First Day of Spring

Happy Spring!

Don't you just love the seasons? The change is good for me.  Every time the seasons change I think, oooh, this is my favorite season.  I don't think I can pick a favorite. 

This week I was sick, a virus last week which was a 24 hour bug, ended in throat, sinus and ear infections this week.  I've been down.  A Z pack from my doctor and I am on the mend.  There hasn't been any walking, very little working and zero fun this week.  Oh, and no voice, so no talking.  So, I am ready for Spring, a change and some fun.  Though I have a low key weekend planned.  I think the fun will come later as my throat still hurts and the cough is setting in.   

The First Day of Spring does make me feel better.

When I was in school the girls wore dresses until I got in 6th grade, then the rules changed and we were allowed to wear dress pants.  By the time I was a freshman in high school we were allowed to wear jeans to school.  A dress, everyday!  On the First Day of Spring we wore a brand new Spring dress.  When I was in first grade my Grandma Vander Haak bought my dress.  It's a very clear memory as it was unusual to receive a gift for no reason.  It wasn't my birthday or Christmas and I got a dress in a gift box from a store in Bellingham. Oh, the joy!  It was empire waist with a pale chambray fabric on the bottom and the top was red with tiny white polka dots.  There was a small ruffle on the neckline, gold buttons and a tie around the empire waist of the red fabric.  When I got to school I was happy that I had the new dress from my Grandma.  I am the oldest child and I don't think my Mom or I would have known of this tradition had my Grandma not stepped up and bought the dress.

My Mom quite often sewed my First Day of Spring dresses.  I remember one of them was a print with white, and a bright pink and green.  A drop waist and some small lace trim at the neckline and a green bow at the ruffle.  My sis, Kathi and I wore identical dresses that year.

When I was in junior high my Mom sewed a red, white and blue dress with a collar and a front zipper.  I ordered red, white and blue boat shoes from the JC Penney's catalog using my babysitting money.  Practically a fashionista!

Little girls wore dresses, ankle socks with black mary janes on Sunday and saddle shoes on school days.  Play clothes after school and on Saturdays.  My Mom sewed many of our dresses, or ordered them from the Sears or JC Penney's catalogs.

I don't have pictures of the First Day of Spring but this picture is of first grade or kindergarten on the first day of school.

 I think this picture was third or fourth grade first day of school.

 My sister, Kathi, my brother Ken and myself are in this next picture.  There was a lot of plaid.  I still  love  plaid dresses.  My Mom did a lot of sewing for us and our dolls.

 Girls wore dresses and had to learn to sit like a lady from a very young age.
Never mind that I am sitting on the arm of the sofa instead of on the sofa.

Getting a perm was NOT a fun tradition for little girls.  I remember my Mom and my Aunt Clarice giving Kathi and me perms.  Aunt Clarice went to Newberrys in Bellingham in the morning and bought the perms and popcorn.  My life changed that day.  I was bent over the kitchen sink, perm running in my eyes as Aunt Clarice rinsed my head.  I was crying, my eyes were stinging, and it was stinky when Aunt Clarice gave me the bad news about suffering to be beautiful.  It was the first time I heard that girls have to suffer to be beautiful. 

Obviously, the picture was taken prior to the rinse and the bad news.
Kathi and I didn't even see that rinse and bad news coming.  We had popcorn from Newberrys, oh happy day!

 There is no new outfit for me today.  Just my old jeans, a T and sneakers for some house cleaning and laundry.  I wonder if the little girls at Lynden Christian School still have a new First Day of Spring dresses.  Probably not.  It was a fun tradition but it's probably over now.  Fortunately, little girls don't have to get perms anymore, or wear a dress everyday.  Of course, they aren't learning to sit like a lady or how to suffer to be beautiful either.
And on that note, I sound like an old lady, so let's wrap this up.
Have a good weekend, enjoy Spring and remember to sit like a lady!

A Story Problem

I don't like it when someone talks about their diet and every stinkin' bite they are eating or not eating.  In my mind, I am screaming, "who cares?  NOoOoO one."

Today I'm that person because people have been asking me where I've been lately.  

So, now you're gonna hear it.  It's not a short story and it's not a nice story so if you can't take the heat get outta my kitchen.

I had to hit the Eat Less, Move More hard this year.  Last year, for whatever reason, I gained weight.  I could not make myself care.  I couldn't resist food or fun.  And boy howdy, did I have me some FuN.  Chex party mix, beer, chocolate, wine, cheetos and chips, cookies, cheese, oh it was fun.  And social.  I mean really, don't those foods say party to you?  I lurve me a partay!

It was a fun year but my clothes don't fit me.  Even my fat jeans didn't fit me.  I had to change my ways.  Last year I bought new fat clothes for my Palm Springs and Hawaii trips.  I couldn't very well go out and buy fatter than fat clothes for my upcoming vacation now, could I?

