My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind:  I'm not ready for hibernation season to be over with but according to our weather and now the calendar turning to March I'm afraid it is.  I've been getting rid of more things around the house and sprucing areas up to get ready for a deep Spring cleaning.  I want to have it all done by the end of March so I can start cleaning up outside and get ready for planting in April. I did finally find a breadbox that I loved and holds a lot.  I've tried the cloth bags for homemade bread but they really do not keep it fresh at all, so I switched to plastic bags.  However, the cloth bags in the bread box work great.  Plus, it makes the counter look better.  

Where I've been:  I went to TBG's interventional cardiologist appointment with him.  We went to breakfast Saturday morning at Cracker Barrel which is where I found the breadbox.  Our CB is sometimes hit or miss on their breakfast and luckily this week it was a big hit.  We both really enjoyed it.  Other than that, I was at work or home.

Where I'm going:  This week there are no appointments or commitments which is always good to me.  The week is open for wherever we decide to go.

What I'm watching:  Our forsythia trees are all starting to bloom.  It seems like everytime I look at them there are more bright yellow leaves.  This morning, I also filled the birdfeeder for the last time this Winter.  It attracts too many squirrels to our yard and I try to keep them out during this time of year, so they are not around to devour my garden.  I'm not of fan of squirrels and their destructive nature. 

What I'm reading:  The French Don't Diet Plan by Dr. Will Clower.  I put two books in the free little library across the street and found this.  I'm only 1/3 of the way but am enjoying it.  It also has a number of easy recipes in the back that I may try.

What I'm listening to:  Right now I have Practical Magic on TV for a bit of background noise but I find myself really tuning everything out while I'm at home lately, so I'm really not listening to much but the noises in my brain.

What I'm eating:

BIG salad with chicken

Lamb cheeseburgers with 'fries'.  I made a bit of the sauce that I made for the lamb chops and put that on the burgers as they cooked.  It was delicious.

Jalapeno chicken sausage, mac and cheese with red peppers and broccoli

I took the left over 1/2 pound of lamb and made lamb and potato hand pies with a salad.  They were really good and made three extra's for the freezer.

Fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw

LO stuffed shells from the freezer with a salad and garlic bread sticks.  When I make a batch of stuffed shells, lasagna or manicotti I put them together in separate pans freezing one or two before cooking.  It keeps the pasta from getting too mushy when you reheat.  

Our last beef bundle included two, one-pound packages of beef tips so that is slowly cooking in the crock pot as we speak.

Who deserves a fist pump:  Southern Illinois is doing a lot to increase family farms, add meat processing plants and other things to secure local food sources.  I support our local FFA (Future Farmers of America) and have to say it is a thriving chapter filled with young people and their new ideas.  Illinois also has a very good Cottage Law which lets people make and sell from their own farms, homes. It's wonderful to see so much interest in good, local food and farming.

What's making me smile:  We have an accountant, but I still have to get everything sorted and turned in for taxes which I do not enjoy at all.  It is done now and having it done is a relief.  Now to find out how much we owe this year.  We turned in the receipts for our new water heater and HVAC system so hopefully that tax credit will help us out a bit.  We'll see.

Thank you to everyone that sent good wishes, prayers and positive thoughts to TBG.  Good news is he does not have prostrate, or bladder cancer and the urologist said the two symptoms he had were side effects from the Jardiance.  His appointment with the IC was not that great.  His ECHO was exactly the same as three months ago, so he is still at a 25% EF.  anything below 35% is not good.  The doctor said he recommended implanting a defibrillator.  After much discussion, TBG and the doctor agreed that they would do a MUGA scan in three months.  It is much more accurate than an ECHO and gives them a better look at everything that is going on with his heart.  Why they didn't do this instead of a repeat ECHO I do not understand. They officially took him off of Jardiance and added a blood pressure pill.  So we wait again.  I do have to say TBG reports he feels really good.  No shortness of breath, no fatigue and doesn't feel that foggy feeling he was having before.  Just him at least feeling better makes me happy.

Have a wonderful week!!