Football days are upon us…New recipe…easy or time consuming…

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This was a European roller we spotted in the bush described as follows: The European roller is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia.

Gee… There are a lot of football games we can watch while Tom is streaming them from DAZN (formerly NFL Game Pass). Based on his subscription to this service, the commercials are gone if he waits three hours or more after the game ends. But, if we wait too long, we may see any particular results, and we both (Tom particularly) don’t like to know the final score ahead of time.

It’s nearly impossible to avoid seeing the results of games when there are many mentions of results all over the internet. Tom, who enjoys Facebook, can’t avoid seeing the results and comments from avid football fans. Coincidentally, the Super Bowl is being held in Las Vegas this year. No, we won’t buy the pricey tickets, especially since our favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, won’t play. They haven’t played in the Super Bowl except as mentioned below:

“Minnesota Vikings is an American professional football team founded in 1961 and based in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, that plays in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings have appeared in four Super Bowls (1970, 1974, 1975, and 1977), losing each time.”

We both have other teams we like. I am a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs (Missouri) since I love watching Patrick Mahomes, and this year, Tom favors the Green Bay Packers (Wisconsin) and the Detroit Lions (Michigan). As for the other NFL  games, I seldom pay much attention. Instead, while he’s watching on my laptop with the HDMI cord plugged in, I play games on my phone or read news and other articles.

Once I upload the post each day, I seldom use my laptop other than when we’re researching future locations to travel. Thus, I don’t mind him using my laptop to stream the games to the TV. His laptop is a Chromebook with no HDMI outlet, and although we purchased an HDMI adapter a while ago, it isn’t working on his device. Thus, we use my Windows 11 laptop with a built-in HDMI port.

I had a late start on today’s post when I decided to make beef enchiladas for dinner for the next few nights. After considerable research online for keto tortillas, I found none that didn’t use wheat, starch, or bad oils. I checked through every keto tortilla on Amazon and at local markets. Nothing meets my criteria except the brand Egg Life. When we were in Florida many moons ago, I tried those, and they were awful, tasteless, and quickly fell apart.

Instead, this morning, I began making homemaker keto tortillas using this recipe I found online here. One wouldn’t want to tackle this recipe if they weren’t prepared to spend about an hour making a dozen of these in the kitchen. But the result is fantastic. Putting the ingredients together is easy; it’s rolling the 12 pieces of dough (I doubled the recipe and adjusted it to make 12 tortillas) and cooking them in a non-stick skillet for four minutes each (two minutes each side).

To my surprise, I enjoyed making these and will do so again. As for the enchilada recipe, I bought two large cans of enchilada sauce and cooked and drained three pounds of grass-fed ground beef. I added chopped onion, seasonings, and fresh garlic to the pan. Tom helped me cook and drain the meat, which needed to be broken into small pieces, not big chunks.

Once I am done here soon, I’ll go back into the kitchen and put the enchiladas together. I’ll add half of the sauce to the meat and add lots of shredded cheddar cheese, wrapping each tortilla in ¾ of the meat. Then, I’ll line the huge, lightly greased pans (using avocado oil) with the wrapped tortillas, adding more sauce, meat, and cheese. I’ll cook this for about 30 minutes at 350F until the top is bubbly and smells fantastic.

With this meal, we’ll have a big salad. It should be a delightful dinner. I used to make this dish with chicken or beef in our old lives, but I hadn’t made it in over 12 years, since before I changed my way of eating when I could use store-bought tortillas. It will be interesting to see if it tastes as good with the keto/low-carb homemade tortillas. I’ll take a photo tonight and let you know tomorrow.

If you can eat regular store-bought tortillas, this is a fantastic recipe for the family or entertaining. This recipe can easily be put together in 30 minutes without the lengthy process of making the tortillas.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 15, 2014:

No photos were posted today due to a poor WiFi signal while we were in the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa.

Correction in yesterday’s post about Medicare, Plan G for foreign travel…

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This restaurant, Luna Rossa, is about a one-minute walk once we get down one flight of stairs.

I made an error in yesterday’s comprehensive post about supplement Plan G, which I chose as an adjunct to Plan B enrollment. My insurance agent, Janet Mueller, at jmueller@teameip.com, noted the need to make a correction, which I’ve done on the post and noted today. See below for details:

  • Maximum annual $50,000, with $250 deductible, which pays 80%, on emergency medical services for foreign travel outside the US. Air and ground ambulance are covered. Here is a link with information on ambulance and air ambulance services for Plan G.

  • Tom sure loves bread.

Now that the Medicare information is posted and hopefully clear for those interested, we’re moving on to other topics, such as our first evening out to dinner last night in The Village, one flight down an outside stairway from the hallway on our floor.

We had a lovely time in the restaurant. We went to the Italian restaurant Luna Rossa, a one-minute walk once we got downstairs to the ground level. We’d thought of going to the Mexican restaurant but, at the last minute, decided against it when I’d planned to make beef enchiladas on Monday.

Tom’s delicious lasagne.

