Reflections of katlupe: February 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Life Is Too Short, Treasure Your Family Now

Our road at night!

Whenever my husband and I go anywhere, we hurry to leave in time to make the drive home before it gets dark. I guess as we got older, our eyes couldn't take the driving at night, especially with other cars' lights hitting our windshield. I used to drive often in the dark when I was younger. Most of the time, I worked second shift, or 3-11, for those who don't know. So driving home in the dark was pretty normal for me. I admit, I am a little more afraid of getting stuck or stranded with a broken down vehicle where we live now. Our roads don't get much traffic at night and the traffic it gets, I am not sure I want to meet!

My husband's brother and father in 2010. Nikita is following them.

Last week we went to visit my father-in-law, who's health is not doing well. He is 93 now and failing badly. We stayed later than we should have because he really didn't want us to leave. We could hear him yelling loudly as we left, "Good-by! Thank you for coming! Thank you for coming!" He said nobody comes to see him anymore. My sister-in-law and her husband had moved to WV last year and he has had a very hard time adjusting to that fact. He cries about it to me almost every time we are there.

My son and my father in 2010.

My own father, who passed away last August, at 93, was in a lot better health than my father-in-law. He was driving and taking care of himself, as well as my niece and her family, who seemed to depend on him for just about everything. I think now, they are learning to be independent. In my family, 93 years old, is really a milestone. I don't think anyone had lived that long on either side of my family. My mom passed away at 78 years old and her mother, my grandmother, at 79.

Hollie Sunshine Lupole Fletcher and her daughter. 1999

It is not just the older people you will lose in your lifetime. My husband lost his daughter, Hollie Sunshine, at the age of 29. His brother too, died in his early thirties. I am fortunate to have my son and my brother and they are both in pretty good health so far. Praying they stay so! My message today is to spend time with your family members. Don't get mad at them for silly reasons and hold a grudge. Forgive them, while you can, and love them with all your heart. Life is too short!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Ideas For Low Carb Food

Oven Fried Chicken Breasts

Bob's Red Mill Almond Meal/Flour is the main substitute I use for wheat flours or breadcrumbs. The almond taste is excellent and in my opinion, way better than any flour or other grains. I have tried some other brands, but always come back to Bob's. Even if it costs more, it is always very fresh tasting. You can buy it in bulk packages and freeze the other ones until you need them. I like to bread my chicken with both the almond meal and the coconut flour. Then I drizzle coconut oil on top, so it has that slightly coconut taste to the chicken. It makes it different and one of our low carb favorites.

I use zucchini often in my low carb recipes!

The key to sticking to your low carb plan is to make dishes that are REALLY good. Make snacks and have them ready and waiting for when you get the munchies. I find that is the one thing that helps me the most. For my husband and myself, it is not just about weight loss. In fact, he doesn't really need to lose any. It is the way it makes you feel. Cutting up a plate of raw vegetables served with a good dip is a very satisfying. Or you can bread the vegetable slices with Bob's Red Mill Organic Coconut Flour and almond meal and oven fry them for another tasty snack.

Planting a garden is not a hard thing to do!

I know what you are going to say, "But katlupe, that costs a lot more money than I can afford!" I used to think that too. Then I discovered that by only buying healthy food for snacks has really cut our food bill down. Do you know how much those chips, Doritos, candy and other goodies cost? What about a box of a dozen doughnuts? Shoot, and we are paying for that so called food??? What is wrong with us? Most of my readers here know that I grow a garden. So all season we are swimming in fresh vegetables. That is a big savings for us. You can do that too.

Salad is a part of every supper at our house!

You can't go wrong with meat and salad. Or you can make a stir fry or a low carb soup or stew. On my Pinterest Low Carb boards I have a huge amount of pins of low carb foods. Many are desserts and snacks. I am planning on trying new recipes weekly. I will be trying them and posting my recipes here as soon as I make them. Low CARB FOOD.......... CAN BE........ AND IS............GOOD!!!!!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Nikita Blackwolf Lupole 01/07/98 - 02/18/13 R.I.P.

