Lory's Nondairy Paleo Ranch Dressing or Dip

Here is the recipe for the mayo:

1 egg-room temp
1/2 t dry mustard
1/2 t salt
1/2 T lemon juice-room temp
1/4 cup light olive oil
1 cup light olive oil

Put the egg, mustard, salt, lemon juice and 1/4 c olive oil in food processor.  Turn on and mix thoroughly.  With plunger in the lid-add part of the 1 cup olive oil into the plunder. the whole in the bottom will drizzle this in for you.  When it gets close to the bottom, add more until you have added all the olive oil. Take off the lid now and you will have paleo fresh mayo

Now to turn this into nondairy ranch dressing and dip:  

To this recipe of Mayo, add:

1/3 c coconut milk (canned-regular, not lite)
1/4 t garlic powder,
1/4 t onion powder,
1 t fresh chopped thyme or reduce it if you use dry thyme. I used lemon thyme from the garden.

Then whirl this all in the food processor and it is perfect!  This takes only a few minutes and you have fresh, no chemical, no dairy deliciousness!  Use it for dipping or salad dressing :)  If you want it thinner-just add more coconut milk.  it doesn't taste coconutty at all.

Musings of a Grandma

I was thinking yesterday, as I attempted to explain a storyline from "We Bought a Zoo" to Ellie (5). The new and inexperienced zoo owner, against advice from everyone, said he would not kill the very old and sick head Lion.  The "next in command" Lion escaped rather then have to take on and kill the leader. Which is what you are suppose to do in a pack of Lions.  The disruption of the old Lion staying alive was messing things up in the pack.  A "lion whisperer" was brought in and he said to give the lions whole carcasses so the pecking order could be established by the "second in command" by what parts of the kill he ate.  I guess his urine marking would transmit the information that he was the new leader. The old leader could stay alive in peace.  Besides thinking I am glad I'm not a lion.  I think I did pretty good explaining hard big adult issues to a five year old.  

Later that day, as I was chatting with Rachel and Ellie in the car, I was thinking of all the stuff I've learned since I became old (50).  And how I wish I knew some of this stuff when my kids were young.  I can now share it with my Grandkids, as they are usually a ready audience.  And Grandma is sometimes easier to talk to than "the parents".  

I decided that I would start writing down some stuff that I wish I had known when my kids were still kids.  I will also write down some of the "tell me about when you were a kid" stories that Ellie asks for.  I may write down an interesting conversation or observation.  I think that this will evolve. Hopefully some pictures, because pictures make everything more fun!  

 

No Picture....

Hi family and friends,

It's been too long since I wrote an update. Life goes on and on. I sometimes sit down to write, but I don't have a good picture. So here is a small snapshot....not in importance order...

Work-is good. I'm not as confident as I would like, and not as skilled as I would like...but I do have good days. I really enjoy most of my coworkers and most of my patients. When I am thanked by a nurse, I thank them and let them know I like being on the same team. I am getting better and more experienced everyday.

Home-My family is wonderful. I love my kids, kid-in-laws, and grandkids, and especially my hubby. He is a very good and patient man (most of the time) and I try to be a good and patient wife (?some of the time?)

Church-I really enjoy being a part of choir with such a great group and leader, and all striving to be the best we can to lead God's people in the prayer of Mass. (And I do seem to be getting better there to)

Body-Well, here I am just staying stable...I have maintained pretty good...warming up and stretching with Pat in the mornings. I go to Mike's gym tomorrow...I am going to be a very tired camper!

I'm reading all the Pern dragon books-just for fun. Just got a magic bullet and am enjoying smoothies (and quac on superbowl Sunday)...and next weekend is quilting and work in the yard Sunday, hope it doesn't rain :) We get to go to Rachel's concert at the end of the month, Amanda is in middle school...or is it Jr High? I always get that mixed up? And Ellie still helps me out when she's not in preschool or taking care of her stuffed animals.

That's my snapshot...Now, don't forget...we are all God's handiwork!

Shalom, Lory

Hi family, I have gone back to work. On call at a hospital about 30 mins away. From what I understand, it is a really good hospital to work for. Today was the first day of orientation. I like it. The CEO started us off, with the heads of all the departments there, introducing themselves and any new employees for their department. Do you remember Farrell's ice cream place? He played a video from Mr Farrel. It was wonderful. Even more so because I remember so many good times there with you! Some of you have heard me either looking forward to working again, or being sad about it. I figured it out. I want my cake and eat it too! I like being an RT. I was good at it. I was good at doing my job well and helping the patient and family feel better. It was a little hard going back into the hospital after visiting Dad in the hospital. But then I realized that I would have many opportunities ahead of me to help people-patients and their families, to feel a little better during a hard time. What an awesome privilege! To be used by our awesome God to help his family! My cake and eat it too.... I still want to be around to harass my poor husband trying to work. The benefit of working out of the house. I get to run into him throughout the day. And often eat lunch with him, or just catch a quick kiss goodbye. I'm also very blessed to have been able to have soo much time with each of my granddaughters. I also get to run into some of my kids on a regular basis. I'm thinking that with an on-call position, I can have my cake and eat it too. I love God being in charge. He does a better job then I could.

Some summer pics:

Here are some random pictures of my summer.... 3rd of July, Pat smoked some meat and I finished a basket. The small one I made in January with Holly and her Mom, and Teri and her girls. It was so fun, I had another basket party when my Mom and sister, Chrissy came up to visit. I made a larger basket for books, magazines, toys...

I I I I The girls and I went to the farm. It was lots of fun. I'm still going to try and get the three granddaughters together as much as possible. I love experiencing them together!

Time to sign off, God Bless you all! Love, Lory

Lory's Thanksgiving Weekend!!

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend... Thursday morning Pat and I enjoyed a cup of coffee in our hot tub as the morning woke up. This is one of favorite morning rituals. The air very cold and crisp but we are toasty warm. We then enjoyed a breakfast feast with Tom, Lois, Kaelyn, Michelle, Kristen...Chris, Ellie, David, Michael, and family friend Becky. Michael and Becky had just gotten done running the Turkey Trot in downtown Gig Harbor. 5K, I think? Maybe next year for this old lady-but I really think I will still prefer coffee in the hot tub with Pat! We had a simple Turkey dinner later in the day with Chris and Mike. I forgot cranberry sauce. Nobody cared but me. (I did make some for the left overs on Saturday!) We were so content we skipped the pumpkin pie-saving it for Friday when the Teri's family and David would join us.

Friday Teri, Jason, Amanda, and Rachel came over early to spend the day playing with Ellie. Ellie loves her cousins coming over. She talked about it for days. Chris said she woke up during the night a few times asking if her cousins were here yet. The highlight for Ellie was playing in the jacuzzi. We all had a lot of fun!

We had a ham Thanksgiving dinner, with the trimmings. The best part being that everyone helped in cooking, setting up, eating, and....cleanup! It was both relaxing and good eats!! Finally, we had pumpkin pie-homemade from pumpkins Ellie picked at the farm. I didn't have my camera out, so you will have to see it in your head. Pumpkin from vine to pie! It was delicious.


While we were all getting dinner together, Rachel and Ellie-our 2 princesses took a break from the princess ball to check out our kid friendly nativity set.

Saturday was a relaxed Christmas shopping day for Pat and I. We stayed away from the mall and hit fun places like the Harley shop and the Quality Sew and Vac. Chris said this would be only half fun (where are his priorities?) Mass Saturday night with our wonderful friends, then Sunday fun ahead...

Sunday brought more leftovers for breakfast and then off to Seattle to meet up with Teri's family to see a production of "White Christmas" at the 5th Avenue. A huge place house in Seattle built in 1928. Now we are ready to bring in Advent and prepare our hearts and rejoice once again that we are called to be God's children and celebrate the birth of His Son! Happy Advent!!

A Great Weekend!
St Cecilia Sings and then a weekend of fun with my hubby!

Teri, Amanda, Rachel and Grandma Lory at the church we sang in.
What beautiful girls! I am very Blessed!

Pat and I just got back from a great weekend. We started it off with a first for me-since adulthood anyway :) The choir I sing and play my clarinet with was part of a sing-a-long with other choirs in our area. We met at St Joseph's in Seattle, a beautiful Catholic Church built in the 1930's. We were told they used horse hair on the ceiling to help with the sound control. It really did have good acoustics. Teri, Amanda, and Rachel came and listened to Grandma play. That was really fun. Here is a video Amanda took of our song. The wind instrument in the background is me.

After the concert, Pat and I stayed in Seattle. We found a great ma/pa breakfast place. Very small, but great food. Did some Christmas shopping, then a ferry ride to Poulsbo. Not only did I get a game of cards on the ferry-but I won! :) Poulsbo, of course, was a breath of fresh air. I get a quilt shop, Pat gets boats to meander around. We both get my favorite coffee shop and Poulsbo Bakery. Mass was full of energy Sunday morning. A woman and her two sons glowed as they were brought into fell communion with the church. The priest anointed them with enough perfumed oil to last quite a while. I've never seen in done so thoroughly-made me smile-the boys too. Poured the sacred oil onto a platter and dipped his whole palm in-then rubbed it on the top of each of their heads as he prayed for them. Thank you Lord for a great weekend with my hubby. Lots of sleep, good coffee, good food, and we caught up on life. We're ready for Monday :)

Fall is Beautiful!

I love watching all the changing colors of fall....and all that it means is coming soon. Besides Thanksgiving and Christmas, it means Teri will grab her camera and her girls and go find some pretty trees!