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Lucky.I do use the Hershey's chocolate syrup..also the strawberry syrup! I have found putting the ice in there makes her drink it better and it also gets extra water in her...but those flavored syrups are a must for variety..she really enjoys them. I also use the pureed baby foods that have the fruits...Mama eats nothing savory now, but I can blend in fresh fruit, yogurt, different flavorings...I have a cool little blender that I can put in two ensures and a fruit of some type and usually by 10:00 or 11:00 if I can get all that in her it is a good start to her day nutritionally. :)
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Lucky I am glad your Ma had a good birthday. Sorry about the brothers. Try not to waste too much energy stewing about them. I know its hard. But I found when I was taking care of my Mom a lot of my stress was due to obsessing about what my siblings weren't doing to help. In the end you can only control what you can do and sounds like you are doing it well. :)
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Stacey, my little pup appears to be a yorkie and maybe jack russell mix?? Not sure and will ask the vet when I get her spayed this week, but she looks almost like a small westie.....has the energy of a jack russell...and the appearance of an extra large yorkie...she is so full of energy..I am really attached to her...back when I was looking for a home for her. our hospice nurse told me her niece had seen pics of her and would love to have her...I know they still want her...but ...I have gotten sooooo attached to her.and her to me....even the cats are getting used to her...not too happy still, but they are getting more "okay" with her... we've got a routine now and so far it is working. Your pup is so cute...I have been thinking I should upload a pic of my little girl so yall can see her...

Jeanette..isn't that just a real pi$$er....wow, I never cease to be amazed at how tacky folks can be after folks pass especially when they weren't even there at the end..or even for years for that matter..

Wow I sure hope you find your boxes and certificates....me and my suspicious nature, I can imagine what I'd be thinking too.

I can't complain today. My brother brought me lunch..and...it was something I was thinking about this very morning... kind of a chicken breash that is cubed, and kabobbed with onions, bell peppers and dill pickles, and then dipped in a buttermilk batter and deep fried....served with those broasted potatoes, a yeast roll and some yummy dipping sauce..I know, I know...not a low calorie meal, but it was soooo good. We had a nice visit...

Got the kids all in for the night, except the two who have their own places outside, but they get where they are about as safe as they can be outdoors at night. I don't like them being out there, one in particular because he just refuses to come in..and i mean refuses...only time he'll come in is during extreme cold or storms...but he's very watchful and it has worked....the other one stays in the basement and has a nice cozy bed up high..so she's good...the others are in with us...I hope to build a cattery one day which would solve a lot of added work for me but right now, it's working and I can't complain.

Has been a good peaceful day here...Mama has been happy..so I am happy.
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Lucky...Happy Birthday to your Mom..and as Jeanette said, her birthday present is YOU...so glad yall were able to enjoy it together...just try to put the sibling stuff out of your mind since you can't control that aspect anyway and the more you think about it the nuttier it makes you...I have finally seent aht and it makes for less stress for me...Big Hugs to your Mom...
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Katie...Mama has bouts of sleeping all the time and then suddenly will perk up. She ate really really well yesterday...more than usual..then today it was back to two ensures and a small container of the banana, strawberry, apple baby food. I just offer it to her and let her call the shots...I know some days are just like that...
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Stacey just a thought - you don't happen to have a dog do you? If so could you train it to be very aggressive to all of the people you don't want in your house.

We used to visit my godfather who had a huge Rottweiler - while we were there one day he had another visitor. he allowed him in but it was clear he didn't care for them much - now either he had trained the dog or the dog was sensitive to its master because that person was never going to be able to get out of that chair until my godfather called the dog off. He just sat right in front of the hair and snarled every time the person moved.

I got told off for laughing afterwards but even though he meant it I can still see the laughter in Dad's eyes as he rebuked me. We both ended up in uncontrollable laughter while Dad tried to explain that finding it funny was OK but laughing at the wrong time wasn't ....Now is it a wonder I never really learned that lesson!?
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Jude I have a question for you. Are you enjoying your morning scone and tea right now?
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Well not a morning scone Gershun - But I am enjoying an English breakfast tea and a ginger nut biscuit (remember our biscuits are hard and sweet) well 3 biscuits if I am honest maybe a fourth lol. If I were going to have a scone I would have it in the afternoon with strawberries and clotted cream which is really really thick oh and it has to be butter not anything else none of this spread stuff - not with scones.

