Day 68: Monday

WEIGHT: 157.0

BREAKFAST: 1 slice of WW toast with SB and an egg, tuna, and relish mix, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

LUNCH: Tuna mixture sandwich on homemade WW bread, carrot sticks

SUPPER: 2 slices WW bread with turkey and stuffing in gravy on top, squash, and a glass of skim milk

EXERCISE: 45 minutes around the block

Back Pedaling a Bit

This is the page from the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Day 67: Sunday

WEIGHT: Didn't weigh myself today

BRUNCH: omelette with turkey, green pepper, American and cheddar cheese, covered with cramberry salsa and sour cream. Delish! Aslo a glass of skim milk

SUPPER: turkey sandwich with SB, canola mayo and stuffing on warm WW bread just out of the oven. Glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: I walked around the block for an hour.

Day 66: Saturday

WEIGHT: 157.2

BREAKFAST: 2 potato pancakes (leftover potatoes mixed with chopped onion and shredded cheese) fried in canola oil, ketchup, 2 slices of bacon, and a glass of milk

SNACK: a banana

LUNCH: turkey sandwich on homemade WW toast with SB and canola mayo, a glass of skim milk

COCKTAIL: 2 Big Jakes: rum, canned pineapple, and a splash of OJ in a blender with ice.

SUPPER: 3 potato pancakes with ketchup, a glass of skim milk

EXERCISE: 40 minutes around the block while the fireworks were going off at the end of the Festival of Lights parade. Beautiful! I wish I'd taken my camera with me.

Thanksgiving

Lots of laughs and food and family. Doesn't get much better!

The cornucopia and the wheat bouquet were on a Thanksgiving card from Anne.

Kylie made the card for us. She's such a good colorer!

Forgot to mention the delicious appetizer Danielle made for us: hot cheesy artichoke and spinach dip. Yum!

I added the pictures on the left.

Day 65: Friday

WEIGHT: 156.6

BREAKFAST: 2 slices of WW toast with SB, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: tortilla chips with a salsa dip

SUPPER: Thanksgiving leftovers: hot turkey sandwich on homemade WW bread with SB, mashed potatoes, squash, stuffing, broccoli with a bit of cheese sauce. 2 glasses of merlot.

EXERCISE: Just up and down the stairs to do laundry. I was going to go out for a walk but when I opened the door, I saw the following so I grabbed my camera, took a picture, then shut the door and sat down!

Bleck!

This is the view from my kitchen window this Friday morning: rain, fog, grayness.

Makes me want to curl up with a good book and do nothing!

There's got to be more beautiful skies out there! Check them out at SkyWatch Friday.

Day 64: Thanksgiving

WEIGHT: 156.0 I like it but it won't last long after all I ate today!

BREAKFAST: Gary made it. 2 fried eggs, 2 slices of bacon, 2 pieces of homemade WW toast with SB on it and a glass of skim milk.

SNACK: a few tortilla chips with a hot spinach and artichoke dip that Danielle made.

DINNER: turkey, corn, squash with brown sugar and butter, broccoli with cheese sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, with gravy over everything. Two homemade white rolls with real butter. A small piece of chocolate cream pie that my mother-in-law made, a glass of skim milk. 2 glasses of merlot.

EXERCISE: vacuuming, cooking, cleaning, rearranging, and a walk around the block for about a mile.

Doodling

You can see how excited I was about that block meeting! I was dreaming about Hawaii.

The viloin and mandolin were the front of a note card from my friend, Anne, and the stamp was on the envelope.

Day 63: Wednesday

WEIGHT: 156.9

BREAKFAST: 1 slice of WW toast with SB and tuna salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: 1/4 of a raised donut

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: tuna salad on a WW Deli Flat, carrot sticks, an apple

SUPPER: tuna melt (Do you think I had enough tuna today?) with cheddar cheese on homemade WW bread grilled using Smart Balance, a glass of skim milk

DESSERT: a glass of merlot

EXERCISE: vacuuming, cleaning, dusting, and a half hour walk around the block.

Day 62: Tuesday

WEIGHT: 156.7

BREAKFAST: 1 slice of homemade WW toast with shrimp salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: lean ham in a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo. Carrot sticks, raw string beans, and an apple

SUPPER: hamburger on a WW Deli Flat with American cheese, canola mayo, and hot pepper relish, coleslaw, skim milk

SNACK: a few pieces of crud

EXERCISE: 45 minutes around the block

Day 61: Monday

WEIGHT: 157.6

BREAKFAST: 1 slice of homemade WW toast with SB, canola mayo, and lean ham, a banana, and skim milk

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: lean ham on a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo, raw string beans, carrot sticks

SUPPER: a hamburger on a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo, American cheese, and hot pepper relish. Cole slaw, glass of skim milk

SNACK: a few Triscuits with the leftover tuna dip

EXERCISE: around the block for a half hour

Day 60: Sunday

WEIGHT: Don't know. I ate before taking a shower so didn't bother getting on the scale.

