Itchy Armpits?

...Come walk with us!

.

The silly scooter...
One of the first signs of Spring around these parts!
Bring on the Harleys please...
.
.
.

.
.
Good Morning All.
And Happy Weekend too!

My head is tons better today.
(Unfortunately I can tell this because my back hurts)! hehehe Oh well.

Taking advantage of yesterdays warmer weather (upper 40's), and the past few days of temps above freezing, I thought it a great idea to get outside and get to the woods.

Didn't happen.

But we almost got there...

The Punk refusing to go along,
unless she could bring Mama Milly's squeakball.

.
.
?

No problem for me!

.
.
.
.

She did have to check out the whole field...
Just kept looking around.
Listening.

.
.
.

Happy nothing bothered her!

And she was off running.
.
.
.

.
.

The snowmobile trail.

Closed.

(For now).

More snow coming tomorrow...
.
.
.

.
.

Lots of field

(Read "mud").
.
.

.
.

After ditching the ball for a few moments,
she found an abandoned mouse nest under the snow.
.
.
.

.
.

There is nothing wrong with this picture.
It is only drifted snow up to the picnic table.

.
.
.
.
.

Punk laughs at me as I got into the deeper snow.
She'd somehow gone around it!?!
.
.
I went no further.
(Or I would still be back there).



.
.
.

.
.

She laughed at me more as I trudged back...
The showoff!

.
.
.

Her paw print as she sinks.
.
.

.
.

At some point she even stopped to retrieve her mama's ball.

I was still catching up to her.

She hadn't been "free" all Winter.
.
.
.

The snow, almost knee deep back by the woods, went from almost nil, to about 8" through the fields.

But we were back home once more.

And played for a while, with the ball ~and with some snowballs too!

And then she stopped for the "itchy~scratchies"...

.
.
.

.
.

Am wondering if her then itchy armpits are a part of her allergies?

She seemed to find them quite funny!
.
,
But she didn't find it funny when I laughed along with her...

The little KILLJOY

.

Who are you laughing at???
hehehe

.
.
Hope you all have a "wunnaful" weekend!
Now get outside and feel better!

Love to all!

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

posted to Y! 360, Saturday March 7, 2009 - 09:14am

Pancake & Waffle Mix Recalled. (NOT about peanuts)

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/wholefood203_09.html
I am not even going to hazard a guess at how THIS got contaminated with Salmonella...

I make my "pennycakes" from scratch, but always have some type of mix on hand as well.

Check the states listings at the bottom.
If you, or someone you love, lives in those states please copy and send to them.
(If it's someone you despise, YOU make the call on whether to forward it or not).
hehehe

XOXO
Anne

**************


Whole Foods Market Voluntarily Recalls 365 Organic Everyday Value Brand Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix for Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Libba Letton, Whole Foods Market
512-542-3031

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- March 5, 2008 – Whole Foods Market announced the recall of its 365 Everyday Value Brand Organic Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix, which may have potential salmonella contamination. No other Whole Foods Market, 365 or 365 Organic products are affected.

The product, sold in two pound bags with Best Before dates of Nov 1 2009 and Nov 2 2009 stamped on the top, displays the following UPC code:

* 99482-42453: 365 Everyday value Brand Organic Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix, 100% Whole Wheat

Salmonella is a food-borne illness that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this issue to date. There is very low risk of illness when preparation directions on the bag are followed and the product is not consumed raw or undercooked. Salmonella bacteria is killed at a temperature of 160° F.

If consumers have this product with the indicated UPC codes and Best Before dates, they may return it to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling 512-542-0656.

Whole Foods Market has removed the affected lot codes from all store shelves. Product was distributed to 19 states including Florida, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah, California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Prattville Snow (Finally)!

Yeah. That's my head today...

,
,
Good Morning Everyone!
I have "lost" a few hours, on and off during the past 48. My head is still bad, but still better than yesterday and the day before. So it is improving. Not sure if yesterdays shot "worked" but I imagine if I hadn't gotten it as soon as we got back, I would be worse.
Even in the hotel room I slept good. Hopefully I can "lose" a few more hours today.

Casey has blogged about her appointment with Dr. Sutherland.
Please CLICK HERE if you missed it.

So on to my blog title!
And this note from William a few days ago; "Whenever I send pics to you can post them."
Thank you William!

