Is Bruce County Being "Tricked" Into A January Date With Spring?

I can not believe it is the 11th of January, with temperatures I am sure now up into the double digits here as time quickly approaches the hour of 2:00 p.m. ...... oh dear, I really hope this is not the "calm" before a "huge" storm approaching.

Last night The Weather Network did post a link on Facebook stating a storm front was moving in last night and would be here today; wonder where that front got itself of to, as it surely is not anywhere around here to be seen so far today.

 "This photo was taken when I was out this morning with Bandit and Lexus around the 9:00 am hour, with the sun starting its rise up from the East slowly making its way over to the Southern skies."

"When outside I was wondering if this guy is ever going to have any snow to accompany him throughout the next few weeks, or not, before Spring descends upon us?"

 "Remnants of last years nesting still seemingly secured to its branch.  I do wonder if the birds reuse the nests left from prior years?"

"Ahhhh, and here are two of my most favorite "pooches" in the Whole Wide World.  I couldn't believe they took time out from romping with each other to actually stop alongside each other to do a "sniff out" inquiry together .... lol."

I had received a phone call yesterday afternoon, that the book "The Help", which earlier in December I had put in a request for at the Wiarton Library, was available for me to pickup.  Rob was so kind enough, before our Dinner time, to zip me down there  to pick it up, as I really didn't want to go back on the waiting list for it.  What a better time then now to start reading it ???

"The "borrowing" time is still a two week limit, so I am hoping I can get through this by then, otherwise it has to go back in the required two weeks time, and I have to go back on the "list" to wait a turn in order to finish it.  This is a new goal for me to accomplish within the next two weeks, to GET THIS BOOK READ !"

Since we were downtown anyway, Rob was also so kind enough to go around to the Rankin Trading Post Store so I could pick up my new 2012 Lang Calendar.

"The one I choose this year was The Lang "Vintage Designs", as the yellows compliment the yellow of my kitchen wall.  A Lang Calendar has always been a "treat" to me every New Year.  The picture is a little glarey as there is so much sun coming in the window, however this poor little Snowman still needs some "snow", as does the one outside, to make him feel comfortable (but really not too much I would say would be quite enough)."

I had planned on making my Auntie Gerry's recipe for Parmesan Chicken today for dinner:

Easy Chicken Parmesan Chicken

6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1. Dip in a mixture of 2 tsp water, Salt/Pepper & 2 eggs
2. Dip in mixture of 1 cup bread crumbs & 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Spray baking dish ( I used a small roaster)

3. Place chicken, after dipping in egg & crumbs into baking dish. Cover with mozzarella slices & 1 - 213 ml tin tomato sauce (1 cup) (I used flavored tomato sauce)

4. Bake @ 350 covered for 1/2 hour or longer; uncover and continue baking until cheese melt

Unfortunately the chicken had not thawed enough, so I had to compromise by quickly putting together a Green Onion, Cremini Mushroom, and Marble Cheddar Cheese Omelet for our Dinner.

"I got it all going and had it "whipped" up and plated in no time, so Dinner was still still served by the hour of 1:00 pm. for us."

I am so fortunate to have such considerate "wonderful" family members; so thoughtful in their cares and worries for me ....

"My Auntie Gladys has to be one of the most considerate thoughtful women I have know in my life; receiving this "get well" card and "note" from her was just what my heart needed to read yesterday ."

"... and I am ever so grateful to my dear Cousin Paula, who dropped around this "gift" for me between my doors when I was down at my most sickest between Christmas and the New Year.  Kindness and loving all rolled up into one lovely "bundle" !"

s

The blessings of one's Family and Friends.  I cannot say how many blessings I have coming from all directions. Blessed I am and thankful as well ..... and then not to mention what a "great" husband I have to compliment it right down to an every day, and "most" always, loving feeling.  

Without coming off too mushy, Rob and I do have our ups and downs, but always seem to pull through them, "right side up and together", which is the foundation of all importance ~ togetherness ~ .

I think I have behaved myself not too badly today.  I only folded the load of laundry we had done yesterday, did up a few dishes after making our Dinner, and had the "little" trip downtown for the couple of errands.

I am well ready to put up my feet and open up the book,  "The Help", right here and now, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

The Bad, The Good, And Getting Through It All

The "bad" is I started breaking out into hives Sunday evening, along with having the ends of my three fingertips on my left hand swell to such a point of pain and discomfort it has been making sleep unbearable the past couple of nights.

Antihistamine took care of the hives, however not the intense swelling of the fingertips.

