Monthly Archives: January 2014

Six Days of Confession – Day 1

Posted on by
Reply

I confess, I was not excited about making six days of (healthy eating while company is here) confession. But you know, we’re into the first day and I have to say, I’m glad I have this place to come for accountability.

I confess that I thought six days of confession would = company comes and I have to eat boring stuff and not have fun.

I confess I’m eating healthy today and having a blast! And it makes me feel good.

The bar glasses cleaned.

DSC_9722

And fresh flowers from the garden on display. As we’re getting ready for our guests to arrive.

DSC_9732

The hubs took the day off. And I have to say, we make a great team getting this place whipped into shape.

On that note, I confess I’ll be back tomorrow with Confession Day 2

Blessings – Debbie

Book Club

Posted on by
Reply

All images shot today, were with my trusty cell phone.

We finally had our first book club meet (World Without End by Ken Follett) of 2014! And I for one could not WAIT to see the girls. I believe I counted 16 of us today! And talk about the amazing book.

photo copy 3 copy

Each month a different gal hosts the group and we gather in for a wonderful morning to share and go around the room answering a series of questions.

photo copy 4

But first things first. Lyn had prepared coffee, juice, and peach tea with passion fruit.

Everything looked so yummy!

photo copy 2

And the fresh berries were perfection!

photo

I was a bit timid taking pictures at first, but I thought, just as everyone was getting ready to leave, that I might want to snap a few images to remember. I’m so glad I did.

photo copy 6

Our lovely hostess (Lyn) on the left and Sue. This makes me want to take pictures each time we meet and at least get a shot of our lovely hostess. I hope the girls are warming up to me taking pictures.

photo copy 5

After our meeting ended, I had a few errands to tend to. Like having my oil changed. It was too pretty to wait indoors. So I sat in the shade of these palm trees.

photo copy

And a little note about my healthy plan while at book club this morning.

I had my breakfast before the club and I was able to just look, take pictures and not touch.

But I have a feeling the next 6 days could potentially lead into some pretty major temptation.

Image below was majorly manipulated in Photoshop, just for fun.

PicCollage copy copy

You see, the hubs sister and husband are coming into town tomorrow and will be here through next Tuesday.

The hubs has Julian apple pie a la mode and other yumminess (I’m sure) on the menu over the next several days.

So I’m thinking about amping up my accountability on the blog, by posting my progress each day. I’ve also thought about the title for the next 6 days. I think it will go down something like this – Six Days of Confession. Makes me want to pull up the big girl panties and hold on!

Now I’m not one to watch my healthy eating habits on special occasions, visits with friends and family…But after this long drawn out Holiday craziness of eating coupled with the fact that my healthy eating has finally kicked in, I just don’t feel ready to splurge.

So my goal over the next Six Days is this. Make healthy choices and maintain or lose a little.

I’ll keep the blog posted with truth.

Until next time,

Blessings – Debbie

Tiptoeing Through Temptation

Posted on by
Reply

I don’t know about you, but I have such a difficult time saying no to temptation. Especially when my instinct is to succumb to it.

So today it was time to look into my root rot. By golly I haven’t had anything done to the roots since before Thanksgiving. *Gasp* In case you don’t know, that’s a long time for the grays to show themselves.

photoSelfie

And as you know, I’m trying to let my hair grow, but this terrible stage is driving me crazy.

So when the gal asked if I needed a cut, I muttered “no, I’m trying to let it grow out.” It was even time to throw a little pity party. She’s really good at listening.

photoB

It seems “NO” is the only conversation I’ve had with myself all day. Not only at the salon did I encounter no, but at the mall today too.

I had some returns to make. And as I passed by Auntie Anne’s – oh the aroma was heavenly! And the cookie and cupcake joint made me want to hit the pause button. And there was Starbucks, and Panera Bread and a host of other places dotted through the mall. With a whiff ~ whiff here and a whiff ~ whiff there…

And since my girlfriend was sick and canceled our lunch date today, temptation struck again. Perhaps I could just hop into  Panera Bread for a bowl of soup or a little something, something.

