Almost!

Hi All,

I keep thinking about you all and wondering what you're up to.  Also, I'm finding myself composing posts in my mind.  Finally, last night, I even dreamed about this blog.  I'm enjoying my little sabbatical,  but I'm almost ready to come back.  I miss you!

Tish

Reading Break

Isn't that what some colleges call the extended Winter Vacation after Christmas?  You know, where you're supposed to be reading ahead for the next semester, but actually spend it sleeping late every day and going skiing?  I find I want to take a little "reading break" from blogging right now.  I'm fine.  I'm feeling at peace about my Dad and still fighting hard to move on toward my goal.  I'll check in from time to time until I feel like jumping back in the fray.

Be good!
Tish

Happy New Year, final Hot 100 Update

Happy New Year!  As an optimist, I always love that clean slate, full-of-promise feeling that comes with a brand new year.  I have not made resolutions or goals set down on paper yet, but this, for sure, is going to be the year I reach and stay at my goal weight (and maybe work on the procrastination issue!).  Last year had some ups and downs, but I weigh 20 pounds less today than I did one year ago.  That's progress.

After my gym workout on Thursday night, I swam.  I was able to add one more lap (both ways!) to my workout.  Yay.  Swimming does NOT come naturally to me.  I had a shoulder injury more than 10 years ago and think that some of the aches I've had recently are probably due to the swimming motions that involve that shoulder.  I'm taking it easy and a little bit at a time.  I was pleased to win a "sneak-race" with the man in the next lane.  [Sneak Race = spotting and racing someone who doesn't know s/he is in the race.]

J, trying to hold both his and E's new balls.  Note E's French braids.

We had the kids over last night so that the grands could open gifts.  Yes, yes, this is the Xmas I'm really behind.  They loved it anyway, perhaps moreso in spreading out the presents over a longer time.  Little J's favorites were a ball and a sweater with a big red fire engine on the front.  E loved her pink sweater with hearts and her new snow boots that light up when she steps.

For dinner I made an old fashioned roasted chicken (5 lb chicken, rub w/ olive oil & salt & pepper, roast in 500 degree oven for 1 hour--perfect every time), mashed potatoes, peas & corn, and, my new favorite, baked apples  (I've made these EVERY day since we returned).  We ended up not having dessert because the kids were very anxious to open their presents.  I confess, DH & I had WW latte bars after they left.

Capital Crescent Trail

Today DH and I are going to go on a long bikeride on the Crescent Trail.  Our temps are getting up to the mid 50s and we wanted to start the year off right and get some mileage in, too.

I'm back in the saddle with the new WW PointsPlus program.  A few small veerings off-course, but I just track them and use my generous allotment of weekly points.  Interestingly, my WW leader said that during her 2 month long trial of this program, before it was presented to us, she NEVER gave back any of her alloted points and still lost 4 pounds.  (remember, she was already at her goal weight).

My Hot 100 Update:  I did not reach my goal weight by today, but I am content that I did the best I could under trying circumstances.  I did firmly establish the 6/7 workouts per week plan--this feels just right to me.  Also, I think I have the chocolate under control. One ounce of dark chocolate per day, and I seem to be able to keep the remainder in the cupboard until it's needed.  Yay.  Thank you Steve for organizing this and keeping me accountable over the past few months.  I'll be back next year with a maintenance goal.

New thought.  Does anyone here have a Kindle?  I'm considering getting one.  We gave our daughter, Laura, one for Christmas.  I didn't realize it played games (scrabble, etc) until recently.  The other option is an iPad.  Ideas?  Comments?

Have a great day and a Very Happy New Year.

(my little bike rider next to my signature is from Andrew and is used with his blessing--thanks, Andrew)

A Day in the Life, WI

Hi Everybody.  I had a good day yesterday.  I went out to my running trail with DH and we had a good fast-paced walk along the trail for about an hour.  We ran the final 1/2 mile.  [My Nike+ girlie in the sidebar is happy again.] Then back for a shower and off to my WI.  It was bad, as I expected, but just under my "scream weight."  I wanted to record the weight so I can revel in my big weight loss next week. :-)  I stayed after the meeting for the review of the plan, just to cement it in my mind.  I recorded everything I ate yesterday and plan to track my eating and my points for a while to get myself firmly back on track.

We had enjoyed a honey-baked ham during the holidays and I returned with the ham bone in the cooler.  The day we got home, I started a Navy bean soup.  We had it for dinner yesterday.  Yum.  Just the dry beans, onion, water, a chopped sweet pepper, and the ham bone.  I did take the precaution of checking with my WW leader for  advice as to how to count the ham part. [She recommended counting 2 oz of ham worth of points even tho' there weren't 2 oz in each serving--this accounts for the bone marrow that infuses the soup.]   No picture, sorry.

Here's another picture from our trip:

This is my 87 yr old Aunt Bettie.  She's my mom's sister.  She enjoyed playing pool.  Notice DH in the  mirror.

Johnny has the week off, so I do too (no grand babies this week).  We'll have them over for supper and exchange presents in the next few days.  I want to tackle my house, send lots of things to the thrift shop, straighten, sort, do laundry, clean out drawers, etc.  Is it spring yet??  Guess I'd better prioritize by room so I actually accomplish something.  I also have some business to take care of concerning my Dad's estate.  I'm his executor, but he was so organized that he's made things pretty easy for me, but there are still many hoops to jump through.

