Thursday, May 16, 2013

The fruits of Summer


Today I went for my 1 mile walk before work.   The weather has been fantastic this week and it’s great to start the workday with a quick walk in the sun before being locked away in the office.  

I’ve been trying to get in a 2-3 mile walk during lunchtime but today I had to skip it because of a working lunch seminar.  The good thing is that means I get to leave an hour early.  We ordered in for lunch from Jimmy Johns so I had a turkey sandwich.  It comes with a great big cookie.  To stop myself from eating it I decided to keep it for my son’s girlfriend.  To keep myself honest I texted her and told her I was brining it home for her.  I packed it away in my purse and tried to forget it was there.  Funny, I’m not a big chocolate chip cookie lover but because I denied myself that little treasure it suddenly became in my mind the most delicious dessert in the world.  Funny how the mind works, isn’t it?  Denial creates desire.

All in all it was a good eating day.  I didn’t go crazy with anything.  These days I’m not considering anything off limits but when I do desire something I am trying to go for something healthy.  Even though a big bowl of ice cream sounds great, so does a big bowl of fresh fruit with some vanilla yogurt and a small squirt of chocolate sauce.   I still get my chocolate fix with a lot less calories and fat.  This is just one of the reasons why I love summer.   I love having all those fresh fruits and veggies available and at a much lower cost than during the winter.  I can’t wait for blueberry time in Michigan.  I can’t wait to start growing my tomatoes and spinach in my garden. 

I plan to really make this summer count and have a successful weight loss!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

In Summer
 
Oh, summer has clothed the earth
In a cloak from the loom of the sun!
And a mantle, too, of the skies' soft blue,
And a belt where the rivers run.
 
And now for the kiss of the wind,
And the touch of the air's soft hands,
With the rest from strife and the heat of life,
With the freedom of lakes and lands.
 
I envy the farmer's boy
Who sings as he follows the plow;
While the shining green of the young blades lean
To the breezes that cool his brow.
 
He sings to the dewy morn,
No thought of another's ear;
But the song he sings is a chant for kings
And the whole wide world to hear.
 
He sings of the joys of life,
Of the pleasures of work and rest,
From an o'erfull heart, without aim or art;
'T is a song of the merriest.
 
O ye who toil in the town,
And ye who moil in the mart,
Hear the artless song, and your faith made strong
Shall renew your joy of heart.
 
Oh, poor were the worth of the world
If never a song were heard,—
If the sting of grief had no relief,
And never a heart were stirred.
 
So, long as the streams run down,
And as long as the robins trill,
Let us taunt old Care with a merry air,
And sing in the face of ill.
 
....Paul Laurence Dunbar

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Gardening at Saylor Street

I've decided to start paying more attention to gardening this year.  I tend to be an absent gardener. I throw a few plants in the ground and let nature take it's course.  Sometimes that means that the plants never show back up again because they need the special attention I just don't give them.  A great looking garden take time and attention.  I've always admired the lovely gardens in the yards of some of the homes in the area.  I know it takes time and I've come to realize that if I want my garden to look that good I'll have to kick it up and make my garden one of my hobbies.

Why all of a sudden the interest in gardening Deb?

I just turned 50 and now that my two children are older and no longer under my feet (although I will admit they still require a great deal of attention) I can now begin focusing on some of the things I've always been interested in doing but never had the time.  I've had some little gardens along the way and they have been lovely so I know I can accomplish them again in the Saylor Street cottage.  I'm still busy but my weekends are no longer filled with football games, Irish dancing shows, track meets and all the other events that pull parents in every other direction. 

So, time to go and get out in the garden and start planning.  I don't have an abundance of money so my garden is going to evolve this year under a very strict budget.  Let's see what happens!


Yes, this is a weed but it's also the flower of Scotland the land of my birth which is why I always find it hard to dig up in the garden! 

A New Direction for Saylor Street Cottage


I’ve been MIA for quite some time.  My blog is going to take on some new directions.  I started this blog around Christmas 2012 to post all of my fun cookie recipes.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and stopped blogging when I stopped baking my cookies. 

Lately I’ve started focusing on losing weight.  A lot of weight.  To the tone of about 80  to 100 lbs.    

I turned 50 this year and realized I just can’t carry all of this weight around with me.  Most of my father’s family died of heart attacks and strokes.  They were obese and they were heavy smokers and drinkers.  Thankfully I do not smoke and do not drink obsessively but alas the obesity family trait carried through to me.  I know most doctors say weight is not genetic but I can say that my body traits are very similar to some of my aunts on my father’s side.  Maybe obesity isn’t genetic but body composition must carry through in some way.  Either way I’m too fat for Fifty and it’s time to dump this weight.

I’ve lost weight plenty of times in my life but I just have a hard time keeping it off.  One reason may be linked to my love of cooking and baking.  I think it’s clear from earlier posts that I absolutely love to bake.  Unfortunately, my love of baking is not healthy to myself or my family.  I’ve scaled back on baking.  I plan to only bake for special occasions and send the leftovers home with my guests.   Consequently my posts on baking will be less but not completely gone.   I’ll be looking for some lower calorie, lower fat and healthy baking or dessert recipes to try.   

I bake when I get bored.  I love the instant gratification of a tray of cupcakes turning into a try of colorful goodies.  I love finding a bunch of ingredients in the kitchen and bringing it together to make something wonderful.  Like brown bananas into banana bread or a bunch of lemons into lemon bars.  From 0 to 60 minutes I can have a tasty creation that gives me a sense of accomplishment.

It’s time to re-focus.  I have to find that same passion in other activities that will give me the same sense of satisfaction.

Lately I’ve started running.  It’s tough but I do love it. I’ve also started doing some small home projects. 

Life in the Saylor Street Cottage has changed and will continue to change.  I think it will be a fun change and my blog will evolve with my new interests.