ANZAC Day, and less significant matters

April 25, ANZAC Day, is when we remember and pay tribute to the young soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who crossed the planet to fight in World War I, and who were tragically lost in combat, also the few survivors who made it home.

Thank you,  blogistas from New Zealand and Australia who are descended from these brave young people, and thank you to those more recent residents who honor their memory, and to you if you're a veteran.

This year I haven't been able to make my ANZAC biscuits, as near as I can get with the ingredients available to me, but I'm there in spirit.

And speaking of spirit, I'm cooking again! Roast diced chicken breast, with umami seasoning, cayenne and turmeric. Ready for sandwiches. 

This morning, after I'd roasted the chicken, done the dishes and a couple of things, I was done for. Not enough energy for pictures, even. My ambition is a bit ahead of the available energy. I plan a nap before Emil visits this afternoon.

Happy day everyone, try to plan better than your humble blog writer. 

Here's why getting back to cooking is significant

Self care in a time of high anxiety

The next couple of days are about keeping my nerves in order by watching favorite Trollope productions with great actors 

While sipping on the new favorite, oat milk with honey.

And future, winter,  self care involves these 

Artisan made, Somerset Designs, suede slipper soles, with fleece lining. You can get a pattern and knit socky things to attach, holes already punched. But I have another thought, which is to attach them to current handknit socks to make slippers a different way. If it works, it will probably cut down on darning. Either way, happy customer here.

She has a range of leather items, worth checking out.  No, she isn't monetizing this shout-out, I just like the quality and prompt shipping and correct color, size, all that. 

About Carol thee Cane, I have to admit it was bit difficult to acknowledge I needed to try it.  

Our house is a testament to the gradual decline of Handsome Partner into almost total paralysis. From the portable ramp, often lent in recent years to people for visitors, to grab bars everywhere, bathrooms, entryway, staircase, the shower stool in both upstairs bathrooms, currently used to hold stacks of towels. Then there's Carol Cane, a walker and a transport wheelchair.  I kept everything for lending where needed, and now I find I'm needing the cane to help me walk. I do use the bathroom grab bars though.

So, not an easy decision, because it may be the new normal. Then I found it helpful. And I thought well, this body is doing a terrific job, all these old parts still ticking over nicely, getting to do things I like. So it's okay to get a bit of help where needed. As for Ruth and Laura, the journey to actually saying okay I'll try this, was fairly long. 

But considering how many of my contemporaries, those still around, that is, have all kinds of aftermarket parts installed, I'm doing fiiine! 

And here's a great passage from Padraig O'Tuama, Irish poet, whose newsletter I read. That's exactly why I write about food in this blog, sometimes with recipes, often not, just to add a connection point with you, and invite yours in return. I think people who wouldn't dream of cooking what I do, especially the multi ingredient multi stage recipes, still like to know someone does.

Meanwhile, breathe