Fidál (Grace), 5 Rahmat (Mercy), 167 BE – Tuesday, June 28, 2011 about 1:55 PM Pacific Time
My mother and I have reversed positions. I am the caregiver. I am the one who gets Mom out of bed each morning. It takes about thirty minutes to get Mom out of bed. Mom wakes up when I go into her bedroom and sit down on her bed, but she does not want to get up. The Alzheimer’s disease has caused this reversal.
Mom used to get up as soon as it got daylight, but not any more. I used to be the one difficult to get up in the morning, but now Mom wants to stay in bed all day. Mom goes to an adult daycare center five days a week, so I have to get her up early enough to bath and get dressed. Mom does not want to get up; she wants to lie in bed.
Mom wants to go to bed when she comes home from the daycare center. She will eat something and then go to bed. Mom goes to bed early and sleeps through the night, so I get her up early. I encourage her to get out of bed between 5:00 and 5:30 AM. I am lucky if she is up by 6:00 because she simply wants to lie in the bed. If I keep encouraging her, she eventually get up so that she can eat and get ready to go the daycare center.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Cooking with soup in Las Vegas
Kamál (Perfection), 4 Rahmat (Mercy), 168 BE – Monday, June 27, 2011 about 4:25 PM Pacific Time
Today I fixed the other two squash. These large green squash, I do not know what they are called. Anyway, I peeled the green skins and the inside of the squash were white. After I peeled the squash, I sliced them into smaller pieces. Next, I cut up one medium onion.
In the electric skillet, I put two tablespoons of vegetable oil. After the oil was hot, I put the squash, onions and nine squirts of balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I cooked this combination for a few minutes and then added a can of tomato soup. I liked the taste of this recipe better then the yellow squash recipe, but perhaps it was because of the spices in the can of soup.
I am going to have to cook with soup more often. I do not have fresh spices and the canned spices I have are several years old. I do not like to buy spices because I do not use them up as quickly as I would like. I think the best thing for me is to begin cooking with soup because the canned soups already have spices in them and they add to the recipes I create. The recipes taste better with the soup then they would with the old spices I have in the house.
Today I fixed the other two squash. These large green squash, I do not know what they are called. Anyway, I peeled the green skins and the inside of the squash were white. After I peeled the squash, I sliced them into smaller pieces. Next, I cut up one medium onion.
In the electric skillet, I put two tablespoons of vegetable oil. After the oil was hot, I put the squash, onions and nine squirts of balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I cooked this combination for a few minutes and then added a can of tomato soup. I liked the taste of this recipe better then the yellow squash recipe, but perhaps it was because of the spices in the can of soup.
I am going to have to cook with soup more often. I do not have fresh spices and the canned spices I have are several years old. I do not like to buy spices because I do not use them up as quickly as I would like. I think the best thing for me is to begin cooking with soup because the canned soups already have spices in them and they add to the recipes I create. The recipes taste better with the soup then they would with the old spices I have in the house.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
There is a first time for everything
Jamál (Beauty), 3 Rahmat (Mercy), 168 BE – Sunday, June 26, 2011 about 3:55 PM Pacific Time
Today, I baked cookies in the microwave for the first time. I knew it was possible; I just had not attempted it. I had a package of cookie dough in the fridge. I opened the package and broke apart the dough. Then I put the cookies in a microwave safe dish. I set the timer at 1.25 and turned the oven on. The cookies turn out well, considering that the instructions on the package were for a regular oven.
The only oven in the house that works is the microwave. I have no other choice; I have to use the microwave whenever I bake anything. I would prefer not to guess at the time, especially with cookies. I could not leave the cookie dough in the refrigerator any longer, so I baked them today. I still have a package of cookie mix in the refrigerator. I will fix it this coming week. I think I need to add eggs to the mix, so I cannot bake it until I go to the store again.
