Best reason to read Historical Romance fiction

 It has characters that actually existed and it is a fascinating learning experience .

Introduction to the Iceberg of Outlander

January 2019

When the adverts for the fourth season of The Outlander were playing in the fall they grabbed my

interest as they seemed like something I'd be interested in. However, I had not watched the first three seasons so in the hope I could find them in repeats I starting taped the fourth . Never found repeats or DVD's to borrow so added them to my Christmas list. Didn't get them and although I could get them for myself found the first three seasons on Netflix. Watched episode one of the first season, it grabbed more than my interest so watched the second and third episodes. By then I wanted to know much more. "Maybe I should read the books", I thought. Downloaded the first via our public library. Now the characters where coming alive in the book and I was hooked.

I have roots from the Scottish Highlands, a 4^th great Grandfather who emigrated to Canada in the later 1700's and it seems he may have lived somewhere in the area the book was centered around. A few years ago I had more or less pinned down where he emigrated from so looked on a map as to where  Iverness compared the where my ancestor was living before coming to Canada. Noticed a Fort William about where he came from.

However, thought my hubby may be interested too and he decided to give it a try. We watched the first three episodes together and I was picking up more bits and pieces of it such as Fort William, that for sure was in the area I had for my 4^th Great Grandfather Ewing McMillan. Now because the Mackenzie Clan seems to have owned an area  north of the fort tried to find out how the McMillan Clan fit in – too confusing to figure out with Goggle searches, Some serious reading and a lot of research would be needed...perhaps I can contact the McMillan Clan and find out more What has happened though is I can picture my ancestors in the middle of what was happening in the mid 1700's and possibly realized why I cannot pinpoint the McMillan Clan.

Thought I had found the passenger ship list with my Grandfather and his brother, Dougal But not so sure now the more I read and watch I have any of the above right.

Diane Gabaldon's Outlander series is the sort of book I enjoy – historical romance. Of course many fiction books that include historical facts also have some violence, lewdness and goriness to them but they are likely a true picture of what it was like  during that time as genealogy has taught me.

We will continued to watch Season One until it is finished. In the meantime I am reading Outlander, it will take some time to finish as it is over 1,000 pages.

Had planned to hold off on watching more of the series until I caught up in the book (after 6 segments) but changed my mind as the characters, as mentioned before, are coming to life in the book as are the sets in the videos are giving them a place to be.

Another thing the book is doing is 'teaching' me new words (most historical books do). As a Creative Writing leader told me about 13 years ago when I tried my hand at a fiction story  based in the 50's  "You need to use the term that would have been used back then.",   I had written mentally challenged  about one of the characters , a youth – that was the end of trying fiction for me I could not do it...

When Claire Randell the main character in Outlander mentioned L'Heure a cologne that brought back imagines of Aunt Gloria, my Uncle Robert's first wife. Not sure why I thought of my aunt it just seemed at the time that she likely used that cologne. Did a Google search for it and the tie to Aunt Gloria became stronger. Do I have an image of it stuck in my head that refuses to come out?

Robert and Gloria married in the early 50's when I was a very impressionable young girl who wanted to be like older girls, thus a young woman that took my sister Linda and I downtown to see Santa Claus and the wonders of the Eaton's children's Christmas area with the magical ride on train, left her mark on me. Should mention that my Uncle Robert was with us too but other that his fancy car he was in the background in my mind.

While I was searching for L'Heure which is available on-line, also checked on two of my favorite colognes from our early married years. Bluegrass by Elizabeth Arden which I had taken on our honeymoon and White Shoulders by Evyan For Women I always associate it with our first anniversary as it was new to me then. Blue Grass and White Shoulders out of the drawer  and put them where I will see them daily,  vowing to wear the colognes more than I have in years as they both take me back to special moments in my young woman days and why let something I teases my senses with to stir up pleasant memories from so far back in time  to dry up.

