Patio Project Progress

The shower in the new bathroom is taking shape...

 

Scotcheroos

Thank you Food Nanny for this recipe...
As I often do - I have adapted it a little.

SCOTCHEROOS

Bring gently to slow boil:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla

Take the mixture off the stove.
Add and stir in thoroughly:

1/2 cup peanut butter (I used smooth)
Pour into and blend gently and thoroughly:

2 and 1/2 cups rice crispies breakfast cereal

Drop by spoonsfull onto buttered flat pan.
Put into fridge to chill.

I like them like this...
They taste very good!
No gluten!

I halved the original recipe.
The recipe calls for pouring the hot mixture in a pan and covering with chocolate and caramel chips which will melt with the heat of the hot mixture.  
Thereafter the Food Nanny says cut the Scotcheroos into squares.

I tried drizzling melted chocolate over the Scotcheroos the way I make them in individual portions.  
I prefer them without the chocolate.

Beautiful Earth

Some scenes out and about...

Some garden features - African Style!

Breakfast Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie

Towards better and better physical health...

First thing in the morning -

A glass of water.

A squeeze of fresh lemon or dose of ginger tea added is so good!

A little later apple juice to the second groove of this bottle,

water to the third groove of this bottle,

and two teaspoons of Barley Life powder.

Shake it together and drink.

(This picture is of the mix partially drunk.)

  For breakfast I have had fruit or salad for years.

At present I enjoy a vegetable and fruit smoothie instead or as well.

Here is the recipe for you John.

One peeled and de-pipped sliced lemon

One peeled and de-pipped sliced orange
(you can de-pip the slices quite easily)

Two de-cored and chopped apples

Two or three chopped carrots

1/2 chopped beetroot

One sprig mint

Three big leaves of chopped spinach

1/3 chopped pineapple (optional)

Small piece of fresh chopped ginger (optional)

Put the chopped ingredients into a food processor*.
Whizz until finer.

Transfer to a bowl.

Add boxed 100% fruit juice 
- mango or apple juice is what I use.
(I'm sure freshly juiced would be better...
I'm not there yet!)

Stick blend until fine*.

*Or put all the ingredients in a jug blender or smoothie maker.
Much easier if you have one.

Pour into storage bottles or containers.

This quantity makes almost 2 X 750ml bottles.

Keep in fridge for a couple of days' breakfasts.

I put three or four dessertspoons full in a glass,

and fill up with more mango or apple juice.

I sip mine through a thick straw and 'chew' it as well. 

Sustaining!

This morning I added two teaspoons of

my blend of equal quantities of

unbleached sesame seeds

flax seeds

pumpkin seeds

Which I grind periodically in a coffee mill and store in the fridge.

 I also added a tablespoon of
cold pressed and cold processed flax oil.

My smoothie was very good!

Glenn is joining me in having the smoothie for breakfast.

He has the veg and fruit smoothie for lunch as well.

In between snacks for me are raw nuts, fruit or fruit juice.

I hope this helps us both along to better physical health...

I feel nourished and sustained.

"Ponderize"

I am joining the ponderizers invited to participate 

at our last General Conference in my own way.

Memorising fills me with anxiety to the point of panic

so I don't require that of myself any more.

If I happen to memorise, I am grateful... 

but I do put my scriptures up where I can see them several times every day.

This is above my kitchen sink.

Problem Solving Strapping

Adrian Stevens, who is a registered Kinesiologist and also a registered Physiotherapist

did this strapping on my wrist when I saw him last Friday.

I am quite taken with the bright blue!

As you can see it is already getting untidy.

I knew it would get more messy and dirty.

Problem...

"How am I going to solve it..."

I have been wrapping a bandage over it to keep it clean.

It's a nuisance.

Yesterday I went to sports shops to see if I could get one of those

bands the tennis players use on their wrists.

I thought "I don't want to pay nearly R100 for something like that!"

So, this morning I took the bandage I have been using, cut it into

a strip I thought would do, and blanket stitched the two ends together.

