School Days, School Days

Summer is half over. I have seen school ads on the television and remember how our family scrimped and saved during July in order to pay for all those school books, supplies and clothes.

 

There was no extra spending on fun, groceries or trinkets. No matter how my kids begged, there just wasn’t the money. Back when my kids were in school, the price of a lunch was 50 cents and then worked up to tops of 75 cents.

 

Now I hear prices are over a dollar and they have snack machines and a much better variety of lunches offered. This is a good thing but i have to ponder on those that can’t afford to buy those lunches who may have two or three kids to feed.

 

I don’t remember me ever taking a sack lunch to school. I always ate in the cafeteria. In face, I remember what it was to receive a brown bag lunch when I went to the circus in the third grade. Opening it up and finding a sandwich and a cookie was so much fun.

 

I went to the Goodwill store a few days ago and I saw quite a few moms with kids and they were definitely clothing shopping. I remembered my days when I heard those older kids tell the mom they didn’t like what mom was picking it out. At the age of being a teen, my thought was the same as my mom’s thoughts. Don’t like what i am buying? Get a part-time job and that way you can buy what you choose.

 

With all the bullying that goes on at schools and in-room classes and on the buses, it makes me very glad I went to school when I did.

 

Of course there were those that picked on other kids, but the thought of hearing, “Jimmy, sit down in your seat or I am going to follow you right to the office and then I am going to call your parents,” scared those little pickers enough, that they behaved.

 

Why is it today that kids feel they do not need to respect or obey their elders? I didn’t get by with even voicing my opinions. It was considered mouthing off and I got in trouble for it.

 

I’m not saying kids shouldn’t have an opinion and voice it. I think I should have also. After all, how are parents supposed to get to know their children as they develop into their personalities. The difference though is, kids should be allowed to voice their thoughts but respect their parents enough to realize that the parents final decision is nothing more than final decision.

 

Nope, I don’t envy my children getting their kids ready for school and those teen years arriving sooner and sooner. I am not so old that I don’t remember that parenting day or how I tried to get my own way.

 

Good luck parents. School is almost here.

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

yield: 12-16 SERVINGS

prep time: 15 MINUTES

cook time: 25 MINUTES

This Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is everything you want it to be, and more! Two moist layers of ‘from scratch’ Banana Cake, topped with a sweet Cream Cheese frosting!

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CAKE:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 small bananas (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

FOR THE FROSTING:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans with shortening and flour. I like to use these Wilton’s Bake Even Strips. It keeps your cake layers level and flat, perfect for stacking (and the just slide right onto your cake pans)! Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add in egg, vanilla, and bananas (you can mash them first, but I toss them in and it does the work). Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat for a couple minutes until fully blended.
3. Pour batter evenly between the two cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pans for about 10 minutes. Flip onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
4. For the frosting, beat butter and cream cheese for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla, heavy cream, and powdered sugar. Beat an additional 3-5 minutes. scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically.
5. To assemble the cake, lay one layer of cooled cake on a cake plate. Spoon frosting over middle layer generously. Top with second layer of cake. Spoon and spread frosting over cake evenly. ENJOY!

This delicious recipe brought to you by SHUGARY SWEETS
https://www.shugarysweets.com/banana-cake/

Thank-You For Today

Wow! It felt great! I woke up this morning feeling like I actually slept. I got out of bed and didn’t hurt. I didn’t weeble-wobble. It’s amazing. I had to take a moment and thank the one above for allowing me this time, no matter how short or long it last.

 

It makes such a difference on the attitude, you know what I mean? I instantly thought about what I wanted to do for the day. It reminded me of yesterdays when the day was mine to plan.

 

The sun is shining. The weather is going to be perfect today. Thank-you Jesus for today.

Who I Am

I am not getting discouraged and yet I feel different inside. I still want to march forward and yet I am tired.

Eating breakfast and lunch today was not pleasant. Nothing sounded good and nothing tasted good either. I just feel sort of blah?

I am sure I will bounce out of this, it’s just a day, tomorrow is a new day. It takes a lot of physical work to concentrate on not falling, to not weeble-wobble. I worry too much about what people are thinking when they have rarely seen me act in this way.

It seems a lot easier right now to just stay in my room and be alone although I know from years of training this is not good. When I am in my room, I think of various things I could be doing and then when I am around others, I wish I was in my room.

This has got to stop. I want me to go back to me. Pray for me to be who I am?

What a Mix of ingredients

Yesterday was a day I would like to put to rest but this morning, yesterday was on my mind as soon as my eyes were awake.

I had an appointment with a new doctor for my foot. My feet seem to have a mind of their own, no matter what I tell them. My toes curl under. This is caused from Dystonia.

After a variety of x-rays and a long chat with the nice doctor, it was decided that my feet will not improve, they will only get worse. This is what is causing my arch to hurt; the over stretching of tendons and ligaments.

I walked out of there with a choice of two doctors in Fort Wayne to visit. I will be getting a special shoe with a brace made for my foot. I am not for this and it is my pride; but I keep hearing his voice saying, you will not improve, this will get worse, and this idea of mine may  save you from a wheelchair a little while longer.

Parkinsonism is a multiple of symptoms that can include some Multiple System Atrophy like my brother had. MSA is not hereditary but for me and my brother, this can be an environmental picture.

Dystonia is what causes involuntary movement and happens to be going on in my feet.

Ataxia is what I suffer from the most. This includes weakness and my gait or balance.

It is going to be an interesting ride of my life. I will fight to my last breath, just like I try to instill on the MSA  patients I speak with.

Wow, just when you think you have life figured out; you find out you don’t.

 

https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org/about-msa/differential-diagnosis

 

 

Mediterranean Chicken

Recipe By:Robyn Webb

“Sauteed chicken simmered in a sauce of tomatoes, olives, white wine, garlic, and herbs. This recipe is from The WEBB Cooks, articles and recipes by Robyn Webb, courtesy of the American Diabetes Association. Preparation time: 20 minutes.”

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 3 cups tomatoes, chopped

• 1/2 cup white wine
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat the oil and 2 tablespoons white wine in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and saute about 4 to 6 minutes each side, until golden. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
2. Saute garlic in pan drippings for 30 seconds, then add onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Lower heat, add 1/2 cup white wine and simmer for 10 minutes. Add thyme and basil and simmer for 5 more minutes.
3. Return chicken to skillet and cover. Cook over low heat until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. Add olives and parsley to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2018 Allrecipes.com
Printed From Allrecipes.com 7/25/2018

Indiana, Famous for John Dillinger

Eat where he was.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/indiana/unique-restaurant-gangster-history-indiana/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=indiana&utm_campaign=newsletter

Quirky Motel in Indiana

A taste of the old West.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/indiana/the-quirky-motel-in-indiana/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=indiana&utm_campaign=newsletter

Easy Baked Churros

Easy Baked Churros

 

What You’ll Need

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (12-ounce) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

What to Do

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, combine sugar and ground cinnamon; set aside.
3. With your hands, roll each biscuit into a 9-inch rope.  Dip in melted butter, and coat with sugar mixture.Twist several times, and place on baking sheet.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden.

Root beer Dogs

Root beer Dogs

 

What You’ll Need

• 2 cups pancake and baking mix
• 1 cup root beer soda
• 2 cups vegetable oil
• 8 hot dogs, cut into 1-1/2-inch chunks

What to Do

1. In a large bowl, combine pancake and baking mix and soda; mix well.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil.
3. Dip hot dog chunks into batter, coating evenly, then place in skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden on all sides. Place on a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining hot dog chunks. Serve immediately.