Nikita loved snow! Hated hot weather, bugs and mud!

My dog, Nikita Blackwolf Lupole passed away today. I will tell you more about it. But not today. Still hurts too much to talk about her. I loved her with all my heart.

Nikita was devoted to my husband, Larry.

Nikita and Hobo playing with my husband

The ramp my husband built for Nikita

Callie thinks Nikita was her mother!

Nikita Blackwolf Lupole

01/07/98 - 02/18/13

R.I.P.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day

Glitter Graphics

My parents, Hazel & Michael Dran, 1942

Today is a day for love. A day when couples share a box of heart shaped chocolates, a special dinner or a night out. I remember my mother telling me how years ago when my father was away in the service, the post man brought a box of heart shaped candy to her from him. Her sisters were envious! She was excited. It was a custom my father did every year for the sixty years they were married. He even gave little boxes of Valentine candy to my brother and me so we wouldn't feel left out.

In 1970 I got my life long Valentine in the form of my son,

Michael Jeffrey. Yes, he was born on Valentine's Day!

Us!

And of course,

I got my own special Valentine, the day I married my husband, Larry Lupole!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my special readers...........you are ALL special to me!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Snow Is Here Today Gone Tomorrow

We got a lot of snow the other night. Not as much as everyone said we'd get. So that was a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say. Some people said we'd get 40 inches! Not quite. More like 6 inches. That is more my style. I mean, I don't live in Montana! My cousin, Judy lives there and she loves it. But she tells of huge snowfalls and very low temperatures. Not for me, I'm afraid I am too old for that kind of weather. Though, she is older than me.........

New York state gets its share of snow. But after it is shoveled and plowed out, the house is warm and everyone has some food to eat, it doesn't seem quite so bad. Actually when it is really cold, we don't usually get the snow. If it warms up a bit, then it snows. Or rains. If it rains, the rivers in our area flood.

Paths are shoveled the first thing in the morning. That makes the chores easier to do. Then wheeling the wheelbarrow through the snow is much easier if you have a path to follow. The work is not easy. I used to be able to help with some things, but not as much as I used to do. It is hard on my husband, but for now, my son is here with us and he has been a very big help to us. I am lucky to have him!

Firewood is a constant thing if you use wood heat. Cutting the wood from the logs. Then splitting it down so it will fit into whichever stove it is for. The cook stove takes smaller sizes of wood than the big heating wood stove. That stove is a monster and takes big pieces. We fill it up and let it burn.

Friday, February 01, 2013

Winter Has Another Month And A Half To Go!

Forty-six days until Spring. This month is usually our worst month here in New York state. January was pretty bad this year, compared to last year which was a pretty easy winter. Our winter this year has had two different January thaws! Below zero temperatures usually don't affect us that much. I think it bothers you more as you get older. Both my husband and I now, have some arthritis and that is a major reason for the cold being worst. At least that is what I think.

The funny thing about animals though, is that except for the cats, our other animals love the cold weather and hate summer. Nikita, our dog, as some of my readers know, had some health issues this year. This year she turned fifteen years old and is lame, but able to get around. I think she also has Cushings and she has had three seizures this year. But other than that, in the winter she acts like a puppy! She can't run, but when she is feeling good she hops around like she is happy. Even in below zero temperatures, she would go outside and lay in the snow! She loved it!

Our horses too, are all older now and have slowed down quite a bit. But they are playful in the winter. They are outside in the daytime often. In the summer, they don't come out of the barn until evening. I love looking out and seeing them running and bucking like fillies! Maybe they do that to keep warm up. If the sun is out, they will nap in the sunlight. I guess I should try that myself!

Here is a link to my new blog, Raised Beds Can Be Built Cheaply, Quickly And Easy!

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