Heirloom Ornaments

Every year when I go through the boxes of Christmas ornaments I come across the box that has all of the old glass ornaments, most of them are from my mother-in-law's tree but I remember having some of the same ornaments when I was a kid. The ones I remember are either long gone or packed away in a box in the attic at my mom's. I put up a small tree in the living room to put these ornaments on so we can still use them but they are a little more tucked away than on the big tree in the family room.
Well that worked until we adopted a kitten.......she loved the shiny, sparkly ornaments and just had to bat them off of the tree. Luckily none were broken, but I had to resort to plastic ornaments on that tree.
Well this year the kitten is almost 3, but still shows no sign of "calming down". So as I opened the box of ornaments again this year I wanted to put them out but out of the kitty's reach. I have one very large vase I keep on the baker's rack in the kitchen. It has a collection of old marbles in the bottom along with a few feathers......another story. Anyway I came up with the idea of putting the ornaments in the vase.......perfect place to display them......it is very large so it will hold quite a few on top of the marbles & feathers, it is up high out of reach & I can turn it a little each day to show different ornaments! I actually found another vase on top of my china cupboard to display more of the ornaments, too! So now they are all out on display and safe from a certain energetic kitty.

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"Brick" wall photos

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Combo post

Since I didn't get a chance to put up a Wordless Wednesday post yesterday, I am combining Wordless Wednesday with a wall update.

 

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The wall is almost finished! The only thing left to do is put on a coat of sealer & actually hang the picture instead of just having it sit on the mantle. Oh, and put on the baseboard but that is husband's department.  ; ) who am I kidding, I will probably end up doing it, at least there aren't any complicated cuts to make!

I will post more photos tomorrow........I promise! : )

 

 

 

 

 

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Continuing from Wordless Wednesday

The photos I used for last week's Wordless Wednesday are pumpkin muffins (from a box mix) with homemade streusel topping added.

I started with this:

 

But I wanted to add something.......hmmm what to add.......

Streusel!

 

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup flour

1/2 cup oats

Mix all together (I used my hands) then sprinkle on top of the muffins before putting them in the oven.



streusel

 

pumpkin muffin batter

 

topped with streusel and ready for oven

 

After baking

 

 

 

 

 Coming later this week will be finished photos of the "brick" wall - finally!!

 

 

 

 

 

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Update on weight loss

Well, I have been off of the appetite suppressant for 3 months now. I have not lost any more weight but more importantly, I HAVE NOT GAINED BACK WHAT I LOST! So I am happy with that for now. Total weight loss was 22 pounds, not the 62 I want to loose, but I figure I didn't put it on over night so it won't come off over night. I think about what I eat more now which is good. I know if I had made more of an effort to get on the treadmill and exercise I would still be loosing weight, but I haven't had the time or motivation, so.......

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RSVP

I wrote about this - my favorite topic (not really), over a year ago while planning a surprise birthday party for my husband. Almost half did not respond at all, something like 55 out of 113. I don't remember an exact number, but there were some that showed up eve though they did not RSVP. We did not however, run out of food.
 In this technology rich age you would think since it is so quick and easy to respond via text, email, facebook, etc. it would be a "no brainer". Well apparently not.
79 invited
29 yes
11 maybe
19 no
20 no answers
I guess that is better than the birthday party. Only a quarter didn't answer. But I am not even going to figure the number that RSVP'd by the deadline.......which was two weeks after the invitations went out. I really should learn to let this go and not let it bother me, but I have always had a thing about being ignored.
We are planning on having a Halloween party this year...................I am seriously thinking about making either my husband or daughter handle the invitations! But even if I give that over to my husband, it will end up being our daughter that handles it! : )
Here is a link to an interesting article on RSVP I found - http://entertaining.about.com/cs/etiquette/qt/tip122500.htm

Please feel free to leave your opinion in the comments section

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Interruption

Sorry for the interruption of the blog. For reasons that really don't need to be explained on here I disabled all of my blogs for a few days. But now I am back! : )
Here is what I have been working on -

Remember the wall behind the pellet stove? The one I wanted to "brick"? Well I finally got started on it last week. Here are a few photos:

"bricks" cut and ready to paint



Color I choose for the "bricks"

 

I rough figured I would need 480 "bricks". Probably less because that wasn't taking out the space for the mantle & the collar of the stove pipe.

