Monday, a new day…

The last few days have been tough.  The new med I started Friday has given me some bad side effects and I need to call my doctor’s office at 8:30.  I can’t recall feeling so bad for quite awhile.  Naturally these things happen at the start of a weekend.  I am holding on with a thread nerve wise too.  I am so thankful to have my Christmas shopping done. I have an appt with a different doctor for something else on the 15th.   At this present time I am overwhelmed and finding it difficult to cope.

The fruit cakes turned out nicely.  You can see that it makes a lot of cake.

If you do decide to make this recipe, take note that I use small/ medium size pans and if you use a larger pan you should count on at least 2 hours baking time.  (Check for doneness with a toothpick in center)  If you want less cakes, just cut the recipe in  half.

It is pretty nippy this morning, checking in at 34 degrees.  It was drizzly all day yesterday and the sun never did come out.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.  Don’t eat too much candy.  Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

Fruitcake anyone?

This morning before all of my meds kicked in I decided to put my fruitcake together.  It is in the oven now, meds have kicked in and I am worn out.

My Own Fruitcake recipe

Through the years I have devised a recipe that works the best for me. Don’t even read the recipe if you don’t like fruitcake. 

•3 cups flour

•2 teaspoons baking powder

•1 teaspoon salt

•1lb of candied red cherries (cut in half) add more if you want

•1 lb of candied green cherries (cut in half) add more if you want

•1lb of candied pineapple(cut in chunks) add more if you want

•1 box of golden raisins

•1 cup of walnuts broken

•1 cup of pecans broken

•1 cup margarine or butter (softened)

•1 cup white sugar

•1 cup brown sugar

•4 eggs

•1/2 cup applesauce

•1 small jar orange marmalade

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Spray 3 or 4 medium size loaf pans with cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with wax paper, then spray again.

Stir together the flour. baking powder and the salt and set aside.

Cream the butter, sugars, eggs and applesauce together. Add the flour mixture, then fold in the fruit and nuts. Make sure you are using a very large bowl. Pour into prepared pans. Decorate the tops with extra cherries, pineapples and nuts. Bake for approximately 2 hours. Check for doneness after 1 and 1/2 hours depending on the size of pan you are using.

Cool, put in a tin container and soak with golden rum and do this every week until time to eat it. Keeps months in the fridge and is just as good frozen.

I will post more tomorrow.  I don't know why the first paragraph came out all caps. 

Beth

Walk-Off Home run

“In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead (and consequently, the win) in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning. It is called a "walk-off" home run because both teams walk off the field immediately afterward, rather than finishing the inning.”   ~Wikpedia'~

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/sports&id=8408986 

"ST. LOUIS -- Twice down to their last strike, the St. Louis Cardinals kept rallying to win one of baseball's greatest thrillers.

David Freese completed a startling night of comebacks with a home run leading off the bottom of the 11th inning to beat Texas 10-9 on Thursday night, and suddenly fans all over got something they have waited forever to see: Game 7 in the World Series.”  ~Associated Press~

Whatever happens in tonight’s game, I am proud of my Cardinals, proud of being born in the great state of Missouri and proud to be a baseball fan.  Don’tcha love it?  Kudos to the Rangers too, may the luckiest team win (said with tongue in cheek), simply because the Cards have been living on luck since August!

Beth

Another doctor visit…

I saw the cardiologist this morning.  I have been having some problems with the meds clashing with one another so the merry go round is spinning again.  I hope I am not allergic to the new med.  Tomorrow I go back to the cardiologist to be fitted with a Holter heart monitor which I will wear for 30 days.  This will be a pain in the wazoo but I agree that it has to  be done to see how the meds are controlling the A-fib.  (irregular heartbeat)  I have so many doctor appointments the next few weeks that I have stopped counting.  Mixed in with all of that I have a dental appointment too. 

After the doctor visit my daughter and I stopped for scripts, then to pay bills, then to Kroger then back to Avanti’s where we had lasagna with salad and warm bread and butter.  I brought half of mine home as I don’t seem to have much appetite lately.

