Finally beginning the New Year and our Weekly Menu

 The Christmas Season went out with a fizzle here on the Farm this year.  The season that is usually filled with dinner parties and gatherings was not to be this year.  You would think this was due to COVID but that's not the case.  We still had gatherings planned just much smaller so that we were able to social distance and stay safe.

Between Christmas and New Year's Eve we had hoped to have our neighbors stop by for cocktails and finger foods.  New Year's Eve was supposed to be spent with Frank's brother and his wife, enjoying their annual spaghetti dinner.  Saturday, Jan 2nd, we had planned on celebrating Little Christmas with dinner at Frank's sister's house.

We had also hoped to have the Lents family back again before Chris and Miyu reported to Chris' new duty station for a game night.

None of this happened.  The Monday following Christmas, Frank suffered a mild stroke.  I took him to the hospital where he was treated and observed for a couple of days before being sent home with me on Wednesday.  The following day, NYE, Frank started showing signs of another stroke.  Back to the hospital we went.  This time they admitted him and kept him under observation while awaiting another MRI and some scopes of his heart.  Being a holiday weekend the hospital was working with a skeleton crew and these tests and procedures were not readily available.  

By Saturday, the 9th Day of Christmas, they had gotten his blood pressure back to normal by tweaking meds.  The heart monitor remained in place.  

On Wednesday, our final day of Christmas Celebration we quietly celebrated Frank being able to return home and we are now ready to officially start our New Year.  Normally we would start taking down our decorations on Thursday but I am going to have one last get together this weekend before we officially end the season.   After that gathering we will start taking things down.

While Frank was in the hospital the first time.  I researched the DASH diet, that is to be followed to reduce High Blood Pressure.  I shared with you the Weekly Menu I had created from it and hit the grocery store.  

Fortunately the menus I had planned on the day he came home from the hospital the first time were great for this eating plan as well.  When he got home on Wednesday, I gave him the bean soup that I had put into the crockpot.  

On New Year's Eve day, I made him some oatmeal with fresh blueberries for breakfast.  I made delicious Batido for him to enjoy between meals and then we had an early dinner of Beef Pho and Asian Rice with Matcha Ginger Dressing.  Shortly after this meal, Frank had a hard time finding his words again and was feeling numbness in his lips and face.  Back to the hospital we went....

After he was settled in and feeling better, Frank called and told me this was my fault for shocking his body with all those healthy foods LOL....then he asked me to sneak him in some chocolate covered cherries along with his clothes when I dropped them off.  So sad to have to deny him his request on the first day of the year.....

On Sunday evening they did a second MRI and on Monday morning they did a heart scope.  The MRI showed nothing other than the minor damage from the first stroke.  The heart scope showed no abnormalities.  They inserted a video loop that will record all of his heart activity for the next 3 years and alert the cardiologist of any problems.  Amazing what science has provided for us to keep us healthy. 

So Sunday's recipe that I had planned for last week has been moved to this week.  

Frank is doing very well.  His siblings, son and nieces are coming by this afternoon.  I am serving up some Tapas and Spanish Wine that I will share with you later this month.  There will be enough Stew available if they decide to stay for dinner.  

Here's to keeping ourselves healthy and strong in this coming year.  Stay safe and stay well.

Soup Saturday

Mediterranean Stew

Sunday Supper

Garlic Roasted Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

Whole Wheat Couscous

Meatless Monday-Brinner

Pumpkin Waffles

Taco Tuesday

Mahi Mahi Tacos

Wednesday

Bean and Bog Casserole

Thursday

Pizza Margherita

Fish Friday

Mediterranean Fish with Spinach and Mushrooms