Rain Dance!

I am in a severe struggle right now.  The struggle between trying to keep my sense of humor and curling in a ball and crying from the pain.  I just finished a run of steroids to help get the severe headaches I have been dealing with under control.  Well, it did not really work, I am still having the headache.  Now add in, some severe and overbearing pain in the rest of my body, and you will have how my week has been.  I feel like I have been neglecting almost everything.  But in all actuality, no matter what I do, it hurts.  Sitting, standing, laying, typing, watching tv, cooking, walking, all of it results in some sort of pain, or is painful in some way.  So I have avoided adding anything to my blog, typing is painful, but also the screen on the computer is to bright, adding to the headache.  Watching tv is ok for a few minutes but then it starts to hurt my eyes, then the volume begins to annoy me and all adds to the headache.  Both of these require you to either sit or lay.  I can do both for just  a few minutes before the pain, more like severe burning/stabbing pain begins in my hip area. I also have the same burning pain in my arms and legs all the time.  This pain I am feeling is normal for me, but nothing this severe.  I deal with all of this on a regular basis, to a lesser extent, but for some reason, either right now I am just much more susceptible to the pain, or it is just so much worse.  I do know, that when there is a change in the barometric pressure or weather patterns my pain gets 300 times worse.  The weathermen, which we all know we just can not trust, have  told us that it should storm or rain every day this week.  So far, no rain.  I am thinking maybe this is the reason why my pain levels are so out of whack.  The only problem I see, is beyond the fact that it really needs to rain, it has been really nice outside.  Of course, I know you are asking, how would you know?  Well, it would be from my wonderful family telling me how nice it is outside, while I am barely able to walk my butt to the bathroom!  Sometimes they don't really think.  So it is so awesome that is is beautiful out, and it would be awesome time to be over at the beach, not to hot, but no, I am stuck, getting my suntan from the inside since I am on fire from inside.  I think mother nature is now screwing with me.  Is it because I asked her to cool it down a bit and it is summer when it is supposed to be hot, or is it just my imagination?   I am at the point where cutting off all my appendages including my head, would possibly lower my pain levels, but so would, hopefully an amazingly strong thunderstorm.  Which would be easier, and probably a bit cleaner for me, the thunderstorm.  So the only question left is who is available to perform the Rain Dance, because I am not sure I can do it myself, but I would be happy to give it a try.  I am sure someone would at least get a good laugh out of it in the end!

Way to hot!

So, I have had enough of the heat.  You will never find me complaining about the cold.  Yes, sometimes it makes me hurt a bit, but honestly, I would rather have to add another layer of clothing or some thermal underwear than to deal with the 100 + degree weather and the 99 % humidity.  It is horrible when even with air conditioning, you can sit inside your house and sweat.  I can not imagine what it would be like to have no air conditioning, or heaven forbid, be that person having to work outside.  I walk out my front door, and immediately I am soaking wet with sweat.   I can not drink enough water to keep myself hydrated to make a difference.  Before long my face is bright red and the sweat has stopped, apparently nothing left to sweat, hello,  all of the water is just hanging in the air.  All this occurred in the 25 steps from my front door to my car, lol.  Thank goodness for air conditioned cars and that is actually works. I had to drive from Delaware at the beach where I live to visit my family in Pennsylvania, where I am from.  Oh yeah, beach is not cool when it is that hot.  Sand makes it about 100 times hotter, you can actually get blisters on your feet.  You can not look cute, while trying to avoid burning your feet on the sand, to try and get to the water, which by now is also boiling.  Ok, guess you have the picture, lol.
Ok, back to the car, I am now in my car, with the ac on at full blast. I am driving and in the first 20 minutes of my travels, my son and I notice even the cars are fighting back from the heat.  One of them has caught fire and now, the volunteers of the local fire department are desperately trying to cool it off and kill the flames that are trying to take over.  No one was hurt, and thank goodness for the brave men and women who give up their time to help others, and of course on this particular day, there ability to stay cool.  I am thinking at this point screw the car, turn the hose on yourself and stay cool, only problem is since they have to use a special foam to put the fire out, so no water, just heat, man, we sure don't need that.
So, as we get through this disaster, traffic breaks and we start rolling.  Music is going, conversation is good and we just keep trekking.  My son is excited about going up "home" to visit his friends.  He is telling me that they are thinking about walking downtown that night when we get there, hanging outside.  I am thinking, you are completely off your rocker, but I always think in means of my disease, my meds, everything has changed because of that.  When I was 15, I probably would have done the same thing.    Then as we are driving a little while my son says, "mom, look at that" and points at my cars external thermometer.  It is now reading 108 degrees.  Yeah it is only getting better.  It was the highest it reached, 108,  but for a bit, I honestly thought I lived in Hell.    We finally made it to PA, only stopping once at a roadside fruitstand to grab a watermelon fro my son's friends family, but just that few minutes out of the car was enough.  I was now trying to derive a vision of how to make a air conditioned expandable and flexible hallway so I will not have to step our of the air conditioning again.  Ok, yeah, I know, I can dream.  Well, let me say, the entire weekend was primarily the same.  To hot to breath, but I did what I could.  Sunday, I did go to a Memorial Motorcycle ride for a friend of mine who past away in March.  Over 394 motorcycles taking a ride to memorialize a wonderful man who past away at the age of 36, way before he should have.  An awesome sight to see.  Plus I got to take my grandson with me and he had a ball seeing all the motorcycles.   I am incredibly tired and worn out.  I am hoping the heat breaks, but all in all this weekend was good.  Now, if I can get through this next week which will be difficult due to the loss of a very dear friend a year ago on Wednesday.  I will be sharing pictures of the awesome memorial ride soon.  And of course tomorrow is Ten on Tuesday.  Thinking of the top ten ways to cool off!!!!.  Til the next time people, gentle hugs!

4th of July Fun!

The holiday is fast approaching and you want to wow your guests or your hostess with something fun, good to eat and of course RED, WHITE,  and BLUE.    Well, here are some quick and actually very easy ideas to make fun desserts that will wow the masses and celebrate the fun of the holiday with colors galore.  The best thing about them, is they are mostly easy to make from all ready made items if you are to tired to make them yourself, just some minor assembly and they will think you are a miracle worker.  
The first one is one of my favorites and it is a TRIFLE........ which by definition is a A dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake soaked in sherry, rum, or brandy and topped with layers of jam or jelly, custard, and whipped cream.  We are going to make ours more family friendly and summery.  


You will need, 
1 angel food cake or pound cake ( I think angel food cake would be good since it is whiter)
3 cups of strawberries, sliced and sugared
3 cups of blueberries, sugared (you may have to smash them just a small bit to help get the juices and sugar to combine, you need them to form some juice)
2 small or one large container of Cool Whip or whipped topping of your choice


1. Cut angel cake into approximately 1 inch cubes.  Set aside.

2. Gather Trifle Dish or high sided, flat bottom glass bowl.  Should be see through to make sure you can see the color of the layers. 
3. Separate the cake into 4 piles.  Place the first pile of cake pieces on the bottom of the bowl evenly spaces.  
4. Place half of either the strawberries or blueberries on top of the cake pieces., also using half the juice to moisten the cake pieces.  Make sure you are layering it so that each distinct layer can be seen.  
5. Take 1/4 of the amount of whipped topping and spread evenly over the berries.
6. Place another layer of cake on top of whipped topping.
7. Place 1/2 of the opposite berry (if you used strawberries first, now use blueberries or vice versa).
8. Place another 1/4 of the amount of whipped topping and spread evenly on top of berries.
Repeat steps 4 through 8 again, ending with whipped topping.  
Garnish the top of the trifle with either whole blueberries and strawberries or make a stripes alternating red and blue using the berries.  You could also stick sparklers in the tops or put red and/or blue sugar sprinkles or jimmies on top.  Be creative, cut out stars using a piece of paper and shake jimmies over stencil.  Carefully remove stencil to reveal just stars on top of whipped topping.    
The picture above is an empty trifle bowl, the picture below is just for reference to see how the layers should seperate.  Remember yours will not look exactly the same.  You can make this with any type of fresh berries, or even peaches and nectarines  

i

Jello Cake


YOU WILL NEED
1 boxed cake mix 
   (ingredients to bake the cake)
1 3 oz pkg of Jello gelatin mix (berry blue or some sort of red)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 8 oz tub whipped topping like Cool Whip
1 can Cherry pie filling ,Strawberry pie Filling or Fresh Strawberries, or Blueberry pie filling, of course use the  opposite color pie filling or topping compared to the color gelatin you used


1. Bake a yellow or white cake in a 9 x 13 cake pan according to package directions just omitting the oil.  This will allow your cake to rise better.  (You do not have to add anything to the mix and you can do this anything you are baking a cake, makes it a tiny bit more healthy too).  
, 2.When it is done baking, remove from oven, let cool for 15 minutes.
3.With the handle end of a wooden spoon or large tined fork poke holes throughout the entire top of the cake about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. 


2. Stir gelatin mix into the boiling water until all the gelatin is completely dissolved (about two minutes). Stir in cold water.  Carefully and slowly pour the gelatin over the entire surface of the cake.  Place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, until gelatin has time to set.   


3. "Icing" the top of the cake with the whipped topping.  Spoon the pie filling over the top of the cool whip or serve it on the side of the cake.  


4.  Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  Immediately refrigerate leftovers.


When cut your cake will look like the one in the picture  to the right.  The stripes may be a different color depending on the jello flavor used.


This is an amazing dessert that is incredibly versatile.  You can use almost any flavor of cake mix, mix and match with jello and make your own creation.  Try a french vanilla cake, with orange jello and french vanilla cool whip for an orange creamsicle  type cake.  Like black forest cake, use a chocolate cake, black cherry or cherry jello, cool whip and chocolate shavings on top, you can even add cherry pie filling.  Don't forget you can try things like lemon jello, or lime jello, and add a bit of tartness to the cake, very refreshing.    


RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
So do you have company this weekend, here is a great breakfast or anytime treat that is in the spirit and thanks to Betty Crocker it is quick and easy to make!!!!


Here is what you need:
1   box Betty Crocker wild blueberry muffin mix
3/4 c milk
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup dried cranberries


1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Line 12 muffin tins with papers or grease only the bottom of the muffin cups
3. Drain muffins from the muffin mix rinse and set aside. In medium bowl, stir in muffin mix, milk, oil, eggs, and cranberries just until blended. Gently stir in blueberries. Divide batter among muffin cups, each should be about 3/4 full.
4. Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back lightly when touched.  Cool 3-4 minutes and then remove from pan.


Glaze   
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons milk.
1/8 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract.


Mix together 3 ingredients to form glaze, drizzle over muffins while they are still warm.  Let cool and serve.


This should get you started.  I will hopefully find a few more tomorrow.  Getting tired thank goodness.  Has been a long week with lots of medicine changes.  Just hoping to make it through the big weekend with a large family gathering at my house of 20 plus people.  I am excited to see some of them who I have not seen in almost 6 months, just a bad time for the doctor to decide to change my meds around.  Well, here is hoping it all goes well.  I hope you all have an amazing holiday weekend.  Take care of yourselves.  If you tire rest, if you hurt, don't push it.  Remember it is the time to relax, others can help and you also deserve a break.  Happy 4th of July.