Reflections of katlupe

Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Summertime Chopped Salads For the Win!

In the recent weeks I have changed the food plan I was following. As the weather gets warmer it affects my Lymphedema a lot. It is worse in hot weather. I do have an air conditioner but have been trying to cut down using it nonstop due to the electric bill. The electric company here in New York State, NYSEG, is one of the most expensive ones. So trying to keep that cost down as much as I can. Yes, I still eat keto or low carbs, whatever you want to call it. I call it kat's food plan. It is what I want to eat and feel good eating. Standing for long periods in the kitchen cooking or cleaning up is not something I can do easily. So I am trying to do "fast food" or my version of faster foods.

My Chopped Salad

One of the foods I had eliminated trying to stay "ketovore" or meat based was giving up most vegetables. Specifically salads. I have no problem bypassing grains, starches or sugar. The vegetables was difficult. I never gave up seasonings and they are vegetables. So for a couple of months now, I have been having chopped salads. I am really enjoying them and looking forward to my meals now. I am not counting the carbs. And I am not going to. Having Lymphedema means I am not going to lose much weight. My doctor said that is the reason I can go to zero carbs and still not lose. So the best thing is to concentrate on managing the Lymphedema and eat food that I like. I am not a person who necessarily follows what a doctor or other medical person tells me. I have always had to figure out things for myself.

Bacon, Fried Eggs & Chaffles

This is what I do now. I eat eggs for breakfast daily. Three eggs and bacon. If I am not having bacon I might have four eggs. Sometimes with sour cream for the added fat. Sometimes with guacamole. Sometimes midday I will have a keto protein shake. I use Keto Chow and freeze it so I can make it into ice cream with the Ninja Creami. Keto Chow is a meal replacement shake with one third of the vitamins and nutrients you need for one meal. Plus, it is delicious! So it is something I look forward to but not every day. My last meal of the day is the chopped salad. I have been making it with mini bell peppers, mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and a slice of red onion. Put a handful of shredded cheese and a couple of teaspoons of blue cheese crumbles in it. I use cold cuts for the meat. The ones I am using presently is hard salami and roasted turkey breast. Then top it off with a salad dressing. I use Chosen salad dressings. My favorites are the Caesar or ranch dressings.

Keto Chow made into ice cream!

I watched to see if eating this salad with vegetables would affect me in some way. It did not. When I eat a very high carb food or anything with sugar I know right away that I should not have eaten it. I will get horrible stomach pains that last about three days or so. It is never worth it to me to eat those foods. I used to buy chopped salads from Subway and I loved those. Then they stopped making them so I quit going there. Now I don't eat restaurant food at all. It is too expensive for a mundane meal. I would rather make it myself. I do not put any lettuce or greens in my salads because the quality of them bought in the grocery stores is very poor. If I was growing my own I would use it in my salad. I miss the greens I picked from my own garden and nothing else can compare. Even without any greens my chopped salads are so tasty!

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Making Kitchen Chores Easier

Since I cook often I usually end up with dishes and pans to wash almost daily. For the longest time my sink and area for the dish drainer was very cramped. It is a small kitchen with a single sink and limited space for the drainer. I have always had the dish drainer on my right because I am right handed. It seemed to work good for me like that. When I moved here I bought the smallest dish drainer I could find. It worked okay. Except that I had to put a dish towel on the counter and put larger items such as pots and pans there. Last year I decided to update my kitchen and bought a larger dish drainer with a mat that sits under it for the water to drain into the sink. It was pricey but well worth it.

Cutlery Baskets with Dish Drainer

The dish drainer came with a small cutlery basket. I added another one that is larger. I wish I had done that sooner. These items have made doing my dishes so much easier. No longer am I stressed out trying to pile everything in that tiny drainer. I also changed the sides where I put the dish drainer. It is now on my left and I have adapted to it. It is funny how simple changes can make such a difference in my daily life. Everything fits in the new dish drainer. Even the blender and the inner pot and lid of the Instant Pot. All in one place!

