Christmas Memories

Christmas Eve brings back so many special memories for me. As a child, my parents got tired of having to rise early on Christmas morning because of my brother, Mickey and I wanting to open our presents. It was their one day of being able to sleep late and we would not let them. Soon they were surprising us with Santa coming on Christmas Eve instead. We would go visit my Aunt Helen and Uncle Eddie and take presents to my cousins, Richard and Sharon. When we got home, wow! Santa had been there already and left our presents under the tree! We never put two and two together that my father, who didn't go with us (because he owned a gas station across the road and had to work while we were gone) had put the presents out.

I remember a couple of years that we went downstairs to the cellar so my father could show us what he had bought for our mother. Then we'd play down there a bit riding our bikes on the dirt floor while he tinkered at his work bench. Pretty soon we'd go upstairs and Santa had been there and we missed him again! After we moved to Florida, we were a few years older, our Christmas presents coming from Santa was no longer something we believed. I suspected for long time before that, but did not say anything because Mickey would get mad if I mentioned it. Both of our parents worked so Christmas Eve was a day off for them. It was always a day of doing work around our house. Somehow, Christmas in Florida was not like Christmas in New York. Maybe the snow? My father would be outside working on our house, not like the winters we were used to. So they would let us have our presents around noon.

We had a tree and decorated our house. My mother and I would make a nice dinner, usually ham. They did not go overboard with presents or food. We got the things we usually wanted. I think what I missed most during those years of Christmas in Florida, was our family in New York. My grandmother especially. I was really close to her and used to spend a few nights at her house quite often. Not seeing my aunts, uncles and cousins at Christmas or any other time was sad for me. We had friends but it was not the same. By the time we moved back to New York, everyone had grown up. Life was different.

When I had my son, Jeffrey, I made sure his Christmas was special. I know I overdid it, but it was the way I pictured Christmas being when I was a child. Many of the decorations in my apartment now are remnants of past Christmases in my own life. Life passes by so fast, we don't realize it. Now my son doesn't really care for Christmas or holiday celebrations. He lives down the street from me and I see him almost daily. I plan on making a nice dinner for my boyfriend, Sonny and me, and if Jeffrey wants to eat with us, he will. If not, I will just give him a plate to take home. It will still be a nice day and I am happy with not spending a lot of money on presents or big meals.

From our home to your home.......

Merry Christmas to all my readers! 

Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2019  Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2021

Winter Time In New York

Winter in NY state

Living in a snowy, cold climate is no longer depressing to me. When I lived on my off-the-grid homestead, I would say or write that I couldn’t wait for winter to end. When it snowed more, I hated it. I did not actually hate the snow. Or the cold weather. I just hated the fact that I lived with someone who would become enraged with anger over snow and cold weather. Truthfully, the winter was just beautiful there! I loved seeing the trees with snow covered branches. I loved seeing the dirt road completely hidden under the snow. I loved the silence of the snow, the first thing in the morning, I’d sit on my porch with a cup of coffee to just take in the wonder of it all. It was an amazing view to me every time it snowed. 

The beauty of a fresh snowfall

I was sad that I was not allowed to enjoy it due to someone else not liking it and putting him in a bad mood. Especially when you have lived in NY state  your whole life and you know what to expect when winter comes. I really loved it. Now here I am in the city and winter seems far away to me from my apartment window. I have no forest nearby, in the distance yes, but not close enough to feel it. The person that hated it is still living there in the forest and probably still hating it. Yet what could be more amazing than a forest around you covered with snow? Hearing the chickadees as they fly around you asking for a handout? As I get older, those memories are cherished forever. I can hear them in my mind as I watch the snow falling from my apartment window.

No trees around my apartment building

My apartment building has no trees close by. At least not where I can see them close up. The downtown area has trees in the parks and along the streets. All the trees I see from my windows are in the forests in the distance. I am not complaining though. At least I can see them. I love my home here so I will not ever complain about it. My promise to myself is to never look back at what was or might have been. I look ahead to each and every day. If it snows, I love it. If it rains, I love it too. The only thing I so not love is thunder and lightning. I never will, though I am not as frightened by it as I once was. Not here.

A daily visitor to my house in St. Petersburg, FL

I have lived in the hot climate of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina (for a short time). Florida mostly. I say I grew up in Florida because those were the years as a child and teenager, when you do most of your growing up. I loved it back then. In 1994, I went back to Florida as an adult and I could not deal with the hot weather any longer. Tropical climates are not for me. I guess that is a good thing. Too many people are living in those states already. I believe you should choose to live where and how you want. Life is short. Make the best of it by living with the climate you enjoy, not dread every year.