I also have a couple of squash in the refrigerator, so I will bake them in the microwave. I like baked squash better then fried squash. I will post the recipe I use for the squash once I decided on the ingredients.
Today, I baked cookies in the microwave for the first time. I knew it was possible; I just had not attempted it. I had a package of cookie dough in the fridge. I opened the package and broke apart the dough. Then I put the cookies in a microwave safe dish. I set the timer at 1.25 and turned the oven on. The cookies turn out well, considering that the instructions on the package were for a regular oven.
The only oven in the house that works is the microwave. I have no other choice; I have to use the microwave whenever I bake anything. I would prefer not to guess at the time, especially with cookies. I could not leave the cookie dough in the refrigerator any longer, so I baked them today. I still have a package of cookie mix in the refrigerator. I will fix it this coming week. I think I need to add eggs to the mix, so I cannot bake it until I go to the store again.
I also have a couple of squash in the refrigerator, so I will bake them in the microwave. I like baked squash better then fried squash. I will post the recipe I use for the squash once I decided on the ingredients.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
I need a digital camera
I am experimenting with recipes and I need a digital camera to takes pictures of my creations, so that I can post them to my blogs. I have a phone that takes pictures, but I cannot send those pictures to my e-mail addresses. I have tried several times to no avail, therefore I need a digital camera.
Today’s Recipe: Saturday afternoon yellow squash
Jalál (Glory), 2 Rahmat (Mercy), 168 BE – Saturday, June 25, 2011 about 12:35 PM Pacific Time
½ small white onion diced
6 small yellow squash sliced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
3 or 4 squirts of Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing
1 cup diced and drained tomatoes
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet. In to the hot oil place onions and yellow squash, while this mixture is cooking add the salt, pepper, and vinaigrette dressing. Cook until squash is tender and then add the tomatoes. Please note that you do not have to add the vinaigrette dressing or the salt and pepper to this dish. If you want to add or substitute, other spices feel free to do so.
This recipe can be either a main or side dish and serves about two people. I liked the natural sweetness of this recipe. I believe “Saturday afternoon Yellow Squash” is a good recipe to bake, but I have not tried baking it yet.
½ small white onion diced
6 small yellow squash sliced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
3 or 4 squirts of Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing
1 cup diced and drained tomatoes
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet. In to the hot oil place onions and yellow squash, while this mixture is cooking add the salt, pepper, and vinaigrette dressing. Cook until squash is tender and then add the tomatoes. Please note that you do not have to add the vinaigrette dressing or the salt and pepper to this dish. If you want to add or substitute, other spices feel free to do so.
This recipe can be either a main or side dish and serves about two people. I liked the natural sweetness of this recipe. I believe “Saturday afternoon Yellow Squash” is a good recipe to bake, but I have not tried baking it yet.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Summer in Las Vegas
Istiqlál (Independence), 1 Rahmat (Mercy), 168 BE – Friday, June 24, 2011 about 1:45 PM Pacific Time
It is summer in Las Vegas, which mean triple digit temperatures. Today, when I went to the pharmacy to pick up my thyroid medication I also bought spray on sunscreen with a 45 rating. This is the first time I have bought spray on sunscreen; normally I buy my sunscreen in a tube. However, the spray on was the store brand and the least expensive.
It is summer in Las Vegas, which mean triple digit temperatures. Today, when I went to the pharmacy to pick up my thyroid medication I also bought spray on sunscreen with a 45 rating. This is the first time I have bought spray on sunscreen; normally I buy my sunscreen in a tube. However, the spray on was the store brand and the least expensive.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Triple Digit Temperatures in Las Vegas
Istijlál (Majesty), 19 Núr (Light), 167 BE – Thursday, June 23, 2011 about 7:05 PM Pacific Time
Triple digit temperatures have arrived in Las Vegas. I have no air conditioning in my car, so I have to drive when the temperatures are cooler. I try to do all my business before noon and make sure I am back home by 1:00 PM, at least that way I spend the day in a cool house, at least a house that is cooler then the outside temperatures.
Doing business only in the morning means I have to spend four or five days accomplishing everything. The hot weather wears me out and I would rather do it this way then spend the entire day driving across town. I use the same amount of gas whether I do my business in one day or in five.
Triple digit temperatures have arrived in Las Vegas. I have no air conditioning in my car, so I have to drive when the temperatures are cooler. I try to do all my business before noon and make sure I am back home by 1:00 PM, at least that way I spend the day in a cool house, at least a house that is cooler then the outside temperatures.
Doing business only in the morning means I have to spend four or five days accomplishing everything. The hot weather wears me out and I would rather do it this way then spend the entire day driving across town. I use the same amount of gas whether I do my business in one day or in five.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I enjoy movies and shopping for cloths
‘Idál (Justice), 11 Núr (Light), 167 BE – Wednesday, June 15, 2011 about 2:20 PM Pacific Time
I enjoy going to movies and shopping for cloths. Today, I realized that it has been at least three months since I did either. In the past three months, I have went grocery shopping in a super market, I have bought produce at a Farmer’s Market, and I went to an office supply store, but I have not been to a movie or shopped for cloths.
I need new cloths before I go to a movie. Therefore, this month I have to plan a shopping trip to either a department store or a discount-clothing store. All right, buying new cloths to go to a movie is just an excuse to buy new cloths. I do not need an excuse to buy cloths because I can look in my closet and see several reason I need the cloths.
I want to go to a Mall and spend a couple of hours shopping. Then I want to sit in the Food Court and enjoy a meal I do not have to cook myself. I do all of the meal preparation and sometimes it gets tiresome. I want to eat food someone else has prepared for a change.
I enjoy going to movies and shopping for cloths. Today, I realized that it has been at least three months since I did either. In the past three months, I have went grocery shopping in a super market, I have bought produce at a Farmer’s Market, and I went to an office supply store, but I have not been to a movie or shopped for cloths.
I need new cloths before I go to a movie. Therefore, this month I have to plan a shopping trip to either a department store or a discount-clothing store. All right, buying new cloths to go to a movie is just an excuse to buy new cloths. I do not need an excuse to buy cloths because I can look in my closet and see several reason I need the cloths.
I want to go to a Mall and spend a couple of hours shopping. Then I want to sit in the Food Court and enjoy a meal I do not have to cook myself. I do all of the meal preparation and sometimes it gets tiresome. I want to eat food someone else has prepared for a change.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Triple digit temperatures expected in Las Vegas
Kamál (Perfection), 9 Núr (Light), 167 BE – Monday, June 13, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time
It is official; the meteorologist forecast triple digit temperatures to begin on Tuesday, June 14. The weather person said the triple digits will last three days and then drop into the 90s. I am not looking forward to these temperatures because it means I will have to get my business accomplished before 1:00 PM.
The daycare bus picks Mom up around 9:30 AM, so I have to leave the house right after the bush picks her up. My car needs a new thermostat, which means I have to check the water in the overflow and the fluid in the radiator before backing out of my driveway. I can check these items either in the evening after Mom goes to bed or in the morning before she wakes up. I also have to plan time to take the car to the mechanic, which is a problem since Mom does not leave the house until 9:30 AM. I will have to make a 10:00 or 10:30 AM appointment with the mechanic and hope he gets the car done before 3:30 PM.
I do not think I can take the car in this week because I have everything planned. I have at least two things that I cannot put off doing any longer, so I have to accomplish them this week. In addition, I do not have a working air conditioner in the car, which is another reason I am not looking forward to triple digit temperatures.
It is official; the meteorologist forecast triple digit temperatures to begin on Tuesday, June 14. The weather person said the triple digits will last three days and then drop into the 90s. I am not looking forward to these temperatures because it means I will have to get my business accomplished before 1:00 PM.
