Monday, December 30, 2019

Post Christmas, Pre New Years

Had DH family (mom and dad, sister/BIL, 2 brothers) Christmas meal Saturday.  We had roast pork and ham.  Then we all split up the sides.  DH mom has said she is not doing the cooking anymore.  I can understand - she is 85 this March!  So, sister in law did the 2 meats and I did scalloped potatoes, Waldorf salad and deviled eggs.  The potatoes tasted fine, had a slight sweet smell to them...I did not realize until today that I had used unsweetened but vanilla almond milk.  Haha, what an idiot!  Oh, well I am not sure anyone really noticed.  We had so much yummy stuff.  I also did a version just for me with dairy free cheese substitute.  I just had some for lunch - pretty good.

Today I finished moving the dirt (and bulbs) from my raised flower bed that we had to move for the new fence we are having built.  Then I raked a bunch of wet leaves from our little yard and piled them on top of the beds (I have 3) to help insulate the bulbs and prevent weeds.  It was good the leaves were wet, hopefully they will stay on the beds and not blow off.  Bad because they were hard to rake!  It has turned cool here...and windy!  But still not supposed to get too cold yet this week.  That is good news, I am hiking 13 miles New Years Day!

Then I came inside and cleaned the house.  Did couple loads of laundry.  The dogs were running around and now they are napping.  DH is playing golf with his cousin.  I declined since I am doing yoga tonight.  I played DH and one of his brothers Friday at a challenging course 45 min away.  It was nice and I did ok.

My yoga instructor is out of town for 2 weeks, so I am taking advantage of a $21 for 21 days unlimited yoga...the only problem is I have to drive 30 miles.  Oh well, the price we pay for living in the boonies.

I am sitting here enjoying the view of my living room picture gallery.  Maybe I have posted before, but just in case.  Here is before:
Here is after.  I wanted to lighten up the living room.  I am sure the deer head is not everyone's cup of tea.  But it is DH and he is proud of his hunting and enjoys outdoor stuff.  He does not get to display most of his rustic, antique and old-timey stuff, so I give him the deer head in the living room.  It happens to go with our other rustic themed pictures. 

Have a great week and if I don't make it back here.  Have a Happy New Year.  Quiet night at home as usual for DH and I.  We are going to enjoy nachos and wings.  I will go to bed early for my long day of hiking NYD.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Christmas 2019 over, readyfor new decade!

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Warm, got up to 68 degrees!  We drove an hour for dinner with my sister and her family.  Took the convertible.  Had a nice lunch.  Drove home to check the dogs and then enjoyed another drive to DH cousin.  They served a nice dinner also, I just took some cookies and candy I made.  People really seem to enjoy home made goodies and so I enjoy that tradition.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas.  So much negative in the world, petty arguments, superficial social media, negative media and corrupt politicians and agenda serving media, greedy coporate policies.  I enjoyed church service with my friend last Saturday and midnight mass in my own town.  I am vowing to take time to touch base and focus on my spiritual journey and take time to enhance my mental state of mind and recalibrate when things are bothering me and I just plunge on ahead and ignore when I should be listening to myself more.  The world seems crazier and crazier, all I can control is my part of it.  How I interact with the world and what I reflect.

I love this time of year when we reflect on the last year and think what we want to do going forward.  And now that I am not working, I mean to really relish this process.  From my house to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...Happy New Decade!

Two of my cute doggies.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this is a period of descent and rest, of going within our homes, within ourselves and taking in all that we have been through, all that has passed in this full year which is coming to a close... like nature and the animal kingdom around us, this time of hibernation is so necessary for our tired limbs, our burdened minds.

Our modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time; alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, comfort food and consumerism.

...and yet the natural tug to go inwards as nearly all creatures are doing is strong and the weather so bitter that people are left feeling that winter is hard, because for those of us without burning fires and big festive families, it can be lonely and isolating. Whereas in actual fact winter is kind, she points us in her quiet soft way towards our inner self, towards this annual time of peace and reflection, embracing the darkness and forgiving, accepting and loving, embracing goodbye the past year.

Winter takes away the distractions, the buzz, and presents us with the perfect time to rest and withdraw into a womb like love, bringing fire & light to our hearth.

.. and then, just around the corner the new year will begin again, and like a seed planted deep in the earth, we will all rise with renewed energy once again to dance in the sunlight

-Brigit Anna McNeill

Friday, December 13, 2019

Well I Have Been Lazy Posting

Not really sure what has kept me away.  Maybe I am just busy running here and there, little projects around the house.  Nearly every day either gymn, yoga or a hike.  I hiked Tuesday 6 miles with the hiking club.  It was a chilly 27 degrees when we started out.  We took photos of frost flowers and ice cycles.  The official hikes are finished till spring but the members continue to hike almost all year here and post "impromptu hikes".

I was feeling really good about taking off a few pounds up and even right after Thankgiving.  Then I guess my awareness strayed and I took my foot off the accelerator and I feel I have gained a few - too scared to get on the scale.  I will continue to restart my determination and continue to put effort into looking for recipes that utilize veggies and lean meat and try to continue to avoid sugar.  I have not had much sugar, but I did get a little lax and have enjoyed some potatoes, corn and flour.  When I take these out, I know I will lose, it is just really a focus and intent that I have to really strive for.

This weekend will be difficult, my sister and I are driving to the city to see our Granny and our aunts.  We will pick up lunch for Granny.  I will just commit to something like Panera instead of burgers/pasta and we are doing a Mexican restaurant with the aunts, but they have a wonderful vegetarian fajita that I LOVE.  Then Sunday we are beyond excited that my sister's friend gave us Chiefs football tickets and after that a concert - so it will be a full day Sunday.  Monday we drive home and the weather is not thrilling me - chance for rain/snow.

So I will be back here next week.  Hope you have a great weekend.  What holiday fun are you all out there planning?

Monday, December 2, 2019

Happy December!

I am mainly just happy the sun is out today!  We have had about a week and a half of gloomy, gray raining AND WINDY! days.  I woke up at 5:30 am Thanksgiving to drive 4 hours to see my Granny and it was 36 and raining and 32 north, where I was driving.  I decided to call off my trip.  I know she was relieved, cause she worries about us.  My sister (and niece and nephew) were going to go, we were disappointed, but used the extra time to sleep and relax.

I went ahead and got up, I was wide awake.  DH and I just had a quiet day at home.  His family celebrates on Sat after Thanksgiving, every year.  So, we had a nice visit and meal Saturday.  Then, we ate 2nd helpings before the family from the city drove back.  It was in the 60's when they left Sunday.

One of my favorite things to do with Thanksgiving leftovers is to make bone broth with the turkey leftovers.  I take the entire mess and put it in my crockpot with water up to the top and I slow simmer for 24 - 36 hours.  Then I pour into a large container, strained with a sheet of cheesecloth.  I then dispose of the stuff and rinse out the cheese cloth and I freeze the broth.

Today I froze half and used half the broth to make a yummy soup of sautéed onion, yellow squash and zucchini.  I ALWAYS have to look up how to spell zucchini!  Anyone else?

I just flavor it with salt and pepper and rosemary.  Then after it has simmered 30 min and all the veggies all soft and tender, I use the immersion blender to blend it all up.  So good!

I gotta get back on the bandwagon of no sweets, less carbs, less processed food.  After all, I am training for Christmas!