VEGAN LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES

 I worked on a work project for two days so what do you think I did today? Sit and rest? No, I baked! I made Vegan Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Lemonade and another think that I will show you later. I wanted to get a few things baked and ready for my busy week.

The lemon cookies are fantastic. They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They are sweet and tart. Just Yum! I used the lemons from my backyard. I have so many this year. Then I had so much lemon juice I made some lemonade with mint from my herb garden. It is so refreshing with the mint mushed in it.

I did get to meditate in the sun in between the baking. 

Today I felt really good. I was happy about that. 

Until tomorrow...

PROJECT COMPLETED

 I had this whole thing planned to write but I am in a bit of pain so I am going to make this short and go lay down. I basically worked on the same project as yesterday for another three hours today. I got it done and sent in at 4:59pm. One minute before deadline. I was proud it was not late. I said I would have it completed by 5pm. It is a draft so it doesn't look pretty but the info is there. It was exhausting to do a project of this size in two days. 

While I did the project I had Kung,Fu Panda 1, 2 and 3 playing in the background. That was how long I worked on this project. I need noise when I have to concentrate on things. Silence makes me stir crazy. 

Going to lay down now. 

Until tomorrow...

WORKING ALL DAY

 I had a busy day. I have a big project due at 5pm tomorrow and it will take about 7 hours and I worked about 4 hours today. It is a long process and I get tired doing it for too long. It is 10 pm and I am finally putting my computer down.

I took a break to meditate and take Lucky for a walk. That was my day.

I need to go to sleep now. 

Until tomorrow...

VEGAN DOG TREATS

 I decided to make Lucky some vegan dog treats today. I ran out of pumpkin so I used apple sauce instead. I cut them out in cute shapes: squirrels, bunnies, dog houses, carrots and flowers. All things dogs love or love to chase. I gave her a taste and she loved her cookie. 

Besides that I did nothing except meditate and work. I took Lucky for a short walk. That was my day.

Until tomorrow...

LUCKY WAS JUST STUNNED

 Well, Lucky fans, Lucky does not have a UTI. She is mirroring her Mama. They think she either has something that they need an ultrasound to find or she is acting up. I now need to decide if I want her to get an ultrasound. They would be looking for a kidney stone or something else. There is some evidence there may be something so I will probably do it. I don't want her to be in pain. I have been giving her the painkiller and that seems to be better. 

I worked like crazy today. From meeting to meeting to project. I did take time out to meditate. I need to take the time to do that every day. I also took the time to make my physical therapy appointment in July! 

I took Lucky for a short walk after dinner. We went by a neighbor's house and his new dog got out and charged Lucky. Now Lucky weighs 16 pounds (yes, she has gained weigh during Covid and she is sensitive about it) and this dog probably weighed 50 pounds and was as tall as my hips. I saw him charging and I grabbed Lucky (scrapping my knuckles on the concrete) and held her up by my head. I wasn't sure if the dog was going to lick her or bite her but I never met the dog before but I wasn't going to wait until they got into a fight to find out. Lucky was just stunned. She didn't bark or growl or anything until the dog was dragged away and I put her down. Then she started to bark. Oh, yeah! Get all big and bad once the threat is taken away! Ha ha. 

My neighbor told me I could bring him dessert like the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes anytime. He loved them. A rave review.

I made an interesting dinner: vegan black bean pasta with broccoli, zucchini, spinach and cauliflower with taco seasoning. 

Until tomorrow...

TOOK LUCKY TO THE VET AGAIN

 I had a busy day. I had to get a work project done in the morning before I had to take Lucky to the vet. I know "what? you had to take Lucky to the vet again??" Yes, poor Lucky has been secret peeing in the house. Plus, she is scratching her ear. 

