Finished and Complete

No English dictionary has been able to explain adequately the difference between the two words.

In a recently held linguistic competition held in London, England attended by the best in the world, Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese man from Bachelors Adventure, was the clear winner with a standing ovation lasting over 5 minutes.

Here is his answer which made him receive an invitation to dine with the Queen who decided to call him after the contest. He won a trip to travel the world in style and a case of 25 year old Eldorado rum for his answer.

His final question was this.... How to explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand. Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED .

Here is his astute answer ....

When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE.
And when you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED.
And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!

Funny Story

Here is a cute, short story I got in an email from a friend of mine that often send me jokes.

 

While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch.  After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table, and she didn't miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes. By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around and return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses.
  

All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy old man. He fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive.The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up for a single minute.
 

To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her... 

"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."

Positive, Uplifting Thoughts

Here are some positive, uplifting thoughts that I would like to share. I found them all on Facebook and shared them with my friends on my Facebook page.  Now I am sharing them here with you too.  I hope you enjoy them and that they bring you some joy and new insights to life.

Staying Home

Most of the time I tend to be out and about, doing numerous different things with my life. I rarely ever stay home and when I do it's only for 1 day, maybe 2 at the most and then I get stir crazy and have to get out of this house or go crazy!! Now, the last while I want to just stay home. I stayed home last Sunday, had to go to town for an appointment on Monday or would have stayed home. I planned to go to work at the Food Bank on Tuesday or Wednesday yet couldn't bring myself to go out so didn't. Again I had to go out for an appointment on Thursday and to get some pellets for my stove as it was about 55°F in my house since the stove ran out of pellets on Wednesday.  I knew I should go get pellets, yet couldn't bring myself to leave home, so combined reasons I had to go out on Thursday.  Friday I planned to go do some Volunteer work at the Food Bank, and again stayed home.  Today is Saturday and I stayed home all day again even though I had planned to go get some groceries. I have run out of some important staples in my diet: apples, bananas, peanut butter... and I am low on Nutritional Yeast. Maybe I will push myself to go out tomorrow, we'll see.

So, you might be wondering what I have been doing all day at home alone. I have been playing a lot of Spider Solitaire on my computer.  I also have been doing some much needed work in my home and have given away lots of 'stuff'.... freezer burned meat from when I was still eating meat; 3 boxes of quilt batting, 2 of them carded sheep fleece and 1 was a mix of small store bought pieces; 4 huge bags of yarns of various colors and kinds (I can't remember what I got it all for so was time to let it all go); 2 huge bags of material bits and old clothes that I had planned to make into a patchwork quilt and know now it will never happen... all through Freecycle on the internet, and I gave a bunch of recipe books, some drinking glasses, and a couple big bags of women's clothing to a thrift store.  My goal is to purge everything that has been here for years and is not being used.  I have stored this all for way too long and it is time to admit to myself that I won't likely use it, and let it all go.

I also have been surfing the internet, looking at all sorts of different web pages on all sorts of different things... the Desert Bar in the Buckskin Mountains of Arizona because my friend Mike told me about this place.  He plans on going to Arizona in his motor home for 2 months next winter and we have been talking about me going along too. He said we will go check out this bar he heard about out in the desert.  He has been doing lots of research on making this trip.  Mike even would let me take my cat Mewsic with me, though I will have to find someone to critter sit the rest of my animals. I don't know what I will do about leaving my home for 2 months in the winter, but I will figure that out too.  

Speaking of my home, I have never liked my kitchen.  There are so few cupboards and they are so old as well as high. I have to always get up onto something like a stool or ladder to get anything out or put things away.  I have most of my dishes and food in storage cupboard things I bought that stand alone in my kitchen. This kitchen is small and over crowded and even when I had my home clean and uncluttered the kitchen was still not at all to my liking.  I dream about having my entire kitchen redone... new cupboards, new sink, new fridge and stove, stuff like that. I sometimes surf the net and look at different web sites about kitchens.  Today I looked at  RTA kitchen cabinets. Someday my dream will come true and I will have a nicer kitchen, whether it is in this home or another one.  I must admit, though, that my dream to have a better trike does take priority. As long as my health allows me to ride my trike (3 wheeled motorcycle) I will do so all summer long... and I will be taking the one I have to Arizona with me on a trailer behind Mikes motor home next year.

Good for a LAUGH!!

 Some more humor for your enjoyment.

Basic Raw Vegan Mayonnaise

If you read this blog you know I eat in the Vegan way.... no animal products, not even milk, cheese, eggs, fish.  I eat vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, grains (except wheat).  Here is a recipe I recently read and decided to post it here not only to share it with you, but also to make sure I can find it again if and when I decide to make some of this to use in some kind of salad or whatever that calls for mayonnaise.  Unfortunately, I only have a regular and rather old blender, so am not sure it would work for making this... see note at bottom.  I got this recipe from Healthy Blender Recipes.

Basic Raw Vegan Mayonnaise

Vegetarian,Vegan,Raw,Dairy Free, Gluten Free,Egg Free,Soy Free,Blender

• 1 cup organic raw cashews soaked for 2 hours (soaking is optional)
• 1/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup raw cauliflower
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice or more to taste
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 tsp raw agave nectar or 1 chopped pitted date
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• Tiny 1/2 pinch of Celtic sea salt or more to taste

1. Put the cashews and cauliflower in your high speed blender (I use a Vitamix) and add the water until combined well.
2. Slowly add the oil in one steady stream, and process until thick and creamy.
3. Place the rest of the ingredients into the blender to taste, and process until smooth.
4. Add in some more salt, mustard or lemon juice to taste until you create your perfect blend.

**Please note – you will need a high speed blender such as a Vitamix, in order to achieve a really creamy consistency.

Good for a LAUGH!!

I have been downloading several pictures with short bits of words on them.... these ones are all to give you a bit of a giggle, after all, laughter is the best medicine.

Canadian Issues

I got this in an email and decided to share it here. It is sadly true.  I like giving aid to other countries, yet so many people here at home need it too and I feel we must look after them first. Our politicians keep giving themselves raises while they close schools and hospitals, while people are hungry and homeless in our country.  Please do not take offense at any words you may think are 'bad language', and if you are from one of the countries other than Canada please do not take offense at any of this letter, it is not meant to be mean to any of you, it is just meant to share what is happening here in Canada.

Canada is such a wonderful country in so many ways.... and yet it has some major problems that must be fixed.  Our governments have and continue to create poverty here in our own country while they keep giving themselves raises and better retirement packages.  Please read this and pass it on. I'm not sure how this email can change things for the better of all in our country, yet perhaps knowledge is the beginning of a better future.

Read all the way Down!!!!!

Lets hope it creates awareness....DO YOUR PART

Things will change is when this kind of email translates into voting results at the polls -- as of NOW seniors out number ANY OTHER type of voter even by race - religion - or age --- WHEN ARE SENIORS gonna wake up and understand WE have the power to shape legislation all WE need is the will power to do so-- PLEASE SEND THIS BACK AROUND TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS -- MAYBE THEN THE "GREY REVOLUTION" will begin --- MAYBE !!

POLITICIANS PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!

FORWARDING THIS TO EVERYBODY!!!

‘Entitlement’ my ass, I paid cash for my Old Age Security and CPP!!!! Just because they borrowed the money, doesn't make my benefits some kind of charity or handout!! Gold plated MP pensions and Civil Service Government benefits, a.k.a. free healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, 20 weeks paid  vacation, unlimited paid sick days, now that's welfare, and they have the nerve to call me a 'greedy senior' and my retirement, an ‘entitlement’ !!!!!!

What  the HELL's wrong with us???

WAKE  UP CANADA !!!!

Someone please tell  me what the HELL's wrong with all the people that run this country!!!!!!

We're "broke" & can't help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless etc.,?????
but spent 1.2 billions of dollars for G-20 events!
 
In the  last few months we have provided aid to Haiti, Chile, and Turkey. And now Khanistan, Pakistan ...... home of Bin Laden.  Literally, BILLIONS of our DOLLARS!!!

Our  retired seniors living on a 'fixed income' receive no aid nor do they get any breaks while our government and religious organizations pour Hundreds of Billions of $$$$$$'s and Tons of  Food to Foreign Countries!

They  call Old Age Security and Healthcare an entitlement even though most of us have been  paying for it all our working lives and now when it’s time for us to collect, the government is running out of money. Why did the government  borrow from it in the first  place?   

We have  hundreds of adoptable children who are shoved aside to make room for the adoption of foreign orphans.

CANADA:  A country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed hungry, hospitals & schools being closed, average income families who can't afford dental care, elderly going without 'needed' medications and having to travel 100's of miles for medical care with no reimbursement of cost, vehicles we can't afford gas for, lack of affordable housing, and mentally ill without treatment - etc., etc.

YET.....
They  have a 'Benefit'  for the people of Haiti, ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents, clothes, bedding, doctors, and medical  supplies.

Imagine if  the *GOVERNMENT* gave 'US' the same support they give to other countries.

Sad isn't it?

Cranberry Apple Quinoa Casserole

Another really yummy looking recipe from Cooking Quinoa is this casserole.  This one could be another great choice to make not only for me to eat, but also to take to the Vegan Potluck I go to monthly. It looks easy enough to make, though I'm not sure how easy it will be in this small city to find non-dairy cream cheese. I've never looked for it, so it may be impossible or it may be very easy. I will have to check in Nature's Fare, or ask one of my vegan friends.

