LOL, Dogwood (whom I keep having to remind myself is NOT Dagwood) as the next Morris! Jim, Dagwood was in the comics, wasn't he?
DH just got a new shift at work - and it's a split shift! Sometimes early, sometimes late. He's working more hours, and we can't tell The State, because they're likely to cancel my and my DD's health insurance, which would really stink! I mean extremely in the worst way imaginable, it would be awful.
More Disabled Gardeners, Laughing with Joy ...
Birdie, could you ask Dogwood his official position on catnip? We don't want to misrepresent his opinions. Is it like "Catnip is cool, man!" or should he be presented as the poster boy for a catnip free America. (Just say, "No".) We would consider Dogwood "an Amargian-at-large" like Nadine and Melinda. But, when he comes for a visit, he can be Prince. Fenny would have to stay in her pen. There is a sign on Catherine's house, "Cat's Rule....dog's drool. I know I didn't put it there.
I think Dagwood was the husband in the "Blondie" comic. My mother accused my brothers and I of making "Dagwood sandwiches" when we made our own. That's how I remember.
That sounds rough, Carrie. I know it would be a disaster for me if I had to pay out of pocket for my meds and such.
Dogwood says,"Allcatsdeservs a daily dose of catnip it is very cool . You can eat it and smell it and it makes you just want to roll around and get every part of your body rubbed real good. Next it makes you want to run, run , run, and play fun
stuff. mmm mmm good CATNIP Meow now =^.^=
Vonne, my DD has 4 cats and each reacts differently to catnip. One gets hyper, one gets mellow. One gets drunk as a skunk and staggers all over. One seems to have no effect.
Carrie, We're trying to get my oldest DD on medicaid for doctor and meds. No insurance there either. Her hospital bill was $22,000 and she needs much more follow up. We all need pres.Obama to step up an help us.
She'll be down here tomorrow. It'll be nice to have her here to keep a close eye on her.
Can't sleep tonight. Restless legs and chest pains are driving me up a wall.
We're not supposed to talk politics but I happen to agree, Vickie.
Vickie,
I hope you are feeling better today and that you can get some relief and rest soon.
Dogwood sounds like a really fun kitty!
Yes, Jim, THAT'S Dagwood, I (sort of) remember now. Thanks.
I forgot - I am terrified about this health insurance thing. The first time this came up was I think three years ago when I was filling out my re-enrollment form for medicaid - we have to do it every year - and I forgot, and told them I was married. They said well, he makes too much money. He has to either quit his job, or you have to get divorced! So he went to 20 hours a week and went back to school. But now, his job has eliminated the PT position and made him go FT! We'll have too much income. :( I don't know what will happen when They find out, and They are bound to find out eventually.
Carrie, I was wondering how the health care in Mass was working since yours seems to be the model most are comparing to what the countrys would be. Some say it's good some say it's terrible. What do you think? I think the new health care wont be perfect but i beleive it'll be better than what we got now.
Do you remember Blondie and Dagwood comic strip in newspapers? They had a little girl and a boy and a dog. Dagwoods bosses name was mr. Smithers.
Thanks sheri, I'm allbetter today.
It is cold today. Thermometer says 70 but i say 60. LOL DD will be at my house tomorrow. Guess i'd better make an effort to pick up the clutter. Wont be able to find a thing for a month. LOL
In MA it's not bad, if you know how to work the system, in a good way, usually. I just don't know what will happen ... with this new job change. When I was a single disabled mother they told me I would ALWAYS have medicaid, now getting married (10 years ago) makes that not true? I'll let you know!
Well have spent day with Nita. Course we had to bring up all the things we've goofed up on over the years and had a lot of laughs. No i wont repeat them. you have enoughh fun already. Goodness the things we thought of for her to get Dr appintments for. Her eyes,her ears,her teeth,and her stomach. It might be easier to simply clone her. smile. We are supposed to have beautiful weather this week. As soon as i get my oil changed i want to go up on Mt. Magazine the highest point in ARK.
