Hell Ships,” he believed in Cummings’ faith.
What is the root or object of your faith?
Is it something you can count on in times of plenty or loss; peace or chaos; joy or sorrow; success or failure?
Is it something you can count on in times of plenty or loss; peace or chaos; joy or sorrow; success or failure?
What is ‘faith’ to you?

Supposedly it was an attack on atheists or rather out of respect for those who were offended by it. I do not see anything offensive in this writing, and am personally offended that it was taken down. To me it deals with history and talks about how people react in war, not in anyway offensive, just a reporting of what happened during WWII and asking people to think about themselves and how they would react in a similar situation.

Those who say there were offended by this in my opinion are just out to cause problems and make a fuss for the sake of a fuss.

Personally, I do believe in God and that is my choice. If you choose not to, that is your choice and we can simply agree to disagree. You should not be able to tell me that I cannot express my own views on the subject, and I should not be able to tell you the same. We can debate the issue if you would like, but I still have the right to express my thoughts and opinions, as that is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.  This military chaplain was deprived of that right by others and in my opinion they should be punished for this, not him. The Chaplain's rights were violated, not those that complained.  They had the choice to read or not read what he wrote and they are the ones in the wrong. They owe the chaplain,  Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes, an apology.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Retirement

I wrote this the summer after I retired, but for some reason never posted it. I just reread it and thought I should post it.

I just retired from teaching after twenty-six years, twenty-five of which were special ed.  Everyone says it will not really hit me until fall when school starts, but I know I do not need to spend part of my summer planning for fall, and I like that idea.

I can say that you know when it is time to retire. My heart was no longer in it. Being out last fall recuperating from my heart surgery was part of what lead to the decision to retire.  I did not miss school while I was out and I did not really want to go back to all the stress and the problem students.  Not all of them were difficult, but one bad apple can certainly ruin a class period.  This spring I got a new student and one kids in the class said to me that he was really ruining the class. He also said class was much nicer when the new kid was not there. Sad to say I had to agree with him.

What really made up my mind was all the paperwork and meetings that special ed teachers have to deal with on top of teaching. You work the same contract as the regular ed teachers, but with longer hours due to meetings before and after school and all the additional paperwork on top of lesson planning and grading. It was a lot of extra work and tons of extra stress.  Stress I did not need.

I am looking forward to relaxing, sleeping in when I want, being able to sew for hours, read, and go out to lunch with friends anytime. I do plan to sub on occasion, but I can decide if and when I want to accept a job. The best part according to a friend who is retired is there is no homework. You get to go in and work with the kids and then go home and relax.

I told my husband I am going to plan a lunch date with another retired teacher I know for the first official day of school, just because I can.  I am thinking that it will be fun, knowing I do not have to go to work that day. I am sure I will miss the kids and that is why I plan to sub some. I loved teaching, but not all the added stress of being a special ed teacher.

Update:

Since I retired two years ago I have enjoyed subbing and spending time working with the kids, without the headaches of meetings, and the endless paper work. I enjoy going to lunch with my friends who are retired or work in professions other than teaching anytime I want.  I also enjoy the extra time I have to quilt, read, journal, and just relax.  It is also nice to be able to travel anytime. I have been to Ireland, and to visit family and watch my son graduate from basic training and AIT. I have a trip planned in the fall to visit family and friends and I like knowing that I have that option.  Subbing is fun and gives me some extra money, but knowing that I have the flexibility to say no and to take time for me makes it all very worthwhile.  If you are considering retiring and can afford to, I highly recommend it.

If you are interested check out my quilting blog all the quilting and sewing projects I have been working on the past two years. I would never have gotten them all done if I was working full time and you can see how many unfinished things I have from back when I was working that I am still trying to get caught up on.

Monday, June 3, 2013

What This Country Needs....is Someone Like My Mom

We need a strong woman to run this country, but not a Hillary Clinton. We need someone like my mother to run this country. She is a go getter, a woman before her time.

