March to Come in Like a Lion

Our weather report is usual for this time of year.  We are expecting March to come 'in like a lion' as seems common for Maine each year.
We have had some nice sunny weather lately, with temps days in the 30os to 40sF every day.  Some rain but not much for the month.  Some snow, but again, not much or usual for Feb.  Mostly sunny days.
Yet this week looks bleak.
Rain, rain, rain and possibly even snow for the next 4 days after our lovely sunshine day today.
I guess that means I will be staying indoors.  I hope I do not lose power but I am prepared with my battery lanterns, extra food and water, and even some snacks.  And books to read.
I have received a few Dana Stabenow novels recently and am imbibing.  I love a good mystery.  Now Dana is an Alaskan with roots that run deep.  She tells a good story, usually murder mysteries, and throws in lots of Alaskan knowledge for us to enjoy. Her protagonist is a female who lives and breathes Alaska, one Kate Shuglak.  Kate's companion thru all these travails is a half-wolf sidekick known as Mutt who does her share at keeping her human partner safe.  I am really enjoying these books.

I want to thank a quilting buddy, Holly, for sending me 3 of these.  Thanks, Holly.

I am also enjoying my Britcoms and Brit Mysteries thanks to subscribing to Britcom and AcornTV which carries that line of enjoyment online.  My computer brings me many happy hours whether watching these programs, checking into my favorite homesteaders on YouTube, and playing Solitaire on my screen when needing a change.
I am still having medical issues but hope things change for the better sometime in March after seeing an expert who can put me on meds that work without making me light-headed every day whenever I walk.  With that to contend with, I am literally a homebody, ordering my groceries online since I cannot shop myself.  I manage to clean my house here and there every few days as long as I can sit and rest in between chores.  So life goes on as best as can be managed.  I know that I am in better shape than many who are far more ill so I keep staying positive and try to laugh a little every day.  As they say, and I believe it, 'laughter is the best medicine."  I always feel better after a good, belly-jiggling laugh.
Stay well my friends.  I will check in again soon.  Smile.

Just Checking In. A Little Snow is Falling.

I am watching the snow fall outside my window.  Its so pretty.  The snow on the trees across the river are still full and white.  Its in the high 30sF today so not so bad for a Feb. winter day here in southwestern Maine.

Nothing new to report.  I have lost a total of 18 lbs. since my ailment in early Dec. and I am trying to keep it off and even drop a lot more if I can.

My method is half meals.  Instead of 2 sandwiches, I make only one.  Instead of a full bowl of soup, I serve myself only half a bowl.  In the snack dept I just don't buy them as in the past.  A bit of chocolate now and then, my chips are the No-salt ones and since they are not very tasty (but they make a good accompaniment with a sandwich instead of fries) I don't eat too many.  Of those kind I can truly say "I can only eat just one."  I eat more salads which tend to fill my empty spaces more reliably.  You know, after being careful for a few weeks, it tends to get easier not to over-indulge.

My order of Farmer's Cheese from Andrulis in Michigan is expected today.  I have already planned my menu to include only the cheese and a simple cukes and tomato salad with very little dressing.  If anyone is interested, try
https://andrulischeese.com

I buy the plain cheese to which you can add whatever seasonings you prefer as you dine.

I wish you all a good day.
Hugs from the north country.

We Had Some Snow

Its been a while but we had some snow yesterday.  It looks so darn pretty out there today from my living room windows.

The view of the river outside my window.

The birdhouses surrounded by snow.

The view of the waterfall.  Its not rushing very hard today.

A view thru the trees.

A view of the reservoir with the flowing river on the mid-left as it meanders along.

A view of the bridge to the next town.

Its been a good day to check out homesteading videos on Utube this morning.  Tho I no longer garden and enjoy living in the country, I can get my kicks by watching other homesteaders in their endeavors.

I also ordered some Farmer's Cheese from Andrulis in Michigan.  They have the best hard block Farmer's Cheese I could find.  Reminds me of the old days (1940s and 50s) when my grandmother made hers and then dried it on the kitchen window sill a few hours every day.  Mmmm, it was darn good.  I don't have her knack for drying, but Andrulis's solid form cheese is terribly good.

Reminding me of favorites, I guess I will have to make some potato pancakes today served with a sour cream topping.  Another old favorite from long ago.  I had been putting it off since my carpal tunnel wrist had been acting up.  I was taken off all my vitamins and supplements when I had my heart scare in early Dec.  I have just now gone back to taking them, including Moringa which has been so good for my system keeping aches and pains at bay.  With my wrist now feeling almost normal again, I plan to enjoy grating those potatoes this afternoon.

