tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72298936400434164902024-03-06T23:34:08.302-04:00AGING DISGRACEFULLYA journey of exploration and discovery of who I am becoming during the aging process. A great big bang-up HURRAH! that
I'm alive. A lot of talk about sundry and miscellaneous stuff & nonsense that may or may not have relevance; they may not even make sense (remember, I'm menopausal!). But I'm hoping they'll be fun.Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.comBlogger1026125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-71695420319978042782023-11-21T11:38:00.008-04:002023-11-21T11:40:06.667-04:00Fibromyalgia<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span>Sorry! I thought I could return to a normal schedule. But my sense of 'normal' has changed. After the past 5 years of various ailments, they have all added up to a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-PDK44VSAJcm-VmkluGMy8JZxwpy7wfm5geJNT45qb_cfB0UWSDo_HkiIaw42AVf2tgHDF_2fdz5kCFPDTd58Jx2Q6_XgpsBM0VQs4MSjJWZWUaMtqWNbTGIvzjZiYRgf6sTZ0WtqavaqRm7_j26xSCz3OibD17AmYapS_7ADgUsi4gn0dR91ywoFqcj/s1241/1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-PDK44VSAJcm-VmkluGMy8JZxwpy7wfm5geJNT45qb_cfB0UWSDo_HkiIaw42AVf2tgHDF_2fdz5kCFPDTd58Jx2Q6_XgpsBM0VQs4MSjJWZWUaMtqWNbTGIvzjZiYRgf6sTZ0WtqavaqRm7_j26xSCz3OibD17AmYapS_7ADgUsi4gn0dR91ywoFqcj/s320/1.jpg" width="278" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I'm in my 3rd week of a flare-up. Besides all the symptoms shown on the photo to the right, my sleep is disrupted by pain so that after only an hour or 2 of being awake, I feel like I need a nap! It's not fun!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There's a sense of relief in that I finally know what I'm dealing with and, therefore, what I should do about it. (The fact that there is no cure and no warning of flare-ups and this is the way it will be for the rest of my life means I do whatever it takes!) I've joined some online groups and am adapting my daily routine to include more down time, more meditation & yoga, less stress and more cannabis. (That's the only medicine that works on me without the nasty side effects of the other stuff I use.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I think one of the things I must let go of is this blog. That's not to say I won't check in on you all. And if someday this ailment gets under control and I gain more energy, I'll check back in with you all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for being my blogging friends. You have been and will continue to be a source of joy for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNzW1CGN1-hLwO7Q4S18OI2N5FW1IB7lCbfXM331QCEMvZvYdBwX5gphhcE_D7mJl89lEyQ0xrJ2zQOxmthD6eXl98u9Y2xKttPyd41IW5BUEOP-t-_3UfnXyXehZUEDFwXAvkIEakXiLI7xduLMblkQr5MaeguJe3jT8OfJ4TfxPdxQfh3qgxGdvlOp4/s270/th.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="270" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNzW1CGN1-hLwO7Q4S18OI2N5FW1IB7lCbfXM331QCEMvZvYdBwX5gphhcE_D7mJl89lEyQ0xrJ2zQOxmthD6eXl98u9Y2xKttPyd41IW5BUEOP-t-_3UfnXyXehZUEDFwXAvkIEakXiLI7xduLMblkQr5MaeguJe3jT8OfJ4TfxPdxQfh3qgxGdvlOp4/w640-h427/th.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-45484012345464466492023-10-19T09:06:00.003-03:002023-10-19T09:06:54.956-03:00Returning to our Normally Scheduled Programming<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3wipfdc4IkjVjgaqDIde4dYm2GZgCXz4OANzoXXbrLoMR49jMfoFaCQUo-gZL_TJi12BZXs2HQzWm95nxJJ6-L55Av8J030GbOs74JIzBawcMlZpp2TuGnMkD3zB2rU_w41Ha_9VwiR4h3YtrrG026Yt8rQyXJN-0HEAdVW156yNqBpRVWYxNT0wqwy1/s2048/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3wipfdc4IkjVjgaqDIde4dYm2GZgCXz4OANzoXXbrLoMR49jMfoFaCQUo-gZL_TJi12BZXs2HQzWm95nxJJ6-L55Av8J030GbOs74JIzBawcMlZpp2TuGnMkD3zB2rU_w41Ha_9VwiR4h3YtrrG026Yt8rQyXJN-0HEAdVW156yNqBpRVWYxNT0wqwy1/s320/10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I apologize for being MIA for so long: now resolved family issues, health and a new job made for a busy, somewhat stressful month or so. But I'm happy that life has levelled out and I have more ME time. Time to enjoy this beautiful season, a season that's quickly disappearing here in NL; the leaves are dropping with increasing frequency and the temperatures are in the single digits at night. And I've yet to change out the coat closet and bring out the hats and gloves! One of today's chores.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vwH6YQP7RwP0wGyQrF2W1j-ElbVx53ksMpCATY8omoJfDPwa6S9nrXcabSfg2DqljZPH0df1mBupEmmGHjdfzwCRYdDzXH_Xa6AWjzAgJU0z6am_EdEmAQT2z3Eki2gNNwcnRXwhXoz4PtlsVr6lM5VjQWnJQhB6KZiB15I92Q-QBAr0Myu-MnVC5Mhd/s2048/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vwH6YQP7RwP0wGyQrF2W1j-ElbVx53ksMpCATY8omoJfDPwa6S9nrXcabSfg2DqljZPH0df1mBupEmmGHjdfzwCRYdDzXH_Xa6AWjzAgJU0z6am_EdEmAQT2z3Eki2gNNwcnRXwhXoz4PtlsVr6lM5VjQWnJQhB6KZiB15I92Q-QBAr0Myu-MnVC5Mhd/w200-h150/7.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and my 69th birthday a few weeks ago. Turkey 'n' stuffing, baked squash and NY cheesecake plus so much laughter and so many hugs and kisses from my 2 yr old grandson. Then later, we visited a local farm to see the sunflower patch. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHJ7zpHcJ-KvCM8asvzWVfcpcbLJD5aKs4YpeQ8KygfrLWnyXA0N1lgbgBM06L45XzRIwmDJqusZfT5O1sfdej3xnUB7_x_EQVOgnEp1KvOzsKVgcMQIxIev-J-795o7N_zcyXT-uUFfLrjArfvxbG1eKfxiWfeZFe-AYCWQSltf8ptKA9XPMtXanHgUv/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHJ7zpHcJ-KvCM8asvzWVfcpcbLJD5aKs4YpeQ8KygfrLWnyXA0N1lgbgBM06L45XzRIwmDJqusZfT5O1sfdej3xnUB7_x_EQVOgnEp1KvOzsKVgcMQIxIev-J-795o7N_zcyXT-uUFfLrjArfvxbG1eKfxiWfeZFe-AYCWQSltf8ptKA9XPMtXanHgUv/w320-h240/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The actual day of my birthday was a day of calm amidst the busyness that had taken over. I took myself out for a long forest walk, stopping first for a coffee to drink brookside and a couple of cupcakes for later in the day. I love bringing the colorful leaves back home with me and many are drying beneath my floor rugs. I have a few ideas for them: wax coating perhaps and creating a bunting? They're just so lovely to look at. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My new job is homecare for one of my neighbours: nothing strenuous; just a few hours every other week mostly as a companion with a little light housework. So far, it's gone really well. She's pleasant and has a great sense of humor and is very mobile. Although the paycheque is modest, the additional grocery and thrifting money is most welcome. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">She and I have gone thrifting several times and I've had some good luck. Here are a few of my finds: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qrSlYT9bRPoWESEs8JPhK1o9_L5HYbgbme_y_V5kT4tjMb-xhyUzbBKFD5Xo_w1mf53drybk3sWDQK06mSXCtEQWabSEVpPFRdHnSYU5OkicWtJt0TKlpsMCpl3cKDHTiEU7JLt5ZxUIGgfLqvKOtcBZwxdchXzMd9_-ew0iRNdZs6YZx0vxE1-RKOgn/s2048/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qrSlYT9bRPoWESEs8JPhK1o9_L5HYbgbme_y_V5kT4tjMb-xhyUzbBKFD5Xo_w1mf53drybk3sWDQK06mSXCtEQWabSEVpPFRdHnSYU5OkicWtJt0TKlpsMCpl3cKDHTiEU7JLt5ZxUIGgfLqvKOtcBZwxdchXzMd9_-ew0iRNdZs6YZx0vxE1-RKOgn/w640-h640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">This 60's metal plantstand: I love the shape. ($15)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">A gorgeous leather handbag in the perfect autumn color. ($2)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">And my newest friend: Beatrice the mouse. I have 2 other stuffies that hold sentimental value. But when I saw this little mouse at a yard sale, there was a definite connection. I brought her home, but found myself wondering why I felt so drawn to a stuffed toy. Then one day it hit me! My husband and I moved to the country in 1989. We had an elderly neighbour named Bea who walked past our house daily on her way to visit her sister. She was tall and lanky, wore overalls, men's shoes and peaked hats; she'd had a very interesting life - had been a nurse during the war, had travelled the world, and she had a fantastic rock and semi-precious gem collection. She loved my wee little daughter Amy and always stopped to speak to her, telling her stories and giving her little treasures, like her first piece of amethyst (which I still have). Bea was soft-spoken and gentle, and we were all sad when she passed. That little mouse reminds me of Bea ๐. And Totoro and Violet are happy to have another roommate. </span></li></ul><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWVmVNUuRc70steMgutjY7OidFSNpz3yQMV8P51yA9ND81v52pW0Vit57cQrhs5dz4KwQi4Pg3IiM2kksfeW25RskKuidYKOC0n9EQG6CObmWgH3EK6GMSqXJpqWBJRm7_4yiJo6zuloA9_KE1YlDV39Z8zqOHvwJdnGX2YM_SXoERLEknzqxEcTo8ggT/s2048/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWVmVNUuRc70steMgutjY7OidFSNpz3yQMV8P51yA9ND81v52pW0Vit57cQrhs5dz4KwQi4Pg3IiM2kksfeW25RskKuidYKOC0n9EQG6CObmWgH3EK6GMSqXJpqWBJRm7_4yiJo6zuloA9_KE1YlDV39Z8zqOHvwJdnGX2YM_SXoERLEknzqxEcTo8ggT/s320/9.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I've created a cosy little spot near my table for when I'm using my computer or doing paperwork, a spot that can also be seen from my couch. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once upon a time, I had a real fireplace in my home. Then I had a plug-in stove/heater. I was really happy when another yard sale yielded me this cute little 'stove' which lights up. It's all about the ambience, n'est pas! And once I light up the fireplace channel on U-tube, my little cottage feels so much warmer! (Hahaha! The power of subliminal stimuli!)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF_Nf_4iBo99EbCwUvL0Y3SZ1lnqAm65cE1yN13lJRp5jBcQ_c9Jfbgu4MYMqZn5YBl50G19JVpIqy1-PY4g6NZaxafMWT9VYH2y7G4DCKAvvbv7oeJxd8TwqSFEpGHdzQZDa-uxvkhJIbCa3kRpK3oUH0GiOVRAem3sx83JCwESHdYmwvOQB9GXxnvv3/s254/OIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="254" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF_Nf_4iBo99EbCwUvL0Y3SZ1lnqAm65cE1yN13lJRp5jBcQ_c9Jfbgu4MYMqZn5YBl50G19JVpIqy1-PY4g6NZaxafMWT9VYH2y7G4DCKAvvbv7oeJxd8TwqSFEpGHdzQZDa-uxvkhJIbCa3kRpK3oUH0GiOVRAem3sx83JCwESHdYmwvOQB9GXxnvv3/w200-h199/OIP.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can seen the sun is shining brightly and it's going to be a beautiful fall morning. So, I'd better eat breakfast and get myself out there. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay warm, keep colorful and Namaste, my friends!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-56702501902587479112023-09-04T12:06:00.008-03:002023-09-04T12:10:12.369-03:00Rabbit Rabbit & Farewell to Summer<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPc0j5KV9hY8tPrObnyH2-HVE3VSMhAByGvzDkVhSmrPWOB-AXjZ-ZTzaueZC0UF_QQpLwH3qiJuG2KehIM0_vDAG4mLirfEZfCh2u7pmIHh0KpwGIRWsL8v3NhlA-Sz1k1wx0AjrP82kV3i3V5I4j9pdKqBB-U60N3f9Qd6LJ3eMzcgmv6vkuJSm-oiK/s2048/369679744_10160529272610339_3185582218967565806_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPc0j5KV9hY8tPrObnyH2-HVE3VSMhAByGvzDkVhSmrPWOB-AXjZ-ZTzaueZC0UF_QQpLwH3qiJuG2KehIM0_vDAG4mLirfEZfCh2u7pmIHh0KpwGIRWsL8v3NhlA-Sz1k1wx0AjrP82kV3i3V5I4j9pdKqBB-U60N3f9Qd6LJ3eMzcgmv6vkuJSm-oiK/w150-h200/369679744_10160529272610339_3185582218967565806_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Summer is coming to an end in western Newfoundland; cooler nights and changing leaves are as sure a sign as the calendar. And while I love Autumn, I am reticent to say goodbye to summer. It's never quite long enough for me because I know fall will come and go in the blink of an eye and then long winter will arrive. But before that beauty sets in, let's stay focused on the beauty of this dying season. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyRKukA3__kFQz4Gz7C_QXDAH6GfzD9VPiChZzv3KOikWlaG4MD7OfC5Ynyic-WTWibYGQY9L_Ku0xYABisIqqDwlMa4uR6sRMI0bNBeZQKuguIe97jwXMMYQWbgym-R_S1cJfdx_ezqRIMiF5lfT4Pdv18YeBaRzrM8nGPoKTWE4olTG_dL2ho47_Ppr/s2048/372826511_10160552400580339_4169033229049238826_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyRKukA3__kFQz4Gz7C_QXDAH6GfzD9VPiChZzv3KOikWlaG4MD7OfC5Ynyic-WTWibYGQY9L_Ku0xYABisIqqDwlMa4uR6sRMI0bNBeZQKuguIe97jwXMMYQWbgym-R_S1cJfdx_ezqRIMiF5lfT4Pdv18YeBaRzrM8nGPoKTWE4olTG_dL2ho47_Ppr/s320/372826511_10160552400580339_4169033229049238826_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>I took my daily walk one early evening last week just after two days of rain had finally stopped and the blessed sun came out blazing. It was at the perfect angle when I reached 'the promenade' as the sun shining on the green trees behind the tall birch and spruce created the most amazing glow. Magic! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFbFAwTp-jGpFtV1ABz-ytkoYOe-wJirh2uV05kugp2BQx5H-HO-zaipx06qan_RTa09hn1mv11I0nkjVCyT_1sQl32Yu2n0OA7682nq6EjQXeIBJSkhnocjXGf3HXsLl3IkO13wADwwY3a1KVoYmHup6xYLHN3fe98uC4eU0FlC-C7NwIM_4kJowqQqd/s2048/372849040_10160552399660339_5948327266898134739_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFbFAwTp-jGpFtV1ABz-ytkoYOe-wJirh2uV05kugp2BQx5H-HO-zaipx06qan_RTa09hn1mv11I0nkjVCyT_1sQl32Yu2n0OA7682nq6EjQXeIBJSkhnocjXGf3HXsLl3IkO13wADwwY3a1KVoYmHup6xYLHN3fe98uC4eU0FlC-C7NwIM_4kJowqQqd/s320/372849040_10160552399660339_5948327266898134739_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had mostly cloudy nights during the end of the month when the super blue moon was to be seen. But I did manage to snap this rather inferior but still quite dramatic photo. August was a good month!</span></p><p><br /> <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">August was good to me at the thrift stores. Here are my top finds:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGDMZXKOSuMCOYRj4i7GoDupPsMH8KEDPPpFTKr9qvKbmCi3FsoMWwf8bhEZXMUg8lruVMs5CM21iEoNittW-NLqy8Ih6a-a063pCH7VOnKZsfhJUC0t9LVttwtXNG8lC66mCA4aqeV8CAQpbudXytN-QMy3Hox_b-yJsJD9mjHrfvvXENuUDWG7hrRy6/s2048/373303825_10160552551615339_3171339317749579785_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGDMZXKOSuMCOYRj4i7GoDupPsMH8KEDPPpFTKr9qvKbmCi3FsoMWwf8bhEZXMUg8lruVMs5CM21iEoNittW-NLqy8Ih6a-a063pCH7VOnKZsfhJUC0t9LVttwtXNG8lC66mCA4aqeV8CAQpbudXytN-QMy3Hox_b-yJsJD9mjHrfvvXENuUDWG7hrRy6/w640-h640/373303825_10160552551615339_3171339317749579785_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">The complete series of "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" by Michael Scott</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">This gorgeous 4 piece cannister set</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">100% cotton/linen tunic in a gorgeous golden sunflower color with really pretty detail down the front-sides.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">100% cotton maxi dress with this lovely pink cotton-ribbon edging detailing.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZlrH_lGy0-VtnEryieWqcs4NSV55xY1yvQdEfbxV_PNQ1EoA3zFzMD17ot7fQFKJ_fqx5UxZ9tyrxLHUzK4ByyGuFZuHdxJBUjsGRmq2dv355ZtlJbHYupdtBIOZkVvdb3PctigLqoVFOizNBcGSxoSdqJlO9yXPRh0F8HP6shNF-JuAEq8lVD3B4KLy/s2048/Ros%20and%20I.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZlrH_lGy0-VtnEryieWqcs4NSV55xY1yvQdEfbxV_PNQ1EoA3zFzMD17ot7fQFKJ_fqx5UxZ9tyrxLHUzK4ByyGuFZuHdxJBUjsGRmq2dv355ZtlJbHYupdtBIOZkVvdb3PctigLqoVFOizNBcGSxoSdqJlO9yXPRh0F8HP6shNF-JuAEq8lVD3B4KLy/w400-h400/Ros%20and%20I.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And one of my favorite memories of this month was a trip I took with my oldest friend, blood sisters since we were 10 years old. She with her replaced hip, me with my crunchy knees and orthotics, both with our walking sticks, we creaked and puffed and cackled all the way round our wee hike and picnic. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZLmpsqhJsa_rTw5SBgDeseptHVd2JQqGMZkoQ-Hb3ej1m0bt0ynybJl4bbkFY6YgxfahJxEo_XyIyyRAiEzrUWtMAtHmQNo8LRgt747s-Ak3FNamgZx_QqQL_IE_16MV3nT6I9WhJNuir8y51C3Cv8cSSV5UJ2ejXynwf-s5JmNspKcFyoNCmmo7Ij23/s254/OIP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="254" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZLmpsqhJsa_rTw5SBgDeseptHVd2JQqGMZkoQ-Hb3ej1m0bt0ynybJl4bbkFY6YgxfahJxEo_XyIyyRAiEzrUWtMAtHmQNo8LRgt747s-Ak3FNamgZx_QqQL_IE_16MV3nT6I9WhJNuir8y51C3Cv8cSSV5UJ2ejXynwf-s5JmNspKcFyoNCmmo7Ij23/w200-h199/OIP.