 She told me that my grandmother, her mother, always taught her and her siblings that no matter what your job was, cleaning the toilets or running a business, you should always do the best you can and don't wait to be asked to do something.  If you see something that needs done, do it.  Each time you will learn something that will help you move up the ladder.

When I was little my mom was a working mom before most moms were working outside the home.  My mother worked for Ma Bell as a telephone operator using one of the old fashioned switch boards like this one I found on google.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrylsphotoblog/4162420387/
 She was also in the Air Force for several years. In fact she only got out because after she married my father she became pregnant with me. Back in the 1950s you could not be in the military if you were pregnant. It did not matter if you were married or not.

My mother worked her whole life from topping onions in the fields to being a management analyst for the federal government. She did not work for societal recognition, but because she needed to and she liked working.  She was the one people went to and she worked her way up the ladder as a civil service employee. She started out as a GS3, working as a secretary for years, starting over every time my father was transferred.  She retired as a GS 12.

I may not have always agreed with everything my mother said or did, but she taught me to be the woman I am today and I am proud of her. She listens and gives advice, and she cares about others.  She also knows about service and that it takes work to make things work, not just words.  My mother is also one who will get in and work with you, not just sit back and let others do the job. She did not grow up in a life of privilege and money, she grew up knowing what hard work was and that it took work to make you feel you had accomplished something.  I am proud of her and all she has done in her life and I would like to be proud of the person representing this country to the world.

Today I am embarrassed by the person that is that face of America. Obama does not represent me or the majority of the people in this country, or our beliefs. He knows nothing about taking care of our country and doing the right thing for us. He has never been in the trenches of the working class. He is selfish and self centered, focused on his agenda, not the agenda of the American people.

We need someone like my mother, someone who has been in the trenches to run our country.  We need someone with real life experience. Someone who knows what life is really about. We need a president who will represent the real people of this country, the working class. If I could I would nominate my mother for president because I know she would do a great job and she would listen to the people and do what is right for this country. She would be a true representative of this country.






































































































































Sunday, June 2, 2013

Sleep Apnea

In the last month I have spent two nights at the sleep clinic doing sleep studies.  The first was to see if I had sleep apnea. I do not sleep well and Tom often comments on how I have destroyed the bed with all my tossing and turning. My cardiologist thinks sleep apnea may be a contributing factor to my leaky valve getting worse and so she referred me for testing.

I have been told that I have severe sleep apnea when I am in REM or deep sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic "Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts." 

According to the nurse I stop breathing an average of 27.3 times per hour. They prefer you only do that once per hour, if at all.  So in 60 minutes that means I stop breathing or breath very shallowly every 2.2 minutes on average, for a few seconds to minutes.   

Sleep apnea is very disruptive to your sleep and moves you out of deep sleep into lighter sleep which means that you are getting a poorer quality of sleep and results in excessive daytime sleepiness. This can lead to more accidents, 

Sleep apnea is often undiagnosed because doctors can not detect it without a sleep study. There is no blood test for it. Often times it is noticed by your partner who may be the first to notice the signs of excessive snoring, snorting or gasping for breath in your sleep. It disrupts your sleep cycle and though you may not fully wake up, it does wake you up to a point, that disrupts your sleep.

You can have sleep apnea for years and not even know it because you become conditioned to the feeling of fatigue or daytime tiredness.  I never even thought of it as being the problem, I just knew I was tired a lot and would fall asleep in my chair. I would mention it to the doctor, but they never seemed to think it was a problem. Or at least not until my leaky valve got worse and my cardiologist said it could be a contributing factor and we needed to rule it out.

So now I have a diagnosis and know that a CPAP machine or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open. It can help me sleep better, and breathe while I am sleeping. It increases air pressure so your airway does not collapse and decreases daytime sleepiness.  It can also lower blood pressure which will put less pressure on my leaky valve.

