Tag Archives: hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah

Posted in California, cooking, decluttering, Flylady, home stuff, minimalism, swimming, Uncategorized by

We are atheists and I’m sure some people would be puzzled as to why we like to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. I think with Hanukkah, it is the meaning of the festival of lights and the beauty of the candles in a menorah. I think religious holidays can be secular if you enjoy the festivities and food etc but not the religious stuff.

Even though we are not Jewish, I really enjoy the beauty of the Festival of Lights. We’ll be lighting our candles tonight for the first night and exchange some little gifts. I always make latkes and we have homemade applesauce too. By the same token, as non-Christians, I still love the spirit of Christmas things, the tree, the lights, and the little decorations. So I do enjoy both without the religious attachment. Strange? maybe!!!

This morning started out with a walk and it was magical with the frosty fields and even frost on the Canada Geese’s back. Then back home to assemble the Christmas lasagna. I did two pans and they are now tucked into the freezer. Then my daughter peeled the potatoes for the latkes and they are hanging out in some water till it’s time to shred them. I plan on doing a spinach quiche too with some gruyere cheese.

This week I plan to swim and also go to the rec center. Hey, B checked with UHC and we can get a free gym membership at a local gym with just the cost of buying the key fob( it’s for the door when no one is there). So he’s going tomorrow to sign up and then I’m going to do it too. Since it’s free with our UHC health care we can take advantage of this. Then I can go when it’s too much to go down to Roseville. That’s exciting news at least.

I was reading an article about the 90/90 rule for decluttering. There are lots of these little hacks to help with decluttering but this one caught my attention. So if you’re looking to declutter things ask yourself:

” Have you used this in the last 90 days? And will you use it in the next 90 days”. it’s a great way to look at why we hold on to things. Exceptions are probably seasonal decor and such. I started going thru each room again with this in mind. I still feel the need to ‘par down to the essentials but keep the poetry”.

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, cooking, home stuff, reading, seasonal things, Walking by

HAPPY HANUKKAH!!

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah. I plan on making some latkes and a piece of salmon and salad. Nothing too fancy.

We are not Jewish but atheists, but I do love traditions and lighting the candles to me represents bringing some light into the world. I didn’t do presents as such, just a few chocolate things from Trader Joe’s and I’ll give the kids some money one night. Not much as they both work good jobs.

We are having lovely November weather. We had a fire outside yesterday afternoon and it was perfect for sitting outside. Our walks have been nice too. We still see AH but I think the train has left on that and we just don’t care anymore. Once in a while he’ll be a little passive-aggressive and walk straight at me with his dog but then he moves over at the last minute. And if he sees us coming with our flashlights he’ll turn his off. Weird but ?? Oh well, we’re just doing what we’ve done for the last 10 years. When I started walking daily part of the path was still dirt and there were very few people who walked. Now it can be very busy especially by 10 am.

Today is a nice pottering day. I’ve made some pumpkin spice scones. Swish and swiped the bathroom, scrubbed a cast iron, and got out some more Christmas things. I put the lights on the Ikea tree and that’s all I plan on doing. We were lucky to get a Christmas tree permit so we’ll go get a live tree for the sunroom next week. We certainly don’t need it but for $10. it’s a cheap date for B and me.

I’ve been working my way thru PD Jame’s books and she is such a good writer. I am enjoying them.

Well, back to pottering around. I’d like to finish embroidering one napkin too.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, Bone marrow transplant, books, cancer, cooking, Flylady, Myeloma, Political things, reading, Walking by

We finally have rain!!

We had to use umbrellas to walk but that was fine. Nobody was there but us so that’s always a treat.

I made some sugar cookie dough this morning and it’s in the fridge for a few hours to harden some. So I’ll start those a little later. I used an Alton Brown recipe and it was pretty straight forward.

