Monday August 19, 2019

Wow August and the remainder of summer are flying by! This weekend was the last super busy one here due to the Falmouth Road Race. The tourists will trail off as kids go back to school. September is typically still warm but not busy so a really good time to enjoy Cape Cod.

Yesterdays visit with family from Oregon went well. DD came as well and she hadn't been down for a while so that was really nice. Today we have a support meeting and I have a bunch of calls to make but that's about it. Walking Justice will require a slow pace as it is super humid (feels like the tropics).

Time to get DH up and deal with the daily cleanup.

Have a mostly fine Monday!

Had a fabulous day yesterday. I walked another 15,000+ steps from my flat to Kits beach and saw a 300 meter pool ! Man, could I do some laps in that !!! I finished up with a fabulous pedicure a block from home. A five hour city tour today !

DD, I'm sure you are loving Ireland ! I'm confident Ann is soaking in her east coast tribe vibe. Dave, your Adalyn stories always put a smile on my face ! It sounds like the bee hive is in the shop ! BB, it sounds like you are doing an awesome job easing into this new phase of motherhood and healthy living! Hope Becca is adjusting to her tubes. Liz, the parking lot scenario sounds scary ! I'm sure there will be moments that 10/01 seems too far away. You've got this. Ceci, your garden looks glorious ! Be gentle with yourself, lady! Replace those old tapes with some positive self talk because you are awesome ! Peps, how is that new class shaping up ? Delaware ? Could you really leave the west west and flirt with snow occasionally ? Diane, I need to check into some Brenda Brown podcasts. I was in a new age bookstore out here, and picked up "Aging Joyfully", by Carla Manly. Looks good. Loved your description of the gallery floor ! Shirl..you continue to amaze me...rocks, timber, vaccinations, shook care...you NEED a vacation ! Miss Bonnie...miss your voice !

Beautiful pics. Looks like you are really enjoying vacation.

Yes, the beehive of activity is in the shop. It will return to normal soon.

The class is coming along nicely. It is the usual cast of characters.

You know, I think I could manage the east coast, if I was close enough to a city. Demographics are very important to me. Sadly, there are still many areas of the country where it is okay and acceptable to be discriminatory against people who do not fit the community norm of the area. (How was that for politically correct? LOL) The weather in the Dover area is relatively mild, housing prices are about half to a third of what they are here and the property taxes are much more reasonable. Of course, my preference would be to stay here, but I am thinking about how to be as financially secure as possible. I think that may require relocation. Ron will go anywhere. I'm more of the Picky Pete.

Hey, if worse comes to worst, I can always live in the RV. It bought and paid for!

Merry Monday Minstrels,

The conversation about egg bites sparked an interest in making some. I bought the silicone molds for the Instant Pot about a year ago, but never got around to making the egg bites. Yesterday was the day. Have to say, they turned out very well. Pretty darn easy to make, too. I can see that they will be a staple of my healthy eating endeavor.

Here is the version of lower calorie/lower fat egg bites I found (many recipes are super high calorie - more like fat bombs!):

4 large eggs, 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese, 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup finely chopped ham, 1/4 minced green onions (or chives). Put eggs, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese in a blender and blend. Add ham and green onions and pulse a few times to mix. Pour the mix into the silicone molds, cover tightly with foil or a silicone lid (my molds came with lids). Put the mold on the Instant Pot rack and lower in to the pot. Add 1 cup of water and close lid making sure it is sealed for pressure. Set on steam setting for 10 minutes. When the steam setting ends use the natural pressure release method. There you go. Easy Peasy.

82 calories for each egg bite. I ate three this morning. I'm guessing most of you with smaller, shorter sleeves would do well with 2.

Forgot to weigh this morning. Oops. Oh, well...

Doing my best to keep focused on positives, keep perspective, find some joy in each teaching day, and keep up on personal responsibilities, too. I find that I let my own "stuff" go unattended far too often - pay bills at the last minute or late, forget deadlines, etc... good example is I switched from Directv to Wave last week and I still haven't canceled Directv. Really? Who does that? Ugh....

I got a taste of Adalyn first thing in the morning. She was jabbering so fast my ears could hardly catch it. Company gone, Adalyn in daycare, DD in school, DW at work, dogs are sleeping. It is so quiet. Soaking it in. First batch of pickles was only ok. I know what I did wrong. Batch number 2 will be better.

I got into some poison ivy and it is spreading. I wash with an over the counter scrub and it usually helps. Slow to work this time.

Trying to remember everyone's post

Liz-I am grateful that we usually don't have too bad of humidity down here (I'm always perplexed as to our geographical designation. Not "the south", not southeast, not Midwest, not really southwest though I've seen that most typically). When we do, it makes the heat unbearable. Out of curiosity, do most places around you have AC? I'm always amazed when people say things like "my kids school doesn't have AC"

Diane O.-wowza that's a lot of walking! Sounds like you're enjoying! If you were here I'd totally hand Charlotte over and let you have your fill of snuggles. They really are the best :)

Devon-Speaking of wish you were here. Maybe while Diane O. watches over Charlotte, we could turn on some old musical! My niece just saw Sound of Music for the first time and loved it. I showed my friends South Pacific earlier this year. One of my friends is African American and as you mentioned in one of your FB posts recently, there is quite a bit about racism--especially for its time! It was such a breath of fresh air for my friend to chat with us about what she thinks about the current situation. It was so nice for her to open up and share with us and for us to try and understand. Some things she commented on, I would've never thought offensive but if it hurts my friend then isn't that enough? Hmmm

Of and I love egg bites in the IP. Well not nearly as much as at Sbux but I will have to take out a second mortgage if I don't cut down on sbux! I love the spinach and red pepper ones. I'll have to look up my recipe, but you whir eggs, cottage cheese, frozen chopped spinach, bottled roasted red pepper in blender. I like to use the gruyere blend from TJ's.

