Thankful Thursday: The Big Chill

Yes, it is. It is -5 on the thermometer outside the kitchen window this morning. The windchill is in the negative teens range. I was feeling pretty sad with that until I watched the news and saw how cold it is in the Midwest. Now I'm pretty thankful for  -5.

Speaking of thankful....

It's time to link up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand for Thankful Thursday. It's a chance to brag on our God and all he's blessed us with this week. Gratitude is a good thing. Focusing on the good things helps our minds be more positive and makes us happier. There have been studies that prove it. I love it when science proves what the Bible has been telling us all along. Anyway, please visit Rebecca Jo to read her list, find links to other lists, and join in with us if you want to.

This week I am thankful...

* not to have to get up early to brave the cold and start a school bus. Yep, days like this remind me that while no job is perfect, leaving the school bus behind was definitely the right move.

* that we've reached the end of January and I haven't yet caught any of the bugs that have been going around. I have become almost obsessive about handwashing and sanitizing at work and that's carried over to the rest of life, too. The skin on my hands is rough, red, and on the verge of cracking in spite of using loads of lotion, but I'll deal with it to avoid being sick.

* that I don't think I did anything horribly wrong at work this week since the state is there all week for inspections. They are watching every little thing. I guess they told our head honcho that there aren't any big things wrong so far, but my boss said she has a feeling that today they are going to find fault with everything and drop a big bomb. I guess they are good for doing that. I don't know. I'm just glad that when they observed me in the dementia unit I don't think I made any big mistakes and since I'm probably washing and sanitizing my hands more than I need to anyway, I should be good on that. I think the bigger issues are going to be nursing issues and safety....one of the dementia residents fell while state was observing (I was out of the unit on my lunch break).

* I finally got to go to Bible study this week! It had been over a month since I was last with everyone. It was so good to see them and a real boon to my spirit to be with my special group of believers.

* my daughter's doctors are finally taking her complaints of anxiety and depression seriously and referring her to a counselor who specializes in working with pregnant women. I hope she continues through the post-partum period, too, since she had some pretty bad post-partum depression with her first pregnancy.

* that I don't have anxiety. I can't get over how many people I meet these days who are struggling with it. I suppose it's our world, because I don't remember there being so many fretful, nervous people when I was younger. I can't imagine having to live with that much worry and insecurity.

* for a fun weekend with my husband. He came home a little early from work on Saturday so he could take a nap, because our youngest grandson spent the night. Pappy had promised him a camp out on the living room floor. He's such a funny little guy and we enjoyed having him here. Then Sunday we did our usual Walmart run for groceries for the week's lunches and we decided to stop by the local meat market and stocked up on all kinds of yummy things. There wasn't any stress or fussing and it was just a nice time together.

* our older two grandchildren are back in school this week. Our granddaughter had been going to a charter school after being homeschooled, but something happened early in the fall and her parents pulled her out. The younger one hadn't started official school yet, so we're glad they both began cyber school. The younger one will continue with it indefinitely, but our granddaughter is very creative and artsy and is in the process of applying to the school for the arts. If accepted she'd begin in two years.

* for sunshine. Even though it's bitter cold out there, the sun is shining! What a gift! We so rarely see bright sunshine here, even in the summer. It wasn't always this way, but climate change (?) has made us cloudy. We have more cloudy days than Seattle who has always had that as a claim to "fame."

* all of you, of course!

I am off to get ready for work. Have a blessed and thankful Thursday! Stay warm and safe.

Wednesday Medley

It's Wednesday and that means it's time to link up with Terri @ Your Friend From Florida for the Wednesday Medley, a fun assortment of questions to get us over the hump in the middle of the week. If you want to play along or just read more entries, please pay her a visit!

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY – January 30

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY

In the United States, National Croissant Day is observed each year on January 30th. Croissants are a buttery, crescent-shaped rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  

The key to a perfect croissant is laminating the dough. Laminating the dough is a process by which butter is folded into the mixture creating multiple thin layers of butter and dough. The result is a mouth-watering flaky crust and airy body.

