I slept nine hours yesterday, my good poisoning has gone away, and my appetite and energy have returned, at least for this morning. I got up at 5 a.m. and started cooking grains that Maria and I love. The first batch – Pearl Barley- went well, and the second choice—whole Wheat Cous Cous – was not so good.

(A note on the food poisoning: We buy a lot of raw vegetables up here in the summer, and sometimes they get dirty or pick up something. Almost everyone we know up here gets foot poisoning once in a while. We do eat well in summer.

I’m seeing my primary care nurse tomorrow as scheduled and bring it up with her as usual. I’m lucky; many health issues can be healed or eliminated. But sometimes, I shrug my shoulders and accept the realities of getting older.)

There isn’t a cure for everything, and I suppose there shouldn’t be.

The recipe I used to cook my grain today recommended simmering it in a pan with small amounts of butter or virgin olive oil for 3-5 minutes before cooking.

I burned it almost immediately. That batch went to the chickens; they devoured it while Minnie watched as if she was at a baseball game. I got right back up on the horse and stood in front of the grain while they simmered.

This time, it worked (mostly). Grains are now an essential part of our diet. I’ve come to love them. I’m the cook for the grains. I enjoy it and am doing my homework.