The only time I eat scones in the morning is if they are cheese scones but I haven't made any for quite a while - but they are seriously scrummy and if anyone wants the recipe it is below:

8oz self-rising flour
Pinch salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 tsp baking powder
2oz butter (straight from the fridge and cut into small cubes)
4oz cheddar cheese (not a mild cheddar but a strong one finely grated to make mixing easier)
1/2 teaspoon dry powdered english mustard
3/8 cup milk, plus extra for glazing
Extra cheese for topping the scones


Preheat oven with the baking tray inside( you need to have a hot baking tray or you get a soggy bottom! I think we see enough of those) to 200oC (slightly less for fan ovens) about 400oF.
In a medium-large bowl sift the flour, salt, cayenne pepper, mustard and baking powder twice to make sure they are combined well and aerated
Lightly rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips to make breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the grated cheese into the breadcrumb mixture and stir gently with a metal spoon until the cheese is evenly distributed. Try not to use your hands as your body heat may start to melt the cheese.
Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in enough milk to give a fairly soft but firm dough.
Note: Don’t pour it all in at once at once - some flours absorb less than others oddly enough - isn’t flour flour for heaven’s sake? well apparently not!
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about an inch thick. Cut out the scones with a medium cutter and then place on the hot oven tray. That’s the correct way - I cut the mixture into about 8-10 pieces then put my hands into ice cold water and then roll them quickly into balls and pat them down lightly till the top is flat
Glaze the tops with milk and sprinkle a little cheese (or more if you want more but not too much or it will burn once it drips onto the tray) on the top of each scone before putting in the oven.
Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through
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ps if you want sweet scones just alter a few bits don't use cayenne mustard and cheese use 2oz sugar and either nothing, sultanas or place cherries instead
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glace not place
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ooh ooh tip for you all who probably do it already but just in case - if you want your whole house to smell really nice and not of poop pee or animal or anything else piggy smoke if you're a smoker then this wrks wonderfully. Put a measure of liquid fabric softener into a saucepan add two cups of boiling water and simmer for ten minutes (DONT BOIL IT) the whole becomes lightly fragranced and its quite pleasant. Oh and of you dust your light bulbs (yeah yeah but listen) with a fabric softener sheet from your tumble drier then when you turn the light on it fragrances the room. I just do the bulbs in the lamps not the ones in the ceiling!
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Jude, I like the idea of using fabric softener and the dryer sheets to freshen the air in the house. I have dryer sheets that have a lavender scent and that should make the atmosphere more relaxing. The scones sound wonderful...making me hungry!

Jeanette....could your brother have taken the boxes thinking that you would just without question give him the rifles later and not realize the value of the boxes? Grrrrr. I love the idea of the crown molding.It sounds like you have made your home a great little sanctuary to retreat to from the crazy World out there! I have a modern style house like Stacey's but love all styles of homes. I find that looking at decorating magazines and pictures of gardens really calms me down when I get depressed about everything. Mom likes the pictures too.

Luckylu, Hope your Mom had a nice birthday!!

I hope everyone else has a good day today....I know things will come up and I know we will find the strength to handle these things.
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Jude...I LOVE the idea of savory scones..I am going to make those.....as soon as I get some cheese...that is one thing I have to have...cheese....quite often my meals these days consist of a piece of cheese and maybe a fruit...but I am totally out because I have not bought groceries in a bit...so today's the day...and then we make scones!!!

Love the fabric softner idea too! I also get the lavender scented sheets Katie...they are amazing! I keep them just beside the washing machine and they scent that whole room...a clean pretty scent too, not too sweet or overwhelming...

