Blue Christmas

| M Miles

so holidays are supposed to be joyous for many though it can bring up sad thoughts because of things that have happened! 6 years ago this Christmas my mother passed away, 4 years later my brother passed away in January, this year I lost my dog the end of August, my first love my daughters dad passed away in September, and then my father passed away the beginning of November💔 I have always been one that has loved Christmas my mom always hated Christmas but she celebrated because of family.

it’s been quite a few years since we had a real tree but this year to try to get into the holiday spirit I went out got a tree from a tree farm the decorations have changed over the years I still put family memory ornaments on the tree that remind me of my childhood although I have cried a lot this holiday season, I am thankful for my daughter and her family!

the holiday season is a Time to remember what we have and to be thankful it is a new beginning a time for new starts a time to heal. I am wishing everyone a happy, joyous, and prosperous New Year as we continue to make this journey and try to fulfill all our dreams!

till my next adventure

Ciao,

M

Fall Foods

| M Miles

So after I finished writing yesterday, it got me thinking of the rest of my favorite Fall Foods. I am sure that some of mine are also some of yours. When I think Fall Foods, I think warm, comfort foods, and spicy flavors; the smell of cinnamon and ginger, hot apple cider and cozy nights in front of the fire.

Here is a list of my favorite Fall Foods and at the end I might even include another recipe to share.

  1. Baked Apple Cider Donuts. The perfect thing to start your morning out right or even as a snack.
  2. Chili. I love the smell and taste of a warm bowl of chili. I shared my mom’s recipe in a previous post. I will share mine at a later date.
  3. Sloppy Joes. Yes, they can be messy but oh so good!
  4. Tuna Casserole. Warm and gooey comfort food.
  5. Breakfast Casserole. A great overnight recipe given to me by my sister-in-law.
  6. Goulash. Spicy and full of ooey goodness.
  7. Pumpkin Bread. I have used this recipe for many years and it is so yummy. This is the chosen recipe for this post.

M’s Pumpkin Bread

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

1 1/2 Teaspoons salt

3 1/2 Cups Flour

2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Spice

4 Eggs, beaten

3 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Oil

1 Can Pumpkin

2/3 Cup Water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Combine sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin and water. Mix well. Slowly stir in dry ingredients. Pour into greased loaf pan/pans. Bake 1 hour or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.

Hope you enjoy this as much as my family does.

Till the next adventure…

Ciao,

M

End of Summer

| M Miles

So here is another Saturday morning, sitting relaxing, just finished my first cup of coffee and now I am drinking my first cup of hot tea. Fall is soon on its way the leaves are already falling and the nights are getting cooler. Soon it will be sweatshirt and boot weather, and all things pumpkin spice, chili, and zucchini bread days. The nights will get longer and the days will be shorter and the lack of sun will make me start dreaming of summer again.

This year has brought many changes. Fall will not be the same as there will be a lack of football games and tailgating, we were already not able to attend baseball games. School is starting and even there the days will not be the same. No smiling faces as they will be hidden behind the masks, no huddling in small groups, and no sitting together in groups at the lunch tables.

As I sit here drinking my mint tea, trying to decide what to write, I have chili on my mind. So…let’s make some. This was my moms recipe and you can adjust to the way you like. We like to add two different kinds of meat instead of just hamburger.

1 can of kidney beans

1 pound of ground beef

1 small onion, diced

1 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 small can of tomato sauce

Fry ground beef and onion. Drain any grease. Add chili powder, salt and pepper. Add tomato sauce and beans and one cup of water. Simmer until ready to serve. Serve with crackers or your choice or cornbread.

Hope you enjoy this!

Ciao,

M

Temple Grandin

| M Miles

Temple Grandin was an exciting yet emotional movie.  A true story about an autistic woman who overcame a lot in her life. There were parts that I loved, parts where I cried, and parts where I laughed. Temple’s qualifications for the diagnosis under the DSM-V were deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills, she had limited social interactions and abnormal response to social overtures from others. Symptoms that were shown in the very beginning were not playing, spinning, no speech till the age of four, lack of bonding with her mother, and she didn’t play or associate with others. Although she was quite intelligent and was able to see everything in pictures, she talks extremely fast, lack of emotions. 

I believe in my opinion, that Temple would qualify under the new criteria. This is indicated by the way she talks, her lack of emotional connection, and repetition of speech. Specific instances were where Temple kept saying and laughing “Would you like for me to open the gate?” She didn’t want to be touched, she wanted things to stay the same way and if they didn’t she would get extremely upset such as when the sign fell off her door, also loud noises bothered her and she would cover her ears. I think that she would be considered a Level 2. I feel this because she is able to speak in full sentences, yet they are limited. Also, her interactions with people are limited to things that interest her. When she engages in communication, she must stop and think. She also difficulty adjusting to change like when she was going to college and she wanted things to stay the same, she wanted to stay in high school and take science classes.

 

Temples greatest accomplishments were graduating college in 1970, earned her Master of Science in Animal Science in 1975, became a writer, and was a designer of livestock pens. One of my favorite part was when she told her roommate I’m the same as you, you hear sounds, I see pictures. Then at the end the way she believed “Life is precious now, thought about death, and was closer to God.” 

 

Goat to Goat

| M Miles

Oh yes I love goats, long-haired goats, short-haired goats. I love all goats. I look forward each year sometimes twice a year, I get to go to my sister-in-laws house and guess what they have goats. I have taken tons of pictures of the goats. My cousins wedding a couple years ago I got to feed a goat, the petting zoo at the Topeka Zoo has goats and someday I plan on having a goat.