Only a few items on the Mexican restaurant’s menu appealed to Tom with some modifications. Most Mexican restaurants serve Spanish rice and refried beans with each entree, neither of which Tom will eat. Taking those two items away from a plate may leave little to eat. As a result, he only likes taco salad with beef, not chicken. Of course, he could ask for meat instead of chicken, but he doesn’t care to ask for special adjustments when he orders off a menu.

On the other hand, I’m always asking for special adjustments for my orders to ensure they are gluten-free, starch-free, and sugar-free. I always tell Tom, “We’re the customer paying the bill. It’s ok to ask for changes, especially if we’re willing to pay for upgrades that may increase the price.”

My mussels and clams in a tasty broth.

Oh well, we each do it our way. He’s a picky eater due to his taste buds, and I am picky only to ensure I don’t eat anything that isn’t suitable for my way of eating. If I didn’t eat this way, I pretty much like everything.

Once seated at Luna Rossa without reservation on a Saturday night, we felt at ease at the table for four with a crisp white tablecloth and lovely table setting. The service was fast and friendly, primarily by older Italian gentlemen with experience. More servers were in the restaurant than customers, but about half of the tables were occupied, which surprised us.

I can always find something to eat in Italian restaurants even when most of the dishes contain pasta, none of which I’ll order. Tom had the delicious lasagne, a good-sized portion, made to perfection. I ordered the mussels and clam in a delightful broth that I finished with a spoon. We each ordered one drink, a brandy and Sprite for Tom and a lovely Merlot for me.

The restaurant was surprisingly busy. We didn’t expect the eateries in The Village to be busy.

The wine glass was huge, and there couldn’t have been more than four ounces of wine in it, typical for somewhat fancier dining establishments. But the drinks and food were plenty for us. Tom enjoyed the basket of bread, which only came with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, neither of which he’d eat. He started eating the dry, unbuttered bread but didn’t ask for butter. When the waiter passed, we asked for butter, and Tom dug into the bread.

Our dinner bill was $98, including tax and tip. We could have easily had two nights’ dinners at Jabula for this amount, including drinks, tax, and tip. At these prices, we’ll only eat out once a week.

The short walk back to our place was refreshing in the cool air at only 40F. As I write here this morning, it’s only 46F, typical for the winter cool desert temps. I love this cool weather in Las Vegas, especially when it’s sweltering in the summer months.

I’m off to take the bedding to dry in the laundry room using the handy laundry app on my phone. As mentioned, we have a washer in our unit but no dryer. We dry everything else on the portable laundry rack we purchased at Amazon.

Today will be a football day. Last night, we watched an exciting game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. No spoilers here if you haven’t watched it.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 14, 2014:

Baby warthog is sleeping in our yard, while mom and three other babies munched on vegetation. For more, please click here.

Part 2…Here it is…My Medicare Part B late enrollment, a supplement and possible drug plan…Important information for long term world travelers…

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This is what’s called a “Bottlebrush Plant.” Greyia flanaganii, commonly known as the Kei bottlebrush, is a species of plant in the Francoaceae family. Greyia flanaganii is one of the related species of the taxonomically isolated and endemic southern African family, the Greyiaceae. Greyia flanaganii is endemic to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.”

Four years ago today, we arrived in Marloth Park, South Africa, after 59 hours of travel from Mumbai, India, after ten months in lockdown in a hotel room near the Mumbai Airport. We were masked, gloved, wearing face shields, and flying tentatively, with Covid 19 still prevalent worldwide. We were so happy to finally be free.

Here’s what we wrote in a short post on January 13, 2021 from this link here:

“It’s after 7:15 pm on Wednesday, and we are exhausted. I’d hope to do a post tonight, but I don’t have the energy to put it together. We’ve already taken several amazing photos, and tomorrow morning, coffee in hand, we’ll look forward to sharing details about our new home and new life at Lovebird’s Nest in Marloth Park and some memorable wildlife photos from our garden. It’s heavenly.

Please check back tomorrow while we get back into our usual rhythm of posting daily,

Thanks for your patience, kind words, and encouragement. We are so grateful!”

It’s hard to believe it was four years ago when it seems like yesterday. We made a point of quarantining to protect our friends in the bush, and in no time, we could socialize with all the wonderful friends we’ve made in the bush over the years. It was an extraordinary time, although we continued to exercise caution to avoid contracting Covid-19.

It wasn’t until we left South Africa for a few cruises in 2022 that we were infected on a cruise, leaving us both with lingering, long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Tom coughed for months, and I had a sinus-related face and head pain for 18 months that only resolved a few months ago. Enough on that, but sharing this memory with all our readers was meaningful.

I will continue to share what we mentioned in yesterday’s post on the supplement plan I chose as an adjunct to enrolling in Part B Medica on January 2, 2024. I’ve yet to hear from the Railroad Retirement Board if my enrollment has been processed, but it should be in the next few weeks by February 1, when the supplement kicks in, and I will finally be insured.