The daycare bus picks Mom up around 9:30 AM, so I have to leave the house right after the bush picks her up. My car needs a new thermostat, which means I have to check the water in the overflow and the fluid in the radiator before backing out of my driveway. I can check these items either in the evening after Mom goes to bed or in the morning before she wakes up. I also have to plan time to take the car to the mechanic, which is a problem since Mom does not leave the house until 9:30 AM. I will have to make a 10:00 or 10:30 AM appointment with the mechanic and hope he gets the car done before 3:30 PM.
I do not think I can take the car in this week because I have everything planned. I have at least two things that I cannot put off doing any longer, so I have to accomplish them this week. In addition, I do not have a working air conditioner in the car, which is another reason I am not looking forward to triple digit temperatures.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Countdown to Father’s Day
Jamál (Beauty), 8 Núr (Light), 168 BE – Sunday, June 12, 2011 about 12:10 PM Pacific Time
Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June, which is the nineteenth. That is seven days from today. My father passed away several years ago, so I cannot send him a Father’s Day card. I do not know the location of his grave, so I cannot visit the cemetery. My parents were divorced when I was a child and my memories of Dad are faded and limited.
The choices I have concerning Father’s Day and commemorating my father are limited. I can say a prayer for Day. I can write a poem. I can write a letter to him in my journal. I can write a letter to my Father and post it in one of my blogs. I can write a memory of Dad. I can find an old photo and post it to my blog. These are my choices for commemorating Father’s Day.
Dad died before I could say good-bye to him. I miss my Father, when I was growing up, I did not realize how much I missed him. Growing up, Grandpa Newland (my mother’s father) was my father figure. I have many memories of my Grandfather and I could write about those, but for some reason I want to write about my Father this year.
Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June, which is the nineteenth. That is seven days from today. My father passed away several years ago, so I cannot send him a Father’s Day card. I do not know the location of his grave, so I cannot visit the cemetery. My parents were divorced when I was a child and my memories of Dad are faded and limited.
The choices I have concerning Father’s Day and commemorating my father are limited. I can say a prayer for Day. I can write a poem. I can write a letter to him in my journal. I can write a letter to my Father and post it in one of my blogs. I can write a memory of Dad. I can find an old photo and post it to my blog. These are my choices for commemorating Father’s Day.
Dad died before I could say good-bye to him. I miss my Father, when I was growing up, I did not realize how much I missed him. Growing up, Grandpa Newland (my mother’s father) was my father figure. I have many memories of my Grandfather and I could write about those, but for some reason I want to write about my Father this year.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Air conditioning is nice
Jalál (Glory), 7 Núr (Light), 167 BE – Saturday, June 11, 2011 about 5:40 PM Pacific Time
I have air conditioning. The unit is working and it is nice to work in a cool house. I still have a lot of work to do because it was too warm for me to work when the unit was out. We did not have triple digit temperatures in Las Vegas while the unit was not working, still the temperatures rose into the middle and high nineties.
I do not know why the temperatures affected me the way it did. Perhaps it is my age or my physical condition, but it was difficult to do anything with temperatures in the nineties. I can deal with eighty-degree temperatures without any problems, but the ninety-degree temperatures got to me.
Mom was fortunate because she went to adult daycare five days a week. The daycare center was nice and cool, it was pleasant; however, the temperatures in the house were not. I am glad the unit is fixed; I know the power bill will be high, but right now, I am just glad to have a cool house.
Last night I turned the thermostat up to eighty-one degrees and left it at that today. I may turn it up to eighty-two tonight or I may leave it at eight-one degrees. I do not think I will turn the thermostat higher then eight-three degrees because that is as high as I can go and still be comfortable. Mom does not complain about being too hot or too cold when the temperature reaches eighty-three degrees.
I have air conditioning. The unit is working and it is nice to work in a cool house. I still have a lot of work to do because it was too warm for me to work when the unit was out. We did not have triple digit temperatures in Las Vegas while the unit was not working, still the temperatures rose into the middle and high nineties.
