Colorado

A little photo essay of my trip to Colorado.  

Sunday morning with my brother.  Champagne and the Pack!

A drive up to Pike's Peak.

Wednesday dinner with these two.

Of course we met at a martini bar!  It was so fun to connect.

After the week of work, up to Seattle to visit the Grand baby and his people.

G man with his momma.

It was the perfect work week.  A little play, a lot of work, and so much fun at the end.  I am one lucky duck.

2 years ago:  Peach Comfort (Drink of the Week) and the Hip Shot
3 years ago:  Another computer Crash
5 years ago:  Roasted Turkey and the Full Freezer

September 21, 2017  Sunrise 7:32 am  Sunset 7:53 pm  Temp. H 54/ L 40°F

Pork roast with Eggplant

I was in Colorado last week for work.  I got to spend some time with my brother, went to Pikes Peak, saw my dear friends Mark and Suzanne, who used to be my back door neighbors, and then after work and all that fun, stopped in Seattle to visit the grandbaby and his parents.  I'll post pictures later this week.  

I'm headed to Seward for the rest of this week for work.  Fly into Anchorage and drive 2 hours to Seward.  It should be a beautiful drive, but there is so much to do this time of year, I'm struggling with my attitude about this trip!

It has cooled down in Fairbanks.  The mornings are very cool, the birds have all flown south, and everyone I talk to says it feels like winter is just around the corner.  

"Embrace the cold," is my motto for this time of year.  The cold is coming and there is nothing we can do to change it, so embrace it.  I guess that would be good advice for myself with this upcoming trip.

I made this delicious pork roast and eggplant.  The pork is done in the crock pot, so easy hands-off cooking, and the eggplant took about 20 minutes tops.  We had a warm, delicious dinner on this blustery evening.  Winter is coming so we might as well embrace it!

Pork Roast With Eggplant Mash

from Quick and Easy Ketogenic Cooking, Maria Emmerich

Pork Ragu

1 medium onion, chopped

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 tsp. finely chopped garlic

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 tsp. fine sea salt

1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes (with juice)

2 cups beef or chicken broth

3 lbs. pork spareribs, cut into individual ribs

Chopped fresh flat-leave parsley, for garnish, optional

In a 4-quart slow cooker, combine the onion, tomato paste, garlic, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes and their juices an the broth; stir well to combine. Add the pork spareribs and turn to coat.

Cover and cook until the pork is very tender, 7-8 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high.

Remove the ribs from the slow cooker, leaving the cooking liquid in the pot. Using two forks, shred the pork. Return the pot to the slow cooker and mix it into the cooking liquid.

Then make eggplant mash.

EggPlant Mash

(In the cookbook, the author called this grits, I think that is misleading.  Grits have a very unique texture and this is more like a smooth mash.  You can call it what you want, I call it delicious.)

4 cups peeled and cubed eggplant (about 1 lb.)

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 cup chopped onions

1 Tbsp. finely chopped garlic

1/2 tsp. fine sea salt

1/2 tsp. dried ground oregano

1/2 cup beef bone broth

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Place eggplant cubes and bacon pieces in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat.  Stir-fry until the bacon is fried and eggplant is extremely soft, about 10 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggplant and bacon to a food processor; leave the bacon fat in the pan. Puree the eggplant and bacon until smooth.

In the skillet with the bacon fat, add the onions and cook, over medium-high heat, stirring until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and salt and cook, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the eggplant puree and oregano to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring with heavy wooden spoon, until the mixture forms a thick paste, 5-10 minutes, adding the broth 1 Tbsp. at a time to keep the eggplant from getting dry.  Sprinkle with cheese, stir, and serve.

Divide the eggplant among wide, shallow bowls and spoon the ragu over the top.  Sprinkle each serving with chopped parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.

2 years ago:  Shotgun Wedding Soup and Waiting on the Mouse

3 years ago:  Moose Camp Good News/Bad News and Pasta with Two Peas

5 years ago:  Soup and Sandwich Night with Roasted Tomato Soup

September 19, 2017   Sunrise 7:26 am  Sunset 8:00 pm  Temp. H 50/ L 36°F

Body Scrub

The leaves are turning yellow and falling to the ground, the garden is put away, the mornings are cold and I can see my breath when I let the dogs out, we are smack in the middle of moose season...

