STUFF....

Watching: Land Girls
Netflix has it for free, if you are a Netflix member.

Thanks for the tip Mavis Butterfield @ One Hundred Dollars a Month
http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/

 

 

Tomorrow I am going to hang out at Starbucks with Dar McIver Kaso and Wendy Ross Inman for some chit chat and coffee, since Dar is in town for the weekend, then shop at a few Thrift Stores.

I NEED see what Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmer's Market has available. I need some fresh herbs (mine bolted from the sun), Fresh Blueberries, and Green Beans, Eggs, anything else. So, I think I'll do that first at 9am and get back home before Dar and Wendy come to get me.

Cleaning out both fridges and freezers afterward with James. Carson is supposed to sweep the floors (for money), since she is saving up for a computer. I have tons of chores she can do for money now...wahoo!

The McKees and My Folks got a jar today. Brother Dan gets one Sunday.

 

Having some Crystal Light Peach Mango Tea.

Take a few sips here and there, save rest for iced coffee later.

...for decorating my Sugar Scrub Jars!

 

I only could eat half of mine...but it was yummy!

-----------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

Post Op appointment...

Dr. Fontana is tickled by my success so far. He said I lost 14 lbs since HE has had me as a patient on my liquid diet and realized how much I lost before even seeing him. (36 total). He said in 6 months I should be at 1/2 my Goal Weight and in 10-12 months...GOAL!!!

He said I can start driving again, exercise 15 mins a day for a week, then bump it up each week until I am at 45 minutes. I am now o...n Stage 3: soft foods and start protein drinks for breakfast other 2 meals protein is to come from food. Eat tiny bites, slowly. Start on white fish. Chicken can start next week. Increase H2O! Back on vitamins too and Gall Bladder meds.

Oh, and allergies seem so much better! Yay me! I go back in 3 weeks.

Happy and feeling Fabulous!

pin cushion jam jars...

Making pin cushion jars.
Need to add ribbon and heart shaped pins.

 

 

yarn tattoo update...

yarn tattoo's Price List on Handmade items I have for sale and will be putting into my
Etsy Shop (after good photos are taken and good descriptions are written):

 magnets
$1.00 each

 

page clips...
$3.00 each

 

pretty rings
$4.00 each

 

Crocheted Dishcloths
$4.00

Knit Dishcloths
$5.00

Crochet Owl Ornaments
$5.00 each

hair clips
$5.00 each

key fobs
$5.00 each

hand scrubs (Satin Hands)
$5.00 each

cup cozies
$5.00 each

sewing jars (Pin Cushion small mason jar)
$5.00 each

brooches
$5.00 each

 

‘gussied up’
cup cozies (flower doubles as brooch)
$10.00 each

 

 ~hand dyed~
yarn cakes
$20.00 each


 

Bread & Butter Refrigerator Pickles...

Using the funky pickles from our garden we made.....

Pioneering Today Bread & Butter Refrigerator Pickle Recipe
(Adapted from Ball Blue Book of Canning)

2 cups sliced trimmed pickling cucumbers

1/2 cup sliced onion
1/2 cup each sliced red and yellow bell peppers
2 cups white vinegar
2/3 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon mustard seed
1 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
2 whole cloves

Wash one quart size mason jar and lid. Wide mouth jars work best when stuffing them for pickles, but the regular mouth will work as well.

Rinse and scrub cucumbers. Cut off the blossom end of the cucumber (it contains enzymes which can soften pickles). Slice evenly, a mandolin works well for uniform shapes when pickling. Cut up all the rest of your vegetables.

Layer vegetables in the clean mason jar. Push down lightly to pack vegetables down and get a few more in. Pack vegetables into jar within a 1/2″ headspace of top of jar. (This just means 1/2″ from the top of the jar) Place jar on a towel folded in thirds.

In a stainless steel sauce pan, combine vinegar, sugar, and spices. Bring to a boil of medium high heat and boil for 3 minutes.

Using a canning funnel or a ladle, pour pickling liquid over vegetables. You may have a slight amount left over depending on how tightly you packed your jar. Apply lid. Allow to cool 30 minutes and then place in the refrigerator. Pickles should marinate for 2 weeks and use within 3 months. Confession: I taste tested mine after 2 days and have been munching away. The flavor will intensify over time.

Makes 1 quart jar. To make less or more, simply double or triple the recipe.

btw...WE made a huge crock and 3 Quart jars.

 

‘14 in 2014’ (new list)...

‘14 in 2014’

1. Learn to Sew (better)
2. Make Homemade Soap
3. Make Homemade Soy Candles
4. Make Homemade Whole Grain Breads
5. Make Homemade Vanilla
6. Make Homemade Cleaning Solutions
7. Dye Yarn to sell
8. Make Handmade Gifts to sell
9. Can and Freeze Fruits and Veggies for the year
10. Get My Etsy Shop up and running again
11. Reorganize Fridges for Healthy Eating
12. Cook & Bake from Scratch for Healthy Eating
13. Find new ways to Repurpose items
14. Put money into Savings account monthly!

