I've been pretty inconsistent with these weekly posts but had a little more free time today so I thought I'd write up a post. It's been another hot and humid week with lots of brief thunderstorms and more rain. We've had 6-8" over the last 2 weeks and are very grateful for our dry basement. The ground is saturated and like a sponge when you step on it. I feel terrible for people who booked beach cottages in New England this week and paid 3x what they went for pre-COVID. It certainly hasn't been relaxing on the beach weather.
Monday I saw an orthopedic doctor for knee pain (right knee had been pretty good for over a year after last year's cortisone shot) but, this year it was the other knee. X-rays show pretty much bone on bone on right knee and just slightly better on the left knee that's been swelling and painful lately. I got another injection and leg strengthening exercises to do daily. He said I'm not ready for surgery but at some point it might be necessary.
Do you have painful arthritis? My friend's brother who is a retired cardiologist recommends this recipe for arthritis pain relief. She tried it and said she felt a little weird in the morning but was pain free after the first week???? I'm planning on buying the gin and the golden raisins today.
Article and origins of the remedy
Gin-Soaked Raisins
Follow these steps:
- Place a box of golden raisins into a shallow container.
- Cover the raisins with gin.
- Let the raisins soak in the gin for a few weeks until the gin evaporates. The raisins will not dry out but will stay moist just like normal raisins.
- Eat nine of these "drunken raisins" a day to help your arthritis.
Happy stuff - a few weeks ago we celebrated my youngest granddaughter's 7th birthday. It was fun to all get together but since the weather didn't cooperated it was an indoors event. Where did all those years go?
This week we checked out a gorgeous new public new 7 million dollar library in a tiny town of 5,000 people about 25 miles from here (their other library building was tiny and over 100 years old. ) This modern library is so gorgeous with so much technology perks, many separate meeting rooms, private glassed in rooms for teens, children and even a glassed in play room for younger kiddos. Spent some time making a 100-piece puzzle then only to learn about 6 pieces were missing - why donate a puzzle with missing pieces? Fortunately they removed it from collection to avoid future disappointment for someone. We had to whole library to ourselves for browsing except for one other mom and a small child. Since we can borrow books from any library in the system, I came home with these books:
Have you read any of these? I started The Guncle, Steven Rowley and it's been a very sweet story thus far.
This week I finished (3) books but have only reviewed one so far.
- Malibu Rising; Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4/5 stars
- Such a Quiet Place; Megan Miranda - 3.5/5 stars (no review yet)
- Hairpin Bridge; Taylor Adams - 4/5 stars (no review yet)
- The Sea Glass Sisters; Lisa Wingate (didn't engage me)
- The Scenic Route; Binnie Kirshenbaum (writing structure was very repetitive)
Currently Reading/Listing
- The Guncle, Steven Rowley (print)
- That Summer; Jennifer Weiner (audio)
- The Newcomer; Mary Kay Andrews (audio)
New eGalley Acquisitions
(Mulholland Books - 9/2021)
Del Rey - August 2021
That's it for this week - hope it was a good one for all of you.
Sorry your knees are painful. Our Mom has arthritis in her foot so maybe she needs some raisins! Your Grands are all cuties. Happy reading!!!
ReplyDeleteThank Brian, hope you all have a great weekend.
DeleteCute pics of your granddaughters! I miss the days when my kids loved Build-a-Bear. We had to go in every time we were at the mall, even if they weren't make anything. Hmm, I haven't heard about the gin-soaked raisins idea. I hope it works. Sounds like they would be tasty anyway!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diana, I'll be curious if the gin soaked raisins provides relief - I'm skeptical but, we did stop for gin and golden raisins this afternoon while we were out. They are soaking right now but may not be ready to eat for 1-2 weeks until all the gin has evaporated.
DeleteI remember the sense of relief when our basement was dry after heavy rainstorms! We sure could use some rain here in Oregon. It's been so dry, but at least it's not hot or windy.
ReplyDeleteI hope your drunken raisins help your arthritis. I've never heard of this remedy, but may suggest it to my mom! Please keep us posted on the results.
Your granddaughters are darling. They grow up quickly, don't they? Ours will be 19 at the end of the month!
Have a good weekend, Diane!
Thanks Les! I'm a bit skeptical but, we did stop for gin and golden raisins this while we were out. They are soaking right now but may not be ready to eat for 1-2 weeks until all the gin has evaporated.
DeleteCute granddaughters! And that cat hotel comic is so funny. Hope the gin-soaked raisins work! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lark - so true about cats and where they like to sleep.
DeleteThat is quite a list of books you are reading! I am not familiar with any of those authors.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks for stopping by Mae and hope you are having a good weekend.
DeleteWhat beautiful granddaughters you have.
ReplyDeleteThe Gin-Soaked Raisins recipe sounds interesting. I have minor arthritis here and there but I worry that it will worsen.
And the cat humor is perfect.
Thank you TracyK and hope yor arthritis does not get worse -- not fun.
DeleteThank you Vicki. Enjoy the weekend.
ReplyDeleteSuch cute photos of your granddaughters! I have a couple of family members who suffer from arthritis so I'm going to share this recipe with them! Hope you enjoy your library books and that your knee starts to feel better!
ReplyDeleteThank you Iliana. We figured we are out only the cost of gin if this recipe does not help as we don't drink gin. The raisins are a treat! Hope it works if your family members try it.
DeleteMy husband's had surgery on both knees. One went well, the other not so well so his walking is not much better than it was before but at least he's not in pain. My knees are not great, the right one collapses on me from time to time so I'm careful on stairs. I'll be interested to hear how it goes with the gin and raisins.
ReplyDeleteYour grand-daughters are beautiful kids!
Thanks Cath. I dread the thought of having surgery down the road, I'll try anything to avoid it - some days better than others. I also purchased some expensive HOKA sneakers which are super cushioned and light - they feel like walking on clouds so that helps me stay somewhat active. (I feel for your husband and your tricky knee as well.)
DeleteIt sounds like I have the same knee problems you do -- both my knees have osteoarthritis and will need replacing in the future I've been told after MRIs. I've been a tennis player most of my life - so I'm sad about this. I've had many cortisone shots over the years ... but now try non-steroid injections, exercises, & anti-inflammatory pills as needed. I had not heard of the gin & raisin concoction ... but maybe you get tipsy enough the pain feels less?? ha. I am just starting Maud Dixon now on audio .... i think it could be fun
ReplyDeleteSue, my mom had bad knees in her 60s as well and used to get cortisone shots back in the 8os as well, so I think part is hereditary and tearing my meniscus 15 years ago is also part of it. Well cushioned sneakers (HOKAS) has helped with walking longer distances and staying active. Here's to some pain-free knee days ahead.
DeleteHope your knee is better! I do have arthritis in my right thumb, but so far that is all. Nevertheless, I'm keeping the gin-soaked raisins in mind--I've seen how debilitating arthritis can become and whatever works is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI think most people get some arthritis as they age and some more than others. My husband has it in his lower back and knees (to a lesser degree.)
ReplyDeleteOh I love that Hotel cartoon! LOL!! We are "baby-sitting" my mother in law's little Maltese and Elza isn't very impressed. So highest cupboards are here preferred hotel room at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThat arthritis raisins look good! Not that I have arthritis though... Maybe they will work preventative as well.
Great book haul and I'm glad to see you've enjoyed Malibu Rising. Will still try to get to it.
Have a good week ahead!
Elza Reads
I can see how Elza would not want an overnight guest LOL. I hope you all have a nice and peaceful week.
DeleteMy mom had both knees replaced when she was just a little older than I am, but (so far!) I haven't had any pain. I do have lots of friends with knee pain, so I will share this recipe far and wide. I don't see how it can hurt!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you were able to visit and check out books from this brand new library. One of the things I love to do is visit libraries when we travel. I'll never forget visiting the public library in Alpine in far west Texas. It had recently been named the second best small library in America.
I think I'll look for The Guncle. It sounds like a good read.
Deb, yes we love visiting new libraries when traveling as well. I use to live in a town with 28,000 people that had 3 public libraries - what a treat and how fortunate many of us here in the US are. I fear with all the use of downloads: music, books, audios, movies and magazines that public libraries will see a loss of in person visits moving forward which is sad.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am among the legion of sufferers of knee pain. With me, it's the left knee and like you, I've had steroid shots that have helped over the years. I had heard about the gin-soaked raisins as a helpful remedy before but I've never tried them. I think perhaps I will, because why not?
ReplyDeleteI read Who is Maud Dixon? earlier and enjoyed it quite a bit. I hope you do, too.
Oh no Dorothy, I feel for you and your knee pain - not fun for sure. I keep saying be thankful for a strong back and never any back pain. As my mom used to say - "it's bad but, it could always be worse." Our gin soaked raisins are in the works in a covered pyrex container on the counter - it's true, how could it hurt?
DeleteHope to start Who is Maud Dixon by the end of the month (a few others to finish up first.) Have a good week.
I have heard of the gin & raisins idea, there doesn’t seem any harm in giving it a go (as long as it doesn’t put you over the driving limit! ) I’ll be really interested to hear if you think it helps.
ReplyDeleteThe Guncle looks fun
Wishing you a great reading week
My mom has very severe arthritis in both knees so I will definitely check out that article! Thanks for sharing. and I'm sorry to hear you have to go through that. I know fro her experience it is NOT fun.
ReplyDeleteThat library sounds amazing.
Malibu rising sounds good. I want to read more of her books. I read one and I'm behind now...
Greg, sorry your mom had to suffer knee pain (my mom as well). I see hoe it may be very debilitating down the road. I do like the way Taylor Jenkins-Reid writes I want to read her Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
DeleteI'm sorry you're having such problems with your knees. Seems like my joints are getting creakier with each passing year, too. I have actually heard about the golden raisins soaked in gin and would love it if you'd post a follow-up report!
ReplyDeleteI've got both Unsettled Ground and The Guncle on my radar. Hope you enjoy them. Your granddaughters are adorable!
JoAnn, I will do a follow-up on the gin soaked golden raisins. It takes 2-3 weeks for them to soak up the gin so it may be a while before we actually get to try them out.
DeleteUnsettled Ground looks very good and The Guncle has been fun (a sweet, funny and sad story quite different form my normal fare.) Have fun in CT.
My brother in law just had knee surgery and is doing well but I'd like to avoid any kind of surgery myself if possible! I don't have arthritis in my knees but I do in my neck so I'm curious about the gin soaked raisins. Worst case I have tipsy raisins which doesn't sound too bad! I'll definitely be looking into it. The build a bear (or unicorn!) looks fun! They have such great stuffed animals there but it's been years since I've been to one. Have a great week and enjoy your reading!
ReplyDeleteI can't see any harm in trying the gin soaked golden raisins either.It takes 2-3 weeks for them to soak up the gin so it may be a while before we actually get to try them out.
DeleteHope the surgery makes your BIL feel like a new person. I do want to avoid that forever if possible.
I don't have arthritis but can i have some gin-soaked raisins anyway?? Yum!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of gin-soaked raisins -- I'm curious to hear if they work. Ha ha on the cat humor.
ReplyDeleteThe gin soaked raisins are in the making. It says it takes 2-3 week for the gin to be absorbed?? I'll post again once we've tried them --if I'm capable LOL
DeleteI would be apt to skip the raisins and just drink the gin but I wonder if the raisins themselves are more than just a vessel for the booze. I'm sorry your knee is acting up. I have one knee that was giving me fits last week but this week is fine.
ReplyDeleteLOL - not sure Ti, but probably not. Gin is one spirit I've never tried as I heard it makes people mean and God knows, we have too many mean people walking this earth:(
DeleteUgh for the knee pain :( I hope that the exercises and the boozy raisins can keep the pain at bay. I don't have arthritis, but am interested in trying them anyway, lol.
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughters are as beautiful as ever and all is going well.
Hooray for the new library with puzzles! Our system doesn't have them. And you did your duty by finding the one that needed tossing!
The knee troubles sound like they are not fun! I hope the cortisone shot helps.
ReplyDeleteAnd a new modern library with lots of light? What a wonderful place to read and relax.
Sorry your knees are giving you trouble but hope the remedy works.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your granddaughter! We also celebrated my daughter's birthday party yesterday and yes, it was unicorn theme too!
Those are some good books - I love it when we can walk into a library and be able to borrow books - perks when there are many in the same system!