SSDreamin Blessings and curses

[Wannabefree]

My friend broke her tailbone jumping into a creek. It's really fairly easily done.

I learned about the walnuts from her too actually We cut grass/did landscaping together one summer. Looooong days shovelling truckloads of mulch at the beginning of the season! Walnuts kept me from quitting The two of us would shovel three to four dump truck loads of mulch every day into wheelbarrows, and mulch the landscaping at several local apartment complexes. Anyway.. The oil in them displaces the lactic acid that build up in the tissue causing the soreness. Not sure if other nuts have the same effect or not, but I know walnuts work. Walnuts AND ibuprofen is even better

 

[snapshot]

How are you feeling this evening? Can you take ibuprofen? At least when you go to bed. Can you consider having it checked out? Let us know how you do please!

 

[moolie]

What Wannabefree said

I've fallen/slid down our stairs as well, so I know well how you are likely feeling. I've also broken my tailbone (cycling accident), and there's nothing they can do for it other than tell you to sit on a "donut" cushion until better.

 

[Marianne]

Ouch. And it takes a long time to heal, too.

 

[SSDreamin]

Thanks for the concern - Feeling with my fingers, as my Grampa used to say Moving much better. Can't sleep, but other than that, I managed to can up some apple cider tonight AND cleaned my kitchen a little - I really do have a kitchen table under all that mess Hate to take any kind of med, even if the Doc says to, so I get up, pace, play on the computer, then try to sleep again. Same as any other night! I really am surprised though - for an old, fat lady I seem to be healing up pretty quick. Not that I'm complaining, although I WAS enjoying the break. Looks like, by tomorrow, it'll be back to the grind.

 

[SSDreamin]

I have been pulling things out of my freezer and putting them in the dehydrator, in anticipation of the eventual move/making room for (hopefully) venison. Drying corn, peas, carrots, green beans and some more fries.

Have also been making preparations for deer camp. DS#2 will be going this year - his first. Now I have to pre-make meals for him, his Dad and his Grampa. I always make a huge pot of venison chili (deer camp is the only place I allow DH to eat it - lets just say I prefer clean air ) but DS#2 will not eat it, so I'm trying to come up with something he'll like to go along with it. Also trying to line up a LONG list of things for me to do. I go stir crazy when it's just me here!

Speaking of eating, I made something new for supper last night that was a huge hit with my guys: Ham & cheese twist. So easy, and they both raved about it. Have also hit on a bread recipe DH is in love with (it's made with white flour, but I plan to gradually change it over )

Took a load of really nice hay (got a deal on it ) and some garage stuff up to the new house this weekend. The trip up was painful, but I went to DG up there and got a Total Pillow. Trip home was SO much better! Found another issue, this time with the boiler system :/ Priced out repair people today and felt like crying! Have to be up there Wednesday, to fork over a bunch of money to the gas company for propane. We are getting it at the 'bargain' price of $2.00/gal. I also have a $50.00 coupon, for new customers. Technically, we aren't new, but we have not used their service for over two years, so I guess that makes us 'new' again. So, the boiler will probably have to wait a bit, even though I had hoped to have them out at the same time, so I would only have to make one trip.

Actually started researching moving truck costs. If we can get the boiler checked out/repaired, we may be able to move by Thanksgiving! Right now, we have electric heaters going, to keep the pipes from freezing. They are thermostatically controlled and on their lowest setting. Saturday morning, it was 25 degrees up there, according to my FIL who lives down the road. When we arrived, at 3 pm, the furnace thermostat said it was 52 degrees in the house. Hope that is a good sign for what's to come once the heat is up and running. Not looking forward to getting the electric bill though!

 

[rathbone]

I am giggling about your "deer camp chili".

 

[SSDreamin]

Well, I did it. I worked up my nerve, and made my first batch of lye soap. It went badly. Very, VERY badly. I have been accused of having common sense. Well, it left me. Decided to go with an internet recipe that measured everything in cups, not ounces, or this-point-that much. I wanted simple, easy, dummy-proof. Instead, I just got dummy

I thought the amount of water called for was a bit much, but what do I know? This was my first time, not my 101st. So I followed the recipe exactly. First, my stick blender burned up. Toast! First time I'd used it too

Then, I got a phone call. Had to take it. Stirred periodically. Looked up 'why won't my soap trace' on the internet. Followed what they said to do.

TWO HOURS LATER, still no trace. Decide to do some research. The recipe I used had everything in cups, but not really. Remember, I'm new to this. I thought it didn't sound right. I ignored that feeling, because it MUST be right and I MUST be wrong. For anyone who knows a lot more about making soap than me, here is the recipe:

2 cups olive oil
1/2 cup lye
12 cups water

See the problem?!!!

One little, stupid slip. Somebody types cups instead of ounces, and I have a pan full of lye soup, a burned out stick blender, and a completely UN-successful first attempt at making soap.

BUT I FINALLY TRIED!!!

 

[rathbone]

Exactly! You tried. How many things have I never tried because I was afraid I would do it wrong!!!
Maybe I will get brave and try your soap soup....I am still afraid of lye though.

 

[SSDreamin]

I definitely plan to try again, with the *right recipe this time, once I find another stick blender

I was terrified of working with the lye, but I think I ended up having more issues with the precautions I took! Almost hyperventilated while working with it, with my bandana AND apron tied over my nose/mouth, and tucked into the collar of my shirt Didn't know when it was 'safe' to take it off - decided half way through stirring as I began to get very light headed that maybe I should before I passed out!

Glad none of the knowledgeable soap people on here were peeking in my windows!