The definition of secret: "something kept from the knowledge of others or shared only confidentially with a few". The definition of gossip: "a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others"
Do you know someone who likes to "share" family news or tell you about their friends' problems "because they just know you will understand"? They are not malicious, they just want you to be informed. Maybe you just said, "Ouch!" If you're one who has a tendency to gossip, you might say, "I never share things to be mean." That doesn't matter; it's still gossip. If you are told something that is nobody else 's business, keep it to yourself!
Recently a secret came out in our family that caused a lot of hurt feelings. The gossip was not shared in a malicious way, but it still hurt family relationships. I have confronted the person responsible about this practice before. But it just doesn't seem to sink in that she is told certain things in confidence and should not "share" unless given permission to do so.
It was hard enough to keep secrets from becoming gossip among family and friends before social media came along. Social media just adds another forum in which gossip can spread like a wildfire and quickly get out of control. I've been admonished by my husband that I shouldn't put our personal business on Facebook. I told him that the information is only shared with my "friends", but this too has come back to bite me. I've gotten to where I'm paranoid to give an accurate status report because I never know who will spread news that gets distorted. We all need to talk to someone once in a while. We shouldn't need to worry that what we shared might end up feeding the rumor mill.
On the other hand, I have a dear friend who I can tell my every secret and know it will NEVER be repeated. I hope I am the same kind of friend to her.
The difference in these two relationships is that I really look forward to spending time with my friend, but avoid the family member. So if you will cut the gossip habit out of your life, you will be known as a great friend rather than a pariah to be avoided.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Monday, January 23, 2017
The Humble Shepherd's Pie
How many meals do you fix now that you ate as a child? Probably not too many. Do you follow the recipe exactly? Or have you made modifications?
One meal my mother made us was Shepherd's Pie and I followed her example when I had my own family to feed. Then when I went to visit my cousin in Canada, I found out she had created a different version. Huh, did our maternal grandmother make Shepherd's Pie too? It's not exactly a Mennonite Dish, but there are recipes for it in my Mennonite cookbooks.
Out of curiosity, I looked it up at Wikipedia.org, where I found I wasn't technically creating a Shepherd's Pie at all. Since I used beef, I was making a Cottage Pie. The Cottage Pie, dating back to 1791, was created as a way to use leftover roast meat and incorporate potatoes which were a new, affordable staple. Cottage referred to the dwellings of the poor - the homes of which were most likely to serve this meal. The name Shepherd's Pie didn't appear until 1877 and inferred by its title that the meat used was mutton. Although there are many variations by title and content such as Shepherdess Pie which has no meat, the St. Stephen's Day Pie made with ham and turkey or even a fish pie, they all seem to fall under the broad name of Shepherd's Pie. These days you may find Shepherd's Pie on the menu of many a pub or restaurant whether in the United Kingdom, the United States, or even Dubai. It's no longer confined to the kitchens of only the poorest homes.
If you try to Google it, there are as many recipes for Shepherd's Pie as cooks. The basic construction is a meat layer on the bottom, then a vegetable layer topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. I always made mine with ground beef, sauteed onion, and tomato sauce; then a layer of green beans topped with mashed potatoes. I thought I had duplicated my mother's recipe, but years later, I found out she used cream of tomato soup rather than tomato sauce. However, my cousin's husband didn't like onions so she left them out. She also used corn as her vegetable. I watched Rachel Ray make a Shepherd's Pie and she added shredded cheese to her potatoes. Turns out this is a versatile dish.
I've changed my recipe again since my children have moved out. David suggested using cream of mushroom soup instead of tomato sauce and it was delicious! (Think green bean casserole.) I still use green beans and mashed potatoes, but your imagination is the deciding factor as far as I can tell.
Here's a quick how-to:
See how easy that is? So tell me, how do you make Shepherd's Pie?
One meal my mother made us was Shepherd's Pie and I followed her example when I had my own family to feed. Then when I went to visit my cousin in Canada, I found out she had created a different version. Huh, did our maternal grandmother make Shepherd's Pie too? It's not exactly a Mennonite Dish, but there are recipes for it in my Mennonite cookbooks.
Out of curiosity, I looked it up at Wikipedia.org, where I found I wasn't technically creating a Shepherd's Pie at all. Since I used beef, I was making a Cottage Pie. The Cottage Pie, dating back to 1791, was created as a way to use leftover roast meat and incorporate potatoes which were a new, affordable staple. Cottage referred to the dwellings of the poor - the homes of which were most likely to serve this meal. The name Shepherd's Pie didn't appear until 1877 and inferred by its title that the meat used was mutton. Although there are many variations by title and content such as Shepherdess Pie which has no meat, the St. Stephen's Day Pie made with ham and turkey or even a fish pie, they all seem to fall under the broad name of Shepherd's Pie. These days you may find Shepherd's Pie on the menu of many a pub or restaurant whether in the United Kingdom, the United States, or even Dubai. It's no longer confined to the kitchens of only the poorest homes.
If you try to Google it, there are as many recipes for Shepherd's Pie as cooks. The basic construction is a meat layer on the bottom, then a vegetable layer topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. I always made mine with ground beef, sauteed onion, and tomato sauce; then a layer of green beans topped with mashed potatoes. I thought I had duplicated my mother's recipe, but years later, I found out she used cream of tomato soup rather than tomato sauce. However, my cousin's husband didn't like onions so she left them out. She also used corn as her vegetable. I watched Rachel Ray make a Shepherd's Pie and she added shredded cheese to her potatoes. Turns out this is a versatile dish.
I've changed my recipe again since my children have moved out. David suggested using cream of mushroom soup instead of tomato sauce and it was delicious! (Think green bean casserole.) I still use green beans and mashed potatoes, but your imagination is the deciding factor as far as I can tell.
Here's a quick how-to:
 |
| Brown hamburger meat in a skillet. (I use 1/2 pound for the two of us. Use more as your feeding more people.) Add 1 tablespoon dry onion soup mix and a can of Cream of Mushroom soup. Don't dilute the soup. |
 |
| Add a layer of green beans. Again the quantity is up to you. For two people I may use only 1 can of beans, but when I was feeding 6 people I used 2 cans of green beans. |
 |
| Now top with a layer of mashed potatoes. Use plain or dress them up as you prefer. Again, if you're feeding more people, add more potatoes. |
 |
| Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until gravy bubbles up around the edges - 15 to 30 minutes depending on the size of you Pie. Turn on the broiler if you want a little more browning of the potatoes. |
See how easy that is? So tell me, how do you make Shepherd's Pie?
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Part 4: Listen to Your Body - and Modify
As soon as our children get old enough to move around, they become susceptible to injury. A child's first reaction when they fall or bump into something is shock, quickly followed by crying. Most parents or caregivers respond in one of two ways, we either run up and smother them with concern or tell them, "Don't cry.You're fine." After all, if you baby them, they will become spoiled and might realize that crying gets them undue attention. I would like to insert the sound of a record scratching here.
Back up; our bodies react to pain for a reason and we should learn to pay attention to that pain. It's time to stop teaching our children and ourselves to ignore the signals our bodies are created with.The old adage, "No pain; no gain." is bullshit. Yeah, that's right. If you are experiencing pain, there's a reason. Whether it's an injury caused by slipping in the mud or a sore shoulder, you should take it into account when you exercise. I mentioned in Part 1 of this blog series that I've had many injuries in my life; they weren't usually severe enough to warrant a visit to the doctor, but they definitely affected my physical abilities. One year ago, I injured my right shoulder; it wasn't a sudden injury, but rather a slow progression of damage that eventually lead to my inability to use my right arm. I couldn't reach across my body to my left side for some time and I was unable to crochet for a full year. The older we get, the more damage we accrue. Rather than using the physical restrictions as an excuse not to exercise, you should modify your movements.
My husband shared a guide book that came along with his resistance bands. I have incorporated several of these exercises into my routine along with moving to music. I have had to modify several of them due to limitations, but they are still helping me gain strength without causing pain or further injury. I do five exercises on Day 1 and a different five on Day 2. Then I alternate days.
Day 1: Tricep Pulls
The band hangs equally on each side of the door. Facing the door, I anchor my elbows at my waist and pull down on both ends with equal exertion. The important part here is to not over-do the amount of 'weight'. Use a band strength that is fairly easy. My husband says you should feel some soreness in your muscles to show they've been worked without feeling pain. It's better to do multiple repetitions in sets than to do only a few repetitions with a heavy band. The heavier band may just cause pain and more injury.