In my research I have found that use of a CPAP machine can improve vitality and motivation, Job performance mood sexual drive and performance alertness while driving, quality of life, and quality of sleep.  While untreated sleep apnea can lead to hypertension or high blood pressure, stroke, and congestive heart failure.

I have been doing a ton of reading about sleep apnea and the CPAP machines so I have a better idea of what is going on with me and how to treat it.  I do know that I want a smaller machine that is quiet and easy to travel with and that I definitely want one with a humidifier as it can get very dry here in Alaska, especially in the winter.

Once I have had my follow up with the doctor and started using my own CPAP machine I will know more and I am sure I will see a difference in how tired I am. I will update this topic at that time. Right now I think I will go take a nap.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

The Nazi Officer's WIfe

The book is the story of one woman's survival during the most horrendous chapter in the history of the world, the Holocaust. It is the story of  Jewish girl and the tribulation that she survived both working on a farm and as a Nazi officer's wife.  She was hidden in plain sight.

Edith Hahn BeerWerner Vetter who was a member of the Nazi party. He knew her secret, yet married her anyway.

Edith lived in fear of being discovered. She gave birth to her daughter without pain meds,  because she was afraid she might expose her self under the influence of drugs. When her husband was captured by the Russian army and her home was bombed she and her daughter hid from drunken Russian soldiers.

Edith saved every paper to document her story and even succeeded in taking pictures while inside the labor camps. She is a hero, a woman who did what she had to to survive during a terrible time.

I loved the book and highly recommend it to everyone. 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Allergy Testing is the Pits

Over the last two weeks I have gone through extensive allergy testing.  First the skin prick test, then the sublingual under the skin testing and now the patch tests for contact allergies. 
Of the three the patch testing is the worst. You cannot shower for four days. You are taped up all over your back and itch like crazy.  Today they took the tape off, but I still cannot shower until after I see the allergist tomorrow afternoon. I have black marks all over my back and tape marks, and bumps and itchy spots.  I have been scratching my arms for three days. It helps when I am focused and doing something like quilting or driving because I am not thinking about my back itching, but when I am sitting quietly or trying to go to sleep at night the itching is intense.
The other bad thing is you have to be off your allergy meds for seven to ten days prior to testing and through out the testing.  I do have a new nasal spray I can use to help with the runny nose and the is helping but it had a nasty  after taste that hangs around for a couple of hours after you spray it up your nose.
Hopefully they will be able to help me with my allergies after this all done and I can start back on my allergy meds tomorrow after I see the doctor.  If not I may be in for more testing.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Tom's Car Accident

Tom had a minor mishap on his way home from snowboarding last night. He slid on a slick patch on the road down from Arctic Valley and hit the back end of another car. 

He also blew out a tire in the accident.
He was not hurt, but his car needs some serious repair.

The guy he hit had hit someone else after sliding on the same spot.  There were other cars in the ditch and one guy almost went off the road in the same general area.

I am just glad he was not hurt. Now he has to deal with the insurance and car repair people.  I just need to drive him to work a couple of days and share my car.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Biking Season is Fast Approaching

I noted today that the bike trails along the roads near out house are getting clearer every day. Soon the snow will be gone and we can get the tandem out and ride.

It takes longer for some trails to clear than others because of the shade from the trees, but we can ride along the side of the road near home as there are bike lanes.

It was actually above 40° today which means it definitely getting to be biking weather.  My husband said, "It is only April and we could still get snow."  I am praying for sunshine and warm weather because I want to ride my bicycle.

I do not ride in the snow, but hubby does. He has a fat tire bike and studs for his mountain bike. I personally think he is a little nuts as it is way to cold to bike in the winter in my opinion.

Then tonight the weatherman said that more snow is expected this weekend and early next week.  YUCK!!! I am sick of snow and messy roads, I want sunshine and clear roads.

Winter has been too screwy for me this year. I think I will bring the bike inside so I can ride until the roads are really clear and no more snow is predicted.  Besides if I ride in the house I will be in better shape when it is time to hit the roads.

