Nothing Rhymes With Oranges!

 It's that time of year again! 

My Dear friend and fellow blogger, KD Pierre, (http://collectedsubs.blogspot.com/)  has his annual Holiday Cocktail exchange. This year however, things have been more than a little topsy-turvy, so recipes have been encouraged as well.  I thought about this, and decided why not have it all? So I present to you my recipe for candied orange peel that  gives you 3 (THREE!) treats in one fabulous recipe!

Merry's Candied Orange Peels

3 to 4 large oranges

1½ cups water

3 cups sugar

2 cups sugar

Buy the prettiest oranges you can find. Unblemished and pleasant smelling. Wash the whole orange under running water to get rid of any dirt or residue.

Using a sharp knife, remove the orange peels carefully, then cut the peels into 1/4-inch-wide strips. 

 

Boil peels and 1 cup cold water to a pan, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Rinse and drain, repeat. (I like to do it a minimum of 3 times)

Add 3 cups sugar and 1½ cups water to a pan. Heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is boiling. Add the peels, reduce to a simmer and cook, using a wooden spoon to stir the pan occasionally, for 1 hour. Don’t be like me and get distracted!

 

Place 2 cups of sugar in a medium bowl.

Use a slotted spoon to remove a few of the peels at a time and let the excess syrup drip off for a few seconds. Place the hot, wet peels in the bowl of sugar and toss to coat. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to set, about 2 hours. Put it in a ziplock bag or a plastic container.

There are many uses for candied orange peel, my favorite being eating it as is, but you can add it to nearly any recipe or even cocktails. Check out Google for ideas.

 

 

Save the syrup to add to your drinks/cocktails for a wonderful kick of citrus flavor!. Save remaining orange infused sugar for special occasions. (I like it in my herbal tea)

ENJOY!

 

Photo Credits 

Orange peel: Me

Naked Chef pictures: Stitch M.

It's Six O'Clock Somewhere...

Hello my people! Whether you are a first-time reader, an occasional reader, or someone who reads everything I write, you are "My" people. You share an interest in whatever I write about, or maybe you show up for the occasional (okay, rare) nudes of myself, Shilo, or one of my other "victims." Either way, happy to have you here!

I've had many changes over the years, including a complete stop of BDSM and Domestic Discipline of my Husband/Chosen One/slave Shilo due to his ongoing problems related to his health. Currently, his Advanced metastatic prostate cancer is under control thanks to his Chemotherapy (an injection every 3 months) and last year's Radiation, although they have some unpleasant side effects. Still better than being dead, and 2 years ago, he only had maybe 2 years to live without treatment, so I'm happy.

Related to all that, Shilo recently decided to talk to his doctor about his desire to engage in sexual activity, and related to that, although not mentioned to the doctor, is his interest in spanking and other related activity has returned. I NEVER, not once, complained about his lack of interest since his diagnosis, because it's not like he has had any control in the matter. This was his decision to do something about it, and I'm glad it was Shilo's decision, because it means a lot to me.

Last week, Shilo sent me an email titled "The Six O'Clock Alarm" and because it is personal, yet relevant, especially to couples who may have reached a point of disinterest, or maybe a dry spell, I wanted to share the email with you.  In the interest of presenting it in my blog, I've changed some You's to me, etc. Please enjoy!

The Six O'Clock Alarm

His phone alarm goes off at 6PM, every day.

Am I in the kitchen, at the computer, in bed, next to him, not home? If I am easy to find, he may ask me something like "You in?" or "You game?"

He will not wake me for this – appointment. If I am asleep, It's canceled. 

IF I am not home, it's canceled. IF I say 'No', with or without a reason, doesn't matter, it's canceled. He can cancel, too, for health issues.

IF we're both in and willing:

He will enter Stitch’s bedroom (on the rare occasion that Stitch might be occupying his bedroom at this particular time, we'll adjust this to our room). Shilo will prepare himself, in terms of state of undress suitable for the temperature, and position himself for a spanking.

Before I enter the bedroom, I will go into the Dining Room to use the dice. There is paper, and a pen nearby. I will roll ONE die, to indicate the number of spanking implements I get to pick. Then I will roll BOTH dice, to indicate how many swats of the each implement.... and write the numbers down. I will continue rolling, one roll for each implement, until my list is complete. (EXAMPLE: I roll a 4, so four implements, and then I roll 10, so ten swats with the first implement, then I roll 3, so three swats with the second, and so on...)

This MAY result in one implement, two swats. This MAY result in six implements, twelve swats each. That's just... the way the dice roll.

I will go into the bedroom, select my implement(s), and (this would be a great time for me to say anything that comes to mind, along the lines of “I'm glad I'm about to spank you, because you did this, or I'm upset about that”), and deliver the indicated number of swats to his anxiously-waiting bare bottom.