Day 1: Squats
I don't use resistance bands at all with this one. My hips are too weak. I just do the squats. Be sure you sit back like you sitting in a chair. Draw an imaginary vertical line straight down from you knees; to avoid injury, your knees should never move forward of your toes. If your knees hurt, you're probably doing these wrong.
Day1: Bicep Curls
Modification? I do both biceps at the same time; it feels more balanced.
Day1: Lunges
I don't use resistance bands on this one either. I just do the lunges. Make sure your front knee doesn't bend too far forward on this one either. I can only do six per side; but when I started, I could only do five. I try to do these lunges close to a table or chair to help me balance; again, it's due to a hip injury.
Day1: Side Bends
I modified this one because of my previous shoulder problems. Also, my band is too short to raise above my head. I step on one end of the band while choking up on the other end with my hand hanging at my side. Then I bend sideways in the opposite direction, sliding down the side of my leg toward my knee. This works the muscles along the sides of my torso. It's a small movement, but it's effective. After doing the repetitions on one side, I switch to the other side.
I started doing 3 sets of 10 repetitions with my lightest band - only 6 pounds. Then I increased to 12 repetitions and now I'm up to 15. I didn't increase band strength, just repetitions. Once again, it's better to do multiple sets of repetitions rather than all at once. I work my way through the five exercises, take a break (ie. dance, run in place, etc), then repeat two more times.
I followed my Day 1 routine for the first month, but then I wanted more variety and I added the Day 2 exercises. If you only do a limited number of movements, the muscles get used to it and it's less challenging for them.
Day 2: Tricep Extensions
I pretty well follow this one exactly. Mainly being sure I don't overdo the amount of band strength.
Day 2: Outer Thigh Criss-Cross
I'm not much for getting up and down from the floor, so I do this one while lying on my bed. I broke my 6-pound band with this exercise and it pulled my groin muscles. Rather than push through like I used to do, I immediately stopped doing this exercise for that day. By the next day, I didn't feel any soreness.
Day 2: Lateral Rows
I modified this exercise for two reasons: one being practical - my band is too short; the other, it's hard for me to perform this movement with both shoulders at the same time. So I stand on one end of the band and pull straight out and up to the side, then switch to the other side.
Day 2: Butt Blaster!
(This one should be called 'Butt Smacker'. Sometimes the band would slip off my foot and smack me in the butt. My husband would hear the smack and just laugh.) You can probably tell by the scribbling that I modified this one the most. Getting on my knees is hard. Trying to kneel while holding the band is even harder. I will try to explain what I do. Balancing on one foot, I loop the center of the band under the arch of my other foot, I pull both ends of the band to my chest while bending that leg at the knee and hip, then I push down and back. Not only does this strengthen my butt muscles, it also improves my balance.
Day 2: Bow and Arrow
I haven't modified this one except I didn't move my feet at first, I just stood with them shoulder-width apart. I wasn't coordinated enough to figure it out. Now I do the full movement.
Notice I alternate by doing an upper body exercise and then a lower body exercise. I wanted to focus on my upper arm strength, upper legs, and hips, so those are the exercises I incorporated. I tried walking, but that particular movement causes pain in my hips. However, I can jog in place without any pain. There are lots and lots of videos on YouTube with guidelines given by Occupational or Physical Therapists. Look them up and follow along. Find the exercises that work best to accomplish your goal.There are plenty to choose from.
Do I exercise every day? NO! I listen to my body. If I'm really tired, sick or maybe I have a headache, I don't ignore that. I will skip that day and take up where I left off. Sometimes I skip several days, the main thing is to get back at it as soon as possible. Don't give in to temptation and quit.
By-the-way, you should also listen to your body when it comes to the food choices you make. Feel a craving for a specific food? Maybe you need a vitamin or mineral it supplies. Do you feel a lack of energy one morning? Think about what you ate the night before. I have a friend who says she doesn't feel arthritis pain since she quit eating meat. She gets her protein straight from plants. So once again it's smart to listen to your body.
Back up; our bodies react to pain for a reason and we should learn to pay attention to that pain. It's time to stop teaching our children and ourselves to ignore the signals our bodies are created with.The old adage, "No pain; no gain." is bullshit. Yeah, that's right. If you are experiencing pain, there's a reason. Whether it's an injury caused by slipping in the mud or a sore shoulder, you should take it into account when you exercise. I mentioned in Part 1 of this blog series that I've had many injuries in my life; they weren't usually severe enough to warrant a visit to the doctor, but they definitely affected my physical abilities. One year ago, I injured my right shoulder; it wasn't a sudden injury, but rather a slow progression of damage that eventually lead to my inability to use my right arm. I couldn't reach across my body to my left side for some time and I was unable to crochet for a full year. The older we get, the more damage we accrue. Rather than using the physical restrictions as an excuse not to exercise, you should modify your movements.
My husband shared a guide book that came along with his resistance bands. I have incorporated several of these exercises into my routine along with moving to music. I have had to modify several of them due to limitations, but they are still helping me gain strength without causing pain or further injury. I do five exercises on Day 1 and a different five on Day 2. Then I alternate days.
The band hangs equally on each side of the door. Facing the door, I anchor my elbows at my waist and pull down on both ends with equal exertion. The important part here is to not over-do the amount of 'weight'. Use a band strength that is fairly easy. My husband says you should feel some soreness in your muscles to show they've been worked without feeling pain. It's better to do multiple repetitions in sets than to do only a few repetitions with a heavy band. The heavier band may just cause pain and more injury.
I don't use resistance bands at all with this one. My hips are too weak. I just do the squats. Be sure you sit back like you sitting in a chair. Draw an imaginary vertical line straight down from you knees; to avoid injury, your knees should never move forward of your toes. If your knees hurt, you're probably doing these wrong.
Modification? I do both biceps at the same time; it feels more balanced.
I don't use resistance bands on this one either. I just do the lunges. Make sure your front knee doesn't bend too far forward on this one either. I can only do six per side; but when I started, I could only do five. I try to do these lunges close to a table or chair to help me balance; again, it's due to a hip injury.
Day1: Side Bends
I modified this one because of my previous shoulder problems. Also, my band is too short to raise above my head. I step on one end of the band while choking up on the other end with my hand hanging at my side. Then I bend sideways in the opposite direction, sliding down the side of my leg toward my knee. This works the muscles along the sides of my torso. It's a small movement, but it's effective. After doing the repetitions on one side, I switch to the other side.
I started doing 3 sets of 10 repetitions with my lightest band - only 6 pounds. Then I increased to 12 repetitions and now I'm up to 15. I didn't increase band strength, just repetitions. Once again, it's better to do multiple sets of repetitions rather than all at once. I work my way through the five exercises, take a break (ie. dance, run in place, etc), then repeat two more times.
I followed my Day 1 routine for the first month, but then I wanted more variety and I added the Day 2 exercises. If you only do a limited number of movements, the muscles get used to it and it's less challenging for them.
Day 2: Tricep Extensions
I pretty well follow this one exactly. Mainly being sure I don't overdo the amount of band strength.
I'm not much for getting up and down from the floor, so I do this one while lying on my bed. I broke my 6-pound band with this exercise and it pulled my groin muscles. Rather than push through like I used to do, I immediately stopped doing this exercise for that day. By the next day, I didn't feel any soreness.
Day 2: Lateral Rows
I modified this exercise for two reasons: one being practical - my band is too short; the other, it's hard for me to perform this movement with both shoulders at the same time. So I stand on one end of the band and pull straight out and up to the side, then switch to the other side.
(This one should be called 'Butt Smacker'. Sometimes the band would slip off my foot and smack me in the butt. My husband would hear the smack and just laugh.) You can probably tell by the scribbling that I modified this one the most. Getting on my knees is hard. Trying to kneel while holding the band is even harder. I will try to explain what I do. Balancing on one foot, I loop the center of the band under the arch of my other foot, I pull both ends of the band to my chest while bending that leg at the knee and hip, then I push down and back. Not only does this strengthen my butt muscles, it also improves my balance.
I haven't modified this one except I didn't move my feet at first, I just stood with them shoulder-width apart. I wasn't coordinated enough to figure it out. Now I do the full movement.