During my walk in the cemetery the other day I stopped to read many of the stones.  Below is a very interesting one.

If you will click on the pic you will be able to read the verse.

And now, I am absolutely worn out.  You all stay safe and be happy.

HUGS!!!

Beth

Attention John Sandford Fans!

Do you love the Prey series written by author John Sandford?  I do!!  He is my very favorite author.  On November 6 at 8 PM CST a movie adapted from ‘A Certain Prey’ will be shown on the USA network.  Starring as Lucas Davenport will be Mark Harmon.  I have already programmed the DVR to record this as November 6 falls on a Sunday and I can’t miss Desperate Housewives.

Yesterday was a glorious day!  I felt better than I had for weeks and I thank God for that.  I found another Christmas gift, this one for my son in law.  I am just about to wind up my Christmas shopping except for my daughter who will give me no ideas at all.  She just says money.  That is no fun.  I love to open presents.  Then my daughter and I ate at 8th Street Station aka Grumpy Pete’s.  I finally had an appetite and the food tasted good.

I also purchased Halloween candy.  Last year I had very few trick or treaters and I ended up with all of these cookie recipes using the candy.  The Baby Ruth cookie was my favorite.

Baby Ruth Cookies

Ingredients

•1/2 cup butter, softened

•3/4 cup sugar

•1 egg

•1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

•1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

•1/2 teaspoon baking soda

•1/2 teaspoon salt

•2 Baby Ruth candy bars (2.1 ounces each), chopped

Directions

•In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in candy bars.

•Drop by rounded teaspoon full 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Immediately remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 4 dozen. 

Other cookie recipes on my recipe site.  http://msbethmariesrecipes.blogspot.com/

On a sadder note, the Cardinals are on the verge of losing the World Series.  C’mon guys!!

You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

A peaceful walk…

in the cemetery.  Yesterday afternoon was lovely so I gathered up my keys, cell phone and camera and headed across the back yard to the cemetery.  I know that might spook some people out but it is a very calming walk for me.

This little fellow was the only living thing I saw yesterday except for

an old gentleman who was hidden behind this tree watering it.  I told him hi, we discussed the weather, decided we needed some rain, and I went on my way,

You can see the colors are not as pretty this year as last and many of the leaves are falling fast without changing color.

Tomorrow is to be in the mid 70s.  I am looking forward to that and then it is back to freezing temps and the dread of ice and snow.

I hope you all have a peaceful week.  Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

That man Pujols…

This is going to be a gorgeous day, to be in the 70s.  I am restricted from strenuous exercise but I am going to take a short walk this afternoon, carrying my camera and hoping for an opportunity for a pic.  The rain, wind and cold has about taken the color away from the trees but there are a few remaining.  First thing this morning I do have to make a run to Kroger as I am out of one main item that I can’t live without, bananas.

Hey, what about the Cardinals win last night? I stayed up past 10:30 watching and I finally went to bed.  What a game.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/23/albert-pujols-cardinals-world-series-home-runs_n_1027077.html

Albert Pujols hitting a home run in last night’s game.   Final score, Cardinals 16, Rangers 7.  What a game.  I love baseball!

I hope you are all have a wonderful weekend!  Do stay safe and be happy!

Beth

St Louis Cardinals…

Just a pebble in the road that caused you to stumble Cards.  You’ve been there before.  C’mon guys, you can do it.

Beth

Feeling better…

I saw the primary care physician today.  There is a mix-up with some of my new meds which is putting my diastolic  BP reading way to low.  Keeping a close watch on that and I report back to the doctor on that next week.  I had lost 7 lbs. in the 10 days since I last saw her.  Then next appointment is 6 weeks.  A couple of other things that need to be worked out, other than that I feel halfway decent.

My brother is now home from the hospital.  His headache is better and an MRI showed no bleeding in the brain.  He has no short term memory.  I can call him and 5 minutes later he has forgotten that he spoke to me.