If you follow Flylady, we are in the bathroom zone. I can finish mine in about 15 minutes as our bathroom is so small. I might add on a couple of extra tasks this week as well. I consolidated the Christmas ornaments into 1 larger plastic bin that B had bought at Home Depot. So that’s most of the Hallmark boxes and some felted animals when I use to put them out at Christmas on the nature table. I don’t do that anymore but they’re cute enough to keep for now. In the future, who knows? right.

So, as expected, my kappa light chains went up over 600,( high normal is 26.4) and the ratio also doubled( It was 74.3 mg/l ) normal high is 26.3. So Velcade will start in January. So since it’s 3 weeks on 1 week off, I’m thinking @ the second week of January and then a break the first week of February and so on. I guess we’ll have to see how it’s working as to how many rounds it’ll be. That’s a wait and see kind of thing. But one would hope, if it works on the myeloma, 6 months of treatment. Again, big unknowns since we don’t know how things will go. Disappointing but reality.

Tonight I’m cooking a roast chicken in my cast iron pan and I think I’ll make some buttered noodles to go with it as we are potatoed out from latkes. i wanted to get down to Krispy Kreme for donuts( you know to keep the cooking in oil thing going for Hanukkah:) but that may not happen.

B is actually going down for a doctor visit this week as I think they want to see him in person. I’m going to write a list of things for him to bring up because they continue to bother him. He is supposed to get his pneumonia shot and soon he will start revaccinating. I never did revaccinations as back in 2006 it wasn’t common then. Now, I think with autos it is. It is absolutely necessary with an allo transplant though as he had donor cells.

Well, I think I’m going to finish my Sunday chores and read some more of the Obama memoir. BTW, it is a great book and so full of compassion and insight. Definitely worth buying . One thing that really stood out to me was how many times he went to Walter Reed to see the wounded soldiers and how he would interact with them. I tried to look up how many times trump did it but I only found the 1 time shortly after his inauguration. I guess he couldn’t handle seeing the soldiers with one leg or arm or whatever. What a guy!:(

Frugal Friday

Posted in California, cooking by

Happy Hanukkah!!!

We had delicious latkes last night with homemade applesauce and that new tofu recipe which I will link soon. It’s from a famous restaurant back east and it’s marinated in a pickle brine. I know sounds weird but believe me, it is absolutely delicious fried up and crispy.

Tonight we are ordering a pizza, so not really frugal but I will say in my defense, this is the first time we’ve ordered pizza in a few months.

I decided to do a Safeway pickup in Auburn as they just started doing that. It went well. They carry Boars head products which is my favorite deli cheese and sliced meat. I picked up some smoked salmon for a Hanukkah breakfast with bagels. I should have enough groceries till almost the end of the month except for a few odds and ends. So far, I’m at just under $400. for the month so pretty good.

We did a few small gifts for Hanukkah last night and tonight is our family gift of an Easton press ” A Christmas Carol”. I’m hoping we can read it out loud between now and Christmas.

I’m planning on working on a No Spend couple of months except house stuff that’s needed. Since my Christmas shopping is done I started the NS this month. But I did throw in some extras already like Hanukkah candles since I didn’t have enough and a tea strainer for loose tea. Not expensive but will make tea making easier. Mostly, I want to stay away from Amazon. I don’t go out an shop in stores ever but online is convenient and maybe too easy. So that’s my primary reason for the no spend month.

The rain is expected to come in tonight and continue on and off for a week. We really need it so that will be a welcome change.

Happy Hanukkah

Posted in cooking, Uncategorized by

We had a nice dinner of latkes, roast chicken, nut loaf( from thanksgiving) with sour cream and the last jar of my homemade applesauce from last fall.

We lit the candle ( one, for the first night). Then we each had a little gift of cash, and B got us 1 lottery ticket. I never win anything so… but he actually recouped $6.00. Still, it was fun to chat and share this time with Sachi and Zephyr and Barclay. My family.

Today I’m doing the Flylady bedroom zone. It’s pretty much done as I change the sheets on Sundays. But I will dust and tidy.

