Pan fried Tilapia

I'm not a big fan of eating fish, it's something I have been learning to do since it is good for me (why can't everything that is good for me taste like chocolate??). I usually bake my fish with butter and seasoning. Not bad, but I get a bit tired of that. So...last night I decided to make my own recipe! I've quite telling Papa Bear when I've done this as it's hard not to laugh when I see the look of fear on his face. The poor man, he is such a sweetie to always eat whatever it is, he just politely asks me not to make it again.

This fish though, he requested it again! Yippee! I'll share the recipe with you, as long as you don't laugh at my secret ingredient...homemade teriyaki sauce.

Pan fried Tilapia
mix together beaten egg and teriyaki sauce
mix together whole wheat flour and cornmeal
mix together garlic-pepper, onion powder and a bit of chili seasoning

Dip thawed Tilapia in wet mixture, then cover well in dry mixture. Place in heavy pan (I use cast iron) with 1/4 inch hot oil, sprinkle generously with spice mixture. Cook over medium heat until brown. Carefully turn fish over, careful not to splash the hot oil. Generously sprinkle spice mixture on this side. Cook until done...usually about 10 minutes total time. Remove from pan to paper towel before serving.



I served this with butternut squash risotto and steamed asparagus.

I know the frying kind of defeats the purpose of healthy, but hey, just gotta live on the edge sometimes.

Explore feelings? Nah...nevermind

Several years ago (many many several years ago) I had my 32nd birthday. This was the birthday that sent me for a loop. You know what I mean, that certain birthday that really gets to you. Yeah, 32 was it for me.

I was at a rough spot in a former relationship...and I found my first real wrinkle!

To try and counter the bad feelings, I started tanning again (yeah, that's a smart thing to do when a person is already concerned about wrinkles), got another tattoo, totally changed my hair...and got my navel pierced. My little bear, Ben, went with me for the piercing and picked out my navel ring. In the several (many many several) years since that time, that ring has never been out. I had a hysterectomy and it stayed in. Yesterday, it had to come out.

I was having a medical procedure done that required absolutley no jewlery to be worn. After explaining the length of time said ring has been attached to my body, I was given the option to leave it in...but would have to sign a release form in case of getting burned. Would you believe I actually was considering it?! I didn't realize the attachment I have to this silly little thing.

I'm sure I could take some time and search my mind as to why this bothered me so...but that would take effort. Instead, I just put it back in and all is right in the world again.

Please schedule your appointment

The end of the month is fast approaching and so is the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month. This in no way means we should drop our guard on this terrible disease though.

With permission, I'm going to share with you my friend Kims story:

Yes-mammogram's can save lives. Case in point: I had my mammogram on Oct. 4. A recheck was advised and calcium deposits were detected (the deposits mean that there are active cells). A biopsy confirmed atypical aplasia, which means we caught it BEFORE it turned cancerous!! I'll be going in for a lumpectomy in the very near future. GET THOSE MAMMOGRAM'S, PLEASE! ♥

Please, dear reader, I can't stress enough the importance of monthly self breast exams and an annual mammogram. Is it a great time? Well, only if you enjoy getting your boobies squished, but the small amount of discomfort is nothing compared to breast cancer. Please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top--schedule your mammogram.

The last few weeks have been tough on the old menu making. Papa Bear isn't home until late every night and I have a hard time making a whole meal just for myself. Because of this, my eating habits have gone by the wayside. Time to get back to real meals and healthier eating.

Monday
Beef stir-fry over noodles
pears

Tuesday
Baked Tilapia
seasoned rice
asparagus

Wednesday
Meal at the Rescue Unit

Thursday
Grilled marinated chicken breast
Fried potatoes and beets
applesauce

Friday
Dinner at the Cafe`

20 Years ago today...

20 years ago this morning, my youngest son made his appearance into this world. He gave us a good scare, not taking any breaths....I should have known right then and there he was going to be a stubborn one! I won't say life has always been rosey, but he sure has kept it an adventure for us!

Now, 20 years later, he is no longer my little boy. He is growing up and living on his own in a totally different state...much to the dislike of Mama Bear. I do believe it just might be time for me to get those scissors out and cut that apron string. *sigh* I think he's been trying to untie himself from it for the last few years, but Mama has a bit of a stubborn side to her also and has been ignoring him.

So my dear son, Happy Birthday to you! Mama and Papa love you very much.

Forgiveness

I don't want to forgive them! They hurt me, took something of mine, talked about me, snubbed me...I don't want to forgive!!!

