10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY... LATELY

"Where there is great love there are always great miracles."  Willa Cather

#1 I went to the neurosurgeon on Tuesday and do not have to wear a brace anymore.  I can bend "with deliberation" and ride in cars  Whoo Hoo.
After my appointment Doug and I went to lunch at TOCANOS (in the Gateway) with a "glad you can go out, mom" gift certificate from the kidults. 
TOCANOS is a Brazilian restaurant with salad bar(s), hot sides,and servers that bring a great variety of meats to your table throughout the dining.  It was really good.  (Now I know why my kidults + Lincoln and Logan love it there.)  I was really impressed with the quality and attentiveness of the servers and management.  THANK-YOU VERY MUCH, KIDS.

#2  Doug (and Mark) took me grocery shopping on Saturday.  And Lindsay drove me to Cub Scouts.   I got to go to church on Sunday.  I am happy I can ride in cars, now.

#3  Emily brought home BBQ ribs (from Market Street Grill) on SUPER BOWL SATURDAY since I could not go to the SUPER BOWL PARTY at Grandma's and Grandpa's.

#4  I read John Grisham's new book, "The Confession".  I enjoyed it AND it is great to be able to read again.

#5  Yep, I can read again.  I have had fun reading blogs on the computer.  And I am happy I can post on MY blog again :-)

#6  In several places, and with different themes, I have seen the year long "52 P" Project.  It involves taking a picture each week that will illustrate your year.  I am happy to be doing that.  (Only 1 problem.  My memory card has been lost since Friday night.  UGH!)

#7  Ashley has a pair of earrings that I love every time I see them on her.  Leslie, Lindsay and Hilary looked at the store they were from, with no luck :( 
Mark and Ashley checked at both store locations.  No luck :(  Then one day a box came UPS.  Yep!  Mark and Ashley had ordered the earrings for me on line.  THANK YOU!  I love them.  A lot. (Not sure they were me, but they are now.)

#8  I am really happy (and so grateful) That Leslie and Lindsay dye my hair for me.  I used to dye my own hair all the time until about 1 year ago.  One of my daughters came home from work with a story about a woman (now known as SPOT) who had missed a part of hair and walked around with a large gray "spot".  Yes I do appreciate their attention to detail :)  (If I had shaved my head at the beginning of my spine problems, I wonder how long my hair would be now?)

#9  While everyone was gone on Super Bowl Sunday, the little screw fell out of my glasses and the lens fell out.  No reading or computer use until someone could take them in.  (I looked hard for the screw.  Even used a magnet.)  When Doug came home, he found the screw still in the hole.  He fixed them for me :)

#10  I can cook again (and unloaded the dishwasher).

I will post pics when the memory card is found.
On "What I Buy, Wednesday" I will share one of my favourite treats to buy when we are out.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! AND A LAST MINUTE TREAT

If you are still looking for a last minute Valentine, I have found an EASY one.  I can not remember where I saw it first, but as soon as I tried it I started thinking about variations.
READY?

2 INGREDIENT FUDGE

2 cups (1 bag - 10-12 oz.) chocolate chips
1 can chocolate fudge canned frosting (NOT WHIPPED)

In a microwave dish, layer chips and microwave 1 minute.  Stir.  Microwave another minute and stir in your can of frosting.  Stir well, scrapping the sides, until fudge is smooth and the gloss is gone. 
Spread in a greased (about) 8x8 dish.  (Can be lined with sprayed foil.)

That's it!

I made this Saturday for a basketball game.  It was a hit.  A BIG hit.  (I know, it sounds weird.) When I brought the fudge out, I just said it was a new recipe-no details.  People commented on the flavour and smooth texture..

As I looked into other ideas I saw that some people suggest adding a pinch of salt and 1/2 tea. vanilla
for added depth. 
Some suggest after melting the chips, that you melt the frosting, also.  (It will set up.)
I used 2 ingredients and it was great.  (And it is cheaper than the chips, evaporated milk, sugar, butter, marshmellow cream... that I usually use.)
NEVER USE WHIPPED FROSTING! 

Ready for just a few variations?

Milk chocolate chips/Cream cheese frosting

Milk chocolate chips/German chocolate frosting

Peanut butter chips/Chocolate frosting

Peanut butter chips/ Vanilla frosting

White chocolate chips/Vanilla frosting

Now, think add ins ;)  Nuts. dried fruit, 2 layers of different kinds of fudge, coconut...
I found some ideas at  www.nancys-kitchen.com/fudge-recipe-variations.htm.

Do you already have everything you need to make this Valentine treat?  If you try this, tell us what you make.
And, have a great day!

THROW BACK THURSDAY

One month after surgery and I get to do more.  I can not drive, but I can ride :0 )  I can go grocery shopping, but not buy very much :(   I can do laundry (and yes, I want to), but not lift or carry.  Yet.  (The Dr. gave me my x-ray and I am thinking it will be fun Halloween decor.  Plus, I will get 2 more.)

This week I made dinner twice.  One night I tried a new Chicken Enchilada Soup.  I had high hopes for it but... nope.  I (we) really love the Chicken Enchilada Soup recipe that my sister in law, came up with.  Plus, it is easier (very easy) AND cheaper (you probably have everything already) to make.  So I decided to link back to that soup post as we near the end of winter??  (It is the one I take to our church soup social and I always get requests for the recipe.)

In conjunction with our soup social (end of March) is our Cub Scout Bake Sale Auction (fund raiser) so I am trying new recipes for my auction item/s.  Do you have a recipe that gets requests?  (Last year I took Peanut Butter Cup Brownies.  (Cassidy, one of my followers, bought them.  Thanks, Cassidy :)

WHAT I BUY! AND A BIG HEART VALENTINE COOKIE!

I am starting something new on Wednesdays. I will post something that I buy (usually) regularly, and why I buy it.  I am not being compensated and the product/idea/words are my own.

Today I am sharing my dishwasher soap. 
Have you noticed problems with your clean dishes?  For my daughter it was a grainy coating.  For me, it was dishes not coming clean, and white streaks on my stainless steel door.  The reason for the problems is that some states have outlawed phosphates  (phosphates help soften water and keep food from redepositing on the clean dishes) in home dish washing detergents.  (So far 16 states have outlawed it and Utah is one of them. The compliance deadline is in June.)

I had been using Cascade liquid.  My daughter was using Cascade powder, which caused more problems.  We were buying it at Sam's Club/Costco.  My daughter told me her mother in law liked an orange bottled soap, so we started looking for it.  We found it at Maceys Grocery Store in Sandy.  (Maceys has several locations in Utah.)  

It is called, "SUN SATIONS", and manufactured in UT.  According to the code on the bottle there are no phosphates in this dish washer soap.  I have really been pleased with it.   Another real advantage to SUN SATIONS is the price.  My 75 oz. was under $5.00.  Whoo Hoo!

We found a 26 oz. (blue) box at DOLLAR TREE, so I tried it. (I could not tell from the code if it has phosphates.  It is manufactured in CT.)  While I have only used it once, it worked fine.  An improvement over Cascade.

UPDATE 18 Feb., 2011 - At my local Winco the bottle is repackaged as "SUN".  I bought it and still find this liqued superior to Cascade liqued.  PLUS (drum roll)  only $2.94 for the 75 oz.   

We would love it if you shared your favourite dishwasher soaps.
Have a product that you really recommend?  We would love to have you share.

Want an easy BIG HEART CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE? 

Next Wednesday "WHAT I BUY" will be a treat.

FOLLOW FRIDAY

I have added a VERY FUN new "PLACE(S) I VISIT"
 
Now I can visit Times Square at the click of my computer.

With these live camera shots and cell phones I can have my brother and his family wave to me when they are there.  Any other relatives going to New York before I (try to) go with Debbie and Matt in August?  Call me when you are there.  :)
(To visit Times Square click on the link on the right side of my blog, under "PLACES I VISIT".)

10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY :-)

Tomorrow January 2011 will be gone.  I get to welcome February with much of Christmas still up.

 The last few months have been different than what I expected.  After having neck/spine surgery at the beginning of January, and given MANY physical restrictions, I broke them all when I flew to California for a funeral.  (I looked up, down, and to both sides.  My suitcase was 16 pounds and I rode in cars.  I also walked in public places - and no one bumped me :)
 My 37 year old brother, Richard, died very suddenly and unexpectedly last week of an aortic aneurysm.  It was so sad to lose him, and to know his wife was so lost and suffering so much.
I knew I wanted to go and be with my family.  It was a very nice 3 days.  (The extra days were not as great as 4 of my flights out were cancelled.)
Debbie picked me up at (and returned me to) the airport.  I stayed with her and enjoyed visiting with her when I rested.  I spent great time with my Mom, Debbie, Michael and Tracey's family, Karyn, Stephen and Heather's family, Stephanie and Paul's family and Robert.  I was glad to be  able to spend some time with Richard's wife, Peggyann. 
The funeral was nice.  The family times were spiritually filling.  It was hard to lose a brother and brother-in-law within six weeks.  How grateful I am for the peace that comes from faith in a Heavenly Father who loves us and has a plan.  I am thankful for family.  All of my living siblings were there except for Tami who has health problems.  We missed her.

I have spent the 3 weeks since my surgery following the rules.  (Not even talking on the phone, using only my cell phone on speaker mode.)  Well, I broke rules... and nothing happened :)  The purpose of all these rules is so that the donor bones will not move and fuse completely.  Here is the funny thing.  After my trip Doug was checking something on line about my surgery and found a study  done on the fusion success. In one published study (number of participants unknown) of people having this surgery done the fusion success rate was...100 PERCENT.  Why have I been stressed?

Now, on to 10 things that made me happy.  (I can not go back 3 months and play catch up, so these are current.)

#1 My grand daughter, Brooklyn Michelle, was born on January 17.  I am so happy that her mom and dad bring her over a lot so I can hold/play with her.  She is very sweet.  And she smiles.

#2  Since I have been down, I have watched way too much t.v., but I did find a silly show that I got Debbie hooked on.  (And we discuss it after each episode ;)  We had fun watching it together while I visited her in California.  FUN

#3  Debbie has 1/2 a lemon tree in her back yard.  We  spent one day making "Shaken Lemonade" (see 29 June, 2010 post for recipe).  We made them all day and really enjoyed them.  I was not sure if I was allowed to bring home lemons, but there were 3 in my suitcase that went through airport security just fine :)

#4  I am really enjoying the current "Masterpiece Theatre" mini series "Downton Abbey".  (I have not watched episode 4 yet, but I hope there are many more episodes.)

#5  I love our family tradition of grandchildren getting a handful of change on their birthdays, (adopted from Lindsay's in-laws) along with their gifts.
When Logan turned 3 in December he picked up $2.74 with one hand.
Layne turned 6 in January and got $6.54.  Fun tradition.

#6  Leslie has helped a lot since "all this" started.  I am happy that she always makes my JELLO for me.  It is easy to swallow and I eat it every day.

#7  Since nothing bad happened in California, I decided to start walking on the treadmill.  (Only when someone is here and bends over to plug it in.)  Thank-you very much, Kate, for paying for my neck brace.

#8  Gayleen brought over a book after my surgery.  It has taken awhile to be able to have enough concentration to read, but I took it to CA with me.  My lay overs were long (3 hours each), and luckily I have really enjoyed the book.  "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson is her first novel.  It is easy to read, with likable characters, and sprinkled with bits of wisdom and insight.  I still have about 50 pages left.  Fun book.
Here is a thought I appreciated:

"Sometimes when we pick and choose among the rules(,) we discover later that we have set aside something precious in the process."   Helen Simonson

#9  Doug's car broke at the beginning of January.  It is still at our mechanics (P.K. Auto in Sandy).  The cost for repairs and to get it licensed (expired in Dec. :(  will be AT LEAST $1,500.  I am happy that we had the money in an emergency account, and that Doug can use my van every day, since I can not drive for 2 more months.  (I guess I should call and see if it is fixed, yet.)

#10  Doug makes me happy.  I love him, and he shows me that he loves me.  I could not list all he has done for me or done without the last three months.

I hope to post a recipe soon and pictures.  (I am not supposed to use a computer, yet.)  I will work to get up to speed.  Thank-you for comments and for checking back.  Michelle 
      

I WANT TO BE BACK, BUT...

I have had a rough 2 months.

I wanted only positive to ever be on my blog - never negative.  I hope, just this once, it will be o.k. to post a non-positive (but hopefully not too negative) journal moment, and update for those that have wondered when I will be back.

Several discs in my neck/back collapsed, pinching the nerve to my left arm.  It was bad.  I had to stay in bed to keep weight off the nerve.  After a month, 18 Dr. appointments, injections and way too much pain med.  an MRI showed that surgery was needed quickly.  (It turned out that the damage was much worse than the MRI indicated.  I was within weeks to 1 month from loosing all use of my arm forever due to the crushed nerve..  There are still dead places.)

I had neck/back surgery just after the new year started.  (UGH!  All new deductibles to meet.)
In order for the new bones to fuse, I have a billion rules.  (Never bend over, don/t lift or carry or push or pull, never turn your head to either side, no talking on the phone (luckily I can use my cell phone because it has a speaker button), no computer work (I decided I would get on for 15 mins.), no washing my back, no riding in a car... UGH.  It is hard to read, and boy am I sick of t.v.)  I am supposed to follow all these rules for 12 weeks.  (THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF APRIL  :(  At my 4 week appointment if it is fusing well, I will/may get more freedom.)

So, after 1 year of finding great joy and happiness daily and weekly, I hope no one will be offended if I complain just 1 time.

I HATE

that I missed my dear brother-in-law's funeral, and could not be there with my sweet sister and all my family, (plus I am out the money for the ticket I bought),

that I missed being able to do all of my Christmas plans-new recipes, crafts, shopping, decorating...,

that I missed Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house, the the visit from a special Santa, the grandkids nativity and pictures on the stairs,

that I missed my birthday and Christmas Day and New Years Eve... and all the activities Doug and I planned for his 2 weeks off, and all the fun things my family did...

that most of my Christmas decor is still up,

that my family has had to care for me and the house (But I am extremely grateful for all they have done)

that we now owe thousands in medical bills,

that I was unable to be at the hospital, or visit the hospital when our daughter delivered our new grand daughter...

I hope to be back soon to posting things that make me happy (and there are many ;), recipes, crafts, ideas and more.  I hope your holidays were wonderful.  Thank-you for letting me vent.