 

 

I was going to use a level & ruler to measure & mark the lines for the bricks, but decided I didn't want it to look "perfect" so I just started above the collar and free handed or winged it! : )

 

 

I did actually end up with a few crooked spots, but I figured what the heck! I did remove and correct a few bricks, but decided to leave the flaws.

 

 

 

More pics later as I move along. I decided to cover the outlet covers with pieces of "brick", too so they didn't stand out quite so much.

 

 

Another update

Past time for another update on my weight loss.................I am down a total of 19 pounds..........not as much as I had hoped for being in the middle of the third month, but I will take it none the less! I know if I had made the time to exercise on a more regular basis I would have lost more. Time to put the laptop back on the treadmill! Even though it isn't a lot, I do notice a difference in how I feel. I have not had any trouble with my knee or my feet lately. And I really like the fact that my clothes feel a lot looser! I haven't taken any measurements lately, but am sure I have lost some inches because nothing is tight or snug anymore! My goal is to loose a total of 65 pounds. I am hoping when I get to my goal weight I will be able to maintain it. My attitude towards food is changing for the better I think. I stop to think about what I am putting in my body more and decide if it is really worth the extra calories! : )

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Holiday

Woo Hoo, made it through the holiday week without gaining a pound! I am really surprised since my husband was home all week and he loves to cook & eat! Plus we had family in, ate out a few times and even went for ice cream one day! Although I did manage to go to our local candy shop Marie's and not buy a single thing!
So today is # 51 and I am down a total of 15 pounds. I admit I would like to see it come off faster, but 15 pounds in 7 weeks averages about 2 pounds a week so that isn't bad. But now I am going to get a little more serious and make sure I am adding exercise more often. I do like the Lose It! app as it lists a lot of things that aren't really considered exercise, but burn calories just the same.......housecleaning, vacuuming, painting, etc.

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Changes in Attitude

I haven't had any "Changes in Latitude", but have had some "Changes in Attitude". In case you are wondering, yes, I am a big Jimmy Buffett fan! My playlist when I mow is almost entirely Jimmy Buffett!
Anyway, since I am actually seeing the numbers on the scale declining and using Lose It to keep track of what I eat and how much I exercise I have noticed a slight change. Now when I get a craving or am offered something sweet, I am starting to think, well do I really want that and is it worth the extra calories and/or the time I should spend on the treadmill to make up for eating it? Are there other options that might be a better choice? I decided when we go to the lake on the weekends, I will still watch what I eat and track it in Lose It if possible, but weekends are mini vacations, so I am not stressing over it. And I am not taking a scale to the lake. I even had dessert twice this weekend......And guess what?! I am still loosing weight!
As of this morning I have officially lost 10 pounds in 30 days. I admit, it would be nice to see the scale moving faster, but I also want to do it healthfully and want it to stay off. The chances of it staying off are better if it comes off slowly. As each pound fades away, I don't want to see it ever again! : )

Behind & Overdue

Yep, I am behind and overdue again! Sorry!
I had my first monthly weight check appointment yesterday...........I am down 7 pounds! Not bad for a month, pretty close to my goal of 2 pounds per week! I would have made the goal if I had made more of an effort to get my walking in every day. But, hey, I think I did pretty well. I am watching what I eat & making better choices. I found an app for my phone that really helps! It is called Lose It. They have a free version which I am using and also a premium version for $39.99 per year. Not a bad price, but honestly the free version has everything I want! Check it out Lose It

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Another update

It has been a week since I posted an update on the weight loss. All of the side effects have pretty much disappeared. Although the weight loss has slowed, only lost 1 pound this last week, but admittedly I have not upped my activity level & we went out to eat a few times in the last week.
It has been a month this saturday. I didn't take measurements in the beginning, but did make a note of them earlier this week. Even though the scale isn't moving as much as I would like, my clothes are a little looser and I have had numerous comments asking if I lost weight. So that is all good!

