Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #8 (but mostly about my dog Ruby)

The past week was very stressful around here.  My poor dog Ruby became very ill Monday late in the afternoon, and ended up vomiting all night long.  Unfortunately there are no emergency veterinary services in Santa Fe (I think there were only two, and both closed when the pandemic started).  The closest emergency clinics are in Albuquerque, and since I am not very familiar with the city I was afraid to take a sick dog there in an attempt to find one of the two clinics (I am very prone to getting lost).  I had to wait until 7:30 AM to get her to her regular vet, and by the time she got there she was dehydrated, feverish, and had a very high heart rate.

The vet started her on IV fluids and antibiotics immediately, and by the next morning she was well hydrated and her heart rate and temperature were normal, but she was still nauseated and refusing to eat.  She had vomited up a foreign object Monday night that none of us could identify, and even though x-rays and ultrasounds showed nothing we were afraid something was stuck in her digestive system.  She ended up having exploratory surgery on Friday, and the good and the bad news was that nothing was found.  We still did not know what was wrong, but the vet decided to put her on an appetite stimulant on Saturday.  By the time I got to visit her that day she was eating, but was still a bit groggy and sleepy from surgery.  I am waiting to hear from the vet today (Sunday) to see if the food she ate made it through her system with no problems.  If so, she can come home tomorrow.  (I decided to go ahead with this post only because I am trying to keep myself from stressing out while I wait to hear more from the vet.)

Needless to say, I have been anxious all week.  I had to make a quick trip into town on the day Ruby had surgery to pick up one of my prescriptions, so I decided I needed to wear a powerful color.  I chose head to toe plum purple, as purple to me is a strong color.  While I am normally not fond of this hue I do like the more reddish plum shade.  I also wore a little purple bear pendant under my tee for even more support.  Below is the outfit I wore for strength on the day of Ruby's surgery (it seemed to work as she came through the procedure with no problems, even though she is not a young dog):

Clockwise from top left: Acorn Favorite Cotton Sweater in Plum (no longer available); Sterling Silver and Amethyst Navajo Bear Fetish Pendant Necklace (no longer available - similar to mine); Maria's Room Super Tiny Silver Lined Purple Seed Bead Necklace (similar to mine); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MediPEDS Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Patrizia Pepe Skinny High Waisted Jeans in Plum (similar to mine); L.L. Bean Women's Long-Sleeve Interlock Mock-Turtleneck in Plum Grape (similar to mine).

🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

Please keep Ruby in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers from her scary health problem - she needs all the support she can get!  We are thinking that her digestive system just temporarily shut down for a while after the stress and trauma of her illness and that she should recover now - I will update this post when I hear more news from her vet.  What would we do without our pets to get us through these long pandemic days?  Take care of yourselves and your animals, everyone!

Update: Ruby got to come home today (Monday).  She is still not completely well, but I think she will recover faster at home where she is more comfortable and less stressed.  It is so good to have her back again - I missed her so while she was at the vet clinic!

Foodie Fridays: Easy Miso Soup

A while ago my husband sent me a couple of packages of a product called Sea Snax (see image below) which he claimed were an excellent substitute for salty chips.  Unfortunately, I hated them as a snack!  They are just dried seaweed, and that is exactly what they taste like.  Fortunately, I came up with a way to (slowly) work my way through the packages he sent me - making miso soup!

Since I did not want to spend the time trying to locate the ingredients for dashi that traditionally serves as the base for miso soup, I was delighted to find a recipe for 15-Minute Miso Soup that uses vegetable broth instead.  Vegetable broth or stock is pretty easy to find in the soup aisle of any grocery store.  In my area I also found white miso paste in the dairy section of one of our stores, but miso paste is also available on Amazon.

The few remaining ingredients are also easy to find, especially if you decide to leave out the greens and tofu as I did the first time I made this soup (they are traditional, but I have had miso soup without either before and it is quite good that way).  I do love green onions in the soup so I actually increased the amount I added to one cup, but if you do not like a strong onion flavor stick with the lesser quantity.  Of course you can use regular nori rather than Sea Snax, but since I have so much of the latter that is what I used, and it works just fine (I even doubled the amount to use it up more quickly).  Somehow warmed and softened seaweed is totally different and quite acceptable to me compared to the dry sheets, so I think I may eventually be able to use up what I have by making this soup, thank goodness!

