I went to the dentist today. So my gums are tender and just a bit sore. I also needed to start a new medication today. One that I need to take with food for better absorption.  What I had planned on eating when I got home from the dentist was the some more of the beans and barley in the slow cooker. But the heat from that made it a no-go. I needed cold. And in order to take the med I needed filling. So smoothie to the rescue. Blueberry smoothie even. I tossed in some pecans to make it more filling. And more delicious. And some flaxseed to up the nutrition even more. But what if that wasn’t enough? So I made some toast. A quarter of an onion pita, toasted with peanut butter. I tossed on some banana slices at the end just to, again, increase the nutrients and make it even more filling.





And yes, those are the art supplies you see in the background. Where better to have a late lunch/early dinner then messing around at the art table? Just don’t try to eat anything not on the plate or in the cup.

Blueberry Pecan Smoothie*
half a frozen banana, cut into slices
two handfuls frozen blueberries (about 2/3-3/4 cup)
one handful pecans (about 1/3 cup)
enough light vanilla soy milk to cover it all up (about 1 1/2)
one spoonful of ground flaxseeds (about 1TBSP)
more light vanilla soy milk to thickness you like best
~~sometimes I toss in a packet of stevia, that’s a natural sweetener, you could use a bit of sugar, most times I don’t

Blend. Serve. ~~ If you start with 1 1/2 cups of milk you get a thicker smoothie, if that’s what you like, add more milk till you get the thickness you like.
~~~~This makes and extra large smoothie, about three cups~~~

*Yes, I know this is not a ‘true smoothie’ as it doesn’t use yogurt or whatever you are supposed to put in one to make it a ‘real’ smoothie, but it works well and satisfies the sweet tooth and the sore gums that go with it.

That’s right. It is. Not long ago I got a package in the mail. And you will be shocked to find out it contained probably somewhere around 16lbs of nuts. Yes that’s right. SIXTEEN lbs. The label on the box weighted the box in at 22lbs. there were a few other things in the box, four packages of dried apricots and two catnip cat toys. So my best guess is around 16-18 lbs of that were the nuts….





Did I mention that the nuts were still in their shells? Thank goodness a nutcracker was sent with them. You have no idea how frustrating it has been learning how to shell pecans and walnuts. The pistachios are easy enough. But today was the real test….. CHESTNUSTS! Do you see them there in the box, mocking me from the lower right hand corner? 


How to roast chestnuts? I had no idea. And so I looked it up online. It seemed easy enough, but oh no. First I didn’t have the oven hot enough so it took me longer then suggested. Then I didn’t put X’s in all the chestnuts, just a hole for steam, and I really should have, that’s how you tell they are done. Then, about half the chestnuts ended up being bad, either too dry and hard or moldy and icky. But I did get the meat from about half of them. Now, what do I do with it? I have no idea. I’m not sure I’m a big chestnut fan, I didn’t like them very much when I tried them when they were warm. So I put them in a bag, put that bag in another bag and put them in the freezer. I’ll freeze them until I know what else to do with them, I guess.

These two made it in.




Breaking Through

Mixed Media Collage on stretched canvas
24x24

Green and Red Peppers

Mixed Media collage on watercolor paper
  11 x 14