Legend surrounds this pastry, as is often the case with a popular, worldly treat. What is known, is that crescent-shaped breads have been found around the world for ages. One of these was the Kipferl which originated in Austria as far back as the 13th century. This nonlaminated bread is more like a roll.

Credit for the croissant we know today is given to an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to Viennese baking techniques.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Stop by the bakery for a fresh, warm croissant or try making your own using this recipe: Croissants recipe.

1.  Well, I do love croissants when they are fresh, but day-old croissants need to be turned into a donut.  I happen to really like the croissants that have a donut-like glaze on them!  Sugar overload but so good.  So... do you like croissants?  What is your favorite way to eat them?  They really aren't my favorite, but I like them filled with a good chicken salad or wrapped around a hotdog like I made for our youngest grandson this past weekend....though I suspect calling Pillsbury's crescent rolls croissants is probably a bit of a stretch. Ha!

2.  Speaking of food... How do you handle stress?  Sometimes I give in to the siren call of comfort food which, for me, tends to be starchy, salty, or savory dishes.  Mostly, I try to turn to other methods to reduce stress...prayer and Bible study, music, taking a walk, talking with a friend.

3.  Out of the negative emotions of greed, anger, jealousy, and hate, which one would you say affects you the most?  Anger, not that I show it outwardly, but it is often there simmering under the surface....usually related to the treatment of others. 

4.  Out of the positive emotions of compassion, positivity, enthusiasm, and initiative, which one is your biggest strength?  Probably compassion, but I'm working on positivity. I am purposely seeking to see the good in every situation.

5.  What do you get every time you go grocery shopping, other than the staples such as bread, milk, butter, flour, sugar...  Lately it's been those new frozen bowl meals. Tim likes Banquet's Mega Bowls and I like Marie Calender's beef broccoli bowl as well as some of the Asian inspired ones that Walmart carries. They make easy lunches for work. I almost always buy a jar of Sam's Choice Peach-Pineapple Chipotle Sauce, as well. It's good as salsa on chips, but I also like it on my eggs, in sandwiches, etc.

6.  Please tell us something random about your week so far.  Our daughter and grandson stayed over last night. It's the second time this week. She has anxiety, but this pregnancy has really intensified it. It's also affecting her depression and other health issues. She saw her OB yesterday and they are finally going to send her to a counselor who specializes in mood disorders in pregnant women. I am praying that helps. Her husband is hoping to be able to switch from midnight shift to daylight one of these days. I am praying for that, too. I'm sure she'd be able to stay home at night if he was there.

By the way, we are in the deep freeze here this morning and the snow has begun falling on top of that. This is going to be one dangerously cold day. The news is already reporting a flood of accidents and fire departments are having a tough time putting out fires because the water just freezes. Please, stay warm and be safe wherever you are.

10 On Tuesday: Books

Books on my "get to" list...

1. The Big Kahuna: A Fox and O'Hare Novel by Janet Evanovich

2. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (I still haven't read it!)

3. That Month in Tuscany by Inglath Cooper

4. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

5. Cemetery Road by Greg Iles

6. The entire Cork O'Connor Series by William Kent Krueger

7. Arctic Homestead: The True Story of One Family's Survival and Courage in the Alaskan Wilds by Norma Cobb

8. The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

9. No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert

10. 9 Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

Sleepovers, Grands, Shopping, and Rest

This past weekend was an off one for me and it was much needed. The behaviors in the dementia unit have really been rearing their heads lately and it was nice to get a break from it. It has given me a new appreciation for those who choose to work there every day and especially for those who are taking care of a loved one at home. God bless all of them! It is a difficult job.

Saturday was a slow day, which was exactly what I had hoped for. I spent most of the day cleaning, doing laundry, and reading my new James Rollins novel, Crucible. I did make a run to Walmart around 3:00 after Tim got home from work. It gave him a quiet house to take a nap in and I was able to stock up on some things we needed and some things I wanted to have on hand since our youngest grandson came at 6:00 to spend the night. "Pappy" had been promising him a camp out on the living room floor for a couple of weeks.

