Get Well FARMGIRL STYLE!

Dear Sisters,

My sweet mom recently had a hip replacement surgery and I’ve been ” on duty ” ever since doing my best to get her back on her feet and feeling like her ( I’m not gonna say old self cuz we don’t want that ) NEW self again! Do any of you suffer from arthritis? Gosh, I hope not. I’ve watched my sweet moms’ life come to nearly a complete stop due to one of her hips being riddled with it. I’m happy to say, she mustered up the courage to have it replaced a couple of weeks ago and we’re hoping she’ll be good as almost new in a couple of months.

In the meantime, I’m spoiling her WELL with daily doses of farmgirl fare in the way of good cheer, fresh flowers from my garden and nutritious food to keep her spirits light and her body nourished with all good juju so she can have the best of recoveries… After all, I need her well so we can get back to being creative together again!

I’ve had a list of things I’ve wanted to help my mom with over the last several months because I knew she couldn’t do them on her own with the way she was feeling. While she was still in the hospital ( and I was dog sitting at her house) our son and I cleaned her carpet so she could come home to a clean and fresh smelling home. We rented a Rug Doctor from the supermarket for little money and it worked like a charm. I changed her bed linens and moved the bed so she could get in and out on the right side.

Next I filled a few vases with some of my dahlia’s and spread them around the house. I placed one on her bedside table, a big pitcher full on the kitchen table ( top photo ) and another in the living room by the sofa.

My mom wasn’t doing much cooking with her hip the way it was so her diet was not the most nutritious. I packed the frig with fresh fruits and veggies, cold cuts for sandwiches and some of our backyard farm fresh eggs. I’ll admit, I’m no nutritionist, but I know enough that fresh home cooked food made with love is always better tasting and better for you than something wrapped up and handed to you through a window and although I’m guilty of my fair share of eating on the run I try to balance it out with homemade food more often than not.

I’m no gourmet cook either but when you don’t feel well, you just want comfort food, right? Before my mom went in for surgery she wasn’t eating a good breakfast but I fixed that! I’ve made fried eggs, cereal with nanners, ( bananas ) juice, toast, and yummy hazelnut coffee for breakfast.

I think it might be an oatmeal day tomorrow topped with pecans, brown sugar and a dollop of butter with fresh blueberries on the side.

Cantaloupe is in season and besides being a good source of Vitamin A it is also an antioxidant. Eat it at room temperature for full flavor!

Do you like Caesar Salad? I love it but I like to add fresh veggies to mine.

Here’s my recipe for:

Pan Fried Chicken Caesar Salad

1 package of chicken tenders or slim cut chicken breasts.

2 Tbsp. of Olive Oil or Coconut Oil

1 head of organic romaine lettuce

1 tomato

1 ripe avocado

1/2 of a yellow sweet onion

1 or 2 stocks of crisp green celery

1/4 cup parmesan cheese ( shredded or grated )

1 bag of Texas Toast Croutons

1 bottle Marie Calendars Creamy Caesar Dressing

Add a two table spoons cooking oil to a non stick or cast iron skillet. Heat oil and add sliced onions. Place the chicken tenders on top of the onions and sprinkle garlic salt and black pepper on top of the chicken. Brown the chicken on both sides then turn down the heat to low and let it slow cook while you prepare the lettuce and cut the veggies. About another 10- 15 minutes. Then remove it from the stove and let it cool for ten minutes before adding the remaining ingredients.

I like to take a whole bunch of romaine an slice it across in 2 inch sections, then I tear those into smaller bite size pieces and toss it in a large bowl.

Cut up the tomato, avocado and celery. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it cool for ten minutes.

Slice your chicken into bite sized pieces. Add the chicken, chopped veggies, and about a cup of croutons to the salad. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and a little cracked pepper. You can add the dressing and toss the whole thing together or serve the dressing on the side if you are eating in shifts and don’t want your salad to get soggy!

This salad is fine as a stand alone dish or with some yummy creamy tomato soup.

Eating light and healthy is doing us both some good. I’m actually having fun preparing all of her meals. It makes me feel good to do it! Mom is doing great and getting stronger every day but she wouldn’t let me take her picture! Yet…

But Barkly didn’t mind posing while he was laying in my bed, at least until he saw the camera, then he high tailed it down the hallway! Crazy dog.

Family members are calling to check in daily and neighbors have dropped by with yummy baked goods, luscious smelling lotions and good cheer!

Many of us are at the age where we are called on to help our parents, for a whole host of reasons. Caring for our parents or someone close to us can be very trying and stressful on the caregiver. Let’s face it. People aren’t always on their best behavior when they aren’t well. One of the things I think that helps is if you ( the caregiver ) can do what motivational speaker Zig Ziegler says, ” Remember, wherever you are, be THERE!” In other words don’t try to be in too many places at once. Sure, there are a million things I need to be doing at home, with my family, in the garden, at my booth, on my blog, etc… but it will all be there when I get home for good. Luckily my handsome Yankee along with our two teens have been keeping the home fires burning until I return, which in a bittersweet way I hope is near. I miss home, but I’ll cherish this time with my mom forever and I’m so happy I can BE THERE to help her on her way to her new pain free life!

I have really enjoyed the last couple of weeks with my mom. Even though she isn’t at full farmgirl throttle at the moment We are enjoying just hanging out, laughing at all the silliness having a new hip can bring, like learning a new way to put on your sox and pantaloons. But it really hit home today how special this time is we are having together. Here’s why. Today was my moms first follow up Dr. appointment post surgery. As we were sitting in the waiting room I was people watching. After a short glance around I noticed I wasn’t the only daughter in the room with a parent or grandparent. Then I noticed a woman sitting alone across the room. She was trying very hard to hold back tears and at one point she put her sunglasses on while she composed herself. After a moment she put them back on her head and tried subtly to wipe tears from the side of her face. I felt so badly for her. As I watched her I tried to imagine what was making her feel sad enough to cry in a very full waiting room in front of all those people. Finally I couldn’t stand to just watch her so I got up and went over to her and sat down beside her. I asked her if she was alright and if she needed a Kleenex or a hug. She was pretty choked up and it was hard for her to speak through the tears, but I got the gist of what was ailing her. She said it was hard to see all the people there with their mothers. Just then the nurse called her in and she had to go but she reached out and squeezed my hand and said thank you as she walked away. Something tells me it wasn’t too long ago that she was sitting in that room or maybe one like it with her own mom and she was missing her today. Something else tells me it was her mother that forced me out of my chair and over to her to offer some comfort.

I’d be fib’n if I said we weren’t hav’n any fun! One night we even ate ice-cream and cookies in bed while watching TV in our matching PJ’s! It’s not the wildest slumber party we’ve ever had, but it’s right up there for some good mother/ daughter bonding time. I’d love to hear how you are making out if you are in care- giving mode right now, or if you’ve been the recipient of some farmgirl style caregiving yourself! Do you have any tips to share? Leave us some words of wisdom won’t you? I’ve got to get going! Mom’s waiting for dinner!

Until our next shoreline visit~

Beach Blessings

and, much love!

Sister Deb #1199