I will put down the implement, select my next, employ it, and so on until I have finished with the number of implements indicated, and then I will announce by saying, "Done!" so he knows I’m finished. If I’m feeling nice, I will ask him to pose for pictures for his diary. I might then say, cheerily, "All done!" or perhaps, grumpily, any other words that lets him know he can get up, get dressed, put away implements, etc. He might even offer a 'thank you' of an intimate nature, right after. I may accept or refuse, my choice.

Back to the cancellations mentioned above: If there are three cancellations in any one week period (Sunday to Saturday) we will have a conference to assess the reasons, and decide if the plan is working for us.

Positive to this plan: no guesswork as to the other's mood, no hemming and hawing. No asking or demanding. This is not punishment or discipline, which Shilo resents. For me, this could be therapeutic, I can think about the number of times I wanted to spank him, and he wouldn't cooperate.

Negative to this plan is no spontaneity. Spontaneity has not worked great for us, anyway. No adjustment to the number of swats decided by the dice. If I don't think the number is big enough, I can wait another day. Or lie. He has no way of verifying the numbers that came up on the dice. I might be pissed off by something he did and decide, without rolling any dice, that the numbers are 6x12.

So, my people, what do YOU think? Do you have any thoughts or input?

I will share that I had my doubts, but since that email, we have done this three separate times, and it has worked out well for us.

A "Challenge?"

 One of my favorite guys KD Pierre (https://www.blogger.com/profile/04623475693010155892) recently posted a series of naked people next to the Christmas tree so we could say which one we liked best my "Chosen One" Shilo (https://www.blogger.com/profile/11209310275450354399)  mentioned that one of them had a resemblance to me from the neck down, and she actually won the pick. (http://collectedsubs.blogspot.com/2020/12/winning-vixen.html)

Now, you can see part of my "bounty" in "A Slip of the Nip" (https://keepcalmanddowhatmerrytellsyou.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-slip-of-nip.html) from May this year, and it's perfectly clear she can't possibly be me, given that I have dark brown hair, but there are a few who thought the blonde was me, which, frankly, pisses me off, because blonde is definitely NOT my hair color. 

 

Well, anyway, my tree isn't up yet, but I am considering giving proof that dark brown is MUCH better than blonde for me personally by posting a picture of me by MY tree after it's been put up to end any squabbling once and for all.
 

Until then.... 

Written 11AM PST, November 7, 2020

It's the strangest thing...

 

I woke up and the sun looked brighter today.

The air was sweeter, and there was Krispy Kreme doughnuts and coffee waiting for me, and I felt all my tension leave. It's like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. 

 

Then I turned on the TV and I saw a most glorious sight: We have a new President-Elect!

 

Call me crazy, but I'm so happy that tears are running down my face. My People are safe! My Friends and F/family can live their lives without fear. 

 

People are dancing in the streets of Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, and New York to name just a few. Not the crowds of angry protesters of 2016.

 

I hope and pray that this Joy continues.

 

Picture courtesy of my sweetheart Partner-In-Crime, Stitch

 

A Slip of the Nip

It's time for me to post something new, so here's a slip of the nip, and a photo of one of my more recent spankings with a fine gentleman that needed one.

Speaking of OUCH!! I got into a car accident this past Saturday (May 2nd)


Here are pictures of the damage:

 Did I mention that the radiator blew? Anyway, the insurance company towed it to their yard a few days ago, and yesterday they called me and said it was a total loss, which didn't surprise me, but it did surprise Shilo.

Don't worry, I'm fine and while I have LOTS of memories tied up in the car, it's been giving me plenty of worries recently, so maybe it's for the best.

Stay safe everyone!

Merry

True Christmas Eve Story PLUS A Gift For My Friends

Imagine this:
6PM Christmas Eve. I enter a crowded grocery store in Long Beach, CA.  Yeah, I can be a bit of a masochist at times. anyway, i realized I was nearly out of paper towels, and I needed oranges for tomorrow's breakfast, so I braved the insanity. Imagine my surprise/horror when I saw an ENTIRE row devoted to Valentine's Day! On Christmas Eve! What The Actual FUCK???!!! Anyway, I got in the shortest long line (9 people in front of me) and waited.

I'm still a bit behind in my cooking/baking, and some gifts won't be arriving until Saturday (via Amazon) but at least that part is done.

My Christmas Gift:

Due to several requests, I'm sharing my Mother's recipe for Christmas Pork. The fun part was reducing the recipe from what I normally do (5+ lbs of pork, nearly 3 large bottles of red wine vinegar, and a full bottle of red wine plus more heads of garlic than I care to admit) to what "normal" people do. (about a pound of pork) Here is the base recipe (measurements of seasonings are to taste, but it is very garlicky)

Christmas Pork (Portuguese Recipe)

1 lb Pork cut into cubes
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
3/4 cup dry red wine
1 bay leaf
1 large whole garlic head with cloves sliced thin
1 teaspoon salt
pepper (just a little)
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Mix together vinegar, red wine, garlic, salt, bay leaf, pepper, and Italian seasoning in large bowl. Add pork, and stir well. Make sure pork cubes are covered. Refrigerate minimum overnight, better if 24 hours. Stir occasionally.

