Pick a Card

Make a choice and go with it. I've made two choices recently...

First of all, I've decided to drastically cut back on my coffee consumption. It was a week of chasing headaches away with Excedrin, but I made it through. I did have two small cups last weekend, but for the most part I've been drinking tea. Caffeinated in the morning, herbal thereafter. The coffee craving has waned dramatically and nature is calling in a more reasonable voice these days.

Second, I'm playing the gluten-free game again. I've done this before and found many of the daily aches and pains slowly disappeared. My joints and muscles were less achy, and I felt better overall. Then I would start eating it again and those symptoms would gradually reappear. Being gluten-free is a hassle but I'm climbing back on the wagon. It'll be two weeks tomorrow. Thankfully there is a vast array of good gluten-free foods out there.

This afternoon I decided to make soup. I perused the store in search of ingredients. I wanted something a bit different from the tomato based soup I made a few weeks ago, something gluten-free for me, and vegan for my sweet girl. I came up with this. My first post on this blog in four years. Who knows, maybe I'll resurrect it.

Tea for Two, Twice

Winter has finally arrived. No school for kids in town yesterday. Blowing snow and subzero wind chills kept most folks home. I was thankful not to be scheduled to work.

Today, while we have a break in the cold (it was all the way up to 25 degrees F today), I opted to drive to Webster and pick up my laptop again. I stayed to visit Rachel and we each had a cup of tea. From Rachel's house I headed to Wegmans and on the way in caught up with my beautiful youngest daughter. We not only went into the store at the same time, but I also followed her out. She invited me over to visit and I had my second tea party of the day. (Double the love.)

Old Man Winter is set to blow in some icy cold air this evening. I think I just might do a bit of baking tomorrow. Can't go wrong warming the house with the smell of cookies baking.

Visitors

I knew I should have jumped in the shower this morning, but I stayed in bed an extra ten minutes instead. A little before 9 am my "across the street" neighbor knocked on the door with a small white dog in her arms. Sofie had escaped.  (Visitor number one, Mrs. C.)

Bethany came around nine with a small grandson who stayed here while his big brother made a visit to the doctor's office. (Visitors two and three) Two hours later Beth took Cat to the vet and Josh stayed to play. (Visitor number four)

My Aunt Margie hadn't been over in a couple of weeks so I wasn't surprised to see her mid morning. She came in for a cup of tea and told me about her visit to Florida. (She was visitor five.)

Not long after lunch a black jeep pulled into the driveway. (Visitor number six) I went outside to greet our old friend Adam and give him a hug. (I told you he was one of my "dropper-inner" friends.) I made a fresh pot of coffee and we had a very nice visit. I

This week I had ten children pass through my doors. Half of them were grandchildren. I had lunch with a couple of friends on Tuesday, and tea and coffee with a couple more today. It's been a rather full and happy kind of week. Next week is spring break. I wonder what I'll do then?

PS. Look! It's spring! :0)

E is for Eliminate

E is for Eliminate.

Coffee has been eliminated from my daily routine. Don't get me wrong, I love coffee. I love it especially much sweetened with French Vanilla Creamer and that is precisely the problem. I love it too much. Coffee has, in essence and over time, eliminated my sense of thirst. I never (or very rarely) feel thirsty. My lips were often chapped, my skin dry. I could go an entire day drinking nothing but a few cups of coffee. That is a bad way to live.

Last week I began a new adventure. It involves a pretty pottery tea pot I found at an estate sale and tea. Each morning I fill my tea pot with four cups of green tea. When that pot is empty, I refill it with herbal tea. I may or may not drink something else (one day I drank a pitcher of water with cucumber slices in it) but the coffee has been eliminated.

It's very sad, I know, but I've already begun to see some positive results. I'm less stressed out, my skin is beginning to feel and look better, and I'm starting to gain a renewed sense of thirst. All great results! Rest assured though, eliminating my daily consumption of coffee doesn't mean I won't sit down with a friend to share an occasional cup, especially if there is a cookie involved.

(A special thanks to Marilyn from Canada and my cousin Ondra for your encouragement toward drinking tea. And to my favorite "Auntie" Linda, also from Canada for the suggestion that I slice cucumbers into my water. She is a genius!!!)

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