As good as it gets

We went to Lumberman's Monument with Barb Sharma last week. Everything was on sale. I saw this book and knew Romeo and Tino would love it. Yup. We laughed and laughed some more.

Dreams!

So the result of the last post is that Pat and I slept most of the afternoon. I know that means I'll be up most of the night, but the dream I had makes it worth it.

I NEVER remember my dreams. But today was different. My best friend, Janet died several years ago and I really miss her. Today in my dream I was organizing our classmates to go to Grand Marais to see Janet. (Something I did when she was alive.) In my dream I forgot to tell Janet we were coming. Lots of stress when I couldn't get her on the phone.

Finally we all got there and Janet was nowhere to be found. My cousin, Jon, also a classmate, came in looking like a hippy with an afro!  (I can't wait to tell him that!)

Then I went in the living room and there was Janet. She was laughing. It made me so happy to see her. Then I woke up and I can't tell you how happy I am I got to see Janet.

Cleaning, lazing, still in my jammies!

Pat has a cold so it's a good excuse to stay in my nightgown all day long!  Haven't done this in ages. We watched a movie and now are watching the rerun of the Astro win last night because we both fell asleep before it was done.

Earlier I cleaned out the refrigerator. I zoodles the zucchini and took all the meatballs and sauce out of the freezer for our family dinner tomorrow.  Can't wait for everyone to come over.

Fall

St. Dominic's Parish

SS Peter and Paul Site

Saginaw, Michigan 

Wonder Woman

Even though it is not Halloween yet, Ayva had her birthday party where she wore her costume. Here's Wonder Woman!

UP

We've spent a lot of time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the last few weeks. We went to Marquette a few weeks ago. Nice trip. Won enough at the casino to play for awhile and pay for dinner. Saw some color, but this just isn't a great year for color.

Then Mary Berkshire said they were going to Mr. Lepeak's and maybe we could come up while they were there. Mary and I are friends on Facebook, but I had never met her. A few years ago she married Janet's husband, Rod.

So we made plans to go up on Sunday. I cooked all day on Friday. I made marinara sauce and a ton of meatballs. And chicken in the slow cooker. So I took 8 small Ziploc containers of meatball's and 6 of shredded chicken for Mr. Lepeak's freezer.

It rained most of the way up there. High wind warnings on the bridge. But we made it. We had a nice afternoon. It was so good to see Mr. Lepeak even though he seems much older this visit. It was so good to see Rod again and to finally meet Mary. She is very nice.

We drank a bottle of Mr. Lepeak's raspberry wine with the warning there wasn't any made this year because the mice ate the bark on the plants!

On our way back to St. Ignace i made the hotel reservation and didnt notice i made it for Mackinaw City. So we crossed the bridge and watched our first sunset on the bridge.

We stayed at the Comfort Inn and slept until 8 am. WE NEVER SLEEP AFTER 6 AM! We both awakened with no backache - another first. I had given our mattress to Joanna on Friday and was dreading looking for a new one. I pulled those sheets out of the foot of the bed and found they were made in Grand Rapids. Looking on the Internet I couldn't find a retailer. So I called the company and the man I spoke with said I was the 3rd person to call from Mackinaw City that morning. I ordered one. Should be here in a week.

Also a beautiful sunrise from our room.

We drove home 33 going through our favorite back roads in Atlanta. Saw more color there.

Today we went to see the Sharma's. Another nice day. Pat and Barb and I went to Lumberman's Monument - still not a lot of color. But a nice day anyway. I took her a dish towel I had transferred a recipe of her Mom's on.

Fun Fall.

The New Wonder Woman

Wait until you see Ayva's Halloween costume. She has wanted to be Wonder Woman since we all went to the movie.

I looked on the Internet and they wanted $100! What?

So I decided we could do better. I promised Caroline not to post the finished product, but here are a few teasers.

Thai Chicken and Squash

Thai Chicken and Squash

Pat and I both liked this.

4 servings - 8 SP each

Cube a butternut Squash 

Line cookie sheet with foil, spray with Pam

Roast 400 until done 45 - 60 min.

Chicken - I used slow cooked that I had frozen

Warm up 12 oz chicken with 2 tsp Tumeric 

Microwave 2 containers of prepared rice - serves 4

Place rice, squash, chicken in thirds in four flat bowls. Drizzle 3 TBS Peanut Sauce over each.

Peanut Sauce - makes 8 servings of 3 TBS each - can refrigerate up to a week

1/2 cup PB2

Make a thick paste with water

2 TBS Red Curry Paste

2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar

3/4 cup canned coconut milk

1 tsp minced ginger

1 tsp sugar

Whisk together and drizzle over food. Refrigerate leftover sauce.

Thanksgiving Dinner Test

I tested my Thanksgiving dinner. We had four friends over and I forgot to take pictures! But it was delicious.

My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the stuffing. I got it down to 2 pts for 3/4 cup and everyone loved it.

My secret was half of the bread was actually Kodiak pancakes. When I made the pancakes I added onins, celery, sage.  To the cut u pancakes added 3 cups of vegetables diced small to bulk it up (recipe follow). The pumpkin tarts is in the recipes in Weight Watchers online. The potatoes are boiled potatoes crushed drizzled with a bit of olive oil and baked at 350 until crispy. Squash was 2 pts because I added butter - worth it!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Turkey 4 oz.              0 pt
Stuffing 3/4 cup.       2 pt
Squash 1/2 cup.        2 pt
Potatoes 3/4 cup.      3 pt
Gravy 2 TBS.             2 pt
Salad.                         0 pt
Pumpkin Tarts 2.     2 pt
Wine 5 oz.                 4 pt

15 pts including dessert and 1 glass of wine.

Stuffing

1 cup onion diced small
1 cup celery diced small
1 cup zucchini peeled and diced small
2 egg whites or 1/2 cup Egg beaters
1/2 cup chicken broth
10 slices 1 pt bread sprayed with butter spray (up to 30 sprays divided among the bread)
3/4 cup Kodiak pancake mix with enough water to make pancakes.

Salt, pepper, sage, Mrs. Dash

Make 8 small pancakes let cool while dicing veggies. Spray bread with butter spray. Cut bread and pancakes into small cubes.

Combine all ingredients. Season. Bake in 350 for 1 hr. Each serving 3/4 cup - serves 8 - 2 smart points per serving.

Squash
Bake 4 medium squash
Remove seeds and skin
1/4 cup butter
Salt, pepper, Chile Lime seasoning

Serving 1/2 cup - serves 12 - 2 smart points

Quinoa Salad

Quinoa, black beans, edadame, can of diced tomatoes. Salt, pepper, garlic, parsley and mixed in the Mango Jalepeno Salsa that came with the quinoa. Squeezed lemon over it. Yummy.

Salmon with crab Chile Lime Seasoning - 2

1 cup salad - 2

6 oz wine - 5

9 Freestyle Smart pt dinner - worth every point

Ouch!

***EDIT***
Amazing - all pain is gone - even the pain I've had for a few months

***EDIT***


My doctor said my heel pain is Planter Fasciitis - more a bother than anything else. Early morning it hurts then seems to get better during the day. Sitting in the car seems to aggravate it.

Yesterday at church when we were standing it felt like something popped and the pain was awful. Both Pat and Caroline felt me jump and I immediately sat down.

I stayed sitting until it was time to go. I could walk holding on to Pat and putting the weight on the ball of my feet. I stayed on the couch for the rest of the day.

This morning it feels much better, but I walk like it might happen again. I hope it doesn't!