All of this means only one thing...scaly skin season is upon us.

Fairbanks is a very dry place to live. It is surprising because in the summer there is so much green and in the winter there is so much snow. But the very cold temperatures makes it impossible for the air to hang on to any humidity, so we are dry, dry, dry. And our skin suffers for it. My legs end up looking like alligator scales they can get so dry. I apply lotions, body butter, oils, all winter long. I decided to make myself some scrub for the shower. A little scrub action to get rid of the scales and the jojoba oil to lock in some moisture, and I love a bright, citrus smell and so I chose an essential oil that will with be a pick-me-up in the morning.  

I really like it. I will use a salt that is not as course as this one is. The oil sinks to the bottom, but I just turn the jar upside down for a minute and then turn it back over and use it. I think I know what everyone in my office is going to get for Christmas this year!

Body Scrub
2 cups coarse salt
1/2 cup Jojoba oil
1 teaspoon essential oil of your choice (I love orange and grapefruit)

Mix salt, jojoba, and essential oil together.  Place in a clean glass jar and cover with a lid.  Use in the shower to get rid of that alligator skin I know you have.

2 years ago:    MRI and Moon Pie Mug Cake
3 years ago:    Pizza Stromboli
5 years ago:    Losing the Best Back Door Neighbors and Pecan Crispies

September 14, 2017  Sunrise 7:11 am  Sunset 8:19 pm  Temp. H 61/ L 43°F

Double Chocolate Flourless cookies and cleaning up the yard

It is that time of year.  Dave is out at moose camp and I am cleaning up the yard.  I spent the weekend pulling plants, cutting stems, picking the last of the weeds (they overran everything...again), and giving produce away because Dave and I can eat and store only so much.

Leeks, radishes, and chickweed, with a little johnny jump-up peeking through.

Late season radishes.  Dave planted these the end of July...we just didn't thin them so they are a little small.

They are sweet little things, I'll plant a late season crop every year now.

I need some ideas for these Anaheim peppers.

The spaghetti squash loved their spot.  I got 9 giant squash from two plants.

The end result.  Four boxes like this; cleaned, dirt turned and ready for spring next year.

I worked hard and I thought I needed a little treat.  I made these cookies.  I like cookies, I'm sure cookies are one of the reasons for my generous backside. And I have been missing cookies, so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try them.  And after all that work, I deserved a cookie.

Flourless Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies
Peace, Love, and Low Carbs blog

1 cup natural creamy almond butter
2/3 cup confectioners Swerve, or other powdered erythritol
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsp. peanut butter powder (like PB2)
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp. melted butter
2 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup sugar free dark chocolate baking chips

Preheat oven to 350˚F.  Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond butter, Swerve, cocoa powder, peanut butter powder, eggs, butter, water, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Just throw it all in there and mix with an electric mixer until well combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

Form cookie dough into 1 1/2 to 2 inch balls, or scoop with a cookie scooper.  You should get 12 very large cookies or 16 good sized cookies.

Place on prepared baking sheet.  Bake 10-12* minutes for 12 cookies or 6-8* for 16 cookies.  Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place on a cooling rack to allow the cookies to cool before eating.

About 1/2 way through the baking time, flatten the cookies slightly with the bottom of a glass. This will help the cookies stay fudgy.  I did it once I took the cookies out of the oven too.

I find these cookies dry out fast.  Make sure you eat them up fast.

1 year ago:    Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls and Avoiding the Middle Seat on the Airplane
3 years ago:  Colonial Bread
5 years ago:  Happy Birthday Carrot Cake

September 12 , 2017  Sunrise 7:05 am  Sunset 8:26 pm  Temp H 54/ L 40°F

911 call

My assistant moved to Saudi Arabia and has left me on my own. That is a very dangerous thing. I had to schedule a pick-up with Fed Ex for a job fair and she left very detailed instruction and the phone number, it is a 1-800 number. Our building requires that you dial a 9 to get an out and a 1 for long distance. So, I dialed a 9 then a 1 then looked at the phone number left for me and dialed 1-800 and the phone started to ring, I had done something wrong so I hung up.

I must have forgotten the 1 for long distance, so I was very careful the second time I dialed. I dialed 9 for the outside line, 1 for long distance and looked at the number and dialed 1-800 and the phone started to ring again. I hung up and looked at the number trying to figure out what I was doing wrong when my phone rang.

