So. 

I still have a bit o' cough, which could be either residual bronchitis, or more likely, allergies. Most days I feel as if I had been in a car wreck, as every part of my body aches and all I really want to do is sleep. It's the allergies. It will pass.

Last week was my first visit with a therapist, a talk therapist who eschews cognitive behavior therapy. (yay!) Today was my second visit, and she is truly helping me to get my brain around all of the hurt of my childhood and teen years. Not too expensive, and well worth it.

Today is grey and cool, and I am tired but, I feel okay. 

Sweetie is now on a 50-hour a week schedule, with overtime. We are finally getting ahead instead of just making ends meet. Now there are rumors about the Tyson plant here in Montgomery City being bought and re-opening in December. Tough choices, if true. He never had a lick of overtime at Tyson's, and the pay wasn't great, but it was close. His new job pays better with OT, but is 25 miles away, and has better insurance. Take it as it comes is what we'll do. No need to get the panties in a bunch about a rumor. 

Ya want to see a photo of Leslie, the Head Gypsy at Gyosy Gatherings? 

Really?

Isn't she adorable?

Ambient temperature must be 77º or below.

I am feeling better; the fever is gone, much of the fatigue has lifted, and I can almost speak but I have to pitch my voice in a lower register to avoid squeaking.

Here are my crewel squirrels, each about 16" square, and nicely framed. These little guys will live for a nice long time.

And I can finally post Trixie's last photo, and I hope you all can see how vibrant she looks.

Slow Cooker. Ha ha!

So. What I thought at first to be a mere cold has grown to be acute bronchitis. Nothing cute about it, ha ha. I am resting, drinking lots of fluids, blah blah blah, doing what Web MD recommends and saving an office call with the doc. Sweetie's insurance card is in the ether cloud somewhere, but nowhere near my limp little hand and I just don't feel like dealing with any sort of red tape.

Anyway. Here is a recipe to feed everyone the sick person cares about, to be made by the sick person. Because dog knows those people's arms are all broken.

Meat and/or Vegetable Soup, for the Slow-Cooker

(Skill needed - Opening cans and dicing.)

If you are a sensible person, you  should already have on hand several cans of different vegetables in the pantry, along with some canned pasta sauce or salsa.

Into the slow cooker, combine a can of corn, a can of beans, a can of peas, a can of diced tomatoes or salsa or pasta sauce. Maybe add some little bits of frozen vegetables that are taking up space in the freezer. Add some water to each can, swish around, and add to crock, and maybe add some garlic or some dried onion bits. If you have some bulgar wheat or pearl barley, add some of that too. 

Add some meat. It can be leftover hamburger, or weenies, kielbasa, sausage or the meat from a chicken breast, chopped into small pieces. Add enough water to fill crock.

If you have no meat, it'll still be good. Just add some cajun seasoning or any other form of salt and spice.

Set on low for 3-4 hours, or high for 2-3.

It's nice served over crumbled hard rolls. Or rice.