Turkey Soup

I spent the afternoon in the kitchen cutting, scraping, simmering and picking and ended up with some very good Turkey Soup. Tami gave me the bones of yesterday's bird and today my kitchen smelled wonderful. I made soup after Thanksgiving for many years but when we started having turkey at one of our kids' houses, I lost the left-overs and the soup. Thank you, Tami. You didn't have to pick the bones and we had supper. I also have two 9 cup containers and two 6 cup containers filled to put in the freezer.

Recipe...
One turkey carcass
Celery
Onion
Carrots
Salt
Pepper
Barley
Rice

Put the turkey, a couple of stalks of celery, half of a large onion - cut up, a couple of carrots - chunked, about 1 teaspoon of ground pepper and salt in a big pot. Add enough water to cover everything. I have a stock pot that is just perfect. It is tall, holds a lot but isn't larger than my large burner.

Bring to a boil then simmer for two hours. Fish all of the solids out of the stock. Make sure to get all of the little bones that end up on the bottom. Strain if necessary. Drain.

Add 1-1/2 cups barley and 1 cup rice (not Jasmine - it is too soft), 2 carrots, 1/2 onion, and a couple stalks of celery - all cut in small pieces - to the stock. Add additional salt and pepper if needed. Bring it back to a boil and cook for about 1/2 hour - until the barley is soft.

When it is cool enough to handle, separate the meat from the rest. Save the meat; give the soft stuff to your dog; throw the bones away. It takes about that much time to pick out the meat. When the barley is done, add the meat and eat.

Thanksgiving Friday

Getting together with our four kids (three of whom work different shifts), their spouses, our five grands plus Bob and I is wonderful. They are all married, three with inlaws living in the area - and that makes for a logistics problem for every holiday. This year two (and their families) spent yesterday - Thanksgiving Day - with their inlaws, one (and her husband) came over for dinner here and one (and his family) is spending tomorrow, Saturday, with his inlaws. Today was ours.

Alexis was waiting at the window looking for the first arrival.

We had the most delicious food. The turkey was moist, the smashed potatoes, green salad and green bean casserole were barely enough and hand-made chocolates and a from scratch bundt cake were wonderful.

We are truly blessed. We are not without problems but the fact that the whole bunch of us like to be with each other and are each other's friends is truly priceless.

Although reading the ads yesterday was enticing, Bob and I didn't get any shopping done today. I woke up at 4 a.m. - I know, just in time to get the 'good' deals - but I was very tired. I finally was able to get back to sleep at 7 and slept until 10. We were able to relax and get everything gathered to be able to get to Aaron and Tami's by 1 p.m.

Their house is comfortable - there is space for everyone to spread out. They got new cupboards this year and it was wonderful to work in their new kitchen. As the rest arrived all the women were talking about watching the FOOD Network's Thanksgiving preparation programs yesterday. It does make it seem do-able when you can watch someone do it. It is just too bad they aren't on before the day you are supposed to be cooking.

The day was quite pleasant. We ended with some of us playing games (my new thrill - to be able to play games again) others played with the kids or sat and talked. Bob got in and got dishes cleaned up, much to everyone's appreciation. By the time 7 p.m. rolled around we were ready to leave - a very pleasant day added to our memories.

Holding on to good

Well, it has been a few days since I wrote anything. I’ve been coming out of the fog. I haven’t taken pain pills (Vicodin) for a few weeks and I’m seeing myself getting some things done. I’ve been using the can opener with my right hand pretty well which was a major accomplishment. I get frustrated because I can’t reach around my back like I used to – yet. It makes dressing and undressing something I have to ‘think’ about instead of just doing.

I don’t have the reach I used to have with my right arm so turning off the light above the stairs is difficult. But, I can lift up my grandkids! Natalie jumped into my arms yesterday when we went over to baby-sit. It’s funny how you get used to doing things like picking up a kid and when I couldn’t, I missed it.

Bob and I watched Alyssa and Dan’s kids Saturday. Bob was in the family room with Nat and Zander and 14 month old Hayden stayed around me in the kitchen. He was in his high chair for a while but I couldn’t see him and I wanted him to get to know me better. Because of Bob’s surgery and my broken arm, we haven’t been around him as much as we would have. So, I picked him up, sat him on my hip and made mac and cheese. He was good about not reaching out so I cooked and stirred, sat him down on the floor to drain the mac and picked him up to fix the sauce.

I was getting things out of the cupboard and asked Nat if she knew if her mom had any dried onion. “I don’t like onions,” she said. When I found some I explained they were so small she could taste it but she couldn’t see it. That seemed to be all right. Of course when I put it in the butter they all turned brown and, if she thought of it, she could see it.

When I put it into the oven I thought I had made more than we could eat. Finally the buzzer went off and dinner was ready. The kids had been very busy up until then. You forget the normal din that three little kids can make when your baby is 25. Nat prayed and Zander prayed and that was the last sound they made until someone’s plate was empty and “More, please,” was heard. By the time they were done there was only a healthy tablespoon left. Dan finished that off when they got home. Nothing for the next day’s lunch. Alyssa had warned me that they had good appetites. Yes.

Dan took Alyssa for a “date” to McMenamins for dinner and a movie – Talladega Nights. http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&id=30

Earlier Pearls of wisdom from grandson Zander: When your mind is full and your stomach is empty it is very hard to sleep.