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Update on weight loss

Holiday weekends are great, but sure can get you off of your schedule!
Saturday the 25th was the one week mark. Down 7lbs, so averaging a pound a day isn't bad! I don't have the jittery feelings anymore and have not had a morning headach for the last few days so that is all good! I notice I am not hungry the majority of the time, but I am trying to make sure I eat a little something every couple of hours - carrots, apple, etc. Nothing really appeals to me most of the time, which is really annoying my husband, but oh well! : ) I also don't have the dry mouth as bad as the first week, but I am making a conscience effort to drink at least 4 bottles of water a day - my water bottle holds about 24 oz. So I am sure the weight loss isn't entirely due to the appetite suppressant, but it is certainly helping. This week I am trying to add in at least 15 minutes of walking a day.
One thing I should have done was take measurements so I could keep track of inches lost, not only pounds. I can give a guess on them, so I should write them down!

Day Five

I didn't post yesterday since I usually do Wordless Wednesday. So here is the latest:

Day Five
No jitters at all & no dizziness. I am noticing more energy which is a good side effect! Sleep is pretty much back to normal and I am not having the normal craving, hungry time in the late afternoon. I am eating smaller portions because I seem to be getting full quicker and then food doesn't appeal to me. I think it is kind of annoying my husband who loves food and loves to cook! I forgot to get on the scale yesterday, but when I got on this morning it was still the same 207. Didn't go down, but didn't go back up either! So, so far, so good. I am happy with results and minimal side effects so far.

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Day Four

5/21/13 - Day Four - I am back to sleeping as sound as before starting Adipex-P. While I still have the dry mouth alot of the day, it isn't as bad as the first day. I just usually carry a water bottle with me. I ate a normal breakfast yesterday (cereal with almond milk & blueberries), wasn't hungry for lunch until mid afternoon (2 small pieces of basil pesto pizza). Stopped at Long John Silver's for supper, probably not the best choice, but I only ate about 1/2 of my meal. I notice I am not as hungry, or don't have the cravings I did before and when I do eat, I don't eat as much before I become full and it just doesn't sound good anymore. I know you aren't suppose to weigh yourself as often as once a day, but I usually step on the scale in the morning out of habit. This morning it was 207! I am going to try to increase my activity - walk more, to see if that speeds things up. Yes, I know it isn't suppose to be a fast process, I didn't gain over night & won't loose over night, but it is nice to see the scale move down even if it is only a pound or less a day.

To read notes from the first three days scroll down

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Weight loss

I finally reached the point where I am serious about getting rid of this extra weight. We babysat my grandson one day last week. We went to the park. Bekah wanted to take some photos of him playing, etc. She took a couple of him & I walking across the bridge and on the merry-go-around. His part of the photos was adorable even though he didn't want to look at the camera. Mine however made be cringe! So I happen to have a doctor's appointment the next day. I asked about the Raspberry Ketones & Green Coffee Bean extracts I have been hearing so much about. Well she wasn't familiar with them so she suggested taking an appetite suppressant she was familiar with and had used with quite a bit of success before with patients. I don't really like taking drugs any more than necessary, but I needed help, so I agreed.  I started taking Adipex-P (generic name Phentermine) 37.5 mg tablet, once a day.  I do have to monitor my blood pressure though as it is already on the high side & I do take medication for it. So far it hasn't raised it much.
5/18/13
First day. As the day went on, started feeling a little jittery & had a headach. But I had a chiropractor appointment the day before and was adjusted so I think that had some to do with the headache since in originated in my neck. I did have a VERY dry mouth, I drank well over 10 bottles of water today. Later in the day I sort of felt like I had had a couple glasses of wine....sort of a little buzz. I noticed I felt better the more activity I did - walking, so that is a good thing, make me get up and move. About 6 that evening the jittery, buzz feeling just went away. I did have a little trouble sleeping the first night, but also contribute that to being at the lake, too. I never sleep as well up there. 211
5/19/13
Second day. I didn't have the jittery, buzzy feeling at all today. Although I did notice if I moved quickly or bent over and stood back up quick, I did get a little dizzy. Took a walk before breakfast & worked in the yard, swept off the patio and re-arranged the chairs, so I got quite a bit done. Seemed to have more energy, although I did take a short nap in the afternoon. We usually take little naps at the lake......  : ) it is our away time, so I also do not have a scale there. Still had dry mouth, but not as bad as the day before, but did still drink quite a bit of water. Blood pressure wasn't too bad, I only took it three times.
5/20/13
Third day. I actually slept pretty well last night, pretty nuch like normal. No jittery feeling this morning, although I do have a slight headache, but could still be neck issues & it is a cloudy, overcast & gloomy day which sometimes gives me a headache. I do notice more energy. Only slight dry mouth today, but I figure that isn't necessarily a bad thing, I do need to drink more water. 208
I will try to keep this updated daily.....

