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A Celiac at a rummage sale

What is more exciting than finding a great antique chaffing dish fo $1.00 at a garage/rummage sale? The disappointment of realizing that gluten free really does mean for me, that dish will never serve my food. I can't stress enough that gluten free risk is usually a betting man's upper hand. It is simple, thee was stuffing or sauce or something vital gluten put in that dish, and the healthier and more long-term gluten free you become, the less you tolerate gluten. So I don't use Grandma's China, or Great Aunt Elizabeth's gravy boat for food. I found ways to store things in them that assure me the joy of the memories of childhood dinners, such as a wrapped candy dish for the gravy boat, or floating candles in the water of a chaffing dish, an awesome use for a tea cup that was handed down? I planted miniature Thyme plants in two, and they are loved often.

So, second hand tupperware is not such a deal anymore, maybe start a Target Wishlist, or amazon account for the new stuff that you will want. Make sure to pass on the dinnerware set to someone in need, I put mine up to freecycle and requested any social workers that were dealing with a displaced family, contact me. After the floods I go to give a family dishes, pots and pans. HOW COOL IS THAT?

So remember as much as I love Freecycle.org, and rummage and reduce, reuse, recycle, I have to go with the 4th R, respecting my body over my emotions of a cute dinner setting I go a great deal on.

Grocery Store list vs. cost

I spent time carefully weighing my options.
I picked up the nice little package of my new favorite cookies.
I picked up the organic half&half for the coffee 3.89 for a full liter. I was disappointed the Cream line Dairy non-pasturized half&half was out. That stuff is delightful!
So I compromised for the liter of half&half, but made sure to pick up the blueberry, Vans gluten free waffles.
I picked up some boysenberry jam, since the grocery store carries a local brand, and I know it is safe.
A sweet potato for a lovely casserole later, some raspberries and a bag of apples to make my own stewed fruit, and some zucchinis for the deep dish casserole.
hmmm what else...
Reb bush tea, vine ripened tomotoes, some local makers sold in the store pickles (also super safe but not a national brand), and my one actual indulgence. GF stuffing made by kinnicinic. Man did I miss stuffing for years. I mean a few tines since 1999 I tried, but it was made of mediocre - not-worth-it product.

So when I got to the check out counter with my 12 items that came to $50 dollars. I wasn't surprised, but the woman behind me was. She blurted out. good god are those golden pickles or what? This is why I don't bu organic.
Then she realized how REALLY ruder her outburst had been.
I turned to the lady and smiled. Sure I could pick out less quality food, but in the end i would be sick and unhealthy from your white bread. I have food allergies and eating right doesn't always allow frequent luxury. Sometimes it requires choosing between what is available and what will nourish you.
--She stammered...but you hardly have two bags of groceries.....
Yes maam, but those two bags are all food that I can count on to keep me healthy, and certainly they are going to be delicious.

Her eyes fell to the floor, her scarlet cheeks still burning... "what you must think of me with my generic peanut butter, potato chips, little debbies and chex mix bags"

I gently smiled and laughed... if you were my friend we would shop together and make choices that were good for your budget and your body. But, in the end, you seem like an adult that can make choices for herself, and I assume the kids that those little debbies are for... since there seem to be adult cookies in the cart too?

her eyes lifted...
you know.. I am going to put these back... maybe I can find some real TREATS in the organic section. you are right, I like the food to be good, not just cheap.. Happy new year.

and she walked back to find something for herself... I assume truly FOR herself is the way to say it.

Happy New Year

don't give up

Butt Prints in the Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream, One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of the Goddess they were, But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared, and I asked Her, "What have we here?
These prints are large and round and neat, But much too big to be from feet."

"My child," She said in somber tones, "For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith, But you refused and made me wait."

"You would not learn, you would not grow, The walk of faith, you would not know,
So I got tired, I got fed up, And there I dropped you on your butt.

"Because in life, there comes a time When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand, Or leave their butt prints in the sand."


-Author Uknown

CPR - getting involved

Compression Only CPR - The Latest Info

Based on scientific evidence, the Red Cross supports “compression only” CPR as an acceptable alternative when a responder is . ..… untrained …… unwilling …... unable …... or unsure …… how to perform full CPR … cycles of chest compression AND rescue breathing.

The Red Cross & the AHA hope that compression only CPR will save lives by encouraging bystanders who witness a sudden collapse of an adult to get involved and have someone call 911 & start performing chest compressions until help arrives or the adult shows obvious signs of life: breathing & movement.

All Red Cross CPR classes will continue to teach rescue breathing.

The following individuals will still need to take training which includes BOTH chest compressions & rescue breathing:

- those who take CPR training for certification to meet State & Federal requirements;

- lay responders in the workplace who have a duty to respond; and

- those responsible for infants & children.

Source - http://foxriver.redcross.org/
to give blood for the assistance of the recent floods and disasters, go to this site to schedule a blood donation, or funding donation.
www.givebloodgivelife.org