My only whine...our bathing aid is not coming...again....they have also come to know I don't really like to have fill ins...not worth the trouble of the leaning curve of how I like things done for one day...also I never know when the fill in is coming and I HATE to have to wait...I guess I will never get over that...but seem also destined to be forced to wait on others anyway...ugh....I love our aid, but lately it seems like she is more absent than present...a week long vacation not three weeks ago, out one day because of a car issue, off another day because of a school issue...and on and on...love her so much...but dear lord, I wish she could be here more often...oh well, just more trouble to break in a new one....here we go...
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JUDE, I just Freakin LOVE YOU! I DO have a dog, and she is a very loud barker, and she won't let anyone near me or my home. The trouble is that she is not all that intimidating because she is a 4# furball Chuahua / Maltese mix cutie, and when she barks her little tail is wagging as she has never comeup against anyone threatening, AND I won't be getting a Rottweiler, not that I don't love them, I Love all dogs, but this little nugget is a dominating and very active, and while she's calmed down in her second year of life, the 1st, puppy year, plain old wore me out! Hahaha!
I love that you are posting your scrummy recipes, Mmm, scones sound good! I am going to tackle my Mom's Welsh cakes recipe today after my Rheumatologist appt. today. I have all my ingredients ready, and yes Jude, they are Sultanas, not currants as I mentioned in a previous post. We don't usually have Sultanas in our regular grocery stores, I had to get them at WHOLE FOODS, a big natural food store we have here, raisins work in a pinch and I usually use them but I wanted to follow her recipe exactly, so we will see. I don't really know the difference really. Even your recipes are funny, "squishy bottoms", oh my goodness! Never Change! I think I could get into alot of trouble with you Jude!

EVERYBODY have a Brilliant Day!
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Jude you say scone, I say biscuit. Unless I am trying to impress, then I call them scones too ;) I think it's way easier to pat them into two circles and cut triangles rather than rounds, you don't have to cope with the leftover bits.
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Jude, you are simply a treasure box full of wonderful ideas!!

Like hope, I'm gonna make those scones today! Oh, also doing the whole fabric softener thing. That's a wonderful suggestion. Normally I put a fabric sheet in front of the A/C blower which sends a soft scent throughout the living room. Hmmm, I am now wondering if I put some softener in the carpet cleaner machine if it would freshen that also? Thoughts?

Katie, what I'm thinking is he took the boxes thinking he'd find out if I was trying to sell them since I'd realize they were gone. Trust me, he knows the value of those rifles. I did sent him a text asking if he knew where they might have disappeared to. He said try the attic deal. Now why would they be up there? I'd have to haul in a ladder, climb to the very top rung, hang on for dear life and peer over the edge just to see up there, much less put something up there... I uh, then called him a greedy miserly miserable alone old man, followed with an asshat as well. Grrr, something is awry...there's much more to take in this house than empty boxes.

I get my decorating ideas from looking in the magazines and online. I do not posses great decorating abilities but I know what I like and love home improvement projects, especially the difficult ones. Next project will be replacing the kitchen flooring.

One more cup of coffee then back to work on the molding... today's the hard day. I have to lower the drapes in the living room and on the French doors leading outside... that's a pain in the ass for sure!!

Cheers!!
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JeanetteB, Hope, I Love decorating an home improvement books abd magazine's too! I've got tons ofvthem and should consolidate. Cut out fav piz and such. Online apps too, HGTV, LOVE IT, But my problem is my Arthritis, nand my motivation factors. I'm a craft supply hoarder, and havevonly recently been giving it away to my Grandies and Great Nieces. I wonder if it's something about Caregiving and our need for beauty and change, hmmm!
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MUST PROOF READ! SORRY, hope you can decifer that post! SB
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I'm rather proud of me today. I got going early and got the yard all raked and tidy..still so hot it doens't need mowing yet, but got that finished knowing it would be getting hot soon and boy did it ever...by the time I was done I was wringing wet and had that exhausted worn out feeling..BUT I just got a nice hot bath, got my hair all washed, makeup on..and about to run my errands and get ready to do some things around the house as well...must replace the bathroom sink faucet innerds..can't even think of their correct name, but the stuff that makes em stop leaking...I got so tired of them dripping I just cut the water off below the sink. I use the bathtub faucet to wash my hands but forget I have done that and I guess my recent guests wondered what was up..oh well, they figured it out...

