No More Candles`

I have said
"I want no more candles."

But when I opened the small box
I smiled at the little hand painted bird
and the scent of "White Lotus."

Then her words
"when I saw the little bird
mama, I thought of you."

So I smile everytime I look at it
on my nightstand.

The Humble Onion And Evening Meal Not Wanted

"Can you imagine a world without onions ?
These were words shared by "Julia Child."

The use of the onion for food goes back at least 3,500 years
and is one of the oldest cultivated plants and a world class super food.
Read a lot of information on "google"  regarding the onion that I did not know.

"The Space Between Us" by Thrity Unriga
has been sitting among a stack of unread books for a long time
and I recently started to read.

I read with interest that when the young woman's cooked her eggs
there was an addition of onion, garlic, cilantro and a pinch of chili powder.
This gave me an idea for my scrambled egg that I make for breakfast about 3 times a week.

I beat my egg with  an addition of cold water (the amount that I once used of milk)
pour into a warm skillet with a small amount of melted butter, low heat and stir continually.
It seems this makes the egg moist and fluffy....
and this is a new way for me - an idea I was given when I attended a brunch
recently and complimented the eggs and noticed the texture was different from mine.
My friend told me she never added milk but a small amount of cold water.

Now as I am stirring I add a very small amount of  chopped onion, garlic, a pinch of turmeric (good for inflammation), and early
this morning I also put in a little chopped cheese. (this amount is for one - just me :)

Now this is not an omelet
just a scrambled egg with an addition of the above
and I found it tasty.
wish I still had some cilantro but in the Spring  when plants are thriving - I can add.

I also will share
I can no longer eat 3 hearty meals.
My breakfast is my favorite and the most I eat for a meal.
Then lunch a little less
and now in the evening
I have the thought "I am not hungry."
Sometimes I make a smoothie or have a bowl of cereal with banana (my mother did this in later years
and I thought it was strange :)  I also will add that many things that my mother did that I did not
like I find I am now doing some of them :)

 During the day I snack
usually a small dish of different kinds of nuts
and yesterday also - 4 pieces of chocolate that seems to  still be here from Christmas :)
and if it was not - I would buy on next trip to market....

Before going to bed I usually have some yogurt and banana
so this is new for me and
I find it pleasing.
Also sometimes I make a float with ice cream and Vernor's (Vernor's a childhood favorite from Detroit and now it is in my local grocery - my son does not eat ice cream :) almost frowns at me when I mention it :)
but surely with weight staying at a little less then 110 lbs
I can eat some ice cream and chocolate :)

Well aware with families you could not have my schedule.
As my younger daughter shares
"evening is our biggest meal"....

So this is either a plus or minus
of this matriarch - I think it is a plus :)

Same and Different

Morning temperature of 5 degrees,
 the sun is shining and that is wonderful.

The beginning of deep cleaning is in process.
Just finished refrigerator and it seems much thrown out
because of dates.  Use a lot of items but not much of many
because of the difference in my life at this time.
Seems the use date arrives quickly.
Drains in sinks have been cleaned with vinegar, baking soda and hot water
and surely everyone knows to use this.
Bathroom gone over with 100 Team Borax which makes everything sparkle
and some baking soda.

Bed linens in washing machine and seems linens are not like in the past.
When home in town was built I bought sheets and duvet from the
Pottery Barn and in a short time both had imperfections.
I still have a few sheets that were purchased when I lived in the really
big house with family 25 years ago  and they are still being used.  Percale and now feel
like silk.

Soon will go over all the old furniture with Murphy's Oil Soap and then in a few
days will nourish everything with Lemon Oil.

Have just ordered cotton flat baby diapers, they are the best for cleaning mirrors and windows
with no lint left behind.  I have to be careful and keep them separate or they might
be picked up and used for dusting - these are only for mirrors and windows and occasional help uses newspaper.  The ones I have are over 4 years old and will use for dusting.   I do not like paper towel - too much lint left behind.  Also with gas heat it seems mirrors and windows are now getting
a light film on them....

Will slowly go over everything in this home and when the day arrives that
something is peeking out of the soil - I will be outside :)

One of the few luxuries I enjoy at this time
is a hot bath with fragrant Bedadas, it last forever ( a very small amount and your tub is
sparkling when emptied) Many years ago I used Vita Bath that was just as good
but a few years ago after doing some research I found out Bedadas, it is about same
and less expensive, from Germany  and I  order from Amazon.
 My Beth gave me some Lavender
soap and lotion from Thymes for Christmas and I love it....

Seems my what brings me pleasure list at this time of life is so simple.