The view outside my window

I admit to not having to do snow clean up like a lot of people have to do. I think that is why they do not like the cold weather and snow. Actually the one thing I hated about winter was having to drive on the snowy, icy roads. I hated that. Now living where and how I do, I do not have to deal with that. I do not own a car and have no plans of ever owning one. I never thought I would say this, but I never want to have one again. I like not having to drive anywhere, let alone the expense. It is one of the headaches of people living in a downtown apartment. Their cars. They have to move them from the parking lots of their buildings when the threat of snow is in the news. Why? So it can be plowed. The parking lot for my building is plowed several times during the night as long as it keeps snowing. But where to park? There is a city lot nearby and it allows parking at night there for all the surrounding apartment residents. Good thing because it would be a big problem. Especially for people in my building who are not able to get around well enough to park a distance away.

Home!

I may not be able to hear the silence of the snow, but I enjoy this time of year just the same. I miss using Jazzy, my mobility chair to go shopping or the park, but I have it to look forward to in the spring. In the meantime, I have a lot of projects I am working on this winter. Enjoy every minute of your life while you have it. That is what I intend to do. Wherever you live, have an awesome winter!

Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2019  Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2021

Cooking For One With Love

Cooking for myself

Preparing meals for yourself when you live alone tends to depress people. If you were used to cooking for others and sitting down to a nice meal, chances are you are not sure how to make an enjoyable meal for one. Grabbing a quick sandwich in front of the computer or television is not the same. Though I am guilty of eating in front of my computer, normally I am eating a meal that I prepared. Not processed food that comes in a box. I am not saying anything against those, but for the most part, I believe your meal is more enjoyable when you take the time to make something yourself.

I am always on my computer!

Lately I have been watching YouTube videos about people who live in Asian countries and how they live and cook meals. One that stands out in my mind is the people who live in Okinawa, Japan. They outlive almost any other country. I always heard people saying it had to do with the coral in the water there. After watching the video, I don’t think that is why. I think it is due to their lifestyle. They cook their food from fresh ingredients daily. No processed foods. They also stay active. Exercise, sports, Yoga and dancing keeps them moving. Interacting with their friends and families. Doing something daily. Not sitting in front of a television, or what I am guilty of, the computer, or a book. Moving around every single day. 

Broccoli in cheese sauce

Taking the time to find a recipe for something you would like to cook, shows you love yourself enough to put together a good dish…….just for you! Self-love is cooking for yourself. Making the ingredient list, shopping for the ingredients, is all a part of the process. I like to put on some music before I get started in my kitchen. I put all my ingredients out together. Look them over and then line them up according to the order in which I need them. I take out the bowls, measuring cups and spoons, knives, pans, pots, whatever I will need. Now the key to making it enjoyable, is to do it slowly. Do not hurry through the preparation process. Preparing your food is showing yourself love.

Meatloaf, broccoli and acorn squash with ice tea

When fixing my meal, I make enough to serve more than one. Having leftovers that I can freeze for future quick meals is a plus in my book. Or just refrigerate and eat all week……..yes, I am guilty of doing that too! Since I was eating a low carb diet, I got used to not eating sugar, bread and other processed foods. For some reason the low carb diet stopped working for me. I was tired all the time, didn’t have the energy everyone gets from it. I hadn't lost much weight either. My doctor did a thorough check up and did test my thyroid. I decided to give myself a rest from the low carb life and try something different. I am basically eating less meat, more vegetables and fruit. I missed the fruit on low carbs. Now I am also eating organic grains, legumes and more nuts. Not wheat. On the low carb diet I ate large servings of meat. Now I am limiting my portions of that too. It makes my food go farther this way too. I could never afford to buy all organic foods for the low carb diets. I use some organic when I can afford it. 

Cooking a pan full gives you future meals!

Well this blog post is not about my diet or what I eat. It is about how I cook. I made my version of Paella yesterday. It was full of good food and lots of self love. I did not hurry myself through the preparation and cooking. Kind of go with the flow. Works well for me since I cannot stand for long periods. I start making food and stop to sit down for a few minutes. Then go back to it. What I love best about cooking for myself is that nobody is waiting for you to finish cooking it because they are starving. Or they are waiting to eat so they can leave because they have to be somewhere else. I am a slow eater so this type of cooking suits me perfectly. Now if I have it prepared already and in the refrigerator and company arrives, I just need to heat it up. 

kat's version of Paella

I have been experimenting with middle eastern and Asian recipes, spices and ingredients. It seems like they are healthier and the blend of the spices is amazing. I use a recipe and adjust the ingredients to ones I have or are familiar with. If it is something new I want to try, I research it first. YouTube has some really informative videos on international cooking. I have always cooked with spices and herbs, but I think I took them for granted. My boyfriend got me into trying different ones, even though he doesn't know he did that. You do not need to buy special blends because it is more fun making them yourself. This way you can be sure what is in them and that there is no MSG (monosodium glutamate) in them. Many Asian recipes have it listed as an ingredient so you should eliminate that. I will be sharing some of the recipes I have found on this blog soon. Enjoy self-love by cooking a special meal for yourself today!

Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2019  Kathleen G. Lupole