Suicide Awareness and Prevention

The Ghost from Juneteenth Past

The Ghost from Juneteenth Past

The Ghost from Juneteenth Past
Photo by Vie Studio on Pexels.com

Trigger warning If someone you or someone you know has struggled with suicidal ideations or attempts, this content is not for you to read! Please, seek help! “Today, “988” is the three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. By calling or texting 988, you’ll connect with mental health professionals with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline which serves our nation’s Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. For texts, Veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.”

Juneteenth

When you hear the phrase “Juneteenth” what comes to mind? Honestly, for some, nothing comes to mind of significance. Then there are others who revere and celebrate this day. According to Wikipedia, “Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Cel-Liberation Day, is an American holiday celebrated on June 19. On June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation— which had been issued on January 1, 1863— was read to enslaved African Americans in Texas by Gordon Granger.  That is a HUGE deal! For me, I celebrate knowing what it means to my son, my nephews, and those I love…however, this day is also a dark day for me, personally.

Loss and Grief

On June 19th, my friend passed away. She was a firecracker. LA was loud and her laugh could radiate throughout a room. She loved her kids fiercely and she was a fighter! LA was loved by so many yet didn’t feel that love at times. She struggled with guilt and addiction. My friend loved Jesus, her dad’s mini pecan pies, her children, dogs, rabbits, and that smelly turtle she had in a tank. I loved her so very much.

Grief ebbs and flows. For a while, you are so thick in grief that you can hardly breath. Then, you find out how to live life again but the nightmares come in and rock you to your core. Lately, it has been fleeting memories where I can smile and the nightmares having subsided…for the most part.

The Ghost of Juneteenth

Today, while I was at work, I headed into the clinic and I see all these beautiful smiling faces. I have come to love these faces. They are full of joy, hope, some sadness, and lots of grit and determination. As I was looking around seeing who I would snag first, my eyes landed on a new person.

I caught myself inhaling sharply as I glanced over and saw hot pink from head to toe. The hair, the eyes, the clothes, the voice was all LA. I swallowed hard and took a seat next to a familiar face while I gathered myself. From that point, I took the bull by the horns and did not make eye contact LOL.

My rounds were done, I had checked on all those I had intended and there was one left. I pulled her aside and said come on. She hopped to it, all smiles and chatting along as we walked outside to the fresh air. We headed into the office and I sat, mostly silent, throughout the time we had.

Towards the end, I could feel myself choking up and having an overwhelming sense of love and protection for this person. Quickly, I just let it slide and I got up to open the door. About that time, she hugged me so tightly and in that moment, we both sobbed. She couldn’t control her sobs and I let mine flow.

In that Moment

That very moment, I flashed back to the slab my friend was laying on as I was wiping the dirt off of her body. I was brushing/braiding her hair and talking to her telling her how worthy she was and how loved she was by so many people. That moment, on June 19th, 2018, I was tending to her body to prepare her for her mother, brother, and children to see for the last time.

Today, in that room, I felt like I was hugging her, weeping for her and with her, sharing with her that she is worthy and loved. I wanted to hug her for so much longer! I wanted to talk to her and let her know about her children and grandchildren but I remembered this was not my LA.

The Lord has stirred up my grief and this is something I am going to have to deal with for the next month. In that month, I pray that He will heal my mind and my heart. I pray that He will comfort her children, brother, and grandchildren. In that month, I pray that I can make a difference in this person’s life.

Remembering

LA, I loved you fiercely in life and I love you now. I am so sorry that you were alone and felt unloved in those final moments. I can close my eyes and see your smile. The smell in your hair, your fresh tattoo, and the smell of your detergent on your clothes. I can still hear the voices of your children, mom, and brother on that day. They loved you so much and still do. I want you to know that you are worthy, loved, and the world was better with you in it!