Shirley Girly (my grandmother is also named Shirley and that's what my granddad would call her!)-you amaze me with your energy. You seem to pack so much life into one day!

Someone I am close to just posted something on facebook and I'm not sure if I should feel upset about it. Guess not. We're all probably a little too sensitive these days, but it definitely gave me some food for thought. She's a heavier girl and posted a picture with everyone standing in line for the "quick fix" and no one in line for the "lifestyle change." She further went on to address how too many people are choosing to pop pills or get surgery rather than putting on their boots and making healthy changes. So I guess the first thing that sticks out to me is what a fiction we've been fed! I've been there too. This fear that I wasn't worthy of being healthy, that I hadn't earned it, that I was a lazy slob in need of conversion, etc. almost stopped me from making the best decision of my life. Honestly maybe better than marriage or children because it was only after I became this person that I was able to go on and do better things for myself. My first step was self love, in deciding I was WORTHY of leading a happy and healthy life. The point about "easy way out" was brought up and I'm so sick of hearing that. I always say "it's the only way out." So I believe that people can be overweight from a combination of lifestyle and genetics. It's a sliding scale. Some poor people can eat very lean and still struggle with weight and then some can barely know a vegetable to pass their lips (ahem stepdaughter) and be thin their whole lives. Because of this truth, I'd liken obesity to something like heart disease. That too can be brought on by a combination of genetics and lifestyle. And yet no one would dare chide a heart patient for "popping pills" or "having surgery." Right??!! But I am particularly so sad for my friend on two counts: One, she has clearly bought into this toxic fiction that her weight is a blemish on her character! Secondly, she is someone who would greatly benefit from WLS and probably will not do it :( And lastly, yes you do have to make some lifestyle changes. Before, trying to lose weight was like trying to find water in the desert. It felt so futile! Now I at least know I have a fighting chance. Sure I have help. Lots of help. But don't people say "work smarter not harder." Isn't that a thing? Weightloss surgery was definitely the "smarter" choice. Out of all the ways and times people treated me better for being thinner (ugh that's a whole other subject unto itself), by opening the door, complimenting my outfit, befriending me, asking me out on a date, whatever--you want to know how many times they inquired whether I was thin from hard work first? ZERO.

(slinking down from my soapbox.)

Well we are all smart here! No question!

Older schools in New England don't have AC but newer ones do. But many houses, even newer ones, don't have central AC. That is true especially the further north one is and the closer to the coastline. This summer is more humid than most, but even this summer less than half the days are very humid and usually mostly in July. AC on Cape Cod isn't needed so much for heat but for dampness since we are so close to the ocean. So the humid days are more humid and ocean breezes always carry some moisture. So mold can be a real danger.

Greetings Monday Magnificents

159 today so down from the dreaded ledge of 160.Took the dog for a walk this am. DianeO, I don't know how you manage so many steps. I am lucky to get 5000. I do stuff like part the car away and such but still can't seem to cut it. My feet hurt due the the connective tissue disease. And for awhile my legs have been hurting a lot as well as other parts of me. I am woefully inactive but it hurts to be active. I think I might have fibromyalgia. Diagnosed by Dr. Google.

DianeO I thought that swimming pool was a resevoir! Its so huge! Can you get into it? Love all your images and the fact that you are jfdi! Shel is smiling on you.

Dave, so glad you have your shop. I wish we had one. Around here everyone just uses garages and parks the car out. I so hate that coming from the midwest where cars were always garaged. Our street looks like a car lot.

BB I so don't blame you for being annoyed with the person dissing WLS. Those who dis it haven't tried it. They think is a no effort thing. We all know the truth. My nephew just consulted at UCLA weight loss institute and surgery is condidered the most effective way of dealing with large weight loss. Our nephew is going ahead and I have talked with him long about it. I fear his well intended mother will sabotage. Just wait until he overeats and barfs on her fancy carpet!!!Anyway, I don't know why people bash WLS except that they are too scared to do it and are jealous or don't want to give up their unlimited eating. I admit I was upset when a friend's daughter did it but now I get it totally once I got educated. So there.

Peps Dover sounds intriguing. Back in Omaha, people used to retire to Arkansas because housing and cost of living was much lower and a place on a lake was doable . Keep on looking and you might be smart to get a place sooner and rent it. I paid what I thought was a ridiculous price for our home here in humboldt. 200K. Similar homes go for $350 and are scarce. Glad I bought when I did.

Liz hope things go smoothly up to and after Oct 1. You do such a good job of living a full life with a major issue every single day. I had an acquaintance who had to place her husband i memory care. They had to remove all mirrors because he would see himself, not recognize himself and smash the mirror! She moved on to a very lovely retirement community and was very happy but quite a bit older than you. We have all followed your journey way back when DH could still drive but get lost. Sometime you might write a memoir. Perhaps you have read those of others. So good that you have so many good friends.

Yoo Hoo, Bonnie 150? Hows it going?

Dave, did my Shel salute today. Love the concept. Wow, your shop is the hub of all activity. indeed.

Off to the bank to deliver hundreds of dollars in gallery money.

Just had an egg bite. One was enough. Sun is out and so is everyone else. Diane s

P.S. Cecily I have garden envy. I want one like yours. love it. Diane