I discontinued all medications yesterday afternoon, placing a call into my Doctor's office this morning.

My Doctor's office did call me back this afternoon.  Conclusion:  My Doctor is changing the antibiotic medication, thinking this is what was causing all the extra discomfort.  However, I am to remain on the Prednisone and continue with plenty of liquids.  Maybe by tomorrow, Rob will be able to go down to our Pharmacy for the new antibiotic prescription the good Doctor has ordered for me.

The "good" is I heard from the Specialist's office this morning.  I have an appointment with Dr. Mark Newton this Friday at the Owen Sound Hospital's Ambulatory Care Unit.  I am anxious to go see about the results from my CT Scan, and hear his "take" on what has been going on with my lungs, as I have yet to hear anybody's "take" on what has been going on in there.

"Getting through it all"..... life does have to go on, so this morning I did make the Black Bean and Feta Salad.

"Before I got started on the salad I had to send Rob outside to get some fresh parsley, as the recipe called for 1/4 cup.  Can you believe it is the 10th of January, and we are still gathering "fresh" parsley from the Herb Garden?  Amazing !"

"Got the pork chops and the sauerkraut started up and going in the Slow Cooker first off."

"Here we go, all ready with all the necessary ingredients at hand to get it all going.  Black Beans drained and rinsed, all else ready to be squeezed, minced and diced accordingly."

"All done up ready to be refrigerated whilst the Pork Chops continue cooking in preparation for our noontime Dinner.  The recipe makes a "substantial" amount, as this is in my largest Pyrex bowl."

"Dinner is "served" to fit a King and Queen.  Pork chops smothered in sauerkraut, steamed broccoli, Black Bean & Feta Salad."

I must say, we really did enjoy the salad, and I would think it is a "keeper" to make and serve again.  Like any other marinated type salad though, I would think the flavors would be best blended the evening ahead in order to marinade further throughout the salad.

Once cleanup was all done and over with, I am now also "done".  I took advantage of that "little" window" of feeling good for a bit yesterday, and managed to "overkill" the feeling by wearing myself thin today, and probably yesterday day too being out and about when I should have been on the "couch". 

I am so guilty of doing this to myself .... the "nature of the beast" so to speak, however now I am paying for it.

Feeling I have taken another step backwards, talk to one's self:  "Smarten up "old girl", or you are never going to get better sooner then later at this rate" !"

"GUILTY" as charged, and I will try to do better here on in ........

Yesterday I forgot to "rave" about the great deal I got at the Deals Store in Owen Sound, a store I was browsing, located beside First Choice Haircutters,  while Rob was getting his haircut.

"Free !  I got all this stuff from a bin that was marked "free" !  I was so pleased with myself, as I never usually fall into a "free bin".  All to be put away in safe keeping until next Christmas rolls around."

This has been my day so far, and now I really am done "Like Dinner" as the old cliche' goes.

My Crabby Cabbie has gone off to do what he does best, and I am thinking the couch, my newest best friend of the past two weeks, is looking pretty good to these tired eyes at the moment.  I am in a "funk" that is giving me a "light headed surreal feeling".  Not sure where this is coming from .... illness, fatigue, or maybe a combination of it all?

On this note, I do think I will call it a day to try and now give myself a much needed reprieve.  I am off, surely not running, towards my newest best friend, "The Couch", "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

The Craving Has Finally Been Full-Filled !

..... for the oddest reason it was when I was seemingly at my very sickest, I had a "craving" for French Toast and Crispy Bacon.

Today was the day I satisfied the "craving", and boy, oh boy, was it ever good !

 "Here it was all in the "works".  Check out the spanking brand new Starfrit frying pan .... Rob bought me yesterday at Walmart, as my old fry pans warp now under any kind of heat at all.  What a pleasure it was to cook with even heat distributed throughout the bottom of the pan .... sheer Heaven it was, let me tell the World !  ....but of course he only bought me one new pan, at a cost of $29.00 +taxes, so the bacon had to be done up in the old warped fry pan."

"Let me tell you and me, it was simply delish, and the craving has now been satisfied.  So much for those few pounds I lost in the past couple of weeks, as I am sure they will all be back on within at least another day or two .... hopefully not, but then that would be just unrealistic wishful thinking on my part, now wouldn't it be?  LOL."





Now that I am feeling lots much better then I was, I had  gone back into Owen Sound this morning with Rob, as he had to go in to get his haircut, and we needed a few things at the No Frills Store across the way anyhow.

