Yeah, no more chicken broth in my potato soup

 Gooood Morning!

I have another post I'm working on, but it's not ready yet.  However, I wanted to throw this one in here cause it's a recipe.  Good recipe.  

I love soups in winter.  Who doesn't.  I like potato soup, but all of the recipes I've found had chicken broth or bouillon in it.  Makes it kinda...eh.  My family is also kinda eh when it came to my potato soup.  

So yesterday I made my own and it turned out WONDERFUL!  My youngest son went back for seconds!  Sure sign of success!  I wanted to share my new recipe with you, dear readers.  Plus it helps me have it recorded somewhere.  

So here tis:

Bacon and Cheddar potato soup

6-8 slices of bacon

6 cups chunked raw potatoes

1 large onion chopped

4 cups water

1 cup celery

1 can evaporated milk (or you can use the equivalent in whole milk)

1-1.5 cups cheddar cheese

1.5-2 tsp salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Fry your bacon up in a pan.  Remove the bacon from the pan, but leave the drippings.  If you're leery about the amount of bacon fat in the pan, you can pour some off, but keep at least 4 TBS.  Add the chopped onion and celery to the drippings in the pan.  Cook until soft.  While that's cooking the bacon should have cooled.  Crumble it up til it looks like bacon bits.  Once the onion/celery mixture is soft, add the water.  Get a spatula and stir, scraping the pan to get all the bits from the drippings.  Add your potatoes.  If you need to add a little water, you can, just to cover.  Add salt.  The lesser amount first.  You can adjust the seasons to taste once everything is together and simmering.  Let the potatoes and everything cook until the potatoes are soft.  Run it all thru a blender.  I added my milk in the blender to help it blend well.  It took two blenders full.  Return all to the pan and add whatever milk you have left.  If it is still thick, you can add water til it is the consistency you want.  Add the cheese and stir.  Keep an eye on it as it simmers to make sure it doesn't stick.  Now is the time to adjust the seasonings.  Taste it and add what you want.  We topped with sour cream and had with toast.  I know,  CARBS!  But it was filling and good.  

Variations:  You can add hot sauce as a topping.  This would have been my choice, but I was out.  I did opt to not have sour cream on mine.  Also, top with chives, red pepper flakes, or whatever else strikes your fancy.  

Okay, can't let you go with out adding my latest redo!

I just listed her in my shop.  UPDATED:  SHE SOLD!  YAY!

Here is the link if anyone is interested : 1960's Horseman doll  

Your Choice. As it Should Be

 First a disclaimer:  Most of the time my posts will deal with daily living, healthy stuff, my faith...everyday things.  Once in a blue moon, I'll feel the need to express opinion about a current event.  This is such a time.   You, as the reader, have the right to read or not.  You have the right to agree or disagree.  You have the right to never read my stuff again, or come back to visit again.  You have the right to believe I'm lying or telling the truth.  You have the right to comment; agreeing or not, on my posts; respectfully.  As the writer, I should have the right to express my opinion; my opinion without being told what that opinion should be.  Which leads us to my topic at hand.  

You'd have to live under a rock to not hear about all the craziness in the world today; Covid, the election, the protests and riots over the summer, and the protest and riots recently.  

Full disclosure:  I am a Christian.  I am Pro-Life.  I am conservative both fiscally and socially.  That being said, I am Libertarian politically.  I believe in personal responsibility, and I don't want "Help" from Uncle Sam.  I have learned the hard way how that "help" can be extremely unhelpful.  I personally think masks are to protection from Covid what a school desk was to a nuclear bomb during the cold war.  I believe there is a lot of panic over a virus with a 99% survival rate.  I do not in any way, diminish those whose lives have been lost this past year, thru Covid, or any other way.  Life is precious.  All life is precious.  Good hand washing, keep your distance.  Steer clear of your loved ones who are compromised.  

Are you mad yet?  Offended?  

Everything I just typed, from the beginning of my disclaimer to the last word of my disclosure are deemed offensive in today's society.  Facebook has been so helpful in the past, by taking down my posts similar to the above with helpful tips like " go to the WHO website for appropriate information to post".   Soooo anyone else have a problem with being told what opinion you can and can't have?  

I finally left Facebook last week.  No I wasn't in facebook jail, and ironically, before all the hullaballo at the capital.  

Here's what scares me, and regardless of political persuasion, should scare you too.  I have watched over the weekend as Google App store, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter, seemingly worked together to silence first President Trump, then other conservative people and finally every conservative voice; famous or not, in Parlor.  I went to Parlor once.  Was kind of underwhelmed, but probably because it was just starting off and so there wasn't a whole lot to do.  But over the weekend, conservatives began leaving other social media platforms for Parlor; thousands.  The by the end of the weekend, however, Parlor was lights out due to it's app being pulled from Amazon and Google App store.  

