Ouch!

I did a stupid thing to myself a few days ago. I won't go into the details, but I ended up in a position of butt hitting floor with a plop, sending screeching pain into the lower lumbar. Yah, I did this. Yes, my back had finally begun to feel better, then....well I am in pain. I've been absent because sitting at my desk is painful, or more painful, and I don't use my phone for blogger. It is somewhat better, which is why I am here now. I will check in on one and all throughout the day, short periods of time at the desk. 

The day of the butt plop I made chocolate pistachio ice cream in the morning. I didn't have enough eggs on hand to make gelato. 

I also made walnut bread and....

Rye with flax meal.

Mark has been tending to me like a mother hen. He picks up lunch and dinner. Last evening I was able to make a boneless pork loin, as that required little effort. Between a back brace, a heating pad and pain meds I am slowly coming around. It feels like nerve pain, sharp and stabbing, mainly on the right side of my back. Please do avoid landing on your behind, it hurts.

 

Quiet and That's Okay

I attempted loading a video of our snowfall yesterday but blogger wouldn't let me. It was pretty, big, fluffy flakes.

Other than snow falling until late afternoon, nothing really happened yesterday. I didn't make gelato because I hadn't frozen the freezing container, which is sort of necessary. I'll make a simple ice cream recipe that doesn't need a custard, as I don't have enough eggs on hand for a custard. Somehow I forgot about preparation.

Dora had written that she keeps track of her spending, adding up the monthly cost of food, etc. I plan to do that, going through last month. We know prices are already inflated and we know it's going to be worse, so I need to make a plan. We don't feed only ourselves, we have horses and cats. Grain is expensive right now and it's going to be a lot worse. I am thankful to see some snow and rain and hope we don't have a dry year. I don't need scarcity to add to the cost of hay. The old hay burners don't need a diet. I know, it can be said horses aren't a necessity and that's true. But they are here. Trials and tribulations.

I made an easy meal for last evenings dinner. I had a small amount of leftover steak that I cut up and used in pasta with onion, garlic, artichoke hearts and kalamatas. It will be cod tonight. This is life in my slow lane. Which is ok, I spent a life in the fast lane, slow isn't bad.

Bread. Kitty. Tax.

It's been sometime, I think, since I've graced this page with bread. Today I rectify that. Semolina/white whole wheat. If you are unfamiliar with semolina, it is a coarsely ground durum wheat. Its texture and color is similar to cornmeal. Most dry pasta is made from semolina. There is a slightly nutty flavor to it. It is high in gluten, but also high in protein. Not for the gluten intolerant. Like einkorn, it has been grown in Italy for many centuries. Unlike semolina, einkorn is tolerated well by the gluten intolerant, but not Celiac. There, a short tutorial! 

It snowed all day yesterday but most melted as it hit the ground. Today we are supposed to have rain. In other words, it will be a mess. If I can get my ice cream churner to work I think I'll make chocolate pistachio gelato today. Doesn't a cold, rainy day just call out for a frozen dessert? I do have soup, so that balances things.

Crabby Tabby spent a lot of time standing at the door to go outside, but when the door was opened he kept changing his mind. Smart kitty.

Today is National Sales Tax Day. For those who don't know, that is what a tariff is. Good luck to us all. I have a full freezer but I didn't do as well with pantry goods. I shudder to think what will happen with horse feed. It's already very expensive. Nothing tanks an economy faster than massive unemployment and inflated pricing. 

Cat. Food. Pending Disaster.

We finally had rain Saturday night, turning to snow on Sunday. It snowed into late afternoon but the ground was too warm for it to stick. We really needed some moisture and we can certainly use more.

Gatto checked the kindling box and found it empty. He was shocked.

I made pizza for dinner. The crust was really light. I used semolina and white whole wheat and I will remember this for the next time. Quite good. 

We have been trying to maintain a sense of balance during these very trying times. It is really an impossible thing to do as the chaos is like a snow ball rolling down a hill. It gets larger and larger as it swallows everything in its path. I've shifted my focus from the Fearless Leader to those in the population who feel what is happening is a good thing. Perhaps someone can enlighten me, for as I see it, had Harris won and proceeded to do the exact same things, I would bet the farm there would be an outcry of rage from the very people who are now supporting the authoritarian edicts coming from the Oval Office. Give one of the many illegal and unconstitutional acts a thought. The large amount of unemployment this administration is bringing about through DOGE. Have you heard of the domino effect? I think it's safe to say if you haven't you will be experiencing it sooner rather than later. What happens when hundreds of thousands of people suddenly are unemployed? In a consumer economy? Think about this for a moment.

I've tried to stay away from this, but it just doesn't seem possible to do that anymore. Now he's telling Europe they cannot use DEI. 

Candid Camera

Mark picked up his phone and said smile. 

So I did. Sort of.

Mark has recently learned how to take photos with his phone. Now I have to be careful, he could be around every corner. I've actually had two busy, for me, days. I was out of the house for several hours on Monday, PT and other things. Yesterday we had appliance delivery in the morning. A funeral in the afternoon, a corporate client of Mark's, for over fifty years. He was 97 and a very good man, one  that I knew and liked. So, that's what I have been doing.

It's a sunny, mild day. We are hoping some rain happens soon. It's very dry. Today will be back to usual for both of us. I need to ease into this peopling slowly.

 

A friend called yesterday afternoon. We had ninety minutes of ranting and raging at the mess exploding around us all, whether we wanted it or not. Some people still use the phone. That my Gen X friend does is unusual.

We have a dreary day but the forecasted rain/snow mix is now un-forecasted. We do need moisture. I was watching two of the geldings playing the head game this morning. The head game is truly a gelding thing. Mares would not lower themselves to such ridiculous behavior. It consists of standing still, moving the neck back and forth, up and down with mouth open, both doing this at the same time. And a few hops and foot stomps add to their amusement. Old boys never do stop playing. Old mares are the same as when they were young mares. They tend to business, thank very much.

Other than appliance breakdowns and flat tires, life is trudging along pretty much as usual. Meaning I bake bread, sandwich rolls and make dinner. A modified shrimp scampi. Modified because I wanted a one dish meal so I added asparagus to it. Gotta get those greens in. 

Mark is busy with tax work but not busy like it used to be. His last corporate client sold the business last year. Now he has no more audits, just his few longtime clients who owned the businesses. He enjoys having some work, it keeps his mind active and he has interaction with people he's known longer than he's known me. Hard to imagine, but true.

So, off to it I go. Whatever it is. 

 

Frieda has found a new hidey-hole.

I rarely use a tablecloth, so when I did put one on the kitchen table Frieda made it a hideout. I may never have an uncovered table again. I strangely find myself accommodating cats. On a daily basis.

They Served Me Well

We've had a long run, my washer/dryer and I. They are 17 years old and the dryer, on the right, has given up on me. I'm keeping the washing machine to put in the basement to use on items like rugs. It has given me no trouble thus far, but I bought another because we never know. Buying was not a highlight of my life as everything seems expensive to me, but a dryer is a necessity in our climate. Another Electrolux, as I have had good luck with them. My gas stove is 22 years old, my refrigerator and dishwasher made it 19 years and these are 17 years. That's pretty good, although I do know they just aren't making them like they used to, so who knows. I bought from a local, longtime-in-business appliance store, which feels better to me. I am hoping, wishfully, that the stands will work with the new set. They are $300 bucks each. I may be stand-less. I didn't order them, prices were already a shock.

I spent all of yesterday afternoon online looking at appliances. Comparing, reading stats on reliability, so forth. I settled on what I bought and feel good about it. Except I would have preferred not needing to. I have been in no mood for cooking. Fast and simple has been the word this week. We will survive. At least I hope so!

Sunny and mild today. This is always welcome, although moisture is really needed and would be welcomed. Perhaps I will soon be able to work in my flower beds. 

The Good Things

Buongiorno!

I decided I would do a photo fest today. My friend from Denmark came bearing gifts. This how-will-I ever-live-without-it tea. She has it specially blended and the aroma alone puts me in nirvana. Years ago she brought the best gin I have ever had. Geranium gin. If you enjoy gin, it's wonderful.

 

As if the tea were not enough....two hand thrown tea cups to enjoy my tea in. Julie has done some pottery herself, she is always seeking new artistic interests. She has been weaving for a few years and she has two large looms. She also knits. Kinda up your alley, Boud.

Thank you,  Denise, for the soda bread recipe. I made it and it is so good. Along with the all purpose flour, I used one cup of ground einkorn berries. It's perhaps the best soda bread I've made. I skipped the raisins, as I don't care for them. The crust is fabulous on this loaf.

I ended the day with a simple egg bake. Bacon, asparagus, spinach, onion, garlic, potato and gruyere. It was good, if I do say so myself!

I've been keeping busy in my small way. Today I have an appliance repair person coming to hopefully repair my elderly dryer. I don't want to replace it, so I hope it can be fixed. Fingers crossed. We had a visitation to attend on Saturday. Ken, who helps my hay guy, died unexpectedly last month. We've know him at least fifteen years and have had many conversations covering just about any topic there could be. We will miss the extremely tall, lanky good guy.

These are troublesome times. It often feels like the world has come off its axis. We both try to deal with the day-to-day and do manage to a point. Baking bread and eating good food, drinking wonderful tea in beautiful cups, there is my comfort.

Howdy

I am back.

I've never done a Caturday Saturday and since Frieda is such an interesting kitty, I thought I would feature her  taking herself seriously.

I had a wonderful time with my longtime friend I met many years ago on blogger. We attempted to solve the problems of the world and when that seemed futile we just had a good time. Gatto was absolutely entranced by her. He stuck like cat hair on black wool. He even slept with her. My dear friend is a serious cat person.

Yesterday we reached 74 F. In March. Today it is snowing. The wind was so strong last night I thought we'd be visiting Oz. No kidding. Maybe about Oz, but.....?

I'll spend some time catching up on everyone. It feels like I've been MIA for a long time.

 

A quick note to say I haven't fallen off a cliff. I'm busy with appointments and anticipation of company. I'm not a multitaskers anymore, so I can only concentrate on one thing at a time. As Arnold said....I'll be back. 

Grouch

I do not like  Daylight Saving Time.

What time is being saved? Changing a clock does not add or save time. There. I got that said.

The day is shorter for me, as I've lost an hour. You thought I was done with my complaint. So did I. Can you tell I really don't like this? Onward. My spurt of ambition on Friday led to very sore muscles on Saturday. You know you are in bad shape when cleaning a small bathroom leaves you in some serious pain and misery. Yesterday was a sitting and sorting kind of day. I actually put a lot of things where they belong after quite some time being out of place. Like clothing. Ah, the excitement of life in my home.

Since I felt as if I ran the Boston Marathon, dinner was a quick meal of leftover chicken with pasta. The marvelous value of leftovers. It's a warm, sunny day, I feel ok, except the time is off.

Bread and Bath

We have a nice, sunny morning this Saturday. We are having above average temperatures and the snow is slowly melting. March in the Northland is a contentious month, one never knows what is around the corner. Next week we could have a blizzard.

Life has been quiet, which is ok. Medical appointments, the dead giveaway you are in the senior zone, keep coming up. Now it's a bone scan. Seems they want one every four years. Hopefully my bones are still as hale and hearty as they were four years ago.

I've been filling my time with some bread baking. I'll be good for a little while now. I may be strange, but I really enjoy making bread. I skipped a generation in genetic traits. I am my grandma. Which is a good thing.

Yesterday I had a burst of energy and decided to take everything out of my bathroom, including emptying the medicine cabinet, to clean thoroughly. For such a small space it took a long time, at least it felt like it to me. Two and one half hours. I even washed the floor on my hands and knees! We remodeled two bathrooms in 2018, both in desperate need. They were both ugly, but functional, so we didn't get around to changing them until tile started falling off the walls. That was too much even for Mark. Mark and I do not share a bathroom, one of the things that contributes to our congenial marriage.

 

I will admit I'm getting a little antsy about waiting for spring. There is so much to catch-up on outside and I'm hopeful I can be of help, more than I have been. Spring has been showing up early over the last few years, so maybe April will be spring here.

Whatta Guy 

It's comforting to know he believes empathy is good while also believing it is destroying western civilization. He's a deep thinker, this guy is. 

Cloudy

Good dreary Tuesday morning. We may get rain, which we need. I went to PT yesterday and have a primary appointment later in the week. I like the physical therapist, she is conversational, making the whole thing rather pleasant. I also can tell I'm incrementally improving. All improvement is welcomed. 

My Frieda is doing her best to calm and relax me. It's a sacrifice for her, no doubt, but she is devoted to the cause. 

