Chocolate Frosty

Ooooo! Lookie what I learned to make last night for dessert!

The thing Dale and I miss most about the meal plan our doctor suggested is ... carbs! Where I crave crunchy salty snacks, Dale most misses some of the sweeter treats. But I found a recipe for a sweet treat that we can eat!

This is as close to soft serve ice cream that I've had in months. It was fairly easy to make, using only a few ingredients: whole cream, unsweetened chocolate, sugar substitute, vanilla, and salt. Dale's eyes lit up when he had his first bite.

I'm pleased that the result looks so much like the picture in the recipe. When I make this again, I'm going to try for a vanilla frosty. I'll probably double the vanilla extract used here, and perhaps add some vanilla bean for a more robust flavor. We might even add berries to it. Yum.

I'm super proud of myself for adding another food group to our meal plan. (The chocolate mug cake we tried wasn't a hit. Yeech). Is life worth living without dessert?

In the past, I haven't generally relished food prep -- except for baking. Breads, cookies, pies and cake are definitely not on our meal plan. I've gone above and beyond my 20 in 2020 goal of learning six new recipes this year. In fact, this is my 12th new recipe of the year, and I have two more main course entrées to try this month! I'm hope they are as successful and delicious.

Pretzel Bites

Happy National Pretzel Day!

We're celebrating another minor holiday today. In honor of this auspicious occasion, I baked some homemade pretzel bites.



They came out beautifully and smell divine.



Ever since Dale's stroke at the end of February, our doctor gave us a meal plan to follow. Pretzels from the store are not on the plan. But I found a recipe that is, so I gave it a my best attempt.

Unfortunately for me, I'm a bit of a pretzel snob. Next to popcorn, pretzels are my favorite snack. The texture of these bites is all wrong in my mouth, even for a soft pretzel. They are made with Fat Head dough, so they are very cheesy. And though the outside has that nice color and crust, they don't *snap* when you bite into them. But Dale likes them, and that's what counts. We'll try dipping them in pizza sauce and see if that helps.



They sure are pretty and I'm darn proud of myself for giving the recipe a try. I'll find another recipe and try again.

Movie Recommendation

I've taken to watching movies while exercising. Watching half a movie makes the 45 min on the elliptical go much more quickly!

Over the last two days, I treated myself to this beauty. Coco Before Chanel is, as you might guess, the story of Coco Chanel's life from the time she was a young girl, left with her sister at an orphanage through her years singing with her sister at pubs, then on to her life outside Paris.

Due to her upbringing, Coco becomes an odd type of woman. She does a lot of watching from the sidelines, and makes clipped remarks when asked her opinions. She is enthralled by people of fortune, while being disgusted by the way they waste their time and their lives of frivolity. She begins to express her style as a sort of rebellion against the excesses she sees.

Coco lives with one man, falls in love with another, and ultimately decides not to marry. After the man she loves is killed in an auto accident, Coco goes on to earn her fame and fortune, making clothing and hats her way, and beginning new trends toward simplified and elegant dressing.

This film is in French, with subtitles in English. (That's only a little difficult to read while working out!) It's beautifully photographed and acted. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It has the same flavor as another of my favorite international pieces, Brideshead Revisited.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give this film 4 stars.

Incredible Edible

One of the things I love most about blogging is getting familiar with blogs of other creative people. There is so much inspiration to be gleaned from poking around the sites of artists, designers, needleworkers, photographers and other crafty types.

What really strikes me as odd is when I get inspired to do something in the kitchen after reading a blog. I mean, I'm a very decent cook. Yet spending time in the kitchen is not one of my favorite past times. Still ... baking is something I enjoy quite a bit.

So look what Vicki of Turkey Feathers inspired me to bake!

Dutch Apple Pie

You can find the recipe at All Recipes. It's a winner!

What I love about it most is that it has a full bottom crust, but the top reminds me of the apple crisp my mom used to make. The secret lies in the way you wrap the Granny Smith apple pie up in parchment before popping it in the oven.

Ohmygod! This is SO GOOD ... that I had to make a second. And then I made a peach pie with the same kind of topping. And I have enough Granny Smiths for a third pie. For Thanksgiving, perhaps? (Whoops! There goes the weight loss plan! SO worth it!)

The pie is sweet and tart and crispy and to die for! If you get inspired to bake this beauty yourself, let me know!

Keep It Up

One of my favorite phrases I use to keep myself on track is:
I have Drive, Spirit, Stamina and Endurance

I tell ya ... those qualities are really important as I continue on this weight loss journey. My husband and I have been at it for a year now. I've lost a total of 20 lbs on the program ... over 30 from my highest weight ... at my best, I was 40 lbs down (then regained some). I'm thrilled at the changes we've both had.

But last month, I was completely worn out from the menus. I went off plan quite a bit. Went back up another 5 lbs. So starting last week, I found a second wind and am back on plan again. We went in for our weekly appointment. My good work put me down over 3.5 lbs this week!

One thing I've learned is that for the plan to work for ME, I have to adapt a few things. Like ... I'm willing to take a 3 mile walk to Denny's if the reward is a strawberry waffle! Sure, it's not on plan. But it is part of the stuff that makes life fun and worth living. The walk and talk with my husband. The yummy food. The overall experience.

But to get to have that little pleasure, I must be persistent the rest of the week.

It's worth it. It does pay off.

Go!

I need this reminder today. Ever since my cross-country trip, I've been lax around here. My sleeping patterns are messed up again which messes with the rest of my life's routines.

But with the start of a new week, it's time to get back on track.

Today, I got serious about my meal plans again. Time to get on with some more weight loss. I've been plateaued long enough.

Tomorrow, a thorough Home Blessing. The poor floors and carpets need some attention. And the laundry. And the trash is piling up all over the house. Won't take long to have things spiffy again if I focus ... and dig in.

On to Plan B

For the last two years, I've taken some time to explore my creative drives more deeply. When I began my Creative Journey, I thought that I would be trying out various art and craft ideas, learning a bunch of needlework finishing techniques, reading a ton of books. Lose some weight. All of this was to be in an attempt to figure out what I was to do with myself in my life chapter as a middle-aged woman.

Would I begin a new career? Would I go back to school for a Master's degree? Now that my family is mostly raised, would I devote more of my time to volunteer work or artistic pursuits?

Well. I did a bit of those things. At least, I asked the questions. But even on sabbatical, life gets in the way. I didn't know I'd be facing a health problem or that my emotions would be taken for a wild roller coaster ride. I didn't anticipate landing back in counseling to work through more inner 'junque'.

I did stitch some more. I found out how much I love being part of two groups of women who create quilts for people in crisis. I learned just how much that makes my heart grow.

I managed to try a few new needlework finishing techniques. But I found out I was even better at pointing my finishing group to other tutorials online than I was at creating a new tutorial each month (my original goal).

I even managed to lose 35 pounds so far!

I still have not made a basket, though I still have the kit. I still have not made polymer clay beads or buttons, though the clay sits on my shelf. I still have not stenciled the lower porch so that it looks like cobblestone, though I can see the supplies resting on the shelf to my right of my desk. I still have not taught my youngest daughter to sew, though a dress sits half made hiding someplace here in my studio. I still have not done a major update on my Stitcher's Studio, though I've been very consistent with posting to my blog.

I still have a huge pile of books to read. I think the pile got bigger, even though I did manage to read a fair number and to write book reviews for them. I love reading. I learned I don't allow myself the quiet time to do it. My husband and I are once again trying to maintain the discipline to read every Tuesday and Thursday evening.

I have not discovered my next career move, either. That's a bit disappointing. But I do have a kernel of an idea of what that career might be.

My biggest discovery in these last two years was in photography. I learned that even if you don't really know what you're doing when you start, if you just keep at it, you can learn some stuff along the way. I'm better at framing images now. I know a bit more about lighting. I can even use my image software more adeptly. But mostly, I learned that I love to photograph life's little details. Macro photography stirs my heart. I'll keep at that. Learn some more.

The other important discovery is that I'm really not great at going with the flow. I tend to be more Type A. I like my lists. I like crossing things off them. I like having a plan and sticking to it. And I get rather anxious when those plans get changed without my consent.

So as I close out my Creative Journey today, I'll move on to my next phase. I'm going to call it "Plan B."

What is Plan B? I guess you might call it planned obsolescence. Or ... PLANNING to go with the flow. I'm sure I'll still have my lists ... that's extremely ingrained in me. But I will leave some blank lines on my list on purpose. I'll leave room to scratch out the plans that don't work and go with an alternate one that does. One that leaves more room for Spirit to flow through. One that leaves more flexibility for my family.

In other words, I'm planning to make plans and allow them to change! (I'd say welcome them to change, but hey ... I'm Margaret ... that ain't gonna happen.) So in Plan B, I can fool myself into believing that a change in plans is part of the plan.

Such convoluted thinking, eh? Yet ... it just might work for me.

Thanks to those of you that have followed me on this Creative Journey of mine and become a part of it. If you'd like to walk with me in Plan B, I'd love to continue to have your company.

Day 555: Doctor, Doctor ... Give Me the News

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Waiting Room

The help of Jenny and the persistence of my exercise program is really starting to pay off.

Sure, the weight is coming off. I'm ready to get the next size down in pants again.

But the more exciting news for me came at the doctor's office this week after my quarterly blood draw. ALL my numbers have shown drastic improvement.

Blood pressure? Like a teenager!
Resting heart rate? Like an athlete!
HDL? LDL? Liver function? All within normal ranges.
Blood sugar? Super! I may soon have no more diabetic symptoms.

But my biggest nemesis of all ... triglycerides? WAY, Way, way down.
I've been fighting that number for years. Now it's so good I get to cut my meds in half.

Talk about a happy dance!

Oh, yeah ..... and my doctor greeted me with, "Well, hello, Skinny!"
That was nice to hear.
He's been my doctor for 23 years.
I've never seen him look so proud of my progress.

Ready, Set, ACTION!

Yeah ... that's the hard part.

In my needlework, I have two kinds of knowledge:

1. Head Knowledge: stuff I've read about or listened to conversations about or have done a bit of research on or watched other needleworkers do
   
2. Hand Knowledge: actually putting what I've learned into practice by giving a new technique a try.

But I suppose this goes for most of life.

Sometimes, I get stuck in the growth that happens with the help of my counselor. If I do, it's usually because I know the theory, I know what is asked of me, but I'm just not yet willing to go there, to make the change, to do it. I let the fear of failure take over. I stall.

Same with weight loss and my exercise routine. I knew that once autumn was over and winter was upon me, I'd have to change my favorite form of exercise (walking outdoors down by the Spokane River). But it took a month or more before I jumped on the elliptical trainer and did a workout 4 to 5 times a week.

To my credit, I do practice in my head for a while before actually starting the action. I'm reading a book right now that praises extremely small steps. In this author's reasoning, THINKING about doing the new thing and imagining yourself doing it must come before actual action takes place. That makes sense to me.

It's how I learned to typeset when I worked for a small literary press on my college campus. I knew about the new machine. I'd watched it being used in the Spring. I thought about it all summer when I was away from school. Then I took to it like a duck to water when I was back at school the next Fall.

Today? Today I'm thinking about making a batch of Pizzelles as I type this. I know they need to be done before 2pm. I'm willing to make them. Now it's time to apply, to do.

Day 530: We All Have Our Vices

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, My Drug of Choice

If it's Saturday, it must be Jenny! I lost just under two pounds this week. Go me.

:: sigh ::

I'm realllllllllllly happy with the weight loss. Slowly and steadily, it's coming off. One my my friends from St. George's Quilters now greets me with, "Hey, you skinny bitch!" That's a first!

I am starting to get a bit of tired of the food, though. That goes in waves. Most of the time, the food's just great. So little thinking has to go into preparing food and eating any more. But now and then ... I just wish for a bag of Fiery Habanero Doritos!

In the mean time, I stick with the plan, knowing that in about three weeks, I get to be treated to a nice steak dinner at the Outback. I miss my red meat! (Ah! But my heart is happy).

I also miss the extremely occasional margarita (I have one all of three times a year). So to get my citrus-y fix, I stick to diet orange Sunkist.
.
.
.
oh ... and for you other Fiery Habanero fans, just check out these earrings!

Who's Your Competition?

When I was a kid working in my dad's pizza shop, I had two main duties:

1. Bus the tables
2. Bag the breadsticks

Busing the tables .... ick. If the tables were a mess, my dad would press a button in the front of the shop three times and it would make a noise in the back. It was really annoying:
BZZZZ BZZZZ BZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Bus .... The .... Front!

In the back room, my job was to take the crispy breadsticks out of the huge paper bag, and place them two at a time in the small glassine bags, fold the little bags, staple them, and put the breadsticks in a container so they'd be ready to go out with the "to go" spaghetti, ravioli and lasagna orders.

The job could be a bore, so I made a game out of it. I'd keep tabs on how long it took me to finish bagging one huge bag of breadsticks. I'd just try to get faster and faster and faster.

Later, when I worked in the Children's Room of our public library, we had a check-out system where we'd take a photo of each book label along with a card showing a check-out number and the due date. One of my jobs was to stamp the due date on the big stacks of cards. Tedious work.

Again, I made a game out of it and became one of the fastest stampers on the staff.

In general, I'm not a gal that enjoys competition. When I stack myself up against others, I lose too often. But I love being in competition with myself. Then I can see when I get better and better.

An example now is in my weight loss program. I weigh myself each morning so that the number on the scale is just that — a number — a score. Each time it's lower than the day before, I do a happy dance, call my husband at work and cry, "I got a new low score!"

It's a lot like golf. You really are playing against yourself, knowing your own handicap.

If at First You Don't Succeed ...

... try, try again.

And consider adding in some elbow grease.

Sometimes grunting helps, too. . . . ;)

---

Oh! Speaking of trying ...

I'd hit a plateau with the weight loss thing over the Holidays, but the plateau is over. When Dale and I went to see Jenny today, I'd lost some more poundage. I'm now ready for another 5lb loss weight treat. Not sure quite how I'll treat myself this time.

There's a cool online program I've been eyeballing. Might do that. Or maybe it's time to be a redhead. Whaddya think?

But my loss was minuscule when looked at side-by-side with Dale. He dropped TEN POUNDS this week! Yowsa! . . . . . =:O

Wednesday Secrets: Nov 21, 2007

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an amazing sociological experiment. The post cards were uploaded late this week, and I was eagerly anticipating them today. Here are the new secrets that resonate with me:

This fit me to a 'T' when I was in my 20s! Well ... maybe not "more powerful" than God, but I sure did like to tempt the boys with my flirtations. I particularly liked to go after the guys that wore their religion on their sleeves or the ones in the seminary. They were nice guys with good morals. But oh, so human! They usually had very little experience with girls, so I could teach them a thing or two about what they'd be missing if they kept on their current path.

My husband was seriously thinking of becoming a priest when we met.
We've now been married for over 16 years.

One of my hot buttons is folks that think it's their duty to tell me that I'm going to hell because I don't believe the way they do. Those kinds of comments usually get me hopping mad. This week I was given TWO examples of other ways to handle the situation.

My daughter was told this very thing by a kid in her English class. Her disarming response?
"Gee. Thanks so much for sharing that with me."
Then she went on her merry way.

My former college professor says he just busts out laughing when he's damned.
He says that it's usually enough to make the judgmental person so flustered they don't know what to say next.

I need to try one of those approaches. It's no fun getting all riled up by close-minded folks that are sure they have ALL the answers and the ULTIMATE TRUTH in their pocket.


ROFL. This isn't so far from the truth!

Actually, sharing some DVDs and shows we enjoy with one another and laughing together is just a whole lot less stressful than making small talk or listening to the gossip of extended family. I need less stress this holiday. Plus, I get to prepare a menu that fits with our weight loss program.

Besides, we're planning on singing Karaoke on Thanksgiving ... and our extended family would be too self-conscious to get in on that fun. We don't mind making fools of ourselves.

Feels So Good!

MORE PROGRESS!

If it's Saturday ...

must be Jenny!

I hit another 5 lbs goal!
It's official ... I've now lost 25 pounds since August!

Go Margaret! Go Margaret! Go Margaret! Go Margaret!

Day 463: Breaking Through

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,
Sun Break

This amazing cloud formation greeted Dale and me as we headed back to Post Falls from our weekly appointment with Jenny yesterday morning. As you can tell, the photo was taken through the car windshield as we sped down the freeway.

There was one layer of high bright white clouds, with the sun breaking through beneath them, aching to start the day.

Below that, another strata of clouds, dark and stormy, appeared to be rising up to meet the first layer. The sun's rays struggled to filter through to warm the earth after a frosty night.

And in the the distance, the bumpy line of mountains to the east created yet another horizontal formation.

This scene was not the only breakthrough of the morning.

I've lost another five pounds! Time for another reward because my real weight is now the same as the weight posted on my driver's license.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to purchase The Ultimate Fake Book so I can put my new guitar through her paces.

Day 445: My Two Hundred Pound Trophy

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Lucinda

Well folks, did you ever think you'd see a two hundred pound trophy guitar that still fits in your lap? You can stop rubbing your eyes. Here it is!

OK. So that's a bit of "mom humor"
... as my kids would say
... as they groaned.

Today is a RED LETTER DAY for me. For the first time in over ten years, I weigh less than 200 lbs!

OK. So most women would keep that high of a weight a secret. But I'm shouting from the webtops! I am now more than 26 lbs lighter than my highest weight, and more than 15 lbs lighter than when Dale and I started on the Jenny Craig program a few weeks ago!

As a reward to myself, I bought this new Lucinda classical guitar.

For a while now I've been thinking about having a "kick around" guitar. One I could take to the backyard or the beach (in Idaho, that means down to the lake or river) . Nothing tooooo expensive so that if it ends up getting a little nicked and scratched, I won't lose my mind. Something lightweight that I can tote around easily. Get out easily. Play more often than my 12-string Fender.

So I've cut my nails, and am ready to build up the calluses on my left hand. My fingers can still find most of the chords, but my strumming/picking hand is way out of practice. This time around, I want to play more secular music than sacred music, so I'll need to build up a new library of guitar music. And then find some musicians to jam with.

I am so darn proud of the progress I've made so far! Go me!

Day 442: Look! Up in the Sky ...

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Hot Air Balloon Sighting


On our way into Spokane this morning (if it's Saturday, it's Jenny Craig!), Dale and I spied this hot air balloon soaring over the valley floor. I managed to get this photo while traveling 70 miles an hour down Interstate 90. I'm impressed that this photo has this much focus! (No, I wasn't driving, Dale was.)

This sight just makes my heart soar. Soon, I hope, I'll be a rider in such a balloon! I've been given the gift of a ride ... now I just need to book it. I hope to share the ride with my daughter Julie who turns 21 on Monday.

Happy Birthday, Julie!
(Wish you could be home so we could celebrate with you!)

For a little Jenny Craig update ... I lost another 2.4 lbs this week! Go me!

Day 438: On the Rail

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,
Silverwood: Engine Number 7


When Silverwood first opened, this narrow gauge 1915 steam train was the only free ride available. The owners loved trains. Had a train museum there before Silverwood became a full-fledged theme and water park.

Goofy as the ride is, I make sure I go on the train each time I spend a day at Silverwood. I like the old guys that are the engineers and conductors. They spin a good yarn. Tell really lame jokes. Generally make the lazy ride fun.

For example, the conductor builds up a big tall tale about the high trestle that the train must cross. 463 feet up, they say. And when you get there, he amends it to "463 squirrel feet, that is."

After crossing the trestle and going around some bends, you happen upon a mining camp. The train comes to a complete stop. The conductor gets off. And then -- BOOM -- something in the mine explodes!

Out comes a miner who boards the train -- and robs the passengers! He's full of guff and tall tales himself, of course. (The money he collects goes to The Wishing Star Foundation).

But at the end of the day, the conductor gets the bad guy off the train and pushes him down the well ... which immediately squirts up water and all the passengers get wet.

A fun time is had by all ... in an old-fashioned goofy kind of wild west way.

-----

On a completely different note ...

I did go on that bike ride with my neighbor today. We ended up peddling a total of 11.8 miles. Nice easy bike trail. And now that I know the way, I can ride it by myself.

I'm rather proud of myself ... and not too sore (except when climbing stairs)!
;-)

Day 437: Rediscovering Cycling

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,
I [heart] My Peugeot

Oh, man!

What a day I've had today!

This was one of those rare and wonderful days when I awoke early, had plenty of energy, lots of focus, and a whole day to myself to do what I wanted to do. I started with the weekly home blessing. The house looks great. All the laundry is done. I got all my meals and snacks in. And I even started a new piece of stitchery. I ran some errands. Then did an anti-procrastination mission: put some air in my bike tires.

Now, this is SAD. My dear brother-in-law, Dennis, helped me get my bicycle out of mothballs early this summer. We got a new "fat ass" padded seat for it. New tires and tubes. New lights. And even a speedometer. We fixed the seat height. Got the breaks working just right. Fiddled with the handlebars. Had it all ready to go except that I needed to take it to a gas station to fill the tires up with air.

And so it sat. ALL summer. In the garage. Sheesh! That shows gratitude, eh?

Well, last night as I came in from my walk, I ran into my next door neighbor. As we chatted, he said he's been doing quite a bit of bike riding. To make a long story short, I got him to agree to take me out on a bike trail I've never tried. We go tomorrow morning.

That means ...... I NEED TO GET THE AIR IN MY TIRES!

So today I finally did it. I pumped the tires up enough to ride it to the gas station. I brought along my pretty new red air pressure gauge. And I got those babies full of air.

While I was out ... I decided to take a spin. I'd forgotten just how much I love my Peugeot! It has been far too long since I've used my faithful friend.

I rode on down to the next town down the road, Huetter, Idaho. Population about 63. (That may be a slight exaggeration). Huetter is about three miles east of Post Falls. There used to be a lumber mill there. That land has recently been annexed by the city of Coeur d'Alene and there are a bunch of (ugly) condos and houses going in right along the river.

But smart folks that they are, the developers did manage to eek out a bit of riverfront for a public beach. It's very small. Very pretty. And not too many people seem to know about it because it's usually also very empty.

The bike ride was beautiful. The day is one of those ideal autumn-in-the-air Idaho days. The sun is out. The air is warm. The water cool. There were ski boats and jet skis on the river. And these two sunbathing beauties on the beach.

Ahhhhh! Idaho!

I'm so thrilled that my Peugeot is really ready to ride. I hope that today's taste of the open road whets my appetite and keeps me peddling. I hope I don't overdo my ride tomorrow, or I'll be too sore to hop on my "fat-ass" bike seat again for a while.

But with this pristine Idaho fall weather, the feel of the road under my tires, a desire to expand my creative energies, and a determination to find new forms of exercise so I can keep losing weight, just maybe my trusty friend and I will spend more time together ... until the snow flies.

Anyone wanna ride with me?

Day 433: More Self Portraits

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Piercing


For the third time in my life, I had my ears pierced today! Maybe this time I'll wear earrings all the time and the holes will stay open.

This was a treat to myself. I'm finally learning how to give myself non-food rewards for good behavior. So for each five pounds I lose, I give myself a treat. The first was a new scale that weighs in tenths of pounds. This is my second reward, piercing my ears.

I've almost earned my third reward! I'm still deciding what it might be, but I have a pretty good idea. I took Jodie into a music store today to pick up a lyre and flip book for her flute. She's in marching band this year, so needed the new accessories. While there, I talked to the owner about a "kick around guitar." He showed me a beauty.

I haven't been singing much lately, but I've been missing it a lot. I still have my Fender 12-string, but just don't get it out to play it very often. I've been wanting another 6-string classical guitar with nylon strings that I can just pull out and take down to the river or out in the back yard or wherever. Something not too expensive that I can use easily, kick around a bit, and not get overly concerned about nicks and scratches.

So, perhaps when I reach my next goal, I'll buy that guitar. The owner will even give me a 15% discount if I buy the guitar and case at the same time! It comes to less than $200. Very tempting.

Besides, my family has been egging me on to start singing again. It's a passion I've put on hold for far too long.

(I added this second photo just because I liked it, too!)