I turn the stitched side to the inside of my wrist.

It works just fine!

I made a second one, and cut a third.

Now I can wash and wear and feel somewhat respectable.

And I can take the protection off if I want to enjoy the blue!

My wrist feels better and better each day.

I am temporarily back to one arm hand-washing dishes and bathing,

I know this will pass again.

My little, ring and middle finger felt taut all the time,

and needed purposeful mobilising early in the morning.

That stress has eased by about 50%.

I hope for more improvement next time I visit Adrian Stevens in two weeks' time.

If there is no more improvement, this is definitely sufficiently comfortable.

I fell six months ago on the 6th November.

One of my friends who is a sports teacher at school

matter-of-factly said when I fell

"Oh, that will take six months to rehabilitate."

I relaxed my unrealistic expectations.

I am very grateful for every bit of improvement!

My forehead is almost ache free.

Adrian mobilised my forehead skin when I was there and 

it has been a little tender since then.  It's easing.

I am thankful to God for my miraculous body which knows how to 

quietly attend to it's healing process.

I am thankful for Richard and Ivan, the first aid administers on the scene within minutes.

I am thankful for the Emergency Room Doctor who is a missionary at the Temple - 

he came down the stairs and looked me over within minutes.

I am grateful to whoever phoned Glenn.

I am thankful for all those who sent me good wishes, thoughts and prayers.

I am thankful for Richard and Walter who drove me to Millpark Hospital.

I am grateful for Walter Chatora and Glenn, Douglas and Richard, who administered to me.

I am thankful for the Millpark Trauma unit Doctors and Nurses.

I am thankful to Douglas for creating the Whatsapp group to keep family informed.

I am thankful for Dr Brewis (plastic surgeon at Flora Clinic) who added me 

to his Friday schedule and attended to me after seven or eight that evening.

I am thankful for Glenn and Douglas who stayed with me part or all of the day.

I am grateful to every person along the way who has assisted me by being a 

functioning extra hand to me when I have needed it - 

Driving, lifting, screwing, unscrewing, holding up/down etc. 

I feel blessed indeed.

I am very grateful it is almost six months later!

Phew! I Made It...

Last week I took a "dip" as I felt the weight of my life.

I had some balancing to do.

This is the progress on the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital

which I see each week when I drive out from the Temple basement.

Beautiful Jacarandas blooming all around.

This is the roadworks that stopped me dead a few weeks ago.

Daylight helps!

This is the project in Sophiatown (previously Triomf) that I wasn't sure about.

It is a pedestrian and cycle lane (on the left of the road ahead.)

And here it is on the right of the road.

And the patio projects goes quietly ahead day by day.

And the swimming continues.

I'm grateful the temperatures are lower this week.

The Friday before last we had our Dessert Club at our home.

It was lovely!

We had baked potatoes with various salads and fillings.

I had our couples bring desserts.

Here are some of the ladies.

And here are some of the men sitting at the table.

The one on the right looks like Douglas...

but it is Rob Moffit.

The roof support is now completed and rust-proofed.

The underground sewerage down the driveway and across the back

 is done and covered with concrete.

Glenn perfecting a joint.

More Jacarandas.

Some maintenance at Phillips House.

I took a trip to the kinesiologist.

This is Rosebank.

And Craighall Park.

Since I was so close I took a drive past our home in Bordeaux.

Front...

Building out over the front porch area.

And up the side road.

Increased security!

And new garages on the side.

More glorious flowering Jacarandah and flowering shrub.

I forget the name.

You like my smiley face?

It helps me remember to be cheery.

I have much to be cheery about.

This is Randburg main North South Road.

"Alone we are smart.

Together we are brilliant!"

at Fourways High School

just around the corner from the Kinesiologist.

My heart is happy and peaceful when I see the Jacarandas.

John, Brenda and Vi arrived on Wednesday afternoon.

John and Brenda went off to Mabula on Friday.

Saturday we braaied with Doug, Nadia and some extended family.

Yesterday we had Dom and Cindy for lunch.