Exercise today will be another trip to the gym for weight training and swimming some laps.  I'm not a strong swimmer--I think I failed baby tadpoles when I was little and swim just well enough to have passed the test so as not to have to have an "adult" with me in the pool.  I'm thinking of maybe taking a basic swimming class for adults to try to improve my form.  This new shorter hair style really makes it believable that I'll get in the pool twice a week.  My hair dries fast and I can even get away with not doing anything to it and yet have it look okay.

I haven't decided about dinner tonight--maybe roasted pork tenderloin with baked apples.  There'll be a "numbers game" post coming up soon.

Be good.
Tish
189.4

Take Me Home Country Roads, Unbelievable 0 point Apple Pie

We're home!  We had a great trip.  We really enjoy road trips.  Here are some of the highlights:

The Peachoid--a 150 foot tall water tower in Gafney SC, on I 85.

We stopped by Jefferson's Monticello, near Charlottesville, VA on our way home.  What an amazing place and so well done.   Curiously, the vacation rental house where we stayed was in Monticello, GA (home of Tricia Yearwood).

Jay and my Aunt Bettie in the back seat (our huge cooler took up the 3rd seat)

Self portrait.

DH did all the driving.

Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz had it right.  There's no place like home.  We might miss the company and the fun activities, but nothing's going to feel as nice as our own bed tonight and we really like our house.  I have a definite date with my jacuzzi tonight!

As I promised my self, I've jumped right back into my good routine.  We had baked talipia for dinner with grean beans and whole wheat roasted vegetable ravioli.  This afternoon when we got home I made a new recipe I learned from my sister.  It's amazing.  If you like apple pie, but want your pie without ANY WW points (in the new, fresh fruit is 0 points system) here it is:  

So simple:  Core and Slice Fuji apples in 1/3" slices (no need to peel apples).  Place in pie pan spritzed with non-stick spray.  Add a generous sprinkling of cinnamon--I used 2 tsp for about 10 small apples. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until fork tender.  You can add a TBSP of water, or cover with foil for the last part of cooking if they seem dry, but mine came out fine without.

These are unbelievably delicious.  The type of apple makes a difference--Fuji's have just the right degree of sweetness so as not to need any sugar added.  They are wonderful warm (on ice cream--not WW), but equally scrumptious cold in your oatmeal, or just plain.  I love cold apple pie and these have that same appeal to me.  They would also be a nice dessert with a dollop of FF Cool Whip.  Try 'em, you'll be amazed.  AND the house smells delicious with the apples and cinnamon while they're cooking.

I went to the gym to lift weights after dinner and got in the pool afterwards to swim some laps.  Tomorrow morning I'm going to go out to my running trail to try to earn some R-E-S-P-E-C-T from my little Nike+ girlie.  Then I'm going to go to my WI and face the music from being AWOL for the past couple weeks.  Oh, and my gym is offering Zumba classes starting in early January.  DH and I are both going to go.  I went a couple times with my daughter, Laura, when we were out there earlier this year and it's great exercise.

Onward and downward,
Tish

Charlie Brown Christmas

Here's our tree.  Note my camera tripod which served nicely as a frame.  Fortunately, I was able to use the tripod to photograph the lunar eclipse before the tree took shape!  I figured out a techie way to get it from my camera to my blog without a cable. :-)
 

We have had a good Christmas.  The most important things took precedence.  Time to reflect about God's gift of His son.  Time to spend with family, to support my sister while she's working to regain her health and energy and to remember our Dad.  Time to relax and have fun (pool, ping pong, foos ball, and jigsaw puzzles).  Good food (too much and too many sweets.)  Exercise (too little--I'm not sure pool is exactly aerobic!).

Here's another picture of the gang at the lake house.  (you can see the lake outside the window in the Xmas tree picture).

We'll be home day after tomorrow and I'm happy to say that I'm really looking forward to getting back to my routines.  I can't wait to get back on my running trail.  I notice my little Nike+ icon on the sidebar is dissing me.  I have a couple new cookbooks that are calling to me.  I also want to get back to learning the new Weight Watcher's program and LOSING weight.  I know I've added a few unwanted pounds.  I'm not waiting for the new year.  Just get me home and let me at it.  I've had my fling and I'm ready to embrace my real life.

See you in a couple days.
Tish

Merry Christmas

Hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas day.  I'm with family (sister, brother, DH & Jay, an aunt, and nieces and nephews).  Family is great.  I missed my Hot 100 Update yesterday, but I have to say I'm not doing it now.  We'll get home early next week.  Then it's back to work.  Here's a picture of our "Christmas Tree."  We're in a vacation rental home outside Atlanta.  No decorations at all here, but with this and that, we came up with a tree  (that's my camera tripod under it all!).  Oops, I forgot that I didn't bring my download cable.  You'll have to use your imagination.  Santa found us last night--Jay was worried.  He even filled the shoes in front of the fireplace.  My mother's mother was French and we grew up with shoes, not Christmas stockings.

Have a blessed Christmas.  See you soon.

Tish