A Sad Truth

Part of growing, maturing, and overcoming obstacles is recognizing that there are people out there who do NOT wish you well, even if they say they love you, who do damage to you, who kick you when you are down.  Part of reclaiming your own life, part of achieving success, part of getting well, is to be willing to really know what experience has taught you and to move on and move away from these  people.  It is NOT an act of love to allow someone to abuse you over and over, to gossip about you, to do damage to you, and to never apologize or change their behavior toward you.  Allowing that has nothing to do with love.  So move on, care for yourself, and let them handle their own stuff.  If they are lucky, life will be able to get through to them and teach them about being better and doing better.  If not, well then, they still have their stuff to deal with, and none of it is yours to handle.

A Short Update

Round One of Healing Treatments 

was over on August 31.  I am on a break of sorts until after the 18th of September.  I am doing well, getting good reports back and getting good and useful feedback.  I like my care team very much.  They are trustworthy people, and that is a quality that in the larger world has been all too rare.  I am doing my work, my part of my healing -- every day.  One of my care team members tells me that is not something they see a lot with patients, so I am something of an anomaly -- a good anomaly.  She said a lot of people never do their part in their own healing; they want the easy way, which does not exist.

I was running some errands a couple weeks back and came across this lovely collection of flowers in  a sidewalk garden, so I thought I would share it.  Of course, I love that there is purple in it.

After A Long Time Away...

I am back again.  Transforming...

It's been a very interesting few months, a time of some heavy-duty changes and inner transformations.  It's been a time of great blessing as I have received much tender caring from friends old and new.  It's been a time of intense meditation, prayer, and doing the work required when one is seeking spiritual connection, answers, and tools to live by.  Working at it is necessary because what is sought requires more of a person than who that person was at the starting point.  Work strengthens. There is no other way to get there than by doing the work in the journey.

I have been spending as much time in nature as I can.  Nature is one of life's Great Healers, Great Rejuvenators, Great Friends.  Several days per week I spend hours among the flowers, trees, grasses. I am there in both sunshine and rain, does not matter to me.  My time spent in the natural world has been amazing -- very cleansing of old inner junk that needs to go.

I am happy to say that the decision I made so many months ago is still firm in my soul, and it is one of the best decisions I ever made.  It proves to be increasingly valuable and helpful.

Something new...

Tomorrow, July 12, I start a new journey of discovery, healing, and again building my life.  I am quite nervous about it, but I am relieved and proud as well.  I did the work necessary to reach this place and go the next level.  I am ready.  Ready does not have to be synonymous with brave.  I don't feel so brave, just ready.  I know I need this gift of grace and I am accepting it, and I am beyond grateful to have the help and guidance I will need.

For now, a photo of one of my sweet nature havens:

Blessed Day

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Easter.  I hope you are all enjoying the spring season.

Holy Moly and Tasty Tuesday

March has certainly come in like a lion.  The wind has been wildly blowing for a couple of days now, and I am surprised I have not seen trees or animals flying by.  Prior to yesterday was actually warm and humid to the point of being uncomfortable, but the wind has taken care of that.  Brrrr.

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I am sharing a yummy and satisfying hot vegetable casserole with the main attraction:

Layered Hot Dish

Ingredients:

1 large package of frozen broccoli and cauliflower

1 can cream of celery soup (do not add water)

1 8-ounce jar of Cheez Whiz

1 can sliced water chestnuts

1 can French fried onion rings 

Instructions:

Layer ingredients in greased casserole dish according to the order listed above.  The French fried onion rings will go on the top.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  I cover the casserole for the first 30 minutes of baking and then remove cover and bake for the remaining 15 minutes so onions can get crunchy.

A nice hot comforting dish to compliment a main dish, or you can have this as a meal in itself if you prefer.

Dollar Tree Craft Item and St. Patrick's Day Recipe

Hello Everyone -- My apologies for delays in posting.  Things have been a little crazy around the home front.

Dollar Tree Craft Item Review:

To jump right in, I have a review of a Dollar Tree craft item that I intended to post last week and forgot.  Many people have jumped on to the adult coloring book trend.  People often find coloring relaxing, that it helps them to remove themselves from the hassles of the day and to focus on other things.  Some of the images available in adult coloring books are really beautiful and can be used as art to decorate walls or made into book covers or made into place mats, and more.