I do not know why the temperatures affected me the way it did. Perhaps it is my age or my physical condition, but it was difficult to do anything with temperatures in the nineties. I can deal with eighty-degree temperatures without any problems, but the ninety-degree temperatures got to me.
Mom was fortunate because she went to adult daycare five days a week. The daycare center was nice and cool, it was pleasant; however, the temperatures in the house were not. I am glad the unit is fixed; I know the power bill will be high, but right now, I am just glad to have a cool house.
Last night I turned the thermostat up to eighty-one degrees and left it at that today. I may turn it up to eighty-two tonight or I may leave it at eight-one degrees. I do not think I will turn the thermostat higher then eight-three degrees because that is as high as I can go and still be comfortable. Mom does not complain about being too hot or too cold when the temperature reaches eighty-three degrees.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Multitasking Monday in Las Vegas
Kamál (Perfection), 2 Núr (Light), 168 BE – Monday, June 6, 2011 about 2:10 PM Pacific Time
I have to go to the laundromat sometime this week, so I am sorting cloths. During the sorting process, I got very thirsty and decided to get a cold bottle of water before continuing the task. Rather then simply sitting down and drinking the water, I figured I would make a blog entry.
We have had no air conditioning for the past couple of weeks. Even thought the temperature has not reached the triple digits, it has been uncomfortable without air conditioning. I have three fans, but all they do is move the hot air around. The technician is fixing the air conditioning unit right now, but I am not sure how long that will take.
Fortunately, my mother spends five days in adult daycare, so she is in a cool building most of the week. Mom complains about being cold, even in the house with no air conditioning she complains about being cold.
I am not cold. I would like the house cooler while sorting laundry. Since I have to go to the laundromat tomorrow, I have to sort laundry today. Unfortunately, I think I will have to take four baskets because Mom and I both need cloths; in addition, I have to do to loads of bed linen. Oh well, there goes my Tuesday.
I have to go to the laundromat sometime this week, so I am sorting cloths. During the sorting process, I got very thirsty and decided to get a cold bottle of water before continuing the task. Rather then simply sitting down and drinking the water, I figured I would make a blog entry.
We have had no air conditioning for the past couple of weeks. Even thought the temperature has not reached the triple digits, it has been uncomfortable without air conditioning. I have three fans, but all they do is move the hot air around. The technician is fixing the air conditioning unit right now, but I am not sure how long that will take.
Fortunately, my mother spends five days in adult daycare, so she is in a cool building most of the week. Mom complains about being cold, even in the house with no air conditioning she complains about being cold.
I am not cold. I would like the house cooler while sorting laundry. Since I have to go to the laundromat tomorrow, I have to sort laundry today. Unfortunately, I think I will have to take four baskets because Mom and I both need cloths; in addition, I have to do to loads of bed linen. Oh well, there goes my Tuesday.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Five days of adult daycare in Las Vegas
Jalál (Glory), 19 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Saturday, June 4, 2011 about 2:40 PM Pacific Time
For the past five days, Mom has attended adult daycare. At the daycare center, she gets three meals and fun activities. Mom’s biggest worry the first few days was her purse; she did not remember she left it at home. She now carries her purse with her, which seems to make her happy.
When Mom gets home, she is tired because of the activities. Mom also seems to have a better attitude, she seems happier. Mom does not want to leave the house of a morning, but once she get going she appears to like the daycare center.
For the past five days, Mom has attended adult daycare. At the daycare center, she gets three meals and fun activities. Mom’s biggest worry the first few days was her purse; she did not remember she left it at home. She now carries her purse with her, which seems to make her happy.
When Mom gets home, she is tired because of the activities. Mom also seems to have a better attitude, she seems happier. Mom does not want to leave the house of a morning, but once she get going she appears to like the daycare center.
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