Here is the link to yesterday’s Part 1, explaining in detail the penalty imposed upon me for late enrollment of Part B, for which I  opted out when I turned 65 in 2013 since there was no coverage outside the US. The supplement I’ve chosen covers me outside the US for a maximum of $50,000 annually for emergency medical treatment and services, not standard medical care such as doctor’s office visits and tests.

With doctor appointments under $50 in South Africa and tests even less, we will continue to see Doc Theo as needed while we’re in Marloth Park in five months.

My US Medicare insurance rep, Janet Meuller, mentioned in yesterday’s post, has been a fantastic resource of valuable information, answering many questions I threw at her over several phone conversations in the past several weeks. If you are in a position to consider supplements and drug plans, once again, you can reach her at jmueller@teameip.com. (Note: we are not involved in any compensation for recommending Janet. We only do so based on the quality of service I received, as we often do when encountering exceptional professionals). She can work with you on plans for any state in the US.

So here’s what we chose for me. (Tom wasn’t ready to sign up at this point).

There are several plans available from which to choose. I won’t list them all here since there are too many to list, which are based on your state of residence, your age, and other factors.

With Janet’s help, I chose Plan G with Aflac, priced at $157 a month (could change annually as any supplement can and most likely will) but enables me to implement the following.”

  • Maximum annual copay: $240. No other copays for any other Medicare-approved services.
  • After the $240 copay is met, there is 100% coverage for all Medicare-accepted services, doctor appointments, hospital stays, surgeries, tests, and more. Always check when making an appointment to see if the medical doctor or facility accepts Medicare and your plan, in my case, Plan G.
  • Maximum annual $50,000, with $250 deductible, which pays 80%, on emergency medical services for foreign travel outside the US. Air and ground ambulance is covered. Here is a link with information on ambulance and air ambulance services for Plan G.
  • No network constraints: I can choose any doctor or medical facility I’d prefer anywhere in the US, unlike many plans that restrict the patient to specific local networks, doctors, and facilities.
  • No doctor referrals are required for hospital care, and specialists
  • Chiropractic services are covered under these stipulations:” Medicare Plan. G covers chiropractic services, but only for medically necessary spinal manipulation, as Original Medicare covers. This means that additional chiropractic services or treatments, such as preventive visits or chiropractor-ordered tests, are not covered under Plan G.
  • No dental, vision, or drug coverage is included in Plan G. They must be purchased separately. We opted out of those coverages, which we can change during any open enrollment period. Penalties may be assessed due to late enrollment, as in our case.

Why didn’t we choose a dental, vision, and pharmacy plan? We have dental work done in South Africa, which is less than 20% of the cost in the US. We both had (and don’t have now) dental problems when our teeth were thoroughly examined before we left South Africa nine months ago. Also, we both see an optometrist in South Africa. Tom’s eyeglass prescription is current, as is my contact lens prescription. We will have exams again when we return in June.

As for a pharmacy plan, Janet reviewed all my medications with me. Based on plans available for a pharmacy plan, I am paying less than copays would be with a US plan. I continue to buy medicines from ProgressiveRX or many Canadian companies that ship drugs from countries where the manufacturing of worldwide generic medication is around 80%. See this article here for details. Also, I often get refills of my medications while in South Africa, with drugs costing less than copays would be on any of the available plans.

The costs I incur for my few medicines are less than buying drugs in the US with copays that I’d pay with a pharmacy plan. Please do your own research to decide what is best for you.

I can’t stress enough how most of these plans are based on your individual needs, not necessarily the same as mine. As world travelers, we needed to find what works best for our circumstances.

That’s it for today, folks. Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend. We are! We are heading down to the Village for dinner tonight at what appears to be an excellent Mexican restaurant. We will take photos and report back tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 13, 2014:

Beautiful sunset over the Crocodile River. For more, please click here.

Part 1…Here it is…My Medicare Part B late enrollment, a supplement and possible drug plan…Important information for long term world travelers…

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An adorable lion cub is resting with the pride. We took this photo while very close.

In 2012, when we began our travels, we decided we wouldn’t sign up for Part B Medicare when we turned 65. In 2013, I turned 65 (I am 5 years older than Tom). Qualified Individuals over 65 years old receive Medicare Part A as follows:

“*Generally, you’re eligible for Part A if you are 65 or older, meet the citizenship and residency requirements, and get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least 25 months.”

What does Part A cover?

“Part A (Hospital Insurance): Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. Part B (Medical Insurance): Part A covers Inpatient surgeries, lab tests, and drugs related to the inpatient stay. Medicare Part A doesn’t cover doctors’ services even for Medicare-approved stays. There’s no cost for Part A for qualified individuals.

What does Part B cover, and what is the monthly premium deducted from Social Security, or in our case, Railroad Retirement?

