MISC – Page 92 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

WE HAVE ATTITUDE – LOVE YOU HUBBY!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

FLASHBACK FRIDAY @ SEASIDE SIMPLICITY

I am playing along with Martha at Seaside Simplicity with the meme Flashback Friday. Come join in on the fun and link up your photo.

Every family has their black sheep. I’d like to say it’s my crazy aunt Ginger, but the fact is, she’s just crazy. Now in her 70’s, but acts like a kid and not always a in a good way. When I say she’s crazy, I mean in an oddball way.

When she came to my dad’s funeral (her big brother) in 1993 she took tons of pictures and mailed them out to family. No, she didn’t take pictures of the family and friends that gathered to mourn his passing. She took all sorts of pictures of him in his casket and then sent them to us. As we approach the 20th anniversary of his death, the thing I always remember is crazy aunt Ginger – eccentric and odd forever!

HOW FAR WILL YOU GO?

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with BROWNED PARSLEY BUTTER

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with BROWNED PARSLEY BUTTER

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

flour for dredging

4 tablespoons butter

1 large green onion, sliced thin

salt, pepper and paprika to taste

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Juice of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lime

Place chicken between the folds of a clean cheesecloth towel.
Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thick.
Cut each breast in half.
Generously season both sides of chicken breasts.
Dredge chicken in flour.
In a large skillet melt butter over medium high heat.
When butter is sizzling, but not browning, add onions and chicken pieces.
Generously season AGAIN!
Cook chicken 4-5 minutes on each side.
Plate chicken and keep warm.
Add parsley, lemon and lime juices, cooking until browned.
Pour over chicken pieces.
Garnish with parsely.

Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday hosted by Lisa at Blessed with Grace.

Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Weekend Cooking Creations is hosted by Jennifer.

SKIPPER CHIPPERS aka PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL RAISIN CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT COOKIES with a hint of MAPLE

I have been going through tons and tons of recipes weeding out those that really needed thrown out and those that I still want to make one day. I’ve scanned in the ones I want to keep and tossed a ton too. Along the way I found 11 various recipes for oatmeal cookies. I love my oatmeal raisin cookies, but there was something about each of the other 11 recipes I’d saved that made them special. So instead of trying all 11 recipes I made my own with all the ingredients that drew me to the recipes to begin with. And you know what? According to hubby these are the best cookies ever. I have to agree – the were crunchy and chewy at the same time and every bite was mmmm mmmm good! Hubs was eating the dough straight and even saved some to make a special peanut butter sandwich tomorrow.

SKIPPER CHIPPERS

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 JUMBO eggs

1 cup peanut butter

1 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups old fashioned oatmeal

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, chopped fine

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped fine

1 cup golden raisins

1 teaspoon maple extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
Cream together the butter and sugar.
Add the maple extract.
Add eggs one at a time, blending well.
Add peanut butter. blending well again.
Add flour mixture gradually until smooth and well blended.
Add oatmeal 1/2 cup at a time until well blended.
Add the walnuts, mixing well.
Add the chocolate chips, mixing well.
Fold in raisins.
Drop by spoon fulls onto parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes.
Let set 2 minutes.
Cool on wire racks.
Store in tupperware.

Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday hosted by Lisa at Blessed with Grace.

Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Weekend Cooking Creations is hosted by Jennifer.

VA RED TAPE SUCKS!

I apologize to the clerk at the VA that I just went off on, but folks let’s get the BIG picture here. OUR veterans should NOT have to be repeatedly subjected to the WHIMS of each new doctor that has no regard for the pain of the patient or the costs to him and his family emotionally and financially while he is repeatedly put on the back burner and subjected to the same tests and assessments again and again without actually receiving the necessary treatments.

SPRING BABIES ARE THE CUTEST

Please visit other Camera Critters!

LEMONS to LEMONADE, MY NEW MANTRA FOREVER AS I TRAVEL DOWN LIFE’S CRAZY ROAD

Many of you know that despite my normally always positive outlook on life I have not always been the healthiest of people. Years and years ago I began a life style change that would make today’s college student cringe when I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus during college. I gave up processed food, fast food, drinking and excessive sweets. It worked! I was able to get off most medications, started feeling better and was able to live life to a fuller extent.

I followed a stringent preventative schedule, got well woman exams, took my vitamins, followed a healthy diet and yet several years later was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Miracle of all miracles and a volleyball sized tumor later, my wonderful surgeon got all of the cancer and I began to breathe AND live again as I recovered from surgery.

During the surgery they discovered a Hiatal Hernia, but let it be since the cancer was more important. It was a long surgery with a 10 inch scar to remind me everyday how blessed I am to still be among the living. It was also a long recovery with a multitude of side affects along the way.

As I got stronger and began to live again, the Hiatal Hernia reared its ugly head and made me more and more miserable. The pain and side affects increased day by day and eventually led to a new surgery last June. This surgery was a Nissen Fundoplication that ended in stomach reconstruction when they needed to remove several inches of shredded esophagus and build a new valve. It also left me on a liquid diet for several months. Even after that I have been slowly adding food by food to test my ability to tolerate and digest certain foods – kind of like teaching a baby to eat one food at a time. Recovering from yet another surgery left me fighting for my strength and energy. Water Aerobics and walking became my daily friend and life saver.

The first side affect that is really making life difficult is searing pain. Until recently I was seriously afraid the cancer was back. But after a recent CT scan I’m told there is no sign of recurring metastatic disease. Yet they did manage to find a few other things! DAMN it’s always something. FLD for one. What is FLD aka Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? Well it’s something I shouldn’t have given how well I eat! But, yet I have it. I will be going for a Cardiac CT scan in the near future to determine if my life is about to change yet again by adding a dreaded lifetime drug to maintain the FLD.

Then comes the second of the side affects that bothers even more, my vision. After the first surgery one of the doctors mentioned that changes in my vision might happen and recommended not changing to contacts right away. Unfortunately I did begin to see changes and my sight was getting worse, blurry and distorted close up. I recently met with a new eye doctor and was told I have a macular hole. Between the eye doctor, my primary and my new oncologist we all agree on one thing – there is NO good reason that these things are happening to me – I eat well, drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of exercise and rest.

So here we go for more drastic changes. ALL my adult life my mantra has been about turning lemons into lemonade and some days I find it difficult to understand how it is even possible that the pitcher of lemonade is still half full and able to replenish itself. I do realize I would do whatever was necessary to stay healthy and be able to care for my family. I’ve been given a list of supplements to add to my diet, to eat even more fish, fruit, leafy greens and told to wear sunglasses ALL the time. The rest I’m choosing to do as I continue to deal with adding foods to my diet and dealing with new conditions that can’t be eliminated, but CAN BE controlled.

Being removed from my diet on a regular basis is bread in general, red meat as a whole, fast food (what little I eat) and ALL processed food! Now you might notice on future menus red meat recipes, but that’s okay as I won’t force hubby to adapt to my new ways all the time.

PERMANENT MENU REVISIONS

Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

	DATE	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
MONDAY	2/25	CHEERIOS, BANANA & YOGURT	TUNA & ORANGE	LEMON GLAZED RED SNAPPER, BROCCOLINI, 4 OUNCES GREEN GODESS & SALAD
TUESDAY	2/26	OATMEAL, BANANA & YOGURT	TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS & SNAP PEAS	PINK LEMON CHICKEN, BROCCOLINI 4 OUNCES GREEN GODESS & SALAD
WEDNESDAY	2/27	CHEERIOS, BANANA & YOGURT	TUNA & ORANGE	AVOCADO SALAD, 4 OUNCES GREEN GODESS & ROAST CHICKEN
THURSDAY	2/28	OATMEAL, BANANA & YOGURT	TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS & SNAP PEAS	CRAB SALAD, TOMATOES, 4 OUNCES GREEN GODESS & SNAP PEAS
FRIDAY	3/1	OATMEAL, BANANA & YOGURT	CRAB SALAD	ROCKFISH COD, SPINACH SALAD, 4 OUNCES GREEN GODESS & FRUIT SALAD
SATURDAY	3/2	CHEERIOS, BANANA & YOGURT	TUNA & ORANGE	BAKED WHITE FISH, BROCCOLINI, TOMATO SLICES & SNAP PEAS
SUNDAY	3/3	SCRAMBLED EGGS	PROTEIN DRINK	MAHI MAHI IN ORANGE SAUCE, 4 OUNCES GREEN GODESS, BROCCOLINI & SALAD

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

FLASHBACK FRIDAY @ SEASIDE SIMPLICITY

I am playing along with Martha at Seaside Simplicity with the meme Flashback Friday. Come join in on the fun and link up your photo.

I’ve been digging through old photos and found one I’d never seen before of my mom as a teenager. Swimsuits were so different back then, but oh so feminine.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE OLD BARNS

**Behind the barn you can see the storm is moving in, but this barn was begging for the picture to be taken.**

**The barn is all but falling down and there is still hay in the loft begging for an afternoon nap to be had there.**

THURSDAY 13+ – FUN SIGNS

THURSDAY 13

Sign over a Gynecologist’s Office: “Dr. Jones, at your cervix.”
In a Podiatrist’s office: “Time wounds all heels.”
On a Septic Tank Truck: Yesterday’s Meals on Wheels
At a Proctologist’s door: “To expedite your visit, please back in.”
At an Optometrist’s Office: “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”
On a Plumber’s truck: “We repair what your husband fixed.”
On another Plumber’s truck: “Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.”
On a Church’s Billboard: “7 days without God makes one weak.”
At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee: “Invite us to your next blowout.”
At a Towing company: “We don’t charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.”
On an Electrician’s truck: “Let us remove your shorts.”
In a Non-smoking Area: “If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.”
On a Maternity Room door: “Push. Push. Push.”
On a Taxidermist’s window: “We really know our stuff.”
On a Fence: “Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!”
At a Car Dealership: “The best way to get back on your feet – miss a car payment.”
Outside a Muffler Shop: “No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.”
In a Veterinarian’s waiting room: “Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”
At the Electric Company “We would be delighted if you send in your payment However, if you don’t, you will be.”
In a Restaurant window: “Don’t stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up.”
In the front yard of a Funeral Home: “Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”
At a Propane Filling Station: “Thank heaven for little grills.”
CHICAGO RADIATOR SHOP: “Best place in town to take a leak.”
Sign on the back of Septic Tank Truck:“Caution – This Truck is full of Political Promises”