I am using basic arithmetic to shed some weight.  Each pound has 3,500 calories.  I need to cut back 3,500 calories to lose a pound.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?   I am using two apps to calculate this basic arithmetic, my fitbit app and the fitness pal app.  One counts my steps and one counts my calories.   The apps are synced.  I get a weekly summary from fitbit and it tells me exactly how many calories were deficit for the week.  I want to lose two pounds a week so I have to have -7,000 calories per week.  

Blahh, blah, blah.

Simple arithmetic?

Hardly.

This is the new math, possibly common core math; whatever that is, and honestly, let's not talk about  our core.  I haven't seen my core in a very long time.  This new math is hard.  It's not just  -7,000 calories per week.  It is a menopausal woman in her mid fifties trying to lose weight.  Nothing adds up with this math and very little subtracts.  It's the hardest story problem of third grade.  It's like taking calculus when you barely passed freshman algebra.

Not only have I given up bread and butter butt (pun intended) I have also given up weighing myself.  I have weighed myself daily for many years.  Probably since I was struggling over the story problems in third grade.  If the scale went down I was happy, if the scale went up I was cranky.  If I had a bucket of fun or a bucket of chicken and the scale didn't go up I thought I could do that everyday.  Yeah, I know.  I KNOW, OK?  It doesn't work that way. This time I started my diet aka new math on January 5th so I only weigh on the 5th of each month.   It takes every bit of self control to wait until the 5th to weigh.  I'm leaving on vacation April 1st so I get to weigh early in April.  I'm giddy.  Of course, if I haven't lost, woe to my travel companions.  CRANKY!

Now, back to those of you that asked where I've been.  I've been on a DIET.  I'm not on a cruise, not on a vacation, not anywhere fun.  It is a full time job.  I have to walk, a lot.  That takes time.

I'm counting calories and planning my meals.  That takes time.  I am chopping vegetables instead of opening a bag of chips.  That takes time.

But the real and gritty reason you haven't seen me.  I'm antisocial when dieting.  No, I can't meet you for a drink.  Are you kidding me?  A glass of wine is a very slippery slope.  One sip and Skinny Chick is sitting on my shoulder telling me to eat the cheese tray, the deep fried mushrooms and the order of calamari, right after I order another glass of wine.  She's my evil twin except she's a twig and she likes me fat.  Skinny Chick  is real and she's mean, and oh yes, Skinny Chick  is fun.  She gets in my head and tells me I'm skinny and that I may have whatever I want.    She only comes out when a drink involved.  Trust me when I tell you she can not be trusted.

If I meet you for coffee at Woods and the peach scones are back, I'm toast.  If I go out for dinner it's hard to stay at 1200 calories per day.  As one of my dieting friends says, who wants to meet for lemon water and broccoli?  NO. ONE.  It's not fun.  It's better this way.

There will be fun again, there will be yummy recipes with butter on the blog again.  But first I have to stay the course and gett'er done.  There will be maintaining and moderation and I'll be fun and social again.  I just lost my way last year.

It's safer this way because when I'm solving a Eat Less, Move More story problem I get hungry.  And when I'm hungry I'm mean as a snake.  I am crabby, cranky, and just no fun at all.  Oh, I can go out once in a while.  I do have to see people at work and in town but it's a lot of work to play nice right now.  It's better for everyone if  I stay on the down low.  Really.

Still not convinced?  Ask Saint Hubby how it's been here.  Just don't let me hear you cuz THAT might make me mad.  I don't like people talking about diets or about me.  The struggle is real, my friends and I am HUNGRY.  Don't press me.

Now, you know and aren't you sorry you asked?

End of subject.  Forever.

Our Weekend

The last two weeks Hubby and I have been busy at our jobs.  He was working swing shift and I work days.  We were ships in the night until Friday evening.  We toasted ourselves with a drink in the sitting room and then planned our weekend.  For us, having the same weekend is reason enough to celebrate, as it only happens once every six weeks.

 On Saturday evening our friends, Brian and Holly were coming for dinner.  We planned our menu, and how we would spend our days.

 When we entertain I like to have something new along with some tried and true recipes and a cheater.  It works for me.  The new was a recipe I'd cut out of my Health magazine for a carrot salad.  Everyone liked it so I'll share the recipe.

 Carrot Salad with Nut Butter Ginger Dressing

1/4 cup nut butter *I used peanut butter

2 T. fresh lime juice

1 T. soy sauce

1 T. honey

1 T. rough chopped ginger * I used 1 tsp. dry

2 T. water

2 green onion whites coarsely chopped

1 small clove garlic *I minced it.

1 lb. carrots peeled into long thin strips using a vegetable peeler *This does take some time.

1 cup packed cilantro leaves

In a blender or *I used my Magic Bullet combine the nut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, honey, ginger, onion, garlic and water.

Toss the carrots with the cilantro leaves, and some of the green bottoms of the green onions with a bit of the dressing.  Then drizzle a bit more of the dressing on top of the salad and garnish with cilantro leaves.

We had a great visit with Brian and Holly.  We served teriyaki sesame ginger pork loin, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and baby 'bella mushrooms, carrot salad, rolls and coconut cream pie for dessert.

