My Husband, Love and Soul Mate is on Kidney Dialysis

Spiritual Sunday

2009-11-21T16:36:00.010-05:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger athttp://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/2009/11/welcome-friends.html for more blessings to share. I have so much to be thankful for this year. As Thanksgiving approaches, I would like to share them with you. I am thankful that my husband has a good job and that we have a home and have never known hunger. I wish this for everyone.

I am thankful for our beautiful daughter Katy, who is a wonderful person. We are very proud of her. She is posing here with our dog Sasha, who we are also thankful for.

I am thankful for my husband, he is posing with Sasha also. It is hard to find a picture without Sasha, I guess you can tell we are pretty fond of her. He continues with dialysis and we pray for a transplant, but his health is good right now and he is able to work. That is a blessing.This is how we will be feeling after a beautiful Thanksgiving bounty.

Most importantly I thank God for all of these blessings and all he has given me in my life. God bless you all this Thanksgiving. I wish you all a day with love, laughter and yummy food to share with family and friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! ~Henry Ward Beecher

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He who thanks but with the lips Thanks but in part;The full, the true Thanksgiving Comes from the heart.~J.A. Shedd

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O Lord that lends me life,Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.~William Shakespeare

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Anne

Spiritual Sunday

2009-10-24T23:12:00.006-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger and many beautiful people at Spiritual Sundays

God bless you all this beautiful Fall Sunday. When I was growing up I learned to do a lot of baking and cooking. The baking especially brings back such warm memories. I was the youngest of 7 and everyone was pretty busy a lot of the time. Baking time meant that I was home with my Mom and sisters and for that amount of time, we would be together doing something. The house smelled wonderful of course, but it also felt wonderful and safe. The fall brings memories of apple pies and spice cake. Cookies were my favorite. We would all bake Christmas cookies for weeks before Christmas. There was a schedule on the fridge and every night another kind of cookie was made by all of us, even my brothers helped. We would fix up trays of cookies and deliver them to the neighbors and friends. What a happy time. Most of my family is spread over the US now. I still bake every Christmas and Thanksgiving and even Halloween. My daughter and I make up trays and deliver them to our neighbors and friends. No other gift is needed and we have carried on a tradition that I hope will be carried on forever. Do you have any family traditions? I wish you all happy memories. I am leaving a recipe for an apple cake. I hope you enjoy it and have a great week.

~~~~~~~~

Apple Cake
~~~~~~~~

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided use)

1 cup granulated sugar or Splenda® granulated sugar substitution

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose white flour

2 cups apples, peeled and chopped
~~~~~~~~~~

Cream the 1/2 cup butter with 1 cup sugar and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together. Alternate the sour cream with the flour mixture until it is all blended in, then stir in the apples by hand. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch pan.
~~~~~~~~~~
Topping:
Mix together 2 TBSP soft butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon and crumble over the top of the cake.
~~~~~~~~~~
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes

~~~~~~~~~

Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons. ~Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

~~~~~~~~

Anne

Spiritual Sunday

2009-10-08T23:19:00.010-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger for more thoughtful posts at Spiritual Sundays . There is always something to be learned by visiting these wonderful people.
I have had this poem on my refrigerator for many years. I love it, it just speaks to me somehow. I wanted to share it with you today. I love being a Mom, I love my daughter so much. Thank you God for my beautiful daughter.This poem expresses to me how difficult it is for me to let go of her as she enters adulthood and faces the world. She will always be my baby, my angel, my little girl. She has grown into a beautiful adult and I am very proud of her.

Flight Clearance

Vicki Huffman

Wait! Don't go.

You've been here such a little while.
So much we haven't done

I haven't said.

Don't go, my child.

I watched you.

Damp curls, clutching Teddy's foot.

In slumber you lay---angelic.

I wept---prophetic.

Of future cares, my child.
~~

I turned around

You filled the bed arms flung wide

Wings awaiting takeoff.

Please don't ask

For flight clearance, my child.

How short a time since

I bore you in womb, in arms, in heart.

My labor pains return

Each time you plunge

Head-first into the world, my child.

You've come to go

From my lap, my knees, my side

But never from my love.

Like Abraham with Isaac

I give you up---I receive you again.

Forever my child.

God bless you all this Sunday. Anne

I want to let you know that Jesica, a woman I have asked you to pray for from Spirit Jumpers has lost her battle with cancer. She is with God now and at rest. Please pray for her family, she was married with 3 small children. Thank you

Take me out to the ballgame

2009-10-05T15:06:00.010-04:00

My Husband and I are Detroit Tiger baseball fans. The Tigers are in a race for a championship this year. Last week he called me at 9:00 a.m. and told me to get ready and meet him at work. He got us tickets for the game that day. What a surprise!!

My back is healing from an injury so I was a little hesitant but it turned out to be ok. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining.

Unfortunately they lost to Minnesota, but we did have a good time. We left a little down but full of hot dogs. Here is a "friend" on the outside of the stadium. It is a really nice park, just a few years old.

They have a ride for kids with baseball cars and a tiger merry go round for kids. The food is good, but a bit expensive in my opinion. It was fun and exciting to do something so spur of the moment.

The Tigers have only one more game against Minnesota on Tuesday, after that it is over. I am hoping for a good game in our favor.

Go Tigers!! Anne

Spiritual Sunday

2009-09-26T18:49:00.005-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays for more beautiful posts. Thank you for hosting this special meme. I have been going to our local farmers market the past 2 weeks. I walked around and looking at all the bounty, it made me think about all that God gives us. We had a feast when we got home. My daughter and I made homemade minestrone soup, eggplant sandwiches, homemade pies. What a beautiful day. The rain fell outside and no matter to us. Life is good.

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weather means more when you have a garden. There's nothing like listening to a shower and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans. ~Marcelene Cox

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a gardener, I'm among those who believe that much of the evidence of God's existence has been planted. ~Robert Brault

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God bless you all. Anne

Spiritual Sunday

2009-09-12T23:50:00.005-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger and many other wonderful people at Spiritual Sundays . Join in!

God bless you all this beautiful Sunday. I have been thinking a lot this week about Fall. I love Fall it is my favorite season. I love the colors, the smells, the slight chill in the air. I love to bake and fill my house with the smells of cinnamon and nutmeg. I have been involved in an organization called Spirit Jumpers, if you just click on the button on my sidebar, you can get more information. These are people that have cancer and just need someone to reach out to them. For these people the seasons must be very important. I can't help but wonder will this be their last fall, last winter? That can be said for all of us I know, because of course none of us know when our time on earth will end. For the victims of cancer, they truly must spend time wondering about their last season. This has made me appreciate the world around me so much more than I ever did. When I go out for a walk, I take in every tree, every site that I can. I realize how much I have taken some of these things for granted. Trying to see through the eyes of a person who has been told that they may only have 6 months to live has helped me to open my eyes wider. I want to thank God for all the beauty that He has given us. Enjoy your day and please try to look at something you may not have noticed before and thank God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. ~Job 11:15-1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

God bless you Anne

Spiritual Sundays

2009-09-05T23:23:00.004-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays for more beautiful and uplifting posts.

"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Heaven is blessed with the perfect rest, but the blessing of earth is toil".~Henry van Dyke

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Labor was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labor, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased." ~Adam Smith

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken. ~Bill Dodds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. ~Albert Einstein
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Labor Day and God bless you all this Sunday. Anne

Spirit Jumpers

2009-08-25T23:46:00.003-04:00

I have been reaching out to some special people through Spirit Jumpers. I get an e-mail from them once a week and they list the names of people who are suffering from cancer. All that they ask is that you send a card, a note, a small gift if you can. I usually choose one based on the story, the person that touches me the most. I then e-mail them back and they send me an address. I have met some very special people this way. Some are very lonely, and some are surrounded by support, but you can never have enough. The ages range from young children to the elderly and everything in between. It has made me think about my life, my husband is on dialysis, but he can live for a long time on it and there is always hope of a transplant. Some of these special people have very little to hope for. I am asking for you prayers for the following people: Jesica, Teresa, Pamela, John and Alexis.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you and God bless you all
+++++++++++++++++++++
"If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell."~Lance Armstrong

Spiritual Sunday

2009-08-22T23:04:00.005-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays for more beautiful posts.

