Daydreaming while waiting impatiently!

[frustratedearthmother]

Maybe I will drag out my gardening bin today and work out enough of a plan to order seed? I'd forgotten about that until I scrolled up just now.

Did you order seeds? What company do you usually use?

 

[tortoise]

Did you order seeds? What company do you usually use?

I haven't ordered seeds. I use Baker Creek primarily. But I made my garden plan! It looks so small on paper, but I think it will still be a stretch for me to keep up with. It will be about 1,500 sq ft - not including the pumpkins and squash and such that DH plants and mulches. Our total space is 9,000 sq ft, so that's a big downsize. Oh well?

I thought I was feeling better but I guess that was just one afternoon. Today has been rough, been in bed pretty much all day and Baymax has been helping me get around the rest of the time. I have a hormone-induced flare every couple months, and today is the day. Each day should be better and should be feeling normal (other than this cold????) in 3 days or so.

@frustratedearthmother I've been watching my scale and so interesting to see that my weight "gains" are always after eating wheat, potato, or tomato. (maybe others I don't know, but these 3 are obvious). And comes with edema. I've been swollen and puffy for about 3 weeks now, but I cleared out my house from temptation and am doing the January healthy eating thing now. I'm annoyed that I have no idea how much fat I might have lost in the last few weeks while the scale is reading high from fluid and measuring tape reading high from edema. I started back on time-restricted feeding again too. I'd let that slide.

DS4 has been so good with his hamster. Really impressive. Until today, he dropped it and it died.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've used Baker Creek before too.

That is quite the downsize, but I'd rather have something smaller and productive than losing a bigger garden because I can't keep up with it. Been there, done that! My heart is telling me to go big this year because I have more time - but having more time doesn't really matter when it's 105 outside and the weeds and bugs are winning all battles.

Sorry your health isn't working for you today...but you seem to be so in touch with your body and figuring out what works for you - I know you'll get back on track soon.

Oh no on the hamster...

 

[tortoise]

Felt much better yesterday, so I drove [90 mile round trip] to the pet store to replace DS4's hamster. This one is the same species, but bigger (older), more active (jumping, climbing!) and less tame. This hamster is going to take a lot more work before DS4 can hold him.

Last night was cold and windy and our wood furnace didn't keep up. 60 degrees in the house this morning! Forecast is for low 30's today so I think I'll end up too hot in here by noon.

I bought frozen rhubarb to try making nightshade-free BBQ sauce. I made a rhubarb-based BBQ sauce a few years ago and we liked it a lot. It was, of course, heavily sweetened with sugar and contained other nightshade ingredients. I'm resigned to using sugar, but I think I'll use pineapple juice because I have it and need to use it up somehow. I've been looking at BBQ recipes and making a spreadsheet to compare ingredients. Very interesting. I also found mustard-based and mayo-based BBQ sauce recipes to try.

 

[flowerbug]

yes, mustard is a normal ingredient in some areas of the country. all good!

i like mustard and strawberry jam as a start. garlic, onions...

now i'm hungry.

the sweet and sour sauce our favorite chinese place makes they start with pineapple juice and add sugar and vinegar. pineapple as a start to a bbq sauce would probably be just fine.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Glad you were feeling better and able to get another hamster. Hope that one settles down quickly. Good luck on the recipe! Cant wait to hear how it works out.

 

[tortoise]

I started the rhubarb recipe. It's in the fridge waiting for me to have time to taste and adjust the flavor/spices.

I found a new doctor! I'm very excited! This doctor is local (20 miles away) and accepts my insurance, and he will fill the spot of my private-pay integrative specialist (200 miles away, no insurance). Woot! Less money on exams/appointments means I can put more towards labwork and monitoring treatment plan. I think I'll stick with my specialist for once yearly appointments so I don't need to start over as a new patient ($1,200 new patient appointment!!) if I need her help later. IDK, we will see. DH is happy, but he doesn't know the new doctor ordered a ton of bloodwork - I'm sure that will be expensive.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Congrats on the new doc! Seems like it will be much easier to get treatment being so close and accepting your insurance. I can see keeping the specialist but seeing the new guy for most things. Geeze, $1200 for a new patient appointment and doesn't take insurance - that stinks! Hope the bloodwork isn't too terrible!

 

[baymule]

Local doctor and he accepts your insurance? Throw a party to celebrate!

 

[flowerbug]

Local doctor and he accepts your insurance? Throw a party to celebrate!

$1200 for a new patient seems a bit extreme but perhaps they actually do read the records and have some work to do up front so it may not be outrageous.

i hope it works out well and that they are a help to you @tortoise !