Fall Back

It looks like we've survived the time change, at least we will once we start sleeping in until 5. Fall-back is my favorite night of the year - I can sleep in and no one says anything. This year, though, is different.

Saturday was the Harvest Festival at our church. I'm one of those whose job was to organize and get it going and clean it up. I had a couple of late meeting nights last week and I was up until late Friday night helping set things set up at church and then getting the last of the people arranging done at home. I think there were 63 volunteers. The event went well. The count at the door was, if I remember correctly, 361 people. Everyone left smiling.

We have accumulated, through borrowing or building, several school carnival-type games – Cake Walk, toss a softball at three milk bottles, darts, etc. We had 8 games and crafts set up. We sell tickets – 6 for one dollar – and give them a card that gets hung around their neck. Then the kids go around playing games for a ticket or two. Depending on how well they do, they get at least one punch – up to 4 – per game. When they’re done they can go to the Prize Booth and buy things for one to 25 punches. One couple takes photos and prints pictures on the spot. There is a background someone made years ago where you can poke your face through a pumpkin or owl for the picture. A couple of families fix chili, hot dogs, nachos, chili dogs and this year they had pies donated to sell – all for a ticket or two. Lots and lots of pies.

The event started at 3 and was to be over by 6 although this year it went on a bit because Pee Wee, our resident clown, had come toward the end and was making balloon animals, swords, etc., for the kids. As soon as he came in and set up his pump, kids came from all over to see what was going on. Two of my granddaughters were there. The younger didn’t hesitate when I took her over. Her older sister was a bit hesitant - like her Auntie Alyssa was at her age - and wasn’t comfortable with the whole idea – even though she understand that he was really her Auntie Heidi’s daddy. Their Mom, Tami, was a great help. She ordered the prizes (Oriental Trading) and organized some crafts for the event. She made it much easier for the rest of us.

Everything was cleaned up by 8:30 and I headed home. I was asleep by 11. And awake at 1. I had just enough rest to get my mind going – thinking about the afternoon and what we should or shouldn’t do next time. I tried to go back to sleep. I tried counting backwards from 99 and starting over again when I made a mistake – usually a sure sleeper. I didn’t make it below 90 most of the time. Over and over I tried to just get my mind tired. I even sung the Alphabet Song – backward – in my head… zxyw vut; srqp onmlk. Jih; gfe; dc b and a. now I know my ZXYs aren’t you very proud of me.

I probably should have just gotten up and gone to the computer and written it all down to get it over with but I was afraid it would keep me up. I finally got back to sleep around 5. And woke about 6:30. With a sore throat from snoring. Needless to say, I, we didn’t make it to church. Bob still felt worn out from the cold or whatever he’s been down with and didn’t want to expose himself to whatever is going around.

Then, today, we were both up by 4 a.m. and now it is almost 9:30 p.m.

We both feel better than we have for a long time but run out of steam earlier than we want. My arm feels much better but every once in a while it hurts like the dickens.

I did get to Fabric Depot for 50% off packaged quilt batting sale. I also picked up some wool for a jacket. Red. I need to check its shrink-ability then steam it.

Now it’s almost time for bed.


Pearls of wisdom from grandson Zander: When your mind is full and your stomach is empty it is very hard to sleep.

Shortening But Solid

I got lab results yesterday:

I routinely have one test at least twice a year - the A1C. It is an average for the past three month’s blood glucose. My A1C was 5.5 which is what it has been. It is equivalent to about 120 mg/dL glucose/blood averaging both the highs and lows. That would be good during normal life and is excellent considering all of the physical stress my body has gone through in the past three months. Stress does make it harder to keep your blood sugar under control. I know I had some high readings and some close to hypoglycemic when I took a walk after taking meds for it and not eating much. It should be 110 or lower in the morning and 140 or lower 1 ½ to 2 hours after eating. 70 is when hypo(low)glycemia(glucose in the blood) starts to become a problem. You get light-headed and much worse because your brain is starving.

She said my thyroid tests were “normal” but I asked for a copy of my lab results so I can see the numbers. Mine have been contradictory lately.

My mammogram was normal. I just need to go back and exchange the little shower chart. I didn’t have my glasses on when I picked it up and didn’t look at it until I got home. Yo hablo español? I don’t.

My bone density test – she said the results were comparable for a much younger woman! I’m Dense! OK, I know I’m opening myself up with that one. She did say that my right hip does show some bone loss. I’m not surprised since I have some arthritis in it. I do have to quit falling and keep taking calcium.

The results surprised me. I haven’t taken in much calcium since I was six – 1952. I have been taking it since I broke my arm but only sporadically before that. The fact that I have ‘slim’ bones may actually have been helped by being overweight for years. That benefit is counteracted by osteoarthritis developing earlier. I found that overweight women with high bone mineral density are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. That means that now that I am dense, I need to take my calcium and loose weight to relieve the pain. And do weight bearing exercises.

And I have lost that inch in height. Maybe I do need to get some way to hang me from the ceiling. Just for a little while. I’ve been thinking for quite a while that it would just stretch everything out and make my back not ache so much.

Well, it has been an hour since I took my thyroid pill so I can now eat…