Mama is having a good morning so that is always a great way to start my day....hope you all have a really good day today....and your loved ones as well...
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LOL...Jude...I just went back to reread the recipe so I could add any missing ingredients to my shopping list and noticed the soggy bottom comment...how hilarious...hahaha
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Stacyb I am hoarder of craft supplies too That and pieces of furniture I find on the side of the road and odd bits of lumber. Just had to pass on a recliner with lovely wood sides. It was just too heavy to lift into my car. my favorite programs are on HGTV while hubby favors ancient aliens and films about WW11. he also has habit of leaving the room and the controler out of my reach. That is now solved because we now have a second controler
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Veronica, that is funny because I am a collector by nature, but my husband is too! He has an extensive coin collection, and spends alot of time working on that but you really have to know your stuff in that arena and he does as he has been at it for 30 odd years. He gets by me spending so much money on his hobby saying it's for our retirement, but I don't think he will ever part with them, he's a miser when it comes to coins! But if he kicks the bucket before me, off they go as I have no patience for it, there's too much you have to know, too many little details and following the market trends, just not my thing. He has given our Grandson's quite a good start on their collections, hoping they will take an interest, and I do hope they do! Otherwise, they can cash them in towards their college fund. John, my hubby, also collects old radios and clock's as well as anything 60's, and Seattle Worlds Fair stuff and everything classic Corvette, as we have a 89 corvette convertible. Our Baby, someday we hope to be able to take another road trip in it, unfortunately it's not in the card's looking after his Dad in our home. But one day we will go again. We have had the car since it was new, and it is perfect, still, but I miss going out in it . We now only take it to the beach here in Seattle, we have a lot of beaches, so quick trips are all we can manage, as we can't be away from the old man too long. We like to go to Auctions too, but now I'm ready to sell all this old collectible stuff, and get all new, for a change in scenery. Ya gotta shake things up once in a while! But it all takes time, work, and money, and especially the energy to do that, and I'm just tired out, or Buned Out. It could be Situational Depression, but I am not depressed by nature, I'm generally quite happy, but this long term Caregiving, which for me has been going on for gheez, 16+ year's, and I also worked in the medical field, also Caregiving and I'm very burned out! That's for sure! Alright I've droned on too long now, so I off to clean out my bathroom drawers and cupboards, which are looking pretty junky at the moment, so TaDa for now Everybody, Ya'all have a great day! STACEY B
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Veronica, oh ya, we've got 2 remote controls too! TV WAR'S! Lol!
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Hey Jude! how much fabric softner should be placed in the sauce pan,should I heat the softner before I put the boiling water in? I am a cooking virgin and can burn water so I have to ask specific dumb questions,I also messed up jello to give you an idea of the kind of cook you will be giving dirctions to.Have 8 dogs in the house and mother,it's humid summer, I am in/out of the house as I am also the yard guy so I am always looking for new Ideas for odor control.
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Well I have six cats and there are a couple odor control products I use that were recommended by the vet.
Bought on amazon: Cat Odor Off (concentrate) and KOE also in concentrate. The manure pits as I call the litter boxes are in the basement and frequently scooped!
Stopped in at dad's had to fill candy dish! He doesn't remember me stopping in yesterday but again I am not sure if he ever remembers me seeing him. His voice was still froggy deep like he has a cold but he does not have a cold.
Have to do massive cleaning tomorrow as my sister arrives Wednesday. But dad has dentist appt hopefully no more cavities or broken teeth.
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I do the same thing that Jude does with the fabric softener, but I use cinnamon and other fragrant spices, plus dried orange peel (which I used to save from Mom's oranges) - put it on the stove and let it simmer, or put it in a potpourri pot (a little electric wax warmer pot works well too). Makes the whole house smell like pie!

The nephrologist (kidney doc) wants to see mom immediately, and said she should have been seen last week when her levels went haywire. Well gee - the nursing home drew blood, submitted it to the lab and as soon as the lab reports came back, they sent them over to the doc's office both Wednesday and Thursday - so who would you say dropped the ball - the ones that sent the report, or the one that failed to read it until today??

