Mother

Euphrasyne, It’s good to stay busy but don’t push the thoughts away. Instead change the thoughts in your mind, replacing any regret or blame or worry with more positive thoughts. Reframe your thoughts. Just like you reinvent your recipes you can remake your thoughts. Allow yourself to grieve but also allow your thoughts to rejoice in the fact you have people who love you. Here’s another big cyber hug.

Dee, you don’t know how glad I am to see you posting a memory. You know how much I love them . Congratulations on finding your voice again.

Euphrasyne, we did the omelets in a bag for camping. I would bring along certain things like chopped ham, onions, peppers, cheese, and etc. so each person could build their own omelet. I used heavy zip lock bags not cheap ones as sometimes the thinner ones could break in the water. I would freeze the scrambled eggs ahead and bring them in the cooler. They were usually thawed enough to use when we needed them. AND the hot water stayed clean enough to use for cleanup afterwards. Two for one!

One cup is about five regular store type large eggs. I freeze them in one cup Souper Cubes. They are silicone and are for freezing single servings of soup. These have four one-cup sections. You can put eight ‘cubes’ in a gallon size bag. I do applesauce, soup, puréed squash and sweet potatoes, cooked oatmeal, and other things. I haven’t tried to remove the eggs yet but will let you know. I didn’t oil them. I also beat eggs with onions, peppers, and etc. I then pour them into a rimmed cookie sheet or cake pan and bake them until tender done. Once cooled I cut them in squares and use them to make breakfast sandwiches to freeze. I like to use English muffins, biscuits, or even pancakes, Sausage patties or cooked bacon, and a slice of American cheese to makes a quick breakfast. I wrap them in parchment paper and microwave them or stick in the oven to heat. Sometimes I just wrap and freeze the egg squares to use in other ways, like chopped up as egg salad. If I ever find an inexpensive source of eggs I will be making and freezing egg casseroles, strata, bread puddings, and more. I especially like to line a muffin tin with a thin layer of meat to form a shell. I then put a beaten egg in the center, maybe some chopped veggies, cheese on the top and bake. These freeze nicely and are easy to grab, heat, and eat. All this egg talk makes me want my own chickens or a friend who has way too many eggs!

I’m so sorry about your Dad, both the estrangement and his death. And that fall is just adding insult to injury. I’m sending healing thoughts and cyber hugs.

In Northern Illinois ALL our seeds are off the shelf by August. I make a point of picking up what seeds I think I might need before then and a few more when they have their end of year sale. If you have a garden center or greenhouse that sells seeds you might find some there yet. Otherwise online. Try comparison pricing actual seed companies with Amazon making sure of the shipping costs. To save money consider saving seeds from produce you eat now making sure the produce is open pollinated or heirloom. Things like squash, pumpkin, tomatoes, peppers, and etc will all be good to try. 😁

Great advice, Jeepers. We have only just started (after 12 years of living in this house) to have the occasional mouse and we can’t figure out where they are coming in at.

Good for you, EmeraldCat. Hint: get some of your garden seeds ASAP. They could be more costly in the spring and perhaps some will be scarce. Also, you will have seeds to start inside ahead of spring. Try to get some edible flowers for your ‘disguised’ front yard garden. Nasturtiums, sunflowers, and etc. and remember some vegetables are reallllly pretty too. Okra, if you like it, is beautiful and showy.

EmeraldCat. I have also been thinking of a freeze dryer. I finally sat down and made a list of the things I would be MOST likely to use enough to warrant the price. Then I ordered a variety of freeze dried foods to make sure we would like them. Then I listed what other prep or preps I might spend that money for instead. When I realized I had a generator on one list and if we lost electricity I would need the generator to operate the freeze dryer I began to have doubts. I decided I could buy a whole lot of freeze dried foods AND a generator for the same amount.

to you both. Hope your day is great!

Jayceef, don’t forget to check into other possibilities, such as nutritional, allergies, or illnesses like autoimmune ones. Those things can present as brain dysfunctions that can appear as learning difficulties. Allergies can be to foods like gluten or even grains, additives as simple as food coloring or preservatives, or to environmental like chemicals or mold. Another possibility with reading difficulties is being unable to process the written word. Having the information read to him or using videos might make all the difference. I admire you and your DH’s continued efforts to help your son be the best he can be. It is the sign of the love you have for him.

If possible, and if you haven’t already, perhaps you should bring that up to others. At least create doubt. Perhaps suggest a waiting period before the final decision is made. It is not uncommon to have a waiting period before accepting an offer on property. 1/2 the asking price is unheard of even in todays waning market.

We have ‘been married 60 years syndrome. Separate beds, separate rooms, separate baths and in need of a linen shower!

Look at it this way, Jeepers, you now have extra money to spend on something else. Like filling your new freezer! .

👍 Glad I could help, Jeepers. Try the honey just plain from a spoon for ultimate healing though. It coats the throat that way and heals as it goes down.

Plain white fitted sheets don’t have to be replaced. Simply buy a laundry marker and put arrows on the end of the sheet to point the direction they should go on. Problem solved, money saved.

Jeepers, Slippery Elm bark tea or better yet lozenges would soothe and heal that throat and esophagus fast. Another thing to use is honey. One half teaspoon +/- at a time to coat the inflamed tissues. If you don’t have those try gargling with salt water (1 tablespoon to 1 cup warm water) but don’t swallow it. If you have acid reflux often, especially at night, find a way to permanently lift the head of your bed a few inches. The whole front of the bed, not just the mattress. The flat incline is more comfortable than sitting up and works better.

🌹🌹🎂🎂🎉

Are you perhaps thinking of self charging light bulbs? You can find them on Amazon. Sometimes called rechargeable emergency led bulbs. I’ve been looking at them myself.

Even though it has been down graded it is still a huge and dangerous storm. 300,000 evacuated. I am adding my prayers.

MT3B. Get to writing. We might as well at least be ready when it does happen.

Happy birthday Anewme! I hope you are doing okay. 🎂🎊🍦

First picking of yellow beans from four tubs in the new garden area. Lots more coming on and edible pod peas soon. Tomatoes just starting to ripen and cukes just starting to form. Deck plants just starting to come back with the cooler weather and now it’s a race to see what produces first, plants or Mother Nature. We have the blankets and sheets ready for the first few frosts and then might have some nice days for produce to mature. Sorry about the pic. size. All other sizes wanted to be upside down!

Oh, yeah…..riiiiiiight!

MT3B, Are you sure you want Mt_Rider to give us a new “Without Warning”? You KNOW what always happens when she does, don’t you? Be verrrrrrry careful what you wish for….