Deck the Halls...

Every Thanksgiving it is my tradition to cut some branches off my neighbor's pine tree (LOL...) and make myself a wreath. Last year I forgot. And when I finally remembered I decided I just didn't care. I could live without a wreath. This year I am not feeling as apathetic although I admit I have no patience for Christmas music on the radio lately. Donning garden shears I attacked the tree with new-found vigor. I even added some holly from my holly tree:

I didn't stop there! Hmmm...time to dig out the Christmas tree. It's fake and small. I haven't set it up for years because it just seems like such a waste of energy, but I did it anyway. Not sure what is possessing me.

Then I went to the Black Friday sales and bought some new Christmas lights. I love Christmas lights and they were cheap:

Oddly enough, I'm even considering making Christmas cookies this year. It might be dangerous. I used to make decorated sugar cookies and give them away, but since starting the gluten-, sugar-, dairy-free diet, I fear I wouldn't have the willpower. We'll see.

Smart Doctors Have One of These...

But then there are doctors who have not one, but two of these posters hanging in their office, yet scent their offices with essential oils. Wow. It pays to ask specific questions. I understand she's more of a "Chemical-Free Zone" person, but stink is stink and her posters should be clear.

You can buy your own poster at Mariposa Naturals For A Toxin-Free Experience

Festival!!!

I've had this little shelf for years, nearly my whole adulthood. One early morning as I was driving to work I past my apartment complex's garbage dumpster, there this little shelf stood looking neglected and unwanted. I slammed on my brakes. It was painted a strange bright red paint that looked like an oil gloss or auto paint. It had heart stickers on it. I loved it immediately and threw it in my back seat. I loved the red and the mangled stickers that screamed, "I have a history!" so I didn't strip and paint it for a long time.

I used to display my ceramics on it. Then years later used it for my art history books until my collection got too big. For the past twelve years it's been in my kitchen filled with cookbooks. I have red accents all over my kitchen because of this shelf. It's such a whimsy little shelf, so I put a whimsy little design on it with curly leaves. No red though. I hope I can cope. I guess I should buy new dish towels....or move it to another room. I don't think it matches any of my rooms!

My house is looking so cheerful!

Happy! Happy! Happy!

Flourless Cashew Bread (Recipe)

This is a gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free recipe. It does have eggs and yogurt so it's not dairy-free. It was posted by GirlAlive on her blog, TheRighttoBeAlive. She made it with her fancy Thermomix machine, but the recipe works fine using old-fashioned mixing and stirring. I had grave reservations it would turn out as I'm not good at baked goods and I had to convert the measurements from grams to cups so I was afraid it would be a little off. All is good.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups cashew flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 egg yolks and 3 egg whites
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup apple juice
coconut oil

If you can't find cashew flour, you can make it yourself by grinding raw cashews into a fine meal using a blender, grinder or food processor. Mix the cashew flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Add egg yolks, yogurt and apple juice, mix completely. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites into stiff peaks. Fold them into the batter, mix thoroughly.

Grease a pan with a little coconut (or other) oil. I used a 10" x 10" baking dish because it seemed like I had way too much batter for a small loaf pan, but the batter condenses while baking so a large loaf pan would work wonderfully. Pour batter into greased pan.

Bake at 300 degrees for one hour, then 10 minutes at 350 degrees for a golden brown.

For a gluten-free, grain-free bread, it has a lovely texture and wonderful taste. Because I used a larger pan, once I cut them into squares it was almost like eating soft cookies, but this bread is not sweet so don't let it fool you.

The only problem is you might be tempted to eat the whole thing in one sitting. Easy to do. I'm trying really hard not to do this right now!

Thanks, GirlAlive. Great recipe.

Yum.

A Day of Firsts...

Actually I wasn't looking this
calm at the time and I
definitely wasn't sitting up.

First time to ever call 911 in an emergency.

First time to ever to be hauled out of my house on a gurney. (So embarrassing.)

First time to ride in an ambulance.

First time to ever go to a hospital's emergency room.

First time to reach my insurance deductible. (Ouch!)

First time to ever ride in a police car.

It also felt like the first time I realized my friends suck, however, I already knew that. My friends deserted me a long time ago when I first became chemically sensitive. So I replaced them with people who I had hoped were better. Some of them are even fragrance-free which even makes them safe, but in a crisis, no one is available. No one is there to help. No one is there for support. It's very humbling.

I kept thinking if I ever got a text or call from a friend who is in the hospital and clearly crying, I'd be putting on my coat and running out the door before the conversation was over. But most of my friends are married. They aren't going to call me first. Or second. Or a week later. They might not call me at all. I am a non-entity which is probably why when I called them the crisis didn't even register. However, I don't use phones so getting a call from me should have been a huge red flag. My friends are colorblind. I also realize living in the middle of no where is not helpful if you are in need of support.

It makes me think those of us who are chemically sensitive need to organize and support each other better. We need to be advocates for each other in emergency situations when the doctor is so incompetent someone with a clear head can ask questions and demand action. We need to help each other when the going gets tough or someone needs assistance. Not sure how to do that since we are spread out all over the world and hiding in isolation, but I'm thinking on it.

Any ideas?

I am happy to report only one person in the whole ER stunk. One of the radiology technicians was bathed in some kind of scented lotion. Everyone else was fragrance-free and the rooms didn't stink of chemicals. That was really helpful. My stress level was already high, but I can't imagine how the day would have gone if I were poisoned as well.

Now I'm going to go binge watch Game of Thrones. I deserve it.