Other than that, just a nice quiet day home.

Yesterday I did make another batch of homemade peanut brittle. I had bought a candy thermometer and it was a great $10 buy as right on it is the temperatures for hard brittle etc. Well worth it to have.

I might make a soup tonight or just something light. Latkes are fried and although not really heavy still fried!! So I have a butternut squash from our garden to use so I think that’s what I’ll make. I found a recipe that was butternut squash and red lentil soup. It’s kinda a curry so I might do that.

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Almost ready!!!

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The mix that was done in the food processor. And of course, the wine glass!!

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Frying up the Latkes

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This is my red fiesta ware that I use at Christmas. Oh, in the background you can see the peanut brittle.

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This was our Solstice fire.

 

Winter Solstice

Posted in home stuff, Uncategorized by

Finally, the darkest day of the year!

Now it will slowly turn around and the days will get lighter. I’ve actually looked at this over the years and the sunrises and sunsets don’t change a whole lot till around January.

So today we will walk. We’ve been going out around 6:30 am and it’s still darkish and then by round 2, the light is showing.

Yesterday, my daughter and I drove up to Truckee to the library as she had a bag of goodies for her ex- co-workers. I loaded up on cookbooks and I even found on the FOL shelf Comey’s book from last year. the summit had snow at 7300 elevation but around Truckee, there wasn’t that much snow. another storm is headed in this weekend. We had a lovely lunch at Wild Cherries and headed back home.  I’m so glad she is not driving that daily and driving to Sierra College is like 22 minutes and no snow. So she just needs a few more hours to be able to buy into their insurance. I think she said at 22 hours. So one more shift.

I also had an appt to meet my new PCP with Sutter. He seems nice enough. I’m planning on the colonoscopy for the end of January or beginning of February sometime. Oh well, I guess I can suffer thru.

Hanukkah begins tomorrow night and I have the Menorah ready. Although we are not Jewish, but Atheists, I still like the idea of Festival of lights and candles and little presents.

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a lovely new platter( stoneware ) and our very own lemons from the greenhouse!

 

Tidying up!

Posted in Blood test, cancer, Uncategorized by

Yesterday I decided to forego the gym and do some stuff around the house.

First, I pulled off the couch covers and started them in the laundry. Believe me this is workout in it self. Wrangling the cushion covers and then the couch cover it self is not for the faint of heart. IMG_0565.jpeg

Here it is washed ironed and back on the frame. Buying this couch from Ikea was one of the best things we did. I love it!!

I also hung that swag you see above the couch. I teetered  on the couch to get it up. I should have just got the step ladder.

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Here’s the tree. Well the top is cut off in the picture, but you get the idea. I did get rid of quite a few ornaments that I just didn’t want to keep anymore. Even a Christmas Barbie that just isn’t my style. We don’t do any bulb type ornaments, just Hallmark or things we’ve liked. That little straw ornament near the top is from 1971 when B and I went to Nogales and bought ornaments. We still have them.

Here’s a shot of the Hanukkah candles.

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I like the reflection on the wall. Last night was fun and I gave out bubble gum as the gifts. The first night was lots of fun as B got lottery tickets and they had fun scratching away. They actually won $10. and two more tickets.  If you want to do Hanukkah, Target has some nice inexpensive Menorahs. Also, these beeswax candles burn beautifully.

I also made two wreaths for the doors using the grape vine base. I had B go cut some pine boughs down in the woods. I put some red berries from the Heavenly bamboo but then keep falling off so I may go to Micheals and get some artificial ones. I can reuse them next year.

I’m planning on going to the gym today although I’m feeling a little off.

This week we paid our property tax and also I will go pay the DMV on my sons Subaru. So an expensive week. Also, there are going to be some medical bills coming in for B. It looks like the deductible maybe as high as $6000. Geez, I hope not but I haven’t looked at it yet.

