Since the virus I was starting to come down with last Saturday decided to stick around a while, I took it easy, although it wasn't a fun "taking it easy." My bout with this stuff took a different course than it did with my husband. Fortunately by day four, I stumbled across a product that had thousands of positive reviews on Amazon. I had been reading about essential oils and wondering if I had some that would give my sinuses some relief. In one of the articles it mentioned using a product mentioned on Amazon before using the diffuser with suggested essential oils. After reading the reviews, I was sold. There was only one store in our city which carried it, and they only had three boxes left on the counter. I ventured out and bought two boxes, not knowing how long I might be fighting this. To my amazement, it worked so quickly, that using the essential oils didn't turn out to be necessary. Today, my energy has picked up, and my sinuses, ear and head pain have improved greatly. I am thankful for being able to be rid of sinus and ear pain, and to have discovered a product that worked so quickly.
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| Home canned peaches and a cheery yellow primrose |
This has been a week of poached eggs for breakfast, something that I always enjoyed as a child when my paternal grandmother made them. I decided that I was going to try to make them the way she did. My first attempt wasn't so good, although it tasted as good. The second attempt was better, thanks to reading the instructions in my very old Joy of Cooking cookbook, © 1963. However, I didn't quite get the "swirl the water into a mad vortex with a wooden spoon," pg. 196, quite right. The last try was perfect, thanks to a combination of watching a youtube video and remembering how my Grandma tilted the saucer slightly before slipping the egg into the water. By the way, as it turned out, no swirling the water was required. I'm thankful for old cookbooks, for poached eggs which also feel good on a sore throat, and for memories of my Grandma's cooking.
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| Oops! The yolk and the whites separated in this failed try of poaching an egg. |
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| Perfect poached egg |
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| Poached egg and liquid it was cooked in served over pieces of multi-grained bread |
This week as I rested and tried to distract my mind from the sinus head pain, I read some interesting articles, such as one written by the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Alex Tizon, who passed away March 23, 2017 in Eugene OR. A posthumous cover story in the Atlantic Monthly, June 2017 written by him and titled My Family's Slave is a thought provoking read. You can read NPR's interview with Alex Tizon by clicking this link. Within the link it also has a link to the article in the magazine. I am thankful for those who share their histories which stir our conscientiousness and broaden our understanding of how some people of different cultures live.
A vase of flowers I received for Mother's Day was very pretty, but the flowers hadn't quite opened up yet on the day they arrived. I have loved watching them evolve this week and thought how like people they are. We take a while to mature and bloom in our own ways. Some do so quickly, while others take their time. To see and know the real person, requires looking into their inner nature. I am thankful for the things that we are reminded of through observing the creations on this earth.
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| Vase of pink tulips and purple irises |
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| Inside of a tulip |
When I clicked on a post on Facebook this week, I listened to a Tibetan singing bowl. I had never listened to one before, and I discovered how relaxing it was for me. When I have tried meditation in the past, my minds starts to wander and I need to bring my mind back to center, but I discovered that with the tones of the Tibetan singing bowl about the time a thought started to emerge, I heard another tone and I just relaxed. Because of my experience I read a little about them, and discovered that they have been used for both healing and meditation purposes. I searched on Pandora for Tibetan singing bowls and was happy to find some tracks that include singing bowls. I'm thankful for discovery. Although these have been used for centuries, for me, this was a discovery in how they are used.
Anne Frank: A Diary of A Young Girl was published in 1952 in the United States, and it was probably about three years later that I read this account of her life and became aware of some of the atrocities of war. I remember how I felt when I read of her plight, while at the same time feeling almost guilty for living in this land and having escaped these horrors. While in my teens and drying dishes one day as my Mom washed, I talked to her about this subject, of how come we were placed in this land instead of some other place where life would have possibly been one of much hardship. Although with maturity and added knowledge I have come to know that many have suffered here too and that man's inhumanity to man is spread over the globe. However, there is an ever growing sense among the populations throughout the earth to reach out and do something to alleviate the sufferings of the people, to help them rise above poverty, and disease, and to give them hope. There are even among the histories of past generations here and in other lands, accounts of courageous and compassionate acts to assist those who were in desperate need, and there were people who offered hope. I am thankful for all those who in whatever way they can offer a ray of hope to others.
In pouring though some photos today, once again I was reminded of how quickly the years go by as children become adults and then grandchildren become adults, and then great grandchildren are born to begin their trek. What is said and done builds memories and influences and shapes who we are and who we become. I'm thankful for each one in the family for their love and example.
Anne Frank: A Diary of A Young Girl was published in 1952 in the United States, and it was probably about three years later that I read this account of her life and became aware of some of the atrocities of war. I remember how I felt when I read of her plight, while at the same time feeling almost guilty for living in this land and having escaped these horrors. While in my teens and drying dishes one day as my Mom washed, I talked to her about this subject, of how come we were placed in this land instead of some other place where life would have possibly been one of much hardship. Although with maturity and added knowledge I have come to know that many have suffered here too and that man's inhumanity to man is spread over the globe. However, there is an ever growing sense among the populations throughout the earth to reach out and do something to alleviate the sufferings of the people, to help them rise above poverty, and disease, and to give them hope. There are even among the histories of past generations here and in other lands, accounts of courageous and compassionate acts to assist those who were in desperate need, and there were people who offered hope. I am thankful for all those who in whatever way they can offer a ray of hope to others.
