 |
| Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants. |
PRACTICAL
Not only is this one of my favorite pictures, but it fits this weeks theme perfectly. You see, back when Shubi was very old, she loved to go on hikes with us, but she got very tired. So we found the practical solution was to put her in the back pack, lock the zippers and carry her this way. She loved it!!!
So, both Hubby and I got bad reports with our cholesterol and blood pressure this week. Our doctor says that since the problems aren’t that bad yet, we should attempt to change things with diet. Okay, so we need to do a no-fat/low fat and as low a salt diet as we can.
We went to the grocery store and started reading labels. A can of soup has over 500 mg of salt! And the things that I love, like cheese unless they are low fat, will probably kill us!
Hubby and I looked around the store, reading and shopping and came away with very little food. As we drove home I told him, “Let’s face it. I think we just have to stop eating!”
Actually what we need to do is stop eating processed foods. That’s where you find the real heavy salt quantities. It means I will need to learn a new way to cook. We will also need to start eating some new things. Healthy things.
Hubby is a wee bit depressed about this, as he loves his junk food. Chips, dips, fried food, bacon, eggs, oh the list is long. I’m feeling sort of shell shocked myself. This is the first time I have to actually “make” a change in my own diet.
Middle age really stinks!
I told Hubby, that we are in this together. We’ll eat the same things, exercise and try to make sense of all the dietary restrictions.
No fat, no salt, no sugar.
Oh yeah, this should be interesting.
As we are currently on our way to Washington, DC I thought today’s Thursday Thirteen should be called:
1. Packed our suitcase with all the non-hanging clothes.
2. Found my travel size shampoo and conditioner, and got our soap in the bag.
3. Went through and decided which shirts and pants to wear on the trip and got them in a suit bag.
4. Got the suits in a bag too.
5. Got our medications in a travel tote.
6. Put a blanket and pillow in the back seat.
7. Have a bag with our lunch and drinks.
8. Have another bag with our cell phones, phone chargers and satellite Navigation system.
9. Have my laptop bag all ready to go.
10. Changed the sheets on our bed.
11. Finished up our laundry.
12. Had our house sitter over for dinner and went over all the directions for the trip.
13. Turned out the lights, locked the door and crossed my fingers and left.
I’m just a week bit nervous about leaving the puppies for the first time. I’m sure they will be fine, but what can I say? I’m their Mommy and I will miss them and worry about them.
Today we started getting ready for our trip to Washington, DC. We pulled out the suit cases, decided which clothes to wear, shoes, etc. I finished up the laundry, then went and had my hair stylist tidy up my hair.
I raced home and cooked dinner for Emily and our house sitter, Dori. The two of them will take care of the dogs and stay here while we are gone.
Everything is pretty much set now. All that’s left is to pack the car and actually drive the 10 hours to get there. A lot of people don’t like long car rides, but I actually do. It’s funny. When Hubby and I go on these long road trips we bring all sorts of music to listen to, but in the end, we seem to talk the entire way.
Twenty years together and we still have so much to say to each other. I hope that never ends!
We’re staying at a nice hotel, attending Hubby’s Army Reunion where we laugh, tell funny stories and jokes and see people we enjoy, but only get to see once a year.
Our visit will include a White House tour, a tour of the new Air and Space Museum and just some relaxing down time alone. We’ll be there for 5 days before heading back home.
Of course I am bringing my laptop so I can stay in touch with you all. I’m afraid I fall into the category of the Internet Addicted.
Yep, time to pack and ride!
Have I mentioned that I love my Hubby lately?
Well, I’ll tell you, today he took me shopping, at a one day sale at Macy’s, and he found for me a really gorgeous light gray suit with powder blue lining and a matching shirt. The gray suit has the thinest thread of the same powder blue running through to form a pinstripe! It is so beautiful! Best of all, it flatters my figure and I feel comfortable in it.
Hubby has great taste in clothes for me. When he picks something out, most of the time I feel like a million dollars in it. Probably because he likes it too. He wanted to get a second blouse to go with it, and we stopped in at Coldwater Creek, where I got a pretty white blouse there.
All of this shopping was done in the 90+ degree heat and I was so glad when we were done and got to come home to the air conditioning.
So, I never did find a dress. I’m not sure I liked any that I tried on. So many of them show too much skin or are tents that make me look extremely fat, or worse yet, pregnant!
You know a few years ago, I was going through a plump phase. A little rounder than I am right now. Anyway, I found, what I thought was the cutest pant suit to wear to a reunion. I modeled it for Hubby, who said the color was nice, but he didn’t think it flattered my figure.
Oh I thought he was being so mean. So I brought it with us, and one evening I put it on and wore it to the cocktail party.
One of the men we know well came up to us smiling broadly and took my hand and shook it and said, “Oh dear this is wonderful! You look great, when is the baby due?”
I wanted to die, right there. But of course what do you say?
I smiled sweetly and said, “I’m not pregnant, I’m just fat!” And then I smiled some more.
Since then, I never wear anything until Hubby gives me his honest appraisal.
I always felt bad for that man, but I bet he has never done that to any other woman either! LOL
I was up early, made a quick breakfast and then hopped in my car and headed off to spend the day with my daughter. Do you all know how much fun it is to have a grown up daughter? For those of you who do, isn’t it great? For those of you whose kids are still growing, just wait! It gets really good!!!
I arrived at her place about 9:30, patted my grand kitties, and then we dropped her car off for service. Next, we headed to the mall. Neither one of us had been to this particular mall in years, and aside from Macy’s and Starbucks (yes, I was brave enough to go inside and get a cup of coffee!) the mall was a real disappointment.
However, I got a few tops at Macy’s on sale for $9.99 each and a dress, as well as a cute skirt.
Then we were off to the LL Bean Outlet, where I got the cutest blouse, and then decided I should look for some new hiking boots. So, I went back to the shoe section and began hunting for some comfortable boots. The first and second pair felt horrible and quickly went back on the shelf, but the third pair fit perfectly and felt like bedroom slippers! I looked at the price and it read:
$9999.99!!!!
Now that is some hefty price for hiking boots! I Took them up to the check out counter and asked the girl if this was the real price? And if it was, was it perhaps because they were magical boots? LOL!
Yes, it was a tremendous mistake that took several minutes to figure out. In the end they were $81.99, a much more manageable price! They came home with me too.
The best part part of my day though, was sitting at Bugaboo Creek having lunch with my daughter. For that hour it was just us talking, and enjoying each other. I really am a lucky lady.
I dropped her off to get her car and then headed home late in the afternoon. My ride didn’t seem so long because my friend Gail and I got a chance to talk on our cell phones and play catch up on life. Gail and I have been best friends since we were 13 years old! We met at summer camp. This is our 35th year of friendship!
When I arrived home, Hubby and the pups were all so happy to see me. Greta even sang me a sweet doggy song, then Hubby took me out for fish and chips. That was great too.
Now I am ending my day, in my pajamas with Greta by my side, thinking I am one very lucky lady.
It’s a holiday weekend here in the USA. It’s Labor Day. The official end to the summer. We live in an area that is popular with summer guests. They arrive the last weekend in May, which is Memorial Day and seem to flood our streets, stores and parks until Labor Day.
I grew up on Cape Cod, with it’s narrow streets and back roads, but truly lovely beaches. People come by the thousands to enjoy their time on “the Cape”. Those of us that lived there year round, always looked forward to the end of summer when life would return to normal, and now here I am in New Hampshire, faced with the same tourist problems.
I used to get all upset about it, but then I realized that I was really the lucky one. I get to live here year round! The tourists only see it in the summer. To live here and witness the autumn, the winter and the spring is fantastic!
So today when Hubby and I went out to get a few things at the store and we were stuck in traffic and then had to wait in long lines I just smiled, feeling happier than I have in a while.
I’m living with the man of my dreams, in the most beautiful part of New Hampshire and we not only have our home, but 4 pretty nice dogs to keep us company.
It doesn’t get any better than this!
| |
| Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants. |
DIRTY
Hubby with two of his cousins, covered in mud, after walking on the mud flats on the Avon River in Nova Scotia.
A Walk In The Mud
We arrived over at the family homestead just after lunchtime. The ride over was beautiful, as we drove through the little towns of Nova Scotia. The homestead is on the Bay Of Fundy in a spot where the tides are so great they literally go completely out and leave only wet mud flats in their wake.
The two puppies trotted out and I picked up Anneliese. I didn’t want her frightened by all the new people. This was the right thing to do, as she wasn’t at all freaked out and in the end, the two pups had a wonderful time.
The cousins all hugged and kissed and laughed and pictures were taken and beers were hoisted.
After we had all munched some goodies, Hubby’s cousin Billy decided that since the tide was out this would be a great time to go walking on the mud flats. Hubby immediately said yes, and I was horror stricken. I remembered the mud, the sticky mud from years past and I also worried about his knees. But he wouldn’t listen and off he went with a team of 11 of his cousins.
Eventually they found a swimming area to play in and enjoyed that.
The evening was spent eating a great dinner of Sea Bass and Deer steaks along with a salad and some fresh bread.
The two dogs continued to be sweet,
but around 8 o’clock we noticed them sprawled across the deck asleep. So we picked them up and headed back to the motel. I was pretty tired myself, and so I crawled into bed and fell almost instantly asleep, leaving my writing of Dackel Princess to this morning!
We head back to the homestead at noontime and will have a big party with the cousins who are already in town tonight, complete with some bluegrass music. Then Saturday night is the banquet and dance.
Off to have my coffee!
I was at my wits end! I opened my notebook last night as soon as we got settled into our motel room. And NOTHING! I couldn’t connect. I tried everything, even invoking the powers of Harry Potter, and nothing!
I asked for help at the front desk. The lovely girl was no help at all. She uses Windows Vista and has never used an XP machine before.
Finally this morning I hard wired the machine in and voila! I got it going. So…
Here we are in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. What a beautiful place this is. Nova Scotia, in general, reminds me of Cape Cod.
Our journey began at 6 AM yesterday with Arnie and Anneliese. Arnie was so easy in the car. He loves to look around and cuddle in your lap. But my poor baby Anneliese was afraid, and shook for the first half an hour. Now that we have traveled all the way here, including a three hour ferry ride, she is a seasoned traveler. In fact this morning when I went out to the car she came with me and hopped right in!
But I digress.
We drove from 6 AM until 2:30 to St John, New Brunswick where we sat waiting for the ferry. We were early and so we were first in line. The puppies moved from their crate in the back seat to the front seat and they were very busy checking everything out.
Anneliese with her Dad.
We got on the ferry and off we went. The first hour or so I sat reading Harry Potter while Hubby roamed the ship. The pups were safely in their crate below decks and so I was able to simply relax and read.
Soon Hubby came back with a couple from Alberta Province and we all sat around talking for the rest of the trip. Another young man, who works for the government in Veteran’s Affairs joined us and it was so interesting to hear their views.
Once we got to Digby, Nova Scotia, then it was just a matter of time until we got to our motel. It’s a new, nice Super 8 and now that I actually have my Internet hookup I am very happy!
Today we will head over to the family homestead and catch up with the cousins who are already here.