Hi, I miss this blog!
I've had a rough summer and have made some challenging decisions regarding health care in recent weeks.
If you are wont to take a walk with me on this more difficult part of life's journey, you can visit this site and we will share it all over there.Rebecca's Caring Bridge Page
Otherwise, stay tuned to Cape Coop, we may not blog much but we'll certainly return for a visit soon!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Of Salads and Hope
As this biologic drug sends triglycerides sky high the doctors put me on a cocktail of drugs to counteract that effect.
Of course, a low fat, low animal product diet is suggested- and as I've been eating a mostly vegan diet for years this hasn't been a big change for me- but I decided to completely give up all animal products except for honey and fish- and I've brought La Principessa along for the adventure of a mainly RAW diet!.
It's not difficult to eat fresh fruits and vegetables- a little chopping or peeling and you're good to go, but I ADORE making messes in the kitchen so I've been experimenting with unusual(for us) flavor combinations.
This AMAZING salad is my latest creation and Le Principessa couldn't get enough of it- I had made an IMMENSE bowl of this salad- she ate the entire bowl in one night!
Here's the recipe-if you can call it that.
(Super easy- mindless, really!)
spinach- chopped- one pound or so
watermelon- cubed- 2 cups
peach-sliced into slender ears-2 peaches
black grapes- cut in half- a cup
red onion- slivered- half a large onion
balsamic vinegar/lemon juice
olive oil
fresh basil-chopped- 1/2 a cup
Japanese soy sauce(optional)
salt
black pepper
For the dressing: Blend an acid(I used balsamic this time) with some olive oil and chopped basil. This is a personal thing- the ratio of acid to fat- I like it half and half but my daughter only likes a little oil- we do things her way at the Coop! Here I used 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a half cup of balsamic vinegar. This week I also added a dash of Japanese soy sauce- we use the light sodium version but, of course, it's still high in sodium- not good for most folks, however here at the Coop we enjoy very low blood pressure!
Final steps: Mix the spinach and fruits in a large bowl and pour the dressing over it.
I put pepper at the table because my daughter doesn't care for pepper- I liberally pepper mine.
Yeah, I'm spicy like that. ;)
This week I also put pink Hawaiian salt on the table- just sprinkle a few grains atop your own bowl of salad.
The salt grains almost melt- but not quite- you get a lovely tiny crunch here in the rare bite- and the salt has a flavor distinct from the kosher salt that we usually have. SO delicious!
You can add slivered carrots or jicama, almonds, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, whatever you like! Please know that the amounts are not set in stone- I don't measure salad. You just go with what you feel like eating.
We're having some legal and health challenges this month(and next) at the Coop, so we are spending most of our time facing those difficulties and trying to remain of good cheer- I'm not feeling up to blogging much right now, but one more post is coming- next week!
Jelly is famous!
Here is her website:Meander Farm Rat Terriers
Mrs. Woodbury's lass named Aurora is about to whelp this weekend- I wonder if any of those puppies will be as cute and loveable as our dear Jelly?
And here is the page that Jelly's portrait is shown on! Meander's past puppies!
Isn't that sweet? Why, yes, it IS!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Jelly Is In The House!
Meet Jelly!
Well, folks, it happened, I wore La Principessa down and when I wear someone down I do a very good job!
You see, I've been wanting a dog for years- ever since we lost our dear David Doggie under sad circumstances in 1998- but by the time that we were free from our difficult situation and able to have a dog again we no longer had a home of our own.
Because the loss of David(and our cat, Lulu!) was
so hurtful I vowed to never have a pet that we might not be able to keep forever.
Cats are easy, a litter box, lots of petting and a big window- you've given them cat heaven.
Dogs- well, what if you need to move(or are temporarily homeless?) and the landlord says "no dogs"?
I couldn't chance it.
Then we acquired the Coop!
We had a home, a house of our own!
Nothing can take that from us- we're safe from landlords and the vagaries of other people's hearts now.
We can have a dog and know that we will always have a home for the dear thing.
So, I began my campaign.
At first La Principessa was afraid to think about a dog- she was affected in a serious manner by the loss of our pets way back when, although our dear Lilly has eased the hurt considerably over the past decade.
Her first decree was that we could have a dog if it cost less than 50 dollars.
We went to shelters a lot over the first few months that we owned the Coop; I was determined to find a dog that would break down her resistance.
Unfortunate for us, the county we live in seems to receive predominantly Dobermans, Pit Bulls and the ubiquitous"mix" that is really a Pit Bull under the witness protection program.
La Principessa was having none of them- they made her feel unsteady- so she said "NO, NO, & NO" many times.
But I didn't give up.
I got us the Coop, didn't I?
I am still fighting the lymphoma and still on my own feet, aren't I?
I can achieve anything, for I'm MOMMY- La Principessa says so all of the time, and who am I to dispute her opine?
We would have a dog.
A few months ago, I was envying a friend's dog on Facebook and my dear daughter chimed in with a post- "You can have a dog if it's free".
WELL, send me a challenge, why don't you?
I began looking on Craigslist and found a few free dogs, all Pit Bulls though- Kiddle said "NO".
Was she backing out on her word? Hmmph.
Last Friday Kiddle was contacted by an Amazon client who is a dog breeder - would we like her book collection?
She is moving to a farm in upstate NY and lightening her load.
Um, yes, we would, thank you very much and by the way Mommy has been campaigning for a dog but Kiddle's decree is it must be a free dog and all we have found so far are Pit Bulls.
Well, they chatted and we went to pick up the books in the late afternoon, and our client(and now FRIEND!) GAVE Mommy an amazing, cute, adorable, delicious, frisky puppy, a five month old Rat Terrier!
The name on her papers is Snow Bunny, but we have renamed her-
Jelly!
I love her.
Thank you, Kiddle.
Thank you for Jelly!
And for your presence in this world.
I love YOU.
B"H
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
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