tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65650046166949825122024-03-14T01:13:48.721-04:00KATHY CALCULATESKathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.comBlogger1153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-22281842051693208162016-05-24T10:45:00.000-04:002016-05-24T10:45:42.038-04:00NEW BEGINNINGS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Accepting yourself is good but believing that you must accept your fate is not..Just because you have allowed bad habits to take over and allowed a negative view to rule your days is no excuse for giving up and giving in.<br />
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I still have some fight left in these old aching bones. So here is to a new day and new beginnings.<br />
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I am thankful for friends and family who love me and care for me even when I can't bring myself to care for myself.<br />
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I am thankful for a curious mind that seeks new ideas even when my body lags behind.<br />
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I am thankful that I am open to new ways of eating and that I am fortunate enough to love the foods that will nourish my body rather than add to the disaster that it has become. I look forward to vegetables and fruits, cilantro in everything (who knew?), and a bowl of steel-cut oats with sugar-free apricot jam and almond milk (delicious!).<br />
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As one day follows another and I am eating to nourish my body, I find my mood lifting and courage returning.<br />
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I am starting to believe in myself again.Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-82510209320739335012012-09-07T07:40:00.000-04:002012-09-07T07:40:33.456-04:00FRIDAY CHECK LIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<ol>
<li>Got the eating back under control! One perfect day led to resuming low-carb eating and getting rid of a lot of carbs also got rid of the feeling that I needed to munch. I feel full and the cravings are gone.</li>
<li>New mattress on order and to be delivered later today. I hope the firmer and more supportive bed will decrease some of the nighttime discomfort I have felt since I suffered the injury back last December.</li>
<li>Conventions are history. Wish more people showed an interest in their government and gathered facts from neutral sources. As for me...FOUR MORE YEARS!</li>
<li>Harold and I are celebrating out 43rd Anniversary today! That was certainly a wise choice on my part!</li>
<li>Heading to the orchard for the last of the Macintosh apples they have set back for me! Harold loves them.</li>
<li>We are promised a beautiful Fall-like weekend and I can't wait!</li>
<li>Come on Fall television! I have loved my summer series but I am ready to see the return of my favorites!</li>
<li>The picture above? What I dream of every time I do my Physical Therapy exercises! lol</li>
</ol>
Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-70437598176477513342012-09-05T05:49:00.001-04:002012-09-05T05:49:15.522-04:00REIGNING MYSELF INHow many times have we lost a fair amount of weight and began feeling better just to find ourselves slipping back into old habits? It is as if we believe somewhere down deep inside that we can maintain the new shape and still eat just as we did before!<br />
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Wrong!<br />
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Lose weight and have the occasional treat and everything is fine. But start slipping in a few more here and there and the weight loss stops and the pounds begin creeping back on! And what will happen to that normal blood sugar?<br />
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I found myself doing just that the past few weeks and decided it was time to pull on the reigns and slow this buggy down! It is time for my "One Perfect Day" trick. I have used this device many times when I find myself being a little too cocky and throwing in a few too many goodies.<br />
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I go back to the journal, write down a menu plan for what I will eat that day, then set my goal to do just that and nothing that is unplanned. One perfect day and I am usually back on track and wondering why I felt the need for all those extras.<br />
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Wish for me a perfect day and I will do the same for you! (Put down those fat-free pretzels! I see you!)<br />
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I have been able to stop going to the therapist and have a complete set of exercises which I do faithfully every day. I am beginning to feel the strength build in my legs and the pain is more manageable. I want endurance and that will only come when I am able to do more walking. I still have a lot of knee and lower back pain when I walk very much so I am hesitant...that's what pain does...it is a warning, after all!<br />
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I do feel more confident that time and continued exercise will bring further flexibility and strength and the pain will continue to decrease a little at a time.<br />
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I'm also considering a new firm mattress to replace my old softy! Mama Bear needs to step up to a hard bed with maybe just a little padding! Papa Bear had to do that years ago and is doing the "I told you so" routine nonstop!<br />
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Back to my coffee before it gets cold!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-3479187773998135082012-08-16T08:58:00.003-04:002012-08-16T08:58:38.608-04:00ME? EXERCISE?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I actually own a stability ball, hand weights, and exercise bands! And I use them on a daily basis.<br />
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Me?<br />
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What I never could do to prevent injury, I am now forced to do to recover from just that. If I only knew then what I know now!<br />
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I am progressing with Physical Therapy for the lower back and left leg sciatic pain and doing a daily exercise routine at home as well as a weekly session with the therapist. She has been adding a few exercises each week and I am performing like a well-trained seal!<br />
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I had a minor setback last week when she had me warm up on a bike with resistance and my right knee disagreed strongly! It hurt so bad the next day that I really thought I had done some damage in there but I kept up with my routine with slight modifications for the tortured knee and it began improving along with the left side.<br />
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We agreed to do a less stressful warm-up this week and all is well.<br />
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My therapy sessions have concentrated on my lower body up until now but she added some upper body exercises yesterday which should help strengthen my arms and shoulders. To be truthful...there are no parts of this poor old body that don't need some attention as far as flexibility and strength training are concerned and anything I can do to prevent future injuries, I am all for!<br />
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I am eating well and journaling my food intake. My weight loss slowed down last month after the 12 pound loss the month before and I totally understood that but wanted to assure myself that I wasn't sneaking in some old bad habits. I have always been a carbohydrate junkie and it is easy for me to let my food intake reflect that. It is something I have to fight all the time! Give ma a piece of garlic bread any day!<br />
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The good thing is that I also love vegetables in any form and have no problem eating them as well as the healthier high fiber carbs. I just have to be mindful.<br />
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Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the Summer into Fall season. Nothing excites me more than Fall weather. It has always been my favorite time of year and sends me straight into the kitchen with pumpkin and squash in hand and cinnamon and nutmeg in mind!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-81154945765824335052012-08-03T09:01:00.001-04:002012-08-03T09:01:59.042-04:00SOMETHING TO WORK FOR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had my first Physical Therapy session last night and the therapist definitely honed in on the right area to work with. Most of my discomfort is in my lower back and left leg and we began with six exercises for me to do daily as a beginning set. I could definitely feel that we were working on the correct muscles!<br />
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I had wondered why I was still having sciatic irritation even after the surgery to free it up from the bulging disc and band of ligaments in my lower back. The surgeon had done his job and yet I was still having some of the previous symptoms. I found out yesterday that the sciatic nerve can also be irritated by tight muscles in the lower back and by exercising all the muscles in that area that I can strengthen them and also cause them to be more flexible which will ease the pain!<br />
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This PT thing just might be my answer!<br />
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My friend, Arlene, has warned me that I must be faithful to the routine and consistent in carrying out the therapy I will be prescribed in order for it to be successful and I will try to to that with every thing in me!<br />
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In the meantime, I am planning a little Fall trip which will include myself, my husband, daughter, and granddaughter. Audrey will be off school for two weeks in October and we decided to take advantage of that to get away for a few days. We tried to include our other daughter and her kids but she couldn't get the time off...darn!<br />
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One of our favorite Fall trips when the kids were little was an annual visit to Ludington, Michigan for Harold to fish for salmon. We would camp in the park there and the sights, sounds, and smells of those trips are a vital part of our kid's memories of those times. We will be stopping there for a night so Lara can show her daughter a little of her Mom's history.<br />
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We will then go to Traverse City for a night at the water park there. Audrey will love it and even Grandma has ordered a swimsuit and plans to join in the fun! (How far have I come???). It will be a first time for us to be in that area and we hope to have some time to enjoy the view of the water outside as well as the park!<br />
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And then on to a town I have wanted to visit for ages! Frankenmuth! Can't wait to take in the Bavarian theme and the Christmas shop! And maybe a little German food!<br />
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So I have lots to look forward to in the next couple of months and am amped and ready to go get myself feeling better and spend some time enjoying myself a little!<br />
<br />Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-41208192777773060372012-07-29T12:38:00.004-04:002012-07-29T12:38:45.848-04:00PT!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I begin Physical Therapy Thursday! Hope it helps. I have been making steady improvement and I want to add a set of exercises for my back to keep me injury free in the future. I am going to give it my best!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-77691335327934492792012-07-26T07:48:00.005-04:002012-07-26T07:48:57.493-04:00WHAT A GREAT DAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h5 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;">
"Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. <br />
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and Lots of time with HIM/HER. "</h5>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My brother sent me an e-card for my birthday that included the above drawing and quote and I can't agree more! I try to find something to make me laugh every day. I love to be with upbeat people. I enjoy funny movies and stories with happy endings.</span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had Facebook messages from so many people and was surrounded with love and best wishes all day. We made a trip to a local casino and Harold even hit for a grand! Now, that made my day!</span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And made me laugh! </span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></h5>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-63884754612167234322012-07-22T09:44:00.000-04:002012-07-22T09:44:25.653-04:00THERE IS NOTHING LIKE FAMILY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After months of feeling less than stellar, I have to say that last evening was one of the best evenings of my entire life. Harold and I joined our daughters and their husbands for dinner to celebrate Lara's birthday which is today and daughter, Sarah, and her husband decided to make it a joint treat on them and included me in the festivities since my birthday is Wednesday.<br />
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We had dinner at a restaurant that overlooks Monroe Lake in Bloomington, Indiana...you can see it over Lara's shoulder...and it was lovely. We had wonderful food, a little libation, shared some blackberry and peach cobbler for dessert and laughed and had a wonderful time!<br />
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For the first time in many months, I felt free of all the pain and the stress that it has brought to my life and just experienced the happiness that being with the most special people in your life can bring! (Hubby thinks the libation helped, but I prefer to think it was the company!)<br />
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There is nothing like the love of family to make you feel you can conquer anything and live with renewed energy. I have so much to be thankful for and have so many things to be joyful about that the next year of my life will certainly be one of adventure and life as I have never experienced before!<br />
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Happy Birthday to my dear Lara and a happy Sunday to my blogger friends. May you feel joy and love of family on this beautiful day.Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-17567715227494338212012-07-21T13:02:00.000-04:002012-07-21T13:02:04.120-04:00CHEW CHEW!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the tricks I've used to lose weight is to SLOW DOWN when I eat and I've accomplished that by counting the number of times I chew a bite of food. I chew until every morsel is gone and then go on to the next bite. It makes me more aware of the food and has also made me more aware of the fact that certain foods require much more chewing than others.<br />
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Cottage cheese goes pretty quickly but when I add some chopped green onion to it, a bite takes 56 chews! A tomato chunk with the skin and seeds intact took 55. Kidney bean salad with some onion and fresh corn takes 84! And even a bagel crisp with seeds, takes 50 chews.<br />
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So I'm eating better foods to get more chews, it takes more time to eat, and my tummy has a chance to tell me that it has had enough and I can stop eating now...and now is when I stop! I try to make myself aware of the first signal that I have had enough and stop right then no matter what is left on the plate.<br />
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Recent studies have shown that the body works harder and uses more calories to digest food that has more fiber such as bran, seeds, or skin than it does more refined food even when they contain the same calories. A good reason to choose better foods!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-18919933950925165472012-07-19T10:02:00.001-04:002012-07-19T10:02:35.182-04:00HOW DO YOU HANDLE SAMPLING IN THE KITCHEN?Ever watch America's Test Kitchen on PBS? I'm a fan of Chris Kimbell and his crew and love watching them prepare foods that they have researched the heck out of. I have to admit that I seldom prepare any of them. Watching them enjoy the end results is usually enough for me.<br />
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Their job requires them to sample foods many times a day and the staff were asked how they balance the requirements of the job and staying fit. Go <a href="http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/test-kitchen-community/2012/07/giveaway-silly-question-staying-fit-as-a-food-lover/">here</a> to see their responses to the question. It is informative and a good example of how we can spend time in the kitchen and not super-size ourselves!<br />
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(My favorite thing is to use well-known and favorite recipes that don't require me to do a lot of sampling. And I love using the end results as gifts to family and friends so I don't have the food sitting around the house tempting me.)Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-90285044191804866272012-07-18T08:28:00.001-04:002012-07-18T08:28:23.709-04:00SO TRUE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1zZddBa5_kp_DkJP7k0jcf3OG4c6rKI6JjvcOi_l6Gw97CyI2nglM3lMszPc4SLK4S27TjFrzbI8ZwCIFbyDAn89nckRNjYFhRWH6S_3N73wC2zm4NOEZ7N3HDHjIxeWIh7bjukfy2M/s1600/mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1zZddBa5_kp_DkJP7k0jcf3OG4c6rKI6JjvcOi_l6Gw97CyI2nglM3lMszPc4SLK4S27TjFrzbI8ZwCIFbyDAn89nckRNjYFhRWH6S_3N73wC2zm4NOEZ7N3HDHjIxeWIh7bjukfy2M/s320/mailbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A blogger friend just described we modern day blogger friends as the new version of the pen pals of the past and I agree wholeheartedly! I look forward to your comments on my posts, your blog entries, e-mails, Tweets, and Facebook notes just as much as I ever did the letters I received from my grade school pen pal.<br />
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Communication is key. We need each other.<br />
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Since retiring, I have lost touch with the friends I had at the hospital. We had common interests but as time wore on, we got together less and less frequently. I don't live in my hometown...though I have reached out to some old classmates from high school thanks to Facebook. My family lives about an hour south of us and the older ones are passing and the younger ones moving to other areas. My social circle has dwindled more and more over the past few years.<br />
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So I have found myself staying in touch more and more by internet and making new acquaintances in the same way. I treasure those friendships every bit as much as I do the former ones.<br />
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With my recent illness, I found myself withdrawing and I was smart enough to recognize it and force myself to open up again. It has been good for me to write again and to open myself to my friends. We all need people in our lives. And I love that my blogger friends are from various areas of the country...and even out of this country...and that they are young and old, and of various backgrounds. My life is richer for that.<br />
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I've often thought how much my own elderly mother would have loved the internet. I can picture her keeping in touch with friends and having a ball with all the games!<br />
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It will be super hot today in Indianapolis...again! So the man of the house and I have planned for him to take half a day off from work and we're going to go somewhere cool for some fun in the afternoon...kinda like playing hookey from school!<br />
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Hope you have a wonderful day planned and thanks again for being my modern pen pals!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-29178647523055997712012-07-17T09:30:00.002-04:002012-07-17T09:30:20.800-04:00BREAKFAST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchpE1-PBtILYZTvQCKh0B_iP2df0bjDvHjA8ktiv1NE6ZKB-5EVuoXre3o2DvTy-HaRbGfYxP8oHm04In95zu0GYd1AM1uliVJ9ZOt_ZcT-FS0JEAmbUtzYk8ner8Qj2-tF_i5tR9gGA/s1600/breakfast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchpE1-PBtILYZTvQCKh0B_iP2df0bjDvHjA8ktiv1NE6ZKB-5EVuoXre3o2DvTy-HaRbGfYxP8oHm04In95zu0GYd1AM1uliVJ9ZOt_ZcT-FS0JEAmbUtzYk8ner8Qj2-tF_i5tR9gGA/s320/breakfast.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Hard to see everything in this picture, but I had some fabulous tomatoes on the kitchen counter this morning that were provided by one of our favorite neighbors and I knew I had to find a way to have one of them for breakfast.<br />
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I had some shaved ham from Sunday's lunch, a little fresh corn cut from the cob from last night's supper, a strip of Muenster cheese, and some sweet onions that are like sugar so I made a scramble with an egg and placed it over a tomato which I had cut into chunks and adorned with freshly ground sea salt and pepper!<br />
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Heaven!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-59713294638874667972012-07-15T20:07:00.000-04:002012-07-15T20:07:15.806-04:00ENTERTAINING THE MODERN GRANDCHILD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time was when grandchildren came for Sunday dinners that there was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, yeast rolls and butter, pies and cakes. There was fruit on the table when I was a kid, but much of the fresh berries and apples were made into sugared desserts or salads with marshmallows and mayonnaise on them.<br />
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My grandchildren study the Sunday menu like they are little dieticians!<br />
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"Is that low-fat?"<br />
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"Does that drink have caffeine in it?"<br />
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"Do you have any yogurt?"<br />
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"Is there sugar in that?"<br />
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It has happened to me so many times over the past few years that my Sunday feasts have become studies in fresh fruit, low-fat meats, whole grain breads, and drinks with no sugar or caffeine in them.<br />
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I'm happy that they are learning more about nutrition but I also worry that they are being pushed so hard that they forget about moderation.<br />
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In losing my recent weight, I have not forgotten how good a McDonald's fish sandwich is. I love them. But I now have them infrequently and ask for the cheese to be left off and remove one half of the bun. It is almost half the calories that way and just as satisfying. I have a side salad with just a few drops of real Ranch dressing on it instead of the fries, and I have water or sugar-free iced tea.<br />
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We had homemade peanut butter cookies while on vacation and I treated myself to just one after the kitchen was cleaned up and I savored it!<br />
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I served up a lemon crunch cake with some beautiful fresh strawberries for dessert today. It was cut into very small wedges...at least 16 for the medium size bundt cake and the berries were served sans sugar since they were so fresh and sweet. I did add a dollop of Cool Whip on the side if someone (Grandpa) wanted it. It was a dessert but very moderate. The kids still questioned it!<br />
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I hope they stay slim and healthy but I also hope that we don't scare kids out of enjoying food altogether!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-25504269763081857822012-07-13T09:53:00.001-04:002012-07-13T10:15:53.348-04:00THE RETURN OF THE MISSING BLOGGER...and other stories.<br />
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I feel brave enough to write again and to do so, hopefully, with more levity, passion, and spirit than when I dropped out of sight. I'm still on the path to healing and I've found that reaching out and being in touch with others is an essential part of that process. Frankly, I miss you. Some of you have been with me for years and though you have never met me in person, nor I, you, I feel that you are some of my truest friends and confidants and I need your comments and reassurances as much as I do those of my family.<br />
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Long and short of it is that I've had my surgery on my back and my surgeon did all he could to repair the damage. I praise him for his skill and his caring. He was a marvel. But I still have pain...both physical and, sadly, emotional, that I find it hard to deal with. It has left a normally upbeat and I think brave person doubting her own ability to soldier forward. It has left me angry that I am not the person I was a year ago, embarrassed that I am not as brave as many of you who have faced far worse and continued to be spirited and engaged while facing pain and uncertainty, and mad at myself for not taking better care of myself in the past.<br />
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But the good news is that I want to feel better! I am fighting to repair what is broken and I am doing my best to face each day with courage.<br />
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Today would have been my mother's birthday and I mention that because I can not think of a braver, stronger, more talented role model to pattern myself after. She was the epitome of the woman who never let adversity shake her, who faced each day with a plan of attack and was able to muster those around her to assist in whatever task she needed done. I pray for her spirit to be with me as I face each day because I can't think of anyone I'd rather pattern my recovery after.<br />
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I have managed to get off 60 pounds since all this began and have my blood sugar and hypertension under control. I am no longer taking any narcotic medications and am handling the pain with exercise, anti-inflammatory medications, and medication that makes the nerve endings less irritable.<br />
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I am also scheduling appointments that I have neglected like a GYN exam and promise that I will no longer ignore my health because I am an overweight woman!<br />
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Please let me hear from you if you are still around. Your cheery little comments always make my day and I promise I will try to respond in kind. I love you all and have appreciated your well wishes and e-mails asking after me. You are true friends!<br />
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<br />Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-52210137278836223542012-04-22T10:58:00.002-04:002012-04-22T11:01:14.919-04:00TRISHA YEARWOOD'S CROCKPOT MACARONI AND CHEESE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_2Pb1VdwIlxDmCQlT-BhTbBeXyDGTXooBF0JB4yhu67TE77TMKg_ioB4FpbWr_vLoW1dPyT2NMfdoLlxcKbb4UENfLjRtowy-g7wz_ahCNd6dQO4zCeZm7pWznxaMM6u-hpGE9Q3Oxk/s1600/MAC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_2Pb1VdwIlxDmCQlT-BhTbBeXyDGTXooBF0JB4yhu67TE77TMKg_ioB4FpbWr_vLoW1dPyT2NMfdoLlxcKbb4UENfLjRtowy-g7wz_ahCNd6dQO4zCeZm7pWznxaMM6u-hpGE9Q3Oxk/s320/MAC.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I love Trisha Yearwood's singing, her cozy marriage to Garth Brooks, and the homey recipes she has shared in her cookbooks. This recipe is from her new, second cookbook and was featured on her Saturday television show on The Food Network.<br />
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As soon as I saw it, I knew I would be making it to take to my daughter's house today to be part of Harold's birthday dinner! Easy! And tasty! And who would have guessed that it would have that "baked in the oven" crispy edge when cooked in a crockpot?<br />
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<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/crockpot-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/index.html">Go here for the recipe!</a><br />
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I wish you could smell this. When the heck is dinner, anyway?Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-46597594466700595212012-04-20T05:56:00.002-04:002012-04-20T05:56:50.175-04:00AT LAST!I didn't realize it had been two weeks since I blogged! My head has not been into writing for a while now but I finally got the good news I have been waiting for since December that the neurosurgeon feels quite confident that he can fix what is wrong in my back with a fairly simple surgery and that I can go home the same day!<br />
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It seems the hardest part might be not lifting anything or doing any housework for the month following the surgery. Can you imagine? Harold will be ready for surgery by the time I am allowed to get back to my routine again! I'm sure all you housewives can imagine the frustration of seeing things that need to be done and not being able to do them! But if it means getting back to normal, I will wear a blindfold!<br />
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Now to the eating...<br />
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I first saw the surgeon a week ago and he wanted me to have an EMG before he progressed any further. I had so hoped that the decision would be made that day and I was so disappointed...and worried...that he would not be able to do anything. The tension was building already.<br />
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I had the EMG Tuesday and began worrying some more and the time between Tuesday and yesterday when I saw the surgeon again was filled with the "I need to eat!" movie reel going through my head. I understood what was going on and I let myself seek comfort in the one thing that soothes me the most!<br />
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By the time yesterday rolled around, I had convinced myself that I was going to have to live with pain and weakness in my left leg the rest of my life and was trying to prepare myself for that reality. Comfort? Yes, I needed comfort and as crazy as it sounds to anyone who is not comforted by food, eating actually made me feel better at the time.<br />
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Not crazy excess...not outrageous binging! Just some cheesy biscuits with supper. A bowl of cereal mid-morning. Some Fritos while I read a book.<br />
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I know there are other ways to comfort myself and if I had gotten bad news from the doctor, I would have gone that route and sought comfort in other ways. I am not a dummy!<br />
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But I wasn't there five minutes before he told me I had suffered long enough and he began the process of scheduling the surgery! And in those brief moments, the desire to overeat was gone! Hope returned and the promise of having this problem fixed made me want to smile for the first time in months. And it made me want to protect my future health!<br />
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Today is a good day already!<br />
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I had to wait a couple of weeks for the surgery because I have been taking a baby aspirin, fish oil capsules, and Naproxin every day and they can all cause the blood not to clot easily. I have to get them out of my system before it is safe to undergo the procedure.<br />
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Hope. I have hope again and it is a beautiful thing!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-68695387774349850312012-04-05T07:40:00.002-04:002012-04-05T07:45:23.434-04:00We will go pictureless today because Blogger won't finish loading it for me...or I'm doing something wrong...but let's blame Blogger!<br />
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Finally got an appointment to see a neurosurgeon on the 19th! Hope he says he can fix me! He will be my favorite person ever if he can.<br />
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Beautiful sunrise this morning!<br />
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Eating is progressing on track. In fact, I have had a cold for the last week and I'm not really interested at the moment because I can't taste anything...a blessing if you are trying to eat less!<br />
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Do you find that , for economy's sake, you almost have to eat foods that you would not choose for the sake of losing weight? I hate letting food go to waste and preparing a casserole with pasta to get rid of the cottage cheese, grated cheese, and leftover Sloppy Joes meat may be a frugal thing to do...and pretty tasty...it would not be the typical weight loss meal I would choose. It is not grilled salmon and a green salad. But I did fit it in by having a small portion and dividing the remainder of the casserole up in equally small portions for the freezer for quick lunches for Harold and me. If Lean Cuisine can do it, then so can I.<br />
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Life is not perfect and we just have to deal with reality. Truth be told, I could probably lose weight by eating any food out there if I ate the proper portions and watched the bottom line for calories at the end of the day. Just avoiding the high caloric between meal snacks, the slabs of butter on top of muffins and cornbread, and eating high-fat and sugar laden things like doughnuts makes a huge dent in the number of calories I was eating at times.<br />
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Trading raw fruits and vegetables for that type of snacking has not only helped me lose weight, but has also made me feel better. I hope that making that type of adjustments to my eating pattern will help me continue to lose and keep it off by helping me realize that I don't have to be "on a diet" or eat only "diet foods" to accomplish my goals.<br />
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<br />Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-42867694235234222062012-04-02T02:16:00.002-04:002012-04-02T02:16:25.613-04:00INTERESTING!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08LzAahO8jSPvLqnACz66Kx1hYd1z8NJaDFwX8cJSthA7ZjdgFuE__t3XvTMXmY2o8-FoEGOM4V1DZj5LisPgzYwIVvF2ufWGeiVtyaQyxCVu6_GCVk0bmS48XdBeTHSswmCeWRERy6U/s1600/weight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08LzAahO8jSPvLqnACz66Kx1hYd1z8NJaDFwX8cJSthA7ZjdgFuE__t3XvTMXmY2o8-FoEGOM4V1DZj5LisPgzYwIVvF2ufWGeiVtyaQyxCVu6_GCVk0bmS48XdBeTHSswmCeWRERy6U/s640/weight.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
Look at all the benefits of losing weight. There are so many of these symptoms that we may not be aware of but I have noticed a difference in the urinary incontinence (100%), Gerd (hardly any symptoms at all), hypertension (down a few points with each Dr. visit), sleep apnea (way better!), and foot and leg swelling (drastically decreased!).<br />
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I'm still avoiding most carbs, especially sugar and white flour, and am eating reduced portions.<br />
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We ate at the Mexican restaurant while my nephew was here and I knew I would want to eat some of the good things they offer so when the house guacamole came, I dished out a couple of spoonsful and about six chips and enjoyed them thoroughly! They had a dinner with three types of tamales, a salad, and beans. I took one bite each of the pork and beef tamales and about half of the sweet corn one, one bite of the salad which was heavily dressed, and maybe two bites of the beans. Everyone was having dessert and sharing it with their partner, (I think everyone is doing this nowdays!), and Harold and I wanted to sample the restaurants chocolate tamale which resembles a molten lava cake, and the vanilla bean ice cream and strawberries that came with it. I had one bite of the tamale, two or three of the ice cream, and the strawberries.<br />
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It was a great meal. I took my time eating, had pleasant conversation with the family, drank water, and left feeling I had a good sample of everything without blowing my meal plan and without feeling stuffed. And the best thing...without feeling I had cheated or needed to feel guilty.<br />
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Life happens and we need to be able to enjoy our food again without overindulging. I'm beginning to see that this is the way I can lose the weight and still be happy. I feel best when I am eating to my basic plan 90% of the time and eating moderately when I eat foods that are more caloric.<br />
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Hope you are all doing well and enjoying Spring!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-20993147858389512452012-03-30T07:34:00.000-04:002012-03-30T07:34:41.377-04:00UPDATE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgcFY23pTbNr9S_UVz_uZFf6db_NwqlcpWljBdtRqqKsYPpEEQygSfoiI4I_Ayb4ypklQPWgf894jNPGq6oPQEuxICb9y3CHMp4yLaYu5nMEBmS3p0m9tM-rNCbvbX3aci9rU3620bzM/s1600/IMGP0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgcFY23pTbNr9S_UVz_uZFf6db_NwqlcpWljBdtRqqKsYPpEEQygSfoiI4I_Ayb4ypklQPWgf894jNPGq6oPQEuxICb9y3CHMp4yLaYu5nMEBmS3p0m9tM-rNCbvbX3aci9rU3620bzM/s320/IMGP0856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Our little enclosed side yard needs some TLC...which it is probably not going to get, sadly...but I couldn't help take some pictures yesterday of the colorful blooms! Harold has had to mow twice already and it isn't even April!<br />
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I weighed this morning and have lost another 5 1/4 pounds! What a gift!<br />
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The pain management doctor has finally decided that the injections are not going to work and I should be hearing from the neurosurgeon's office for an appointment in the next few days. I'm hoping that he will say that he can do something for me. Fingers crossed.<br />
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We're going out this evening with our older daughter and her husband, my brother and his partner, and my nephew and his daughter to a great Mexican restaurant here in town. My nephew and his daughter live in Washington and are in town for a Science Teacher Convention. I haven't seen my nephew in probably 20 years and have never met his daughter. I'm really looking forward to seeing him again...not to mention indulging in some of the restaurant's famous guacamole! My younger brothers and I grew up with our nieces and nephews and were just a few years apart.<br />
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I've been knitting 12" squares for a couple of afghans I'm working on. They are samplers and each square is a different pattern and color. Some of the squares are a challenge to knit with intricate cables or complicated lace patterns. I gave up on one after I had to tear it out the sixth time! I'm convinced there was an error in the instructions and not the fault of the knitter! lol The colors are all muted and soft shades of beige, cream, gold, and green. I'll have pictures later.<br />
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I tried this recipe for<a href="http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2012/03/chicken-yakisoba-563-recipe-094-serving.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BudgetBytes+%28Budget+Bytes%29&utm_content=Google+Reader"> Chicken Yakisoba</a> one night this week and loved it! I prepared all the vegetables early in the day and used cooked chicken strips that I always have in the house. I didn't have the pepper sauce they used so I substituted the hot sauce we use for Buffalo Chicken instead. I will definitely make it again either with shrimp or maybe without meat at all.<br />
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I'll close with my favorite Idol contestant, Phil Phillips.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C9m3Zj_5934?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-7390523460822360962012-03-26T09:36:00.001-04:002012-03-26T09:36:56.146-04:00WHAT A GREAT DAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDE_DP9E5SQIBSeAqrrehyogoBYjE5udqWvbZL8dU4zPHgZSYn5YeALrcU6iBDQV3OA4C7X0wtdgpT3BpoZYkTDzERuypBm0vW8rVnY4EI8vsE8zy5TnZFxNYo66IwDU2nRX4nKf8jdE/s1600/flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDE_DP9E5SQIBSeAqrrehyogoBYjE5udqWvbZL8dU4zPHgZSYn5YeALrcU6iBDQV3OA4C7X0wtdgpT3BpoZYkTDzERuypBm0vW8rVnY4EI8vsE8zy5TnZFxNYo66IwDU2nRX4nKf8jdE/s320/flowers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My granddaughters made me this sunny flower arrangement from coffee filters and Dixie cups! Isn't it cute?<br />
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We had the kids and grandkids here yesterday for lunch and it was so nice. We had Sloppy Joes and hot dogs, a broccoli salad from my older daughter, chips, grapes, and some angel food cake...a favorite of the grandkids...and some Triple Chocolate Chip cupcakes for dessert. But the best thing was just being together on such a beautiful day and being outside on the deck at the end of March!<br />
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One of my grandsons picked a dandelion and stuck it behind my ear, a kiss on the cheek, and then gave me a lucky penny. I feel like the richest woman on earth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xqRSpxbZbPo2uxUMv0G0Dhw8Ise4914oArzFHVv2PWwzK5Lw7sCj76e6v3zJTpRLsXmpv48dCu723J9PsZoWoMdX6SfeDWKhQD-yMbnXV8GLhm1m5WpFo0EDXj5TNeaukmIVaNGZ5vc/s1600/boys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xqRSpxbZbPo2uxUMv0G0Dhw8Ise4914oArzFHVv2PWwzK5Lw7sCj76e6v3zJTpRLsXmpv48dCu723J9PsZoWoMdX6SfeDWKhQD-yMbnXV8GLhm1m5WpFo0EDXj5TNeaukmIVaNGZ5vc/s320/boys.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
This is two of the grandsons digging for hidden treasure by the barn in our back yard. They actually found a few objects and were so proud of themselves! They even refilled the hole before leaving.<br />
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The kids always ask their Grandpa to take them fishing on the dock by the little lake out back. They caught seven fish yesterday...the girls are the most serious although Teagan worries about the health of the fish they throw back after she has caught them. She wants to be a veterinarian and loves her animals!<br />
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Audrey loves to fish and is good at it. She is staying a couple of days with us since she is on Spring Break this week and accompanied her Grandpa to the dock in the evening to feed the carp. He has them trained to expect food around seven every evening and they gather there by the dock and go crazy when he throws the food in for them. (I have an almost identical picture of the two of them at the dock when Audrey was only three!)<br />
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Hope you had a great weekend and gathered a few memories of your own to put away for another day.Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-7850616909188537482012-03-23T11:04:00.001-04:002012-03-23T11:04:14.819-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidRmlm-ZAx-ZCl2EBj98aSaTMutCkMakczhk3WU0eM85mEWOUnuGok8d25CMCc6RWRJVpLb7_5dCVwZxrpMZqB6yDwkHPyKWs4hGwPq3b9jG8S9rZ291drXJpCln-lrcU2rkgRj3bGpo/s1600/character.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidRmlm-ZAx-ZCl2EBj98aSaTMutCkMakczhk3WU0eM85mEWOUnuGok8d25CMCc6RWRJVpLb7_5dCVwZxrpMZqB6yDwkHPyKWs4hGwPq3b9jG8S9rZ291drXJpCln-lrcU2rkgRj3bGpo/s320/character.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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I don't have much to report except I'm eating well and my clothes keep getting looser so I imagine I will have a decent weight loss at the end of the month...it's also ok if it is just a pound or two...every little bit helps and I am sticking with a plan that I can live with every day.<br />
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I am heeding the advice of blogger friend, Cathy, to divide my day into acceptable calorie amounts for each meal and a couple of snacks and to treat them as separate entities. If I eat more calories than I should in any unit, then accept that and just move onto the next unit and eat normally. It is so empowering! I used to divide mine into 24 hour units and there is a tendency to borrow calories from one meal to use in another and that can really get you messed up. Or, even worse, to feel that you have already ruined that day and you might as well go on and eat what you want for the rest of the day! Jumping right back on the plan for the next meal or snack of the day ends that "I might as well" craziness right there!<br />
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I loved <a href="http://simplemom.net/how-to-find-true-freedom-with-food/">this article</a> about the difference between guilt and shame when approaching food and want to share it with you.<br />
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The reason I chose the image above was to remind myself to spread kindness throughout my day. My husband and I try to smile and engage others when we can. We were at our favorite Greek spot last night and they have half off coupons in the newspaper each week that Harold cuts out and keeps in his wallet since we find ourselves eating there at least once a week.<br />
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While we were waiting for our dinners to arrive last night, we spotted a young couple in another booth who were obviously not well off. Their clothing was ill-fitting and they were carefully wrapping up everything that they had not eaten to take home with them, being careful not to leave anything. They were poring over the bill when Harold gave them one of his coupons. They thanked him, read over it carefully, and then came and thanked us again with big smiles. Their cheery attitude was contagious and we were so happy to have helped in any way we could and also glad to share a moment with a couple of strangers in a world where people sit and never talk to or take notice of those around them.<br />
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We have noticed when we travel in the South that people are so much more open to greeting you with a smile and a hello or a wave from the porch as you pass by in your car. We made note of it and promised we would try to carry that attitude home with us but it is hard to remember sometimes.<br />
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Even city to city, we notice a difference. I have family in and near Columbus, Indiana and have attended numerous funerals there in the past. As a funeral procession passes down the street the people in Columbus make a routine of stopping their cars no matter which side of the street they are on and pull off to the side, many placing their hands over their hearts as we pass or the men removing their hats in respect. I am always moved by this expression of regard for the loss of those in the funeral procession. We never see that in Indianapolis. I wish we did. <br />
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Have a great weekend and be healthy!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-40060998068063144182012-03-19T08:42:00.001-04:002012-03-19T08:42:30.584-04:00THIS WORKS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx7d__MoyoAHkKt4L38f-bGpkeMd8uoxI6fyZPzubvi-X716FdvvVsF8ZigP2y2rmWx23Ys-gqjUYKlRRr3XFIqxhWKbdBFbFqrMK1x-MlinjXGo_ca8tqksZ3L1kyPcD8MZX0J9jXtM/s1600/shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx7d__MoyoAHkKt4L38f-bGpkeMd8uoxI6fyZPzubvi-X716FdvvVsF8ZigP2y2rmWx23Ys-gqjUYKlRRr3XFIqxhWKbdBFbFqrMK1x-MlinjXGo_ca8tqksZ3L1kyPcD8MZX0J9jXtM/s320/shower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I am a Pinterest idiot and see loads of cleaning suggestions every day. I tried this mixture for spraying on shower walls and the tub to get rid of soap scum and hard water build-up and it is awesome!<br />
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I have to warn that I sprayed it on the walls right after my shower last night and the smell of vinegar is strong for an hour or so but it was much more pleasant than the chemical odors from the shower sprays I have been using!<br />
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I sprayed it on and wiped it off with a microfiber towel and the tiles felt smooth and were so shiny that I was amazed. With my back the way it is, I don't want to have to do much scrubbing and this required nothing but a wipe off.<br />
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I didn't spray with water to rinse it off afterward but that would probably get rid of the lingering vinegar odor more quickly.<br />
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Go <a href="http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-vinegar-soap-scum-killa.html">here </a>for the complete instructions.<br />
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Now for my breakfast...strawberry breakfast bowl...again!<br />
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Let me know if you try this!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-87061511915922714372012-03-18T09:30:00.001-04:002012-03-18T09:30:30.848-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've probably used this image before but it is so true! And it works!<br />
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I'm so proud of Harold! He's eating half portions and taking the bun off hamburgers! And eating fruit instead of cookies! And he is proud of himself. I think he can learn to live with this. No sudden "diet" that demands that he not eat his favorite things any longer but just eating less of what he already enjoys. And the funny thing is, he is willing to edit out some of the favorite things because it is his decision to do so. He usually has a small pancake on the side with his weekend restaurant breakfast and instead of getting it and enjoying half of it, he eliminated it altogether this morning!<br />
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Moderation and making more mindful selections may just be his key to success!<br />
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Why is this lesson so hard to learn?<br />
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And to eat something that is just average? Beh! If I'm going to eat a cookie it is going to be a homemade jewel of sweet delight...like the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies my grandkids made and brought to me last Sunday! One of those with a cup of coffee was worth every calorie! And doubly delicious because it was made with love!<br />
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What a glorious early Spring we have had! Who wouldn't be happy on a morning like this?<br />
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Love to all of you!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-8957539027554851742012-03-16T07:29:00.001-04:002012-03-16T07:29:31.843-04:00AFTER THE RAIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QW1iH8mHGozZYOLcsKhU9QVNyWHyZocbXVKJ5MWnNbcBMmvGnJ1rdTcZC0UqX0VAKUVtWtBAdZLzM_rP23rBN8tJeCzeiqpZ2CI0mz-1TqWpOtjVA4uRg7KpbM0qV8OuULgsCvF5YOM/s1600/rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QW1iH8mHGozZYOLcsKhU9QVNyWHyZocbXVKJ5MWnNbcBMmvGnJ1rdTcZC0UqX0VAKUVtWtBAdZLzM_rP23rBN8tJeCzeiqpZ2CI0mz-1TqWpOtjVA4uRg7KpbM0qV8OuULgsCvF5YOM/s320/rain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This will be a good day! After my little rant to clear the air of all my frustrations, yesterday was a wonderful day. Doesn't the air always feel fresh and sweet after a summer rain? That's me...all fresh and sweet!<br />
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I don't know if you notice, but more than frequently, as I log what I have eaten at a meal, I will remark that I ate a portion and gave the rest to Harold. Well, apparently I have done that far too often! He had his regular check-up with his doctor yesterday afternoon and found that as I have been losing weight, he has been finding it!<br />
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Luckily, his blood sugar has improved from the last visit but his B/P is up and he has to get the weight down again. I would love to portion out reasonable amounts of the proper healthy foods for him but that just doesn't work for us. He is his own man and will eventually fall back to eating his favorite foods. He has always been a big man with a good appetite and he enjoys his big breakfasts! He will cut back to all the healthy portions and all that for the remainder of the day but he has a really hard time resisting the weekend breakfasts out with the biscuits and gravy and fried potatoes with a pancake on the side. He loves it!<br />
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We discussed it on the way home from the doctor last night and I suggested that he try to cut out anything with the dreaded sugar in it and back away from white flour and we both know that he can do that any time but weekend mornings and then he is just sad as sad if he eats anything but his Big Man breakfast! So we came up with a plan that he would only eat half of what they bring him and leave the rest and he agreed to that.<br />
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And I agree to just leave my uneaten food on my plate or take it home for the next day instead of handing it over to him! I love him and want to keep him around for a very long time!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6565004616694982512.post-59819224180684341812012-03-15T07:42:00.000-04:002012-03-15T07:42:41.809-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the worst things about dealing with this injury is the fear that I will do something to make it worse or to cause the severe pain to come back. It makes me afraid to bend over to clean in the bathroom. It makes me afraid to carry my heavier cookware from the range to the counter. It makes me afraid to run the sweeper.<br />
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The weakness in my left leg makes me afraid to get into the shower without Harold here to summon help in case I fall. It prevents me from going down two steps to get a can of beans from my storage shelves in the garage. It makes me worry about those six steps...yes, I've looked at the picture and counted them...up to the cabin we've rented for vacation.<br />
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And the fear just makes me so angry! This is not the way I want to live my life!<br />
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And I find myself angry and second guessing the doctors who have put me through eight or nine more weeks of this fear by having me try the steroid injections...three of them now...instead of sending me to the neurosurgeon when all this began. The frustration is so stressful!<br />
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In my world, if there is a problem, you go to the root of the problem and fix it. You don't try every other "easy" solution first. I painted fences around the farm for a couple of years to make money when I was a kid. I took the "easy" way out when I first started and painted over dirt or skipped the underside of boards. I was taken to task for that and had pointed out to me that the purpose of my painting the wood was to protect it and if I didn't get paint on the surface of the entire board, that I was wasting my time and the fence would rot. From then on, I did a proper job and the lesson stuck with me. Do it right the first time!<br />
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I'm aware that I don't know everything and that it might make sense to do steroidal therapy before attempting surgery, but to my way of thinking, if a nerve is impinged and there is a fairly simple surgery available to correct the problem, then it makes sense to fix it rather than trying to see if the patient can be helped with the pain. You can attempt easing the irritation around the impinged nerve or you can move the disc away from the nerve so it is no longer impinged! DUH!<br />
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You don't have to read this...I'm just looking at my floors and wishing I could get my sweeper out and vacuum them without worrying that I won't be able to walk without my cane or be in so much pain that I won't be able to sleep tonight.<br />
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I'm eating the same old things...my breakfast bowl with strawberries, salads for lunch, and meat with a side of vegetables for supper. I have an occasional apple or string cheese between meals. I weigh again at the end of the month and I will be happy with even a pound of lost weight! That's four more pounds of pressure off my back.<br />
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I have to give the most recent injection another week to work its magic and if it hasn't, they have promised me a referral to a surgeon. But I have heard that before. In the meantime, I am blowing off steam so I can have a more positive attitude the rest of this gorgeous March day!<br />
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Thanks for listening!Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040416772190103045noreply@blogger.com10