Life Keeps Changing As I Get Older

My Backyard

When I stopped living at Peaceful Forest and moved downtown to a small apartment I did not know what to expect. I had a lot of mobility issues. I knew I had to move and leave my marriage so I could go to a doctor. At that time I did not have health insurance and could not get any. It was out of our price range. I had absolutely no money to pay for any. When I did go to a walk-in clinic for something the young doctor there said my mobility issues was just normal aging. No real exam and no x-rays. Just a big bill with sixty dollars extra added because I did not have health insurance! So I did what I had to do. 

Doing Laundry

As much as I did not want to give up my life as a homesteading woman, I knew I had no choice. I struggled to do my chores. Washing laundry by hand was something a lot of people who read this blog romanticized. It was not by any means. It was a difficult chore for me to do. Putting my hands in ice cold water. I could not carry the water from the pump to the house to heat and then carry back outside. No, I had to use the cold water. To this day even with washing machines, I wash my personal clothing in cold water and hang to dry. Lasts much longer. I even made my own laundry soap which I do not care to do anymore. Moving here simplified my life. As you get older there are health issues that make it difficult for you to keep doing those chores that you used to do every day. When I  used to say that homesteading was not a simple life I meant it. Nor an easy one. 

Canned Ground Beef

For a long time I baked our bread letting it rise next to our big wood stove. Now I don't even eat bread. Life changes and so did my diet. When we were low on food, I could go in my pantry and create a meal out of ingredients and canned foods that I stored. It never felt like we didn't have anything to eat. Maybe not a lot of meat though I had that canned in the pantry also. I did not realize that my inflammation was most likely coming from the baked goods I was making. Lots of sugar and wheat! Two foods I no longer eat. I know so many people with serious health issues and they don't want to try to resolve their issues by giving up their beloved sugar, wheat and high carbs. I just ignore them now. It is kind of like being a Christian and watching people talk against it so they can continue doing the things they do and not have to change their ways. Well, they don't have to. Just pay the price later on. 

My Kitchen

Instead of cooking from scratch I now look for foods I can cook easily without much mess. I cannot stand in the kitchen for longer than five minutes. So I get the food started and sit back down. Keeping it on a low enough temperature so it does not burn. Back and forth is the way I cook. I call it the back and forth method! If something takes some time to prepare, like a salad, I put it on the tray I keep on the walker seat and go back to my chair. There I cut up and peel it, put it in the bowl and then wheel it back to the kitchen to finish. Washing the dishes after each meal is another big help. That way I never have to stand at the sink for a long time. I cannot even if I wanted to. 

Local Bus Transportation

Living in an apartment in a small city is easier for someone living alone and zeroing in on old age. A house has a lot of work and expenses associated with it. Like a car. I choose to live without all those headaches. To be honest though, it is not easy. Having to arrange transportation to medical appointments can be a headache. They don't always arrive on time or at all. Sometimes they just cancel you and don't even let you know. Then you miss your appointments. Even so, I could never afford a vehicle even if it was completely paid for. The repairs, preventative maintenance, insurance, registration, inspections and whatever else comes up with vehicle ownership. There are taxi cabs and the bus system available. For groceries though I normally have them delivered. It is the easiest option. 

Ready-Wrap compression garments

Right now in the middle of summer I am already looking forward to fall and cooler temperatures. I can't wait for it. Even more so this year because it has been hotter and my Lymphedema is worse. I am wearing the Velcro Ready-Wraps most of the time now. They are easier to put on but they are hotter than the compression stockings. A couple of days I skipped the compression but it resulted in more swelling. You pay for what you do. Even if you know something is not good for you for some reason you still want to do it. Human nature I guess. I keep telling myself things will get better but unfortunately they never do. So I am learning to have patience, wisdom and discipline and hope for the best.

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

Making Keto Ice Cream With A Meal Replacement Shake

Keto Chow Meal Replacement Shake as Keto Ice Cream

I eat ice cream almost daily while still following a low carb/keto food plan. Not just a lousy half a cup either. A whole pint! Two cups of bliss! Ice cream was always my downfall when following any diet. I can never resist it. Even though in recent years it is not as good as I remember previously. Too many chemicals have been added to it. Just read the label! What kind of concoction is it anyway? Yes, every now and then I am tempted by it and buy some. At first it tastes really good but soon it reminds why I don't eat it. Makes me feel pretty bad even though the taste seems to be okay. I am the type of person who can eat ice cream all year long. Even in the dead of winter with below zero temperatures I still want my ice cream. 

My Keto Chow Delivery!