This week I am going to use the lyrics to a song for my theme for this post. I was in the car recently and heard a song I have not heard in a very long time. I love the lyrics and it made me think of my husband. The song is "The stuff that dreams are made of " by Carly Simon. We have been married for 27 years. There have been ups and downs like any marriage. Lately we have had challenges, kidney dialysis for my husband and I have a back injury right now. I was thinking how, when I first fell in love and get married, I thought that my husband was perfect in every way. Little by little the rose colored glasses come off and thats ok, because of course no one is perfect, least of all myself. I learned to look at him differently as our marriage grew and appreciate him for other reasons. I read about so much divorce and wonder if many of those marriages were just not willing to work past removing the rose colored glasses and not willing to accept imperfection or the challanges that marriage can create. I love my husband, our daughter and our life with all the imperfections. Here are the words that touched me in the song. Happy Sunday to you all and God bless you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take a look around now

Change the direction

Adjust the tuning

Try a new translation

Don't look at your man in the same old way

Take a new picture

Just because you don't see shooting stars Doesn't mean it isn't perfect can't you see...

********************************

It's the stuff that dreams are made of It's the slow and steady fire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of It's your heart and soul's desire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't look at yourself in the same old way

Take another picture

Shoot the stars off in your own backyard Don't look any further

And you will see It's the stuff that dreams are made of....

What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale Is right here in disguise

And what if the stars you've been reaching so high for Are shining in his eyes

*******************************

It's the stuff that dreams are made of It's the slow and steady fire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of It's your heart and soul's desire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

Baked Apples on the Grill

2009-08-19T22:37:00.006-04:00

My husband just recently got us a new grill and I have been trying all kinds of fun things including desserts. This is one we all enjoyed and it is not high in fat or calories.

Ingredients:
4 medium sized apples (brae burns, granny smith, gala work the best for me)
4 tsp brown sugar
4 tsp butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 TBSP raisins

Peel and core the apples but leave them whole. Mix together the butter, brown sugar, raisins and spices. Put each apple in its own large piece of foil ( large enough to cover the whole apple). Work the butter mixture down the cored out center of the apple. Wrap each apple in the foil and then wrap in another piece of foil. You can put them right in the coals if you have a charcoal grill or campfire. For a gas grill, just place on the grill and close. It takes about 15 minutes depending on the size of the apple. With an oven mitt on, you can also give it a squeeze and feel if it is soft. Carefully unwrap and place apple in a bowl. There will be a lot of juice at the bottom, be careful, it is better to open over a dish. It is very hot. This goes perfectly with vanilla ice milk and we like to sprinkle chopped nuts on top to finish. I hope you enjoy it.

Have a great weekend.
Anne

Spiritual Sunday

2009-08-16T02:12:00.012-04:00

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger for more beautiful posts. Spiritual Sundays

Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.~Alphonse Karr

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We plants seeds that will flower as results in our lives, so best to remove the weeds of anger, avarice, envy and doubt...~Dorothy Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peace be to you, fear not.~Genesis 43:23

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a wonderful week everyone. Please keep 6 year old Alexis in your prayers, she is back in the hospital with a very low white count, but her spirits are up right now. The power of prayer is amazing.Please pray for Jesica, she got some very bad news regarding her cancer, the doctor told her it was time to get her affairs in order. They have almost run out of treatments that will help her. She is a mother of 4 small children and she suffers from extreme pain constantly. God be with these 2 precious people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glorious Saint Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke thee and with love for those who suffer. Heavily laden with the weight of my burden I cast myself at your feet and I humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special protection. Vouch safe to commend it to your daughter, our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the throne of Jesus, that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until through divine mercy my request is granted. Above all obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, with you and Mary and all the saints, praising and blessing him for all eternity. ***My Mom taught me this prayer a long time ago, I pray it often.

God Bless You, Anne

WoRdLeSs WeDnEsDaY

2009-08-12T00:05:00.002-04:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

Spiritual Sunday

2009-08-08T18:09:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Spiritual Sundays. Thanks to Charlotte and Ginger atSpiritual Sundays for hosting.

This week I am going to ask you to pray for some very special people who are fighting a battle with cancer.

Alexis is 6 and just recently was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, she is being treated with chemo therapy.

Jesica is a mother of 4 who is also being treated with chemo therapy and has a lot of painful side affects from it while she is trying to care for her children. She has a great community of support from family and church, but more prayers are needed.

We all have our difficulties in life. I have found that reaching out to people is a great healer of the spirit. I don't understand why certain people have to suffer this way and I never will. I trust in God and in his wisdom,He has His reasons. I have faith and so I am asking you to reach out and pray with me for these special people and their families. God bless you all and have a great week. Anne

"If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell."~Lance Armstrong

Spiritual Sundays

2009-08-01T22:32:00.006-04:00

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ Please visit Charlotte and Ginger for more Spiritual Sunday.

Flowers are the sweetest thing God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.~Henry Beecher

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever seen a flower down

Sometimes angels skip around

And in their blissful state of glee

Bump into a daisy or sweet pea~Jessi Land Adams

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God writes the gospel not in the bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.~Martin Luther

God bless you all. Anne

WoRdLeSs WeDnEsDaY

2009-07-29T03:25:00.004-04:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

Heads or Tails

2009-07-28T02:21:00.004-04:00

The theme/prompt for THIS week, July 28, is:TAILS -
"In Five Years"
This is TAILS so your post needs to be about you specifically.
Tell how you think you or your life will be different in five years.
Will it be better or worse?
Why will it change?
How will you do it?
