The Chatter

Today is going to be a 3 Hs day……..Hot, Humid and Hazy. 

 I really don’t enjoy thinking about what we are going eat on these days. Cooking seems out of the question but we have to eat. 

Here is something I make for the occasion  that is light and easy for this type of day.

First, I start by checking out the refrigerator to see what is left over….chicken, ham or tuna salad…potato salad….macaroni salad…..maybe some luncheon meat or hard boiled eggs.  I always have some kind of block cheese on hand.   Oh, don’t forget the pickles or pickled beets!  I check around to see what is hidden in there. Then, I pull out the veggies I have on hand from the refrigerator or what is ready in my garden to be picked.  I also check out the food closet or cabinet to see what hidden treasure there could be in there.  Chopped nuts or kidney beans would be a nice addition to the mix.

Next, I pull out some dinner size plates.  I arrange some lettuce around plate.  I love the green or red leafy type.  Then, I proceed to add a scoop or mound of salad or cut up luncheon meat.  Next, I add some potato or macaroni salad or both.  Then,  I could add some cut cheese, sliced hardboiled eggs and a few midget pickles or a pickle spear. I can’t forget the cucumbers, tomatoes and green peppers as my family loves them.  I continue to add the foods we feel like eating until I am done arranging the food.

There is no right or wrong way to arrange the food.  Usually every plate ends up being different and looking like a feast when it is finished being made.

You can put out some potato chips, leftover rolls, muffins or corn bread.  Also setting out some tiny bowls with different salad dressing to dip in can be fun.

When my children were living at home, I would set up all the various foods on the counter like a buffet.  They had fun designing their plates.   They loved making their own choices and would eat up everything on their plate.  A summer memory!

Not only is this a good dish for a summer day but it is a good way to use leftovers up. 

What do you eat on a 3Hs day?

I noticed in the forum of one of my favorite places to visit…  Sunshine Rewards… was someone asking how to freeze blueberries. 

It reminded me of what is going on right now in New Hampshire. It’s strawberry and blueberry season!
 
I live around many farms.  Unfortunately because of my illness I am unable to go and pick this year.  My freezer is going to be very sad.  But it does make me happy to see many people out there of all different ages having fun.  (They are probably very sweaty and hot too!  :0) But in the long end it is worth it. 

Seeing the people in the fields reminds me of the times when I would go with my girls.  They loved it!  They were good pickers but you should have seen their faces of red or blue!   After we arrived home, we would get the berries cleaned and ready to be frozen.  Of course we left some to eat and bake with.

I want to share one of my favorite old recipes.  It was given to me by their grandmother.  This was a favorite of my youngest daughter.  She would always ask for this.  When we made it in the fall or winter time we talk about all the fun we had in the summer.   Memories!

Blueberry Tea Cake

1/3 cup shortening

2 cups of enriched flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 cup blueberries

Stir shortening to soften.  Add flour sifted with baking powder, salt and sugar. Add milk.  Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.  Add egg.  Beat 1 minute.  Stir in blueberries.  Pour into a greased 8×8x2 inch pan.  Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 50 minutes.  I start checking at 40 minutes depending on how my stove is baking that day.
 
Oh, I almost forgot!  I put the blueberries and strawberries on cookie sheets and flash freeze them.  I pack them as ½ cup, 1 cup and 2 cups bags so I can just pull what I need for recipes.  It is easy to bag them and fit them in the freezer.

Thanks for letting me share my berry good memories with you!

This past Wednesday my husband and I went for my last chemotherapy treatment.

I had so many mixed emotions with this one.  No!  I didn’t want go.  I was sick of being sick.  I was excited, happy, teary, and had that sick to my stomach feeling….just a plain old nut case.  Thank goodness the people around me really know who I am and love me.  “How would anyone understand me right now?” I asked myself.

The day wasn’t too eventfully except it took 3 attempts to start my IV.  I tried to be brave and only had tears because it hurt so badly.  My veins have had enough, they were screaming.  My arms now look like I have been in a bad fight.
 
We brought a chocolate cake that look like a sunflower to share my day with everyone there. Plus some of the elderly patients love to have a treat. That is one thing I have noticed.

A little after 4:30, as my husband and I were getting ready to leave (I am an all dayer …started at 8:00am) all the nurses came out with the song “Celebration” going.  There was dancing, clapping and hugging….so many tears.  Everyone, even the patients were cheering me on.  I couldn’t stop crying. 

Then they proceeded to give me a certificate for making it.  ”What an accomplishment you have completed” “It was a long road but we knew you could make it!” were some messages on the paper.  I also received a book about life after cancer. 

 I think the best part was the nurses hugging my husband and telling what a help he has been to them and for me for coming to every infusion.   He would help them with watching the time on some drugs I was given, assist me or other people with many different things.  Or just his laugher and sense of humor that he brought to the infusion center made a lot of people laugh or smile.
 
I made it through my last chemo with my best friend and darling husband.  What a team!

While checking the movie listings last night I found that certain AMC theaters have $1. movies on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM.  Today is Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Although, it has already been released on DVD, my kids just love to go to the movies and for $1, WOW, you can’t beat it!

I also found that Regal cinema’s has a free movie Wednesday.  Check the AMC or Regal Cinema sites for participating locations or movie choices.

Happy July 4th everyone!  I can’t believe it is pouring here!  The kids are supposed to be in a Parade today at 1 PM.  However, it is pouring rain!  I am hoping it clears, because the rain date is tomorrow and the forecast is worse!

Hopefully, it is sunny and beautiful and you will have clear skies throughout the day!  Enjoy the fireworks tonight!  Be safe and have a great day!

So its official.  Disney is closing Pleasure Island!  I have very mixed feelings about this place.  Years ago, I loved it, it was a must do for every trip!  However, on our most recent trip, the night that we went it was empty!

Pleasure Island is definitely meant to have a crowd.  It was disappointing after getting there and having stayed.  We all said we should have gone to the Boardwalk.   However, after talking with the people in the bars, it seemed that this is more on the lines of how it has become.

For us, we traveled with our family, there was 14 of us, so luckily my dad offered to babysit all the kids for a night.  However, on our next trip, it is just the 4 of us.  I have already started to price out babysitting and it is going to cost around $100. for the night.  So for the typical family, to spend $100. for a sitter, $25 per person to get in and then the costs of drinks for the night, I guess it has lost its appeal!  Especially when you can go to the boardwalk with the kids, without the babysitter, for free and have a drink without spending hundreds of dollars!

Quick, easy, healthy and inexpensive, especially if you have your own garden!  My kids love this, I love the fact that it is so healthy and preservative free!  It is much better than the store bought version!
Tomatoes

Peppers (any color)

Red Onion

Cucumber

Garlic

Lime (for juice)

Cilantro

Salt

Dice all ingredients and combine.  Squeeze the fresh lime and add cilantro and salt to taste.  Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Be creative, substitute or add, eggplant or zucchini, if you have it!

Enjoy!

If you are ever doing a repair project and it seems your hands are too big to hold the screw in place until it gets started threading….I have an easy tip for you.  All you need is some scotch tape.  Gently place the tape over the hole where the screw goes.  Push the screw in hard enough to puncture the tape.  This will help steady it while you screw it in.  Remove the tape and your’re done!

Impress your guests at your next party, it makes for a pretty presentation.  Serve it in a glass or clear plastic pitcher.  It may sound strange, but it is actually delicious!

1/2 Gallon Lemon-Aid, it can be store bought, frozen or homemade.

2 Pints Fresh Strawberries

12 Fresh Basil Leaves

Prepare the Lemon-Aid in the serving pitcher.  Slice the strawberries and place in pitcher.  Split Basil leaves in two and add to pitcher.

Allow the Lemon-Aid to sit, refrigerated at least 3 hours before serving.  The longer it sits the better the flavors mix.

For an alcoholic version, add Vodka.

Do you have extra money for your own makeup?  With gas prices around $4 and threatening to go higher, the rise in groceries at the market and just life in general, there is probably a little left at the end of the day and I bet it is not going toward makeup.

However, this may change that!  A friend of mine told me about ELF.com.  A makeup site where most things are around $1.  At first, I didn’t believe her, I went to the site and saw it for myself, however, I let her order it.  If it was a scam, she found the site, so she can be the one to get scammed, just kidding.  Anyway, she order, the products came, no scamming involved and she loved it.  So, I placed my order, samething!

Even with coupons you can not compare to these prices.  And in a time when everyone is tightening their belts, this could be a lifesaver to all the women out there!