STRESS IN JAWBONE

Two weeks ago I started getting this pain in my jaw well not really my jaw but in my gum line and jawbone. I thought this was maybe another cracked tooth or a cavity. So I started to get a little bit nervous I was going to have to do another run to the dentist and I was not happy about that. I wore my mouthguard diligently and I got some Orajel and put it on the spot.

Then last week it suddenly occurred to me that it was stress. Stress that was causing me to have this pain because I was grinding my teeth all night long and this was causing me to have pain in my gum line and my jawbone all the way up to my eye. So what I needed to do is get rid of the stress.

Now around this time we all have been having stress. It was around Thanksgiving, it was right after the election, Christmas is coming, and every time you turn on the TV all they're talking about is Covid infection rates rising. I had one added bit of stress and that was I was investigating solar panels and the added cost of that. I decided that the thing I needed to do was try and get rid of as much stress as possible. The first thing I did was I stopped the solar panel discussion. Then I began trying out things like yoga. Thanksgiving was then over so that was dealt with. I decided I'm not going to stress about anything about Christmas so I've taken that out of the stress bucket. Magically the pain in my mouth went away. It was not a cracked tooth or a cavity, it was stress. It is amazing to me what the mind does when you don't even realize it or when you're asleep and how your mind turns through things that you're not even aware of. My mind goes through stress, it works things and causes me to grind and grit my teeth. This is why I wear a mouthguard. But it's all gone now and the stress has flown away.

Until tomorrow...

CHERRIES GARCIA ICE CREAM

My day started with no wifi. Ugh. Then it came back on. Then off. Then on. Then off for hours. Double Ugh. 

My friends kid came and took my bird, Sunny, to get a pedicure, wings clipped and beak clipped. I also needed some food. The kid was excited to show me his new used car. While they were gone, I cleaned Sunny's cage (it needed it) and then retook a photo for the Christmas card. The photo I took a few days ago turned out to be a tad out of focus. This photo turned out much better. 

When the kids returned we talked for over an hour. I was at the top of my stairs and he was at the bottom about 15-20 feet away. 

Then I made the first part of the Cherries Garcia Ice Cream and got it in the fridge. Four hours later I got it in the ice cream maker. I put the cherries in and then the chocolate chunks. The cherries made it a pink color. It tastes good. I only had a quick taste. 

It's still soft and will harden in the freezer. The cherry juice made it softer. It was only about 1/2 teaspoon.  It will taste terrific.

Until tomorrow...

THREE MONTHS OF EXERCISE ANNIVERSARY

 This week was the first week of me exercising for 45 minutes five times a week.  Biking for 45 minutes is not that much of a difference from 30 minutes.  I have been biking between 8 and 9 miles for 45 minutes.  Walking 45 minutes on a treadmill is a little harder.  It is very hard on my hip joints.  By about 40 minutes I am almost limping.  Then it takes a few days to recover.  I had the same problem when I started walking 30 minutes so I need to get used to walking longer.  

I think the longer I work at exercising and increasing my time and speed will help.  I need to just stick with it.  I just finished working out five times a week for 12 weeks.  That is 3 months!  I have not worked out for three months continuously since college when I was on the swim team and I swam every day!  We won't talk about how long ago that was.  

I have been doing various types of exercise.  I think that is the trick.  I bike on the stationary bike, I walk on the treadmill, I walk to a walking DVD that has a number of different types of walks, I do Zumba, I do floor mat work, I do yoga, I meditate, and I hoola hoop.  The diversity helps keep it fresh.  I have other DVDs and VCR tapes I haven't tried.  I just need to keep it up even after the Covid shut in time.

Until tomorrow...

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTMAS SHOWS

 I took a break from cooking today after hours of cooking yesterday.  I spent hours watching some TV before I started on mundane household chores.  Then I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes.  I feel like after all the food yesterday I should have ridden much longer.  Although I did skip the dessert yesterday.  

I was excited when I got my delivery of toilet paper today.  I never thought getting a delivery of toilet paper would elicit such excitement.  I think I have enough toilet paper to last through January if I conserve.  Another thing I never thought I would be saying.

I spent my evening watching old Christmas animated shows.  It is so sad that network TV is taking these shows off television.  These shows were good and had a message about being good to each other and putting others first.  Something I think this world needs right now.

Until tomorrow...

DAY THIRTEEN COOKING COURSE & HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 Happy Thanksgiving!  While being alone with my dog and bird, I decided to mostly cook today.  

I first made Bean Cream Soup.  It had a few glitches but it tasted really good.  I have plenty for a few days.  I am excited to eat it tomorrow.

