Is It Spring?

Another beautiful blooming tree, this one's from Gail, Bob's sister, a block from their place in Portland, Oregon. 

We had a strange weather alert for high tree pollen in Post Falls, Idaho just the other day - strange, because it was a wet weather all day and overcast.

Seedlings are still coming up. Bob's working on a bigger - better awards ceremony for the CDA PD for this Wednesday. Frank is working hard and enjoying being 24 when he's off work. Liz is working on her '21 acts of random kindness' for her 21st Birthday coming up. I'm doing the food and other preparations for Easter this weekend. 

Happy Holidays!

Two Steps Forward - One Step Back

My neck/back are still getting better, but the injury that causes the most symptoms persists. The Dr. says I'm right on target so that helps dispel my despairing moments! I'm starting to look forward to the exercises and decompressions - like my body needs them. So, 'still keeping on'.

xox

Mom's Puzzle!

Mom's completed puzzle - minus two pieces her dog Chester may have eaten! I may have to get out my next puzzle, but the garden is calling...

Death By Minerals

We have been aware for several months that the water heater (in Mom's old place where we moved our bedrooms) had been going on the fritz for a while because it had been beeping, flashing lights and our water temps had slowly been reduced to cold or very cold. Finally, all the water from the sink faucets, the 3 to 5 loads of laundry I do daily and our showers went ice cold all the time. It was time to get a new water heater!

Since our refrigerator ice/water dispenser was forming stalactites, and our faucet handles were encrusted with minerals, we knew that we had 'mineral overload' in our water. So, since this 'good' water heater went belly up under the 'load' we thought a cheap replacement would be a better investment - after all our water filters still let the minerals through. Then if the new water heater OD'd on minerals we wouldn't feel bad and we'd be out a couple hundred bucks in a few years.

First, we had to empty the old WH by attaching the hose to the faucet bib on the bottom of the WH and running the hose outside to drain it - this would greatly reduce it's weight. 

It would not drain - we tried a bunch of stuff like running water at the various faucets and looking up 'draining water heater' in our 'How-To' book. Finally, Bob decided to heft it outside to drain it. All the while I was looking at the EXPLOSION warnings on the WH,  fretting and 'advising'. ('Maybe we should call a plumber?')

When Bob got it outside on the patio (he was sore all over the next day)-  it still wouldn't drain. So he took off the faucet bib entirely. It still wouldn't drain - and the faucet bib hole was about 2" diameter.

My brother Bruce, the plumber, has probably figured this out by now, but we were truly baffled! Bob put a big stick inside the hole and jiggled it around and VOILA! out came gushing a sludgy mineral mix the consistency of pea soup - and it stayed that way until the inside of the WH was drained. Occasionally, Bob had to 'help' it get out. There were chunks of blue/white minerals in the sludge and one medium spot of red iron-type minerals. The patio was glowing!

Good thing we ordered a throw away replacement - which, by the way, took over a week to get here from CA!

REPLACING APPLIANCES
Because our appliances are all dying at the same time, I've been researching 'Made in America' and simple - non-electronic control panel options. They're much cheaper without the bells and whistles - many of which we don't need and there's less to go wrong with them. Since we have mineral-ly water (with 2 water filters!) we decided to forgo the water/ice dispensers and simplify - and we don't miss them. We replaced our refrigerator with a large all-refrigerator (or all-freezer by flipping a switch) from Frigidaire. Not fancy but sturdy, keeps things cold, and has a lot of room. We already had a Frigidaire freezer and didn't need any more freezer space, but needed a lot more refrigerator. On sale: $599 from Sears.

We're looking at the "top of the line" Speed Queen top loading washing machine and front loading dryer for homes. Made in America - no electronic control panels - consistently great reviews and better for my back - all parts available and extensive warranty.  They're sold only in non-big box outlets (not at Sears or Walmart) like smaller appliance stores, fine furniture stores, or directly. 

We had to move the plumbing to the old kitchen area, but the electricians we've called are either too busy or haven't called us back. I'll try to get a picture of the plumbing in the empty washer/dryer space in the old kitchen/ new laundry room-to-be. My back treatments and our new WH may stall this project a while! But I drool over the washer/dryer at our local furniture store once a week until then...

Blessed Holy Week!

Gardening in North Idaho

OK - you Californians - today and yesterday we've had sun, hail, rain, and snow - in one day! 