"This is Carl at emergency services and I wanted to check on you and make sure everyone is all right over there."
"What?" was all I could stammer.
"Someone from this number called us twice, and I just wanted to check on you," Carl carefully said.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry..." and I told him what I had done, 9-1-1-800.

I was dialing 911. Really? I was so preoccupied trying to call Fed Ex and schedule a pick up for the first time, I wasn't attending to what I was doing and that was dialing 1 two times for the long distance number. I apologized,  explained that I was really an idiot, and apologized again. He chuckled and said to be careful with those extra 1's.

Well, I was able to order the pick up and just tried to stay away from my phone for the rest of the day. I figured I needed to send a treat his way to say sorry (again), and thanks for being there if I ever do need help. I made these and I hope it helps him forgive and forget.

Snicker Bar Cookies

Snicker Bar Cookies

adapted from Celebrating Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 bag mini unwrapped snickers, cut in quarters, or two bars cut in chunks

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375˚F.  

In a large bowl, cream butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Add to creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly.

Place oats in a blender or food processor and process until the texture of coarse meal.  Stir oats into dough with snickers bar pieces and chocolate chips.  Cover and freeze 1 hour (I scoop dough balls at this point and freeze.  Then I take out how many cookies I want to bake and put the rest in a ziplock bag.)

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on un-greased baking sheets.  Bake for 9-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.  Cool cookies slightly on baking sheets; transfer to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies

1 year ago:    Grandma's 100 birthday

3 years ago:   Surviving a Short Moose Season with Oreo Truffles

5 years ago:   Frost and Bean Soup

September 7, 2017  Sunrise 6:50 am  Sunset 8:45 pm  Temp. H 50/ L 46˚F

Halibut Olympia

My brother came up to go fishing in August. We pulled a big surprise on my husband and told him there was only four spots available on the boat; one for him, my brother, my dad, and a family friend that was coming up with my brother (same friend that came when we went fishing in Homer a couple years ago). We told him the captain's brother and sister in law had the other two spots. Really, we had a plan; we were bringing the blond boy up and the hippy boy were going to go fishing with them.  

Thursday, before we left for Valdez, the hippy boy came to "say goodbye to grandma and grandpa" because they were leaving for the lower 48 after fishing in Valdez. He showed up and said, "Dad do you want a beer?" Dave said yes, so the Hippy Boy left the room and the Blond Boy came in with the beer. Dave was so surprised! We succeeded. That was surprise #1.

Surprise #2 was that we told Dave the Hippy Boy couldn't go fishing because he had to work and there wasn't room on the boat because really the captain's brother was fishing with them. The Hippy Boy did work but he drove the 7 hours to get to Valdez after work and at 5:00 am showed up at the camper and asked if his dad was ready to go down to the docks. Dave was surprised again. So the 6 boys went fishing for two days and my mom and I wandered through Valdez and checked out the museums in town.

Well, the boys were very successful on the boat. Bold Eagle out of Valdez did a great job with the charter. Coffee was ready on the boat at 6:00 when the boys showed up to the dock, the tunes were great, the captain and deck hand were a lot of fun, and they all had a great time.

First Day's Catch

Second Day's Catch

And now we have a freezer full of fish. We have halibut, cod, and rock fish for the winter. Everyone took boxes of fish home with them and we took some fish down to the Curly Haired boy when we went to visit. We'll be eating fish at least once a week all winter and Halibut Olympia is one of our favorite ways to eat it.

Halibut Olympia

1 1/2 lb. halibut fillet (cod works well here too)

1 small onion

4 Tbsp. butter, divided

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp. garlic

3-4 shakes of tabasco 

salt and pepper

1/2 cup pork dust (or cracker crumbs)

Preheat oven to 350˚F.

Slice onion in half moons, sauté with one Tbsp. butter over medium heat until soft and caramelized.

Put remaining 3 Tbsp. butter in 8X8 pan and put in oven until butter is melted.  Place onions in pan.

Rinse and trim the fish, salt and pepper both sides.  Place fish in pan on top of onions. In a small bowl mix mayo, sour cream, garlic and tabasco.  Spread over top of fish.

Sprinkle pork dust (aka ground pork rinds) or cracker crumbs over top.

