Knit Knacks

I have a LOT of stuff- my family calls it "knick knacks;" others might call it junk; sometimes I call it crap and now my children lovingly refer to MY STUFF as crap!  When my grandmother passed away, we came home with lots of knick knacks.  She was the Queen Knack.  We gave away stuff to Goodwill, neighbor children, the garbage men, even folk stopping by with condolences.  And still there was lots of stuff left.  I have 4 children so we loaded stuff up and packed it in the car-- "they might want it some day!" we reasoned.  Some blog posts ago I might have mentioned (I can't remember) a correlation between the stuff in our house and the stuff around our thighs/ hips/ waists.  I'm a believer. I can't quote a reference right now; but I believe!

Today I titled this post Knit Knacks because in addition to all the stuff I already have, I am now hoarding yarn.  I laugh.  I can't do anything in moderation, can I?  Tucked in a basket right next to my coloring paraphernalia is skeins and skeins of yarn, oh, and lots of hooks too.  A girl can't use just one hook, right?  Several months ago (maybe even a year) Eldest Daughter and I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased skeins of colored yarn.  Looking at my basket, nothing matches or would look good together.  What does that mean?  Back to Hobby Lobby to purchase matching colors for the colors I already own so I can make a nice looking potholder!

I have a headache.  I opened the bathroom cabinet and a myriad of lotion bottles were staring at me.  Where did all these lotions come from?  Every once in a while I get a hankering for girly things and walk down the cosmetic aisle and sample and smell every lotion and ta da...purchase one or a dozen.  I'm sorry about this post.  It is a random knick-kancky rambling from a strawberry with a headache.  Thankfully on one of those girly shopping sprees I bought a bottle of aromatherapy "Stress Relief" spray.  I'm carrying it around with me so I'll be a bubble of stress relief.  I think I'll go down a few Advil too!

Grainiacs, I've given up coloring for now and I'm working on knitting and crocheting.  I love to craft but haven't taken the time to do it.  I think my coloring has brought out all this crafty behavior.  It's not helping the house cleaning or the organizing the meal planning, but it calms me.  And let's face it-- we all need calm during this season.

Pleasant crafting to you and yours.

Worth Repeating

I know I say this every other blog, but WHERE IS MY DAY GOING?  I can't believe it is Sunday and I've only blogged 2 times this past week.  I love working.  I love seeing and meeting new people every day.  I love my co-workers and leadership at the bank.  It is a joy.  But I'm slipping back into bad habits.  I'm not thinking about what I'm going to eat.  I don't plan and I get hungry.  It is a struggle many with weight issues face daily
....no time....or feeling like there's no time.....or just not taking the time.  THAT is my problem.  I do have the time to plan and organize my days but I'm doing other things-- like coloring or watching TV or reading or (fill in the blanks)______.  I have loads of excuses.

Okay, now it is Monday!!!  Yesterday I wrapped gifts and I did plan out what I was going to eat.  AND I stuck to it... plus the fudge that a wonderful parishioner brought over...and a few mini Reese's peanut butter cups  that another sweet parishioner brought over.  I asked College Daughter to eat it and she said "No! I'm not sabotaging my weight."  I asked Hubby and he said "No! I've already had one."  "One!!!??"  Can you believe those two?  I love the way they think.  I'm taking a cue from them.  I will say "No! I've already had one" (that's the cue) or the really hard response "No! I'm not sabotaging my weight."  Out, out, damn fudge and Reese's peanut butter cups!!!  I love the people who thought about us and brought them over, but I do not love YOU!

What a great day to take a cue from those who do not struggle with weight problems.  The word of the day is "NO."  (But not screaming it....just refusing.)


Here's another No worth repeating.  Strawberry do not buy that hat!

"woof woof...or wolf...wolf"

I'm dreaming of...

Nursing homes!  Last night I must have been dog-tired.  I dreamed crazy dreams....like re-arranging a bedroom to include 3 twin beds.  I also was working at a nursing home and my job was changing sheets.  Ha ha ha...anyone who knows me KNOWS housework of that kind doesn't happen too often.  I can live with the bed bugs as long as they bite Hubby and not me!  I even tolerate the dust bunnies as long as they hide behind the furniture and don't come scurrying out from under the couch.  I also insist they keep the procreation down to a minimum.  That or family is coming to town.

Thursday I came home from work and College Daughter re-arranged the TV room.  I'm so proud.  I used to do that to me own mum decades ago.  It's not that either room needed updating, mind you.  We just like change.

I'm changing me from the inside out (although outside is sort of at a standstill right now...unhappy Strawberry).  Change is happening in my house/ in my dreams/ and yes, inside me.  I'm learning to be content. So yes, I'm dreaming of me.

May I start all over?

All morning long I cried I need a "do-over" day.  It began yesterday morning when I got to work and the safe with the keys didn't open.  Cars started lining up at 7:25 a.m. and my co-worker and I were in a pickle!  Did you feel like batteries do NOT keep enough power?  I've been thinking the juice in those babies is crappy.  So we worked our tails off in the a.m. and it didn't slow down till mid-morning.  Thankfully my lunch is close to mid-morning and I ran a trial balance.  I was short almost one hundred dollars!!!  Oh my gosh, I wanted to cry and I almost did.  Hopefully the shortage will show up in adjustments this morning; otherwise my day will be shot today too.  I really needed a do-over.

