Getting older has many little daily surprises Weekly Kitchen with Angela

But I have a little beef with all of those who aged before me. There are a few things that you failed to tell me about that would have been very helpful. Now I knew some things were coming.

I saw my grandmamma’s breasts taking up her lap space when she sat down. I saw old men walking around with their mustaches growing down from their nostrils and their ear hair growing out and joining their sideburns. But, there is oh so much more.

I sigh now. I sigh. For no apparent reason. I’ll be sitting there and say, “Oh Lordy.” I do this more than once or twice a day – like when I sit ... when I stand ... when I am just contemplating my day. It just comes out. What does that even mean?? I can remember my grandmamma doing the same thing. Am I now channeling her aged spirit?

I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night without having to go to the bathroom. Two and three times a night is no longer unusual. At least I can still hit the toilet. What is it about older men and losing their aim?!?! I swear, there are times I walk in there after him and I am not sure anything actually went in.

And oh my goodness ... don’t dare sneeze or cough with a full bladder. I haven’t wet myself since I was 2. Nope, can’t say that anymore! Depends are beginning to look like an excellent wardrobe choice. They come in purple now, you know.

My teeth are beginning to crack or fall out. It’s not just me. When I get together with friends my same age, having to go to the dentist stories are only second to the weekly doctor appointments for everything!

Senior Living Advice

with BETH DOW, Geriatric Care Manager

Everything hurts, or aches or burns and when you ask your doctor about it – what does he say? “Well, you know you are getting older?”

I strained my back and couldn’t hardly move for a week, putting on my bra!!! Come on!

And where did my eyebrows go? They used to be there. I used to have to pluck (and yes we plucked) those suckers. One nicely formed unibrow. But no more. Now, I have to pencil those babies in.

I can remember dropping something on the floor and picking it up immediately. Not anymore. Now if I drop something, I sit and look at it and ponder if at a later time there will be something else on the floor that will also have to be picked up. Or, if it is actually hurting anything by being on the floor. Some things just aren’t worth the effort.

And everything I eat makes me burp! What is that about? Tums has become one of my major food groups. I could go on and on, but I think I need a nap. I nap now also. Oh Lordy!

Beth Dow is a Dementia and Alzheimer’s Educator, CAEd and Geriatric Care Manager. She is also the owner of Home Helpers of GA & AL in Newnan. Readers can contact her by email at bdow@ homehelpershomecare.com.

Enjoying some old-fashioned refrigerator cookies

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a tea where all the ladies brought a food to share. We enjoyed hot tea, finger sandwiches, and sweet treats, and I noticed that the cookies were a big hit. Some were chewy and had a crackled appearance, and others were decorated with pastel M&M’s to mimic the design of flower petals.

Cookies are so simple to make, and I’ve heard it said that if you’re aiming for portion control, cookies are good to have on hand because they’re already in small portions. (This assumes, of course, that you don’t eat a whole plateful of them.)

Those tea party cookies made me want to try a new cookie recipe, and I knew just the one. It was an old handwritten recipe from one of my vintage recipe boxes from the antique mall. The recipe was for a classic refrigerator cookie, and I’ve always liked to make those since they come out so perfectly. What’s a refrigerator cookie? It’s simply one in which the dough is rolled into a log and then refrigerated overnight so that it can easily be sliced before baking. Some food historians say refrigerator cookies date to the 1920s, when refrigerators became more common, and new recipes were developed because of these newfangled devices.

A refrigerator is no longer a novelty, and thank goodness for that! I’m so happy to be able to roll up that refrigerator cookie dough and plop it inside overnight. Because this dough is sliced and not scooped up one cookie at a time, the actual baking doesn’t take very long at all. A little slicing, a little baking, and these delicious cookies are ready in a flash. Since they bake for just 5 minutes, you won’t be hanging out in the kitchen all day or killing time between 20-minute baking sessions.

It’s also nice that the recipe’s author called these “nut” cookies, which means the baker is free to use whatever nuts they have on hand. I had just shelled some pecans, and I highly recommend them in these tasty, easy cookies.

Recipe Vanilla Nut Cookies

o 2 cups all-purpose flour o 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder o 1/8 teaspoon salt o 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened o 1/4 cup brown sugar o 1 cup granulated sugar o 1 egg, well beaten o 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans) o 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Using a large bowl, sift flour once, add baking powder and salt, sift again, and set aside. In separate bowl, cream butter thoroughly. Gradually add sugars and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Add egg, nuts, and vanilla. Slowly add flour mixture to the wet ingredients, incorporating just a portion at a time. Blend well. Shape into logs 1-1/2 inches in diameter and roll in wax paper. Chill in refrigerator overnight or until firm enough to slice. Once the logs have chilled, cut them into 1/8-inch slices and bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 425 degrees for 5 minutes. Yields 5 dozen cookies.