Ever feel like this? Like you have been wronged? Ever want to burn a hole in someones forehead with your laser-beam eye? Yeah, I think we've all been there. It's normal to feel anger when we have been hurt. Guess what, we're supposed to let it go! Are you believing this?? Someone hurts us and we're supposed to let it go!! Who came up with that rule? {pause for reflection} Oh yeah, the Bible says it. That Bible sure can make life difficult sometimes.

Forgiveness is an area I've been in struggle with lately. I try to practise it. I think I do ok with it...then something happens that brings the bad feelings back to the surface and it seems all the forgiveness I thought I did is gone. *sigh*

All I can do is pray for the Lord to help heal my hurt heart and feelings. Only He can do it. Trying to do it on my own isn't working. One of my favorite scriptures is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Why then do I feel the need to try and do things on my own?

I need to remember also that if I want the Lord to forgive MY wrongs, then I need to forgive those who have wronged me. Besides...unforgiveness and bitterness causes wrinkles!

Closet cleaning time

Fall is upon us and it's time to change our closets and dressers from warm weather clothing to cool weather clothing. Here are some tips on doing just that:


1
Take everything out of your closet. Even your shoes. You can start with the hanging items and move to the folded clothes and drawers. Or start with folded clothes and drawers, whichever is more of a mess. But take everything out.

2
Dust all the shelves, hanging rods and shoe storage areas. You want your closet to sparkle and avoid having dusty marks on your spring clothes, so clean it out before putting anything back in.

3
Clean the inside of the drawers with a damp, soft cloth. This will remove all the lingering little pieces of fluff, dirt, drawer-sachet-explosion and mess.

4
Vacuum the floor and wipe down the baseboards.

5
Wipe down the closet door.

6
Put your spring and summer clothes into storage. Make sure they're neatly folded with tissue placed in easily wrinkled clothes. Use sachets to keep them smelling fresh and mothballs to deter varmints.

7
Pull out your fall and winter clothes. Evaluate each item. If it's stained, set it aside to be cleaned (either at the cleaners or your hamper). If it needs repair, put it into a repairs area. If it's too small, give it away. If it needs ironing, set it in the ironing pile. The goal is to walk into a closet that is full of clothes that you can get dressed into comfortably and quickly.

8
Place your clothes back in the closet and dresser. As you hang them, turn hangers around backwards. As you wear an item, place the hanger the right way. When it comes time to do your spring closet cleaning, you will be able to see which items you are not using and able to remove. Make sure to organize like items together as you put them away.

If your no longer wanted clothes are in good shape, consider donating them to your local thrift store.

Now, stand back and admire your work!

Wednesday's Word

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15: 33

Doily confession

It's been said that confession is good for the soul...*sigh*...I'm a doily-aholic. There, my dainty little secret is now out there for the world to know. I'm also pretty fond of runners. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that Papa Bear would go crazy, I'd have doilies and runners all over the house! In truth though, I only keep a few of them out.

You know, I do believe I feel a bit better now for sharing my secret with you.

Three Simple Rules

This summer, I picked up the book Three Simple Rules. If you don't mind, I would like to share some of this book with you.

There are three simple rules that have the power to change the world...
*Do no harm
*Do good
*Stay in love with God

~Do others look at us and see God at work in our life? Is our way of living life-giving rather than life-draining?

~When we agree that we will not harm those with whom we disagree, conversation, dialogue, and discovery of new insight become possible.

~To follow Jesus is to desire to be like him in our living and our dying. For some of us, that choice is just too frightening and too demanding; so we follow at a distance or turn away.

~To do no harm means that I will be on guard so all my actions and even my silence will not add injury to another.

~Doing good is not limited to those like me or those who like me. Doing good is directed to everyone, even those who do no fit my category of 'worthy' to receive any good that I can direct their way.

~Staying in love with God is the foundation to all of life.

~The failures of the past are to be forgotten and the new possibilities are to be embraced.

Homeless Poem

I have a Master
we don't have a home...
we wander through town
he calls us "rolling stones"..

People call him crazy
they can be so cruel...
some people call him lazy...
this is so untrue...

My master is a Veteran
he was a prisoner of war
now he's just forgotten
but that's what he's got me for.

Some nights we go hungry
Some nights we are cold
but my master does his best
even if he's kinda old...

I help him search the garbage cans
for our daily meal....
and a place to rest our heads....
a cardboard box is our best deal....

and when tomorrow morning comes
and the policemen kick us out...
at least we have eachother...
For that is never a doubt.

written by Savana Frame

Squish and save!

I love this...squish a boob, save a life!