Last night as I was eating pizza (uh oh) and watching TV, the funniest show came on.  It was sort of like "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray only this one was called "12 Days of Christmas."  The heroine's day kept repeating itself until she got it right....or something like that.  I hate those shows.  Just like I hated Bewitched.  I always wanted that type of thing to really happen.  For instance when it came to cleaning my room.  Why couldn't I twitch my nose and presto! my room was cleaned.  Why can't I have one do-over day where it starts with bringing new batteries to work so we wouldn't be rushed and mistakes wouldn't happen.  Like eating pizza and having it come back up before midnight and giving me heartburn.  WHY????

Guess what?  It's time for work.  It's a new day.  A new "do better" day.  Don't stress about work; don't rush; don't make bad choices that you'll pay for later; and for heaven's sake DON'T EAT THE LEFT-OVER PIZZA!!!

Happy Tuesday, Grainiacs!

Santa Baby

Sunday was a good day.  First off, three of my four kiddos were home.  College kids are home for Christmas break.  I even asked eldest Son if he would be Santa at the children's Christmas party.  I gave him an out saying if he didn't do it; his sister would.  She owes him big time (or so he says!  She didn't object so it must be so.)

What a trooper!

One of our members has been out of town and she came running up and told me how good I look and that she can tell I've lost weight.  I was thrilled.  People who see me day in and day out haven't noticed and that's okay because I still have loads of weight to lose.  That one little comment has helped my resolve to keep on keeping on.  Ya know?

Also on Sunday our children presented A Christmas Gift worship service to our congregation.  It was wonderful...sniff sniff.  They were precious and I know God was smiling.  They are so innocent and loving in their worship.  They sang...they smiled...they worshiped God the best way they knew how...giving it their all.  I asked parents if I could post pictures on facebook so I hope they don't mind me including one or two on this blog also. 

 

I hope you have a blessed season and look for the innocence in every day things.

Hip Hip Huh?

I'm telling you....post a goal for all the world to see and wait and see how many opportunities you have to sabotage it!  What a day yesterday.  Weight-wise, it wasn't great.  Bowling-wise, it was phenomenal...for me, that is.  I bowled 3 strikes in a row my first 3 times up.  I'm a turkey in bowling lingo. And boy was I strutting.  I had to ask "who am I?" those three times.  Then my fourth time up I bowled a split and guess what?  I spared on that split!!!!  LOL  I thought the world might be coming to an end, but here we are this morning.  Oh and wait.  My average is a 98 (I'm not bragging here) and my first game I bowled a 156!  Second game wasn't as great- I lost my groove....that can happen when you are strutting around bowling.  Anywho, my last frame I bowled a strike. Then another....then another!!!  I'm a two-timing turkey!!!  LOL  I bowled a 138 second game.  Third game....oops.....a 109.  Still I bowled over my average.  I think I need to practice this coming week.  Otherwise no one will believe it was really me bowling the week before.  So that's my good news.  The bad news is bowling has been my only form of exercising.  I think I told you (plenty of times...you should have it memorized by now)....my grain is to NOT exercise.  I really think I'm allergic to it.  I just can't get myself motivated.  There are too many other (more fun) things to do.

I really think I have it figured out, though.  I remember in grade school and even junior high, certain punishments involved walking around the track or running or whatever.  In junior high, I forgot to purchase and bring fabric for my homemaking class (it was really called that for all you youngsters).  The teacher ordered me to go outside and walk around the track.  For some, that would be enjoyable; for me, it was humiliation because the whole southside of the school and everyone going to the zoo or driving by could see that lone girl walking around the track.  In high school, several of us would leave campus and go eat lunch.  Getting back late to tennis meant we had to run....not walk...run around the courts.  Sometimes we had to run even if we weren't late.  Now what's with that?  Didn't Coach know we girls were there preparing ourselves for the country club atmosphere we were destined to have later in life?  Play tennis?....pppfffftttt!

I'm scared to post another goal here, but here goes....I, Strawberry, will no longer look at the "E" word as punishment.  E is good; dare I say "excellent?"  You, dear Grainiacs, will hold me responsible to exercising.  I have to do it.  Cutting out grains for these many months has helped get off 14/15 pounds but I need more.  I need to move my bones more than just once a week bowling.  So I purchased a hip hop dance video.  Now that's going from one extreme to another!  I hope there is strutting in the video.  I have lots of practice doing that.  Let's just hope my hips can take the hop!

Waiting

Who likes to wait?  I sure don't.  I guess that's why I'm impulsive and fat!  See Countdown blog if your memory fails you like mine does.

I've read articles that say to take a book or project with you if you find yourself "waiting."  People tend to calm themselves if they are doing something versus just sitting and stewing while say in a waiting room.  The very same office you called and made an appointment and you've been sitting there stewing for over an hour!!!!!  I better go find a project; I'm starting to stew.  Maybe I'll make a pot of stew.  It's cold in my parts of the woods.

What if you are waiting for a package you ordered?  Companies and delivery services have taken care of that.  You can pay extra for next day service....unless you are the USPS.  I hear they are canceling next day service permanently.  Hmmm  Better get my Christmas gifts mailed in November or even October next year.

Which brings me to the subject of gifts.  Nobody likes to wait anymore so we purchase things we want right away.  Who can wait till Christmas?  My mom used to tell me "put it on your Christmas list."  Well, knowing me as you all know me now, WHO CAN WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS???/ I want it now!  Oh I'm so impulsive.  It's sounding like an excuse, right?  <wink>

My kids couldn't wait to move some place where it snowed.  Guess what?  We did.  Guess where they are now?  Moved south!!!  Story of my life. 

I'm not complaining; although it does sound like it.  It's just that I've been house cleaning and that puts me in a bad mood.  When Girl #2 was 3 years old, a little boy in her Pre-K class bothered the dickens out of her.  Every day she would get in the car after school and say "Joey put me in a bad mood, Momma."  Every day!!!  I still smile and laugh about that.  House cleaning puts me in a bad mood, Grainiacs!  My sister-in-law and I had notices printed and framed that says "A clean house is a sign of a wasted life."  My life has been full....just look at my house!  My broom is patiently waiting in the kitchen so I best not keep it waiting.

Here are some photos of yesterday.  Happy Snow Days and keep warm.  Make a pot of stew or sweep or stew and sweep.  It's your call.

Go Longhorns!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas....not really!

cold backyard

The Joker

Note to self: People, in general, are NOT in a good/ joking/ jovial mood during this time of year.  'Nuf said!

Well, Grainiacs and one banana!  I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm down a few ounces so I'm heading in the right direction.  6.2 pounds to go to reach my 7 pound goal.  Baby steps, right?

I think I told you I'm a working Strawberry now.  I received my first paycheck.  I started working in between two pay periods so this check was rather tiny.  I'm sure Payroll was thinking "Why bother?"  But it felt good to receive it.  I even opened my own checking account.  I know Hubby is thinking "Why bother?"  I get free checks!  So I ordered the most girly, foofy checks available.  (Wasn't I just talking about "impulsive" yesterday???)  I told Hubby would you like to use my checks.  He's a man of the cloth so he just shook his head "no."  I'm sure there were some choice phrases but since he is a Rev. Hubby, he kept them to himself.  They look something like this one...

He might like to watch HGTV and cooking channels but he draws the line when it comes to paying bills.  And by the way: Please don't write me or call me at this address or phone number.  I am NOT Lisa Smith nor is Hubby's name Michael.  Thank you for your consideration and I know Michael and Lisa will thank you!

The funniest thing happened the other day.  I was working at the computer and I noticed movement in my peripheral vision.  I stopped what I was doing and just watched.  My fur-mily is soooo entertaining.

Kitzilla!  Let sleeping dogs lie!!!

Wait! What's that you see?

Do you see what I see?  Something else is not going to let a sleeping dog lie....especially when he starts rubbing his legs together!

It's a cricket and not a very smart one at that!  Is there a phrase "Dumber than a cricket?"

I'm thinking this joker has a death wish.

Catch me if you can.  Oh, she could and she did!!!  Now who's laughing?

DO YOU SEE WHY I don't get anything done at my house?!  It's really not my fault (she says sheepishly/ jokingly).  No joke; I do have to go unload the dishwasher before work so it's off the blog.

P.S.  The cricket survived sans one leg.  Boy took it outside and stuck it in a plant.  It was the least we could do. Cricket offered so much entertainment to all of us!

P.S.S. My first comment pertained to some sophomoric shenanigans happening at work (I wasn't involved; just watching it all unfold as an innocent bystander. Really!!!).  People! Take a joke.  Yes, it was juvenile but it was all in good fun.  Some people just don't joke about football.  'Nuf said!!!

Countdown!

I mentioned in my Thankspigging blog that I was going to go back over my past blogs to regain that enthusiasm for a changed me.  In my first blog ever in blog-land I mentioned why I named my blog Going Against the Grain Still.  Do you remember?  Me either, but I was reminded when I read Day1.  It just so happened that the recent edition of AARP (my husband’s magazine…not mine!  Oh, who am I kidding?) has an article called “Weight Loss:  Mood & Food.  Can’t lose weight?  Your personality may be to blame.”  YEAH, it really isn’t my fault!!!  Whoo hoo.  “So impulsive individuals might eat less if they plan their meals in advance.”  Now what have I been saying to myself???  Easier said/ written than done.  The article said that "impulsive people weigh about 22 pounds more than those who are cautious."  TWENTY-TWO POUNDS MORE!!!!  It doesn't say that cautious people are skinny, but that impulsive people weigh on average 22 pounds MORE.  yikes.  I'm impulsive.  I'm spontaneous.  I'm free.  I'm FAT because of it!  Now that is just not right.  I don't know how to be cautious.  Ask my Mom/ Hubby/ Child/ Friend/ Acquaintance.  If Strawberry wants it; Strawberry gets it!  I wish I could buy a skinnier body....nope, not doing surgery to get it.... so don't tell me that!  For now I'll be happy that 15 pounds are gone forever.  My next goal is getting rid of those pesky 7 pounds so that this impulsive Strawberry will be minus the 22 pounds mentioned in that old magazine!  The countdown has begun.

Here Lies....

Here lies the last crop of my summer gardening.

No need to feign excitement; the smallest one is about the size of my pinky knuckle!  I attempted container gardening this past year and it flopped like my first attempt at cooking an angel food cake....flat.  Next season I'm buying produce from the market.  It will be cheaper and save me from moving the dang containers around to follow the sun.  Too much work and not enough satisfaction.  Enough said.

Everyone at work is getting excited about "Bedlam."  That's where OSU and OU square off in football.  Like UT beating out A&M on Thanksgiving....by ONE POINT!!!!  Whoo hoo....go Longhorns.  So I'm really not excited about Bedlam.  I mean who cares if OSU beats OU or OU beats OSU, but it is bedlam for sure.  At my place of employment there are more OU fans than the 2 or 3 OSU fans.  It's fun, though.  Good-natured rivalry is fun.  It's when it turns to violent testicle-cutting mayhem that this Strawberry has to ask "What the Hell?"  I'll tell you about that story some other time.  It is time to go to work.  I am wearing an orange/ red ensemble to work today, but I have burnt orange socks and my UT tumbler.  I also made a nice red and orange pasta salad-- Bedlam Pasta.  Oh, I didn't mention, we are eating too!  I love rivalry.  We have good "poking" fun and "sooner" or later, we eat!!!  What's not to love.  In case you don't get my puns: OSU's motto is "Go, Pokes" (I don't know why? It's Oklahoma, what can I say?) and OU's is the Sooners.  OU's has to do with the outlaws (illegals?) that came across the KS line early during the Land Run!  So there you have it.

Here's my salad.

Thankspigging

So here's the scoop....or in my case the shovel....I gained one pound over the Thanksgiving holiday and I have consistently kept on that one pound!  I don't want to hear..."it's just one pound."  That is how I gained my 20+ pounds...one pound at a time.  So today I'm going to go back over ALL my blog posts and try to "gain" back that drive that powered me to lose that 15 pounds in the first place and lose another 15.  I can't slip up this early in the game.  Please send positive thoughts my way and I'll keep you posted.  For now it is time for work and I haven't had breakfast.  Need power!

Th-Th-Th-That's All Folks!

Strawberry
~~channeling Porky Pig

And So It Goes

I chose to not go shopping on Black Friday, but I hit the stores on Sane Saturday!  I have shopped the day after Thanksgiving and nearly got trampled to death....and that was at Dillard's in the china department!  Sheesh, be careful; there are breakables.  My quest on Saturday was to purchase the perfect cream/ beige/ off-white shirt.  Any color other than stark white; it's after Labor Day, remember?  I found many shirts to try on at the first store.  I have now learned that I'm in between a L and XL.  I thought, well it's a knock off store.  Let me try a nicer department store.  In my small rural area we only have ONE nicer department store and they didn't carry any light colored shirts in the women's department.  Do we "women" not wear light colored shirts here in rural town America?  I do know many women here who will not wear white.  They say they will invariably drop/ spill/ soil that white shirt!  Strawberry asks Why don't adults wear bibs?  Shall I start a fashion statement or will I just get institutionalized?  I don't know.  I didn't buy a thing but my daughter found her Christmas gift.  I remember shopping with my Mom and she would be looking for a certain thing and I would be the one who bought something.  I think that is the secret.  Don't go shopping unless you aren't looking for something.  I might needlepoint that on some pillows I'm not looking for.

So today, I had my clothes picked out and ready to wear for work.  I dressed, walked to the kitchen and realized I needed to pull up my pants-- they were falling (not down...I'm not an exhibitionist) but slipping down just enough that the hem kept getting caught under my heel.  I needed a belt!  For the 1st time in about 20 years, I needed a belt.  Problem was I don't own a belt- that fits right now, that is.  I've been crocheting so I had some yarn to cinch around my waist but I really didn't want to look like the bride of Li'l Abner.  I tried safety pinning it but I could only find a flimsy one that came out of a freebie sewing kit.  It popped off almost immediately so that didn't work.  What I really needed this morning was a great big diaper pin (but that ship has sailed a looooong time ago).  I just changed my pants.  Same size/ different brand and those pants fit perfectly...maybe a tad snug but they stretched throughout the day.  I can see how this is going to go.  Every morning I'll be trying on clothes finding some that aren't too big.....YES, I said it.  I'm not worried that I won't find any pants that won't fit because they are too small.  I'm sorry; I sound cocky.  I'm still not where I want to be.  Today I wore my snugly fitting size L shirt and my loose fitting size pants and believe me, I didn't like my reflection.  I still haven't "arrived" at feeling good in my skin yet, but I'm on the way and I'm so thankful you are on the journey with me.