Part B Medicare or other medical insurance may provide coverage for Medicare. Part B helps cover medically necessary services like doctors’ services and tests, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment, and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventive services. Look at your Medicare card to find out if you have Part B. The government charges a monthly fee for Part B, which is now:

$174.70 in 2024 or higher, depending on your income. The amount can change each year. You’ll pay a monthly premium, even if you don’t get any Part B-covered services. “Higher income” is construed as follows:

If you file your taxes as “married, filing jointly,  and your MAGI, adjusted gross income exceeds $206,000, you’ll pay higher premiums for your Part B and Medicare prescription drug coverage. If you file your taxes using a different status and your MAG exceeds $103,000, you’ll pay higher premiums.

When we didn’t sign up for Part B Medicare since we were traveling outside the US and accepted the future penalty, and had no use for it, when Medicare doesn’t pay for care outside the US, the following penalty was assessed per year when I finally decided to send in my enrollment for Part B as follows on January 2, 2024:

“Medicare Part B has a 10% penalty on your monthly premium for each 12-month period you delay enrollment. This penalty is lifelong. In 2024, the penalty is based on a monthly premium of $174.70.”

As a result, after ten years without enrolling in Part B, my cost for Part B will be $349.40 monthly. Had I known in 2013, when I chose not` to sign up for Part B, that I’d have heart problems, I would have enrolled when I turned 65. It wasn’t until 2019 that my heart issues were discovered. At that point, we would be out of the US for years to come, and we decided to continue to wait until we returned to the US for extended periods.

Now that we’re spending more time in the US and with the discovery of future potential heart surgery, it was time for me to sign up. If I eventually need additional surgery after having tests in the US while we’re here, I will be covered.

Since Medicare Part A and Part B don’t cover everything, resulting in huge co-pays that can be life-changing and stressful, a “supplement” is necessary to cover the costs of potential co-pays, which could run into tens of thousands of dollars if not covered by Part A and Part B.

I looked online but became frustrated when I understood how supplements work. Every site I searched required me to fill out a form with my personal information to receive a call back to review the possibilities of a supplement. I started getting dozens of phone calls each day, and I didn’t want to return all those calls. However, in the process, I answered many of the calls and became more frustrated in the process.

I had run out of patience with agents whose primary goal was to sell me a plan that earned them the most commissions (the government pays).

During this period, I stumbled across a no-pressure, knowledgeable Medicare insurance agent, Janet Mueller, who gently walked me through the process, answering my seemingly endless stream of questions. I couldn’t have been more thrilled with her service and attention to detail. I’d highly recommend her services if you need help with a supplement and/or pharmacy plan. She can be reached at jmueller@teameip.com. Janet’s concern was only for those plans that would serve my needs with the best possible price and terms.

This post is getting long, so we will continue tomorrow with the plan Janet helped me decide is suitable for my circumstances. We’ll be back tomorrow with Part 2 regarding the supplement I chose and decisions regarding a prescription plan. See you then!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 12, 2014:

Hundreds of grasshoppers in our garden traveled from one tree to another over hours. We spent the better part of a day filming and watching them. For videos and the unique story, please click here.

Tom returned from the appointment in Chicago…

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We left our trail cam in Marloth Park, with other items in bins that Louise stored for us until we returned in June. While at the Ratel house, the trail cam picked up this photo of a genet, a wild small cat found in the wild.

Around 10:00 pm last night, Tom walked in the door, much to my relief. It was good to see him, although he looked tired and ready for bed. He explained he would have arrived earlier, but when his Uber driver arrived at the crowded outdoor waiting area and asked for Tom, someone else jumped into his Uber. He had to wait until the driver returned from dropping off the pushy passenger.

This antic resulted in him standing outside in the cold, 40F, with only a zippered sweatshirt on over his long-sleeved tee shirt. No doubt, he was annoyed. Still not feeling 100% after his recent bout of bronchitis, it was particularly challenging. He called to let me know he’d be later than expected, knowing I was following his flight status and could be worrying about him.

We headed to bed in no time but struggled to fall asleep. At 11:30, I heard a little snore coming from him, although he is not much of a snorer. When and if he does snore, it doesn’t bother me at all. Finally, by midnight, I drifted off but awoke many times during the night coughing. It wasn’t as bad as the previous nights, and during the day, I seldom have bouts of coughing. Tom is still coughing as well but he, too, is getting better. We both feel fine otherwise.

I might start working out regularly again, starting today, although I have done it a few times while I was under the weather on the days I felt better. Overall, I only missed about five days, and two days ago, when I tried it again, I was thoroughly caught up to where I left off.

This morning, I prepped everything for tonight’s dinner: grass-fed burger patties topped with bacon, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce, with rice for Tom and salad for both of us. Most likely, if we’re feeling well, we’ll go to dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants downstairs in The Village for the first time. We’ll review the menus before deciding which one to try, and hopefully, we’ll try a new restaurant each Saturday evening.

I hoped Tom could share how his appointment went, but the doctor and staff were all masked. Tom had forgotten to bring his hearing aids and couldn’t understand what the doctor or staff said. This morning, I emailed the doctor’s office asking them to send us a written report on his diagnosis.