Now some of you may be thinking "Well Parlor wasn't policing their site well" (Policing?  How does that really sound?).  They do have measures in place, but they don't "Police"." Trump was inciting violence".  He wasn't.   Watch the whole speech.  I found it on YouTube.  Not sure how long it will stay, but I'll provide a link.  here

Free Speech isn't free because it's acceptable.  Free Speech is free whether we agree or not.  In fact sometimes free speech can be really hard to hear.  

You may lean more progressive, and that's fine.  You may disagree with everything I've just written, but I want to you to think of these things:

1)  The policies used by one party in power, can be used by the other party when they are in power.  

2)  First it will be conservative ideals.  What is next on the list?  What will be dangerous when conservatives are no longer there to get the brunt of the powers that be? Who will they set their sights on?  Because, believe me, there will be a next one.  Fight for the rights of all and you are fighting for your rights too.  You can't assume you will never be in the line of fire. 

In my opinion, social media has way to much power.  I don't like the fact that I can look for towels to buy, then go to facebook and get towel ads.  Or worse yet, to be discussing a 40 year old sit com with my son in the car, not even on my computer (but my phone was on) and come home to ads on my lap top advertising episodes for said sitcom on Youtube.  But for Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Twitter to be silencing conservative voices, scares the starch out of me. 

 If you're smart, you'll sit up and take notice.

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet Isn't Always a Good Thing

 Hello all!  Welcome to 2021.  I know I've neglected my blog for the last few months.  I have been trying to keep my head above water with my Etsy shop along with other homestead things here.  This year, I'm taking a slow down on Etsy to address much needed things on the homestead.  Guess what!  My blog is one of those things!  Hurrah!

I have to show this off though.  I found this little girl at an antique shop.  I try to find dolls that are in need of some love, and am reconditioning them or restoring them based on what's needed.   This little girl is a 1955 EeGee Susan stroller/walker doll.  She is capable of standing alone, and when you hold her hands and move, she will "Walk" with you.  When she walks, her little head moves back and forth as well.  She is the latest addition to my Etsy shop.  Here is her before and after pic.  I hope you can tell which is which.  

 

Now onto my topic at hand.  No these are not the pitter pattering feet you're looking for. 

We live next to an open field.  Said field is for sale at the moment, and if we had the money.....ah!  Anyway, I digress.  Because we live next to an open field we gets lots of critters in our yard; anything from deer, coyotes, field mice, bunnies, and rats. Yes, rats.  You would think our having an indoor/outdoor cat would have nixed that problem, but not so much.  Don't get me wrong, he has caught some of them, but he isn't the most enthusiastic hunter.  

A few nights ago I awoke to a scratching in the wall of my kitchen.  Something had gotten into the crawl space under the house.  Whatever it was sounded big.  I heard him finally gain access to the house and bump into one of the bar stools around my counter.  That didn't inspire confidence in his having a tiny stature.  I got up to investigate, but he took off under one of the appliances.  

The next morning I brought the cat in.  He slept in the house all day.  Come night fall he wanted to go outside.  I didn't let him, but my son, not knowing he was needed indoors, let him out.  That night I awoke to the sound of scratching in my bedroom!  NOT COOL!  I heard him gain access to the room and he was on my husbands night table.  I jumped up to see and he bolted.  

So yesterday I made sure everyone knew not to let the cat out.  Fast forward to evening and my hubby and I were watching a movie.  We had just let the dogs in from their potty break.  Our great Pyrenees mix, Sophie walked over to something on the kitchen floor, sniffed it, and grabbed it. 

She immediately dropped it.  It was the rat!  He was just sitting in the floor!  Heavens to Mergatroid! He ran behind the fridge.  Yall this guy was big!  My hubby jumped up, got more rat bait out and started putting it out.  What he had put out a few days ago was gone.  Now we wait.  Neither of us felt like pulling out the fridge to see if he was there.  We figured he had gone under the house again.  About an hour later I got up and started loading up the dinner dishes.  While I'm doing that, I happened to look over at the floor on the other side of the open dishwasher.  He had come out and was lying on the floor.  He was stretched out.  He looked to be about 12 inches long!  He was about 5-6 inches in diameter around the belly.  I about jumped out of my skin.  Hubby got up and tried to get him to go into a bucket we had.  I, however was poised atop the treadmill platform and the cat was pawing the back door to be let out. The rat was lethargic now, but had enough energy to go under my stove.  Drat!  We felt like he was on his way out.  It was just a matter of time.  The plan was to get him out in the morning.  

