Absolutely Right...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

So Sad.....

Its been a sad day.. I have been unwell for a couple of weeks.. and it reached a peak today when my hands suddenly swelled up. I had to call hubby to come home and cut my wedding ring off..

I cried.. 

a lot....

Perhaps I should try out that new doctor...

But... in the meantime...

my poor ring!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Cool Mama....

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Changes...

I have never been one for "Change".... and the last couple of months have been full of them. I like to get all my ducks in a row and be prepared. When MrD changed his job it coincided with the start of the Corona Virus.. so dealing with that I also had to organize for a change of home... (that was a biggie). ...It wasnt all bad as I knew there would be no more  getting up at1.30am  and less hours for more pay.. meant I could look forward to spending more time with hubby

 MrD's job is going really well.. The plant is up and running and even with a skeleton staff ..this week orders started to go out. More workers will be joining them next week. Rebar is still in big demand to keep the infrastucture going. 

What I didnt realize is that a change of employment meant a change of  his medical insurance so no more Dr Phan (I'm devestated!) no more Dr Im. .or Dr Chu...or Dr Kim. Im especially sad to lose Dr Phan... who got me through my chemotherapy with his amazing beside manner and cheerful optimism

So the hunt is on for a new oncologist..gynaegologist and GP. Right now the GP is more important so we searched through all the names on the list we were given..and we have found one we think fits our needs..even tho hes over in Glendale

He seems like a nice man...
Lets hope we dont need him any time soon....

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

Another week in Lockdown... and we are getting through it.  As a family we have found a new way of having fun together ..even tho the kids are 5,000 miles away in England. We Facetime at noon my time.. 8pm their time.. and have a quiz. Each person takes turn each day to set questions like movies.. food and drink.. sports.. general knowledge etc. Im leaarning so much... like did you know a clematis is also known as Travellers Joy... that a snail has four noses... the ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz were originally silver and a Big Mac was originally called the Aristocrat. Fun Facts...right?

Tomorrow is my turn.. so best get my thinking cap on ... 

Here's this weeks dinner menu..

Weekly Plan - 20th April 2020
 
Monday               Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry

Tuesday               Chimichangas, Mexican Bean Salad

Wednesday          Pork Chops, Scalloped Potatoes with bacon.. Green Beans

Thursday            Spinach and Mushroom Alfredo
                             
Friday                 Homemade Chicken and Bacon Ranch Pizza

Saturday             Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Apple

Sunday                Sausages, Mashed Potatoes, Onion and Mushroom Gravy, Peas

Sunday Thought ~ Psalm 16:8

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Quarentine Cross Stitch..

Trying to keep busy during this Lockdown season... 

I have been finishing a few projects.. 

including this one...

The Summer Queen by Mirabillia

I just love the colours... 

and I enjoyed doing the beading..

Now to finish another..

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Flatten the Curvey...

So.. by now you have all heard of "Flattening the Curve"..but have you heard of "Quarentine 15". According to some experts.. thats the amount of weight the average person will put on during Lockdown!! Thats pounds by the way.. not stones...although...

Anyway I was lamenting this to Hubby the other day after doing my 20 minute youtube walk with Leslie Sansome. I know I havent lost any weight since this virus started.

But then an old friend posted a pic of me that I have never seen before. Eeek!! Seriously James!! Taken about 20 years ago.. it shows how truly unfit ..how dreadfully unhappy ... and how unhealthy I was at that time. Even that size 32 cardigan was too small. And its the first time ever my head looks small compared to my body..lol (yes I have a big head...especially next to my hubbys) And how old do I look?? I was about 36 in that pic!

But it shows me how far I have come... how happy I am... that a few pounds dont matter that much (tho no more than a few)... and why I will never go back...

Stay safe..stay well... stay strong..... and put the cookie jar down

Love and Hugs 

Phoebe x

The Human Face of Coronavirus

This is not the post I was intending for today...as its a sad one

Yesterday we lost an old friend to the terrible Covid-19.. and it has put a real face to this virus

After working for almost 40 years in the Uks NHS.. Andrew Treble had retired, but returned to help his fellow colleagues in Wrexham Maelor Hospital during this crisis

I had bumped into him a few times since leaving school.. and he was the same lovely kind gentleman I remembered all those years ago. I havent seen him for a long time.. but he left a lasting impression.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family... who asked that when the UK clapped for the NHS tonight... they remembered this true life Hero... 

And at 12 oclock today.... I did

RIP Andy..

Phoebe x

Happy Birthday Baby Bear....

Happy Birthday to this Beauty...

She was the most longed for baby girl in the whole world...

She has grown into a loving, caring and hard working young woman ..

and an incredible mother

Love you very much Miss C..

Have a wounderful day

 Lots of Love xxxx

When This is Over...

Are we all still coping?

This video popped up in my memories today... and I went wow!! I realized that the first thing I want to do after this Lockdown is over.. after I have hugged my loved ones...is to go out and see the ocean again. Just to hear the sound.. taste the salt..and feel the water around my toes.. I have missed it so much.. 

Also... I must have a proper haircut... and get someone to make me dinner for a change...

What is the first thing you want to do when we are free again...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

I hope everyone had a happy and blessed weekend. Mr D and I ploughed through three wonderful old movies... "King of Kings".. "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Robe".. aswell as watching the Easter Sunday service livestreamed from our church. A lovely uplifting time.

As we enter another week in quarentine.. I hope everyone is coping ok. MrD and I are just fine... although he does get to go to work every day so its a change of scene for him. Im still happy planning my pantry meals...keeping the place clean and tidy and settling down in the afternoons with a coffee... my sewing or knitting and a good black and white movie or detective story

Breakfasts and lunches are still the same...but here is this weeks Dinner menu..

Weekly Plan - 13th April 2020
 
Monday              Honey Garlic Chicken, Brown Rice and Red Quinoa and Vegetables

Tuesday               Pork Carnitas..

Wednesday         Chicken Tenders, Fries and Peas

Thursday            Spinach and Mushroom Alfredo
                             
Friday                 Teriyaki Turkey Burgers

Saturday             Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.with Bacon and Avocado

Sunday                Leftover Beef Stew from the Freezer , Baked Potato

Stay well..stay safe... and have a good week 

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday Thought ~ Matthew 28:6

Happy Resurrection Day

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Easter Saturday....

Easter Saturday started nice and early... with Little Miss having tea with Grandpa...

Later she put on the apron I made her for Christmas

and showed us how to make Bunny Crispie Cakes...

 just in case we wanted to make some after our Homemade Hot Cross Buns are all eaten.

We toasted and ate some buns this afternoon 

when MrD and I settled down to watch King of Kings...

Of course...I had to keep my hands busy so I worked on my crochet blanket..

Im nearly ready to do the edging... if I can decide which colour to use..

Pink.. green.. blue or just leave it white... decisions decisions...

MrD went to collect the mail ..and popped to the corner store to surprise me with an ice cream treat

I had a couple of spoonfuls.. but it tasted funkyand was a bit grainy.. 

I put it down to the chocolate being different to what Im used to in the UK...

 and it was an ice cream I hadnt tried before. So... MrD finished it off.

As I threw the empty container into the bin...I noticed the date.! Ooops!

Can you get food poisoning from old ice cream?? Lol

Happy Easter everyone

Love and Hugs 

Phoebe x

Good Friday.. Thank You Jesus....

Thank you Jesus.. for the agony and suffering of the cross, and all that you were willing to endure for us

Thank you Jesus.. for by your wounds..and the blood you shed... we are healed. 

Thank you Jesus.. for because of your huge sacrifice we can live free. 

Thank you Jesus.. for through you,  sin and death have been conquered,

Thank you Jesus.. for because of you we know what’s still to come and death is not the end. 

Thank you Jesus for your great love and willingness to sacrifice yourself so we may forgiven and attain eternal life

You gave everything so that we might have life...so now my life is completely Yours

I will always love You

Phoebe x

Maunday Thursday... and Easter Biscuits

Maunday Thursday... the day we commemorate the Last Supper and the institution of 

the Holy Eucharist.  

"And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:19~22)

.. and our Lord washing the feet of His disciples.. with a new commandment 

."A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34)

Easter is about so much more than coloured eggs, chocolate bunnies, baby chicks and a good meal. Although there is nothing wrong with that.. we must remember The Resurrection is the real heart of Easter. It is the bringing back from the dead of Jesus Christ, our Lord...the true Messiah. For me.. His love and and ultimate sacrifice is overwhelming.

There simply is no greater love—none.

Traditional Easter Biscuits

In the past five years of our marriage I have been slowly mixing my old traditions with those MrD had with his family. This year...I decided to make the  traditional English treat of Easter Biscuits... cookies to my American friends. Its my adaptation of the Mary Berry recipe that I have used for years...but its the first time for MrD. It actually uses all the ingredients that I have in my store cupboard.. which is great for this Lockdown Season

They are a lightly spiced soft currant biscuit with a sugar crunch... although I prefer raisins. The traditional recipe includes Cassia oil,.. a cinnamon extract.. in the belief that it was used in the embalming process used to clean Jesus’s body after his crucifixion. Hence the making of them at Easter time.

And by the way... MrD loves them...

100g/3½oz unsalted butter, softened

75g/2¾oz caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

1 free-range egg, separated

1 small unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest only

200g/7oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

1/2 tsp cinnamon

50g/1¾oz currants

1–2 tbsp milk

• Preheat the oven 200C or 400F/180C or 350F Fan/Gas 6.
• Line three baking trays with baking paper.
• Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until well combined and fluffy.
• Add the egg yolk and lemon zest.
• Sift in the flour and cinnamon and mix well.
• Stir in the raisins and enough milk to make a fairly soft dough.
• Knead the dough on a floured work surface and, using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until 5mm/¼in thick.
• Using a 6cm/2½in fluted cutter, cut out 24 rounds.
• Transfer to the baking trays using a palette knife and bake for 8 minutes.
• Lightly beat the egg white using a fork.
• Remove the biscuits from the oven and brush the tops with the beaten egg white.
• Sprinkle over caster sugar and return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until pale golden brown and cooked though.
• Leave to cool on the trays for a few minutes, then carefully lift onto a wire rack to cool completely

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x