All he was able to decipher was the confirmation of the prior diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis caused by asbestos exposure after 42½ years working on the railroad. He said Tom should see a primary care physician once a year to determine the progression of the disease. There is no treatment or cure for pulmonary fibrosis, which is scarring of the lung tissue. Scar tissue cannot be healed.

As I wrote this, we received the medical report from the pulmonologist in Chicago by email. I read it aloud to Tom as it confirmed the diagnosis. As stated above, he’ll need to be in touch with primary care at least once a year to evaluate the progression of the disease. He is most likely prepared to do that when we’re in South Africa and he sees Doc Theo, whom we have determined to be our primary care physician and fully trust.

In tomorrow’s post, I will share details and pricing of finally signing up for Part B Medicare and a supplement. I will share the details of the plan I’ve chosen and why I didn’t sign up for a drug plan. Please check back for the full details of this process.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 11, 2014:

As I threw out a handful of pellets, this guy tried to grab my hand, painlessly gumming my fingers. They’ve frequently been given treats by tourists and residents alike, hopefully with items acceptable for their herbivorous diet. We give them a few handfuls of pellets and provide the mineral lick. For more photos, please click here.

Thanks for all the good wishes for Tom and for our early exit from Ecuador, three weeks ago…

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There’s nothing more exciting in Kruer National Park than seeing an apex predator crossing the one paved road.

It was a busy morning for me. I had scheduled a call with my dear friend Karen in Florida at 8:30, which we’ll finish later today. I did a load of laundry, hanging it on the drying rack, and emptied the dishwasher, which Tom always does each morning. Yesterday, he vacuumed the entire condo.

The plan was for me to do the remainder of the cleaning today while he was at the pulmonology appointment in Chicago, Illinois, after a more than three-hour red-eye flight. I had to dust all surfaces, clean the bathrooms and kitchen, and wash the floors using the Swiffer wet mop.

After coughing most of the night, I slept very little, aware of where Tom may be at any given moment. Early this morning, we texted back and forth. We talked on the phone after his 11:15 appointment in Arlington Heights. I could tell by his voice he was exhausted.

He wasn’t able to tell me much about his appointment. The doctor and staff were all wearing face masks, and with Tom’s lousy hearing, he was used to reading lips and didn’t know what they were saying. Hopefully, we’ll get a written report soon. If not, we will call and ask for one.

We only chatted for a few minutes. He was back at the airport waiting for his return flight, which wasn’t until tonight, and was going to find a quiet spot for a short nap. It’s not easy sleeping in a chair, but he’s not one of those travelers (neither of us are) who will sleep on the floor. He won’t return to our condo until around 10:00 or 10:30 pm. I bet he’ll need to go right to bed.

After I finished the bulk of the cleaning and talked to Karen, I got back to work on the rest, and now, I’m sitting here content that everything is spotless, and I can relax and focus on today’s post.

Sure, I wish we had a housecleaner here in Nevada, But when we heard the cost for a few hours is $150 per week, we couldn’t justify that expense. It didn’t make sense for every other week or even once a month since we’d still have to clean and do the bedding once a week since we like to be in a clean and tidy environment. We could hardly wait for a cleaner once every other week or monthly.

Since we’re both beginning to return to feeling well again, cleaning once a week will be fine. It’s hard to think of Tom sitting at the airport feeling so awful from his cough and not having slept in over a day. So often, in our travels, we’ve spent a day or two traveling, failing to sleep on the plane. If we have three seats in a row without any other passengers, it’s possible to lie down and sleep for a few hours. That wasn’t the case for Tom last night, and it probably won’t happen again tonight.

Las Vegas is a popular destination, and most flights, including red-eyes, are often totally booked. The crowd is often boisterous and excited to reach their destination in fun-filled Las Vegas. But, for some, like us, Las Vegas is another pleasant city in the desert where we have plans other than gambling and the lights of the Las Vegas Strip.

I’m counting the hours until Tom returns. Tomorrow, we will share his experience here and anything we’ve heard from the doctor in more detail. Thanks for all the love and support. Hmmm…maybe a short nap is on the horizon for me, too.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 10, 2014:

When it comes to Mozambique Spitting Cobras, their size is insignificant compared to the dangerous, life-threatening venom they inflict upon their victims. This snake was approximately 1.5 to 2 feet long, 45 to 60 cm, and came within inches of Tom’s bare feet. What an exciting scare! For more photos, please click here.

We got out of Ecuador just in time…Nationwide State of Emergency declared….

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Photo from Reuters. Police are armed and ready.

Yesterday, our dear friend Gerhard sent us an article he stumbled across. After further research, we discovered the news was broadcast worldwide about the country of Ecuador declaring a “nationwide State of Emergency” as of January 8, the original date that we were leaving Ecuador.

Had we stayed until our rental contract ended, there’s no doubt we could have faced delays with added security, police, and military presence, all with rifles in hand, on the highway and at the airport. We are grateful we got out when we did.

This situation further exemplifies how dangerous the country has become when we assumed that Ecuador was considered safe for tourists only a few years ago.

Here is information from this site, one of the many articles we read online.

“January 09, 2024 — 08:51 am EST

Written by Alexandra Valencia for Reuters ->

QUITO, Jan 9 (Reuters) – At least four Ecuadorean police officers have been kidnapped by criminals, the police said on Tuesday, and explosions occurred in several cities, a day after President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency.

Noboa, a former legislator and son of one of the country’s richest men took office in November on promises to fix the struggling economy and stem a wave of violence on the streets and in prisons, which has been growing for years.

Noboa declared the 60-day state of emergency– a tool used by his predecessor to little success – on Monday, enabling military patrols, including in prisons, and setting a national nighttime curfew.

The measure was a response to the disappearance of Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, from the prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence and incidents at six prisons, including hostage-takings of prison guards.

Police and prosecutors have given scant information about Macias’ disappearance.

Three police officers working the night shift were taken from their station in the southern city of Machala, the police said on social media on Tuesday, while a fourth missing officer was taken by three criminals in Quito.

“Our specialized units are active with the goal of locating our colleagues and proceeding with the capture of the perpetrators,” the police said. “These acts will not remain in impunity.”

The explosions, including on a pedestrian bridge in Quito, resulted in no injuries, but the capital’s municipal authority asked in a statement for reinforced security amid the “unprecedented” crisis.

Noboa has said he will not negotiate with “terrorists,” and the government has blamed recent incidents of prison violence on Noboa’s plan to build a new high-security prison and transfer jailed gang leaders.

Prisons agency SNAI has given no information about the guards who are being held hostage.

Noboa plans to hold a plebiscite focused on security efforts.”

We can only imagine how difficult it may have been had we not left Ecuador on December 14, 2023, only 3½ weeks ago. We certainly consider the $190 fine we had to pay when no crime was committed on our way to the Guayaquil Airport from Mirador San Jose to be a drop in the bucket compared to issues we may have encountered had we tried to leave on January 8.

As mentioned above, we are very grateful we got out of there when we did for more than one reason, as our regular readers know so well.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 9, 2014:

After diligent perusal of the book, “Newman’s Birds by Colour for South Africa,” loaned to us by Louise, we were thrilled to spot the White Fronted Plover that we’d captured from the banks of the Crocodile River. This morning at 8:00 am, Danie stopped by on his motorbike to say hello and to tell us that a male Lion was spotted by a ranger at 3:00 am close to the river. Danie told us that occasionally, lions make their way from the bordering Kruger National Park into Marloth Park, protected only by a few strands of wire fence. Over the years to come, many lions have been living in Marloth Park, and curfews remain in place to this day. For more, please click here.

Request for our Low Carb Pot Pie recipe…Busy booking for the future…

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As it gets closer to our return to Marloth Park, we are more and more excited.

I received many requests for our Low Carb Pot Pie recipe in the past few days. Please feel free to copy and paste it for your recipe files. This recipe is delicious. You won’t be disappointed. I make the dough the day before the filling, wrapping it tightly in parchment paper and placing it in the refrigerator until the next day, taking it out of the fridge about an hour before making the recipe balance.

You can buy frozen cubed carrots and pre-chopped garlic to lessen the chopping time. At that point, I chop the onions and celery and place them in a Ziplock bag for the next day. I buy diced frozen chicken and defrost it in the refrigerator the prior night, reducing prep time. Once these few prep things are done the prior day, putting it together can be accomplished in about 20 minutes is a breeze. Keep an eye on the pies to get a lightly browned top while they bake.

Chicken Pot Pie – Low Carb, Gluten Free

Yield: 4 Pot Pies
Serving Size: 1 Pot Pie
Ingredients *(I usually double this recipe)

*Note: I usually buy foil loaf pans and toss them after using or use small individual pie pans. Then, each person gets their own pie.
For the pot pie filling
● 3 tbsp butter
● 1/2 cup onion, diced (about 2.5 oz)
● 1/2 cup celery, sliced (2 medium ribs)
● 1/2 cup carrots, slices (about 2.5 oz)
● 3 cloves garlic, minced
● salt and pepper, to taste
● 12 oz chicken, cubed small
● 3/4 cup coconut cream in the can (unsweetened)
● 1/2 cup chicken stock
● 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
● 3/4 cup sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
● 1/2 cup frozen peas

For the dough
● 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
● 3 tbsp cream cheese
● 3/4 cup almond flour
● 1 large egg
● 1 tsp garlic powder
● 1 tsp onion powder
● 1 tsp Italian seasoning
● 1 tsp sea salt
● 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions

For the pot pie filling

1. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is
melted, add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic and a little salt and pepper
to the pan. Sauté until the vegetables are soft.
2. Add the chicken to the pan and sauté until cooked.
3. Add the heavy cream, chicken stock, and Dijon mustard to the pan.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to low and
let simmer for 5-7 minutes.
4. Mix in the cheese until melted.
5. Stir in peas.
For the dough
6. Preheat oven to 375°
7. Combine mozzarella cheese and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
Microwave for 1 minute. Stir to combine and microwave 1 additional
minute.
8. Mix in almond flour, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning,
sea salt and black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well combined. If
it gets stringy or is not quite melted enough, put it back in for another
30 seconds.
9. Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Spread the dough pieces out
into large flat circles on parchment paper or a silpat. If it starts to get
sticky, wet your hands a little bit to prevent it from sticking to you.
10. Divide the pot pie filling between four mini pin pans or large oven
safe ramekins.
11. Top each one with a piece of dough, folding it down around the edges or form the dough into little balls, placing several balls them on top of each pie.
12. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Notes
Per Serving – Calories – 661 Fat – 57g Protein – 43g Total Carbs – 15g Fiber
– 4g Net Carbs – 11g

We were both practically moaning while eating this delicious dish. Tonight, we’ll have it for the last of three nights and are disappointed we don’t have more. I bet we’ll make this again in a month. I promised myself I’d make a special dish such as this once a week, making the dining experience much more enjoyable. It’s a bit extra work, but it’s worth it when we enjoy the dish so much.

This morning, we booked a park model near Tom’s sisters in Apache Junction, Arizona, from April 1 to April 30. Tom’s sister Colleen offered us to stay at her place after she leaves to return to Minnesota in mid-May. So, we may stay there until around May 15. From there, we’ll head to Los Angeles to see my sister, Julie, staying about three nights.

From there, we’ll drive to Milwaukee to spend two nights near Tom’s sister, a nun staying in a lovely assisted living facility for retired nuns. From there, we’ll drive to Minnesota, where we’ll stay in a hotel until it’s time for us to leave for South Africa in the middle of June. We plan to drive a rental car to all of these locations, allowing us to see some of the US and saving us dealing with flights for these family visits.

Soon, we’ll start researching car rentals that allow us to drop off the car in a different state. It will be great if we can keep the same vehicle for all of these locations but if we can’t, we’ll figure it out. We realize the drop-off in a different location from the pick-up is more costly, but that would be many flights and baggage costs. As for staying in hotels on the long drives, we’d have to pay for somewhere to live anyway at that time and wouldn’t have a base requiring us to pay for two places at once.

This plan will save us money, stress, and time, and a few road trips will be fun. We love not having dates determining what we do and the above plan gives us lots of flexibility, which we’ve come to appreciate. Tomorrow night, Tom leaves for the airport for his flight to Chicago to see the pulmonologist for the asbestos assessment. He’ll be returning 26 hours later. We are glad he’s feeling better and can make this trip.

That’s it for today, dear readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 8, 2014

At lunch last Friday with our new friends, Piet and Hettie, we celebrated their birthdays over a fabulous lunch at the Tambarina Restaurant in Komatipoort. Since then, sadly, Piet passed away. Hettie still lives in South Africa but not in Marloth Park. For more photos, please click here.

Cooking a favorite dish tonight…Impulse buying..

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We always enjoyed seeing female kudus stop by with their youngsters.

Tom is seated at the kitchen island, eating his morning toast with strawberry jam and coffee. Over the past several months, he’s preferred toast to bacon and eggs, and I’ve kept my mouth shut about this unhealthy breakfast. The remainder of the meals I make are healthy, low carb, and without grains, sugar, and starches.

A few days ago, I mentioned how time-consuming making meals can be, but I didn’t say so, meaning I am unwilling to take the time for special meals we enjoy. Today is such a day, and I am making Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie, a favorite recipe I usually make once or twice a year.

Unable to get the ingredients in Ecuador and not cooking for a few months while we traveled, I included all the ingredients in yesterday’s Smith’s Marketplace order, delivered to us by Instacart through the Boost service we joined to reduce and avoid weekly delivery fees. Boost charges $7.95 per month and especially pays for itself when ordering weekly. The minimum order for free shipping is $35, which is helpful when needing to fill in a few items here and there.

Many markets throughout the US offer this or a similar service….pay a small monthly fee for “free” delivery for as many orders one prefers in any given month. A small tip is included, which may be increased, reduced, or eliminated as desired. We stick with the included tip.

The person who selects our chosen items, a “picker,” contacts me by text if a replacement is needed. I make a point of keeping my phone nearby once I receive the message that the picker is in the process of gathering our items. This works perfectly for me. Yes, one or two items aren’t available each time, but the picker suggests alternatives, or I can choose an alternative.

Yes, we’re paying for the  delivery service, $7.95 a month, and the tips, around $20 a month, may seem like a significant extra expense. But, the store’s coupons are online, offered for each item, and we easily save more than these costs using the coupons. For example, yesterday’s $160 order provided me with $8.98 using online coupons. I indeed wouldn’t have clipped walking into the store.

But, the most significant savings are ordering online and not purchasing a single impulse item, which most of us have trouble avoiding when shopping. This is particularly useful for us when we don’t want food left over when we depart a location. As that annoying insurance commercial on TV always says, “Buy only what you need.” I imagine we save more than $20 monthly, avoiding impulse buying.

Also, we avoid tossing unused food, mainly produce, which is expensive, and shoppers often over-buy. We use all the vegetables we buy. I don’t recall when we’ve had to throw away unused food.

What’s surprising me here in Nevada, is that once we stocked up on basic laundry and cleaning supplies, spices, and paper products, we’ve only been spending about $160 a week for groceries, way lower than we’ve paid while in the US in the past. Of course, based on the way we eat, we don’t buy snacks, chips, cereal, milk, or fruit other than the frozen berries I’ve been adding to my Fage yogurt as a dessert at night.

The only snack Tom’s been enjoying lately after he finished his three huge Costco pies when we first arrived, is microwave popcorn, which he enjoys at night when we’re streaming something. We don’t eat much during the day. Plus, we love leftovers, and I usually make sufficient quantities of any dish, enough to last for three nights’ dinner. Yes, it takes time to prepare three night’s dinner, but it’s worth it when the following two nights, all I have to do is make a salad.

Since I am feeling better today, I don’t mind heading to the kitchen soon to finish making the pot pies. I make them in individual tin foil pans for each night. I am cooking them fresh each evening. This time, I am making enough for an extra batch to freeze for future dinners.

Tom is feeling better, too. This morning, we slept until almost 9:00 am. When my cough is mostly gone, I will start working out again, which I look forward to.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 6, 2014:

Named Clive by Facebook friend Peggy (feel free to ‘friend me” on Facebook using my email address: jessicablyman@gmaiil.com), we considered that he may be the same ostrich we’d seen on December 7, 2013 (click here to see that post) only a week after our arrival. For more photos, please click here.

Starting to get better…

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A mating couple enjoying time in the sun on the bank of the Crocodile River in Marloth Park, South Africa.

Yes, you can tell by our recent photos that we’re chomping at the bit to return to Africa five months from now. Also, when we don’t get a chance to get out to take new photos, it is a ready source of photos for us to use on any given day’s post.

It’s disappointing that I haven’t been able to work out for the past five days since I got sick. I was making such progress, and when I am better, it will take a week or two to catch up to where I left off. I can’t wait to get back to it. Sitting most of the day when not feeling well lessens muscle strength, although I have made a considerable effort to at least walk for 2000 to 3000 steps a day while sick, if only around the condo, performing various household tasks.

Fortunately, I haven’t felt so awful that I needed to lie down and nap like Tom. Today is the first day; he said he’s feeling better, so we are both hoping to return to our old selves in the next few days and go out to dinner and walk in this lovely area.

There aren’t many sightseeing venues in Las Vegas that we haven’t already seen or that appeal to us. Since we don’t gamble, trips to the Strip aren’t appealing, and the cost of dinners at the restaurants is outrageous these days. Years ago, a trip to seafood and other types of buffets was affordable and fun.

A quality buffet costs about $80 per person, more than we’re willing to pay. The lower priced buffets, around $35 per person, aren’t the quality that appeals to us. Plus, many of the foods at the lower-priced buffets are cooked in rancid oils and loaded with carbs and gluten. Also, we don’t necessarily eat huge plates of food or desserts. Years ago, a decent buffet would be $25 per person, and it wasn’t as big of a deal if one didn’t consume huge quantities of food. At these higher prices, it makes no sense for us.

I’d love to try dining at Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace, but I don’t care to spend $250 for dinner and one drink. We’d rather spend our money on lovely places to live and delicious homemade meals than outrageously priced restaurant meals. Also, with my food restrictions, getting a piece of meat and some overly buttered vegetables isn’t appealing at those prices. I’d only order one glass of wine and Tom one cocktail, but our bill would surely be this high based on the menu.

Once we’re better, we’ll try some restaurants in The Village. They are also expensive but nowhere near as much as on the Strip. Since we don’t care for burger-and-fries-type restaurants, our choices are limited when many guests of restaurants on the Strip are looking for a giant burger or sandwich, neither of which appeals to either of us. The exception to that is that Tom likes to have a Reuben sandwich now and then.

Last weekend, when we ordered takeaway Chinese food for two nights for $105, including tax, fees, and tips from Grubhub (without delivery fees due to an Amazon coupon), we enjoyed dinner those two nights as much as we’d have enjoyed going out to dinner.

The drawback to our preference for dining in is that planning, preparing, and cooking meals “at home” is time-consuming and requires much effort and creativity to make it all happen. Frequently, I am researching recipes to find or adapt those that appeal to both of us.

Tom’s taste buds are very different from mine. I am not picky as long as the food is appropriate for my eating. Tom doesn’t care for vegetables besides potatoes and corn, neither of which we eat, and he doesn’t care for overly spicy dishes, which I love. We compromise. If he asks for potatoes or corn, I make them for him and make every effort to keep the seasonings at the level I know he will enjoy. Somehow, we make it work for both of us.

Our weekly Smith’s grocery order arrived a short time ago, and we both put everything away. We’re good to go for the next week planning to dine out at least once.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 5, 2014:

There were 70 to 80 impalas in the garden on this date. For more photos, please click here.