Summer Is Cleansing My Palette

Summer Salad

After what felt like an endless spring, we finally are having hot sunshiney summer days. The kind of days that make it easy for me to eat the amounts of produce I want to.

In winter I crave comfort foods. I want braised meats and curry chicken over rice. Hearty stews and yeasty breads that will warm the house and make it smell delicious.

Whereas in summer I desire crisp, refreshing flavors. When it gets really hot, I feel as if I could live on watermelon.

There is a wonderful market near my house. It is like having access to a farmer's market every day. I keep expecting to be disappointed with something I buy there...a ho-hum tomato...a wooden tasting squash? No. So far everything has been bursting with flavor and texture.

The above salad was not really a recipe. I just took ingredients from the fridge: avacado, tomatoes, a bunch of thai basil, scallions, roasted chicken, a few drops of olive oil, a few dashes lemon juice, a bit of sea salt, a couple shakes of black pepper. It was absolutely delicious with a few blue corn chips. I think the only change I will make next time will be to add a little bit of red wine vinegar and some red pepper flakes.

I always thought I wasn't big on vegetables, but that was when I was buying them from the grocery chains where they had no taste. Eating my vegetables has never been this much fun!

Bring On The Borsch

Beet Borsch

Six years ago I had a total catastrophe when I tried to make chicken noodle soup. We ended up throwing it out our back door. The birds and dogs wouldn't touch it (they normally gobbled up the leftovers we put out) and the smell in the house made us gag.

That experience left me intimidated and jealous when people would talk about the wonderful concoctions they whipped up easily at home. It also left me in a pickle because (except for the very occasional Cambell's) I abhor store bought or canned soup.

For years I have been haunted by articles quoting facts about soup being good for both the body and the wallet. Finally, I gathered my courage and decided to "get back on the horse".

In honor of (1/4) of my heritage and my taste buds I picked a soup I have loved since childhood: beet borsch. I wanted a recipe that screamed "Your Ukranian Grandma's Best Beet Borsch Recipe". Thus, that is exactly what I typed into Google. I ended up choosing a bunch of recipes -both Ukranian and Russian - and amalgamating them into something of my own.

It went so well that I am already onto dreaming of my next soup creation... smells like...SUCCESS!

• 1 T-Bone Steak




• 2-3 Medium Carrots




• 3 Sticks Celery




• Onion (I used Red)




• Small Potatoes




• Cabbage




• 4 Beets (No Green Tops)




• Small Can Tomato Paste




• Vinegar




• Bay Leaf




• Fresh Dill




• Salt




• Oil or Butter




• Sour Cream

1. First you want to make your beef broth. Put your T-bone in a large stock pot of water. I took the largest stock pot I had and filled it 3/4 full. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 90 minutes to 120 minutes.




2. Finely chop your onion and celery. Grate your carrots. Saute these 3 ingredients in a bit of sunflower oil, olive oil or butter.




3. Take the meat out of the broth when the proper time has elapsed. Discard the bone. Cut up the meat and put it back in the pot along with the sauteed onions, celery and carrots.




4. Slice your beets into matchstick size pieces. Put them into the pan you sauteed your veggies. Add the can of tomato paste and cook on medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes.




5. Cut up your cabbage and potatoes and put them into the pot. Bring pot to a boil.




6. Sprinkle the beets with 1.5 tablespoons of white vinegar and then add them to the borsch.




7. Add salt to the borsch to taste.




8. Add bay leaf and a large handful of fresh dill to the borsch. (You can adjust dill to your taste as well).




9. Simmer for at least 15 minutes.




10. Enjoy!

To enjoy properly: borsch is served with a dollop of sour cream on top. It also goes really nicely with a few slices of dark pumpernickel bread. The bread is optional (I am not eating wheat right now and found the soup quite hearty on it's own...but don't skip the sour cream!).

HotdiggityDAWG!

My friends know me as a pretty easygoing gal. I tend to get a kick out of the smaller pleasures in life and it takes a fair bit to make me really angry. One thing that does provoke me to almost an "instant 10" is when I see dogs sitting in the car on a hot summer day with the window cracked open just a bit.

I admit that I have gone and gotten water for such dogs and even called the SPCA when I haven't been sure if the dogs have been there for hours. I am not sure if some people realize that the temperatures inside there car reach the same temperatures inside an oven.

Occasionally, there will be a news story of a baby or toddler perishing in a car, having been forgotten by a parent. I know that sometimes this has been a truly horrible accident by a very tired parent. Other times the parent has been neglectful and simply 'left the child in the car'. True, I am not a parent, but I also cannot stand it when I see children left unattended in motor vehicles.

Sooooo....I was absolutely delighted when I saw this product. It's designed for people who work with dogs (police dogs, search and rescue dogs etc...) and may have to leave their canine campanions in the car for periods of time. I thought other people who enjoy taking their dogs with them might find it helpful as well. It could certainly lead to a lot less tragic accidents.

It is pictured at the top of this post and is appropriately called the "Hotdog". It has an electronic monitoring system that automatically detects dangerous temperatures. If the car gets too hot, two windows are automatically lowered enough for ventilation and the car horn beeps to alert you. It will also notify a pager.

The cost for the unit is $435 and the details can be found at the Criminalistics website at: http://www.criminalisticsinc.com/products/hotdog/hotdog.htm

Making the Best of Finding Yourself Unexpectedly a Guest...

This is sometimes what 'next happens' on "What Next Happens" so I thought I'd show you a bit of what the hospital I go to looks like.

The View From My Hospital Bed

This was at the beginning of Spring. I was so thrilled to be called up to a regular floor from the Emergency Unit where it is so hard to get any sleep. It was so nice to get a bed by the window. As you can see the windows are quite large. The view is amazing and there are always lots of things going on. It was just as the 2010 Winter Olympics were starting so there were torch relays going down some of the highways below.

A Rainy Photo of the View to the Right of My Room

It helps the time to go by faster when there is so much to look at. This was a beautiful grey day that made the other colors stand out more. On the far left you can see the Pattullo bridge and below it the skytrain line.

When I am on the skytrain going into downtown I often forget the hospital is even there above me. However, when you are in the hospital the skytrain takes on a complete fascination. You cannot believe there are people every day living there normal lives, walking around healthy. You wonder if you will be able to take the train by yourself again...

An Eye In the Sky

A large part of success as a patient is taking walks. A) It's good for you and it feels good to get out of your room. B) Nurses very badly want their patients walking and in the hospital everything about your stay revolves around your nurse. If you can please them, they will make your stay much more comfortable. So, once you are feeling well enough...walk!

In B.C. there is a huge prejudice towards a certain ethnic population. Often they are the ones who do the cleaning at the hospital. I found that the floors in our unit were kept spotless and I think this picture reflects that!

Blurry City Night Lights

I wish I could have gotten a better picture of this view out of my window at night. It was spectacular. This picture still shows the vastness, I think. Look at how far you can see the lights extending.

The very nice woman (my age with a darling 3 year old) who had kidney stones across from me had her curtain open and was having some problems. I still got up and took the pic but I was very quick about it as I wanted to respect her privacy.

A condo or apartment in B.C. with a view like this runs $350,000+ (just a private room in the hospital is $210/night). So I appreciate the views I get to see when I am here!

Don's Room

My friends J & M brought me that sweet turtle. If you are wondering whether to bring grown friends stuffed animals when they are in the hospital? Do. They are great to stick in the small of your back etc...when the hospital beds and pillows aren't cutting it. They are something warm and cuddly in a very sterile, impersonal and unloving atmosphere. And, they will bring repeated smiles and joy to the patient.

This hospital has co-ed rooms. So, for my stay, although the people changed, the ratio was always one older gentlemen and three women. It makes privacy difficult but I imagine it is even more challenging for the one man amongst all women.

The neighbour to my Left was an older woman named Marvel. And she was! She had amazing energy. Her great-grandaughter rides horses and is named "Destry Marvel". I thought that sounded like the name of a heroine in a great old-time western.

The neighbour across from me was Don. The first time I, and some of my guests heard his voice, none of us could believe it. It sounded like somebody pretending to be whispering like the evil person in a horror movie.

It sounded like he was arguing with someone on the phone but it was so difficult to understand what he was saying and because the curtain was closed and I hadn't met him yet, we didn't know if someone was just play-talking like that.

When I met him it looked like a shark had tried to bite his head and neck off. He had staples encircling his neck and shoulders like a zipper. It literally looked like his top had been ripped off and sewn back on. It turned out he had suffered an aneurysm.

He and his wife were from way up North on one of the more remote but very beautiful B.C. islands so he had to be medically transported which took time. By the time I met him he had undergone two operations to deal with the aneurysm which had been lodged near where his neck met his chest.

The Doctors had stopped the previous surgery when it got too dangerous, were letting him rest for a week and he was scheduled to go in again.

It turned out when I thought I had heard him on the phone, I had. He had been calling his family but got the wrong number. The person on the other end of the line was so alarmed by his voice they assumed he must be having a medical emergency so they were trying to call 911 for him. He was trying to explain that he WAS in the hospital. He had to wait for his wife to come in so she could phone them and explain.

His situation appeared so frustrating and challenging, but he was SO nice and chipper. He was probably late 60's early 70's I would say. His kids came in each day to spell off the wife or stay with her and they all would play crib or talk.

I always try to stay positive despite my pain and in Don I recognized someone else who was really living that way. But, I also admired his lack of fear. He had a huge surgery coming up in a week and yet he was calm and had a great sense of humor.

People were not always kind in the room about his voice and could be impatient, but he WAS patient and easygoing. I also admired how he took time for himself every day to rest and do what he needed for his body. He was balanced.

I got out of the hospital and after I had said goodbye I could not stop thinking about him. I phoned a couple of weeks later to see how his surgery had gone. The hospital said he was no longer there, but they couldn't give me anymore information. Grrr.

So, I started looking through the internet for phonenumbers for people with their last name who were from Northern B.C. I didn't know where exactly they lived, only that they could see otters and whales and seals from their house, which gave me a general idea.

Finally after asking 4 people "were you in Royal Columbian with me...." there was a pause on the other end of the line.

"I can't believe you called!?!? I'm so sorry, I have sad news, Don is gone." The breath left my body briefly. I was shocked. He had such a good attitude and had overcome such immense odds. I had not even contemplated him dying.

It turned out he didn't even make it to the surgery. A couple hours after I left he aspirated on the sandwich he was eating for lunch and after much effort they could not revive him. It is so easy to get pneumonia in the hospital.

Oh, for Don to die of pneumonia after surviving being ripped apart and put back together still breaks my heart.

His family was doing well though sad. They were drawing close and choosing to dwell on positive things.

Don was an inspiration to me. I remember him just hours before his death smiling that shy smile, his blue eyes twinkling and full of life. I will remember him that way until I see him again.

Take It To The Bank

Danone Danactive

So, one thing that has happened next? I've joined a website I love called BzzAgents. It exposes you to new products, brands and websites. You can also be invited to join the campaign's of different company's, where they get you to interact with their products and you give them feedback.

I was invited to join the Danone campaign. I received an awesome kit with an offer for a complimentary 4-pack, coupons for Danone, information on the product and a contest. I actually haven't used the free coupon yet. It is for a 4-pack and my grocery stores have only carried the 6-pack.

I didn't mind as I ended up loving the product. My friends know that I am not a huge yogurt lover. It is something I need to be eating, not something I eat by choice. However, I am going to continue drinking the Danone by choice.

I prefer it chilled. The texture is lighter than yogurt, similar to milk. The flavor I had was cranberry/raspberry and it was delicious. I found it to be not as sweet as many of the "fruit" yougurts I have tried. The bottles are small so it is a light snack or meal (80 calories) yet it gives you a boost and plenty of nutrients as well as probiotics.

I am glad that Danone, through BzzAgents, actively recruited me to try these Danone Danactive drinks as they will fit in with my and Mr. O'M's lifestyle quite well!

Looking Back...

When I started this blog I had a lot of energy and was zipping downtown and having adventures, so I thought I would have a lot to write about...


Since then my circumstances have changed dramatically and I haven't been able to go out by myself since the summer.


I am mostly housebound right now, so I am very thankful to my friends for keeping in touch with me. I love emails as they can be read over and over. I also love cards and pictures. Sometimes I hang them up and they make me feel cheerful.

Hand-Made Cards

Sky Train Station

This is from a day this past summer. For my friends who don't live in the province, this is what the underground stations look like. I simply catch an elevator at street level and can scoot Ruby right up to the skytrain platform.

Downtown Garden

One thing I love about Vancouver is how things are juxtaposed against one another. You will often see beautiful, expensive homes right beside buildings that are falling down in disrepair. I am charmed by the city gardens. This garden is located right in the heart of downtown. I had to wait a fairly long timeto get the birds in flight in the picture.

Stained Glass

On this day I was on my way to the Pain Clinic and I stopped in at the IGA to get a magazine. Usually there is about an hour wait at the Clinic and I had forgotten to bring my own reading material.

I picked up my purchase and was standing in line when I noticed the man in front of me. I tried to be nonchalant as he made his purchases. He paid and walked out the door leading back onto the street and the cashier turned to me "Do you know who that was?"

I said "Yes, that was Ray Liotta."

The cashier and I were both laughing about it. I think we recognized him at the same time. And, both of us felt the same way...that we didn't want to disrupt his day by identifying him or sidelining him with conversation about "the biz" if it was his day off.

The cashier and I also came to a definite agreement on another point: Ray Liotta's eyes are even more stunning in real life than they are on film.

Utterly Transported

This year marks the eighth year we have been married, thus the eighth anniversary of my living in British Columbia. Last month I was remembering how fun it was when I used to come visit Mr. O'M when we were long distance dating. I would come into town and he would have everything planned, squiring me around to show me the sights.

Usually we go away for our anniversary but this year we elected to stay in town and simply go out for dinner. Thus, I gave Mr. O'M a project. I told him that although I usually am the planner and have oodles of fun doing so...this time it was up to him. I wanted him to plan a date like he did during our courtship. It was so much fun in the weeks leading up to our anniversary, wondering where he would decide to go.

Here is the 1st Hint!

I truly did not have a clue what to guess. We kept passing roads that led to places I "supposed" we might go to. When we turned onto the highway that led to Capilano I really could not begin to guess. We climbed further and further up a moutain...into residential areas until we reached GROUSE MOUNTAIN! I squealed in delight!

The Skating Rink

The day had been a clear, sunny day. We left the parking lot behind and climbed 3,000 feet into the air. We were suddenly transported into a winter wonderland. It truly felt otherworldy. The snow was softly falling and the sky was a purple grey. There was a silky silence punctuated by laughs and whispers of delight as people's shoes made crinkling sounds in the snow.

Amazing City Views From The Sky Car

Altitudes Bistro in the Chalet




Interior of the Bistro

Seafood Chowder

Starter Salad

There is a fine dining restaurant also located in the chalet. It was closed for a private function that evening. That was fine with us as we had always intended to dine in the Bistro. Our starters were so good and the cold air had accelerated our appetites to such an extent that I forgot to take pictures of our meals. I had BBQ chicken which was excellent and Mr. O'M had the Grindburger which was also quite good.

The Grouse Grind is the name of a hiking trek up Grouse Mountain. It is a badge of honor for many to have done the Grind in good time.

View of the Trees and City Lights from the Bistro

These were beyond doubt the best vantage points I have ever had of Vancouver. We were directly above the Lion's Gate bridge. We could also see 5 brightly colored Olympic rings out on the water. It was also mesmerizing to watch how the weather behaved. You were actually able to "see" the wind in a way. For a moment the breeze would move clouds over and the lights would disappear and then the wind would move the clouds to another area and lights would blink up again. We were fortunate to have mostly clear conditions. It was wonderful!

Picture of Early Ski Bunnies

A Darling Picture of Children Skiing

Antique Skis

The chalet is beautiful and full of interesting things to look at. It has a store where there is Grouse Mountain related merchandise for sale. There is also a Theatre where there are shows you can watch. During the day there are some Grizzly bears that were rescued when they were orphaned as cubs and it is possible to see them as well.

Chalet Pillar With Ski and Snowboard Relief Carving

Zipline

It is also possible to zipline over the amazing tree canopy on Grouse Mountain for those who it appeals to. I'm sure this would make someone's heart race almost as much as mine did when I realized Mr. O'M had come up with such an adventurous, romantic date for our anniversary.

You can see Grouse Mountain's lights from almost anywhere you are in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland at night. Even driving into the city, you can usually see them gleaming. Whenever I see that track of lights I will think of our anniversary and when we were on top of the world!