Mom was really out of it over the weekend - better Sunday morning and I took her out for her ride, but back down again Sunday night, not wanting to get out of bed to sit on the patio and visit, just too tired. What I was thinking of as the change in the Zoloft dosage being the problem may not be - it may be the kidneys. Not sure what we'll find out tomorrow, but I have a feeling dialysis is in her future, and at this point, her kidneys may or may not bounce back.
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Oh, and I questioned why they changed the Zoloft dosage now, when we have kidney issues to worry about - why change it now? The nurse said it was done to try and get her to have more interest in eating/drinking, because she just isn't interested at all. So that makes a little more sense to me now. When I was there this morning, they brought her breakfast, and she took one bite of the french toast and one sip of orange juice and said she was done. Not good.
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Susan how old is your Mom? Is she even a good candidate for kidney dialysis?

When I hear you talk about your Mom its so eerie. My experience with my Mom all over again. I have heard it said, probably on here, that when people become elderly their taste buds change and everything tastes bland. My Mom seemed to really enjoy french fries. They would bring her fish and fries and my my Mom just loved the fries. We used to always joke about fish Fridays.

Jude, thanks for the scone recipe and the fabric softener tip. My place has a tendency to smell like a litter box or manure pit (thx. for that one twin).

Anyhow Jeanette enjoy your home renovation. When you are done there you can come to my place.
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Stacey, do you have my Mom at your house..So familiar..Take care
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Texarkana I use 1 measure (thats like the amount you would put into the washing machine to about 1.5 American Pints) of water (I use 3 mugs of water - mugs as in the big mugs we use for our tea ...... I hate conversion charts

Hope I also make something we in the UK call cobbler. Its basically minced beef and onions (And I do add other vegetables like peas and carrots to that - Just so Mum will eat more veg than she usually would) I also make the gravy part of it using pureed vegetables again to bulk up the vegetables.

I put the meat part in a cooking dish and top it with savoury scones but I use herbs in the mix instead of cheese and sometimes some mince onion too then I bake that in the oven. The tops are crispy and dry while the underneaths are a bit like dumplings and it is really quite warming comfort food.

cwillie they are in the UK called scones - our biscuits are very very different let me give you a recipe for easy ginger nuts which we call biscuits - very often we dunk biscuits in coffee or tea. Hm Dunk…to quickly dip the biscuit in and out of the tea - do it slowly and you end up with sludge in the bottom of the mug or trying to fish the biscuit out of hot tea - ouch!

8 oz self rising flour
4 oz caster sugar - I think you call it fine or superfine sugar - if you don't have any blitz granulated sugar in a blender briefly - it should be finer than granulated but not as fine as confectioners or powder sugar
1 heaped teaspoon ground ginger
4 oz butter
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons Lyles golden syrup warmed in pan, then slightly cooled - I am not sure maple syrup would substitute but corn syrup might - definitely NOT MOLASSES OR TREACLE

Preheat the oven to 180 C/ 350 F / Gas 4. Grease two baking trays (I brush mine with melted butter or rub the paper wraps of the butter over the tins)

Warm the syrup in a saucepan slightly, then cool a bit (Or a ten second blast in a microwave in a mixing bowl - please not a metal pan unless you like a firework display in your kitchen and a ruined microwave!)

Combine flour, sugar and ginger by sifting. Rub in the butter lightly. Mix in the bicarb.

Add the flour mixture to the warmed syrup - the reason you do that is for safety reasons - warm syrup can mean a hot pan but don't let the syrup heat too much or you will ruin the final effect - it needs to be runny but not bubbling. Stir well till combined. Take a small walnut sized piece of the dough and roll into a ball and space evenly apart between the two baking trays
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Surface of each biscuit should be slightly cracked when ready. Remove from tray carefully - I use a fish slice if they stick slightly - then cool on wire rack - they will be soft at first but should firm up as they cool - if not you haven't cooked them long enough - better luck next time. Then stuff your face
Stacey Im on the hunt for UK recipes you might like - anything you fancy?
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