Sounds pyretty, Vickie!
i put on my long underwear already for the winter,,,,
We put in a hard earth moving and concrete day, yesterday. So this is a shuffle and moan day. Also, a laugh at Jim day. I pieced together old computer components I had around to create a new system. TechnoGeek jokes are the order of the day.
Received a letter from the CT State Troopers. Mike has finally been found. Nadine has been so worried she has not been eating much.. Lost 40 lbs. Well, her Dad was always trying to get her to lose weight.
Cando, do you think potassium supplements would do anything to help with the leg problems. I know it helps with nighttime leg cramps.
Birdie, cool keyboard art. I have never seen that one. Will have to use it in the “Catnip & Catmint” post.
I know something needs to be done about our health care system but I have a World of Warcraft friend in Canada. Much of what she tells me about the national health care system there sounds bad so I am wary.
Send that cool weather this way. Upper 80's today.
Every system sounds bad but my DH got his cataract surgery done at Mass Eye & Ear for maybe $40 in co-pays. It's when the system encourages you to lie that I don't like it.
Hi all, since some of you have expressed a fondness for my Dogwood, I must tell ou what happened today. This morning he fell of of the top ledge of the scratch/climb pole. I think he was chasing that tail! then a while ago I realized that I had not seen him in hours and he was not napping in his usual spot. I became concerned and got out of my recliner and searched the entire house, calling him. Coming back in the TV room when I muted it I heard some faint scratching. the little squirt was shut up in the recliner. Not hurt and not scared, I think he was just trying to let me now he was there. I forget how he lies to lay in the sort of Kittie size hammock created behind the seat and base when I recline it. I guess when It closed he is just in a little cubby.
Very Interesting kitty for sure!!
Birdie, I know the scary feeling of a disapeared cat. Mine gets shut up in my pantry every now an then. Then suddenly i miss her and go check the pantry and there she is. My dogs are noisy critters and she is quiet as a shadow and slips in when i open the door.
Jim i'll see what i can find out about the potassium and leg problems. Our whole systems can't function without a perfect sodium-potassium balance. I like to call it our go go juice.LOL
I am thankful Mike is back where he belongs. I'm sure it was a bad feeling for her.
I never laugh at technogeeks. I'm too darn jealous and respectful at the sametime.
DD is here and we're having a good "Remember when" time. I was reminded of the time i made one of my famous experiment meals and everyone went behind my back and gave it to our hounds and they would'nt eat it either. Well Gee! Once out of many is'nt bad.
I've got problems with my radiator, so our trip is off. Trying to get an appointment to put it in garage tomorrow.
Link about potassium
http://www.online-vitamins-guide.com/minerals/potassium.htm
Better link
http://www.nim.nih.gov/medlneplus/druginfo/meds/a601099.html#why
This message was edited Sep 2, 2009 4:41 PM
This message was edited Sep 3, 2009 2:12 AM
I'm glad you found Mike.
I hope someday my daughters and I get to the "remember when" days... right now we're at the "I know what you did with the so-and-so, and it better be back by midnight tonight" days."
Carrie it will. We did'nt get close till they were in their 40,s and goodness the things i learned. Should have locked them up and threw away the keys till they were 35. One thing i did know. When they were about 25 they decided to go to Dallas to see some male strippers. I thought they aught to take me so i could say i'd seen male strippers and still feel safe. They were absolutely horrified. I learned that one does NOT take their mother to see such. I never did get to go. Probably did'nt miss much.
Goodnight all
Vickie
LOL! Years ago my mom and one of her friends invited ME to go with them to see the "Dancing Boys". Not something I would do now, but I have been reborn and am definitely not that crazy gal I used to be. The funny thing is that my Mom is really quite "proper". It sure surprised me, but I have to admit it was fun-then. A friend of mine went too.
this metamorphosis of life has been and continues to be an interesting trip!!
There's a place around here somewhere called the Golden Banana. Never even been tempted. I think female bodies are a lot more beautiful, aesthetically. On the other hand there is a REALLY funny older British movie about all these unemployed men who gang up and put on a strip show to raise money - hilarious, because they're just average guys, not sex gods or anything. I can't remember the name of it, though.