I have been SO excited since getting these pictures from Alabama!
As I am sure that Lawrence was also- To be able wake to "SNOW"!
How very cool!
In Williams note to me, he said that "Snow, in the heart of Dixie happens once every 9 or ten years."
(Lawrence was born in 2000, so that's pretty darned accurate)!

.
.

Their home, "picture perfect" as they woke!

"We woke up yesterday morning about 7:20 and it was white.
The news said it would be light snow flurries.
It lasted to about 11:00 or so and stopped.
By about 2:30 to 3:30 it had mostly melted.
This morning all of it was gone."
(From William 3-2-09).

.
.



Lawrence with a HUGE Snowball!
.
.


Smaller snowball!
(Throw it at the cameraman, Lawrence)!  

.

.

.

William in the snow!

You just can't have snow without footprints in it!

.
.

... Or angels either!
Snow Angel in Progress!
.
.

In the backyard!
.
.

A look of magic!
(And what a beautiful and perfect picture)!
.
.

Shin deep?
hehehe
.
.
.


.
.

Nikkie, new for them for Christmas!
.
.
.

Punk just wants to go visit Alabama!
(Me too, Punk, me too)
.
.

But she had to come home with us!
(I was hiding in the back seat-
Much darker back there with the darkened windows).
Casey drove after my shot.
.
.
.
.

Here is Mama Lori with Lawrence.
"The Cub Scouts had a blue and gold dinner,
it is where they give out awards and such."

.
.
So I ask, isn't he gorgeous?!
Never mind, you don't have to answer. See, I already know!

Love to all.

XOXO
Anne

free hit counters

Posted on 360, Friday March 6, 2009 - 11:57am (CST)

Home. Safe and Sound

Hi All;
We are home. After the longest, most painful ,and nauseating drive I have ever been a part of.
I was treated for my migraine at the clinic as soon as we hit town. Am going to go lie down for now.
More then, after I wake...

Good Night.
Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Mad as Heck...

Good Morning All;
We are in Minnesota, an uneventful trip thank God.
Am having an awful time with the internet in this room, and it is slower than my dial up at home! I can't get to my Flickr any more, so I still cannot share the pictures I have of our Little Lawrence in the snow in Alabama.
What a bunch of hoo~ha that site has become...

I did bring Punk to the vet yesterday morning before we'd left town.  Doc Spires says she does NOT have an ear infection; and after checking the cytology of the moisture in her ears, he told me she has plain old allergies. She is now on antihistamines. ("Sleep, Punkie, sleep")... And some ear drops to make the itchy feeling go away. 
She has some antibiotics to take also, for an infected right anal gland. (How the heck THAT happens is beyond me)?!?? Since antibiotics are the root of all evil, (and poo), I will wait until we get home to begin giving her those. I really don't think that a nice hotel room is the best place to find out if she gets diarrhea from them, do you?!

So no pics today- And I would call the admin on this, but since Casey is sleeping so good I am not going to be talking, and wake her.

I did at least manage to get my own Leek Soup recipe posted for anyone who would like to try it. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Casey's appointment with Dr. Sutherland is at 9:30... Must get in the shower shortly.

Have a "wunnaful" Wednesday!

Love to all

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

Anna's WHITE LEEK SOUP ~In about 45 minutes!

Description:






Ingredients:
See below...

Directions:
~

Get some leeks.
(About 4 or 5 medium size).

Get your soup pot. (A big one).

Use about 2+/- quarts water.
Ham, or ham bone (I use turkey ham). About 3 cups worth
Chop up a couple of sticks of celery. (Or "choop" them if you prefer). hehehe
1 medium onion
Chop whites of leeks. (I quarter them and then chop to 1/2").
Throw in 1/2 dozen cut up (soup size chunky) pootatoes.
2-3 carrots. (I shred mine on the old knucklebuster).
Couple tsps of chicken bouillon.
No salt- I throw in some Mrs. Dash garlic blend.
1 tsp or so of coarse pepper. (I use McCormicks "Seasoned Pepper Blend" on everything).

After everything is yummy, shut heat off.

Then add either:
a.) packets of nonfat dry milk,
or
b.) non dairy coffee creamer
to taste.

Add couple TBS of real butter.
Sprinkle with parsley...

Serve with some cheesy toast or croutons.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

************

And there you have it!

