Physical Therapy

I went to the ankle doctor today and got some good news! He said that if I didn't have 15 screws in my ankle, it would look completely normal =) This means both surgeries were extemely successful and they mended my ankle so that it is just like a normal one. He does want me to do some physical therapy though. He wrote me a referral for one in Raleigh (he's in Durham) for 1-3 times a week for 4-6 weeks. I'm looking forward to building up my muscles again! I started to excercise again yesterday!!!!! I rode the staitionary bike for 30 minutes!!!! I *love* cardio, and since I can't do aerobics or jog (yet!), the bike is perfect for me. I just do it with no resistance and manually so that I can control how fast I go. I miss my heart beating fast and being out of breath. Plus, I've gained almost 10 pounds since I've been less active. I'm pudgy!!! This pudge won't budge ;-) ..... without some bike time. The doc recommended swimming, but I don't think I'm ready yet. Maybe in a month! I'm afraid I'll kick my ankle or fall on that slick tile. Yes, you may call me ~worst-case-scenerio~ girl. I must take after ~my-daughter-must-be-dead-in-a-ditch~ woman ;-) Or ~you-must-carry-your-mace-at-all-times~ dude. Sometimes it's wise to be wussy.

Side note~ Adam just said that this blog is good for me because it satisfies my need to blab to a large audience!

Sincerely,
Reblaba Smith

FAIRly tired!!!

Whoa! I'm worn out! Adam and I went to the NC state fair today =) Mmmm... fair food! It was so nice being able to walk around without my crutches! ~But~ I am absolutely worn out from it. We walked around for over 2.5 hours! We took plenty of breaks, but it seemed like around every corner was something else I wanted to see. Arts and crafts, blue ribbon animals and veggies, somebody on stilts... and of course, the fried food booths! We had so much fun. We forgot to wear sunscreen and ended up with red foreheads, though. So here I am, scarlet faced and swollen ankle~ happy and hurting... sleepy and somehow still hungry =)

Rustic Autumn Fruit Tart

This weekend was nice and cool~ I love fall! Adam came home today after five days in Cleavland at a paleontology conference, so I wanted to make a nice dinner for him. Upon his request, I made Arroz con pollo verde (Peruvian chicken and green rice). So good! I also made this *delicious* dessert. It is sooooooooooooooo good. And easy! I got it out of a Taste of Home magazine, and I highly recommend trying it on a crisp, fall day when you want to get warm fuzzies =)

Rustic Autumn Fruit Tart

1/2 cup butter, softened
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium pear, peeled and thinly sliced
4 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp ground cinnamon (maybe more)
1/4 tsp ground cloves (I used this instead of nutmeg)
1/4 tsp ground cardamom (didn't use- it was $10!!!)
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup apricot jam, warmed

In a small mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add flour, beating just until mixture forms a ball (I just ended up using my hands). Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. In a large bowl, combine apples and pears. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and spices; stir in orange juice until smooth. Stir in brown sugar until blended. Add to apple mixture and stir gently to coat. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 14" circle. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spoon filling over the pastry to within 2" of edges. Fold up edges of pastry over filling, leaving center uncovered (don't worry about it looking pretty...it's rustic!). Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Spread with apricot jam. Using parchment paper, slide tart onto a wire rack to cool. 6 servings.

YUM!!!!

Greek soup and salad

Tonight we had a wonderful Greek meal! We had most of these ingredients on hand, so it was inexpensive and really super good. Leanne, the mother of my 10-year-old sewing student, Madison, gave me some late homegrown plum tomatoes at our last lesson. The combination of the warm, soothing soup with the cool, tangy salad will make you overeat! Serve it will some warm, crusty bread and you'll be drooling =) This combo is defintely a keeper!

Chicken Feta Soup

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
8 oz. crumbled feta
1 lb diced tomatoes with juice (fresh, not frozen)
14 oz. baby spinach leaves (fresh, not frozen)
32 oz. chicken stock
1/4 tsp. oregano
juice of one lemon
12 oz. cooked pasta (I used wheat spiral because I had it, but it calls for bowtie)

Boil chicken in the stock until cooked through. Remove from heat. Cool chicken enough to handle, and shred into bite-sized pieces. Return to pot. Add tomatoes, spinach, feta, oregano, lemon, and pasta. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve warm with crusty bread.
Serves 6-8.

The Ultimate Greek Salad

Dressing

6 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Salad

1 head lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces (I actually used spinach)
3 large plum tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium red onion, sliced (chill the rings in ice water for about 10 minutes and they're not as potent)
3/4 cup Kalamata olives
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Whisk dressing ingredients until blended. Combine all salad ingredients, except cheese, in a large bowl. Toss with dressing. Sprinkle with feta and serve.


Mmmmmmm!

No More Crutches!

I am off of my crutches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's official, because I've been leaving the house without them for a few days now =)
I can't tell you how great it feels to be free of them. I'm starting to feel like a really, real person now! I still have to walk with my "moon boot" though. ~But~, I can also now walk *without crutches and without my boot* down my hallway!!!! This is a bit scary, but it also feels so, so good. My calf is about half the size of my other one...I'm wondering how long it will be until they are the same size.

Today was the first day that I walked in the woods in almost 4 1/2 months =) Even though it was only a short distance, I was able to scramble up woodsy path crutchless! (...with a little assistance from dear hubby!). We also went camping a week or so ago and I was able to put both of my feet into cool lake water... wow. When I'm able to ~really~ hike some trails, it will be such a day!...you might even hear a rumble in the air! No matter how far away you live! Man, oh man. I have been through some obstacles in my very short life ;-)

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Rebecca the warrioress.