Eek, My Reputation is Ruined...

Did I say "youngest daughter" yesterday? Boy I am getting old. Oldtimers must be setting in. This one isn't the youngest, Cara is. But they're only 11 months apart so I'm sure you can see where I would make that kind of mistake, right?


The fiance brought his 4 year old this trip. She's already calling me Grandmother. Yea, I know, kinda stuffy name, isn't it? But you have to understand that I became a grandmother when I was 38 and I felt that I was just too young. I wasn't mentally ready for that one. My mother was MawMaw so that name was taken (and I would have never chosen it anyway). I felt at the time that I was too young to be a "Granny" and just decided on "Grandmother." Now that was a hard one for little ones but they finally got the hang of it. I digress...


I've got a reputation to protect here and it is getting harder and harder to do that. We went to the falls yesterday. Can you believe it? That's 2 weeks in a row! And 3 times in a month. What are people out there going to think of me? That I'm starting to enjoy exercise? I just can't have that kind of reputation. It would ruin my self-proclaimed laziness. We didn't go all the way to the bottom this time because of the 4 year old. We thought it would be too much for her. What were we thinking...she has more energy than all three of us put together. We just went half way down and the skies opened up. Thunder and all, which frightened the little one a bit being as we were outside with no cover except the canopy of trees over us. The little one has a lot of phobia's and Dad is working with her on overcoming them but we think Mom just increases those fears when she has her. We were drenched and dripping all over the car when we got there. It was muggy and seemed harder this time to climb back up all those stairs although now these old legs are getting used to the climb and no longer hurt. They will be coming back again next week and I'm hoping they won't want to do the falls again. I mean, my reputation will just go down the drain if I go again so soon. Forgot to strap on the heart monitor so I don't have a calorie count for you this trip, but I was huffing and puffing and sweating perspiring more this trip than either of the other two trips. Probably because of the mugginess.


Fixed an old fashioned pot roast for supper with fresh corn on the cob. I didn't eat the potatoes so I could have the corn. And they brought lots of "Jersey tomatoes," which are really sweet so I think I ate at least 1 1/2 of those with supper. I am so not looking forward to winter when I can't get good tomatoes, I love them.

Probably won't see much of the kids today. Fiance's mother was a little huffy last evening because they were at my house for supper, even though she and her boyfriend were invited. She said earlier in the day that she had plans and couldn't get out of them then she didn't go where she was supposed to go because of the rain (it was an outdoor event, which she didn't bother to tell anyone). Oh, well.

Until next time, y'all.

Too Small...

I would just like to know what in the world the people that make clothes are thinking. I finally had to accept the fact that I have gone down one cup size in my bras. I've kinda been putting that purchase off, not wanting to admit that that part of me is losing weight too. So I finally stopped and picked up a bra with the same size around but one cup size smaller. What the heck? It is so tight that I can hardly breath. Why is it that when you get a smaller cup size the size around is smaller too even though it says it's the same size? So now I'll have to wait to get smaller around for that one to fit. Yea, yea, I know, I should have tried it on but I didn't remember the anomaly.

Not much going on in my world. My younger daughter is in town but staying with her fiance's mother right now. Will see her sometime today. They aren't going to be able to stay all week because of some commitments during next week but will be back next Thursday night and will stay with me then. It's hard on them having both mothers living in the same area, having to split their time between us. I completely understand but the other mother gets huffy if they don't stay with her all the time.

Have a great Saturday.

Short...

Not much going on today.

Getting ready for oldest daughter to arrive tonight.

Eating was on plan yesterday.

No new critters in my yard.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Is This a Better Visitor...

Oh my gosh, I got started and couldn't stop. Yesterday was a splurge day because of weigh-in in the morning. After lunch with Cammy I came home and had a snack, 1 oz. cheese and 6 triscuits, not so bad but then it went downhill from there. I didn't stop until I had fixed myself a Warm Delights and scoffed it down (and there was a lot of stuff in between the cheese and the cake). I mean I inhaled it. What in the world got into me? Where was my will power? Here I was telling you all how I was ready to get back in the swing of things and was really committed. And I went crazy!!! Ok, don't panic, Deborah. It was only one day. Only one day. Today is a new day and I've had my bean soup already and I feel full and not in the least bit having any cravings. Whew!

Another visitor came to my yard this morning. Now do you all feel better that it was this and not another bear. So many of you freaked out about a bear being in my yard but you have to understand that the bears around here are more afraid of people than people are afraid of them. The only time you have to worry about the bears in this area are when you come in between a cub and its mom. There was one bear mauling reported in this state a couple of years ago and I was told that was the only one ever reported. The man stopped the forestry service from going after the bear and killing it because he had accidentally gotten between the mom and cub. It wasn't the bear's fault. The only fear I have of them is if my dogs are outside. They hunt bear around here with hound dogs and sometimes the hound dogs aggravate the bear and they in turn attack the dogs and a lot of times kill them. I don't want my dogs killed by a bear so if I know they are moving around I keep them in the house. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not going to go out and see how close I can get to one. I will stay in the house and just watch from the windows. But if I happen to be outside when one meanders into the yard or any where near me when I'm outside. I won't stick around to see what it will do. And I don't want to find out how fast they can run either. I was told to just back away from them and get in the house or back in my car. I have a lot of respect for a wild animal that large. The one in my yard was a yearling and probably around 80 pounds. There was probably a mom near by since yearlings don't leave mom until the second year. But I didn't see her.

Living out in the country I'd love to have a compost pile for my flowers but because of the bears on the mountain I don't do it. I don't want them thinking this is a feeding ground. Then I would be afraid of them because once they feel comfortable and expecting to be fed they can get dangerous. So rest assured I'll be careful. Course if you see in the national news that a widow lady living in the mountains of West Virginia was killed by a black bear and you don't see my blogs anymore it was me being careless. :o) Not likely though.