I wish everyone a good day filled with love and good food and good wishes.  Hugs, S 

Sorry To Be Missing So Long

Due to health problems, I have not been posting.  I have been recuperating from a persistent health issue since early December.   I am on the mend.

I just wanted to post a few pictures.  I use utility carts for such things as taking out the trash and transporting groceries from our Parks and Rec Bus that takes us shopping once a week, to my 2nd floor apt in one trip.  They are so darn useful.  Some others in this building use them to take their laundry to the laundry room and back but I have a tall, roomy rolling hamper that I use instead.

 Here is my cart filled with trash for the dumpster today.  It holds a lot as you can see.  This is the larger model which is over 2 feet deep and probably nearly as much across.  I had a smaller one that was pretty useless in my situation which I gave to someone that appreciated it more than me.

As a comparison, my cart is on the left after taking out my trash and another neighbor has a smaller version which you see in the center.  The one on the right is the same model as mine but she has a black liner in hers.  They were waiting for their owners today in the entryway until their owners came back with their grocery shopping today.

We've been having some snow lately.  The last was 5 inches last week as you can see.  Much of it is still around.  No more snow in sight for this week, but rain this weekend.   Snow is to be expected in southern Maine for the rest of the winter.  We can't get out of it and the cold days as well.

This is a view toward the river.  Towards the right you can barely see the river and the falls are actually still frozen from the cold snap we had a few days ago.  Not a good view I'm afraid.

I hope everyone is taking care of themselves this snowy, cold winter.  Hugs. 

The Apple Cake Is Delicious

I tried a recipe for Apple Cake a quilter buddy gave me.  It was great.

APPLE CAKE

Ingredients:
2 C Diced Apples, small dice
1 C Sugar
1 Egg (lightly whisked)
Wisk the egg first then add the apples and sugar in a bowl.  Stir together,  Let rest 5 minutes.
Add:
1 C Flour and 1/2 teaspoon each of:
Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon, Nutmeg (optional).  Stir all together.
Add 1/2 C Chopped Nuts (I used Walnuts)
Use 8 by 8 pan and bake at 350 for 35-50 mins.

Mix Together the first 3 ingredients and let them sit for about 5 minutes.

Add the rest of the dry ingredients and stir together.

Add the nuts of your choice.  I used Walnuts.  Stir in your nuts evenly.

I covered my 8 by 8 pan with aluminum foil then sprayed with Pam.  Its easier to clean up and easier to remove the cake when its all done.

Press the mixture evenly into the pan.


 Sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar over the top, more or less as you desire.
  Bake at 350 degreesF for 35 to 50 minutes.

I baked mine for 45 minutes.  I checked with a toothpick and it came out clean.

I cut mine evenly into 16 pieces and placed them in an airtight container.  They were tasty right from the oven or you can top with ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy.

Fall is Fading Away

Our fall this year was not overly beautiful.  Lots of rain and wind blew lots of the colorful leaves away before they could really shine.

This is the last of our color this year.  Its one of the few red trees whose leaves survived the wind storm last week when we lost electic power for about 36 hours.  No fun that.

Still, the temps have been nice and mild for the most part.  Now we are into the 40s days and sometimes 40s but sometimes 30sF nites.  Winter is right around the corner.

Gifts from Italy This Week

My son went to Italy and brought his Mom a few gifts.  I am loving them and his thoughtfulness.

Here is the first cloth fan.  I adore fans and I love the color blue and who doesn't like peacocks.

This one is from Verona, where Romeo and Juliet are supposed to have lived.  Loving the scenes.

And no Italian-Lithuanian can come home to his mom without a bottle of lovely olive oil.

I already used the oil on some Italian Sandwiches I made for him when he visited me today.

He arrived at Logan Airport just before the high winds that took out our power at my house for 37 hours.  It was a costly loss since much of my food in the fridge had to be replaced today.  The meats were heavily packed in the freezer so they remained frozen so at least I did not have to replace those.

Some of the places my son visited were:

Chia Beach in Sardinia.

Lago Dibraise which is on the Austrian border and where most Italians speak German.

Another view of Lago LaBraise

Venice with its canals

Venice again.

Malsecine Lake in Garda

Her had a wonderful time but said before he reached Boston they hit a storm between Europe and the USA that kept them in their seats with turbulence for an extra hour and half of flying time because of stiff head winds.  Scary.  In the meantime the New England coast was preparing for a nasty wind storm along our eastern shoreline.

Thankfully everyone I know came thru it all just fine.