Have not bought either for years and the bottle of White Shoulder I have is at at 19 year old -  Dad gave it to me thanks to my sister Linda who knew me so well. Took both the
Will also mentioned in a veiled method that my husband is enjoying Outlander much more than either of us expected wink, wink or are the fragrances of days long gone by responsible?







Outlander is the first book in a series of at least 9 to date and apparently between them there are more than 9,000 pages. Seem I have set myself quiet a goal for 2019 as I plan to read them all. Diane Gabaldon is writing the 10th now.
 So looking forward to reading this historial romance series/

January 16th - Ordered the first five books and doubt that I will complete the goal I see of reading the series. There or over 5,000 pages in the first five books alone Wow!



“Lying on the floor, with the carved panels of the ceiling flickering dimly above, I found myself thinking that I had always heretofore assumed that the tendency of eigh­teenth-century ladies to swoon was due to tight stays; now I rather thought it might be due to the idiocy of eighteenth-century men. ”
― Diana Gabaldon,     Dragonfly in Amber 

Starting a New Journey

 At the end of October 2018 I had a bone density scan as I could be a candidate for Osteoporosis so it is monitored every three years or so. Mom supposedly had Osteoporosis. I say supposedly because she got different diagnoses from different doctors... The huge Calcium pills she was prescribed were too big for her to swallow, that was all the doctor's did for her -not that it would have done much for her then as she was well into Osteoporosis by that time. Her back was humped, I could see over her head and at one time we had been the same height. Mom lost so much weight before her death she was a little tiny thing.

My three sisters have/had all been on medication as was I because I was on the outside edge of Osteoporosis and have lost ¾ to an inch in height . For three or four years I took it faithfully until I didn't want to anymore because it is said not to work after a few years.... The last scan I had before going off Actonal was no worse then the one before the medication. I promised myself I'd get my calcium, Vitamin D and weight bearing exercise. Didn't take long to go off track with the exercise... Thus before I went in October and until the results scan were in I was concerned sure that because of my own laziness and empty excuses I'd end up on medication again. No! The results were okay so Actonel (Risedronate) does not have to be added to my medications.

However, when I saw my weight before the scan I was shocked. Decided by day's end I was going to lose 15 pounds by end of January 2019.

Started off really well and lost five pounds in November - then the wheels fell off the cart and I gained 2.5 back by December 15th. Now disappointment and discouragement set in I was ready to give up. That night there was a block potluck. It was once again a turning point for me. One of our neighbors had lost so much weight over the last few months we have to look twice before we realize it is her. She looks great, full of energy and glowing. Just happened to be following her around the pot-luck food table and she explained a bit about how she is doing it. Weight Watchers Smart Points.  Found out that fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs and white meat chicken or turkey have zero points.

Curiosity sent me to the Canadian Weight Watchers Web site December 16^th and I joined on-line. Spent the first week learning the Smart Points and putting meals together that added up or below my daily Smart Points quota. On the 24^th I weighted- in and was down 4.5 pounds from what I registered as the week before. What a boost that was. Next weight-in is the 31 and although I expect to be down some it will not be to the goal I set back in November of five pounds a month, I am going down. Sure it will be better than it would have been without talking to my neighbor and joining Weight Watchers.

Over the last two weeks I have been creating a list of the foods I eat plus the value in Smart Points. As well as increasing the time or activities I do for fitness points. There have been a few shocks about some of the foods I love for instance a Big Mac and small fries is worth more points than I am allowed for a day . In fact a cupcake and a serving of ice cream would pretty well be a day's worth. When I couldn't find Christmas plum pudding I bought a little 1 serving whiskey cake, (I'm the only one that likes plum pudding and only because it was a tradition) RIGHT ! The whiskey cake is 17 points for the little thing so I only had a quarter of it. 

The fridge and pantry has been stocked with zero foods. I've looked ahead at what celebrations we are going to have as I am not depriving myself of foods that are only around this time of year so I can plan the other meals and days around them. I try to leave some points for a treat each day and often have points left over.