The trouble with the low carb and keto ice creams sold in the store is first of all they are expensive. Next a serving is very small. Some are half a cup and some are even smaller. No way is that going to satisfy me! About 4 years ago, I discovered a keto replacement shake on a channel I followed on YouTube. It is called Keto Chow. A catchy name I know! When I saw people making it into ice cream I knew I had to try it. Well, try it I did and I have been addicted to it ever since. It is more than a protein shake though many people drink it as that. It can also be used to make main dishes, soups (especially their recipe for pumpkin sausage soup!), snacks, desserts, including cookies, fudge, pies, cakes, biscuits and many more. They have their recipes posted on their website so you can find whatever you need. 

Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker

I started out with a Cuisanart ice cream maker. The kind you have to freeze the container before you put the shake in it. I did not enjoy that one so much. I struggled with it for the sake of having ice cream. Then the Ninja Creami appeared on the scene. What a difference that made! Trouble was that it was a bit pricey for me. Then on Keto Chow's YouTube channel, Chris Bair, the founder of Keto Chow along with his wife Miriam, mentioned a website called Woot. He said they had the Ninja Creami for about $100. It is a site that sells used items that are reconditioned. I took a chance and paid a little over a hundred for it because I had to pay for shipping. It is a Very Heavy piece of equipment! 

Rabbit didn't even open his eyes when I ran the new Ninja Creami!

Once it was delivered, I had to get brave enough to use it. From many YouTube videos I was aware of how loud it is. Louder than a vacuum cleaner! I had a bunny living in my apartment and they do not appreciate loud noises. Finally one day I had to try it..............my bunny did not even open his eyes! After that he was used to the noise of the Ninja Creami and so was I. It turns my Keto Chow shakes into the best creamy ice cream you could want. I cannot remember what the first flavors I bought were but it was incredible. I have since, bought every flavor that is available. Not a bad one in the bunch. I am not crazy about the new vanilla cream or their Core products. Other than those, I buy different ones on a regular basis. It is worth every cent to me. 

Keto Chow Butterscotch in 1 Serving Packets

Keto Chow is available in large bags but I prefer the small packets of one serving. That way I have a larger variety. Keto chow does not add any fat into their product. You have to do that and if you don't add any fat you will not get the nutritional benefit from the vitamins and minerals. I add melted butter to mine with warm water in the blender. Then add the rest of the water at room temperature with the Keto Chow and anything else you may want to include. Keto Chow is formulated to provide a person with all the vitamins and minerals that they need from one meal. A third of the daily requirements based on them having three meals a day. I look forward to it every day! 

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

  

Cool Cooking In Hot Weather

 

I am getting ready to cook some breakfast. Cooking in my kitchen does not make my apartment hot. I use a single induction burner (Duxtop) and no heat is around it at all when cooking. The pan gets hot and the food cooks but the area around it is not hot at all. Plus it heats up quickly and takes only a few minutes to cook my food. One of the things I really like about it is that I can use my cast iron skillets on it. The smaller sizes work best due to the size of the cooking area on the burner. I have three different sizes and one nonstick skillet that I use for eggs, as well as a stainless steel egg poacher.

Cooking Bacon in the NuWave

The NuWave convection oven (the one with the amber dome) is my oven and it doesn't heat up the kitchen much either. I can make anything that you make in a regular oven in that. I have used both of these for over 8 years now and have no issues to complain about. I did replace the heating element a couple of years ago (bought a used one on eBay). Other than that it has worked fine for me. They say it uses 75% less electric than a normal stove's oven would. The dome does get hot so when cooking with it I am careful not to touch it.

Instant Pot

Another cooking appliance I use quite often is the Instant Pot. I can cook so many things in that and it does not heat my kitchen up either. Instead of cooking a roast or ribs in a regular oven for a long time the Instant Pot can cook it in short amount of time. Plus meat usually comes out so tender. I also hard boil my eggs in it and make soups and stews. Foods that usually simmer for hours are done so much faster and are just as good. I have even made my own homemade yogurt in it. Using the saute option you can also brown your meats in it before closing it to pressure cook it. You can leave your food in it and just keep it warm till you want it. I have done that many times.

Hot Logic

Another item I use to heat food is the Hot Logic. I do not cook food in it though you can and I did when I first got it. I put leftovers in it a few hours before I want to eat them. They will heat up and stay warm until you want them. It does not give off any heat on the counter or anywhere near it. I use a Pyrex oven dish to heat the food in with a piece of aluminum foil over the top. It is a good way to keep a meal warm until you want to eat. Most of the time I cook more than I will eat at my meal so I put the leftovers in the Pyrex oven dish and store in the refrigerator. The next day I put the dish of leftovers in the Hot Logic and plug it in. That is all I have to do. Later in the day I have my hot meal ready to eat! 

Crock Pot/ Slow Cooker

I sometimes use the crock pot. It is a good appliance to use when you just want to put something in and forget about it. The area around it does not heat up. Nor does the counter it sits on. Mine is not a fancy one with all the bells and whistles. It gets the job done anyway. I missed the Hamilton Beach one I had a long time ago. So I got this one and am happy with it. It is another good option for a meal on a hot day when you do not want to heat up your house. 