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I</span><span> don't know about you, but I can feel a busy September in store as the harvests come in. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Until we meet again, keep healthy, active and happy. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Namaste, y'all!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-8073452352227528512023-08-12T13:01:00.006-03:002023-08-12T13:04:26.934-03:00The arrival of August<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVsJBWGIpOY3K4Yx7pUBQftRF4qD7qlIvr1ApwfgbBX-xFNeVIWucePsFobSa-aFPS2gEUDUwgchddQ12KjliHI6qAlupF0P9Pp6dGlHuR0LKSdkzMHA7-FxI0Vt4_wG8Va14EaDDBsZto3DMMnCWXZ5xSAw1PIMQyFpYpg6LqNArMph5eYXHk3PRJunH/s2048/366372323_10160506288090339_5853486489405516186_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVsJBWGIpOY3K4Yx7pUBQftRF4qD7qlIvr1ApwfgbBX-xFNeVIWucePsFobSa-aFPS2gEUDUwgchddQ12KjliHI6qAlupF0P9Pp6dGlHuR0LKSdkzMHA7-FxI0Vt4_wG8Va14EaDDBsZto3DMMnCWXZ5xSAw1PIMQyFpYpg6LqNArMph5eYXHk3PRJunH/w200-h200/366372323_10160506288090339_5853486489405516186_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For those of us in western Newfoundland, August has brought with it cooler temperatures and a few rainy days. The garden has been beautiful all summer; the roses are almost gone now, but that little bush has had so many blooms and has been beautifully fragrant! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTangZeQUgZnqH7HfYOKvd1H12pVN1dVI38lHfTinb7PRw1F9SZxM5O9Ut3dHj9Lj3Fi9ThLixY59UcS7AY_h2qdyw9hvnCMVqu0hhujfCIQgpTJmVVeeiXbIoSaudaMjTWFB70g8C2ZTqwTLUXYvvpXTVWvwTHsp4G9drxB4XhrvaFLnUit2qkpfFcfzL/s2048/367394269_10160506401255339_4542356804546467329_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTangZeQUgZnqH7HfYOKvd1H12pVN1dVI38lHfTinb7PRw1F9SZxM5O9Ut3dHj9Lj3Fi9ThLixY59UcS7AY_h2qdyw9hvnCMVqu0hhujfCIQgpTJmVVeeiXbIoSaudaMjTWFB70g8C2ZTqwTLUXYvvpXTVWvwTHsp4G9drxB4XhrvaFLnUit2qkpfFcfzL/s320/367394269_10160506401255339_4542356804546467329_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">And after living with the newly painted 'Persian Cat' white walls in my cottage for over a month, I have come to the conclusion that I don't care for just white. I need some colour! The committee had given me half a can of blue paint so I could paint the closets; but there was enough to also paint 2 of the walls in my bedroom . Ahhh! Much better.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I found a can of mis-tint blue/grey paint for 50% off at the local hardware store which I used to paint the hallway wall that entends into the living room; and then using the Persian Cat paint, I stencilled that wall in a mandala pattern. I'm really pleased with the result. (I ordered the stencil off Temu; but since then, I've heard such horror stories about Temu! All has been fine so far for me. But had anyone had a negative experience with them?)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuNCLUcLkF2n1KEzHgY8EBOLK8s6ZX4fG5lHtxkUmKM1jKOCT3Lw7v9myi4em1ySva1V_GxW6LuuFYKElDaBAnTcQZps9a6EuM1VmiuBWCm0HRoS8eDGi1zVMV7OjfMAahWkNcJGuttSt01nln2tzZ2UYEDpDJn7mY0XHgf_KMRTGgYVfeCpu7V-c368a/s2048/367401863_10160506401150339_6284846132470705405_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuNCLUcLkF2n1KEzHgY8EBOLK8s6ZX4fG5lHtxkUmKM1jKOCT3Lw7v9myi4em1ySva1V_GxW6LuuFYKElDaBAnTcQZps9a6EuM1VmiuBWCm0HRoS8eDGi1zVMV7OjfMAahWkNcJGuttSt01nln2tzZ2UYEDpDJn7mY0XHgf_KMRTGgYVfeCpu7V-c368a/s320/367401863_10160506401150339_6284846132470705405_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found the wave painting at the <br />local Sally Ann for $10.</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJhwpSUR5xK1jjl8denGPe5GPIhO360BjPyzTrw-MuZkYLhA-bK0ldd2wEgjaCZ3cHysUNsej4KGeGRpbezPE5bkwKBi2nSSWGJLnOEKPQwgbH0Y4M5MFVMXQSEBEpbqxLjodQiMv4N-fdUPuj2i9KfceIoO87oqraJqH73HINCiLDCaZ1MJdM8uufs8P/s2048/367423194_10160506400990339_6709761791574262685_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJhwpSUR5xK1jjl8denGPe5GPIhO360BjPyzTrw-MuZkYLhA-bK0ldd2wEgjaCZ3cHysUNsej4KGeGRpbezPE5bkwKBi2nSSWGJLnOEKPQwgbH0Y4M5MFVMXQSEBEpbqxLjodQiMv4N-fdUPuj2i9KfceIoO87oqraJqH73HINCiLDCaZ1MJdM8uufs8P/s320/367423194_10160506400990339_6709761791574262685_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I used to use stencils back in the 80s; it's a great way to add colour or just interest to a space. Have you ever tried it? In the meantime, I have lots of other decorating ideas on my list. But I need to pace myself as up-and-down on step stools and lifting my arm overhead to paint takes a toll. So, those ideas will wait until fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My daughter and I went to see the Barbie movie last week, and we loved it. Have you seen it yet? I loved that it was full of positive feminist messages and was so funny and fun. Also, I recognized some of the clothes from my eldest daughter's 1980's Barbie: Ken's shiny silver jumpsuit from the dance scene and those matching hideous multi-coloured roller skating suits. Hahaha! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm still walking Rusty's Run every day. But I decided to walk to the beach once day, about 45 min each way. Getting there was fine; but even after sitting for an hour, the walk back was really difficult and I think I overworked my calf muscles as I was sore for a few days. I guess I really do have to listen to my doctor's advice and stick to 30 minute walks. Well, most of the time anyway! ๐ </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">๐คท</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The raspberry u-pick has just opened up. So this week, I'll probably make jam. And bread 'n' butter pickles are also on my to-do list. I've run out and am missing them a lot.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI0UXljGHhlat2TjVT8owdmHnWs4aPS3-8pcIgO0k8ws404SNTesJHbhE99VbIaf9yvgi2aY_Yk7zODN-53ZO4yoG2gzKDFDg00psOEhDACi5cdz8nor0zm4N5qwRG-f6myB0yby9qx3meFs_SCnTBV1KF8TXfAEg9-FrS3Dxf7NCI7CXw8WcEdws8zSQ/s254/OIP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="254" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI0UXljGHhlat2TjVT8owdmHnWs4aPS3-8pcIgO0k8ws404SNTesJHbhE99VbIaf9yvgi2aY_Yk7zODN-53ZO4yoG2gzKDFDg00psOEhDACi5cdz8nor0zm4N5qwRG-f6myB0yby9qx3meFs_SCnTBV1KF8TXfAEg9-FrS3Dxf7NCI7CXw8WcEdws8zSQ/s1600/OIP.jpg" width="254" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope it's cooler where you are now and that you get to enjoy the rest of summer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Namaste, y'all!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-10595877294582661622023-07-23T13:44:00.007-03:002023-07-23T13:48:33.167-03:00Hot and Sticky and Sweet<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8Cdn8wIlvsMIStGPqn7prI8tV1b1tn1Y6bo7shy0kZBDx-9HkfAZ15LBmrfgZkLldFO4trZlFG8-26Eo9ZM_j8IuQSCPfobS58HKBw1ulzIReTVCiM_YRK8TarHMD9wpfoHOyfcy98jdaweL0nHW2OhkJaXFrjSWxK39E86tA0dJDNpy3nqMl-N3C8IM/s2048/362892626_10160464233215339_1883375872934231419_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8Cdn8wIlvsMIStGPqn7prI8tV1b1tn1Y6bo7shy0kZBDx-9HkfAZ15LBmrfgZkLldFO4trZlFG8-26Eo9ZM_j8IuQSCPfobS58HKBw1ulzIReTVCiM_YRK8TarHMD9wpfoHOyfcy98jdaweL0nHW2OhkJaXFrjSWxK39E86tA0dJDNpy3nqMl-N3C8IM/s320/362892626_10160464233215339_1883375872934231419_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">What a month! Like the majority of Newfoundlanders, I don't have an air conditioner as there usually isn't much need: our summer temperatures normally sit around 20-24โ (70-75โ) with perhaps 2-3 days of high heat. But like the rest of the world, we are experiencing extremely high temperatures (30sC / high 80sF)</span><span style="font-size: large;">. And as I'm mostly made of sugar, jelly, BS & asthma), I can't function in hot weather. I have at least 1 fan for every room. But most of the time, I'm just sitting on my couch with 3 fans pointed at me. Two are fairly new. But the one that does the best job is a old yellow metal 1960's model I bought at a recent yard sale. Although she sounds like a jet engine, man! Can she blow! Here's a depiction of me relaxing in front of the fan:</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW3wn5Bllz2_xY8fKmb2aaZPDH8y4tK41d7CkNLKghfCUNWKQ8mbmP3p7F1aEYthE2G7GOOcly2b7JAa2XhKk-kqaXUsGzyvrCJ_e4gqyMkVLVEB8Rbj40IQnUYREUWpBfSdDRbO-6tEHUHG9BEY2xsEeibEIZCScn_vQ3nKaUiOVPW9xlNrRyW80nZgI/s1080/363306085_10160464234145339_4726279284715802212_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1080" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW3wn5Bllz2_xY8fKmb2aaZPDH8y4tK41d7CkNLKghfCUNWKQ8mbmP3p7F1aEYthE2G7GOOcly2b7JAa2XhKk-kqaXUsGzyvrCJ_e4gqyMkVLVEB8Rbj40IQnUYREUWpBfSdDRbO-6tEHUHG9BEY2xsEeibEIZCScn_vQ3nKaUiOVPW9xlNrRyW80nZgI/w400-h394/363306085_10160464234145339_4726279284715802212_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to read captions on Netflix as I can't hear a thing over the sound of Old Yeller!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIVN8DFfTnFy_lh_NEmt8102JK4CpeXpedN3rnFStzRiAkcr3OfRHd81MdX77kab_fOKc4LF7lfE_FBv1xcq7x3VrVH091-Cf3D5ojl4K3TWxsjVHGm9tCZt_q_pD_nRpTCRic3fme3uMUDFEDUIOQyP27XT350UjmLZBlnLg403ZxL3roQb5wrWrb8gv/s2048/362887557_10160464234555339_6973978283880668801_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIVN8DFfTnFy_lh_NEmt8102JK4CpeXpedN3rnFStzRiAkcr3OfRHd81MdX77kab_fOKc4LF7lfE_FBv1xcq7x3VrVH091-Cf3D5ojl4K3TWxsjVHGm9tCZt_q_pD_nRpTCRic3fme3uMUDFEDUIOQyP27XT350UjmLZBlnLg403ZxL3roQb5wrWrb8gv/s320/362887557_10160464234555339_6973978283880668801_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Before the really high heat struck, strawberry season happened and I went to a local U-pick. With the addition of some rhubarb, I froze some, made jam, tarts, muffins, a cobbler and a failed but still tasty cake. Yummy!</span><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But one of my favorite things to preserve for winter is rhubarb/strawberry syrup. You simply add a little water to rhubarb & strawberries (I use a 4-1 ratio R to S), add some sugar to your taste (mine is slightly tart), stew this, strain into bottles; and when you're ready to use, pour over ice and add sparkling water (on a 1 to 3 ratio or to your taste). [Tis' also grand added to a G'n'T๐] And it's such a wonderful hit-of-summer in the middle of winter!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEG56TKj_uDeGDMv7ura0TW-DKGHt5ogMJU-akYRXsQjhSANVihYcwHHyT3uZu7-IxrkYPCWIy7qofag5dOOsoDOoVVo2Og2C_uBWP8toF56LpHm_fZDRlc0EmQz1yh8FT3fpVhbEWp8PzdnJqiHCmE2HXlNmyWO5v2oxvd8H1myTHxnypaPZnXjF4ANg/s1080/362689491_10160464240590339_603581775919078681_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEG56TKj_uDeGDMv7ura0TW-DKGHt5ogMJU-akYRXsQjhSANVihYcwHHyT3uZu7-IxrkYPCWIy7qofag5dOOsoDOoVVo2Og2C_uBWP8toF56LpHm_fZDRlc0EmQz1yh8FT3fpVhbEWp8PzdnJqiHCmE2HXlNmyWO5v2oxvd8H1myTHxnypaPZnXjF4ANg/s320/362689491_10160464240590339_603581775919078681_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C-WS6aspE93tk7PTdTAhReYvWueFQwj-rS5J1A07d-WY9EXaX3NNWMvaENiJViByC1H4ynTfDCOu3UILVE33NM5mBX0rep-yJaNECE98VAb-j76ydh0BF9d1VVnQZV6DQpHlrws_Fd4Ly3MJwZNDYqq8LjnAmaGQMfKx08CpY_r0O8Ix3U-AmVbGXX4I/s2048/362891901_10160464234345339_6506160523332325875_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C-WS6aspE93tk7PTdTAhReYvWueFQwj-rS5J1A07d-WY9EXaX3NNWMvaENiJViByC1H4ynTfDCOu3UILVE33NM5mBX0rep-yJaNECE98VAb-j76ydh0BF9d1VVnQZV6DQpHlrws_Fd4Ly3MJwZNDYqq8LjnAmaGQMfKx08CpY_r0O8Ix3U-AmVbGXX4I/w160-h200/362891901_10160464234345339_6506160523332325875_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have managed to walk the brook path most every day (which someone has named Rusty's Run) as long as I go early morning or just before sunset. The bugs can be a bit fierce, but it's always cooler, quieter and so serene in amongst the trees and ferns. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFmqrAakp2W-TjA08Gu9wuHit6c8TFhpbnJpmS6Unu7_jyMicxCSx1Ag0lNhGjY6X4Ai3b6AB260lZv1uPRr1Q93Jaz9CACj9GI-f5xUWgeJQMVCcbE1bHP3xoJGRub8iFC6s9oKsW96zzFIYP0G3Ep_Kll_BpI1S_t0QDvGd1HpUWQFy33zgQuKymES9/s2048/362634753_10160464234030339_6407118084142606347_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFmqrAakp2W-TjA08Gu9wuHit6c8TFhpbnJpmS6Unu7_jyMicxCSx1Ag0lNhGjY6X4Ai3b6AB260lZv1uPRr1Q93Jaz9CACj9GI-f5xUWgeJQMVCcbE1bHP3xoJGRub8iFC6s9oKsW96zzFIYP0G3Ep_Kll_BpI1S_t0QDvGd1HpUWQFy33zgQuKymES9/s320/362634753_10160464234030339_6407118084142606347_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr6T-ywvs44WOJ_aJ4W-plNtllinqgl3UJMRT3iyQR2pJ4y8cKL4Y2qRwazfjniOQr7DVrNZNnC5RorMiPTMM9fmBxGAuDTPh5jrlld6d8corf33yfqtpWGXEzOpnCIqU7Vxf8QKyJBZ6WjWRlGBdbEKK_DCmz9xcC5LFG3aHJYm5fP8B_N9GieuxCt15/s2048/362910920_10160464255535339_9101658073442563995_n.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr6T-ywvs44WOJ_aJ4W-plNtllinqgl3UJMRT3iyQR2pJ4y8cKL4Y2qRwazfjniOQr7DVrNZNnC5RorMiPTMM9fmBxGAuDTPh5jrlld6d8corf33yfqtpWGXEzOpnCIqU7Vxf8QKyJBZ6WjWRlGBdbEKK_DCmz9xcC5LFG3aHJYm5fP8B_N9GieuxCt15/s320/362910920_10160464255535339_9101658073442563995_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Temperatures this week are supposed to be slightly lower, but now the humidity has begun to set in! So, I shall have to endure the roar of Old Yeller for a while yet.</span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Stay cool and hydrated, my friends. Namaste!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-74290494574574812142023-07-09T11:12:00.013-03:002023-07-09T11:16:25.795-03:00Welcome to July!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM5SVY8sU3OlbfEXa5g6a3v-FCTiP0_WEtoL8NigdP1Dl5fho96EvQav6HGeM_O-HnFsFI3BOWQkTvq1OrnQ6jDBlW5etclwAWHSWMEQdt_aY98eTKmwBbUKGonvGtcPzFf2P__vLzZ9GBGlx-4SGP6J6L7adQfa9PUJeb1qGxIJAR9W3rKxppJMzAPrI/s2048/347582412_10160435133205339_2258040427346744078_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM5SVY8sU3OlbfEXa5g6a3v-FCTiP0_WEtoL8NigdP1Dl5fho96EvQav6HGeM_O-HnFsFI3BOWQkTvq1OrnQ6jDBlW5etclwAWHSWMEQdt_aY98eTKmwBbUKGonvGtcPzFf2P__vLzZ9GBGlx-4SGP6J6L7adQfa9PUJeb1qGxIJAR9W3rKxppJMzAPrI/s320/347582412_10160435133205339_2258040427346744078_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">My apartment is painted, and just about everything has been put back in place. I did some fun tweaking and added some summery cushions and a throw. (Now my area rug doesn't quite 'go' with everything ..... so do I need a summer carpet?) Hmmm! I shall be scouring the thrift stores and FB marketplace.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The weather has been what I consider perfect with temperatures mostly in the mid 20's (80's). I've finished working on the community garden, and it looks so lovely! The Peonies are in full blossom, and the Roses, Lillies and Foxglove are ready to open any day. Summer has finally reached Newfoundland.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mxSw8O57EKsoEha-iDhimneHmPqQnjRg4uB1ToITZlSSB7RAV7914Rjg96r1xFUv1qMWwPhEpA0VhT6m0DYbET6yjF1waOavOCHjtt59C1nVBTb2-zLbba77xDoTu87AKuaSS0HqktbEJiHr2MrUP7j-8k7dD8_tcCoTw9lrPXyJFu-7ohjHFMyA-_9r/s2048/347550780_10160435133695339_6483173817703997903_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2048" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mxSw8O57EKsoEha-iDhimneHmPqQnjRg4uB1ToITZlSSB7RAV7914Rjg96r1xFUv1qMWwPhEpA0VhT6m0DYbET6yjF1waOavOCHjtt59C1nVBTb2-zLbba77xDoTu87AKuaSS0HqktbEJiHr2MrUP7j-8k7dD8_tcCoTw9lrPXyJFu-7ohjHFMyA-_9r/s320/347550780_10160435133695339_6483173817703997903_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Canada Day was a fun day with family and their friends' families; there were lots of happy, sticky children, laughter and great food. I spent most of the day in the pool repeatedly catching my 2 yr old dare-devil grandson who would recite <i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"Weddy, Set, GO!"</span></i> and then jump off the side into my arms. Hahaha! My arms ached so much. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRuivHBj5cYvhwzWsbtN9CmtFMfB66sIL7Jdrya09kFCGKR3rDS5Zyrb_ZaLcQsRjy5TxjAL7Lc-JavVXz8bEOCfUmKeSBMY7cqQQNTp0ZAVFxO7ZmgyRXasN0IaLnXmmHAB3APhR0zkys7vSGnxEHTCgv8L6J0O8S9xcVVc1LE1sr_9vhK4nAOx69WNa/s2048/347436636_10160435133430339_5413669137594761942_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRuivHBj5cYvhwzWsbtN9CmtFMfB66sIL7Jdrya09kFCGKR3rDS5Zyrb_ZaLcQsRjy5TxjAL7Lc-JavVXz8bEOCfUmKeSBMY7cqQQNTp0ZAVFxO7ZmgyRXasN0IaLnXmmHAB3APhR0zkys7vSGnxEHTCgv8L6J0O8S9xcVVc1LE1sr_9vhK4nAOx69WNa/w150-h200/347436636_10160435133430339_5413669137594761942_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Although the black flies can be a challenge, I'm still walking brookside every day, and I love watching the changing flora and fauna. Things change on a daily basis. One day, the path itself was strewn with white and yellow pollen -- like confetti at a wedding. The next week, the ferns were covered with fallen blooms from the trees. The ditches are full of color! Purple Lupins & Vetch, yellow somethings, Oxeye daisies and bright, beautiful reddish/orange Fireweed.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HcaVqt8twZiyYrDVRKhgSYh7hwXZRxQwS1J7jj3W3r-mkz-WGTeq13BIs98q1Hi_0KB9HiMETroTbYcwwcgq7EKBwgc4-wnALXjUihNJAlGb0mKxU24BDaYrRLVxiOh0gBEclwke9LdDTjfZJxPc7-SykCU8zfNJB3KllJ8whZf57ERHbRGhyoWD7Mpg/s2048/348281475_10160435133345339_97313797680205214_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HcaVqt8twZiyYrDVRKhgSYh7hwXZRxQwS1J7jj3W3r-mkz-WGTeq13BIs98q1Hi_0KB9HiMETroTbYcwwcgq7EKBwgc4-wnALXjUihNJAlGb0mKxU24BDaYrRLVxiOh0gBEclwke9LdDTjfZJxPc7-SykCU8zfNJB3KllJ8whZf57ERHbRGhyoWD7Mpg/w240-h320/348281475_10160435133345339_97313797680205214_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I almost always bring home a bouquet. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Today will be in the high 20's; so it's a picnic and swim day with my eldest daughter and wonderful 10 yr old grandson. </span><span>Being a grandma is one of the best things about aging for me!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all! Stay cool and hydrated, and seek out the small joys!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-54959295769362855342023-06-18T10:31:00.013-03:002023-06-18T10:44:00.909-03:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I spent my past week moving furniture from room to room just ahead of the painter; one more day (for the painter) to completion! ๐ค My aching body has been glad of a few days off to take my time with the aftermath and prepare for Tuesday when painting resumes. So, I decided that today would be a day of total rest; just a lazy day of indulgence. I began with an 8 am brookside walk. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzQ4Kb8z0xsx7EzNXTisXWw9P3o3mA4BHU0d3-0_8Q5D_GiuOopGuaQlDXqeViQz8wnmdUetGLR3SEiEbDcJ7O1s1ERdcH-sf5INeOyUYw_Qc3mgd_UjLLlVRhIxyZmTr1bVrMfNyNOf_Z6G8dxkNGSTeDsGqDCE41WqtMS8oGFM0EqOViow__e7Txg/s2048/347242895_10160392876695339_1965466273959975495_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzQ4Kb8z0xsx7EzNXTisXWw9P3o3mA4BHU0d3-0_8Q5D_GiuOopGuaQlDXqeViQz8wnmdUetGLR3SEiEbDcJ7O1s1ERdcH-sf5INeOyUYw_Qc3mgd_UjLLlVRhIxyZmTr1bVrMfNyNOf_Z6G8dxkNGSTeDsGqDCE41WqtMS8oGFM0EqOViow__e7Txg/w400-h300/347242895_10160392876695339_1965466273959975495_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The 1st part of the path is now covered with beautiful ferns on both sides. If I looked at them too long, everything went fuzzy ..... like looking for the hidden image in one of those maze-type pictures that come across your Facebook page. Whozzy! But so beautiful to walk through these waves of lacy green!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8wbEnk_ZTCrJf7UyTghJv56b3Ml8WvJ2RQK2E0Re1KEBcbTVmtrVWjjxJZbwDcqpWs-V6Bglf8uWCRuGFV4gno0xxHsLH5eCGRuXZQydn5oXIq80LE78CLC_e5Oba_g_sjW05ju9MlkKKqDlSVbP_RoYesY-3XeuCD1tvIOhx5w2sGZPHev2WsV0Lw/s2048/347248670_10160392876590339_7678006080888326492_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8wbEnk_ZTCrJf7UyTghJv56b3Ml8WvJ2RQK2E0Re1KEBcbTVmtrVWjjxJZbwDcqpWs-V6Bglf8uWCRuGFV4gno0xxHsLH5eCGRuXZQydn5oXIq80LE78CLC_e5Oba_g_sjW05ju9MlkKKqDlSVbP_RoYesY-3XeuCD1tvIOhx5w2sGZPHev2WsV0Lw/s320/347248670_10160392876590339_7678006080888326492_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8wbEnk_ZTCrJf7UyTghJv56b3Ml8WvJ2RQK2E0Re1KEBcbTVmtrVWjjxJZbwDcqpWs-V6Bglf8uWCRuGFV4gno0xxHsLH5eCGRuXZQydn5oXIq80LE78CLC_e5Oba_g_sjW05ju9MlkKKqDlSVbP_RoYesY-3XeuCD1tvIOhx5w2sGZPHev2WsV0Lw/s2048/347248670_10160392876590339_7678006080888326492_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8wbEnk_ZTCrJf7UyTghJv56b3Ml8WvJ2RQK2E0Re1KEBcbTVmtrVWjjxJZbwDcqpWs-V6Bglf8uWCRuGFV4gno0xxHsLH5eCGRuXZQydn5oXIq80LE78CLC_e5Oba_g_sjW05ju9MlkKKqDlSVbP_RoYesY-3XeuCD1tvIOhx5w2sGZPHev2WsV0Lw/s2048/347248670_10160392876590339_7678006080888326492_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8wbEnk_ZTCrJf7UyTghJv56b3Ml8WvJ2RQK2E0Re1KEBcbTVmtrVWjjxJZbwDcqpWs-V6Bglf8uWCRuGFV4gno0xxHsLH5eCGRuXZQydn5oXIq80LE78CLC_e5Oba_g_sjW05ju9MlkKKqDlSVbP_RoYesY-3XeuCD1tvIOhx5w2sGZPHev2WsV0Lw/s2048/347248670_10160392876590339_7678006080888326492_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8wbEnk_ZTCrJf7UyTghJv56b3Ml8WvJ2RQK2E0Re1KEBcbTVmtrVWjjxJZbwDcqpWs-V6Bglf8uWCRuGFV4gno0xxHsLH5eCGRuXZQydn5oXIq80LE78CLC_e5Oba_g_sjW05ju9MlkKKqDlSVbP_RoYesY-3XeuCD1tvIOhx5w2sGZPHev2WsV0Lw/s2048/347248670_10160392876590339_7678006080888326492_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>The mornings are still quite cool here - only 8๐C (46๐F). I was chilled when I got back. So, coffee was next on my agenda. Freshly ground, good quality <a href="https://grosmornecoffee.ca/">beans</a>, frothy milk and just a smidge of honey make this such a treat. And I drank it from my new cup (Homegoods). Ahhhh! </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I'll make granola later. And I'll probably walk the path again this afternoon. But for now, I'll catch up on my bloggy friends and u-tubers. And I'll rest, rest, rest. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I leave you with a Happy Father's Day and a Happy Pride Month. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all! ๐<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRiPXcIRWZAXkuPiuIBCotaTmWCjqsF_mbuD-ulq5b0LKRG1JiAEUV_lxq4Sb0RS0c-F5aZRB5VdVMHPoV99mW6NAmcbkgD7x9cCUKmHOLjDX1SkVecnhGR64gLx1ATz6k1lCv-dpmWJB7FHzFZZubW6BXvHIbGHTaSdNu96_nJwC2pnS_VSu_pnEiw/s1350/347432433_10160392876610339_7844339072358838454_n.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRiPXcIRWZAXkuPiuIBCotaTmWCjqsF_mbuD-ulq5b0LKRG1JiAEUV_lxq4Sb0RS0c-F5aZRB5VdVMHPoV99mW6NAmcbkgD7x9cCUKmHOLjDX1SkVecnhGR64gLx1ATz6k1lCv-dpmWJB7FHzFZZubW6BXvHIbGHTaSdNu96_nJwC2pnS_VSu_pnEiw/s320/347432433_10160392876610339_7844339072358838454_n.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRiPXcIRWZAXkuPiuIBCotaTmWCjqsF_mbuD-ulq5b0LKRG1JiAEUV_lxq4Sb0RS0c-F5aZRB5VdVMHPoV99mW6NAmcbkgD7x9cCUKmHOLjDX1SkVecnhGR64gLx1ATz6k1lCv-dpmWJB7FHzFZZubW6BXvHIbGHTaSdNu96_nJwC2pnS_VSu_pnEiw/s1350/347432433_10160392876610339_7844339072358838454_n.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRiPXcIRWZAXkuPiuIBCotaTmWCjqsF_mbuD-ulq5b0LKRG1JiAEUV_lxq4Sb0RS0c-F5aZRB5VdVMHPoV99mW6NAmcbkgD7x9cCUKmHOLjDX1SkVecnhGR64gLx1ATz6k1lCv-dpmWJB7FHzFZZubW6BXvHIbGHTaSdNu96_nJwC2pnS_VSu_pnEiw/s1350/347432433_10160392876610339_7844339072358838454_n.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaVjhOPDlLWGkDMT8Xy_az5mp8mq5I6dDTUpaHbJ8MzTagDmTJFmUsRfQUBTHJNwVWBDFWEgBUI0OgyYVe_u9Q2-owtaJZ50-SIhp-tpCJkmJYYi00AATXCs5Vbz_9Ml1bc8uIfhiZjOX_lGsSe14uiX34fFAYFn3fz1CJDYVQDsafgxrkbNCiM68Hg/s320/352200951_10160392784910339_5756521579243460939_n.jpg" width="256" /></div><p></p></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-48729282752036035882023-06-11T09:28:00.011-03:002023-06-11T09:31:48.672-03:00Happy June/Happy Pride<p><span style="font-size: large;">Sorry for my absence but my body hasn't been functioning as it should. An x-ray showed no arthritis in my hand ๐; so the next step is to see a neurologist. But after a 3 week head cold along with debilitating pain in my right hand and arm (to the point where I couldn't use it), I'm now beginning to feel better. Aging sucks!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've eaten boring food and watched boring TV, so I've nothing exciting to share on that end. We've had 2 days of sunshine sandwiched by 16 days of cold and rain. Still I've gotten out for my brookside walks a number of times. It's fascinating to watch spring wake the earth: the unfurling of a fern or the lifecycle of a Dandelion bring such delight and hope.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK0DGxhhRMWIXYqxpkMwKvWJQtCqmPTkNc98WRBnx-sZHrnD1z_S5Jw568LRTX5-JGsKIqUMeb4qmdeJC9hkfYVSRtKI-C5H7amUtvw1GbErTnk86VK0uw75Cmh1UvxMY3IP1vRKfwQ5GYS_euJ-PPADl2VB0IZk7AEgnxL6KtCz6HWurSxATb8Iwog/s2048/347438388_10160378592675339_1947589468588216823_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK0DGxhhRMWIXYqxpkMwKvWJQtCqmPTkNc98WRBnx-sZHrnD1z_S5Jw568LRTX5-JGsKIqUMeb4qmdeJC9hkfYVSRtKI-C5H7amUtvw1GbErTnk86VK0uw75Cmh1UvxMY3IP1vRKfwQ5GYS_euJ-PPADl2VB0IZk7AEgnxL6KtCz6HWurSxATb8Iwog/w640-h640/347438388_10160378592675339_1947589468588216823_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnVROGesl6B68Fz5RflVqMtZ6f5j91zeU_R88-7lr6rSzZPDxCwnAphMyXlSMsx-l2vb02G5Fo-9W9DxmaQjOA6f9z0BhZEUR9gAc0pDkk-x7a6rBwqjA8tetwO_P4ekDGo7fT7R-eOXi0mTXa-JAnDNTGgpGoXqcFUZVDjIBFtNBwXJRTmpDpvTmIQ/s2048/347246253_10160378662095339_7976738303798354073_n.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnVROGesl6B68Fz5RflVqMtZ6f5j91zeU_R88-7lr6rSzZPDxCwnAphMyXlSMsx-l2vb02G5Fo-9W9DxmaQjOA6f9z0BhZEUR9gAc0pDkk-x7a6rBwqjA8tetwO_P4ekDGo7fT7R-eOXi0mTXa-JAnDNTGgpGoXqcFUZVDjIBFtNBwXJRTmpDpvTmIQ/w300-h400/347246253_10160378662095339_7976738303798354073_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And the community garden is coming along beautifully. It needs to be weeded again soon. But all the neighbours join me in saying what a joy it is to look outside and see the blooms (especially on these rainy days). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm4zndkyjV28PEAdEoALcaPeQG6QrZ2p4-kKxubfCRegrl2GT2HWuRqz77208KPA7T-YXR6_PXmb8zUTQyjCNnvwRth1Hm0f8rcjJuarpJIs_KsO_A5Jv_rJfhg0Tz7gYFNq0xZK85-W_QjKVMZyEdrhTpMnbBQ2SLCruLkMQBWSk2zKP1QNMv7I-Eg/s2048/347239129_10160378674620339_2054796757842659779_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm4zndkyjV28PEAdEoALcaPeQG6QrZ2p4-kKxubfCRegrl2GT2HWuRqz77208KPA7T-YXR6_PXmb8zUTQyjCNnvwRth1Hm0f8rcjJuarpJIs_KsO_A5Jv_rJfhg0Tz7gYFNq0xZK85-W_QjKVMZyEdrhTpMnbBQ2SLCruLkMQBWSk2zKP1QNMv7I-Eg/s320/347239129_10160378674620339_2054796757842659779_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The local committee has been doing inspections and repairs of the units. Mine is due to be painted very soon and I'll finally say goodbye to this sad, dingy yellow. Now, I'm someone who likes to surround herself with colour; but seeing as this space is much smaller for me and I have a lot of colour in my furniture and accessories, I have opted instead for a neutral white color! (My kids are shocked!) The colour I've chosen is called Persian Cat, and I like it because the sample seemed to change with the light; sometimes it had a slight green tint, other times a slight blue. Once the painting is finished, I have a few other small esthetic changes to bring to my space to make it more ME. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DM20hkHKjUHGHQgW7UPlRb2sU4h96hkaXWSwjo26GrKJKmlGemrRyi5lNFnw3BChVp0umSlmeXqHnkMGiDlx3bzc6FS8rEqnGzuT85Mcj6q8RemGmUpnTzgT7KWdjvjxm15oALSF5pGf6DGMWhEBJW4JDx1JeAttEHehiesiQn8uEbuVa0HChvslbA/s1427/347418788_10160378707030339_4361025184444887021_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DM20hkHKjUHGHQgW7UPlRb2sU4h96hkaXWSwjo26GrKJKmlGemrRyi5lNFnw3BChVp0umSlmeXqHnkMGiDlx3bzc6FS8rEqnGzuT85Mcj6q8RemGmUpnTzgT7KWdjvjxm15oALSF5pGf6DGMWhEBJW4JDx1JeAttEHehiesiQn8uEbuVa0HChvslbA/s320/347418788_10160378707030339_4361025184444887021_n.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>I hope your health is good, my friends, and that summer has already arrived where you are. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And a Happy Pride month to everyone. Remember: choose love. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all! ๐</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-22501262984091236612023-05-03T12:31:00.002-03:002023-05-03T12:33:09.227-03:00Week in Review<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for your kind words and advice. My arthritis pain is getting a little better each day, and I have found a couple of ways to deal with the pain. The weather has been also getting better each day which does so much to help a body! Here are the highs from my week:</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxD8MEGgnt1lCMMtkDEa_9rc9kdXHlMr1NXOx5UGbAdeT1eHaelwa0ifBZgyGmLSmBJ_sKTAEjVJDsGBqnuS6KWSYvnt6vb3YzYAmo8nI1ydEsxADpkXPvbfyYvlevvuvedZXctiHd-KdLMHsI0llk8EpsSfvpKS90iEafljTak1G34d35fGOdSATlg/s2048/344761862_227098109930895_838601850215997885_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxD8MEGgnt1lCMMtkDEa_9rc9kdXHlMr1NXOx5UGbAdeT1eHaelwa0ifBZgyGmLSmBJ_sKTAEjVJDsGBqnuS6KWSYvnt6vb3YzYAmo8nI1ydEsxADpkXPvbfyYvlevvuvedZXctiHd-KdLMHsI0llk8EpsSfvpKS90iEafljTak1G34d35fGOdSATlg/w150-h200/344761862_227098109930895_838601850215997885_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">The yummiest, <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/450571137733096990/">gluten-free banana bread</a>! It's made with oat flour (which you zip up yourself in the food processor). I added 1/2 cup of chopped mixed nuts and seeds as well as a few chopped chocolate chunks.</span> It has a light banana flavor with a slight crumbly/nutty texture. It's sweetened with maple syrup (& honey), so is not overly sweet. Perfect! </li></ul></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNfrTSjglqTzTp6IG_7fEefBl4Z_2YRfwFo_Z7OV-CPGxi8KO4o9kHNmG-fV3b3wqvnfHCh5IRkedY6cLW4ysn9IDBFL3NseprY5qBWrT7x7f3R5RFyJIuYuh3tOPUBMCbC40zHHeqZSEZvwRBKUZ2NXUfBq7sAzFy8MmpyLnPRJ_OHyjehfkFRjyKg/s2048/344770106_253069023874230_6657094466687054418_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNfrTSjglqTzTp6IG_7fEefBl4Z_2YRfwFo_Z7OV-CPGxi8KO4o9kHNmG-fV3b3wqvnfHCh5IRkedY6cLW4ysn9IDBFL3NseprY5qBWrT7x7f3R5RFyJIuYuh3tOPUBMCbC40zHHeqZSEZvwRBKUZ2NXUfBq7sAzFy8MmpyLnPRJ_OHyjehfkFRjyKg/w150-h200/344770106_253069023874230_6657094466687054418_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Fresh, local, greenhouse kale and chard. I steam my chard and have it with a sprinkle of vinegar and lashings of butter! Yum. And look at those gorgeous multi-color/multi-size eggs! They have brightest yellow yokes and are so tasty!</span></li></ul><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWbWDNA8xmOBax6GioRj26VD-MhPVhGUu9TZFJVR20JEpI2YiEPyyXynDBkIKNIKyV1eUSQQgDthWtoYSNU2I_Nbb2d4PyJOyF07POa3ftfkWozxFR-QxmmON6YibO2feNGiXDhHUwZh62Bf85Hw1SM5GEseVC3johswP4RYSM6N0GbGBU95g9eyYfw/s2048/344763218_3390610604588950_5854242284390435561_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWbWDNA8xmOBax6GioRj26VD-MhPVhGUu9TZFJVR20JEpI2YiEPyyXynDBkIKNIKyV1eUSQQgDthWtoYSNU2I_Nbb2d4PyJOyF07POa3ftfkWozxFR-QxmmON6YibO2feNGiXDhHUwZh62Bf85Hw1SM5GEseVC3johswP4RYSM6N0GbGBU95g9eyYfw/w320-h240/344763218_3390610604588950_5854242284390435561_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yubuchobap (Korean) or Inari sushi (Japanese). These are sweet, chewy tofu pockets that you fill with rice that's been mixed with a sweet vinegar and dried vegetables. I picked up the package from the freezer section; and it's one of my favorite, very addictive snacks. Thank goodness it's kinda healthy! </li></ul><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwutV0jFvxBVdgOBwaQFJOOg4wvHEgBDy8_KR99SDj2cddzItlarGZbw5oGkLEAzl4vWEsbr2mMvVf9dM0N5iSwrHo-eDArpegbftv_RaZjezkOK2UOukNAjZrxSn9BhMltIWy0d2PcHNuXoost-NeEqWTebkmu2kRVCpCTqExBFYOv0Pyido5iIP33Q/s2048/344794287_3472112026380086_3451868346313408049_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwutV0jFvxBVdgOBwaQFJOOg4wvHEgBDy8_KR99SDj2cddzItlarGZbw5oGkLEAzl4vWEsbr2mMvVf9dM0N5iSwrHo-eDArpegbftv_RaZjezkOK2UOukNAjZrxSn9BhMltIWy0d2PcHNuXoost-NeEqWTebkmu2kRVCpCTqExBFYOv0Pyido5iIP33Q/w150-h200/344794287_3472112026380086_3451868346313408049_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Free7 Mix - a carbonated pineapple/coconut flavoured drink that I bought from the international foods section of my local supermarket. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be mixed with alcohol; but as I don't imbibe much these days, I drank it as is and icy cold. It was delicious! Kind of like an alcohol-free, fizzy Pina Colada. They also had a strawberry flavor that was nice as well. </li></ul><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the biggest highlight of my week was being able to walk in the woods again. Sunday was my daughter's birthday, so we enjoyed a sunny but cool meander through the forest. </div></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EjdQ_1p24HrSjbmQb8zihmnZjDZBr57nPiIu8w_RSdb0g2g4XuHRScuBht0sSHoYW1tqvy4CTFy_dmfiqxXohhwpilnx6d_d-cPXsOUdW5GLVEDPwC42zHTY8gSkuRBafd7LxjnDtWWv0KfvUasXPCHR4tIEvWVNGIt0v4_22M1gz5_46VwdnkN53A/s2048/344752197_945762580000743_5610626188574259603_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EjdQ_1p24HrSjbmQb8zihmnZjDZBr57nPiIu8w_RSdb0g2g4XuHRScuBht0sSHoYW1tqvy4CTFy_dmfiqxXohhwpilnx6d_d-cPXsOUdW5GLVEDPwC42zHTY8gSkuRBafd7LxjnDtWWv0KfvUasXPCHR4tIEvWVNGIt0v4_22M1gz5_46VwdnkN53A/w640-h640/344752197_945762580000743_5610626188574259603_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had a snack by the brookside and just soaked in the sound of the stream and the birdsong. We scooched under fallen trees, held branches away from each other's face, and warned each other to step around evidence of last fall's visiting moose.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFhJSgXN_R2qf0Pep18eq08PsaMnl5rR_UUB75aIETm4f6BGq4AmGVq5cygIHmQpbj8Gkgp7LuzBl04gBqo2z-DJ-qsfosltB5T2es-zBjv6RFd4SeTPvDPeJPW1DcRe14keCmLIfZztS0g5lV2w9Va36x0dRaItVNaMVtwi-Tmeuc1E_OzcRgrVmlA/s2048/344794584_990513132327480_3088436929818864104_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFhJSgXN_R2qf0Pep18eq08PsaMnl5rR_UUB75aIETm4f6BGq4AmGVq5cygIHmQpbj8Gkgp7LuzBl04gBqo2z-DJ-qsfosltB5T2es-zBjv6RFd4SeTPvDPeJPW1DcRe14keCmLIfZztS0g5lV2w9Va36x0dRaItVNaMVtwi-Tmeuc1E_OzcRgrVmlA/w150-h200/344794584_990513132327480_3088436929818864104_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sure is good for the spirit and the soul. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a good week. I hope yours was too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-48314074534172860832023-04-27T11:08:00.000-03:002023-04-27T11:08:08.392-03:00Managing Pain<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNi-_e0Htb7WryIk7Cs1CVAAeY09W57uWfqkU_6DB6ZD5K0KvnLuUhqDVbZzaXceQzeJowGg9Mz2_Tbc8gvtPVNtEzVS-_1DbwiGqLpvn7BB8YGUM1KvBtrNEZxok_dP1aDwAILXrYXEeCK2aw8f3kI4qEi5Ih5UuY5rYSBiWuRcYbo-cxLL7q4Je-w/s2048/342975012_615391163974184_1210807557020111900_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNi-_e0Htb7WryIk7Cs1CVAAeY09W57uWfqkU_6DB6ZD5K0KvnLuUhqDVbZzaXceQzeJowGg9Mz2_Tbc8gvtPVNtEzVS-_1DbwiGqLpvn7BB8YGUM1KvBtrNEZxok_dP1aDwAILXrYXEeCK2aw8f3kI4qEi5Ih5UuY5rYSBiWuRcYbo-cxLL7q4Je-w/s320/342975012_615391163974184_1210807557020111900_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Spring has finally come to western Newfoundland! The snow has melted around town and is slowly leaving the forest and mountains. With any luck, I can actually walk my favorite brookside path today. The other morning, I bundled up and sat outside with my coffee, and I had some new visitors from a nearby house. (One must now be more careful where one walks!)<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5KPP6aePhxMfOK0rv9BuH71-8u1txIZ_4mqDVO5F0pW8Ldd1UW_W9BQ46TpEPmIOTnWdI7E6ThW3GMWpDfSrNHgoqXkr5iyPFkDF-iSLunDI4Q4CCUN57Tr_EziXy2tTOFTfMRnV7ps9xJlXsKDk-J_HE4ZoIAMR55lpPQX0xE1JQnt_A791IiwtEg/s600/Woman-holding-her-hand-in-pain-600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5KPP6aePhxMfOK0rv9BuH71-8u1txIZ_4mqDVO5F0pW8Ldd1UW_W9BQ46TpEPmIOTnWdI7E6ThW3GMWpDfSrNHgoqXkr5iyPFkDF-iSLunDI4Q4CCUN57Tr_EziXy2tTOFTfMRnV7ps9xJlXsKDk-J_HE4ZoIAMR55lpPQX0xE1JQnt_A791IiwtEg/w200-h133/Woman-holding-her-hand-in-pain-600x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">For the past two weeks, I've been dealing with debilitating arthritis pain in my right hand, arm and shoulder. (It seems as if now that I've retired, my body thinks it should break down and point out all my ailments immediately! Scheesch!) My doctor just yesterday prescribed Tylenol 3 (which I will take sparingly) and sent me for an x-ray on my hand so we can be sure that it is arthritis and perhaps determine what kind. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFrloTObml0cLbkIHBUEF-8YNhzAtNC5Z5zbab0VKLR4n12k0YkFoar0JnXY2TmOjk7cnfIujnVJM5vFaLDQ0d-DWdC9lthW9JdktJO5-BiRzz4w36uVjaaYdMD_tEKif7DAu-ne92VBvhogFMifQuOvl8iPSj4569DHonLQOZTWElGtARn2hys1nLA/s960/ori_3631579_i890k1r4tzbr5mg1en1geeq2jce3qwun2xk53kh4_hand-drawn-cannabis-linear-sketch-of-marijuana-branch-leaves-and-cone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFrloTObml0cLbkIHBUEF-8YNhzAtNC5Z5zbab0VKLR4n12k0YkFoar0JnXY2TmOjk7cnfIujnVJM5vFaLDQ0d-DWdC9lthW9JdktJO5-BiRzz4w36uVjaaYdMD_tEKif7DAu-ne92VBvhogFMifQuOvl8iPSj4569DHonLQOZTWElGtARn2hys1nLA/s320/ori_3631579_i890k1r4tzbr5mg1en1geeq2jce3qwun2xk53kh4_hand-drawn-cannabis-linear-sketch-of-marijuana-branch-leaves-and-cone.jpg" width="267" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>In the meantime, I'll keep to my own pain routine: I'm still trying to eat an anti-inflammatory diet at least 80% of the time, and I'm a huge proponent of cannabis which is, thank goodness, legal in Canada. With my sensitivity to prescription drugs, it is the only thing I've found that will alleviate most of the pain and has no side effects. Finding CBD only (no psychoactive effects) is difficult here; I do have CBD gummies and I use an infused cream. But CBD alone has not as effective as weed with THC. </span>Moderation in everything has always been one of my personal tenets! <span>But aging is a new adventure that I find I must take on a daily basis: some days will be better than others, I guess, and I must adjust accordingly. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2w_ov1n8ROlb1U-spNK_I87r0lfXvxJcsHtXwEP-k8AI7cNzIILvIOZFdZzrvxGCK9fy1hKoiIQ5KvzCfmE8GyIRUnwPpWHXxrsheJVWUqkMBcNEXaf_BhmqcHEk2Vxmg8Svscz3mBIRr5QifiSLB7N4Fo_0aQLCUOnzHoYzRYqywqRH3DvJSWA9Aw/s900/shaman-woman-dancing-near-fire-shaman-woman-dancing-near-fire-night-forest-cartoon-style-illustration-221246116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2w_ov1n8ROlb1U-spNK_I87r0lfXvxJcsHtXwEP-k8AI7cNzIILvIOZFdZzrvxGCK9fy1hKoiIQ5KvzCfmE8GyIRUnwPpWHXxrsheJVWUqkMBcNEXaf_BhmqcHEk2Vxmg8Svscz3mBIRr5QifiSLB7N4Fo_0aQLCUOnzHoYzRYqywqRH3DvJSWA9Aw/w218-h320/shaman-woman-dancing-near-fire-shaman-woman-dancing-near-fire-night-forest-cartoon-style-illustration-221246116.jpg" width="218" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Any suggestions you might have on dealing with arthritis pain would be more than welcome.</span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Drinking green tea? </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Applying an onion poltice? </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Dancing (not naked) round my fire pot at midnight?</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: large;"> I'll try it all! In the meantime, the sun is coming out ...... and I can hear the forest calling. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-21112575774818878022023-04-07T12:22:00.007-03:002023-04-07T12:25:01.651-03:00Happy Easter<p> <span style="font-size: large;">When I lived in areas where I could get into the woods in winter, on Ash Wednesday, I would cut a branch of an alder tree, sit it in a jug of water, and by Easter weekend, the leaves would be budding, bringing joy and live-greenery into my home. Alas, the snow is much too deep here to venture into the forest, so I simply picked up a tree branch that I found while walking. No greenery, but still a good prop for my homemade Easter decorations. I only have a couple left that were made by my children (20+ years old); but my Asian students enjoyed the craft, and it makes me so happy to have those mementos.<br /></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-uhY9VbFHEEvk_AYjoJU5iceWoMrPADTYbdEBLc_VJE6comtLUpSuC3ztL8Ce2gu4pRn71CdSUzYoWj8cK62hip2sFPyNBjwOdipH8z6z87IxSTWTOONiavqh5-awn3ZiesFyTXjU1H9Vv-1sz9olDuuz5i2yBUd-QdTWLyHq7oOIGbGO-MpIF9WFA/s2048/339314217_3394916947425235_2850634268302312143_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-uhY9VbFHEEvk_AYjoJU5iceWoMrPADTYbdEBLc_VJE6comtLUpSuC3ztL8Ce2gu4pRn71CdSUzYoWj8cK62hip2sFPyNBjwOdipH8z6z87IxSTWTOONiavqh5-awn3ZiesFyTXjU1H9Vv-1sz9olDuuz5i2yBUd-QdTWLyHq7oOIGbGO-MpIF9WFA/s320/339314217_3394916947425235_2850634268302312143_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQn8Qcjq3851K9cseFzcw11eH3YHKSznr72abviIzpF3he-blquBm7dV3TA6R1mo7RPRxHpcFlolxkUcjjpBkKRvnHQD4_yj5COQ8q-mQewUFt7CI5-ngmiSocU9yJH6xnbMe7wqZwWXwcEqqYNIFgIawi-e70Gizu-oWKI9QYYy4HNEIdfLampJ1VA/s2048/339331622_190397540414319_6517676666745153899_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQn8Qcjq3851K9cseFzcw11eH3YHKSznr72abviIzpF3he-blquBm7dV3TA6R1mo7RPRxHpcFlolxkUcjjpBkKRvnHQD4_yj5COQ8q-mQewUFt7CI5-ngmiSocU9yJH6xnbMe7wqZwWXwcEqqYNIFgIawi-e70Gizu-oWKI9QYYy4HNEIdfLampJ1VA/s320/339331622_190397540414319_6517676666745153899_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQn8Qcjq3851K9cseFzcw11eH3YHKSznr72abviIzpF3he-blquBm7dV3TA6R1mo7RPRxHpcFlolxkUcjjpBkKRvnHQD4_yj5COQ8q-mQewUFt7CI5-ngmiSocU9yJH6xnbMe7wqZwWXwcEqqYNIFgIawi-e70Gizu-oWKI9QYYy4HNEIdfLampJ1VA/s2048/339331622_190397540414319_6517676666745153899_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuP5CJWtc4q2ag_NebL2tfekmpoPnLnqmGB9fjNfTvgQG1dm8mn7-OZdJY9ownw69Ovh4yDO1UVCPIqhGwAtCfmWQ3CcCKQ0meS19ivmC_UvU9umfQ8F8VaSNLONmQydgnsIsYE4F2guAGV5dkqesclvbHpKLI34GNN1cy1_jCKuAYxu_WqjPHFJnuA/s960/339597780_6023592014388267_3027902977184887231_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuP5CJWtc4q2ag_NebL2tfekmpoPnLnqmGB9fjNfTvgQG1dm8mn7-OZdJY9ownw69Ovh4yDO1UVCPIqhGwAtCfmWQ3CcCKQ0meS19ivmC_UvU9umfQ8F8VaSNLONmQydgnsIsYE4F2guAGV5dkqesclvbHpKLI34GNN1cy1_jCKuAYxu_WqjPHFJnuA/w150-h200/339597780_6023592014388267_3027902977184887231_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>After the month long muscle tension followed by a head cold, I decided to adopt an anti-inflamatory diet. And after a few weeks, my morning head felt clearer and my arthritis eased up a little. But I'm a realist, so I'm looking to eat clean MOST of the time. I mean, a girl needs a good latte and a piece of carrot cake every now and then, right? So last week, I took myself to Deer Lake for a leisurely breakfast followed by thrifting and a visit to my favorite Dollarama Store. I was pleased with my 2 new-to-me polka-dot t-shirts and an Old Navy maxi-dress that I found. But my favorite find of the day were these freeze-dried strawberries; 80 calories a bag at $1.25 Cdn each. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6uLjtaqgN3P7Ff6e2C4-oWNqmq8kGehJNCs2-QcnZ-ImqRsi-YIWegD_Xd-m3mpa9QEPF6M61KfDmhpLRjNRe3XZPc0kbj79ySt2LTqUKeFFTKoCklViPnErTnF75RqCPgwM0GDGLBSoI9Kx8OTwHhPEhKufaO59ejqN7iKUGws58-8AzA1_hcEJPw/s2048/338921234_1276745293253236_7329145338909332447_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6uLjtaqgN3P7Ff6e2C4-oWNqmq8kGehJNCs2-QcnZ-ImqRsi-YIWegD_Xd-m3mpa9QEPF6M61KfDmhpLRjNRe3XZPc0kbj79ySt2LTqUKeFFTKoCklViPnErTnF75RqCPgwM0GDGLBSoI9Kx8OTwHhPEhKufaO59ejqN7iKUGws58-8AzA1_hcEJPw/s320/338921234_1276745293253236_7329145338909332447_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(These are not the whole bag)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Initially I bought 3 bags as I didn't know if they'd be any good. But the next day I went for groceries in the city and went to both Dollaramas where I bought as many as I could without being an inconsiderate shopper; it was difficult, but I left plenty for others. Those stores also had bags of apples and a strawberry/banana combo. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are delicious! Crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a deep strawberry flavor. I often accompany these with a few pieces of 75% dark chocolate. Yummy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Easter will be spent at my daughter's, and we're doing ham and scalloped potatoes this year. I'm responsible for a nice green salad. And with any luck, someone else will bring a dessert worthy of my tossing my anti-inflamatory notions out the window again that day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope your Easter is one of peace for you and some good food.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-17906245439366800372023-03-23T12:25:00.005-03:002023-03-23T12:28:13.659-03:00Mending, Sneezing and Childhood Heroines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmvLoiwjeXTk36CnLnSyYLKOn--4BvAxa1dLQOCvh05GZXED-cggX4Nq1p0wcqkF7A3R8-lbZMvWIWQc3cNP3m0iBsRert6wMDWgHt-oH1QWlg8YYN7c8ROa001PXTjuMlUtrLDogjvNbSM0L5gjeqX-hoJupyz8vKyCYD8gGdx6yH6epuQDazG8p2Q/s875/Slow-Cooker-Moroccan-Chicken-Chickpea-Soup-Image-4.jpg.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="735" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmvLoiwjeXTk36CnLnSyYLKOn--4BvAxa1dLQOCvh05GZXED-cggX4Nq1p0wcqkF7A3R8-lbZMvWIWQc3cNP3m0iBsRert6wMDWgHt-oH1QWlg8YYN7c8ROa001PXTjuMlUtrLDogjvNbSM0L5gjeqX-hoJupyz8vKyCYD8gGdx6yH6epuQDazG8p2Q/w168-h200/Slow-Cooker-Moroccan-Chicken-Chickpea-Soup-Image-4.jpg.webp" width="168" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">My muscle pain is finally on the mend. But Wednesday morning, I awoke with a head cold (compliments of my darling little grandson whom I'd visited last Thursday). Thank goodness for containers of frozen soup, oranges, and daughters who drop off emergency tissues! One of the soups that I most enjoyed is <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/175007135511646691/">Moroccan chicken soup</a>: it's thick, rich and filling and has just enough heat to clear your stuffy nose. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While resting, I began watching <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5421602/">Anne with an E</a> on Netflix. I've watched and loved many renditions of the <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>"Anne of Green Gables"</b></span> books by Lucy Maud Mongomery. But besides the beautiful artwork and stunning scenery, this TV series has brought Anne into the 21st century with many of her stories having a modern twist and dealing with modern issues. (As well, the theme music is the Tragically Hip's <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?sxsrf=AJOqlzWqWU6zdvjK-jKhsQQinNZmcDZMJA:1679579723670&q=Rob+Baker+Ahead+by+a+Century&si=AEcPFx7HnMxbNS2egwqbd2fGseeWkZi3ZCVlQ3vY-NLoLE7SWbVc--NAMhZHC_DAjIAuiDDp-SNydpxHvbSyoGWtf3uM8P9asgFTorGsRj_OsQBAch-r6WRO4zIRMUs1amN0ThyGtJvYLBKbyDu44DKEJPGw9CJRTdRqSdYNdbYnkaFw4jaBsrOVtgWKW_gp8aF9DYYdO_nccnGQLNqIhpp_9zq6R9Pq8kBSDad8ULKzUOPOG4UbcmM%3D&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiUlLSGmvL9AhWWjYkEHe8vBu0QmxMoAHoECE0QAg&biw=1479&bih=746&dpr=1.25">Ahead by a Century</a>, and a bittersweet reminder of Canada's long lost treasure, Gord Downie.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkJEpfoN_PmF5VkhTn1HVykSg7Hj1efeFZf6vnJLyVYkm2nRwKvrAh4Ib4S3Iqfx3QfsJwIj2iuPyLYVq0nKFnj1pamSasovjLRJYYdnk-7N9XRZPTrXnjokDWRSrUHXHXqy7fIrH5gI4RtRgIRVC0DM-GoFNO6qGBuo9AanTs4PUMExM2G1T0peFZw/s568/anne-with-an-e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="568" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkJEpfoN_PmF5VkhTn1HVykSg7Hj1efeFZf6vnJLyVYkm2nRwKvrAh4Ib4S3Iqfx3QfsJwIj2iuPyLYVq0nKFnj1pamSasovjLRJYYdnk-7N9XRZPTrXnjokDWRSrUHXHXqy7fIrH5gI4RtRgIRVC0DM-GoFNO6qGBuo9AanTs4PUMExM2G1T0peFZw/w400-h293/anne-with-an-e.