Reflections of katlupe

Life Keeps Changing As I Get Older

2026-07-23T15:03:09.011-04:00

My Backyard

When I stopped living at Peaceful Forest and moved downtown to a small apartment I did not know what to expect. I had a lot of mobility issues. I knew I had to move and leave my marriage so I could go to a doctor. At that time I did not have health insurance and could not get any. It was out of our price range. I had absolutely no money to pay for any. When I did go to a walk-in clinic for something the young doctor there said my mobility issues was just normal aging. No real exam and no x-rays. Just a big bill with sixty dollars extra added because I did not have health insurance! So I did what I had to do.

Doing Laundry

As much as I did not want to give up my life as a homesteading woman, I knew I had no choice. I struggled to do my chores. Washing laundry by hand was something a lot of people who read this blog romanticized. It was not by any means. It was a difficult chore for me to do. Putting my hands in ice cold water. I could not carry the water from the pump to the house to heat and then carry back outside. No, I had to use the cold water. To this day even with washing machines, I wash my personal clothing in cold water and hang to dry. Lasts much longer. I even made my own laundry soap which I do not care to do anymore. Moving here simplified my life. As you get older there are health issues that make it difficult for you to keep doing those chores that you used to do every day. When I used to say that homesteading was not a simple life I meant it. Nor an easy one.

Canned Ground Beef

For a long time I baked our bread letting it rise next to our big wood stove. Now I don't even eat bread. Life changes and so did my diet. When we were low on food, I could go in my pantry and create a meal out of ingredients and canned foods that I stored. It never felt like we didn't have anything to eat. Maybe not a lot of meat though I had that canned in the pantry also. I did not realize that my inflammation was most likely coming from the baked goods I was making. Lots of sugar and wheat! Two foods I no longer eat. I know so many people with serious health issues and they don't want to try to resolve their issues by giving up their beloved sugar, wheat and high carbs. I just ignore them now. It is kind of like being a Christian and watching people talk against it so they can continue doing the things they do and not have to change their ways. Well, they don't have to. Just pay the price later on.

My Kitchen

Instead of cooking from scratch I now look for foods I can cook easily without much mess. I cannot stand in the kitchen for longer than five minutes. So I get the food started and sit back down. Keeping it on a low enough temperature so it does not burn. Back and forth is the way I cook. I call it the back and forth method! If something takes some time to prepare, like a salad, I put it on the tray I keep on the walker seat and go back to my chair. There I cut up and peel it, put it in the bowl and then wheel it back to the kitchen to finish. Washing the dishes after each meal is another big help. That way I never have to stand at the sink for a long time. I cannot even if I wanted to.

Local Bus Transportation

Living in an apartment in a small city is easier for someone living alone and zeroing in on old age. A house has a lot of work and expenses associated with it. Like a car. I choose to live without all those headaches. To be honest though, it is not easy. Having to arrange transportation to medical appointments can be a headache. They don't always arrive on time or at all. Sometimes they just cancel you and don't even let you know. Then you miss your appointments. Even so, I could never afford a vehicle even if it was completely paid for. The repairs, preventative maintenance, insurance, registration, inspections and whatever else comes up with vehicle ownership. There are taxi cabs and the bus system available. For groceries though I normally have them delivered. It is the easiest option.

Ready-Wrap compression garments

Right now in the middle of summer I am already looking forward to fall and cooler temperatures. I can't wait for it. Even more so this year because it has been hotter and my Lymphedema is worse. I am wearing the Velcro Ready-Wraps most of the time now. They are easier to put on but they are hotter than the compression stockings. A couple of days I skipped the compression but it resulted in more swelling. You pay for what you do. Even if you know something is not good for you for some reason you still want to do it. Human nature I guess. I keep telling myself things will get better but unfortunately they never do. So I am learning to have patience, wisdom and discipline and hope for the best.

Making Keto Ice Cream With A Meal Replacement Shake

2026-07-20T10:52:01.633-04:00

Keto Chow Meal Replacement Shake as Keto Ice Cream

I eat ice cream almost daily while still following a low carb/keto food plan. Not just a lousy half a cup either. A whole pint! Two cups of bliss! Ice cream was always my downfall when following any diet. I can never resist it. Even though in recent years it is not as good as I remember previously. Too many chemicals have been added to it. Just read the label! What kind of concoction is it anyway? Yes, every now and then I am tempted by it and buy some. At first it tastes really good but soon it reminds why I don't eat it. Makes me feel pretty bad even though the taste seems to be okay. I am the type of person who can eat ice cream all year long. Even in the dead of winter with below zero temperatures I still want my ice cream.

My Keto Chow Delivery!

The trouble with the low carb and keto ice creams sold in the store is first of all they are expensive. Next a serving is very small. Some are half a cup and some are even smaller. No way is that going to satisfy me! About 4 years ago, I discovered a keto replacement shake on a channel I followed on YouTube. It is called Keto Chow. A catchy name I know! When I saw people making it into ice cream I knew I had to try it. Well, try it I did and I have been addicted to it ever since. It is more than a protein shake though many people drink it as that. It can also be used to make main dishes, soups (especially their recipe for pumpkin sausage soup!), snacks, desserts, including cookies, fudge, pies, cakes, biscuits and many more. They have their recipes posted on their website so you can find whatever you need.

Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker

I started out with a Cuisanart ice cream maker. The kind you have to freeze the container before you put the shake in it. I did not enjoy that one so much. I struggled with it for the sake of having ice cream. Then the Ninja Creami appeared on the scene. What a difference that made! Trouble was that it was a bit pricey for me. Then on Keto Chow's YouTube channel, Chris Bair, the founder of Keto Chow along with his wife Miriam, mentioned a website called Woot. He said they had the Ninja Creami for about $100. It is a site that sells used items that are reconditioned. I took a chance and paid a little over a hundred for it because I had to pay for shipping. It is a Very Heavy piece of equipment!

Rabbit didn't even open his eyes when I ran the new Ninja Creami!

Once it was delivered, I had to get brave enough to use it. From many YouTube videos I was aware of how loud it is. Louder than a vacuum cleaner! I had a bunny living in my apartment and they do not appreciate loud noises. Finally one day I had to try it..............my bunny did not even open his eyes! After that he was used to the noise of the Ninja Creami and so was I. It turns my Keto Chow shakes into the best creamy ice cream you could want. I cannot remember what the first flavors I bought were but it was incredible. I have since, bought every flavor that is available. Not a bad one in the bunch. I am not crazy about the new vanilla cream or their Core products. Other than those, I buy different ones on a regular basis. It is worth every cent to me.

Keto Chow Butterscotch in 1 Serving Packets

Keto Chow is available in large bags but I prefer the small packets of one serving. That way I have a larger variety. Keto chow does not add any fat into their product. You have to do that and if you don't add any fat you will not get the nutritional benefit from the vitamins and minerals. I add melted butter to mine with warm water in the blender. Then add the rest of the water at room temperature with the Keto Chow and anything else you may want to include. Keto Chow is formulated to provide a person with all the vitamins and minerals that they need from one meal. A third of the daily requirements based on them having three meals a day. I look forward to it every day!

Cool Cooking In Hot Weather

2026-07-13T10:45:43.037-04:00

I am getting ready to cook some breakfast. Cooking in my kitchen does not make my apartment hot. I use a single induction burner (Duxtop) and no heat is around it at all when cooking. The pan gets hot and the food cooks but the area around it is not hot at all. Plus it heats up quickly and takes only a few minutes to cook my food. One of the things I really like about it is that I can use my cast iron skillets on it. The smaller sizes work best due to the size of the cooking area on the burner. I have three different sizes and one nonstick skillet that I use for eggs, as well as a stainless steel egg poacher.

Cooking Bacon in the NuWave

The NuWave convection oven (the one with the amber dome) is my oven and it doesn't heat up the kitchen much either. I can make anything that you make in a regular oven in that. I have used both of these for over 8 years now and have no issues to complain about. I did replace the heating element a couple of years ago (bought a used one on eBay). Other than that it has worked fine for me. They say it uses 75% less electric than a normal stove's oven would. The dome does get hot so when cooking with it I am careful not to touch it.

Instant Pot

Another cooking appliance I use quite often is the Instant Pot. I can cook so many things in that and it does not heat my kitchen up either. Instead of cooking a roast or ribs in a regular oven for a long time the Instant Pot can cook it in short amount of time. Plus meat usually comes out so tender. I also hard boil my eggs in it and make soups and stews. Foods that usually simmer for hours are done so much faster and are just as good. I have even made my own homemade yogurt in it. Using the saute option you can also brown your meats in it before closing it to pressure cook it. You can leave your food in it and just keep it warm till you want it. I have done that many times.

Hot Logic

Another item I use to heat food is the Hot Logic. I do not cook food in it though you can and I did when I first got it. I put leftovers in it a few hours before I want to eat them. They will heat up and stay warm until you want them. It does not give off any heat on the counter or anywhere near it. I use a Pyrex oven dish to heat the food in with a piece of aluminum foil over the top. It is a good way to keep a meal warm until you want to eat. Most of the time I cook more than I will eat at my meal so I put the leftovers in the Pyrex oven dish and store in the refrigerator. The next day I put the dish of leftovers in the Hot Logic and plug it in. That is all I have to do. Later in the day I have my hot meal ready to eat!

Crock Pot/ Slow Cooker

I sometimes use the crock pot. It is a good appliance to use when you just want to put something in and forget about it. The area around it does not heat up. Nor does the counter it sits on. Mine is not a fancy one with all the bells and whistles. It gets the job done anyway. I missed the Hamilton Beach one I had a long time ago. So I got this one and am happy with it. It is another good option for a meal on a hot day when you do not want to heat up your house.

In the end I use all these appliances at various times. Hot or cold weather. It doesn't really matter to me. They all use less electric than a conventional cooking range. They do not heat up the kitchen while you are in the process of preparing a meal. For me that is a big plus! When you are older and/or have health issues the heat can be a concern. Yet I still need to prepare my meals and I like to cook. Always have. There are many more electric appliances that I wish I could use but my kitchen as you can see is very small and has limited storage space. All my pans are stored in the oven of the stove since I do not use it for cooking. And I think these appliances do just about everything I need. No need to skip meals or eat sandwiches in the hot summer time!

Living Through A Heat Wave

2026-07-09T12:08:05.532-04:00

It is hot. Hot here in upstate New York. Hot everywhere else too. Just getting through each day hoping the power does not go out. Wondering what I was thinking moving into a city apartment that is totally electric? I was thinking convenience, comfort and a easier life. That it has been. As long as we do not have a power outage. So I include it in my prayers and hope for the best. I have tried not to do a lot of cooking. The only food I am cooking is my morning breakfast of eggs. The rest of the day is foods I call cold foods. Keto Chow replacement meal shake that I make into ice cream with the Ninja Creami. Better than any other kind of ice cream! More flavors available too. I have that about midday. For supper I am on a chopped salad kick. I used to enjoy the chopped salads from Subway. Then they stopped making them so I stopped going there. Silly to buy a sub when I do not eat bread. Once I started making the chopped salad at home I liked them better than the ones from Subway anyway.

My refrigerator is full of beverages. Water, cold coffee, LMNT electrolytes, Zevia soda, and ice tea. I am the type of person who forgets to drink if I do not have it ready and in my sight. So I keep an insulated cup of whatever I am drinking at the time nearby. In the morning I always start my day with a cup of hot coffee no matter how hot it is. For some reason I cannot drink the cold coffee until after I have had the hot one. It gets me going. I keep the water in quart canning jars in the refrigerator. Glass stores foods better and colder in the refrigerator. Plastic does not. The LMNT I mix with water and store two jars of it in the refrigerator. Drink it through out the day. Electrolytes are important when you are a senior citizen and especially in the hot weather. I buy cold coffee already made from the store. It is black and unsweetened. I like the bold flavor. I usually have that for my 2nd cup of the day and it saves me from using up the coffee pods. Especially now as they gotten to be quite expensive. I make ice tea and keep it in the refrigerator unsweetened, of course. Zevia creamy root beer is my treat after supper. Sugar free with Stevia and has no fake coloring added. I enjoy it after a busy day.

This past spring I bought a pedestal fan. I love it! I use it more than the air conditioner even in these high temperatures. So I have two fans. One is smaller that I have had for awhile now. It is behind me fastened on the top of my bookcase. I also have a usb portable fan that fits into my purse or my walker basket that I can carry with me. If you cannot tolerate the heat you have to find what you can do to make it easier. When I moved from my house on my homestead in 2018, I knew summer was coming. The last two summers spent there were torture for me. It was just too hot. I could barely do my gardening. I was working on it in the early morning and stayed inside all day. It was hot inside the house also. At that time I did not know I had Lymphedema or had ever even heard of it. My feet would swell and I would soak them in cold water directly from the well. It helped but the water heated up from my feet in just minutes. My face and hands would be all red. No relief ever! I could not even take a cold shower since we did not have running water. Moving was my solution.

I try to do all my chores early in the morning on these hot days. Yes, living in a studio apartment I still have chores to do. After they are done I try to stay quiet. Doing activities that does not involve much movement. Years of having pets taught me how they survive a hot spell. By not moving! Of course, they are usually sleeping and I have never been able to take a nap in the daytime. So I just do quiet activities on my computer, writing, reading, coloring in an adult coloring book, listening to music, working on my family tree or watching videos on my computer. You get the idea.

The worst thing for me during this hot spell is having to go somewhere. Appointments. I have one tomorrow with my hair dresser. I walk to it and it is not too far. At least it gets me out of my apartment for awhile. I enjoy my appointments there because this salon is entertaining as well. The banter between the hair dressers and their customers is like a big party. Though I still have to go out during the hot part of the day and walk there and back. I have no doubt that I will do fine. It is just the idea of it and not looking forward to it as much as I usually do.

I feel like getting through this hot weather is a test for me. To see if I can make it. I know I have to because there is no other choice. Even though I am complaining it is hot, I know it is much hotter in other locations. I always complain about it being hot. Not so much about the cold. I like it colder but not particularly freezing. At least if it is cold I can do things to warm up. Add more clothing or blankets. When it is hot there is not much I can do except to ditch all the clothes and I am not ready to do that yet!

Summertime Chopped Salads For the Win!

2026-06-09T07:34:45.347-04:00

In the recent weeks I have changed the food plan I was following. As the weather gets warmer it affects my Lymphedema a lot. It is worse in hot weather. I do have an air conditioner but have been trying to cut down using it nonstop due to the electric bill. The electric company here in New York State, NYSEG, is one of the most expensive ones. So trying to keep that cost down as much as I can. Yes, I still eat keto or low carbs, whatever you want to call it. I call it kat's food plan. It is what I want to eat and feel good eating. Standing for long periods in the kitchen cooking or cleaning up is not something I can do easily. So I am trying to do "fast food" or my version of faster foods.

My Chopped Salad

One of the foods I had eliminated trying to stay "ketovore" or meat based was giving up most vegetables. Specifically salads. I have no problem bypassing grains, starches or sugar. The vegetables was difficult. I never gave up seasonings and they are vegetables. So for a couple of months now, I have been having chopped salads. I am really enjoying them and looking forward to my meals now. I am not counting the carbs. And I am not going to. Having Lymphedema means I am not going to lose much weight. My doctor said that is the reason I can go to zero carbs and still not lose. So the best thing is to concentrate on managing the Lymphedema and eat food that I like. I am not a person who necessarily follows what a doctor or other medical person tells me. I have always had to figure out things for myself.

Bacon, Fried Eggs & Chaffles

This is what I do now. I eat eggs for breakfast daily. Three eggs and bacon. If I am not having bacon I might have four eggs. Sometimes with sour cream for the added fat. Sometimes with guacamole. Sometimes midday I will have a keto protein shake. I use Keto Chow and freeze it so I can make it into ice cream with the Ninja Creami. Keto Chow is a meal replacement shake with one third of the vitamins and nutrients you need for one meal. Plus, it is delicious! So it is something I look forward to but not every day. My last meal of the day is the chopped salad. I have been making it with mini bell peppers, mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and a slice of red onion. Put a handful of shredded cheese and a couple of teaspoons of blue cheese crumbles in it. I use cold cuts for the meat. The ones I am using presently is hard salami and roasted turkey breast. Then top it off with a salad dressing. I use Chosen salad dressings. My favorites are the Caesar or ranch dressings.

Keto Chow made into ice cream!

I watched to see if eating this salad with vegetables would affect me in some way. It did not. When I eat a very high carb food or anything with sugar I know right away that I should not have eaten it. I will get horrible stomach pains that last about three days or so. It is never worth it to me to eat those foods. I used to buy chopped salads from Subway and I loved those. Then they stopped making them so I quit going there. Now I don't eat restaurant food at all. It is too expensive for a mundane meal. I would rather make it myself. I do not put any lettuce or greens in my salads because the quality of them bought in the grocery stores is very poor. If I was growing my own I would use it in my salad. I miss the greens I picked from my own garden and nothing else can compare. Even without any greens my chopped salads are so tasty!

Making Kitchen Chores Easier

2026-05-21T12:02:04.759-04:00

Since I cook often I usually end up with dishes and pans to wash almost daily. For the longest time my sink and area for the dish drainer was very cramped. It is a small kitchen with a single sink and limited space for the drainer. I have always had the dish drainer on my right because I am right handed. It seemed to work good for me like that. When I moved here I bought the smallest dish drainer I could find. It worked okay. Except that I had to put a dish towel on the counter and put larger items such as pots and pans there. Last year I decided to update my kitchen and bought a larger dish drainer with a mat that sits under it for the water to drain into the sink. It was pricey but well worth it.

Cutlery Baskets with Dish Drainer

The dish drainer came with a small cutlery basket. I added another one that is larger. I wish I had done that sooner. These items have made doing my dishes so much easier. No longer am I stressed out trying to pile everything in that tiny drainer. I also changed the sides where I put the dish drainer. It is now on my left and I have adapted to it. It is funny how simple changes can make such a difference in my daily life. Everything fits in the new dish drainer. Even the blender and the inner pot and lid of the Instant Pot. All in one place!

Dish Cloth Drying Rack

To complete the dish washing chore is the dishcloth drying rack. I bought that when I moved here so it is not new. It has been a handy item to have and I cannot imagine not having it. I know these days it is rare for someone to wash their dishes by hand. I have been doing it for years though and is no big deal for me. I have had dishwashers in my past but at this time of my life I don't need one. Since I am only cooking for one, for myself, I don't really have that much to wash. I try to limit how many dishes, silverware or pans I use.