Instead, I confronted my inner meltdown with a harsh “oh NO you don’t”! And just like that, I marched myself home.

No is not often the most enjoyable word, especially when temptation is everywhere.

But the aftermath of a no filled day = NO regrets.

Gotta love it!

Blessings – Debbie

Backyard Work in Progress

Posted on by
Reply

We have a lot going on around the home sweet home. While we’re still working on indoor projects, the outdoor projects are coming right along as well.

Like the area in the lower left section of the image.

DSC_9702

So far, four trees and stumps were ground/taken out, a few small trees removed and the gravel/rock removed. Next, the area will be leveled, then pavers will extend and a fire pit will be coming soon to the area. We’re excited!

We spent a great deal of time in the great outdoors over the weekend. The hubs tinkered a bit more with the outdoor speaker system and I spent a good deal of time with the fish.

I was pretty excited when I captured the guy below with palm tree reflections. So much so, that I wanted to get a bit artsy in photoshop. Like so.

DSC_9646B

I love the fish below, she’s one of our new shubunkins. I can’t tell you how hard it is to get a good image of a fish that is always on the move.

DSC_9677

And I pretty much spent the day (today/Monday) catching up on things from over the weekend.

On the health front – Just in case you are wondering, I’m pleased with the way I’m making healthy choices. So far so good!

On that note, I think it’s time to start thinking about having a nice healthy dinner.

Until next time,

Blessings – Debbie

Pulling Myself Up by the Bootstraps

Posted on by
Reply

What a difference a couple of good days on the wagon will do for the soul.

DSC_9630

And what a good feeling to unload (on the blog) the things that bugged me. I feel lighter already!

I had a really good day on my healthy food choices yesterday. And I’m on my way to having another really good day today.

So the hubs asked me out on a lunch date today. It made my day! I loved our conversation too. We visited and reminisced back to when we first met. Makes me smile to think about our journey and how it has brought us to where we are today…

Before our lunch date, I had an idea that if I commit to take a picture of my lunch and post, that it could help me stay on the good health wagon when dining out.

So I did – I had turkey chili with an apple. Then I declared (to the hubs) “this bowl is my  favorite item on the Panera Bread menu.”

photo 4B

I’m not sure how long I’ll keep up the posting of what I eat when we dine out. But for the next month, I believe this is going to be a good way to keep those goals in check.

I’m thankful for bootstraps, lunch dates, great conversations and for keeping the scissors out of my hair another day.

Cheers to pulling myself up by the bootstraps.

Blessings – Debbie

Lately

Posted on by
Reply

A couple of things have bugged me. It’s small stuff, really. Nothing earth shattering. But I decided to make a blog note of it, as the little things too shall pass.

Truth – I have not successfully picked up on my healthy eating habits as planned by the 1st of the year.

However, I did have a really good 2 weeks healthy run and had nearly lost the weight I gained over the holidays. And then I fell Flat. On. My. Face. A few days ago. For shame.

DSC_9468-b

What is it about this year and not being able to get control of myself?

Well I started back again today on the plan. And I plan to pick back up with my monthly health status next month. The truth must be told.

Another thing that’s bugging me is my hair. I decided a while back that I would like to let it grow out again.

But this crazy stage is driving me NUTS! Nuts, people!

And I think the hubs knows I really want to grow it out. So he’s been telling me no, don’t cut it, the last few weeks. This is not like him. It’s just not. As he could care less if the stuff is long or short or in between. He really doesn’t care.

And it’s kinda cool to see him tell me no, more like giving me support to get thru this crazy growing out stage. And it’s working, as it would have been long gone a few weeks ago.

I told you, it was little stuff, but I feel better now that I made a note of it. And I think it will help me to keep things in perspective, remind me that it’s just small stuff and to get a grip on the things that really matter.

That’s all for today.

Blessings – Debbie

In The Ladies Room

Posted on by
Reply

Sometimes I look for inspiration on the internet. And today was one of those days.

I wanted to shoot something unique. Something I’ve never shot or even thought of shooting before.

So I found a photographer looking for interesting shots in the bathroom. And that was just the ticket to get my juices flowing.

So this morning I looked for the bathroom with the most natural lighting. Turns out, the powder room was just the right place. Then I looked for something interesting.

DSC_9388B

What’s more dramatic than a roll of toilet paper nearly out? The shot below happens to be my favorite shot of the day.

DSC_9410B

This shot came from the guest bathroom. And I fooled with it in photoshop to make the colors “POP”!

DSC_9351

And then I took this shot of a couple of bright shower loofahs, just for fun.

DSC_9347

Who knew a girl could have so much fun in the ladies room?

Then I set out to get a few things crossed off my shopping list.

Just so you know, I did finish my book (World Without End by Ken Follett) last evening. And can you believe I had a dream last night about the book? Yes, I was a character in the book trying to solve the troubles of the land. Crazy! This must be a sign that I miss reading the book. TeeHee.

Happy Wednesday!

Blessings – Debbie

January Garden

Posted on by
Reply

Latest edition to the pond – I love the new fish pot the hubs picked up for me, a week ago.

DSC_9171

And I love his new home across the way…

DSC_9345

And I love how the doves stand by – allowing me to take their pictures. I think they are getting ready to nest.

DSC_9233B

And I love the January roses.

DSC_9334 copy

I’ve watched this rose (for days) as the petals continue to open and open and… I don’t have the nerve to cut and bring inside.

DSC_9281B

Things of accomplishment:

  • I finished painting the office over the weekend!
  • We spent a lot of time working in the garden – change is coming!
  • I’m almost to the end of my book. That’s a huge accomplishment plowing thru 1,024 pages this month. But it’s a good read and I’m about to finish it up today…I hope.

And before I forget, yesterday, I wrote with pen (at the Dr’s office) the year 2014 for the first time this year. And as I wrote the date, I said aloud “2014” as if it were a news flash. And a gal gave me a silly look as if to say “duh”.

Wishing a blessed day and week to you…

Blessings – Debbie

What’s Going On

Posted on by
Reply

Well, I’ll tell you. But first, I hope you’ve had a glorious weekend.

So the clock of the New Year is ticking away and we’re getting ready to bid the second week of the new year goodbye.

For the last few days, I’ve been busy doing a bit of this and that.

For starters, I’m reading World Without End by Ken Follett – It’s the 1024 page book our book club is reading. Love the Kindle, especially for larger books!

DSC_9057

And I had such a desire to add turtles to the pond. So I called my pond guy mid week and the girls (two red eared slider turtles) were delivered Friday.

DSC_9072

They are as cute as can be.

DSC_9099B

And a lot of fun to watch them chill with the fish.

DSC_9156B

Along with the turtles, a couple of shubunkin goldfish were delivered too.

DSC_9145B

The hubs vision for his Christmas vacation project is now complete, as of early this past week.

The house now has gigabit ethernet to all PC’s and TV/Media Centers as well as 5G WIFI throughout. “It’s faster than I can keep up with!” I exclaimed, when I gave it a spin. He has not yet tested it to determine if he can really get 1,000 Mbps between PC’s; however, we can now watch a movie off the Office PC hard drive on the TV in the Family Room without any delays or buffering. XBOX also confirms that the network supports HDTV streaming as the network quality bars are pegged to the max. He says the true test will come when we start moving large files across the network. That took a long time on the old network, but should now be 10x faster. This house ROCKS!

DSC_8951

Over the last couple of days, I’ve been busy working on editing Sr pictures. She is such a doll and so much fun to work with.

Liz 076

And I just blogged, that counts for something this weekend. Right?

The hubs and I played backgammon several x’s a day over the weekend. Still love daily games with the hubs.

