Blog Archives
Quick, easy, and very tasty no-bake cookie
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I thought I’d post one of my favorite and easiest cookie recipes today. They taste somewhat like a chocolate macaroon.
Aunt Violet’s unbaked cookies
2 cups of sugar
1 stick of margarine (must be margarine butter makes them too soft.)
½ cup of milk
Bring to a boil in a saucepan, mix well so sugar dissolves—cool slightly
Mix together:
1 cup of flake coconut
3 cups of quick oats
4 teaspoons of cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
Add all at once to the sugar mixture
Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper, let set until hardened.
Posted in Food
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Cookie, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, gifts, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The death of a theater?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I finally had a chance to see the new Harry Potter movie. The time went quickly G and I quite enjoyed it and can’t wait for the final one.
Our favorite theater will likely close one of these days. We practically had the place to ourselves. We were two of six people at the show. The attendance is bad enough that they canceled the early matinee, which we had arrived to see, and we had to go kill some time before the next show.
That also meant we didn’t get home until after seven tonight so DH had a late dinner. However, he did feed the dogs so Gavin got a meal before his seven p.m. no-food-after instructions for his tooth extraction kicked in. The poor boy will shrivel up and die without his breakfast in the morning. I wouldn’t want to be the techs at the vet’s when he wakes up hungry. He will let them know all about it.
Posted in Dog related, Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Back to the cold weather exercise
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It was cold outside today. It was a good time to get a few things done inside. I cleared out a lot of the clutter that had developed in the back bedroom, due to laziness on my part, when it came to taking things to the attic. It’s not an easy staircase to maneuver while carrying things. Therefore, I tended to drop things in the bedroom while promising myself I’d haul them to the attic later.
Now I can get at my exercise equipment again. With the cold weather coming, it is a good thing. I can spend a half hour a day on my weights and exercise ball no problem now. There’s even a nice CD player in there to play some hard rocking exercise music.
After all, at my age it’s difficult to keep the muffin top and bat wings at bay so proper exercise is important. Once the cold weather sets in G and I can’t take our weekly one-mile walks, which helped.
As I said in another post, I wear flip-flops all the time. When I went in for a stress test, I wore them and the doctor thought I should change into sneakers. I told him I would be fine and much to his surprise I was.
Posted in Misc, Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Physical exercise, Writer, Writing
Ampyra approved then taken away
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Well this sucks big time. We were told by a certain health plan that DH was approved for Ampyra and today we got a letter from the same people telling us that he is not approved. You know what, I hate making phone calls. In spite of this, someone has some ‘splaining to do.
Phones are going to be ringing and when I’m finished, I’m betting a few ears will be too. Angry doesn’t describe how I feel right now. I won’t tolerate this sort of treatment. I will fight tooth and nail for DH. No one EVER pulls the rug out from under my loved ones like that. I don’t care whom it is I have to run to ground I will get results.
DH has always said, “Don’t get the Irish Indian mad she will go on the warpath.”
I am past mad and well down the road to infuriated. If I have to go all the way to the top of the company, I will do that. I can make waves, big ones. I am a writer.
Posted in MS related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Ampyra, Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, Medical insurance lies, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
A little flag waving in honor of yesterday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After a day loaded with food, fireworks, and military band music, it was nice to take time to remember why we celebrate the 4th of July.
The freedoms we have are precious gifts given to us by those visionaries who fought hard to achieve the birth of a great nation. What an amazing accomplishment. Do not let their dream fade in apathy.
Hang tightly to those freedoms and be proud of who we are as a nation.
This is a great country. It is my country and I’m proud of it. I am grateful to be a citizen.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jewelry, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Necklaces, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Surprise! A new look.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I thought it was time for a change. I hope you like it. One thing I noticed was the print is larger, which I like. However, it is lighter, which I don’t like.
I may have to play a little.
The Blogrolls are now on the bottom of the page along with everything else that isn’t a post. Not sure if I like that, but we’ll see.
This is going to take some getting used to. I hope you all like the changes. If not, let me know. I do want your opinions.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Time management
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You have to be kidding. Me manage time? I wish. That’s as much a pipe dream as organizing the house. I’ve tried to do both and have yet to succeed.
It never fails to amaze me that no matter when I get up, the day doesn’t have enough hours in it for me to do the things I’d like to have done around here. Maybe if I could clone myself…
I’d need more than one clone. However, that would pose another problem. Where would I put my clones? This house is tiny. How would I feed them? If they eat like I do that would put a hurting on our food budget. Clones won’t work.
