The Galloping Geezer Gazette: Around the House

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Nursing Home Gifts
By Tracey Monette
We have a wonderful new writer on our Web site, Anthony Cirillo. While perusing one of his blogs, I found a link to an article that may prove useful to us all at some time. Perfect Christmas Gifts for Nursing Home Residents has wonderful gift ideas for your loved ones who reside in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Being a curious person, once I read that article I started hunting out more. Below are links to many different articles about choosing gifts for elderly recipients. Gift Ideas for the Elderly Christmas Gift Ideas for Elderly - 1 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Elderly - 2 Christmas Gift Ideas for Elderly People Gift Ideas for the Elderly - 2 Gift Ideas to Bridge the Generation Gap Gift's for the Elderly More than Slippers and Nightgowns Gifts of Good Memories More Great Gift Ideas Suggestions from someone 61 More Great Ideas! While many of these article are aimed at Christmas-time giving, the ideas work wonderfully for the many gift-giving occasions we have throughout the year. Even better, why not turn up with a gift for no reason at all! And finally, here is an idea I think would be great fun! Arrange a surprise meeting for your recipient with old friends to meet up for a meal. Take pictures of the group and then give them later in nice frames as follow-up gifts.
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	The following underlined stories are found in this issue. You may either click the direct links to go to the stories, or simply scroll down the page using your mouse or arrow keys. Remember - there are always lots of goodies tucked into our pages that can only be found when you scroll. Recipe:You-Name-It Soup \| Nursing Home Gift Ideas \| Around the Yard

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Quick Fix Leftovers: Tomato, Veggie, Noodle You-Name-it Soup

By Marjorie Ryan

This quick and easy recipe is great for cleaning out the odds and ends in your fridge and your cupboards. You can use beef, chicken, turkey or even seafood in this base for a wonderful and robust, yet low salt, low carb, lunch when served with a half-slice of black rye toast, an apple or orange, and black coffee or green tea.

Ingredients
(Choose all low carb, low salt brands)

15 oz. can tomato sauce

14 oz. can stewed tomato with green pepper

3 large mushrooms sliced

1 celery stalk chopped

½ tsp. fresh chopped garlic

½ large white onion diced

1 T. chopped parsley

1 pinch rosemary, to taste

1 pinch thyme, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

1 bay leaf

12 oz. cooked beef, chicken or turkey chunks, or substitute with cooked shrimp or fish, or whatever leftover meat you may have. Or, omit the meat and have veggie noodle soup!

¾ cups hard wheat noodles or pasta shells

Instructions

Using a 3-quart or larger pot with lid, add tomato sauce and stewed tomatoes. Using the tomato sauce can, add 2 cans of water.

Cook over medium low.

While the tomato broth is heating, add mushrooms, celery, garlic, onion and place in pot with parsley, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf. Add noodles and meat choice.

Cook 30 minutes or until noodles are done.

Makes up to 6 servings. This recipe allows for minor ingredient, seasoning and pasta changes to accommodate your cupboard and your palate. If you don’t like garlic for example, don’t use it. If you have leftovers, put them in and substitute to taste. More than you can eat today? Put in the fridge for another day or freeze for later!

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You Name It Soup | Nursing Home Gift Ideas | Around the Yard

Around-the-House Archive

Chicken Pot Pie by Diana Zook
Eclair Cake by Diana Zook
Mix-It-Up Bean Soup by Tracey Monette
Digital Scrapbooking: An Introduction by Tracey Monette

Wanted: Travel Photos
Do you have color photos of your travels in the U.S. or beyond? We want your photos! We need photos of great scenic spots, resorts and historic sites in the U.S. and all over the world.

If you have great photos that you would like to share, please send up to 10 photos with captions, your name, contact information and permission to use your photos. E-mail them to Webmaster@gallopinggeezer.com. If chosen, we may contact you for more. Visit our current “Destinations” and “Tours” sections to see what we are looking for.

Please send photos that are your own and not copyrighted photos belonging to someone else, as they will not be accepted. All submissions are voluntary and are attributed as work of the sender.

Around the Yard!
Submitted by Frank Ryan
Yes in most parts of the US and Canada spring is approaching and it is time for cleaning up the yard. Here are some tips that may help the home gardener with the spring cleanup chores. Tulips and Daffodils are in bloom in many areas, so when they are done, cut the flowers, and let tops wither. Clean debris and small weeds from flower beds. It is good to dig bulbs up every couple years to divide and keep bigger bulbs going. Apply spring dormant fruit insect spray and spring herbicide, and fertilizer. Roses should be spring pruned no later than May 15^th in most areas. Remember to prune just above the eye on the rose stem that directs new growth in the direction you want it. Always cut on a slant. Compost your leaves and organic waste so you can have a nice mulch. Remember to use pre-emergence herbicides to minimize the weed growth in flower beds and in perennial beds – only use the right amount of chemicals. To minimize control chemicals you can use bark, rock or other deep layers of cover on beds to keep weed problem under control naturally. Use of container tubs, jars and planters minimizes weed control needs and water use and maximizes beauty and color spots. Try growing Tomatoes, peppers, gourds, and squash in tubs or garden planter vases for a great look and maximum return with minimized work. Tubs and planters are easier to reach and usually require less work than flower beds. You can plant annuals in them to create an excellent display. To get best results from your garden this year start early, just after the last frost and do clean up and early insect and weed control. It will save time, money and give you a better look all year long. Think about installing a sprinkler system, and drip system for watering. It is actually fairly inexpensive and wastes less water than old fashioned broadcast methods. Use organic control measures as much as possible. Go Green! See your local expert at the garden center or your local county agent for problem solving. Get help from a pro when you are stumped! Always follow the directions on the packages! Happy Gardening!
click here for a printable page click for top of page \| click for home page You Name It Soup \| Nursing Home Gift Ideas \| Around the Yard