Something New

In this cottage, books are everywhere, a lifetime of reading

Always writing, diary's in years past, now journals and on computer

A lifetime gardener and now in these ancient years I create and direct,
a constant companion is my camera

Something new

On rainy days, sleepless nights and just for fun

I color and a dozen books on the table

but

bonesighart.com - terri mccloud

is the best
wish she would create another one :)

a Coloring and journaling book

her words of encouragement on each page

are priceless

"your inner voice is the voice of the soul
follow it"

I use to crochet, needles, and thread in the storage room, one who helped me is gone from earth
and I just have difficulty beginning again.

The thought of painting, ordered paints and an easel, gave them to my granddaughter.

Need to stop thinking of something new as I stay busy with what I am doing
and my enjoyment of cooking and baking.

A past with 5 children being raised, stressful position, directing a corporation, then solo a different life of homes and gardens being created.

Need to remember my days are ending and need to relax and slow down even more.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

A small piece of fresh Salmon with my fresh Dill
Slice of tomato
Scrambled Egg
Toast and Blueberry Jam
Coffee
and I see that glass of Kefir along with Water
Candle is burning
Door open
to a cool morning and the bird sounds

Weather in the morning continues delightfully cool
doors open and so nice to enjoy the deck

Beautiful by the woods
many birds and Hummingbirds are plentiful
trying to stop talking and thinking
about issues that are not good
It is difficult

All in all
I have so many blessings
and so very Thankful for the gift of life

Day Begins

Beautiful Morning

You open the door, wonderfully cool air blows in and sun in shining

you prepare breakfast
scrambled egg, a slice of tomato, green tea, sliced cantaloupe and watermelon, zucchini and banana bread
so good.

I think I will stay here.

I need to relax and enjoy these days.

Beauty Surrounds This Cottage

Cannot take credit for these 2 images, my evening assistant, what would I do without her

and she enjoys taking pictures of the surrounding beauty.

On the markdown table for 98 cents, yesterday

I took the images early this morning

Easy Meal

In the past, this was made many times
thought of it yesterday
when at the market
and purchased a tomato and avocado
had the black beans and ground beef

layer mixed greens
cover with meat and black beans
an addition of
chopped tomato sliced avocado
and I add a favorite - olives stuffed with cheese
cover with shredded cheese - I shred my own
add corn chips and sauce
and oh I miss the homemade sauce I made for years
at the old farmhouse
my son would eat a whole jar at dinner

Memories
never leave
Jamie and mama and some of the critters raised.

Butterfly's and In My Life

Weather pleasant, cooler and door to screen porch and deck can be opened early in the morning.
early morning image

Butterfly's in abundance.

Song my Gavin requested for the mother and son dance...

The Beatles - In My Life

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
Though I know I will never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
In my life, I love you more


Bless his sweet heart......
Love these words

More of Special Day

Wedding Day

My special grandson  Gavin and Missy
Wedding today in Massachusetts

Image of my daughter Laurie and Arron
my granddaughter Jessica, Mathew
and new and now 7 months old first great-grandchild

Missing everyone

You are all beautiful....

Hemp Oil

Can be purchased from Amazon and on the site, many questions answered.  I know it is helping me with a low dose of 4 drops morning and night, no side effects and thankful for the opportunity
to know about this.  At the rate I am taking it will probably last me 3 months and not costly.

My Jamie, the writer, writes for a nutritionist and shared with me about Hemp Oil, saying ''it might help you.".

Sent me some from one she writes for and if I had known Amazon carried this brand and the duplicate of what Jamie sent to
me, I would have saved shipping.

Ever so careful of what I take at this age and now 100 lb.
I believe more in natural healing and products then what the doctor prescribes, always like this.

 Hemp Oil arrived, have read all the information I can find on this product and still researching.
It seems to work miracles for many.

So hesitantly I took it the first time almost a week ago.  Not the dosage they recommend as lower doses of everything
work for me.

The first evening I placed 2 drops in a tablespoon of water, it has no taste.  I seem to sleep better sooner and more at peace as I many
times have stories go over and over in my mind (a bad habit.) that cause anxiety.

Next day I took 3 drops in water morning after breakfast and in the evening before bedtime
It helped me once again.   Not like a sleeping pill (have never taken) or pain reliever even half a pill low dose like I have taken in the past
for severe pain and affect your mind, also helping with pain, 1/2 arthritis medication yesterday
and none this morning.