Christmas gifts are pretty much done. We did pay for a years subscription to Rosetta stone in French for my son. He says it’s very helpful. So to remind him on Christmas morning I found one of our Tahoe black rocks and used a white marker and wrote Rosetta on it. Kinda cute. And I will put it in a bag for him.

Overall, B is doing great for what is going on. Next week is the specialist and we’re assuming he will do a biopsy in the office. Definitely,, not fun. I’m really hoping he can give us a tentative treatment plan to get things moving along. It’s all the way down in downtown Sacramento, so we will need to leave early as it will commute time.

 

 

 

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, bread, cooking, minimalism, Uncategorized by

A very cold morning but clear.It was 34degrees. We went for a nice walk. Not too much for B but still nice to see the early morning. We also saw a coyote and some deer. Funny, we rarely see these two wild life in the park.

I made chocolate Babkas for the first time. It’s a rich brioche type dough with a chocolate filling. Then it’s rolled up and baked. It was yummy and a nice treat.

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Tonight I’m making the potato latkes and I’m going to grate them in the food processor. That should save some time from hand grating. I have the applesauce. I will also fry up some chicken strips just because I need to use the chicken up.

The gym was quite empty (my favorite time is Sunday).  Then I went into Safeway for some jelly donuts for Hanukkah. I doubt we’ll eat them tonight but tomorrow morning sounds about right.

This week is light except B going to the lab and then infusion center. I don’t have any appointments. My next set of labs are coming up at the end of December and that’s it.

I decluttered a box of ornaments and Santas that no longer seem to fit with what I’m doing. I will end up with 2 bins of Christmas stuff. I ‘d love to get it down to one but there’s just a little too much for one bin. I think it’ll end up a bin and a half with most of the second bin being my Life magazine Christmas Santas. I did empty the wrapping paper holder container so I can get rid of that.

I finished the minimalist game for November.  I maybe didn’t get a few days done but overall it was a success. One of the things I love about doing these sort of tasks is that it really helps me focus on getting rid of lots of little things I don’t need. It may not seem like a lot but it adds up and then draws etc look much better and clearer too.

 

 

No Results yet…

Posted in Blood test, cancer, Uncategorized by

So we are incredibly disappointed by the non results. B got a call from the nurse at 4:30 yesterday with the news that the biopsy sample was inadequate. WTF???? The doctor said it was a good marrow sample. So now we’re in limbo again till something else is scheduled.

He will go in for another transfusion as his platelets are very low. So as long as this can stabilize him till the next appt. Right now we have a pretty good idea that it’s MDS but without a biopsy confirming it’s still unknown.

He’s worked from home most of this week so at least that’s good. Next week will be the same as he shouldn’t go out in crowds too much. We might try and go out for a coffee date but we’ll see.

We did go to Trader Joes and did a huge grocery shop so that will last at least 2 weeks.  A few things we bought that we’re fun is their Candy Cane green tea! Go get some!!! It was delicious. Plus I did get some frozen meal items to make some evenings just a little easier.

Sunday night is the first night of Hanukkah. I plan on making latkes and using my homemade applesauce.  Of course, we are not Jewish, but any excuse to have candles is ok by me.

It’s a rainy Saturday and a snowy one in the Sierras. My daughter is driving up today and I suspect it will take a while. She got home fine last night without any delay.

I think I’m making Breakfast for dinner but not sure.

12th of December

Posted in cooking, simplicity, Uncategorized by

Happy Hanukkah!!

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We will light the menorah and have latkes (potato pancakes) with applesauce and sour cream.

Let me be clear, we are NOT Jewish, but I really like many Jewish traditions and Hanukkah is one of those. This year I got some beeswax candles and I think they will smell wonderful burning.

Try going slower this Christmas season. I think, is essential to living more simply and consciously. Maybe you could be done with shopping, maybe you have enough already. Think about it.

 

Dinner is latkes, applesauce, and ?