Difficult to believe that 4 1/2 years have gone by so quickly.  That is when construction on
 this small home began.  That winter a day was never missed on the building site with very mild
weather.  Callie a year old when I found her at the shelter with a chain around her neck that had
to be removed with a saw :) so this Fall she will be 6 years old.

So - the beginning of Spring cleaning has begun and in the past it took several weeks and now
at this time of life it will take several months :)
On a pleasant day need to clean garage and soon car and truck need to be cleaned

As long as the sun is shining and I cannot be outside
I enjoy doing this.

One Of The Joys

Yes, one of the joys of this rural cottage
is watching the birds at my feeders.

So they are filled to the brim
and usually fill 1/2 full.

They know below zero weather is arriving

I do believe they are watching for me to restock their feeders
and if I did not they would peck at the windows.

The phone rings
and a voice "you are always filling your bird feeders - be careful and do not fall."

Rain has started and soon will turn to ice....

not anticipating
the rapid cold front approaching
and prediction
of zero and below for the next few days.

This type of weather
makes me uncomfortable
for lack of a better word...

Can You Imagine

Parsley from frigid garden that will top potato soup that is simmering

 

 

Two ancient plants that are on the loft

they like their Winter home.

I love this area

almost feel like I am on a vacation when I sit upstair and look out the big window.

 

 

Paper Whites soon to bloom and a bulb that may take time

 

A quick trip to market early this morning to join the many people preparing

for the zero days predicted.

All is well and potato soup mixture smells so good with onions, celery, carrots

and bacon cooking for topping.

Remember Your Words

Remember
on this day
and every day
to be

I will accept all that is,
 continue to simplify,
stay grateful
and
I will
just be
HAPPY......

Woke up
to a 5 degree temperature on porch
and wind chill even less.

I will not be straying far
on this day....

Changing

Planned on a quick trip to local small town before dropping temperature and snow predicted
for afternoon.    But it seems that several hours ago huge snow flakes began falling.
My birds in a frenzy as they empty the feeders, so I am bundling up and going outside
 to make sure they have
seeds for the next few days of frigid weather arriving.

Morning breakfast a little different over the last several months as I begin first thing this morning drinking a juice glass of Kefir.  It is really tasty and a probiotic.
Started with this and about 30 minutes later chopped apple, banana, apricot, raisins covered with
yogurt and flax seeds and my almost morning ritual of 3 cups of green tea.
I rotate to fruit with oates and then fruit with scrambled egg and slice of bacon.

Trying very hard to eat properly with most mornings of yoga and try to go at a slower pace.
   It has become very apparent
that I can no longer walk miles a day, vist my woods often,  garden nonstop for hours, wash car and truck
and many other things that have always been done by this one.   Really have not given up much
but doing less of most and at a slower pace.
In all truth - I never thought these would have to be given up - how unrealistic this one is.

I like my new doctor and I smiled as she made the comment to me "you are very determined
and you need to accept what is happening at this time of life and go at a slower pace."
 the thought came to mind that I am a new patient and she seemed to describe
me perfectly.....

So as I share with my family and friends far and near
trying to change and enjoy some more quality years as this aging process that I do not like
continues onward....

Plan on writing less as it seems my mind is almost empty at the moment, want to be on the
computer less as it sure is addictive and hours can fly by without you hardly even knowing it.
I promise not to just disappear like some I have become attached to have done.
But do not want my sharing to focuse on health and aging.

 Trying to be still more, think less, meditate more and continue to realize
that with all the ups and downs of my driven lifestyles  that if I could have
much would have been changed but I did all that was in my power with the
knowledge that I possessed at that time of life.
 What is apparent at this moment is I have wonderful
children, grandchildren and I have so many blessings and need to focus on this.

Guess the best one at the moment is I am reasonably healthy, of sound mind and was
allowed to return to an area that in my heart I could never entirely leave and was allowed to  build this small home surrounded by nature....

Also new neighbors from a farm in Kentucky have moved into home on adjoining property.
This home was one I built after selling the old farm house.  In a few years I sold it
thinking I would not return to the country. It was sold to a  lady who is a retired professor and
she has returned
to her home place in Rhode Island.

  Looking out the window New Years Eve
I spotted 6 horses and a donkey :)  part of my new neighbors family.   Also some cats
and dogs met me as I approached the front door to introduce myself and give them my
phone number in case I could help them in any way....

This will thrill my young granddaughter's when they visit.

Enough shared on this cold and snowy morning
where plans for the day continue to change/

Also as plans are underway for my first granddaughter's Spring wedding
I smile and my heart is warmed....