I woke up this morning around 3:30.  I came out into the kitchen with my phone flashlight on to make sure there wasn't anything waiting on me.  There he was, laying under the cabinet on the kitchen floor.  He was still alive, but the fight was gone.  Using the bucket from last night I rigged up a way to get him into it.  He tried to fight but really didn't have it in him.  Once in the bucket, I was able to put him and the bucket outside.  Secure in the bucket, he can at least die in peace.  He's protected from the rain and any predators.  I don't think the poison is what got him.  I think Sophie's bite did.  Though she didn't break skin, I think she injured him in some way.  I feel bad for him.  Had he stayed outside, away from the chickens, and away from our house, he would still be here, but I can't have him threatening the chickens, the chicks, or bringing in who knows what.  

Needless to say I was mopping the floor this morning at 4 am, and I have learned my cat is useless!  I will probably be doing a major wash down of the kitchen by lunch.  

It's my page and I can post if I want to.

Regardless of how you feel about Covid, Masks, Hydroxy, etc, you need to make an informed decision, and do what is right for you and yours.  The Physicians at American frontline Doctors have come forward to tell about how they are successfully treating Covid patients in their practice, but because their treatment isn't going along with the mainstream Media, it's being deleted as false on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.  That's a nice way for the powers that be to censor what we hear, see or read.  This flies all over me, and Liberal, Conservative or Libertarian that should fly all over you too.  So I'm sharing this here.  

Here is the link to Physicians with American Frontline Doctors video: https://www.bitchute.com/video/43kczPmQDeq6/

While I'm at it:  https://www.bitchute.com/video/jPK3VSixGhBV/?fbclid=IwAR3hZZc3DN1FxDhYJs_r0Ram_sWLVOINpqw4J51h1HmwJe1Wj6tGk30RWaY

Ironically, many of those that vote conservative and therefore, more than likely for Trump, are actually going against his administration on masks, and the effectiveness of shutting everything down and sheltering in place.  

Those who are anti Trump, or liberal tend to be the ones saying mandate mask wearing(unless you're protesting), shut down( unless you're protesting), We're all gonna die!etc.  

Time to get informed, make a decision, and maybe question some motives.  All I'll say.

Please watch.

Neener Neener! Doctor visit

Doctor visit today!  I had my yearly check up with my Endocrinologist.  

Last year I was on Pravastatin, per my cardiologist and seconded by my Endo Dr, to lower my already normal cholesterol levels.  Cause since I had a heart attack they want it lower than normal (what?).  I didn't want to be on it, but hubby wanted me to be on it just until I had labs drawn to see if it would work.  Well those labs came back and my cholesterol went up!  So off that med I went.  

This past year I haven't been on any cholesterol lowering med.  Don't get me started on weather or not cholesterol is the culprit.  That's another story.  I do know a cholesterol med isn't anything I need or want.  I was on half the lowest dose and was still experiencing some pretty worrying side effects.  Chest pain being one.  Yea, not a good side effect for someone who's just had a heart attack.  

So no Pravastatin for me at all this past year.  In all honesty, I haven't been "On program" eating until very recently.  I was still eating healthy, but just too much of a good thing.  

So even with all that, I have to report that my cholesterol came down!!!!!  No med, no real weight loss, but my cholesterol came down.  The doctor even said I did better without the med.  She's totally on board with what I want to do.  I've made a believer out of her,  Yay!  

Oh, and just to share it all, A1C was 5.2; totally normal, no sign of diabetes or pre-diabetes.  All tests were in good range.  AND  according to their records, I'm down 2 pounds from when I saw her last.  That's really saying something since I went up and then down.  So yay!!!!

A Successful week all round!

Good morning world!  How's everyone!  I'm fit to be tied today.  I've successfully completed a full week of healthy eating and activity.  The scale has awarded my efforts with a 5.6 lb weight loss.  Now some of that may be water weight, but it's no longer there is my point.  I use a website to keep track of calories called www.sparkpeople.com.  Each week I record my weight (well I'm supposed too, but some weeks I haven't recently).  I looked back over the last 6 months of recordings, and have not weighed this weight in 4 months,  

I've worked out or been otherwise active every day this week, but it's my eating that sealed the deal.  That's been my main issue.  I'm an active person in general, and while I did avoid the treadmill like the plague (or I guess in our day and age "The Rona!"), I've been outside most days doing rather physical work.  My eating was the problem.  I couldn't seem to get that under control.  It was like I had an angel on one shoulder saying "You don't need to eat that", and a devil on the other saying "one time won't hurt".  One time won't hurt, but a string of ones times will.  