Notice I alternate by doing an upper body exercise and then a lower body exercise. I wanted to focus on my upper arm strength, upper legs, and hips, so those are the exercises I incorporated. I tried walking, but that particular movement causes pain in my hips. However, I can jog in place without any pain. There are lots and lots of videos on YouTube with guidelines given by Occupational or Physical Therapists. Look them up and follow along. Find the exercises that work best to accomplish your goal.There are plenty to choose from.
Do I exercise every day? NO! I listen to my body. If I'm really tired, sick or maybe I have a headache, I don't ignore that. I will skip that day and take up where I left off. Sometimes I skip several days, the main thing is to get back at it as soon as possible. Don't give in to temptation and quit.
By-the-way, you should also listen to your body when it comes to the food choices you make. Feel a craving for a specific food? Maybe you need a vitamin or mineral it supplies. Do you feel a lack of energy one morning? Think about what you ate the night before. I have a friend who says she doesn't feel arthritis pain since she quit eating meat. She gets her protein straight from plants. So once again it's smart to listen to your body.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Part 3: What's Your Excuse?
Through the years, I've gained plenty of head knowledge on healthy eating, weight loss, exercise, fitness, etc. The hard part is applying that knowledge so it's actually useful. I've also used every excuse in the book to avoid doing what's healthy and good for myself. Some might call it self-sabotage.
The most common excuse? "I don't have the time." Next excuse? "I can't afford the gym." Even when I did have a gym membership, I didn't go. I had excuses for that too. "I hate getting up early enough to go before work.", "It's inconvenient or out of my way.", "I have to go home and fix dinner.", "I'm tired because I worked all day." "I'm not into group fitness i.e. classes." "I'm shy and don't want other people to see my body." And on and on and on.
For those who don't even contemplate the gym and want their own equipment, there's this one: "I can't afford
the equipment." Maybe you're into dance-style exercise. Next excuse? "Work-out videos are too expensive.", "I don't have enough space.", and my favorite was, "I don't like the music they use." And let's not forget: "I can't afford work-out clothes."
The list of excuses goes on and on. Let me share my solution to all these excuses. If nothing else, you'll get a good laugh.
Around October 1, 2016, I started each morning with my ACV/lemon juice/Himalayan sea salt-in-water drink. (See blog post My History with Excess Weight.) It supposedly boosts your metabolism and I guess it worked because I started to lose weight. I wasn't consistently exercising yet.
"I don't have the time.": On October 25, 2016, I had to confront this excuse head-on. I started to exercise because I had flab. Yup, I had lost enough weight that I had flabby, grandma arms. (No insult to grandmas intended.) You know those wings that grandkids love to play with. I needed to tone some muscles. Also, I finally decided that I needed to gain some strength after my latest injury, it only took about 15 minutes of my day to do a series of 5 exercises. I have spent up to an hour, three times a week at the chiropractor's office. How much time do you spend at the doctor's office due to weight-related health issues? How about the time spent waiting in line at the pharmacy shopping for medicine?
"I can't afford the gym.": How much money do you spend in a year on doctor visits and medicine? Every winter I had the flu or a bad cold, usually more than once. Then there's diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. The pharmaceutical companies love it; you're making them rich!
We're on a low, fixed income so I really can't afford the gym. Here's a picture of my gym. It's not inconvenient or out of my way at all. It's a corner of my bedroom. That fan is my cooling system, 'cause I hate to sweat. (Yup, another excuse.)
"I can't afford the equipment.": Fitness equipment is expensive and if you just use it as a clothes rack, it's not worth it; however, if you use it consistently, it's a good investment.
For me, I really can't afford it, but that's no longer an excuse. Here's a picture of my extensive equipment.
My exercise equipment consists of a 6-pound band that I bought from Amazon. This set of 3 bands (6 pound, 8 pound, & 10 pound) cost about $10. That's cheaper than a meal at your favorite restaurant.
I do 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions of 5 exercises per day. I have a set for Day 1 and a separate set for Day 2; I alternate so my muscles don't get too used to a certain movement.
For all you dance/music lovers, "Work-out videos are too expensive.", "I don't have enough space.", and my favorite, "I don't like the music they use.": One of the latest crazes, CIZE costs up to $180 and I'm really not into hip-hop. The country music videos are even worse - they use such corny music. My solution?
Yeah, that's a speaker that I hook-up to my phone. I play music I like. I play what I'm in the mood to listen to. Then I move to the music. No special dance steps, no fancy moves, I just move. Movement = burnt calories = weight loss.
"I can't afford work-out clothes.": A fallacy spread by fitness wear companies is that you need special clothes for every activity. NO, you don't. As long as you can move comfortably, you're good to go. Remember when your P.E. clothes consisted of a T-shirt and a pair of shorts? You wore plain white socks with a pair of tennis shoes. That's all you need. Below are pictures of my workout clothes. (BTW These clothes were tight on me before I started losing weight.)
Here's a picture of my workout shoes. If you're at home and don't have foot problems, you could even go barefoot.
Still not convinced? How about results: I've lost over 20 pounds since October 1st - yeah, that's just over 3 months. That's even with eating the delicious food offered at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just didn't over-indulge because I didn't want to undo all the hard work I'd already put in. The resistance bands are getting easier. I thought they were possibly getting stretched out until my husband suggested I was just getting stronger. Best of all? I feel better and I have more energy. Sounds like a win-win to me!
So really, what's your excuse?
*Disclaimer* This is only my opinion. I'm just sharing what works for me. Check with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.
The most common excuse? "I don't have the time." Next excuse? "I can't afford the gym." Even when I did have a gym membership, I didn't go. I had excuses for that too. "I hate getting up early enough to go before work.", "It's inconvenient or out of my way.", "I have to go home and fix dinner.", "I'm tired because I worked all day." "I'm not into group fitness i.e. classes." "I'm shy and don't want other people to see my body." And on and on and on.
For those who don't even contemplate the gym and want their own equipment, there's this one: "I can't afford
the equipment." Maybe you're into dance-style exercise. Next excuse? "Work-out videos are too expensive.", "I don't have enough space.", and my favorite was, "I don't like the music they use." And let's not forget: "I can't afford work-out clothes."
The list of excuses goes on and on. Let me share my solution to all these excuses. If nothing else, you'll get a good laugh.
Around October 1, 2016, I started each morning with my ACV/lemon juice/Himalayan sea salt-in-water drink. (See blog post My History with Excess Weight.) It supposedly boosts your metabolism and I guess it worked because I started to lose weight. I wasn't consistently exercising yet.
"I don't have the time.": On October 25, 2016, I had to confront this excuse head-on. I started to exercise because I had flab. Yup, I had lost enough weight that I had flabby, grandma arms. (No insult to grandmas intended.) You know those wings that grandkids love to play with. I needed to tone some muscles. Also, I finally decided that I needed to gain some strength after my latest injury, it only took about 15 minutes of my day to do a series of 5 exercises. I have spent up to an hour, three times a week at the chiropractor's office. How much time do you spend at the doctor's office due to weight-related health issues? How about the time spent waiting in line at the pharmacy shopping for medicine?
"I can't afford the gym.": How much money do you spend in a year on doctor visits and medicine? Every winter I had the flu or a bad cold, usually more than once. Then there's diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. The pharmaceutical companies love it; you're making them rich!
We're on a low, fixed income so I really can't afford the gym. Here's a picture of my gym. It's not inconvenient or out of my way at all. It's a corner of my bedroom. That fan is my cooling system, 'cause I hate to sweat. (Yup, another excuse.)
"I can't afford the equipment.": Fitness equipment is expensive and if you just use it as a clothes rack, it's not worth it; however, if you use it consistently, it's a good investment.
For me, I really can't afford it, but that's no longer an excuse. Here's a picture of my extensive equipment.
My exercise equipment consists of a 6-pound band that I bought from Amazon. This set of 3 bands (6 pound, 8 pound, & 10 pound) cost about $10. That's cheaper than a meal at your favorite restaurant.
I do 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions of 5 exercises per day. I have a set for Day 1 and a separate set for Day 2; I alternate so my muscles don't get too used to a certain movement.
For all you dance/music lovers, "Work-out videos are too expensive.", "I don't have enough space.", and my favorite, "I don't like the music they use.": One of the latest crazes, CIZE costs up to $180 and I'm really not into hip-hop. The country music videos are even worse - they use such corny music. My solution?