Bake for 20-30 minutes until fish is cooked through and flakes with a fork.

serves 6

1 year ago     Learning to like Gin

3 years ago   Zucchini Fries

5 years ago   New Lights

September  5   Sunrise 6:44 am  Sunset 8:52 pm  Temp H 60 /L 43˚F

Breakfast Bake

Mornings have been kind of tough. I used to wake up with a bounce and hop out of bed around 5:00. I've gotten to where I sleep until 6:00 and then drag myself out of bed. With the changes I've made in my diet, I have recovered some, but I am not bounding out of bed, or exercising consistently in the morning yet either. One thing I do to help myself is have breakfast ready so I can just warm it up at home or (if I'm running really late) throw it in my lunch box and eat it once I get to work.

I usually have the same thing for breakfast every morning for a week. I'll fix something on Sunday, portion it out, and have breakfast ready to go all week long. This is one of my favorites, cheese, eggs, taco meat, sour cream and guacamole on top, you just can't go wrong. Dave doesn't eat breakfast, and that is just fine with me because then I don't have to share!

Taco Breakfast Bake


2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 lb. 80% lean ground beef (or moose)
1/2 cup onions
2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning
1/4 cup tomato sauce
8 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup bone both or beef broth
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack or sharp cheddar cheese
1 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Optional Toppings:
salsa
sour cream
guacamole

Preheat oven to 350˚F.
In a large oven-safe skillet, heat butter over medium heat.  Add the ground beef, onions, and taco seasoning and cook until the beef is cooked all the way through and the onions are translucent, about 7 minutes.  Add the tomato sauce and stir well to combine.

In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, broth, cheeses, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper.

Add the egg mixture to the beef mixture and stir to combine.  Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, until the eggs are just slightly set, stirring continuously.

Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 27 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked through in the center.  Remove from the oven and let rest for 3 minutes, then slice and serve.  If desired, garnish with salsa, sour cream and/or guacamole.
makes 6 servings

To prepare for the week, cool and slice into servings.  Put each piece in a microwave safe container and refrigerate.

1 year ago:    Italian Pine Nut and Apricot Cake and the Busy Squirrel
3 years ago:   Baked Oatmeal
5 years ago:  Banana Crunch Muffins and Routines

August 31, 2017     Sunrise 6:29 am Sunset 9:10 pm   Temp. H 68 /L 44 ˚F

Zucchini tots

This is the time of year in Fairbanks when you NEVER leave your car unlocked, not even in your own driveway.  Because, if you do, you will end up with pounds of zucchini.
I swear, I pick all the zucchini and the next day I find 7 more and half of them are giants!  The two of us just can't keep up.  We are eating zucchini at every meal...now I like zucchini (especially in chocolate cake) but enough is enough!

Well, all my neighbors are on to me and they always lock their doors.  If I leave it on their porch, they kindly return it with a "I think you forgot this" note...darn it!
So, tonight with dinner, we had zucchini yet again.  This time in a tot.  They are warm, cheesy, and take about 15 minutes to put together and 15 minutes to bake.  I made a double batch and put them in the freezer.  I still have about 15 pounds of zucchini to use.  Any suggestions?

Zucchini Tots
the Ketogenic Cookbook, Jimmy Moore ad Maria Emmerich

You can find the recipe in this book:

1 year ago:   The End of Summer
3 years ago:  Chocolate Zucchini Quick Bread
5 years ago:  Zucchini and Cheese Tart

August 29, 2017  Sunrise 6:23 am  Sunset 9:18 pm  Temp. H 58/ L 48°F

Layered Panna Cotta

We have a new puppy.  I would like to say my husband has a new puppy, but I'm the one who lets the dogs out of the kennel in the mornings and feeds them and the way to a puppy's heart is through his stomach. He loves me...so far it is a one way relationship.
He is a beautiful dog and he was the runt so he should have been smaller. But, he has gained about 10 pounds a month since we got him, Dave weighed him last night and he sits at 57 pounds and almost 6 months old. The vet says he will be over 100 lbs. when he is grown. I am so thrilled.

He is all puppy, he tramples the little dogs, butts his way into any petting session with the other dogs, doesn't let me brush Lily, and has to have a part of me in his mouth...my hand, my arm, my pants...
I've lost two pairs of pants from him grabbing, pulling, and tearing.