Dish Cloth Drying Rack

To complete the dish washing chore is the dishcloth drying rack. I bought that when I moved here so it is not new. It has been a handy item to have and I cannot imagine not having it. I know these days it is rare for someone to wash their dishes by hand. I have been doing it for years though and is no big deal for me. I have had dishwashers in my past but at this time of my life I don't need one. Since I am only cooking for one, for myself, I don't really have that much to wash. I try to limit how many dishes, silverware or pans I use.

Touch the lid and it opens!

At the same time that I bought the dish drainer I replaced the garbage can in my kitchen. The one I had was not really a garbage can but a tote with a lid. It was small and I had it sitting on a stool. I would get so mad at it because I would want to put something in it and had to use two hands to open it. I decided to replace it with a normal kitchen garbage can. It is the type with a lid that opens on its own if you touch it. Actually this thing opens on its own without me even touching it. I now keep a rock on it so it won't open. When I am working in the kitchen I keep the rock off it. If something has a problem I usually find a way around it.

Sink Strainer & Plug

I try to wash dishes after every meal so that I can keep up with it. I hate to see my sink full of dirty dishes. Another thing I bought is a stainless steel sink plug and a strainer for the sink. That makes a big difference. If you are dreading the clean up after a meal you can wash what you use to prepare it as you go. That way when you are finished eating you can wash the small amount of dishes and silverware you used. I like to keep a dishpan of hot soapy water in the sink during the whole process. Immediately after eating I clear my table and wash the dishes. All done! Easy to do!

Thursday, May 07, 2026

Technology Is Now A Way Of Life For Me

My Technology Hub

I have a love hate relationship with technology. Having always heard people talking against it, yet they are the very people who use it. They depend on some form of it in their own lives. It is everywhere you go and even if you say you don't want to use it how can you not? Whether you admit it or not, it does make our lives easier. As a person with limited mobility I could not do all the things I have to do without it. Without it I would have to own a car or pay for transportation to do routine errands. When you think about it, all the tasks we think of as old fashioned were once considered modern technology of the future. Now we are saying the same thing about newer technology. I know, I do it too!

The Energy System

I can honestly say I have lived without any modern conveniences as you know, if you have followed my blog for any length of time. It was not easy for me as I started having problems with my knees. At that time I did not know I had Lymphedema. Just thought it was menopause. I would get so hot I would turn red and my feet would swell. The first year I moved into my apartment, I was so thankful for the modern technology of air conditioning and running water so I could shower. The technology that people are complaining about though is not those types of things. Yet living without modern conveniences on my homestead was not truly old fashioned. I had a solar and wind energy system to run the computers, lighting and refrigerator. I admit that was not what I pictured my life to be when moving there. I thought it was going to be a real "homestead". With a propane refrigerator and cooking range.

Nine Remotes!

I cannot count the many types of technology I use in my small studio apartment. I have so many remote controls I can barely keep track of them. Actually it is 10! But none of those things are connected to the internet or my telephone. Except for the television which runs off the Amazon Fire Stick. It makes living alone here easier for me. More affordable also. There are many people who may not know how to use the internet to do things they need to do. Like banking, paying bills, purchasing groceries to be delivered, entertainment, shopping for the exact item they want and can't find locally, ordering take out food from local restaurants, listening to music and most important....socializing. Yes, it is all out there waiting for you to discover it.

CD Player & Television

If you do not want to learn how to do these things you are not only behind the times but stuck when you need it. Such as the changes in the way various things become more dependent on technology. I saw it happen with music going from vinyl records to streaming. Television is all different now. I have been using a computer since 1994 and never looked back. It is my lifeline to the world! I have friends who I have met online only and yes, they are real friends. I have reconnected with many friends from school and talk to them almost daily. I love them all and feel my friendship with all of them is something I treasure.