I had come across a recipe this past Saturday for a Black Bean with Feta Salad that I would like to try.  I have taken pork chops out of the freezer to cook up along with some sauerkraut tomorrow, to go with the Salad.  Here is the recipe for it as follows:

Black Bean Salad with Feta Recipe

Recipe Type: Salad and Salad Dressing, Beans, Cabbage
Yields: 8 servings
Prep time: 20 min
 

Ingredients:

2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 sweet red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
2 cups finely chopped cabbage 
4 green onions, chopped
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice 
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

In a large bowl, combine beans, bell pepper, cabbage, onion, feta cheese, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper; toss to mix. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.

Makes 8 servings (1 cup each).

Recipe Courtesy of What's Cooking America.

Oops, I just noticed it called for fresh-squeezed lemon; I will have to get Rob to run down to the store later to pick one up just so I don't have to substitute bottled lemon juice.  I will be sure to let everyone know how it turns out, since my Crabby Cabbie will be back in on duty tomorrow at his regular time, we will be back to having our Dinner at around the noon time hour once again.

Now all of this depends on whether or not I hear from the Specialist or not tomorrow morning, so if all goes according to plan this will be on tomorrow's Dinner Menu.

I am telling you, it is so much nicer now to be able to breath more normal then ever .... we take ever the littlest things for granted within so many days of our lives, do we not?  My chest cavity still pains, my breathing still becomes strained and shallow if I over exert, however I am 100% better or more then I was, and this is all good !!!

I am going little by little, with taking my time from going to Point A to Point B; longer and slower is better right now, and really at this point there is no rush to get the Christmas Decorations down and put away is there?  I might as well just start enjoying them a little bit now that I am well enough to?

Ha,ha,ha .... it has been getting a little dusty around here, but those "dust bunnies" have been having a "hay day".  Their days are hopefully but numbered now .... as I plan to return with a "flourish" !!!  Rob was so kind to vacuum all around the other day, so it is mostly layered "dust bunnies" at the moment, as they stack themselves lined up across the top of our furnishings.

That was just quite enough excitement for me all in one day, and just think it is only 2:00 pm..... but still good enough for a day for me at the moment.

The day is cool, windy and grey overcast again out there.  I am sure I read 80% flurries today and tonight, so I suspect the snow will eventually fly sometime yet today.

I am off to get more rested and better myself all at the same time, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Christmas Dinner Photos Have Been Found !

I finally was able to go through the photos in my camera and come across the ones which I had taken of our December 24th Christmas Dinner that Rob & myself had together.

 "It all began at 6:00 am in the morning when this 22 lb frozen stuffed Butterball went into the oven."

"While our Christmas Bird was roasting along, little Missy Mercedes had been amusing herself with her new Christmas Toy."

"The "bird" was done by 1:00 pm, or so and all the trimmings complete with coleslaw and gravey were put all together."

"One of my two most favorite parts of a Turkey Dinner is the Turnip & Dressing ...... yum, yum, yum !"

"I am thinking this must have been the "kind" of day it was this day?"

This is the last meal I have cooked since .... my poor dear Rob, but by the same token I am sure he was happy it was such a big bird as it kept him fed quite a distance into the period of my sickness, thank goodness for him !

"This picture was taken of Missy Mercedes this morning.  I am thinking she is getting quite weary of me being sick and is so patiently awaiting for Rob to get up to give her and the rest of the "pack" some much needed attention, since I have been so lacking in this department of late."

It's been a grey overcast cold kind of day outside our windows and doors here today, with the woodstove fired up and giving off a nice warmth of heat.

Trying to keep rested to get well here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Wow Where Have That Two Weeks Gone By To?

...... I find myself almost at a loss for words.  I am sure I have officially become a "couch" potato, as I really haven't known anything but our couch for over the past two weeks now.

I really can't remember in my whole 53 years of life of ever being so sick.  It has been a long haul, seemingly to carry on somewhat further into the days ahead.  It all began the evening of the 24th of December 2011, awaking to pains I could never imagine feeling they were so intense in my joints and muscles.  I was of the opinion it was a very bad flu, which I am sure it started out to be, spending the whole of Christmas Day in bed, barely rising if my memory serves me correct.

For some reason a day continued into days that followed in more pain and weakness.  Rob took me to the hospital, I am thinking it was Boxing Day, to where the attending physician sent me home saying it was a "bad bug" and I just had to ride it out, not to bother coming back unless I was "spitting up blood".  Well any mention of Rob taking me back again was out of the question, I was so upset and had set my mind to wait until my own Doctor was back in his office the following week.