Easy Miso Soup

4 C. vegetable broth
3-4 T. white or yellow miso paste
1/2 C. chopped greens (such as chard) or baby greens (optional)
1/2 C. sliced green onion
1/4 C. firm or silken tofu (optional)
2 sheets nori (dried seaweed), cut into large rectangles

Place the broth in a medium sauce pan and bring to a low simmer.  While the broth heats, place 3 T. miso into a small bowl, add a little hot water, and whisk until smooth.  Set aside.

To the broth add the greens, green onion, and tofu (if using silken, add at the end of cooking) and cook for 5 minutes.  Then add the nori and stir.  Remove from the heat, add the miso mixture, and stir to combine.  Taste and add more miso or a pinch of sea salt if desired.  Serve warm (best when fresh).  Serves 2.

Note: The version of this soup I made that is shown above has greens added, but instead of tofu I opted for Asian-style dumplings (Nayosa Organic Thai Basil Vegetable Dumplings), which are an excellent addition, by the way!

From Amazon

Wish List Wednesdays: Winter Wardrobe Essentials from JC Penney

St. John's Bay Cable Women's V Neck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Teal Marl

My standard winter outfit for running errands is jeans, a long sleeve tee, and either a crew neck or v-neck sweater.  For basic essential tees and sweaters, my favorite place to shop is the St. John's Bay Collection at JC Penney, especially at this time of year when both are available at deeply discounted prices.  While not all colors and sizes will be in stock during this end of season sale, there is a great enough selection that I can usually find more than enough options to add to my wardrobe.  The cotton cable knit sweaters are my favorites - they are heavy enough to be warm but light enough to not be bulky under my coat.  Check out the crew neck sweaters here and the v-neck ones here.

St. John's Bay Cable Women's Crew Neck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Brown Glove

St. John's Bay long sleeve tees come in mock neck (my preference), turtleneck, crew neck, and scoop neck.  All are 100% cotton and heavy enough to keep you warm without adding bulk.  Check out the crew neck here, mock neck here, turtleneck here, and scoop neck (actually more of a v neck) here.  If you have not shopped the JC Penney website or your local store in a while, I hope you will consider doing so - I would hate to see this store go under as so many companies have during the pandemic!

St. John's Bay Women's Mock Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt in Red Pepper

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #7

This necklace, yet another gift from my husband, is the one I wore for my essentials shopping trip.

Like most of the nation last week, we suffered through extremely cold temperatures, blustery winds, and significant snowfall (the latter much needed here in New Mexico).  We also lost power for about six hours on the first day of the storm, but luckily our electric company had it working again before our house got too cold.  By the end of the week the storm was over, temperatures were milder, and I was able to get to town for my essentials shopping trip.  The weather was still chilly and there was snow on the ground, so I dressed appropriately:

Clockwise from top left: Polo Ralph Lauren Women's Cable Knit V-Neck Sweater in Natural (color modified to more closely resemble my similar sweater); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Jacket in Warm Ginger (no longer available - similar to my much less expensive version (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); EMEM Apparel Women's Crew Socks in Brown; Propet Women's Madison Mid Zip Boots in Espresso (no longer available); Gloria Vanderbilt Women's Amanda Jeans in Coffee Roast; St. John's Bay Women's Mock Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt in Ivory; Center: Multi-Strand Tan and White Bead Necklace (similar to mine).

The next day I took my dog Ruby in for her second laser therapy treatment for arthritis, which does seem to do her some good.  Here is the outfit I wore for this quick trip into town:

Clockwise from top left: Acorn Favorite Cotton Sweater in Red (no longer available); Vintage African Carved Animal Necklace (similar to mine); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Jacket in Warm Ginger (no longer available - similar to my much less expensive version (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); EMEM Apparel Women's Crew Socks in Brown; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Gloria Vanderbilt Women's Amanda Jeans in Coffee Roast; St. John's Bay Women's Mock Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt in Chocolate Chip.

 

This is the necklace I wore when I took my dog to the vet - it is one of two that I actually made myself many years ago when I when through a brief crafty phase (the pandemic has me thinking I might want to try more crafts again!)

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We are in for warmer weather this week, thank goodness, although winter is not over yet in this part of the nation so I am sure we will see more cold and snow again before spring arrives.  I hope everyone out there is doing well and that those who lost power and water due to the weather have them restored by now.  Take care, and stay safe!

Foodie Fridays: Southwestern Roasted Cauliflower Chowder

In my opinion, nothing is better for a cold winter day than homemade soup.  When I saw the recipe for Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Chowder on the Two Peas & Their Pod website, I knew I had to make my own version.  I consider soup recipes to be more guidelines than instructions, and I decided to make a southwestern-style variation with ingredients I had on hand.

I had no celery, which was called for in the original recipe, but I did have turnips, which I roasted along with the cauliflower.  Instead of cheddar cheese, I used a container of Hatch chile queso blanco dip I had purchased from a local supermarket deli (feel free to substitute a jarred version such as this one if your store does not make its own).  I had some heavy cream to use up, so I added it with some almond milk instead of using regular milk.  My queso dip was quite well seasoned so I left out the herbs used in the original recipe, and since I use bottled minced garlic I cooked it with the carrots and onions instead of roasting whole cloves.

In the end, my version of cauliflower chowder bore little resemblance to the original, but it was quite tasty, if rather spicy (and spicy is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to warming up a cold day!).  I encourage you to come up with your own variation on cauliflower chowder, or follow either my recipe or the original as written, because any way you decide to make it this soup is sure to be warm and satisfying.  And what a great way to eat your veggies!

Southwestern Roasted Cauliflower Chowder

1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped (about 24 oz.)
3 medium turnips, peeled and finely diced (about 16 oz.)
2 T. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 C. butter or olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, diced (about 8 oz.)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 C. flour
4 C. vegetable stock
1 C. cream/milk (I used 2/3 C. heavy cream plus 1/3 C. unsweetened almond milk)
10-15 oz. queso blanco dip

Place the cauliflower and turnips on a large baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and toss until well coated.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Roast at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender, stirring once.  Remove from the oven and set aside.

In a large pot, heat the butter or olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and carrots and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir.  Cook until the flour is incorporated into the fat and forms a smooth paste.

Pour the vegetable stock gradually into the pot, stirring constantly to make sure no lumps form.  Add the roasted vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir in the milk and queso blanco dip until the chowder is smooth and creamy.  Season with salt and black pepper to taste if needed.  Ladle the chowder into bowls and serve warm.  Serves 6.

This 'n That Thursdays: All Creatures Great and Small on PBS

From Film Music Reporter

Have you been watching the new version of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS?  If you love shows about animals, the country lifestyle, and/or life in a small English village during the mid-20th century, then you should be!  I was a big fan of the original 1978 BBC series, which is based on the life of English country vet James Herriot, so much so that I bought and read the first and third of his five-book series (I don't know why I did not get the second, fourth, and fifth novels, so I am going to have to remedy that!).  I love the little blurbs on Amazon about Herriot's life, so I am posting them here verbatim:

"James Herriot (1916-1995) was the bestselling author of memoirs including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, and Every Living Thing. At age 23, Herriot qualified for veterinary practice with the Glasgow Veterinary College, and moved to the town of Thirsk in Yorkshire to work in a rural practice. He would live in, work in, and write about the region for the rest of his life. Though he dreamed for years of writing a book, his veterinary work and his family kept him busy, and he did not start writing until the age of 50. In 1979, he was awarded the title Order of the British Empire (OBE). His veterinary practice in Yorkshire, England, is now tended by his son, Jim Wight.

James Herriot (1916–1995) was the pen name of James Alfred “Alf” Wight, an English veterinarian whose tales of veterinary practice and country life have delighted generations. Many of Herriot’s works—including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, and Every Living Thing—became international bestsellers and have been adapted for film and television.

Herriot’s stories rely on numerous autobiographical elements taken from his life in northern England’s Yorkshire County, and they depict a simple, rustic world deeply in touch with the cycles of nature."

In case you missed this season's showing of the new series, you are in luck - the series is available for free online viewing here (with ads, unfortunately).  If you would like to view any but the most recent episodes on the PBS website, you must make at least a $60 donation, but if you donate to PBS anyway then this is as good a way as any to make your donation!  I missed the first episode, and our power went out right before the airing of Episode 6 thanks to our recent nasty winter storm, so I need to watch both episodes as soon as possible.  And even more great news - the series has been picked up for a second season!  I do love a good public television series, and in my opinion this is one of the best.  Below is the trailer for this show:

Wish List Wednesdays: What It's Like to Be a Bird by David Allen Sibley

If you are an animal lover and are looking for a great coffee table book, then get yourself a hardcover copy of David Allen Sibley's book What It's Like to Be a Bird ($28.99).  This large format book will delight anyone from the amateur birder to the most knowledgeable ornithologist.  More than 200 species are discussed, but the beginning of the book focuses on birds in general, and a plethora of fascinating facts is included on each page.  This book does not need to be read from cover to cover - just open it up to any random page from day to day and you can learn interesting facts about birds each time.  After the introduction, 96 species of birds are described in greater detail, with an author illustration of each bird (life size when possible) on the left page and descriptive essays about the bird on the right page.  This fun and easy to read book is temporarily out of stock on Amazon at the moment, but you can place your order now if you don't mind waiting for more to arrive.  Spring is coming and so are the birds, so this would be a great time to start learning more about our feathered friends!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #6

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have been caught up in too many different activities lately, so there was no wardrobe post last week, but I am finally caught up enough to get a post out today.  I did manage to find the time to set a Valentine's Day table (shown above).  Even though my husband and I are miles apart, it was important to me to do something to celebrate this special holiday.

My dogs were one of the reasons I was so busy last week.  My old dog Ruby started laser therapy for arthritis, and will probably need some chiropractic work for a pinched sciatic nerve as well, but hopefully these treatments will help her feel less painful when she walks.  Both dogs went in for a bath last Tuesday, and I ran a few errands while I waited for them - here is the outfit I wore that day (it was an unusually mild day, so I only needed a camisole under my sweater to stay warm):

Clockwise from top left: Crown & Ivy Crab Sweater in Navy (similar to mine, which has an all red crab and is no longer available - I wish this colorful one was available in my size!); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherwork Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MIRMARU Women's Crew Socks in Navy (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; prAna Women's London Jeans in Grey Denim (similar to mine); Forever 21 Basic Cotton-Blend Cami in White (similar to mine); Center: Sterling Silver Pearl Crab Pendant Necklace (similar to mine).

Friday of last week I realized I had forgotten to go to the bank, so back to town I went.  The otherwise mundane outfit I wore included a red sweater in honor of both Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year (the latter because in these pandemic times we need all the good luck we can muster)!

Clockwise from top left: Kim Rogers Women's Cable Knit V-Neck Sweater in Red (similar to mine); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherwork Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MIRMARU Women's Crew Socks in Navy (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Women's High-Rise Straight Jean in Light Wash (no longer available); L.L. Bean Women's Interlock Long-Sleeve Mock-Turtleneck in White; Center: Sterling Silver Link and Bar Chain Necklace (no longer available - similar to mine).

💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝🎉💝

We are having a severe cold spell for Valentine's Day, with blustery winds, blowing snow, and extremely frigid temperatures.  Our power went out for about six hours in the evening, which meant this post went out later than intended, but at least it is done.  I hope you had an enjoyable day, and that your week will only get better as it progresses (ours will certainly be warmer after today)!

Foodie Fridays: Scandinavian Autumn Fruit Soup

I have never had a warm fruit soup before, but when I tried a recipe for Scandinavian Autumn Fruit Soup recently I had to wonder what took me so long!  This soup is delicious, especially when topped with a scoop of vanilla yogurt.  It can also be served cold, but in the winter I think warm is best.  The only change I made was to omit the raisins and currants and use 2 T. of a dried fruit blend I found at Walmart called Dried Berries and Golden Raisins (a mix of dried cranberries, cherries, and raisins) instead.

I had the soup for lunch rather than as a dessert as recommended.  Because it has no added sugar it is not overly sweet, and with a handful of nuts I thought it was perfect as a light midday meal.  I really recommend trying this quick, easy, and tasty soup as soon as possible - it is just that good!

Scandinavian Autumn Fruit Soup

2 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
2 pears, peeled, cored, and quartered
1 C. frozen pitted dark sweet cherries (no need to thaw)
1/3 C. prunes, quartered
1/3 C. dried apricots, quartered
1 T. raisins
1 T. dried currants
1 3-inch cinnamon stick
4 C. water

Combine all of the soup ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from the heat and discard the cinnamon stick.  Let cool slightly.  Scoop out the apples and pears and put them in a large bowl with about 1/4 cup of the soup liquid.  Cut them into smaller chunks and purée with an immersion blender until smooth.  Add the purée to the soup.  Return the pot to the stove and bring to a simmer.  Serve the soup warm (not hot) or cold, topped with some vanilla yogurt if desired.  Serves 4.

This 'n That Thursdays: "I'm not a cat" Viral Video

If you have not seen this hilarious video yet, be prepared to laugh hysterically!  A clueless Texas attorney attempts to join a Zoom court hearing using his secretary's computer, unaware that her young daughter has turned on a filter that turns the user into a virtual cat.  The poor man struggles on while trying to figure out how to turn off the filter, and even says that he is prepared to carry on regardless, uttering his now famous line, "I'm not a cat!"  With the judge's help the lawyer eventually manages to return to his human form, but history had already been made, and the video has gone viral worldwide.  Luckily this man has a sense of humor, and has said that he is happy to bring some humor into our lives, even if it is at his expense.  Maybe trying your case as a cute kitten is not such a bad idea - who could possibly rule against that adorable feline face?

Wish List Wednesdays: Botanical Bunny Dinnerware from Country Door

I don't know about you, but I am ready to start thinking about spring, and the Botanical Bunny Dinnerware Set (on sale for $34.79!) from Country Door is a great place to start.  This 12-piece set includes four each of dinner plates, salad plates, and bowls, all made of glazed porcelain.  The pieces are also dishwasher and microwave safe.  This dinnerware set would be lovely for a spring table setting, and if you are a bunny lover it can be used at any time of the year.  Even with winter weather still here, these cute bunnies could cheer up the dreariest of days!

Foodie Fridays: Smoked Sausage with Sauerkraut

I am still emptying out my fridge and pantry, and this week I wanted to use up a bag of sauerkraut that was sitting in the fridge.  A recipe for smoked sausage with sauerkraut was the simplest solution - it is reminiscent of the sort of food I grew up eating in western Pennsylvania, and it could not be easier to make.  I have a couple of recipes for sausage and sauerkraut on my blog already (here and here) but today's recipe is about as simple as it gets. 

I happen to love caraway seeds so I am very generous when adding them, but use your own judgment as to the amount, or leave them out if you are one of those odd people who does not care for them.  If I were a more ambitious cook I would have sautéed some onions along with the sausage, but I was too lazy to bother.  My red meat allergy meant I had to use turkey sausage, but by all means use a pork version if you like.  Potatoes are the ideal side dish, especially in the form of pierogi.  This is a great winter comfort food, and it is also one of the quickest and easiest dishes to make.

Smoked Sausage with Sauerkraut

1 package (13 oz.) smoked sausage links (I used Eckrich Turkey Smoked Sausage)
2 T. olive oil
1 bag (16 oz.) refrigerated sauerkraut (I used Cleveland Kraut Classic Caraway)
1 T. caraway seeds
1 T. Wondra flour (optional)

Slice each of the two sausage links slightly on the diagonal into 16 disks (for a total of 32).  Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the sausage disks and sauté for a couple of minutes, then flip them and cook for two minutes more.

Drain and rinse the sauerkraut if desired.  Add the sauerkraut and caraway seeds to the sausage in the skillet and heat through.  If you choose not to drain the sauerkraut and the liquid does not cook down, you can add the Wondra flour to thicken the liquid slightly.  Divide the sausage and sauerkraut evenly among four plates and serve with pierogi if you can find them or mashed potatoes if you cannot.  Serves 4.

This 'n That Thursdays: I'm Dreaming of a Hawaiian Vacation

All images from Airbnb

While I am not the most enthusiastic traveler, the pandemic even has me dreaming of flying off to a faraway destination for a vacation.  One of those destinations would be a trip to Hawaii's Big Island, and the Kuono Airbnb near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park would be a wonderful place to stay.  The modern-style house sits in an Ohia tree forest and is the perfect size for two, although it does sleep up to four people.  There is a small kitchen, a washer and dryer, and Wifi access, so it would be the perfect relaxing retreat.  A hot tub on a private lanai plus an outdoor gas firepit are added benefits.  This cabin would be like a home away from home, and there are many attractions on the Big Island that can all be visited in a day.  I am not the type to seek out nightlife in the big city, so after a day of touring island attractions I would prefer to spend the night relaxing in the quiet of a secluded location like this little house.  Take a look at a few of the photos of this vacation:

The main indoor living space

The comfortable-looking bed in the sleeping area

A small but efficient kitchen

A hot tub on the lanai, with the fire pit in the foreground

Inviting night time view past the lanai to the fire pit

A closer look at the fire pit, and the Ohia tree forest beyond

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Just seeing these pictures has me looking forward to the time when we can travel safely again and visit all the destinations on our bucket lists!  What destinations are on your list?

Wish List Wednesdays: Peleg Design Egguins Penguin-Shaped Egg Cooker

 

I just cannot resist animal-shaped cooking gadgets, so when I saw the Peleg Design Egguins penguin-shaped egg cooker ($19.95) I of course immediately ordered one.  According to the description, you can cook, serve, and store six eggs in this cute heat-resistant black egg holder with a stay-cool handle.  I love the way inserting white eggs into the holder creates white tummies for the little penguins!  If you prefer mammals, there is also a brown bear-shaped version called Eggbears ($18.99).  Boiling eggs has never been one of my favorite tasks, but these egg holders may just change my mind!