Where our house sits I have lots of space and grass for the goat to eat. I have also researched make cheese from the goat’s milk. All this is really exciting for me. I think one of the coolest things about goats are there are two different types domesticated such as farm goats and then there are mountain goats. Goats are mammals with horns and hooves. There are so many different breeds of goats depending on whether you are wanting for meat or for cheese like I want.

Breeds of milk goats include the Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Saanen, Sable and Nigerian Dwarf. There are a couple others but these are my favorites.

Till the next time…

Ciao,

M

Staying Home

| M Miles
  I hope this email finds you all doing well. This global pandemic makes me at a loss for words. I believe in my heart that eventually all will be ok..But everyone has to their part. I know there is an uncertainty amongst everyone but we all have to take care, stay away from everyone, and wash our hands.

We have been planning summer trips and now this is all on hold. This is a time where we can now spend more time as a family inside and out in our yards, taking a walk, playing a game, listening to music, even cooking outside to get some much fresh needed air. Practice social distancing and don’t go to public places unless you totally need to.

Leave a comment how you are  handling this current situation. What are some things you are doing and that is helping  you to cope?

Till the next time…

Ciao,

M

Family Weekend

| M Miles

So it began I wanted to go camping agin with the whole family, daughter, son-in-law, grandkids and my other half. I dreamt of ping pong, volleyball, going to the zoo, and campfires. The menu was already planned after numerous conversations with my daughter. Now to only pack and get everything ready to go on this family adventure. We weren’t going far, just a couple hours away : destination – Salina KOA.

We were going to arrive the night before the family so we would have everything ready when they got there. I love three day weekends, especially with family. Thursday when we got there, it was checking in, getting the dogs settled and setting up the trailer. I brought everything I thought we would need, the food along with extra sheets and blankets.

Friday, we went and ate breakfast at the nearby IHOP instead of cooking it, then headed into the town of Salina to pick up the few things we forgot (or should I say I forgot). It was a fun day, thrift stores, parks for the dogs and driving around. Back at camp we played ping pong and sat at the pool (yay it was still open in September unlike so many other KOA’s that closed Labor Day weekend.

Finally my family arrived, there were so many activities we did, walking, swimming well the grandkids did it was to cold for me. We played ping pong, the kids rode go-karts, we played games at the campsite, and we played volleyball. And one of the greatest things of all were they all wanted to plan another camping trip somewhere..Nebraska here we come

Till the next time!

Ciao,

M

A Basic First Aid Kit

| M Miles

Most people are prone to getting a cut, a blister, or even a scrape, so having a basic first aid kit is a great idea. Whether it be a real emergency or just to be prepared for the worst. There are some things that should be kept in all kits.

  1. Dressings and bandages
  2. Adhesive bandages in all sizes to cover all types of wounds.
  3. Alcohol wipes or cotton swabs
  4. Gauze pads of different sizes
  5. Dressing Tape
  6. Disposable gloves
  7. Scissors
  8. Safety pins
  9. Alcohol free cleaning wipes
  10. Sterile water
  11. Eye bandage
  12. Digital thermometer or an old fashioned thermometer
  13. Tweezers
  14. Mouthpiece for CPR
  15. Sanitizer
  16. Disposable syringes
  17. Cotton balls
  18. Basic cough and cold medicine (prescribed)
  19. Antiseptic solution
  20. Aspirin
  21. Povidone-iodine
  22. Antiseptic ointments
  23. Eye wash Saline solution
  24. Calamine lotion
  25. Sting relief spray or cream
  26. Anti-nausea meds
  27. Prescribed medicines

It is also very important to keep your emergency numbers in your first aid kit and make sure that it is kept where it is accessible for everyone. Till the next time it pays to be prepared.

 

Ciao,

M

 

 

It’s That Time Of The Year (Christmastime that is)

| M Miles

So it’s the beginning of what used to be one of my favorite holidays. I used to love Christmas, starting with December 1st the time to put up the Christmas tree and begin decorating. It wasn’t until five years ago, that I began to wish that Christmas would just go away. Reason behind this is because my mom passed away. She always told when she was growing up that she hated Christmas, but yet I loved it so it always got her into buying presents and I would always help decorate.

The first couple years after she passed I did not put up a Christmas tree. I have tons of decorations and lights. This year at our house we probably will not put up a Christmas tree and just use my little metal one and my little pink one. I think nothing is better at Christmas time then to have a real tree. It is the amazing smell that fills the house with the aroma of a fresh tree. The worst part of a real tree is the pine needles. I have done everything over the years from going out on a country road and cutting my own tree, to buying it at the store, and my favorite of all Christmas tree farms. I love dressing up warm and taking walking around picking out the perfect tree – not to tall , not too short, not to dry; then there is the first cut with the saw. dragging it back..So much fun.

I have ornaments from my childhood and since I turned 18 I have been collecting a new ornament every year. I buy my grandkids a Christmas ornament every year, so that way when they get old enough they will have their very own set. I also have ornaments for my fur family members.

So this is my Christmas tree rules, that I have every year. I am looking forward to reviving these traditions this year as time is passing and although it can be sad memory, thinking back the good outweighs the bad. This year however, we will have family on Thanksgiving so I think that is when we will put up the tree.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Ciao,

M