Low carb, soy free, veganism.

We decided a few years ago to step away from meat in our diet. It was not really a difficult transition save for the lack of actual cheese (food of the gods) and the move to “cheez” (nothing like cheese).  Frankly, after several months that one thing drove us back to more of a vegetarian lifestyle than vegan, though for our egos we called it “modified vegan”.  

  

We are animal lovers and honestly when you look at a doe eyed cow can you really think about what happens  to them for your eating “pleasure”?  The last time I saw a truck load of turkeys on their way to market I was sick thinking about what they were suffering, stuffed in the truck with no room to move.  I have to say that wing flap-age from birds in general freaks me out, so while there is no love loss between me and birds seeing their treatment while on the way to their death was a bit much.    

I am not struggling with the renewed plan to return to full on veganism.  However, on a theory level, I am struggling with the technicalities of it.  Why?  Because this time we will remove soy products from our vegan diet  as we have concerns about the safety of eating lots of soy products. There are potential medical reasons to lower carbohydrates too.  

Have you done a search on vegan+soy free+low carb lately?  Well, there are recipes, but to me it feels that it requires many hours in the kitchen.  Recipes anyone?  I find many soups but one does not live on soups alone.

 

I am totally on board with the plant based diet being the means to good health.  I better be since I basically believe pharmaceuticals  to be the spawn of the devil.  Raw foods are probably the easiest route but after a period with that, one needs the use of a dehydrator of some sort to infuse variety into the diet; though I suppose a low (115°) oven would suffice.  I shouldn’t be too unenthusiastic about that since I have not as yet tried to dehydrate anything; well there was that one day that I didn’t drink enough water…. 

So with renewed vigor we are back to our vegan ways, this time without tofu and higher carb foods. I will occasionally post a recipe with pics, see the first below. Black bean soup and cheez. 

Cheers!

Black Bean Soup

2 cans Black Beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup salsa of choice (I used fresh sweet onion and artichoke this time but any salsa will work)
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1 tsp. ground cumin
Blend all ingredients to desired consistency. 

Transfer to sauce pan. Heat to simmer.

Toppings of choice. (chives, cheez, vegan sour cream, hot sauce, etc.)

Cheez recipe can be found at:

 

http://www.vegangela.com/2011/10/15/homemade-vegan-cheese/

Good stuff.

Hauling the scoot

The  project in my head right now is the design of a rack that fits the RV to safely carry 2 scooters.

This is one of them.

I know that there are motorcycle racks made for this purpose, but I have an aversion to paying upwards of $900 to get one and then pay more for necessary accessories to make it work. 

JoeHauler.com makes this one.

 I do have a cousin who is a welder. So with dimensions and a "sort of design" I plan to take this project to him.  If he can do it for under the retail price, I am so there.
 It needs to be possible to handle getting a scooter off and on by one person, if needed. These scooters weigh about 225 lbs. each. So I am thinking a design that allows the channel where the tires sit to angle to the ground and then level out and lock as the scooter gets properly seated at the front of the tire channel.  Considerations need to be made for the tongue weight of the hitch too.

We'll see. 
All for for now.

What is your musical era?

I am definitely a product of the 60s. I think I first became aware of music, other than that of my parents, (read… polka, big band, the Lennon Sisters...) around 1963, I was 12-13 years old.

 

It was about that time that the Beatles were going to be on Ed Sullivan for the first time. I was sitting in front of the TV an hour before Ed was to come on. Of course, I was not allowed to have the television on until it was time for the program, but I had to take my front row seat on the floor, as if someone would take it if I didn’t.  When it was time mom, dad and my brother, came in to the living room, I turned on the tv (had to get up and walk across the room back then!)……. nothing happened!!!!  No power to the tube!!! I was frantic, on the verge of being the only 13 year old girl in the nation who did not get to see the Beatles on television. There may have been tears involved.