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br />I was Anne's age when my family vacationed on PEI, visited the <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Anne of Green Gables</b></span> sight and bought the 1st book. I immediately saw myself in Anne: not that I was an orphan, unloved and growing up in harsh circumstances; but rather that in a home full of criticism, I felt ugly, and I longed for any kind of tangible demonstration of my parents love. Like Anne, I also felt a deep connection to nature, a fondness for big words, and a dramatic flare which was often ridiculed. Anne quickly became my heroine! I knew that we were <i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>kindred spirits</b></span></i>! It was the 60's, and growing up as the eldest girl in my noisy family of 5 kids, there were expectations when it came to chores, help with child care, and, as mentioned, a lot of criticism from my Mom. Even though I know it wasn't true, at that age, I <b>felt</b> unloved and invisible. Anne's optimism, joy in simple things, and determination to make the best of life gave me a different perspective and a focus. </span><span>Realistically, there are no parents who can meet all the needs of their children; my parents did the best they could with what they knew, just as I did the best I could with what I knew. We all made mistakes.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQoU8q5akXtVXpfuQFh-XEFt0QIppVNg3nWdD4ycuhE-WN2zukph2MqXaojtdgVLeO4rgVea4rhlmfKve3s0Uy1W80K81SvFRt50iuYX0YXkcvXxnWFp4-P9Aikt_SdK2TE1sWKhvN9BH3CO9XQF39s_H1fKGGh65H3rKsN8TUehOBmls1Xd7-wpAYA/s800/overview_developingbrain.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQoU8q5akXtVXpfuQFh-XEFt0QIppVNg3nWdD4ycuhE-WN2zukph2MqXaojtdgVLeO4rgVea4rhlmfKve3s0Uy1W80K81SvFRt50iuYX0YXkcvXxnWFp4-P9Aikt_SdK2TE1sWKhvN9BH3CO9XQF39s_H1fKGGh65H3rKsN8TUehOBmls1Xd7-wpAYA/w200-h200/overview_developingbrain.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>But sometimes, children can find enough of what is lacking in their lives in other places or in other people that it can make a huge difference. It makes me so sad to hear of what's happening in some parts of the U.S. with the banning of certain children's book.</span><span> </span><span>Never doubt the difference a good book can have on a child's life. It's my belief that Anne of Green Gables saved mine. And rewatching this rendition of my most beloved book has once again brought me comfort, joy and gratitude for my ability to look past the negative. It's also reminded me of all the good things my Mom instilled in me, one of them being a love of reading. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In spite of what I felt as a 13 year old, and in reflection of 68 years on this earth, my life was not <i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">a graveyard of buried hopes</span></b></i>. I have been most fortunate to have walked down many <i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">white ways of delight</span></b></i>, sailed on many <i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">lakes of shining waters</span></b></i>, and am delighted to have found many other <i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">kindred spirits</span></b></i>. And I am eternally grateful for the reminder that <i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes yet</span></b></i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZRbTI2hnEVMnx0gqcyCxGBzi3js5Xntlklrh-1EaTbtWykEBpIL90KhZ-OnRl5XqXPCN2_dMZe6wk5IKM4kNvtdxJM-j6dWLtrEZmODD5ELtW0v4pGjWCBU2W6fXeqpwU_3YKItqKFRUNXvQVFnMmKveAt2-4BUDIbvUorPdpj18ZfV7XfOfG6L2gQ/s794/il_794xN.3706317929_19zg.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZRbTI2hnEVMnx0gqcyCxGBzi3js5Xntlklrh-1EaTbtWykEBpIL90KhZ-OnRl5XqXPCN2_dMZe6wk5IKM4kNvtdxJM-j6dWLtrEZmODD5ELtW0v4pGjWCBU2W6fXeqpwU_3YKItqKFRUNXvQVFnMmKveAt2-4BUDIbvUorPdpj18ZfV7XfOfG6L2gQ/w320-h320/il_794xN.3706317929_19zg.webp" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span><br /></span></div>(She also reminds me to ignore the snow that's recently fallen!)<br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What childhood books have made a difference in your life? I'd love to hear. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-40716745174945448012023-03-16T17:21:00.004-03:002023-03-16T17:25:35.037-03:00Happy Saint Paddy's Day<p><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is St Paddy's Day, but the only green in my diet will be my tea and the greenhouse Chard I purchased this week, steamed with a splash of vinegar and lashings of melted butter! Life has been pretty slow for me here. I still haven't recovered from the side effects of that medication -- still waking each day with excruciating back and left leg pain as well as tummy ache. But one must soldier on. I still walk daily and stretch. So, fingers crossed!</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFJRIDJc-sznWhMF8sDiF58qwp6UcXxuD7GoIUASYXhOgYnFZ5JtvM1OhRRMpggMf35Ln1HcFmI4rEQ6rZI3zjcHYbZZ5sCDQOfTCKoygeZFdYoIlHszV8ELIm21qVXCK58yP40jUwvok9QRDTeV1LDcTnV3ib6tgjTT0-55G_5_YiXuUlAlLMwCYtA/s2048/7.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFJRIDJc-sznWhMF8sDiF58qwp6UcXxuD7GoIUASYXhOgYnFZ5JtvM1OhRRMpggMf35Ln1HcFmI4rEQ6rZI3zjcHYbZZ5sCDQOfTCKoygeZFdYoIlHszV8ELIm21qVXCK58yP40jUwvok9QRDTeV1LDcTnV3ib6tgjTT0-55G_5_YiXuUlAlLMwCYtA/s320/7.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">NL Jam-jams!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Because of this discomfort, going out for IWD on March 8th proved very taxing: I was so glad to spend the next day relaxing at home with my new book. And I was also glad that I brought my dessert home with me to enjoy with a hot cuppa. A tradition in NL, "Jam-jams" are made with strawberry, raspberry or NL partridgeberry jam (lingonberry in Europe) sandwiched between 2 soft, light-molasses cookies. Absolutely delicious.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday, I went to lunch with an elementary school friend, Rod, that I hadn't seen in roughly 50 years! Like so many of us in the 60's, I attended a small local elementary school, going from Kindergarten to Grade 8 with the same group of friends. There were about 8 of us that played together after school: lots of tree gardens, as we called them, in which to play cops and robbers: lots of hills and fields in which to play softball ... as long as someone had a ball and someone else found a fence picket. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaHMa10JKzT8w3Wi6H-7Ru9mv6wBV7-IyKnoSQk8zoU-7KQKxG9u44Auzn2H6MDuFDXGeFa8hHwrVNsedmiiS-OGox4T9BlI3Oe5hb8Umn_x9N0ihbEhV1nfzU_k4Nw0_AlDulJswXcm3M5NhrJ-K4ikIZpFnsSQWDIAAWYM-0LvcATpnjXJvubipTg/s1461/2928d27d1e17edd3848ca4718db6e060.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1182" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaHMa10JKzT8w3Wi6H-7Ru9mv6wBV7-IyKnoSQk8zoU-7KQKxG9u44Auzn2H6MDuFDXGeFa8hHwrVNsedmiiS-OGox4T9BlI3Oe5hb8Umn_x9N0ihbEhV1nfzU_k4Nw0_AlDulJswXcm3M5NhrJ-K4ikIZpFnsSQWDIAAWYM-0LvcATpnjXJvubipTg/w162-h200/2928d27d1e17edd3848ca4718db6e060.jpg" width="162" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rod's pet collie, Kerry, often joined us. I remember when we were about 9 or 10, Kerry died, and we decided to have a funeral. The boys were pall bearers, the girls mourners, and because I had my Gideons New Testament in my book bag, I was named officiant. We were all very sad about it. I read the 23rd Psalm, the girls were crying, the boys picked up the box containing Kerry and began to walk up the slight incline to the open grave. Suddenly, the bottom of the box gave way, and dear Kerry rolled down the hill! Oops! After some guilty laugher, we carried on in a more sober manner. My neighbourhood landscape was littered with pet graves and little popsicle stick crosses. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since last Saturday, I've been </span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="781" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYaR6O2XvmBDjNTOnYCeNCROYYcoSIC79sO_FRu088zDvIxz2erzGHp-xoXHHK0wDiJ0XvAndRWRwEaXR5ctg0gjzbdHCQwUWBLCkfohn4P9EhoLT4Nt3n2WAufx1s-klakSVAriFnriXj-Xy1Hw8UsNfuB_uVYUvpK9qI4yF64cLKNEoQCcGTP_s6w/w125-h200/6.jpg" width="125" /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">following an anti-inflamatory diet to give my body an extra bit of help to heal. I allow myself yogurt & green tea, but bread and coffee are strictly off the menu. Sob sob! And since I moved in December, I've been frequenting our little library and reading once again. "Still Life with Crows" was a great read: good writing and a host of lovely, quirky characters. I was delighted to find that this book is one in the middle of approximately 10 others written around eccentric FBI Special Agent Pendergast. So, now I have read them all.</span></p><p><span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Tv8HB7XESCP9g7MD3Hs4KyatEX5aIhMeZPkqi2qdr2Sb-sp51GCdInKmNpzxpIRQ_O6fUn2REGMBC5zpddTaTiKcPQm9ZCa7phIrcYnBO0xP9ejHscIyGJgiGUsF0A0xaszl3vHvw6SHhS3wA4ABDua9DuG2YEQzJ92ciT6a7rBA84gyDzEd8VfKMg/w200-h150/8.jpg" width="200" /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">This week's read is a light mystery. The setting is a beautiful old mansion/hotel in the mountains; an eclectic mix of 13 characters stuck in the middle of a ice storm with no internet connection and the power's been lost. The perfect setting for a murder or two. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed 4 days of sunshine weekend past which thankfully took some of our snow. But true to our usual weather, it will snow tonight and tomorrow. Spring will eventually come; and hopefully, it will bring better health for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all! I love seeing your spring posts as they help me hold on. Hahaha!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Tv8HB7XESCP9g7MD3Hs4KyatEX5aIhMeZPkqi2qdr2Sb-sp51GCdInKmNpzxpIRQ_O6fUn2REGMBC5zpddTaTiKcPQm9ZCa7phIrcYnBO0xP9ejHscIyGJgiGUsF0A0xaszl3vHvw6SHhS3wA4ABDua9DuG2YEQzJ92ciT6a7rBA84gyDzEd8VfKMg/s2048/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYaR6O2XvmBDjNTOnYCeNCROYYcoSIC79sO_FRu088zDvIxz2erzGHp-xoXHHK0wDiJ0XvAndRWRwEaXR5ctg0gjzbdHCQwUWBLCkfohn4P9EhoLT4Nt3n2WAufx1s-klakSVAriFnriXj-Xy1Hw8UsNfuB_uVYUvpK9qI4yF64cLKNEoQCcGTP_s6w/s1248/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-27738716014359301352023-03-08T12:02:00.003-04:002023-03-08T12:02:42.897-04:00Happy International Women's Day 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ApU-kn4aAnaMHtBvcTvaauNFXTLw84KDr3WBQAJqCS5L-Ro01ui13NH7rtUl8euLf6a_dmVqxkeen3tZs3yWyeI6pu9I3gRf16g413TkPvNdtlP9AcLaYkD4izlTwlHfqfnik3WP69XAEKMMpXiaUBnH9GoUpLcrtRm-YahZXtvdaRCT-qZRIWQh0Q/s1080/335165697_1650574575397530_7162556572769229703_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ApU-kn4aAnaMHtBvcTvaauNFXTLw84KDr3WBQAJqCS5L-Ro01ui13NH7rtUl8euLf6a_dmVqxkeen3tZs3yWyeI6pu9I3gRf16g413TkPvNdtlP9AcLaYkD4izlTwlHfqfnik3WP69XAEKMMpXiaUBnH9GoUpLcrtRm-YahZXtvdaRCT-qZRIWQh0Q/s320/335165697_1650574575397530_7162556572769229703_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In spite of the ever on-going war against women and those who identify as female (or male for that matter), we must continue to fight for equality. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget to use your voice and your votes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy International Women's Day 2023!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_56r2vaEq3c5nG-WiBqSn6jB15GWgNI27A6A_-UoNTA23A3R2cVrKzYGngRLN80INL6_h2ewfshGCtmOaX_9CIMdbSd9IMjbABC_xuhCP353w0oRfuZkdNpMD78g3BpxAtniQAj4hyXS3OYDS5tV6bD6MUUF5SbhtYSbNvKmADjaEeFacc2kDBtOQw/s1080/335136435_945548006584591_2136462496572421150_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_56r2vaEq3c5nG-WiBqSn6jB15GWgNI27A6A_-UoNTA23A3R2cVrKzYGngRLN80INL6_h2ewfshGCtmOaX_9CIMdbSd9IMjbABC_xuhCP353w0oRfuZkdNpMD78g3BpxAtniQAj4hyXS3OYDS5tV6bD6MUUF5SbhtYSbNvKmADjaEeFacc2kDBtOQw/s320/335136435_945548006584591_2136462496572421150_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-28370106899450127842023-03-06T11:52:00.005-04:002023-03-06T11:54:28.477-04:00A Break in the Polar Vortex <p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm slowing healing from my sister's recent death. She's the first of 5 siblings to die, so it really makes you realize your own mortality. But people have been so kind, and old friends and schoolmates have come out of the woodwork and bring fond memories to fill some of the emptiness. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccWJQYL4b3tWrgQAgSbhHfTp4K6UMwMcfuBS6M2TESSK0U94E_etVcwM9Rnd62ctqVm5Vd4WHPiW8ZZ07DrB-r6BC83PedzGsTEtgSob4KRuROX778y6OzaSqXH9lCAWUhSP49XhIibBd5lLWmYX-OtV_Xpx3NT6LsXd9P-xCv0LUJ8fHuZuNw8vDBg/s600/cyclo300.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccWJQYL4b3tWrgQAgSbhHfTp4K6UMwMcfuBS6M2TESSK0U94E_etVcwM9Rnd62ctqVm5Vd4WHPiW8ZZ07DrB-r6BC83PedzGsTEtgSob4KRuROX778y6OzaSqXH9lCAWUhSP49XhIibBd5lLWmYX-OtV_Xpx3NT6LsXd9P-xCv0LUJ8fHuZuNw8vDBg/w100-h200/cyclo300.png" width="100" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">My doctor had recently prescribed some muscle relaxants for my chronic back pain. I hadn't used them, but with the tension and grief last week, I took half tablets for 3 nights in a row. I'm a super-sensitive person when it comes to medications; and sure enough! Come Friday morning, what I thought was a flu bug had manifested into my barely being able to move around my home as well as barely being able to stay awake. After a wee search, I realized it was side effects from the medication so stopped taking it immediately. This morning, 4 days later, I'm almost back to just my normal chronic pain. Hahaha! There is no other alternative but to laugh ..... plus laughing helps relax those painful muscles. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DS_gpe1796D6ilufdntdjgVloB1U5YK_3KzTThJYuuc-IqNLa-kaCT9YCfMVi7NoHrnwkwmilf89AQC_YsftTpg44PfYzyJFqq-LEy5bVX3bOlF8adG4fKCSZFKd3u9ZSyHu3D4RxEr93OxNiLZa8yGKljY7FnMsPH2QIjCx_6XXUdOx2vfltzwWRQ/s2048/332260841_2523488147824999_104711652859823529_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DS_gpe1796D6ilufdntdjgVloB1U5YK_3KzTThJYuuc-IqNLa-kaCT9YCfMVi7NoHrnwkwmilf89AQC_YsftTpg44PfYzyJFqq-LEy5bVX3bOlF8adG4fKCSZFKd3u9ZSyHu3D4RxEr93OxNiLZa8yGKljY7FnMsPH2QIjCx_6XXUdOx2vfltzwWRQ/w320-h240/332260841_2523488147824999_104711652859823529_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">My middle daughter and I ventured out the weekend before last to Corner Brook's first multi-cultural food fest. We are a small town, but India, Ukraine, Mexico were represented (in my tummy) and several other nationalities that I didn't have room to sample. My favorite treat was this delicious meringue cake with almonds and pistachios and this wonderfully light fluffy filling. </span><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: x-large;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK83B_qYH9FVvrrswKanA0VyrvQEKX5Ej1RNlyKD6iTWLcbPsSbt-LYi__ikR32zAKz3qioIl0jzqlBBQGy89v1okWcG-oU0zqdBULrtG7ltEFPgmoKQGkYi0flcaRxwgIB5vnZpKha50X2LndXPRZCklm7xk33P6bQLsxhon3zgXGv2iYpwK_HxqkXQ/s960/334279186_584115653616990_8103316974653580527_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="960" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK83B_qYH9FVvrrswKanA0VyrvQEKX5Ej1RNlyKD6iTWLcbPsSbt-LYi__ikR32zAKz3qioIl0jzqlBBQGy89v1okWcG-oU0zqdBULrtG7ltEFPgmoKQGkYi0flcaRxwgIB5vnZpKha50X2LndXPRZCklm7xk33P6bQLsxhon3zgXGv2iYpwK_HxqkXQ/s320/334279186_584115653616990_8103316974653580527_n.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummering"><i>Mummering</i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Besides the good food and music, the Mummers visited! <i>Mummering </i>or<i> Janneying</i> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">(click on the photo caption for further explanation)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> is an old Newfoundland/Irish tradition that's usually practiced at Xmas. But here in NL, the Mummers also show up for tourists and, in this instance, for winter carnival. I've never done it, but my older brother used to mummer every Xmas up until a couple of years ago.