 

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Guest Blogger

Life Happens. Here’s How To Cope

Life Happens. Here’s How To Cope
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Life Happens. Here’s How To Cope

 

Life Happens. Here’s How To Cope. Life sometimes throws unexpected curveballs at us. We never know what’s just around the corner, whether it’s losing a job to being diagnosed with a new health condition. Fortunately, there are ways that Barefoot Faith Journey presents some examples of major life changes. This article offers a few quick bits of advice on what you might do when facing them.

 

Starting a New Business

 

If you’ve recently lost your job and decided that entrepreneurship was the path for you, congratulations. Not only are you facing adversity with a positive mindset, but you’re also on the most feasible path to gaining personal wealth. One quick tip to help this process is to form a limited liability company (LLC).

 

An LLC is a limited liability company, which reduces the chances of your personal assets being seized if your business gets sued. It’s a fairly flexible structure that you can file on your own using an online formation service. The online formation service will also have local laws and regulations around business formation.  All of this is located in one convenient place for you to research.

 

The Death of a Spouse

 

Losing a spouse, especially when you have been together for decades, is a horribly painful loss to endure. In fact, it is so painful that 66% of people risk dying within 90 days after the loss of their partner, explains the National Council on Aging. Although the grief may feel unbearable, your purpose does not have to end at this tragic moment. Talk with friends and family. You can also celebrate the memories you shared, and do things that are right for you. This can mean moving or dating once again, when the time is right.

 

New Health Condition

 

Every day, millions of Americans are diagnosed with new health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. There are many ways to cope with these, and it starts with understanding your condition. Next, set up a support network, create realistic goals for yourself, and focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t. You might also talk to your doctor about taking health supplements that can help with fatigue, brain fog, and more.

 

Having a Baby

 

You have likely heard people say that having a baby changes everything. However, you have no idea how true this is until you have that adorable little wrinkled bundle safe and sound in their crib home. The Baby Chick blog explains having a baby causes you to worry more, and you may experience changes within your relationship.

 

While many of the changes you’ll experience as a new parent are positive, you may also experience exhaustion and, in some cases, postpartum depression. Look for ways to get enough sleep, create a support network, and make healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating well and exercising.

 

It’s also common to feel like a stranger in your own body, as it may look and feel different than before your pregnancy. One way that you can focus on feeling and looking your best is to buy new clothes. Look for comfortable clothes that don’t sacrifice style, such as leggings, versatile dresses, and a flirty yet comfortable nightgown. Indeed, this may work to help you cope with caring for your new baby.

 

Losing Your Home

 

Whether it’s from fire, foreclosure, or some other unforeseeable event, losing your home is devastating. Similar to losing a loved one, you’re likely to experience grief, confusion, anger, and many other feelings. But you must accept that it’s time to start over and move on. Remember, you can’t bring back the past, but you can create a new future for yourself.

 

Supporting Your Mental Health

 

Each of these situations (and others not listed) will put your mental health at risk. There are some situationally-specific strategies you can use, but there are also more generalized ways to cope with grief, depression, and hopelessness. First and foremost, seek professional help. Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of and should be used anytime you need someone to talk to, especially after a big change.

 

Then, add small things to your daily activities that will help you to move out of your grief and depression. Being out in nature has been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, so take a walk or start a garden. You can visit https://homegardenhero.com/ for simple home gardening tips, including what to grow in your area.

 

Make time for the people you love – and who love you – even when you don’t feel like being social. Simply getting out of the house for lunch or coffee can make a big difference in your mental health, and each visit with loved ones will remind you that you are supported and loved.

 

Take Small Steps to Manage Challenging Situations

 

While no one has a crystal ball to know what will happen in the future, it pays to be mentally prepared for the unexpected. This doesn’t mean that you sit around and fixate on what might be, only that you know your options when facing a crisis. For some comfort and distraction, read more engaging posts on the Barefoot Faith Journey blog!

