January 26, 2007

• Jumble

  Doug and I took two of the youngest cats, Fancy and Tabby, six months old, to the Big Lake vet for shots and pre-spay exams yesterday.  Afterward, we drove on into Wasilla to buy a kennel so we can more easily isolate them from the rest of the cats during their recovery from the surgeries.  As we were passing Pizza Hut in heavy traffic, Doug said, “I think I know what I like about being in town.  It’s the psychic buzz — comforting.”

  Driving on past Lake Wasilla before the left turn into Pet Zoo, I responded, “Hmmm… It’s one of the things I like least about town, any town, but to me it is more like a psychic yammering.”  He said, “You must be more sensitive than I am.”

  Then we got occupied with our objective and the conversation turned to practicalities.  On the way back home last night I was thinking about it.  As I approached the turn off the highway here I said, “You remember what you said about my being more sensitive than you?  I think it might be that there’s a parallel with our tastes in music.  The music you enjoy just drives me up the wall.  It’s busy and complex.  I think our psychic difference might be one of response rather than of sensitivity.  You have a higher tolerance for cacophony.” 

  He chuckled and said, “Maybe that relates to the ADD, too.  I have no problem following several lines at once.  That would explain why I don’t like your smooth jazz.  It’s so simple and boring.”
  

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  What a difference some snow makes:

  This was the scene at the spring in October, right after the first snow.

  Three months later, after a lot of snow and cold weather, I shot this next one with Flat Maddie, our houseguest from Wisconsin.

  It’s the same place, almost the same angle, just a little closer to the edge.

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  WYRMFaery asked me how my hand is doing.  I burned it on the woodstove last Saturday night when it got caught between a stick of wood and the edge of the opening,.  Then I scraped some skin off when I freed my hand.

  The burn killed nerves, so there was never any pain after the initial minute or so as I poured cold water over it.  The area around it turned black and blue.  That is fading now.  There have been no signs of infection, but the wound has been slow to heal.  Last night when I changed the dressing, it was still open and draining pink fluid.  This morning, it itches, a sure sign of healing.

  Otherwise, healthwise, I went through an episode of Herxheimer reaction on Tuesday, a week after starting the carb-restricted diet.  I assume it was a die-off of Candida.  Afterward, I did some kinesiology MRT and established that I could safely add some permissible carbs (from sources to which I’m not allergic) to the diet. 

  That was helpful, because if I had needed to do all that driving and activity in town with my energy levels as low as they were on the virtually no-carb diet, I’d have run out of steam fast.  I’m still trying to gauge my energy levels and work up to the fatigue wall, not slam into it.  So far, I’m successful, and each day I feel a little better than the day before.
  

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  Sneaky Sticky Muffins

  When I learned that I could start consuming carbs, I made a new batch of muffins.  I’m not posting the recipe, because it was experimental and needs some tweaking.  They were a mix of garbanzo, fava, rice and corn flours, with almond meal and pieces of dried figs.  That part was okay.

  Ever since I’ve been doing gluten-free baking, I had used xanthan gum to hold things together.  I didn’t like its taste or mouth feel.  This time I tried a different sticky substance, psyllium husk powder, the same stuff that Metamucil is made of.  I think I added too much.  My muffin batter started out just the right consistency, but before I got all the muffin pans filled it had become very thick and sticky.  Next time, I’ll use only half as much.

  

  • 4:02 pm
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