"Mr. Wiggles, I will Love You Forever"!

He is my precious wiggler enduring yet another condition, unheard of, during his later years. His breathing became raspy earlier this year then morphed into other problems. He certainly did not deserve it, no dog does. As I wrap my thinking around it all, I wondered till I wondered no more.

It all began this year, in February. His hollow sounding, croupy voice came out of nowhere. It took me by surprise. Cool air, a common thread at this time of year in Canada, soothed throat and breathing. upon examination, the doctor asked me to time his respiration rate as he slept or napped. A rate faster than 30 beats per minute spelled trouble.  His was always lower and quiet. And so I watched, timed and counted from that moment on till this day. How could I not perform this simple act while my puppy slept. I needed to know if things could get worse.

There were surgeries galore listed to ameliorate this larynx problem. All acted a harsh penalty: in one case, post operative death rate was 60%. No thank you. The dog had to be silenced for several weeks during recovery. Really? No barking for a animal who communicates through his barking? How do I explain this ridiculous notion to him.? 

No collar. That was easy. Immediately, a harness was bought and used immediately. No time like the present. A food stand was used to keep all his food at eye level preventing the strain on his neck, back, larynx. All were positive actions to be taken to keep that other thing from happening. Nothing heroic was ever undertaken, just easy, make sense ones.

Everything was going according to plan till an unexpected visit to the doctor to plan for his future turned dire. A few minutes after arriving home my dear precious wiggler, still wiggling as he always did, died at home desperately trying to breathe. Frantically I tried to get him back into the car to get him the lifesaving help he needed. But time ran out. My 86 pound Mr. Wiggles, died courageously, with me by his side. I am heartbroken and will be for a very long time....... Good bye my precious little pup. 

The Body, A Miracle Machine

It was the year 1979. At the time, I thought his sudden birth was unimaginable. Yet, today, I wondered, had his early traumatic arrival saved his life? The study of preemies had not begun till !980.

I was talking to our newest member of the the mother-to-be group. Like me she was not much of a meat eater, relying solely upon fruits and vegetables to 'build' her baby. Protein is a primary body builder for the successful outcome in any healthy pregnancy we discussed till I had the epiphany.

As a mother to be in 1979, I was sick, every minute of every day, as I emptied the critical contents of my body's nutrients  down the drain. This constant 'flow' of food relived the stress upon my body, day after day, but did little to nourish the baby growing inside me, I thought. I worried, non-stop. But worry did nothing to change anything so I devised a simple plan: sleep whenever possible.

With two retrievers to care for, I slept when time allowed. Keeping food inside where it belonged became my top priority. Nothing else mattered or worked. Cravings of pickles and ice cream did not exist. Simple nutritious foods did, yet could not reserve a spot in my body. Violent episodes of losing food ruled the day. Today, the child of this pregnancy, my first, is a strong man, having beaten the odds of death when he was born 27 weeks into the pregnancy.

Little food remained while our son developed and grew inside me, I told 'Sally' (He is a strong man today.) For me there was no such thing as cravings. I simply detested most foods but somehow managed to eat some worthwhile products such as eggs, buckwheat kasha. Though very little food could be tolerate, my fetus managed to grow and thrive, I guess, because at birth the doctors remarked how big our first born was for being just over 3 months early. 

Three pounds, 2 ounce was the final score. I had managed to deliver a healthy, underweight preemie while discarding all food during this 6 month pregnancy. Remarkable! Mother nature knew what she was doing 'cause I certainly did not.

Had our son entered a healthier period of life after being born 13 weeks too soon? Who would dare say such a thing? Upon arrival, a preemie struggles to survive. In my case, our son struggled for 6 months in utero waiting to be born, from a diet of tiny morsels of food being lost within minutes of being eaten. Vomiting had served its purpose.

I knew then that any healthy diet helped  the baby. The terms of the stay meant nothing 'cause Mother Nature seemed to know what she was doing. Always has, always will.

Absolutely Thirst Quenching and Delicious!

The most thirst quenching, refreshing, delicious and satisfying mid morning snack, lunch or breakfast involves crisp cold celery with an accompaniment...... Years ago, the Medical Medium got the world juicing this innocuous vegetable that is a third party in the mirepoix involving carrots and onions for soups, stews and dips.

We juiced and juiced celery, buying 10 or more stalks, at a time, then. Some of us became tired of this trend wondering what to do with the fibre left behind among other things. Celery muffins? Cornbread? Or in my case, stuffing muffins. .. Healthy smoothies or juicing is not trendy. They are for real, energizing body treatments, saving us vast amounts of dollars not buying that latte, (Momsey does not drink coffee) hotdog or pizza slice at Costco in those early morning hours of shopping. Money saved is not just money saved but money invested, as well.

This morning I needed and craved celery. It was an emergency, too, for our Mr. Wiggles, this health detoxifier for us and them. Our dogs have had celery included in their diets for decades, an elixir must have for good health according to the Medical Medium. 

We have been dog owners for over 50 years, learning, early on, that sugar had no part in an animal's diet yet there it was up close and too personal in many dog foods back in the 70's when I knew nothing about dogs. Who was cooking/producing this garbage for our dogs? No wonder there is an expiry date on their lives of 10 years or less. There is a a breed living in Portugal, age 27. Imagine that! No dog food there, perhaps. What creature can subsist on junk for 10 years. A real diet is what is needed. There must be fake credentials, somewhere.

(Corn syrup does not belong in an animal's diet.) Our pets are not your guinea pigs. Was this simply a sick joke perpetrated upon us, unknowingly? But I digress. Today I was reminded of my own love affair with celery since I was young. This morning's celery looked so good. So I bought two stalks and processed one to be added, at will, on the food of my puppy. Then came its perfect accompaniment: a tuna sandwich! I was so excited about the lunch I was about to eat.

