Small Thoughts on Aging

When a button popped off my favorite flannel shirt I put it on  my dresser where it would remind me to sew it back on.  Looking down the front I could see no buttons missing. I carefully sewed it the inside next to the other thoughfully supplied "extra button" to use later.  When I put my shirt on the next day I discovered it was the button from my cuff. Grrr.  So I cut it loose and resewed it where it belonged, thinking to myself "brain fart," a phrase my family likes for these moments.

I have friends who can no longer drive. 

When I get to the grocery I can no longer count on recalling those items I left off my list. I stick to the list so I don't pick up two non-listed cans of stewed tomatoes only to find I already have half a dozen in my cupboard because I did this last time too.  Every six months I hand that stuff over to the food bank while they are fresh and usuable.  This has been going on for a long time, not a new thing just more frequently. Also since my youngest son has nine kids when I arrive home with a second bag of satsumas I take that to their house where they will disappear before dinner.

What a small problem and I can do my own shoppping and drive myself nearly anywhere I wish. My co-grandmother S., my sweet daughter-in-law's Mom has begun getting lost driving the four blocks from the grocery back to her home.  We think she has been forgetting to eat too.  She's six years younger than I.  

I also seem to have lost some self-control about eating goodies.  I make brownies, eat two and deliver the rest to the above mentioned grandchildren.  If I don't I'm likely to eat the whole pan for dinner, or lunch. Why? It even makes me feel ill.   So I never buy two candy bars at the same time for the same reason.  I can go for weeks without buying this stuff (I'm diabetic) but if I do it's gone in minutes.  Why can I recall that I bought my favorite chocolate bar last week and not buy one this week but I can't remember the cans of tomatoes or the two times I already bought tissues on sale? I suppose the chocolate lights up something in my brain that tomatoes never would.  Thank goodness the non-chocolate stuff doesn't attract me.  Except cheesecake. Once when I was pregnant I ate a whole Sara Lee cheesecake for lunch. Frozen.  Maybe this isn't new. The result is a carefully written and adhered to grocery list made after looking through the cupboards.

What we need is Randome Access Memory for humans except even that is too simplistic. S. can recall unresolved arguments from 40 years ago and has attempted to restart those disputes at the family dinners with her former husband. Then she will come to and carry on a normal converstion with no memory of the road she just tried to go down again.

I've also noted I have less restraint about saying what I think. The grocery store again.  Why do people plant themselves and their carts in the middle of the aisle making a traffic jam in both directions.  Mostly I coped with this by going very early in the day to the grocery, better parking and fewer people.  Before I would politely ask them to move, some did, some didn't.  Now I just move their basket down the aisle, smiling all the way, unless it's a mom with little kids. Them I am inclined to forgive them most anything. I haven't forgotten trying to shop with my two toddlers,  I seem to swear more than I used to do. I never used to swear. Ever.  Maybe it's from watching too much tRump on the news. I doubt it though. But my grands start laughing in the car and I"m saying "what, what?" You just said "shit" they chortle.  "You told that guy to go screw himself when he cut you off. "Tee hee, hee.  Oh well.  Not a biggie in the larger picture of our world.

So that scratching fear most of us have about dementia is in our laps now. In the larger house of  our family, changing plans as we talk and we feel sad and S. is scared, and angry. 

If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more, we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song. Khalil Gibran 

Once more into the breach...welcome 2019

I wish you a Joyous New Year

Don't pass out, this is the second post in a row. I was an absent blogger much last year. Thank you for your posts last year.  I love reading them all.

I got some requests for the homemade pizza recipe.  It is from the Orca Parent Co-op Grade school that my sons attended K-5 in Seattle in 1978 and on. I taught some art classes there and tutored reading.  The pizza recipe instructions suitable for grade schoolers who are cooking under the eye of a adult-like person. This a copy of it with all the stains removed unlike the original.

I started making it again with my two 12-year old grandkids I have all day Tuesdays.  OMG it's so delicious, I'd forgotten how good homemade tastes. Plus they each do half a side of topping to their taste. Never any leftovers, it's pizza after all.

Pizza is basically a bread dough that is rolled out, spread with toppings and baked in an oven. Pizza started in Naples, but now you can find it everywhere.

First wash your hands. (definitely for grade schoolers :-)

To make the dough, you will need:

1 package (1 tbsp) dry yeast
1 1/3 cup water
2 tbsp salad oil (I use olive oil)
dash of sugar
dash of salt
About 4 cups of flour 

In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water until it is bubbly. Add the oil and salt. and begin adding the flour a little bit at a time, stirring it into the yeast mixture. Keep adding flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Knead the dough until all the ingredients are well mixed and the dough is smooth..Put the dough in a greased bowl and let it sit while you make the sauce.

That's it for the dough, it's easy and slightly sweet. If you want the rest of the recipe, here it is:

To make the sauce you will need:
***I use canned tomatoes with a small can of tomato paste. I found cooking the sauce from scratch took too long to thicken for me and small children*** 
About 2 pounds fresh tomatoes, 1 large onion, 1 clove garlic chopped fine, 1 tsp sweet basil and 1 tsp oregano.
Slice tomatoes (if you want more sauce cut up more tomatoes, you can freeze the excess). Add chopped onion, salt, pepper, garlic and spices. Stew on low heat in a fry pan until thick. This can be made ahead. 

***Or if you prefer a white sauce (I do) I use one made by https://www.thespruceeats.com/creamy-white-sauce-for-pizza-recipe-3377661 or I use white Alfredo sauce by the jar at the grocery. Same for the red sauce, if its from the grocery get the thickest one you can find otherwise your crust will be soggy.***

In another skillet cook any sausage or meats you like until thoroughly done. Chop up and use anything you like; green peppers, pepperoni, cooked chicken, or ham, olives, grated cheese, veggies etc, Prep whatever you like for toppings. I use big bags of grated cheese from the store, I like the white cheeses myself, Parmesan, use whatever suits you. 

Put the pizza together:
Preheat the oven to 400f. Roll out the dough to fit your pizza pan or a cookie sheet. It doesn't have to be round. Fit it on your pan. Spread your sauce over the top, add your chopped chosen meats or veggies or just cheese if you like. Then spread your grated cheese over the top. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. It allows the dough to rise a little. Then put it in the oven. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the edges are brown. Enjoy.