A Kitchen Plan, A Transplant Dance

This is our current kitchen setup. The lower cabinets are unusable and the interiors are damaged beyond repair, they just hold up the sink.
There are a few holes in the flooring, but we don't mind- it is wonderful to have a floor, and we know it!



The refrigerator is funky, the interior of the freezer is odd, but we can not imagine buying a replacement, why spend the money on something unnecessary, yes?
BUT, it is so difficult to use this partial kitchen, I've wearied of it over the past few years.
As well, now that I can no longer use my hands, the cooking and cleaning is left to Elissa- she is ill equipped to handle the limitations of a kitchen with no cabinets and no dishwasher, sweet soul that she is. 
She braves it every day though, my little trouper, and she is becoming quite the accomplished home cook as well!
I bought a dishwasher on Craigslist two years ago, for Elissa's birthday.
A lovely machine, maybe ten years old, in excellent condition, with a steel interior!
I promised her that we would someday have a kitchen and the dishwasher was the first step, it sits under a window, waiting to be installed, lovely old thing.

I am hanging on for a stem cell transplant, August is our target date, and we have a 10/10 match- perfection in transplant speak, very exciting news, I know! 
I've been deteriorating, but now I am steadfast in my desire to BE here for that transplant, and we are doing everything possible to get to the magical moment!
Well, I just don't want to leave Elissa with this mess of a kitchen, just in case. 
I've been hunting for used cabinets everywhere, and I even had Elissa drive us to the local Habitat For Humanity Re-Store about a month ago, to see what they had. 
Believe me, getting me bandaged and out of the house to do that bit of shopping was an ORDEAL, but, it seems that I was meant to be at that charity shop on that day, because the nicest man working there handed me a telephone number as we were leaving AND  I called the number AND spoke with this lovely woman named Debra Behnke AND she worked some magic AND it seems that we will be getting a basic kitchen set up from some kind folks in our small town!

SO- Many folks have been asking how they can help us. 

My loved ones all know that I have trouble accepting help and gifts, but I have recently worked on this flaw in my heart and I am learning to graciously and gratefully accept the helpful kind of affection.

This kitchen is something that I can not do on my own, especially in the condition I am now in, so by helping us get a kitchen, well, it is a mitzvah of great import, in my mind.

You can contact  Debra Behnke, she is lovely and easy to communicate with, and ask how you may assist- by funding the kitchen repairs- or help in putting in things, or you can offer her supplies, you can write to her via post or email, or you can telephone her- whatever form of help you care to give is welcome and appreciated!

Salem County Office of Disability Services
ATTN: Debra Behnke 
Administration Building 
94 Market Street 
Salem, NJ 08079
Telephone: 856-935-7510 x8316 or x8311 or x8598
Email: Debra.Behnke@salemcountynj.gov

Please Help

Please click on the link and HELP.
Not just for me,
but because we can save SO many lives with this registry.
Gift Of Life Friends of Rebecca Salame

Health Update

I'm sharing again, in case you want to know my health condition. It's NOT PRETTY, don't feel that you must read it if you don't want to know the details- we can still be friends and have fun again sometime soon!

 Rebecca's Caring Bridge Journal

A New Journey

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!

Of Salads and Hope

 Last month I was given the opportunity to re-attempt a chemotherapy that I hadn't tolerated on my first go around a few years ago.
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.

                                                                 Fruit Salad Salad
(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!

Next: Get your progeny to wash and prep the fruits and spinach according to your taste.
 









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!