Just Ducky

 

I wouldn't bring many skills to a space mission, but I already feel like I have an alien trying to burst out of my body, so sign me up. 

Someone forgot to proofread. 

No footies unfortunately, but it does have a hood. It will likely be too  warm to sleep in, but perfect for lounging about in a cold house. We have the first snow forecast for next week. Still raining at the moment. I'm glad this storm was only rain or we'd have two feet of snow by now. 

I don't see any reason why I can't wear this on the school run!

I probably won't get all my Halloween clothes worn this year, but I'm not stressing out over it. I spent most of today in bed (when I wasn't in the toilet) and I know when something is too much effort. I was pleased to wear these leggings before October was over. 

We've been seeing the autumn influx of spiders around the house, but I don't have the heart to kill them. Maybe they'll eat some gnats. Nebraska does get poisonous spiders and you have to be cautious reaching into undisturbed closets or boxes, but they do their best to avoid humans (hence the name, Brown Recluse). I suppose if I saw a brown recluse I'd kill it, but the other spiders are welcome visitors. On the farm we'd get Wolf Spiders which are the size of my hand. In the city spiders mostly small and harmless. 

Halloween is time for scary monsters and what's scarier than meeeeee?! Not much, friends. Not much. 

BOO!

I bought this bodysuit several years ago but have only started wearing it recently. The skirt is part of a 1970s suit. The jacket has a wrap closure with a tie belt but I can't find it. I hope I didn't foolishly get rid of it. 

I can't decide if I like the boots with this or not. I look like Popeye's girlfriend, Olive Oyl. 

The bag looks rather ordinary at first glance but it houses a secret...

A bright red lining! It is a very useful bag as well. I don't subscribe to the "rule" of only wearing patent leather in spring and summer. Obviously not in the dead of a Nebraska winter as the leather could crack, but otherwise, sure.

This vintage dress is by American designer Ike Clark who sold designs to upscale department stores in the 60s and 70s. 

The tiny plastic beads on the trim and belt are still intact. I suspect it wasn't worn much by the previous owner. 

I had the perfect Sara Coventry earrings to match. 

And vintage Naturalizer shoes. 

But I think the best part of this outfit happened when I put on my coat to go out...

I own the same coat in Navy, but I liked the contrast of the grey better.

That's a classic look.

I do love some Ultrasuede.

Especially when it is Lilli Ann. People go wild with money over the earlier Lilli Ann pieces (I have a few of those as well) but overlook the 70s Ultrasuede. In addition to the two long coats I have a few of her Ultrasuede blazers. They're wonderful pieces, and easy to care for. As fabrics go, Ultrasuede is rather durable stuff. I wouldn't dare wear real suede out in the elements. 

I saw this and it reminded me of the imaginary conversations I have with my stomach I've named, Pickles. 

Not being able to eat is wearing on me a bit, but I'm trying to keep a sense of humour about it. I don't know at what point my body will start cannibalising my brain for energy the way it does with fat and muscles but oh boy, is it ever in for a surprise. I don't even think I have a brain any longer. Probably just oatmeal in there! Anyway, yeah. 

What is it about the weather turning five degrees cooler and suddenly it sends me looking for my tweeds? 

I went with the red tights as there's prominent red flecks in the tweed, but unfortunately it doesn't show well in the photos. It made better sense in person.

It shows a bit better here.

The vintage bag doesn't have a label, but it is very nicely made. 

Can't go wrong with a vintage Damon Turtle poloneck sweater. 

Boots were from K Mart many years ago. I miss K Mart and Sears.

These brand names! Believe me, this suit wouldn't last five minutes before it was covered in mud on the farm. I basically didn't wear anything nice for the 12 years we were on the farm. I had nice aprons though, so there's that.

I haven't felt much like cooking-it takes too much mental energy to get things together, but a pot of chili is worth the effort as it can last several days. This one turned out well and was made from what is pantry staples for us. Tinned pumpkin is easy to find in the states, but if you don't have it, go ahead and leave it out. Cooked squash would work here too if you have it. 

Vegetarian Chili

4 15 oz. tins black beans 

1 15 oz. tin pinto beans

1 15 oz tin kidney beans

1 15 oz tin pureed pumpkin (not the spiced kind for pie)

1 14 oz. tin diced tomatoes with juice

2 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 bay laurel leaves

1 teaspoon marjoram

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon ancho chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon black pepper

3-4 tablespoons corn oil (or whatever you have)

1 quart vegetable broth

Drain and rinse the beans. Amounts of spices are obviously adaptable to your tastes. Use whatever you like.

Heat the oil in a big pot. Cook the onions and garlic over medium heat until they start to soften. Add spices and mix well. You might want to add more oil at this point if it looks like you need it. Add everything else except broth and mix well. Add enough broth to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pot leaving some space for the lid to vent. After the broth reduces (about an hour), top it up again with the remaining broth and cook it down once more. You can speed this up by cooking at a higher temperature but make sure to stir it often to ensure it doesn't scorch. 

Makes a LOT of food but it keeps well and can be frozen. 

Last week also saw a roasted chicken on the menu as it is also meals for days after. In addition to a cut up lemon in the cavity I added rosemary and lemongrass from the garden. It smelled lovely cooking. I don't do much to a chicken other than season it, rub it with olive oil and cook it in a 425 degree F. oven for about an hour. It should register 160 degrees F. on a meat thermometer when done. I won't say this is foolproof, but it is rather hard to ruin. I don't baste and with this quick cooking method it really isn't necessary. 

Made some applesauce with nutmeg. I ran it through a food mill rather than using the food processor which tends to turn things to liquid (good for me obviously, but unpleasant for people that aren't on a soft/liquid diet). I can always blitz mine in a blender afterward. Cooking applesauce also makes the house smell good. 

Tomorrow is my long awaited appointment with the gastro specialist that took five months to get an appointment. In those five months I've lost an additional thirty pounds that probably wouldn't have happened if I'd been seen earlier. The arguments conservatives use against socialised medicine is that you can die waiting to be seen. Yeah. Okay. If you live in a country with healthcare fight to keep it. You DO NOT want American style healthcare. We have excellent insurance coverage and it is still costing us a small fortune out of pocket. 

Danny figured out that the Dr's name is pronounced, "Quack." I'm glad I'll have a mask over my face. Poor guy, that's a hell of a name for a doctor. We have plenty of bona fide quacks now that our governor has mandated waiving the licensing for medical people to work in the state (!) and also waiving any vaccine mandates. If that sounds bad, it is. The state attorney general also signed off on letting people be treated with horse medicine. Or crystals, or lupus meds, or really whatever they have to hand. That doesn't mean hospitals have to hire them, but I'm sure in certain parts of the state that would be considered just fine and dandy. 

I don't expect him to do much other than listen and order some tests, but at least it gets the ball rolling. I was already sick before the appendectomy in May, but I was never right after the surgery and I hope he understands that there are two different things going on. Anyway, I don't expect to know anything, but hopefully it goes well. Or errrr, ducky.

See you later.