My Kindle Fire

You do not have to take part in all of the new modern technology if you choose not to. I don't. I am not one for telephones. My phone is used for talking and some texting. I am not going to write a bunch of text messages to anyone. Mainly the text part is for deliveries and appointments. Some people only have a telephone and that is their internet connection as well as their camera. I don't enjoy it so I don't use it. The computer is my safety spot. I don't participate in "zoom" calls or "live" conversations if I have to be on camera. I don't play any kind of games. I do enjoy using a Kindle Fire for reading books. I do not want to accumulate a lot of things in my apartment now. Including books. I just purchased a new Kindle Fire 10 because they are discontinuing support for my old one that I got in 2011. But I will still use it as well as the new one. I keep learning how to use various technologies to improve my life. Not to keep up with anyone. Just at my own pace.

Wednesday, May 06, 2026

Learning How To Put Together New Products I Purchase Online

Living alone in your seventies can be challenging at times. No matter what, there are things that must be done and I am the only one to do them. Many times I complain to myself that I need help. Maybe an aide? Later after I have figured out how to do whatever it was I am pleased with myself. I accomplished that chore, job, project, etc. on my own. Learning to count on yourself establishes your independence. In life I have learned you cannot count on anyone else. When I order something and it is delivered I can't wait to start using it. I don't want to wait for someone else to come here to put it together. I need to do it myself.

Mattress in the box.

In fact, I am tested every time I order something on Amazon that I have to put together. My son did help me with the mattress that came vacuum packed in a box. My bed was delivered by the furniture store so they put it together and showed me how to use it. Other than those things I have been putting my purchases together myself. I follow the directions that come with the product the best I can. My whole life before moving here I was never mechanical. I always had someone else in my life to do those things for me. When I was single it was my father who did those things for me. He kept my cars running and did all the preventative or repairs on them.

Directions for computer chair

Last year I purchased a good set of screwdrivers. I have been making use of them. Now I am thinking I need to buy a toolbox. The first year I moved here I had a time assembling a shower chair I had bought. Even following the directions that came with it. Was not easy but I did it. I am still using that shower chair and it is sturdy and safe. In the last 3 months I have purchased at least five products that needed to be put together before using. Presently I have a new brake cable assembly to put on my rollator walker. I just have to get brave enough to start on it. It looks easy but if I can't get it to work the walker will not be usable. This walker is my lifeline! It is the first one I got. I purchased a second one but the newer models are not as good as the older ones. So I am hesitant about taking it apart. Yes, I had to put the second one together myself.

This is not to say that I never put anything together before. I did. In fact, when I first got my pet house rabbit, "Rabbit" I purchased an a-frame cage for him. I had to put that together because I was eager to start using it and did not want to wait for my husband to have time to do it. That cage is still standing and as good as it was when I first got it. Some products come with good directions and others with nothing at all. If they at least have all the parts, including the screws, I can figure it out now. Sometimes I have to find a video on how to put something together. There are usually a few on most products. It is not easy at times but I have to at least try.

Saturday, April 25, 2026

I Bought A New Adjustable Bed

Adjustable Bed Frame

I recently bought an adjustable twin size bed. This bed has a remote control and the head and the foot can be raised or lowered. Whichever you need. I need to be able to raise the foot of it to get the swelling down in my feet, ankles and calves. Though I also need to raise the head because I cannot sleep flat and have not been able to sleep that way for a long time. I had been studying them on Amazon for quite awhile. As it turned out I did not buy it from Amazon because I would not be able to get it from downstairs in my building to my second floor apartment. I ordered it online from the local furniture store, Scholet. It is the third item I have purchased from them. The delivery men brought it right into my apartment and put it together and showed me how to work it. Perfect! I didn't have to figure it out on my own or get someone else to help me. It was worth the cost to have it delivered instead of ordering online.

My son unwrapping the mattress.

The mattress though, I did purchase from Amazon. It was delivered vacuum packed in a box. I was able to get it upstairs by pushing it with my walker into the elevator. Then pushing it to my apartment. My son, Jeff helped me with getting it out of the box and opening it up. He kept telling me to stay away from it while he removed it from the packaging. As soon as it is free it starts to inflate on its own. If you are too close it can knock you over. Yes! It can do that!

Notice how high the legs are.

