Well, despite my best intentions, I got sick, & Christmas snuck up on me, before I was prepared. I ended up using a different recipe for the chocolate (marshmallow fluff) fudge that I'm mailing to my family, along with some of the hot chocolate cones, & snickerdoodles. Here's the fudge recipe. It's pretty easy, & I found it online, by searching for 'fluff fudge', because I had to use what I had on hand here at the house. It's smooth, rich, easy, & yummy, so I'll be adding the recipe to my collection. If you try it, let me know what you think. ~ Lisa
Mix sugar, evaporated milk and butter together and cook until the mixture comes to a boil, stirring frequently.
Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from fire and stir in chocolate chips and marshmallow creme. Stir ingredients until mixture is creamy and smooth. (An electric mixer may be used).
Pour into a buttered 9x9-inch pan.
Allow to cool, and cut as desired.
Yield approximately 2 1/2 pounds.
NOTE: For a nice variation, use Butterscotch or Caramel Chips instead of Chocolate Chips.
Since it's almost Christmas, it's been weighing on me that I haven't blogged recently, so I decided to write about my Christmas projects. This year, most are baking-related. I hope that y'all will share some of your projects, sort of like a virtual Cookie & Craft Recipe Exchange.
The first project that I plan to work on, primarily because it seems easy, and I need a kick in the pants right now, is the Hot Chocolate Cones. I'm a big fan of hot chocolate, and I'm drinking some as I type this. I went out earlier to Hobby Lobby & HEB (local, Texas-based Grocery Chain, for those outside the area), to pick up the ingredients for the cones. I actually was going to Hobby Lobby for a different purpose, so I figured I'd check to see if they had the cellophane cones needed for the hot chocolate project, which would save me a trip to the party store. Happily, I discovered that they do carry the cones. I also got pretty colored twist ties, in case I decide to use those in place of, or in addition to, the rubber bands/hair elastics.
I got large packages of hot chocoate at HEB, because I plan to make quite a few of the hot chocolate cones, and also bought the mini chocolate chips and mini marshmallows at HEB. I'd picked up some cherry sours at Hobby Lobby, in case I wasn't able to find anything more suitable at HEB for the red candies at the top that symbolize cherries. It turned out that I couldn't find anything else, and I actually think those will be perfect. I'm getting really excited, because my family and friends I'll be making the cones for all love hot chocolate as much as I do, so they will really appreciate them. There's nothing more gratifying than spending time making something for those who will enjoy and appreciate it.
Here's the page link for the hot chocolate cones. I hope some of y'all make them, and I'd love to hear your stories (on Twitter, not here. I had to turn off comments, due to stalkers).
Maple - I'm considering making up to 3 types of fudge. I always make maple for myself, & send some to my family, because some like it & some don't. I usually include a bit of it in packages for friends & neighbors, since some down here have never heard of or tasted it.
Chocolate - Obviously, I have to make chocolate fudge. It's the most popular, & everyone I know likes it. Many of my friends don't cook often, let alone bake or make candy. They are busy, & apparently don't enjoy it the way I do, since I've always make it a priority. They are the ones who really appreciate it, because they think it takes an act of God to actually get in the kitchen and cook/bake, and their children also really appreciate having something homemade.
White Chocolate - Christmas Fudge
This is a really delicious fudge made with red and green candied cherries, and it's called Christmas Fudge because of those colors. I have most of the ingredients for the other fudges, but I don't have the green and red candied cherries, so if I don't make it to WalMart SuperCenter or perhaps Randall's, I may not be able to make this. So, if I can't make this, I might make CandyCane Fudge, which is also very yummy, and appeals to the same people who like the White Chocolate Christmas Fudge.
One reason I tend to make more non-chocolate fudges (including white chocolate), is that I and some of my friends and family members, have medical conditions that prohibit or limit the amount of caffeine we're supposed to ingest. Maple and white chocolate (and peanut butter, because I sometimes make PB fudge) do not contain caffeine, so I tend to focus on them, and make a smaller amount of chocolate fudge. I also use real sugar, because many or most artificial sugar replacements contain ingredients that can cause issues, or exacerbate already existing physical conditions (such as phenylalanine and symptoms of MS in people who may or may not have MS). I've noticed that most artificial sugar substitutes exacerbate my fibromyalgia symptoms, so I use real sugar. Dietary restrictions of recipients and their families should always be considered before moving ahead with preparations, since they are the ones we should be focused on. If you don't want to delve into that, maybe a food/beverage gift is the wrong choice of gift, since some sensitivities and allergies such as peanut and shellfish allergies can be fatal.
