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I am not a huge asparagus fan, but roasted is pretty good. Don't give me mushy asparagus! I don't mind it raw, either. I love broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel Sprouts. The former chef where mom lives made THE BEST Brussel Sprouts. I think she steamed them, then put on the grill. I don't know how she seasoned them, but I would love her recipe. Spinach in a salad is okay, and spinach cooked in things is good...but not just cooked spinach. I use it in some quesadillas with chicken and sausage, and enjoy it in queso, chicken enchiladas and quiche. And a Greek restaurant I used to go to in Illinois made a spinach pastry that was amazing. The vegetable I don't like is beets...and they are so pretty.0
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The vegetables I don't like are peppers of any color (they give me heartburn), mushrooms (are mushrooms a vegetable?), and tomatoes (I know, I know... technically a fruit... it's a texture thing... I like the things you make with tomatoes: chili, spaghetti sauce, blended salsa - not chunky; run through the blender... just not actual tomatoes.0
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We are so different in our veggie likes/dislikes, which I totally expected.
I'm not crazy about raw spinach, but love it cooked almost any way. Simply steamed is my favorite. I also love turnip greens and often buy them in bags. I used to cut the stems off, but finally gave up and just eat them. A huge NO to broccoli, cauliflower, collards, and Brussel Sprouts. I cook green beans with a little olive oil and salt, but I'd like Cindy's way as well.
I got a little over confident that our light snow was over yesterday, because I woke up to maybe 2 inches this morning. Daniel was so sweet to come over and shovel my sidewalk, then sprinkle a little salt on it. It's supposed to go down to 8 tonight, then a gradual warm up. The streets seem to be clear and the snow was beautiful to look at. Stay warm and safe, everyone.0 -
We got about 3.5 of snow, but yesterday was sunny and a balmy 13°. Today will be in the 20's and 50s by Sunday.
And Cindy - don't give me a raw tomato, either! But canned petite diced tomatoes are good in soup and chili and I love tomato based sauces.0 -
I'm with you, Cindy. I was smiling as I read your post. I can't eat peppers of any kind unless they are chopped small and cooked a long time (like in a meatloaf). I can't eat raw onions or garlic or ginger, they give me stomach upset. I read something the other day that mentioned those items and said that people who don't process sulfer will have stomach issues when they eat them. Ditto on the tomatoes. Oh, have you ever eaten at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse? Wade and I went once for our anniversary and they have a creamed spinach that was amazing, I could have eaten the whole thing. I think I liked that the most out of the whole meal.
So glad that y'all didn't get a lot of snow! We just got very cold, but tomorrow should reach into the low 60's - heat wave!
Love y'all.
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Kim - I have always believed that Satan pretty much leaves the unbelievers alone, because they are already under his control....he is doing everything he can to fight the Christians. And anytime he can pull away one of the weak, he is rejoicing. I am really afraid of the times that the imitation is in the pastor... just look at some of the mega church leaders.0
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I agree. There are a lot of pastors out there today preaching a lie. They cut out huge portions of Scripture (NT) saying it wasn't written to us, the modern Christian. They call babies demons. They say that God saves some and degenerates others - all for His glory. If we sin, well, God is sovereign so He made you do it. They don't believe in a person's free will to choose, either sin or salvation. There are multiple ways to God, and sin is just poor self image. It's really sick! It all has to come back to "What does the Bible Say?" Not an addendum, not an explanation that slides past the truth - just simply, what did God say in His Word? He knows what He meant to say. I sometimes think about the explaining away people do - what if you wrote a love letter to your beloved, and someone took it out of his hand and then read it, telling you what you really meant, denigrating your love, telling you that you can have more than one love, etc... You'd be livid - I wouldn't doubt that God is too. We have to be very aware.0
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Wow, that picture says it all, Kim. And yes, I also think that it's the true Christians that are the target of Satan's attacks. Some popular church pastors seem to be on shaky ground, yet they draw huge followings. There's a lesson for us there. It's good to be like the Bereans and compare what's being taught against the Scripture, instead of blindly accepting what's being said.
Most of our snow has melted away and I was able to get out today. I did enjoy its beauty, but look forward to milder weather. It's almost time to start getting tax documents together, which I dread doing. Wonder if we'll ever have a more simple system.0 -
Because Wade and I are on Social Security alone, our tax form should be pretty easy. We have a tiny bit of dividend income from Mom's inheritance and a wee bit of saving's interest, but neither will put us in another tax bracket. For awhile we lived in such a way that we wouldn't make enough to have to file - at that time the government was paying for abortions and we didn't feel good about being a part of that. It was a learning time living so frugally!
I love snow when it comes and then goes! Although, right now I can't get out much so our snow a month or so ago didn't bother me! I'm hoping we will have Church services in our building tomorrow. We've had a lot of people who have been sick with stuff going around, so we've just been Zooming the services. It would be good to be back together. I'm hoping my leg and hip will be okay for me to walk over there and sit there for awhile! Praise the Lord just three days until I get my MRI on my hips and we can see how things look. I don't trust x-rays, they don't like me. Three times they've totally missed what was inside, so even though the x-ray said mild arthritis, with the pain and weakness I have I think it's more than that!
Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow! Love y'all.0 -
We are supposed to have a nice day tomorrow for a change. 50º will definitely be welcome. I am hoping that Bill is up to going to church. When he isn't, I usually go for just a few minutes...like worship, or Sunday School. I try not to leave Bill alone for more than an hour, so can't stay for an entire service, but any part of church is better than not going at all, and I need to see my friends and get a hug!
I have been working on taxes all day today. I have them done, I think, but I am still trying to clarify a couple of things on the sale of the house. What I am understanding is that we don't have to report anything and we didn't get a tax form from the closing company. I just need to verify that before hitting submit. Our "Capital Gains" was way under the allotted $500,000!!0 -
I need to get going on our taxes too. We met with a financial planner last week on a recommendation from friends. We started getting everything in order years ago and only got so far... because, well... life. With my Dad's passing and his estate not really well done, we decided we can't drag our feet any longer. Anyway, we really like him! And it turns out he used to go to our church. God's plans for us are so good.
But now, in addition to gathering all the 2024 tax information to do my taxes, we have to also let him know what our budget is for the year, what we're expecting to be able to live on once retired, and gather our IRA statements, etc. Just what I need - more work at tax time.
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I got my question answered on my taxes, so all I have to do is double check and submit. I also got all of mom's stuff together and submitted to have her her taxes done. I am just not confident to do hers myself. She may still need 2 states of taxes, plus selling her home in Missouri, and all of her investment stuff. I would rather pay than do it myself. Next year, I think it will finally be easy, so will probably do hers at that point.0
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We went to a CPA for two or three years during Mom's illness and passing, but last year we were able to do our own. Right now we are living on what we get from Social Security but do have Wade's retirement if we need it. We just want to leave it there to keep growing and hopefully with Trump in office it will grow well. It didn't do badly when Biden was in there, I expected it to crash, but it actually went up! Lord willing our taxes will be easy this year too and maybe we'll get a wee bit back! I don't blame you, Connie, for wanting someone else to take over your Mom's stuff, that can get complicated - well, you know, you've been doing it for a long time!
Getting ready to go get my MRI. I dread having to get on the little table and then putting my legs on the pillow. It's all going to hurt quite a bit. I'll take my pain meds before I go just to give a little bit of help and let the tech know that I will need help moving the leg onto the pillow. I can haul my leg up onto the table (I do it getting into bed each night taking my leg in my hands and pulling it up while I fall backwards - not graceful but effective) but I'll need help getting it to bend for the pillow. Getting up will be another painful process. But, praise the Lord, it will all be over and I can rest the rest of the day! And maybe get lunch out!
Love y'all.0 -
Kim - praying that all went well with the MRI!
Taxes all done and submitted. Mom got a bit back, but the fee to do taxes takes quite a bit of it, and state income tax took most of the rest. I think she will come out about $50 ahead if I do the math. I am going to wait a couple weeks to send in her state taxes. We got everything back. We have entirely too much taken out of our SS, but I thought I was going to have to start taking money out of my IRAs this year and didn't want to takes chances. They changed the age, so not until next year.0 -
I'm pretty sure one of Trump's promises was to stop taxes on SS - we'll see! I haven't heard of an executive order on that yet.
The MRI went well, I was pretty medicated and at times was so relaxed I almost fell asleep! I'm rather frustrated with the orthopedics practice that they have sent the referrals to though. They've sent four referrals as of this morning and the orthopedics office hasn't gotten back to me yet with an appointment date. I called after they had received two and they told me they don't have any referrals. My NP's office is, hopefully, working on it today. If I don't hear from the orthopedics office tomorrow I will ask them if they can refer me to another office associated with the hospital we like in New Bern. If I do need surgery, that is where I would want to go anyway. I'm hoping they will just look at shots or maybe that spongy stuff that they shoot into the joint! But, I can't wait for two months to get an appointment either, they need to get me in quickly because I can't handle this pain for much longer. I'm hardly getting around as it is! The gabapentin is working about one our of every three nights, which is better than things used to be! I'm grateful to the Lord for whatever will work. I'm so grateful that He knows and He is working for my good!
Love y'all and am praying for you too!0 -
I'm back from the orthopedist. He's not sure that it's an arthritis situation. He said that I was really too young to get an SI problem when it occurred and he believes that there could be a systemic problem that is causing the pain. He was a bit surprised at how much pain I was having. He is doing blood tests for five or six different problems like Lyme's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Anka-something spondylosis, and two or three other things I didn't understand. I was reading a poster in the waiting room and everything on it for SI issues I had. It pin-pointed for me that the problem was all coming from my SI joint rather than my hip. It'll take about two to three weeks to get some answers. I have another appt with him on March 17th to talk about what was found. If all is clear then we'll go on from there.
Such a beautiful and warm day. Thank You, Jesus! Love y'all.0 -
Glad that you finally got into an orthopedic doctor. Hopefully you start getting some answers. Praying for you!0
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Thank you for your prayers, I definitely need them and am so glad that the Lord hears them!
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My PCP's office called with the results of my second MRI, there's arthritis in the hip joint as well as bursitis. She mentioned that there was arthritis in the pelvic joint which made me think of the front pelvis area, but when I thought about it, the SI joint connects the pelvic bone with the lower spine, and I think that is what they were talking about. There are also a couple of tears in my glutial muscles. The first one showed some herniated disks and degeneration. I think that the Dr. is going in a good direction - I have a lot of arthritis and painful joints - knees, hands, shoulders, hip, and back. I've never had pain like this though, so that SI joint must be getting quite bad. I'll be happy to learn if there is a systemic problem. I am so grateful for your prayers. The Lord is keeping me through all of this and Wade has been a rock! Love y'all.0
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Praying for you, Kim. Have you tried Frankincense oil? When I get a really painful area from arthritis, I use a little oil and rub in well. It helps better than anything else that I have used. They say to start out using with a carrier oil, but I prefer it full strength. It usually will kill pain for about 5 hours. Might be worth a try. I haven't used it on my back because I can't reach it easily, and I don't have someone to rub it in for me. I use it on my bad knees and the tendonitis I get in my wrist. I have used it on sciatica, too, but don't get it as often as I did while working.
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Oh, that sounds good. I like natural ways to control pain and so far what I have been using isn't helping much. I ordered some Amish Pain Cream and am hoping that that will work better than the hemp ones. I use quite a bit at night on my legs and back to keep them from spasming, but I'd like to try the frankincense oil on my knees and hip, that's where I have the most trouble at night in trying to get comfortable. Thank you!
The pain is doing better yesterday and today. I've done little different so I know all the prayers folks are sending to the Father for me are being answered! Thank you.
It's hard sitting and waiting for results, but the tests take time so I am trying hard to be patient! LOL!0 -
Oh my, here comes the wind before the storm. We are expecting strong winds, thunder storms and possible tornados - yet, God knows exactly what is going to happen in our corner of the world so we are battening down the hatches and doing what needs to be done to be safe, but trusting God for our safety and well-being. Hope y'all are safe and sound at your place on the earth! Love you
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We were at 50° yesterday and had blizzard warnings last night. They said that there wouldn't be a lot of snow, but that the wind would be hurricane strength gusts causing zero visibility. That was between 9pm and 3am. We did get about 2 inches of snow, but the temps are coming up and drives are already melting. By tomorrow we will be back in the 50s and the 60s by Sunday. They said the roads were pretty slick this morning for rush hour.
Keep our pastor in prayer. He had hip replacement Monday and has some AFib problems during surgery. They have his heart rate back to normal and think he will go home today, but still needs prayer for continued heart health and quick recovery. I am having to fill in at the piano for a while so his wife can tend him until he is a bit more mobile. Knowing him - probably just this Sunday and maybe next.
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Praying for him, Connie! Praying for you too, that you will be able to help in this way and Bill will be alright!
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Connie, how is your pastor doing? I'm glad you mentioned Frankincense oil because I've never heard of it. Sometimes I have muscle pain in my hands, so that might be of help rather than always relying on Tylenol, etc. Did you try it, Kim?
I hate the spring time change, although I do like more evening hours of light. I'm glad I didn't have to play this morning because getting up early would have been rough.
Does anyone know what kind of plant this is? It looks like a variety of cactus. Some friends gave it to Dwight while he was in rehab last year and I'm trying to keep it alive. This is the first time it's bloomed.
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That is a Christmas cactus! Mine nearly died but it's slowly coming back. I think Kim has one that's thriving.
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Our Pastor is doing well. I will talk to his wife on Tuesday or Wednesday to see if I need to play next week as well. I'm sure Pastor won't feel like standing to preach, but he may want to preach seated, or just be in church. We will see. Playing on Sunday was a stretch because of the early am practice. I don't have problems with early mornings, but Bill really did not want to get up. Everything worked well, though. Since church is only a 10 minutes or less from the house, I went to practice and left him alone. Then I went home to wait for his daughter to get here (Sunday School time), and went back in time for the Sunday morning service. That way I was able to stay for the entire service. We have two men in the church that do an amazing job at filling in when he is gone. Both went to Bible College, but work (worked) secular jobs. The man that preached yesterday is a retired instructor at the local Community College. He knows how to make the point, and make it memorable. Our pastor is very good, but this guy is a great fill-in.
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When our pastor was in the hospital a couple of years ago the guys in our church took charge of the services, working in tandom with each other. They did an awesome job. Praise the Lord he isn't sick often. So glad yours is doing much better, praise the Lord.
Carole, this is a picture of my Christmas cactus. it looks like it has smaller sections than yours, but the flower is the same.
Mine bloomed from the middle of December to the middle of February! It gets partial sun and I only water it when it's dirt is dry, may once every three weeks to a month. I wait until it's dry before I water it again though. The same with my other succulents (which are on the left in this picture), although they do go dry before the cactus does. I also talk to them but blow on them so they will get extra carbon dioxide. What a memory you have, Cindy! This is Mom's cactus she has had forever so I am trying hard to keep it going as well. Yours looks healthy, Carole! What a beautiful deep green color! I turn mine around now and again because that front plant reaches for the sun and I need those back ones to grow up more!
Chilly and rainy here today! Can't wait until we get consistent warmer weather, but I have love the ones that pop up now and again!
I'm so happy, we were finally able to get together yesterday. We've had covid and flu in our folks, so to be on the safe side we just zoomed until the majority of folks were well again! Wade and I stayed well and I am so grateful to the Lord. I'm also grateful that it's been five months since my last bout of pneumonia. Last year I had it every three months! So happy.
Hope y'all stay well and warm. God bless, Kim
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I had to dig through my pictures, but found what I was looking for. That's how sad my Christmas Cactus looked before I added the glass self watering mushroom. (That was +mushroom Day 1. ) Now whenever I notice it's empty, I refill it - this plant seems to prefer water on demand. (The little chick in there is just biding time until it's warm enough to be transplanted outside... probably another month or so. )
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What a difference. I don't even try with plants. I know they will die as soon as they see my face. They are beautiful and Bill would have a plant every once in a while and he could keep them alive, but not me.
I think I finally figured out that if I don't want to have a double space between paragraphs or lines, I need to hit shift and return at the same time…I don't know if that is an apple thing, or what, but it seems to be doing the trick. I knew I would figure this out eventually.
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