We added the first residents to our aquarium.  I chose black skirt tetras because they are really easy to keep, are very forgiving of new aquariums, and they are so fun to watch dart and school around the tank.  I’ve always had a few in all my tanks.

I have 5 in this tank, but will probably add a few more today since these are doing so well.

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

• adult length 2.4 inches
• mature at 1 year and then begin to lose the deep color
• pH 6-8
• dH 5-19
• preferred temp:  68-79
• omnivorous
• schooling (min of 5)

Remember the project I started a bit ago?  Much progress has been made in that department.  The chief progress came when CK decided he really didn’t want to move the tv in there.  He likes the tv in the big room with the wood stove.

So instead I am making it into a bright, light, sitting room/library/guest room.  I love the color on the walls.  I love the way the bookcases and books look.  Even without furniture in there, the room makes me happy.  It will be a pleasant place to curl up with a good book or a good friend.

I plan on adding a big comfy reading chair and a futon couch.   This will sound crazy, but what I would really love to have is a swing in there!  I know, I said it was crazy.  Short of a swing, I wonder if I could find a loveseat sized glider?  The room just feels like it needs something lighthearted like that.

Ignore the mess please.  I’m still decluttering and moving things around.   It always takes a few days to find new homes for all the stuff.

My birthday and Christmas came a bit early this year.  It all started because CK brought home a betta fish instead of flowers for me.  I love aquariums and used to  mess around with them all the time.

Then we moved here.  My tanks broke in the moving van.  Between farm animals, raising children, raising dogs, and raising gardens I never got back to my hobby.  I used to sit and watch my aquariums like most people watch tv.

CK remembered that and thought that now would be a good time for me to take up the hobby again.

So we went to town to look, ask questions, and maybe buy.  I really thought I would come home with a 20 gallon tank.  That would have satisfied me, but it turns out you can get a 55 gallon aquarium for twice what you pay for the 20.  That is like getting 1 free 15 gallon tank!

The bigger they are the easier they are to maintain — so says the man at the specialty store.  He was so patient.  I asked a million questions then wandered around for quite some time trying to make up my mind between 20 gallons and 55 gallons.

In the end I went with the big one.  I have secretly always wanted one and CK encouraged me to plunge in and enjoy myself.

No fish yet.  Not even water yet.  It took us several hours to build the stand, place the tank, add the gravel, plants, pot, figure out where to place the thermometer, the heater, and the filter.  Today we’ll start adding water.

Next Friday, I will bring home the first few fish.

I made up this recipe all by myself.  It’s the day before grocery day.  That means all kinds of bits and pieces of veggies are in the house.  I improvised and DANG it was good.  MA said, “Keep the recipe.”

In large skillet heal olive oil until hot.  Add sea salt,  1 TB ginger, and 1/2 TB curry powder.  Stir well.  Then add:  1 chopped onion, 1/4 chopped leek, 1 stalk celery chopped, 1 grated carrot, 1 grated parsnip, 1 zucchini cut into matchsticks,  and a 1 inch  slice of red cabbage chopped.

Stir well to cover veggies with oil and spices.  Then cover with just a bit of water.  Add 1/2 c peanut butter (I used chunky.) and let simmer until it thickens and the water is mostly gone.

Serve over Japanese rice noodles.   This served 4 adults quite nicely (with a few small bites as second helpings).

Flu fighting strategies:

• lots of hand washing
• lots of water
• lots of hot tea
• lots of gargling with salt water
• lots of disinfecting of toothbrushes, door knobs, light switches, refrigerator doors, and coffee cups
• lots of  “stay in your room”
• lots of garlic
• lots of natural vitamin C
• lots of airing the house
• lots of rest
• lots of good veggie broth

So far MA has had the worst case of it:  high fever, lots of congestion (asthma doesn’t help), body aches, barfing, headache, sore throat, and dizziness.

HM’s next in line with headache, body aches, slight fever, sore throat, and some cough.

CK had it pretty mild:  headache, tired, chills, and sore throat.

I have managed to avoid it.  I was really tired one day and had a headache, but so far that is it.  We’ll see how the flu fighting strategies work.  I am religiously following them.  And I am continuing to break a sweat every day and use my re-bounder.

Re-bounders are supposed to be good for keeping the lymph system in tip top shape.

Good news:  I got my run in this morning.  I have really learned to enjoy the time I have set aside to run.  It feels awesome to do something I never thought I could do.

Bad news:  I was left in terrible pain after the run this morning. Not just tired pain, but crippling pain, swollen knee, creaking and popping sounds, familiar pain.  So I called my RA doctor.

Good news: Ice, heat, ice, heat, rinse and repeat. I can still run.

Bad news: He busted me down to 90 second runs. No pain/inflammation means I can continue.  If pain or inflammation continues then I have to take 2 weeks off.  Then I can  start again at week 1.

He encouraged me to continue the power walks and to try the running again.

Today’s scheduled run was 5 minute warm up, 3 minute run, 90 second recovery walk, 5 minute run, 2.5 minute recovery walk, 3 minute run, 90 second recovery walk, 5 minute run, 2.5 minute recovery walk, and finally a 5 minute cool down.

What I actually did:  5 minute warm up, 3 minute run, 90 second recovery walk, 5 minute run, 2.5 minute recovery walk, 3 minute run, 90 second recovery walk, 2 minute run, 1 minute recovery walk, 2 minute run, 1 minute recovery walk, 1 minute run, and 5 minute cool down.

I just could not push past 2 minutes on that last run.  I’ll try again Wednesday.  If I can’t then I’ll just consider this a modified week 4 and try to do the regular week 4 next week.

Oh my gosh!  These were so good.  I cannot tell you how good these were.  Just believe me, try them, and for goodness sake save one for me!

Peanut Butter Cups (From The Kind Diet):

Melt  1/2 c earth balance.   Add in:  10 crushed graham crackers, 1/4 c maple sugar (any granulated sugar will do),  3/4 c crunchy peanut butter.   Stir until smooth.

Melt:  1 c non-dairy chocolate chips in 1/4 c rice milk.  Stir well and often to prevent sticking and burning.

Divide peanut butter mixture between 12 muffin papers.  Pour chocolate over.  Let sit in fridge for at least 2 hours.   I’m wondering about making them with mini-muffin sized papers too.

Then enjoy.  Oh man, they are good.  Did I already say that?

Friday I had lunch with an old and very good friend.  We went to The Cheesecake Factory and had Sante Fe Chicken Salad (hold the chicken, hold the cheese).   The dressing was so good that I went in search of a recipe.

Serves 12.

16 cups romaine and leaf lettuce
1 cup cilantro
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed
2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
3 cups toasted corn tortilla strips
3 cups diced seeded tomatoes

Tear greens; add cilantro and 1 cup each of beans and corn. Dress with Lime Dressing.

Fill 12 plates with greens, tomatoes, 1/2 cup Bean Relish and 2 tablespoons corn. Drizzle with Peanut Dressing.

Lime Dressing
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon snipped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 cup olive oil

Process until thick.

Black Bean Relish
Beans
1/2 cup each chopped red pepper, green pepper and red onion
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoons oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Dressing
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons hot chili oil
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons sesame oil

Process until well blended.

First off I have to say, I did not buy this book because I am a fan of Alicia Silverstone.   Blast From the Past is the only movie I’ve ever seen her in.  I happen to like that movie, but I happen to like most movies with Brenden Frasier.

I had been hovering between omnivore and vegetarian for many years.  Then 6 months ago I started on my arthritis recovery diet which was vegetarian (fish and eggs only).   Almost 5 months ago I went ahead a quit eating all forms of animal.   I have never felt so healthy and alive.  It has been an amazing journey.

I love to read.  I love to read books that inspire me.   I try to read a new vegan book or a vegan cookbook at least once a month or so.  Just to help me remember what it is I’m doing and why I’m doing it.   Vegan cookbooks are written by the coolest, funniest people in the world.

But this book stands out as perhaps my favorite.  It is written in the tone of a girlfriend, who is all jazzed up about something, taking you to lunch and talking.  Alicia’s passion shines through.  She’s honest and admits that sometimes you fall off the wagon.    Her recipes seem to be remarkably simple and look fantastic.

I’m all excited to try her peanut butter cups.  I haven’t had a Reese’s cup in 6 months and I want one.  That combination of peanut butter and chocolate . .  . well, let’s just say they are the ONLY thing that tempts me to break my eating plan.  I haven’t yet and with this recipe should never need to.

Even if you are not a vegan you should buy this book.  That way when your vegan friend comes to visit you’ll have some knock her out of her socks food to serve.   Believe me, she’ll be very grateful.  Especially if she’s being tempted by Reese’s cups.