It is very cold and windy out this morning.  I went out without my hat and about froze my ears off.  Winter is definitely looming on the horizon.

The picture I have at the top of my post is of my great, great niece sitting in amongst the pumpkins.  Thanks to grandma and grandpa (Mike and Celeste) and of course a big thank you to her mommy (Leslie) for sending me updated pics  every week or so.

Beth

Home update…

Hi to everyone.  I came home from the hospital late yesterday afternoon.  Things went well.  Now I have to do nothing for the next 3 days and lift nothing heavier than 10 pounds.  Not easy because my purse probably weighs that much.  I am tired and didn’t get much rest last night from trying to lie flat on my back all night.  Not easy.  I see my primary care physician on Thursday.

My brother is still in the hospital and not doing well.   He is on morphine for his headaches which are not being controlled.  His wife is content with the doctor they have now and so far has given no thought to his going to Barnes Hospital in St Louis.  Unfortunately, not my call.

And speaking of St Louis, I watched the game Sunday night and it was awesome, one hit after another for both sides.  Kudos to the Brewers too, my hat is off to them.  That said, it will take a miracle for the Cards to keep pushing on, but hey, I believe in miracles, and especially the power of prayer.  Thank you all for the comments to my last post.

I see a bit of green grass peeking through the straw and leaves which make up my front lawn.  My daughter stayed with me last night and she picked up some leaves that got tracked in.

Thanks to my other Bro for cheering the Cardinals on.

Beth

New Update..

My brother Bill suffered a stroke.  That is the diagnosis after all tests were completed.  He has lost all memory of events that occurred up until the time this happened.  He recognizes his wife and my voice and Rae’s.  He still has a tremendous headache and for the life of me I can’t understand why the hospital can’t take care of that.  I learned to be aggressive during Jim’s hospital stays and I think (my own personal opinion) that he should be moved to St Louis.  During a hospital stay we need someone to be our voice.

Some of you have asked what I am having done tomorrow.  It is called a kidney stenosis and involves a 6 hour lie flat period after the procedure.  I have been through this before so I know what to expect and because I know what to expect I am not looking forward to this, I just want it over and done with.  I am counting on the dear Lord to have a firm hold on my right hand tomorrow.  Thank you again for all prayers for my family and for me. 

Beth

Saturday, more sad news,

My brother Bill in Southern IL was taken to the emergency room at a local hospital last night.  He is in serious condition.  Rae came through her surgery just fine.  Rae and Bill are my only remaining siblings of 4 sisters and 3 brothers.  Needless to say I am worried sick.  It is almost 200 miles to where my brother lives and 500 miles to where my sis lives.  I am scheduled for the procedure on Monday.  Thank you for all prayers and kind thoughts.

  Beth

Feeling better…

My arm is much better today and I am looking forward to (but dreading) the procedure on Monday.

This has been a hectic last two weeks.  I finally am able to have my car  parked in the back of my place now instead of the street.  My front lawn is seeded now and covered with straw and a nice layer of leaves.  I guess this winter I will have leaves and straw both at my front door.    But that is OK, I am here to complain about it and I am so thankful for that.

I am leaving now to come visit as many of you as I can. 

  Beth

Update…

Just to let you all get caught up.  Yesterday at my primary care physician I had my meds changed around again.  Having a quite painful swollen right arm I had an ultrasound of my right arm to check for blood clots and one was found in the vein where an IV had been during my hospital stay.  I am still not feeling well today and I am having to keep a warm compress on my right arm.  I need to be all better by Monday as I have a kidney stenosis scheduled which means I will be in the hospital all day.  If things go OK I will get to go home Monday night.  I appreciate all of your kind thoughts and prayers.  They mean so very much to me.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for my sis Rae who is having surgery on Thursday.  God Bless you all.

It is painful typing so I will close for now.  I promise to get caught up with all of you as soon as I am able. 

  Beth

Update…

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I have a couple of difficult weeks ahead involving another hospital stay (hopefully as an out patient.)  I probably won’t be on the computer much this week but I will try to give an update tomorrow after I see my primary care physician.  A special thank you to my sweet Twin.