Once, on a long road trip, I overheard three elderly ladies talk among themselves about things they had done back in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. They thought I was asleep.
I learned things such as sweet, old Miss Helen, who kept the nursery at church, modeled herself after the bawdy actress, Mae West when she was young. Even going as far as to change the spelling of her middle name from May to Mae. And, that was only one of the interesting revelations. Never looked at those ladies quite the same way again. It was an eye opener.
Third times the charm. Put in a 3rd motherboard today and finally have a working computer of my very own again. Two, in fact, so I can’t complain. If my main system hadn’t gone belly-up, I would not have had the incentive to go through old junk and create a new system.
Birdie, thought we would expand our blog post to include cat thyme and silvervine. All the plants cats love. Did you know Dogwood could write? Such a talented cat! As his agent, we will show you what he wrote before publishing it.
My Dogwood? writes? hmmm....
But , yes he is a very interesting fellow...and growing up so quick.
I don't have need of an alarm clock anymore (if I still worked, and first shift at that. Each morning 5 - 5:30 he begins attacking the covers over my feet. the little whack goes nuts..l. I mean jumping and rolling and wraping his arms around my feet (those claws are sharp as pins too!) I have to put a pillow (king size) down there wrappped around my feet to get him to stop. He even tries to push up under the pillow andd get me (this the King sized). How many people do you know that sleep with their best down pillow wraped around their feet for protection?
Jim, can you remind me how to get to your blog? I know it's called "A different shade of green" but do you have to go to google blogspot - I forget how? And of course Dogwood writes, it seems only natural for a cat such as he.
I want directions to your blog too.
Vickie
He gave them one time, somewhere....
http://gardening-unlimited.blogspot.com
Such as it is. It has been sadly neglected since there are no Writers here anymore. We've had to get along with writers (little "w"). Folks here now want to actually garden, instead of writing about gardening. That is why we were so happy to receive Dogwood's submission. He is a young cat, however, so his work does need some polishing. Too many prepositional phrases our editor says. I'm sure you know what a pain editors can be, Carrie.
We are still having technical problems. Even the Tech Support I pay for Has given up. They have decided just to replace the whole thing.
Seems like I do nothing lately but attend birthday parties. Not that I'm complaining. I could handle ice cream and cake all 365, if allowed. Read somewhere Aug. and Sept.are the 2 most common birth months. The end results of all that "peace and good will toward men" around the holidays?
Jim, Thats what both DD,S tell me. Both birthdays are in August.
I injoyed your blog and found something i'd really like to trade next spring. A start of your pink oxalis. I can't find any here. I'll trade you an Armegedon iris for some. It should be called Ascension as it is a beautiful iris.
Our sourgum and dogwood trees are turning. Think i'll get my silk fall leaves out and decorate for fall.
Vickie
I think young Dogwood will be a fine Writer someday soon. Now, as for me, I haven't written anything since July!!! Written or written. Dogwood's post was great!
Cando, the oxalis has just started its fall blooming. Not as dramatic as in spring, but it still puts on quite a show. I’ll send you some whenever you like. Never heard of that particular iris. I’ll have to look it up, but I’ve never met an iris I did not like. So much bang for so little effort.
Birdie and I have concluded that Dogwood did not actually write the letter we just published in the blog. It was her older cat Sara writing under a pseudonym. The tone was too mature and refined to be Dogwood’s work, Sara was probably afraid she would get in trouble for using the computer so she set up the young upstart to take the fall. Very catty of her. It seems Dogwood and I now share the same fate. Mere figure heads for talented females. Oh well, it does have its perks.
LOL...Dogwood is selling pawtographs though!
I've just got to share some good news with you all. For the last 8 days I've been on a special diet; no gluten, no dairy, no corn, no soy, no white sugar (only agave syrup), no citrus, and no plants from the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes and peppers). Sounds gruesome, right? But really it's forced me to get more creative and really think about what I want to prepare for my meals. After all I still have most fruits, veggies and meat so I'm definitely not starving! In fact, I made gluten free vegan biscotti today and they were not lo-cal. LOL
Okay, I'm not trying to sell anything here...just sharing my experience which is my pain has been drastically reduced. I mean, I haven't felt this good in four years! Seriously. I have a friend who has fibro, too and she ate like this. For the last few years I just wasn't willing to try it...a woman has to have some comforts, right? Well, the prospect of another god awful fall and winter plus a series of really bad migraines (are there any other kind?) put me in a willing mood.
I'm actually very surprised. My pain is probably cut by half and my thinking is more clear. I mean I still have fibro...and I don't know why eating like this should make such a difference but it does. I'm kinda blown away by it. I've been blogging about it all week on my blog http://fibrofood.wordpress.com
I'm not selling nothing...not trying to hype anything up. Just found something that seems to be helping a LOT and wanted to share it.
Here's to a winter of functionality :)
Jacki
Oh jacki, Such great news. Of course you had to share. If leaving off a few simple veggies and foods can help pain. It for sure is'nt going to hurt anyone unless they're allergic to one food.
A question. What is hummus and tahina and agava syrup?
I read your blog. It was fun.
I'll have to think long and hard about this diet. But hey i can have coffee.
DD went home today and i'll miss her but it is still good to have things back to normal. I can only pray she'll take her meds and take care of herself.
Jim, i'd rather plant in spring so it wont have a cold winter to last thru before settling in. Armgeddon is a german iris that is large and lacy with the most wondeful pinkish coral and wine blend. I got it from Schriners in Oregon.
Hey Vickie,
Hummus is a dip/spread made from mashed garbanzo beans, garlic, lemon juice and various spices. You can tweak it the way you like. It's great with veggies, crackers, whatever. Pretty satisfying....IF you like garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas). I've always liked it but the home made stuff I had yesterday was a light year above the store bought! Big plus: you can use canned garbanzos and it's super easy to make if you have a blender or a food processor. Quick lunch!
Tahini is kinda like peanut butter but made from sesame seeds. It's a little more "flow-y", you can pour it from the jar. It's good protein so I can add it to lots of things to improve the nutrition and the creaminess.
Agave syrup is a lot like honey only made from the agave plant. It's pretty high in calories but super sweet so I only have to use the smallest dab in my tea. Since honey keeps going up in price, it's a great alternative. I can also use it in baking. It has a low glycemic value which means you don't get a big huge spike in your blood sugar followed by a big crash. Supposedly.
The other thing about this diet is that you only have to eat the very restricted menu for the first 5 to 10 days. Then you can start bringing things back one at a time so you can find just what foods set you (or your disease) off. Some call it the elimination diet or the challenge diet or the allergy diet.
Hope this helps explain things better. I've got links on my blog (along the right hand side column) to websites talking about the connection of food to fibro if you want to learn more.
Great blog, Jacki! So glad you've found something that is helping you. I am inspired by your willpower where it comes to food. My step-daughter, Melinda, is a vegan. She jokes that I considered catsup a vegetable before she became a part of my everyday life. That isn’t too far from the truth.
Weight has become an issue for me since I can’t be as active as I once was. I need to find a diet I can stick with. I’ve never seen an overweight vegetarian. I really tried to eat like Melinda and Kay at first, but I just couldn’t do it.
Had to laugh at the coincidence. Kay is actually Melissa "Kay" and is very hard-of-hearing. She has a sister named Jacki.
Cando, you are right. I read up on fairy bells (oxalis). The article said spring was best. When does spring arrive there?
Carrie, I do think writer’s block is a reality. Sometimes the writer’s muse just seems to go on vacation. Or, maybe, she just can’t be heard over the noise of everyday life.
Keep an eye on his ego, Birdie. Or, there will be Dogwood DeCat posters and a Dogwood calendar and…….
I love trying new foods. hummas,tahini, and agava syrup are next on my list. Will look up a receipe on cooks.com
Our last frost date is in April.
MY Kitty is proving to me that a cats ego is unlimitted in how high it is naturally. So you simply can't inflate it anymore.LOL
Can't comment on writers block except to say mine is permanent.
I'm making plans to go to Ft. Smith (our biggest small city) the 30th. Michaels here i come. I found some good looking aloe vera plants at Walmarts yesterday for $3.00 a pot with several plants in each pot. Bought 2. I grow it for a few years, get tired of it and give it away. Than want some more.
Had an eye exam while in town. cataraks borderline for surgery. Decided to wait another 6 months for surgery with dr,s blessing. DD,S were not happy but i trust my dr. to tell me if i neeed it done now.
Jacki, your elimination diet sounds like a nuisance but maybe a wonderful kind! perhaps you have celiac disease? People with that condition often feel much better when they successfully eliminate gluten. Gluten has been so integrated into ALL processed foods; it's quite difficult to avoid. But hurrah for feeling better!
Jim, I feel like the writer's block is starting to abate.... I have a few ideas. If I have a good idea, I'm good to go.
Thanks, Susan. Welcome back. If we let Kay off her literary leash, she would write a book on fragrance gardening the size of “War and Peace.” A few days ago, I bought her some night blooming Jessamine and an heirloom rose variety she didn’t have. Been getting the royal treatment since. She actually cooked me breakfast this morening. For my DW that is something. Usually, she will take over the cooking duties around Halloween and do most of it until Mardi Gras. Can’t get her out of the garden long enough to cook the remainder of the year.
Had to eat my words though, before I could eat the pancakes. We were talking about the gluten free diet Jacki described. I said we would have to give up pancake breakfast. So, of course, she had to prove me wrong. We had gluten free oatmeal pancakes. They were actually GOOD.
Glad to hear that, Carrie. I imagine there is a lot more pressure when you are a Writer (capital W). Think I will stay in the hobbyist, little league.
Cando, check out the ladies Virgin Island Christmas tree. Painted tires and aloe vera plants. I think it was just a sneaky way they developed to give away all the extra aloes. Jim
Jim, There is no way that is tires. I love it. I am going to try and make one
for my house plants. My family is not too sure of my sanity. They may make up their minds when i start asking for old odd size tires. Of course i'll have to ask my SIL to bring in my spare tire to try it out for size by my window.
Oh BTW potassium is important in nerve and muscle function So it might help.
Am about ready to start that thread on meds. Been studying up and looking for sources. Sure would like plenty of feed back.
Every one have a good night and a bright day tomorrow.
Vickie
Kay, wish I could send you some of my sweet fragrance through the computer tonight. My Cestrum nocturnum is in full bloom and is just heavenly right now. :-)
Jim, you better watch out ... she might stop cooking all together. LOL So what's up with the tires?
Vickie, I hope you get your diet worked out. Do you like to use your crock pot when cooking? I saw a web site the other day where the lady cooks in her crock pot, and she does her meals gluten free because her little girl can't have it. Maybe you would like some of the recipes if you could eat them ... I love to make my own hummus. It's wonderful. In fact, I have the stuff on hand now. :-)
Okay, it's late, and I need to get up for Church tomorrow so will just ~wave to everyone tonight. Y'all have a blessed one.
~Susan
Hey those pancakes sound good! I'm in the mood for something like that today...yesterday I bought some egg replacer so I can do more baking experiments.
Also, yesterday was the first day I went somewhere else for dinner. It was only to my mom's but there was spaghetti and corn on the cob and baked potatoes. All on my 'no" list for the moment. I brought a salad made out of quinoa (a tiny little grain), my hummus and some crackers that I baked from nut meal. Guess what everyone ate? LOL They loved them. I ate fruit and sweet potatoes along with my own food and stuffed myself!
My muscles are stiff this morning but I think it's from being so active yesterday. It's not the bad ache-to-the-bone I normally have from FM and I think my morning stretches will probably work them out.
On a gardening note (ha ha) my aunt is here from Pennsylvania and she brought her home grown garlic. She gave me two heads so I can plant her garlic in my own yard. Cool, huh?
Jacki