Anything is ok as long as it fits the theme. =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In five years, that seems like a long time away and yet it really isn't. My daughter will be 27 and I hope she is in a good relationship, perhaps married. I want her to be happy of course and we will have the same good relationship with each other that we have now. I will be a size 10 again and people will stop me and say, how do you manage to look so young and healthy. I will tell them that five years ago I was working on a blog and realized how out of shape I was and made a vow to improve my health and eating habits. It took five years but it is worth it. Next week I am running in a marathon. My husband will have finally received his kidney transplant after a long wait. With his blood type they told us, it would be about seven years and he has been on the list for almost two years, so five years from now he will have a new kidney. He will be healthy and no longer have to go to dialysis three times every week and feel tired all the time. As a matter of fact, he is running the marathon with me. After that we are off on a second honeymoon to Hawaii. We won't be rich, but we will always have what we need. In five years we will be together and still happy.

Scenic Sunday #54

2009-07-26T00:45:00.006-04:00

Milwaukee, WI is known as the "city of festivals". Every summer there are many festivals right along the lakefront. These are some photos taken by my daughter while she was visiting Summerfest in Milwaukee.

Change the World

2009-07-23T15:31:00.004-04:00

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2009/07/change-world-wednesday_22.html

"Before we get started today, I'd like to tell you that our challenge is being "simulcast" over at Gaiatribe. Our good friend Elizabeth Barrette asked me to write a little about how these weekly challenges came about ... so, if you have a few minutes, hop over there and check it out."

"Are you ready for a new challenge? Last week's challenge addressed the need to reduce our consumption ... participants were asked to not buy anything new for a week (except for food, health and safety products). This week's challenge (which only has one "level") was recommended by one of our favorite followers, Sas_Consultant, and is all about reusing:We all know that it's better to reuse something we already have rather than buy something new. But what about those items that are sitting in closets, storage sheds and the "back room" ... those things that we don't use and probably haven't used in a long while? I'll bet that there is someone who could use it. So, this week, take a look around your home and put together a box of no-longer-used items and ... "reuse them" by giving them away. Donate them to local charities, shelters, retirement homes or the Humane Society. See if your neighbors might need them or perhaps a family in need would appreciate them. This challenge has a double impact ... we'll be making items available for reuse and we'll be helping others. It's a challenge with heart!We're changing the world ... one challenge at a time!"

I like this challenge very much as I have many items around my house that we do not use. I am going to ask my husband and daughter to also go through their clothes and things and try to pass on some items to someone in need. I am going to start with coats, I know that I have some in very good shape that I just don't wear anymore. Next I will move on to shoes and see how that goes. I will post photos when we are done to show the progress.

Last week, I gave up buying more cookbooks at the checkout and lottery tickets and kitchen gadgets. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I restrained and added up what I would have spent and put it into a money jar. So far I saved us $16.85. It probably doesn't sound like much, but honestly I didn't realize how much I was spending on things we don't really need. I am going to keep trying and will post next week.

Have a great week everyone and try to change the world a little bit at a time.

Anne

Heads or Tails

2009-07-20T23:16:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the July 21st edition of HEADS or TAILS. Hot week #100, if you want to join in just click on the spinning coin.

The theme/prompt for THIS week, July 21, is: HEADS - Wear*OR*TAILS - Where Use any form of either word to make a post using either theme/prompt. You can even do both!

Where?? Our home last Halloween.

Wear?? A costume of course(not by choice).

Scenic Sunday #53

2009-07-18T22:46:00.006-04:00

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

SCENIC SUNDAY

The photos are all from Greenfield Village in Michigan. The top one is a working farm that they have. The others are from sights along our way that day.

Change the World Wednesday 7/15/2009

2009-07-15T13:23:00.006-04:00

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2009/07/change-world-wednesday_15.html

"Okay ... are you ready for this weeks challenge? Today's challenge was suggested by Kelli at Thoughts of a Sober White Women. She calls this the "No Spending Diet" and says that she has been on this diet for a year. Wow, Kelli ... that's fabulous! Thanks for this week's challenge. Here we go:For one entire week, put yourself on a "No Spending Diet" ... don't buy anything new (except for food, health and safety products). No new clothes ... no new shoes ... no new gizmos or gadgets ... forget about a new car, new furniture or new appliances ... nothing new for one week! OR ... if you're already in the habit of buying used or re purposing what you have, for all or most of the time, write a paragraph or two about how it works in your life or write about your favorite re purposed item and send it to me (you'll find Reduce Footprint's email address on the left sidebar). In an upcoming post, I'll include every one's ideas!If you're wondering why a "No Spending Diet" is good for the earth, check out The Story of Stuff. It's a brilliant video!I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participates in our challenges and spreads the "green" word. I appreciate your open minds, willingness to try something new and concern for the earth we live on!We're changing the world ... one challenge at a time!"

Another diet to follow, ouch!! Just kidding, I like this one actually. It is a diet that will save me some money in the long run. I am a kitchen gadget and cookbook collector. I am a sucker for those cookbooks you see while waiting in line at the grocery store, the ones that have soft covers and only cost a few dollars. I own them all, every one. I also love to buy new gadgets for the kitchen, some I use , some I get home and think , "why did I buy that again?". I have another bad habit, every week I buy myself a lottery scratch off ticket(sometimes more than one).

Here is my challenge to myself. I will refrain from buying any of those items this week and see how much I can save. It won't be huge, but it will make a difference. I am going to take whatever money that I save and keep track of it and I am going to see if I can continue this for more weeks to come. I will post the results and let you know if this small change makes a difference in our budget. I am not working right now, so any little bit should help. If the money should add up to anything significant over a period of time, I vow to do something charitable with it. Wish me luck. Look even he's happy for me.

Heads or Tails #99 7/14/2009

2009-07-13T23:56:00.002-04:00

http://headsortailshome.blogspot.com/

Welcome to the July 14 edition of Heads or Tails! ~Hot week #99~

The theme/prompt for this week is HEADS- Pile.
Make any post using the word "Pile" as your theme/prompt.

PILE IT ON!!!!!!!!! PILE IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RECIPE SWAP MONDAY 7/13/2009

2009-07-13T04:01:00.003-04:00

http://learningtogetherhandinhand.blogspot.com/ Lemonade Wings

These are a little different way to do some wings for a party or just a snack. The lemonade gives a nice flavor to them.

