ODDS AND BODS

Pretty art.

This sounds interesting, if nothing else it sounds soothing.

Or this for a good night’s sleep?

How about this? On the rare occasion we used to have an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel at our local mall. The place closed years ago.

Or this.

Another recipe of sorts but not for food. For when you might have food stains on your clothes. I haven’t tried it. I haven’t tried any of these, so you decide if you want to. 

The following is an addition as I thought to add this stain remover I buy from Wegmans. I can't remember the price, but it's very good for removing stains, even ones forgotten about. I spray it on the stain, rub it in, wait for a few minutes and put it through the wash. I don't know if I even have to wait. 9 times out of 10 the stain has been removed, even the blueberry ones forgotten about. It impresses me every time.

Apparently we are all walking miracles, so here we go again, strutting. 

Are you a…and yes I am a …

Words are fun!

I can’t say I have been that rebellious but I have been known to dig my heals in at times when I feel it is important.

But often enough I am with Keanu Reeves on this one.

Last one, a beautiful owl picture. 

I hope you have enjoyed them and feel free to let me know if you like them, or not.  These are from Pinterest.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - CUCUMBER AND LEMON INFUSED WATER

No recipe for this one, or a proper photo, but very simple to do. With these summer temperatures, we wanted a change from just plain water. I remembered being given a glass some time ago, and decided to make it this week. There has been a double batch in a large pitcher sitting in the fridge ready and waiting. I replenish the water if needed but will not keep for more than 24 hours as it can get a bit too strong. A good idea would be to make it first thing in the morning and finish it by end of day. You may have your own versions. It certainly is a very refreshing drink, if you like this taste combination.  Also great to sip on a hot, humid day. I am adding it on here to remind me how much we both enjoyed it.

Cucumber and Lemon Infused Water - serves 8

8 cups (2 quarts) water (you can use tap water but I don’t like how ours tastes so I usually fill up my measuring jug with water from the refrigerator filtered water dispenser, and pour it into the pitcher. You might have great tasting tap water.)

1 large thinly sliced hot house cucumber, the kind without seeds. You may see them as English Cucumbers. (These were the only kind we could get when growing up, and as is often the case when you have anything as a child, we often prefer them to anything else. You don’t have to deseed them and they seem milder in taste to me. Three of the smaller regular cucumbers could be used probably, the type with seeds. We reached our own taste combination after a couple of tries.)

2 to 3 large lemons, thinly sliced

2-3 sprigs fresh mint for garnish (optional)

Extra slices of cucumber and lemon for garnish  (optional)

Wash and dry the cucumber and lemon. Thinly slice them and add to a large pitcher.

Fill the pitcher with water and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to 24 hours.  

Making and serving right away works too, but it won't have as much time to infuse.

To serve, pour the cucumber and lemon water over a glass of crushed ice. (I am not one for a lot of ice and water only is enough for me, especially if that water has been well refrigerated.) Garnish with some of the lemon and cucumber slices from the pitcher or add fresh to the top.

As you drink the water, you can top up the pitcher with more water. Add extra cucumber and lemon if you think it is needed.You will know when it is time to make a fresh batch. As I said in the beginning, it is very refreshing but I found the flavor too strong the next day. It is much better to put together first thing in the morning and drink it all before going to bed.

Not that the following were the reasons why I made this, but I have read several articles online that I found encouraging.

Here are 7 benefits. 

1. It alkalizes the body. Lemons and cucumbers are alkaline forming foods that will help the body function at its optimal level.

2. It is packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants and silica, good for cleansing toxins from the body.  Silica is supposedly nature’s anti-aging secret.

3. The silica in cucumber is a mineral necessary to keep connective tissues healthy. Add a few slices to your workout water bottle.

4. Vitamin C and antioxidants can double as an immune system booster. 

5. Aids in digestion. Citrus flavonoids stimulate and purify the liver. An entire cucumber averages about 45 calories and a lemon only 17, so a few slices to your water is not going to add many calories.

6. May help you drink more water. We like things that taste good. Better tasting water just may prompt us to drink more.

7. Lemon-Cucumber water first thing in the morning gives a nice boost. All thanks to the Vitamin C, potassium and phytonutrients.

There is all kind of information on line when you put what are the benefits of Cucumber-Lemon Infused Water in your search engine. I don’t necessarily believe everything I read, so I go to several places in my search and compare information.

And, when it is anything to do with our health, the first advice we should get is from our own physician.

I am also including this link from the Mayo Clinic.  The article is about the benefits of drinking water, and if you scroll down the page, there is a list of various food combinations I will enjoy trying at some point.

(For non-French speakers, 'Tchin-tchin' means 'Cheers' in English)

ALASKA TRIP - MAY 2018 - A QUIET DAY TODAY - FRIDAY, MAY 25TH, 2018

A quiet day today...

Friday, May 25th, 2018  

though there was great excitement downstairs this morning. Gregg went for my coffee and his iced tea while I was getting ready, and found a crowd at the window. He was told a mama black bear and her three cubs were just below. They had moved on by the time he looked, but a man let him take a photo of his photo which he showed Gregg on his iPhone screen, and there they were quite clearly.

12.26 p.m.  Today we decided it would be a laundry day.  

Gregg and I found a laundromat not too far away in Girdwood, and the ceiling was painted like the sky with constellations.  Of course I took photos!

It took 20 minutes for a wash cycle.  I brought my iPad to read while we waited, but rather than hang around for the dryer to finish with our clothes, we decided to check out the mercantile store nearby.

Next we had breakfast in a small restaurant next door, where we ate a breakfast biscuit with home fries.

and chatted with locals outside.

Very cute locals...

but they were anxiously waiting for their humans to come back, so we didn't want to interrupt.  Want to come home with me?  No?  Too bad, I would treat you like you were the center of the universe, and give you kisses as many as there are stars in the sky, and constellations in the heavens, just like in the laundromat.

After we ate we picked up our newly washed and dried laundry, then back to the hotel to see if my computer had soaked up some electrons. It had not! I am having trouble as the screen won't turn on, and we think my computer is kaput!  Ugh!  Of all the luck! 

(There are vases of flowers placed all around the hotel.  Very pretty!)

Fortunately I had downloaded everything to the portable hard drive before leaving home.  As for my photos, as a precaution I keep them on my camera card without deleting after downloading everything to my computer.  Breathing a sigh of relief because this is exactly why I am super cautious. I learned my lesson when it happened before a few years ago. You just never know when your computer is going to throw its hands up and say, enough already!  I am going to have to wait until we get home before I can do anything. 

(These are photos that are in our room.  Love them!)

1.44 p.m. Gregg just got off the phone to a cousin.  They connected through Facebook.  Her grandmother and Gregg's grandmother were sisters.  We are meeting up on Sunday as she lives in Anchorage, and when she saw that we were heading this way she invited us over. 

(I say hello to polar bear when we come back from looking around.  He's always a welcome sight.)

5.31 p.m.  It has been a quiet day.  I had a text from niece to say that they were about to board their flight back to Germany.  They had to change planes in Seattle and had a 12 hour layover.  

We have been taking walks in the evenings on the hotel grounds.  Many of the trails are closed due to avalanche warnings.

We have seen a gradual snow melt since we arrived, but there is still of lot at higher elevations.

These warnings are in strategic places all around the hotel.

On our walks we talk loudly and don't wander too far, especially because of the sighting of the bear family earlier. We have seen people park (not staying at the hotel) and walk on the trails which are open to the general public.  Some of them have bells tied to their walking sticks. Also they often have one or two dogs.  

We went for a cocktail later and Gregg asked the barman if he had seen the bear family again.  He told us no, but when they were there this morning, he saw people outside getting their photos taken with their children, with the mama bear and her cubs not that far away. He could tell even at this distance looking down through the widow, her body language was showing agitation. Oh dear, they might seem cute and cuddly to some, but they are still wild animals.  The barman was trying to give us a gentle warning not to get too close and we thanked him, even though we would not have.

(This is the view from where we are sipping on our cocktail.  There are two large fire-pits, one here and the other at the front of the hotel.  They give off lovely heat as you walk by, and it is a relaxing place to sit for a spell as you can see with this lady and her dog.)

We leave for home next Tuesday the 29th.  Three full days left after this one.  The countdown has begun.   

Short break from holiday photos - a good for you Smoothie Drink.

I love smoothies and am always on the look-out for new recipes.  As I was feeling a bit achy this morning - cold weather has a habit of doing that - I came across this one which has all kinds of good things going for it, so I thought I would share it with you today.  Unfortunately the blog I originally got it from is showing it no longer exists.  

Makes enough for one glass.

1/2 cup coconut water
1 cup cubed pineapple
1 stick celery
1 tablespoon crushed walnuts
1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Whirl in a blender until smooth.


What did I think?  A refreshing drink for breakfast and it tasted great.  I obviously can't verify all the things they say, but it has healthy ingredients and I decided to give it a try.