He better grow out of this fast.

Lily on the left, the wild one on the right.

He likes to help me. Right now I am starting to clean things up from the flower beds before winter. I cut some old lily stalks out of the bed, pile them neatly so I can put them into a garbage bag, and he comes up from behind, jumps in the pile, throws it around, and pulls it all over the yard and chews on it.
He has "harvested" a couple of my spaghetti squash, and a few zucchini, as well as all the nasturtiums trailing from all the pots he could reach. At least we will have snow soon and the yard won't be an issue.

So in the meantime, I'm treating myself, often, because I have to put up with that puppy.

I made this treat because I took an ice cream cake to the office for a co-worker's birthday and I didn't want to sit there while everyone else ate.  I shared it with a co-worker who is allergic to dairy. We both enjoyed our little snack and I have 3 more to enjoy the next time the dog takes a running start and jumps off the deck....onto my back.

Keto Mocha Latte Panna Cotta
The 30 Day Ketogenic Cleanse, Maria Emmerich


You can find the recipe in this cookbook:

1 year ago:    Saving a Life
3 years ago:  Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce
5 years ago:  Peach Cobbler

August 24, 2017   Sunrise 6:07 am  Sunset 9:36 pm  Temp. H 69/ L 49˚F

Dave photobombing.

Dutch Baby and Being an Active Sleeper

More nights than I would like to admit, my husband goes and sleeps on the sofa. Not because he is mad at me, or me at him, but because I am what he calls "an Active Sleeper." He says that I toss and turn, pull the covers, throw the covers off, and pull them away from him again because I threw mine off. And he says I snore...now that is just being rude.

I have joked that we need to get rid of our king size bed and get two double beds for our bedroom, then maybe he would spend the night with me. But as long as I am the one that gets the bed, I'm really not complaining.

So the other night I was having a very vivid dream and the next thing I knew I woke up slapping my husband in the face! I don't really know why, but I started to laugh and then said, "Oh, sorry." And I laid myself down and fell back asleep. Dave, on the other hand, was wide awake. He said he tried to go back to sleep, but he ended up on the couch, again.

I do feel sorta bad about that one, not that I did it on purpose or anything, I was dreaming after all. But I do feel bad. So I decided to make one of his favorite dinners; breakfast for dinner.  I made bacon, fried eggs, and this fruit filled Dutch baby. It was delicious and I think he has almost forgiven me for slapping him.

Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Blueberries
So Easy, Ellie Krieger

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
4 teaspoons sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup low-fat milk
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
grated zest of 1 lemon
4 tsp. butter
fruit for topping, optional
sweetened whipped cream, optional
pistachios, optional

Preheat oven to 450˚F.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, and salt.  In another bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, egg whites, and lemon zest.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
In a heavy 10-inch cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick skillet, heat the butter until very hot but not smoking.  Pour the batter into the skillet and quickly transfer it to the oven.  Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown and puffed; do not open the oven during baking.  Serve immediately topped with your choice of toppings.

1 year ago:    The End of Summer
3 years ago:  Lobo
5 years ago:  Banana Bread and Putting up Wood for the Winter

August 22, 2017  Sunrise 6:01 am  Sunset 9:43pm  Temp.  H 59/L 49˚F

Tired

This is a long post, but I've been gone for about 6 months and want to explain...

I have been tired. Like hard to get out of bed, brain fog, making stupid mistakes, zoning in front of the t.v. even when the t.v. is off, kind of tired.

My husband tells me it is because we have never been this old. I struggled to get up in the morning and make it to work close to on-time, I wasn't doing my share of the work around the house. I have never been an overly energetic person. Anyone who knows me I am in bed by 8:30-9:00 every night, but I used to open my eyes at 5:00 am, be rested and bounce out of bed and be cheerful and ready for the day. Not now.

So, I was looking for something to help me. I had noticed that I was getting a lot of stomach aches and heartburn. I cut out milk, I cut out eggs, I cut out wheat - BINGO! That really helped so I cut out all grains for three months and would add them back to see if I reacted to them. I also came across the Ketogenic diet and decided to try that for 6 weeks to see how I felt. I did start to feel more energetic so I purchased a couple cook books and made the switch. (Now, I am not advocating this for everyone, we all have our own opinions on what is healthy, what works for us, and our bodies are all different. This is just working for me right now. And, I still bake for my family and my across the street neighbors so no hating when you see a variety of things coming out of my kitchen).

I was feeling a bit better, I was up in the morning and ready to head back to 5:00 bootcamp (I never went back consistently after my hip surgery in 2015 and I miss it). So, it's spring time and after travel season is when I take care of things like my yearly dr. appt., the dentist, the eye doctor. Well, my dr. asked when I had my last mammogram.

"I had one about 3 years ago, I think." I replied
"Really, because there is nothing in your chart." she said. "Did you go someplace else for it?"
"No, I always go here and I always do a monthly self check everything is good."

So, she ordered one and the center called to schedule and it was in my mind to do it, so I called back for my appointment.

When I went in, I noticed on my paperwork it had been 8 years and 9 months since my last mammogram! Oops. Good thing I was there now.  I had my girls squished and I figured I was done for another year...and yes, I would be better about getting in more consistently, like every other year or so.

Well, I got a call back. Something just didn't look right. So I went in for a second mammogram and an ultrasound. No biggie. Breast cancer doesn't run in my family, I have no lumps or bumps, I'm very healthy, nothing to worry about.

But there was.

There was an " 2 cm area of suspicion" that needed to be biopsied. We did the biopsy. Again, I really didn't think much of it. I have dense, fibrous tissue (I know TMI) and lots of friends have had biopsies that were nothing. Better be safe than sorry, nothing to worry about.

But there was.

I had ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS. I had an early stage but fast growing kind. The treatment was laid out for me; lumpectomy and radiation, perhaps an estrogen reducing medication. I met with the radiologist (is that what the doctor that gives radiation is called?), I met with the oncologist, I met with the surgeon. She wanted a better look and ordered an MRI and we scheduled the lumpectomy. I had an MRI, I got a call back, I had another biopsy, I had more cancer a 6.7 X 5 cm area. Now we were talking mastectomy - maybe, chemo - maybe, lymph nodes involved? I had the second biopsy we got the results on a Monday afternoon - more cancer. Wednesday morning I had a mastectomy. Pathology came back and I did NOT have invasive cancer and my lymph nodes were not impacted - so no chemo, and the cancer was impacted so little by estrogen I didn't have to take that medication. So I am cancer free now and other than being lopsided - which will get fixed soon - I am in great health!

Now, keep in mind this all happened in the span of 6 weeks, it was kind of a whirlwind. Someone will tell me I am a cancer survivor but it doesn't feel that way because it all happened to fast that I never fully grasped that I had cancer, and now it is gone and I don't have any further treatments, it doesn't seem real. Don't get me wrong, I have been a hot mess the last 3 months (feel very sorry for my dear husband) and facing the mirror with one breast removed has been harder than I can even put into words, but today I stand here a healthy, cancer free, slightly lopsided woman.  YAHOO!

So, why all this info? Because...
It happened to me and I have a compulsion to share way too much on my blog.
I want every woman out there to do their monthly self checks and mammograms on the regular, as suggested by your doctor.
I don't want to hear any haters when my food choices are very different than your choices.  If you don't like the recipes I post, don't read my blog or just skip that recipe.  You get to choose (I love choices don't you?)

So there you have it.  I've been gone for a while but I'm back.

Some of the flowers I received while recovering from surgery.

1 year ago:     Introducing Grayson Zachary
3 years ago:    Blackberry Cheesecake
5 years ago:    Salmon Cakes

August 17, 2017  Sunrise 5:45 am Sunset 10:01 pm  Temp. H 59/ L 42°F

A Taste of the Islands

We were sitting at the table at the Seattle kids' house.  We were there for a 3 day weekend to visit the grand baby (and the Curly haired boy and the DIL).  My husband looks lovingly across the table and states...

"Wow honey, you need some lotion on your old lady chest."
.
.
.
And people wonder why I drink.

A taste of the Islands Champagne

1.5 oz pineapple juice
.5 oz. coconut creme
champagne

Mix pineapple juice and coconut creme until combined.  Pour into champagne glass, top with 3-4 oz. champagne.  Enjoy and forget the stupid things your husband says to you.

1 year ago:   Celery Salty Dog and the Repeating Conversation
3 years ago:  Peach Skillet Cobbler
5 years ago:  Ciopinno and -50