24 chicken wing drummettes
4 tablespoons canola oil
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 tablespoons onion, chopped
4 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped
1 cup lemonade (regular or diet)
2 teaspoons black pepper

Preheat oven to 400° F.
Place chicken wings in a baking dish.
Add all remaining ingredients to a saucepan and cook for 3 minutes.
Pour mixture over chicken and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Test for doneness.
Serve hot or place in a covered warming dish or crock pot until ready to serve

I like to put them under the broiler and crisp them a little more for a few minutes before I serve them.

I get my recipes from Davita.com for my husband. I like the site because they give me all the nutritional info that I need and they are made by dieticians. That makes me feel good and like I am doing my best to take care of him.

Calories: 200
Protein: 11 g
Carbohydrate: 3 g
Fat: 16 g
Cholesterol: 34 mg
Sodium: 67 mg
Potassium: 88 mg
Phosphorus: 62 mg
Calcium: 13 mg
Fiber: 0.3 g

Lemonade Strawberry Cooler

2009-07-09T14:43:00.003-04:00

I am always trying to come up with summer treats for my husband, but also for my family and friends as well. This recipe is very simple and you can add more sugar as needed but it is refreshing.

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup strawberries

1 TBSP sugar( or splenda equivalent)

1 cup ice cubes

In a blender add the lemon juice, strawberries and sugar and blend until smooth, add the ice cubes one at a time until you have a nice slushy consistency.

Serve and enjoy! You could do raspberries, (my husband doesn't like them)or use your imagination. Maybe even a little vodka in the mix? You didn't hear that from me.

Happy Summer everyone!

Anne

Change the World Wednesday July 8

2009-07-07T22:14:00.005-04:00

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html I love the idea of changing the world that we live in. Please visit the blog above for lots of information and ideas to help you to do it. The last post was discussing recycling. Check out RecycleBank for lots of help in that area. I have been trying really hard lately to read labels and buy recycled containers.

In Michigan we have a 10 cent deposit on soda bottles and cans. You pay an extra dime when you buy it so I think many people do recycle in this area. If the beverage does not have carbonation such as lemonade then there is no deposit and I do see a lot of cans thrown away when I am at the grocery store recycling my cans and bottles. Our trash service has a recycling truck that comes by on trash day to collect, aluminum, glass, plastic. There is no excuse not to use it as far as I am concerned. It is part of the service if nothing else you are paying for it so why not use it. I would love some feedback from you as to whether your state has recycling with your trash pick up. We have a seperate container and you don't have to seperate the glass, cans, plastic, just put it all in the bin and they seperate it into different bins in the truck. Do you recycle glass , cans or plastic? I am not a saint by any means, I have thrown things away that I shouldn't, but I am trying hard every day to make a difference. If we all did that I hope there will be a difference.

I borrowed this photo off the web, it is just like our container, ours is pretty yucky right now and I didn't want you to see it.

Good luck and try to make a difference this week. Thanks

Heads or Tails # 98 July 7

2009-07-07T00:27:00.012-04:00

Welcome to the July 7th edition of Heads Or Tails!- HoT Week #98

http://headsortailshome.blogspot.com/

The theme/prompt for this week, July 7 is HEADS "Spin"

Make any kind of post using any version of the word "spin" as your theme/prompt.

Figure skating spin: a skating move
Poi spinning: a form of juggling

Spin bowling: a bowling technique in cricket

Spinning wheel: a process of creating yarn from various raw fiber materials

Spun around my little finger: my husband

Watermelon Summer Cooler

2009-07-06T01:09:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Anissa for hosting a recipe swap, click on her link and check it out.

This is a very refreshing recipe I found athttp://www.davita.com/. We have a hard time in the summer going out for a refreshing treat since my husband is so limited with dairy and beverages in general. This is a nice treat we can all enjoy.

1 cup crushed ice

1 cup seedless watermelon cubes

2 tsp lime juice

1 TBSP sugar or sugar substitute equal to 1 TBSP

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for about 1 minute until you get the texture you like.

Pour into a glass and enjoy, it makes about 1-1/2 cups of beverage. The calories below are for 1/2 recipe since they consider this a recipe for 2 drinks.

Nutrients per serving
Calories: 52
Protein: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 13 g
Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 1 mg
Potassium: 96 mg
Phosphorus: 9 mg
Calcium: 6 mg
Fiber: 0.3 g
Renal and Renal Diabetic Food Choices
1 fruit, low potassium

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-03T02:33:00.003-04:00

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.~Elmer Davis

We must not be free because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.~William Faulkner

My God! How little do our countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!~Thomas Jefferson

How important it is to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!~Maya Angelou

Happy 4th of July, be safe and enjoy.

Change the World Wednesday

2009-07-01T22:30:00.010-04:00

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Please go to the blog above and find more details on this great challenge for all of us to make a change in this beautiful world we live in.

Okay ... are you ready for a new challenge?

This weeks challenge: Replace at least 1 incandescent bulb in your home with either a CFL or LCD bulb. I have already begun to do this but the further challenge is to report about the light bulbs and contact 5 new blogs (blogs I have never visited before) and invite them to join the challenge by visiting your site.

A couple of weeks ago we went shopping for light bulbs and did begin to replace all of our light bulbs. We are replacing them as the old ones burn out. I have noticed that the lighting looks a little different in the kitchen and being new at buying these it is probably something we should have checked into more. The light over the sink seems to have an almost bluish tint, while the one in the overhead lights kind of yellowish tint. We do like them but just need to learn a little more about them. There are so many different kinds and my husband (honestly) took a long time in reading and choosing them. The tinting is not by any means a problem and I do encourage you to buy them. They have only been in a couple of weeks so I don't have much else to report but so far so good. I do feel good in knowing that first I shouldn't have to replace them for a long time and will save money and also that I am doing a small part for the good of our planet.

This is the overhead light fixture in the kitchen that my husband broke trying to "fix" it. We are in the process of replacing it but you get the idea.

These are the bulbs we will use to replace the old bulbs when they burn out.

WoRdLeSs WeDnEsDaY

2009-06-30T22:18:00.005-04:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

Heads or Tails

2009-06-30T01:57:00.007-04:00

The Theme/Prompt for this week June 30 is HEADS-"Tool"

Make any kind of post using "Tool" as your theme. For more information on the theme either click on my cows tail or go to http://headsortailshome.blogspot.com/ and check it out.

