faithful

20{4}40 – Spring

Angela PeaLeave a comment
Tete-a-Tete Daffodils
I know that spring is officially here when these babies show up in the back garden.  They are miniature daffodils, each delicate blossom about as big as a quarter. The bulbs were shared with me many, many years ago by a very dear friend who is now gone.  I think of her every spring when mine poke their yellow heads up out of the ground.  In memory of Jean…today I am thankful for



 
 
 
 
161. Green grass arriving in the spring, reassuring us that the cycle continues
162. Robins
163. Geese flying over in huge V’s, yes my friends to the north, spring is coming!
164. Ferns that always surprise me with their curled sprouts
165. Boston ivy covering the back wall
166. Kites, especially the dragon
167. Remote control airplanes
168. Rockets
169. Recovering rockets, even after launching them with a charge that is a little too large
170. The wisteria that shades the back patio
171. Holly ferns
172. The sweet house wrens that build a nest every year in the hanging baskets on the patio, which means that every year, I don’t put new plants in them until the babies fly away.
173. The cardinal that nests in the holly tree
174. Warm breezes
175. Pulling the cover off the grill, cleaning her up and putting her back in service
176. Hamburgers with drippy cheese
177. Eating outside again
178. Fire pit on the deck for the chilly spring nights
179. Roasting marshmallows over the fire pit
180. Spring

 Lenten Challenge Following Ann, counting my blessings. EMail Anglea Pea

healthy

My Thoughts About Deprivation

Angela Pea6 Comments
Today was Weigh-In Day, Chickies – down another 0.6 pounds! I’m celebrating every ounce!
 Today’s topic was Deprivation.  Not the kind of deprivation that involves making whoopie on a trapeze or torturing small animals; rather, the mental part of losing weight.  What makes us feel deprived?  Why do we automatically crave chocolate the moment someone says “Oh, you shouldn’t eat that”?  It’s a delima for sure, the contrariness of the human mind.
We need to allow ourselves to have food treats – there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating a piece of cake on your birthday, or having some icecream in the summer.  However, we have to plan for these treats.  Save up points or calories and work them into the weekly menu, or commit to the exercise necessary to burn off those extra calories.  That’s how I handle my treats.  I exercise to earn the points, then indulge in a food treat. 
The lovely sandwich above?  That was my treat for the week.  I ate one just like it (sans onions – blech!) for lunch today, piled high with veggies, banana peppers, turkey, ham and even cheese.  It was worth 9 points for a half sandwich.  I savored every bite, enjoyed the heck out of it. I also rode my bicycle for an hour, earning 8 points, making this a 1 point sandwich.  

There is nothing about eating that we should feel guilty about. Everything is allowed in moderation – and I have to be willing to pay with either exercise or with a weight gain. I’ll take the exercise, thank you. EMail Anglea Pea

faithful

20{4}40 – St. Patrick's Day

Angela PeaLeave a comment
Image courtesy of Wikimedia

141. Irish forbearers who immigrated to the United States making me officially Irish on St. Patrick’s Day
142. St. Patrick himself
143. St. Patrick Cathedral
144. Hearing Adult Daughter#1 cantor at St. Patrick Cathedral
145. Beer, but not green beer because it’s gross`
146. The color green; it’s my favorite
147. Corned Beef and cabbage
148. Oatmeal, the steel cut variety
149. Irish Soda Bread
150. Wool sweaters
151. Friend who ships me worsted from Ireland
152. Wool Mittens made from Irish worsted that were given back to the same friend
153. Four leaf clovers
154. My favorite green sweater
155. Having green eyes (that exactly match the green sweater!)
156. Imagining that a pot of gold could really happen
157. Full Arc Double Rainbows
158. Pancakes for dinner
159. Leftover corned beef, made into a sandwich on rye bread
160. Cabbage…in slaw.

 

Lenten Challenge Following Ann, counting my blessings. 

EMail Anglea Pea