If anyone is wondering what plan I'm using, I've gone back to what I know and what worked for me, and is working for me now.  

1.  Real food, nothing diet, nothing artificially low or nonfat, no processed food.  While I can and do have an occasional form of bread, the vast majority of my carb intake comes from fruits, veggies.and dairy.  When I am having some type of bread item, it's limited, whole grain, and unprocessed.  

2. Portion control.  People turn off at this one usually.  I've found the vast majority of folk want something where they can eat as much as they want with no calories to worry about.  Well I do too!  I want a Million dollars as well!  Our bodies work very specifically.  It is calories in, calories out.  Doesn't matter what diet plan you're on, trust me, it's still calories in calories out.  It's even more important for me because I have an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto Thyroiditis.  Basically my immune system attacked my thyroid, so mine doesn't work anymore.  I've been on meds for this for 30 years.  Due to this, my metabolism is slower, and I need to keep my protein high normal and my carb level low normal.  Spark people helps me do this because they break everything down so I can see what I ate in each category.  So to be accurate, I have to weigh or otherwise measure what I eat.  I guess it can be a bother, but I'm just used to it now.  

3.  Counting calories.  Naturally this goes with portion control.  This is my boundary line.  I can choose to eat whatever I want, but I can't go past my boundary line.  By the same token, I need to make sure I'm eating the minimum calories for my body to function.  Too few calories and my body will hold onto weight to protect me from the famine we are obviously in.  Nice body to protect me so.

4.  Quality-  I get more food, and am more satisfied when I choose quality foods; whole foods, fruits veggies, good fats ( and yes butter is a good fat), and unprocessed foods.  1200 calories of highly processed foods is void of the nutrients the body needs.  It doesn't stay with you very long.  It has a lot of filler, chemicals, etc that the body doesn't recognize.  1200 calories of quality foods has all your body needs,  When the body has what it needs, it won't trigger you to eat.  Yes, your body can do that.  Weird cool!  As a result, you're more satisfied.  Whole fat dairy is way better than low or nonfat dairy.  Great thing with whole fat dairy is I can eat less of it and fill in with a fruit or veggie.  

5.  Move.  Gotta be active.  I did get back on the treadmill.  I will be on it this week too, but I will also be outside taking care of animals, the garden, digging, etc.  I will be active, and I will do something structured.  I will say, pick something you can live with.  

Other tips I would give is to get a decent nights sleep, make sure your drinking water, and relish ( no pun intended) the victories no matter how small.  Keep your eye on the prize.  There are times when I won't lose, or will have a bad day.  I will get up dust myself off and keep moving forward.  Over a two year time span I put on 15 pounds.  My old self would have added all 63 pounds back plus some, but this time I never totally gave up.  I kept trying at least.  I would much rather lose 15 pounds instead of 63.  

So last week is a victory.  Yay!  Now to start on this week.and we'll see what happens!  I would love to hear other success stories!  Won't you share yours!?

My New Mantra

I've written about how much of a struggle the past two years have been regarding my health and weight.  As a result of that struggle, I've slipped into old habits of beating myself up when I gain, or have a bad day.  When I fall short of what I want to do.  

Those comments I make to myself, can pile up.  If you were under verbal abuse from someone every day for 2 years, it would take it's toll.  Subsequently, I've been my own worst enemy in that I set myself up to fail, then berate myself over the failure.  

Yea, that's not happening anymore.  My new statement is "I'm worth my taking care of myself, and my husband is worth my taking care of myself".  This goes both ways.  My hubby is so good to work out diligently each day, taking one day off in a week.  Whenever I comment on how good he looks, his response is always "I'm doing it for you babe".  He doesn't just mean to look good.  What he's saying is "I love you so much I want to spend as much time as possible with you".  He does it to stay healthy so we have more time together in this life.  He deserves I feel the same way, and act on it.  

Saying I want to spend the rest of my life with him, yet not doing what I can to insure it's a good long time, is disingenuous. 

That's my earthly motivator.  

God see me as special too.  Should I ever falter on that one, I can remember this:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?  You are not your own.  You were bought with a price.  Therefore Honor God with your bodies."

Psalm 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being.  You knit me together in my mothers womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful.  I know that full well".

1 Peter 2:9 " For you are a chosen people (person), a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God's special possession that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"

What are your motivators?  Whatever they are, have them first affirm how wonderful and special you are!  Never lose sight of that.  You are not defined by a scale, your clothes, or how your day's going.