So...whats for dinner?

By the time we finished my acupuncture appt, a Costco trip and a visit to our new house to drop off some nails, there was no time left to cook.  We had Costco chicken, tomatoes and cucumbers for dinner with a few rice crackers and pesto. 

Once I'm done with these daily acupuncture visits I'm seriously going to have to make it up to my hubby!!  He's working all day at our new house and getting crappy meals on top of it. 

Deb, that memorial ceremony sounds like it was lovely and loving....and how nice for DD and her DH to have a part of her dad there.



Wow! Carrie, you are amazing ....two jobs?!!! I Hope the one you finished was the one with the young co-worker from hell. I have to chuckle at your "day of rest" before the evening job. Do you ever bottle and sell any of your energy?



Special, I'm glad for you and DD that she is moving on to happier hunting grounds. Always hard to see any of our kids "stuck" in a relationship. She sounds like she is in a good place now.



Garden, I hope the acupuncture is working well for you. I saw an acupuncturist for a few months, three years ago, when I was dealing with a foot/arch injury that would not heal. I was amazed at the effectiveness of her work in helping the healing along..and my foot is great these days. I hope your experience is as successful, (I forget what you are being treated for) and that you can soon pay more full time attention to your new home...which is so lovely. I saw it in another posting. You guys worked hard looking.....and it paid off! Best of luck!



DH and I are off to see the Red Sox tonight. He is dying to get his teeth around one of those "terrible for you" sausage/ pepper sandwiches that entice fans as they walk to the stadium. I reminded him that we have been consuming more sausage than we've had in years in the lasagna dish we've been having for leftovers since Saturday, but I doubt that will matter at all......;)

Here is the poem my DD read on the island:

Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on,
and cherished
memories never fade
because a loved one's
gone.
Those we love can never be more than a thought
apart,
for as long as there is memory, they'll live on in the
heart.

UPDATE on LuvRVing (Michelle):

Hi ladies,

Once again I'm afraid I have some bad news to report about my mom.  Yesterday the doctors at Dana Farber told my parents that it might be time to stop treatment.  Mom has continued to decline, despite the Avastin and Navelbine, and they are feeling that she is beyone their ability to help.  Mom is not emotionally ready to stop fighting, but she seems to be coming to terms with the reality of the situation.  

She did receive treatment yesterday.  They are going to Marco Island (FL) this weekend along with my aunt.  When they return, she will have some scans.  Unless the scans show regression, and her symptoms do not indicate that that will be the case, I believe they will stop treatment.  

I spoke to the doctor out of earshot from my parents.  I asked her how much time mom has.  She said that her decline has been swift, and she expects that it will be a couple of months at the most.  I am so sorry to have to share this terrible news with you all, but I want you to be able to send her your thoughts and love, and there is not much time.

Mom isn't able to get online.  My dad has started to look at her Facebook account occassionally, and he is checking her email for her.  If you would like to send a message, you can email her at mchall6252@comcast.net.  If you would like to send her a card/letter, you can mail it to Michelle Hall, 7 Digital Dr, Apt 7109, Nashua, NH  03062.  

Please keep in mind, if you choose to contact them, that they are still struggling with the idea of stopping treatment.

Christine 

Sending prayers for Michelle. 

LovinMyMom - thank you for sharing the news, I can only imagine what a difficult time you had writing the words.  My heart is with you.

Lovingmymom, Christine. Thank you for the update on your Mom. We appreciate the horrendous task you took on in keeping people informed. As hard as it is for you, as hard as it is to hear for us, its better than not knowing. So thank you for that. Please know that all of you are in our prayers. if there is no reason to go on fighting, then just go on the best she can and enjoy as much as she can, like her loving children and grandchildren.

Please let her know we care and are thinking about her, and that she is deep in our hearts. ((((((((Christine)))))))

Oh, lovingmymom, we so appreciate your taking the time to tell us this important but painful news. Michelle has been on my mind so often with the hope that her courage and hard work in the face of such physical adversity would be rewarded with remission. I can totally understand how she and DH hate to give up the hope that her treatment gives everyone.

I am so very sorry for all that you are facing....and will keep Michelle lovingly in my thoughts. While totally respecting your need for privacy, please let us know if any of the "local" sisters can do anything concretely to support your family through this difficult time.

I smiled thru the tears to learn that your mom is heading to Marco. Love her amazing traveling spirit!!!

LovingMyMom,

Taken me some time to respond, and I still don't know what to say. But, I do thank you for coming here and posting. That could not have been easy for you. Sending your Mom all of my good thoughts.... this is a very hard time for her. As Lacey said, if there is anything specific that we can actually do, please just throw out a generic "help" message, and those of us who are local will negotiate how we can make it happen amongst us.

For example, I know I am headed to Nashua next week. Can I pick up some dry cleaning? Go to the grocery store? Run down a turkey sandwich?

*susan*

Joyce, thank you for checking in with us. I knew that this news had to be so difficult for you. You and Michelle are such close friends, and I am glad for you both that you are nearby...for Rick too. My heart breaks for him. I hope they can find some peace and enjoyment in this trip. I'm sure Michelle will get to that beautiful beach despite her ambulatory limitations.

As Susan said, if you know how we can provide some support to Michelle and her family, please put the call out. Also, Joyce, if you would like to talk during this painful time, please PM me. Am thinking of you and sending you strength too. (((((((Joyce))))))

Tonight's dinner was a crap shoot. Could have gone either way. I was seduced by some bright red cubanelle peppers at the local farm. I hate bell peppers, but these looked both interesting, and beautiful. I made a sofrito of sorts and then whizzed some linguica sausage in the food processor. Chiriozo would have been better but didn't have that. I then mixed together the sofrito, and sazon seasoning mix that I made in the spice grinder, and a bit of whizzed tomato. The rest of the tomato went onto the bottom of the baking pan, and I stuffed the four peppers with the sausage mixture. Baked for an hour. Oh and topped with a bit of cheese half way through. Then made Daisy's Puerto Rican rice.

This was actually pretty good! If there is a next time, I think I would make my own meat mixture for stuffing so it could be a bit more interesting. Linguica starts to seem a bit one note while eating a whole pepper. Two peppers remain and will get eaten tomorrow, no doubt.

*susan*

Susan, sounds like a good dish, and as usual I am impressed with your use of homemade ingredients!



I think the cool air got me into true "fall" mode today....and I decided to use some of my newly purchased kale (red Russian variety that was beautiful), and local tomatoes to make a kale, roasted tomato, and onion pizza with feta. Also made a mushroom onion pizza...always our favorite.....but not tonight since the roasted tomato/kale one was so rich with flavor.



Watching the Red Sox tonight reminds me that the nite we went to the game, yes, DH had one of those "death in a bun" sausages with onions and peppers, which he savored.....and I actually even had a "monstah hot dog"....I guess that could count as "ICU in a bun". Rarely do I ever eat hot dogs.....but boy was that tasty with the deli mustard and relish. Yum.......

A number of rapidly ripening tomatoes and a wealth of giant marconi peppers convinced me to make cacciatore tonight. I also made a very nice focaccia with some rosemary from my herb garden and garlic confit that I made several days ago. It was then baked in a cast iron skillet. With a small amount of angel hair pasta, it was a pretty hearty meal. Lunch tomorrow will probably be paninis with the remaining focaccia

Perfect, Laurie!



Nance, your culinary creations sound yummy!

On my walk today, I passed a nearby garden that was sporting just so many bright red ripe tomatoes....all I could think of was how many people help themselves to one on the way by.....the unfenced garden is right near the sidewalk. Anyway, I quelled any antisocial urges, but am very tempted to ask our woodchuck why he prefers our pathetic yard with chewed over kale to this neighbor's bounty!