I'm dreaming of....pickled eggs

My college daughter handed me a copy of “Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes.”  I was excited; you see I want to write My Family's Holiday Cookbook.  I have most of the supplies-- even extra ink cartridges for a printer two printers ago.  Yep, that's how long I've been meaning to write the darn thing!

I anxiously grabbed the book from her and opened the first page.  This is gonna be great.  Maybe I could get some ideas.  I read the first recipe.

Turkey

12 eggs

98 scoops of milk

88 cups of water

89 spoons of flour

78 cups of sugar

Bake in the oven for 48 hours at 78*

I looked at my daughter; she smiled at me and I kept reading…

Ice Cream

2 spoons of milk

10 minutes in the freezer

Put in 30 chocolate chips and peppermints

Put the cone on

Now we’re talking.  Why have I been trying to churn the mixture in an ice cream maker?

In case you are wondering what type of college my daughter attends, she is working with kindergarten children at an after-school program for her work study program.  This recipe book is obviously a gift to the children’s parents.  I know they will love it!  I don’t know these kids and I love it.

Here’s another turkey recipe.

Turkey

1 ham

1 cup of salt

(Strawberry guesses they like their turkey/ ham really salty!)

1 cup of pepper

Cook in the oven at 2* for 1 minute and enjoy.

(Strawberry says “That is once you get home from the hospital!”)

In my family cookbook, I’m including my favorite holiday fare: pickled eggs.  I love them.  When I go to Fredricksburg, TX (a great German town in the hill country) I’ve found pickled eggs.  They are white.  My family pickles the eggs in a vinegar and red beet mixture.  They aren’t only good but beautiful too.   

Yum!

I love them so much, I took 2 pictures!  I really need some pointers from my photographer friend.  Do you hear me, Cathi?

Just look at those pretty eggs!

I guess someone might look at my cookbook and laugh like I did at the kindergarten cookbook.  I guess it’s all relative (sorry for the pun)!

I enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I miss my college crew but Christmas is right around the corner.  YIKES!  Christmas is right around the corner…..

It's Sunday

It's Sunday and I want a do-over! 

Can I please have a do-over and this time I won't eat so much?

Damn!  And I was doing so well.

I just want one do-over!

Oh, well.

Tomorrow is a new day.

 

Reflections....Random

Black Friday.  Who has the money?  I've been reading articles about how couples use a sort of military tactic on this one day of the year.  What if I applied the same tactics to "healthy living"-- I'm no longer calling it a diet; it is my new healthy life.  I wonder.....  Speaking of healthy living, I did NOT pig out yesterday.

Yesterday (Thanksgiving) was a good day at the strawberry patch.  All the children were home + 2 guests.  We pulled out the table leaf and actually used the dining room table!  The very table I just had to have because we were going to make memories in that room!  How many grainiacs have a room for a table and some chairs that you use once a year?  I have this Norman Rockwell image in my mind.  I love the old-fashioned concept but reality says that room could be used more than once a year...maybe twice if you do a  big Christmas celebration.  I'm sorting out room arrangements in my house trying to figure out how this family can use that table more than two or three times a year.  Host more parties?  That tires me just thinking about it.  Set up a ping pong net?  Now we're cooking.  Maybe pull out my sewing machine and start creating.  Sidebar: we watch football and Thanksgiving is a good day for football.  It is also a good day for stress if your football team is slow scoring.  I pulled out my coloring book and crayons; I needed to be in a happy place last night.  My blood pressure was boiling watching my boys first quarter.  Old Strawberry would have stuffed her red face.  Not so last night.  I was feeling very antsy so I colored.  Then I started a crochet project.  Before long they scored a touchdown.  Double crochet...chain four....another touchdown.  I know my stress level was falling and by 10:30 or so last night UT beat A & M!!!!!  By one point!!!!!!!!!!  What a game.  Cowboys won AND Longhorns won.  I slept like a baby last night and dreamed of my Grandmother.  She was not a football player/ cheerleader/ nor football fanatic as far as I know.  I can only think it had to do with a certain gift she gave me long....long....long years ago.  This gift was on my Thanksgiving table.  Grandmom was not with us in body, but her spirit was definitely with us yesterday.  She loved family and she absolutely adored knick knacks.  Ask anyone!

lots of food

She is a salt shaker and her boy mate is pepper!

Shoulda Woulda Coulda

I've admitted I don't like C & W, but this song title fits my blog today.

I shoulda cleaned up before today.

I woulda done it for ya, babe....but your momma's lazy.

YOU coulda help me, ya know?

I'll stick to my day job because I don't think anyone will buy THAT 3 line song AND I haveta git ta work.

Yep, I shoulda planned my time better.  I woulda done it but that bed felt oh, so good.  I coulda git to sleep earlier tonight...

because tomorrow is THANKSGIVING.

You're gonna do WHAT to me???

Happy Thanksgiving, Graianiacs.  I love you.

Yum!!!!

Memories...

I was feeling a bit nostalgic last night.  It might have come about because I talked to my Mom and my brother and his wife were with her for Thanksgiving.  Or it could have been because my grainiac friend mentioned trying out a new recipe.  Who knows.  All I know was I WANTED stove top PUDDING!!!!  You know...the kind with the skin on top.  My, my....that was my favorite part of the pudding.  Give me the skin and nobody gets hurt.  Or you don't have to listen to my whining all day.  THAT can grate on one's nerves; I should know, I have four kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats (not to mention a hubby!).  LOL

Problem was: I only had almondmilk in the fridge (watch out, name dropping coming up: Silk).  I know for a fact you cannot use milk substitutes in the powdered pudding variety.  It won't set.  I found a recipe using grams and liters.  Say what?  I wasn't good in conversions.  For your information: 1 liter = 33.8 oz and 100 grams = 7 Tbsp or something like that.  My cooking goes more along the lines of "this looks like the right amount" and "you can never have too much vanilla extract in a sweet dish."  So there you have it.  Another problem was the pudding recipe I found kept its shape as in you could make it/ refrigerate it/ and dump it out on a plate and it would hold its form i.e. no spreading all over the counter.  That was definitely NOT what I wanted.  I was looking forward to scraping off ALL the skin and eating it!  There is no skin in a jello mold.  Ick.

This probably will not look appetizing but here it is... made with 100% Silk (no half and half/ real whipping cream/ milk/ etc).  TA DA:

I am not the photographer of this group BUT doesn't this look yummy?  This morning I went running to the refrigerator to make sure it actually firmed up but was still pudding consistency.  Bingo....perfection.

Here is the recipe if you dare to make it yourself.

1 liter of milk substitute (I used Silk Almond Milk, unsweetened and used 4- 2/3 cups of Silk)
5 Tbsp. cornstarch
10 Tbsp. dark chocolate (I used 4 large squares of the Italian dark chocolate I bought ? years ago. As you add chocolate to the milk, achieve the color of chocolate you wish!)
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. Splenda
1/2 - 1 tsp. vanilla (or more; I'm tellin' ya, ya can't use too much vanilla in my book!)

Whisk together 1 cup of Silk and the cornstarch. Set aside.  In a large saucepan, heat the rest of the Silk (in my case 3 and 2/3 cups of Silk) and the chocolate squares or powder.  While Silk is heating, add the cornstarch/ Silk mixture.  Constantly stir, otherwise cornstarch sinks and clumps! Stir...stir....stir.  Look at the beautiful chocolate color...need more chocolate? Well add it, girlfriend!  Now add salt, stir.  Add sugar substitute, stir.  Stir, stir, stir till you get a rolling boil.  I usually turn up the heat because I don't want to be stirring for an hour or more.  Turn down heat and stir till your mixture starts to thicken.  Stir a little more...maybe 3 or 4 minutes. 

Take the pan off the heat and add in the vanilla.  Go ahead, taste it.  I did.  Yummmm.  So if you want chocolate soup, have at it.  But, here's what I did.  I poured it into the corningware and left it on the counter.  A skin started forming.  I won't lie; I started my happy dance.  I left it on the counter for about 30 minutes and yes, I did pick up a spoon each time and dip into it.  Boy even wanted a bite.  He does not like chocolate pudding soup.  He said "Pudding is not supposed to be hot and semi-runny."  Punk; get out of my pudding and don't you dare touch that skin!  I covered it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge.  This morning it is calling my name.  By the way, if you are following weight watchers, it is 3 powerpoints IF you get 10 servings out of it.  Today my plan is to divide it up into 10 servings and see how much that is.  Of course I'm eating the skin right away so I'll count that as one serving! 

Is there something from your childhood that you love and makes you do the happy dance?  Is it fattening?  Can you alter the recipe and not feel deprived?  My mantra today is choices.  Yesterday I had choices to make too.  I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  I hear a certain chocolate sweetie calling my name.  Toodles.

Come fly with me

It's Saturday!  Yesterday at work, I heard "Everybody's working for the weekend."  I don't know if a co-worker was singing it or if it came on the TV.  Times have changed in the drive-through teller line!  We have a TV and it is tuned in to the country music channel...(gag...gag...cough...cough).  I'm new to the group so I put up with it.  Sorry to all you c&w fans.  I like the oldies' stations.

Speaking of country...cowboys...the OSU (Oklahoma State University) suffered tragedy yet again and involving a plane crash...yet again.  Please keep the families of the fallen women's basketball head coach Budke and asst. coach Serna and Pilot Branstetter and wife Paula in your thoughts and prayers.  So tragic but especially right before the holidays.  My family understands; my father died in October of '86.  It made for a somber Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Coach Budke left behind a wife and 3 kids.

Speaking of flying, time is flying by.  Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my casita (little house) is a mess!  What's new?  I've picked up the Flylady's book again called "Sink Reflections."  If you are a messy like I am, you might want to look at her system too.  The most important first step is to clean your sink.  I've got a clorox-ed filled sink right now.  The deal is to soak the sink for an hour.  I have 13 minutes to go till I shine that sucker beautiful.  Then I'll soak the left part of the sink.  Baby steps to a cleaner house!

Do you have any challenges before the end of the year?  Let's "fly" through them together, shall we?!