In pouring though some photos today, once again I was reminded of how quickly the years go by as children become adults and then grandchildren become adults, and then great grandchildren are born to begin their trek. What is said and done builds memories and influences and shapes who we are and who we become. I'm thankful for each one in the family for their love and example.
Wishing all my fellow bloggers and followers a wonderful coming week.
What a wonderful post full of sweet things and things to learn about, Pat! Sinus issues have been ongoing for me for years, so I've noted your Amazon.com product and will most surely give it a try next time I am suffering from sinus issues. Thank you for sharing that information!
ReplyDeleteChilled home-canned peaches does sound so wonderfully soothing for a sore throat, and they match so perfectly with the bright yellow primrose... what a thoughtful gift!
You poached egg learning process and photos brought back memories of my mother cooking poached eggs for herself. We kids would wrinkle our noses, but she loved them and tried to lure us by telling us "fancy ladies" ate them. She did indeed stir the water vigorously in the process.
"My Family's Slave" sounds like a very thought-provoking read that I will need to add to my reading list. I love your desire to learn and understand more about others who might be different or do things differently than what is familiar to us.
The lesson from the beautiful Spring flowers opening in their own way and their own time is a good one, you make the most wonderful observations! :-) I've heard of Tibetian singing bowls, but know nothing about them, now I'll have to go and research more!
A resounding AMEN to your thankfulness for those who offer hope to others, as I see it, that is what we are here for, it should be everyone's intention. Family members, past and present are treasures, we have so much we can learn from them if we make the effort to understand and appreciate them. I also want to see elders once again be held in esteem in our society, rather than being people to be cast aside. I pray for this.
Thank you so much for this uplifting TToT post, Pat, have a beautiful and healthier week ahead! XOXO
That is so cute how your grandmother told you that "fancy ladies" ate poached eggs.
DeleteI am feeling so much better, and was able t visit my Mom yesterday, and attend church today, and it is sunny, instead of raining. Things are looking up!
Tibetan singing bowls!! How could I have not come across this before? I went to 'the youtube' before I finished reading this post. Very cool ('though I laughed to myself when I noticed that the 'time length' ranged from one to nine hours.)
ReplyDeleteWhat is it, I wonder, about the positive effect of listening to something like these singing bowls.
Thanks for this post! It's been a few years since I listened to Gregorian chant, (which kinda is like the singing bowls, in effect), and I once again know why I enjoy it.
I find youtube is my first 'go to' whenever a household repair arises. The visual element is so helpful. Funny about recipes, even though I don't cook or have that much interest in food, I've always enjoyed certain cooking shows, the ones based on giving information, as opposed to being a celebrity thing. 'Good Eats' and 'America's Test Kitchen' being my favorites.
The only way I could listen nine hours to Tibetan singing bowls would be if I'd started listening to them at bedtime, went to sleep, and the track was still playing when I woke up. HaHa. I did come across a site that talks about the healing power of sound. https://www.holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-o-z/reflections/251-neuroacoustics-the-healing-power-of-sound.html. What I do know is how relaxing it was to me to listen to the Tibetan singing bowls. I think one of my children sang some Gregorian chants in a high school choir years ago.
DeleteI haven't watched the cooking shows much, but I'll have to take a look at the ones you mentioned.
Anne Frank's quote, and her life, is so inspiring. I read it as a young teenager in the early 60's and it was a profound. I'm sorry you weren't feeling well, but I'm glad you found a natural "cure" for relief. Do tell. I am a fan of the properties of essential oils. I use eucalyptus and lavender the most. Vicks on the bottom of your feet at night relieves post nasal drip. I know natural remedies are healthful and more cost effective than high priced meds with tons of side effects. Your photos, as always are, are lovely. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteThe product I used for my sinuses is called XLEAR Nasal Spray. I ended up not using the essential oils at all, but I have used essential oils in a diffuser sometimes for other things. I found that I cannot use eucalyptus because it gives me a headache.
DeleteI'm glad that you liked the photos.
Excellent you found a product to relieve your symptons so quickly. I can identify with the sinus issues and how annoying if not painful they can be! A friend of mine at work is very into the essential oils thing. For pretty much everything. She even has used it on her cats :)
ReplyDeleteOh,yes, the peaches must be cold. What a thoughtful friend indeed!
LOL I'm laughing at your poached egg story as it reminds me of my youth. My dad was big into poached eggs. Me? Never! He had a special pan if I remember correctly that allowed for kind of "no fault" poaching:) He was pretty good at it.
Tibetan singing bowl? I must look it up. Like you, I find it difficult to get into the meditative state sometimes. Busy, busy brain :) A friend of mine many years ago gave me a Cochiti Drum. I would find a rhythm and use it for a type of meditation. Perhaps I should pull it out again and give it a try. I hear so many people sing the praises of daily meditation. Has to be something to it, right?
Have a wonderful week too, Pat.
Many of my friends use the essential oils for many things, but I am kind of a infrequent user.
DeleteMy mother had a special pan for poaching eggs, and many years ago I did too, but I got rid of the pan since I was the only one who seemed to enjoy poached eggs.
I looked up Cochiti Drum to see some images. Did they originate with the Pueblos? I found a great youtube about making the drum. Very cool.
Glad you're feeling better, Pat. I really don't like being ill and 'out of action'. You've made ma crave poached eggs on toast! Such a simple meal but so nice! Have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so much better. I'm now back in action.
DeleteI think poached eggs must be one of those things that people really like, or really don't. :-)
I hope that you have a great week too.