By the time the following week had arrived I am sure there had been some very delirious days and nights inbetween it all, as I can remember barely getting myself up to the washroom back and forth.  I was drinking gingerale and water mostly, and remembering having some fruit Rob had picked up for us, along with some crackers a couple of times throughout the whole of the week.  I could hardly breath, nor speak, I was so weak with such a pain in the right side of my chest.

Finally this past Tuesday Rob took me in to our Doctors, where Dr. Loney concluded either pleurisy or pneumonia, which I have had a number of years ago (maybe 10 years ago or so).  The good Dr. gave me a shot for pain, as well as a prescription in hand for antibiotics and steroids.  He also arranged that same day for me to have a chest xray.  Off to the Wiarton Hospital we went to where Rob took me in for a chest xray.

The very next day concluded I needed a CatScan of my chest with an appointment being made this past Friday at the Owen Sound Hospital for one.  Still weak and not realizing how much so, Rob dropped me off at the entrance of the Hospital, whereas I almost made it up to the Clerk to give her my information when I felt my legs begin to leave my body.  It must have shown on my face, as they had me swooped into a wheelchair before I knew it.  The staff was most wonderful on helping me get my testing done, and took me back to the main entrance where I was able to phone Rob to come in to collect me.

With the medications I can now talk clearer once again, but am so limited to what I am able to do, as I find I exhaust so easily.

My Doctor's office received the results of the CatScan back the same day, this past Friday, and are now making arrangements for me to see a Specialist hopefully by the middle of next week.

I attempted to try doing a few dishes this morning, however my knees almost went from me and it was not the bestest scene I am sure.  Rob was sure to tell me very quickly to start listening to my body, as he must of heard me laboring and got up to see what I was doing.

Oh I am so blessed to have such a good husband.  I have just begun the past two days to regain some of my appetite back, and he has been cooking up a storm of macaroni/tomatoes yesterday, and Hamburger Helper today !  What a lucky gal I am to have a guy who cooks.  For some very strange reason I have had the weirdest craving the past week or so for Bacon and French Toast .... I have no idea where this has surfaced from?

I miss blogging every day; I miss getting up, about and around.  Life is so sweet and we take so very much of it for granted.  I could never imagine how people manage such situations without a life partner or a close family member or friend nearby.  I have had so many well wishers come through for me, and my heart is full of gratitude for all of these wonderful people in my life.  The members of Cindy's Recipe Exchange are still participating, and this I have been so grateful for as I have been enjoying going in on Facebook from time to time when I am sitting up to hear what everyone has been up to here and there.

I really wish everyone All the Best in 2012 for Health, Wealth and Happiness.

Hopefully once I can regain some more energy in the days ahead, I will be able to find the strength to see if I have any photos on my camera prior to all this "sickness" business arriving on my doorstep and maybe post something more interesting then all this sickness business.

Alive and on the mend, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Fingers Crossed The Dr.'s Office Calls Me Tomorrow !

I forgot that in lieu of New Year's Day being on a Sunday, the very next day is the holiday.  I am hoping I get a call into my Dr.'s office tomorrow.  I am so very glad Rob has been home with me the past couple of days, as it would have been most difficult without him.  He even made me "jello" today.

Unfortunately, Winter has begun bringing along with it local snow flurries.  These things we have no control over of, and must make the best, I am just hoping it will be fine to drive up the Peninsula to my Dr.'s in Lion's Head tomorrow, as I am so hoping to get a phone call at some point tomorrow morning.

I had only two bad spells today, which I find is a "good" thing.  My chest has eased somewhat.

I now make my way towards the couch and my comforter, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

HAPPY "NEW YEAR'S DAY" TO ALL !t

I am so sorry I can not report of my feeling any better, despite of all my pain and efforts of trying "all the right" things"  Having no appetite, nor energy does not help matters any.  I have placed and left a message at my Dr.'s Office for them to call me now, so I wait it out evermore.

This also, I am sure, has been hard on my "Crabby Cabbie", trying to keep up with this and that, as well as do his own daily routine.  He made it back home at 4:30 a.m., after a very busy evening of Cabbing Around New Year's Eve Come and Goers.  I am glad he has a day off today, despite the rain fall, as we most certainly are not going out anywhere.

I am a little disappointed, as I had been hoping we would have gotten out last week to enjoy a few of the Boxing Day Week Specials and Savings, as I had  joined Carla, over at "My 1/2 Dozen Daily", on her "No (Low) Spend Challenge" in the Month of January.  Oh well, I am sure there wasn't anything we "really" needed.

I am now sweating "bullets" once again, and have drained myself of what little energy I have at the moment;  I am heading off towards our couch, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".