But, here's a picture of my garden (it doesn't show but it was very windy), and of half of my hopeful garden seedlings. Yes, I just planted seeds - and I won't plant them in the ground until around May 10th -  depending on the weather.

Grandma Alta sent this picture of her puzzle - almost done! I sent this to her as a Christmas gift, and I'm glad to see it almost completed because the weather in California is 'Springish' all over the state and soon it'll be too nice outside for puzzles.

I got this picture today of some beautiful budding trees from Bonnie, a friend in San Jose, CA.  But I've also heard from Nevada and Southern CA that there's enough really warm days for winter to be over there.

I go to my back appointments twice a week now but continue to do the exercises and weights 2x day. I ice very infrequently now. Things are getting better - the edge is off most of my symptoms except the area causing the most symptoms! If that bulging disc would pop back in place I could almost live with everything else! 

Grandma Alta sent me her friend Maggie's Corned Beef recipe which she's been using for years and Grandma and Charlie seemed to like it, so here it is:

Maggie’s Corned Beef

1 package of corned beef - cook meat as directed on the package until tender, but first throw away the flavor packet inside the wrapping.

Instead add to the water:

2-3 Tablespoons pickling spice (a must - but to your taste).  

Note – can throw the spice in the pot of water or put it in a pouch and add to the water for easy retrieval.  I’ve done it both ways. 

I also tried cooking cabbage, carrots and potatoes in the same pot with the meat but I thought the spice was too much for the veggies so have cooked ( Sherry here: bake?)) them separately ever since then, so throwing the loose spice in the pot is OK since it is not getting mixed up with the veggies. 

Cook meat as directed on the package until tender. When done, take the meat out of the pot and put it on a broiler rack or on a cake pan.  

Make a sauce by mixing equal parts brown sugar and yellow mustard.  Actually any type of mustard you like is good. Start with around ¼ cup of each and make more if needed to cover the top of the meat. Pour or spoon the sauce over the meat and put it under the broiler for a few minutes until the mixture bubbles on top. 

Take the meat out, plate it or on a wooden cutting board and slice it up thin.   It’s great cold for sandwiches, too! 

I'm going to try it. I love recipes - especially of food I can eat. Sharing recipes, and seeing weather and garden photos from all over is fun - so please send them to me and let me know if they can go on this blog.

XOX

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Pope Francis I

Pope Francis I praying this morning to the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect him.

Here are some pictures of the new Pope, Francis I, from The Guardian paper in the UK, and a prayer for him. 

Neck, Back, and Appliance Troubles

I came upon this prayer in my Missal last week: Third Sunday of Lent, Gradual prayer (to the right-scroll up) and thought it was a perfect prayer for me - and this blog. It is funny and uncanny!

As I head into week 5 of treatments/exercises I can say that although I am much better and the decompressions and exercise are less painful, I am not 'cured' completely yet. I am much more flexible - spine/discs and overall. My balance is better and my family says I look straighter and am doing my usual housework more easily. These websites have much more information if you are interested:www.diskandspinenorthwest.com  and
http://pettibonsystem.com/about/how-pettibon-works.

So, I keep plugging away... I am invoking all your prayers when I pray and I also pray for your intentions. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.

Mom and I are having a puzzle 'challenge' this winter - yes it's still winter here - and here's mine BEFORE I finished it. She sent me this puzzle and I just love the birds. Maybe she'll send me a picture of her puzzle to put on the blog -hint!

I received some positive feedback from several of you about the cookie molds. Here's our pictures of this week's cookie making - cleaned up a little first! (The entire kitchen, myself, the floor and most of my kitchen gadgets were covered with cookie mess or  powdered sugar and flour.) 

The cookies dry for 2 -3 days before baking. This is so the pictures will be dry & solid and make it through the baking process. They puff up during baking from the middle of the cookie leaving the top intact - we hope.

The 'cleaned up' version of our table on cookie making day.

Cookies waiting to dry. These Springerle cookies take most of the day to make and then clean up after.

The really large cookie mold above (13" d) is the Nativity Scene surrounded by animals, and then fruit/plants (Creation). It's from 1654 AD - so it says on the mold. The original carving (very detailed!) was obviously made crooked over time. It's hard to get a proper exact size cookie from it as it is warped. So we use just the center Nativity. That's powdered sugar on the readied molds.

Liz made some colored chocolate candies in our candy molds for the St. Joseph Table -  and our Easter.

Bob and I are replacing our water heater this week - last week it was the fridge - and we're looking at a new washer/dryer soon. Over our married years I've learned that appliances always seem to go at the same time!

Next week I'll show pictures and explain the Anniversaries of the Heart cross stitch project I'm sewing  - when I finish it (in a year maybe) it will be a real keepsake. I'm very proud of it not just because it's a lot of work, but because every family member on both sides of our families is represented and their block is full of the colors and symbolism I've chosen for them. What they have meant as part of my life all these years. While I sew I think about that family member, which is really nice - to spend time with my fondest memories of them.

xox

Gardening in California While We Shovel Snow!

I guess I was hoping that California really isn't at least two months ahead of us here in North Idaho. We're just getting ready to start our seeds indoors here, but Bruce, my brother and sister-in-law Sheri live in Marin, California, and already have some of their garden planted (are those carrots!?!) and their trees and orchid  are blooming. Glad to see their tarps though - I hope they're garden bed tarps!

 More of Bruce's California garden:

I'm hoping to keep adding to these pictures throughout the growing season. If you have gardening pictures from other areas, whether you're family or not, please send them to me with or without a blurb so we can all check them out!

Feast Days Before Easter

I am still exercising and going to treatments and there are improvements to report especially regarding the movements in the overall spine and especially my neck. Not much more happening- just keeping on....

Right now Catholics are in Lent - a penitential time in preparation for Easter - so my pain, and especially my inability to do my usual work is fitting for this time. Thinking about Easter and the coming feast days helps get my mind off my back issues.

During this month of St. Joseph it's traditional for homes and/or Parishes to have a St. Joseph Altar or a table or shrine in his honor - his feast day is March 19th. Right now this is especially important as he is the Patron Saint and Protector of the Church (and of families, fathers, homes and workers and other countries and other causes) and the Church is electing a new Pope. 

Our Parish has a St. Joseph Altar (in Parishes they usually take an entire room) traditionally filled with great - mostly Italian -desserts and other traditional foods (see the book, a must have for pictures, history and recipes, titled St. Joseph Altars, by Kerri McCaffety - www.amazon.com). These foods are afterwards given to the poor along with food from our pantries and food gift cards. A simple St. Joseph shrine using a picture or Holy Card and flowers, etc., can be put in a home or apartment whether your Parish does an Altar or not. You can hand out food to your neighbors, or the local food bank too.

Each year I've been making Springerle Cookies (a dense cake/cookie) from reproduction molds made from original and very old carved wooden molds in European museums. Some of the molds are Medieval and were handed out by the Guilds as gifts to celebrate the feast day of their patron saint - like this intricate cookie mold (6 inch diam.) from the Baker's Guild in an area, probably from the 1600's.

What I love about these molds is they don't need decorating, they have a story, the molds will last a lifetime, cost relatively little and the finished cookie looks astounding and lasts a long time. There are many types of cookie molds - from simple designs to elaborate ones.  The St. Nicholas molds are wonderful! You can see or buy cookie molds at www.houseonthehill.net and wood carved molds at www.cookiemold.com. Generally, the deeper the carving, the better the mold. The following book is the cookie mold encyclopedia with recipes, history and pictures: Baking With Cookie Molds, Anne Watson at  www.amazon.com.

So, to contribute to the St. Joseph Altar in my low energy way I am making some Springerle cookies and some molded chocolate candies - also low energy - just melt and pour. These candy molds as well as the cookie molds, can also be used with paper sculpting or beeswax to make cards, ornaments, and so on. 

They are about $2 each and also available at www.amazon.com under (Religious) Chocolate Candy Molds. There's two candy molds for the 12 days of Christmas, which have to be searched for under '12 days, etc.' and also search for 'Jesus and Mary chocolate candy mold' for the one on the left below under 'Jesus, etc.'

As for St. Patrick's Day, which is also coming - (March 17th) in Lent before Easter, years ago Liz and I made these pins (I never seem to have green clothes on that day) from buttons, scraps of material and holy medals and I'm going to fix them up: replace ribbon and maybe add a trinket.

By the way, St. Patrick was not a drunk, fat, leprechaun! He was a brave and fearless defender of the Catholic faith. He is a Saint of the Catholic Church, who is honored for converting the brutal pagan tribes of Ireland after escaping from there as a slave, and being educated and trained to the priesthood and eventually made a Bishop. He is the Patron Saint of Ireland. The shamrock symbol associated with him is a representation of the three persons of the one God. His prayers and letters are still in print although he was born in 387 AD.

Happy Feast Days!

xox