Dollar Tree has many adult coloring book choices from floral and garden designs to geometric designs to famous places around the world and more.  It's easy to see what you are getting when you can flip through the books, see the images, and get a feel for the quality of the paper.

But what about the colored pencils for use in coloring those images?  Dollar Tree carries a convenient pack of colored pencils, but you can't really tell how they will work or how the colors will look on paper until you get them home.

I picked up a pack of the Dollar Tree colored pencils.  The brand is Liqui-Mark, and the pack contains 10 pencils.  The colors look very vibrant in the package, and I was pleased to see that they were already sharpened to a fine point.  Colors included are:  dark green, brown, red, orange, yellow, bright green, sky blue, violet purple, black, and navy blue (the black pencil is in the box, did not realize it had not shown up until after I posted the photo).  I thought, "not bad for a buck."

But how do they work and look on paper?  I tried each one by coloring a little swatch of each color on a piece of white paper.  I found them to work smoothly on the paper.  I did NOT press hard with the colors because I have arthritis in my hands and do not want to use art or craft tools where I have to really press hard to get them to work.  Thankfully, that was not an issue as the color went onto the paper well, and the pigment was good without having to go over and over it.

Here is how the colors came out on paper.  If you go to Dollar Tree and wonder about the quality of the Liqui-Mark colored pencils, here is how they look.  I think for a dollar, you can't really beat it.

The black one (because I forgot to use it on the example with the others):

The colors would probably be more vibrant if I chose to go over them a few times or to press hard with the pencil, but for basic colored pencils to keep on hand for your coloring books or journals, this is a great buy, in my opinion.

Now, how about a fun salad or dessert idea for Saint Patrick's Day?

Pear Salad (to get your Green on)

Ingredients:

1 3-ounce package of lime jello

1 cup pear juice

2 3-ounce packages of cream cheese, room temperature

1 16-ounce can of pears, drained (save juice for the 1 cup of juice required)

1 8-ounce carton of Cool Whip

Instructions:

1)  Bring the 1 cup of pear juice gently to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Remove juice from pan and put into a medium size mixing bowl.

2)  Dissolve jello in the hot pear juice.

3)  Beat the cream cheese into the jello mixture.

4)  Crush the drained pears, and add them to the jello mixture.

5)  Chill until the mixture is turning thicker (like syrup).

6)  Fold in Cool Whip, and chill until firm.

Wishing everyone a great weekend coming up!

Dollar Tree Show and Tell -- Items I Have Tried and Like -- Part 2

Today's post is Part 2 of my Dollar Tree experiences, likes, and opinions.  Today I will be talking about Dollar Tree food.

As well as checking the expiration dates on food items at Dollar Tree (and any other grocery store), you might want to check the label to see where items are produced.  I am happy to say that I have found many Dollar Tree food items that are produced in the USA.  Some are produced in Spain, Germany, and other European countries.  Some are produced in China, India, and other countries in the near and far East.  It's up to you which items you choose to purchase.

Also, Dollar Tree will often carry its own brand (Greenbrier Farms) of many different items, but you will also find several well-known name brands at Dollar Tree such as Campbell's, Kraft, Libby's, Uncle Ben's, and more.  

NOTE:  Not every DT carries the same things at the same times.  Each DT store carries what they are able to procure at any given time.  You will find many of the same items at each DT, but also different items as well.

NOTE 2:  If you find something you like at DT, buy it then, and don't wait.  You can never be sure that same item will be in stock the next time you shop there.  Inventory, brands, types of items change all the time.  Once it is gone, it may not come back.

On to the photos:

Above, I have a photo of some of my recent food purchases.

Back row first:  

1) Crush sugar-free drink mix -- 6 packets, intended to put one packet of mix per one 20-ounce bottle of water.  I only purchase water by the gallon, so I just add a packet to a regular glass of water.  The flavor is a bit stronger that way, but I like it.  The Crush flavor shown is Pineapple, which I like.  DT often carries other Crush flavors like Strawberry, Orange, and Grape.