In the end I use all these appliances at various times. Hot or cold weather. It doesn't really matter to me. They all use less electric than a conventional cooking range. They do not heat up the kitchen while you are in the process of preparing a meal. For me that is a big plus! When you are older and/or have health issues the heat can be a concern. Yet I still need to prepare my meals and I like to cook. Always have. There are many more electric appliances that I wish I could use but my kitchen as you can see is very small and has limited storage space. All my pans are stored in the oven of the stove since I do not use it for cooking. And I think these appliances do just about everything I need. No need to skip meals or eat sandwiches in the hot summer time! 

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

Living Through A Heat Wave

It is hot. Hot here in upstate New York. Hot everywhere else too. Just getting through each day hoping the power does not go out. Wondering what I was thinking moving into a city apartment that is totally electric? I was thinking convenience, comfort and a easier life. That it has been. As long as we do not have a power outage. So I include it in my prayers and hope for the best. I have tried not to do a lot of cooking. The only food I am cooking is my morning breakfast of eggs. The rest of the day is foods I call cold foods. Keto Chow replacement meal shake that I make into ice cream with the Ninja Creami. Better than any other kind of ice cream! More flavors available too. I have that about midday. For supper I am on a chopped salad kick. I used to enjoy the chopped salads from Subway. Then they stopped making them so I stopped going there. Silly to buy a sub when I do not eat bread. Once I started making the chopped salad at home I liked them better than the ones from Subway anyway. 

My refrigerator is full of beverages. Water, cold coffee, LMNT electrolytes, Zevia soda, and ice tea. I am the type of person who forgets to drink if I do not have it ready and in my sight. So I keep an insulated cup of whatever I am drinking at the time nearby. In the morning I always start my day with a cup of hot coffee no matter how hot it is. For some reason I cannot drink the cold coffee until after I have had the hot one. It gets me going. I keep the water in quart canning jars in the refrigerator. Glass stores foods better and colder in the refrigerator. Plastic does not. The LMNT I mix with water and store two jars of it in the refrigerator. Drink it through out the day. Electrolytes are important when you are a senior citizen and especially in the hot weather. I buy cold coffee already made from the store. It is black and unsweetened. I like the bold flavor. I usually have that for my 2nd cup of the day and it saves me from using up the coffee pods. Especially now as they gotten to be quite expensive. I make ice tea and keep it in the refrigerator unsweetened, of course. Zevia creamy root beer is my treat after supper. Sugar free with Stevia and has no fake coloring added. I enjoy it after a busy day. 

This past spring I bought a pedestal fan. I love it! I use it more than the air conditioner even in these high temperatures. So I have two fans. One is smaller that I have had for awhile now. It is behind me fastened on the top of my bookcase. I also have a usb portable fan that fits into my purse or my walker basket that I can carry with me. If you cannot tolerate the heat you have to find what you can do to make it easier. When I moved from my house on my homestead in 2018, I knew summer was coming. The last two summers spent there were torture for me. It was just too hot. I could barely do my gardening. I was working on it in the early morning and stayed inside all day. It was hot inside the house also. At that time I did not know I had Lymphedema or had ever even heard of it. My feet would swell and I would soak them in cold water directly from the well. It helped but the water heated up from my feet in just minutes. My face and hands would be all red. No relief ever! I could not even take a cold shower since we did not have running water. Moving was my solution. 

I try to do all my chores early in the morning on these hot days. Yes, living in a studio apartment I still have chores to do. After they are done I try to stay quiet. Doing activities that does not involve much movement. Years of having pets taught me how they survive a hot spell. By not moving! Of course, they are usually sleeping and I have never been able to take a nap in the daytime. So I just do quiet activities on my computer, writing, reading, coloring in an adult coloring book, listening to music, working on my family tree or watching videos on my computer. You get the idea. 

The worst thing for me during this hot spell is having to go somewhere. Appointments. I have one tomorrow with my hair dresser. I walk to it and it is not too far. At least it gets me out of my apartment for awhile. I enjoy my appointments there because this salon is entertaining as well. The banter between the hair dressers and their customers is like a big party. Though I still have to go out during the hot part of the day and walk there and back. I have no doubt that I will do fine. It is just the idea of it and not looking forward to it as much as I usually do.  

I feel like getting through this hot weather is a test for me. To see if I can make it. I know I have to because there is no other choice. Even though I am complaining it is hot, I know it is much hotter in other locations. I always complain about it being hot. Not so much about the cold. I like it colder but not particularly freezing. At least if it is cold I can do things to warm up. Add more clothing or blankets. When it is hot there is not much I can do except to ditch all the clothes and I am not ready to do that yet! 

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole