Good results

I am enjoying myself this summer. During the week I stay busy on the road going to exercise three times a week. Since we live so remotely in the country, I also do my shopping on those days to avoid any more trips than necessary.

You can do a lot of thinking on the road. It takes me about forty minuets to get to my trainer in another town and another state away, but it is good for me to have this time to reflect on where I have been and where I am going.

There is good news. So far I am down about 31 pounds and getting stronger and more fit every day. This has been one of the best gifts I have ever given myself. I am so worth it. It took me a long time to realize that I had any value to myself much less to anyone else. After a year and three months of weekly therapy, I must say that I have met new goals and challenges that I never thought possible. I am starting to like what I see.

The best news of all is that my blood work has really reflected my hard work to get healthy. Cholesterol is down to 123 and my triglycerides are down to 190. My hemoglobin A1C is down as well. With the help of medicine, therapy and exercise I can see hope in my future.

I am eating healthier, cooking from scratch and reaping the rewards of it all. I am learning not to beat myself up when I slip or make a bad choice for a meal. My dietitian has helped me realize that I am only human. We all make mistakes. It's that all or nothing attitude that gets me into trouble. I've been working a while on that one.

Summer food and fruits are amazing. The cantaloupe is the best I have had in a long time. Fresh Cherries and fruit salads. Fresh veggies from the garden are a delightful treat. The heat has all but killed most of Hubs garden, he still gets peas, tomatoes and cucumbers. I made an old favorite of mine the other day. It's a seven layered salad. Lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli,mandarin oranges, strawberries, English peas, olives, then top it off with a layer of turkey meat and go light on the mayonnaise as the final layer. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and olives and bacon bits.

Summertime and the livin' is easy

Nothing better than the summertime with a glass of lemonade or I should say Crystal light lemonade and taking the time to enjoy each day. Even if it is something as simple as shelling peas. This takes me back to memories of long ago with my grand mother and shelling peas. It is a lovely day to walk down memory lane. Of course I have some help today.



Why is it that cats think they know so much? Here Baby is wanting to help me shell purple hull peas from Hub's garden. If you read my blog then you know how involved my cats are in my daily activities. They seem to invite themselves to my day to day chores.

Nothing will stop this determined little cat. She is so curious.



This is what it is all about...the peas

She is taking her pick of the crop


You wonder why they are called purple hull peas?
A little stain on my fingers is worth it

I'm going to cook them for dinner along with some okra


Sorry Bruno...You're too late to help

This one will do nicely

She won't eat it, but she does like to play with it.

Pass the peas please

I hope you are enjoying your summer days. Making lots of good memories and livin' easy.

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

The Queen's Meme #87 ~ The Crazy Medical Meme

The Queen's Meme #87 ~ The Crazy Medical Meme
Welcome to The Queen's Meme
7 Royal Questions on Tuesday
(I'm prolific today. There are 9 questions.)

It's time for your annual check up! I always say "knowledge is power" when entering the stressful confines of a doctor's office. I take a pen and paper, armed with questions and a medical encyclopedia at my disposal. My doctor is not amused. Let's see how well you do on the medical exam I have prepared for you.


The Crazy Medical Meme

1. The smallest bone in the human body is about the size of a grain of rice. What is it?

I think it is in the ear...maybe the cochelea? If you want people to listen then this little bone should be larger.


2. How fast is a sneeze?
Faster than a humming bird's wings. In other words really fast!

3. What percentage of the human body is water?

Just a guess, but is it 82% ?


4. True or False: A human's thumb is as long as his or her nose.
Excuse me... My nose is not that big, but I do have a large thumb.


5. What should you do if you are bitten by a snake?
You mean besides cry?

6. It is a fact that humans get an entirely new skeleton every 12 years. What do we get every six years?
Very funny. I have not heard that before. I think we should get a completely new wardrobe. Or maybe it's a new lease on life?

7. Happiness is directly related to the size of your faith.

8. If there are 9,000 taste buds on your tongue, how many hairs are on your head right now?
Probably three times that amount, say 27,000 hairs unless you are balding. Sorry about that.

9. I believe that the size of the needle is directly related to the mood of the nurse. However, sometimes it's necessary to get shots. If you could be vaccinated against anything in the world, what would it be?
It would have to be a vacanation to stop hate and ignorance in the world.

An apple a day doesn't keep the doctor away

I am having some trouble with my feet and hands right now. The pain is hurting me, and I have the don'ts. I want to sleep at this moment. I am very tired. Last week was the second week of training three times per week. I am exhausted. I was on the road all week long. So much for my blog vacation. It has been eleven days since my last post. I guess I will just blog when I feel like it.
I had to fast for some blood work for my doctor. Then go to exercise. I called my trainer and she said to get a protein shake and to meet me at the gym in thirty minutes. I downed the shake and felt a little better. After training, I felt tired, sleepy and week. I made it to the store, stopped to get gas and then home to sleep. That was on Friday and today is Sunday. I am not feeling any better. I did not go to church because I had to wash my hair and had nothing to wear. While I realize the part about nothing to wear is my responsibility, I should have washed my clothes and washed my hair. I just don't have the energy to do it.

Saturday, I ate everything in sight including raisin bread and cookies. Yes, I know that is not good for me. I don't know why the melt down at this moment caused this set back. Of course I have gained three pounds and I am disgusted with myself. The cycle continues.

I had decided to take a blog vacation for a while. I don't have much to say that I really want to write here. I am reading some blogs, but not many. It seems the better I get the less I want to blog. I do miss that connection with people though.

I spent three hours in the dentist chair on Thursday. I went to a new dentist because my current dentist scares me to death. New dentist is very through, hence the three hours. I have never had a dentist check my blood pressure before. It was high because of my fear of dentist. This was my last big hurdle to overcome. I talked about it in therapy. A dentist tortured me as a child. He pulled a permanent tooth twice and scared me to death. All of the years I have been going to a dentist, my former scary dentist found out that I still have that extra tooth. I am somewhat of an anomaly. Evidently not many people have seen this before. All had to come and see it. They didn't even know how to chart it. Much discussion was made about how to chart my extra tooth. I didn't even know what to think of this. All I know is that I was hungry and thirsty and had dry mouth. I kept telling them if they want me to stay in this chair then their best bet would be to work fast on me. No such luck. A small camera on a wand took more photos of my teeth. Thirty to be exact. Then the dentist came in and took more pictures. Technology at its finest.

They do a lot of talking and repeat that talking to the doctor. The hygienist spent a long time with me taking gobs of xrays of my mouth. A full round xray, then individual xrays of my teeth. Next was some probing of my gums and measuring pockets, then more probing to measure gum loss and a lot of other things that I have never had done. I have never had my mouth checked out for cancer. I had seen this on Dr.Oz the day before. What a shock to finally have a dentist check my mouth. Next week I return for a cleaning and the consult with the doctor and his recommendations. Of course he wants to do a lot of crowns because I have some cracked teeth and fillings. I am not sure if I can work up the courage to do all he wants to do. I hate the pain dentist cause me.

Well that is about it for now. I am going to make myself get busy and do some things around the house and take a shower. I am feeling discouraged right now. I think the dentist visit is what set me off with the eating. It is how I manage stress. I didn't do so well this time. I am not sure what has caused all of the pain. For now I will take note of it and discuss it with my RA doctor at my next appointment.

Vacation time

Alright folks...I am taking a blog vacation. No, nothing is wrong, just need a break and need to not feel guilty about it or have you wondering why I'm not posting. I hope I don't loose any of my readers. I will be back sometime this summer or maybe later. I am just not sure about when I will return. I hope you enjoy your summer.

I have started working out with my trainer three days a week and I spend a lot of time on the road getting to the gym. This is too important to me right now to not fully commit myself to my whole body,mind and spirit.

I will try to read your blogs when time permits. I am sure going to miss y'all.
Thanks for understanding and letting me enjoy my summer. In the mean time, I am going to eat lots of summer vegetables from Hubs' garden and go see my kids in Alabama.
Hugs to you all.