Cranberry Apple Quinoa Casserole

• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup of wild rice
• 1 cup of quinoa, rinsed
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 T fresh sage, chopped
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 8 oz low fat or non-dairy cream cheese
• 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 4 Red Delicious apples, chopped
• ½ cup cheddar or vegan cheese (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place quinoa in a medium bowl and cover with water to soak while rice begins cooking. Bring broth, salt and 2 cups of water to a boil. Add wild rice and cover. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 50 minutes. After 45 minutes, place quinoa in a fine metal strainer, and rinse for five minutes. Add quinoa to rice mixture and cook for another 20 minutes or until the liquid has all absorbed. You will want to check and make sure that you do not need to add more broth.
2. Heat oil over medium heat in an oven safe saute casserole. Add onion and sage and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
3. Add cayenne and black pepper. Stir in quinoa mixture and cook until all liquid has absorbed.
4. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese until blended. Add in cranberries and apples. If desired, top with white or yellow cheddar cheese.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. (If preferred, you can add cheese in the last 15 minutes.)

Headphones

I can not sing well, nor can I play a musical instrument... unless you include banging on a native style drum.  I sure am grateful that other people not only can sing and play instruments, but that many of them also record their music so the rest of us can enjoy listening to it at our leisure. I don't think I know anyone that doesn't enjoy listening to music. For me, because I live alone with my animals, I mostly can listen without needing to use headphones of any kind. There are times, though, when I am traveling with someone or when I have company and I want to listen to my music while they try to get some sleep, watch television, or just relax in the quiet. For this reason I decided to check out some headphones on the internet and I liked what I saw at Sennheiser studio headphones.  I wonder if these would work in my computer and I think they likely would since computers are an important part of recording things like music.  I think I will do some more research.

Flourless Chocolate Quinoa Cookies

I have found recently that bread causes my blood glucose levels to go higher than I want them to.  When you have been diagnosed as diabetic you have to be aware of these things. It is possible that I may not do well with wheat, so I am doing my best to cut bread and wheat out of my diet.  Because of this, I am very interested in flourless recipes. I also am interested in using quinoa as it is not only very healthy and high in protein, but it is also rather tasty.

Cooking Quinoa is a great site with lots of wonderful recipes that use quinoa, are healthy, and many are vegan.  Wendy even has some cook books you can buy for very reasonable prices. Inn the near future I have a vegan potluck to go to and I am thinking of  baking a batch of cookies from Wendy's site.

Wendy Polisi's Flourless Chocolate Quinoa Cookies

Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free, Processor

• 2 flax/chia eggs (1 T flax meal + 1 T chia seeds + 6 T warm water)
• 1 cup blanched almonds (see note)
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• 1/3 cup almond butter
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• ¼ cup apple sauce
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ¾ cup vegan chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a small bowl combine flax meal (or ground flax seeds), chia seed and warm water.  Whisk well and set aside.
4. In the Sous Chef® food processor combine almonds and quinoa.   Process for 1 minute, or until you have a fine meal.  Add baking soda and salt and process until blended.
5. Heat a small saucepan to medium low and add almond butter and coconut oil.  Cook until coconut oil and almond butter are melted, whisking occasionally.  Add in apple sauce and maple syrup and whisk until heated through.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and flax/chia egg.
6. Add the warm almond butter mixture to your food processor and process until a dough has formed.  
7. Immediately add in the chocolate chips and process until chocolate is melted and blended, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary.
8. Roll the dough into small balls and flatten with your fingers.  (You could also use a fork.) 
9. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Note:  To blanch whole almonds, boil water in a medium saucepan.  Add almonds and cook for one minute.  Drain and allow to cool slightly.  Peel almonds.  You may skip this step if desired.
11. Variations:
12. For double chocolate cookies, allow the batter to cool and stir in ½ cup vegan chocolate chips.
13. For Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, stir in ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts just prior to cooking.
14. For Cherry Chocolate Cookies, stir in ½ cup dried unsweetened cherries just prior to cooking.

Puzzling

I've had this cute picture in my collection for awhile.  I think I got it in an email from a friend.  I've been waiting for a time to share this either on my Facebook or on one of my blogs.

Now, this evening I'm sitting here watching TV while I blog, eat dinner, talk to a friend on the phone, etc.  I happened to go to the ravensburger puzzle web site and was looking at some of the pictures of puzzles they have there.  I haven't done a puzzle for years now, but used to love doing them and might just decide to do one this winter.  Anyway, look at this photo I found there.

It is the same picture, just without the words someone added somewhere along the line. It is a puzzle to me who had the photo first, and I think it would be interesting and peaceful, calming to put this puzzle together on a cold winters night.

 

Australian Aboriginal Proverb

Positive Thoughts