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO80kssxvtLq4Bf7vcKiG_Bk8Eil08_bvlgJG1_E1sFBaphJ9A9DmQwfNFIWhK0km31R9LOgeQGQPZF48PdUJB_7gXtRXZq5m88otdzXlNlAIdQQ6vyk5NMBq9v0tWYLkLbyZ9SSVg79YTMnsoYpntJsSqyJhz9Bsl4ef-H2H8m6Np7wtaauwuyh5BQ/s2048/332864970_5995779530529686_3809760675256010353_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO80kssxvtLq4Bf7vcKiG_Bk8Eil08_bvlgJG1_E1sFBaphJ9A9DmQwfNFIWhK0km31R9LOgeQGQPZF48PdUJB_7gXtRXZq5m88otdzXlNlAIdQQ6vyk5NMBq9v0tWYLkLbyZ9SSVg79YTMnsoYpntJsSqyJhz9Bsl4ef-H2H8m6Np7wtaauwuyh5BQ/s320/332864970_5995779530529686_3809760675256010353_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">In spite of my pain last week, I did get out for my daily walk, even if it was only a bone-chilling 15 minutes in -23 C (-10 F) weather. On one of my early evening walks, the moon was peeping through the clouds in a magical sort-of way. And for two evenings in a row, I also got to see the two planets, Venus and Jupiter, in the night sky. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This week, the weather has improved: today it's only -3 C (26 F). And every now and then, I can see the sun shining. So, if you'll excuse me, I'll go for my daily walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stay warm ... and cultivate peace in your life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-45918204509019250282023-02-24T17:55:00.001-04:002023-02-24T17:57:03.829-04:00Farewell to my BFF<p> <span style="font-size: large;">My baby sister passed away yesterday after complications arising from Covid. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m7bvrj52ScS85mIXpjmPeNekwdgMKVSZKrxxfIbo8hqe0rWiwmqbpCTBTi_nXfxmLcDnV2ZSiOdU9UA6gWnXwD6tGWhWxNou7WyDBUsRzloRHWVC8ZIqfOr9XEVB2hhnbpSbuTmaEaT2CLVZrFPhXi4kmdduIyEmROUFL6U5EmKjM-xYCvsykC_H3A/s2048/Circa%201963.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m7bvrj52ScS85mIXpjmPeNekwdgMKVSZKrxxfIbo8hqe0rWiwmqbpCTBTi_nXfxmLcDnV2ZSiOdU9UA6gWnXwD6tGWhWxNou7WyDBUsRzloRHWVC8ZIqfOr9XEVB2hhnbpSbuTmaEaT2CLVZrFPhXi4kmdduIyEmROUFL6U5EmKjM-xYCvsykC_H3A/s320/Circa%201963.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I knew her for 65 years, but we only really became friends about 20 years ago. And after my move back home 6.5 years ago, we began to make up for all the lost years apart and all the silly things that we would have/should have done when we were younger. We'd have slumber parties at my house where'd we toast each other and dance around the house wearing curtains and flower baskets on our heads. We did soooo many day trips and weekends away where I could rediscover the wonders of Newfoundland and she broke away from her duties as a housewife. She nursed both her MIL and her husband through their cancers, and then she fought and survived cancer herself. She'd never been in the best of health, and once Covid hit her last August, it damaged her heart and lungs so badly that she never recovered. We spoke every day! We both loved each other - warts and all. Out of us 5 siblings, she definitely was the best of us; the one with the biggest heart and the glue that's held our family connection together since our parents died.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GunwqvPna0pB2deuwdMOcIIARiLeuKY-G9kyjEx0CqZAZ-4xnsHGdw3_tWYeLhz8vkTUfPJfvTNOc4SVCbMY0OF1HTl6fqpBrDWY8RJbdZT9X1QykGa80lgnMaBR6AGJpel-HjY_FyIGSsYzNRbl151U3A-0pUmLf21yhej111__d3TWxDIf3gqzSA/s2048/331804390_148971378011953_2563778143201608848_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GunwqvPna0pB2deuwdMOcIIARiLeuKY-G9kyjEx0CqZAZ-4xnsHGdw3_tWYeLhz8vkTUfPJfvTNOc4SVCbMY0OF1HTl6fqpBrDWY8RJbdZT9X1QykGa80lgnMaBR6AGJpel-HjY_FyIGSsYzNRbl151U3A-0pUmLf21yhej111__d3TWxDIf3gqzSA/s320/331804390_148971378011953_2563778143201608848_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I will miss her terribly. But I'm so happy to have been able to make such wonderful memories and for having the privilege of hanging with her. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hug your family a little tighter for me tonight okay. Life is short and cruel so we need reserves of love and memory to keep us pliant!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-3103303169174768982023-02-21T11:00:00.005-04:002023-02-21T11:05:43.539-04:00Just more snow .... and food .... and TV<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Yep! That's my week in review in a nutshell. It snowed every day, and last week, the temperatures were bloody cold, so I usually only got out for a short walk. There was lots of TV viewing: this month's favorite is a British/French program called <i><b>The Tunnel</b></i>: there are 3 seasons on CBC Gem (Canada); and the series is really, really good. (I believe <i><b>The Bridge</b></i> is an American/Mexican adaptation of the same, at least for Season 1.)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAREgQIMDWilFwiBK5lBvifDcjKZAB7Fay1dWKzDB8JKBhkTvS3axApCs7P0nS8XFyZKqb2iEXlTuaGMR5oyNrt0k6Nen_DKXnrkdaoxAK0Tu9OZ1yTzKw1J68PAybPF34ctjj-fcL6eE0GE1-i8YlPz28DAKX-PhJSYVAQgEi6BEFcYEbQqQWDM6tQ/s2048/331065348_880376136378530_1697339881333714795_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAREgQIMDWilFwiBK5lBvifDcjKZAB7Fay1dWKzDB8JKBhkTvS3axApCs7P0nS8XFyZKqb2iEXlTuaGMR5oyNrt0k6Nen_DKXnrkdaoxAK0Tu9OZ1yTzKw1J68PAybPF34ctjj-fcL6eE0GE1-i8YlPz28DAKX-PhJSYVAQgEi6BEFcYEbQqQWDM6tQ/s320/331065348_880376136378530_1697339881333714795_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">My 19 month old grandson loves to go outdoors in the snow. But he had croup last week, so had to stay indoors. I sat with him one afternoon; he'd take me to the front door, touch it, then touch the sleeve of my hanging coat and say <i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">"Goat? Goat?"</span></i> Then he'd touch the door again! I felt like such a bad grandma having to say no. But I found that his nummy and dinosaur rubber boots helped him settle. Usually I can divert his attention with food, and that day, he was happy to practice putting his puffs into his bottle, shaking them out, and starting again. (The dogs were happy to help with clean up.) I'm glad he's feeling much better this week.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now that I'm retired, my income is limited to once a month. I don't bring in much, just my Gov't CPP and OAP. My new rent (including heat) is based on income, thank the gods! But once phone, internet and insurance is taken out, it doesn't allow me much for groceries. I began retirement with the larder and freezer full. But as each month passes, the reserves get lower and lower. Thankfully I've always been a frugal food shopper and can make things stretch. But these days, I must be very clever with using what I have on hand to make tasty meals and treats. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXZWURdciz8yKC9XpmpMC1CU5s-EVX90ne_YB83BRyj6xDDfaW9l_hLNZxkWfoldILycV7d54tj8YfnFfZdHt_vRYziwucx8OGW70JBq_v-8NLiTQscyf9v_XpvK7feUPti2trgBpZalh1xmK5_6ASO4_E6UlQQcUoGRTU3GT8oeAhZpUTRAyxAbcnw/s2048/331627255_1170501450321974_109183822193664597_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXZWURdciz8yKC9XpmpMC1CU5s-EVX90ne_YB83BRyj6xDDfaW9l_hLNZxkWfoldILycV7d54tj8YfnFfZdHt_vRYziwucx8OGW70JBq_v-8NLiTQscyf9v_XpvK7feUPti2trgBpZalh1xmK5_6ASO4_E6UlQQcUoGRTU3GT8oeAhZpUTRAyxAbcnw/s320/331627255_1170501450321974_109183822193664597_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This week's cooking includes mini meatballs for spaghetti night, Lentil 'n' Beef Sheppard's Pie and, as usual, a pot of vegetable/lentil soup. Soup is so comforting! I had picked up a discounted steak that I had for dinner last night: I tenderized it a little, sprinkled with Montreal Steak Spice, let sit for 30 min, then fried with oodles of onions. It was sooo good! The leftover steak was chopped and used in todays Ramen; equally delicious!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwqJPXlbUWniZIvHpvhObx0_cb42e8w_hfkKOWwx99c0JPjTRncJT79edJmr_mGy2qb1zvymQYW64SIRLxg8vflAQ9AOr1Rz8JSVJjdo4SHHs4WRbkQoTAvzusalF4nrn7w5zlrt4qrU7NlmX6ujSLU7tFRp73jdPCihQ0ubySB1oJfDIasisBNaqkA/s2048/331780675_3536789956589947_2996061668825269904_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><p><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwqJPXlbUWniZIvHpvhObx0_cb42e8w_hfkKOWwx99c0JPjTRncJT79edJmr_mGy2qb1zvymQYW64SIRLxg8vflAQ9AOr1Rz8JSVJjdo4SHHs4WRbkQoTAvzusalF4nrn7w5zlrt4qrU7NlmX6ujSLU7tFRp73jdPCihQ0ubySB1oJfDIasisBNaqkA/w200-h150/331780675_3536789956589947_2996061668825269904_n.jpg" width="200" /></span><span style="font-size: large;">For my sweet tooth, I used the rest of the Xmas frozen puff pastry and a half dozen apples that were beginning to spot. I made my version of TikTok's apple custard pie; I didn't have cream, so I used whole milk; and the only difference that made was that my custard wasn't set like a traditional custard. But the taste was wonderful!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F1KIiiWdPoiGD7zVeJHe4NE-GBlgwXUQ3yKHqp1aXv7CtLRDApyDtwS6YtvZHy0R_pkQuyEiM_zVxPGKP7ez7JfkUg_HtGZBF0JoJ8lEIY-OQYLCMB37KbzB9QuaauCOiM1yG8sTld1LZP18DIVoc_DrliWxU_TE79x74ov9HKx7aDPeMi-_B-19Ww/s2048/331509977_1354989855248793_8287260637421698125_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F1KIiiWdPoiGD7zVeJHe4NE-GBlgwXUQ3yKHqp1aXv7CtLRDApyDtwS6YtvZHy0R_pkQuyEiM_zVxPGKP7ez7JfkUg_HtGZBF0JoJ8lEIY-OQYLCMB37KbzB9QuaauCOiM1yG8sTld1LZP18DIVoc_DrliWxU_TE79x74ov9HKx7aDPeMi-_B-19Ww/s320/331509977_1354989855248793_8287260637421698125_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Today, I made what was supposed to be a healthy rice crispie treat with Medjule dates, peanut butter and rice crispies. Buttttt .... hating to throw out food, I tossed a couple of months-old healthy nut and raisin bars into the processor with the dates. Added crunch, I thought! I was right on that part, but they're more crumbly than should be. Thank goodness I topped these with some melted dark chocolate! Although it doesn't help that much with keeping the squares together, at least you can take any lonely chocolate tops and smush them into the fallen crumbles. Yummy!</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If you have any good frugal recipes or if you know of any other bloggers who have good tips, please feel free to share with me. I do love to cook and eat!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste y'all!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-14071665271297834392023-02-14T13:06:00.009-04:002023-02-14T13:11:43.770-04:00Happy Valentine's Day<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdUgmd9qNdc56AuUmYpddr1NZaVxu8huJM7myuQa5jkkWCmkNDzOVatEs6FILJn9Oq7YtvmRuWwKIl0Hg0bYOe1omP33Mw-HwPmLrEB5RbWGv2xEIrWm6W8IImdTidrrIfvhrde6q7QgKJiJAe-6YzHN4jy74QgSVagKyHrLezrh0b5x9kIw-aCNYIw/s1532/15.low-back.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdUgmd9qNdc56AuUmYpddr1NZaVxu8huJM7myuQa5jkkWCmkNDzOVatEs6FILJn9Oq7YtvmRuWwKIl0Hg0bYOe1omP33Mw-HwPmLrEB5RbWGv2xEIrWm6W8IImdTidrrIfvhrde6q7QgKJiJAe-6YzHN4jy74QgSVagKyHrLezrh0b5x9kIw-aCNYIw/s320/15.low-back.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not my bum; mine is<br />bigger and, hence, I<br />experience more pain<br />than this slim bum!</td></tr></tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;">Ahhhh! The joys of aging. I put my back out last week doing ....... nothing! Woke up, had breakfast and decided to drink my coffee while catching up on emails and blogs. I was sitting for about 45 minutes --- not unusual for me. But when I stood, there was that familiar pain. Ever since I broke my foot falling downstairs about 12 years ago, I've had back problems; my osteopath used to say that perhaps I'd twisted my back and over-stretched muscles? I just know that 4-6 times a year, for little to no reason that I can figure out, my back just seizes up and lands me on the sofa. I saw my doctor, and thankfully, he prescribed muscle relaxants and an x-ray to see if anything is happening back there. A week later, and I'm recovered but cautious. At my age and with my history, everything must happen in slow motion!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I tried to keep limber with stretches and short walks to the mail box. Mostly, I cooked lovely food and watched entirely too much of the boob tube. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FZ2GalGKSFmLk51_owrnWHwtJIPJMlArA_JA4KR5seDq99GjWklxKbz6pTdzZ2D-L5E1PCjs2uPHrbKrd8tddB4VwWrH7BUfM6DSgjZ3iYCoZ74VDu292SnkWWphn2ZJrQRikE567bFiuqw58f2ghuGrUeno0VM3bBEqlw7Mb4lG3ne7fFws4RDnEg/s2048/330923735_859723665332204_4353657563536616395_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FZ2GalGKSFmLk51_owrnWHwtJIPJMlArA_JA4KR5seDq99GjWklxKbz6pTdzZ2D-L5E1PCjs2uPHrbKrd8tddB4VwWrH7BUfM6DSgjZ3iYCoZ74VDu292SnkWWphn2ZJrQRikE567bFiuqw58f2ghuGrUeno0VM3bBEqlw7Mb4lG3ne7fFws4RDnEg/w320-h240/330923735_859723665332204_4353657563536616395_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>I made these small batch banana muffins with nuts & seeds. Once I'd scooped them into the muffin tins, I realized I'd forgotten the sugar! So, I sprinkled ground almonds on top, baked them, then drizzled them with melted chocolate. They were perfect! No sugar needed!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: x-large; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUxoMXW_eD1YSjmsejVG-pgldw_VTDJPRR9xEe0GGfxr5AwP1XoJHt6Nd2DjL82qDadikMFdZqMrr1WRcUINHw0iLM9-3JbvW1aR3dXApcjOgXJZj7_oDNB-7hnECmONNf4UEJrdAZFJzfD6c57EA-CmhDz-nh1mK4OR1fRO6l5A1A0eV0lCXgrkmyg/s2048/330931856_444501737826257_4385869664522360596_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUxoMXW_eD1YSjmsejVG-pgldw_VTDJPRR9xEe0GGfxr5AwP1XoJHt6Nd2DjL82qDadikMFdZqMrr1WRcUINHw0iLM9-3JbvW1aR3dXApcjOgXJZj7_oDNB-7hnECmONNf4UEJrdAZFJzfD6c57EA-CmhDz-nh1mK4OR1fRO6l5A1A0eV0lCXgrkmyg/s320/330931856_444501737826257_4385869664522360596_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">From @niciwickesfood - This is a healthier</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">version of a sweet by @joesgaragenz</div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday in anticipation of Valentine's Day and the necessity of treating oneself, I made these 'Roadie Slices' from one of my favorite NZ chefs on Instagram. The middle is a combo of dried fruit, seeds, nuts, coconut, choco chips and condensed sweet coconut milk. (I added the melted chocolate on top because it's one of the food groups that I eat daily.) They are so decadent and delicious!</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOnm8F0iBhZmUnU7X9dXgAxORFNzVz8hEowLhX7RCzLPch7uTNiBKOu72hTvolFXL0CzApE1-kFAL22NsgbFdwiNzPLIMTl9_RCX-hl5n1wSYhaOxAz7RmF59MA-2oAnUV3CWj77Aj036Y5Z-TiBE5ev_DrmxQICOUqXLFCvOAFYXw0cURKeMLPeJPA/s2048/330928401_1728270360925406_1022694318135273679_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOnm8F0iBhZmUnU7X9dXgAxORFNzVz8hEowLhX7RCzLPch7uTNiBKOu72hTvolFXL0CzApE1-kFAL22NsgbFdwiNzPLIMTl9_RCX-hl5n1wSYhaOxAz7RmF59MA-2oAnUV3CWj77Aj036Y5Z-TiBE5ev_DrmxQICOUqXLFCvOAFYXw0cURKeMLPeJPA/s320/330928401_1728270360925406_1022694318135273679_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I also made a spicy Moroccan chicken soup with fragrant, warming spices and chickpeas & lentils. And being someone who hates food waste, I turned the remaining unwanted mustard pretzel bites into crumbs and used it to coat some oven-baked chicken thighs last night. OMG! They were so good that I'm thinking of buying a bag of these pretzel bites just for this! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This weekend, I finally got outdoors in the snow for a wonderful walk through the woods with my daughter and 18 month old grandson. He absolutely loves being outside, and it's wonderful to be with him and watch his delight and awe at the world. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Today will be a quiet day for me. </span>I'll leave the hearts and flowers to others and content myself with laundry, leftover soup and a Roadie Slice or two. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFoMN-ZQKgfy1nlGmhuqLwoKdZo-MkXtSahLiVDTbekwCo1WrofxFxd0xunawIVm_RGgGz5i1tdK-z793ACiR_Gy431Z2Ll_ph_jKVoL0nXQo3_xhhP5EX3Q4bJdNU4_wIvsgLSft7weHAa3h1tGEE8jSa4te6Jy45dk3OUMq8aBKaoyCXY7RsLlOhg/s1353/il_1140xN.2140996767_mvlm.