Thursday, October 29, 2009

Make mine VA wine

Sometimes a good day at work is one that you don't work! Today we had Rick and Judy in town from Texas and decided to show them Virginia. Virginia wineries that is. We rented a limo and did a tour of four local wineries... Did you know Virginia has over 150 wineries?? Well right here in our own backyard there are a ton of them. What a perfect day for getting out! The trees are all changing colors the sky was bright and the air was crisp.
As much as I love wine you would think that I would have taken the time before now to venture out and explore all these local vineyards.. I pass a few on a regular basis but never have taken the time to go in... I won't make that mistake again. (added bonus many of them are dog friendly)

Sunday, October 25, 2009

the results are in

So remember all those green tomato's? Well I still have a ton but we have been trying out recipes... Fried Green tomatoes not a hit as far as Mike was concerned... but I think we should give it another try-- as it was a bad cooking night for me.. they might have been alittle over cooked... (Ok maybe burnt is a better word for what happened!---I get my cooking skills from my mom) But Green Tomato Cake-- Yummy!! It tastes alot like a spice cake--cinnamon and nutmeg out weigh the green tomatoes-- which by the way are pretty sweet to the taste-- Next time we make this--and yes there will be a next time.. the brown butter frosting will not be one it.... while it tasted OK it doesn't spread well on a bundt cake and certainly did nothing for its appearance.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Sometimes she doesn't need to go out

After months of only getting 3 hours of sleep at a time because someone wanted to get up every night now I have a new problem... I have a little girl who is turning out like my other little girl and doesn't want to get up in the morning!! I literally have to pull the covers off her to get her attention... And even after we go outside...
Shes back in bed.... ohhh this could be a long winter...

Monday, October 19, 2009

Green Tomatos


Seems that my garden didn't get the message that it was fall... Tomato season should be over right??? I have made more than my share of pots of tomato sauce..And we have tomatos everynight with dinner.... and I can hardly beleive I am saying this but I think I have eaten my fair share of tomato sandwhichs too..... If I make one more pot of sauce I might actually have to learn how to can. Ok maybe we don't need to go that far-- I'm doing fine with my freezer packs-- that is until Mike brought in this----


Holy cow what am I suppose to do with ALL THOSE??? and to top it off they are GREEN-- Kermit the Frog may like green but me??? I have an adversion to green food --ok lettace and beans are ok but really what is a girl to do with all those.... and what you don't see is there are probably about 20 more that just didn't fit in the bowl.... Stay tuned... green tomato recipes start tomorrow....
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Friday, October 16, 2009

For those keeping score

Oct 14, 2009

Panel Recommends that FDA Approve Fampridine-SR (proposed name Amaya) for Symptomatic Treatment of MS -- Found to improve walking speed for all types of MS

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee today recommended that the agency approve marketing of Fampridine-SR (Acorda Therapeutics, with a proposed name change to Amaya) for its ability to improve walking speed in people with any type of multiple sclerosis. While the FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisory committees, it usually does. The agency is expected to make a final decision about whether to approve the drug for market on or before the target date of October 22, 2009.

During an all-day meeting held October 14, 2009, the FDA advisory committee considered Acorda Therapeutics’ application for approval of Fampridine-SR, reviewing data about the drug’s effectiveness and safety. The committee also heard public testimony from individuals and patient advocacy groups, including the National MS Society, which testified to the unmet need for therapies to improve walking for people with MS.

Among its discussions, the advisory committee recommended that the FDA require the sponsor to evaluate the effects of doses lower than originally studied, but that these studies would not be required to be done prior to the drug’s marketing approval. In addition, the FDA is likely to require a plan to mitigate potential risks. During its presentation to the committee, Acorda representatives outlined such a plan -- the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategies (REMS).

Background on Unmet Need: Problems with gait (difficulty in walking) are among the most common limitations in MS. While there are six FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies that are at least partially effective against some forms of the disease, as well as rehabilitation and symptomatic treatments for some symptoms, at present there is no pharmacologic treatment specifically available for MS-related difficulty walking. This disability has wide-ranging effects on people’s lives, even in its milder manifestations.

A recent survey among more than 1,000 individuals with MS and many of their family members examined the impact of mobility issues, such as difficulty walking, on quality of life among patients with MS and their families. Some two-thirds of patients reported difficulty walking and of these, 70% reported that such difficulty was the most challenging part of their MS, and most reported that difficulty walking restricts their daily activities significantly, including their ability to travel. (Read more about survey results)

About the Drug: Fampridine-SR is a sustained-release formula of 4-aminopyridine, which blocks tiny pores, or potassium channels, on the surface of nerve fibers. This blocking ability may improve the conduction of nerve signals in nerve fibers whose insulating myelin coating has been damaged by MS. The first studies of this potassium-blocking approach in people with MS were supported by the National MS Society.

What Clinical Trials Found: Acorda Therapeutics sponsored two phase 3 clinical trials of the drug. In the first, involving 301 people with any type of MS, walking speed increased by 25%. Results of this study have been published (February 28, 2009 issue of The Lancet (2009 373;732-738), summarized here). Results from a later, second phase 3 study involving 240 people with MS confirmed the benefits seen in the first, finding that a significantly greater proportion of people on the therapy had a consistent improvement in walking speed compared to those who took placebo. Among those taking Fampridine-SR who improved in walking speed, there was a statistically significant improvement in leg strength.

In the first study, common adverse events (side effects) experienced more often by those on active treatment included back pain, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, nausea and balance disorder. Two serious adverse events led participants to discontinue taking the drug (one case of anxiety and one seizure in a person who developed sepsis from a urinary tract infection). In the second study, additional common adverse events in those on therapy included urinary tract infection, falls, and headache.

Comment: “The clinical trial results suggest that for a substantial percentage of people with MS, Fampridine has the potential to restore some significant function and make a real difference in people’s quality of life,” said John R. Richert, MD, Executive Vice President of Research & Clinical Programs for the National MS Society. “If the FDA agrees that Fampridine is safe and effective, this would bring a welcome symptomatic therapy that has potential utility for a large number of people with different types of MS.”

Further study and clinical practice may help determine the extent to which the drug may impact other functions not measured in the clinical trials, and provide hints as to which patients are most likely to respond.


From: National Multiple Sclerosis Society October eNews

Thursday, October 15, 2009

its alittle chilly in here.

I got home from work last night and it was a whopping 65 degrees in the house. Mike tells me that was up from 62 degrees when he arrived home!! Yup it was alittle chilly in the Casa last night. We made the executive decision to bake chicken in the oven vs cooking on the grill in hopes of adding a few more degrees of warmth to the house with the heat from the oven... it seemed to work although I am not sure if the temps keep dropping how long we will be able to withhold our pennies from the electric company! For now the motto is put on another sweater!!

And did I mention they are calling for a very cold and snowy winter... 52 inches of snow????? hmmm we will have to see how our notorious weatherman do on that prediction...

I was looking at Angelos blog today and saw this great flower arrangement

How perfect would that be with a few little mini pumpkins and a leaf or two....

Monday, October 12, 2009

Sunday

Sunday doesn't get any better than this:
  • Making another pot of tomato sauce using the tomatos, green peppers and herbs from the garden.
  • Fresh Baked cookies
  • Baking Manicotti for my vegetarian buddy and another tray for the freezer
  • Pulled pork on the deck enjoyed with friends--enjoying the last bits of warm weather

Sunday, October 04, 2009

making a list.. or not.

my list of to-do's is bigger than my list of got it dones...

Went to a Jewerly party at Amandas mother-in-laws house on Friday night.. Marti and I are still trying to come up with a name for what we are that isn't soo long and confusing... lots of fun had there...but not getting home til 10pm set me back on the to-do list.... usually I keep Friday nights open for getting the laundry started.. I know I know.. the party animal in me can't help myself from standing in front of the dryer on a Friday night

Yesterday once I got myself up and moving I spent way too much time doing way to little in the way of dividing plants in the garden...digging was much too close to real work.. I did however dig out the miniture rose bush that sits on the corner of the house in the back yard.. Its been there for years and just pisses me off year after year.. lack luster blooms and way too many torns to ever be loved. Happily I decided instead of moving it to pitch it in the woods... I smiled a big ol smile as I cut it back to the ground and dug up its roots... and might have even laughed out loud as it went thud in the woods... Some plants just don't know when to die...

Today was meant to be my indoor cleaning day-- and yes that laundry that I didn't get to on Friday but instead we decided to head over to the Chandler Ranch (Kristi's name not mine) and help them work on their home improvment project... Painting the livingroom and tv room to get ready for wood floors... They have some 15 ft ceilinga that haven't seen a paint brush in 20 years and with Mikes work schedule it was a project they had been limping through for weeks... Needless to say the boys worked real hard as Kristi and I polished off some candy sweet red wine on the back porch as we watch the dogs run-- well Foster and Maizy ran... Harley(who is visiting this week) choose to supervise.

Weekend is offically over now... making a new list for next week... should be an easy task cross off last weeks date and add this weeks dates.. list complete.. maybe I will actually get to mark something off this week???