Celery is a great crunchy eating thing with tuna sandwiches. That is what I had this morning. Using  a certain brown bread is a must. And it fits right in. That carb profile matches certain fillings. Egg salad,  as does ham and salmon on brown or white. Pick the bread that works. But what must be included is the star: 2 inch celery sticks and carrots, too, with fresh and crunchy radishes. Oh my. such a delight. Chomp, Chomp and you're done. Lunch is done at an unbeatable price. Make a bunch with or without crusts and away we go. Satisfaction guaranteed. Freeze in small pieces and lunch is ready for the hot days of summer

Engaging in the long lost art of tuna sandwiches and others, if available, is simply wonderful. Have we  moved away from the lost art of making simple sandwiches at home? Cake anyone? Yes, of course. But I sort of had that first, didn't I?......Celery seems like cake at certain hungry times for me.

Use mayonnaise of your choosing. Mix some with a dollop of olive oil, the best in the world, add finely chopped chives, celery leaves with onion powder, or not, - olives - finely chopped, spinach?? A tiny food processor I use regularly for our Wiggler works fine to chop veggie add-ins for those magical sandwich moments. Devilled eggs anyone? Me, too.

With many teeth gone from our Mr. Wiggler he was looking at me quizzically wanting that which might be difficult to chew. I offered him the finely tuned celery sticks, I had been eating.. I held one as he meticulously and carefully chomped on it using the few front teeth with - two canines still intact and other 'helpers' - loving every moment.. Yet it was only celery.

Celery is so loved, needed and wanted in Momsey's life and my Wiggler's. Finely processed it satisfies and improves overall health. It is must in chicken soup, Chinese stir fries,. Its appeal is magnified, too,when sandwiches are present. With smoked meat, a very special treat, lightly steam in frypan with a mesh cover on top to steam slices of frozen rye bread with caraway seeds. Mustard anyone? Invite the celery sticks or coleslaw. Everything is welcome here. Especially the celery and mustard. Celery is never out of place. 

Coca Cola and The President

Glucose-fructose. He knows all about it and he's only 7. The MAHA movement is beginning to shed more light on the most important issue of our lifetime: manmade chemicals in our food. If human health is not uppermost in our collective minds then what is, I ask?

A recent article in a Toronto newspaper about the sweeteners in Coca cola and such has Momsey upset again. How many articles need to be written to showcase the dangers of glucose-fructose. Even Dr. Oz has spoken about it on his show. The journey of this malevolent sweetener – glucose-fructose - was clearly illustrated in the British journal, Focus, which came to my attention, dramatically, years ago, in a large scale center spread inside. This rather large scale magazine showcased the sweetener's destination throughout the body as it moved towards the body's major detoxifier, the liver.

The U.S. president's love of Coca Cola is well known. He's now professing the user friendly ingredient of sugar in his favourite soda pop, Coca-cola. Though he is using the diet version even the president knows that sugar is the better way - as is glass that contains the liquid! (Micro plastics are entering our DNA at an alarming rate, I have learned)....(Our son, a former graduate of an honours Kinesiology program from a well known university in northern Ontario, agrees. We have two brains, too; the other one being in our gut.)

The unpleasant glucose-fructose story has been around for decades. This manmade sweetener found in foods and drinks has been a cheap sinister food prop in our daily lives since forever. Why? We are told that G-F is similar to sugar but much sweeter tasting, made from corn. Sugar, its costlier cousin, is being ignored. Recipes/formulas can be reformulated, any time, by any company, no permission needed). The power we wield starts at the checkout, each and every time. We are in this sweetener's grasp from morning till night - if we are not paying attention. Good health is our only reward.

The body is a smart machine telling us what it knows, at all times, and doing its best to keep us healthy. When ingesting highly processed foods the organs do what they must as they attempt to dispose of or eradicate those additives mimicking food from our body. The liver, the body 's filtering system/organ, is waiting to do its best to deal with any and all foreign substances we have eaten.

Years ago, a small article lingering near the bottom of the newspaper, far from the reading public's gaze, told the story of an unsuspecting victim, a 10-year-old, whose only crime was drinking fruit cocktails laced with G-F. She was diagnosed with cirrohsis of the liver, an alcoholic's disease. At her age, I hoped that all could be reversible with proper treatment and diet. We may have no problem ingesting foods made with G-F but the body has a host of troubles processing it.

As he presented me with my favourite candy of all time: marshmallow strawberries, I looked at the ingredients listed on the back of the package. He knew it was my favourite. We both knew it was bad. He asked mom if he could have one to taste, knowing that glucose-fructose was #1 on that list. He smiled at me and I, him, as we sampled one. Fresh and yummy it was, of course, but nothing to brag about. 

Long long ago this favourite candy was made simply, no G-F, only sugar I told him, I thanked this wise 7-year-old for this gift of love, candy and insights, promising, sadly, that those days were over. He was watching me now. I could not disappoint. I followed his lead. Mom just smiled.

We trust till we trust no more.

Pet Food/Human Food, What's the difference? ...

R.F.K. Jr. is making haste in the U.S. food supply. It is gratifying for me that these man made additives /dyes are now being investigated or removed from the 'processed' foods we buy. The dairy industry is now under scrutiny by its own hands to clean up its own industry. But I worry. “Is the milk from the cow which is given antibiotics  being sold to the public? In Canada, this by-product is thrown out I discovered.

