annie blog

My Mom’s mom is 96. She had a stroke (probably one of several) the other day, and right now they don’t really think that she’ll come out of it. Things have been rough for her lately, so I just hope that the end is easy for her. She has always been sort of a hoot….and I have lots of funny stories about her and her life. She did quite a few memorable things. And I might share several of them later….but for now, here is just a short one.

She has spent the last several years moving from one assisted living facility to another. Moving was always her choice. We joked that she got to meet all the residents…but when they started telling the same stories over and over again that she would say to herself, “I’m outta here!” And that would be that. My Mom always helped her fix up her room in each facility and make it homey and nice. One of the places that she lived had a little patio that was outside her room. Out there she had chairs and plants and a bird feeder. One day, we were visiting, and someone commented on her bird feeder. She said something to the effect of, “Squirrels have been bothering my bird feeder. The other day, I saw a big old squirrel just sitting up there eating his fill of all my bird seed and it made me so mad.” My Mom asked her what she did about it. (I think that my Mom probably thought that my grandmother had probably scared the squirrel away with a broom or something.) My grandmother answered her, “What did I do about it? I yanked that old squirrel out by his big old tail.” We looked at her with our mouths open. Then my mother started in on why she shouldn’t try doing that again because she might get bitten, etc. I was sort of listening — but I was also trying to visualize the whole thing — thinking how funny it would have been to see it. She had to have been at least 90 at the time. And, I bet that squirrel thought twice before bothering her bird feeder again.

My Jon is so sweet. Look at the happy that he brought me yesterday — for no reason, whatsoever. He’s so great. Now my head is spinning with ideas for appetizers and entrees that I can use my new serving piece for……

My Jon is so sweet. Look at the happy that he brought me yesterday — for no reason, whatsoever. He’s so great. Now my head is spinning with ideas for appetizers and entrees that I can use my new serving piece for……

My Jon is so sweet. Look at the happy that he brought me yesterday — for no reason, whatsoever. He’s so great. Now my head is spinning with ideas for appetizers and entrees that I can use my new serving piece for……

Today I’m doing the clothes swap-about for spring. The day is beautiful, and I would like to spend it all outside, but I need to do the clothes. I think that I’ll compromise by doing all the sorting in the front bedroom — it gets lots of light. And, doing it there will also insure that I get it done today, because it is the boys’ room. Y’all have a good day. And keep reading if you need a healthy, tasty muffin recipe. 🙂

Today I’m doing the clothes swap-about for spring. The day is beautiful, and I would like to spend it all outside, but I need to do the clothes. I think that I’ll compromise by doing all the sorting in the front bedroom — it gets lots of light. And, doing it there will also insure that I get it done today, because it is the boys’ room. Y’all have a good day. And keep reading if you need a healthy, tasty muffin recipe. 🙂

Today I’m doing the clothes swap-about for spring. The day is beautiful, and I would like to spend it all outside, but I need to do the clothes. I think that I’ll compromise by doing all the sorting in the front bedroom — it gets lots of light. And, doing it there will also insure that I get it done today, because it is the boys’ room. Y’all have a good day. And keep reading if you need a healthy, tasty muffin recipe. 🙂

Here is a great muffin recipe. I found it on the back of a package of Bob’s Red Mill brand Flax Seed Meal. While I do not crave them like I would a blueberry muffin, for example, I know that they are much better for me. I think that they would be good with jam — but I just eat them with my healthy butter.

Bran Flax Muffins

1 1/2 cups White Flour, Unbleached 
3/4 cup Flaxseed Meal 
3/4 cup Oat Bran Cereal 
1 cup Brown Sugar 
2 tsp Baking Soda 
1 tsp Baking Powder 
1/2 tsp Salt 
2 tsp Cinnamon 
1-1/2 cups finely shredded Carrots 
2 peeled and shredded Apples 
1/2 cup Raisins (optional) 
1 cup chopped Nuts (I used walnuts and toasted them before adding)
3/4 cup Milk 
2 beaten Eggs 
1 tsp Vanilla 

Mix together flour, flaxseed meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in carrots, apples, raisins (if desired) and nuts. Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until ingredients are moistened. DO NOT OVER MIX. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

Yield: 15 medium muffins

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
One muffin contains 240 Calories, 80 Calories from Fat, 8g Fat, 1.5g Saturated Fat, 30mg Cholesterol, 290mg Sodium, 40g Carbohydrate, 5g Dietary Fiber, 22g Sugar, 6g Protein.

Here is a great muffin recipe. I found it on the back of a package of Bob’s Red Mill brand Flax Seed Meal. While I do not crave them like I would a blueberry muffin, for example, I know that they are much better for me. I think that they would be good with jam — but I just eat them with my healthy butter.

Bran Flax Muffins

1 1/2 cups White Flour, Unbleached 
3/4 cup Flaxseed Meal 
3/4 cup Oat Bran Cereal 
1 cup Brown Sugar 
2 tsp Baking Soda 
1 tsp Baking Powder 
1/2 tsp Salt 
2 tsp Cinnamon 
1-1/2 cups finely shredded Carrots 
2 peeled and shredded Apples 
1/2 cup Raisins (optional) 
1 cup chopped Nuts (I used walnuts and toasted them before adding)
3/4 cup Milk 
2 beaten Eggs 
1 tsp Vanilla 

Mix together flour, flaxseed meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in carrots, apples, raisins (if desired) and nuts. Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until ingredients are moistened. DO NOT OVER MIX. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

Yield: 15 medium muffins

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
One muffin contains 240 Calories, 80 Calories from Fat, 8g Fat, 1.5g Saturated Fat, 30mg Cholesterol, 290mg Sodium, 40g Carbohydrate, 5g Dietary Fiber, 22g Sugar, 6g Protein.

Here is a great muffin recipe. I found it on the back of a package of Bob’s Red Mill brand Flax Seed Meal. While I do not crave them like I would a blueberry muffin, for example, I know that they are much better for me. I think that they would be good with jam — but I just eat them with my healthy butter.

Bran Flax Muffins

1 1/2 cups White Flour, Unbleached 
3/4 cup Flaxseed Meal 
3/4 cup Oat Bran Cereal 
1 cup Brown Sugar 
2 tsp Baking Soda 
1 tsp Baking Powder 
1/2 tsp Salt 
2 tsp Cinnamon 
1-1/2 cups finely shredded Carrots 
2 peeled and shredded Apples 
1/2 cup Raisins (optional) 
1 cup chopped Nuts (I used walnuts and toasted them before adding)
3/4 cup Milk 
2 beaten Eggs 
1 tsp Vanilla 

Mix together flour, flaxseed meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in carrots, apples, raisins (if desired) and nuts. Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until ingredients are moistened. DO NOT OVER MIX. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

Yield: 15 medium muffins

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
One muffin contains 240 Calories, 80 Calories from Fat, 8g Fat, 1.5g Saturated Fat, 30mg Cholesterol, 290mg Sodium, 40g Carbohydrate, 5g Dietary Fiber, 22g Sugar, 6g Protein.