This, in turn, brings us back to time management. How does one manage time? I have no idea. I remain clueless. I’ve tried making schedules but between DH, his mother, and the dogs schedules don’t work. Something always comes up to scotch it.
I would try delegating chores and projects but when there’s no one else to delegate those things to, that doesn’t work either. I need more hours in the day, or in my case, the night.
How do you manage time?
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, I need more hours in the day, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Time management, why can't I get things done?, Writer, Writing
Poor little kitten in mittens
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I wish I knew what possesses people to dump animals. G has a kitten that someone dumped in her yard. He’s about 4 to 6 months old. The little guy is staying on her deck and in her yard. He is a brown tabby with four white mittens and a white bib. He has beautiful green eyes and a wonderful personality—very loving and outgoing. G can’t take him in because she already has three cats and they have already protested his presence in her yard. She doesn’t want to take him to the shelter because it is a kill shelter. All the no kill shelters are full and they won’t take him.
I can’t take him because Patty and Gavin don’t like kitties. We are trying to find him a home. Visually, he’s healthy no ear mites or fleas. As far as other health problems such as feline leukemia, we have no idea.
At least the weather is warm and G has a gazebo over her deck so he can stay dry. He’s been eating as if it has been weeks since he’s seen food.
If you live in Eastern PA and want him, let me know. I’ll put you in contact with G. The word is out. All we can do is sit back and wait for someone who wants a young cat.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, homeless kitten, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, throw away pets, Writer, Writing
Remembering those who have fallen and those who still serve.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My nephew in Afghanistan
May you all come home safe and soon!
Posted in Holidays, In memory of..., Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, Memorial day, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, service men and women, Writer, Writing
The frogs let me down
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a lovely day here yesterday. We hit a new high temperature record for the date. DH didn’t do so well by afternoon when it hit 87 degrees, but we expect it to be so, and make adjustments. He dresses cooler, tries not to over do it, and stays inside where, with a brick home, it’s cooler until late at night.
DH takes a daily afternoon nap. It helps him function better. This unfortunately is where he was when I was outside and almost fell off my chair with excitement. I watched a great blue heron fly over, and although glad that he didn’t stop by for a snack of Koi, I was bursting at having no one around to share my exhilaration. Even G was away and she would’ve been as thrilled as I was.
Around 7 p.m., it had cooled down to a nice 76 and DH came outside to sit by the pond for a little while. We watched robins bathe in the waterfall, goldfinches serenaded us, and a gentle breeze kept us comfortable.
However, the frogs let me down. They made a liar out of me. No one sang.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
The pups are after the compost bin again
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have a compost bin. We do the coffee grounds, tea bags, any kitchen waste that’s not meat—all of it goes in the compost heap. There’s one teensy problem though. We put banana peels in there because they are great for the garden. The problem is with the banana peels I have to keep the bin blocked off so the dogs can’t get near it.
You see my dogs adore bananas. You could say they are bananas for bananas. We can’t open a peel without having the two dogs plaster themselves to our side until they each get some. Therefore, they would scavenge the peels from the compost pile if they could.
Last year Gavin tried his darnedest to climb into the bin because he smelled his favorite treat in there. In an instant he was stuck. I then had to climb over obstacles to pry him out of there. I need a better way to block the bin.
Yesterday Patty attempted a raid on the bin. With her long legs, she might have made it. It’s a good thing she was on the retractable leash at the time.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Men-o-pause
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sleep, it’s a great thing if you can get it. I had about four to five hours last night. My body prefers a good eight. It seems that with the dread thing called menopause comes less sleep. If it isn’t hot flashes waking me, it’s the sweats. Then again, there are those nights where it’s impossible to fall asleep.
DH can tell when I’ve had a bad night because when he greets me he gets a glassy glare until I’ve had my coffee. Sometimes he might even get a growl. He pauses in mid sentence, points to the coffee pot, and waits for the second or third cup to kick in. He learned over the years never to stand between the coffee pot and me when I first get up.
Mood swings aren’t fun and I’m glad I don’t have them too often. DH is thrilled. What man wants his wife to go from zero to sixty in three seconds? His car yes, his wife, no.
Life is ever changing, and to tell the truth, I’m enjoying the heck out of this time of my life. There’s a sense of freedom now that I don’t remember having when I was younger. Yep, call me crazy but I like this.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
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