Trying to catch up on my laundry today and have a sink full of dishes to get done. Sure glad we've been getting some rain so I don't have to worry about my well going dry.

Have a happy out there!

I just got back from Lewisburg where I had lunch with one of the greatest people in the world. And one of my favorite bloggers, Cammy! YAY!! I was so excited to be meeting her that I had planned on posting this morning to let you all know but I got up a little late and didn't have the time. I had to reset my alarm clock after the power went off on Monday and did it wrong, so it was later than I thought it was when I woke up. Anyway...we had a nice visit. We lunched at a local restaurant (Food & Friends) then walked around for about 45 minutes and hit a couple of shops there. She is such a pretty lady, inside and out. What a grand experience! It's really neat, now when I read her blog I will be able to hear her voice behind her posts. She's on her way home now and will be there tomorrow sometime.

Well, the rest of my post can't beat that at all. Except...I lost another pound this week. It's been 4 weeks at the same weight so I guess I'm only going to lose 1 pound a month from here on out. :o( Not really, when the company stops coming and I quit eating out it will get better I'm sure. But company is coming again this weekend for a week. Good company though, my other daughter. (The skinny one that eats like a horse.) I'm sure not complaining because the winter will be long and lonely. And I'll have plenty of time to stay on plan with my eating.

Hope your Wednesday is as exciting as mine was.

Restful Monday and Tuesday...

What a nice relaxing day I had yesterday. Just bummed around the house and started a new book. Actually I didn't start the book until the power went off. Yea, it went off again. This used to happen to us a lot the first year we moved into the cabin and we contemplated getting a generator. Then the next year it didn't happen very often so we didn't. It has been pretty good until this year. Guess they've let the trees grow a little to close to the lines and need to do some trimming.

Well, since the power was off and I was lying on the couch reading the old "sandman" hit me with his dust and I snoozed for a couple of hours. When I woke up I was starving and still no power. I didn't want anything cold so I just put up with the hunger pains until the power came back on. Luckily I stayed on plan. I was so afraid I'd eat everything in the kitchen I was so hungry.

Gonna have the same breakfast today as yesterday since I have half a can in the fridge. I know some of you think bean soup for breakfast is awful but I really hate cereal in the mornings. I'm not a sweets in the morning kinda person and never have been. I like my cereal at night before bed. So I usually have the half can of soup or a half sandwich for breakfast. Now if I could have bacon and eggs for breakfast, that would be the route I'd go but I can't.

Plans for today are much the same food wise and otherwise.

Back in the Saddle...

Whew, "today is the first day of the rest of my life." I feel so much better this morning after my REGULAR breakfast.

I had:

coffee with sugar free coffee mate
a half can of bean soup
8 saltines

Lunch plans:
1/2 peanut butter sandwich on light wheat bread
1 cup pineapple chunks

Dinner plans:
3 oz. grilled chicken
1 cup peas and mushrooms
1/2 cup noodles

Snacks:
1 oz. pretzels
1/2 cup cereal w/soy milk and fresh blackberries

I'm sure there will be more but at least I have a plan. Looking back there aren't enough vegetables there and I may need more protein too.

I'm taking today and tomorrow off! Don't even plan on getting out of my jammies either day. Have no one scheduled to come visit me so why not take it easy. Am going to meet a friend Wednesday and she may want to come to the cabin so I will at least have to do a little house cleaning, but there's not much planned in that area.

Did you look at my post yesterday? In case you didn't you at least need to go look at the picture at the bottom of the post. I had a bear visit my yard yesterday!! WOW!! It was so awesome!!

Hope your week is a productive one. Mine won't be :o)

Solitary Sunday...

Cara and granddaughter are on the road heading home. :o( They left around 6:15 this morning. Granddaughter and I were really dragging this morning because we stayed up quite a bit later than Cara. So I hit the couch after they left and got a few more z's in. Cara called when she got on the interstate to let me know she made it safely over the mountains between here and there. Glad she did that because it was really foggy this morning and deer can be a problem that time of the morning.

Sure is quiet here. I think I'm still tired because the loss hasn't hit me fully yet. My dogs really enjoyed all the attention while they were here. When they came back in this morning after their potty duties they went all around the house looking for them. They are going to have to get used to it just being them and Mommy now.

Can't remember if I mentioned building bon fires some of the evenings but we had our last one last night. Granddaughter roasted marshmallows at every fire and made s'mores. I didn't partake of them until last night. Just had to have ONE on their last night here. It was good but not as yummy as I remember them in the past so I have definitely moved on in my healthy eating habits. YEA!

I picked up some vanilla and caramel syrup on one of our shopping trips and had them in my coffee this morning for the first time. Wow! Wouldn't want it every morning but sure is a nice treat once in a while. It's the sugar free kind and when I checked the label found that it only has 5 calories and 4g of fiber for 1 ounce. In WW points I wonder if that would be negative points :o) since fiber lowers the points.

Gonna rest some today then have to straighten up around the house and run the sweeper. Didn't do anything to the house while they were here. Why would I? We were having too much fun to do those horrible duties.

Wonderful thing ::would you call this a bling::? We walked to the bottom of the falls yesterday as I mentioned in yesterdays blog and this morning my legs aren't sore. Wow! The last time (which was the first time too) I could hardly walk for 3 days afterward because of the pain. Interestingly, it was the calves last time and this time, ONLY on the walk, my thighs were really hurting. But nothing hurts this morning! I know, I know, I gotta get out there and get exercise regularly. Was talking to a friend and she was urging me to walk the falls once a week. Well, that ain't gonna happen. But several times a year, it just might. Also when I was doing the walk I only stopped to rest about half as much as the last time. My calorie burn on both trips was about the same.

My friend from Virginia is supposed to stop by today on his way home and will probably spend the night (he usually does). Think I'll wait for him to get here and have him help me with the house. At least I could get him to run the sweeper for me, couldn't I? You know, I am really thankful for his and his wifes friendship. He was a school chum of my late husband and I was wondering when hubby died if I'd ever see them again. I think they come more often now to visit than they did when hubby was around. Maybe they are just taking care of me in the only way they can, living so far away. I do feel blessed to have them in my life. They are always inviting me to join them at church retreats and road trips between my house and theirs. I was going to join them on the retreat next month but my other daughter will be here visiting that week for one of their vacations.

UPDATE: 12:51 PM

Was setting here at the computer and look what I saw out my window. It's the first one I've seen in my yard and the first one I've seen in 2 years. I was so excited I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to post a piture.

Too bad I had the screen in the window. It would have been clearer. I was afraid that if I tried to go out on the porch to take it the little thing would have been scared away.

Guess I've rambled enough. Have a great Sunday!

The Last Day of Daughter's Visit...

The last of the busy days. We just returned from the Falls of Hills Creek. Was a little on the chilly side when we left and stayed that way until the last half hour. We packed a lunch and took lots of water and some protein bars. Had a protein bar on the way down then stopped half way up for our picnic. We walked on the rocks out to the middle of Hills Creek and sat on a bolder and enjoyed the nature around us while we picnicked. So wonderful to do something like that and with loved ones it is even better. [Burned 2242 calories in 3 hours.]

These 2 pictures are of granddaughter first in the middle of the creek (we haven't had rain in quite a while so there wasn't much water in the creek) and the second is of her at the bottom of the first falls.

Had a welcome surprise when we got home. There were 6 ears of fresh corn on the front porch. One of my neighbors had dropped them off for our supper. How sweet of her.

I really didn't start in the beginning of my day for this so I am doing a back-flash now to when I woke up. NO POWER! I couldn't believe it. It hadn't stormed or anything. I hooked up my cheap "power outage" phone and called to report it. Of course this time they knew all about it because they said it was a planned outage to replace some old equipment. I sure wish they'd get their act together and warn us of a scheduled outage. I really wanted to take a shower this morning but had to go on our walk stinky. And I wanted coffee. Having company in the house, three girls no less, we couldn't flush the toilet either. Bummer. I always keep a couple of gallons of drinking water on hand and a couple of gallons for flushing so we were really covered there but it was still an inconvenience. I had to laugh, Cara got the full feel of living where I do with the power outage and all.

I have 2 ATV's and a few days ago I took Cara and granddaughter out on them. I taught Cara how to drive and she in turn taught granddaughter how to drive them. They are having a blast with them. After the first outing for driving lessons I've been letting them take one by themselves and telling them where the boundaries are for riding and just letting them have fun. They are enjoying that as much as all the other stuff we've been doing.

Tomorrow will be a sad day. They are leaving for home at 6:00 in the morning. I will probably have a depressing day.

I am really going to have to work hard the next week to get back into my routine of eating properly. I was really surprised last night though. I hadn't been able to find protein bars around here and picked some up at Wal-Mart when we were there earlier in the week. Last night when I got the munchies I had one of them and it filled me up so much that I didn't want to snack all evening. I'm going to try that trick again and see if it was a fluke or it really helps.

Hope your weekend is a wonderful one.

Another Full Day...

Today is going to be just a short jaunt (I hope). We're going to go to the Gesundheit Institute (Patch Adams clinic)


and the local covered bridge.
These are photos I already had in my file and the one of the covered bridge has my loving hubby in it. (Never could get him to stand up straight.)


This has been a full but wonderful week. I am so tired. And I am so off eating plan. I've already gained a pound and a half since my Wednesday weigh-in. :o( I know I can get back on track next week and get really dedicated again but eating off plan for so long has really gotten me to feeling yucky. My choices haven't been really bad ones. Like yesterday for lunch I had an open faced crab salad sandwich (with melted baby Swiss) and fresh melon, and I only ate half the sandwich. Oops I almost forgot, I also had cheesy potato and cabbage soup (not a good choice but I just couldn't resist it). And I'm not telling you what I had for dinner. Then the snack demon visited me again last night and wouldn't leave. We are meeting a friend for breakfast this morning before heading out and I know I won't be good then either (no place around here that offers healthy breakfast choices). Then if my other daughter comes in tonight there will be another breakfast out in the morning. ARGHHH!

It has been really interesting seeing all the sights around me through Cara and granddaughters eyes. I mean, I already knew that I lived in a wonderful place but to see the awe in their eyes and hear their comments makes me stand back and be really thankful that I chose this place to retire. Yea, it does get lonely at times but I like solitude (most of the time).

Gosh my stomach is really growling right now. Does that happen to you when you eat a lot before going to bed?

Gotta go wake the girls up and get them headed toward the shower.

Have a great weekend blog-buds!

Thursday's Travels...

Another fun day!

We drove to Lewisburg and had lunch at the General Lewis Inn.

We then went to The Greenbrier Hotel and spent around 2 1/2 to 3 hours walking around and enjoying the beauty of it.

Front of The Greenbrier Hotel.

Main foyer, where they serve "High Tea" in the afternoons.

Granddaughter contemplating life (in West Virginia I'm sure).

After The Greenbrier we returned to Lewisburg and did a little shopping at the antique shops and gift shops. (All I bought was some Sugar Free Vanilla and Caramel Syrup for my coffee.) Stopped at Wal-Mart for groceries and came home. I even had a surprise waiting for me here...my friend from Richmond was here and he is staying the night and leaving tomorrow morning for Charleston.

Sorry this is so short but it is late and I had to wait in line to get to the computer. I am too tired tonight to read your blogs but fear not, I haven't forgotten you and will have some breathing time tomorrow to catch up on what is going on in your world.

Have a great Friday! I will!

Wednesday with C n N...

Weigh-in today. :o( Still the same. Geesh, I sure wish I'd lose. That makes 4 weeks now without any movement. Of course no movement is better than a movement up. :o)

Walked for 40 minutes and burned 709 calories. Then...had an ice cream cone and a small piece of pizza. That was my splurge for this week. Well, at least I think it was. Cara's going to make cupcakes for her sister that is coming to visit us this weekend. Sister is a skinny thing and eats everything in sight.

Was going to be a short jaunt today and it turned into a long one. Only because we took time to stop and smell the proverbial roses along the way.

First we drove on a scenic route along the Greenbrier River.

Then we stopped at the local swimming hole (but forgot our bathing suits).

We then went to the Greenbrier River Trail State Park and had our walk.

We stopped to rest along the way and let N. play in the river. Cara played some with her but stupid me didn't think to pick up the camera. Actually REALLY stupid me left my camera at home so these pictures are from N's camera.

I am completely exhausted. These young whipper-snappers are wearing me out. I came home and hit the couch for an hour and got some of my energy back. But I think it will probably take me all of next week to really recuperate. I keep forgetting I'm an old codger and can't keep up with the youngins.

Tomorrow will be a driving trip again without much walking. But with more pictures.

Cara sat here and typed a post the whole hour I was napping and on her last sentence every thing she had typed disappeared. She was so discouraged. I don't know if she will try to retype it later or not.

Full Tuesday...

Today was a really full day. We did a big loop. We've been enjoying ourselves in the mornings and relaxing on the porch with coffee and tea then leaving the house around noon.

Today we went to the Greenbank National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Here is a picture of the largest radio telescope in the world.

Then we swung around to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. The touring trains are still coal powered as you can see by the black smoke coming out of the stack. We were disappointed that the last train of the day had already left so we may go back Saturday night and ride the "Fiddles n' Vittles" train. We haven't decided yet.

Then we went up the mountain to Snowshoe Ski Resort. Cara had been really smart and picked up coupons at Greenbank for free lift tickets at Snowshoe. So after a cute photo op...We got on the lift and rode down to the lake and back up. We shopped a little after that and then headed home to have a yummy supper.

Supper was homemade hand pulled pork barbecues and baked sweet potato. I had put the pork tenderloin in the electric pressure cooker before we left so it was cooked and waiting for us when we got home. I also make my own homemade barbecue sauce from a Mennonite recipe I acquired a couple of years ago. Was sooooo good, but I actually think we were just starving. You've never seen three ladies hit a kitchen and get a supper together quicker anywhere. We had passed a neighbor on the way up the mountain and she had just gotten off work so I invited her to join us. She arrived just as everything was finished. We had a little picnic on the porch and enjoyed each others company.

All in all a very good day.

This last photo was taken last night on my porch.

The light on the post behind my "girls" is an oil lantern and that is the only light we had (except for the camera). Cara called "hubby" last night from the swing and had a romantic chat with him by lantern light. AAwwwwww.

I'm having a hard time finding enough time to read and comment but never fear. I'll get to all of you sooner or later. I haven't forgotten you.

More tomorrow.

Headin' out to Walk...

Just a quick note to let you know we are going walking. Headed for Cranberry Glades and Bear Town today. Will have pictures for you later on today when I will do an update.

I just couldn't wait until later. This posting thing is habit forming and I don't know how to get through the morning without doing it. I'm afraid you will forget me and not come to visit as often if I miss a post :o(

UPDATE: 7:03 PM

Here is our day in pictures:

N. walking to the trail at Cranberry Glades.

Beginning of trail at Cranberry Glades.

Cara with the glades and a mountain behind her.

The next few are of Bear Town. So named because of the many caves that bear sometimes hibernate in.

And we even saw Bambi's Mom in Bear Town!

I so tired,

I so weary,...

I burned over 2500 calories on our walk. Won't bore you with the rest of my stats. We went into town to let Cara weigh in. You'll have to check out her site to find out how much she lost. Don't know when she will post but I will make her post sometime tonight, maybe even right after I finish with mine :o) Then I took her for dinner of West Virginia Hot Dogs. YUMMMMM!!

Now we're just restin'. What a great day.

This & That...

Cara is on her way to visit with her dad. He lives 2 1/2 hours away but offered to meet her in a town closer this morning since she drove so far yesterday. How nice of him. ::she says sarcastically:: He sure wouldn't have been that nice to me. ::bad Deborah, let it go::

It was so much fun last night just setting around chatting. Granddaughter (N) fell asleep on the couch while we were talking and we had to wake her up to send her to bed.

Did you notice that I shouted last night when I announced that Cara was here? I figured out what was wrong with my post editor. Now I feel really STUPID. It was automatically starting up in "Edit Html" and not in "Compose" mode. Don't know why I didn't notice that before now. Actually the way I found it was that I was going to go to html mode to shout and then realized it was already there.

Don't know how long C & N will be gone today so I'm not really sure how much time we will have to do something. But I do have 5 full days planned. I even made a list. If I don't make lists I will forget what I want to do.

Eating was good yesterday. Still no exercise.

Have a great Sunday!

YAY...

CARA'S HERE!!

Company's Coming...

My company is on their way. I'm so excited. Got a lot to do before they get here. One of them is making a home cooked meal for my baby. I always remember going to visit my mother and being excited to taste her cooking again. Course mine has changed somewhat since I started wanting to get healthy but it's still pretty good, even if I say so myself.

Have a great weekend!

I'ma Lovin' Bloggin'...

This blog world is a wonderful place!

I just love being able to write about my successes and failures and conundrums! And to beat it all some people out there even read it!

It sure helped this week to write about my problem with evening snacking. By putting my problem out there for the "whole world" to see, well my little portion of it anyway, it truly helped me. I got great advice (see yesterday post) and found out that I'm not alone.

The past two nights have been a real success! I just kept telling myself that I didn't really need the snacks and demanded that my mind get off that subject. After all I had people out there in cyber-space that I had to be accountable too and I didn't want to disappoint them by not trying. I only had one snack last night and that was because I stayed up real late and actually got hungry. I did go over what I had planned for the day but not because of the snacking. I went over because of my supper being a little more than I had planned. But I was still within my allotment of calories.

Have to take the dogs to the groomers today to get them all clean and pretty for their company tomorrow. Actually they were scheduled to go next week but I was being selfish, not wanting to interrupt my fun week with my daughter and granddaughter (19 years of age, JC) by having to take them and pick them up. I've got more important things to do next week!

Have a great weekend out there in blog-land, I know I will.

Things that go Bump in the Day?...

OK, I can't keep a secret for long. My special company is CARA and her daughter. And for those of you that are new to my blog, Cara is my daughter that lives in Florida. You were right on, JC. I haven't seen Cara or granddaughter for a year and a half and I'm so excited. She's never been to the cabin and I am really looking forward to taking her to all the beautiful scenery around me. I sure hope she doesn't get bored with it. There's no hustle and bustle here to keep city gals excited. We will hit all the great walking places so I'm sure she will get her exercise in. I'm even taking her out for a West Virginia hot dog.

I had a strange experience last night. When I went upstairs to go to bed my entire bed was covered with hundreds of bat droppings. (They look like large mouse droppings.) I hadn't made the bed that morning which meant the droppings were all over my sheets and pillows. EEEWWWW. I hadn't planned on changing the sheets last night but definitely wasn't going to sleep where they had been. Sometime during the day there must have been a bat party up there. I never saw or heard them at all. I thought bats slept in the day time? I haven't seen any in over 2 years, just the droppings and I sometimes hear the chattering. Course I was told by the Orkin man that it is bat droppings although I thought it was chipmunks. So I wonder which one of us is right. If there are chipmunks in here I don't see them either so I have no idea which they really are.

Thanks for all the suggestions on how to overcome my out-of-controledness. I've tried to space my food allotments out and not have enough left for the evenings but then I just go over what I'd intended to eat. I've tried the 6 meals a day and the same thing happens. I do have a hobby, crocheting. I just work my little fingers all evening while watching TV but can't get my mind off food even then. Guess I'm just going to have to make it "mind control."

Last night was a little better. For supper I had a grilled chicken sandwich and a big salad. I was really full and kept telling myself I didn't need a snack. But around 5 hours after supper I couldn't' stand it and had 2 T of peanut butter on one graham cracker (then some Doritos). Maybe that's the clue. Once I start with something I just can't stop. So maybe from now on I'll just put it off until RIGHT before bed and just have one snack. Anything is worth a try.

Happy Thursday out there!

Frustration City...

I need help. I'M OUT OF CONTROL!!

When I get up in the mornings I'm not hungry. I don't eat breakfast until at least 2 hours and sometimes 3 or 4 hours after I get up. I do alright through the day and eat lunch around 4 hours later. By then I'm starting to get hungry. I rarely eat snacks between breakfast and lunch nor between lunch and dinner. When I start feeling like I may be hungry in a little while I start fixing my dinner. Usually by the time I get if fixed I'm famished. I think the smell and the task alone are what gets the hunger pangs started. After dinner all hell breaks loose. I am usually not hungry for quite a while after dinner but...I LOSE CONTROL! All I can think of is eating, eating, eating. And I do. I save calories so that I can snack in the evenings because I know from experience that I can't make it through the evenings without snacks. My snacks are a salad -or- a bowl of cereal with strawberries -or- some melon -or- a small bag of light pop corn -or- a half a peanut butter sandwich. The problem is that I WANT them all. And sometimes I do eat them all! I can't get food off my mind in the evenings. I can't get satisfied. I'm usually not hungry when I'm doing all this eating, I just think about how good it will taste and end up eating it. I've tried to increase what I eat so that I will be really full and not want anything else to eat after dinner and that doesn't help. Does this happen to anybody out there besides me? What do you do to stop?

I know what would help with this problem but the solution is definitely not feasible. I know if I had someone else in the house with me it wouldn't be like this. When my husband was alive he snacked like this all evening and I can remember wondering where in the world he was putting it all (and he never had a weight problem). I was usually so full after dinner that there was no way I could eat anything else. I'm sure if I had a companion I wouldn't be so bored in the evenings and I wouldn't have the time to think about FOOD. But that ain't gonna happen any time soon, if ever.

I know what to say and how to encourage others with their eating but I can't practice what I preach. I feel like such a hypocrite.

And I'm disgusted with this post editor. I've lost my ability to change my font size and color. I wanted to yell in the first paragraph but couldn't because this stupid thing took away my ability to yell! ARHG!!!!!!!

Oh, fifth clue to special company: I've known these ladies all their lives.

Tired of my ranting? I am.

Happy Hump Day to all you workers out there.

UPDATE: (10:36 AM) I just did my official weigh-in and didn't gain or lose. At least I know maintenance.

Deborah Needs...

Fourth clue: They used to live in Alaska.

Can't think of any thing to write about today so I have saved this. It was fun to see what popped up. You go go Google and type in your name and the word "Needs" after it. Then hit search and here's what popped up for me:

DEBORAH NEEDS:

1. a saddle. (Shouldn't I get a horse first?)

2. to sort it all out. (At this particular moment I think it's all sorted.)

3. Facebook. (Don't have a clue as to what that is, so I don't know if I need it or not.)

4. to look behind her. (Ok, I did and there's no one there.)

5. help on CD2 [Democracy for Idaho] (Huh? I don't live in Idaho.)

6. prayer. (Always.)

7. a break [fresh air lover]. (That would be really nice :o)

8. help. (Most of the time.)

9. feedback on 2 minute move. (What movie I didn't make no stinkin' movie.)

10. some loving. (You better believe it!)

Actually number 10 was something else that I will NOT put here because it was X-rated so I had to go to number 11.

My official weigh-in is tomorrow but as of today I've stayed the same. Guess I'm going to have to do a better job of picking things that are less calories. I don't want to be stuck in the 180's forever, like I was in the 190's. I know, I know the last half of the poundage is harder to lose than the first half, but good grief. I'm trying. (Except for the exercise.)

Shhh, real quit now, take a peek out my back window. There's a huge doe nibbling on the bank. Oh, you aren't here with me. Durn. One of my cats just spotted her and the cat is stalking the deer. How funny is that? Woops she just stopped. I think she realized that it's bigger than her. She's not the brightest crayon in the box.

That's it from my little piece of the world. Have a good one blog-buds.

AAAAACHOOOOO...

Third clue to special company: There is approximately 20 years difference between each of our ages.

What a horrible Sunday. I sneezed all day. The histamines were flowing like a faucet. I was sure I was coming down with a summer cold but I'm not sneezing today. And I felt so bad yesterday that I went to bed at 7:00, got up around 9:00 watched some TV and went back to bed at 11:00. It must have been allergies of some kind. What allergies, I can't figure out because I was inside all day and nothing has changed from the day before.

Inside all day on a beautiful summer day? Yep! It is beautiful here but cool. Yesterday it didn't get above 74 degrees and as I'm writing this it is only 64 degrees outside. Seems more like fall than summer. It has been like this all summer. We'll have a week or so of cool temps and then a week or so of sweltering temps. That is really unusual even for the mountains. Usually when it gets hot here it stays that way for the duration of the summer. Wonder if that is an indication of a bad winter to come. I sure hope not. I hate beeing stranded on this mountain with a foot/feet of snow. That happened the first winter I spent here. We had 3 feet within a week and no one was getting on or off after the last foot and a half. I was driving an all wheel drive mini-van at the time so after about 4 inches it wouldn't climb the mountain and I sure wasn't going to see how well it would slide off either.

Along with all the sneezing yesterday I was starving all day. I usually type in all my meals in the morning, planning what I'm going to eat. Then I can delete or change it if I change my mind. Well, yesterday I ate everything I had planned and then had to add several things. I just couldn't stop. I was really craving stuff but thank goodness I don't have any of the "craves" in the house. I did have something yesterday that I hadn't had in a while. I sliced a half a banana and spread (not an easy task) some peanut butter on it and made a little sandwich without the bread. It was so good I had the other half 10 minutes later. Half just wasn't enough. My hormones must have been going through the "ick" stage without the ick that comes along with it. Did you know that still happens even after menpause? We never get rid of it all :o(

Exercise is still on the fritz. Next week there will be a lot because the company is staying for a week and I'm taking them to all my favorite walking places. And the falls again too. We'll even go to some places that I haven't posted pictures of yet so get ready for some more cool photos next week.

Hope your have an eventful week.

Disjointed Ramblings...

Second clue to special company: One has lived in West Virginia and the other has only visited a couple of times. ::Cammy, you can't tell, because I've already told you::

While washing laundry Friday I got to noticing my sizes. The jeans and shorts are getting smaller but the tops are stalled. I'm starting to look like an ice cream cone. I did drop another bra size and next time will have to get a smaller cup size too, durn. But I'm still into XL tops. Me thinks I need some core exercise in my routine. And you know me by now...that won't last. But at least I'm thinking about doing something about it, does that count? For those of you that have done this exercise thing for a long time, will the Yoga help in that department? The one thing I'm worried about is all the excess skin on my arms. I fear I'll never be able to buy M tops because of the sleeves cutting off the circulation in my arms.

I hate having to shop in a small grocery store!!! The past two weeks I've tried to get my usual, skinless/boneless chicken breasts and they weren't in the case. All they've had is the skinless/boneless strips. Now those are good too but way to expensive. But yesterday there was actually someone in the meat department back room and I boldly knocked. When I asked the butcher if he had any he said, "the ones on sale?" Heck, I don't get a flyer of their sales so I just told him that I didn't care just so they are the ones I eat. He then told me the ones on sale were sold out but did bring me two packages of the normal ones I buy. Good grief, what does it take to restock the meat case? Am I the only one in the county that buys this type of chicken? I THINK NOT!

Of all the stupid things I've ever done...I was going to the dump as I told you yesterday or the day before...I forget. I was almost to the bottom of the mountain and remembered that I had hauled all the garbage bags out of the garbage cans and left them setting right beside the porch (not in the back of the car)! Yep, I turned around and came back for them. Then on the way back up here I remembered that I wanted to strap on the HRM and see what kind of calorie burn I get when running errands, so I did that too. It took me 1 hour and 35 minutes to get everything done and I recorded the stats. Then I kept it on around the house and did my usual stuff (which consists of surfing the net a lot) for an hour and 35 minutes. Well the results were that I burned 200 more calories on the errands. Now I know.

Lazy Days of Summer...

Boy, did I ever take the week off. I was planning on going to the store and running my usual errands last Monday and didn't. Then I thought since the dump was opened on Wednesday and I wouldn't have to lug my garbage bags from the outside of the gate, I'd go then, and didn't. So here it is Saturday and the dump is opened today too so I guess I'll just have to make myself get out of the house. I'm out of chicken and salad stuff so that is the main reason. Did I mention I'm lazy? :o)

It has been so beautiful here, temperature wise, this past week. It's been reaching the low 80's by late evening but really nice the rest of the day. I feel so bad when reading your blogs about the sweltering heat. We usually have those days in July and August without any relief but for some reason this year it has been glorious.

I've got some special company coming next Saturday. (Will tell you who later, I want to build the suspense.) Two ladies that I haven't seen in two and a half years and I'm so excited, every time I think about it I almost wet my panties. And one of them is on a diet too so I won't have to worry about what I'll be cooking for them. The other is not, the skinny butt, so I'll have to ask what to have in the house for her.

Exercise is still on the fritz but eating has been good. Except for last night. For some reason I just wasn't sleepy when I went to bed and ended up getting back up and coming downstairs to watch a little more TV and crochet. Then the bad part...I got hungry and had a half a peanut butter sandwich. That in and of itself wasn't so bad but it made me go over my plan for the day.

Have a grand weekend!

Supper and Chuckles...

I had such a yummy supper last night. I had grilled chicken, baked sweet potato (with light butter and a smidgen of Splenda sprinkled on top) and Brussels sprouts. I reminded myself of my Great Aunt Mary while I was eating it. I kept going, "MMMmmmm." She always did that when she came to Mother's house to eat. My Uncle Bub (on the other side of the family) used to have a joke about it but I can't tell it here. Anyway, it gave me a chuckle all the same.

Got no exercise in yesterday. No excuses, just didn't.

Have kept my calories at an average of ~1400 since WI and have dropped that pound that came back on.

Guess it's going to be a quiet weekend. No company coming :o(

Hope your weekend is a fantabulous one!

Thinking Back to a Past Comment...

Someone, some time, asked me about growing my own veggies. Can't for the life of me remember who or when (I have "oldtimers" you know). But it has stuck in my mind as something to post about and do some explaining and now's the time.

1. I hate growing a garden. Lazy me doesn't like to spend the energy and time planting, weeding, watering and reaping. Now that's lazy, folks. Mom always had a garden after I grew up and moved out of the house and she'd invite me over to help in the garden. I hated what she made me do. Except for harvesting potatoes. That one I loved. Forking over the soil and finding all those cute little new potatoes among the big ones. I could sift through that dirt for hours looking for the little nuggets.

2. I decided I'd try it here starting with tomatoes. I LOVE fresh homegrown tomatoes! Year before last I was vigilant in planting them at just the right time to have wonderful, juicy tomatoes by the middle of the summer. Well, I had these scrawny little tomatoes but not by the middle of the summer but rather around the first of September. I cared for the plants just like I was supposed to and was so disappointed with the outcome. Got to talking to a friend about it and was told, as he was setting on my porch, that I didn't have enough sunshine for veggies. I've got too many trees in the way. My trees are not in my yard proper, but rather on the perimeters of my yard. There just isn't enough sunshine getting through during the day to grow veggies. If I cut down more trees I'd be able to see the neighboring cabins and to my chagrin they'd be able to see me. Then I wouldn't be able to walk around outside in my jammies when I wanted to. And privacy is what it's all about where I chose to live. So, alas, no veggie growing for me.

You'd think living where I do (out in the country) that I'd have lots of fresh veggies to choose from but most of the county where I live is National Forest and not many farms. So I usually just pick up whatever the local grocery store has in the produce section but mainly I buy frozen ones, they're cheaper than the fresh. And since it is only me eating in this lonely house, fresh veggies spoil before I can get them all eaten and I hate throwing away those wonderful things. (This last paragraph sounds familiar, so forgive me if I've repeated myself.)

Legs aren't hurting this morning, YAY!! Have plans of exercise of some kind today. I got a new DVD for beginning Yoga and I think I'll give it a try. Received a catalog in the mail last week that had "Sweatin' to the Oldies" (with Richard Simmons) DVD and I'm definitely going to order that for the winter when there is a foot of snow on the ground and I won't want to get out in that and walk. I'm not crazy about Simmons but I do like the songs since that was the era I grew up in and I've had a lot of folks my age tell me they really enjoyed it. It was originally on VCR tapes and has just been released this past year on DVD. Much nicer, since I don't have a VCR anymore.

Happy blogging out there.

Thanks Bunches...

Just need to let you all know how much I appreciate your support.

I am so glad Cara talked me into starting my own blog. I kept telling her that she was crazy, that there surely isn't enough in my boring world to blog about. And besides who on earth would want to hear me ramble on about inane stuff but family? Thanks!

Well, you seem to be interested. And your support has really been a God-send to me. I don't know what I would have done all these weeks without all of you to urge me on and make comments about my ramblings. And I so enjoy reading and commenting on your posts too. Thanks!

Most times when I read your posts I do feel inadequate in my writings. You all seem to have so much insight into this healthy life style I have adopted that I don't. And your writings are so funny at times, which I have a hard time doing. Thanks!

You have made me feel like I have so many more friends out there. People that care about me and that is important at my age. Thanks!

And now for some of my ramblings...

I decided I wanted to know more about humming birds and went to a great web sight and read for almost an hour. For the life of me I can't remember the name of it right now, but I learned a lot and refreshed some things that I already knew. One thing I didn't know is that they also eat small insects and spiders. I thought they lived on nectar alone. Well, after reading I have a better understanding and appreciation for the FLOCK that I now have. They are eating or slurping a half gallon a day of sugar water.

To my surprise this mornings weigh-in wasn't as bad as I had expected. I only gained one pound and that is amazing with all the cookies and (now I will confess) chips I have eaten since last Saturday. I'm feeling really lucky it was only a pound at this point. The cookies (and chips) are in the trash. (Sorry Cammy, I'd already thrown them away before I read your suggestion of freezing them, and there where only 5 left anyway.)

Leggies are still a little too sore to get out there and walk today. I'm still having to take one step at a time on the stairs. You know like we used to do when we were toddlers? And besides it's pouring the rain and I might melt :o)

Love you ALL! Thanks!

Some Ramblings on the Weekend...

What a wonderful victory! I had some left over "homemade" pork barbecue makings and just couldn't throw it away. So I had two yesterday. One for lunch and one for dinner. (On white buns.) If it weren't for the cookies that I couldn't stay out of yesterday the calories would have been fine. But the victory was, that by the evening my body was craving the good stuff. I really needed my salad with kidney beans! I think this means that I like the good stuff now. And my body knows what it needs now to stay healthy. I still have 5 (homemade) peanut butter cookies left and they are going in the trash as soon as I finish this.

Another wonderful food thing happened over the weekend. We stopped at a local establishment for lunch before walking the falls. I just ordered a chicken sandwich, knowing that I would need the protein and some carbs but didn't order the french fries. And you know what I really didn't want them. Then near the beginning of our walk everybody got heart burn but me. I got to thinking and realized that I haven't popped a tums in well over a year. "Healthy eating," strikes again!!

On Saturday afternoon we stopped at an acquaintance of mine that has offered to take us horse back riding. It was a busy weekend for him and he didn't have time this weekend but we did go to the field where the horses (and his mule) were and visited with them for a while. It was so cool!!! The horses came running toward us when we entered the gate and all started vying for affection. We were surrounded in horse flesh. There were about 6 that were all around me at one time, nuzzling me for a rub. I had on sandals and kept pushing on their bodies to keep them away from stepping on my feet, but it was so wonderful to have that many huge animals all around me at the same time. I did a lot of riding in my youth but haven't been on one in around 35 years. I am so looking forward to that in a few of weeks.

Weigh-in isn't until tomorrow but today I am showing a substantial gain. So tomorrow won't be any better, I'm sure. But I'm okay with that because I know what has caused it and how to get rid of it!

And my legs are killing me! They were hurting just a little yesterday morning and by the evening and even this morning, I'm having a really hard time walking. I look like Tim Conway shuffling across the cabin. And climbing the stairs to go to bed last night and coming down this morning was torture. At least they haven't cramped up on me in my sleep. Guess I wasn't really physically ready for the climbing I did Saturday but I enjoyed it enough to put up with the pain.

Hey, Cammy. Did I get to the top of any landmark with my 527 stairs?

Have a great day!

Sunday's Walk...

Guess you could call it a walk but it was a lot more like the hike. I enjoyed it immensely. I already gave you the stats yesterday and one picture.

To give you a little lead in to the photographs... This series of three falls is on the top of a mountain.

From the top of the first fall with daughter and fiancee standing on top.


At the bottom of the same fall.


A picture of me from the bottom of the first fall. See the little red dot in the center? That's me!


For some reason the picture of the second fall is on the camera but won't download to the computer.

The third fall. See the little people under the water?


A close up of feeling just how cold the water is.


And the water shifted giving them a shower.


The beautiful stream that feeds the falls.


A few of the stairs I had to climb both down and up again.


Taking a little rest near the parking lot.


We came home and collapsed.

OK, you all can answer this for me I'm sure. When you use as many extra calories as I did yesterday, does it count for the food already eaten or that you are going to consume later that day? Because I wasn't good last night. Got into some cookies and now I'm worried.

And BTW, my little hummers are going through a half gallon of feed a day now. They sure are keeping me busy stirring sugar water up for them.

Hope your weekend was a pleasurable as mine.

Now it's off to get caught up on what all you have been doing since Friday morning.

A Quicky...

I'm sorry I haven't visited any of your posts in the past couple of days. Just haven't had time with the kids here visiting. We've kept pretty busy. Will have time tomorrow to read them all and will comment then. I'm sure you understand.

Just got back from The Falls of Hills Creek and walked all the way to the bottom and third fall. Counted all the steps on the way back up and there were 527 stairs and that doesn't include the paths between the stairs. Whew! My stats are below:

Duration 2 hours and 10 minutes
Minimum HR -> 87
Average HR -> 136
Maximum HR -> 183
Calories burned 2173 (TA-DAAAA)

I ARE TARD right now. And not to worry. I drank lots of water both during and after.

Here's one picture of my daughter and me at the creek between the falls. Will post more on the falls tomorrow.



Have and great rest of the day!

Company...

What a wonderful surprise, yesterday. I told you that I had company coming from VA. and my daughter from NJ called yesterday afternoon and told me they were on thier way. So I had a house full last night. Had a pot of spaghetti sauce made and was able to feed everyone as they drifted in.

Had plans to do some things today but it is pouring the rain so we may just stay in and watch the rain. VA company has already left to head home. They just used this as a place to sleep on their way home.

Have a great weekend.

Cardeo, Hummers, Calories...

Let me start off by telling you I got some cardeo in yesterday. Here are the stats.

Duration 20 minutes
Minimum HR -> 87
Average HR -> 127
Maximum HR -> 157
Calories burned -> 280

I found a DVD after R&D (my company from Virginia) left last time and they are due back today so I thought I'd give it a try in case they asked. It was a free DVD from McDonald's that comes with adult happy meals. Or came with, I don't know if they are still doing it or not because we don't have one around here. It is a 15 minute work out but I strapped the HRM on before I started it and kept it on until I had cooled down, thus the 20 minutes. It was pretty fun but I know this will get boring too in time.

To answer a couple of questions:

1. I can't believe the hummers are getting on my nerves either as excited as I was when they arrived. I guess it's kind of like when you have kids. You are used to yours and when you have a birthday party and there are lots and lots more of them they get on your nerves.

2. Annoyed isn't the word for the way I feel when the power goes off. Pissed is more like it. It happened a lot when we first moved up here and after a year it quit. Now in the past year it has been happening a lot again. I think it must be the equipment getting old or something. When I called to report it this time they said it was out in the whole county so that tells me that they had a main station problem. This time the lights dimmed about 20 times within a half hour before it went off all together. I figured it was coming. It wouldn't bother me so much if it happened in the daylight hours, but noooooo it's gotta go off at night when there is no light to see to do anything and I'm not able to watch TV (my only evening companion).

And speaking of hot dogs...oh, I wasn't was I? Anyway, have you tried the new fat-free beef franks. They are only 50 calories for one frank and they are pretty good.

I know I ranted and raved about the "Warm Delights" commercials a couple of months ago but now I'm wondering about the new commercials for the "Warm Delights Mini's." They are saying they are only 150 calories for one. I sure do get a hankerin' for chocolate once in a while and wonder if I should get some of them to keep on hand when that hankerin' gets out of control. Something to ponder for a while at least.

Have a great weekend, friends.