Below are some of the recipes I'm considering using for the fudge. Sorry about all the different fonts, etc., it's because I'm copying/pasting from my recipe files, which have been gathered over the years from a multitude of sources.
1.
1.Christmas Fudge Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/8 tsp salt 2 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup red candied cherries, chopped 1/2 cup green candied cherries, chopped Directions: 1. Spray an 8x8" baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a large saucepan, bring the sugar, butter, cream and salt to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Let boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla, stirring until smooth and well combined. Stir in the cherries until evenly distributed. 3. Spoon into baking dish and chill for 1 hour or until firm. Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.
C Candy Cane Fudge
1 package vanilla milk chips 1 can Pillsbury Vanilla Creamy Supreme Icing 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 4 drops of red food coloring 2 Tablespoons of peppermint candy canes (chopped)
Put vanilla chips in pan on the stove at medium heat. Continue stirring until the chips have melted. Add icing to pan and continue stirring. Take off heat and add peppermint extract until dissolved. Pour mixture into a pan. Take food coloring and add one drop in each corner of pan. Take butter knife and begin stirring until the food coloring has been swirled into the fudge. Add chopped peppermint pieces to top of fudge. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until the fudge has harden. Cut into small pieces.
Note you'll need a candy thermometer for the first Maple Fudge Recipe
1.MAPLE FUDGE
Mix together and stir:
1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons vinegar 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup water
Place over medium heat and boil slowly, washing down sides of pan often. Cover with lid for one minute. Cook to 228°F. Cool in pan. When cool, beat until it loses it's gloss and becomes fudge like. Add maple flavoring to taste, if desired, and 1/2 cup chopped nuts.
Pour into a buttered 8 inch square pan. Allow to cool until set.
MAPLE FUDGE (no candy thermometer needed)
3 c. sugar 1 c. sour cream 1 tbsp. syrup 1/4 lb. (1 stick) butter 1/4 tsp. butter flavoring 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 1/4 tsp. salt 1 c. nut meats 1 tsp. maple flavoring
Combine sugar, sour cream, syrup, butter and butter flavoring, cream of tartar and salt; cook slowly. When soft - ball stage is reached, remove from fire and allow to cool. Then beat briskly until it loses its gloss. Add nuts and maple flavoring, and pour into buttered pans.
1.Regular chocolate fudge:
1 pound powdered sugar 1 stick butter 1/2 of cocoa 1/4 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup nuts
Put powdered sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk in microwavable bowl. DO NOT STIR! Put in microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and add vanilla. Beat with electric mixer until well blended. Poor into 8X8 buttered pan and put in fridge for at least an hour.
Cookies
Pizzelle - I grew up eating Pizzelle & love them. I usually make a whole bunch of them. I sprinkle some with powdered sugar, & others I roll into cylinders & dip the ends in chocolate. Some of those, I dip into sprinkles or chopped nuts, once the chocolate has dried, and you can also shoot some cream (such as Boston Cream from a Boston Cream Pie recipe), or shoot them full of a sweetened ricotta recipe (such as cannoli filling). I usually make anise and vanilla, but there are also recipes online for chocolate and lemon pizzelles if you'd prefer those.
ITALIAN PIZZELLES
These pizzelles are light and crisp. Serve them plain or dusted with powdered sugar. Also, they can be easily shaped while still hot right off the iron and formed into a cone, cylinder, or even a cup and filled with your favorite filling. To keep them crisp, store them in an air tight container.
3 eggs 1 3/4 c. flour 1/2 tsp. anise seed or extract (opt.) 1/2 c. butter (1/4 lb.) 2 tsp. baking powder 3/4 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Do not use more than 1/2 cup and don't use oil as a substitute.
Beat eggs and sugar. Add cooled melted butter and vanilla and anise. Sift flour and baking powder and add to egg mixture. Batter will be stiff enough to be dropped by spoon. Batter can be refrigerated to be used at a later time. Makes 30 pizzelles.