The sleepover was fun. I made hotdogs with cheese wrapped in crescent rolls with French fries for supper and then Colton and I "made" some of those Pillsbury cookies with the hearts in the dough. He helped put them on the cookie sheet, but I had to watch because the little stinker likes to eat the dough raw.  While the cookies were in the oven the boys pushed the coffee table out of the way and inflated the air mattress. They spent the evening playing and watching TV from the mattress.

Colton was up and raring to go at 5:30 Sunday morning and thankfully, he was in a good mood. That's not usually how he wakes up! I made sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese, and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We just chilled and watched the Disney Junior channel all morning. Colton got to see Toy Story for the first time and he loved it. Megan came to get him around 11:00 and while he was glad to see her, he did not want to leave. We so enjoyed having him stay since, but it sure made us wish our two other grands got to stay and do things with us.

I needed to get a prescription filled so we went to Walmart around noon. Yes, I know I had that big anti-Walmart pharmacy rant, but it was Sunday and my prescription is already there. Next time I have to have the doctor write it out, I'm moving it. Tim did some shopping for his lunches this week and I picked up a few odds and ends while we waited. My prescription was ready on time, HOORAY!! So, we were out of there in time to shoot across the countryside to go to our favorite meat market before it closed at 3:00. We got all kinds of yummy things there....maple/apple chicken sausage, teriyaki beef sticks, summer sausage, loose hot sausage, ground chuck, a chuck roast, bacon, a couple more things I can't remember, and 2 T-bone steaks that we cooked on the grill for supper. Boy, were those yummy!

Tim headed to bed early since he didn't get too much sleep at the sleepover. I caught up online and watched some of the Swamp People marathon. I admit to enjoying that one and seeing a vanishing way of life. Plus, alligators fascinate me.

Now it's Monday and the start of a new work week. I have three 12-8 days this week and most of my days are in the dementia unit this week. It's going to be a long week, but I hope things are calming down as we are now a week out from the super moon. We're supposed to get snow tomorrow, though, so the barometer may play havoc on the behaviors. (Yes, that affects them, too.)  I haven't heard anything about the interview I had last week, but I am still hopeful and praying about it. 

I am off to color my hair while I still have time. You all have a blessed week!

Sunday Stealing: Conversation Starters

Here are some Conversation Starters.
There are actually 200 of them; I just chose a few.

What are some small things that make your day better?  When my husband does some small, silly gesture just to let me know he's thought of me...hearing our grandson laugh...getting "fun" mail...when the sun is shining first thing (it rarely does around here)...wearing an outfit that makes me feel confident...spending time praying and just being with the Lord.

What shows are you into?  A Million Little Things, The Big Bang Theory, American Pickers, and old Columbo reruns. I watch other tv shows but they are mostly what my husband watches...a lot of true crime stuff. I don't really enjoy those, but that's what we do for our spouses, isn't it? Left to my own devices, I don't watch much television. I'd rather read or mess around on the laptop.

What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should?  I can't think of anything. I'm sure anything I could come up with is already on tv somewhere. I'd have an easier time telling you what channels exist, but shouldn't.

Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished?  I can't think of any one person specifically, but I admire children who face terrible diseases and circumstances with a dignity we could all learn from. I also stand in awe of the soldiers who return scarred and less than whole, but fight to put their lives back together and then still give of themselves.

What age do you wish you could permanently be?  I was going to say 35-40, but then I realized I didn't have my grandkids at that age, nor did I know that the rough times with our son and his wife would improve, or that our daughter would emerge from her turbulent teen years much better off than I ever imagined she would. So, I guess I'll just say 56...which is 2 years down the road, but grandbaby #4 is due this summer and I don't want to miss that!

What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?  The list of "reality" shows is very long...Big Brother, the Real Housewives of Anything, Teen Moms....basically anything that exploits a certain group or is totally amoral or tasteless.

What is something that is considered a luxury, but you don’t think you could live without?  My laptop. It wouldn't bother me at all to part with my cell phone, but the laptop? I'd rather you took my right arm! Okay, not really. I'm sure I'd survive, but I would not be smiling.

What’s your claim to fame?  I don't think I have one.

What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?  Read. I have a NOOK and the Kindle app on my phone, but I dislike using them. I want a book in my hands. l also wear a watch to tell time...one with hands and numbers. I've heard that marks me as old since the younger generation can't tell time on analog clocks and they don't, in general, wear watches since cell phones have clocks.

What’s your favorite genre of book or movie?  Mystery, thriller, romance. I'm happy with either of those.

How often do you people watch?  I don't really do it purposely, but I guess any time I'm out somewhere there are lots of people it's hard to avoid.

What have you only recently formed an opinion about?  Nursing homes and the care given there. Let's just say I hope to never be completely dependent on anyone.

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?  I can't think of anything that unusual.

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?  Either Arizona or Florida. Whichever is the farthest.

What is the most heartwarming thing you’ve ever seen?  That video on Facebook where the dad dances with the handicapped daughter. Heart-melt. Every. Single. Time.

What is the most annoying question that people ask you?  "Is your hair naturally curly?" I must hear that 10 times a day.

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?  It would be pretty rambling, I'm sure, but I think I could talk about what I've learned about dementia for that long.

If you were dictator of a small island nation, what crazy dictator stuff would you do?  Every day would have a theme of some kind. Just for fun.

What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?  Cut completely loose, dance like no one is watching, act like a complete goof, and just be completely free and caught up in a moment without worrying what anyone else is thinking.

Well, that's it for today. I'm linking up with Bev and the gang of thieves for Sunday Stealing, one of the longest running memes around. If you enjoyed reading my answers, please go visit and let Bev know or better yet, join in with us!

Saturday 9: My Favorite Things

Saturday 9: My Favorite Things (2018)

I'm linking up with Sam and the gang for the Saturday 9 today. I'm off this weekend. Hooray! The mix of personalities and behaviors we have going on in the dementia unit are more than a little stressful these days and it is good to get a break.
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's artist, Jennie Abrahamson, is very happy living in Stockholm, but she refers to Paris as "a flirt." She enjoys her time there so much she always wants to return. Is there a place you've visited that tugs at your heart and imagination, tempting you to return?  Chincoteague Island, Virginia. It has been in my heart since I read Misty of Chincoteague when I was 9 years old.

2) Jennie has said her music has been heavily influenced by 80s pop, which was popular in her early teen years. Are your favorite songs the ones you listened to when you were growing up?  There are certain songs that take me back and that I love to listen to, but I don't really have a favorite genre or period. My musical tastes are very eclectic. I listen to everything from Big Band on up to the present. 

3) "My Favorite Things" is from The Sound of Music. Crazy Sam's high school claim to fame was playing Sister Margaretta in the senior class production. Though not a big part, her performance lives on because relatives love embarrassing her with pictures of her in an especially unflattering nun's habit. Who took an embarrassing photo of you? What were you doing?  The only one I can think of is my 4th grade school photo. It was during my awkward period to begin with and then my mom got my hair cut in a shag with super short bangs and dressed me in a ruffly blouse and a sweater in my school colors of green and gold. I also had the awful glasses she and my dad made me get, not the cool, wire-framed ones I begged for. I was the poster child for all of Nerd-dom!

4) The lyrics celebrate "brown paper packages tied up in strings." What was in the last box you received in the mail?  I got a big bottle of hair gel and a new book (yes, in the same box) from Amazon yesterday.

5) It mentions doorbells and sleighbells. What's the most recent bell or alarm that you heard?  One of the dementia residents pulled the fire alarm at work tonight. Talk about LOUD!! We had the fire department there and everything before maintenance got it sorted out and shut off.

  6) This song has nice things to say about cold weather, specifically snowflakes and mittens. What do you like about winter? This pretty much sums it up...

7) Dog bites and bee stings are singled out as things that can leave us feeling sad. What's most recently given you the blues?  Lack of sleep. I get all out of sorts when I'm tired.

8) In 2018, when this song was released, Roger Federer won the Australian Open. Are you good with a racket? Not particularly. I played some as a teen, but it just wasn't a big thing with my friends. We most hit it back and forth on the street or on the patio at my friend's house.

9) Random question -- Your local zoo announced the hatching of three snowy owlets. All males. You won the honor of naming them. Go ahead.  Blizzard, Frosty, and Tinsel.