INDEPENDENCE

Happy 4th of July WEEK-END,

 👵d

HEALTHY SALADS

 

EATING MORE SALADS THESE DAYS and thought this basic tool was helpful.  The higher calorie count comes from the skinless chicken, beans, almonds, cheese and vinaigrette.  We have to have calories to function properly with the other low calorie ingredients helping with nutrition as well and filler. 

If also watching calories we can go lighter on the salad dressing, cheese, beans and nuts.  Using a variety of lettuces can be festive such as BIBB/BOSTON lettuce which is the highest nutritional lettuce on the block.  

More vegetables like spinach leaves, carrots, celery, and kale can be added along with fruits such as apples, avocados, blueberries, cucumbers, mandarin oranges, bell peppers, and strawberries.  

Making a salad NUTRITIONALLY DENSE is important.  Eating nutritionally dense foods is a key ingredient to making LIFE a healthier one.

Botanical Classifications verses Culinary Classification for what a fruit is, challenges the way I thought about vegetables and fruit.  Bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, zucchini were all vegetables to me, but using Botanical Classifications means they are actually a fruit.  

https://www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/is-a-pepper-a-fruit-or-a-vegetable-and-why

 

Here's to being a healthier you,

d👵

SLOW AS MOLASSES

NOT SURE WHERE THIS SAYING CAME FROM.  I'm sure somebody knew exactly what this meant.  Waiting for remodeling on the cottage to take place is moving very slow.  As I wait for "stuff" to get done, I have to busy myself here with task that need attention. Continuing to look at decorating ideas on the net, helps clarify what I'd like to do at the cottage.

Moving kind of slow, but I'm moving.  Physical Therapy came to a halt last week.  I am relieved that I stayed the course and it is officially over.  I will continue to contract my stomach muscles as I sit while driving a car or sitting in my recliner.  This is helping to make the muscles stronger to help ease back pain.  

I will encourage myself to do more walking.  If you place your hands on your abdomen as you walk, you can feel the muscles working.  Simple walking has benefits.  I won't be jogging anytime soon or participate with heavy weights.  Light weight hand weights for now.  PTL.  

I continue to organize my belongings.  I'm placing individual earring sets in the tiny zip lock baggies I got at Hobby Lobby.  I continue to thin down and organize old paperwork.  It's an ongoing dilemma that I mustn't get all hung up on.  Just do what I can when I can. Tadaah...eventually it will be back in maintenance mode.  Having some of the jewelry bagged helps give me a sense of direction and contentment.  Having order is important to me.  So let's go get this done.    

The quicker I get to this place, the better.  I will continue on continuing on.  With sore feet unable to walk, it seriously affected what chores I could do.  Then my back was in such a awful place.  My feet are so much better and my back has improved.  PTL.  I can inch my way to being better organized once again.  

Paperwork thinned out and organized.  Jewelry organized.  Old magazines gone through, tied together and turned loose of.  Old toys gone through.  Eventually I'll go through clothing once again and deal with.  Old videos pitched.  Pictures grouped together.  The TV room emptied out. List made of what furniture we have to turn loose of so we will fit in the cottage.  Making plans to remodel the cottage so it's suitable for humans to live there.  Downsizing from a 4 bedroom house into a 2 bedroom cottage home.  Landscaping drawings worked up.  Kitchen gadgets downsized.  Nic nacs downsized.  Christmas decorations thinned out.  Basement thinned out. The rest of the year, I have a full plate.  It's easy for me to sit and do nothing.  

I relocated a lamp of ours from our bedroom to living room.  I think it's a beautiful lamp and I am enjoying it very much.  It's a rather large lamp, but looks proportionally alright here on the tea table.  When it's on, the lamp shade glows a soft pink.  If I know that de-cluttering makes me feel peaceful, then I need to get after it and have peace.  

As I sit, I have time to look about the room and mentally deal with stuff.  What should I do with that and where should I relocate it to even if it's going to Goodwill?  Being stuck in a rut isn't healthy or productive.  I have to move forward or be stuck in a rut.  Prosperity won't happen being stuck.

Last night, I watched a few episodes of the PBS series MERCY STREET.  I believe it's based on true stories.  Finding it enticing.  This time era is a favorite of mine as a History buff.  The Civil War is raging on in this series.  The Mansion House Hotel has turned into a Hospital for the Union soldiers.  In reality, there were 30 Hospitals in Alexandria, Virginia.  Imagine 30 hospitals in a community.   