VARIATION PIZZELLE CON CIOCCOLATTE: Add 3 tablespoons cocoa and 3 tablespoons sugar to the basic Italian Pizzelle recipe. If desired, you may substitute chocolate flavoring instead of the vanilla and anise flavoring.
and a YouTube video of how to make Linzer cookies:
Although I have many cookbooks, I often turn to the first one I ever owned, which is from Better Homes & Gardens. Here's a Macaroon recipe I've used with much success:
Coconut Macaroons
Makes: 28 servingsYield: 28 cookies
Prep: 30 minsBake: 325°F20 minsStand: 30 mins
Ingredients
4
egg whites
1
teaspoonvanilla
1/4
teaspooncream of tartar
1/8
teaspoonsalt
1 1/3
cupssugar
1
14 ouncepackageflaked coconut
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Fold in coconut.
2. Using an ice cream scoop with 2-inch bowl (or scant 1/4-cup measure), drop coconut mixture in mounds on prepared cookie sheets. Place on separate racks in oven. Bake 20 minutes. Turn off oven; let cookies dry in oven 30 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Makes 28 cookies.
From the Test Kitchen
Variation Note: For small cookies drop dough by teaspoons. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand and cool as above. Makes 60 cookies.
Storage Store in airtight container in single layer at room temperature up to 3 days. Freeze up to 3 months.
Note Nutrition facts are given for large cookies.
Nutrition Facts (Coconut Macaroons)
Servings Per Recipe 28,
Calories 106,
Protein (gm) 1,
Carbohydrate (gm) 15,
Fat, total (gm) 5,
Saturated fat (gm) 4,
Dietary Fiber, total (gm) 1,
Sugar, total (gm) 14,
Sodium (mg) 56,
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Preheat oven to 350°F. and lightly butter a baking sheet.
In a food processor pulse 1 cup almonds with granulated sugar until ground fine. Add egg white, almond extract, and a pinch salt and pulse until combined. Roll mixture into 16 balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and arrange about 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Slightly flatten balls and dust lightly with confectioners' sugar. Gently press 1 almond into each cookie.
Bake macaroons in middle of oven 10 minutes, or until pale golden. Transfer macaroons to a rack and cool completely. Macaroons keep 4 days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Here are the ultimate Christmas Cookies, Candy Cane Cookies! If you've never made them, this is a pretty easy recipe, & kids LOVE to make these. They're also delicious, so make sure you make plenty!
There's one Whole Foods in Houston that makes Almond Horns (almond crescents), but even though they are usually sold out of them when I get there (it's over an hour drive), they won't give me their recipe. I can tell they use almond paste (which is somewhat difficult to find in this area), so I might try this recipe I found online at some point, but it may not be until after Christmas/New Year's. http://www.grouprecipes.com/33760/almond-crescents.html
I most likely won't make ALL of the above recipes for Christmas. I may make some of them for New Year's, or even Valentine's Day, but eventually, I will get around to them all. The whole idea of baking at the holidays isn't to stress yourself out, but to make things with love, for those you care about, who will appreciate them.
If you have a large family or a group of friends, each could make one or two recipes & share, as with the neighborhood or group cookie shares. My favorite way to cook/bake is with a friend, because it lessens the work, and you can catch up and have fun together while cooking. Regardless of how you make these recipes, I hope you will try at least one, and also hope you will share your recipes/craft projects with the rest of us, so we can try some of your ideas for upcoming holidays. Merry Christmas, Lisa!
My Dad was involved in local politics and discussed issues and policies with my Mom, so I grew up with a better understanding of the political process than most of my friends. I knew my Dad had integrity because I saw what he did, how he lived, and how he took care of his family, church, neighbors, and community. He served in the National Guard all of his adult life, and I knew he was a patriot who loved our city, county, state and country. I am thankful that I grew up with a love of country, and an appreciation for the freedoms we have, because we live in a democratic republic.
Although we overheard many discussions between my parents, my sister, brother and I were kept out of adult-type discussions, because my parents wanted us to be carefree, and go off and play, without worrying about such matters. Although we faced threats to our Republic during those times, we children didn't have to worry, because the men and women of my parents' generation were participating in the political process, and protecting our freedoms.