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Would they approve?

A few years ago we had a decision to make. My father-in-law had passed away so we were trying to decide what we were going to do with the farm. Rent it, sell it or move there? We already had a home we had lived in for 20+ years, raised both of our girls.....& had lots of memories there......., but if we were going to sell or rent the farm, we would have to update the house. At first we hadn't even considered moving, but the more we thought about it.......if we were going to put money into the house, then why not make it what we would want. Besides, our youngest daughter was a senior, we didn't need to stay in that school district any longer. So we decided to totally remodel the house, build a pond and build a new pole barn. We were moving!
After lots of decisions, lots of choices, lots of de-construction, which was really fun and LOTS of painting, which wasn't so much fun, we moved!
There are times when I am sitting on the patio in the morning or down by the pond enjoying the scenery I wonder what my in-laws would think of what we did to their farm................I think they would enjoy it if they could spend a day here. And yes, they might even approve..................

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Memory

Why is it I can clearly remember the floorplan of my grandma's house ...from 43 years ago, down to what she kept in each kitchen cupboard & the fact that the built in headboard held all of window screens......, but can't remember what I walked into the room to get?

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See anything particular in the above photo?

Here is a closer view:

 

 

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Tuesday Tourist

Castillo de San Marcos  St. Augustine, Florida

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information check out these websites -

http://www.nps.gov/casa/

http://staugustine.com/history/castillo-de-san-marcosindex.htm 

 

 

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Meet Boomer

 

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Tuesday Tourist

Beachfront Bed & Breakfast - St. Augustine, Florida

What a wonderful place to stay! I read the reviews before we left, the majority of which were very good. As always there is someone that has to complain about something......., well we had absolutely NOTHING to complain about! We were to check in at the hotel next door, which we did with no problem at all. We found the bed & breakfast easily, it is just around the corner. After standing on the staircase admiring the beach view, we went inside to find out room. The common area upstairs was very welcoming! We found our room with no trouble at all. It was exactly as the pictures showed on their website, very charming with lots of character. The view from the window was amazing!



upstairs veranda...what a view!

outside sitting area

Sunrise from our window

Moon over the ocean

Highly recommend this Bed & Breakfast! No complaints here, other than we could only spend two days, but that was due to our schedule. Breakfast was great both days - fresh fruit salad, french toast, sausage, orange juice & coffee the first day. Egg souffle with muffins & scones, fresh fruit salad, orange juice & coffee the second day. Both days we were asked if we would like seconds. The staff was very friendly & helpful. The room was amazing, we loved the furniture, lots of character! The bed was very comfortable, too! Even though we were told they were full, we never heard any of the other guests. We didn't have time to use them, but they also offer a great looking hot tub & large pool with plenty of deck chairs, even a large hammock between the palm trees!
Here are a few more photos, but be sure to check out their website to see more! Beachfront Bed & Breakfast

electric fireplace in our room

Common area & breakfast dining area