What ever ever happened to salt, lemon juice or freezing, when necessary, to preserve the foods that require preservation. It must be the cost, the cost of refrigeration. The trucks used, the freezers on both ends of transportation and refrigeration carry a mighty cost, I assume. Electrical power is not cheap. Sprinkling an additive or two on food products is simpler and cheaper, perhaps, but not healthier. The dyes added to make food look appetizing and seemingly taste better might seem innocent enough until they're not. 

I do not remember a time when an expiry date ever determined our fate at the dinner table. Processed foods/t.v. dinners and takeout foods had no prominence in our lives then. We knew a stale loaf of bread when we held it or tasted it. It was still a valid food.

Today's children, it seems, are the main consumers of highly addictive foods, its largest consumer group - if mom and dad allow. I reasoned that food scientists,  formerly university graduates, hired by food companies to deliver a quality standard to the company's inventory knew and understood their duty to society, didn't they? Their presence in the laboratory was to protect us in our eating journey, away from the produce aisle. I am so confused. Now we have everlasting plastic, dominating the food aisles, entering our bodies via the blood while taking up residence in our DNA. What about the children? What about them? Does anyone really care? 

Years ago I wrote about the food industry's imagination! Each year 10,000 new 'products' were being created. “How could that be?” I wondered, nervously. What am I missing? The food groups were few. Slogans on packages stating, “Made with real cheese or cream”made me think do they know what they are doing? I make assumptions about where the cheese/cream should be and shouldn't it be in the mac and cheese? There is an expectation for me. Where is the confusion? What are they saying? I shudder. 

Is the Twilight Zone slowly working its way into our lives through the food we buy? A little help in the kitchen can be a dangerous thing, perhaps. Then we have food-grade to describe those preservatives used in a processed food product.  Please explain. Is the non-human grade version, engine oil? What exactly is a food recall? What does it really mean?

Decades ago, there was a world-wide food scandal epidemic in the pet food industry. It seems that many companies played follow the leader using the same basic recipe from one evil source. How does that happen? Where is the oversight where food is concerned? Daily monitoring should have been in place? Prices varied considerably. It seems that premium dog food marketers got caught, too. How could that be? Their high end dog foods were costly and are sold in specialty outlets. 

Thousands of pets died or became terminally ill when melamine-laced wheat gluten 'found' its way into the food bowls of our trusting pets offered by us, the trusting pet parents.. A despicable event that killed pets everywhere. There was advance notice, clues that things were amiss. Was anyone on duty?

Boiled eggs are now a regular feature for our 12-year-old 86 pound retriever, ill since 2020, in addition to his 'pet food' alongside his daily 'processed' carrots, celery, peas and pineapple, among other foods. The processing step belongs to my tiny 2 cup food processor. Every day is a surprise but the additions are 'human-grade' and nutrient dense for him. Cucumber. a daily delight, is stripped of its seeds, as it should be, before being sliced or 'processed'. Some teeth are missing from root reabsorption so a little 'help' is needed.

Easy peasy is not costly, difficult to prepare or hard to find. Even an apple can get us and them through short term hunger. Turning a simple food into something unrecognizable with high heat, sauces and other ambiguities puzzles me. Why? What is the point? The food was fine, right from the start. Silly to ruin it for what? I do not understand. The shake up in the U.S. food industry is here.  I hope it stays. 

There is nothing more important in life than high quality food for man and beast. ...... Good Luck Dr. RFK Jr.

Fifty, Forty, Thirty or Twenty Years Old

As I surveyed our outdoor  wrought iron furniture I was reminded of its age - over 50 years old. Then I thought of my car, nearly 20. Much of our indoor stuff hovered around 30. Only those items containing a motor of some kind were subject to elimination at some point in their future. Being a mechanical genius gave life to those pieces, oft marginalized, when that skill was missing from its owner. 

Money saved is money needed for another day to pay the bills ensconced in our daily lives for that rescue puppy or near death kitten, still arriving to greet us.  Buying inanimate objects whose trappings encapsulates us for the moment must be eschewed. Poor buying decisions can ruin a life or a lifetime; its frequency, a reminder that tomorrow is coming. Raising children to respect money's power starts with using some of their own money for that special 'gotta have it moment'. 

Vocabulary used to buy or sell can sometime determine the life and longevity of items we use - chairs, tables, sofas, to name a few. Instead of used, preowned or second hand, we give royal life to those items labelled historic, antique or vintage in the hopes that its value is greater, thus a higher price. Know the difference. Buying preowned is a good thing.

We have online shopping and delivery, in a heartbeat. Shopping has never been so easy. quick and in some cases, without thought. An unimaginable side trip with dire consequences awaits. A quick click, here and there, repeated often, can send us towards bankruptcy.

My cell phone was 26 years old when, in short order, my number was lost and sold. The service provider, the oldest in Canada, no longer accepted its duty to the client we were told by its service technicians. Too many people wanting too many things? And who made that happen? Necessity forced us to change again. Connections were in another language. Communication was gone. We were in a wasteland not of our making. No one was listening. We were forced to 'move' again.

I look around and realize the importance of loving not liking the items you buy. If clothing cannot be guaranteed a long future then its purchase must be seriously considered, if not ignored. There is no money tree. Remembering long loved items from a time forgotten helps recall the memories of a life well-lived. Missing out on an item gives rise to one important fact:, I was never meant to have it!

Decades ago our then 7-year-old faced his first buying dilemma. The item he saw in a store was 'yelling' at him. (I had mentioned the emotional context we all have with shopping. Inanimate objects can talk to us, a gut reaction we can't kick easily). A strong emotional connection had been formed not to be dismissed easily. Saying no to him in this instance would have been unfair, I knew. (Self worth matters to a small child). In this instance, the playing field is not level and the child is powerless.  A deal was proposed to give him half of the selling price, tax included. He was happy; the deal with mom, fair.    .  

After working tirelessly to pay for his share, our son ended the deal. He had worked too hard, for too long to waste money on something not that important anymore. His shopping future was waiting with unlimited choices to be made. Companies did not care about his bottom line. He did. Waiting was a valuable tool with a lesson learned. The 'yelling' game or this gut reaction helped determine this buying moment. When money is not spent foolishly we win.

I had moved the decades old 5-foot wrought iron bench to a spot closer to the garage. The work would start this summer. I was ready and able but tired of waiting. Years spent 'weather-waiting' and providing kennel care for a multitude of family fur balls had kept me in a holding pattern. This beautiful outdoor treasure, awash in rust and other weather related horrors suddenly became the attention of another whose skills would do it more justice than I ever could. I was not an artist. He was. 

As I surveyed its current status, recently, I was amazed at the transformation. Like new, in dramatic fashion, with more work to come, however, it was a treasure beyond belief, worth a king's ransom. Nothing like it existed in the marketplace today, I knew. I had seen its potential and so did its new owner. Its beauty, nearly restored and brought back to life, was now a priceless work of art.

Simple. Elegant. Divine.

It lingered long past the visit. The warm feeling felt, stayed with me till the next day at brunch or lunch, not sure which. Stress was knocked out of the park. I would have to wait for more of the delicious meal tomorrow. But at least I had experienced fine dining perfection, again, at this welcoming place of love and caring. And there was no restaurant in sight.

It was just a barbecue our son had said. It did not matter to us, never does. A little girl was becoming two tomorrow. We were seeing her today on that special birthday. It is the people, not the accoutrements that surround them, that matter to me. Wanting to spend time with us mattered to them. How lucky we were. Illness had spread to our families so we kept our distance to be sure. (Easter had been postponed.) We were just the grandparents. Other family would arrive at another time.  But we were here today with  simple clean food that took center stage on this celebratory day. Simple acts, maybe, but not to us.

The special all beef hotdog, on a toasted brioche bun, was delicious. Then the side dishes arrived. It was perfection. Even grandpa, known as silly pops to the girls, was happily engaged. Their attention was on sliced watermelon and the game silly pops had begun with them. A moment in time caught on video.

Sliced red onion, a simple green salad, alongside the simply adorned potato salad with a homemade dressing of lemon juice, mayo, spices were the hits of the party, with cucumbers diced for me by my 3-year-old granddaughter. Simple gestures performed by everyone let us relax and watch. Oh my. Even the large mug of black tea was perfectly delicious today. It did not seem that way at my domicile. What was missing, I wondered?

Her magic touch makes the difference And I had no part to play in this delightful spread. My ever present daughter-in-law made sure everything was perfect. Always is. Her attention to detail is everywhere, especially in the kitchen. (We are both in love with carefully grown and harvested Italian OO flour. Respecting the gluten makes all the difference in the world, it seems)

As the entree was being grilled, the buns were being toasted. Another delightful act of love and yummy. The green salad of romaine, orange bell pepper and tomato with fig balsamic dressing, new to my dressing repertoire, came next, in droplet form, food heaven for me as I ate red onion slices, leaving some for others. Remember, always share. (Red onions increase blood flow to the brain!)

We packed to leave knowing that fussiness is downplayed here. It was always about the people. I learn each and every time. If you are paying attention, learning always happens, slowly and with joy. Simple and plain at home becomes elegant and divine here. How does that happen? I must take copious notes.

Keep the steps clear and concise. At home I do it all. Here, I do very little, if anything at all. We are treated like royalty. There's a skill and nuance that only happens here where my son, 'daughter' and two little girls live. Looking forward to the magical salads tomorrow. Can hardly wait. Am I silly? Probably so. A new day; a new meal made by magical fingers sprinkled with love.

Laser in A Dog's World

It was introduced to me, years ago, while our then middle-aged Labrador Retriever needed something more than my talents to augment her health. Proper diet coupled with daily rigorous excercise with her very able-bodied younger brother was not enough. Laser treatments became a remarkable departure from the norm. It was the fortification needed in her formidable day of running, walking and being silly.

Recently, as our 12-year-old yellow retriever, Mr. Wiggles, all 86 pounds of kindness and love, alighted from the stairs to the patio outdoors unexpected cries of pain greeted me and the neighbouring dogs. What had happened since morning? It was now 7:00 pm.

Pain medication for our pup was available, naturally, but as a pet owner of over 55 years, much has evolved in pet health. (Food is medicine, Movement is medicine. Motion is lotion.) ... Processing strawberries, blueberries with celery and cucumbers has become the order of the day for my wiggler. 

These nutritional pain relievers help support the next step - cold laser treatment. (Lumps, previously checked, would be covered with bits of surgical tape so as to be easily seen and avoided. (Bringing heat/energy to lumps can 'energize' them if they are possibly precancerous lesions.) And so it began.

Laser treatments are a serious route to medical health. Medical miracle? For pain management, healing and the reduction of inflammation, preparation is key for this medical treatment. Goggles are worn to protect the eyes of everyone in the room, including the animal. (A towel on top of his head aids in his safety.) All metal surfaces are covered. The device must never be aimed at the eyes. Blindness can occur.

As I entered the animal clinic, the signs were there. ..DANGER!....The door to one room was still open, awaiting the participants while its contents, the covered metal table with the tools of laser were waiting for my Mr. Wiggles to enter. I had been here last week to watch. The miracle had begun its work on him since then.

Laser is not a toy. It is an affordable miracle in a healing device. Rules and regulations have not kept up to this remarkable medical treatment for our dogs. It is buyer beware. It is not a game to play but a powerful, healthy addition for what ails our pets. ..

My Dumb Phone

I have what is now being referred to as a dumb phone, the flip-phone. Interesting. The internet leaves no door open. When this new device entered my life, earlier this year, I thought a new service provider would be the beginning of something satisfying, after having replaced my old flip of 27-years. 

I own another flip phone. It is brand new and was sold to me in a store where young people were working. Perhaps jealousy reigns when a person decides to buy what serves them and is not influenced by the latest local or worldwide trend. Today the smart phone is king while directing us in all facets of our lives. Even our fridge talks to us if we want it to.  

The smart phone is a remarkable tool of the modern era, a camera in disguise, an insurance and medical device that offers up everything, non-stop. It's can be an addictive tool that can rob us of priceless time and put us at financial risk. We are its instrument of change, non-stop. The act of scrolling takes you everywhere: choosing a car, vacation spot, restaurants a la mode and on and on. Dating sites. Well, I 'll leave that one alone.

My flip phone is cute, costs less, is smaller and does whatever it wants all the time. Once upon a time, a very long time ago, one rotary black phone ruled the roost and somehow I managed to live, go to school, get a career going, get married, have children of the human and animal kind just as the chat room was looming large.

Life is more hectic because some other entity - large or small - has figured out we're easy prey while making the rules some of us live by. Who is in charge anyway? Websites that look the same yet only one is real..... Now what? 

Already there are too many#s all over the place. Clubs abound everywhere. Only a few are worthwhile. Food clubs and delivery for our lazy selves. It takes one salmon sandwich or a 'healthy hot dog to fill me up. The salad is here to compliment my health and the meal.

Whatever happened to “user friendly'? Email has replaced telemarketers to annoy us forever. A manual for those appliances and cars would be nice reading. I do not want or need to be on the computer, my phone ignoring all those real parts needing me. Mr. Wiggles' life would be diminished. My 'dumb' phone is not dumb. I might be if it was the center of my life. A phone did not save my 8-year-old's son's life. I did. My phone serves me not the other way around. Where is that black rotary phone I used to love? And 'email is easy'. Oh, how it is.

Touch is overrated. Walking past my clothes washer a week ago I accidentally locked it. On other occasions cycles were started. (I knew the secret to unlocking this decades old appliance as it sat there smiling smugly at me.) 

Improving our lives with streamlined devices- large and small - is not always a step in the right direction. ... Too many things on one device can cause too many other things to simply malfunction. Bankruptcy is but a click or two away. When does the work day end?

Leave the phone inside where it belongs. Where is my calm and happy boy? Let's go outside again to bounce, breathe and chase each other. That is so fun just like reading a book, eating an apple as I hold it for you my boy or massaging your legs at night. There is nothing dumb about any of that! It is called   real life on my terms.

Best Blueberry Pancakes

It was blueberry pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A business trip had taken him away till Thursday. Since Sunday evening, cleaning out the fridge of leftovers was the aim of my cleaning out the fridge game.

Sometimes, leftovers were just the best. I did not have to remind the cook of no salt, low salt and fry only till golden. She knew what was expected and why. Then came those blueberry pancakes. When blueberries were in the fridge pancakes happened. Blueberries can be added on top of pancakes as they are fried or in a small amount of batter to be used. Common sense rules in the kitchen!

Making pancakes is an easy filling meal. Blueberries, when available, upgrade my pancakes to gold star status. I'm ready. No recipe required, only the desire to do it. Even a mistake is still delicious. Begin with flours of your choosing. I use organic, always, then add 00 Italian flour ( a more optimistic version of a sort of gluten-free) This mix pleases everyone. A wire whip to sift through the dry ingredients adds air for light, cloud-like pancakes. Adding baking powder and a tiny amount of baking soda prior to using the wire whip lightens the dry mix and is needed for leavening..(When an acid is added, baking soda rides along.)

Adding eggs with olive oil/avocado oil or melted grass fed butter with 'buttermilk' to create a 2 to 1 ratio of liquid to dry ingredients results. Vanilla can be added into the liquid 2-cup measure. Buttermilk can be made using oat milk, regular cow's milk or any other milk. (I have discovered that oat milk makes the best buttermilk.) Adding fresh lemon juice to the milk transforms it into buttermilk, the homemade cheaper, delicious and custom made version. Organic is now available. My dad used to drink ready made buttermilk. I could not. But in baked products, a zesty flavour results, nonetheless.

Adding the liquid into the dry ingredients transforms the mixture into an airy glorious batter. Leftover batter can be used again with a myriad of other ingredients such as chopped chicken, salmon bits, veggies, red onions and mushrooms - just like a sub or a burrito. You decide the framework of those rolled yummies.  ... A hearty meal results saving you time, cost and effort. 

Some foods, dressed up as meals, can transform meal time preparation into the simplest of food fare with time leftover to do other important things. And in a pinch, cooled leftover blueberry pancakes can stand in as a snack for mom and dad and 'cookie' for the kids.

Out of The Mouths and Hands of Children

It began in earnest. Being invited to a Lego city/airport event near the kitchen made this baba feel very special. I had to follow them, I was told. These two radically changing grandsons were quickly becoming thinking people, ready to tell and show me the world in so many words and blocks..

Thinking for oneself is a critical life skill, of course, but remember dear children, your mom and dad are the bosses of you till you are 18. I will remind you. The moment to move to another locale this morning was followed, enthusiastically. How would the afternoon unfold? There was so much to say, show and explain to me. It was time for a break. Into the kitchen we went. I sat at the table replete with learning material. Their mom was a genius. There was nothing that did not excite her as she home schooled these  brilliant scholars in readiness for her visionary school of the future. Fractions were already on the table. Three hours a day. that's all. Cursive writing was on the menu, too, between sports, whales and butterflies. So many parts all in one. Anything, even pasta making and doughnuts were curriculum material.

The former three-year-old, now 4, went on about not drinking dairy. “Well, I replied, in my day that was what was offered and we drank for health and strong bones. It was my story back then. "But I also believe what your mom says."There was no choice then. We bought dairy products from a dairy, a close connection to the farm, a higher quality choice. Cabbage rolls and pierogies needed these toppings. The older boy - all of seven - began his tirade about glucose-fructose. You have learned that lesson well, my sweet boy. This sweetener was everywhere, I knew, the reason many products are not for sale in our family.

We went upstairs to see Legoland in action. They were anxious to show me with an intensive conversational landscape what was happening there. I asked why with every breath I took. Even the 'puppy' crawled underneath the bed to be near her brothers. It was action, born of words. More miracles to be seen and heard. Then it happened. A week later a look at the single serving box of Fruit Loops, in the hands of the 7-year-old during a family visit brought me to attention. Here we go again.

RFK Jr. had spoken about the food dyes ruining health and causing disease in America. In Canada it was a different story in a few cases perhaps. Fruit Loops had been the exhibit under cross examination today. More processed foods beckoned for that closer look. But there were so many more foods under the microscope. 

This child's red pen began circling the real food colours listed on the side panel, an exercise in homework, I thought. Such insights, Big words indicating the health benefits introduced him to another world of health and discovery. He showed me the proof, happy to know that in Canada, in one instance, anyway, a healthier choice had been produced. Nice touch but not enough. My grandson  seemed pleased at the revelation, nonetheless, And so we continued. ....

Making Health #1- (March 30th post- during power outage)

Making America healthy again should have been the mantra, all along. Optimum human health should be at the top of all government agendas. There was a time when I was naive that I believed all the nutritionists and scientists, created in universities all around the world, then hired by food companies, were there to protect the food supply - farming, agriculture and food processing - for the human race. Is there a hidden agenda? Is there a money trail unknown to the consuming public that allows food groups to exist in a format that helps create that non-stop desire to eat? We are in charge, are we not??

Food's purpose is to help the body recover, heal and maintain a steady stream of valuable food nutrients keeping it in good condition for growth and development. We have organic, NON/GMO, hothouse, greenhouse and others. The food world of the past was a simple time, a cleaner time, too. Gluten free did not exist. The whole point of eating is to refill our reservoir of health for the human body. Longevity is the name of the human game.

So RFK is now in charge. Someone should have been all along. Glucose-fructose, an inexpensive sweetener, is bad news and has been for decades. I wrote about its deliterious effect on our bodies years ago. ... I was shocked from what I learned. Focus, a British publication, illustrated its journey with a gigantic color filled diagram showing where this manufactured sweetener was heading- straight to the liver where garbage generally goes, arrows pointing to this overwhelmed organ. It was scary. 

Glucose-fructose is still with us today, floating in all manner of products we use everyday. ... Decades ago, its introduction was found in familiar drinks called 'cocktails' but has been found in many 'everyday' add-ons such as ketchup, relish, mixes. When does it end? 

Taking short cuts, too often, with food, is a path to ill health. Even Dr. Oz has spoken about this food dilemma. How are we to discern those things that are 'o.k. for us to eat? Why did additives and preservatives become so prevalent in our food supply. The bottom line. That's why.

The food pyramid has changed. Who's intentions are being considered here? Has it now mandated us to consume more carbs? Should we be concerned? A trip to the perimeter of the grocery store with its live food section called produce, meats, and dairy, selected bakery items should be the first line of defense in keeping us healthy, the purpose for visiting any food market and a requirement for all food shopping adventures.

Eat an apple. It's a composite meal in one, loaded with taste. There are thousands of varieties, I have learned; its history, beginning in North Carolina with over a 1,000 varieties lost then found. Experts estimate over 11,000 heirloom varieties are extinct. Apples' history abound. They are everywhere for us to indulge, yet sometimes overlooked as the food to buy. We are smart creatures. I have heard. Do we know enough of the value in visiting the produce aisle for optimum health and wealth?

As I walked to the local pizzeria for that popular slice of pizza, the young boy passing me complained to his classmate,”I'm still hungry”. He had just finished eating his pizza slice. I looked towards him, remarking that an apple might have tamped down his hunger. Maybe he will think the next time and place one or two of these crunchy delights in his back pack to satisfy hunger when it comes calling. The urge to eat is ever present. Embracing real food helps reduce the mindless indulgence we all face everyday with food. Sometimes it is thirst not hunger that we feel.

A freshly minted body might cope with wrong choices for a time but not forever. The body accumulates toxins from some foods we choose to eat on a regular basis, then one day, responds in ways not expected. 

Homemade can be everything we hope it can be. But remember, the sauces added into the mix of protein and vegetables can cancel the benefits of the food or meal just made. And sugar in all its guises is not required for dietary health. It captivates our appetite to think it is an important link to health. It's not and never was! .... (Healthy fats help with the absorption of vitamins A,D,K,and E into the body) And fries could help. Beforehand, eat that delicious salad, a close ally of healthy fries. I do whenever I can.

The Language Link to Human Survival

It was the aha moment I had been thinking about for most of my life - without realizing it. Speech, not just language, is the link to our survival. I was shocked. I had felt its significance all along -for the past 3 decades - but had not thought of speech in that most dramatic way. Language and the expression of it was the key to learning but most important to our survival as the human race.

While reading the February 19^th copy of the National Post, a Canadian newspaper chain, I began to immerse myself in the chain of events that followed the Delta commercial jet crash as it tried to land on the runway of Toronto's Pearson Airport. The miraculous survival of the 80 passengers was indeed a story to tell. The details of this miracle landing with its trail of smoke and fire was riveting. How could anyone survive the crash? .Bu they all did.... As I turned the page I read about a different kind of miracle - that of human speech. It caught my attention in a most provocative way. There was a genetic link, the secret to our survival. It was a secret no more.

For decades I have enjoyed my subscription to Scientific America. But today's aha moment came from a newspaper where scientists from the University of Minnesota had discovered a genetic link to speech. I have always believed that the ability to speak is the beginning of learning and the building of cognition. but now it was more than that. (Scientists had been studying a protein variant found in our species to address our ability to speak. )

Telling little children to be quiet might not be the best route to follow as we try to teach them. They are innocent little scientists with no barometer of anything. They talk because they must. Their burgeoning brain beckons. The world is waiting. They must follow. Whatever we hear and whatever they say is reality in the moment. Correct pronunciation, though important, eventually, has no place here, yet.

As I have written previously, for a special needs child to learn, engagement is paramount in any way it manifests itself. Curriculum is irrelevant. Keeping things simple, structured, exciting, and sometimes very quiet for this unique child helps their learning style and life itself. (Balance is necessary in all we do.) 

Special education is just that - education that is special and working with yeast dough is the miracle at the center of this approach for them. Yes, the children are baking according to them. but more importantly they are learning to think, a crucial life skill for success and happiness. 

The  ultimate test for learning is speech. How else do we know what they know or want to know. It's the beginning of their evolution as a primary learner in the complicated world in which we live. (I was a former secondary school special needs teacher,  a parent of three former preemie boys and the recipient of an elementary education award for outstanding contribution.) Hopefully soon the magic will spread.

Extensive spoken language must be at the core of daily interaction with children. Who the child is takes shape through the medium of spoken language. Nothing else matters more. Hear me roar! 

Tied to a Post!

It was time for her to go. What better way than to tie her to a post in the frigidly cold night time air,  between zero and mind numbing temperatures, in an off leash park in Keswick, Ontario, Canada. Mother Nature can be so savage in her delivery. (A human nose can freeze in less than 5 minutes in mind numbing cold.) Parents have been known to keep children home from school on those days.

Dogs do not burrow into the ground during winter till Spring arrives nor do they hibernate till the warmer state of climes begins to showcase its sunnier side. Dogs kinda die a horrible death left on their own to figure it out. Dogs hide for warmth and protection, I imagine, but it is hard to do when they are glued to a frozen post. Thank goodness for the modern age of cameras everywhere. The precious 'pup', was seen on video, nearby, languishing next to its savior, an animal shelter. What a stroke of luck!

Responsible pet owners find loving forever homes for their beloved animal companions when caring for them is no longer possible. To tie an adult pup to a post in the middle of a nasty cold winter's spell at night where no one is seen is cruelty at its worst. Must be nice to be all powerful, Mr. human. How do you manage to look at yourself in a mirror from now on? An innocent was sentenced to death by you.

Why did you bother to adopt the dog? Did your children fail to care for it? Have you since gotten tired of the tiresome routine as it -the dog- decided to become more burdensome, just like that? Since when are children responsible for a living creature with multiple daily needs anyway?  ..Any adoption of a pet is a whole home responsibility. 

The video showed you dropping off your puppy- and she was that! You walked her to her place of death. The temperatures were mind-numbing. Do you know what that means? Of course you do. We all do. As you walked away to your truck she watched you, wondering why you were not taking her with you. She is a puppy, an innocent creature, the officials discovered. She trusted you but was now confused by your actions. How could you do that her, a 'toddler' of the canine world? What was her crime?

She was just learning about life. Giving her to someone else else would have been a better decision. In an off-leash park late at night in winter was a terrible choice of locations. The mall would have been better. But she had no say in what you did to her. Thank God she was found alive. ... Now she is with strangers and soon to be adopted. I pay homage to the world of cameras and videos. Those sometimes loathsome tools saved her life!

Every person within the confines of a group called family are duty bound in the care of any pet residing there. A bearded dragon lived with us over the summer one school year. I participated when called upon. It was strange. He was a prickly little thing. But I loved him, nonetheless.  One day, a power outage lasting 33 hours made me nervous.  Could he die? (The dragon requires non-stop heat and red light overhead.) Upon his death, later in life, and the death of our 16 year old cat, found on a country road one mind numbing -25 day, affected me in ways that defy anything I had ever experienced. Living with family does that. I had bonded with creatures the moment they became ours. Family is family, after all.

A pet deserves respect, care and a learning curve that honours its limitless intelligence. Where is your humanity? Nowadays, help is but a click away or a chance encounter with an animal shelter. There is no excuse. Your cowardice act was despicable. The animal was powerless. Was she hungry, in pain or thirsty? Do you know? Did you care?

Decades ago,we adopted a 3-month-old puppy. This precious mini Labrador Retriever was dumped into a massive park in Toronto, surrounded by busy streets, city buses and other animals. She was caught just before the 'slam' happened and she was ours for the rest of her life. We were moving up north to nowhere, nothing rented. We adopted her without papers or thought. She needed a home and we were it. (We were all homeless together.) We loved her, cared for her and protected her  till her forever came to an end. ... Her death tore me apart. 

We kept one of her pups, born in her second year. Her 8 other children were sold quickly, at nominal price, to help cover the costs of care. Never again. (Animals given away might be treated with less regard than those 'paid for'.)

As new owners in the world of dogs, we never forgot to neuter our jewels at the right time. To set them free in the freezing temperatures of a Canadian winter is beyond belief. You took the time to adopt her yet discarded her later.  Did the seller care who got her? Did the almighty dollar dictate? She was powerless with no rights. But she does have them! We all do!Taking her anywhere for help was better than what you did. And you knew it!

And More Fries.......

We were on our way home that afternoon from a family visit. I had not eaten that morning. Suddenly an offer of an ice cream cone was made. Sure, I responded. I'm a big girl. I can do whatever I want. As we motioned into the drive thru of the next McDonald's, another thought came to mind. "I'll have a medium fries with that - no salt". It just seemed to be the perfect duo, totally self-indulgent with no food value in sight. I knew the line I was crossing but no one but my husband and me knew how low I managed to go..

There would be no evidence of any wrong doing. Our children were grown and living on their own with children of their own. They would never know what mom was doing. I drink Chinese teas - oolong, green matcha, green, white and others. (I know a wrongdoing when I see it)  Then there is hibiscus, dandelion root and others, too numerous to mention but a reminder that I behave much of the time. I love salad and need it to be happy but not just now. I needed to do what I needed to do.

The ice cream cone was devoured in record time. It had to be. It could not wait. The french fries were waiting and I was not going to eat them warm or cold. Time was of the essence. They arrived perfectly done. They were delicious. My brain had been smitten by his momentary lapse of judgement. Ice cream and fries? Who does that? Me.That's who.

I knew what to expect with those fries here. The whole takeout process is regimented and timed carefully. When predictability is mandated, I know where to go - where the fries are perfectly cooked. There are food protocols in place. I knew what to expect - hot fries, golden in colour with no added salt. I was satisfied and truly comforted by it all. 

It has been two weeks since that afternoon's misguided decision to eat fries with that, a processed sugar dominated ice cream cone. All of this on an empty stomach, too. No one knew. It was our little secret and I felt fine. When I got home, a proper meal would be made. Since I love mashed potatoes that might be included. Locally grown potatoes with grass fed butter and organic milk. Organic when it makes sense. Grass fed butter, too. Greenhouse or NON/GMO helps in my decision making. Organic might be the standard but it is rarely available where you shop for groceries. And sometimes the cost is too high with low grade produce. Choices need to be made.

I'm sure I will do this again down the road. Since I do all of the cooking using an airfryer, pressure cooker, i deserve a change of pace. I knew the rules. I cook everything and try new things. Today I made coleslaw with pineapple. I learned about this recipe as a diet supervisor at the world renown Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto decades ago. Was delicious then. Still is today. Even my pierogy dough is better today using Italian 00 flour, a flour slowly dried and traditionally milled in Italy. I wrote about its importance in my diet years ago. 

The other day on my way home, I was a girl who cooked but wanted fries now, predictably satisfying and done right with no salt.  I'm o.k. 'cause today my passion is leftover homemade roast chicken with  lots of homemade stuffing.  No ice cream or fries in sight. I was happy again.... (Momsey's stuffing is mostly  diced organic celery, red onion/yellow, dill, saute'ed in olive oil,  with added poultry seasoning,  or sage, marjoram over diced or processed sourdough bread, mixed slowly with added water or broth as needed. An egg can be included into stuffing then into the chicken or turkey. Can be baked in a loaf pan, rolled in parchment paper on sheet or directly into the cavity. Different ways to cook stuffing making it available year long. Love my stuffing sandwich! No fries with that!)

Do you Need Fries with That?

Recently, we stopped at a New York Fries Booth at our local mall. I was getting hungry and there were no leftovers at home for two. I cast a glance at the simple menu. I loved it. I'm a simple girl with down to earth tastes. Hot dog and fries were on my list. Simple and cheap.

At some of the most prestigious eateries, where fish and chips are main features, the fries were over done -(unhealthy and undesirable) and arrived salty when the request for none was given. There was no uniformity at all.

I was joyously surprised when I asked the young man at the New York booth if the 'just golden' in colour and 'no salt' added was a tall order to fill. No, he said. Then I saw the menu listing hot dogs. Nice touch to my take-out food order. I ordered two. The excitement was palpable. If the hot dog was less than expected. I would not order it the next time, just the fries. But alas it was more than expected. The bun was flavourful, delicious with a tender crumb; the hot dog, perfect in every way. The fries, a golden colour with no salt, were delicious. ...Oh My!

A new destination was now on my dining list. We shared the fries. The meal was a hit with a reminder to return and for my husband to order his own. With an air fryer available, leftover fries can be reheated so easily, replicating my visit to NY Fries.

Salt is the silent killer in our vast processed diet with fries being the main target for its delivery into our bodies. No thank you. I will salt if needed but there is no need. Salt abounds all around us in the toppings, protein choices and other foods we eat. Now we have a 'new kid on the block'- seasoned fries, a euphemism, in my opinion, for salt, because it is. 

This new twist on fries has 'head office' making the decision that we need more salt, Enough already. No thanks. My choice not yours. Salt is the sneaky ambush in our food. The food landscape is awash with many types of cuisine and simple food ideas at unbeatable prices. Choices abound: online, on foot and in person! We are not children. I can meet any low standard required in my kitchen. But sometimes I want to escape without fuss or bother.  

My 6-year-old grandson makes breakfast often, I hear and does a mean pasta and pierogy. I love both, homemade preferred. The taste difference is remarkable and oh so delicious. No degree required.  Takeout, take note: the rebellion has started. A new generation is here. Get rid of the excess salt and I'm yours.