Has anyone had Chilean sea bass? I had not until a couple of days ago. Aldi had it in their special finds. It was expensive but not really when I looked it up online and saw it was less than half the normal cost. So I bought it. There is a completely different texture to any fish I've had, sort of creamy. Buttery? I liked it but will probably never have it again. Not at the going price. As things are right now, I wouldn't buy it again at the price I paid.

I'm going to have the Wellbutrin dosage increased when I see my primary this week. I'm on the lowest dose, which has been working well with the other med, but I'm starting to slip into the blackhole and I don't want to go there. Clinical depression is no joke. It steals your life. As many people know. This, lack of balance and some difficulty finding words seem to be the only lasting damage from the brain injury, which I am grateful for. It was worse. There is one more thing remaining, I show emotion much more than I did before TBI.

Well, 'nuff of that. One day at a time, right? 

Mortification

I have a heavy heart this morning. There is nothing positive to come out of my fingers onto this keyboard, so I will leave it to a photo of sheet pan lasagna for today. If only life were as uncomplicated as this.

Curses and Blessings

Another day, another headache. I am getting better, but it is slow. My mother cursed me with arthritic hands and messed up sinuses. We all have something, don't we. That's it for moaning about myself. For now, anyway.

We have a lovely, sunny morning. It's unseasonably warm, it feels like spring. Spring does not happen here this early, but here we are. For now anyway. 

I'm going to have company in March. In 2008, on blogger, I met an American who lived in Denmark. She was from South Dakota, long story short, she met a Dane while in the Baltics on a Fulbright. They married and her life started again in another country. In 2010 she, with her husband and eight year old daughter, came to visit on their way to visit family in SD. Another blogger from Northern MN also came with her family for the day. After this very enjoyable group meeting my friend stopped here on her way to see family on a semi-regular basis. Life changed, no family to visit anymore and daughter went to college in Arizona. 

She will be flying into the Twin Cities and will spend a day here before traveling on for a meetup with a sister and cousins to visit a remaining aunt. I think the last visit was 2019, so this is a welcome surprise. She is smart, funny and worldly. This is one of the marvels of the internet.

We've had pasta in varying forms for most of a week since I'm not feeling well. It's so quick and easy, it's my go-to. Tonight I plan to make Giada's sheet pan lasagna. It's really good and it is simple. That's the plan anyway.

 

Good Morning

Groceries were bought. Bags were inspected. A good time was had.

Frieda is consistant. Even in repose she has a grumpy face. One of our commonalities.

We've had beautiful sunshine for several days, so we were due for dreary. And we got it. I haven't felt well, both physically and emotionally, for several days. My chronic sinus problem decided to flareup and my damaged brain retreated to its comfort place, not deeply, though. Just enough to lose motivation and not feeling well didn't help. Weird that it's a cloudy day and yet I am feeling better. I am like Frieda, I guess!

I did make bread and I decided after making an eggless chocolate cake, thank you, Boud, that I would make a flourless chocolate cake. That type of cake I've made often, the eggless was new to me. 

I had a nice talk with my friend who moved to the far-flung wilds of very northwestern Minnesota to work at a college. She will be returning to the Twin Cities when the term is finished in May. The job did not work for her. It will be good to have a person I see once-in-a-while around again. She's 27 years younger than I am but is still a person who prefers talking to texting. We can both talk a lot.

There's my news. I'm off to read some blogs after I refill my coffee cup.

Step away from the remote.

Did you not understand Frieda?

Possy heard the dinner bell.

Then we heard the dinner bell. 

All I have today is a bit of whimsey. 

Resist

My activist friend, Boud, asked us to repost this since it gets very little, if any, play from the media. So, I did. Anyone who does not understand this is a constitutional crisis needs to turn the scenario around. What if Harris had won and did the exact same thing. What would you think of that? We have laws, institutions and procedures. We may not always agree with how these systems work, but overall, they do. If we want change, do it the legal way. Not doing it that way is a coup, no matter who is doing it.

*Edited to say this is the ad The Washington Post pulled the plug on.

My hometown, St Paul. Keep in mind we had double digit below zero for most of the day.

 

Cold and Cake

Hi!

Yesterday was busy for me. I didn't get the chance to visit many of you but it's back to a regular day on this cold Tuesday. -16F/ -26.7C. Brrr is the word. Boud brought up eggless chocolate cake, something I had not heard of. I've made plenty of flourless cakes but this was new to me. Yesterday I decided to give it a try. There was a recipe for chocolate sauce, which I used. My cake pan was too large so it is on the thin side, but still good. It's got a brownie-like texture. I don't know if I'll make it again, because I rarely make cakes, but I would call it a success. Thanks for the idea, Boud.

I had PT yesterday. She worked on my stubborn spine for quite awhile and gave me two new exercises. She said I may want to break them up throughout the day. I am already doing that. Today the nerves in my back are wide awake! Ouch.

I plan to make soup with a couple of smoked pork hocks this morning. We are definitely having soup weather. I'll probably take some pain medication and actually try to get something done. Dust is settling everywhere despite my four air purifiers. Where is a self-cleaning house when I need one?

Quiet Times

How to spend a cold winter night.

We got a couple of inches of snow. It's so much nicer to see the white ground instead of the dreary brown. We had a visit with Neighbor Bill yesterday. He comes here to talk about the state of our Union. As I have said, we live in a very RED community, leaving very few options for the other-minded. Anger is brewing. 

The stray orange kitty is still here. I saw him go through the small opening I had cut into the hayloft door years ago for cats. The cat is fed and sheltered. I hoped he was living in there and it seems he is. Gatto and Frieda stare at him through the glass kitchen door as he eats, entranced. 

It's about time for me to get moving. I'll see what mischief I can get into. 

Enjoy your Saturday.

Take Comfort Where You Find It.

It's cold. It will remain so through next week, double digit  subzero overnight temperatures most days. I made chicken and dumpling soup yesterday. I'd made the blueberry galette the day before and it is our after lunch treat. This is definitely comfort food weather.

 

Frieda had her own coup, taking over my chair in the kitchen. I had to move to a different spot at the table, as Frieda normally gets what Frieda wants. They are coddled, why not? They cannot think of a reason why they should not be and either can I. 

I wanted to make a quick appearance before I settle into my day. I'm feeling out of sorts. Many of us are. 

Brrrrr

 

Good Morning! It's a balmy -12F/-24 C this bright sunny day. That will get your blood flowing. Or is it freezing? I saw the physical therapist yesterday. She really worked the muscles along my spine, they had gone into full throttle protective mode after my couple of over-done days. She did point out that there was something positive about it. I felt good enough to overdo. She was right. So now, behave myself, that's the prescription.

Not Gatto. Crabby Tabby, getting some respite from the cold on Mark's lap. Is this the lap of luxury? He thinks so. I haven't any plans for the day. I would like to have some productive time, I just need to decide what this will be. I have blueberries I need to use. I thought there was a sheet of puff pastry in the freezer, but there isn't. Perhaps a simple galette. Simple is my word these days. 

Chicken, couscous and roasted asparagus. Staying in the simple zone.

Stay warm and eat something good. We deserve it.

Kitchen Day #2

Yesterday was another day spent in the kitchen. Spending the day in the kitchen is relaxing when it's where you want to be. I cleaned up my impressive mess from the prior day, I am not a tidy clean-as-you-go person, after I added to it by making pesto with the fennel fronds. I used pistachios, which are perhaps my favorite, with cashews a very close second. I ate more than I put in the food processor. I did. I reasoned nuts are good for you. We had a couple of inches of fluffy snow in the morning, not enough to plow, which is how I thought my morning would be spent. It's pleasant to see the ground covered in white instead of the dull, depressing brown it has been.

 

I braised a couple of beef ribs in tomato sauce after lunch, making dinner a snap. Baking and cooking have been effective stress relievers for me. My freezers are stuffed with bread, which is not a bad thing. I semi-plan a blueberry tart today, having one sheet of puff pastry in my overstuffed refrigerator freezer.

Along with the welcome snow we have much appreciated sunshine today. It's currently zero F with a high of 19 F. Very doable. PT tomorrow. On a bright note, I am walking better for short periods of time. Standing too long in the kitchen has caused some problems, I need to take advice and rest before it becomes difficult. I have that "just work through it" mindset, which is not going so well for me.

So...that's the story, not fascinating but whatta ya gonna do? Carry on, that's what we do.