Taking my time sharing about this oil and trying to find the correct words to describe how it affects me, everyone is different and I have never had to take much of anything for relief.
Seems it gives me a feeling of well being, peace and not like a tranquilizer where is difficulty in thinking,
do not know where I am headed with this but want to share about it.

Yesterday, Tuesday morning  4 drops were taken and plan on the same last night.   If this is good I will not go over this dosage.

Already have been advised that I could take 20 drops of oil and I say "no way."
If a small amount of this Hemp Oil helps me then this is what I will take.
.
Fluid on knee drained a week ago and also a new kind of Cortisone shot that is time released and suppose to help for 3 to 6 months, repeatedly said I would never take this shot again, it is not good for the body but the pain was so bad I had to go to the doctor.
Dr. Stacy said you were supposed to come back last December, I shared that at that time was not at my home and really planned on never coming back again to see you :)
but in so much pain "I had too."   So will see how long this procedure last.
This was a very painful procedure "do not dare look at the size of the needle,:
Thankful, my Jamie drove me and was with me.

Now Shingles is another story, still on the right side of the face, affecting the eye, ear and very painful.
I will not take pain medication and told it will eventually leave but takes longer with age
and my immune system is not the best.

So I continue onward doing all I know to do and not stopping :)

Days and Cooking

Day's continue so warm
and I continue to miss my Callie, she is at Jamie's - this one cannot risk tripping over her (
Maybe I would be fine...

Yesterday, because I do not like store bought sweets I baked my favorite Zucchini Bread
been a long time.  This is the best recipe, been using for about 50 years and is a little different with crushed pineapple in it.  Also  Nan's brownies, the simplest recipe, I can mix with my whisk
makes a small amount.  Guess I am addicted to this recipe.   These recipes shared by me in the past.

On the stove yellow squash and onions cooking, green beans, potatoes, cabbage cooked yesterday and going to
1/2 a recipe of my old cornbread recipe.   Cooking it differently, on the stove top in my grandmother's over 100
year old small cast iron skillet.    She called it a hoecake but will be better than turning on the oven.
Also, beautiful ripe tomato's brought to me, will add cottage cheese.    A simple, healthy country meal with an addition of
sweet ice tea.

 I share a lot about cooking and like writing about it,
 always have loved to cook, once for a big family and now solo, need to cook for health
and trying desperately to gain 10 lbs I lost when leaving this home during the winter.
I cook small portions, enough for 2 days.

So, what is a hoecake? Google shares "it is a primitive form of cornbread"
the slaves made it.  Googles image and I will make 2 hoecakes :) and cover with butter.

my old pan has a handle, it is like a small iron skillet with no rim around it, this small skillet means  much
to me, since it was my grandmother's, she used it daily and it was given to me.
Can remember her saying "I'm going to make a hoecake" now I smile at her words remembered.

Remember this grandmother almost daily, my parents so young and she was the one who
constantly encouraged me onward and loved me with a love I shall never forget.

Then and Now

Here they are
my son, the Yoga instructor,
my Laurie, the artist, creates beautiful paintings
my Jamie, the writer
and
my Beth, the Nurse

Look at that hair, they all have beautiful hair.

I look frequently at this image
and have the thought
Time, you have been so good to all of us.

Thank you

They are Special

Every few months
they pull into my drive
Sheila and Francisco
a hard-working couple.

They helped me when moving into my cottage, helped to clear woods that came up to my door.

Sheila helped me move many items from the city to this special place.

They have always had a bountiful garden and many of my Day Lillie's that are thriving were gifts from them.

Here they are pulling in the drive, a bag of a few items from their now smaller garden

On the stove cooking is cabbage with a small amount of chopped onion, carrots, and Italian sausage.
Smells so good and now will also cook the yellow squash and slice a tomato with cottage cheese.
I am all set and hopefully feel like baking later, either Zucchini bread and maybe chocolate
brownies.

While they were here, Francisco repaired my ancient bird feeder and so pleased as the top part has
been sitting on the ground for days.