I chose to put this one on my husbands blog because my husband and the word "tool" very seldom ever appear together. I thought this might bring him some good luck. I love my husband and yes right now he is having a lot of health problems. He has never been good with tools of any kind, although he does try. I have learned words that I didn't realize existed during many of his projects, none of which I could or would repeat here. We all have our good and not so good point believe me I accept this. I am just asking that he accepts it and finally learns to ask for help. Instead he would rather go through the motion of looking like Mr. Handy Man. I love him just the way he is , faults and all, as he does me. I have faults a plenty believe me, but I do know when to ask for help. He would rather wait until he chips and ruins my sink while trying to put in a new faucet so that we have to replace the whole sink and faucet. I got a new stainless steel sink which I love, but the old one had a few good years in her.

While changing the light bulbs in the kitchen, instead of waiting for someone to hand the fixture to, he does it alone and guess what, now I have no fixture in the kitchen over the lights for now. Do we need to discuss the time he "fixed" our grill and then went on to incinerate 3 whole chickens that he was supposed to rotisserie. He torched the first one, gets mad goes to the store for another chicken. The second chicken is cooking, he walks away and again POOF the chicken is black. By this time I am thinking just get some KFC but no he goes out for a third chicken. After all he had fixed the grill it works fine now. Guess what happened to the third chicken, need I tell you. We ended up with KFC. You gotta love him, just don't hand him a "tool".

p.s. Look at my cool backround from Kitty Designes. at http://kittydesignes.blogspot.com/

Go visit her she is the best!

Fruity Dump Cake

2009-06-28T23:02:00.006-04:00

http://learningtogetherhandinhand.blogspot.com/ Thanks to Anissa for this great meme.

I found this recipe at Davita.comhttp://www.davita.com/recipes/c/desserts

They have great recipes that are health friendly and they always list all the nutritional info that you need. I have made this using pineapple and a yellow cake mix and I added some maraschino cherries. You can create any mixture you want here. It is easy and quick.

Using a 9x13 inch pan, spray with non-stick cooking spray and preheat oven to 350.

Ingredients

2 15 oz. cans peaches or pineapple ( I use no-sugar added or nutrasweet varieties)

1 yellow cake mix

1/2 cup unsalted margarine

Dump the fruit into the bottom of the pan with the juice, sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the top of the fruit. Dot with the margarine. Put it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. It will be golden and bubbly.

You can serve this warm with a little ice cream or cooled with cool whip or just the way it is.

Nutrients per serving (makes 12 servings)
Calories: 260
Protein: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Fat: 9 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 292 mg
Potassium: 107 mg
Phosphorus: 140 mg
Calcium: 26 mg
Fiber: 0.7 g

Renal and Renal Diabetic Food Choices
1 starch
1/2 fruit, low potassium
1 high calorie
1-1/2 fat

NOTE: When I made it I used only 1 can of pineapple and the yellow cake mix and put it into a 9 inch pan to bake it. This is a recipe you can easily change around to suit your needs, but the nutritional info I have posted is for the recipe above.

Thanks Anne

Ways to Cut 100 Calories out of your diet

2009-06-24T23:51:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to find ways to cut back calories for my family. For my husband he has a lot of diet restrictions of course but there are easy ways to cut back on the calories and you won't have to sacrifice much, here are just a few that I found:

1. Make a grilled cheese sandwich with cooking spray instead of butter or margarine. Now this may not sound good, but I do it and honestly it tastes good and I cut out some of the guilt for the grilled cheese that I love so much.

2.Cut the peanut butter in your sandwich from 2 TBSP to 1 TBSP, you can do this easily, you won't even notice after a while. My husband loves peanut butter but is not supposed to have it so when he does occasionally break down at least its only a tablespoon.

3.Eat 2 slices of cheese pizza instead of 2 slices of pepperoni pizza

4. Dip your chips in 1/2 cup of salsa instead of 1/2 cup guacamole

5. Use 2 TBSP of light syrup instead of 2 TBSP of regular syrup

6. Cut back on sampling during cooking , the following have 100 calories: 4 TBSP beef stroganoff, 3 TBSP homemade chocolate pudding, 2 TBSP chocolate chip cooky dough.

7. Eat 2 meatballs instead of 4 with your spaghetti

8. Eat 2 Kelloggs nutrigrain bars instead of 2 Kelloggs poptarts.

9. At Burger King have a whopper jr. with regular fries instead of a whopper with cheese

10. Replace 1 cup of corn with 1 cup of carrots

I have listed only 10 but there are many more, I found this on a website, if you are interested

http://www.freeweightloss.com/ . It is interesting and every little bit helps. You have to start somewhere. Now if I can just get myself to start.

God bless you Anne

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-06-23T23:03:00.002-04:00

Green Tea and Kidney Disease

2009-06-22T00:16:00.000-04:00

My husband had a check up with his kidney doctor last week and while discussing his diet, he mentioned that he likes to drink iced tea. His doctor immediately said, make sure it is not green tea. We had not heard that before so when I got home I had to check it out. He is doing good otherwise by the way and the tea I make at home is fresh brewed and not green, thank goodness. I read many different articles but the information I found most useful was on Drugs.com. It seems there are many different explanations, but for us , obviously we have to follow the advice of his doctor.

Here is what I learned, green tea is made from unfermented leaves and has the highest concentration of poly phenol, which is a powerful antioxidant. It is useful for lowering cholesterol and raises HDL(good cholesterol). There are many studies done which link green tea to lowering your risk for cancer. The most convincing evidence for not drinking green tea is that every study I read stated that it contains large amounts of caffeine. It is also not recommended for pregnant woman, woman who are breast feeding, if you are taking a blood thinner, have heart problems or high blood pressure, any anxiety disorder and hyperthyroidism and of course kidney disease.

The main factor seems always to lead back to the high amount of natural caffeine in the tea. The problem with that is that caffeine can raise your blood pressure and of course make you anxious. Now for healthy people I am sure drinking green tea products are fine, but we had never been told this before (he has been on dialysis for 2 years), so I found this kind of interesting and another thing to add to the bad list for my husband. There are plenty of teas that he can drink so its not that big of a deal, I just wish we had known sooner.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

2009-06-19T01:03:00.000-04:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT

THERE! HERE IS A RECIPE I POSTED ON MOTHER'S DAY THAT IS EASY AND FUN TO MAKE.

YOU WILL NEED A 12 CUP MUFFIN TIN

PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 350

GREASE THE MUFFIN TINS OR SPRAY WITH A NON-STICK COOKING SPRAY.

TAKE 12 SLICES OF BREAD(WHITE OR WHEAT ARE FINE) CUT OFF THE CRUSTS.

(I FEED THE BIRDS OR YOU CAN SAVE TO MAKE BREAD CRUMBS)

