Category: Initial post

I told you that I would list the vegetables we used in our latest veg soup. Well, here they are, and, they were all in our kitchen, or fridge, waiting to be used up, so they did not go bad. (I hate it when we buy vegetables, and they rot in the fridge. Disgusting. Especially in this time of crisis).

Here we go. We used the following vegetables, to fill two eight quart stock pots, for soup.

5 small zucchini (here, they are no more than 4” long)

1/2 onion, sliced

5 carrots, 1/2” sliced

10 small celery stalks, 1/2” sliced

1 chayote, peeled, seed removed, and 1/2” sliced

1/2 each, small head, green, and purple, sliced thin, or shedded

3 cups nopales, cactus paddles, cleaned, cut into 1/4” strips and cooked

1 head cauliflower, florets cut small

1 purple eggplant, peeled, and cut into bite sized pieces

1 chile poblano, burned, skinned, deseeded, cut into 1” pieces

1 small package cremini mushrooms, cleaned, cut into quarters

4 Roma tomatoes, cut into 1/2 x 1/2” pieces.

1 container fresh spinach, stems removed.

12 cups water

4 Tbs. Knorr chicken bouillon

1 – 2 tsp. Turmeric, to taste

1 – 2 tsp. Tarragon, to taste

1 Tbs. tomato paste, to taste.

This does not take all that long to cook, so, taste frequently, and adjust seasonings to your taste. Serve with your side of choice- tortilla chips, slice of bread, rice.

Let me know if you try this, but until then, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, protect those you love.

I have come to realize that I have not spoken much about the wonderful neighbors we had, while living in Iowa. Let me rectify that right now.

Duke, Alissa, Cady, Jack, and Lacey- the absolute best neighbors anyone, in their right minds, could have ever asked for. We have never, before, or since, had such wonderful people that we could rely on, like this family. They are the family we chose.

In the summer, the kids would mow our yard, front and back, for only about a half million dollars each week. JK.

That we grew vegetables, by the truck load, many of you will remember. The kids would come over, and help us harvest, and eat them, so very little went to waste. Jack, and Lacey, especially, would come over, and eat the grape tomatoes right off the vines, not getting very many home, when all was said, and, done.

I had the chance, once, to stop Lacey, for a moment, and, try to pass along some of my “garden knowledge” to her, so, hopefullly, she would relay it to her family, if the time ever came. Evan Jack gave me some time, to do the same with him. I told them both to make sure to plant basil in between each tomato plant, to keep the bugs off the tomatoes. Another thing, to put a small cup of beer, semi submerged in the garden soil, if they noticed slugs on the veg. I explained that this would lure the slugs to the beer, and drown them, all without chemicals.

I must say, I never used chemicals in my gardens, never. I always looked to get rid of garden “pests” organically. I gave most of my produce away, because I could never put a price tag on what I was doing. I used all of our “waste” as compost, and fed the gardens from that. I am very proud of the vegetables I was able to produce, and miss doing that to this day.

Did I talk too much to the kids? Do they remember anything I tried to teach them? I have no idea. I can only hope they did. Gardening is such an underrated hobby that it hurts me to think that, someday, it may be obsolete. Remember this, it is the only way to know what is actually in your food.

Until next time, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, protect your loved ones.

Have I mentioned the eucalyptus trees that we have down here? They are in such an abundance that you would not believe it unless you saw them with your own eyes.

We just walked over to Enrique’s condo, to take him some soup, and salsa that we made. On the way home, the wind was picking up, (tut, tut, it looks like rain *see note), and we could smell the eucalyptus all around us, so fragrant.

Since I am so darned overweight at the moment, and my back is straining to hold up my pendulous belly, (even with my new wrap), I asked YKW to slow down a bit, to take some of the pressure off my back. Of course, he did, so we got to enjoy the smells a little bit longer. 😉

I do apologize for not posting something everyday, but I cannot, in good conscience, post blah, blah, blah. I will not do it. Those times, when I feel I need to keep you in our loop, you will find that info here. I do not want you to turn away because it is blah, blah, blah.

I have been keeping up with some of the things going on with my family, as well as my former coconspiritors, coworkers, and, amigas. Some of you people are certifiable, some of you, well, most of you are not.

Me, I am beyond redemption. But, as I am not longer accountable to any of you, only YKW, well, he loves me even as a gordona. (That is an orca to you. Normally, I consider myself a gordita, but I am waaayyy past gordita). 😉

Tomorrow, we are going to start eating our multi-vegetable soup, in hopes of dropping some weight over the next few weeks. I will, of course, let you know how that is going, rest assured. I will even post all of the vegetables we used in the soup, just in case any of you want to clean out your fridge, and are blessed with two eight quart stock pots worth of veg from your fridge.

As always, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect those you love.

* Note: Winnie the Pooh!! Also, YKW, is you know who. Come on people!!!

Somewhere, in the condo, or condos surrounding us, there is quite the party going on. And, as part of said party, there is one little “ankle biter” that is trying to tell everyone to SHUT UP!

To no avail, however. No one, but the rest of us old fogeys, who, at twelve thirty, might be trying to get to sleep!!! We can hear him, frantically barking. Fortunately, it is far enough away that, when we shut the bedroom window, we probably, well, hopefully, will no longer hear it.

It is not like you can call 911, and report this kind of thing. That sort of call is best left for threats on ones life, not a barking dog.

Needless to say, now, several days later, we did get some sleep, though, not much.

Since we have been quarantined, we go to bed about midnight, sleep until about three am., get up, watch something on our computers for an hour or so, go back to bed, sleep for a few hours, and get up, again, about ten thirty, for the day. It is going to take us weeks to get back into a routine, that does not include being on the computer at all hours of the night.

Until then, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, and cover your mouth. Protect your families.

What is a person to do when they have no internet?

Interesting, how dependent Ivan, and I, are on the internet. Everything we do is on line nowadays. We watch videos on YouTube, play puzzles, write blog posts, pay bills. (Evidently the cable bill slipped past me, however. That is what happens to me when I am bored out of my mind). We will just have to watch, what? Come on. You know what. GOT. 😉 Actually, we ended up watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Animated. Really good.

Not that forgetting is something new for me. I have become increasingly forgetful as I age. Annoying, to say the least. I am always reminded that this is natural with aging, and I would rather get older than not. So be it.

I was going to start knitting my shawl again, as I just found it the other day, but decided I had better wait until we are able to get out and about regularly. There is something about being able to go outside that spurs the imagination. When I knit for awhile, and then stop for awhile, I tend to lose my place in the pattern. Then I end up ripping back all of my hard work. Best left for another day.

As always, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, and cover your mouth.

Post script: Happy sixty seventh birthday to my brother, Eric, who happens to be in Abu Dabi, helping others with the CoVid19 virus pandemic. I hope you are safe, and healthy.

I SHAVED MY FACE TODAY!!!

I really cannot tell you how smooth my face feels. IT IS INCREDIBLE!! I have no recollection of my face ever being this smooth. Ever!

My astringent goes on so smoothly, as does my moisturizer. I have not worn makeup for quite some time as we really only go to the grocery stores. And who, there, cares if I have makeup on or not?

I did have some reddened skin for about twenty four hours, but, again, who cared? I certainly did not. To have all of that peach fuzz gone was remarkable. Something I never thought would happen.

I will tell you, these blades are made by Shick, and are called derma- something. They are tiny blades, about two centimeters long, on a plastic handle, with a protective cap. Mine cost about ten dollars for three, but, I believe they are about three dollar, and, change in the US.

Ten minutes, and the deed was done. I thought it would be more difficult, but, it was not. I thought it might hurt, but, it did not. Actually, I had many thoughts, but none of them came true.

It was simple, clean, efficient. My face feels amazing!!! And, even after a few days, I am still happy with what I have done.

Will I continue to shave every week? You can bet your next paycheck on it.

Stay happy, stay safe, stay healthy. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

It is torrential, this rain Wow. We have not had a storm like this since last spring. And that is saying something.

Some of the rain this past fall was hellacious, but we were not here, at home. We were at Juan’s house. Unfortunately, here, we have to close all of the windows, except in our bedroom as the rain will be absorbed by the blanket covering the window.

The air is fresh, and cool, and smells wonderful. The lightening is intermittent, and the the thunder cracking, and loud. If you have read any of my post you will know that I LOVE THUNDERSTORMS.

I appreciate that not everyone is of the same mind, and I accept their seeming inadequacies. 😉 Listening to the thunder, seeing the lightening, feeling the rain on your face….. priceless. Primal.

Stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, stay home.

I am going to shave, my face that is. I have watched a half dozen YT videos on the subject, and my little bitty derma- plane blades will be here in the middle of the week.