  Beth

Test done, dirt here…

After an hour of prodding here and there my test is done.  I will find out the results when I see my doctor next Monday morning.  Thank you to my niece who went with me to the hospital.  When I came home this is what I found.

My front yard all torn up and dirt is around back by my parking spot.  Thank you to the nice young man who took my ‘feel sorry for me, I could be your mother’ look to heart.  I will go outside in a few minutes and get the dirt moved around.  Hey, that is something else I miss since I moved, my rake.  I don’t miss it as much as my washer and dryer or my two car garage but this afternoon I miss it.  I will have to use my old broom to scootch the dirt around.  Now the oak leaves will fall on all of this dirt.  I hope we get some rain soon to settle it down.  None forecast for the next week, sunny and dry and high, upper 70s.

Thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers.  Bless you all!

  Beth

Just pretend I’m your mother..

Does a pitiful look on one’s face do the trick?  I think it might.  I was busy here a bit ago running the sweeper in the living room and dusting when I saw these young guys out shoveling dirt in the road.  I went out  and asked if I needed to move my car, and no surprise I did need to.  They directed me to their boss on the tractor and and using my most ‘feel sorry for me I could be your mother’ look I asked him to come around to the back and look at the drop-off where I will be parking my car if this concrete ever dries on the driveway.  Now mind you, these are city workers and not workers for the concrete company that did the driveways on the street.  He promised me that on Thursday they would bring a bucket of dirt and put back there for me.  Will it happen??  We shall see.  My ‘feel sorry for me I could be your mother’ look works only about 50% of the time (never works on my kids).  I will let you know when and if this happens.  If not I will go out to Wal*Mart and buy  a few bags of top soil and put it back there myself.

Tomorrow morning I go for a test at the hospital.  I am very worried about this test.  I know that my Twin has my back.  I would appreciate it if you think of it to spare a kind thought or a prayer for me in the morning.  I would be so grateful.

Lovely weather here today.  Sunshine and 80 degrees on 4 October.  It doesn’t get much better than this. 

I will catch you all on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

One Lovely Blog Award..

Yesterday I was the recipient of the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’ from my friend Fab at  http://rappingonamelody.blogspot.com/.  Thank you so much Fab, I am honored!!  I am posting it in the upper left hand corner of my blog.  I would like to share it with all of my blogging friends.  Please right click on the picture and save.  Then you can post it on your blog.

I had to stop typing this for awhile to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription.  Then I went on out to the K-Mart.  They have Joe Boxer flannel lounging  pants for guys on sale this week at a really good price.  I have been getting hints dropped in my ear that those would be a welcome Christmas gift.  Santa can rest easy now that I have that taken care of.  Speaking of Christmas gifts, I got a lot wrapped over the weekend while I was sitting around here feeling tough.

The weather is beyond beautiful,  Bright blue skies and temps to warm up into the 70s today.  Indian Summer has arrived.  I need to go outside today and see about filling in some of the dirt dug out around where I park my car (that is when I get my parking spot back).  There will be a drop off if I don’t.  Maybe if I can catch one of the concrete guys I can shame them into doing what they should have done when they took the boards off.

I need to get up and get busy.  I am working towards having a great week.  You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Winter Wonderland…

I woke up this morning to a heavy frost.  The ground between my back door and the cemetery was covered with a thick white frost.  The temp was 34 degrees.  It has climbed to 40 right now.  There have been a couple of patchy frosts the last few weeks, but this is the first official hard frost of the season.  This means that Indian Summer will follow.  If the forecast holds out as predicted that will come to pass.  The upper 70s and low 80s are predicted for this week.  This also means the dreaded yellow beetle will think it is summer again and each time we go outside they will be all over our clothes and in our hair.

Typical Indian Summer scene.

The beetle I am talking about.

I am trying to get to feeling better.  Not feeling my best the last few days.  I even had to cut garage sales off on Friday.

I hope this is a good week for us all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth