A win-win

My niece in California loves my art, she is an artist herself (not her full time job) but she says she doesn't like her own art. She said she loves flowers and still life and I happened to have these cards printed up and offered them to her. She is looking forward to their arrival. I am happy to send them! It is a win-win.

And here we are at the end of January!

Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Denise posted a recipe recently that she has several times. I made them with whole wheat flour and used chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chunks. In any case, I love this combination of cookie.

All in a day's work

 I was at the drug store the other day picking up a prescription refill.  It seemed busy there on a Tuesday morning.  I was third in line.  An older lady was being served.  My throat is so sore she said, 'haven't you heard from my doctor about the prescription?  I spoke to him yesterday, he said he would call it in.'  (Now I am hoping she doesn't have Covid.) She apologized for being unable to hear very well and moved a bit closer to the pharmacist assistant albeit behind the glass barrier.  The pharmacist assistant said there was no prescription yet.  She asked some other questions. At this point the man ahead of me left his place in line.  I looked behind me and the line had built to maybe 5 other people.  Finally, they asked the older lady to pay for her other prescriptions.  'Tap here' said the assistant.  The lady decided to insert her card.  As she moved long, it was my turn at last.  I had made sure to keep 6 feet away from her.  My transaction was simple and quick thankfully.

While I was waiting I overheard an older man at another consultation counter.  The pharmacist owner came over to answer his questions.  The older man showed him his vitamin D reading.  'Is 56 low he asked.'  The pharmacist said 'yes it is, but let me explain to you in an analogy.' 'I beg your pardon?', said the older man.  'Let me explain to you in an example.  Say you want to gain 2 pounds, you would not go to McDonalds and eat burgers all week.  (I am thinking that would work for me haha).   It is a gradual process.  So regarding your vitamin D level, listen to your doctor and build it up slowly.  It is not a matter of increasing your vitamin D pills.' said the pharmacist.

It is all in a day's work, the pharmacies are like doctor's offices these days.  People come along with many questions.

  

Paint Party Friday - Winter Scene

 Welcome to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday.  This art coop is soon winding to a close after many years.  I did a snowy winter scene ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Winter Night Scene

 This is my Winter Night Scene ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") for Rain's Thursday Art Date!  The art sort of evolved from my Sharpie oil paint white marker accidental paint blotch as I pressed down to create night stars which look more like snowflakes, that works too I think!

Meme Wednesday

 

Beer Bread

 We got this garlic parmesan beer bread mix as a gift and decided to try it!  It is an easy way to make bread, in fact husband M mixed it up in no time.  You add a bottle of beer to the enclosed mix and bake in a loaf pan.

Banana Bran Bread

 Wanda recently shared a banana bran bread recipe that I had to try.  It is perfect for husband M who is diabetic.  He loved it.  I put a pat of butter on my slice, it is good.  I have already made it twice, the second time I didn't even put any butter on top.  I made some substitutions to the recipe as follows:

1 c whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1c wheat bran

1 c mashed banana (2 very ripe ones)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

8 tbs butter

1/2c brown sugar

1/2c chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt

In another bowl mix cereal, bananas, eggs, vanilla, let stand 5 mins to allow bran to absorb

mix butter (I melt my butter) and sugar,  add flour, and cereal mix alternately. Stir in nuts.

Spread into buttered loaf pan.

bake at 350F 40-45 mins.

Banning junk food advertising

 Jan at the low carb diabetic mentioned the the UK will ban junk food advertising before 9 pm starting in 2023 in a bid to improve the nation's health.  It occurred to me that it would be a problem to implement this strategy in North America, it becomes a political problem.  The large, profitable junk food corporations would protest vigorously. Here is a Canadian  article I found on the topic.

Any thoughts on this topic?

Least Liked Subject

 I had to think about this one, I was a good student.  Maybe it was English Literature, I found it boring.  What subject did you like the least?

Paint Party Friday - Grindelwald Mountains

 Welcome to Paint Party Friday!  I did an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") of the Grindelwald Mountains in Switzerland.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Winter Sports

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date's Winter Sports theme.  This is my 'Skating' ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  I haven't skated in a long time but I did enjoy it when I was younger.  I also enjoyed watching the competitive ice skating on TV, even went to a few of the ice shows.

Meme Wednesday

 

5 Things

 I still have all 5 things how about you?  Maybe this applies to the younger generations under say 25.

We dug out of a monster snow storm in theToronto area yesterday.  Luckily we have a snowblower but I was so exhausted shovelling also.  We clear around the edges manually.

A touching story

 Sharing this old letter from 1945 that appeared in the newspaper recently, I found it a touching story. It was a soldier's letter that was finally delivered 2 years after his death.  Congrats to the US postal service on taking the trouble to deliver this wartime letter.  They located his 89 year old widow.

Healthy Banana Pancakes

Here is a recipe for healthy banana pancakes. I haven't tried it yet, but it is recommended by one of my sisters.

On Happiness

 

we have an extreme cold weather alert today stay warm everyone!

Paint Party Friday - Great Niece and the Dinosaurs

 Welcome to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday.  This ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") was inspired by both my great niece and a painting Denise posted months ago.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - by the Fire

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date's 'By the Fire' theme.  Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil based on a photo I saw.  I read that dogs like to sit by the fire.

Meme Wednesday

 

A Little Slower

 

I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but this sounds like good advice.  Losing a few pounds is a year round resolution that seems to work better in the summer months, sigh.

Nobake banana oatmeal cookies

 I have a recipe for nobake banana oatmeal cookies to share with you today. I haven't tried it yet but it has just 3 ingredients natural peanut butter, banana puree and quick oats.  

My Oatmeal, Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

 These were healthy and delicious.  My recipe makes 12 small pancakes:

3/4c whole wheat flour

3/4c quick oats (I used quick steel cut oats)

2 tbs sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 c buttermilk (add 1 tbs vinegar to milk to make your own)

3 tbs unsalted butter melted and cooled

1 egg

1 tbs canola oil

1 c blueberries (I used frozen)

combine oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon

add buttermilk, butter, egg

mix well,  then mix blueberries in

rub canola oil over the fryng pan to coat

make the pancakes.  serve with syrup as preferred.

My Roasted Brussels Sprouts

 These brussels sprouts were delicious, here is my recipe:

1 1/2 lbs brussels sprouts

3 tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tbs balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 c freshly grated parmesan cheese

400F

Trim the tough ends off the tops of the brussels sprouts.  Slice them in half from the base down.

In a baking sheet lined with parchment paper mix the brussels sprouts with the rest of the ingredients.

Place the brussels sprouts cut sides down.

Bake 17-25 minutes.

Paint Party Friday - Toronto in the Clouds

 Welcome to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday!  I did an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") of Toronto in the Clouds.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Snowman

Happy New Year! 

Here is my 'Snowman' piece for Rain's Thursday Art Date.  It was inspired by a snowball cheese appetizer I saw, it uses a carrot nose and black peppercorns for detail.

Meme Wednesday

 

Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

 Looking for healthy breakfast options I found this recipe for Cinnamon Honey Pancakes with Honey Apple Compote from Food Network.  The pancakes also taste fine on their own with your own choice of diet syrup or otherwise.

Pipe Dream

This was a good one.

Welcome to the New Year!  

Dora at Having Coffee with Peppy asked a question the other day, do you have a pipe dream?  I thought it was a good question.  My answer was to be a great entrepreneur businessman like Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken for example.  Your turn.