OT April Chit Chat

[Howie]

Rose, the answer to both of your questions is no.

And remember, I am still taking the BP med I've taken for years. These last two BP meds were an attempt to bring it down lower. So my head isn't going to pop, but it may run a little higher than ideal. Until the blood pressure monitor from Cherie gets here, and we can see what my BP actually is, I'm not going to do anything.

After I see what it is, then I'll respond by either waiting for my doctor appointment date gets here, or if it's alarmingly high, I will see him immediately.

I appreciate your concerns, but I will do the right thing.

[SuzE-Q]

Glad you acted quickly and have the cellulitis under control, Cat! How has your health been lately otherwise?

Can't wait to hear what Lazarus thinks of the ricotta muffins she made!

That's what happens when you surround yourself with a bunch of hens, Howie, you begin to hear a lot of clucking.

Are you planning to get your pink car on the road this year?

[Lazarus]

Glad you acted quickly and have the cellulitis under control, Cat! How has your health been lately otherwise?

Can't wait to hear what Lazarus thinks of the ricotta muffins she made!

That's what happens when you surround yourself with a bunch of hens, Howie, you begin to hear a lot of clucking.

Are you planning to get your pink car on the road this year?

The muffins were good and easy to make. They are almost identical to a recipe I have been fooling around with lately for ricotta gnudi..interesting. I copied a recipe for vinegar pie from West Virginia and read reviews so it look like something I will try. But, I will try mixing things together and eliminate the meringue and make a graham cracker crust if I use any crust.

Ingredients:

(Serving: 6 slices)

For the custard filling:
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup water
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 egg yolks, beaten
9-inch pie shell

For the meringue topping (optional):
3 egg whites
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt

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Preparation:

Heat the oven to 350 F. (Skip this step if adding meringue topping.)

Mix sugar with nutmeg, flour, and salt.

Melt butter in water and add the vinegar. Add sugar mixture gradually and stir until smooth.

In a double boiler or mixing bowl over boiling water, cook until thick, stirring occasionally.

In a separate large mixing bowl, slowly add the hot custard mixture to the beaten egg yolks, stirring constantly. Return to heat and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly.

Let the mixture cool. Pour into a baked, cooled 9-inch pie shell.

Bake at 350 F for 15–20 minutes.

Meringue topping:
First, let the egg whites come to room temperature. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt and a pinch of cream of tartar (this helps stabilize the meringue).

Very slowly work in the sugar, beating constantly until the mixture is smooth and has thickened. It’s most efficient to work with a hand-held electric mixer or upright stand mixer, although it is possible to mix by hand with a whisk.

Spread meringue over the pie filling, ensuring the filling is at least room temperature. With a large spoon spread the meringue evenly to the edge of the crust. For decorative effect, fluff the meringue with the back of a spoon. Bake once more at around 350 F for 15 minutes.

Mike Costello is a chef, farmer, and storyteller. He and his partner Amy Dawson operate Lost Creek Farm in Harrison County, West Virginia.

[stillstANNding]

Vinegar pie? Please explain. ??

ANN

[Sunshine]

Howie,
You will be receiving a home blood pressure monitor Tuesday. I had Amazon points to use. Please, please take care of you.

Wow Cherie! That is an amazing act of compAssion and generosity! .

[Howie]

Are you planning to get your pink car on the road this year?

I really don't know. Today would have been the perfect day to work on it, and I just couldn't get myself motivated to do it. It needs to have something done to it mechanically and the tires inflated. (I bought an air pump) Then gassed up and washed, and by then I would be too tired to drive it. I bought a nice car cover to keep it clean, but until I GET it clean, it stays in the box it came in.

Antique hotrods require more work than I can do these days. But IF I can get myself motivated, I will drive it again.

[SuzE-Q]

I really don't know. Today would have been the perfect day to work on it, and I just couldn't get myself motivated to do it. It needs to have something done to it mechanically and the tires inflated. (I bought an air pump) Then gassed up and washed, and by then I would be too tired to drive it. I bought a nice car cover to keep it clean, but until I GET it clean, it stays in the box it came in.

Antique hotrods require more work than I can do these days. But IF I can get myself motivated, I will drive it again.

I wondered about that, if it might feel like a lot of self imposed pressure on you, and if it just increases the feelings of frustration the more time passes.

I know it's your baby, Howie. But, and I'm just thinking out loud here, if you would feel better if you sold it, knowing you had taken care of it and can pass it onto someone who could now enjoy it too? Kind of like a papa letting go of your child whom you'd raised and cared for with love to now go out and explore the world? There could be a wonderful sense of pride in that.

I was also thinking that you might be able to splurge then on some really fun gadgets and toys you could use around your tv or other sources of pleasure. Technology has developed some pretty amazing and easy to learn items these days, a trip into the Walmart Electronics department and asking a question of them about what they might suggest for someone who spends a lot of time at home might lead to some inspiring ideas. I'll bet you could also ask here as well as maybe a tech forum for some great ideas too.

If the Ghia is not a source of fun for you anymore, it could be an idea to convert the investment into some other pleasure sources that apply to your life today. Why not think about that - it could also add enough to your monthly budget for you to add a few small pleasures into your weekly food runs (no, I'm not thinking about extra beer! ).

I know I can get into a "conserve" mood and forget to pamper myself sometimes and just enjoy some treats. We deserve it, Howie. And with technology being a great friend to those of us who can't get out so easily to explore the real world anymore, you might be able to add some significant quality of life by taking advantage of what's now available.

I'll bet if you asked a general brainstorming question of what kinds of toys we'd all love to have at home that would improve our lives, you'd get some really fun ideas!

[agate]

...

I'll bet if you asked a general brainstorming question of what kinds of toys we'd all love to have at home that would improve our lives, you'd get some really fun ideas!

Strange that you should mention this. I just had a letter from a friend, who wrote that she wondered if I "might get a little R2-D2 robot to do chores." Are there really such things, I mean aside from the Roomba vacuum cleaner previously discussed on this board?

I'm picturing an R2-D2 robot who does everything wrong--mops a floor but misses all the corners, for instance--and I just might end up getting irritated at it. R2-D2's feelings might get hurt, and there'd be a terrible scene, with R2-D2 shedding lifelike tears....

[Howie]

Suze, when I went to get the results of my first MRI and my Dx of MS, I was driving Pinky. That was 20 years ago, and having a unique toy like Pinky has been fun and a source of pride.

I am now thinking of selling it, but not right now anyway. Maybe in the future. I have a will, and everything goes to my brother. I'm sure he would sell it, but that's okay, I wouldn't be around to see it.

Agate, I think I've seen a robot like you want, but the price might be out of your range. I have seen some prototype robots for the military, and they are creepy. They showed it running on two legs, and jumping logs in it's path.

So a robot to do what you want exists, but at what cost?

[SuzE-Q]

Strange that you should mention this. I just had a letter from a friend, who wrote that she wondered if I "might get a little R2-D2 robot to do chores." Are there really such things, I mean aside from the Roomba vacuum cleaner previously discussed on this board?

I'm picturing an R2-D2 robot who does everything wrong--mops a floor but misses all the corners, for instance--and I just might end up getting irritated at it. R2-D2's feelings might get hurt, and there'd be a terrible scene, with R2-D2 shedding lifelike tears....

LOL, and funny you mention that because I think what caused the idea to hit me was that I just ordered a roomba-like contraption myself that works on both carpet and floors, and I am a bit excited about how it will help with routine cleaning! I don't know if there are other robotics that can help (bet there are, though!).

Yes, I know I'm behind the times, but for some reason, it resonated with me now that I might just enjoy the little cleaner running around on the floors! So, I'm looking forward to when it arrives and I can watch IT do the household vacuuming. Splurging can be quite fun, especially when we live pinching pennies so much of the time. I know how excited Howie was to figure out what new coffeemaker worked best for him, or when his brother was getting him the new DVD player, or figuring out his rabbit ears.

I was also thinking after reading nuthatch's post about the radio stories how we're able to connect so much with TVs nowadays from the internet, with a huge screen, or tell Alexa what to do, play certain music, contact certain people, listen to books, etc. I know I've enjoyed so much all the birdcams ever since nuthatch introduced us to them and realize there's even better ways to connect to the outside world or varied interests now more than ever.

We really can bring the world to us so much now, and Artificial Intelligence is the latest on the horizon! Even Virtual Reality doodads would be amazing to experience if it made us feel like we were actually experiencing it, which apparently it does (our brains react in the same way). Even all the live cams from all over the world would be amazing to tune into on a big screen - I'd feel like I was there! And there are live cams all over the world!

See? Even this tiny brainstorming session made me think of interesting ideas!

[SuzE-Q]

Suze, when I went to get the results of my first MRI and my Dx of MS, I was driving Pinky. That was 20 years ago, and having a unique toy like Pinky has been fun and a source of pride.

I am now thinking of selling it, but not right now anyway. Maybe in the future. I have a will, and everything goes to my brother. I'm sure he would sell it, but that's okay, I wouldn't be around to see it.

Agate, I think I've seen a robot like you want, but the price might be out of your range. I have seen some prototype robots for the military, and they are creepy. They showed it running on two legs, and jumping logs in it's path.

So a robot to do what you want exists, but at what cost?

You snuck in there, Howie, as I was replying to agate!

Ok, just thought I'd throw the idea out there as I was inspired by the enjoyment I got ordering my little vacuumer. And I was also thinking how much pleasure I got selling some of my older vehicles to others who could then enjoy them, and then spending that money on new items that I could then enjoy. I love giving away older clothes just for that reason too.

I know I sometimes get into miser-mode and forget the enjoyment I could be having if I tried new things, even if it's just getting a little automatic vacuumer! So many things these days can make our lives easier or more fulfilling!

[Howie]

Why not get a robot to do everything for you.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[SuzE-Q]

Why not get a robot to do everything for you.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Haha, maybe you missed the article just below it :

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Howie]

Well there you go!!! Have you ordered yours yet?

[SuzE-Q]

Well there you go!!! Have you ordered yours yet?

Just waiting to save up enough points first. I'm close, just need 50,000 more to be able to comp it and get it for free. lol

I want to use my points, or I'll have to wait for it to go on sale.