I'm back!

Ok, Ok....after a long absence, and some "gentle" nudging from my beloved "Aunt Floosie".... I'm back. I'll again start writing and catch up on what's been going on in my life and thoughts for the past 6 months or so. After re-reading my previous posts, there's definitely been some changes you may be interested to know and perhaps a funny little happening to make you chuckle.....

So, this is definitely back on my "to do" list. Check in and read some new stuff...coming to a blog near you!

Cranberry Relish

Here’s a recipe for those of you who are still searching for a simple and delicious side dish. For those of you who know my “texture issues” with food, you’ll be surprised to learn that I think this is really, really good. Lots of “chunks” of cranberries, pineapple and marchino cherries…sweet and tangy at the same time…mmmmm. This goes great with turkey, ham, ice cream, cheesecake….or even on toast!

Cranberry Relish
1 large can crushed pineapple
1.5 cup pineapple juice (drained from canned…add water if needed)
1 bag of fresh cranberries
2 c. sugar
1 pkg cherry or raspberry jell-o
1 c. marchino cherries (chopped)

• Boil cranberries, sugar and juice until the cranberries “pop.”
• Remove from heat, add jell-o and mix until dissolved.
• Let cool
• When relish begins to gel, mix in cherries and pineapple. Mix well. Store in refrigerator, preferably overnight before serving.
• This will keep a couple of week in the frig..Enjoy!

Do you see what I see?

In the age of expensive video game systems, thousand plus dollar tvs, and a plethora of other high-priced gifts…a simple, inexpensive pair of plastic glasses has been the hit so far at our house. My in-laws sent them, plus a number of other inexpensive toys to my kids, with instructions to open on every few days. Simply inexpensively fun!

Thanks

It has occurred to me recently that Americans love to complain. Now, that wouldn’t be so bad if we could all say that we balance these negative comments with positive ones. But sadly, few of us do. Nothing is safe from our lamenting…the weather…our paychecks….our spouses…our kids….our bodies….need I go on? What’s worse is if you think about our social interactions, what are we talking about? Chances are, we’re complaining to our friends or family about probably our friends or family.

Other cultures, from what I’ve unscientifically observed, do not complain as much as we do. Yet we profess to be the greatest country in the world! If it’s so great, why do we complain so much? Is it because we are so self-centered? Short sighted perhaps?

British people seem to complain a lot less than we do. In fact, they apologize for the most ordinary things, “sorry” is a staple word in their vocabulary. And when asked how things are going, they commonly reply “fantastic” regardless that their marriage is in the dumps, their children are hooked on drugs and they just lost their job. So why can’t we show a little fortitude and restraint?

We have a lot to be thankful for! (Yes, I just said something positive, despite the “looming depression,” the downward spiraling stock market, the fact that I just lost my job, and the costs of most necessities are rising.)…now that wasn’t so hard.

In less than a week, we as a nation will celebrate “Turkey Day.” Wait a minute…it’s actually called THANKSgiving. It’s not the turkey that should be the focus here. Get it? This is strictly an American holiday, so let’s take the opportunity to prove that we CAN do it. We can be positive!

So, here’s your assignment:
Lets all suck it up, atleast for the next week, and talk to our co-workers, family and friends about what kindness you witnessed (ie a stranger let you go in front of him at the backed up grocery checkout), instead of complaining of the bitter cold, focus on the beautiful cardinal at your birdfeeder or the Currier & Ives-like snowfall you see as you drive to work. Instead of grinding your teeth because your spouse again left their clothes on the floor, remember he set up the coffee maker the night before so that you could wake to it’s wonderful smell and it is ready and hot waiting for you. Let’s show some thanks for a change.

These shoes were made for walking…but now they run!

Seven weeks ago I joined a gym and hired a personal trainer in efforts to change my body, my health and my life. In these seven weeks I have not only improved my body and health, but learned a few other things along the way.

1. Be careful what you say. When Katherine (my trainer) asked how many hours I’d be willing to work towards my fitness goal every week. I answered “4 to 6 hours.” Clearly my mind was leaning toward 4 or less, but I wanted to impress her with my commitment. “Good,” she answered, “we’ll go with 6!” And she promptly fashioned a workout regime that brought me to the gym 6 days a week!

2. A minute is a very long time. I’ve never been a runner. In fact, I hated any thing to do with running and for most of my life have avoided most sports activities, with running being at the top of the list. So when Katherine prescribed 20 minutes of running every week, I was not overly enthusiastic about it. So in the first few weeks I’d run for a minute or two and “quickly walk” the remaining 18 minutes.

3. Soy milk isn’t that bad; neither is pitas, yogurts, salads and shredded wheat¬—these are staples in my diet now. Oh yeah, and 60 calorie, sugar free Jello brand chocolate pudding (premade and in the refrigerated section of your grocery store) IS THE BOMB!! Yum!

4. Things change. 36 visits to the gym (I took a week off due to a sinus infection) will change your body, your health and your life. Although I still have a long way to go, I have lost 12 pounds and 11 inches of my body. And today I ran for 26 minutes and 30 seconds…and it felt GREAT!

Belated Halloween photo

Those who know me, know I tend to be...ummmm... a bit on the "late" side. Although I constantly work on not being tardy, and have had some success, posting in this blog has been a little behind. So in an effort to catch up, here is a photo of the kids right before they began their "quest for candy."

Grace and Gunnar were self-proclaimed "warriors" (althought the costume patterns they picked were "knights"). They each picked out the fabric and I clumsily sewed their costumes. They turned out okay in the end I think.

Paige originally wanted to be a leopard, but later decided to be a fairy. Lucky for me, that's what Grace was last year, a woodland fairy, and the costume was already ready.

As trick-or-treating in the country is spotty at best, and A LOT of walking for very few houses, we joined our friends, the Goens, in their suburban neighborhood in North Grand Rapids/Kenowa area and the kids filled their Halloween bags almost to the top! As soon as they dumped the bags of candy onto the floor, I scooped up as many Twix bars as I could manage. Overall, it was a good and chocolatey-delicious time!

There are leaves on my floor…

I’ve noticed an odd sound as I stride to and fro in my house. It is the sound of rustling….no, maybe crunching. And upon closer inspection, I’ve discovered that there are leaves on my floor. Obviously not content to merely drift down from the trees and rest on a cushy green bed of grass, they have somehow crept, blown and snuck their way into my house.

Although trying to keep a “low profile”, I’ve noticed them lingering in the corners of my hardwood floor. Perhaps they were cold; maybe even lonely. For once inside, they have the company of tiny bits of paper, soft balls of cat hair, twisty ties (from bread wrappers), rubber bands, bits of apple peels (that the dogs missed) and of course a stray lego or two. Whatever the reason, I’ve decided they must not stay.

I will soon find my royal blue, nylon-bristled brush, and shoo them into my wastebasket….right after I put away the washed dishes, both from the counter and dishwasher, fold the clothes and put them away, clean the kitchen counter for the 63rd time, make my son’s Halloween costume, fix myself some lunch, make a grocery list, feed the cat, and the dogs, change the sheets on all the beds, scrub the toilets, fix the kids a snack (yes, I’ll wash my hands after the toilets…), file my coupons and fix dinner.

Screw it. A few leaves never hurt anybody.