2)  Hawaiian Punch sugar-free drink mix -- 8 packets, also intended to add to a 20-ounce bottle of water, and I also just mix this with a regular glass of water.  This flavor is Wild Purple Smash (grape), though there are usually a few kinds of Hawaiian Punch mix at DT.  I see the fruit punch quite often and more types as well.

3)  Campbell's Chicken Gravy -- Great over potatoes, rice, noodles.  I frequently mix this with baked chicken and cooked veggies to put over egg noodles.  Yum.

4)  Cream of Wheat in Cinnabon flavor -- OMG.  In my opinion, this is so good.  There are 3 packets of instant Cream of Wheat in this box.  If the sidewalk outside tasted like Cinnabon, I would eat it, so this flavor is A-OK with me.

Front Row:

1)  Butterfield Farms White Meat Chicken -- Chunk style, 5-ounce can.  Packed in water which is almost like a broth.  I add the water to whatever I am cooking with the chicken.   This is very good for adding to casseroles, and I often add it to soups to increase the protein content.  Made in my home state of Minnesota.

2)  Palmer's Peanut Butter Hearts -- These are similar to the peanut-butter cup idea.  They are shaped like hearts and taste very good, though they do not taste the same as Reese's so don't expect that they will.  The hearts might be sold out now since Valentine's Day is past, but Palmer's is a pretty good candy manufacturer and I have enjoyed their candies at each holiday.

Detail photos:

Other foods I purchased recently:

1)  In the foreground, there is a 4-ounce pack of Planter's Salted Peanuts.  I keep a pack or two of these around because I like to add peanuts to my cooked ramen noodles, and I like to add peanuts to my home-made coleslaw (to add some protein).

2)  From the left in back is a 10-ounce jar of the Pampa brand mushroom pieces and stems.  This product is made in Holland.  This comes out to be a great deal since a 4-ounce can of mushroom pieces and stems at my regular grocery store runs about 75 cents.

3)  On the bottom is a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, It is 13.8 ounces, and it is condensed, so you do add a can of water when preparing.  This item is a staple in my household, and I do add the canned white chicken (see above) to increase the protein content in this soup.  This size can is 25% larger than the regular can of chicken noodle soup in the regular grocery stores, and it only costs one buck.

4)  On the top of the soup is a can of Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli.  And while you can often get this product for the same price or even a bit less than a buck at your regular grocery store on special or with a store coupon, it is handy to get at Dollar Tree if you are already there.  Also, my local grocery store often charges $1.25 per can, while DT is always a buck.  To add more protein and nutrition to this, I often heat up some frozen broccoli and add it to the pan of ravioli, along with some of the mushroom pieces I mentioned.  It makes a nice meal in a hurry.  It isn't fancy, but it tastes pretty good and fills the tummy.

5)  Next, we have a shaker container of  Garlic Salt.  Because this is salt, I do use it sparingly, but it is perfect for adding that little extra flavor to a dish.  Dollar Tree has a great selection of spices -- each for a dollar.  Such a great deal compared to the regular grocery stores.

6)  Next, there is a can of Libby's Whole Kernel Sweet Corn.  The Libby's vegetables at DT sell for 79 cents per can.  I know I can get canned vegetables cheaper at Aldi, but if I need something and I am at DT, I will often purchase it rather than make the drive to Aldi.  I love Aldi, but the closest one to me is almost 10 miles.

7)  On top of the corn, there is a pouch of Velveeta Cheese Sauce -- the kind of cheese sauce that comes with the Velveeta Shells and Cheese.  This particular pouch is Jalapeno Cheese Sauce, which I did not realize when I picked it up, but it is fine with me since I enjoy Jalapeno.  DT also carries the regular flavor cheese sauce.  I use this product in making a quick pasta casserole with cooked chicken chunks, steamed veggies, and a bit of chopped onion.  I add a little bit of milk if it needs more moisture.

So there you have it, folks, just some photos and thoughts and opinions on Dollar Tree from my perspective.

I also want to let you know that Dollar Tree accepts manufacturer coupons, and they often carry products on which you can use those coupons.  

Overall, I love Dollar Tree, and I actually need to limit my shopping trips because there is a tendency to spend more money than I intend because everything is only a buck (or sometimes less).  And saving a buck is sometimes wiser than spending a buck.  But Dollar Tree has great products available when I need them.  So YAY for Dollar Tree!