Hospital Pumpkin Contest

Every year the hospital has a contest for the employees (per department), it is fun and Home Care usually does pretty well. Since the new hospital 1 1/2 years ago we have had a separate contest at the Dominican Campus. Last year the DC had about 10 entries - so for a smaller area we had a lot of participation. This year not so much, since Halloween fell on a Monday it seemed not many departments had time to work on their pumpkins. This year there were only 2 entries, Dietary Dept and Home Care. We place second, not bad - I guess it depends how you look at it....

New nurse in town, Holly Ween - Home Care

Pumpkin Buger - dietary

Easy Peasy Mac and Cheese

Quickest Mac and Cheese ever, made with my electric pressure cooker,

Yields: 6 servings




2½ Cups elbow macaroni

2 Tsp chicken base mixed in 2 cups

water

1 Cup water

2 Tbs butter

1 Tbs greated parmesean cheese

2 Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 Ounces cream cheese

1 Tsp yellow mustard



1. Add macaroni, chicken base mixed with water, water, butter and parmesean in pressure cooker.

2. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes

3. Perform a quick release and stir in the cheeses and mustard until melted and creamy. Serve immediately.

Another reason to love my pressure cooker!!!!

Cooking with whole grains

More and more people are having problems with wheat, this chef has some interesting thoughts on that and why that may be so. All of his shows are on BYUTV, worth checking out.

Cooking with Chef Brad

Courageous

Tom and I went and saw this movie today, VERY good, worth the trip to Merced, not playing in Oakhurst yet. Every Dad should watch. (Mom too) bring tissues!!!

Yosemite

How blessed are we to be living in such a beautiful area. I got to spend the last couple of days in my favorite place - Yosemite. I visited Tom while he was working this week. I got to hike by myself (something I don't think I have ever done) and enjoy the scenery at my pace. I walked until I needed a break and then read. It was wonderful, no wonder people come from all over the world to visit our backyard. This is a perfect time of year to visit, temp is perfect and the crowds are gone.

Surgery and recovery

This past Tuesday I had surgery on my right shoulder, injury from last February, tripped over the curb at church carrying too many cookies in large Tupperware bowls! Cookies survived better that I did I guess. I have spent the last months trying to figure out how to sleep with shoulder pain (not easy), had shots into the joint, had therapy, am not able to take many anti inflammatory due to medical problems.
Anyway the insurance finally approved it and here I am s/p surgery, rash all over my body from some medication I received in the OR (antibiotics I think). I am doing fine, will be glad when things are back to normal. I will have about a month off from work, so that will be nice. Would like to be able to go to the temple weekly while I am off, spend the entire day there.
We work and we work, and the next thing we know we have been working for many years without a break. I have been out of nursing school for almost 20 years. In that time I can truly say I have had 2 vacations (real ones) and that is it. I have had medical leave 2 other times, both times I was sick, taking care of my mom or s/p surgery.
In this world we live in there are just not enough breaks. Breaks to think, to work on a hobby, to visit someone that has been on your mind. I could not sleep tonight, thinking of all of the things I would like to do when I am off during this recovery.
Visit my cousin Carole, go to see her cabin her husband is building, go to visit cousins who live nearby but I never get to see - life is just too busy. Clean my house well, scrub the rugs, dust the logs, stack wood (OK not me, but can someone finish it!!) Visit our children and grandchildren, get to know them better.
I have worked most of my adult life, I need to figure out how to put my life in better order, I need to learn how to be.....

Mariposa County Fair 2011

First place on baby quilt and table runner

Shelby rode some rides, (I think this is the last year she will fit in this little truck)

Shelby got 3 blue ribbons and one red (3 first place, and one second)

Great Job Shel!!!

A fast ride (grandma had trouble getting the picture)

First place on peaches that Tom and I made, first place on Apricot Jam and third for Mixed Fruit Jam, first place on Troy's recipe of Oatmeal cookies, Best of show and first place on Whole Wheat bread, third place on cinnamon rolls. Tom's fudge did not do as well as it has in past years -guess it depends if the judge is a choc a holic or not?

Entered a cross stitched pillow that Cathy gave me for Christmas, she got a first, great job!