Jerky Time!

First batch of deer jerky this season!

Dennis killed his first deer of the season on the opening morning of bow season...a nice big doe!  That next week I defrosted the freezer to get it ready for this year's supply of meat.  ~Household tip #423:  Always remember to turn freezer back on after defrosting it and replacing all of your frozen food in it!~  The only things I lost were a couple of half empty bags of fish, a few bags of veggies and fruit.  The meat was all frozen hard enough and packed tight enough to stay frozen until I noticed, the next day, my error.  *sigh*   After aging the venison for 10 days, we butchered and packaged it.  I still had quite a few packages of meat left over from last year, so I'm trying to use them up as quickly as possible.  Today I am cooking up a batch of jerky.  I have a few more packages that need to be sliced and marinated, which I'll probably cook up Wednesday.  The weather is supposed to be quite chilly, which will be perfect for running the oven all day!

I had three medical appointments last week...I must be getting old!  Wednesday I went to a hand specialist that my doctor referred me to.  I have a nodule on the palm of my hand that she was concerned might cause a contracture.   
The hand surgeon told me it was called Dupuytren's Disease - a genetic condition most often found in men of Northern European ancestry.  Well, obviously, I don't fit the first criteria, but I am of Scots/Irish descent.  The tissue just beneath the skin (the fascia) starts to grow in a cluster, causing the nodule and can, but doesn't always, cause contractures.  Mine hasn't done this yet and hopefully won't.  The doctor told me to just watch it to make sure it doesn't.  The condition can't be treated, other than surgery to remove the material when it does start contracting.  The trouble with surgery is that it can trigger the growth of more nodules...thus the wait and see approach!

The same day, I also went back for my followup to the cardiologist.  He said I passed my stress echocardiogram with flying colors.  His only suggestion was to try to lose another 20 pounds by my next visit...good suggestion...hard to comply!  I'll do what I can tho!

Then on Thursday I went for an MRI.  I've had a pinched nerve in my neck for about 10 years and it has been getting progressively worse lately, so my doctor wanted to get a better look at what was going on.  Guess what?  I have a pinched nerve in my neck!  The MRI was an experience that I DO NOT want to repeat.  I managed not to totally freak out, but my heart was pounding 90 to nothing and I didn't dare open my eyes!  After some fervent prayer, I started counting backwards from 1000 to try to keep my mind off of where I was.  I made it through, but I was SO relieved to get out of that place!!!!  My doctor wants me to see a neurosurgeon to see what my options are.  I'm not sure surgery is the best option for now...I don't think I'm suffering enough yet for that!  I do NOT want to live on pain medication tho.  Right now I'm using a muscle relaxer and ibuprofen, which does pretty good.  My doctor tried me on Neurontin, but I didn't like the way it made me feel and quit taking it after a few days.

Looking forward to the weather turning cooler tomorrow!  The lows are supposed to get down into the 30's.  I am SO ready!!!  I got the yard mowed Saturday, and I'm hoping it will be the last time for the season.  This summer was so hard on our lawn.  We watered as much as we could afford to (and then some), but we still ended up with some dead spots.  The 6" rain we got while the girls and I were in Arkansas was greatly appreciated!  (We even saw some hay that had been cut yesterday on our way to the assembly...first time in MANY months!)

Sheila made a quick trip up to see Ricky over the weekend.  She took off a couple days from work, so she wouldn't have to hurry home.  We are expecting her back this afternoon or evening sometime.  I'm glad they had some time to spend together!  Stephen and Mandy are in New Hampshire (I think...somewhere in New England, anyway!)...paid for by Edward Jones.  They are supposed to come back by here this weekend on their way home.  Look forward to their visit!

I hope everyone has a good week!  Wish I could share some jerky with you!

 Ge 27:7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.