On Christmas morning (about 11, because I like to sleep in) I drain the pork on a paper towel, then melt about 1/2 cube of butter in a large skillet. Add the pork to the skillet in batches to prevent crowding; cook and stir until completely browned and no longer pink in the center. Add more butter as necessary. DO NOT USE MARGARINE OR OIL!

Now, you might ask then what? Make plain scrambled eggs, and serve them together. For real authenticity, serve oranges cut in quarters on the side. Now, the purpose for the orange is twofold. One, it cuts on the garlic breath, two, it reduces the gas.

Merry Christmas!

♥ ♥ ♥

Merry

Holiday Cocktail Time!

My apologies, but I believe in arriving fashionably late, and it's near 5PM here, so perfect for cocktails!

Here's my personal favorite with a twist:

Merry's Merry Christmas Fizz

2 shots (2 oz) Grenadine Syrup
12 oz. Seagrams Dry Ginger Ale 
4 oz Pineapple Juice
 Ice

Stir it up little darlin' and share it with your favorite loved one! 

By using the Seagrams Dry Ginger Ale, it's not too sweet, and the pineapple juice makes it nice and fruity.

Sorry, nobody here for my picture.

Our Host's Contribution 

Hermoinie's Contribution 

Ronnie's Contribution 

Cocktails Anyone?

I'm pretty sure most people have heard of a "Cookie Exchange" where a group of people (usually women) get together around Hanukkah and Christmas and bake a batch of their specialty cookies and have cards available with the recipe so that they can share it.

Anyway, my Dear Friend KDPierre came up with a different idea.  How about doing one with Holiday cocktails? It doesn't have to have alcohol in it (Good thing, because I don't drink alcohol!) and it would be fun! Well, I'm on board with that!

You can find the blog with the participation information and "rules" HERE! On the date of what I'm calling the "Cocktail Party" add your link to the recipe, and then, add everyone else's links to their cocktail recipes so it looks like Hermoine's and then EVERYONE can have some fun!

See you on the 17th!

Observing Shilo, An Update

Over 3 years ago, I noticed the changes in Shilo as his still undiagnosed prostate cancer worked its way deeper into his body and metastasized. I spent over two years arguing with the (former) GP to get a PSA test done on him, and I've spent the past year dealing with the effects of that neglect. Inoperable metastatic prostate cancer. He has been receiving chemotherapy since March this year, and his 9 weeks of radiation therapy is scheduled to come to an end on December 17th. The radiation has not been kind to him, and many days he's been too sick to eat. Seeing that come to an end and him possibly feeling better will be a happy occasion indeed!

On the other hand, he will probably be on chemotherapy for the rest of his life, and fortunately, his body has tolerated the effects of it really well. The lack of testosterone and subsequent increase in estrogen and its effects on him physically, mentally, and emotionally have been interesting. While not what I would call stoic, Shilo wasn't one to express his emotions with me. Now there is a lovely spectrum coming from him. His Love is expressed in many ways, as are his fears, desires, and sharing his needs. It really is beautiful to have him share with me. His understanding of what I'm feeling and why I'm feeling that way has increased to a point where not only will he reach for me, but his ability to empathize with me is amazing. He has become my mirror, and with all the pain and confusion there's been, it allows for healing in ways beyond my imagination.

Always comfortable with his masculinity, even when I would dress him in women's clothing, he has continued to be so, and has embraced the physical effects of the lack of testosterone. My days of dressing him as a woman are likely over, but he knows that I enjoy the breast growth, and I don't poke at him, remembering what it was like when my breasts started developing. In fact, I'm more likely to ask his permission before handling him. He's undergone so many changes, that I feel it would be selfish for me to force things on him. I like to think of him as the same man I married 6+ years ago but with upgrades.

I remember being told in January that chemotherapy for prostate cancer had a different effect than the more "traditional" chemotherapy, and I'm so glad I didn't convince him to shave off all his lovely hair. His lovely hair and nice ass were the things that initially attracted me to him. He still has that.

I understand that some people wouldn't like the effects of increased estrogen, which include breast growth, shrinkage of the penis and testes, decreased libido, and all the emotional changes as well, but in my opinion, it beats dying of cancer. It's a matter of deciding what is more important in your relationship: having one where your partner has a chance of survival or not having a partner at all.

