Living in Harmony…

CHRISTmas came and is leaving us, today the ninth day–I Will Dance at Tanger outlets as my gift(Nine ladies dancing). Yesterday for the milking maids I made lasagne to go with the pork kolbase to nudge us forward and sauerkraut to make sure we have the luck to service Bruce’s biz to success and provide for us throughout the year. We shared that meal with out Northern family-Ava loves kolbase and “skettis”. I DID however for get the black eyed peas, have to look up what’s missing and make up for that one;)…need that prosperity. That;s a southern one, We northerners use the kraut so we would have been double blessed! Bruce’ Mom was a southern gal so between she & I we covered all the bases. I sure  do miss her!

I taken to trying pastry flour for all my wheat baking. I DID get it ot rise, but being near a colld wall wa just too much for it to stand. The bread machine worked well, but next time I’ll just make it in there and bake it in my  own oven. The pastry flour has a lesser amount of gluten and is a softer wheat that used in bread flour. My cookies were fabulous(making more this weekend, as theyare gone, but my penchant isn’t) I always find I want to celebrate a couple weeks longer than most, and I’m just glad we are Croatian so we have a great reason to:).

Doc says the area that is affected by the Sprue is healing, so cutting down, for me, has been a success. And trying to eat as little hard wheat (breads and pastas) has really helped. While I can’t suggest it as a cure all, try a bag of real pastry flour and do some bakiing(double yeast the bread) . It makes lovely quickbreads with baking powder. So try on!

TO let you know an update tho, my tummy is as big now as a six month pregnancy and it set  my Hematologist on her ear. I was in hospital (again ) right before CHRISTmas, they scanned & x-rayed and gave me (more-6 units thus far this year) blood, trying to maintain a decent hemoglobin level. The iron treatments of the Fall are working, so iron is NOT the trouble. She had seen me before I went into hospital and my girth has grown since then. No weight gain-just girth! so the hematologist called the hepatologist to find out what the heck the plan is! I found out aI will have a liver biopsy in January and was given more pain med to help with my breathing. With thsi giganto tummy it’s becoming very painful to take deep breaths-I have to think about now, so I shy away to escape th pain/

OK, enough Update done. I WILL walk about today in the cold and SHOP(always helps) but the walk is best thing for me. Have a Happy New Year my friends, and one way or another…I’ll see you soon…