Unexpected Vancouver Trip, 2016

A sudden change of plans! A worried phone call from my son David in North Vancouver concerned his wife Sharon. She had taken a turn for the worst in her fight against Cancer. It was only in December of 2015, a few months ago,  that she was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 cancer; it was now March 2016, how had those few short, treacherous  months gone by so fast? What terrible news! David was very distraught on the phone from the latest, devastating clinical reports and I quickly suggested ,"Could I come to help?" be supportive? He wanted to hold off still not sure what to do.
A few more days passed and he called again this time he accepted my idea to come and be with him at this difficult time. Son Paul in Arizona, got right on the phone to secure my airline tickets, and within two days I was on my way to Vancouver. Mike remained in Florida to look after the dog and household. By the time I arrived, Sharon had died.
This was going to be a difficult time for me. I didn't know what to expect except it would be wearing and a lot of tears.
David and Sharon had always been very much unto themselves. With no children to distract them, their world contained them, and they mostly did everything together including vacations. They didn't mix with the relatives much except on major family holidays. Their time off was usually just the two of them going to wonderful locations: usually golf was the big draw and Sharon had molded herself into a golfing partner.
As I said at the beginning, by the time I arrived Sharon had died 2 days before. Now it was just David in the house! He was holding up pretty well, of course  tears at times, but the business of funeral arrangements pressed in on us both. We had to pay attention to what needed to be accomplished; funeral plots, (as she wished to be buried and none of this had been decided ahead of time); a casket, a church,  flowers, music, videos, obit' for the newspaper to be constructed, and many emails to friends. How to plan the service-who would read the prayers  and give the  the eulogy? (Sharon  came from a family of Evangelical Trinity background, her father had been a pastor, also a  cousin was a pastor etc).  These details engulfed us both but of course each final decision was up to David.
I was just a tree to lean on! Each day I tried to help in little ways; doing some laundry, taking phone messages, keeping out of the way to let David work through his stages of grief in his own way. Several days I was able to arrange a quick lunch with my long time close Vancouver friends, to give me breathing room.

Golf was a big help for David. There is nothing better to fool the mind into the present than golf! Once  on the course, weighty problems are pushed aside to focus on the ball and the next tee shot.
So he played golf, talked with his guy friends and amazingly continued to do his early morning work-outs at the gym and kept in touch with his clients via his laptop. All the funeral details were gradually solidified and he was prepared for the actual burial day as much as possible. The extended family arrived the day before the service so it was a chance to come together.

The funeral was a beautiful tribute to Sharon: many ,(about 200), of their friends, extended family on both sides, business friends, many of David's partners from the firm, all  wanting to show respect for Sharon and David. Before the day was done, I was super tired from meeting and greeting while accepting everyone's sympathies.
David was running on stored-up inner strength knowing that this was his biggest mountain to climb. He made me very proud as he mingled and thanked everyone for being there.

I am back home now:  was so glad to see Mike, Brena and our lovely house again. This trip makes one appreciate all the good vibrations that surround us here at our home base in Florida. My family and special friends are situated across the country but we are near when needed.   

2016, another Easter

When you are young the months go slowly and time is never ending. Now with a lot of years behind me, special occasions like Christmas, Birthdays, and Family Reunions fly by in a blur, like a race car. the calendar page is flipped over and on to the next one.
Easter is always a difficult timeline: that was when Anton suddenly died. It was good Friday, 1985. I know it it a long time ago now, (31 years), but each year I reflect back to this crisis that changed my life. It left sad memories for the boys too.  I think each child has handled the loss as part of growing up and so created their own path. At 53, I had to find a way to survive on my own and get my best life back. Sometimes I get scared when I know I am the old one now. I don't feel really old but the years cannot be denied!
My mind floods pictures of my Mother at 84,  showing an aging, old woman not managing without a cane and in constant pain. With much effort, I try to remain fit and not fall into that same pattern. Each day is a blessing to be used wisely.
It is so important to stay in touch with long time friends and acquaintances.
Tomorrow is another Easter and my good friend Joanne Wiggin will join us for dinner along with Mike's brother Ray, (and his dog). the menu is as follows---

                          Tossed Salad Greens with Baby Beets, and Red Onions.

        Standing Rib Roast of Beef 

Horseradish Sauce

Gruyere/Fennel Scalloped Potatoes 
Steamed Asparagus,

Batons of glazed Carrots

Strawberry  Cake

Chambord Butter Cream Icing 

Fresh Strawberries and Creme Anglaise

I am looking forward to everyone arriving at 4 PM

Comments anyone?

Don't Forget About Leukemia

About 8 months have gone by since my astounding announcement last July regarding the diagnosis of Chronic Leukemia, reported to me while getting the results from  a routine blood test. Scrolling forward, most  days I completely forget about it but then at night the scary thought of Cancer sometimes creeps into my shadowy dreams. So far, it is a No contest, a Nothingness. This is the way the Chronic or Slow growing version can begin. If I am extremely lucky, it might go on like this for many years. I do have a friend who has dealt with this for 14 years and still needs no "Meds". All this sounds great and very encouraging. Maybe I will outlive this annoying disease with no harm done. My daily routine continues on without any compromise to my diet or change in my sport workout. Why I am bringing it up at all, is the fact it is still lurking in my system like a bad penny. I would compare it to having the Shingle virus; a condition that could be activated at any time without warning.

I will not mention it again until there is a reason to do so.

The spring season here in Florida,  is giving us lovely warm weather and lots of activities. It is still not too hot for most outside endeavors. It is still OK to take the dog in the car as long as the windows are down and maybe park the car in the shade. The time is right for gardening, setting out  new bedding plants and lots of mulch or decorative stone. I look at the fabulous display over at Chicanes Restaurant and only hope I could accomplish the same reward.Their beds of flowers and artistic rough landscape viewed from the inside window seating  at the waters edge are spectacular. Please send that landscape designer over here!

Just joking but is does impart optimism that something similar could be done here at my house. I think next week will be the real start of improvements here. I have resisted new plants and mulch but soon it must be dealt with. When I get the before and after pictures I will be sure to attach them. 

Today is Friday and we will have Mike's sister Sue and her husband Steve here for dinner. Sue and Steve live in Wisconsin. They will drop in at Ray's first and later arrive here for dinner. It should be a good time. We have planned grilled steaks, baked potatoes, all the trimmings, asparagus and a nice salad to start. Ray is bringing Strawberry Cheesecake, and I have made a Key Lime Pie. (Remember we have our own lime tree).  Of course drinks of various kinds and a mellow Pinot Noir for the table.

Tournaments and March Happenings

All the month of March, Pickleball has used up my every waking hour. Finally the last two meets are over ! My total effort produced two gold medals and one silver. This allows me to register for the Florida State Games in December and on to the National Senior Games in 2017 in Alabama. (I  might not want to keep playing, (I would be 85),  but the requirements are in place just in case).
   Now I am still looking forward to several dates on the Tanglewood Ladies Travel Team Roster. This is a fun group and I am pleased to be included, as the team captain chooses those players that she considers at competition level. We will be making a challenge with Highlands Ridge tomorrow, the 15th,  and on the 19th a return appearance at Dell Web. Both these locations are not far away but generally we use two cars, (10 players altogether), and one or two drive separately. Also challenges from, Lake Ashton and maybe the Sun N Lake Racquet Club if they can get the ladies together. It is all in fun with a few bragging rights when we pull of a Win! While my mind is forever thinking about this sport because it is so much fun, gives a great work out and the players are all vigorous and fit,  I am still finding in a few hours to bake up a storm when the pantry is low or we have an event to attend, (where we are expected to add to the menu). Of course I can't just bring something simple or from Publix , so here are 2 of my recent contributions.
  Because it is spring and lots of flowers are in bloom, rose petals of various hues are abundant and have captured my imagination. Beware though,  these bushes must be free from insect spray when used as  decoration because I want them to be safe to eat. I harvest the petals and spread them out on a large sheet pan . I use one egg white, just whisked a little to make it less gloppy, and brush the petals with the egg white,  coating as much as possible. the next step is to sprinkle granulated sugar over all, toss several times and leave them spread out to dry. Toss again with the remaining sugar on the pan. They can be stored in a zip lock bag for use later.
The cupcake ideas and cookie recipe and royal icing recipe follows,

The cake uses two colors of batter, (vanilla on the bottom and pink on the top). I used a small scoop for the vanilla and then added a scoop of pink on top. They baked like a regular muffin at 350, just watch the timing as it is a bit less than for cake rounds. The icing pictured was lemon butter cream in two shades. Use 2 small plastic pastry bags of the chosen colors, without a tip, and insert into one large pastry bag side by side, with the large bag's decorating  tip in place. Squeeze firmly from both bags and a two toned icing will appear.

Basic Sugar Cookies                 oven 350
4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, (soft)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup milk

Method
Sift dry ingredients together
In a mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar until light
Add eggs and milk
Turn out onto counter, finish gathering mixture together.
Divide dough into 2 parts.
Chill in fridge for 1 hour. Roll out on lightly floured counter to about 1/8 thickness, using 2 -3 " cutter
 (I use hearts).
Bake at 3.50 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned on edges.
Cool on cake rack.

Royal Icing
1 cup icing sugar
1 egg white
few drops lemon juice- also food color,(optional)
In mixer bowl, combine egg white and icing sugar. add lemon juice only a few drops at a time, (it doesn't take much juice to make an icing for design or writing. Use a small pastry bag and plain tip.

 Pass over cookies with thin icing to make a random pattern. (test texture of icing for correct consistency).
Add an extra dot of icing to the edge of a petal and position on top of each cookie. Don't they look great?

                                                          Have fun with the flower idea.

 Shredded, fresh  blossoms of mixed petal colors can also be used to scatter on top of a cake. Just add before serving if using fresh, (not sugared).

Book Presentations

January was filled with requests, (5),  to be a speaker; to tell all about my book, The Accidental Baker: a cake for every crisis. Every week at least one club or organization has asked me to spread the word about my book and let people know it is not a cook book! My story has a strong message: how to survive a major life crisis and regain your footing to go forward once again.

So many positive comments and KUDOS from those who have read the book. Really exciting for me. Readers who applaud my courage to admit my perfect marriage was not perfect after all. Audience members come up to me after my reading and say, 
 "You have just described my previous life. I thought I was the only one in such a bad situation".

I think the book gives hope to anyone in a difficult part of their life. It tells how bad it was for me and then goes on to say what I did about it. Needing to survive pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the drive to become financially secure and create my best life: a whole new career.
When I share my book, each page highlights how cakes, desserts or other nibbles are twined around my life like seaweed floating in the ocean. Each chapter has a recipe that emphasizes the event I was  doing at that time. How it all worked for me. (after all I am a food person, so the book title reflects that). This was my talent for survival; for someone else, it might be music, designing a product, or selling real estate. You must dig down and realize your best talent.
(more to come with a recipe or two))

Christmas 2015

There is always great anticipation for the Christmas season. So many things to do to prepare the household for festivities. The normal daily tasks of clean up from everyday meals, the dog to brush,  tables and pictures to dust are just taken for granted;  The beds need fresh sheets, bathrooms need fresh hand and bath towels, new flowers in the dining room and of course the tree to be decorated with lights and ornaments.

I cannot resist multi cookie recipes and always try some new chocolate concoction.
Food and Wine's color picture of tiered shortbread and almond paste chocolate dipped morsels was too amazing to pass up. The construction was one cookie, brush with apricot jam, another cookie and brush with apricot jam, one thin round of almond paste on top,  and then dip the top in chocolate glaze.  I had all the necessary ingredients on hand so spent one day producing 50- 2" bases and the next day during a lull in the afternoon, dipped the tops. What should have been the easy part turned out to be a bit tricky. The chocolate got a bit too hot and lost it's beautiful shine. Me of all people should know better!  I will include the recipe after the next try with a little addition to it all. I have made a note to myself, to pay attention to the chocolate part and make them perfect next time. The cookies do taste really good tho. It turns out Almond paste is one of Mike's favorite flavors.

                                                  A few of the front ones are the best!
                                    Also a few shots of the tree with past cookie ornaments and all.

 

 A visit with Mary Lou enjoying a dessert of Panna Cotta, Raspberries

and a Linzer cookie.

                                            These are 2 photos of our 2015 tree. I keep recycling the sugar stars.                                                             
  This is all right now, maybe later I will get a picture of our front door entrance. More to come.

Life Interrupted

My whole summer was a wait and see thing, so many tests, so much anxiety, and nothing to really show for it all except a screwed up calendar. So many disappointments! I still look back to my missed event in Minneapolis, the age group USA  Sports Happening, and my chance to tick one thing off my bucket list by qualifying and playing at such a high level. I almost had it in my grasp. I even had a letter from Govenor Scott and  the Florida Sports Council thanking me for participating, therefore promoting Florida in the event.That was a nice touch.
Without warning, the diagnosis of Leukemia was a big shock. If I had known more about it right away, even if I felt sick, I might have still played in the Minneapolis event. All water under the bridge now!!!

 My calendar for July and August now had notes about cleaning the cupboards, dusting the drapes and sorting out of date clothing to give away. I was trying to put the hours to good use. Of course I was still baking bread and filling up the cookie containers with Biscotti and Shortbreads. Both these recipes are in my first book. But while my mind drifted as I baked, a new book wanted to edge into this space.

Now would be the time to create a new plot for my next book. Just wishing for a starting point has not produced anything yet. I will  seriously start to make notes of any and all past adventures not already in my first book. It's all a bit hazy and needs fleshing out with dream-scapes and early morning wanderings before becoming fully awake. My Life Interrupted is a good title and would land the reader on the time line where my first story ended.

 However, before I get into more about a new book, let me tell you about our new puppy . We were not going to get another dog! I know everyone says the same thing after a trusted  companion dies. The pain from such a loss is so difficult that we nearly always say we won't do it again. But after 5 months we decided to do it anyway and give another rescue a good home.Our connection with the Beardie website produced a possible choice. After a short discussion we decided to be brave and go for it again. here are three pictures of our new "Brena"

She is an Aussiedoodle, yes, a real breed and as it turns out quite valuable money wise. Aussidoodles, listed for sale as puppies sell for $1500. So apart from the fact that she is already a wonderful addition to our family, she has registered papers and a micro chip: the perfect rescue. Now I won't have so much time to moan about my missed tournament!