I'm still downloading pictures from our short vacation of St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois.  I am so glad we went for a few days.  Now to download my pics.

I have to deadhead the Irises over the next few days before the heat gets into the 90s.  Too, too hot for lil 'ole me.  A little here and a little there.  The seed pods are still maturing and will stay on the stems until August before harvesting seeds.  I haven't ever done this before, so this is a new thing to attempt to collect seeds to plant for new plants.  This could be fun.

Always something to do and if I don't watch it, it won't get done.  Happy Thursday.  I'm off to deadhead some Irises, run to the thrift shop and then go to the local $ General for a few supplies.  

Pleasant blessings to you,

👵d

WEDNESDAY WITNESS

WAKING FROM AN AFTERNOON NAP there's time to live the rest of the day out. Stretching and yawning, I'm still a tad bit tired.  I didn't sleep the best and was up early this morning to get ready for Hubby's medical appointment.  Made the drive.  He is penciled in for surgery this month to remove a lymph node in the neck.  

Beforehand, I went to Starbucks for morning tea and stopped by MARSHALLs to look.  Left with a new wallet and handbag.  I was trying to remember when my kids gave me my red wallet.  I think I have had it twenty years.  It is wearing out.  Time for a new one.  It was a nice feeling to pop in and buy a handbag leaving the store with a purchase that I do not have to fret about spending money for a simple item.  For so many years, I would fret because there was no money even for a small wallet.  Times have changed.  Thanks be to God.

After Hubby's appointment, I wanted to go to HOBBY LOBBY to purchase some plastic baggies with a zip top to hold some of my loose jewelry.  It's been a while since I shopped there.  Fun to walk the aisles of the store.  I'll go back when I have more time to just saunter.

Already putting Autumn and Christmas decorations out.  Say what?  Christmas in July for sure.

They had what I needed so later today, I will begin bagging up loose pieces of jewelry to make some order out of my stash.  Their jewelry department has the neatest things to help with jewelry making and storing.  I think I would like to begin making some pieces.  Hummm.  This might be the beginning of a small business.  I walked by their doll houses which I have eye balled for years. I believe I will give it a whirl.  Something on my Bucket List.  

Drove over to Aldi for milk and creamer.  Needed to go by Dollar General for some supplies, but was too tired.  Decided that CHICK-FIL-A would be my CHEF today since I was tired.  

Ordered two Cobb Salads.  Their sight says they are 850 calories.  I think not.  MyFitnessPal says they are more like 500.  At any cost that's seriously too many calories for someone who wants to eat three square meals a day staying under 1200 calories for a day's count.  I'll have to eat less for supper to fit in because yesterday I was over the top too high on calories.  Back to smaller meals or the weight won't come off.

Drove HOME a back way and found it to be so very peaceful.  So many trees and vines decorating the sides of the road.  Light rain and quiet made for harmonious driving.  Ate lunch at HOME and then tiredness came on.  Time for some shut eye.  The door bell rang just in time to wake me.

The month has come to an end and JULY appears tonight at midnight.  Just like that the month is gone.  Quickly it has vanished.  It seems like it's the first of a month and then next it's the end of the month.  RED, WHITE and BLUE flags and pinwheels, parades, fire crackers, banners and Patriotic memorabilia abounds.  Ready, set, go... and HOME MADE ICE CREAM for sure to celebrate. 

HaPPy 4th of July u' all.  Our Dependence remembered.

Celebrate our country's freedoms. 

In the evenings I started re-watching the PBS series MERCY STREET.  Terribly graphic.  I like the time era they are portraying, the interior of the Green mansion, the costuming, the story line. Binge watching makes for a quick take on a series.  I was disappointed that this series was not renewed back in 2017.  Shucks.  The Green Mansion in the story is beautifully decorated.  The dresses are beautiful.  Nursing me back to health.

Yesterday, I made a quick trip to GOD's STOREHOUSE for Senior Discount day.  I bought two small serving bowls that match my BLUE GARLAND pattern dishes, artificial lemons and limes for wreath making, some discounted greeting cards, and a Happy Birthday Banner to hang on the fireplace for my 66th Birthday this month.  My trip was short, but sweet as they were extremely busy full of shoppers.  I took ill and had to go sit in our car while hubby checked out. After resting, I felt better and was able to drive the car home on my own.

Praise the Lord, I have witnessed another Wednesday,

👵 d

MARY ANN TODD LINCOLN's DRESS

MARY LINCOLN was interested in FASHION and jewelry.  As First Lady of the United States, some thought her to be a dumpy dresser and have a rather crass Kentuckian accent, but she spoke fluent French.  Depending on who you visited with about Mary would determine the outlook that was given toward the President's wife.  

At an early age Mary was sent to Madame Mentelle's finishing school, where the curriculum concentrated on French and literature.  She learned to speak French fluently and studied dance, drama, music, and social graces.  By age 20, she was regarded as witty and gregarious with a grasp of politics.

As First Lady of the United States, she hired Mrs. Elizabeth Keckley, a freed slave, to make fashionable dresses for her.  While touring the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, this display of Mary's dress could not be ignored.  A life size form of Mary models the dress as Mrs. Keckley works on the backside of Mary.     

Seeing pictures of this dress before, I wanted to see it first hand as a tourist.  Snap my own pictures.  I was impressed by this state of the art Museum and all it has to offer.  Outstanding exhibit.

She was known to spend way too much while at the White House as First Lady.  Depending on who you talked to.  Information about how Mary Todd Lincoln met Elizabeth Keckley are written about in Elizabeth's book.  Elizabeth shares how Mrs. Lincoln describes her personal financial situation and that she will use Elizabeth as her seamstress if she is cheap.  Mrs. Lincoln did indeed use Mrs. Keckley for quite a few dresses during her reign as First Lady.

Elizabeth learned her sewing skills from her own Mother as a child.  Elizabeth was a talented and skilled seamstress who became Mrs. Lincoln's personal modiste and confidante.

After Elizabeth's book 

Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House

was published, this seemed to end the close relationship the two of them had.  

Mrs. Lincoln's Social Rivals dresses are on display behind her.  Beautiful articles of High Society garments worn when Mrs. Lincoln was First Lady can be viewed as well. 

Mrs. George (Mary Ellen) McClellan

The wife of General McClellan, "Nellie" was one of the more sought guests in Washington social circles.  She shared her husband's unflattering opinion that "Mrs. Lincoln doesn't shine particularly as a hostess."  Mrs. McClellan felt that her husband had support among "the better class of people" and was outraged by the Lincoln administration's treatment of him.  She wrote to her husband, "I almost wish you would march up to Washington and frighten those people a little."

Miss Harriet Lane

President Buchanan's niece and hostess of the pre-Lincoln White House, Miss Lane was the first woman in the White House to be called "First Lady."  She was popular and tasteful and set the fashion standards of the day.  Anticipating the arrival of the Lincolns in Washington, D.C., she wrote to a friend, "They say Mrs. L. is awfully western, loud and unrefined."

  

Miss Kate Chase

Mrs. Stephen (Adele) Douglas

Thank you for stopping by.

Impressed by the dresses,

d👵

EATING THE COLOR WHEEL on the Rainbow Diet.

THIS IS IT!  This Spring and Summer I am being brave and eating a certain way in hopes of achieving weight loss off this 'ole body of mine.  I have a little over a month before I go back to have labs done and it is my earnest desire to weigh much less than I did at my April Physical where I was told, "You are now diabetic."  

On my information in my health portal I read MORBIDLY (severely) OBESE.  Through the years I have been recorded as OBESE.  Then Morbidly Obese and now that word in parentheses SEVERELY enters the charts.  WHAAAAAAAAT?

MORBIDLY (SEVERELY) OBESE.  How did this ever happen?  One pound at a time where I couldn't stop the weight from coming on board.  

I'd find out YEARS later after having  the thyroid removed that it is common to gain 10 to 15 pounds quickly.  Which I did.  I think it would have been appropriate for my doctors to educate me on this when I told them I was gaining weight.  My Endo Doctor looked at me like I had two heads.  

My Family Physician more or less said to eat less and exercise.  No mention that a lack of healthy hormones can do this to a soul.  No mention that T4 only treatment does not include all the other hormones a healthy thyroid puts out.  Lil 'ole me had to read it all by myself and use logic to come up with you mean the thyroid puts out other hormones that the medicine I am taking doesn't have?  What gives with that?  Politics.  You are allowed just enough hormones to be alive and the condition you live in lacks.  

Then I learn after years of this gaining weight that some of the meds I was taking and take can add weight.  Along with being menopausal weight gain is common.  Put it all together and I had the PERFECT STORM for being heavy and getting heavier.  Not to mention that some of the meds I was taking can cause weight gain AND cause blood glucose to climb.  Putting two and two together I gained weight and it kept climbing.  

I guess I was suppose to know these medicines can cause weight gain and higher glucose levels.  Passing the buck, the print out that you receive when purchasing a drug states side effects and I should have known, but when the glucose continued to climb, I would think my doctor would have responded to this by mentioning that glucose can climb from meds and by the way, three of the meds you are on cause weight gain and glucose to climb.  Humf.  

Being insulin resistant and leptin resistant may have contributed to weight gain as well.

With my doctors, there has been no mention of nutrition anywhere with my weight gain problems.  No mention.  Nadda.  Nothing.    

I had thought before that eating foods where the animals have been given growth hormones to beef them up might cause a person that's consuming foods made from these animals to put on weight themselves.  I still think this is possible.  Also GMO foods could cause the people that are eating the products to get ill.  I still think this.  

Startled September 2020 at my heavy weight that had climbed some more at my Endocrinologist appointment, my eyes bugged and my emotional health whimpered out loud, "Oh heavens, that cannot be right."  But it was and I was shaken up, hurt by the reality of my heavy weight that has continued to climb upwards on the scales since I had my cancerous thyroid removed in 2010.  I have had night sweats thinking about if I continue to gain weight, I will hit the 300 pound mark on the scales.  I cannot have that happen.  I will not let that happen.  

I have studied up on diets and have to lose weight.  I watched what I ate especially over the holidays.  I had already given up coffee with creamer in August.  I did not make my holiday candies.  I ate less and less.  Then in January 2021, I decided to give up sugary sodas also diet sodas.    

When I weighed in at the 2021 physical and had only lost 7 pounds since September I knew I had to do something drastic.  With the diabetic diagnosis something finally clicked in me and I told the doctor that I'd like to try and lose some weight before August 2021 when labs are done.  As of this date I am 32 pounds lighter than I weighed in September 2020.  Low carbs is the magic bullet for me.

My journey:

1) Spring water is a H2O decision.  Made the switch to not drink fluorinated water if I can help it and to use fluoride free toothpaste.  Gave up coffee with creamer and drinking more spring water and teas.  Later sugary sodas went bye bye even diet drinks.  Artificial sweeteners can cause an increase in appetite and actual weight gain.  Not good for the liver period.    

2) Use a more natural deodorant.  Aluminum isn't healthy for so many reasons.    

3) Cutting out HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP helped make me aware that I do not need this in my diet.  

4) Drinking Hormone-free milk.  Worth the expense.  

5) Grass-fed beef and free-range eggs were next.  Grain fed animals are being fed GMO food.    

6) No GMO foods when possible.  

7) Checking the ingredients on processed foods and staying away as much as possible from added ingredients and chemicals to food.   

8) Steering clear of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics in foods along with artificial sweeteners.  

9) Watching the sodium contents and sugar contents.  

10) Adding nutrients to intake such as vitamins and minerals.  Some enzymes and amino acids.  

11) Eating slower and chewing longer before swallowing food.

I did 21 days of the Daniel Diet which I started in May.  When I finished it I took a week for vacation and did not go hog wild, and allowed a few desserts during this week.  The Daniel Diet is made up of vegetables, fruits, beans and some nuts.  I was very happy to complete this course before vacation.  

I had that meat ball and spaghetti meal that I had wished for, but went easy on the spaghetti noodles.  Proud of myself for eating a small portion and calling it good.  I was satisfied and knew it.  

I survived the Daniel Diet.  Onto a week of limited foods.  I am on my way to completing the week where each day of the week has a focused color for the day.  For instance, Green Day is about green foods.  Only green foods.  No meat or dairy, nuts, etc.  I suppose I could have had pistachios nuts.  They're green!  Next time maybe.

With eating this way, I feel full and know not to get off track and splurge.  If I do this again I will follow the color wheel starting with RED, moving onto ORANGE foods, then YELLOW.  Next. would be GREEN, BLUE and PURPLE.  The seventh day will be called the RAINBOW FOODS DAY.  Eat left overs from the previous 6 days and begin eating regular foods again with some meats, nuts, dairy, some grains.  Easy on the grains period and easy on the starchy vegetables.  Include olive oils and avocado oils.  

I try to weigh myself in my birthday suit on Monday mornings.  Here's to a lighter self.  A healthier me.

If God is for me, who can be against me?  Myself.  I have to eat healthy and relax.  What I stuff in my mouth matters.

👵d