"I can't afford work-out clothes.": A fallacy spread by fitness wear companies is that you need special clothes for every activity. NO, you don't. As long as you can move comfortably, you're good to go. Remember when your P.E. clothes consisted of a T-shirt and a pair of shorts? You wore plain white socks with a pair of tennis shoes. That's all you need. Below are pictures of my workout clothes. (BTW These clothes were tight on me before I started losing weight.)
Here's a picture of my workout shoes. If you're at home and don't have foot problems, you could even go barefoot.Still not convinced? How about results: I've lost over 20 pounds since October 1st - yeah, that's just over 3 months. That's even with eating the delicious food offered at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just didn't over-indulge because I didn't want to undo all the hard work I'd already put in. The resistance bands are getting easier. I thought they were possibly getting stretched out until my husband suggested I was just getting stronger. Best of all? I feel better and I have more energy. Sounds like a win-win to me!
So really, what's your excuse?
*Disclaimer* This is only my opinion. I'm just sharing what works for me. Check with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Part 2: How Do I Start Eating Healthy?
As a child, your parent or guardian is responsible for what you eat and drink. Unfortunately, childhood malnutrition is not exclusive of American children. For one reason or another, parents don't always provide their children with the proper nutrition. I was one of the lucky ones who's mother always set a balanced meal on the table. Dinner usually consisted of vegetables (including salad), starch (potatoes, rice, or pasta), meat, and dairy (milk or cheese).
When you become a teenager, you may have some input into meal choices. Unfortunately, most teens go for quick and tasty, not necessarily healthy. My daughter was an exception and even tried a 21-day vegetable fast at one time.
Now you're an adult and more aware of what you eat. You are the one in charge. How do you start eating a healthy, balanced diet if you weren't raised that way or you just got lazy and ate whatever? I have good news! You don't have to make some drastic change - you know, paleo (whatever that means) or gluten-free or fat-free or whatever the latest trend they're pedaling on the media.
Take your basic menu and adapt. Add good things and remove the unhealthy. That sounds simple enough doesn't it? Don't go cold turkey or chances are you won't stick with it.
Here are a few changes I would suggest. Add one or two at a time and before you know it, you'll be wondering why you ever ate your old diet.
My first change would be to add vegetables. If you're not in the habit of eating a salad with your meals, start. Salads or raw veggies of any kind add bulk causing you to eat less and still feel full. They also add fiber which improves digestion. Another way to eat more vegetables is to add them to whatever you are cooking. For instance, I have a Sausage Pasta recipe that calls for bell pepper, onion, and garlic with a pound of Italian sausage and a pound of fresh pasta. I add mushrooms, spinach, and sometimes zucchini. Just by eating more vegetables, I started losing weight. What recipe do you like that could improve by adding more vegetables?
Another way to add more vegetables is to grow your own. If you're anything like me, you're more likely to eat something you grew for yourself. If you don't want to be bothered with a garden, make it a point to buy vegetables from your local farmers' market. If that alternative is not available, find a store with a large selection in their produce department. The fresher the vegetables, the better they taste and the better their nutritional value.
On the flip side, I also lower the amount of sausage to one-half pound and use about half the pasta called for in that recipe. (Another benefit to using less meat, is a lower grocery bill - meat is expensive!) Don't completely remove an ingredient, especially one you really like, just cut it in half. If you have a dish that calls for 1 cup of cheese, use 1/2 cup. You're not as likely to feel deprived.
I tend to think of potatoes, rice, and pasta as 'filler food'. My mom could stretch a pound of hamburger to feed ten people by adding more pasta and sauce until you could hardly find the meat. Cut down on your carb consumption by replacing potatoes, rice and pasta with a different vegetable or just leave them out. Some replacements could be sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, mushrooms, etc. Replace your white bread with whole grain. Why cut down on carbs? Carbs change to sugar. (If you're active and just wanting to eat healthier, don't worry about the carbs; you probably need them.)
I like to stick to natural foods so replace sugar with honey. Honey is so much better for you. Excessive use of sugar has been linked to problems with arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and shocker of all shockers, obesity. Artificial sweeteners aren't much better. I still love a good dessert and enjoy baking cookies, pies and cakes. I just don't indulge that often. I've noticed that I just don't feel as good when I eat too much sugar.
Sodas! My mother seldom bought soda and it's not a habit I've developed, but there are healthy alternatives such as water! Drink more water! I try to drink 2-3 liters of water daily. Your body needs plenty of water to function correctly. So next time you're thirsty, reach for water instead of soda. (If you're a hard-core addict, try drinking fruit cordials mixed with club soda or if you need the caffeine, try iced green tea.)
What other changes would you suggest to improve your eating habits?
*Disclaimer* I still eat the occasional burger and fries and this blog is just my opinion. Study and research the benefits of a healthier diet for yourself.
When you become a teenager, you may have some input into meal choices. Unfortunately, most teens go for quick and tasty, not necessarily healthy. My daughter was an exception and even tried a 21-day vegetable fast at one time.
Now you're an adult and more aware of what you eat. You are the one in charge. How do you start eating a healthy, balanced diet if you weren't raised that way or you just got lazy and ate whatever? I have good news! You don't have to make some drastic change - you know, paleo (whatever that means) or gluten-free or fat-free or whatever the latest trend they're pedaling on the media.
Take your basic menu and adapt. Add good things and remove the unhealthy. That sounds simple enough doesn't it? Don't go cold turkey or chances are you won't stick with it.
Here are a few changes I would suggest. Add one or two at a time and before you know it, you'll be wondering why you ever ate your old diet.
My first change would be to add vegetables. If you're not in the habit of eating a salad with your meals, start. Salads or raw veggies of any kind add bulk causing you to eat less and still feel full. They also add fiber which improves digestion. Another way to eat more vegetables is to add them to whatever you are cooking. For instance, I have a Sausage Pasta recipe that calls for bell pepper, onion, and garlic with a pound of Italian sausage and a pound of fresh pasta. I add mushrooms, spinach, and sometimes zucchini. Just by eating more vegetables, I started losing weight. What recipe do you like that could improve by adding more vegetables?
Another way to add more vegetables is to grow your own. If you're anything like me, you're more likely to eat something you grew for yourself. If you don't want to be bothered with a garden, make it a point to buy vegetables from your local farmers' market. If that alternative is not available, find a store with a large selection in their produce department. The fresher the vegetables, the better they taste and the better their nutritional value. I tend to think of potatoes, rice, and pasta as 'filler food'. My mom could stretch a pound of hamburger to feed ten people by adding more pasta and sauce until you could hardly find the meat. Cut down on your carb consumption by replacing potatoes, rice and pasta with a different vegetable or just leave them out. Some replacements could be sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, mushrooms, etc. Replace your white bread with whole grain. Why cut down on carbs? Carbs change to sugar. (If you're active and just wanting to eat healthier, don't worry about the carbs; you probably need them.)
I like to stick to natural foods so replace sugar with honey. Honey is so much better for you. Excessive use of sugar has been linked to problems with arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and shocker of all shockers, obesity. Artificial sweeteners aren't much better. I still love a good dessert and enjoy baking cookies, pies and cakes. I just don't indulge that often. I've noticed that I just don't feel as good when I eat too much sugar.
Sodas! My mother seldom bought soda and it's not a habit I've developed, but there are healthy alternatives such as water! Drink more water! I try to drink 2-3 liters of water daily. Your body needs plenty of water to function correctly. So next time you're thirsty, reach for water instead of soda. (If you're a hard-core addict, try drinking fruit cordials mixed with club soda or if you need the caffeine, try iced green tea.)
What other changes would you suggest to improve your eating habits?
*Disclaimer* I still eat the occasional burger and fries and this blog is just my opinion. Study and research the benefits of a healthier diet for yourself.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Part 1: My History with Excess Weight
It seems to be the appropriate time of year for this subject; after all, television and social media are full of ads and articles about it. Yeah, it's called weight loss. It seems like people either focus on diet OR exercise. I've tried them both - separately. It seems through the years I've either tried modifying my diet or trying some type of exercise to lose weight. I've never been much for fad diets and specific exercise programs, but I have tried aerobics, water aerobics, jazzercise, walking, etc.
I was a skinny child; I mean SKINNY. Then in high school, I gained what everyone referred to as "baby fat". I was assured it would eventually go away on its own. But I wasn't satisfied so I participated in P.E. with a passion. In my sophomore year, while attempting to do 100 chin-ups, my neck spasmed into a migraine-type headache. My mom took me to the doctor who promptly took me out of P.E. and put me on Valium - he said I was too stressed. Thank God my dad took me off the Valium and I was soon back to exercising. This cycle seemed to continue through my life - exercise, injury, no exercise.