I was trying to think who else on the block might let me watch their TV. My dad was laughing……I was not amused.   In his sick and depraved humor Dad unplugged the television. He and my brother thought it was hilarious.  However, I think deep down and in a different way, my parents were as interested as I was to see and hear the Beatles.

 

Of course the Beatles were not my only musical preference.  I feel like I went through a wide variety of artists within that teenage music genre of pop music. My very first concert ever was ~1966, it featured the Temptations with BB King opening for them.  Now that was music folks! 

Over the years my concert attendance became pretty varied. 
Some of you may have longer lists.  Some of theses were better choices than others, but it all adds to life experience…..

Temptations with BB King opening  (1960s)
BB King (as a headliner) (1990s)
Jim Morrison & the Doors (1970s maybe??)
Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes (1970s maybe??)
 Mac Davis and Ann Murray (circa 1970)
Creedance  Clearwater Revival (circa 1970)
Beach Boys with appearance  by Stevie Nicks (1980s)
Whitney Houston (1990s)
Barry  Manilow (1990s)
Tina Turner (4 times) Woo!! (80s, 90s 00s)
MC Hammer (Hee!)
Melissa Ethridge (twice)
Cher with opening  act Cyndi Lauper
Jimmy Buffet
Janet Jackson
Kelly Clarkson
Lynyrd Skynyrd

See what I mean about a wide range.  

 

Big news!

I'm not very good at writing this on a regular basis. I don't know why I don't sit down to write, I like it when I do and I believe I have things to say, oh not necessarily things others might want to read but things to say nonetheless. I am better at talking than writing I guess, so I am not going to promise daily updates but I am going to try to be better at it.

Big news!! Yep, I did it. I bought the above RV. It is a 2001 Carri-go by Dynamax. It is currently wintering at the dealership. I will  get it in March. It felt weird buying it and then just driving home without it.  So now I am making plans to first, have my mechanic check over the engine and tires (the Rv dealership only deals with the camper components) and then, I will be pulling out the carpet and replacing it with something that can actually be cleaned.  Truly, I have never understood carpeting in RVs. Also there are curtains on the side windows that I will change.  The windows are 50" wide. The curtains are about 10" and are attached to a small valance with velcro. The shades are nice but do nothing to keep early morning light out when one may want to sleep.  Who thought this was a good idea?

 
 
I have other plans in my head but these are the first couple must do items for me. I will post before and after pictures as the changes are made. 
I am very excited as this is my first RV. I have researched and dreamed for years prior to retirement, now that I am actually retired I feel like I have fulfilled the first part of my plan.  

To be continued.........and hopefully at intervals that are less than 6 months. 
Cheers! 
NnR
 

Water aerobics, Visa Gift Cards, missing wallets, and I would like to pick up……….

What a day….

Along with a friend I have started an early morning water aerobics class.  I have done this in the past but grew tired of getting ready for work in the locker room.  Now that I do not have to be bothered with that work issue I decided to begin again.  Sitting waiting to get in the pool a woman came up to us and said, “So we have new people here.”  We along with two other women admitted that we just signed up for the new session.  She didn’t introduce herself, but told us to stick close to her.  I thought oh that is nice she wants to help out the newbies.  We get in the water and the women says, “You.  There.  I want you in front of me.” “ I’m fine here, thanks.”   “No you need to be over here so I can show you how to do this.”  “No, really, I will just stay here, I’m good.”   But she insisted and I relented. Turns out she was the instructor!  Who knew?  But really even in front of her I couldn’t tell what she was doing because she was in the water.  Not a great start for me at 6 in the morning.

Have you ever tried to return something you purchased on a Visa Gift Card?  Well I should actually be more specific. The return went smoothly…..I think. When you purchase something on a Visa Gift Card the receipt shows what your balance is.  This is not so on a return receipt.  Since I have not used a Visa Gift Card before, I was not leaving the store until I was certain that the amount of the return was placed back on my card. I called the number on the back of the card. I reached someone who had a very difficult to understand (for me) foreign accent and who spoke very quickly.  I kindly asked him to slow down as I could not understand him. He talked over me as if he couldn’t hear that I was talking.  He did not slow down; I had to ask him several times to repeat what he had said.  “Ma’am, he said, listen to me.”  I told him that I was listening and I could hear him but I could not understand what he was saying.  You may wish to draw your own conclusion about the return transaction at this point as I did.  He hung up on me. 

On to complete some grocery shopping, I actually remembered to toss the cooler in the car since it was 92° and still before 9am.  Good to go!  I was happy to be shopping for all fresh veggies and fruits and also pretty happy to have found a naturally fed, free range chicken before they sold out!  Also happy as I was able to find a second swimsuit while the season is here (not to be deterred in the least by the water aerobics police).  Checked out, got in the car, decided to get some money out to purchase some gas and could not find my wallet.  Immediate PANIC!  I quickly check the floor, the bags, the glove box.  Not there. I run (60 year old woman run) back into the store. My cart is exactly where left it….empty. The woman cleaning two feet from it doesn’t know anything, the check-out personnel….nothing, the service desk…..nothing.  REAL  PANIC!!!    I run/walk back to my car. I began dumping bags out and there wrapped up in my new black swimsuit is my black wallet.  I think I heard trumpets….and by the way who put that in there? Did the checkout person charge me for and bag it?  I’m sure I didn’t do it…Whatever…….

I continued….. I got my money out to pay for gas and moved on. But I was still coming down from that major panicky feeling.  I told myself just go home and stay there!  But I was passing by the Veterinary and needed hair ball medicine for the kitties.  One more stop would be ok.  Pulled in, reached for my wallet and couldn’t find it. What?  Where did it go now?  I was not quite as panicked as I was the first time, but it was certainly disconcerting that I couldn’t just reach over and pick it up.  Oh, now someone is just playing with me and put it in the center console. I never put my billfold there.   What the hell? Now I knew I needed to go home and stay there.

I was in the parking lot at the veterinary so it would be silly not to go in and get the hairball medicine.  I patiently wait my turn and the young woman asks “How can I help you?”  “I need to get some ……………………, it’s for my cats…………… It’s…....”  “You need some cat food?” the young lady asks in a very helpful way.  “No, wait, it will come to me, you see I have had a difficult morning.”  Eureka! “Hairball Medicine!”    

I sped home and sat down.

The entire morning was very disconcerting.  I am happy to report that my memory has returned.

Four days in Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls, SD

Sertoma Butterfly House. 

They did have actual live butterflies but they are hard to keep in one place, especially outside, so they made this stained glass/ceramic butterfly to announce the entrance.

It was a very nice facility, with the added attraction of some salt water and fresh water aquariums and some awesome tarantulas. I was pretty happy that I was eligible for the SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT!!! Woo!  I am often too “young” for that so when I am qualified for the price cut I proudly say “one senior admission”.  Typically the cashier is near 12 years old from my estimation so they don’t even question that statement.  I am sure everyone over 30 looks like a senior citizen to them so what do they care.  And they probably figure no one would lie about being “that old”. I wouldn’t lie but I wouldn’t vainly turn down a discount on anything!!

Falls Park is where the water fall can be found for which Sioux Falls is fittingly named.  I have to give props to the city for the excellent upkeep of this area. Pristine lawns and zero trash at this park. I was impressed.   There were a few too many people for me, but on the other hand it was nice to see that people used and respected the park. I was able to make my way to very close proximity of the rushing water without too much problem.  There is a tower that you can climb for free and see out over the park and the city. Oh and you can buy a rock for a $1. Cheap I would say, for a rock. However, I found two rocks at the campground for free!!  I almost think someone purchased them for their kids and then tossed them. 

I notice a theme here of discount and free.  My mantra has always been to never pay full price. And who doesn’t love free!