 I took her to the vet and they said the ear that was infected is looking good but now the other ear is infected. They put medicine in the ear. Then they took some pee for testing. I will find out the results tomorrow. Then they gave her a mani/pedi. They looked at her hips and legs and found nothing again but decided I needed to give her pain meds because she might be in pain. Lastly, they noticed she was late on her shots and gave her two shots. So she was poked and prodded and trimmed. She came out of the appointment and was so happy to get in the car and go home. 

I had another work project to complete before a morning meeting tomorrow. Just so much to do. But I took a short bit of time to make Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Strawberry Fudge. It tastes so good. 

I had one piece and I love it! Like eating peanut butter and strawberry jelly.

Until tomorrow...

FIVE HOUR WORK VIDEO CALL

 Today I had a work video call that was scheduled for one hour. Five hours later I was hanging (do you hang up from a video call?) from the call. My whole day was spent on a work call. I was going to make dog biscuits for Lucky. Oh well, I can make them another day. 

I delivered some cupcakes to a neighbor who was very appreciative for the dessert. 

I made a delicious dinner of barbecue tofu, asparagus, and green beans. 

It was a full day.

Until tomorrow...

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

I decided to make vegan cupcakes today. Not just plain cupcakes but chocolate cupcakes filled with a peanut butter and vegan cream cheese mixture. Then I make chocolate vegan butter cream frosting to put on top.  These cupcakes are so chocolatey and moist. The filling is just the right amount of peanut butter and the frosting is so creamy and chocolatey. I got to use my gadget that punches out the middle of the cupcake to put the peanut butter filling. 

I made one cupcake for a friend because they do not like chocolate and peanut butter (blasphemy!). I made a chocolate cupcake with cherry jam inside. Kind of a black forest cupcake. 

Lucky and I went for two short walks today. I am trying to do more to reduce stress. I was less stressed when I was walking more. I spoke to two neighbors. One of them is getting some cupcakes. 

Until tomorrow...

STRESS REDUCTION

I am working on reducing stress. I met with my doctor today and he spoke with me about ways to reduce stress. He wants me to do one week of deep breathing 10 times once a day. I am adding this to my guided meditations. I am also going to practice 5-4-3-2-1. If you have never heard of it it is: name 5 things you see around you, name 4 things you can touch around you, name 3 things you can hear around you, name 2 things you can smell around you and (the last one I have heard two ways) name 1 thing you can taste around you OR name 1 thing positive about yourself. This is a grounding technique if you are stressed or anxious or even upset. It takes the focus off what is upsetting and gives you time to calm down and breathe. 

I got so anxious at the doctor's office that I almost had an panic attack.  I was nearly there. I haven't had a panic attack since I was in college. It isn't COVID, it is prolonged pain and not knowing what is causing it. Mixed with having all my pleasurable activities taken away: cooking, baking, exercising, going outside to see neighbors, and eating. The feeling like the pain will not end and I will not get to participate in these activities again sent me over a ledge. 

Getting answers has helped a lot. I feel like there is an end to the tunnel. I feel like people take me and take my pain seriously. There is no miracle cure that will make me better immediately but I will eventually be better. 

I have plans to bake this weekend. Maybe cupcakes!?!

I made vegan fried rice tonight. It had tofu, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, and green beans. It was so good. 

Until tomorrow...

MORE ANSWERS

Today was the trip to the gynourologist. I won't say I wasn't nervous. I guess I had visions of the type of tests they would do. But it went really well.

Turns out that as some women get older they lose estrogen. Long story short this causes problems in the feminine area. The solution is estrogen cream. The other part is that I have been holding a lot of stress, as we all have, and I need to reduce my stress. I will be working on that. This does not mean that I don't have Interstitial cystitis but it is not the main cause of what's been going on. I think my interstitis cystitis is still in the background and I need to be aware of it and not drink caffeinated beverages and it may have been why this all came to a front when it did. So no more caffeinated beverages for me.

I won't see any results for about 3 months so there is no miracle cure that's going to make me feel better immediately.

Tonight I had a nice meal with all sorts of vegetables and vegan cheese. It was good to eat something delicious.

Until tomorrow...