Good friends

DID IT

Have been trying to capture a good shot of the many Hummingbirds visiting my feeders.
If I am outside they are aware of me and sun too hot to sit still outside for very long.
This morning I pulled up the blind in my bedroom
and was successful

Riced Cauliflower

Finally, something I can eat, it is easy to make and healthy.

Riced Cauliflower from the freezer department of grocery or you could rice whole fresh cauliflower
with an addition of frozen peas, chopped carrots. (probably could use other vegetables)

Warm olive oil, add  garlic and
 chopped onions in the skillet (I used 3 green onions)
add riced cauliflower, peas, chopped carrots
when almost done add a beaten egg. (this time an addition of 2 small ones)
I add Sesame Oil and a little Soy sauce

So Good

I top with shrimp, always in my freezer


So pleased I have discovered Riced Cauliflower

I prepared this on Tuesday night and cooked a chicken thigh, it is tender, white
meat is tough.   I poached it with a little garlic and onion.   Will add it chopped too riced dish.

At this time with still Shingles and sore gums from tooth extraction in February
difficult to find soft foods.

Fine at breakfast but later meal has been a challenge.

Hemp oil post
to soon to write about it
at the moment
too good to be true
and maybe or may not be :)

Flowers From My Garden

I usually do not pick the flowers in my garden
but the Phlox at this time is just beautiful and so fragrant.

I dare not venture out into the garden, stay at the edge
so last night I asked my special young assistant to pick white and purple Phlox
and 2 Coneflowers, put in a special vase I purchased 50 years ago and place on the big table

It was so pretty asked her to do a smaller one and place on my desk in my bedroom.

I may start placing flowers from my garden in these 2 places from now on.
Took pleasure in looking at them.

Will soon be sharing about Hemp Oil.

JUST OUT OF THE OVEN

My son's favorite in years past, a simple recipe with homemade custard
with a big family, this would be doubled

Banana Pudding

Recipe

The first layer,  vanilla wafers, bananas in a greased medium casserole
when the custard is done continue 2 more layers of wafers and bananas, usually use a
total of 3 sliced bananas

Custard cook in a double boiler, stirring constantly until slightly thick

2 cups of milk
add 3 beaten egg yokes when milk is slightly warm (save egg whites for meringue)
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup of sugar and'1 tsp vanilla (next time I will use less sugar, seemed too sweet for this one
when all is done
add 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp of butter

meringue

beat 3 egg whites (room temperature eggs do great)
 ( I use my 50-year-old copper bowl
add 1tsp vanilla and 1 tsp of sugar
continue beating \\
until soft  high and peaks form
cover banana pudding

place in oven 350 degrees until golden brown

Enjoy

This recipe from a friend who would visit my neighbor, her father several times a year.
I would be invited to dinner
Salmon Croquet's, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, cornbread, sweet tea
and the banana pudding

Miss those times
and Carol......

A Memory Surfaced

For years I wore L'Air Du Tamps cologne
loved it
and daughter's would often comment on it.

Stopped using it probably 20 years ago.

When I moved to the woods my lifestyle changed in many ways
traded the designer clothes and briefcase for cowboy boots and bought a pickup (still, have it
and I love it)
Turned into the real me.....the dirt digger.

My Beth made a visit yesterday and brought me a small sample of this cologne said it reminded her of me.
I loved the small package with flowers on it

Do not know what store sells it and do not need but liked the package

My Jamie and youngest granddaughter also made a visit in the afternoon.

My knee is awful and next week not looking forward to having fluid drained off
but will make a difference in the pain level of the knee of this ancient one
that cannot tolerate surgery.

Enjoy the 4th

Image From The Woods

She takes pictures the evenings she is with me
a young woman who is so helpful and I am thankful for.

I read this morning "May I have compassion for my pain"
and this is a path we do not need to walk alone and sometimes it is what is necessary.

Weary of sharing over and over that pain rarely stops, keep moving and do not take strong pain medication
as thankful for a good mind.

Wish my children did not hear this as they are not near but pleased I am still very
independent at 83.  So thankful for their visits, phone calls and emails

Very warm days continue and thankful for some rain last night for the flowers that are blooming
surrounding this cottage.

Forgive the sadness of some of my words this early morning but truly in spirit, I am happy and have deep peace about much.

I love writing, have always written journals and  wonder should I be so open with my sharing at this time
of my life?

Just read
"everything is temporary
even your problems"