FIT EACH SLICE INTO THE GREASED "MUFFIN WELL "IN THE TIN, FIT IT IN AND PRESS THE CENTER DOWN TO THE BOTTOM WITH THE REST COMING UP THE SIDES.

PUT ONE LARGE RAW EGG INTO EACH SLICE OF BREAD.

NOW BAKE AT 350 FOR 20 MINUTES, THEN ADD A SPRINKLE OF CHEESE TO THE TOP AND BAKE FOR 3 MORE MINUTES.

THE EGG WILL COOK COMPLETELY LIKE A HARD COOKED EGG. CAREFULLY REMOVE FROM THE PAN. I USE A BUTTER KNIFE AND RUN IT AROUND THE EDGE AND LIFT OUT.

I LIKE TO SERVE IT WITH TURKEY BACON AND SOME FRESH FRUIT.

IT IS FUN TO DO WITH KIDS.

ENJOY YOUR DAY

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-06-17T02:29:00.000-04:00

COMPARING OUR HEARTS TO A GARDEN

2009-06-16T16:28:00.000-04:00

SHALL WE COMPARE OUR HEARTS TO A GARDEN-
WITH BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS, STRAGGLING WEEDS,
SWOOPING BIRDS AND SUNSHINE, RAIN-
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SEEDS. --GREY LIVINGSTON

Recipe for Cherry Coffee Cake

2009-06-13T15:40:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite web sites for recipes for my husband is Davita.com http://www.davita.com/recipes/

I like it because I know what I am making is approved for diabetics and dialysis patients. They have some really good recipes. I made this one last night and everyone loved it.

Cherry Coffee Cake
Serves 24
serving size 2"x2" piece

1/2 cup softened butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream( I used reduced fat)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups white flour
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
1 can cherry ( or other fruit) pie filling( I used no sugar added cherry)

Preheat oven to 350
Cream together, butter, eggs, sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Mix together flour, baking soda and baking powder and add to creamed ingredients mixing well. Spread in a well greased( I used a non-stick cooking spray) 9x13 inch pan. Evenly spread the fruit filling over the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.

I served it with a little vanilla ice milk but it is good just by itself.

You may notice there is sugar in this recipe but what it comes down to for my husband is the quantity that he consumes. So he can have a piece as long as I portion it out correctly. Honestly he does take a little more but I love to bake and when I follow these recipes I feel a little better about serving it to him.

Blog it Forward

2009-06-11T20:42:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Angela at http://momsgreatescape.blogspot.com/

Mom's Fortress of Solitude

Mom's Fortress of Solitude for coming up with a great idea. Please visit her beautiful blog for information on "blogging it forward".

She is truly and inspiration to us all.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY(ART BY MY DAUGHTER)(ITS NOT OF US)

2009-06-10T14:58:00.000-04:00

MY AWARD

2009-06-09T00:57:00.001-04:00

THE LEMONADE STAND

When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade.

My friend Judy at The Road to Here http://squirrelqueen2.blogspot.com/

gave me this. Thank you Judy and please visit her beautiful blog, the pictures are incredible. I look forward to it each day.

The guidlines are;

1. Post it on my blog (done)

2.Nominate as many bloggers as you would like who have a positive attitude.( done)

3.List and link your nominees(done)

4. Go to their blogs and notify them( almost done)

I love exploring and learning from new blogs, so I am always thrilled to get these awards. It makes my day. I do understand that not everyone feels that way, but please at least know that I am spreading the love that was sent my way. If you don't care to post it thats fine. We are all individuals and that is what makes the whole blog thing so cool!

Please check out these blogs and spread the love

Life as a Layperson

My Homemaking Rurality

My Sanctuary

Our Domestic Adoption Journey

The Goofy Gardener

The Little Web

The Working Mom's Recipe Box

Cute Sweet Baby Animals

A hard life for my daughter

SHOWING OFF MY DAUGHTERS ART

2009-06-07T13:21:00.000-04:00

WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO ASK WHEN SORROW COMES,"WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME"? UNLESS WE ASK THE SAME QUESTION FOR EVERY MOMENT OF HAPPINESS THAT COMES OUR WAY. - AUTHOR UNKNOWN

PRAYER

2009-06-06T13:05:00.000-04:00

WE HAVE TO PRAY WITH OUR
EYES ON GOD, NOT ON THE
DIFFICULTIES.-

OSWALD CHAMBERS

LOVE IS POWERFUL

2009-06-03T14:09:00.000-04:00

The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around....Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing. -Larry Dossey

AN EVENING OUT

2009-05-30T14:26:00.000-04:00

For our anniversary our daughter and her boyfriend got us tickets to attend a show at the Fox theater in Detroit. If you haven't seen this theater it is unbelievable. It was built in 1928 and has been restored over the years. It is a sight to behold. We are big fans of Christopher Guest movies, This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, Mighty Wind. The show was called "Unwigged and Unplugged". It was Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer just playing music, telling stories and making us laugh. It was so much fun I can't begin to explain it. So relaxing and for that 2 hours everything else was just put aside and life had no worries. Our daughter and her boyfriend attended with us and we had a wonderful evening out. It was amazing to see all the different ages of people that attended and everyone was enjoying it equally. No matter what else is going on in your life, you can't put a price on an evening out like this.

ENJOY WHEN YOU CAN AND ENDURE WHEN YOU MUST.

JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

BUTTERFLY

2009-05-27T13:24:00.000-04:00

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun,

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches.

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

-Irish Blessing

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.

-Radindrinath Tagore

LOVE

2009-05-24T14:50:00.000-04:00

Love is strong yet delicate.It can be broken.To truly love is to understand this.To be in love is to respect this.- Stephen Packer

SASHA WITH HER BUDDY

2009-05-22T14:20:00.000-04:00

My husband never had any pets growing up. I had a dog that I love dearly. When our daughter was about 10 I finally talked him into our first dog, a shih tzu named Holly. We got her in December from a breeder and my daughter named her. Holly was a perfect first pet, a little love bug, a lap dog. My husband was sold in a very short time. Unfortunately Holly had a heart condition, but we did have 8 wonderful years with her. After she passed, my husband said he didn't think he wanted another pet. Our daughter won out again and we found Sasha on Petfinder, we rescued her. She is a completely different dog, very hyper, a little neurotic and very sassy. For the first few months my husband actually hated this dog because she bit him, she bit me and he wanted to give her back. But we endured and now he adores her, she is still sassy but he has learned to love her for all of her ways. I think the picture says it all. This is Sashas favorite spot to cuddle and rest every night. Whether he will admit it or not I know he loves it.

CHERRY COBBLER

2009-05-20T12:18:00.000-04:00

This is a quick and easy recipe that is not too bad on the calories or fat. I made it for my family and they ate every bit. No leftovers.

1 can cherry pie filling(or any type fruit pie filling you like)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

3 TBSP. softened butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Take an 8 inch pyrex dish or a 2 quart casserole works too and just put the cherry pie filling in the bottom, no need to spray non-stick spray for this one.

Mix together the brown sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon until it it crumbly and pour it over the top of fruit.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is nicely browned.

Serve with cool whip or a little vanilla ice cream.

I use a no-sugar added cherry pie filling and it tastes really good .

ITS A REALLY NICE QUICK DESSERT TREAT TRY IT TONIGHT!

Deodorant and Kidney Disease

2009-05-19T01:32:00.000-04:00

This is just kind of an unusual bit of information that I would have never payed attention to if my husband didn't have kidney disease. When you purchase most deodorants over the counter and you look on the back there is a warning for people with kidney disease not to use it. Again I would have never noticed this other than my husband. I had to dig around for a reason but here goes.

Most deodorants contain aluminum, this apparently is something we all come in contact with everyday naturally in the environment, in some food and our bodies process it through the kidneys. In my husbands case since his kidneys don't work anymore the FDA felt it was necessary to warn kidney patients not to use it. The amount of the aluminum is very small but it only makes sense not to give kidney patient more problems. For the rest of us, it will not cause kidney disease, it is only a risk if you already have it. I was able to find some all natural deodorants for him called Toms. It works fine and no aluminum. Just a bit of information I learned about and wanted to share with you.

OVEN BAKED "DIALYZED" POTATOES

2009-05-18T13:04:00.001-04:00

FRENCH FRIES WITHOUT THE GUILT

I have a recipe for making an oven baked "fried" potato, let me know what you think.

Serve 4

For my husband I need to prepare the potatoes ahead by peeling them and I cut them into wedges by cutting them in half lenghwise and then each half into 3 or 4 wedges. I then soak them in water 3-1 for 4 or 5 hours.

After this process I drop the potatoes into boiling water for 3 minutes and no more. This helps them to cook faster in the oven. To the potatoes I add salt and pepper and here you can be creative with spices. Sometimes I add paprika, you could add some basil or oregano for a different test. This is where you can experiment. Then I add 2 TBSP. olive oil and mix them all together with spices and oil. Spread on a baking sheet so that they are all flat, not piled up. Bake at 400 for 20 -30 minutes. Check them about half way through and turn so one side doesnt get too browned.

They are really good and get crispy in the oven. A much healthier way to serve fries.

If you don't need to "dialize" them you can leave the skins on before cutting them into wedges and then drop them into boiling water and continue from there.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Summer Foods on a Dialysis Diet

2009-05-16T15:45:00.000-04:00

There are many restrictions for my husband while he is on dialysis. Sodium is a problem of course because his kidneys no longer function but at least I can limit that in my preparation of food. Phosphorus and calcium are a big issue because dialysis alone can't remove all of the phosphorus, and if it builds up calcium is actually pulled from the bones. Over time this can make them weak and can also cause crystals to build in joints, muscles and heart which can cause damage. He does take a medication called a binder at every meal and snacks which helps, but he has to avoid or have very small quantities of any dairy products, nuts in any form, cola drinks, beer, dried beans or peas. So that makes going out for ice cream more difficult. Potassium is another area he has to restrict so he doesn't have too much. Foods in this area are bananas, melons, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, some meats and salt substitutes. Salt substitutes cracks me up, he can't win. He also has to be careful about certain vitamins and minerals. His blood is checked every month at Davita so that we know what areas to work on. The phosphorus and calcium are always a problem. I try to find things all the time that he can have so isn't so negative all the time. Of course he does cheat at times but for the most part he tries pretty hard. Davita.com is a great website which includes tips and lots of recipes. I use non-dairy creamer now in a lot of my recipes. I try to focus more on the apples, pears, peaches etc. that he can have . But summer is almost here and so many of the summer fruits are not good for him. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions I would appreciate any input.

LIVING ON A MERRY GO ROUND

2009-05-15T15:51:00.000-04:00

Life can be a merry go round of sorts. Its a little corny I know. You keep going around and around and up and down along the way. Its so pretty at times, sometimes you feel a little sick and sometimes its just boring but you never want the ride to end. It is so comfortable and each time you go around the faces on the outside can change so there is always hope for something new. We start off choosing the most colorful and sometimes most dangerous looking seat and usually end up after many years sitting on the bench. I never get sick of watching merry go rounds and every so often I still jump on the one that takes me up and down, the up is always worth it.

2009-05-14T12:46:00.000-04:00

I love this picture, my daughter had this displayed in an art show at her college.I love the infinite never ending lines and curves. It is like life can be sometimes, lots of twists and turns, complex but from a distance it all fits together and can be quite beautiful.

Angel Food Cake Trifle

2009-05-13T14:13:00.000-04:00

My family loves this recipe I made up, you can change it to your own taste and be creative with it.

1 angel food cake(either store bought or homemade)cut up into chunks, prepare a box of sugar free pudding(any flavor), fresh fruit I will use strawberries, 2 cups cool whip.

I like to use a clear bowl and start with the pudding, then a layer of cake and fruit on top of that and then cool whip. Continue until you are at the top, ending with the cool whip. I put a little grated chocolate on top. Refrigerate to let all the flavors mix for a few hours. It is so pretty and is really good. To serve it just use a big spoon and go nuts!

For the pudding I sometimes use non-dairy creamer instead of milk, but I only use 1-1/2 cups and after mixing well I add 1/2 cup cool whip, it tastes a little richer.

For the fruit you can be creative sometimes I add strawberries and bananas using chocolate pudding for a banana split taste.

Also you can use vanilla wafers instead of the angel food cake which is also very good.

It is mushy and gooey and delicious.

ENJOY

Selling Your Kidney????

2009-05-11T15:05:00.000-04:00

I just got an e-mail from a man in Germany willing to sell his kidney to the highest bidder. I am almost speechless. What do I do with that? It just doesn't seem right to me. Kind of creepy actually. Its sad to me that there are people who are willing to donate their kidney to someone they love or even to someone they may not even know. But I emphasize the word donate here. And then there are people that are taking advantage of someones situation by selling a body part for money. Is it just me, have I lost my mind here?? I guess it takes all kinds but that kind of person I choose to avoid. I will continue to have hope and follow the people that donate and not the sellers.

THOUGHTS??

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T00:33:00.000-04:00

To all the Moms have a great day! My daughter always makes mine very special and I am looking forward to it.