One mistake I made when the delivery men set it up was having them adjust the legs as high as they would go. They warned me that when I put a mattress on it will be even higher. I wanted it high because I have a problem getting out of low chairs. Putting the mattress on it did make it too high for me. Eventually I had to take the mattress off and turn the frame upside down to take the legs off and make them lower. Otherwise I had to use a step to get in the bed. Didn't feel safe being that high in bed.

Mattress on the frame.

The other mistake I made was judging the mattress as too hard as soon as I laid on it. So I bought a topper from Amazon. It was nice but I still felt too high in the bed even with the legs lowered. I hadn't slept in a bed since 2020. Just my recliner. This was like a new experience for me. I ended up taking the topper off, but sadly. It was a really nice topper and I did not want to store it downstairs in my storage locker. Instead I rolled it up and put it between the bed and the wall. I will keep it and maybe use it in the future.

Bedroom Area

I created a little bedroom for me in a corner of my studio apartment. It is private and even if someone comes in they can't see my bed or the bedroom due to the dressers set up as a partition. I bought new lavender sheets and pillows for it. Put my comforter on to add bright colors to that space. I was comfortable on it except my neck and shoulders would hurt after I laid in it for any length of time. I recently bought a pillow made for people with neck problems. What a difference that made! I love it!

My new bed all set up!

Now I am still transitioning to sleeping in my new bed the whole night. Presently I am spending time in bed during the afternoon so I can put my feet up for a period of time. I am not a napper so I am reading while doing this. Gives me some good reading time and doing what I need to do to combat the swelling in my feet, ankles and calves. I am happy with this bed and glad that I spent the money on it. I especially like the adjustable options for making myself more comfortable. A good night's sleep is essential for good health!

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Limit Doing Too Many Things In One Day

Today I came to the realization that I have to limit doing too many things in one day. Something as simple as taking a shower is now more complicated. Before I can shower I have to use dry brushes and brush my skin to move the lymphatic liquid under the skin. Then I can shower. After the shower I apply the Goldenseal Myrrh ointment to the skin on areas of my legs that had rashes from the Lymphedema. Then I can apply my normal body lotion. Takes longer than twenty minutes now. Okay, I can live with that as long as it is helping me........which it is. Some mornings I will have to shower later than the first thing due to other things going on. I need to be flexible.

On the day I wash my laundry that is all I can do because I sit downstairs in the laundry room while my laundry is in the machines. Our apartment building is not one that is safe to leave your laundry alone and come back later. Sometimes you come back to nothing left in the machines. I cannot afford to do that. Usually I bring my adult coloring book and gel pens with me so I can color while waiting. Doing laundry tires me out. What tires me out the most is when I bring the laundry back to my apartment and have to put it away. That is because I have been letting it back up. Now my rule is to do small loads maybe twice a week instead of once every two weeks. Make it easier if possible.

Grocery deliveries is another chore that I like to do on a day when I don't have other things to do. I usually order early in the morning and then wait. Wait some more. Waiting for hours for them to delivery my order unless I pay for fast delivery. That makes it hard to do chores that take up more time and effort. Now I order the groceries and then while waiting I work on my computer or some other chore that I can do in my apartment. I also order groceries for my son but on a different day than when I order my groceries.

Then there is the big chore day. When I do vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathroom, dusting and cleaning the counters and appliances in the kitchen. Maybe I should break those chores up into different days but once I get going I want to do them all. So it is over and done with. Turn the music on and get to work!

Presently I am going to therapy for the Lymphedema three times a week. So on those days I am not doing much at home. I can do some little chores after I come home but these days just leaving home is a big job. Pretty soon I will not be going that often. Once a month when my Social Security check is deposited I have to do errands. I am the "Payee Representative" for my son's money so have to do errands for him also. That is another day that I am wiped out when I get back home. Not doing much on that day either.

I don't expect to always be doing these same things for years. Who knows? Maybe not or maybe I will. Life is like that. I accept what I need or have to do. Not going to get myself down over struggles in day to day living. Try my best and carry on. I do my best to stay positive no matter what is going on. I lived with negativity for many years and I refuse to let it in my life now. When people start talking negatively I am out the door! Dwell on the good not the bad.

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