The old Sacred Heart Hospital

 

 

 

This is the old Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.  Even though they built a new hospital in 1965, this building still stands and is used for other purposes.

 

 

I was born in this building and it was a part of my life for as long as it served as a hospital.  As a child, I was mystified by the architecture.  My mother worked there as a nurse in my very early years and later she managed the pharmacy on the first floor.  I made several trips over the years to the Emergency Room.  And I had a tonsilectomy and appendectomy there.

 

I am proud to see such a stately building still standing and being used for worthwhile purposes.

Quinoa

I've discovered what's so great about quinoa!  I've used it before, mostly as a rice substitute in a meal.  It really is bland unless you dress it up with other ingredients.  But what it lacks in flavor, it more than makes up for in nutritional value.  It's one of the superfoods with superior health benefits.

After doing an online search of recipes, I came up with mild success.  So I asked a lady down the hall at work, who has mentioned quinoa before, to send me some of her recipes.  She sent me a treasure trove of numerous websites featuring quinoa recipes.  Aside from the recipes, there are endless ways to use it - in smoothies, omelettes, salads, mix it with vegetables.

Here is one recipe that I like.

Black Bean,Tomato, and Quinoa Salad

2 teaspoons grated lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup cooked quinoa
1 can black beans (I used dried, soaked, and cooked beans)
2 tomatoes, chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro


Whist together the lime zest, juice, butter, oil, sugar, and salt and pepper.  Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl.  Combine.  Chill.

Happy Birthday, Jake!

Today my grandson, Jake, is 13 years old!  He has the same birthday as my grandmother and his great-great grandmother!

Jake is an active young man with a lot of interests.  He is on an Olympic Development Soccer team and travels all over the east coast playing tournaments.

I'm proud of him and his brothers, Kevin and Andrew.  John and Jen are doing a wonderful job raising those boys.

A new salad recipe

I love to find new recipes that are delicious and full of nutrition.  Here is one!

This Cabbage, Apple, Bean Salad is just great tasting and good for you.  Try it!

2 cups shredded red cabbage
1/4 cup mayo
1 Tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup garbanzo beans
1 medium apple, chopped

In large bowl, stir the mayo, ketchup, lemon juice and salt.  Add cabbage, beans, and apple and mix together.  Cover and refrigerate.

Another option would be to use green cabbage and red kidney beans.  Both of these recipes are colorful and inviting.

Catching up!

Yes, I'm still here!  It's been a whirlwind with "the yellow tornado", aka Bailey, and the fact that I haven't had internet connection at home for 10 days.  After months of poor connectivity issues with Frontier Internet, I finally canceled and tomorrow I will be hooked up again with a satellite internet provider.  Let's hope this is the end of my internet problems!

I remember when the internet first became mainstream.  I asked someone, "Why do I need the internet, what do you do with it?"

Bailey weighed 26 pounds at her last vet visit.  She keeps me hopping.  One afternoon this week when I let Bailey and Morgan out back, they were running and chasing each other.  Bailey took a flying leap and jumped right over Morgan! 

As frantic as the puppy stage can be, I really enjoy having two dogs.  There is never a dull moment!

Life with a Lab puppy

I should start a new blog totally dedicated to the antics of a Lab puppy.

Let's see, earlier this week, I sat down with my glass of wine after work and after taking care of the needs of Bailey and Morgan.  Immediately there erupted a dog fight in my lap, each one intent on getting my undivided attention.  Through all this, I managed to keep my glass of wine anchored to the end table without even one spill!

This morning, after they had their rough and tumble time in the living room as I drank my coffee and watched Fox and Friends, I got up to cook my breakfast.  Yes, I know you aren't supposed to take your eyes off a young puppy, not even for a second.  In less than a second, Bailey managed to latch on to the toilet paper on the bathroom wall and run at Olympic Gold Medal speed through the house.  She was so proud of herself with that excited puppy look and the tail going at the speed of sound.  You buy them expensive toys and they'd rather play with a roll of toilet paper.

Then there are those moments when she humbly crawls into my lap and looks at me with those "Can I have some loving?" eyes and falls asleep as I scratch her head and neck.