what's cooking?

I started out as a broadcast journalist, but fate took its course when I literally fell in love at first sight with my husband of 43 years. I then taught school, of various subjects and age groups and now write about food, health, humor and life.

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Carine-what's cooking

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Sunday, June 22, 2025

Retirement

Big news around here!

After over 45 years, Steve has retired from La-Z-Boy, Inc.!  Right now, he's in the process of transitioning from work life to "oh yeah, no where to go" life.

We were able to go watch both Jackson's basketball practice and game.  We had both kids and grandkids over for dinner-midweek!

What was really lovely was that, with the help of Adam and Sam, his colleagues threw him a surprise retirement party.  It was won, unexpected and so very much appreciated.

He'll now be here to help babysit some of our grand fur babies on and off for the next month.  

In other news:

Lucky finally has normal blood pressure!  Cannot possibly relate how happy we are to have finally accomplished this without the need of the$800 "bundle" medication.

Also, I no longer look like a freak of nature.  The swelling is down to the point where I am able to easily go out in public.  Plus, the stitches came out.  Still, I have to take another round of antibiotics and wait at least 3 months before I can think about part 3 of this restoration.

It's been almost 6 weeks since Sunshine passed.  We're very much feeling her absence.  We get weepy.  Feel the worst for Lucky.  Since losing her sister her eyesight has diminished even more and she rivals her father in the hearing loss competition.  She's constantly smelling the floors and Sunshine's favorite "go to" spots outside.  All the while bumping into doors, walls, etc...

That's our news since last I wrote.  

# posted by Carine-what's cooking? @ 7:44 AM 0 comments

Friday, June 06, 2025

Well, My, My, My

Let me just say- this has been a week. 

Our eldest grandson is leaving today for a 3-week college course in Costa Rica. 

Lucky still has uncontrolled high blood pressure. So are that got in touch with a specialist who decided she needed to take two different medications. 

Okay. 

The problem was, one of them was $800 a month!  There was quite the stern discussion. We told her there was no way we could afford $800 a month no matter how much we love our dog. 

Then there was a compound company who would do it for $100 a month. Still too rich for us! Steve and I together do not spend that much on our high blood pressure medication for a year. Nothing close! 

So we started her on the medication we can afford. 

Then finally got word that I was ready for step two of my jaw reconstruction. This part entailed drilling into the empty hole and putting in a titanium post and covering it with tissue so it could now heal for another 2 to 5 months before I can go get the abutment and crown.

Had the surgery yesterday. There went another $2,000! And by the time I went to bed, I was looking a little as if I were a chipmunk with acorns in my mouth. 

This morning, for those of you who are old enough to remember a case of the mumps, my entire left side of my head looks like I have a very bad case.

So that's my week. I've declared today a PJ day. And Lucky and I will just cuddle in my recliner.

# posted by Carine-what's cooking? @ 9:13 AM 0 comments

Friday, May 23, 2025

More Weepies

Forgive me. 

The roller coaster of Life just seems to be inundating our existence of late. 

We have shed many happy tears for our eldest grandson Dylan and his high school graduation.  We added to those happy tears for joy regarding his next stage of life. 

Then came the next wave which hit an all-time low.  Although we have not felt since losing our beloved tabby pepper five years ago.

Weepy is not exactly the correct word.  Bawling our eyes out is much closer to the reality.

Sunshine took up a huge space in our lives and now we have a crater that seems so deep that it's impossible to repair.

Poor Lucky!  This is her first time being without a buddy.  She has been looking around, smelling around and whimpering.

Then to further emphasize our loss, John Denver comes on singing "Sunshine on my Shoulders".  The crying re-starts.

Yesterday I got a call that our footprint was ready.  I managed to hold it together -until I opened the gift box.

Still, no matter how deep the grief, I wouldn't trade a single minute of the last 8-1/2 years.

# posted by Carine-what's cooking? @ 8:57 AM 0 comments

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Ugly 😭

# posted by Carine-what's cooking? @ 1:57 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Congratulations Dylan! Class of 2024

# posted by Carine-what's cooking? @ 3:25 PM 0 comments

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