Watching my Step(s)

I got a new pedometer for Christmas and am trying to join my sister and daughter in accumulating 10,000 steps a day. They are both champion steppers. I'm not, yet, but I'm getting there.

One of the hurdles I need to overcome is remembering to wear my pedometer every day. Another challenge is fnding it. One day this week I realized I hadn't put it on. I was pretty busy, but I ran back upstairs and did a quick search. No pedometer. I took little Jack up with me later and got him looking for it, too. He and I searched under the bed, on the bathroom counter, and on my closet floor. No ped that day. I think I got a goodly amount of steps, but have no record. The next day (still no ped) I was doing the last couple loads of laundry and I heard a thumping from the dryer. I did what I usually do in such a case and ignored it. You may be smarter than I am.  Yes.   My ped was washed (heavy duty cycle) and tumble dried for about 40 minutes. The amazing thing is . . . it works just fine! AND it registered 1472 steps on it's journey through the laundry!

I lost 3 pounds at my WI on Wednesday. I'm hoping to continue the trend this Wednesday. I made WW Classic Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner tonight and made an extra pot for Johnny's family. Soup is always welcome on a chilly day.

I'm going gangbusters on drinking my water. The 24 oz drinking bottle is working for me. I drink at least 9 cups a day and keeping so hydrated helps me keep on plan with my eating.

For your viewing pleasure:

Laura's family, DH, and Jay in Austin.  I was on the other side of the camera.

16 miles to report for last week--NOT counting the 1472 steps registered in the washer and dryer!  No more biking until the weather is a little lot warmer.  YTD=45 miles

Are you watching your step(s)?

Weekend Wrap-Up

 As you might notice from my little nike+ gal, I've been out there walking every day.  I've worked up to 2.25 miles and am shooting for 2.5 today.  Those miles DO add up, even if you walk.  Amazing.

Here are some pix from my latest walk along the parkway.  I really love spring and spring is happening here.  Finally.

These are little May apples, just up from their winter slumber.  They start out looking like so many tiny green umbrellas, just popping out of the ground and opening to fend off a spring rain.  In May they'll have a single flower that hangs just under the umbrella.

The great blue heron was nice enough to hold still for a mini-photo-shoot just yards away from me.  Isn't he handsome!

I'm sentimental about violets, too.  They were one of my grandmother's favorite flowers and make me think of her.

More May apples.  These are a bit further along.  I have a tiny colony in our yard, which has grown to about 14 umbrellas.

Last night we had the grandkids for the very first time overnight.  Ella is rather camera shy, but was okay with me taking a picture of her crown.  Have you ever played the hide-your-body-behind someone or something game when the camera is pointing at you?  I have.

The only shot I was allowed of her making a pasta necklace.  Rigatoni (whole wheat, of course) on shiny red ribbon.

Glad to report that we had a fun evening.  Stories, laughter, dinner, games, and bedtime.  They fell right asleep at the appointed time and slept later than we'd been led to believe (until just about 7 am).  I'd forgotten the fun times of blanket pajama clad kids, short order breakfasts, and hurrying to get dressed before church.  

I'm still fairly sluggish after my surgery, but I am determined to get in my daily walk and at least 2 other worthy tasks each day.  Guess what?  I found that my discharge instructions say "no housework."  No can do, but I'm taking the restriction on lifting more than 5 lbs fairly seriously and that cuts things down to a  pretty reasonable level.

Do you hide behind things when the camera's pointing at you?

She LIKES me!!

YAY!  My little Nike+ girl isn't diss-ing me any more.  I guess going 2 miles must be her criteria of a "real" session--no matter what the pace.  I must admit that I pushed myself to go two miles to see if I could get her back to cheering me on.  It worked.  I felt better walking today, and am glad of the workout.  I also forgot all about taking pain meds after the early morning dose.  The walking warms my muscles a bit and I don't feel sore.  (My incision doesn't hurt at all, just the muscles on my back near my neck--which is where my surgeon said I'd probably feel them).  I'm only taking tylenol and think I'll take a dose before bed time so I can get comfortable and fall asleep.