During my second pregnancy, I embraced the falsehood that you are eating for two and gained way too much weight. Then I never lost it. I had a bad habit of cleaning up the leftovers immediately following dinner. I was full, but I couldn't bring myself to throw food away. Since it was only a spoon of this and a spoon of that, it wasn't worth saving. So I ate it and the weight added up!
Even working as a waitress didn't help. I was on my feet for 4-6 hours at a time, but I kept the weight on. When my feet started bothering me, I decided to get a desk job. Yeah, that was the answer. Ha ha. I soon found myself eating a huge breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I started walking during my morning break for about 15 minutes, but that wasn't nearly enough exercise and weight just kept adding up. On reflection, I really believe that the stressful job I was in just exacerbated the problem.
The reason I believe stress played a big part is because after reaching a whopping 288 pounds, I started losing weight when I lost my job. I didn't do anything special - no exercise, no special diet. I did make an effort to eat a healthier diet and cut out one meal a day. I ate a small breakfast or lunch and then dinner. I eventually got down to 213 pounds and seemed to stick there.
I was active in the garden, but not every day. I found myself injuring my back or neck. Some things I do, like crocheting or writing, don't require much movement. I tried walking, but I had problems with plantar fasciitis and a bad hip. I could go about a quarter mile without pain, but anything more caused problems. Back to that exercise-injury cycle. Not to mention, walking around my neighborhood was not appealing. (I envy my friend who lives on the beach where she walks her dog. I would love to live in the mountains where I could enjoy the scenery.)
Last October I realized, I was frustrated. After losing the initial 75 pounds, I was still considered obese. Every time I exercised, I would hurt myself. I was eating healthy, but that wasn't enough. All I knew was I couldn't give up.
I made a few observations in my mind.
So I made three changes since October. I came across a trick that is working for me. I mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and a pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt in a 10-12 ounce glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning. It supposedly boosts your metabolism. I started losing weight again, but not much. (BTW I understand that Himalayan sea salt does NOT raise blood pressure and is full of beneficial minerals, but check with your doctor if you are hypertensive.) I drink the ACV/lemon juice/sea salt/water every morning, I often get by with just dinner (At first I was very hungry, but I got used to it.) And I exercise with resistance bands and my version of dancing - ie. moving to music. I'm now down to 192 pounds so it's working for me.
My point? Use common sense and do what works for you. Most of all, don't give up. If I can do it, so can you.
**Disclaimer** I'm not giving medical advice here; I'm just sharing what works for me.
I was a skinny child; I mean SKINNY. Then in high school, I gained what everyone referred to as "baby fat". I was assured it would eventually go away on its own. But I wasn't satisfied so I participated in P.E. with a passion. In my sophomore year, while attempting to do 100 chin-ups, my neck spasmed into a migraine-type headache. My mom took me to the doctor who promptly took me out of P.E. and put me on Valium - he said I was too stressed. Thank God my dad took me off the Valium and I was soon back to exercising. This cycle seemed to continue through my life - exercise, injury, no exercise.
During my second pregnancy, I embraced the falsehood that you are eating for two and gained way too much weight. Then I never lost it. I had a bad habit of cleaning up the leftovers immediately following dinner. I was full, but I couldn't bring myself to throw food away. Since it was only a spoon of this and a spoon of that, it wasn't worth saving. So I ate it and the weight added up!
Even working as a waitress didn't help. I was on my feet for 4-6 hours at a time, but I kept the weight on. When my feet started bothering me, I decided to get a desk job. Yeah, that was the answer. Ha ha. I soon found myself eating a huge breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I started walking during my morning break for about 15 minutes, but that wasn't nearly enough exercise and weight just kept adding up. On reflection, I really believe that the stressful job I was in just exacerbated the problem.
The reason I believe stress played a big part is because after reaching a whopping 288 pounds, I started losing weight when I lost my job. I didn't do anything special - no exercise, no special diet. I did make an effort to eat a healthier diet and cut out one meal a day. I ate a small breakfast or lunch and then dinner. I eventually got down to 213 pounds and seemed to stick there.
I was active in the garden, but not every day. I found myself injuring my back or neck. Some things I do, like crocheting or writing, don't require much movement. I tried walking, but I had problems with plantar fasciitis and a bad hip. I could go about a quarter mile without pain, but anything more caused problems. Back to that exercise-injury cycle. Not to mention, walking around my neighborhood was not appealing. (I envy my friend who lives on the beach where she walks her dog. I would love to live in the mountains where I could enjoy the scenery.)
Last October I realized, I was frustrated. After losing the initial 75 pounds, I was still considered obese. Every time I exercised, I would hurt myself. I was eating healthy, but that wasn't enough. All I knew was I couldn't give up.
I made a few observations in my mind.
- On the show, Naked and Afraid, the contestants often go days without eating and always lose weight. Since having my gall bladder removed, I can't go days without eating, but I CAN get by on one meal a day. Maybe not long term, but once in awhile won't hurt.
- Recently my husband (who lost nearly 100 pounds in 9 months by eating apples, almonds, and tomatoes) commented, "It doesn't matter how you move; you just have to move."
- Along with that wisdom, I also realized YOU MUST BURN MORE CALORIES THAN YOU EAT! If you want to eat a lot, you have to move a lot. If you don't want to move around much, you had better eat less.
So I made three changes since October. I came across a trick that is working for me. I mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and a pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt in a 10-12 ounce glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning. It supposedly boosts your metabolism. I started losing weight again, but not much. (BTW I understand that Himalayan sea salt does NOT raise blood pressure and is full of beneficial minerals, but check with your doctor if you are hypertensive.) I drink the ACV/lemon juice/sea salt/water every morning, I often get by with just dinner (At first I was very hungry, but I got used to it.) And I exercise with resistance bands and my version of dancing - ie. moving to music. I'm now down to 192 pounds so it's working for me.
My point? Use common sense and do what works for you. Most of all, don't give up. If I can do it, so can you.
**Disclaimer** I'm not giving medical advice here; I'm just sharing what works for me.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Srong People
Do you know some strong people? I'm not talking muscle strength. I'm talking emotionally strong. They're often perceived as a person who is never down, always has the answers, compassionate, willing to help... you get the picture. It's that person that you go to when you are so overwhelmed with your problems you just can't handle it. I know one or two myself - in fact, they are in my family.Do you want to know their secret?
They don't share their drama with everyone. They keep to themselves until someone needs their help. They're reliable that way. But guess what - they have just as many problems as you do. They also have to deal with all the issues that life insists we endure. So do them a favor. Call them for a change to say thanks or offer your help or just to talk about things in general. They need cheering up too!
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Elderberry Topped Pineapple Cake
I created this cake today with a little inspiration from an online cake recipe sensation. You know the one where you mix crushed pineapple with an Angel Food cake mix and presto, chango you have cake! I was intending to follow that recipe, but I bought a regular cake mix by mistake so I had to come up with something else. It was so, so yummy I just had to share it.
Elderberry Topped Pineapple Cake
-by Debra Campbell
Cake:
1 White or Yellow Cake Mix
1 15-oz can Crushed Pineapple
1 egg
¼ c chopped walnuts or pecans
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. (325 degrees for dark pan.) Combine egg, pineapple with juice; add cake mix and nuts. Mix well. Pour into a 9x13 inch cake pan. (Grease bottom of the pan.) Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown on top and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool then poke holes every few inches with the handle of a wooden spoon.
Topping:
3 c elderberries
1 c honey
3 T Clear Jel (Cook type)
¼ t salt
½ t cinnamon
1 T butter
3 T lemon juice
1 t vanilla
Add above ingredients except elderberries and vanilla to a non-stick sauce pan. Cook over low heat until combined. Add elderberries and cook to just boiling stirring often. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Stir well. Pour over cake and spread evenly.
Serve with vanilla ice cream or top with whipped topping.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
What Should I Write About??
I like to write. I want to write. I want to get good at writing. That means I need to practice writing since practice makes perfect.
I have several story ideas cooking in my head, but those are not for a blog. However, blogging is a great writing exercise. Maybe I'll just write about my day.
Let me start by saying, my mother-in-law loves to gamble in the form of playing slot machines. A few months ago she talked my husband into becoming a premier member at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore which is about 45 minutes away from our house. As a premier member and because they have spent a little money on the slot machines, they get a weekly prize. They just have to drive over, show their identification and pick it up. One month it was different ice chest type items such as a water cooler, a six pack cooler, etc. Then they received tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers. The most recent prizes have been stoneware baking items and casserole dishes. I love them!
Last week my husband did a little work on my mother-in-law's pickup and so she gave him $40. She wanted me and my hubby to each have $20 to play the slots today. After picking up our stoneware bread pans (this week's prize), we quickly lost our $20; however, my mother-in-law is one of the luckiest ladies I know. She started playing on a certain machine and she was able to play for a long, long time on very little money. Eventually, she cashed out and insisted on giving us each more playing money. Whereas my mother-in-law plays to win the jackpot, I just play to win some money. Thanks to my Fairy Godmother aka mother-in-law, I won a couple hundred dollars. It's enough to pay for gas and groceries so we can go deer hunting.
So after leaving the casino, we went grocery shopping and then came home and prepared to head for the mountains. What a great day! I have a great mother-in-law and I hope you do too.
I have several story ideas cooking in my head, but those are not for a blog. However, blogging is a great writing exercise. Maybe I'll just write about my day.
Let me start by saying, my mother-in-law loves to gamble in the form of playing slot machines. A few months ago she talked my husband into becoming a premier member at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore which is about 45 minutes away from our house. As a premier member and because they have spent a little money on the slot machines, they get a weekly prize. They just have to drive over, show their identification and pick it up. One month it was different ice chest type items such as a water cooler, a six pack cooler, etc. Then they received tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers. The most recent prizes have been stoneware baking items and casserole dishes. I love them!
Last week my husband did a little work on my mother-in-law's pickup and so she gave him $40. She wanted me and my hubby to each have $20 to play the slots today. After picking up our stoneware bread pans (this week's prize), we quickly lost our $20; however, my mother-in-law is one of the luckiest ladies I know. She started playing on a certain machine and she was able to play for a long, long time on very little money. Eventually, she cashed out and insisted on giving us each more playing money. Whereas my mother-in-law plays to win the jackpot, I just play to win some money. Thanks to my Fairy Godmother aka mother-in-law, I won a couple hundred dollars. It's enough to pay for gas and groceries so we can go deer hunting.
So after leaving the casino, we went grocery shopping and then came home and prepared to head for the mountains. What a great day! I have a great mother-in-law and I hope you do too.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Yes, I Read... A Lot; So Give Me A Good Review
I didn't start out as an avid reader. In fact, I didn't really start reading extensively until I fell in love with romance novels as a teenager. I babysat for a woman who belonged to some of those book clubs that send you a selection of books each month. This wonderful woman would lend me all her books! It wasn't long before I found myself staying up all hours of the night and even reading until sunrise if the book was really good. My favorite type of book was a good combination romance and mystery.
As the years have gone by I have changed a little in my preferred genres, but not much. I still like a good romance but with a little paranormal or fantasy thrown in for good measure. I still like a good mystery and have even gone for a great thriller. My latest tastes have added historical fiction at times. What I don't read much is non-fiction unless it's about gardening/homesteading.
There are so many great books out there and even at 100 books per year - my current annual goal on Goodreads - I could not hope to read every book I might like before I die.
So what's a girl to do? You've heard "Don't judge a book by its cover."? Yet that is exactly what I used to do. I also chose a book by the little blurb on the back. It was a rather hit-or-miss method. I would search for books by authors I knew I liked and hope I'd get lucky. These days with the advent of the internet and e-books I can narrow down my choices. (On the flip side, due to a number of books being self-published, there are so many more books to choose from.)
One method I use to pick a book - I judge a book by the price. A good author will be priced at about $7.99 and up with a new release selling for $13.99. That can get expensive. Online libraries help, but they don't have ALL the books I want to read. One of these days I may have to go back to the local library and read a paper book again.
In the meantime, I give a lot of free books a look which means I read the way I eat - I can't afford steak every day either. I've gotten lucky a few times, but usually I have to lower my exacting standards. To keep from wasting too much time on inexpensive or free books, I read reviews. If a book rates less that 3 stars on Goodreads, I don't bother.
Now I'm getting to the main reason I thought of this blog subject - reviews. Do you know the difference between a review and a book report? A book report was an assignment given in school in which you wrote a short description of a book you read as proof you really read the book. Sometimes a sadistic teacher would make you share it in class. A review is stating your opinion of a book. It may contain editorial critiques and how the story affected you. A review is NOT a book report! It is NOT a synopsis! If I want a synopsis of the book, I will refer to the one provided by the author/publisher.
I want to know if a book I'm considering is worth my time. So don't tell me about your terrible day at work or some other unrelated information like your political affiliation. Give me your honest opinion of the book and I'll decide. So keep the reviews coming and I may read a book you recommend.
As the years have gone by I have changed a little in my preferred genres, but not much. I still like a good romance but with a little paranormal or fantasy thrown in for good measure. I still like a good mystery and have even gone for a great thriller. My latest tastes have added historical fiction at times. What I don't read much is non-fiction unless it's about gardening/homesteading.
There are so many great books out there and even at 100 books per year - my current annual goal on Goodreads - I could not hope to read every book I might like before I die.
So what's a girl to do? You've heard "Don't judge a book by its cover."? Yet that is exactly what I used to do. I also chose a book by the little blurb on the back. It was a rather hit-or-miss method. I would search for books by authors I knew I liked and hope I'd get lucky. These days with the advent of the internet and e-books I can narrow down my choices. (On the flip side, due to a number of books being self-published, there are so many more books to choose from.)
One method I use to pick a book - I judge a book by the price. A good author will be priced at about $7.99 and up with a new release selling for $13.99. That can get expensive. Online libraries help, but they don't have ALL the books I want to read. One of these days I may have to go back to the local library and read a paper book again.
In the meantime, I give a lot of free books a look which means I read the way I eat - I can't afford steak every day either. I've gotten lucky a few times, but usually I have to lower my exacting standards. To keep from wasting too much time on inexpensive or free books, I read reviews. If a book rates less that 3 stars on Goodreads, I don't bother.
Now I'm getting to the main reason I thought of this blog subject - reviews. Do you know the difference between a review and a book report? A book report was an assignment given in school in which you wrote a short description of a book you read as proof you really read the book. Sometimes a sadistic teacher would make you share it in class. A review is stating your opinion of a book. It may contain editorial critiques and how the story affected you. A review is NOT a book report! It is NOT a synopsis! If I want a synopsis of the book, I will refer to the one provided by the author/publisher.
I want to know if a book I'm considering is worth my time. So don't tell me about your terrible day at work or some other unrelated information like your political affiliation. Give me your honest opinion of the book and I'll decide. So keep the reviews coming and I may read a book you recommend.
Friday, February 19, 2016
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg (I think she likes long titles.)
Just this morning I finished reading this book by Fannie Flagg. You may not recognize her name, but do you remember a movie titled Fried Green Tomatoes? She wrote the book first titled Fried Green Tomatoes and the Whistle Stop Cafe and then the screen play.
Not only was this story, The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, an entertaining book, it also got me thinking about a few things.
First of all, the title doesn't do the story justice and seems a little misleading. Yes, the narrative includes a section in which four sisters run a filling station, or as we might call it a gas station, during World War II. But that is just the beginning of this adventure in which women fly planes! And not only do they fly planes, they do it as volunteers to help the war effort. Our country was just recovering from The Great Depression and we were in no position to fight a war so everyone had to pitch in. Most men from the age of 17 to 60 were off fighting so the women had to step up and they did it willingly.
The story includes a great deal of information about the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII) and was really the inspiration for this book. These women were so happy to perform what they saw as a patriotic duty, but they weren't appreciated by very many, especially the men pilots. Apparently, toward the end of the war, the US had all the fighter pilots they needed. This meant that the civilian male flight instructors who had been excused from military service were now eligible for the draft. If they were chosen to serve, they would have to serve as foot soldiers and they didn't like that one bit. So they organized a letter writing campaign to the government insisting that they take over the WASPs' job of ferrying planes from the manufacturers to the air bases. It worked and the WASPs were disbanded. You can check out the statistics here: WASP Statistics It is so sad and embarrassing how the government really let them down and just kind of swept their existence under the carpet (records were sealed and classified). Though a bill had been proposed in Congress that these women would become an official part of the armed services and therefore, receive veterans' benefits, it was shot down. It would be another thirty years before another woman would fly a military plane. (I guess the male ego is a fragile thing.)
Then there's Sookie, the main character, at first she came across as a doormat. She let's her mother Lenore run her life. What I did like about Sookie is although she's 60-years-old, she didn't settle - she picked herself up and moved on. Most books I read have much younger characters who have their whole lives ahead of them and plenty of time to change. Sookie showed me that even at 60 you can discover yourself and grow. Life is not over yet.
Lastly, there's Lenore. Sookie's mother made me think of my wonderful, independent mother-in-law, Irma. No, Irma is not overbearing. But just like Lenore, she's a strong woman, one of the strongest I know. Although she lost her husband of 50 plus years, she is still living life with gusto! She is self-sufficient and yet caring. She's interesting and loves a great joke. She's an independent, classy lady. I love her and I'm lucky to have her in my life. (Her son's pretty great too.)
I'm thankful to my friend JoAnn for sharing this book on Facebook as it really inspired me.
Not only was this story, The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, an entertaining book, it also got me thinking about a few things.
First of all, the title doesn't do the story justice and seems a little misleading. Yes, the narrative includes a section in which four sisters run a filling station, or as we might call it a gas station, during World War II. But that is just the beginning of this adventure in which women fly planes! And not only do they fly planes, they do it as volunteers to help the war effort. Our country was just recovering from The Great Depression and we were in no position to fight a war so everyone had to pitch in. Most men from the age of 17 to 60 were off fighting so the women had to step up and they did it willingly.
The story includes a great deal of information about the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII) and was really the inspiration for this book. These women were so happy to perform what they saw as a patriotic duty, but they weren't appreciated by very many, especially the men pilots. Apparently, toward the end of the war, the US had all the fighter pilots they needed. This meant that the civilian male flight instructors who had been excused from military service were now eligible for the draft. If they were chosen to serve, they would have to serve as foot soldiers and they didn't like that one bit. So they organized a letter writing campaign to the government insisting that they take over the WASPs' job of ferrying planes from the manufacturers to the air bases. It worked and the WASPs were disbanded. You can check out the statistics here: WASP Statistics It is so sad and embarrassing how the government really let them down and just kind of swept their existence under the carpet (records were sealed and classified). Though a bill had been proposed in Congress that these women would become an official part of the armed services and therefore, receive veterans' benefits, it was shot down. It would be another thirty years before another woman would fly a military plane. (I guess the male ego is a fragile thing.)
Then there's Sookie, the main character, at first she came across as a doormat. She let's her mother Lenore run her life. What I did like about Sookie is although she's 60-years-old, she didn't settle - she picked herself up and moved on. Most books I read have much younger characters who have their whole lives ahead of them and plenty of time to change. Sookie showed me that even at 60 you can discover yourself and grow. Life is not over yet.
Lastly, there's Lenore. Sookie's mother made me think of my wonderful, independent mother-in-law, Irma. No, Irma is not overbearing. But just like Lenore, she's a strong woman, one of the strongest I know. Although she lost her husband of 50 plus years, she is still living life with gusto! She is self-sufficient and yet caring. She's interesting and loves a great joke. She's an independent, classy lady. I love her and I'm lucky to have her in my life. (Her son's pretty great too.)
 |
| The best mother-in-law you could hope to have. |
 |
| So beautiful in red. |
I'm thankful to my friend JoAnn for sharing this book on Facebook as it really inspired me.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Plush Scarves
Last year I made 20 - 25 scarves to donate to our local Homeless after being inspired by an online post that featured hanging free scarves around the city in Ottawa, Canada. I wanted to repeat the project this year, but I ran into a few obstacles such as back/shoulder problems, THREE wedding gift afghans, and a few baby-shower gift blankets to make.
I made 4, but knew I would never get 25 done before Christmas. So I came up with an idea when I saw these plush throws at the local Wal-mart for just under $6 each.
Everyone loves the feel of a plush whether it's a stuffed animal, a robe or blanket. These blankets measure 60"x50" and by cutting a blanket into 5 strips measuring 60" long - a good length for a scarf - I could get 5 scarves from each blanket. I originally thought I would double them over and then crochet around the edge creating scarves of double thickness measuring 5"x60". Then I had an inspiration, if I didn't fold them over, a person could wrap the scarf around their shoulders as a wrap or tie over their head to make a hat. I'm always in favor of a multi-purpose item.
So here are a few pics to show how I put together 20 scarves for $24. (My friend purchased the same blankets for $2.88 each on sale. Wow!)
So don't let a lack of time or money keep you from creating some great scarves to give away. You could get even more scarves per blanket if you were making them child-sized.
Merry Christmas!
So here are a few pics to show how I put together 20 scarves for $24. (My friend purchased the same blankets for $2.88 each on sale. Wow!)
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| First, pull the binding thread off the edge. Save for some other project or discard. |
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| Fold the 60" length of the blanket in quarters and square up on your cutting mat. Measure 10"wide. |
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| Using the rotary cutter, cut along ruler. |
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| Fold the strip so the 4 corners are together; making sure the sides line up. Then cut the corners so they match. |
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| Now throw them in the dryer on the fluff air setting for about 10 - 20 minutes, because by now everything is covered in fuzz. The air is very dry due to the heater running in my house and these blankets love to get full of static so use some aluminum or wool balls in your dryer. |
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| Crocheting an edge was going to take too long, so I decided to run a zig-zag stitch around the edge instead. |
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| I set my stitch as wide as my machine would go with a fairly long stitch length. |
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| Optional: You could fold the ends up about 5 or 6 inches (as pictured) and stitch up the side creating pockets. What a great way to keep the hands warm while wearing the scarf. |
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| Voila! Now I have 24 scarves total to donate. Once I figured out what I was doing, it took about 1 hour to turn a blanket into 5 scarves. |
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and Honey are all the rage these days. Apparently they cure EVERYTHING from stomach problems to acne!
Well I don't know about that; but long before they became all the rage of the internet, I came across a book published in 1980 by Dian Dincin Buchman entitled Herbal Medicine, The Natural Way to Get Well and Stay Well. In the book she tells a story of a man who suffered from arthritis in his toe. She recommended he started drinking a combination of 1 t. apple cider vinegar and 1 T. of honey in a glass of water daily. A while later she ran into the gentleman and asked about his arthritis in his toe. He had forgotten about the pain because it was completely gone. He said he would continue this daily routine so it wouldn't come back.
After reading this, I mentioned it to my Mom. She was still quite young, but didn't want to get arthritis so she started drinking the ACV/Honey combination herself. She said she liked the taste and it was very refreshing. In fact, she told me that her dad, who was a farmer, would drink a vinegar water concoction in the summertime to cool off as lemons are expensive in Canada. She's been drinking this mixture for over 30 years now and she has no arthritis while her sister suffers from it a great deal.
Have you ever found yourself so thirsty that drinking water just doesn't seem to help? Personally, I enjoy the combination of ACV and Honey just as a refreshing drink during the summer and mix it up by the quart. I'm not very accurate with the measurements but rather put about 4 T. of ACV and 4 heaping tablespoons of honey in a quart jar and fill it with water. I've also experimented with **Blackberry Vinegar and Red Raspberry Vinegar. These also taste very good. It's like my own "vitamin" water.
So give it a try. Even if you think you don't like vinegar, you might be surprised at the taste. And the benefits are well worth making the consumption of this beverage a daily habit.
**I made the Blackberry Vinegar and Red Raspberry Vinegars last summer by crushing about 1 1/2 cups of fruit in a pint jar then filling the jar with some ACV that still contains the "mother" because it has not been pasteurized. I covered it with a fine cheese cloth to keep the bugs out. After several weeks in the warm weather, the juices from the fruit become vinegar. I pour it through a fine sieve and voila, I have vinegar.
Well I don't know about that; but long before they became all the rage of the internet, I came across a book published in 1980 by Dian Dincin Buchman entitled Herbal Medicine, The Natural Way to Get Well and Stay Well. In the book she tells a story of a man who suffered from arthritis in his toe. She recommended he started drinking a combination of 1 t. apple cider vinegar and 1 T. of honey in a glass of water daily. A while later she ran into the gentleman and asked about his arthritis in his toe. He had forgotten about the pain because it was completely gone. He said he would continue this daily routine so it wouldn't come back.
After reading this, I mentioned it to my Mom. She was still quite young, but didn't want to get arthritis so she started drinking the ACV/Honey combination herself. She said she liked the taste and it was very refreshing. In fact, she told me that her dad, who was a farmer, would drink a vinegar water concoction in the summertime to cool off as lemons are expensive in Canada. She's been drinking this mixture for over 30 years now and she has no arthritis while her sister suffers from it a great deal.
Have you ever found yourself so thirsty that drinking water just doesn't seem to help? Personally, I enjoy the combination of ACV and Honey just as a refreshing drink during the summer and mix it up by the quart. I'm not very accurate with the measurements but rather put about 4 T. of ACV and 4 heaping tablespoons of honey in a quart jar and fill it with water. I've also experimented with **Blackberry Vinegar and Red Raspberry Vinegar. These also taste very good. It's like my own "vitamin" water.
So give it a try. Even if you think you don't like vinegar, you might be surprised at the taste. And the benefits are well worth making the consumption of this beverage a daily habit.
**I made the Blackberry Vinegar and Red Raspberry Vinegars last summer by crushing about 1 1/2 cups of fruit in a pint jar then filling the jar with some ACV that still contains the "mother" because it has not been pasteurized. I covered it with a fine cheese cloth to keep the bugs out. After several weeks in the warm weather, the juices from the fruit become vinegar. I pour it through a fine sieve and voila, I have vinegar.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Fairytale Lie
Women's liberation and modern society have changed this expectation and modern authors have reflected that change in stories, movies and television. Now the Princess is just as likely to save herself without the Prince's assistance or even go one further and save the Prince.
As we grow up, we put all our hope in meeting Prince Charming, our Knight in Shining Armor (Sigh). Well, I believe we have all been lied to. I'm not saying there can't be a "happily ever after". I'm not saying that the Princess doesn't need a Knight once in awhile. We can't always be strong. I'm saying that the first "Knight in Shining Armor" in a girl's life should not be cast as the Prince. What I'm saying is they got the wrong guy as the first Knight.
You see I've had the privilege of knowing many a Knight in my life and I'm sure you have too if you really think about it. They often go by the name "King of the Realm" or Dad.
When I think back in life, I believed the Fairytale. I believed in it so strongly that I never realized I already had a Knight in my life. Once when I was 15, five drunk girls ganged up on me while I was babysitting. It was my first time working for this woman and her regular babysitter showed up with her friends to get drunk and get dolled up for a dance. As things escalated and got out of control, I managed to lock them out of the house just long enough to call my dad on the phone. We lived right around the block. Dad came blazing in ready to take on all comers and soon he had me safely home. I know there were other incidents in life when Dad stepped up to the roll of Knight too.
My generation saw a peak in divorce rates and for awhile it seemed that almost all children were placed with their mothers to be raised while only seeing their fathers a few days a month. Thankfully that trend is starting to even out with equal custody. This didn't stop my husband from fulfilling his roll as Knight though. For example, when our very independent daughter needed financial aid in college, my husband is the one who stepped up and said we would help her.
My brother followed in Dad's footsteps with his own daughters, giving them a place to live with their children when they had no money and no place to go.
Dad is gone now, but I still have a Knight in my life - he just happens to also be my Prince Charming. So think about it. Who are the Knights in your life?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Ugly To Beautiful
Several years ago I was part of a small group of women who made children's quilts for an orphanage in Cambodia. Before that I had never attempted to make a quilt because I thought it was too time consuming. I learned a few things through that endeavor. First of all, you don't have to hand sew quilts (unless you're a quilting snob); you can sew them on a sewing machine. Second is that they don't have to be composed of thousands of fabric pieces. In fact the definition of a quilt is two pieces of material with some kind of filler sandwiched in between and then held together by stitches. So you can actually make a quilt with larger pieces sewn together and it doesn't take very long. Finally, I learned I was pretty good at designing simple quilt tops from donated fabric.
Now I love combining beautiful fabric into quilt tops. Unfortunately, I don't necessarily enjoy the rest of the quilt making process; but that's part of making a quilt. One of my other faults is that I get bored with anything that becomes tedious and takes lots of time. I tried 'hooking' a wall hanging once. Just one of many boring projects which remained incomplete. So I mostly make baby quilts. They're fast enough and not too large to handle on my sewing machine.
Have you heard the story of the ugly duckling. No? Well basically a poor little ugly "duckling" was really a swan and turned out to be very beautiful. Did you know that an ugly piece of fabric can be just like that ugly duckling? Yes, even that ugly fabric can be turned into a beautiful swan of a quilt. Here's an example.
Ugly right? And a baby quilt? The other piece of fabric was nearly as bad, but I forgot to take a picture. Why use these if I thought they were so ugly? I wanted something bright and colorful. I was making a quilt for a baby boy and most of the fabric in my stash (some is still from donations like this one) would work better for a little girl. But everyone seems to be having boys these days.
So here is a pictorial of the quilt I made. I used a bargello technique to an extent.
First I cut the fabrics into strips - all the same width. Then I sewed them together in random order. I worked in sections and then put those together. I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance and ironed the seams flat. Believe me when I say that the iron is your best friend when quilting.
Place you two pieces along the masking tape guide and you'll get a good 1/4 inch seam.
Next you'll cut the strips crosswise. They should be different widths increasing by 1/4 to 1/2 inch increments.
Next you want to move the strips up or down one position so they step up or down.
When ironing the seam allowances, you want them in opposing directions so they snug up to one another. This kind of locks them together and makes sure you get a good match at the seam.
Once all the strips are sewn together, remove one seam crosswise and open up. You can see the effect you get by cutting the crosswise strips different widths.
Next I sandwiched the top to the bottom with a layer of batting in the middle. The backing will lie face down with the top face up. Now it was time to baste the layers all together to hold everything in place until it's quilted. My fingers aren't used to using a needle so extensively and I couldn't get the hang of using a thimble, so I used multiple layers of masking tape. Worked really well!
Once everything is sandwiched together. It's time to quilt. I'm not going into detail here except to say that I decided to do a random quilting design which is easiest and the most forgiving of mistakes.
Finally I added a binding and this is the finished article. Beautiful right? At least I think so.
There are lots of good videos on YouTube and great books available about quilting if you're interested in learning more. I would recommend one book that has helped me with the basics and plenty of helpful tips. The book is Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting.
Now I love combining beautiful fabric into quilt tops. Unfortunately, I don't necessarily enjoy the rest of the quilt making process; but that's part of making a quilt. One of my other faults is that I get bored with anything that becomes tedious and takes lots of time. I tried 'hooking' a wall hanging once. Just one of many boring projects which remained incomplete. So I mostly make baby quilts. They're fast enough and not too large to handle on my sewing machine.
Have you heard the story of the ugly duckling. No? Well basically a poor little ugly "duckling" was really a swan and turned out to be very beautiful. Did you know that an ugly piece of fabric can be just like that ugly duckling? Yes, even that ugly fabric can be turned into a beautiful swan of a quilt. Here's an example.
So here is a pictorial of the quilt I made. I used a bargello technique to an extent.
Mark your edge line with several layers of masking tape.
Place you two pieces along the masking tape guide and you'll get a good 1/4 inch seam.
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| All the strips sewn together in random order. |
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| This is what the back will look like. |
The ends may not be even, but that's okay, you'll trim that off.
I sewed the last strip to the first strip so it made a big loop of material.
Once all the strips are sewn together, remove one seam crosswise and open up. You can see the effect you get by cutting the crosswise strips different widths.
Next I sandwiched the top to the bottom with a layer of batting in the middle. The backing will lie face down with the top face up. Now it was time to baste the layers all together to hold everything in place until it's quilted. My fingers aren't used to using a needle so extensively and I couldn't get the hang of using a thimble, so I used multiple layers of masking tape. Worked really well!
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| The other great use of masking tape is as thimbles. |
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| This shows front and back after quilting. I always leave the excess batting and backing until after quilting is completed and then trim the edges to be even and squared. |
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| Front close up. |
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| Close up of the back. I chose to quilt around the little dinosaurs. |
There are lots of good videos on YouTube and great books available about quilting if you're interested in learning more. I would recommend one book that has helped me with the basics and plenty of helpful tips. The book is Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting.
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