I think that will be on my list for tomorrow, now if I can only get the bike down off the hooks without knocking myself upside the head all will be good.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Memories of my Dad

I remember the story my mother told of my father returning from Germany when I was small. I had a picture of my father and that was my memory of him. When he returned he did not look like my picture and it took me several days before I realized he was my father. I was afraid of the strange man who got off the plane, with a few days growth of beard. He was not the clean shaven man in my photograph.

I look back on photographs of my father as a young soldier and see a different man than the one who died just over three years ago.  The man who died was thin and weak, yet still told me "I love you kid."

He was physically weak from the cancer that ravaged his body bit he was still the man I knew as a child.  He still had a sense of humor and enjoyed golf. He was the man who yelled at Jack Nicholson when he missed a putt, and cheered when he got a hole in one.

He still enjoyed pulling my leg and teasing me and he was still my father whom I loved dearly.  He traveled the world with the military to places like Cuba, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines,  Taiwan, and Kinmen.

He was a great man and is sorely missed. I love him very much and know that he is watching over me from heaven.






Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup


Ingredients:
  • 2 -3 good size sweet potatoes peeled & chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled, chopped 
  • 2 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 - 2 tsps Ancho Chili Powder
  • 1 - 2 tsps  fresh ginger, chopped
  • 1 - 2 tsps cinnamon
  • 1/2 - 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 - 2 tsps black pepper 
  • 1/2 - 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 -3 TBSP Lime Juice
  • 1/2 - 1 TBSP olive oil or butter your preference

Chop the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic, then saute in olive oil or butter until tender, about 10 minutes. 


Peel and cut up the sweet potatoes while the onions, etc... are sauting.

Add the broth and spices stir well to make sure they are mixed in.  Add the sweet potatoes and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for a minimum of 20 minutes, or several hours until the sweet potatoes are tender.  I like to let it simmer all afternoon or cook over night and all day in the crock pot on low.


Puree in blender and serve. 

Serves4

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Spicy Butternut Squash Soup

Makes 4 servings.

1/2 -1 tsp garlic
1 onion, chopped
1 TBSP Olive Oil or Butter, which ever you prefer
1/2 - 1 tsp ginger, I prefer chopped fresh
1/2 - 1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 - 1 tsp sage
1 - 2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 - 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 - 2 tsp black pepper
4 No Sodium chicken powder packets,
       (or 4 cups low sodium chicken broth)
1 - 2 teaspoon chili powder, preferably Ancho
1/8 - 1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 - 2 TBSP of brown sugar
4 - 5 cups water
2 medium  or 1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 8 cups) 

Saute onions and garlic in Olive Oil or Butter, or cover and cook for one minute in the microwave, naked.

Mix spices and chicken broth powder with water and add to sauted onions and garlic. (Red pepper and Ancho chilli powder amounts vary depending on how spicy you like your soup.)

Add in cubed butternut squash.

Cook in crock pot all day, or for a few hours on the stove until the squash is soft.

Put soup in your blender or Vita Mix and puree.  Simmer for 10 minutes and serve.



 We had this for dinner tonight and it was delicious. Above is a picture of the leftovers ready for lunch tomorrow.



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Tomato Soup

This recipe is so easy and so quick.  I love it on a cold afternoon when time is short for making dinner.

Ingredients:
3 cans of diced or petite no salt added tomatoes
1 package of  no sodium chicken broth powder
1 can of water
1 -2 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
pepper to taste
red pepper to taste
1-2 cloves of garlic or garlic powder
1 tsp sugar

Parmesan Cheese to garnish

Throw everything but the cheese in the blender for just a minute to crush the tomatoes.  (If you use crushed tomatoes and garlic powder there is no need to blend, but I cannot fine no salt added crushed tomatoes.)

Simmer on the stove about 15 minutes to let the flavors blend and allow the soup to warm and serve garnished with Parmesan cheese or if you prefer a grilled cheese sandwich.

Delicious!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Healthy Heart Month

February is the month to think of your heart and how you can keep it healthy and since I have high blood pressure and a congenital heart defect, that was surgically corrected I thought I should spend a few minutes on the topic before the month slips through my fingers.

I urge everyone to eat a healthy, low fat, low sodium, low carb diet.

 I have made diet changes in the last few years that have made a difference in my life.  Besides watching my sodium which is really bad for people with high blood pressure, and everyone else, I have started eating a low carbohydrate diet.

Low carb was introduced into our lives by my husband's doctor because he is pre-diabetic.  He restricts his carb intake to 150 or less a day. I do not restrict mine as much, but we have given up bread, and most crackers because of all the carbs.

We use sugar and honey sparingly in recipes and when possible substitute Agave syrup.

We also eat primarily fresh fruits and vegetables and very little meat.  I eat less meat than he does and when I do it is usually shrimp or salmon.

We eat cheese, though again, I eat less than him.

We still have the occasional dessert, just not a very big one.  We have sub-sized (down-sized) our eating, instead of super-sized it. We will split a dessert, if we choose to have one.  I wish more places would do like PF Chang's Sweet Treats or Olive Garden's Dolcini and serve those little one or two bite desserts, because that is all you need to satisfy your sweet tooth.

I love cooking so this makes it fun as I love to try new recipes.
 
Since September of 2012, I have lost 10 pounds and am still working on loosing more.  I feel better, and have more energy.  I have also gone done a few pants sizes, and am thinking I may need to do some shopping.

Though I continue to take medication for my high blood pressure and leaky heart valve my last check up, just this week, was very good. My blood pressure was 102/ 63 and my doctor said that she could not hear the murmur in my heart, which means the medication is working.

I plan to continue on this path and see if I can loose another ten or twenty pounds by the end of the year.

Along with diet I workout, though not as much as I should according to my husband. I am looking forward to spring when the roads are clear of snow and ice so I can head out on my bicycle and we can ride our tandem again.  Until then I use my Wii Fit, Wii Zumba, Walk with Lesley, lift weights, and I may bring one of the bikes in the house and set it up like an exercise bicycle.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Library Lover's Month

My mom wrote this wonderful article about Library Lover's Month.  I want to share it with all my friends who love to read.   It was published in her local DAR newsletter. She is a wonderful woman and like me she loves to read. I am very proud of her article.

I was also lucky that I had a mother who read to me and I read to both of my boys. My oldest was read college textbooks while he was in the womb as I was working on my master's degree when pregnant with him.

Both boys were read all kinds of books when they were tiny as I would read whatever I was reading aloud when rocking them. When they were older they had favorite children's books we read.

I can remember their father reading them the Little House on the Prairie books.
 
I also remember having to read adult mysteries and teen novels when my oldest was in elementary school as he was such a bookworm that he had read all the books in the children's section of the library and the complete set of encyclopedias by the end of third grade. He also read Up From Slavery that year.

Books on tape and along with the novel were a hit with my younger son, as he enjoyed the stories but not the act of reading.

One thing I do enjoy about being retired is the time to read.  I have read more in the past two years than I did over most of my teaching career, I think.  I love to be taken away by a novel and transported to another time or place. It is relaxing. Books are some of my best friends.

I hope you enjoyed my mom's article.

Friday, January 4, 2013

"I'm So Excited and I Just Can't Hide It!"

I decided today was the day and got on the Wii-Fit.  It told me it had been 108 days since I had last gotten on.  WOW!  I thought I am probably in real trouble after the holidays. I stepped on to weight myself and was pleasantly surprised.

I lost 7.1 lbs since the last time I was on! 

I have not been very good about exercising and I have not been eating really well either.  You know the holiday junk food of candy, pie, cheesecake, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and such that you do not eat the rest of the year. 

I am thrilled that I lost that weight and just to be good today I worked out for an hour. I did strength training with weights, yoga, aerobics, and some balance exercises just for good measure. 

One of my goals for this year is to exercise and another is to eat healthy.  I have been working on both, though actually today is only the second day I have exercised this year.  Two out of four ain't bad.  I did a short workout of about 15 minutes on the first because they say what ever you do on the first day of the new year you will do all year long and that is one of my goals.

Now, if I can keep this up all year I will hopefully loose more than the 7 lbs that I set as my new three month goal. 

If exercising or eating healthy is one or more of your goals this year let me know how we are doing, maybe we can encourage each other to keep at it.  Let me know what your plan is.

I am reading the book Younger Next Year written by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge, M.D.  It was recommended to me by a friend and so far I like it.  They say there are three things you have to do to be younger.

First and most important is Excerise.  It is the biggest change for most people and the secret to good health. It is also the hardest for me.  They say your should exercise six days a week and to include strength training. You should lift weights, at least two of those day. Exercise is key.

Secondly, Nutrition is important.  It can help you get down to your true weight. They say to eat rationally, and to eat less of everything.

Lastly, Commitment is important. They say you have to care about something. They suggest setting goals, thinking about the people - like your family, causes, and hobbies that you care about. This can include your job.  It does not have to be something that is important to society, it has to be what is important to you.  Remember the people you care about are a reason to stay alive.  They need you.

Tom and I do eat healthy and we both have hobbies we are committed to as well as family and friends, but I know I need to work on the exercise part.  Tom exercises everyday to help keep his blood sugar down, since he is pre-diabetic.

I have also ordered the book: Younger Next Year for Women as this one is aimed more toward guys, but it works.  I plan to  encourage my husband to read this one after I am done.

Best wishes for healthy eating and exercising this year!  I will let you know what else I learn from my reading.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Welcoming 2013 with ZEN

"A whole new year stretches out before you ... What kind of footprints will you leave? ... gigantic leaps of faith. Or ... tiny steps of slow, steady progress ... You have imagination, intellect, and most importantly, a soul." 

- from Daily Wisdom for Women.

 

Today starts a new year and a new beginning, What do I hope to  accomplish or achieve during these 365 days?

"Nobody sees a flower, really, - it's so small - we haven't time, and to see takes time..."

- Georgeia OKeefe.


This year I want to take time to stop and see the flowers, to see the little things in life and enjoy them.

I have also decided it is time to focus on mind and body.  I chosen ZEN as my word for the year.  

ZEN is "1. ...a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind.  ZEN is a way of being. It is also a state of mind. ZEN involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts...
2. The closest translation for Zen is contemplation (Watts 22)...
 
3. Complete and absolute peace.

I also considered Creative Meditation or Creative Reflection, as well as Harmony for my word or phrase for the year, but picked ZEN as I think it incorporates them all.

My goals, not resolutions which are often broken, for 2013 include: 

  1.   Exercise
  2.   Meditation
  3.   Quilting
  4.   Reading
  5.   De-Cluttering
  6.   Making Improvements to our Home
  7.   Eating Healthy 
  8.   Journaling
  9.   Blogging
10.   

"Set a goal, write it down, and release the outcome. Small steps make a big difference."  

- C. Richardson


You will notice I left number 10 blank and that my goals are very broad, this makes it easier to meet them and harder to break them. It also gives me flexibility to add to them if I so choose, after today.

 I want to achieve my goals for the year and they are ones that can me long term and carry over into other years.  They are also not in any particular order. They are goals that I want to focus on this year, and each day will include some, but not others and it will vary from day-to-day. 

I am looking forward to what this new year brings and am welcoming it with open arms.  There are some I have heard express apprehension regarding the number 13, but I do not feel that. I feel excited to see what the new year will bring. 

I look forward to this new year and am hoping that you are anticipating the experiences it may bring as well.

Happy New Year to all! 

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