This photo is a Bouquet Garni.  I never made one before.  It is where you put all the herbs and vegetables wrapped in a leek and tied with a string.  Then you put the whole thing in the broth or soup while you cook it and hang/tie the string to the pot so you can fish it out later.  This one has carrot, celery, parsley, basil, sage and rosemary all tied up in a leek.  I would have garlic too but I can't have garlic.  

Later in the day I made Pumpkin Risotto.  By then family and friends were calling and I kept having to stop to take phone calls so it probably didn't turn out the way it should have.  It was really good but there were also issues.  I used Arborio rice instead of the rice they said (it was supposed to be a substitute) but it took longer to cook.  If I make it again, I will prepare for the longer cook time.  I had two servings it was so good.

I watched my favorite Thanksgiving movie: Free Birds about some turkeys who go back in time and try to stop the first Thanksgiving from eating turkey.  

Overall, it was a nice day.  I know some were worried I was alone but I am alone most holidays and I am okay with it.  I got to zoom with some family members and had phone calls with others.  

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWELVE COOKING COURSE & SOLAR POWER

At 7:30 am I was woken by a doorbell ring from Amazon. My package of juniper berries and agar agar powder arrived. I was so happy! I will be able to cook the items I want for Thanksgiving. 

Agar agar powder is a vegetarian gelatin. It is used in a bunch of the recipes in my cooking course. I had never heard of it before. 

My brother B set up a meeting with a solar power company today. I wanted to put in solar power years ago when I did my construction but solar panels were super expensive and very large. I was discouraged from putting them in at that time.  The meeting today was informative and now I have to make a decision. I really want solar power to save the environment and to save money. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY ELEVEN COOKING COURSE

 Today was supposed to be a full day.  I had groceries being delivered, a meeting and the first trial day of yoga. The groceries came on-time and everything was in the bag!  So exciting.  The meeting was postponed for a few weeks at the last minute and I ended up having the whole afternoon free.

I used the time to plan for the next few weeks of the cooking course.  Participating in this cooking course takes a significant amount of planning.  I have to make sure I have the correct equipment and supplies.  Then I have to buy the correct ingredients. Some of the ingredients are not available in the supermarket so that means I have to special order them from an online store. Sometimes the ingredients so not arrive for weeks so I have to do logistical planning to make sure I don't get ingredients that will spoil when I don't have the other ingredients.  So planning is a major part of this course.  Today I made a list of the items I need for the next few chapters that way I can start to plan what ingredients are duplicates and what ingredients I can get ahead of time.  

I was supposed to get a delivery of juniper berries today but I got a notification that they were delayed in Austin, Texas.  I am hoping they will arrive tomorrow so I can cook with them on Wednesday or Thursday.  

Then I tried a free yoga class.  I said tried.  I have never been able to do yoga.  It is too hard on my wrists, hands, hips, ankles, and knees.  I know people always say that yoga is good for people with RA but I don't see it happening for me.  Just sitting on the floor is so incredibly painful.  Then I can't lay my hands flat on the floor so I have to put the weight on my knuckles and that is not good.  The transitions from one position to another were so hard, I can't move my joints that fast.  I did it for 23 minutes and then I gave up.  Oh, well.  I did increase my stationary bike riding to 45 minutes from 30 minutes.

Until tomorrow...

DAY TEN COOKING COURSE

 I spent some time in the kitchen today.  First I made a dish from my cooking course then I made ice cream.  I made Potato & Leek Soup.  I used the vegetable stock I made last week and put in some potatoes and leek and voila I had a soup.  It tastes fantastic!  I had a little for lunch and a cup for dinner.   

Then I made chocolate ice cream.  I mean chocolate ice cream.  It is SO fudgy and chocolatey.  It is like eating a brownie in ice cream form.  

Until tomorrow...

KEEPING IN TOUCH

 I spent most of the day zooming with friends and on the phone with a friend.  I am trying to connect with people more.  During the early days of Covid-19, people were so quick to call and talk and zoom.  Now eight months later, people have gotten back to their lives and the calls and zooms have slowed or stopped.  But some of us are still here, locked inside.  Even though we may not have much to say, it is nice to hear from people.  I am doing more to connect with people.  

I send postcards and notes.  I post my cooking pictures.  I text friends and family.  I try to keep in touch.

It is important to keep in touch.

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINE COOKING COURSE

 I made Vegetable Stock today.  I always thought "why bother? I can buy it in the store."  But now I see why.  The vegetable stock I made is so much tastier!  It was so easy to make in the crock pot.  I just put the ingredients in the pot and set the timer.  When it was done, it smelled so fragrant.  

Here is the finished product.  It made quite a bit of stock.

Now I will be able to make other items in the cooking course.  The next thing I am going to make is the Potato & Leek Soup.

Until tomorrow...