 

From starting a new business after losing the job to dealing with the lack of sleep that comes with having a new baby or learning how to manage diabetes or other conditions, today’s tips are a great quick reference guide that can help you maintain control during the chaos.

 

From unique recipes to inspirational topics, Barefoot Faith Journey has something for you. Contact us today for more info!

Cooking

Weekly Menu March 19

Weekly Menu March 19

Weekly Menu March 19
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Weekly Menu March 19 is up and ready. I have not taken time off of cooking because these people insist on eating every single night. Honestly, a lot has gone on and I’m just not with it. So, with this week, we are taking it easy (we meaning I) and it is going to be survival of the fittest.

Sunday

Chew on your own tongue and call it a night.

Monday

Lasagna. Now, this isn’t my super cheesy and expensive lasagna but it’ll do in a pinch. I had 3 boxes that were 1/2 full of gluten free noodles. Why? I dunno. Honestly, I need to eliminate the word ‘why’ from my vocabulary. Also making some garlic bread (gf for one of my kids).

Tuesday

Pizza night. It has moved due to some big changes in our house. I think this will be pizza night for the next unforeseeable future.

Wednesday

Cheeseburger soup. It’s always a winner.

Thursday

Leftovers.

Friday

Today is my Oak’s birthday AND my sister is coming to town! My siblings and parents are meeting up at a little local place to celebrate the greatness of her existence.

Saturday

Today is the reception celebration for my baby boy child. He got married last summer and this is their planned day. I will be getting my hair done, helping however I can and celebrating.

Side Note:

Tonight (the 18th), I had 2 bags, 1/2 full (cause why not) of tortilla chips. We also had some leftover cheese sauce and some meat. It has been a busy day cleaning house and just putting my life back together. Still, these people insist on eating every single night.

Since it isn’t “chewing on our tongue” Sunday, I had to do something in between cleaning up pee and laundry. I got out my big cookie sheet and sprayed it well. From there, I poured on the chips and sprayed those with cooking spray. I tossed them around with chili powder and spread them out.

In a bowl, I got my ground beef, added seasoning, chili powder, and a bit of water to help it stick. I poured that over the chips. Then, I added my cheese sauce. Got that in the oven and baked it at 350 for about 30 minutes. In the mean time, I cut up some lettuce to pour on top. One pan meal means easy clean and very few leftovers. Those will be eaten tomorrow for lunch by my kids.

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Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice

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Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice

Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice

Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Here is a Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice. I had some leftover chili from the week prior. It was not enough to fill four bowls, so I stretched it with some extra ingredients and rice. This was a winner for my family. I hope I can remember everything I did. Honestly, I tend to find joy in reinventing leftovers so we aren’t eating the same thing over and over. The downsize is, I don’t remember how I made it.

Frito Pie

Chili (leftover)

Chili cheese fritos

That’s about it LOL. Have I ever written out my exciting chili recipe? I dunno. Should I add it? I dunno. Chili isn’t hard. You can even buy it in a can, which I never knew until recently. Who buys chili in a can when you can make more, with ingredients you are familiar with, and it is cheaper. Mind boggling.

Spanish Rice

I did this in the instant pot.

2 c. rice

1 can crushed tomatoes

GF Taco Seasoning

Seasoning

Cilantro (gross and didn’t use)

Minced garlic

4 c. water

Chicken bouillon

Cheddar

Green Onions (optional)

Sour cream (optional)

Jalapenos (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Directions for Spanish Rice

I put the instant pot on saute and threw in the rice and garlic (with a bit of butter to keep it from sticking). Whirl that around until the rice is sauteed up and then add in the crushed tomatoes and seasoning. Whirl more. Add in chicken bouillon and water. Turn it off and then put on the lid. The knob needs to be on the sealing function and I hit the rice button. Once it is done, I did a quick release.

Assembling the Frito Pie

Grease a 13×9 dish. On the bottom, add the rice and then the leftover chili. I crushed the bag of fritos and poured that over the top. I baked this at 350 for about 30 minutes. Then, I pulled it out and added some cheddar. I popped it back in the oven for another 15 minutes. Serve with the optional toppings above.

Cooking

I Don’t Even Know the Day of the Week

I Don’t Even Know the Day of the Week

I Don't Even <yoastmark class=

Honestly, I Don’t Even Know the Day of the Week. It has been a whirlwind for the last several weeks. That, however, is not the plot of this post. I have cooked, a lot, as usual. We have eaten a lot. Date nights…not so much. Well, we have had one in the last month, the rest of the time we didn’t. So, here are some of the things I cooked over the last couple of weeks.

The Past Couple of Weeks

Of course, we have had pizza night. One night we ordered in food. There have been a lot of leftovers from birthday celebrations. Since January 24th, we have had ten birthdays. Over the next few weeks, we will have five more birthdays. These are mainly my children, grandchildren and in-laws.

That’s a lot of celebrations.

H’s Big Day

He wanted sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, and macaroni & cheese. I kid you not. Did I make it all? Yes, yes I did. Also, for the other people who don’t want side dishes, I made chili and boiled some hotdogs.

I had some chili left in the pot, but not enough to eat leftovers for the next night. We that knowledge, I threw it all in a gallon-sized baggie and put it in the freezer. The next week, I purposed to finish up what was in my freezer. I found that bag of chili. Creative juices begin. I made Spanish style rice and frito pie (sort of but not really). It was very good.

February Celebrations

Every month (more or less), we get together at My Oak’s house and do lunch (or supper) for the birthdays of that month. This time was no different. We gathered, we ate, we laughed, and we (I) cried. From there, Martha sent me home with leftovers. I threw all the veggies in a baggie and, you guessed it, froze them.

With that, I made vegetable beef soup tonight. I didn’t have many veggies from mom but I did find some leftover lima beans in another freezer. Some potatoes were cut up and a can of corn was added to the soup. I marinated stew meat in garlic and worcestershire sauce. It was fantastic.

A’s Big Day

She requested stromboli, so I made three of those and chicken noodle soup. She shares a birthday with my sweet mother-in-law. Dane wanted a taco trifle, so I made that. There was some leftover meat and I prepared that extra and some ate regular old tacos. There was enough leftover to have for the next night. Score for me.

Hitting the Bottom of the Barrel

Bless this bag of salmon’s heart. It has been living in my freezer for way too long. Finally, I decided to cook it. I am not a big salmon fan. I love catfish caught by my husband and son-in-law and Tilapia. We don’t buy it often. So, I made salmon in my instant vortex air fryer and garlic/butter/parmesan rice. Fan-freaking-tastic.

Also, my last freezer meal of the cook fest back in December. Taco bake. I will officially be done with freezer meals. All the odds and ends that I have tossed in my freezer are cooked up. I think there may be a loaf of french bread in the freezer so I will make cheesy/garlic bread out of that when I make lasagna next week. For some reason, I have three boxes, half full, of gluten free lasagna noodles. I can’t stand that, so obviously, I am going to use those up. Oh, lasagna soup… Dang, I love soup.

We will have hamburgers this week and honestly, I can’t remember what else we had the past couple of weeks. I am crawling, slowly, out of my hole, which is a good thing. That post will be forthcoming, yet difficult.

#PullingMyShitTogether

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Practical Tips For Entrepreneurs With Disabilities

Feeding Tube Awareness Day

Guest Blogger

Practical Tips For Entrepreneurs With Disabilities

Practical Tips For Upcoming Entrepreneurs With Disabilities

 

Today’s post is brought to you by Barefoot Faith Journey.

 

Practical Tips For Entrepreneurs With Disabilities. Disabilities come in many shapes and forms. However, these do not have to define your ability to earn an income to support your family. In fact, many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Richard Branson, who is dyslexic, live with some form of physical or learning difference.

 

As a parent or future parent with a disability, you may have resources available to you that can help you get started. A few of these include:

 

Free marketing tools.

 

Learning how to market your business may be a challenge, as it is for most. However, when you’re first starting out, you don’t have to sink all of your money into the marketing process. One example of a free marketing tool that you can use starting today is an online design service. Specifically, if you’re planning to make business cards, you can use a design template that lets you customize them with your own branding materials. If you’re not design-savvy, here’s a possible solution. Social media marketing is another low to no-cost avenue to get your message out. Sprout Social offers insight into how often you’ll have to post to get the most attention.

 

Online business formation services.

 

Business formation is available to everyone, but there are many advantages of using a digital service. First, you won’t have to leave your house. Perhaps most importantly, it’s an easy process that gives you and your small business a few tax perks, which, like rules and regulations, vary by state. Do your research ahead of time to ensure you know the steps you’ll need to take to get the job done.

 

Mentoring.

 

A business mentor is someone that has been in the shoes you’re trying to fill now. They have experience in your industry, and they often provide this service as a labor of love to ensure the next generation of leaders has a chance to enjoy success. You might also choose a business coach, which PushFar explains is slightly different than a mentor and that these are usually generalized coaches that may not have direct experience in your industry. Both have value, and they can help you start and grow your business.

 

Social Security benefits.

 

If you receive SSI, you may be eligible for the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program. This plan is provided by the Social Security Administration. The plan allows you to set aside some of your income and resources to put toward your professional goals, even starting a business. You will have to submit an application, but it’s a fairly simple process that can help expedite entrepreneurship.

 

Disability-owned certification.

 

There are three types of disability certification. These are Disability-Owned Business Enterprise, Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprise, and Service-Disabled Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprise. Each of these comes with benefits, such as exclusive resources, networking opportunities, access to private-sector corporations, and industry recognition. Certifications such as these command respect and can help you grow your business by lending credibility to your efforts.

 

People with disabilities have more opportunities than ever before to earn and thrive. When you have children to care for, bills to pay, and a life to live, going into business for yourself may be the best option. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources to help you market your business, form your structure, and even get up and running. Whatever type of business you choose and however you choose to start, good luck with your future endeavors, and enjoy your success.

 

Barefoot Faith Journey is Brandi’s blog and a great place for a good read on topics ranging from adoption to suicide awareness.

Practical Tips For Entrepreneurs With Disabilities

Image via Pexels

 

Guest Blogger, Medical Issues

Feeding Tube Awareness Day

Feeding Tube Awareness Day

Feeding Tube Awareness Day
Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels.com

Today is National Feeding Tube Day, which is a special day for many people. Many individuals require a feeding tube to get the daily nutrients to keep them alive and thriving. My son had to have a feeding tube for the first month of his life. He was born prematurely at 34 weeks and one day via emergency c-section due to eclampsia. He was born weighing 4 lbs. and 11 oz and 18 ½ inches long. I could not see or hold my son for three days after he was delivered on April the 8th of, 2022. My husband took pictures for me.  He showed me how beautiful he was so I would not miss anything important about his health or growth. Seeing the first photo of my baby with that feeding tube in his mouth broke my heart. 

What Does This Mean for His Future

Not because of its purpose but because I knew what that meant for him in the future. The tube was moved to his nose because he tried to pull it out continuously. They also had to tape the slack of the tube to his cheek with medical tape so that he would not pull it out to where the nurses would have to reinsert the tube. He was given donor breastmilk and medicine through his tube to help him gain weight so his NICU stay would not be extended for a long period.

Trying to Breastfeed

I was able to try and breastfeed him while the tube was in his nose, but all the wires made things a bit difficult. I had to turn to pumping my breastmilk. Then placing it in sterilized bottles or syringes. Next labeling them and what time they were finished. Lastly, handing them off to the nurses for them to add to his nightly feeds in his main tube. He got some of my breast milk and was supplemented with donor milk until my mature milk came in. One time during his NICU stay, he had pulled his tube out, and the nurses had to switch nostrils and replace the tubing with a brand new one, along with adding the tape to his other cheek again. The nurses said he did not care about this experience and was in pain during the transition.

Feeding Tubes (NG and G Tubes)

Feeding tubes (NG and G tubes) are inserted through the nose or mouth, and they must keep pushing it through until it reaches the abdominal wall leading to the stomach. The procedure itself is painful, and it is painful to watch a loved one, especially a preemie infant, go through all that pain and discomfort. They do not know what is happening or why it is being inserted multiple times. He tried to claw at it while we held him, and it broke my heart to see him in pain. But I knew there was the silver lining of hope that he would not have one of these tubes forever, and they were sustaining him and helping him gain weight so we could take him home. 

End Goal for My Preemie

While my mama’s heart broke to watch him be in pain, I knew that our end goal was in sight and that my sweet boy would come home with us happy and healthy. He is now almost ten months old and is the happiest (and chunkiest) baby ever! Baby probably weighs well into the 20s, and his pediatrician is pleased with his growth along the weight charts for his age group. He now takes formula (8 oz bottles every 4-5 hours) and eats table food/baby food. Encourage any mamas who have a preemie baby with a feeding tube to do your research on them!

They also have plenty of educational classes and qualified professionals to guide you through the process and answer any questions or concerns regarding the tubes. They may look scary, but the tubes keep your baby alive. And that is all that matters! I am thankful for them now and how they helped my son gain the weight he desperately needed to thrive. This day will forever have a special meaning to my family and me every time we look at my sweet son’s face! 

Yayi Side Note

Uhm, this baby is delicious. He is fat, happy, satisfied with life, and WELL loved amongst his tribe. Maybe I am biased, but my grandchildren are better than all the cheese and coke in the whole world. That is a blog post for a different day. My daughter and son-in-law are rocking this parenting thing!

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February 5 Weekly Menu Options

February 5 Weekly Menu Options

January 30 Weekly Menu Options
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

 

Here is our February 5 Weekly Menu Options. There will be some rollover meals that I didn’t use last week (ie my Zuppa, Croquettes, and the Mystery Meat). Sadly, I still have not gotten my groceries ordered, but will do so as soon as I hit “publish” on this post.

Basketball is close to winding down cue angels and I am super thankful. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching my kid play but five nights a week is just a bit too much for this mama and her sanity. I am sure there will be a little break before districts and before summer ball.

This month is also HEAVY with birthdays, so lots of birthday person supper choosing. I enjoy that because these are nights when I simply have to cook and not worry about what to cook. The birthday person picks the menu and dessert. I love having my family all around. It is certainly much more quiet around here then it used to be back when all seven kids were at home.

Monday

Mystery Meat, which turned out to be deer and has been marinating in BBQ sauce (now if it sucks, I will have B make hamburgers instead)

Fries

Tuesday – Shelf-Cooking

Croquettes

Leftover 3 Cheese Hashbrowns

Peas

Wednesday

Date night for B and I!

Chicken Alfredo (gf noodles being used)

Thursday

Pizza night

Friday

Zuppa Toscana (rollover from last week and the prior week)

Saturday

Cheesy Chicken Ranch

3 Cheese Hashbrown

Corn

Sunday

I don’t cook. Leftovers, find what you can, or starve LOL.

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Mystery Meat and Croquettes

 

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Mystery Meat and Croquettes

Mystery Meat and Croquettes

Mystery Meat and Croquettes

In an effort to get to the bottom of the freezer, we discovered three bags of meat. So, two bags were identifiable and then other not so much. Our Mystery Meat and Croquettes will give us at least three or four meals because of how much it made.

Taking a Gander in my Freezer

As I was trying to get my groove back on this Friday morning, I hurried to check the freezer and pull out the bags of meat that were in question. Now, my husband didn’t know what any of the bags were, so I was going in blind. While my granddaughter was playing, I scurried out to the garage and found the three gallon sized baggies and a 1/2 bag of yeast rolls.

Score.

Once in the house, I pulled out my instant pot. I normally do not use it on the crockpot function because I don’t believe it works so well. However, my crockpot was dirty and my other one has seen better days, so I had no option. Completely frozen, I put in the mystery meat. From the looks of it, it was stew meat but from the smell of it, it was deer. I never cook deer meat. Ever. My son-in-law kills them and cooks it but not me. He does throw things in my freezer from time to time. Once, I opened it and an entire hind quarter was staring at me.

Texting the Man Child

I texted him and he said it could have been him, it could be deer meat, it could be something else. Really, zero help. So, I got a cup of water in their and set the crockpot function on low for about eight hours. He said if it was deer meat, to cook it low and slow to get the gamey taste out and to soften it up.

Whatever.

I mean, that’s what I did because I do not like to waste or throw food away. Whilst his daughter was running about my feet, I gagged a bit while I fit this all in the instant pot. The smell was not my favorite. Once the lid was on, I really didn’t think about it anymore.

Onto the Other Two Bags

One baggie had leftover ham in it. The other baggie, I sort of giggled at when I started looking closer. On the bottom of the bag were two slices of ham. However, the rest of the bag had turkey. I am guessing this was leftover Thanksgiving meat from my mom’s house because I rarely cook turkey. It just is never moist (you are welcome, Susan for using that word).

I let them thaw out while I pondered what on earth I could do to make it work. While I was pondering, I was cleaning my house. Again, it’s Friday and I typically clean the house on Friday. I have been so busy lately that I clean when I have the chance. Today, I cleaned around my girl baby (best helper ever).

Cleaning Out the Fridge and Pantry

I finally tackled the pantry and pulled out all the bits and pieces that I didn’t even know I had. For next week, I will do something with this huge bag of tortilla chips. It was a little bag and about a 1/2 bag but I combined them and now they need to go in something.

Nacho night? Maybe. I dunno yet.

There was a couple of good sized onions and one weenie one. I set it out to use. There was also two little bags of instant garlic mashed potatoes. Gluten free, so I pulled those out. Once I was in the fridge, I found a zucchini that needed to be eaten, a tiny bag of green onions, a bit of cheddar…really, just a little bit of this and a little bit of that in all the places.

Croquettes it is (well, my version of it anyway).

Croquette Recipe

Leftover ham

Leftover turkey

Zucchini

Onion

Green onions

Cheddar

Minced garlic

Butter

3 eggs

Gluten Free Flour

Italian Seasoning

Seasoning Mix

Parsley

Mashed Potatoes (I used Instant Idahoan Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

Directions

First, I got my water started for the garlic mashed potatoes. Once that was boiling, I through in the instant potatoes, mixed, and set aside. Then, I got a huge mixing bowl out and cut up my meat into small pieces. There was a lot of meat (hence using three eggs to bind it). I added the chopped up onion and green onions. Also, I added in the minced garlic and seasoning. I did not heavily use my seasoning mix because the ham was pretty salty and so were the mashed potatoes. From there, I added the cheddar and mashed potatoes.

I had to leave to pick a kid up, so I covered that and it just hung out in the bowl while I was being mom. When I got home, it was cool enough to add in the eggs. If you add those eggs in with the hot mashed potatoes they will scramble up and that is not what you want.

Assembling the Croquettes

Once all of this was done, I got my hands in there (gross) and mixed it well. Like a meatloaf, do not overmix this stuff. I got a plate out and put my gf flour on it. While I was patting away, I was melting a pat of butter in a nonstick pan. I could fit seven croquettes in my skillet. Let them cook for about four minutes (or until golden brown) on each side. I had a lot of meat, so it made about 28. We ate it tonight, will probably eat it tomorrow night with some corn and leftover rolls. I also got a bag and will be freezing some for next week. Cook once, an ample amount, and eat that night and freeze for another night. Key to frugal living and shelf-cooking.