XOXO
Me

PS
I use either real smoked ham or turkey ham.
(Some of us prefer the turkey ham because 'real' pork can set off a migraine).

Creep Out! Is it real?

Rating:	★
Category:	Other

Hi All;
I am afraid to rate this...
Since I am the last person on planet Earth that has dial up, I am not going "in search of" more pics that would validate or disprove this.

Picture sent to me via email. Senders comments are these...
"Its supposedly a pig, and supposedly real. If it were mine I would kill it and burn it. No way am I eating this bacon."


~

~

So what do YOU think???

Are you hungry?
Can it possibly be real?
****Does it have a pancreas? ;-|

XOXO
Me

One Lion. Two Simpletons.

.

Casey at the hospital yesterday...

.
.
Good Morning Everyone;
March came in like a lion for me.

As many of you (on Multiply) already know, Casey spent yesterday at the hospital.

She had called about midnight on Saturday night- Definitely not feeling too well. I had some of her meds out here, but she said she wanted to try to rest a bit.
(Didn't happen for either of us).
She drove out here- restless, in pain, a bit bruised and swollen.
(Her tummy, at the bottom of her incision under her navel).

After calling the clinic here, and then touching base with her own transplant team in Minnesota, we were told to go to the local hospital. They were quite concerned with the bruising.

Long story short, we are still not too sure what is going on... She is OK. Some of her lab tests revealed higher readings, but still within the normal range (for normal people anyway).
The ER doc wants her to be seen back in Minnesota ASAP.
(He said "this week"- and absolutely not to wait till her followup on April 1st). 

Casey has a call in to MN. They will be calling to schedule that visit.

I do get a kick out of these doctors~ They ALL want to hear about her surgery. Even the nurses came in while we related it all.
Not to mention what the CAT Scan radiologist must have thought when he saw (or better, DIDN'T see) as he 'read' her results back to the doctor.  

The fact is that no one around these parts really knows too much about her transplant, so I suppose it should be no huge surprise to be referred back there.

Everyone at the hospital has been so nice too.

Well almost everyone...

As many of you know I do not have much patience with idiotic (read "stupid") people.  

Never had it, never will.

Suffice to say that I might have been asked by the triage nurse who shall remain anonymous if I wanted to her to call security.
And I might have told her to do just that.
Bring it, Baby!

Long(er) story short, nurse "Kris" did get removed from triage almost immediately and relegated to doing computer work in a cubicle in the ER. hehehe

• Mess with me? Fine.
• Mess with my kids and I promise that you do not stand a chance.

After we got back here, Greg drove out for a bit, bringing along the rest of her meds so she could stay here overnight. Her car is here, and she cannot drive after being treated twice again with the dilaudid.
I napped soon as he left- He had to come out a second time to bring additional meds, but I slept right through that visit.
(Thank God for Greg)!

Casey came downstairs once last night; about 10:30-
I was making a pot of Leek Soup.
.

And it WILL cure whatever ails you.

.
.
I'd set the whole pot out to the garage to cool off last night, and then promptly went back to sleep.
As I slept, the temps dropped to about 6 below zero.
Almost needless to say, the soup is in the oven, thawing. hehehe

I received a very cool email (2 of them in fact) from William yesterday.

Rumor has it that they got snow in Prattville, Alabama!
.
.

.
?

Prattville is near Montgomery...

This snow is a once in a decade delivery for them.
I am tickled pink for Little Lawrence!
He sent pictures.
Those emails are the best ever!!!
Thank you William!!!!

.
.
I'd better close-

Have dishes to do from that middle of the night cooking I did.
But before I do, I need to ask...

What is the best response to a stranger, in all seriousness, calling you 'stupid'- with the nerve to say "my IQ is obviously higher than yours"? (No Beep, I am not talking about JT). hehehe

Mama always told me that there were idiots in the big bad world. I do believe I have encountered two of them. One in triage, one in blogland.

Have a stupid Monday.

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

Posted to my Y! 360, Monday March 2, 2009 - 09:29am (CST)

Casey Sick

Good Morning All;
We will be heading to the hospital shortly-
Casey's incision is bruised again, swollen.
She has a mild grade fever.
She is pale and neither of us have gotten any sleep.
After contacting Dr. Sutherland's resident, we are to go to the hospital.