And now I’m getting ready to watch our show (Revenge) and call it a glorious day and weekend with the hubs.

‘Til next time…

Blessings – Debbie

Breaking Rules

Posted on by
Reply

Breaking Rules – If I’ve learned anything in art class, it’s this “learn the rules” and then I learned that “rules are meant to be broken”. Said my photography instructor last semester.

So I broke the rules in Photoshop on the images I took this morning. Makes me happy.

DSC_8869B

The image below was taken right at feeding time. See all that food?

DSC_8920B

And the afternoon seems to be moving right along. I had a nice lunch date with the hubs. Went food shopping. Returned a pillow. It seems to take forever to find a new pillow, that’s my second return thus far. I decided not to come home with another pillow today. I’m plumb pillow shopped out. But I’m getting a bit accomplished around the house.

On that note, Happy New Year, use your imagination, be creative and break a rule! Or two…

Blessings – Debbie

Togetherness = A Holiday Treat

Posted on by
Reply

Having spent the last 17 days with the hubs around the house, I was hoping he could retire today. Such that we could play house every day, for the rest of our lives.

Image below = one of the chocolate Dove candy wrappers from the holidays. They could not have said it better.

DSC_8865

We worked and played and truly enjoyed our days together.

But today, it was the day for us to find the old routine.

So I got up, prepared the hubs breakfast and lunch, bid him goodbye at the door per usual with a great big squeeze and a kiss, grabbed my camera and took a few shots, missed the hubs, as it’s not the same without him, worked on editing senior pictures and found joy in my day.

DSC_8852B

A little snipped of what is in bloom around the house these days.

DSC_8850

Slowly but surely, we will find our routine.

Blessings – Debbie

Happy New Year

Posted on by
Reply

Wishing a Happy New Year to all of you!

So the hubs and I have spent the last couple of weeks enjoying the holidays, spending time with friends and working around the house.

And working around the house has been right up there on the top of our list.

In fact, I painted the office on New Years Eve. And went to sleep for the night at 8:30 pm. I could not keep my eyes open for the dropping of the ball in Times Square (east coast time).

And on New Years day, paint was applied to the baseboards in the office.

*See Image Below for the hubs project* – The hubs tells me this is going to be our home’s new gigabit network, 5G wifi, telephone, cable, and audio distribution center. I have no idea what this means, but he says I’m going to like it when its finished.

News Flash, he has already shown me the volume control for the outdoors, kitchen and dining areas. He’s right, I’m going to like the goodies.

I don’t know who is having more fun, but I can tell you we are having a grand time.

DSC_8834

I’m working on taking down the Christmas tree today. And I’m so thankful the hubs ordered special ornament containers for me this year. I can’t tell you what a delight it is not having to individually box the ornaments.

Our Lenox ornament this year. Our collection has grown over the last 17 Christmases together.

DSC_8811B

“It’s a day of rest – to rest up from my week of vacation and to rest up for another week of vacation” – Said The Hubs, last weekend. And here this weekend is almost here. And that means it’s back to work for him Monday. But let’s not talk about that now. We’re still on vacation!

One of my special places to spend time, is still around the pond. Lately, I started crushing up the “big fish” food for the babies. Just after a week of feeding, the babies swim up to me as if I’m their best friend. True, they spent their first 6 months eating algae. While they still feed on the algae, they obviously like to forage for new fodder.

What a joy it is to watch the little babies change color. Of all the babies (approx 70 from the spawning last spring), this is the only one who has completely turned orange. And we have one I call “Rudolph” he/she has a red nose and the rest completely dark, just like the other baby you see in this image. We even have a few with a blueish tint. We understand it takes six months for the babies to develop color.

Six months are up, so we expect to see some big changes in the pond this winter/spring.

DSC_8827B

I hope to be back soon as I hate to get so far behind on the blog.

Wishing Joy, Blessings and Happiness to you this New Year.

Blessings – Debbie