Update on my Weight Loss

This photo was taken on September 22nd. In this photo I have lost 31 pounds. Imagine 31 pounds of butter heaped up in a pile!!!!!!!! Not a pretty site but that's what I've lost off my body. I've lost a total of 27 inches.

I set !0 pound goals at a time. I find that this really helps me focus on my weight loss. I've also found that rewarding myself with small things when I reach my goals is very helpful. It doesn't have to be much. It just lets me know that I'm special.

I've found that I must plan a menu for each day. Over the weekend I didn't plan my menu and I went over on calories, carbs, sodium and fat. We had to go into Medford on Saturday and we ate breakfast and lunch out. I usually don't have any problems when I incorporate eating out into my menu. I did okay with my choices for breakfast and lunch........then I started munching and ended up munching the rest of Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning I was back to planning my menu for the entire day before I had breakfast. The lesson I learned is that I have to have a black and white plan for my eating.

I'm off to have lunch and then go for my walk. I quit walking at 6:30am as its too cold and I was freezing even in sweats and a stocking hat. So now I walk later in the morning after the sun comes up and warms it up a bit.

Busy Weekend

25 pounds of Red Bartlett Pears
20 pints of diced pears
15 pints of Veggie Soup

We didn't go to the Cranberry Festival this last weekend. We got busy doing other things. We are getting ready to have a Yard Sale this Friday - Sunday. We also was busy this weekend canning Bartlett Pears and Veggie Soup. It was the first time that we have used our new pressure canner. The pears we could do in the boiling water bath. The soup had to be done in the pressure canner because it's a low acid vegetable. I happy to say that we didn't have anything explode and get all over the kitchen.

I still have lots of pureed tomatoes to do something with today. I think I'll put some of it on with spices and make ketchup. I'll probably can some for tomato juice.

I need to find some carrots to can. We love Glazed Carrots. Carrots are really expensive to buy already canned. The last cans I bought were those little bitty ones..........about the size of a AA battery around. We like the bigger ones..........about the size of a C battery around.

I also need to get some apples to can. Last year I canned apple slices in a light syrup. We used them all for Apple Crisp and Apple Pies. Boy they were sure good!!!!!!!!!!! I need to make some Applesauce, Apple Jelly and possible dry some for snacking.

I will be going to Bobbie's to get Concord Grapes in a couple of weeks. We sure do enjoy the jelly I make from them. This year I'm going to can some plain grape juice to make into a Grape Drink by adding it to Diet Sprite. I might freeze some plain grape juice to make Grape Smoothies. I've done that with Peaches, Strawberries and Blackberries. I run the fruit through the juicer and freeze the juice in cubes. I store them in a plastic bag in the freezer. When we want a Smoothie I take 2 cups 1% milk and put it in the blender. I drop the juice cubes in and blend until its thick and smooth. Yummy!!!!!!!! I also buy bananas when they are on sale and freeze them. I just peel the bananas and wrap each one in plastic wrap and place them in a zip-lock bag. I use the 1% milk, 2 Tablespoons Chocolate Syrup, 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter and 1 or 2 frozen bananas to make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie. We don't have these too often as they are higher in calories and fat.

Not sure if Bobbie will have any extra plums or not this year. They lost one of their plums trees and only have 2 trees now. Bobbie dries them as Mike really loves them. I always laugh at her because she's so busy drying those plums and she can't stand them. What we will do for our husbands!!!!!!!!

There is a pear and an apple tree up behind our house. The neighbor said that they are getting ripe. He only picks a few to eat. I don't really know what kind they are yet. I'll have to get Rich to go with me and check them out. From what I can see from the house they aren't Bartlett pears. Maybe I can make some Pear Preserves out of them.

I've got to go get busy with the tomato puree that sitting in the fridge waiting.

Clothing Challenge for Weight Loss Group

Photo taken August 23, 2007
Photo taken August 30, 2007
Photo taken September 6, 2007

I haven't said much but I started a weight loss program on July 24, 2007. I've lost 27 pounds since starting. I've also lost 23 inches from my body. The weight loss program I joined is SparkPeople on the internet. There's lots of encouragement and motivation throughout the site. I belong to several teams on the site. There are scrapbooking, cross-stitch, crafts in general and health related sites. I just love it and it's been so encouraging and motivating for me. I've made several friends through the group. What's really nice is the site is free to everyone. They have Nutrition, Fitness and Goal Trackers. Goals are a very important part of the program. I'm not a person who likes to make lists........but I find myself enjoying the daily, weekly and monthly goals that I make for myself. It's a good feeling when you can cross off a goal.

The Clothing Challenge is one of the challenges I am taking. You were to find a article of clothing that didn't quite fit or wasn't comfortable and work toward it's fitting better. I chose a pair of black jeans that I had bought at a yard sale for $1. In fact I have several more pairs of pants that I bought that day that are just a little snug for comfort. Anyway they are starting to fit better. I'll update next week on them.

Holiday Blues

Poor Misty!!!! She is so tired and confused after the 3-day weekend. She always wakes up Rich at 4am so he can get ready for work during the week. She can't understand why he won't get up at 4am during the weekend. Rich tells her to leave him alone so he can sleep longer. I usually get up around 3:30am to go to the bathroom. So I told Misty to let Rich sleep late as he didn't have to go to work on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. She seemed to understand each morning. She didn't jump on him until she saw him opening his eyes.

I took these photos of her on Tuesday morning. She was all tuckered out from the holiday weekend. Poor little girl!!!!!!!!

Quilting Challenge on One Stitch At A Time and Other Things

Quilt Block using all Yellow
Quilt Block using Yellow as Main Color
Quilt Block using Yellow as Accent Color

The challenge is to make 3 quilt blocks using your least favorite color. Yellow is my least favorite color. You will find no yellow clothes in my closet as the color makes me look like death warmed over. I do have a Poppy colored Blazer that I love.........it's more orange than yellow. I wear it with a black silk blouse and either black slacks or a black skirt. The quilt pattern I used is called "Southern Pride".

I've been doing a lot of quilting lately. I've found that I have missed my sewing. I used to sew almost everyday until my Grandmother died. She is the one who started me sewing when I was 3 years old. To keep me busy while she sewed and did mending she would give me a big threaded needle, fabric and buttons. I would sit on the floor beside her and sew for hours. Later she would take me to quilting bees at the church. During high school she helped me recycle clothes and make more stylish clothes to wear. We would spend every evening cutting and stitching blouses and skirts. We would have so much fun. We laughed as much as we sewed. After I got married I continued to sew with Grandma. She made quilts for all of her grandchildren. She would get together with Aunt Della (her sister-in-law) and they would stitch quilt tops. They would then put the top, lining and backing into the quilting frames and tie them out. I was fortunate enough to inherit all my Grandma's sewing and quilting. I got a call from my uncle giving me 1 hour to pick up my Grandmother's sewing and quilting treasures or it was going to the dump. Some of my cousins think I was just being greedy because I ended up with all of Grandma's sewing and quilting treasures. I was just saving her treasures from going to the dump. I would be willing to share............all they have to do is ask. Anyway after Grandma died I lost interest in sewing and quilting. It has just been recently that I have picked my sewing and quilting back up.

I own a Singer 1425 sewing machine that Rich bought for me in 1985. It has all kinds of stitches, buttonhole maker, blind hemmer, etc. on it. I was sewing some String Quilt Blocks and it quit feeding the material through the feed dogs. I though that a belt might have broken. I took it all apart (I always do my own cleaning of the machine) to see if that was the problem. No, that wasn't the problem. The problem is the upper and lower gears that move the feed dogs are broken. The upper one is broken real bad and the lower one is pretty chewed up. They both need to be replaced. I'm not sure I can do it or not. I called a sewing machine repair place and have a appointment to take it in tomorrow. They told me that they will look at it and see if it is worth repairing and if they can find the parts. Number 1.........YES it is worth repairing. Number 2............YES parts are available. I can purchase them on 3 websites that I found on the internet. The gears run $8.95 to $15.95 each plus shipping and handling. I will not take any crap about it not being worth repairing and I need to purchase a new sewing machine from them. If I have to I will repair it myself. I'd rather have them do it if all possible.

I've been going through some of my material stash.............let's just say I could make several quilts and other items from my stash. I'm trying to part with some of it. Dad, Mae and I are having a huge yard sale here at my house on Sept. 14, 15 and 16. I'm making 1 gallon plastic bags of fabric to sell. I should go through some of my scrapbooking stash to sell.........NOT!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going through my books and putting some of them out for sale. Not my Janet Daily, Danniele Steel, LaVyrle Spencer or other series that I've been collecting over the years. Rich and I went through our Videos and DVD's and have a few that we are putting out for sale. I'm thinking about selling some of my Piggy Banks that I've collected over the years.

Off to do the dishes!!!!!! Darned things get in the way of my crafting. HMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! Maybe I can buy more paper plates! NOT