I know what you are thinking- your hair will grow back black, and stubby, like a beard. Not so ladies. That is a myth, perpetuated by women with too little estrogen, or too much testosterone.

The truth is that those of us with “peach fuzz” long enough to braid, although it is white, and soft, it is still annoying, so, off it goes. Those women who show themselves on the videos, say that their skin is so much smoother, that it takes foundation, concealer, moisturizer, powder, whatever you put on your face, and makes your skin feel soft, but smooth. It dermabrades your skin, meaning, it removes all of the dead skin cells you may not even realize you have. Your makeup looks smooth, and natural again. If you use powder, to set your foundation, that does not clump up anymore. Plus, they recommend you only do this once a week.

Well, I am here to tell you that five to ten minutes, once a week, I am in. With both feet, I am in. I cannot wait. Of course I will let you know how it goes. But think about it. Women with darker skin, women of Western European decent, we all have these fuzzy little “beards”, and felt there was nothing we could do about it.

Oh, and do not forget the newly acquired mustache!!! What is up with that? All of that will be gone before this time next week. Until then…..

Stay happy, stay healthy, and stay safe. Wash your hands, cover you mouth, and buy a gun. It sounds like it may be coming to that.

Puzzles. I adore doing puzzles, especially since my sister, Nancy, reminded me about puzzles. She showed me in a text which one she has been using, to remain sane, during this incarceration. Low, and behold, it is the same one I used to play, back in the States. How fun is that?

One thing she did mention, but I chose to gloss over it, was that she was now addicted to playing puzzles. How silly is that, I thought. Let me just say, that at two o’clock this morning, it was not so silly.

My back is hurting, my shoulders are solid rocks, my neck is stiff, and I am loving every minute of it. I went to “sleep”, (read, I laid horizontally on the bed), and the music of the puzzle kept going through my head for hours. In fact, I heard it for so long, I was able to make out several of the harmonies within the music. Thank you sister mine.

We have lost our ability to sleep a night through, and are up, and down, all night long. Ivan “naps” during the day, and, sometimes, I too, will lie down for thirty minutes or so. To no avail, however. I rearely achieve REM sleep, but do, occasionally dream, so that is better than nothing. There is only so much one can do while incarcerated. If only we had……

If you, too, are looking for puzzles apps. on your phone, or computer, Jigsaw HD is free, and amazing. The puzzles are beautiful. You can change the number of puzzle pieces you want to use, (currently I am up to 225 pieces), because the more pieces, the more difficult, and time consuming is the puzzle. Be prepared to lose hours out of your otherwise busy schedule.

Stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, and cover your mouth.

Post script: Protesters at the US embassy were throwing Molotov cocktails over the metal wall that had been constructed several weeks ago, around the perimeter of the embassy. I do not know any more than that, unsure if anyone was injured. Not sure, exactly, what they were protesting about either- the video did not say. Stay safe people.

It has been four months, living without a microwave oven. And they said it could not be done.

When we were still in Iowa, and were discussing what appliances to have in the condo, we both agreed that we would not have room for the Breville Smart Oven we had just purchased, and a microwave, so we came to the agreement that the smart oven would be used more often, and for a wider range of foods, than reheating coffee, or quickly defrosting something in the microwave. So, the smart oven won.

I must say that neither of us miss the microwave at all. I never thought I would think that either, but I do. All of our little “accessories” are geared to the smart oven, the smaller baking sheets, the small cast iron skillets, the sizzle pans, which is good, because we use it every day for something. We use it to toast our bread, bake bacon, yum, broil whatever needs broiling, and, well, you get the idea.

Since our kitchen is so compact, we have to be very careful about what we have, unlike our kitchen up North. In there, we had every kind of gadget we could find. Did we use everything? For the most part, yes. A fair amount of space, mostly in the garage, was taken up by all of my canning equipment, and there was a lot of it. We definitely got our money’s worth out of that lot. I canned two and three times a year, at least.

So, the other day, after having baked two trays of bacon, (remember the BLT’s?), I just happened to glance inside the oven as I reaching down to pick something up off the floor, and oh, my gosh. There is splatter, grease, “stuff” burnt onto the heating elements. Now, I am off to search the internet to learn how to clean these elements without ruining the oven. I cannot wait. At present, the only cleaning items I have are baking soda, vinegar, and Bar Keepers Friend. Wish me luck.

As always, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, and cover your mouth.

I will let you know how the cleaning went.