Unfortunately, many in my parents' generation are no longer with us. Many of my peers have chosen not to participate in the political process, some because of unsavory issues in the past that have turned them off, or perhaps out of the mistaken belief that our way of life is secure, and that their vote will not make a difference. I, too, 'dropped out' for a while. I still voted, but wasn't particularly concerned about losing our way of life, or our freedoms. I focused my attention toward school, career and personal life, so please don't think I am pointing fingers or chastising.
I am writing this to tell those who've 'dropped out' and haven't been paying attention to, or participating in politics, that they are needed. Now is the time when every vote will be required to save our Republic. Many are struggling to find a job or hold onto the job they have, worried about health issues, concerned about crime, whether their children are receiving a decent education, how to pay for college, as well as myriad other concerns, and the future is scary.
There are people in office and in the public eye who are playing on those fears, in the hope of gaining votes.
Please do your homework before supporting candidates, and ensure that they share your beliefs, your system of values, and future goals for our Republic. Don't just listen to what they say, research their past actions to see if they walk the walk. Think about your children and grandchildren, and what type of legacy you want to leave them. Do you want them to grow up free, with the ability to make decisions for themselves and plan their own futures, or do you want them to live in a society where those decisions are dictated to them, and limits are placed on their liberty? Now, more than ever, we must pull together, to ensure the continuation of our freedom and the survival of our Republic.
This is an update to my original Light-a-Light blog post written on January 19, 2011
I'm updating the post because of the situation of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, 34, of the Church of Iran, who is set to be executed as early as today, Friday, September 30, 2011, because he refuses to renounce his Christian faith. Here's a link to an article about the Pastor http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2043306/Christian-pastor-faces-execution-Iran-refusing-renounce-faith.html?ito=feeds-newsxml, and numerous others can be found via a simple Google search. Please pray for Pastor Nadarkhani and his family, as well as the multitudes of others living under the threat of death, torture, slavery, and other acts of terrorism, by those who claim to belong to the 'religion of peace' aka Islam. If you're not familiar with Light-a-Light, please continue reading, and please consider participating in lighting a candle or other source of light, and praying that this horrible threat be eradicated. Thank you for reading. Lisa
Original Light-a-Light Post
I hear stories almost daily lately about Islamists torturing and murdering Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslims, or otherwise causing them to flee their homes. This usually takes place in the Middle-East or Africa, but also occurs in other areas with large Muslim populations and minorities of other religions, and includes acts of violence such as terroristic threats and bombings in other parts of the world, such as the United States and Europe. The mainstream media seems to either downplay these incidents or fails to report them, so those who don't seek out other sources of information may be unaware of the incidents.
I grew up with 10 different types of churches & temples within a couple of blocks of our house. My friends came from a variety of backgrounds, and each of us had the freedom to worship in our own way. I never felt discriminated against due to my religion while growing up, but I have on a few occasions since. However, although I have been discriminated against because of my religion, I have never feared for my life because of whom and how I worship. I thought about this a lot over the Christmas Season, and I feel a need to take a stand for those who are being persecuted by Islamists. I have decided that I am going to leave my Christmas candles in the front window of my house, and light them every night, until the U.S. and other Western countries acknowledge and address the issue of Islamist violence against non-Muslims.
I've mentioned this intention several times on Twitter, and have asked others to join me in lighting a light. I would hope that if I were being persecuted, someone would take a stand for me. Lighting a candle may not seem like much, but to me it will be a visible reminder of those who are unable to safely live their lives while practicing their religions. When I'm asked why my Christmas candles are still in the windows and lit, I will share the information, in order to increase awareness of this situation. I believe we can help shed light on the plight of those being persecuted, and our candles can shine as beacons of hope that one day, they too will have the freedom to worship openly, without fear of persecution and death.
Please join me in lighting a light to fight the darkness ~ Lisa
I haven't made this in years, but love it, & have been craving it. Since I lost my recipe, I looked around online, & these sounded good. If y'all make it, let me know how you like it :). Lisa
TEMBLEQUE COCONUT PUDDING
This tembleque de coco recipe makes a rich and smooth coconut pudding perfect for birthday parties, the holidays, or any other special occasion.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
·4 cups coconut milk
·1/2 cup sugar
·1/2 cup cornstarch
·1/4 teaspoon salt
·garnish: ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, or toasted coconut flakes
Preparation:
1.In a sauce pan mix together the cornstarch, sugar and salt.
2.Whisk in the coconut milk and simmer over low to medium heat.
3.Stir constantly until the mixture is thoroughly cooked and thickens.
4.Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour pudding into individual dessert cups.
5.Allow the pudding to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Garnish with sprinkled ground cinnamon, a cinnamon stick, and/or toasted coconut flakes.
Tembleque means "to quiver, or shake". And that's just what this gelatinous dessert does when cold. It's a traditional dessert from Puerto Rico based on coconut. The recipe and photo are courtesy of our friend and chef Cielito Rosado. Yields 8 ServingsPrep. 10 Mins. Cooking 20 Min.Ingredients: 4 cups coconut milk ½ cup sugar 2 cinnamon sticks ½ cup corn starch cinnamon powderDirections: 1. In a medium pot, put the coconut milk, corn starch, sugar and cinnamon sticks and let cook until it boils. 2. Pour into serving dishes and let cool in the fridge for several hours. Sprinkle cinnamon powder as decoration. Serve cold.
How NOT to respond to Freecycle (and similar group) Postings for FREE items
Freecycle is a series of groups around the world, where people offer items for free to others, in order to keep usable articles out of landfills. There are other online groups similar to Freecycle, often with names including ‘share/sharing, free, giving’, etc., as well as Cheapcycle groups (local groups designed as a way for people within a community to obtain low cost goods/sell their items of value for a small price, without giving them away for free). If you’re not already familiar with such groups in your area, it is a good way to clean out the clutter you don’t want, while helping others out with things they want/need, but maybe can’t afford, or haven’t thought about purchasing. There are also some members in my local groups who will take non-working appliances, computers, etc., fix them up, and offer or sell for low cost to those in need.This is also a great way to try out a new activity or hobby, without breaking the bank buying supplies, in case you decide you don’t enjoy the activity.
I enjoy sharing things I no longer want or need with others who need them. However, I have an issue with certain types of people, particularly those who jump as soon as something is posted, regardless of whether they actually need or want the item, in order to collect as much as they can, probably for resale. I prefer to post late night or in the middle of the night, and wait a day or two before selecting who will receive the items. I do this so that people with all schedules, as well as those who are busy raising families and working, and may not have much time to get online (not just the ones who have every listing sent to their mobiles), have a shot at seeing the listings and responding, which I think is only fair.
The point of all this is to share information, because I know some people aren’t aware of the existence of these groups (you can search under Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, etc., to find local ones), as well as to provide some tips on etiquette for responses.Also, if you will be posting to/responding to a lot of different groups, I recommend creating folders in your email inbox, to help organize the information. Below are some responses I have received for items I posted on my local groups. Note: I posted 5 separate items. I used initials to show that some people request multiple items, and they may or may not be the person’s actual initials.
Item 1 responses (high value item):
I can pick up to tomorrow if you still have it. Please and thankyou RR
May I please have WH
I'm interested RA
Do you still have these? I am interested. I live in NB. TL (note, I have no idea where NB is, although I’ve lived here for years) (also, not sure which items ‘these’ are, since response was to 1 of my 5 postings)
Do you still have them? I am a teacher in XXXXXX. It would be convenient for me to pick up. TF (not sure which items ‘them’ is, since I listed 5, & only 1 was replied to by this person)
If you still have it, i can get in a now...R (not sure what in a now means)
hi, I'd like to use the XXXX. I can pick it up this evening or over the weekend. Please let me know. Thanks, G
Item 2 responses (also high value item):
Interested in this also.
Please and thankyou R
May I please have WH
Item 3 responses:
Yes my father migjt fic it for me aldo ple as e. WH
Item 4 responses:
None yet
Item 5 responses:
If I may please have it all sonce ill ne threre. Please. WH (note emphasis: bold/large font is mine)
I posted the items about 9 hours ago, so there will be many more requests. When you sign up for this type of group, you set how frequently you will receive messages. As I said above, some people have each individual posting sent to their mobile phones, which, in a busy group, means you most likely will be deluged with listings.Many of us who are busy or have a limited number of text messages/emails we can receive on mobiles, select to receive postings in Digest form instead, which means we receive an email containing many separate postings within the one document.This also means that there is often a delay between when items are posted and when we receive the listings via digest mail, which is one of the reasons I wait a while before choosing who will get which items.
I am a big fan of groups like this, especially in a poor economy, when so many are in need, and I much prefer the idea of useful items going to a loving home, rather than taking up space in our landfills. I hope some will find this useful, and will look into similar groups in your areas, if you’re not already participating in them. I know none of my readers would reply as some of the above have, but I am posting this to show the variety of responses you can expect to receive in response to your postings if you do decide to join such groups. Have a great weekend, and please consider passing on those items you no longer want/need, to someone who could use them.
Note: since I'm posting this on @DBSLKitties blog also, I thought I would let y'all know that sometimes it is possible to obtain pet supplies this way, so if you have animals, & are struggling, you can try posting for unwanted/unused supplies. Some people will offer blankies, petbeds, unused/unwanted toys, leftover food, litter, etc.
Those who know me well know that I've had issues in the past with stalkers, both in real life and online. I try to keep my life as stress-free as possible, because I live with chronic pain and chronic fatigue, and stress can exacerbate both conditions. Because of that, I know I have to live someplace where I feel safe.
The neighborhood where I live is somewhat isolated from the community at large, but I have good neighbors, and feel safe here. I'm friends with some of my neighbors, and acquaintances with others, but it's the type of place where we wave when someone drives by, say hi when someone passes us on the street, and share food if we've cooked extra, or if the fruit trees produce an abundant crop.
I got a puzzling email the other day from a friend who is also a neighbor, mentioning 'the guy in the truck by my driveway', with no further explanation. No doubt, she thought I was already aware of the situation, but I had no idea what she meant. I stopped over to ask her about it the other night, and what I heard exemplified my definition of community.
My neighbors know that I live alone, and do not have a lot of people in and out of my house. Early the other morning, around 5:00 or 5:30, one of my neighbors pulled out of his driveway to go to work, and noticed a strange truck parked in front of my driveway. I have a large driveway, so there was no reason if someone were visiting, that they wouldn't just pull into the driveway next to or behind my vehicle. He'd never seen the vehicle near or at my house before, and my lights were off, so he wondered what was going on.
Rather than just driving off to work like many, if not most, people would do, he drove around the block to get another look, and when he did, he saw a man sleeping in the truck. Seeing a strange man sleeping in the truck alarmed him, and he called his wife, because he didn't have my phone number. He knew his wife didn't have my phone number either, but he knew that she could call their next door neighbors who are good friends of mine, and that they would have my number. So, he relayed the information to his wife, who called my friends.
Because my lights were off, and they knew I was most likely asleep, my friends decided to call the police, to have the man checked out. A few minutes later, two patrol cars showed up, and the police talked to the man to determine who he was, and why he was sleeping in his vehicle in front of my driveway. It turns out that he had a reason for being in the area, but as with most domestic-type situations, the reasoning behind sleeping in the vehicle (especially in front of my driveway) was somewhat illogical. However, the point is that I wasn't in any danger, and if I had been, my neighbors were watching, and went above and beyond what most people nowadays would do for a neighbor.
All of this occurred right outside my house, and I was totally unaware, because I was sleeping peacefully. I have several weapons here at the house, so I know I could protect myself if someone got in, but now I can rest easy knowing that it would probably never come to that point, because here in this community, we take care of one another.
Sometimes things come together perfectly. The other day, I was running around doing errands, but my mind was in another place. I was struggling with a personal issue and kept reminding myself that things would get better, but was still having trouble letting it go. I was about to get into my car, when I saw a lizard on it. I like lizards, so I tried several times to pick it up, because i wanted to put it in some grass, so it would be safe. The parking lot was all concrete, with no grass in sight, but I figured eventually, it would find some. The lizard was having no part of it. Every time I got close, it scooted to the opposite side of the car. Eventually, I gave up, & told it to just hold on tight.
I was about a 25-minute drive from home, so my mind wandered during the drive, and I started fretting over the personal issue again. When I pulled into my driveway and got out of my car, there was the lizard, on the roof of my car, still holding on. I looked around, at the grass and trees, and realized that just by holding on, the lizard had totally changed its circumstances. Maybe I can do the same.
This has been a particularly severe Winter for this part of Texas. We've had multiple freezes, which have resulted in power outages, burst pipes, loss of plants and trees, etc. Thankfully, the kitties & I have not been affected, other than having to wrap the pipes, trees, & plants. But, every time the temperatures drop, I think of a decision I made back in November, and am thankful I did. That decision was to take home another kitty, on top of the 3 I already had.
I was at mass on a Saturday night in November, and each time someone entered the church, a white kitten would follow them in. Each time, the person would put her back outside. I'd never seen a cat behave that way, and I kept feeling that God had put the cat there for a reason, but I couldn't imagine what that reason could be. Finally, the priest said to let her stay in the church, that God had sent her, but she had already been put back outside, and no other latecomers arrived to let her in.
I stayed around after Mass, and asked if anyone could take her in, but nobody could or would. The priest said not to worry about her, that somebody would eventually take her home, but it was a frigid night, especially by the water, where the church is. I fed her a small snack bar I had in my purse, and she gobbled it up, purring all the while. I walked away to get my car, while turning things over in my head. I imagined how turbulent things would be at home if I brought a new kitten into the mix, as well as wondering whether I could afford the cost of feeding and taking care of another cat.
I had pretty much convinced myself that I couldn't bring her home with me, but decided to drive over by her, and open the door. If she got in the car, she would go home with me. So, I drove over to her, opened the door, and she climbed in. She jumped up on my lap, and held on for dear life, so we drove home together.
I was correct about the difficulty of integrating her into the household. It has been a challenge. She had fleas and worms, and spent a lot of time isolated in the bathroom until I could get those issues under control. Then, Christmas Day, she went into heat. I had scheduled for her to be fixed, but the clinic's schedule was full, so it was a while before the surgery could take place. I had no experience with a cat in heat, because my cats have always been fixed. It was a difficult time, because it upset the other cats, and we had strays parked outside until her 'season' passed, but now she's fixed, and is settling into the household. For the most part, the other cats are accepting her. It took quite a while, but I finally named her Kelly.
Every time the weatherman announces another freeze, I look at Kelly, snuggled up and comfortable, and think of what her life would be like if I had left her at the church. She has seizures occasionally, and when she has one, I hold her in my arms, stroke her fur, and talk to her softly until it passes. I think of how difficult her life must have been living on the street, not knowing if there would be a next meal, having seizures, covered with fleas, having intestinal worms, being all alone and cold, and I thank God for bringing her into my life.
Kelly has invigorated the household. She loves to run around and play, alone and with the other cats. She has an abundance of energy, and her presence has changed the dynamic within the house. I had made her a little bed in the bathroom that she was comfortable on, but when she discovered my bed, she was in Heaven. She loves to snuggle, and follows me around the house, talking to me. My heart has expanded since she found me, and I'm very glad I made the decision I did, and brought her home. We've almost settled into a new routine, and our family is now complete with the newest member, Kelly, our Valentine.
Those of you who use Twitter may have seen posts including #SOT. The hashtag (#) or number sign, designates a search topic or category, and the SOT is an acronym for Support Our Troops.
PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is a psychological/psychiatric disorder that can result from a person being subjected to a situation where their life (or physical integrity, as in the case of rape/sexual assault) was in severe danger. Not everyone exposed to traumatic situations will develop PTSD, and 2 people exposed side-by-side may react differently to the stimulus/trauma.
Ken Jones (@akvet on Twitter) is a former soldier who developed combat-induced PTSD, and he's written two ebooks to help others learn about and cope with their combat-induced PTSD. The two ebooks are free, and can be found here: http://whenourtroopscomehome.com/sot-How-Can-Help.html.
It would be great if you would share this information with troops/families/providers in your local area, but we'd also like for you to join us in informing others about combat-induced PTSD via Twitter and/or other social media. We're looking to educate not only the troops, but also the families (parents, spouses, etc.) of affected troops, because this disorder can affect all those the troops encounter, not just themselves. Additionally, this information would be useful to professionals who may encounter current or former military members with combat-induced PTSD in their practices. Information about the #SOT effort is located here: http://whenourtroopscomehome.com/sot-welcome.html. If you're interested (and I hope you are), read about what's involved, and join us.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you choose to join us in this very important effort to support our troops and their families!
