Bits and pieces of life

Thought I'd take a few minutes and jot down some thoughts and happenings at our house.

We had snow on Tuesday...a lot of snow!  It was beautiful and I love being out in the snow and shoveling the snow.  However, with this shoulder issue, I'm not supposed to be using it hardly at all, especially no lifting or heavy movement.  SO...I'm not able to use the snow blower or the shovel.  Rick went outside before going to work to use the brand new 2 stage snow blower.  The snow was so wet and heavy that it didn't do a good job.  Then when he was about 1/3 of the way done with the driveway, he got sick.  Nausea and light headed.  He had to stop, immediately.  He got so sick he couldn't even go in the house.  I got a lawn chair and he rested in the garage until he was strong enough to turn off the blower and push it into the garage.  Then rested again to get enough strength to get in the house.  He rested and felt better and went on to work.  (I quizzed him unmercifully as to just how he was feeling because I was concerned it was a heart issue.)

Turns out, that episode was the beginning of a stomach bug.  He has been off work both yesterday and today.  Poor guy.  I gave him Imodium and that has slowed down his trips to the bathroom, but his stomach is still bad.  I hate seeing him ill...makes me feel so bad for him.

One of our neighbors -- young man, newly married and new to the neighborhood surprised us and plowed our driveway Tuesday night.  What a surprise to wake on Wednesday morning and see the driveway clear.  It was like the story of the Shoemaker and the Elves that I loved so much as a child.  Going to have to do something really nice for Caleb.

My physical therapy is moving along.  It's HARD work, to say the least.  I have been having a good bit of pain.  I spoke with my physical therapist and he says that's part of my recovery.  I guess it's to be expected about this point after the injury and surgery.  I do all I can do in my therapy, which is what he tells me I should do.  I'm not to overdo it...follow the signals my body sends to me.  I get reassessed at physical therapy on Monday and on Thursday I go to see the surgeon.

My daughter came on Wednesday and we cleaned out my spare room.  I'm terrible at clutter control and have a hard time getting rid of stuff.  I work well with a partner (and Jennifer was a great partner in this venture).  I took a load of stuff to the Goodwill yesterday after physical therapy (the Goodwill is just down the road from there).  It's easy enough to go there as they unload your car for you...and if you are lucky like me, you have someone at home to load your car!  I put a nice office chair at the end of my driveway with a "free" sign on it and it went quickly.

I've been going through my recipes, typing them all into the computer and getting rid of the 3 x 5, 5 x 7, newspaper clippings and notebook paper recipes.  I've gone through my main dishes and am now working on desserts.  This will be great to have them all organized.  Jennifer told me it's my "project" and when I get that done (and go through a small clothes basket full of "stuff" we would move onto another room!  Woo hoo!

Monday is Rick's birthday!  As I was going through recipes I came across one for one of his favorite cakes.  It's called Refrigerator Sheet Cake.  I'll share the recipe here.

Refrigerator Sheet Cake – Rick’s favorite

9 x 13 pan, greased and floured

350F for about 30 to 35 minutes

Cake:

            1 small (3 oz) pkg. strawberry jello

            ¾ cup boiling water

            ½ cup cold water

Dissolve jello in boiling water, then add cold.  Set aside and allow to become room temperature. 

            1 white cake mix

Mix as directed and bake in 9 x 13 inch pan.  Cool for 20 to 25 minutes.  Poke holes in cake with meat fork, about ½ inches apart.  Pour jello into the holes.  Refrigerate cake and prepare topping.

Topping:

            1 envelope whipped topping mix (2½ cup yield)

            1 package (3¾ oz) instant vanilla pudding

            1½ cup cold milk

            1 tsp. vanilla

In chilled deep bowl, blend whipped topping mix, pudding mix, milk and vanilla until stiff, about 8 to 10 minutes.  Frost cake and refrigerate.

Well, enough of  "this and that" for now.  I need to figure out something for my sick guy to eat for dinner.