My cheater was the pork loin, Remove the label, and it cooks in the bag for 30 minutes.  Every menu needs something easy peasy and this couldn't be easier.  I made the potatoes earlier and kept them warm in my crock pot.

While I was catching up on some housework and cooking, Hubby was working on the '57 Aloha.  I get called out once in a while to lean on or hold things while he nails it down.  He put the tin on to measure twice and confirm window locations and measurements.  He plans to frame those in this morning.

 Hubby does beautiful work.  His plan is to finish the interior and then move to the exterior while I finish the interior.  I'll be sewing curtains and adding my touch soon.

 On Sunday we went to my parent's house for dinner at one.  Everyone enjoyed the sunshine after dinner.  The whiffle ball came out just like summer time.

 After dinner we took a drive out to Gooseberry Point to check out Jeff and Kathi's next project.  They plan to build in a few years on this lovely spot.

Hubby and I drove to Bellingham from Gooseberry Point.  We browsed through Penny Lane, other vintage shops and Village Books.  Our last stop was Kulshan Brewery to hear one of our favorite local bands, One Lane Bridge.  We met up with two couples that work with Hubby.  One couple has a very sweet baby girl, Emerald, who was willing to let me hold her for a long time. 

 It was baby heaven!

We enjoyed a wonderful, sunny weekend.  It felt like a staycation. 

 Enjoy your week.  The forecast is calling for two more days of sunshine!

'57 Aloha Update

There has been progress on the '57 Aloha trailer lately.  Hubby has built new cabinets and installed them.  Yesterday the walls and ceiling were installed.

 The wood finish is so pretty.  Hubby is a bit of perfectionist.  I am not, therefore; I wasn't allowed to help with staining or the urethane application process.  We need trim and that will really close things up from the inside.  The tentative due date for the Aloha is in July for a church camp out at Bryce Creek.  It'll be close.

 In addition to Hubby's carpenter skills he is pretty good at junkin' too.  Yesterday he stopped at our local thrift store and scored a globe.

It's not just any vintage globe, it lights up and stands 32 inches tall.  I'm a little excited to add this globe to our collection.  When it's not lit the colors are a pale aqua and gold.  The exact color scheme as our living room. I may use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on the wood, or I may just leave well enough alone.

Why yes, Hubby is a keeper.  Today he is spending the day with Reagan, our grand dogger.

I'm a lucky girl and so is Reagan.

Happy Wednesday!

This and That

On Friday I took the ferry to Friday Harbor with Shelly and Sheryl.  We went to see our friend, Deb.  Deb has a consignment store on the island.  We had some things to consign and some shopping to do.  And of course, we had lunch.  Girlfriend's Consignment is a wonderful shop and it was fun to see Deb in her store.

I've been walking.  The boot camp gals and I got Fitbits for Christmas.  There are weekly challenges and competition.  Everyone is so encouraging that I want to move just to "hear" the cheers.  The fit bit also tracks your sleep patterns which I find very interesting.  The sleeping is easier than the walking. Hah!

Do you have a Fitbit and if so, what options do you use and like?

The photo is from Map My Walk app.

 In the past I drank a diet coke every day.  I'm down to one every week or two now.  When I do treat myself to a diet coke I love it from a can on crushed ice with a straw.  I do miss it horribly some days.

Sam and Angela asked us to come for dinner on Saturday evening.  We had such a nice time.  Angela sets a beautiful table.   Sam grilled asparagus and kabobs with veggies and steak and prawns that they served with roasted potatoes.  Hubby and I left feeling very blessed by them.

Sunday morning after church Hubby watched the NASCAR race and I did some serious lounging.  I napped, read and watched a movie, St. Vincient.  We had a very lazy day on Sunday.  I ended my day with Downton Abbey.  I can't believe it is going to be the finale next week, so not ready for the end.

A very random post and now it's Monday and game on.  Here we go!

Drive to Walk

 

 It may not make a lot of sense to drive somewhere to go for a walk, however; there are so many places by the bay, the lake and the mountains that sometimes you just have to get in the car to go for a walk.  This week I pick up my sis, Jodi and her pup, Dottie and we drove to the cliff.  It is part of BP Oil Refinery property but walkers and bikers are welcome.

It was bright and sunny though my pictures look like sunset.

 When we were kids our parents took us here on Sunday afternoons.  At that point there wasn't a sign warning of the dangers so we actually went over the edge and scrambled down to the beach.  After walking on the beach, beach combing, building driftwood forts and having a snack we hiked back up the hill.  There was a heavy rope tied to the top and we used it to pull ourselves back up to the top.  It was always a little scary.  We would start to slide down the cliff and much like roadrunner we would grab branches and hang on for dear life.  What were our parents thinking?  In spite of the danger, we all have good memories or our Sunday afternoons at the cliff.

 Just when you think the view can't get any better.  It's time to turn around to walk back and there in all of it's glory is Mt. Baker.

Though it defies logic to drive somewhere to walk for exercise, some days it's a brilliant idea.

 

Where is your destination walk?