Touch the lid and it opens!

At the same time that I bought the dish drainer I replaced the garbage can in my kitchen. The one I had was not really a garbage can but a tote with a lid. It was small and I had it sitting on a stool. I would get so mad at it because I would want to put something in it and had to use two hands to open it. I decided to replace it with a normal kitchen garbage can. It is the type with a lid that opens on its own if you touch it. Actually this thing opens on its own without me even touching it. I now keep a rock on it so it won't open. When I am working in the kitchen I keep the rock off it. If something has a problem I usually find a way around it.

Sink Strainer & Plug

I try to wash dishes after every meal so that I can keep up with it. I hate to see my sink full of dirty dishes. Another thing I bought is a stainless steel sink plug and a strainer for the sink. That makes a big difference. If you are dreading the clean up after a meal you can wash what you use to prepare it as you go. That way when you are finished eating you can wash the small amount of dishes and silverware you used. I like to keep a dishpan of hot soapy water in the sink during the whole process. Immediately after eating I clear my table and wash the dishes. All done! Easy to do!

Technology Is Now A Way Of Life For Me

2026-05-07T08:17:00.000-04:00

My Technology Hub

I have a love hate relationship with technology. Having always heard people talking against it, yet they are the very people who use it. They depend on some form of it in their own lives. It is everywhere you go and even if you say you don't want to use it how can you not? Whether you admit it or not, it does make our lives easier. As a person with limited mobility I could not do all the things I have to do without it. Without it I would have to own a car or pay for transportation to do routine errands. When you think about it, all the tasks we think of as old fashioned were once considered modern technology of the future. Now we are saying the same thing about newer technology. I know, I do it too!

The Energy System

I can honestly say I have lived without any modern conveniences as you know, if you have followed my blog for any length of time. It was not easy for me as I started having problems with my knees. At that time I did not know I had Lymphedema. Just thought it was menopause. I would get so hot I would turn red and my feet would swell. The first year I moved into my apartment, I was so thankful for the modern technology of air conditioning and running water so I could shower. The technology that people are complaining about though is not those types of things. Yet living without modern conveniences on my homestead was not truly old fashioned. I had a solar and wind energy system to run the computers, lighting and refrigerator. I admit that was not what I pictured my life to be when moving there. I thought it was going to be a real "homestead". With a propane refrigerator and cooking range.

Nine Remotes!

I cannot count the many types of technology I use in my small studio apartment. I have so many remote controls I can barely keep track of them. Actually it is 10! But none of those things are connected to the internet or my telephone. Except for the television which runs off the Amazon Fire Stick. It makes living alone here easier for me. More affordable also. There are many people who may not know how to use the internet to do things they need to do. Like banking, paying bills, purchasing groceries to be delivered, entertainment, shopping for the exact item they want and can't find locally, ordering take out food from local restaurants, listening to music and most important....socializing. Yes, it is all out there waiting for you to discover it.

CD Player & Television

If you do not want to learn how to do these things you are not only behind the times but stuck when you need it. Such as the changes in the way various things become more dependent on technology. I saw it happen with music going from vinyl records to streaming. Television is all different now. I have been using a computer since 1994 and never looked back. It is my lifeline to the world! I have friends who I have met online only and yes, they are real friends. I have reconnected with many friends from school and talk to them almost daily. I love them all and feel my friendship with all of them is something I treasure.

My Kindle Fire

You do not have to take part in all of the new modern technology if you choose not to. I don't. I am not one for telephones. My phone is used for talking and some texting. I am not going to write a bunch of text messages to anyone. Mainly the text part is for deliveries and appointments. Some people only have a telephone and that is their internet connection as well as their camera. I don't enjoy it so I don't use it. The computer is my safety spot. I don't participate in "zoom" calls or "live" conversations if I have to be on camera. I don't play any kind of games. I do enjoy using a Kindle Fire for reading books. I do not want to accumulate a lot of things in my apartment now. Including books. I just purchased a new Kindle Fire 10 because they are discontinuing support for my old one that I got in 2011. But I will still use it as well as the new one. I keep learning how to use various technologies to improve my life. Not to keep up with anyone. Just at my own pace.

Learning How To Put Together New Products I Purchase Online

2026-05-06T07:26:00.002-04:00

Living alone in your seventies can be challenging at times. No matter what, there are things that must be done and I am the only one to do them. Many times I complain to myself that I need help. Maybe an aide? Later after I have figured out how to do whatever it was I am pleased with myself. I accomplished that chore, job, project, etc. on my own. Learning to count on yourself establishes your independence. In life I have learned you cannot count on anyone else. When I order something and it is delivered I can't wait to start using it. I don't want to wait for someone else to come here to put it together. I need to do it myself.

Mattress in the box.

In fact, I am tested every time I order something on Amazon that I have to put together. My son did help me with the mattress that came vacuum packed in a box. My bed was delivered by the furniture store so they put it together and showed me how to use it. Other than those things I have been putting my purchases together myself. I follow the directions that come with the product the best I can. My whole life before moving here I was never mechanical. I always had someone else in my life to do those things for me. When I was single it was my father who did those things for me. He kept my cars running and did all the preventative or repairs on them.

Directions for computer chair

Last year I purchased a good set of screwdrivers. I have been making use of them. Now I am thinking I need to buy a toolbox. The first year I moved here I had a time assembling a shower chair I had bought. Even following the directions that came with it. Was not easy but I did it. I am still using that shower chair and it is sturdy and safe. In the last 3 months I have purchased at least five products that needed to be put together before using. Presently I have a new brake cable assembly to put on my rollator walker. I just have to get brave enough to start on it. It looks easy but if I can't get it to work the walker will not be usable. This walker is my lifeline! It is the first one I got. I purchased a second one but the newer models are not as good as the older ones. So I am hesitant about taking it apart. Yes, I had to put the second one together myself.

This is not to say that I never put anything together before. I did. In fact, when I first got my pet house rabbit, "Rabbit" I purchased an a-frame cage for him. I had to put that together because I was eager to start using it and did not want to wait for my husband to have time to do it. That cage is still standing and as good as it was when I first got it. Some products come with good directions and others with nothing at all. If they at least have all the parts, including the screws, I can figure it out now. Sometimes I have to find a video on how to put something together. There are usually a few on most products. It is not easy at times but I have to at least try.

I Bought A New Adjustable Bed

2026-04-25T08:59:00.002-04:00

Adjustable Bed Frame

I recently bought an adjustable twin size bed. This bed has a remote control and the head and the foot can be raised or lowered. Whichever you need. I need to be able to raise the foot of it to get the swelling down in my feet, ankles and calves. Though I also need to raise the head because I cannot sleep flat and have not been able to sleep that way for a long time. I had been studying them on Amazon for quite awhile. As it turned out I did not buy it from Amazon because I would not be able to get it from downstairs in my building to my second floor apartment. I ordered it online from the local furniture store, Scholet. It is the third item I have purchased from them. The delivery men brought it right into my apartment and put it together and showed me how to work it. Perfect! I didn't have to figure it out on my own or get someone else to help me. It was worth the cost to have it delivered instead of ordering online.

My son unwrapping the mattress.

The mattress though, I did purchase from Amazon. It was delivered vacuum packed in a box. I was able to get it upstairs by pushing it with my walker into the elevator. Then pushing it to my apartment. My son, Jeff helped me with getting it out of the box and opening it up. He kept telling me to stay away from it while he removed it from the packaging. As soon as it is free it starts to inflate on its own. If you are too close it can knock you over. Yes! It can do that!

Notice how high the legs are.

One mistake I made when the delivery men set it up was having them adjust the legs as high as they would go. They warned me that when I put a mattress on it will be even higher. I wanted it high because I have a problem getting out of low chairs. Putting the mattress on it did make it too high for me. Eventually I had to take the mattress off and turn the frame upside down to take the legs off and make them lower. Otherwise I had to use a step to get in the bed. Didn't feel safe being that high in bed.

Mattress on the frame.

The other mistake I made was judging the mattress as too hard as soon as I laid on it. So I bought a topper from Amazon. It was nice but I still felt too high in the bed even with the legs lowered. I hadn't slept in a bed since 2020. Just my recliner. This was like a new experience for me. I ended up taking the topper off, but sadly. It was a really nice topper and I did not want to store it downstairs in my storage locker. Instead I rolled it up and put it between the bed and the wall. I will keep it and maybe use it in the future.

Bedroom Area

I created a little bedroom for me in a corner of my studio apartment. It is private and even if someone comes in they can't see my bed or the bedroom due to the dressers set up as a partition. I bought new lavender sheets and pillows for it. Put my comforter on to add bright colors to that space. I was comfortable on it except my neck and shoulders would hurt after I laid in it for any length of time. I recently bought a pillow made for people with neck problems. What a difference that made! I love it!

My new bed all set up!

Now I am still transitioning to sleeping in my new bed the whole night. Presently I am spending time in bed during the afternoon so I can put my feet up for a period of time. I am not a napper so I am reading while doing this. Gives me some good reading time and doing what I need to do to combat the swelling in my feet, ankles and calves. I am happy with this bed and glad that I spent the money on it. I especially like the adjustable options for making myself more comfortable. A good night's sleep is essential for good health!

Limit Doing Too Many Things In One Day

2026-04-23T12:46:00.908-04:00

Today I came to the realization that I have to limit doing too many things in one day. Something as simple as taking a shower is now more complicated. Before I can shower I have to use dry brushes and brush my skin to move the lymphatic liquid under the skin. Then I can shower. After the shower I apply the Goldenseal Myrrh ointment to the skin on areas of my legs that had rashes from the Lymphedema. Then I can apply my normal body lotion. Takes longer than twenty minutes now. Okay, I can live with that as long as it is helping me........which it is. Some mornings I will have to shower later than the first thing due to other things going on. I need to be flexible.

On the day I wash my laundry that is all I can do because I sit downstairs in the laundry room while my laundry is in the machines. Our apartment building is not one that is safe to leave your laundry alone and come back later. Sometimes you come back to nothing left in the machines. I cannot afford to do that. Usually I bring my adult coloring book and gel pens with me so I can color while waiting. Doing laundry tires me out. What tires me out the most is when I bring the laundry back to my apartment and have to put it away. That is because I have been letting it back up. Now my rule is to do small loads maybe twice a week instead of once every two weeks. Make it easier if possible.

Grocery deliveries is another chore that I like to do on a day when I don't have other things to do. I usually order early in the morning and then wait. Wait some more. Waiting for hours for them to delivery my order unless I pay for fast delivery. That makes it hard to do chores that take up more time and effort. Now I order the groceries and then while waiting I work on my computer or some other chore that I can do in my apartment. I also order groceries for my son but on a different day than when I order my groceries.

Then there is the big chore day. When I do vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathroom, dusting and cleaning the counters and appliances in the kitchen. Maybe I should break those chores up into different days but once I get going I want to do them all. So it is over and done with. Turn the music on and get to work!

Presently I am going to therapy for the Lymphedema three times a week. So on those days I am not doing much at home. I can do some little chores after I come home but these days just leaving home is a big job. Pretty soon I will not be going that often. Once a month when my Social Security check is deposited I have to do errands. I am the "Payee Representative" for my son's money so have to do errands for him also. That is another day that I am wiped out when I get back home. Not doing much on that day either.

I don't expect to always be doing these same things for years. Who knows? Maybe not or maybe I will. Life is like that. I accept what I need or have to do. Not going to get myself down over struggles in day to day living. Try my best and carry on. I do my best to stay positive no matter what is going on. I lived with negativity for many years and I refuse to let it in my life now. When people start talking negatively I am out the door! Dwell on the good not the bad.

A Lifetime Of Changes

2026-04-21T08:28:00.000-04:00

There comes a time when a person has to accept the reality of their life. Some goals you had planned are never happening. As I think back on my own life I remember goals or dreams I had at one age and then changed them at another age. They were not in line with what I was doing at that time. You are not a failure if you failed to attain that goal. A goal you may have had as a teenager might be something you can never even try to do as you got older. The influences of television, magazines or books sometimes will cause you to have a dream that is not ever going to happen for you.

Parents may influence you as well as your siblings or friends. What they might want for you might not be anything you want to do but accept it and try. Failing at whatever it was will affect you and the way you think about yourself. It was not right for you to begin with. Aging gives you another outlook on your life. Doing something one way for a number of years and then suddenly you want to change it. People around you may not encourage you or some might. It is up to you in the end. What do you want to do in your life? It is your life. It is your journey.

I have made many changes throughout my life. Different ages meant different things were happening to me and around me. A lifetime of changes is inevitable. What I was doing at twenty was completely different at forty. I look back at those years and wonder what was I thinking back then? Today I feel they were bad or wrong choices. Maybe though, they were just different and the outcome was not what I wanted or needed. At age fifty I dealt with changes that were the most difficult of my whole life. Yes, even now and the changes that have happened to me at ages sixty and seventy-three were not as difficult as fifty was.

2002 was the year I turned fifty. Along with that came the accident that almost killed my husband. Having to have one of my Parathyroids removed (not that big of deal). My mother's health became much worse and she died later that year. I was also in the process of menopause. It was a very stressful time and I don't know how I got through it. I was living on my Peaceful Forest Homestead at the time and it was a lot of work. I made it through it in one piece. By the time I left there in 2018 my life had taken many changes and continues to this day.

Now I feel most of the changes in my life have to do with my health. I have had to change the way I do things due to mobility issues. Due to my knees and to Lymphedema and how they affect me. I will go more into those issues in a future post. My whole life I had a car of my own and once I gave that up I felt like I lost my independence. When I moved here to my apartment I chose not to buy a vehicle due to all the expenses associated with it. It was the right choice for me but it is also a burden for finding rides to appointments. I am finding my way through it and doing what I must. A lifetime of changes never ends. I believe change is a daily activity for me.

Which Diet? This Diet or That Diet? No Diet?

2026-04-19T08:37:00.000-04:00

Everywhere you look you see this diet or that diet. Whatever diet someone else is following, is the one you need or so they will tell you. Do you though? I have been following many different people who promote a zillion types of diets. Or food plans, as I call them. I am following one particular plan, keto or ketovore, and I might do everything they say or do. Next time I turn their next video on it is all different. At times I can tell they are going to change before they actually say they are or did. I learned over time that the reasons they may have changed has nothing to do with their followers. You see what you eat, like to eat or hate to eat, is all very personal. That is why some people will never give up sugar or grains. They have been eating them their whole life and not all of them are sick. Another thing that happens within the YouTube channels is after they have achieved their goals they want to move on to other topics. Not food so much. Maybe not even health. Actually they should just start a new channel but they don't want to have to monetize a new one when they already have one that is making money. I can see that.

For someone like me who has a difficult challenge to make any progress at all, be it my health or weight, it is easy to give up. I am always thinking nothing ever works for me. That is the story of my life not just my diet life. Some doctors don't know anything outside of what they were taught years ago in medical school. I ask them questions and they cannot answer. Especially about Lymphedema! I was fortunate to have a doctor write an order for me to go the Lymphedema clinic (about 35 miles away) and work with the therapist there. The therapist told me the doctors don't know much about it. I had changed doctors since then which was back in 2022, I think. Since that time the Lymphedema clinic had added a couple of therapists to the physical therapy clinic near my home. I have started going there and I will write a post about my experience soon.

Compression Sleeves

My new doctor mentioned that I am not retaining fluid, but lymphatic fluid and I probably will not be able to lose weight. I am not letting that set me back because I find doctors to be wrong about me most of the time. I am trying my hardest to stay prescription free and sticking to my food plan which is based on a meaty 20 carbs or less meals. One of the things I had stopped doing was wearing my compression stockings. They cause my knees to hurt so bad which has nothing to do with the Lymphedema. After I came to the realization that my knees hurt whether I wear the stockings or not I decided to try them again. Wasn't able to wear them. I think I need the wraps.

Half of my hall

The next thing that I have to start doing again is activate myself. I have been sitting at my computer for most of the day. I need to get back into walking. I used to walk laps on my hall but had stopped doing that. So I am starting to do it again. Right now I am limiting myself to do one thing at a time. I plan on walking outside in the parks and on the streets after I get up to that speed. I did walk a few blocks the other afternoon and did pretty good. Often I have to push myself to do something and then find it to be a good thing.

Bacon, Eggs & Chaffles

Back to the diet or food plan. One reason I have so much trouble with this is everyone tells you to do something different. I finally found a YouTube channel that says to do what works for you. To try different things till you find your answers. My plan may not look like your plan. That is okay. My plan used to be only two meals a day and the first meal was after eleven. Now it is an earlier meal at whatever time I get to it or am hungry for it. Usually eggs with bacon. Sometimes a chaffle that I make without cheese or almond flour. I felt like changing it because I think I was not eating enough food. I like to be done with all eating by five. So I needed to start earlier to get that breakfast in. Often I still end up with only two meals for the day. Still having difficulties getting enough protein in unless I have the Keto Chow.

Keto Chow Ice Cream

Normally my second meal is around one and I have a Keto Chow replacement shake as ice cream. Yes, even if it is below zero I am making ice cream! Keto Chow is one thing I will not give up. It has kept me on track. Since eating it as ice cream is like a treat it is always something to look forward to. Which I do. I worked it into my budget as I think of it as food since it has the nutrition of one third of your daily food requirements. Oh yeah, did I mention how good it is? Better than store bought regular ice cream! Then for supper I usually have some kind of meat. Cooked simply in the oven. I might have a can of Zevia soda (sweetened with stevia) after supper then I am all done for the night.

Doing The Best I Can Even In Hard Times

2025-10-10T09:51:00.000-04:00

Fall in New York

Every morning when I get up I decide it will be a good day. I will be happy. No matter what the weather is. No matter any difficult tasks I have to do. No matter who I have to see. No matter any pain I am presently feeling. Otherwise my day would be miserable and I can't get it back. The first cup of coffee always comforts me no matter how I feel. That is one reason I will never be giving up my coffee. It is a start to a happy, positive day for me. Keeping myself positive is not always easy depending on what is going on in my life. 2025 has been a year of many changes and not especially good ones. So having to deal with life as I get older and still remaining hopeful about what lies is hard at times.

Home

It is a good day when I have a list of things to do. Living alone means I can get started on my tasks for the day without having to do anything for someone else. Well, except for my bunny rabbit. He has patience though so no need to hurry for him. It would seem to anyone else that living in a studio apartment I would not have much to do as far as cleaning goes. I find it is easier to do cleaning chores every day. Not all at once but one or two each day. That way it is never a big job at one time. Also a small apartment needs to be cleaned more often than a large one. At least that is my experience. Small apartments can become cluttered in a minute if you are not mindful of it. There is the tough problem for me being that I am not as strong as I used to be. Not being able to stand somewhere for longer than five minutes at time. It makes my chores harder but I am able to manage. I find it frustrating that I cannot stand on a stool or a chair to reach high areas. So I just do the best I can.

Enjoying Pretty Flowers

One thing I will say is that I am never bored. I am busy all day long just doing my thing. Being an introvert helps I think. When I was a child I always lived in my bedroom. It was my favorite place to be. Shut my door and I was in my happy place. I still felt that way in my adult life. Especially when living with others. My last home (Peaceful Forest) I did not have any privacy or a bedroom to retreat to. I think that is what broke me at that time. Now when I come out of my apartment I am ready to face whatever awaits me outside that door. Sometimes it is not so good depending on the personalities of the various people I encounter. Doing my best to stay pleasant to everyone I meet along the way. Having a good life means making it a good life myself. Accept what comes along and figure out how to live with it.

Consider A Studio Apartment For Solo Senior Living

2025-08-04T15:29:00.000-04:00

First Look at My Apartment 2018

The first thing I had to do once I downsized and moved from a house to a studio apartment was to figure out how to set it up. It is not as easy as it sounds. Especially if you bring boxes of things that you used in your previous homes. My studio apartment is 338 square feet which is pretty small compared to some others. I have been here now since 2018, so seven years. Over that time period I have gotten rid of more items that I didn't need or use. If I use it I will keep it. Sometimes I cry at the thought of getting rid of certain things but I have no room for things I can't use. After all that time, I am still doing it. Still getting rid of items. The hardest has been kitchen items. As long time readers of this blog know, I was a "modern homesteader" and did a lot of cooking and canning. It has been difficult for me to give up that part of my life. It has come over time though. Now my focus is making my life easier so not as much cooking.

The kitchen

Most studio apartments are one big room with a kitchen area along one wall. The bathroom of course is the only separate room. I am very fortunate to have an ideal setup. My kitchen and bathroom are next to each other and are disabled friendly. I could use a wheelchair in them if I needed one. My kitchen is a small square with the bathroom door opening into it. One wall of the kitchen is completely open that goes into the rest of the apartment. The area outside my kitchen doorway is my "office". My table is where I keep my computer and all my computer related equipment. Since I do not have others here for meals I am on my computer when eating because that is what I like to do.

My office is opposite the kitchen

When I am cooking or cleaning in the kitchen I can take a break to sit down at the table and still keep an eye on the kitchen. I am very careful about the electrical appliances I use. The last thing I want is a fire so I double check everything every time. I cannot stand for more than five minutes so I put something on to cook and then take a break. Checking on it every now and then. It is always within my view. Of course now I cook simple meals and clean up is fast. I wash the dishes after every meal so they do not pile up. If for some reason after supper I cannot do the dishes it is no big deal. I will do them in the morning. Living alone is really a plus for me in the kitchen.

Living Room Area

The rest of the apartment is basically set up for sleeping, relaxing while watching television and for my pet bunny rabbit. Since I have not been sleeping in a bed for over a year now I do not have a bedroom in this space. Right now the area I had for my bedroom is where I keep the bunny cage and his area. A large dresser creates a wall for that space so it is not seen from the rest of the apartment. When my bunny is gone I will make it into my bedroom again. I have enough space in this area that I could have a love seat or small couch. For me though. a recliner, the curio cabinet, a stand with a lamp and a chair is enough in this tiny space. The television is on top of the big dresser which puts it in the middle of the room. So the sound of it will never affect the next apartments. The same with my CD player as it is on the dresser next to it.

My bedroom area

The reason I chose a studio apartment over a one bedroom is because I really love the open plan. Growing up with my own bedroom where I spent my happiest times made me miss having one as I got older and was married. I wanted my own space! More than anything. Most people want a one bedroom and when I moved here I did too. But as soon as I stepped into this apartment to look at it..........I was in love with it! High ceilings in the living and bedroom area makes it appear spacious. I took my name off the list for a one bedroom and have here in my studio happily ever since. Things are different when you live alone. A studio might be harder to live in with another person. It is all about privacy.

kat's Kitchen

I can take a quick glance at my home and see what needs to be done. If you are planning a move and think a studio apartment is too small maybe you should go look at some first. For one thing they are much cheaper in rent and utilities. Easier to clean and take care of. Easier to live in if you end up with some kind of mobility issues. I can use a walker, a mobility chair or a wheelchair in mine if needed. Another plus is that it makes you get rid of all your excess stuff. It does not mean I live like a pauper. I just use different things here than I did at my old house.

Living With Lymphedema Basically On My Own

2025-07-29T13:30:00.001-04:00

Moving in or out

Two different residents had been moving out recently so the elevator had been getting a work out. I always feel that is when it starts to have problems. Too many trips or heavy items that hit the doors, walls and buttons? No clue. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Just in case you are new to my blog, I live in a senior living apartment building. It is for disabled residents also. There is actually a mix of ages here but leans toward older people. Presently the elevator will work good then on a random trip I will have to hit the open door for it to open. As long as it opens then I am happy. I do not think I could tolerate it well if I had to wait for the police come to open it in this hot weather. Our building management no longer runs the air conditioning in the halls and public areas. Even in this extreme hot weather. It was nice in previous years when they used to do that for us.

The back of my apartment building

We are living in a world full of chaos and scary headlines daily.........yet living here in this apartment building it feels like none of that is happening. Most of the people here have televisions. So they must know what is going on but never speak of it. The big stories around here have to do with who is moving out and why? Who left a washing machine or dryer with cigarette butts or pet hair in the rubber filter? Unfair management rules. Who spilled something on the stairs, hall or elevator floor and did not clean it up (most likely could not clean it up because they cannot bend down to do so)?

Senior and Disabled Living

Reasons of importance change as your health starts to decline or you just feel old. I see it happening within my own self. Problems with my knees started way back around 2001 I think. I helped take care of my mother and when I would get down on the floor to take care of her feet it was agony for me. I didn't want her to suspect so I acted like it did not hurt. It did though. Very badly. Even as my knees became worse and my feet swelled all the time, I never knew it could be a lymphatic issue. I had never heard of that. Eventually I started using a cane and soaking my feet in cold water for relief. I did not have health insurance and never had any way to pay for it. I tried to get various jobs but I think due to not being able to walk very well would not get hired even though I was qualified.

Long drives are not good for me now!

Even now that I can go to doctors they don't seem to know much about Lymphedema. Even the Lypmphedema therapist I went to agreed about that. I had to stop going to her though because I cannot tolerate the 40 mile ride to her clinic. There needs to be more Lymphedema therapists in physical therapy clinics. They are rare. Mostly I do my own research. Reading and watching videos about it and learning the newer research and studies about it. More people have it now so doctors are specializing in it and attending conferences on it. I figure most of them are researching it online anyway so I can do that myself.

The first pair of compression stockings bought from Amazon

The only relief I could get from it was the compression stockings. As soon as I put them on I feel instant relief. I would wear them every day without fail. Soon my leg below the knee where the stocking ended became out of shape. I took a break of more than a month of not wearing the stockings. The area below the knee did not change or go back to its normal shape. I hate it. When I have shown it to any medical person they barely gave it a glance. So I went back to wearing the stockings and I have had relief and my swelling has gone way down. Even it this hot weather. I will stick to wearing them every day from now on.

How Does Old Feel? When Are You Old?

2025-05-13T08:07:00.000-04:00

As I hear more and more people talk about getting old I keep wondering when are you actually old? How does old feel? Does it really matter in real years how many years you have lived? If it is a matter of how you feel no matter what age you are I can understand that. I think I felt worse than I do today seven years ago. Now I live with pain in both of my knees but any age person can have that. Back then I had to get up and do chores whether I wanted to or not. Now I can take it easy if I am in pain. I will admit that now I do not do the same type of chores so it is easier anyway. For me my health started giving me trouble when I turned fifty. That was also the year my mother died so it was a tough year. Very stressful!

I love to spend time coloring!

Stress and worry seem to go hand in hand with health conditions. If you are experiencing a health condition but also worrying about something it could make it worse. I am a worrier so I know it is difficult to shut it off. What I have found works for me is to start coloring in one of my adult coloring books. Then I think about the problem that is causing me to worry so much. Sometimes I come up with solutions for that problem. Often I put music on while I color and don't think about anything but the song and the colors. Music and color therapy almost always helps me. Sometimes I write in my journal and make a list of what I can do to change it. That works pretty good too.

Choose your weapon!

Yeah we look different as we get older. Even our animals do. Just a part of the living process. I think that is why you see people who use cosmetic surgery to look younger ruin their remaining years instead. The natural process of aging always looks better than what a doctor in the operating room can do. So many of the famous stars, men and women, have become grotesque after their surgeries. You can make yourself look better by using your tweezers, applying lotions or adding some color to your eyebrows and face. For myself, I only use beef tallow for my face lotion. It works great and is safer than what the lotions made for aging have in them.

My son, Jeff with my Daddy

I may not look as good as I did when I was younger but I feel good and enjoy living. Keeping a positive attitude helps. Complaining and whining does not help anyone. It is one of my pet peeves. It breeds negativity and that is the most harmful substance there is. Every morning when I was a child at home I woke up to hear my Daddy whistling in the kitchen as he prepared breakfast before he had to leave for work. It was my favorite time! I would hurry out to be with him before he had to leave. He was always cheerful and I loved to be with him. Even as he got older. It was hard on him when my Mom got sick and eventually passed away. But he stayed busy doing the things he always did. He showed a cheerful face to everyone but I know he was hurting inside.

First spring flowers in the park!

So when anyone asks me how I am I always say I am good. I don't tell them all the aches and pains I have. I don't tell them all the things I am worried about. Instead I focus on the good things I have going today. You know what happens? As I talk to them I feel good again. I forget all those things I was worried about. I put the pain out of my mind. I focus on how lucky I am compared to others who are worse off. Or others who are depressed or miserable with their life. I come away thinking about what I am going to do today. Instead of feeling old..........I feel alive!

Using A Computer For Convenience As You Age

2025-05-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

Keto Chow For The Win!

Struggling with most any health issue is stressful. The key to that is to do your own research. I always do that and try different methods to improve my issues. Whether it is food or activities I will try it and give it an adequate amount of time to get some type of result. If it does not work then I move on to something else. I have to at least try. One of the things I do now is live a "keto based lifestyle" which does help. It means no sugar or high carbs, fruits or most vegetables. My style of keto is heavy on the meat (especially beef), seasonings, some low carb vegetables and dairy. I had a struggle in the beginning which lasted many years. Living in my own place has made it pretty easy to stick to it. Also I give credit to Keto Chow, which is a keto meal replacement shake that supplies all the vitamins and minerals for one third of what I need for the whole day. I make it into ice cream with the Ninja Creami ice cream maker and it is a game changer for sure!

Walking in the park across the street!

The real problem for me has been getting movement in. Both of my knees are very bad and hurt when I stand or walk. Suffering with Lymphedema is no fun either. Getting some kind of physical activity is most important with that condition. Every time I try though my knees seem to get worse. If I walk very far one day the next few days I can't even walk around my small apartment. It is not fair! I used to race walk many years ago and could even run up and down the bleachers at a local high school football field. I sure miss those days! When I moved here to my downtown location 7 years ago, I pictured walking everywhere. Unfortunately my mobility issue has become worse as time goes by. Even when I try to increase walking every day. I even purchased two different pieces of equipment that are for walking movement from a chair. I used them and the next day my knees were in extreme pain. Presently I am experimenting with the LifePro vibration plate.

One part of my hall that I walk for exercise.

Luckily I can use a computer and enjoy being on it. Whether I am working online or off there is something that I can always get into. So I am never bored at home or having to sit with my feet up for a period of time. I still try to get the walking into my day somehow. If I cannot walk outside that day, I will walk laps around my hall outside my apartment door. Then if I have to stop suddenly, I am right here. It is easier for me. I used to have a neighbor who would always tell me to walk outside or that I needed to get out because that is what he does. I would wonder why he thought I could do what he did when he saw I had to use a walker or a mobility chair? Yeah, if I could walk as well as he did I would most likely not be living here.

My Trusty Laptop!

For many senior citizens (and disabled people) who live here and don't know or want to know how to use a computer or at least go online with their phones, life can be pretty hard. Being able to go online to do all my banking, paying my bills, ordering my supplies and buying groceries that are delivered to me makes life easy for me without a car. Do those things cost me extra money? Of course! I pay for convenience instead of the high price of owning a car. I put all those expenses into my monthly budget and never go over it. If I know something is going to be due I plan for it. If I know I am going to have to replace something soon I start saving money for it in my budget.

Not that hard to learn how to use a computer!

If someone tells me something they heard which is causing fear among the residents here I just check it out online. Usually it is a rumor. Instead of stressing over something I have heard, finding the truth out keeps my life free of worrying and stressing. I do not watch or listen to mainstream news. They do not have any credibility and that is what the people who live here watch. They will say, "CNN said...........I roll my eyes and say,"lies and propaganda". Time for everyone to learn how to do things online and to free their own lives up. Especially as they get older. I feel sorry for them but it is like the time people had to give up their horses for the automobile. Or the radio for the television. Some stayed behind and had a harder time of it. For me my day starts every morning with a cup of coffee and my laptop..........

My Life Had To Change

2025-05-04T09:02:00.000-04:00

An Aframe I saw in my travels

Lately I have been watching a video channel that is about a younger woman who has a lot of adventures. Building an awesome Aframe cabin on a remote property she bought. Setting up a wall tent and camping out alone. No fear of wild animals in the thick forest around her. No fear of going out on the huge lake that borders her property by herself. Clearing the land for the camp and the cabin as a surprise for her husband. I appreciate the fact that she films her walks in the forest as she discovers what is on her new property. She does it all with enthusiasm and skills for the various jobs needed. Yes, I envy her. Wishing I had been more like her. Maybe that is why I find myself watching videos about women living off the grid or exploring remote areas.

With my brother and holding a doll

The fact is that I was never a "tomboy" type of girl. I don't know if I would have been capable of doing physical jobs that involved skills I see as male jobs. I never attempted them. I was not a brave type of girl or woman even after I grew up. As a little girl I played with dolls and I had a lot of them. Dolls and books were my favorite things back then. In fact, I learned to read and write before I even started school. I always liked the outdoors though. Especially the forest. When I lived in Florida as a child, I made a hut out of palmettos that would stay dry even in a storm. I wrote stories and made books out of onion skin paper. The hut was called "Africa" and my friend, Cindy and I would be in there writing our books to take to school. At that age the thought of snakes in the hut never crossed my mind! Now it would.

Peaceful Forest

Even though I have lived in various places through out my life the one that stands out the most to me now is my last home. Peaceful Forest. My off the grid homestead that was in the middle of the state forest. It was very peaceful. If I had it to do over again would I? Absolutely! I think it would have been easier for me as I got older, if instead of living in the house, I had a tiny house or a camper to live in. I craved my own bedroom, a private space for me. I felt there was no room for me there. It was dusty from wood stoves and firewood being brought in. I was not comfortable when the wood stoves made it too hot. In the middle of the night I would get so hot I would go outside and sit on the porch to cool off.

Conifer Bug aka "Stink Bug"

Then there was the problem of "conifer" bugs or "stink bugs" and mice. They were everywhere! In the fall the bugs would come in on schedule in September. Hibernate through out the house. Then if the house got too warm from the stoves, out they would come. Dropping down from the ceiling right next to me! I would smell them before I would see them. The mice was another constant problem. Even with four cats who killed them regularly. They were in areas of the house where the cats could not go. I could not set up my kitchen and pantry the way I wanted it due to the mice. They would get into my dishes, silverware, pots and pans, etc. They did not get into the food so much but I did protect it by putting it in containers that they could not access. This alone wore on my nerves. I felt like they were making me go crazy.

Batteries

Another thing that bothered me and maybe I was wrong about this. It was the batteries for the off the grid electric system. For years they were on the floor in the living room. In the main living area of our house. Where we spent a good many hours on the computer. I even ended up sleeping on the couch there right next to them. The big wood stove was within feet of the battery bank! Opening it to add wood while the batteries are letting off gases while charging. Scared me constantly that it was not a safe way to live. Also the wood stoves didn't always feel safe to me either. That is the main reason I started sleeping downstairs on the couch. So I could keep an eye on them during the night.

My home for 7 years now!

These reasons along with my mobility issues are why I left that home and life. My life had to change. Giving up living in the forest was easier once I knew my cat had been killed by a bear. It still bothers me to this day. Nine years ago. At this time in my life I am content to watch the videos about others having adventures and building remote homes. It is not something I could have done anyway. Though I also enjoy watching videos about traveling and living in other locations I would not want to do that either. Maybe I am a "homebody" preferring to be in my own home. I am not sad about it because there are plenty of things I do. Being an introvert makes living alone easy. I like making my own choices on what I will do each day.

A Beautiful Spring Morning

2025-04-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

Spring Is Here!

Today is one of those days when it is cool out but nice. The promise of spring temperatures in the air. I loved spring time in my garden! Working out there getting the dirt ready to put my seeds or plants I had started in the house into the ground. Such promise and hopes went into my garden besides a lot of work. Since I canned all the vegetables I grew I did not waste a single plant. It is one of things I miss most about living on my homestead in the country. There were just things I needed at that time that I could not get. I may miss it at times but I know I made the right decision.

Windows and Sill Blocked For Winter

Maybe it sounds funny but a beautiful day like this makes me want to just work on spring cleaning my apartment. I had blocked the cold air from coming in from the windowsill and around the windows. Using black out curtains that I closed at night. It made it dark and gloomy in here. Not my favorite setting here! I like bright colors and lots of sunshine coming in my windows. Especially in the morning! Morning is my favorite time of the day. If I could skip night I would. Must be that is why I fall asleep as soon as I turn my television off at night. Never have had trouble sleeping.

"Rabbit"

There is something about waking up in the morning and knowing you can do whatever you want. Nobody is telling me what I have to do today. That is why I do not like appointments or meetings. This morning I walked out to the dumpster and stopped to talk to a couple of the guys who live here. Then I picked some grass and dandelion leaves for my bunny boy, Rabbit. He was busy this morning chewing on cardboard and would not stop. When I brought the grass and dandelions for him, that did the trick. He ate it all eagerly and promptly went to sleep. Of course he is now listening to Linda Ronstadt's greatest hits on the stereo. He is a music lover!

Coffee At My Computer

Every morning after I finish my morning devotions I make my coffee and then check my computer. Facebook and a forum I belong to. Then I am trying to stick to a schedule of writing a blog post. Since I am not a "modern homesteader" any longer it has been hard to focus on any one topic. Yet when I examine my life, it has never been about only one topic. My life has been a journey with many starts and stops along the way. The homesteading one was just one chapter. I like to read biographies of various people in history. Most of them did many different things throughout their lives. I think it is what God does to teach us about life. We learn many different lessons along the way.

Keeping It Easy and Simple

2025-04-22T08:22:00.000-04:00

Cooking In My Kitchen

After years of cooking large meals for my family, I have given that up. In my mind I still love cooking. Probably is the reason I like to watch cooking or recipe videos. I will copy a recipe and then later look at it and say, "I am not doing that." Usually too many ingredients or too many steps to it. One thing that stops me from making something is how much clean up is it going to make for me. I like things to be easy and simple these days. Not that I cannot do the more complicated ones. I still could.......just don't want to. My favorite food to cook is a burger or a steak put in the NuWave oven. Easy and something I love to eat. Breakfast is usually eggs and some kind of meat. Just recently I have added a cup of Fage Greek yogurt to my daily menu. I needed to add more protein. That is why I often have the Keto Chow replacement shake made into ice cream. The protein and fat is something I have to keep track of or I will not get enough.

Going to keep the counter clutter free!

Recently I took my small cooking appliances off the counter. I organized my cupboards so that now I can have those appliances in the cupboards out of sight. Easy to get to when I need them. The only ones I left on the counter are the ones too tall to go in a cupboard. I love having that much room on the counters! It looks much better than being cluttered. In the near future I will work on some of the other cupboards. The ones I cannot reach easily. No sense keeping stuff I do not use in them. I have two large stockpots that I don't use for anything other than making my supply of Essiac tea. I brew it from the dried ingredients and it needs to be done in those stockpots. So I will be keeping them.

My Cleaning Supplies

Keeping with the easy theme in my home I keep my vacuum cleaner close by and easy to get to. No big deal to get it out and do a quick vacuum. Since my apartment is so small it takes less than five minutes. If cleaning or dusting is on my list for the day, I put the cleaning supplies out in the kitchen. As long as I see them I will not forget what I was supposed to do today. Not leaving things out or letting them pile up somewhere has been key for me living here. I do have that problem with papers piling up but make sure to go through them at least once a week. Throwing away or filing every single one.

Every Day Water Supply in Canning Jars

You may have items you just cannot part with. I did. So I came up with ways I can use those items. This was the case with my canning jars. I have many but I don't think I took them all from my house when I moved. I might ask my husband if he would let me have them now. Not that I need them. I am just attached to them. When I moved from there I left a large amount of foods I had canned in the cupboards. The jars I am missing are the smaller ones. The pints. It was hard moving from a house to a studio apartment. So I was not able to take everything. Maybe it was a good thing........

Bunny Trail

The thing is as you get older many tasks are harder to do. Like standing on a chair or a stool to put something away. Or to fix a curtain rod or blinds. To quickly grab something you forgot to get out and now you need it instantly. That happens way too much. I am a list maker so I make a list of everything I need to do or to get out. That does help me a lot. When making a recipe I always put the recipe on the refrigerator. Then look at it often throughout the process. Label all the jars you store ingredients in so you do not make a mistake......yup, I did that! Doing routine tasks will be easy after you get used to doing them daily. That is why I do not like to change the way or time I do things. Not so much that I am set in my ways.

My Things Matter To Me

2025-04-09T10:49:00.001-04:00

Cleared off the counters!

As I look through my kitchen finding items I might want to get rid of because I haven't used them in a long time, I spend time thinking. Thinking of the day I got the item. Or the reason I bought it in the first place. Or who gave it to me. Or what job I use it for, or did use it for. Or, or, or. So many things that have special meanings for me. Not of interest to anyone else. Only to me. When I am gone, what will come of it all? Thrown out to end up in the landfill? Donated to charity or thrift stores? To end up in smoking home? I know they are just things..........but they are my things and I love them all.

My mother-in-law gave this to me as a gift

Nothing I have is of much value to anyone but me. Many are valued due to their memory. That is why when I was looking at decorating videos on how to create a new look for my apartment I could not follow through on it. I did not want to part with my old furniture or other keepsakes. I suppose if they were destroyed, out of my control, as in a fire or a flood it would be easier. I watched the people of CA searching for something left in their burned out homes. Anything! A little knick-knack or a tool. A memory they didn't want to lose. Even if they had pictures of their things most of them were lost too. Unless they stored them online. My whole life I have taken care of all my things. When I lost anything it was usually due to whatever man was in my life. I found out they didn't care about my things. Only their things!

My treasured cat that my husband bought for me in Florida

Why are things so important to someone? I wondered about that for myself. Thinking maybe it is not normal. Well for most of my life I lived with a spouse (three in fact!) and had no place for my own things. The only time I had that freedom was when I was able to live alone. Which I am doing now. As soon as I moved into this apartment almost seven years ago, I started putting out my treasured items. I could use them instead of packing them away in boxes in the attic. What a great feeling that was! Things that represent my past..........my life. They have meaning for me. Not like some home decor item you buy just because you need it at the time.

I am working on the windows & windowsill now.

It is true though, that the more you get rid of the better you feel. In time the item is forgotten. Clear open spaces is what my goal is now. No clutter. No excess stuff to clean around. Finding places or new homes for the treasured items. Making my apartment easy to clean and care for. Even if I get help to assist me it will be easier for them too. I am not getting rid of everything! I like to rotate the items I put out. Put the ones I am not displaying in the curio cabinet. Then a few months later change them. It is a good method I discovered for keeping them useful and appreciating them.

kat's Studio Apartment - Apartment Life

2025-03-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

I am not sure how I manage but almost everything I plan to do I eventually do. After many years of starting and stopping......Atkins, low carbs, keto & finally, ketovore. Ketovore is a cross between the carnivore food plan and keto. Mainly meats but some other keto friendly foods as well. Now I am definitely on it and stick to it at least 90%. I figure that is good enough for me. I do feel better on it and that is the main reason I eat this way. The other reason is that it is so good! Easy to shop for, easy to cook and easy to clean up after. What more could you want? After years of cooking for others this is a relief for me. Especially since I cannot stand in one place (at the sink or the stove) for very long. My doctor said don't stand longer than five minutes in one place. I try not to.

Cat Collection in curio cabinet

Another thing I have been doing over a bit of time is getting rid of all my excess things that I do not need. There is free table downstairs in my apartment building and I try to set something on it every week. If I see someone picked that item up I put another one down. Kind of interesting to do. Because I figure if I don't use it I may as well give it to someone who will. I don't know if I will ever get brave enough to start putting my ceramic cat collection on the table. Maybe not. Maybe I will wait till I am in my nineties to do that. The same with my dolls that I have had since I was a child. I don't know if "uncluttering" or downsizing as it is sometimes called is an aging thing or not. I see a lot of videos with young people doing it too. Maybe it is trending that we bought too much stuff and now need to get rid of it. I tell myself if I ever have to live in an RV or a van I could never do it with all the stuff I own.

The best I could do for now.

Since I am following the "ketovore" food plan I have found a lot of gadgets I own for food preparation I no longer need. Basically everything I have out on my counter I use often. I have too many other items that are just taking up room. I am thinking of getting rid of those items. It is funny how someone said on one of the "decluttering" videos that the more you get rid of the more you want to get rid of. Yes, that is definitely true for me. I am seeing that in myself every time I see something I put on the free table is gone. Makes it so much easier to clean or find what you are looking for. I removed as much as I could from my counter so it would not look so cluttered. It also gives me plenty of room to prepare my meals.

Oma Lisa, my childhood doll

As I get older I find I don't really need so much stuff. If I can use it for other purposes than what it was meant for then I do that. I would always rather use that than purchasing anything new. When I write down my lists of what I need to do or what I want to eliminate from my life I can analyze it further. The key is to get started. Experts are always telling us to find our why. My why is to make life easier now. Not work around it until the day I die. If it is not serving any purpose now is the time to rid myself of it. As I said before there are some items I will never part with. One being my childhood dolls. They still bring me pleasure and I just cannot part with them. At least not yet.

Bathmophobia Fear of Stairs Is Real

2025-03-01T11:22:00.001-05:00

3 Story Apartment Building for Seniors & Disabled

The past couple of weeks I have been living in my apartment on the second floor with a faulty elevator. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I knew this would happen eventually. I really do understand why this happens. Elevators are a man made machine and they break down. Like a car or a computer. Nothing lasts forever. Even knowing and understanding that it is difficult for me to be without it. I have gotten used to it. Comfortable. Time to examine my options and get out of my comfort zone. Moving from here is not an option I want. For one thing a year ago I moved my son upstairs in my building so I could help him. The other thing is that I really love my apartment. I do not want to give it up. Nor do I want to move to first floor apartment. It is noisy down there. Too much activity for me. This is my home. So what to do?

Again???

The only option I really have is to increase my mobility. Maybe I have made it worst by never using the stairs since I moved here in 2018. They are steep and I admit I have a fear of them. So maybe the reason I cannot go down them is not my mobility issues but my fear of stairs in general. There is actually a name for this fear. Bathmophobia. Fear of stairs! Even as a child I was afraid of them but I would still use them. Just very carefully. I have been researching how to rid myself of this fear and how to use stairs when you have bad knees. I have two that are bad but normally one is worse then the other. In other countries elevators are not commonly installed in apartment buildings. Those people are able to live without ever having an elevator (or lifts as they call them).

Walking laps around my hall

Little steps is essential for me to change anything. My first step has been to start walking laps around my hall. This is an easy step as I have done this in the past. I am walking two laps presently with my walker. I still need to use that for any walking I do. There are times when I need it constantly in my apartment then other days not at all or not as much. The second step is using my Vibration Plate. I am still in the testing mode with this piece of equipment. It is supposed to work for many different health issues and one being for people with Lymphedema. So that is why I bought one.

Overcoming my fear of steep stairs

The third step of my plan is something I going to try today for the first time. Walk up 3 steps and down 3 steps on the stairs at the end of my hall. I believe there are only 8 steps down to the landing. Trouble is I cannot carry my walker with me. So using a cane even though I have not come up with a solution for sitting down at the bottom of the stairs. Going up with the good leg and down with the bad one. Maybe increase it after it becomes easier. The biggest problem for me is that these stairs are very steep. At least it seems so to me. Going to try to keep focused on the stair in front of me and not the whole thing at once. Doing it daily is also part of my plan. Not giving up.

Eggs are a good protein source

I have been increasing my protein while following a low carb/keto food plan that is heavy on the protein sources. Twenty carbs or less along with an eating window from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Intermittent Fasting). I feel this is the most healthful food plan to follow. I can stick to it with no problems. In fact eating this way makes you calm and more peaceful. It helps people sleep at night though I have never had that problem. Processed foods, grains, starches and sugar affect me in negative ways. Eliminating them is one little step that is essential for me!

A Crazy World We Live In - Apartment Life

2024-12-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

Home!

The world has gone crazy. I honestly believe it has. This is not meant to be a political or religious post. It is just that the more people cry and whine about things such as race, gender, religion, age, etc. the worse our society becomes. I agree some changes are good. Not the majority of them though. They go too far. Crying "discrimination" for every little thing. Yet those same ones crying about it are the ones discriminating against others. Bullying people for not understanding what they are telling them. Or judging people who are disabled and cannot read or comprehend simple instructions. I see it almost daily in the apartment building I live in. Because they make the most noise about certain issues they are the ones who get what they want. Often the whiners are not even participating in the event or activity that they were complaining about!

Coffee Time!

A man in my building yelled "discrimination" about a group of women who want to have coffee together to talk about our feelings or problems with no men present. Yet they had no plans to be at it. Just to complain about it to the management company. So they can say, "I fixed you girls!" I believe since the management company is saying they are correct it is discrimination, then isn't the whole apartment building discriminating against people who are not elderly, disabled or low income? After all you have to meet that criteria to live here. Men and women are different. Regardless of your sexual preference. It goes beyond the physical body. That is why when women are gathering together they talk different than when men are present. The men joke and talk about politics, sports or news. We talk about our menopause, children, our feelings, relationships, our past lives, etc. It is a whole different conversation when the men are not there.

My hall

It is one of the problems of living in a building such as this. Supposedly we are living independently in our private apartments. In such a close environment it is important to at least try to get along with each other. Easier said than done. One negative person can spoil the whole feeling of our building. Though we have had more than one since I moved in. As I wrote about previously on this blog, we had an "elderly abuse" situation in the past. That was started with a manager and a small group of tenants who banded together to bully others. The ones left over from that group will at times try to bully other tenants. I find the best way to live with people like that is to ignore them. Social media is good in that way that you can put someone on ignore or delete as a friend. Too bad you can't do that in real life. I do not add to their conversation and get away from them as soon as I can. Best to stay off their radar!

Our Backyard

My idea for a "Girl Talk" coffee hour was not meant to do anything secret. Nothing against the men who live here at all. Just the women in my building getting to know each other better. There have been some that I don't know very well and would like to know better. It is good to have a women support group if you have an emergency or problem. Or just to have others you can talk to or turn to if you have that need. People become so concerned with being politically correct that it overtakes common sense. There are many organizations that separate people by gender, color, religion, age or interests. Are they bad? Not at all. Many of these groups get together to discuss their problems or how to help others. Many communities depend on these organizations to improve the lives of others in need. Which is what I thought I would be doing in my building. The men in our building group together outside almost daily smoking and talking. It is not like they are being kept from any social interactions. In fact, us women were in the process of planning activities for the whole building. Like movie nights, game nights and potluck suppers. Without us planning them they don't happen.

My neighborhood!

For now we are having our coffee hour in someone's apartment. At least they cannot control what we are doing as a group of women in our own apartments...........yet. It is hard if you lose your rights to get them back again. Even in an apartment building. Once they tell you no it can even show up on your lease. The lease, if you read the whole thing, which I do, only protects the landlord, not the tenant. It only favors them and what they want. That is why I always say someday I might end up living in a camper somewhere. I especially love this particular apartment. If I had to leave it I would have to find another place and I don't think it would be another apartment. It is hard to conform to so many rules after you lived with barely any. At times I miss that.

My Office

If it was just about me and not the others in my building I could live easily with no personal interactions at all. I am on my computer from morning to night. I would not even get off it at night when I do if it wasn't for my pet rabbit. He likes me to turn it off and go sit in the recliner to watch videos. He really does. I can find a million things to do on the computer. I have many online friends to talk to. No matter the time I can always find someone to talk to. Don't say I don't really know them since I do not know them in person. I believe I know them better through our written conversations than small talk in person. The computer creates an environment where you can live easily alone. Which it has for me. But I do have some friends in my building that I have grown close to. Even if it is just to share a cup of coffee and know others care. Making connections helps each other.

Two Holidays Down, One More To Go!

2024-12-27T18:22:00.002-05:00

Christmas

Two holidays down and one more to go. New Years Day is the easiest of them all in my opinion. Though the other two are no big deal to me anymore. Funny about that. Holidays always caused me more stress than anything else through out the whole year. I can pinpoint it starting the first year I was with my first husband. He was Jewish and having never grown up with Christmas as part of his life he embraced all the holiday routines. Decorations, holiday foods, meals, Christmas parties and the gifts! Oh yes, he loved the buying of the gifts more than anything else. He would buy gifts for everyone. Even his business clients. My family would come to my house on Christmas Day and it looked like a dream. In reality it was not for me. Buying presents for others stressed me out. Not from the financial aspect but the actual going to the crowded stores and finding something that person would like. I had no trouble buying for my son but everyone else presented a problem to me. When my mother's health became bad she would mail me a check and tell me to buy everyone presents from her and my father. Oh boy, just what I wanted to do!

Surprising Mom with a colored television!

Truthfully the best Christmases I remember were the ones before I grew up. Or the time my parents and brother came to my apartment for Christmas Eve. After my parents left to drive home my brother and my son and I went in his car to my parents' house to beat them there. When they arrived home, we were quietly sitting in their house in the dark. My mother turned on the lights and there we were. Also there was a big color television sitting there in place of their small black and white one! My brother had found it for sale used at a good price and we got it for their Christmas present. They loved it.! On the drive there my brother kept pointing to the sky and saying he saw Santa in his sleight. My son was soon saying he saw them too. He was so excited. It was one of my fondest memories.

My brother, Mickey in his wild west show in Harpursville, NY

When we were children our Christmas gifts were usually a few toys, a book or two and some clothing. Usually pajamas. We always got the same number of presents. Yet almost every year, I would get the biggest present because it was doll and one year a doll house. My brother would just grab that big one and open it himself before my parents could stop him. Every year I got a new doll. My brother who is two and half years older than me always got things related to cowboys, guns and race cars. He is still into cowboys and guns to this day. He builds black powder guns and makes buckskin clothing for himself. He has a wild west show with a group of others who put on shows at a variety of places during the summer and fall. So those interests have always stayed with him. I will add that he is a very unique brother and has always been so (even though he always opened my dolls!).

Decorated my door with mostly Christmas Cards I received.

My Christmas has changed in the last few years to being a really quiet day and not doing much of anything except decorating my door and giving out cards to the people who live in my building. I am quite happy with it this way because it not a stressful time for me now. No spending money on presents that nobody wants. Remember those gift boxes of talcum powder or bubble bath? Those were the gifts you got when someone had to give you a gift and didn't know what to give you. I can picture them in the store now. I do not know if they still sell stuff like that now or not. I buy myself whatever I want all year long so I don't need to get any presents. Nor do I cook a Christmas meal. This year I had Keto Chow salted caramel ice cream that I added pumpkin spice to. Later in the day I had a large rib-eye steak. Perfect for Christmas Day! No big clean up job. No stress of whether someone liked a present I bought them. My son lives upstairs and he came down a few times but he is not into Christmas either.

Rabbit

The thing about living alone and being alone on a holiday is that it really is no big deal........unless YOU make it a big deal. Fretting about it months in advance causes you to dread the day so much. Becoming depressed because you are alone. It is just a day like any other day. If you have a pet you aren't alone. I know I still have to care for my pet like I do every day. Pets don't know it is Christmas or that you are going to buy them a bunch of presents. But you can if you choose to do so. I think they like it better if you stay home whether you get them presents or not. I buy this little boy so much stuff all the time so he doesn't have to wait for Christmas to get any gifts. In fact, he slept most of the day........