What I Will Add if I Make This Again

Next time, I will cut up some fresh mushrooms, a bigger onion, and some spinach. I could be wild and add in some cream cheese. Honestly, I wanted to add in the rest of the Feta cheese but didn’t want to waste it if these sucked. They didn’t suck, so I might add that next time. Oh, a mushroom sauce or brown sauce would be good over it. The possibilities are endless.

As for the Mystery Meat

My son-in-law checked it and it is definitely deer. He said to keep on cooking it and then decide what to do. I have a person I know that is super sweet and she lives on deer meat. When I saw her today, I asked her what she thought. She said to drain it, season it, and then pour bbq sauce over and make sandwiches. Easy enough. So, currently, that meat is marinating in the bbq sauce and I will reheat it tomorrow for lunch and then for meals on Sunday.

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Fun Facts About My Grandson

Fun Facts About My Grandson

Fun Facts About My Grandson
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

This post, Fun Facts About My Grandson, is written by my daughter. Clearly, I have permission to post it but will not post his photo. Seriously though, I could eat him and my granddaughter all the way up! I love them completely!

Here are some fun facts about my almost 10 month old baby boy!

  • He is a quarter Romani Gypsy thanks to his dad’s side of the family
  • He has strawberry blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes just like his mama
  • He is very stout and dense around his midsection and he has rolls upon rolls on his thighs
  • He has the cutest chubby cheeks!
  • He was born premature at 34 weeks and 1 day via emergency c-section due to eclampsia problems.
  • He was in the NICU for 1 month before coming home
  • He did start out as a breastfed baby but is now solely on formula (a fed baby is the best way to make sure they are happy!)
  • He is a weird little kid sometimes lol (his dad and I are very weird people)
  • He loves to grind his teeth and it drives me absolutely crazy
  • He has a fascination for wipes (loves to put them in his mouth)
  • He gets scared easily by loud noises and then he will cry
  • He is very very LOUD! He has a good set of lungs on him
  • He can clap his hands, sit up by himself, feed himself, say mama/baba/naenae, he likes to help take his clothes off, and he can sort of crawl now
  • He loves his mama and daddy very much but he also really loves his grandparents. He is shy around strangers at first but will warm up to you quickly
  • He has an amazing smile that will light up your whole day
  • This kiddo LOVES him so food. If he sees us eating and we don’t give him a bite or a drink he will cry like a banshee
  • He loves to laugh
  • He has 3 bottom teeth and 2 top teeth
  • He has some rank smelling poops sometimes and it is not a pleasant experience for both parties
  • He loves contact naps
  • He loves car rides
  • He growls at people and it freaks them out sometimes (this one is totally my fault)
  • He hums himself to sleep
  • Has been an amazing sleeper ever since he was born
  • He hates being hot and we have to keep our house at a cool 65 degrees or under or he will scream until he wears himself out
  • He loves his teddies and stuffed animals
  • If you take his bottle out of his mouth for even a minute before the entire bottle is finished he will… you guessed it.. Scream lol (#word)
  • He loves bath time and splashing around!

Love of Her Life

He is the love of my life and the most precious soul I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! I am so grateful and blessed that God chose me to be his mother. He came in my life when I needed him most and I would go through that c-section 100 times over just to have him in my life.

Everyday he is learning new things and we discover new things about his little personality. This baby is so incredibly sweet and a busy little dude. He always has places to go and people to see 24/7 and people who love him with a deep affection. He has been prayed over by many people during and after his birth.  I know when he is older, he will have people in his life that will always be on his side. I can not wait to see what other changes come around as we enter into toddlerhood with my sweet baby!