What's on your Monday Menu, RNYers?

Hello my RnY clan! Happy Monday! It's 12:16 pm on 12/16 - can you believe how swiftly this month is speeding by?

JB, adorable pics of you and Grim. I still think the two of you would make a great couple for an HGTV type of show. How can we make that happen?

Today I'm making an outdoor shelter for two feral cats who I feed here. Poor things, it's really just so cold outdoors now. Their winter coats are very full, and I set out a little bed for them on the porch that I place heated disks in every night, but even so it's awfully cold. The shelter is going to keep them toasty.

Over the past few weeks I've been experiencing intermittent, sometimes severe pain in my left calf or around my left shin. I didn't fall or bang my leg, it just started hurting. It seems worst at night when I'm horizontal and trying to sleep. I can't figure out why or how to relieve the pain, which at times is quite intense. A couple of weeks ago, after a particularly bad night, I called my doctor's office about this. About 17 years ago I had an episode of DVT - the clot detached and went painfully shooting down my leg, so I figured it was better to check than to be sorry (or dead!). They had me come in right away and examined me, but told me I was ok - they thought I was fine upon examination, but did a blood test just to be 100% sure. Anyway it was bad again last night, and yesterday evening my left hip was aching weirdly, even to the point of making me feel sore walking. So I'm thinking maybe the pain is related to a hip issue. I'm going to make an appointment with an orthopedist. I dislike going to the doc normally but I dislike pain more. Hopefully he won't discourage me from wearing high heels!

QOTD: I don't have any food pushers in my life. I just do my thing. This morning someone offered me biscuits and gravy and found it astonishing when I said I avoid carby foods, as he lives on pastries and floury gravies and crackers, etc. This despite being skinny, go figure! Luckily I never craved bready things like that. Sugar, on the other hand, is my kryptonite!

My mom did show love through food, but she was kind and insightful, and didn't push or insist. I really miss her. December 20 is the anniversary of her death, and every year that adds a real element of poignancy to Christmas. I still really love Chrismas, but I miss her, and losing her then changed my experience of the holiday. So you guys who still have your parents, I am jealous! Embrace them with love regardless of their flaws. Life is short and tomorrow is not a given!

First: several mugs of tea

B: 2 hard boiled eggs

L: tuna, a few grape tomatoes

D: salmon

Have a beautiful day, my friends!

For pain I use Biofreeze. It was invented by a medical professional who wanted to help his grandmother with arthritis pain. With Biofreeze you don't have to rely on NSAID's or prescription medicine. It costs more than things like icy hot, but works so much better for me. I use the spray and pain is gone in a few minutes.

Thank you. I'll look for it.