Okay, Back to Blogging

Long time readers will remember that I originally began this blog as a public sharing of my weight loss, sort of an accountability project. Which, ahem, didn’t work. So . . .

In June of this year I joined TOPS, weighing about 193 lbs. I say about because I stopped weighing myself when I saw 192, and I know I went up a little bit from there. So far attending TOPS I've lost 26 ¼  lbs and regained 10 ¾ lbs for a net loss of 15 ½ lbs. The “loveliest” number I saw on the scale was 172.8 (which rounds to 172 ¾). I'm looking forward to seeing it again very soon.

October was really difficult to get through. If I believed in evolution, I’d be inclined to believe I descended from a bear. Every Autumn I feel the urge to bulk up on carbohydrates, then curl up and hibernate through the cold, dark winter until the weather warms up with the sun shining longer each day. Alas, I’m a human being and don’t get to hibernate. And I must overcome my cravings.

Attending TOPS really does help; the other women are empathetic and encouraging. And it helps to be accountable, even when I know I've gained weight. So onward and upward downward!

I’ll share a really yummy recipe I make for my lunches (because I’m the only one in the house who likes tomatoes).

Tomatoes and Black Beans
1 onion (tennis ball size, or more or less as you like) chopped and sautéed in 1 tablespoon oil (your choice, I like Olive)
When the onions are soft and translucent add 1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes and 1 15 oz. can of black beans (drained and rinsed), ½ tsp basil (or any favorite Italian spice) and ½ tsp garlic powder (not garlic salt). Simmer until heated through.
Serve over cooked brown rice. If you like, top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

For me this is comfort food! Plus, it’s low calorie and high fiber, two things that help me in my quest to lose weight and be healthy.

For the Record

I'd like to go on record with this statement: The biggest challenge we (the world community) face is disobedience to God's commandments, NOT climate change.

I was reading another blog about someone attending a conference in Maine where the guest speaker was some greenie superstar from England and I got to a line that said something about the greatest challenge facing this generation is climate change. WRONG!!!

Climate and weather have always changed, sometimes quickly, other times slowly. It is a dynamic force, ultimately controlled by God.

No, folks, disobedience to God's commandments, with immorality topping the list, is our greatest challenge. The acceptance of activities that were once anathema is proof enough.

Think for a moment about what your city (town, village, neighborhood) would be like if everyone obeyed the original Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). Life would be calm and peaceful. Our health would improve simply due to less stress! Then there are the blessings that would be poured out on us from a loving God as we honor and obey Him.

I believe that part of our earthly stewardship is to take good care of the earth, using resources wisely and not polluting. We will be held accountable for what we did during our time on earth. But I believe it is arrogant to think that puny humans and their actions control the weather or the climate.

A Different Kind of First Lady

I'd like to see a different kind of First Lady in the White House. 

Wouldn't it be refreshing to see a woman with a large family who practiced the principles of Provident Living. I'd like to see a wife and mother who lives within her means and shows an example of frugality with taxpayers money while in the People's House. I'd like to see a woman who teaches by word and example that the United States of America is a great nation with an eternal destiny to stand as a shining city on a hill. I'd like her to teach that knowing the Constitution and history of our founding is some of the most important knowledge you'll ever learn. I'd like her to be an example of graciousness and kindness, serving others in quiet ways without fanfare or media press conferences. I'd enjoy a woman who teaches virtue and morality, who explains the need for strong families in order to have a strong nation. It would be totally refreshing to have a First Lady who is more interested in what she can do for her country than in what she can get out of her country. I'd like a First Lady to promote Liberty and Individual Responsibility.

I'm rather tired of the First Nanny/Queen who currently occupies the White House.  

Miss Alaineus

Miss Alaineus is a delightful children's book about a missed vocabulary assignment. (I love children's books.) Anyway, today's post is a bunch of stuff.

A friend gave me a bag of plum tomatoes from her garden. I ate as many as I could in salads (tomato, garbanzo beans, feta cheese) and then made the rest into some delicious soup. I made up the recipe and it turned out fabulous. I chopped up some onion and slowly cooked it in some olive oil (I don't use exact measurements) while I chopped up the tomatoes. Then I added them along with some basil and simmered it for an hour. I mashed it with a potato masher but that wasn't fine enough and I couldn't find my "ricer" so I put it by cupfuls through the blender and that worked great. It was DELICIOUS! Sprinkled a bit of Parmesan cheese on top, dipped in toasted homemade french bread and was in heaven.

The other day I cooked up some chicken quarters, de-boned it all, and put it into containers for the freezer, except one portion for dinner. After some pondering I decided to make a soup. This time Cream of Chicken and Vegetables. I chopped up a carrot, onion, two ribs of celery, and a few potatoes, added some frozen peas, a little bit of thyme and parsley, covered it all with water, brought it to a boil, turned the heat down and simmered it while I made the cream sauce (flour, butter, milk). When the veggies were done along with the sauce I added the chopped chicken, and the white sauce to the veggies, stirred it up and set the table while it was heating through. HEAVENLY! Even Dandylion liked it. Autumn and soup just go together.

We are moved into our new-to-us house. It has many advantages, one of which is the spacious kitchen and working oven. It has fewer rooms but they are larger. Still some work to be done but it's good to be in here before the snow flies. Next projects will be new curtains for my bedroom, the kitchen, and living room.

I began this blog as a way to document my weight loss, but that didn't work and I didn't lose any. In June of this year I joined T.O.P.S. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) after reading a piece in the local newspaper about a man who had lost close to 100 pounds. TOPS was touted as encouragement and accountability, which is what I needed. I joined and have lost 15 lbs. so far. There is value in having to weigh in and report each week; not to mention the great women I've met there. I notice a difference in my body, but as I wear loose clothes anyway no one else has noticed. My first goal is another 15 lbs. (Doctor wouldn't approve any more than that) and when I reach that goal I'll set another, 20 lbs. lighter. When I was 42, after having had five children I weighed that much (or little) and looked and felt great. I want to get there again.

I haven't hit the thrift stores for a while, keeping my eyes on the goal of spending less. I did make Noble a cute skirt for her birthday this summer, which she really liked. I promised to make another one in wool for winter. (Still have to set up my sewing room.)

I know I've done some other frugal things, but my mind has gone blank and I don't remember what they were. You understand I'm sure!

Lastly, this Saturday I'm teaching a class at a church women's conference. The class is Cooking with Basic Commodities. I teach three sessions, each 25 minutes long. How am I supposed to cram 30 years of cooking knowledge and experience into 25 minutes? Not going to happen. What I will do is go over reasons why we (well not me) don't cook from scratch, good reasons for doing so, overcoming the obstacles, starting to cook from scratch (The Principles), and then give some resources and recipes to help them on their way. I'm looking forward to it.

Everybody Needs a Good Laugh

On Saturday I was Skyping with Noble (I really miss her!). Behind her on the wall of her dorm room are pictures of Korean Boy Bands and Singers. They are all very lovely to look at. In the course of our conversation Noble mentioned that she has gained weight, but not inches as her clothes still fit. She was trying to figure out what was going on. Our of my mouth popped "You've had too much eye candy and it's making you fat!" She almost fell off her chair laughing.

 It feels so good to laugh!