Last night, after my afternoon nap, I didn't get to sleep until 3 am.  I got up and came downstairs and realized I felt fine.  No soreness, no lack of energy, just fine.  So I made a batch of brownies.  Wait!  Let me explain--my Dad died in December but will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at the end of April (there is always a delay at Arlington and we've appreciated the extra time to get things together).  I'm the only of his four children to live in the area so I'm hosting a dinner for the out of town guests and friends the evening of the funeral.  I figure the only way to get this done (especially in my necessarily slowed down recovery mode) is to do it bit by bit and freeze ahead.  So last night I made the first of several batches of the brownies which my Dad so loved to make for people.  Really the best in the world--IMHO.  They went from the cooling rack to freezer zip lock baggies and into the freezer to await their brethren in the coming weeks.  It feels good to have started.

I think I've tracked down the final numbers I need to give to the H&R Block lady who's doing our taxes (ours, my Dad's and Jays).  She's wonderful and said that she'll fit me in whenever I feel like coming in.  Maybe tomorrow so I can check that big one off my "to do" list.

We had a fun time at our outing last night.  I forgot to take my camera but am hoping a friend sends me her picture so I can share.  Maybe tomorrow.

Have you finished your taxes yet or are you a Procrastinator (like me!)?

Spaghetti

I'm a fan.  I like mine whole wheat (Barilla) and cooked al dente.  Check out Karen's (Waisting Time) pasta post today.  What I'm not a fan of is spaghetti legs.  I walked along my favorite path this morning and felt like I had spaghetti legs.  Why is it that over a year of good exercise on a regular basis doesn't carry me through three weeks of not exercising??   I went just over 1.5 miles, but that's the longest consecutive walking I've done since my surgery.  Anyway, I did it and I'm assuming it will get better and I'll get stronger.  I wouldn't mind at all if the temperatures warmed up 15 or 20 degrees, either :-).  I was disappointed that my 1.5 miles didn't perk up my little nike+ gal.  Guess I'll take Cammy's advice and tell her to "stuff it."

I get a lot of pleasure from "walking the garden" on these spring mornings.  Here are a few pictures from this morning's walk.

 The Virginia bluebells are coming right along.  This entire bed (8'x8') will be in full bloom in a week or so.  I like the tightly furled buds that look purple.  See the next picture to view an early bloomer with its beautiful blue flower.

Looking through the deciduous magnolia blossoms to the weeping cherry.  The cherry was a "volunteer" a couple of years after we moved in--probably a bird dropped the seed.  Luckily, I recognized it for a cherry and let it grow.  The magnolia was from son John's tenure working at a nursery during his college summers.  This magnolia was declared dead, but Johnny thought it might live and brought it home.  He was right.



I made a wonderful stir-fry last night.  Sweet red and yellow peppers, flank steak, mushrooms, onions, and thin spring asparagus. Served over brown rice.  So good and it feels great to eat things that you know are chock full of vitamins and good-for-you ingredients.  Fortunately, I made a double recipe, so tonight's dinner just needs heating up.

Tonight, we have our first social outing since my surgery.  We're going to a lecture, tour and reception at the Library of Congress.  I haven't decided yet whether to try to cover up my scar/incision or to just wear whatever.  The bruising has almost all faded.  Either I'm getting used to the way it looks or it really doesn't look that bad.  It is kind of cold though, so maybe a cashmere turtle neck wouldn't look amiss.  We'll see.   I plan to have a little lunch, take a shower and wash my hair, and then take a lovely nap so I'll be fresh and up to an evening out.  I'm hoping we'll swing by the national cherry blossoms on the tidal basin on our way.  Apparently the cool-ish weather has prolonged the bloom for several days. I normally hate naps (I don't like waking up in the late afternoon) but these past few days, they've seemed the thing to do.  I can't nap too long though, or I won't sleep well at night.  Just an hour or so.

How about you?  Do you like naps?