Is it hard? Well, I have had days where I struggled to not feel sorry for both him and myself, and cried so many tears that I became thirsty from dehydration. I am not exaggerating! Then there was our 6 year wedding anniversary weekend in September where he was feeling well enough to travel, and we went to Ventura with me driving, and had a wonderful time doing a few of his "Bucket List" items. He was even looking healthy then, and I have pictures that I will treasure. I'll say that I'm constantly learning how to roll with the punches. We both are.

Having an extended support system of friends and loved ones has made it easier, and I know that most of them are only a call or text away. Having someone who will hold my hand and/or cry with me allows me to focus on the important stuff. The sadness never stays long, and worry? Well life is full of worries, so why allow it to rule me? I can easily come up with a list of friends and family who are having a difficult time right now, so I know we aren't alone, and if I can shine a light or light a candle to help them through the dark, then my job is done. I know they will do the same for me.

Merry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzutyUquD5A

Happy Halloween!

Hey there Little Red Riding Hood!

You sure are looking GOOD!

You're everything a Big Bad Wolf could want!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FA85RO89HA

Love,
Merry

Some Updates

Some of these are past due, but I've been more than a little preoccupied.


Right around June of this year, Shilo finally got to the point where he realized that he was on what I call a path of self-destruction.  He has decided that "Master B" is good for me, and while they will never become best friends, he has become accepting of our relationship and is friendly with him.  We've even gone out to dinner together and  Shilo finally sees how much he has in common with him.

Shilo also started taking better care of his diabetes and now is on insulin. He wants to stay as healthy as possible, and he's made great strides in eating right. Yes, he occasionally has snacks that aren't the best, but he's eating more vegetables, and is more willing to eat fruit instead sweets.

Our six year wedding anniversary is only 23 days away, and it really has been the best 6 years of my life. I feel loved and appreciated, and while things haven't been easy at times, he's been a quick learner.

We're closer now than I could have ever imagined, and it's because of his conscious effort to be present whenever possible.

I have pretty much retired from seeking a masochist to play with, and yes, it's a sacrifice I've done willingly. Still "Master B" understands what a sacrifice it's been, so he has bottomed for me several times, and his wife has offered to have me co-top with her when she has a play date, so there is that as well.

 My health is improving, and I meet my new GP in 6 weeks.

Also, I finally took some time to see my girl Trish this week. She lives in the Inland Empire area, which is notorious for it's heat, but we managed to stay cool, and it's been several months.

I just keep trying to focus on the positive here.

Vanilla Views and Outlooks

In case you've been hiding under a rock, or perhaps too preoccupied to notice, my husband/slave, Shilo, has Advanced Metastatic Prostate Cancer.  It has affected us in many ways, and because I was so frightened in the beginning because it just started as a suspicion, I started a new (vanilla) blog which you can find at the end of this entry.

Please feel free to read or leave messages, but keep in mind that it is totally vanilla, and I would prefer that it not get linked back to this page.

Thank you,
Merry

Here's the link:

https://alostwifesjourney.blogspot.com/

Recipe For A Happier Day

And Maybe Even Life…

Okay, we all know that yesterday was a burst bubble for me. (https://keepcalmanddowhatmerrytellsyou.blogspot.com/2019/07/can-you-hear-me.html)  I have a whole list of words, but not important. The truth is that all those bad feelings put me off my game, and I neglected doing the one thing that all the positive changes were about.


Now, even though I went off on the one important activity, I stayed on track with everything else. Plus I did go to my Insurance Provider's (Blue Shield) website, and looked up doctors in my area. I picked 9, then went to websites to check reviews on the 9 (doctor.webmd.com, health.usnews.com, vitals.com, healthgrades.com, md.com, sharecare.com plus a few others) and quickly (if you call 2 hours of research quick) found The One.


Today wasn't much better, at least, not at first, and we had errands to run. I'm really grateful for Shilo's willingness to go on these tedious drives with me, because he makes it tolerable, and he is the first ingredient in my recipe. After completing the tasks, my mood was a little worse until we both realized that Krispy Kreme was just a mile up the road, so we stopped and bought a dozen plus some holes. That's the second ingredient. (going there) Then, when we were nearly home, I realized that it had been over a month since I had my guilty pleasure (Taco Bell's plain Double Decker taco with no lettuce and a Mountain Dew) and yes, ladies and gentlemen, going to Taco Bell is the third ingredient! Now comes the hard part. Drive home, get upstairs and settled. Start by eating the Double Decker taco, drink the Mountain Dew, and follow it with 2 Krispy Kreme holes. I relaxed a little, and then follow up with calling the Insurance Provider. By this time, my mood had lifted, and I was downright pleasant.

The customer service representative was more than helpful, and even made the new doctor effective today for both Stitch and myself. Shilo is on a different plan, and he has wonderful doctors taking care of him.

I'm very happy, and I have a full belly, and I kept my treats within my dietary requirements, so no cheating, and no bad temptations.

HAPPY AUGUST!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACPRnPgZMtA