Hey Jude

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. having a nice birthday on Tuesday.
2. a beautiful drive through GJ seeing all the colors
3. finding a bag - I have been looking for one for awhile
4. spending time with friends
5. feeling so much better

Channeling Surfing

 * Tomorrow we are going to have lunch at some friends who live in a nearby town. They just moved to the area in August.  It is great to have them near as they are such good people.  So nice to talk and laugh with them. 


* My asthma problems have cleared up. My doctor ended up treating me for bronchitis - using an antibiotic and a steroid. Within 2 doses I was able to lay completely down flat - first time in over 3 months. I used my inhaler once in the 10 days of being on the meds. The day after ending my meds - I have had a few problems. Nothing like before but I did have to use my inhaler and ended up taking sinus meds at night. I am hopeful that whatever is going on is better. I have no doubt from now on for a while I will be easily susceptible to having problems. My doctor wants me to call if it comes back to like it was before the meds. 

* We started using a Roku for the TV.  We are really enjoying it. It is basically streaming content to the TV. All the content except Netflix that I am watching is free. But there are some channels that do cost but so far I am not seeing a need for them. 


That is about all for right now....going to go to bed.

I Go To Sleep

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. feeling better
2. a safe trip to Denver
3. a safe trip home
4. seeing adorable pictures of my niece sitting in a pile of leaves
5. a great muffin I had a Mimi's Cafe and finding the recipe online so that I can try to make them at home

Hoisin Meatballs

This recipe was modified from Hoisin-Glazed Turkey Meatballs - I wanted to have them for dinner instead of as an appetizer.  Also I didn't want to go out and buy anything additional so just worked with what I had on hand so modified the ingredients to work for me. I didn't see the need for the oil although I am sure it gives additional flavor. I also ended up having to add bread crumbs because the ingredients made the ground meat so wet.

Hoisin Turkey Meatballs


2 tablespoons reduced-sodium  Soy Sauce

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger root

1 teaspoon sriracha sauce or 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 scallions, minced 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (didn't have any garlic cloves on hand)

1/2 cup  drained, finely chopped water chestnuts
1 pound lean ground turkey

3/4 cup bread crumbs 

1/4 cup purchased Hoisin Sauce

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or tinfoil coated with cooking spray.
2. Whisk  soy sauce,  ginger, garlic powder, sriracha or crushed red pepper, 1 tblsp hoisin sauce and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in cornstarch until smooth. Stir in 2 minced scallions and water chestnuts. Stir in turkey  and bread crumbs until completely combined.
3. Shape the mixture into medium sized meatballs. If you don’t want to cook these right now you could put them in the freezer for later. 
4. Place the meatballs on a pan and bake until the meat is cooked through, 15 to 17 minutes.
5. Brush the meatballs with  Hoisin sauce. Cook meatballs an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Serve with stir fry vegetables and rice. 

Click on the title of the post and then hit the print button. 

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. another visit to my doctor - and maybe this treatment helping even after 1 dose
2. breathing
3. candy corn
4.  finding out that I can freeze my yogurt
5.  Frank and JoAnne giving me all their old encyclopedias - I just made room for them in my studio so that I can use them for art.

#OccupyWallstreet

I have been totally hung up on this website for the last several days. It really is getting to me. I feel often at times we are struggling but then I read things like I am reading on this website and am thankful for the roof over our head and the work coming to the business. Michael works really hard and I am proud of all he does to keep moving forward. Our story pales in comparison to most of the folks I read about. We are in the 99 percent - but we're grateful for what we have as most folks are in much worse shape.

http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

Live

Live with intention. 
Walk to the edge. 
Listen Hard. 
Practice wellness. 
Play with abandon. 
Laugh. 
Choose with no regret. 
Appreciate your friends. 
Continue to learn. 
Do what you love. 
Live as if this is all there is.
— Mary Anne Radmacher

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1.  a good doctors visit
2. time at Target looking at all the nice fall items
3. finishing the last Harry Potter book - although it always makes me sad finishing a book. I am eager when I start it but when I finish I am sad. I am still thankful for have the opportunity to read all 6 books as they were exceptional.
4. frozen yogurt
5. Alka Seltzer cold and cough - I wouldn't have any sleep without it

Source: nefon.tumblr.com via Chrissy on Pinterest

Hopeful

Well I am hopeful....it was a good visit with my new doctor. He came in with notes he hand wrote out.  And then he really was thoughtful of what to do - really thinking for a solution. He is much different then my previous doctor but he was nice. Going on some new meds and will be seeing him in a week as he feels a couple of the meds should be kicking in by then and making me feel better.  

So I am just feeling hopeful that things will get better.

Adele again

I am not sure I have found a song of hers that I don't like and don't play over and over. This one I played quite a bit last month.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. that I knew the Dad of my best friend from junior high school.  He always made me laugh. I have some very good memories and I am very thankful for them.  I am keeping my friend and her family in my thoughts as her Dad passed away this week.
2. adorable photos that my niece sent us (well her Mom and Dad sent us but it said it was from her)
3. getting some rooms cleaned this week even though it takes so much out of me. I am still recovering.
4. out of the blue email from a good friend who now lives closer to us so we hope to go visit soon
5. the nebulizer I was loaned from the clinic.  I am so thankful that I have had it around as I have needed it.

Cheeseburger Flatbread

I found this recipe on Kevin and Amanda. I did change a few things. 

Cheeseburger Flatbread Melts

1 lb ground turkey browned and drained (ground beef can be used also)
1/4 cup water
1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
11 oz pizza dough 
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown and drain ground meat. Add water, vinegar, onion soup mix, ketchup, mustard and garlic. Stir to combine and simmer over low heat. 

Heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Divide the pizza dough into six to eight equal portions and press the pieces out to make them a little bit bigger. Fry the dough for one minute on each side or until golden brown and bubbly. Remove to a paper towel to drain. Top with beef mixture and shredded cheese.

Makes 6 to 8 flatbread melts. 

NOTES:

* I left out the apple cider the last time I made it and it really didn't change the taste much. 

* I increased the ketchup because I didn't feel it was covering the meat enough when I stirred it in.  But you could try it with the 1/4 cup first and then see if you need a little more. 

* Amanda's recipe uses the thin crust pizza dough but I tried it and then regular but really didn't find much difference except maybe got a little bit bigger pieces of flatbread out of the regular pizza dough. 

Click on the title of the post and then this button to print. 

Turning Tables

I love Adele.  I listen to her quite bit on Pandora.

Gratitude Friday

Today I am thankful for...
1. being able to see Michael do his presentation - He rocked!
2. an evening out with friends
3. a great view from our hotel room in Denver
4. unplugging for the evening and just relaxing
5. time spent with Michael

Today

The Verve

Sick of Being Sick

We were suppose to go celebrate Michael's sister-in-law's birthday yesterday with a surprise party for her but I was up all night with asthma problems. Michael didn't sleep well either so being on the road and driving wasn't a great option for us.  We were feeling so bad about missing it.  It is a milestone birthday and we also missed something else not too long ago that was important to her....so we just wanted to make sure we were there so she knew we loved her.

We were going to do what we call a turn and burn - drive 4 hours to Denver  to the party. Stay at the party for a few hours and then drive all the way back to Grand Junction the same day. It takes a lot out of us and since we had just got home the week before we still aren't really up to speed yet. And we are going to be in Denver again next week it is hard to all this traveling so I guess it was our bodies saying no.

My asthma is still giving me problems. I have an appointment at the end of the month - and it will be someone new I am seeing since my doctor moved in August.

I am just feeling a little frustrated and down because it feels like I am falling behind on everything because I can't breath. I don't have the energy for anything. I am out of spoons. Basically I am sick of being sick.  So I really hope that things go at the end of the month with the new doctor.

Ten Years Later

We watched one of the specials on 9/11 tonight on TV and it was really hard to watch. I cried throughout. I feel so much for those firefighters who have developed cancer.  Again this is one of those things that angers me because we aren't helping them with their medical bills.  A bill passed that didn't cover cancer...that makes no sense to me.  My heart goes out to the rescue workers and their families.