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1140" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFoMN-ZQKgfy1nlGmhuqLwoKdZo-MkXtSahLiVDTbekwCo1WrofxFxd0xunawIVm_RGgGz5i1tdK-z793ACiR_Gy431Z2Ll_ph_jKVoL0nXQo3_xhhP5EX3Q4bJdNU4_wIvsgLSft7weHAa3h1tGEE8jSa4te6Jy45dk3OUMq8aBKaoyCXY7RsLlOhg/w169-h200/il_1140xN.2140996767_mvlm.webp" width="169" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Valentine's Day, my friends. I wish you love, good food and the opportunity to view your world with awe and delight.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-13165584597512691022023-02-04T09:53:00.007-04:002023-02-04T09:58:49.788-04:00Welcome to February!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8b9A1ad46FJL3oMkHmGT01lhkbA0TkyZJ1_tzZ6XPOBUujYCiU1xJSNagDue5VMIJDSpnvUJElCRYDalvELu2Sbt-2bfz3dcoImD_Y3m3Y4IOMrsVBy4JW5MIooX-_VfxgFB1eayRJGwwm7YDwXZl5tL9h9oEOEOJlfiHcdAZ4OaZog8H7GLTofN96w/s2048/329366442_1643716366062110_120692722272571184_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8b9A1ad46FJL3oMkHmGT01lhkbA0TkyZJ1_tzZ6XPOBUujYCiU1xJSNagDue5VMIJDSpnvUJElCRYDalvELu2Sbt-2bfz3dcoImD_Y3m3Y4IOMrsVBy4JW5MIooX-_VfxgFB1eayRJGwwm7YDwXZl5tL9h9oEOEOJlfiHcdAZ4OaZog8H7GLTofN96w/w149-h320/329366442_1643716366062110_120692722272571184_n.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>It's been a relatively quiet, icy cold, snowy kind of week here in western Newfoundland. We are in the middle of a polar vortex apparently! So, other than a 15 minute daily walk around the senior's community, I only ventured outside to get milk and visit the library. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobRq3z9JU6_iMAgJfAKYYWnaFIniVIm8fCD9YWh29nfTWlf9BulysDdNkQRLNXmIOJldmj_QxvWGTmMGv7BZUNaouHZKFeYBdLhz47Hp8KY5Qj9ih0nyfWhHDk_6-AyaL0ZT7peN-0nV6_Q3QoeeAECQT95gIVC0uW6EfqDvRqyzrei8d3E2dFk68Tw/s2048/329290065_1150355935673369_6614551982220202835_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobRq3z9JU6_iMAgJfAKYYWnaFIniVIm8fCD9YWh29nfTWlf9BulysDdNkQRLNXmIOJldmj_QxvWGTmMGv7BZUNaouHZKFeYBdLhz47Hp8KY5Qj9ih0nyfWhHDk_6-AyaL0ZT7peN-0nV6_Q3QoeeAECQT95gIVC0uW6EfqDvRqyzrei8d3E2dFk68Tw/w200-h150/329290065_1150355935673369_6614551982220202835_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">It's just a wee little library here, but of course, they can bring in titles from other libraries in the province. This week, I picked up a few DVD's: I liked <i><b>Elvis;</b></i> <i><b>Uncharted</b></i> was neah! But I really liked <b><i>News of the World</i></b> with Tom Hanks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My daughter sent me a German advent tea selection which I've really, really enjoyed; they are not as acidic as some herbal teas I've had, and the flavor combos are wonderful. Sadly though, I took a big chip out of one of my favorite pottery mugs. (I cried .... but was grateful that it was my 50 cent purchase and not the $45 Xmas gift.) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvOPe8nWizTrJvtYSrnAHTnRxd3ZKOnDgRzkoIqV5RLFg9bfL8I1SQnKklwrmrLb71sosUk4rMLjXesbz5D1srZc_8dk45ts3RFt07J7cWH4NXIQp17rDBMT3IqSJ-sxldngEvMPFkrPtVWt3GakRXApG0CALjpGTpdPbVV03y_cD9IGLArS1p-DBPA/s2048/329111455_497022029298418_4530749937809053576_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvOPe8nWizTrJvtYSrnAHTnRxd3ZKOnDgRzkoIqV5RLFg9bfL8I1SQnKklwrmrLb71sosUk4rMLjXesbz5D1srZc_8dk45ts3RFt07J7cWH4NXIQp17rDBMT3IqSJ-sxldngEvMPFkrPtVWt3GakRXApG0CALjpGTpdPbVV03y_cD9IGLArS1p-DBPA/s320/329111455_497022029298418_4530749937809053576_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-R4RrpsINXt3cgBSa-J3SXZfSvcBsQKFjx-qxW0F_frL9rXZNu3rDCKD-A4f_ACFKvTNuMcrp981CBT3AenEMsNRL8ZLME0eFBXNlnndTHqW5ONnFV9OnZnTll9BVAaK9zlvtpG-_YnsKY20lJ3QnDK8otRshlxxlykq4pozifI5nW3RqUR6sAv64Q/s2048/329030534_1769087106818400_1740533612177996230_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-R4RrpsINXt3cgBSa-J3SXZfSvcBsQKFjx-qxW0F_frL9rXZNu3rDCKD-A4f_ACFKvTNuMcrp981CBT3AenEMsNRL8ZLME0eFBXNlnndTHqW5ONnFV9OnZnTll9BVAaK9zlvtpG-_YnsKY20lJ3QnDK8otRshlxxlykq4pozifI5nW3RqUR6sAv64Q/s320/329030534_1769087106818400_1740533612177996230_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I ate some good food this week though: Tuesday was breakfast-for-dinner with the crispiest bacon, sweet, delicious molasses baked beans and multi-grain toast with lashings of butter, as the Brits say! Yum!</span></div></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-BXqbcZZuNwi6LnGFCkLLY91nyzd0KuWw03gW1vlYv5cjRvagTRkFOJCr9M2YGbMTA9Vcf5NTnSV9T8Opek3kRCvaVP7R1EvqG_P4C3qB1hwAIzyIHQ15N62n6ig57ilFm9_JrxCLrPWMTRYweaFloeTaq0sOXtTdO5skxVQ14DgKvD-umWI3BEgqw/s2048/329001921_1210864253198891_86881826431360535_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-BXqbcZZuNwi6LnGFCkLLY91nyzd0KuWw03gW1vlYv5cjRvagTRkFOJCr9M2YGbMTA9Vcf5NTnSV9T8Opek3kRCvaVP7R1EvqG_P4C3qB1hwAIzyIHQ15N62n6ig57ilFm9_JrxCLrPWMTRYweaFloeTaq0sOXtTdO5skxVQ14DgKvD-umWI3BEgqw/s320/329001921_1210864253198891_86881826431360535_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoj5CoBtJrhDNQK9Hqq_8qnjXuO0UAfeDfus_IBuMMMhF9hqh6k6yqB4caP8xQd-KugHZMFbwoHJdy_79YxpbwdCZ8lfy_dTkIg1lEwH47BOc9QfV2JbLUq4KiB53b8U9ELJ4O6WGhV2xAXXT4Pd5BgojNF4ZJ1YvcXUs-5M3DRm_tZA44yrntnxXkQ/s2048/321654594_656604949557899_8833037405523173870_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoj5CoBtJrhDNQK9Hqq_8qnjXuO0UAfeDfus_IBuMMMhF9hqh6k6yqB4caP8xQd-KugHZMFbwoHJdy_79YxpbwdCZ8lfy_dTkIg1lEwH47BOc9QfV2JbLUq4KiB53b8U9ELJ4O6WGhV2xAXXT4Pd5BgojNF4ZJ1YvcXUs-5M3DRm_tZA44yrntnxXkQ/s320/321654594_656604949557899_8833037405523173870_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also delicious was a new <a href="https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/chicken-pad-thai/">Chicken Pad Thai</a> recipe I tried. It's hard to find some ingredients here in rural NL, but this recipe uses things almost everyone has at hand. It calls for 1/4 cup of ketchup in the sauce, and I found the taste of the ketchup really came through, so I think I'd use less next time. Also, I doubled the amount of peanut butter. It doesn't taste like a true pad thai; but it's a really good substitute and quick and easy. I'll definitely make it again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31EgJyUcpvwJHr_k13APCDMxXEKD1Ub5XG18eK6FoIC-MNdLJE38RE5LG9KSmBL6KtvlaTgE9hPMzHyCAEI7vm5JmjgQTMQvgy8rlksVtsnbNTDmstNI5j7VfXyR9DqOR0e4pWJXrDYqiQgUhs3a8_Kn7Fw5Ks9seXzzOe8AVPLTmTE2MhOHU2diqPQ/s2048/329163640_456930319858383_7144577140430240752_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31EgJyUcpvwJHr_k13APCDMxXEKD1Ub5XG18eK6FoIC-MNdLJE38RE5LG9KSmBL6KtvlaTgE9hPMzHyCAEI7vm5JmjgQTMQvgy8rlksVtsnbNTDmstNI5j7VfXyR9DqOR0e4pWJXrDYqiQgUhs3a8_Kn7Fw5Ks9seXzzOe8AVPLTmTE2MhOHU2diqPQ/w320-h240/329163640_456930319858383_7144577140430240752_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Yesterday, my sweet tooth got the better of me, so I tried these trail mix cookies. De-Lish-Shus! </span><span>I followed the directions re dropping tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheets, but they must have BIG tablespoons. My cookies were smaller than their photo; but it also meant that I got 2 doz rather than 1 doz cookies. And that's okay with me. When I baked my second batch, I flattened them slightly, so I got a slightly different cookie, more crisp than chewy. But it was a good recipe.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(So good, that I've had to freeze the remaining for fear of inhaling them and ending up with a bigger tummy ache than I have today. Oops! Oink, oink!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy February everyone! A belated "Rabbit, Rabbit"; and I hope you're staying warm where you are and that you're eating well!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoj5CoBtJrhDNQK9Hqq_8qnjXuO0UAfeDfus_IBuMMMhF9hqh6k6yqB4caP8xQd-KugHZMFbwoHJdy_79YxpbwdCZ8lfy_dTkIg1lEwH47BOc9QfV2JbLUq4KiB53b8U9ELJ4O6WGhV2xAXXT4Pd5BgojNF4ZJ1YvcXUs-5M3DRm_tZA44yrntnxXkQ/s2048/321654594_656604949557899_8833037405523173870_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div></div><br /><p></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-88692447337739238772023-01-30T11:43:00.016-04:002023-01-30T11:50:22.805-04:00And now, back to our normal forecast!<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzW3KrsHH1G3hYKiyE6HyRO1RFNQ859Bgrm8RLMYnPB74-mx3gNNP76AfgyhdO9pl7HzVnpDJViUrQVgvwXNBCcHJ88M6yv0uKLZo3ROYhxrXzvlWQjB7pHCNhUiSDtVKJdbFI0TK6PH3E8DZ7JDQ9QhYzkwcde1G-ljX4m36Si05t79kaKM_fchgIew/s400/snowfall-on-blue-seamless-loop-snowfall-on-blue-seamless-loop-christmas-background-stock-video-clip_csp31471070.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="400" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzW3KrsHH1G3hYKiyE6HyRO1RFNQ859Bgrm8RLMYnPB74-mx3gNNP76AfgyhdO9pl7HzVnpDJViUrQVgvwXNBCcHJ88M6yv0uKLZo3ROYhxrXzvlWQjB7pHCNhUiSDtVKJdbFI0TK6PH3E8DZ7JDQ9QhYzkwcde1G-ljX4m36Si05t79kaKM_fchgIew/w620-h142/snowfall-on-blue-seamless-loop-snowfall-on-blue-seamless-loop-christmas-background-stock-video-clip_csp31471070.webp" width="620" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Well, the winter 'honeymoon' period is over! After almost 2 months of little to no snow in western Newfoundland, the weather seems to have reverted to normal. Our senior's cottage community has a local man who shovels the pathways from one cottage to the next to the parking lot: he shovels when he feels like it, and he warned me it could be the middle of the night. I don't normally hear him: but last night, I woke at 2 am and again at 5 am to the scrape, scrape, scrape of shovel on concrete. Yet when I awoke at 7 am, you couldn't tell anyone had been here! I'm grateful that I no longer have to make my way to work but can nest safely in my little home.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCX3xs8C1qcIWrQur9z6OHxmTwmyEXXCxLVyBWf2WwJHH5YuwD18_7cTwP7WsHDAy1uMUdWkwhaHZHrGwVfX0OvFNzV9xNZU68J90HaojUsG3m3QUbRrnrL93w8jUjd4J3MEQjb2TyxEkaaaoihbDGZkc5uQa1CB14DGkNWMcxBXlx3g825DfqR2Aaw/s2048/328267484_1323028901882290_1837219498973817274_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCX3xs8C1qcIWrQur9z6OHxmTwmyEXXCxLVyBWf2WwJHH5YuwD18_7cTwP7WsHDAy1uMUdWkwhaHZHrGwVfX0OvFNzV9xNZU68J90HaojUsG3m3QUbRrnrL93w8jUjd4J3MEQjb2TyxEkaaaoihbDGZkc5uQa1CB14DGkNWMcxBXlx3g825DfqR2Aaw/w201-h200/328267484_1323028901882290_1837219498973817274_n.jpg" width="201" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I'm also grateful that I took an extra long walk yesterday, not only for the health benefits and fresh air in my lungs but because it's part of how I spend all the new-to-me hours in my day. It was very cold and crisp yesterday, one of those days when the light is somehow different and in the midst of all that snow, everything seems to have a bolder outline.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3erIU4zvAj85AYTyiCi4BUTbbb4FAM7KppYbSHpexQpwFHhv-PWsp-aUdomnlmCfm8ejK1EFkmJO72s5ol-vWtuFGbPTaih5gvNfTwx7meo6l6QyJmxnQRzyYwiTsljDkG9dVo8Jqv74vTSHrn9_6mFlEKmPqIEf2bGccuJdI7tO3RWw18tpQ-MjXA/s2048/328439121_5729442383835086_3392054644820262996_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3erIU4zvAj85AYTyiCi4BUTbbb4FAM7KppYbSHpexQpwFHhv-PWsp-aUdomnlmCfm8ejK1EFkmJO72s5ol-vWtuFGbPTaih5gvNfTwx7meo6l6QyJmxnQRzyYwiTsljDkG9dVo8Jqv74vTSHrn9_6mFlEKmPqIEf2bGccuJdI7tO3RWw18tpQ-MjXA/w200-h199/328439121_5729442383835086_3392054644820262996_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> I took the path by the brook like I've done a few times, but this time, I crossed the main road to what used to be the old road before we had a highway. I walked on the bridge we always crossed back in the 60's when my family would head to our cabin at Big Bonne Bay Pond. It brought back such memories: Mom and Dad in the front seat with baby on Mom's lap, 4 kids crammed in the back complaining about who's touching who, and the dog on the back window! (The days before seatbelts!!!) But somehow, we all survived. I spent a good hour outside and my legs were happy to be home again.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfhoO8ARQJLa-Lusx7ItNwxm2s8AXKa8GChzjAa5KnoP6DXGWxXuOJbKUHl6l1OC80yZQAQD9M9rF-jUe4DCLGQ0Qf-Wr4vA7fRMHuAeiwpoMpGqjHOPS-U2NuAm6Je16qi6j_GnjDRSSTleRuJaTYMiqC8B78RmS5WaZsZdRj0QSgk7T5WehI4ZgnQ/s2048/326779506_542040751234986_5399464994468397932_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfhoO8ARQJLa-Lusx7ItNwxm2s8AXKa8GChzjAa5KnoP6DXGWxXuOJbKUHl6l1OC80yZQAQD9M9rF-jUe4DCLGQ0Qf-Wr4vA7fRMHuAeiwpoMpGqjHOPS-U2NuAm6Je16qi6j_GnjDRSSTleRuJaTYMiqC8B78RmS5WaZsZdRj0QSgk7T5WehI4ZgnQ/s320/326779506_542040751234986_5399464994468397932_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I made myself a gourmet hot chocolate with frothy hot milk (I love my milk frother!). And I also had some apple crisp that I'd baked earlier. The week before, I'd bought some raisin oatmeal cookies on sale, but I didn't really care for them. Being on a fixed income and not wanting to waste money, I turned them into crumbs, rubbed in some soft butter, added some chopped walnuts and used this as my crisp topping. It was delicious!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have no plans for this snowy day other than a little puttering ...... and the remainder of that crisp! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How's your day going? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-38429514341090521912023-01-25T10:35:00.004-04:002023-01-25T10:36:49.184-04:00<p><span style="font-size: large;">Now that I'm retired, I've made a plan for my days: I'd rise early, meditate and stretch, eat a healthy breakfast, take a walk, spend my afternoons on chores, and then reward myself with a relaxing evening watching Netflix or Prime. Doesn't that sound good? Doesn't that sound productive and healthy? But life doesn't go as we plan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY48GCst9OxuDL-PkYo1JBHxnoEaPmMp62dZ2rUm05tOVgjgCx1DguilCR1reaNg2wipy2ziC5CrkePp0Crk3WeBjJANBBuRlEbAQCVGmAUn0XAoTh9GCioMKM0255n-U5Qe9SS2Dfb_tcTzWIaGC5QxOaD1MCi1CiJQmX04maQdBHCReeffJ9IhNkCQ/s468/42821459.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY48GCst9OxuDL-PkYo1JBHxnoEaPmMp62dZ2rUm05tOVgjgCx1DguilCR1reaNg2wipy2ziC5CrkePp0Crk3WeBjJANBBuRlEbAQCVGmAUn0XAoTh9GCioMKM0255n-U5Qe9SS2Dfb_tcTzWIaGC5QxOaD1MCi1CiJQmX04maQdBHCReeffJ9IhNkCQ/w309-h320/42821459.jpg" width="309" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-size: large;">I spent the past 2 days resting because my back pain flared up again after pulling my 18 month old grandson on his sled. It never hurts while I'm doing it; it's always the next day. And seeing as I've never done that particular activity before, it's not like I should have known better. Sigh! It's just another thing on my list that I have to remember to <u>not</u> do because of my back! (It's a long list.)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeZyrbvR5M83DmSqdbQ32MEidYm_B0nigz_BX0up6esRPaJScjBZVFdeg_oXiZm78nxKVJiGPCWya-VAtAf55R7cZgC-_7stXrSE3V5vKevCZuBOAk1uoWk1jgo6db8iTK6m2N2Qa11i7Hbr5MbtmuVD7ifeJb996chE0SoQp9RyLexxFV5-gePM9pQ/s308/snow-falling.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeZyrbvR5M83DmSqdbQ32MEidYm_B0nigz_BX0up6esRPaJScjBZVFdeg_oXiZm78nxKVJiGPCWya-VAtAf55R7cZgC-_7stXrSE3V5vKevCZuBOAk1uoWk1jgo6db8iTK6m2N2Qa11i7Hbr5MbtmuVD7ifeJb996chE0SoQp9RyLexxFV5-gePM9pQ/w143-h200/snow-falling.gif" width="143" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div>But this morning, I felt much better. I meditated, I stretched (a little), I ate my yogurt and fruit. So, the next step is to go for a walk. And after 2 days of inactivity, I was anxious to get out that door!</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Oh! Yeah! Newfoundland weather!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well, perhaps I'll just wait until the snow let's up. And if it doesn't, then I'll have to settle for walking round and round the outside of the senior's cottages. But I must get out for some movement and fresh air. I don't know about you, but if I don't move often, my arthritis will act up, I have trouble sleeping and I'm oh so crabby!