Category: Holidays

Holidays, World Cultures

Happy St. Nicholas Day !

megdavisarts

In the days leading up to 5 or 6 December (starting when Saint Nicholas has arrived by steamboat around mid-November), young children put their shoes in front of the chimneys and sing Sinterklaas songs. Often they put a carrot or some hay in their shoes, as a gift to St. Nicholas’ horse. In recent years the horse has been named Schimmel or Amerigo in the Netherlands and Slecht Weer Vandaag (bad weather today) in Flanders. The next morning they find a small present in their shoes, ranging from sweets to marbles or some other small toy. 

When I was little we celebrated Saint Nicholas Day, I think it was a bit more simple but the idea was to remember the real Saint who started the Christmas gifting tradition.

We’d put our shoes out in front of our bedroom doors when we went to bed and found a little candy, a wind-up toy and a St. Nicholas card in the morning.

One year, I got greedy. I figured that, if I had bigger shoes, I’d get more goodies so I borrowed a pair of my Dad’s shoes and set those out. The next morning there was coal inside them. I was sad all day and went to visit my grandpa where I told how I’d been naughty. He comforted me and I forgot about the whole thing.

As if by magic, when we got home that night there were my little shoes by my door with an orange, a chocolate bear and a little toy inside. I was mystified by the whole thing because I couldn’t figure out who had put the goodies there.

This is the wonder and joy of giving. May you find your own magic today and all season long.

🎄🎁🦌🎁🎄

Holidays, Multiple Sclerosis, My Weird World, What Do You Think ?

Too Pooped To Celebrate The Holiday

megdavisarts

So, yesterday was our Thanksgiving Holiday. I managed to make my cranberry compote and bake a pumpkin pie but that’s as far as I got.

My husband was kind and said it was ok, we could do the big meal today. I could tell he was bummed though.

Before we got married, I told him I had MS and I was a lot more active then.. he didn’t really believe it because (like a lot of people) he thought I’d be in a wheelchair if I had MS.

I was sorry I couldn’t get our holiday meal together this year but my PPMS got a lot worse in the last 12 months. I’ve even simplified cooking as much as possible. Today, my hubby helped prep some foods and I think that helped him a bit. The turkey’s in the oven, we’re watching football and all the dinner things will be ready in an hour or so.

Unfortunately, I’m so fatigued I’ll get everything heated and ready and then I’ll go to bed. I hate leaving my companion to eat alone but there’s no other choice.

How about you ? Does this happen to you too for whatever reason ? A lot of people work more than one job and have these same issues. Let’s give each other a big hug… And then another piece of pie.

Holidays, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, Trigeminal Neuralgia

Tight Isobars = Headaches and Increased Pain

megdavisarts

www.weather.com/storms/winter/video/strong-storm-bringing-snow-rain-and-strong-winds-from-west-to-central-us-into

Keep an eye on the isobars as this storm moves across the country and over your area. I can see that it’s going to be low pressure and high winds over me, in Arkansas, building from Wednesday and staying into Saturday. What does this tell me ? How tight the isobars are to each other indicates how strong winds will be so I know right now to get as much done as possible before Thanksgiving because I’m going to have bad sinus and head pain.

Watching wind and pressure changes can give you advance warnings of increased pain. Get weather smart and you’ll be prepared for possible pain that could affect your social life 😊

Favorite Things, Good Eating, Holidays

Thanksgiving for Two

megdavisarts

It always takes lot of extra thought to make my holiday meal because I eat high fiber, low carb, low sugar foods and my husband likes just the opposite.

I work through each item to find a compromise and luckily, I’ve been able to change my husband over to healthier options through the years. As an example : the traditional green bean casserole is something I’d only use to mortar Adobe bricks with. It starts out innocently enough with green beans but then quickly goes downhill as you add condensed cream of mushroom soup, French fried onions etc. It ends up being very high in sodium, little fiber and not much nutrition.

Instead, I serve up steamed French cut green beans with a little whipped butter and sliced almonds. It’s also much easier ! Buy bags of frozen pre-cut beans, raw or roasted almonds and Land o Lakes whipped butter and you’re all set.

As I go through my preparation tonight I’ll put a post together with everything I get for this meal. It’s all centered around my lack of energy and food prep & cooking that won’t get me overheated or frustrated. Stay tuned for what I hope will be some helpful ideas.

And, please post your ideas to me here too. I’m always keen to learn new tricks !

🍗🥧🦃🍮🍇

Good Eating, Holidays, RECIPES

Low Sugar Cranberry Compote

megdavisarts

This is my favorite recipe, sweetened only with sugar free Maple syrup (Cary’s) or a little real Maple syrup. Most cranberry dishes have loads of white sugar. This recipe is just right, not too sweet, all good ingredients with fiber added by the apples with peel and walnuts. Sorry I don’t have a calorie/carb breakdown per serving. Let me know if you come up with one.

➡️ If this is your first time cooking cranberries you’ll know they’re done when they’ve popped. You need to stir the mixture often, enjoy the lively sound !

CRANBERRY APPLE Orange COMPOTE

HEALTH NOTE : If you have a fatigue problem, have someone help you and/or do your veggie & fruit chopping sitting down. You’ll be glad you did !

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS
6 ounces (1½ cups) cranberries, washed
2 apples, diced (I use a crisp Apple like Honeycrisp, Cripps Pink, Pink Lady, Gala or Fuji).
¼ cup orange juice +
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp non-hot Curry blend
½ orange
2-3 tablespoons Sugar Free maple syrup
OR real Maple Syrup
(I also add 1 small saute’d onion)
(After compote is cool you can add Walnut pieces if you like your relish chunky)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. If adding onion, saute’ chopped onion in a little canola or sunflower oil first. (Do not use Olive oil unless it’s the very light kind).

2. In a medium sauce pan on medium heat add cranberries, apples, orange juice, cinnamon, zest and orange sements (pith removed) from ½ orange.

3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat stirring often and simmer for 10 minutes or until the cranberries have popped. Don’t cook for too long or it gets mushy !

Mix in maple syrup to taste.

Place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours to cool and thicken.

NOTES
This recipe can easily be doubled if serving a large crowd.