Without being able to diagnose over the phone, this is quite reminiscent of THIS BLOG for both of us. But her bruising is not that dark, nor is her swelling that large. (Click for that entry).

Prayers please; and happy thoughts always welcome.

 

XOXO
Me

'Simply Potatoes' Products Voluntarily Recalled. *Includes Diners Choice and Farm Fresh

http://wcco.com/business/simply.potatoes.recall.2.940047.html
Feb 20, 2009 5:44 pm US/Central
'Simply Potatoes' Products Voluntarily Recalled
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) issued a consumer advisory Friday for certain refrigerated potato products after testing conducted by the MDA laboratory discovered a sample of Simply Potatoes Southwest Style Hash Browns contained Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

The affected products include the following items with "use by" dates of March 29, 2009 to April 3, 2009.

Recalled products and their UPC Codes are listed below:

* Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns – 20 oz. bag -- 20169-22233

* Simply Potatoes Southwest Style Hash Browns – 20 oz. bag -- 20169-22236

* Simply Potatoes Homestyle Slices – 20 oz. bag -- 20169-22237

* Simply Potatoes Red Potato Wedges – 20 oz. bag -- 20169-22238

* Diners Choice Shredded Hash Browns – 2 lb. bag -- 20169-22223

* Farm Fresh Shredded Hash Browns – 16 oz. bag -- 20169-22533

Consumers may return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund or replacement. Consumer inquiries for Northern Star Co. can be directed to their consumer hotline at 1-800-228-8105.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can cause fatal infections in high-risk groups such as infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Northern Star Co. potato products are considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a "not ready to eat" product, meaning that consumers must cook them properly to ensure they are safe to eat. Proper cooking of these products to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills Listeria bacteria. However, MDA believes that with similar "not ready to eat" products, consumers sometimes overlook the cooking instructions and simply heat such products in the microwave.

Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the product should contact their health care provider and the Minnesota Foodborne Illness Hotline toll free number at 1-877-366-3455.

***********************

Not sure WHY this is not listed at the FDA site.
Casey called this morning to tell me.
I had taken her shopping last week and I bought some for us both...

Grrrrrrrrrrr.............

XOXO
Me

Souffle on Steroids? Cooking With Clara Cannucciari

http://www.greatdepressioncooking.com/Depression_Cooking/About.html

(Note: You Tube link at bottom too)...

What a woman!
Check her out and $ave money cooking!

**********************

Great Depression Cooking with Clara
Clara hopes that none of us ever have to experience what she did during the depression.

Over the years Clara has imparted her Great Depression experiences to her grandchildren as she cooked meals from the era. The meals were simple and delicious, the stories were a mixture of misfortune and comedy, and in the end Clara kept us both entertained and stuffed to the gills.

The magic of Clara is that she can turn lemons into lemonade and potatoes into just about everything else. She had a childhood that most of us can’t imagine, but she was able to make the best of it and turn those trials into lessons we can all learn from.

**********************

Childhood

1. -Born August 18, 1915 Chicago, Il
2. -First generation America
3. -Daughter of Joe and Josephine Bonfanti (from Sicily)
4. -1 brother, Sam
5. -Attended Maywood High School (Chicago)
6. -Quit after Sophomore year to work in a factory

**********************

Depression Era

1. -Worked for Hostess filling Twinkies (@1935)
2. -Secretarial work for Richardson Factory

**********************

Post WWII

1. -Married Dino Cannucciari (opera singer) in Rome, Italy 1948
2. -Had 1 son, Carl, 1950
3. -Has 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren
4. -Currently lives in New York State’s Finger Lake region.

**********************

Contact Clara: DepressionCooking@gmail.com

**********************

The world is full of cooking experts, but there's only one Clara Cannucciari. The 93-year-old chef has become a Web sensation thanks to her Web series, "Depression Cooking With Clara."

Ms. Cannucciari was recently profiled on "Good Morning America," and searches on the suddenly famous foodie rose like soufflé on steroids. Folks want to know more about her, as well as where they can see the chef strut her stuff. Lookups on "clara cannucciari videos" are through the roof, and related queries on "clara cannucciari biography" are also on the rise.

According to the interview with "GMA," Ms. Cannucciari learned her style of cooking from her mother during the Great Depression. Her mother was an expert at making tasty and healthy meals for not much money, and that's the kind of knowledge Ms. Cannucciari imparts to her audience. These days, such tips especially come in handy. For those looking to stretch their budget she recommends pasta, and lots of it.

The cooking sensation is currently working on a DVD that compiles all her videos with some help from her grandson. In the meantime, you can check out her delightful recipe for pasta and peas. As Clara puts it, "It's a very simple dish, but it's very tasty and good for you."
Bon appétit!

From here: http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92321/?fp=1

**********************

You Tube DepressionCooking

Subscribers: 3,575
Channel Views: 96,854

93 year old cook and great grandmother, Clara, recounts her childhood during the Great Depression as she prepares meals from the era. Learn how to make simple yet delicious dishes while listening to stories from the Great Depression.

http://www.youtube.com/user/DepressionCooking

**********************

God Love You Miss Clara!

XOXO
Anne

Wham Bam, Thank You, Ma'am...

.
.

.
.
Good Morning All;
So Yah~FREAKIN'~Hoo just ate my entire damned blog...
I start over, knowing full well that it won't be "morning" anymore by the time I finish. (I am NOT amused)!  Maybe it is still "morning" somewhere.
Bear with me...

Snowstorm "Julia" is gone- But she sure came sweeping in, in a very fast and furious way. The sun shines so brightly this morning, making it hard to believe that this all happened within an 18 hour time frame...

I had to go to the Suamico post office yesterday to mail a package. Snowstorm "Julia" was predicted to arrive around 5PM.
We left at 3.

My yard as we pulled out of the garage.
Skies were threatening, and we knew she was coming.

Incidentally, I did rescue Punks orange toy before the storm.

Getting to Suamico takes all of about 5 minutes as long as the train isn't going through.
Ditto for the amount of time I was inside at the Post Office. (No train there either). hehehe

Still when I came OUT of the post office, my car was already lightly iced and topped with snow.

.
.

Where did THAT come from???

Even Punk is looking like "What the hey?"
And you can't even see tire tracks!
Julia was nasty~fast...

.
.


It might have taken us a bit longer to get home...

If there is ice/snow on your car, there is ice/snow on the road too.
My kids remember me telling them that over and over again.
.
.
.

As I mentioned in my comments last night, I knew my apprehensive feelings would pass as I slept. They have.
(Having gotten significantly better when I knew that both Greg and Kelli made it back to their respective homes safely last night). Greg was the holdout there; taking over an hour to return home after "quittin' time"-
To add insult to injury he wound up mired in the snow in his own parking lot!
hehehe

Glad I didn't have to go anywhere.
Happier still that I don't have to go anywhere today either because God knows it'd be tough to even get out of my yard!

Oh yes, that is a shot of my driveway last night.
Somewhere!
(I love the night vision setting on my camera). ;-)



.
.
.

My yard last night...
Taken from my bedroom window
.


.
.


Of course Punk wanted to check it all out for herself.
(Claimed she had to go potty)!
hehehe


.
.


While I do like the "decoration" on the window,
I had to first wrap my mind around the handle of that door...
.
.

.

That is just WRONG!
Yes, the door had been closed, (and it is also magnetized).

I had to forcibly push the door open.
.
.
.
.


.
.
.
.


.
.


Even the "dipstee~dumpster" looked nicer with a topper!
.
.
.

The back yard too!

And from almost the same angle this morning...
.
.
.

Major points for "pretty"
(If you are into that sort of thing)...
.
.
.
.

The shadows from the birches and the pussy willows are pretty too!
(Again, if you are into that sort of thing).

hehehe
.
.
.


My yard at sunrise...
.
.
?


And looking toward the West

I would have had this posted much sooner, but having lost it was one thing-

Having the plow truck come was another.
Jim is still in Tennessee, so I didn't know if I would get plowed out or not (he comes home tomorrow).

Sam's dad had picked up Jim's truck and come to plow me out! (Neighbors, and friends like this mean the world to me).

Of course I went out there and shovel away from the house and the garages too. I'm no fool. When there is horsepower in the yard to pull the snow away and out, I will take advantage of that anytime!

Time for me to fly!

Note: The following two statements do NOT apply to those of you that are south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Hope you are plowed out. And hope you are warm!

Love to all!

Have a "wunnaful" Friday!

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

Originally posted to my Y! 360, Friday February 27, 2009 - 12:12pm (CST)