Christmas treats could be hanging out for a long time as most of them were bought before my eyes were opened to what I have been consuming :D My hubby hid my stocking chocolates from me so I could be eating them until Easter :D The eggnog I love has been frozen in ice cube trays, each ¼ cup cube is worth 4 points so with milk 5 or 6 depending on the ½ glass of milk I add it to – it is now one of my treats. And just enough not to feel deprived of it.

If we have mashed potatoes as we did with Christmas dinner I add grated cauliflower to mine. Little tricks that that help to have favorites without adding to the points (calories if you want to see it that way). Lentils another zero point food are great mixed in with other side dishes such a rice (so is grated cauliflower) Some will be going in the beef and vegetable chili I an making for dinner.

Some of the activy points have been a shock. This morning I recorded 45 minutes for laundry it was worth 1 point. WHAT ? 20 minutes on the elliptical was only 2 again WHAT? Not sure now long I will stay as a Weight Watchers member in the meantime I'm learning everything I can about the points, (a formula) ditto for the fitness and have joined a couple of Facebook groups for support, tips and encouragement . Plus Via Texture I can read WW magazines online and take photos of the recipes etc. I like. The magazine will be available to me as long as I am a Texture member. 

(Photos above: Starting photo mind you I had layers on but  that bulk is not all clothing. A reninder of what to stay away from and what to eat for sure (protein)  breakfast, lunch and dinner - not on same day though )

By the time spring rolls around I should be fit and slim, and ready to take on Italy in May when we go on a couch tour. 

January 1 2019 -Yesterday was weight-in and I only lost 0.9 pounds (14.4 ounces) during the week. I was disappointed and had to give myself a good talking too. Really did I expect to go down 3 or 4 pounds a week? It has taken me several years to get to what I was before November 1 2017 so why would it come off in a matter of weeks? Picked myself up and added the 0.9 to my visual resource, a (photo) bag filled with stones now equal to 7 pounds 14.4 ounces or 3.55 Kilograms. Wow is what I

should call that bag :D Also thought about the way my health and body is appreciating not carrying around that 3 plus kg. I feel it from my head down to my legs, my underwear, especially bra, and my jeans are not as snug. My neck and shoulder not as sore - my whole body is appreciating the replacement of some sitting with exercise for instance my legs are not as tired or achy.

Last night while waited for 2019 to come in we had shrimp cocktail (0 Smart Points) and I tried to drink some watered down- Peach Schnapps over ice it would have been worth 2 points, 1.5 went down the drain, seems my tummy is changing what it likes to be filled with.

And that is how I have ended 2018 :D

Come, Walk with Me... Part 1

Tough times don't last, but tough people do.

And I've been through some tough times,

and I know a lot of people can recall tough times,

and maybe are going through some tough times right now,

but they don't last.

Alonzo Mourning

March 8^th 2017

Yesterday was our eldest son’s 49^th birthday and a couple of things happened during the day that transported me back through the years.

Mentioning the second first because the other has a life story with it which is why I decided to share it in a blog today.

Late yesterday a Facebook friend posted this and it hit home with the mood I was in because I have been down that road a few times with a son of grandchild.

And especially the topic being discussed earlier in the day on a TV program  about a phone call that  stuck in your mind. That too  I have a few of but because to the day our son’s 49^th , the one that came to mine instantly happened the day before his birthday 19 years ago. 

This is what I wrote about it back in 1999

Come, Walk with Me...  Part I   

The Day that Changed Our Lives Forever

March 6th 1999

It is a year ago today that the phone call came and it will be etched in my mind forever. The day had started off like most ordinary days. The weather was a typical March day for this area of the country - snowy with sunny breaks and cloudy periods. It was a Friday so my husband and our youngest son were at work. I had been out doing errands and grocery shopping, the type of thing that it takes, to keep a household running. Coming back home before lunchtime and checking the answering machine, I discovered a strange message...

It was in one of the mailboxes what the person would have had to know a special code to enter- no one knew what that code was. The person had also started to leave the message before the beep, so there was very little to go on. The message was, "... thank you. I'll call back later." The young sounding male, voice was not recognizable, either. Who could it have been? it puzzled me!

 Could it possibly be, our eldest son? My mother instincts, started to awaken, I didn't want to wait to be called back! If it had been our son, it was out of character for him to call during a weekday. I decided to call him at his home in Dartmouth Nova Scotia - our home is in Quebec, Canada.

The babysitter answered, "No, I don't know if he called you. He has been gone since 7:00 A.M. and is either, at work or school. (he was attending Dalhousie University, at the time). Can I take a message?" There was no message to leave. How do you leave a mother's intuition, in a message?

In mid afternoon the phone rang. Going into the master bedroom, I picked it up, walked over to the window, looking out on the cloudy winter day. Little did I expect what was to come, "Hi, Mom." it was our eldest, " Hi Dear. Was that you, that called and left a message this morning?"

It was, and he went on to tell me why, " I called to let you know that the doctor phoned this morning with the results of my x-rays." I was at the alert, the outdoor scenery forgotten. Why is the doctor calling him at work?, went through my mind, "The x-rays you had done, about three weeks ago?" With a little bit of irritation in his voice, " No, the ones that were done yesterday."

When I had been told that he was going to have the first set of x-rays three weeks previously, I had been a little concerned. I can't explain why, because I do know that if pneumonia is suspected, an x-ray quite often will be done. However, I had never been given an update and assumed everything was okay. Pneumonia had been the diagnosis, of those first tests and an antibiotic was prescribed. Our son was telling me in this conversation, that the coughing had not cleared up so his GP had sent him for another set of x-rays.

He continued, "They found a mass in my chest! They're not sure if it is an abscess or an infection. He,(the doctor), doesn't think it's a tumor." His voice told me that he was starting to get edgy. And my World was closing in around me, but I did my best to listen and not scream. "The doctor called me at work! Why is he moving so quickly, if he doesn't think it's a tumor? He's trying to get me booked for a CAT scan next week!" His voice was becoming agitated.

I could hear the need of a child, the call for a parent's comfort, but also realized that I had to be strong for his sake, "Well, I guess, that they want to find out what it is. You realize that if it is a tumor, Sweetie, the odds against it being cancerous, are very good. Somewhere around 95 percent of all tumors are benign." I was not doing a very good job of giving comfort, he was upset, that was apparent in his tone and his words, "Yes, Mom, I know that, but it's not very pleasant to know that they may need to operate and take it out. I don't like needles and I don't want to be cut open!"

He was right about that. As a child, just knowing he was going for an annual checkup would send him into a tizzy. "Do you want me to come down there to be with you?"

The child within left, for a few moments, "No, Dad needs you there. I'll be okay." My husband had lost his father four months prior to this phone call and of course, was still trying to deal with the sorrow of his loss. They had become quite close the last few years as my husband had been his Dad's prime care giver.

It sounded like our child needed me more than my hubby, however I replied, "If you are sure. You know I'll come in a flash. If you change your mind you let me know right away."

Not with very much enthusiasm, "No, Mom I'll be okay.", It didn't really sound like it to his Mother, "I love you. Our hearts and thoughts are with you. And again, if you want me there..." I waited hoping that he would ask me to come, "I'll be okay Mom, as soon as I know anything, I'll get back to you. I love you, too."

My last attempt at reassuring my injured adult, child, "You keep your chin up. Please, try not to worry before you know what is going on." Right! I was ready to jump through the phone, wrap my arms around him and protect my child from the Big Bad World. And I was expecting him not to be worried! "Okay Mom, I'm serious I'll be okay, Bye." With more conviction than I was feeling, "Bye,love you."

Hanging up the phone, I walked into the kitchen to use the phone with the programmed numbers, because I didn't think I'd be able to key-in the often called number. " Hello." came the cheery reply from the other end. Trying to hold back my concern, " Hi, I just heard from our son. He called to tell me the results of the chest x-rays." I could feel my throat tightening up, "They've found a mass in his chest. I..." I couldn't finish what I had started to say. I was losing it, sensing this my husband asked, "What do you want to do? Do you want to go down there...?"

Oh, how I loved him for that! There was nothing I wanted more, at that moment, but by then I was drowning in my fear, the tears that I had been holding back during the conversation with our son, had found a release, at last...

Here we go 19 years later and I still cry every time I read this…

That was the first chapter of the year to follow. Eventually will share the rest of  what became a small book, Come. Walk with Me… . my side of what happened over the next year.

Memory has always fascinated me. Think of it. You can recall at will your

first day in high school, your first date, your first love.

Eric Kandel

Coming and Going Allergies

Living with food allergies can be extremely difficult but should be approached

in a positive, proactive way.

Unknown

Jan 7 2017 - This week one of the news items has been about introducing babies to peanuts as it has been found that most of them will not develop an allergy to them like so many   between our children and grandchildren have. This allergy has gone to the point that schools and other places where children hang out have forbidden peanuts and peanut butter.

We have a grandson with an allergy to nuts now but it is not the first allergy this child has had.

  

When he was under a year old his mother noticed he had a reaction to cake mix and this is what developed then

 

Nov 2007    (revised in Jan 2017)  

I’ve been given a new challenge, an egg allergy, to learn about. 

It is our young grandson that has the allergy. We are concerned of course but especially because we often have him on his own.  Thus we need to understand this possible life threatening allergy.

The ingredients of packaged foods and recipes have been scanned for years for such things as fat and sugar in all their forms but eggs is a new one to me…

Didn’t realize that so many things can contain eggs and that they come under so many names… Found out that even Grandad’s favorite cookies are a no-no… best not to have them in the house as a temptation to the child let alone Grandad ;o)  That’s one of the harshest yet simplest ways I’ve found of controlling my hubby, The Junkie, and the food shopper for our household.

 

 It is a plus that the child is only eleven months old and not very mobile yet.  His food is controlled by adults, formula and homemade baby food.  It won’t be long though before he’s into people food and begging for whatever we are eating because he loves his food.  

Wonder what’s in the dog’s food because the child is very interested in the mutt and follows the fur ball round on all fours.  Soon we’ll likely find them head to head in the dog’s dish.

We have a bit of time to prepare ourselves, the panty, dog food  and Grandad’s junk food to make sure the child isn’t mistakenly given eggs in any form.  In the meantime there’s Dimetapp on hand and a free EpiPen Patient Starter Kit, on its way.

Now it’s off to scan the ingredients of the dog’s food.

(EpiPen has never been needed - touch wood)

The four pictures above his first birthday cake,  Halloween, he want to be a dog for 3 or 4 years, And he missed it buddy our dog so cuddled with the toy dog I got to put our dog’s collar, tags and neckerchief on after he went to wait at the Rainbow Bridge.

Albumin/Albumen	Ovolactohydrolyze proteins
Conalbumin	Ovomacroglobulin
Egg substitutes, e.g., Egg Beaters®	Ovomucin, ovomucoid
Globulin	Ovotransferrin
Livetin	Ovovitellin
Lysozyme	Silico-albuminate
Meringue	Simplesse® (a fat substitute)
Ovalbumin	Vitellin
Ovoglobulin

Possible sources of egg to look out for include the following:

• Alcoholic cocktails/drinks (such as sweet Marsala), eggnog, foam/milk topping on coffee
• Baby food
• Baked goods, baking mixes, confectionary (e.g. candy, chocolate)
• Battered/fried foods
• Creamy dressings, salad dressings, spreads (e.g. mayonnaise)
• Desserts (e.g. custard, dessert mixes, ice cream, pudding)
• Egg/fat substitutes
• Icing, glazes (e.g. egg wash on baked goods, nougat)
• Lecithin
• Meat mixtures (e.g. hamburger, hot dogs, meatballs, meatloaf, salami, etc.)
• Pancakes, waffles, French toast
• Pasta (e.g. egg noodles)
• Quiche, soufflé
• Soups, sauces (e.g. béarnaise, hollandaise, Newburg)

BACK TO Jan 2017

I made a first birthday cake for him and it was a challenge because the substitute egg used makes a very different consistency – the challenge came when it was iced as it was not as solid as cakes with eggs which help to bind the ingredients for one thing.

He outgrew the egg allergy although as far as I know he doesn’t like eggs now.

 About three years ago we were at his home and while his parents were busy he and his sister were playing with a dish of mixed nuts and not listening to their grandparents when we asked them to stop, possibly because it was Christmas Eve.   Within minutes his face started to swell and his eyes were itchy. Out came the Benedryl, (the latest medication to calm his allergic reactions), and he spent the rest of the evening in a very mellow state.

Once again he was tested for allergies and the nut allergy was found as well as an allergy to dogs.  Great now we had to watch for nuts and dogs.

Honey Nut Cheerios breakfasts are out and  peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.  Not sure peanuts which are a legume not a nut are part of his allergy  but rather than taking chances we stay clear of peanuts.  Forgot one morning and give him Honey Not Cheerios. Soon his eyes were itchy and his face a little puffy. A dose of Benedryl was needed and we pretty well lost him to drowsiness until it wore off.

 

And the dog well, we have a different dog to the one he followed around and eventually imitated. However, although she is part poodle he still reacts when he is here so we have special chairs that she has not been in for him to sit in and he has to splash water on his face when his eyes start to itch and/or go outside away from the dog. His father our son is also allergic to the dog - wasn’t when he lived at home but now he is. Both of them have a harder time in the winter when everything is closed up but we are always on the watch in case allergies flare up.

We got fooled into buying a Cockapoo because our son had developed his allergy by the time we were on the search for another dog. We soon found out that yes a curly haired dog is not as bad but it is the dander that causes the allergy not the hair – but curly hair more of less traps the dander in.

There is no such thing as a non-allergic dog just some that are not as bad and our dog does not shed her coat like most so that too makes a difference. 

This child also has asthma and so does his father. Didn't know his father was asthmatic until he was in his teens and went to a doctor as he needed a chest x-ray to work in a camp kitchen. When he was  a child and to this day if there was anything the affects the chest  around he is sure to get it. He also had croup well into his late childhood and his son too has suffered with it... Both seem to be in a pretty mild point of asthma and/or croup right now so here's hoping whatever is going on continues.

 In the meantime having food and dog allergies in the family prevents them from getting any type of furry pet. His sister who loves dogs more than he does now wants a pet so badly she is coming up with ways to have one.
 Lately she has focused on our dog. Her latest plan was only to take care of her when we go away - one day she told me I could drop my four legged pal off at their house when we go away and she will take care of her. Try to explain to an 8-year-old that won't work even if the dog is kept in a room the guys don't go into. However that plan was mild compared to what she was going to do a few months ago.

 She has been concerned about what will happen to our dog when we die, (no concern about us dying though because we are old after all :o)

 Her plan was that she, her sister and their mother would move to our house and the guys with the allergies could stay in their house. I just went along with that plan with a smile on my face knowing there is a very slim chance of it ever coming to that as we plan to live to a good old ripe age and even if the dog does, she'll not be here when our bodies give up.  Mom squashed her daughter's plan so then the 'drop her off at our house' was next. 
None of us want to tell her that her pal likely will not need anyone to care for her down the road. Nor do we mention that you can buy horse meat.

                                                                             Becoming friends with each other

 “Animals are such agreeable friends―they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”
                                                          George Eliot