July 12th-18th...

12th- Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes!I am relaxing in my Lazy Boy, sleeping mostly, taken a few small sips of water here and there. Pain meds help, but also make me sleepy.

13th- out like a light all day!

14th- Still working on recouping. Still on pain meds. Happy and blessed to have a husband who is a wonderful 'attendant' and not complaining. Friday is my post op appointment. Thank you for all these birthday wishes and recovery wishes.

15th- Feeling a tad better. Sponge bath helped, but I'm back in pjs. Stomach is super tender. Need more water today, because dehydration comes on fast! Not liking Pepcid since I have to take it crushed!!! Tired of liquids. HUNGRY!

16th-Walked upstairs by myself this morning...progress! Feeling better each day. Missing my weekly activities: gardening, canning, Farmers Market Auctions, Knitting w/ friends, crafting, Thrift Store shopping, Summer Activities w/ the minions....

17th- Making my grocery list for Stage 3 that starts tomorrow once I see my Doctor for my post op visit. Funny how my taste buds have changed. Soooo looking forward to being able to try some more normal foods again. I know I have to take it slow though, gosh- even a larger swallow of water can hurt.

18th- Lost another 5 pounds as of Monday. Will find out tomorrow how much more since then.

Surgery Day- July 10th....

 

Almost ready. Waiting for Anesthesia.

 

Looking very Loopy AFTER Surgery...woah!

 

Hey, Lala...it worked!!!!!

 

The entire surgery was easy peasy.
The Hospital Staff,
My Surgeon,
the Anesthesiologist,
the Nurses
...everyone rocked!

But I don't remember when I was on pain meds,
So very sorry Zoe and Pop and Megan, Ro and John!!!

July 9th, Getting ready for surgery...

Tomorrow is Surgery Day...

Chillin'. Drinking Coffee. Surfing Pinterest.

Tomorrow I go in to the hospital for Bariatric Surgery.

Coffee Cozies in the making...

 

 

If I don't get into the CRAFTED Festival to sell these,
then they will go on my Etsy site.
I should find out around July 20th if I made it in or not.

 

Ed Sheeran....

Listening to my newly purchased Ed Sheeran CD

and drinking coffee.

 

 

 

Knitting Projects....

started the liquid diet July 3rd...

So far I have lost approx. 25 lbs. on my own and should lose some more this week, since I'm on the pre-op liquid diet.
(20-30 grams protein, but spread amongst 3 liquid meals).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

They gave me 4 stages of foods:

1st stage- all done in the hospital, basically liquids only after they test everything out for leaks, etc...
(no real protein).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

2nd stage-Liquids, Dairy, adding Protein Powders, Cream of Wheat, grits, unsweetened oatmeal. No fruits or veggies. Do this until 1st week post op visit.
(60 plus grams protein daily).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

3rd stage-Adding eggs, fish, poultry, lean deli meats, non-fat refried beans, vegetarian soy products, black bean burgers, low fat cheeses, peanut butter, hummus, etc..Introducing No sugar added fruits. Can have unsweetened applesauce, small banana, and Non-Starch, Non-Stringy Soft cooked veggies. Do this for 3 weeks.
(60 plus grams protein daily).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

4th stage- same as stage 3, and Adding whole grains, whole wheat pasta, fruits and veggies (after 2 months into stage 4), and then follow through with healthy small portions rest of my life.
(60 plus grams protein daily).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

July 2nd, Carson's 13th Birthday...

I took Carson to Starbucks for her annual Birthday request and in the evening we all went out for sushi at Domo. We also took her shopping for some clothes, makeup and a swim suit.

I can't believe she is now a TEENAGER!!!!

 

still crafting...

Added some magnets I made for the Crafted Festival for October....so far got hair clips, page clips, key fobs, brooches, magnets, and will add rings, satin hands, pin cushion cups, and crocheted owl ornaments.

 

 

Got the CALL!!!!!!....

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Surgery has been scheduled!

Tomorrow, July 1st-
I have another class and more labs
...
Wed., July 2nd-
I have DR. Fontana's PreSurgery physical

Thurs., July 3rd-
I go on my liquid diet & stop all vitamins

and.....
Thurs., July 10th- MY SURGERY!
(2 days before my birthday)!

I'll either be in the hospital or coming home from the hospital on my birthday and I don't care, because I am stoked I am finally having surgery!!!!!!

 

 

June 29th...

LOVE this photo sooooo much!!!!!!!

Felix the cat, Muttley the dog and hens Martha and Bernie
at home in Dunmanway, Co.Cork. Picture: Regina Forsythe.

What do you think they are looking at???

 

 

June 28th...

Champ had a 'hot spot' that needed meds,
so he has to wear the cone until it heals.

 

 

June 24th...

Jen is teaching us how to sew box bags. Fun times!

Jen is very patient and sweet!