I've got Rhythm

Who could ask for anything more!  Okay...It's just Day 3 of working strawberry so I don't want to get all cocky yet.  BUT I am making a list at night to get things done in the a.m. before I punch out at home and punch in at work.  It's getting to be routine; now if my hours at work were set then I'd be all set.  Today I go in at 10 a.m.  There is a lot of wiggle room to dawdle.  I must keep focused.

Oh, I wanted to show you a magnificent tree I passed by yesterday.  Nature seems to be in rhythm too.  Doesn't it make you stop and stare in awe?

look at that beautiful deep red color.

Beautiful Red Maple

Here is a photo of the leaves changing on my street...

actually it looks prettier from the other direction!

Oh gosh, I did it again.  Focus....focus.  I pulled out my list from last night and I'm right on track.  8:00 a.m.- breakfast/ blog/ check emails.  CHECK (I don't know how or if I can make the "check" symbol on this blog site.)  So I was talking about rhythm and focus and keeping on track, right?  After work yesterday I checked on Boy and he had already completed his schoolwork/ talked to his online teachers/ and was getting ready for one more class.  Have I told you how proud I am of him?  Any who, I went to the store to purchase some healthy snacks.  Did I mention this already?  I'm feeling some déjà vu here.  I must say the grapes looked horrendous.  I guess it's not grape season.  The apples looked shiny red and crisp.  I wonder how much wax crap they need to put on them to shine them up that way.  So back to staying focused....look what I found...

Brita individual water bottles! Cool.

 I took my reusable bags to the store with me and bought a reusable water bottle that will filter the yuckies out of tap water.  This, by the way, was on my shopping list.  I did not, well, I can't really say I didn't buy anything not on my list.

Pumpkin Pie Spice!

So, it's not sugar free/ fat free/ or any of the frees I should be consuming, BUT if I have a tbsp a day, what's the harm, right?  Eat your heart out Starbucks; since you are not located in my rural town, I have to make due? do? dew? Doo doo....what's the spelling of this phrase I always use?

Grainiacs, I'm getting off course in my schedule, so I'll bid you (ahem) adieu and leave you with a parting photo-- my backyard this morning.  Old Man Winter is a-comin'.  Stay bundled up.

This is not snow

But snow is coming; I'm sure of it.

Pick Your Hard

I read a saying the other day:

Being fat is Hard.

Dieting is Hard.

Pick your Hard.

So true.  The extra weight is hard on my knees and joints.  My breathing is labored while exerting a little energy.  I get tired earlier and I just don't feel good.  It's hard looking at myself in the mirror and seeing someone else.

Dieting is hard.  For me, I have to constantly think about it otherwise I get sidetracked and totally off track.  My auto-pilot kicks in and I make wrong decisions and choices.

So yeah, let's pick our "hard."  I choose healthy.  Feeling well and enjoying life is my reward for eating healthy; the lost poundage is just an added bonus. 

P.S. I enjoyed my first day of work.  I didn't have to work as long as I thought so my lunch was already packed and ready to consume when I got home.  Last night I picked out my wardrobe for today and it was hanging in the bathroom ready to wear--necklace and all.  Who am I?  My pretty pink lunch bag is packed and hanging on the front door so I don't forget it. I'm still fighting that internal disorganized self but babysteps are getting me on the organized path.  Or at least I'm hoping!

I Mean Business

News Flash! Strawberry is entering the working world and bringing home some bacon!

 

I found this beauty on Amazon.  I love it but will not purchase it! I just want to look at it.

  

I’ve been working for free for a long time, but Uncle Sam has been missing the pennies I earn.  So now I really have to be organized or the 14 pounds I’ve lost will be totally sabotaged.  I gain when I get busy and work long hours and don’t plan.  Two years ago I worked at a woman’s 30 minute workout place (Curves).  I loved working there but I didn’t lose any long-term weight (and I didn't save any money!).  I would work out on the circuit with the ladies but work kept getting in the way, darn-it.  The phones would ring, potential customers would walk in, you know...that sort of work.  Plus I didn’t plan for those times when I expected to go home but the person on the next shift called in sick.  I would run over to the fast food joint down the street and eat finger food in between ladies coming in to exercise.  I’m sure the smell of chicken nuggets didn’t help their workout either!  This time will be different.  I am a new working strawberry.  I even made a list….quit laughing….I did!

The night before I picked out my clothes and hung them in the bathroom with earrings and make-up out on the counter.  The coffee pot is filled and programmed to start brewing at 7:00 a.m.  My lunch is planned and ready to be assembled in the morning.

7 a.m.- snore- - wake-up and no snooze button; take medicine; shower.  Drink coffee. Not necessarily in this order.

8 a.m.- eat breakfast (already planned and ready to make in the morning); finish packing lunch (yes! I’m organized); remember to leave for work at 8:54 a.m.  I can get distracted with blogging and squirrels and birds and ….

So this is what organized looks like!  It really feels good.  I feel empowered and in control.  Yes, knowing my life, there WILL BE some sort of distraction or something to sidetrack me.  It happens, but I know I’ll be dressed and my tummy will be taken care of.  Here is a photo diary to prove I mean business!