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, there are other things I can do:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDIFC-WMAQDk3ZES-3BiwbgHoCsCuC0i-0d7REBQJS36XaQ2QvMsubL71LXz7jnK9F5XaKIw_gHqCnDa4n-j-nyeOjF-ia0ChcKNLWNKyRrRH2eAU6YbiD9SRmPx3b4XFoykVpIrLz-t2JD_wxyoaXskTLMsIOodQsJr5VuWhW6MXO6a5WrREBNHeDQ/s2048/latte.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDIFC-WMAQDk3ZES-3BiwbgHoCsCuC0i-0d7REBQJS36XaQ2QvMsubL71LXz7jnK9F5XaKIw_gHqCnDa4n-j-nyeOjF-ia0ChcKNLWNKyRrRH2eAU6YbiD9SRmPx3b4XFoykVpIrLz-t2JD_wxyoaXskTLMsIOodQsJr5VuWhW6MXO6a5WrREBNHeDQ/w150-h200/latte.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I'll go through my recipe binders and remove the ones that I've never tried (and probably never will)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">I'll write up a grocery list</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: large;">But my first priority will be to make myself a latte and catch up on new blog posts. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Stay warm and dry, my friends!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Namaste!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-13228244925657404812023-01-20T13:51:00.003-04:002023-01-20T13:51:56.782-04:00Goodbye David<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_h5fqC0nH4fUJP87dRVRhtY2x5h5CCiOsYkwRLpJXg_3UMXGOrNpFqEf0FT7W_IItS9fXOvkJQm7ZdJVm3Zm75iweWmiHJqZlOwIVg6IRIm9zVJrtWi1LFE1fGi6TgajHqWWtKGMpHov-J_esmCMCbRf3QEYHcUNdQ1HT37L8vRXteXffTKpQrfLAA/s1324/326261559_6501021229912353_9080273437179533686_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_h5fqC0nH4fUJP87dRVRhtY2x5h5CCiOsYkwRLpJXg_3UMXGOrNpFqEf0FT7W_IItS9fXOvkJQm7ZdJVm3Zm75iweWmiHJqZlOwIVg6IRIm9zVJrtWi1LFE1fGi6TgajHqWWtKGMpHov-J_esmCMCbRf3QEYHcUNdQ1HT37L8vRXteXffTKpQrfLAA/w326-h400/326261559_6501021229912353_9080273437179533686_n.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">One of my childhood icons has died today. Like so many of us, I loved the music of David Crosby, from his early years with The Byrds to Crosty, Stills, Nash and Young, and on to his own solo efforts. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was a very young teen when I first discovered his music. And although I didn't always understand the politics behind some of the words, the beautiful harmonies and poetry of the lyrics always touched the deepest part of me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hear he was a difficult man; his life was colored with substance abuse, prison, infighting, rudeness - much of which was caused by his addiction. According to the 2019 Netflix documentary <i><span style="color: #800180;">"Remember My Name"</span></i>, David regretted past actions and spent his latter days trying to make amends ... trying to find peace. (Me too, David; me too. )</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the documentary, David once again said something that resonated deep, deep down inside me, and I've adopted those words as one of the tenets of this, the winter of <b>my</b> life:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">"Time is the final currency. How are you spending yours?"</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz3zCvSMPjzcbN21k3-ApyVhZpVfovScmyLl8UiQb_s5V6-KaAwVqDIn1bgOris07Zt9KkI1FwDtlQREV3aIs00sTMEwlj55aXB8TxdLS8yirb0JVF7f7JBvhmZ-tap1ds8dmmuV0N2e9Yen91599JZ1De7Qa_cWPRvDqyP7mKIWu6qmg4lDncUawmw/s1920/231419764-goodbye_1920.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz3zCvSMPjzcbN21k3-ApyVhZpVfovScmyLl8UiQb_s5V6-KaAwVqDIn1bgOris07Zt9KkI1FwDtlQREV3aIs00sTMEwlj55aXB8TxdLS8yirb0JVF7f7JBvhmZ-tap1ds8dmmuV0N2e9Yen91599JZ1De7Qa_cWPRvDqyP7mKIWu6qmg4lDncUawmw/w200-h150/231419764-goodbye_1920.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Farewell, dear David. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And thank you for the music. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-82567252717958180302023-01-14T13:20:00.007-04:002023-01-14T13:22:08.762-04:00Food for a Nasty Day<p><span style="font-size: large;">It's -3 C (26.6 F) out there and freezing rain is falling. I'm glad I decided to cook yesterday so I can enjoy my time inside today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLerieFdqlJzMhAl0aIXRYM5R1EQqwdL4pf2F9zQfiOnJYT9cXDGUXKHue8Wms_3yWpk3HBUxyhpYEN-7YPt398dDJappUWxi-v9urc9piQkNJgrN3256Ogbs9llkB9vPBNOm2FZSUlAc1XbnKplM5-yOd3lkRQHO6pxDbjUfShqApaGr6qt_2rAsIg/s2048/pea%20soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLerieFdqlJzMhAl0aIXRYM5R1EQqwdL4pf2F9zQfiOnJYT9cXDGUXKHue8Wms_3yWpk3HBUxyhpYEN-7YPt398dDJappUWxi-v9urc9piQkNJgrN3256Ogbs9llkB9vPBNOm2FZSUlAc1XbnKplM5-yOd3lkRQHO6pxDbjUfShqApaGr6qt_2rAsIg/s320/pea%20soup.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Newfoundland comfort food</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I baked a ham on New Year's Day and froze the leftovers. So, I made yellow split pea soup: thick, slightly salty and so comforting. Most Newfies use salt beef, but ham works just as well for me. But I didn't make the traditional doughboys (dumplings) as I have a sensitivity to wheat. I'd rather use my wheat rations for something else.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Something like these delicious <a href="https://www.plattertalk.com/fig-bars/#recipe">Homemade Fig Bars</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRTdDquKiac-COhhA1XLHDc69hRPiEgCD3436X7eVKxcCgd4hWQ_2rKFsigRMOP5JRK2rKRI6LP5_tWEEmyJK5PsC21PCIItkbRwixvCTR19vWVNUWHzG-0UanKyxwaClvkSrZ3Btlg3uOFb_3OFrHOAK1zvb00VU1xW97Q-biqAWdLeD-7o0lAqoJg/s320/fig%20squares.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Add a dollop of yogurt or cream</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I'm slowly making my way through a bag of dried figs and found the perfect recipe. They are similar to a date square except the bottom is more of a shortbread. I made a few changes to suit my tastes and pantry. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I made the fig jam filling, I grated a little orange zest into it. And seeing I didn't have walnuts or pecans, I substituted chopped almonds, cashews and sunflower seeds.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those were great choices! These squares are da bomb! Now ........... what shall I watch on television?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stay warm and safe (and well fed). Namaste! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-48965263202074503022023-01-09T11:17:00.004-04:002023-01-09T11:23:27.631-04:00A Magic Trail Walk<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Because Newfoundland (NL) winters are so long and harsh, and because CB was so 'hilly' and icy, winter usually meant I was stuck indoors most of the time. Each spring when I could safely get outside to walk, I'd notice that my strength and endurance had lessened. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">My new community is flat which means I can walk year round. It's off the highway, tucked in the Humber Valley and surrounded by alpine forest on 3 sides and the Humber River on the other. There are so many trails to discover, some of which will have to wait until spring (so I don't get lost). But seeing as my word for 2023 is <i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Explore</span></b></i>, I'm anxious to do just that. </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0dUZqQB-ZkD2RPEi4XmwVozLjJ7NWQPHC6FfMQYXq8YdGuvCaaN_tf4ev2wmO0WZAwxLRWGJEWIWbK8HdKnRsjGNKMd5PHRhC5i7k7q5Z6FKGIOv3kdqbF1a29YRUo2yGuLttNfd-7jUKXarlR-I5trSoM2Ji04moLkI7RF28RkoXPXDOiTGEjWNCw/s2048/323334284_2966567426985026_6777318686534626537_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0dUZqQB-ZkD2RPEi4XmwVozLjJ7NWQPHC6FfMQYXq8YdGuvCaaN_tf4ev2wmO0WZAwxLRWGJEWIWbK8HdKnRsjGNKMd5PHRhC5i7k7q5Z6FKGIOv3kdqbF1a29YRUo2yGuLttNfd-7jUKXarlR-I5trSoM2Ji04moLkI7RF28RkoXPXDOiTGEjWNCw/s320/323334284_2966567426985026_6777318686534626537_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></span></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The view outside my kitchen window is a peaceful one, overlooking the trees (and the storage garage). Western NL has had a very mild winter to date. There's just enough snow on the ground to sparkle and just enough cold to make the snow crunch. The end of my street is a dead end which leads to a small copse of fir trees; you can hear a brook below but you can't see it and it's too steep to reach. However, there at the end of a chain link fence is a path leading downhill; this path is often covered with the footprints of small children and dogs, so today I decided to follow those footsteps.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">At the bottom of the hill and around a bend, I came upon the brook. The path widened at this point and followed the water. Other than the sound of the water gurgling around rocks and icy patches, it was so quiet and peaceful. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx3vHOPiyqvtrcQvcSlhESSahxgvEKxabWA4xY--fie1EXVjI5IBMnpmf3z96DAVNBCs_kdBy1UM9DDbY_y42_O2WAMGT6nJNO7PfN3zVMAzuKC1LnJI4i3gqoOSaGoI32W3Vm3QNJ2H2pBPB8YsulYbGeTefXJ45zpPeoXnR8KNIQI8tjQCNBB-nQQ/s2048/322548065_680282123828941_930306329406176064_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx3vHOPiyqvtrcQvcSlhESSahxgvEKxabWA4xY--fie1EXVjI5IBMnpmf3z96DAVNBCs_kdBy1UM9DDbY_y42_O2WAMGT6nJNO7PfN3zVMAzuKC1LnJI4i3gqoOSaGoI32W3Vm3QNJ2H2pBPB8YsulYbGeTefXJ45zpPeoXnR8KNIQI8tjQCNBB-nQQ/s320/322548065_680282123828941_930306329406176064_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-YtArjSLkUUJlgibnVymUcduNPnWRP0zUNorZps_yvFBQ_IBQ4-yfsPY26DpbMR1J4W4U_f6EBcIrPu5QEkix3OgBMNw5mE509SqA34wssAFYUIHIj6A_3ZgGQBp6dUiKXaUhH32Mpor_0HBFUEIbNnFtTzjCCjav_-8oXLocTgTtaanQq6ghnCxjQ/s2048/322381952_887979039057992_4044894583202637612_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-YtArjSLkUUJlgibnVymUcduNPnWRP0zUNorZps_yvFBQ_IBQ4-yfsPY26DpbMR1J4W4U_f6EBcIrPu5QEkix3OgBMNw5mE509SqA34wssAFYUIHIj6A_3ZgGQBp6dUiKXaUhH32Mpor_0HBFUEIbNnFtTzjCCjav_-8oXLocTgTtaanQq6ghnCxjQ/s320/322381952_887979039057992_4044894583202637612_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCMuERK1K6qcnxfxPSqwpUlcOkAqHm6OL4uTjgdFTJN1S7rXJKyU7WrbQNoKVUcU7XgeXMh-pzGSE5tXZmWvKFhXpKICmQKR6bM-7S2Uc_PXpXh64tQu3NLXcWh84mQFNTuiBNj2GMfedvIA9L8AOSjEYM-ng8pJV0J97fMBm0J79KGDJ9F_vxxcF0A/s2048/322382576_720523029396283_14019715973464622_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCMuERK1K6qcnxfxPSqwpUlcOkAqHm6OL4uTjgdFTJN1S7rXJKyU7WrbQNoKVUcU7XgeXMh-pzGSE5tXZmWvKFhXpKICmQKR6bM-7S2Uc_PXpXh64tQu3NLXcWh84mQFNTuiBNj2GMfedvIA9L8AOSjEYM-ng8pJV0J97fMBm0J79KGDJ9F_vxxcF0A/s320/322382576_720523029396283_14019715973464622_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">There were places where trees had fallen and you either had to go under or take the path around. In two places you could see the back side of other senior's cottages. But mostly, it was just me and the forest. Walking through this particular 'promenade' was magical: the sound of the brook combined with the snow laden fir boughs overhead was so enchanting!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The path eventually led to a bridge and onto the main road. And lo and behold! There ahead of me were the creators of the footsteps I'd been following - a mom, 2 children and 2 dogs. I followed them up the street, we took a right through another little senior's cottage community, and then following the sidewalks, they led me straight to my street. Thank you!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: times; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip3VS00019qHfCD2y4-rNKEc4fitBE0KEo1yqqwqyTFDwv5erjU_4D54RN7U-fHNKyI-cE7HV4bxaZ2DlYYCxepJ8YfooQez2ILK8Lq9FFEguaxIJOp9pXrbsrVzabNGtnILO6FlPgCsqSU7BBhhQ2YRf7UxqliXho5_0yachQcCHez-fh40vzBvThw/s320/322064804_2305518469626686_8050994895080716423_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">My leisurely stroll took me about an hour. After peeling off my many layers of clothing, and stretching my muscles for a cool down, I made myself a homemade chai latte in my beautiful last-Xmas mug. Ahhhh! This is a good start to a new year in a new community. <p></p><p>Do you enjoy winter? What do you do to get through?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><p style="text-align: center;">Namaste my friends!</p></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></span><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip3VS00019qHfCD2y4-rNKEc4fitBE0KEo1yqqwqyTFDwv5erjU_4D54RN7U-fHNKyI-cE7HV4bxaZ2DlYYCxepJ8YfooQez2ILK8Lq9FFEguaxIJOp9pXrbsrVzabNGtnILO6FlPgCsqSU7BBhhQ2YRf7UxqliXho5_0yachQcCHez-fh40vzBvThw/s2048/322064804_2305518469626686_8050994895080716423_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br />Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229893640043416490.post-78866164172593250042023-01-07T21:14:00.000-04:002023-01-07T21:14:59.067-04:00Back from the Land-of-the-Dead Computer!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmxXAH3Vn7wYmhSmQHdKWt_qnq2-7gdgoBVUp9-rbfEVdXm8u2GgSkihDKYGtKNlLUfhhqfNVUtNYEZaQJk6jC44MZT6Ttssnjqr13oFn2KTX_Zskx2J4vMYULBsRej5TKtrVD4GI7znDZzyoj6qUIwMEZyvZEii6sbj8o3nB_Y_zv0XyIlCjZ3XEzA/s512/4675796.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmxXAH3Vn7wYmhSmQHdKWt_qnq2-7gdgoBVUp9-rbfEVdXm8u2GgSkihDKYGtKNlLUfhhqfNVUtNYEZaQJk6jC44MZT6Ttssnjqr13oFn2KTX_Zskx2J4vMYULBsRej5TKtrVD4GI7znDZzyoj6qUIwMEZyvZEii6sbj8o3nB_Y_zv0XyIlCjZ3XEzA/s320/4675796.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hello my dear blogger friends!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's been almost 2 years since I posted. Two years!!! My deepest apologies for leaving you high and dry with nary a word of farewell. But just after my last post in March of 2021, my home computer died. And almost immediately after that, Covid hit! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With the tightening of my financial belt, the possibility of dying from Covid, my dad's death, 2 of my siblings fighting cancer, and what has been the unfolding, almost total breakdown of the world around us, I have muddled through these past 2 years using my phone for social media; Any remaining energy was put into trying to maintain a positive outlook on life and finding pockets of blessed joy and serenity. I would read your posts sometimes at work, but I couldn't myself post. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I've recently gone through a number of very big changes. My long-awaited retirement happened in early November 2022; and while I was ready to sit back and enjoy this new-found freedom, within days, I got a call to say that a senior's cottage had become available for me in the next community. So, I had 3 weeks to pack up my life and move, for the 3rd time in 6.5 years! Xmas came, Xmas went; I finally bought myself a new laptop, and now that the dust is settling, I'm ready to begin blogging again. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy7tm1xPuG9w3FtZe1ER4ydTOMtLtwQu1y1EhXKnxcu4IQpATgitbSF5CNu2YEw1yXurQPLiSaj_P3P9HKw47YQk7B6jWbrejmkJ3z7tVYPkGveFMMvD-Vwprlbb9fWHMb0Pr7lTrhEiy4uvmx6DJ5yQQaLVWDi9KDbYOdkE13fwJD_dUhma3fKTQIA/s612/istockphoto-1301429052-612x612.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy7tm1xPuG9w3FtZe1ER4ydTOMtLtwQu1y1EhXKnxcu4IQpATgitbSF5CNu2YEw1yXurQPLiSaj_P3P9HKw47YQk7B6jWbrejmkJ3z7tVYPkGveFMMvD-Vwprlbb9fWHMb0Pr7lTrhEiy4uvmx6DJ5yQQaLVWDi9KDbYOdkE13fwJD_dUhma3fKTQIA/w200-h200/istockphoto-1301429052-612x612.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I'm in a new location, my time is (almost) my own, I have the necessary technology, and I have an excitement and zest to discover what my new life will be! I've never been retired before!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'd love it if you would once again join me for whatever adventure and (safe) mischief I can possibly get into.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm back ..... and happy to be here with you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Sandy aka Doris the Greathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16135704111702244735noreply@blogger.com5