Packing my lunch in my pretty pink lunch bag.

 Wait....two more pictures...

Outfit with pretty pink lunch bag?

Or outfit with cute fishy lunch bag?

Decisions...decisions!

I might have to change my lunch bag or my outfit. I think my colors are going to clash!  LOL

Wish me luck!

Call of the Wild

In the movies, have you ever noticed the protagonist who happens to be an author always has an upstairs room with a view?  And that view never has fingerprints on the window or a screen hindering the shot?  Not so with this semi-author protagonist.  As you know I get side-tracked....quite a lot!  Notice I haven't posted for a couple of days?  I wasn't out of town without wi-fi connection; I've just been side-tracked.  Nature provides all the ADD stimuli to keep me off track.

Just yesterday, Boy and I were driving down our country road and he points and exclaims "What the...?"  I kid you not, there was a flying bicycle circling up above our heads.  Do you know how hard it is to keep on the road while staring at a flying bicycle?  Let's just say, I'm glad I wasn't driving on Mo-Pac in Austin or I-35 in San Antonio!

If there had only been a moon for this thing to pass by~ Perfect shot.

So there I am weaving back and forth.  Thankfully, no one was around but I HAD to take a picture because I think some of you think I hit the bottle each and every day.  HA....I flying see DO things.  Hiccup.

My computer is in front of a window looking out the backyard.  I have many opportunities to, well, not get anything done.  What's that in my peripheral vision?

Do you see what I see?

Here I am!

Then I saw something red swoosh by.  It's a good thing I keep my camera near.

Where's my wife?

I thought she was with me? Why is there a pooper scooper here?

Here I am! (animal conversation seems to be the same)

I have also noticed some hawks gliding and circling around.  I'm shutting my shades if I happen to see him swoop down on my little buddies.  I do not want to witness "the circle of life" like that!  Just saying.

It's time for the animal kingdom to store food for the winter.  I think our bodies naturally start reserving during this season too.  It comes in the form of lack of exercise due to "snuggling" weather; parties and all the goodies that come with it.  My goal is to move my buns and steer clear of the food trough at parties (yeah, like I'm invited to any!!!).  How about you?  Any winter resolutions?  I'd love to hear about them (it!).

Thank You

God Bless Our Veterans

Happy Veterans Day just doesn't sit right in my thinking.  War is hell and telling someone "happy" day -- well, I just can't do it.  Today we celebrate our veterans. The brave women and men who sacrificed themselves and their families for us... as in US in USA.  "Thank you" or "happy day" just can't cut it (at least to this strawberry).  I took a picture of a purple heart given to my great uncle for his heroics in WWII.  He didn't talk about it...at least to my grandmother or my mother...so we don't know much about his experience.  Or who knows; maybe my Mom knows and she was sparing her children of the hell.  Not to diminish the purple heart, but I would give one to every armed service person.  To me, each and every one is a hero.  I'm a pacifist.  I prefer love to war but Ecclesiastes tells us "there is a time for everything."  If you don't believe the Bible, take heed from the Mamas and the Papas.  They'll sing it to you!  So I propose we change the name of the day to "You're My Hero" Day.  Of course anyone can be a hero...teachers/ nurses/ doctors/pastors/parents/ friends/ psycho-analysts/ you name it.  It could get confusing and if we have one day for everyone, well, Hallmark might go broke! It's something to think about, right?  Let's face it- we have a lot on our minds.  In the meantime, God bless our veterans and their families.  You are my hero.

I'm stuck

Good morning, Grainiacs!

I wanted to give a little update and it will be little....I'm stuck at a 14 pound loss.  I'm looking at this as a good thing.  Fourteen pounds gone....a zillion more to go....yep, this can be good. 

"NOT!" others might say.  But look at it from my perspective.  I have learned to maintain my 14 pound loss.  As long as I don't start gaining, I can remain at minus 14.

I don't want to stay at minus 14, though.  So although I have not been losing at 2 pounds a week (still doable, just not for this strawberry!), I have lost 7 weeks of 2 pounds a week.  I can claim success.  

You see with me, it is all a mind game.  My poor family!

I hate to mention I have been working on the losing game for 10 weeks.  But that means I have spent 7 weeks losing 14 pounds (my goal of 7 pounds a week....see where I'm going here?  LOL) and I've spent 3 weeks maintaining that loss.  TA DA!!!!!  Win/win.

Now all kidding and mind game playing aside, it's time to get back on track and start losing again at 2 pounds a week.  Since I like mind games, should I use my new weight as a start...you know, like starting over again?  Or continue on?  I'm stuck and need your help.

So it's weigh in time, grainiacs.  Please write me and weigh in your answer.  What should I do?

Totally off-topic (I do this a lot!): Yesterday, Boy and Kitzilla looked so cute playing peek-a-boo.  I took a picture!

For your visual pleasure, tell me what you think about my new photo of Kitzilla.  Is this wild, or what???

I see you, Boy, and I'll use my super sonic laser eyes to get you! Freaky!!!