BREAKFAST: 2 slices of homemade WW toast with SB, canola mayo, and lean ham, a slice of apple, and apple cider, and a glass of skim milk

SUPPER: hot pastrami on whole grain rye with canola mayo, coleslaw, skim milk

EXERCISE: 40 minutes around the block

What We Did Last Weekend

I've had this page done for a few days but couldn't find a time to photograph it when the sun was out. By the time I get home from school, the sun is already behind the mountain. It's a sad time of year!

Day 59: Saturday

WEIGHT: 156.9

BREAKFAST: omelette with green peppers, caramelized onions, 1 slice of bacon, and cheese and 2 slices of homemade WW toast, a banana, and a glass of apple cider

SNACK: More Triscuits than I should have had with a dip I made from leftover tuna salad, cream cheese with chives, sour cream and Knorr vegetable soup. 2 Margaritas with Dottie. These are so good. It's a good thing I don't drink them very often because they're high in calories. To make a batch: 12 ounces of tequilla (I used Jose Cuervo Especiale), 1 can of frozen limeaid, 1 can of 7-up (I used diet...big deal!), and 1 bottle of Carona beer.

SUPPER: Gary made this: 2 fried eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of my homemade WW toast.

EXERCISE: After Dottie left I went for my usual walk and stayed out a full hour in the 30 degree temps. Beautiful!

Day 58: Friday

WEIGHT: 157.5

BREAKFAST: 1 slice homemade WW toast with SB and tuna salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: tuna salad in a WW Deli Flat with raw string beans and an apple

SUPPER: 3 open-faced cheese and tomato broiled sandwiches, a glass of milk

DESSERT: 1/2 a glass of merlot

EXERCISE: 30 minutes around the block and I jogged to the corner store and back.

Day 57: Thursday

WEIGHT: 156.6

BREAKFAST: 1 slice homemade WW toast with SB and tuna salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk.

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: tuna salad on a WW Deli Flat with raw string beans and an apple

SUPPER: 1/2 a quesedilla, and the toppings off 1/2 a frozen pizza (yuck!). 2 glasses of merlot.

EXERCISE: I walked around the block for about 35 minutes.

SNACK: 5 pieces of crud

The Falling Rock: Pinkham Notch, NH

Took this picture Sunday morning on our way up through the notch. It had rained all day Saturday so the blue sky was such a treat.

We always called this the Falling Rock but I think it's real name is Glen Ellis Boulder. It really shows up better if you enlarge the picture.

I actually hiked up there about 20 years ago and ate lunch on the rock. It is definitely not falling!

Check out more skies from all over the world at SkyWatch Friday.

Day 56: Wednesday

WEIGHT: 157.7

BREAKFAST: 1 slice of homemade WW toast, SB, seafood salad, a banana, and a glass of milk.

SNACK: 6 Triscuit Crisps with natural peanut butter

LUNCH: Seafood salad on a WW Deli Flat, raw string beans, an apple

SUPPER: Low Fat cream of mushroom soup with skim milk and tuna on 2 slices of homemade WW toast, leftover carrots from Monday, and a glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: After school it was beautiful so I walked to the PO to mail the Reporter to my mom, stopped at the bank, then walked up Main Street to the Library, then back home. (And all that way, carrying a bag with 4 books in it!) It felt wonderful!

SNACK: I got hungry about 7:30 and had 5 pieces of crud (cheese curds)

Day 55: Tuesday

WEIGHT: 157.6

BREAKFAST: 1 piece of WW homemade toast with SB and seafood salad, a banana, and skim milk

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: seafood salad in a WW Deli Flat, raw string beans

SUPPER: 1 quesadilla: WW tortillas with cheese, onion, green pepper, leftover chicken, salsa, and sour cream

EXERCISE: Walk to the Post Office, hairdresser's, and IGA after school.

Last Week

Had a good week: Kylie came to visit!

The first prompt I gave the kids for their nature journals was to focus on something in nature and find a way to connect it to their lives.

The second day they had to sketch and journal about something beautiful and something ugly.
The third day we went for a long walk and settled at a park. They had to find one thing and make a list of anything else that is the same color. Then they had to write a poem using as many of those color words as possible.

The fourth day found us walking down a snowmobile trail. Once we found a place to write, they had to pick something and tell what it looked, smelled, tasted, felt, and sounded like. then let that lead into a poem.

On the fifth day, they had to write an acrostic poem using the letters of their name. I used my maiden name, for a change since I've done this many time before with my poetry kids. They had to find a connection between nature and their own lives.

On the last day, we climbed quite a ways up a mountain before finding a place to sit and write about endings in nature and endings in their lives.

Day 54 of The Diet: Monday

WEIGHT: 157.5

BREAKFAST: 1 slice of homemade WW toast with SB and seafood salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: popcorn

LUNCH: seafood salad in my homemade WW bread, raw string beans.

SNACK: 3 pieces of crud. This is pronounced "crut" with a french accent. The meat market near us occasionally gets it from Canada and some came in today. It's cheese curds, I guess. It tastes sort of like mozzarella but has a drier texture and a more buttery flavor. Love it!

SUPPER: Chicken breast with Vidalia onion dressing poured on top for the last half hour of baking, baked potato with SB (I even ate the skin and put SB and sour cream in it. Not the best but so good!), carrots, and a glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: a brisk 45 minute walk plus I jogged twice to the store.

Day 53 of the Diet: Sunday

WEIGHT: We were in a hotel so I didn't weigh myself.

BREAKFAST: omelette of ham, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese, home fries, and a few bites of wheat toast at Horsefeathers restaurant.

SUPPER: a seafood salad sandwich on warm homemade whole wheat bread just out of the oven. So good! And a glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: 45 minutes around the block. Plus, laundry and stuff like that around the house.

Day 52 of the Diet: Saturday

WEIGHT: 157.1 Obviously, the manicotti hasn't caught up to me, yet!

BREAKFAST: 2 pieces of WW toast with Smart Balance, 1/2 slice of bacon, 1/2 slice of Swiss cheese, and a fried egg on each. Glass of skim milk

SUPPER: We went to Hooligan's in No. Conway. I had a haddock sandwich on WW bread with tartar sauce, lettuce and tomatoes. I also had potato salad on Gary's lettuce and tomatoes and a glass of merlot

BEVERAGE: After supper we went to Horsefeathers where my brother-in-law was playing in a reunion show of a band he was in back in the 70s called Them Fargo Brothers. We got there about 7 and stayed until 12:30 and I had 3 cape codders (vodka and cranberry juice)

EXERCISE: Nothing specific but I did laundry and cleaning before we left. Our hotel was about a quarter mile from where the show was and we walked it several times. And we danced! We don't do that very often.

Over a Week Ago

I've got two pages painted to journal this last week but nothing is on them yet. I hate when I get away from my normal rhythm.

I'm going to make more of an effort to sty on top of things this week.

The leaves, stamps, quote, and "Linda" are all from my friend, Anne.

The wine tops are from my mother-in-law (She bought the Kendall Jackson because her husband's name was Kendall) and Dottie.

The recangle that the KJ is on was a mistake that I tried (and failed on) for another project I'm working on.

Day 51 of the diet: Friday

WEIGHT: 157.9

BREAKFAST: 1/2 WW English muffin with Smart Balance, canola mayo, and ham, a banana, and a glass of milk.

SNACK: 1 bite of chocolate cake

LUNCH: Natural turkey breast in a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo, a cup of smartfood popcorn, and an apple

SNACK: 3 Triscuits with ham and cheese and a glass of merlot

SUPPER: We went to Mary's Pizza Parlor and I had a large manicotti with two meatballs and a glass of chianti. I'm not looking forward to getting on the scale tomorrow!

EXERCISE: 45 minute walk around the block.

Two Weeks Ago

Boy, time is flying by!

50 Days of Dieting: Thursday

WEIGHT: 160.0 I'm not happy! But, I know the last few days have not really been conducive to losing weight.

BREAKFAST: 1 piece of WW homemade toast with Smart Balance, canola mayo, and ham, a banana, and a glass of skim milk.

SNACK: This was bad! My third block kids have been working on cookbooks and today they had to bring in one of the recipes that they'd made. I took tiny pieces of the following: calzone roll-up (this was delish!), lemon crispy cookies, magic bars (butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, coconut, and I don't know what else but it was good), pumpkin muffins (Yum!), cheesecake (This didn't set too well but the edges were fine), and a chocolate-banana smoothie (surprisingly good!)

LUNCH: Yes, I still ate lunch! Ham on a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo, an apple

SUPPER: pork chops, potatoes, and carrots. A glass of skim milk

EXERCISE: When I got home from school I walked to the Post Office. A good half of the walk was uphill. It took me about a half hour.

Seven Weeks: Day 49 of the Diet: Wednesday

WEIGHT: Day off today so I ate before remembering to weigh myself.

BREAKFAST: 1 piece homemade WW bread, toasted, with Smart Balance, canola mayo, and Vriginia Baked Ham, a banana, and skim milk

LUNCH: At the Muddy Moose restaurant in No. Conway. Southwest wrap: spicy chicken breast, black bean salsa, rice, veggies in a sun-dried tomato wrap, coleslaw.

SNACK: a few Triscuits with a little dip and a glass of merlot with Dottie.

SUPPER: Dottie brought over some hotdogs and rolls and coleslaw so we had those. I put canola mayo and relish on mine. I didn't have any coleslaw but I did have another 1/2 glass of merlot.

EXERCISE: 1/2 hour around the block and running after Kylie at the playground.

Tuesday Day 48 of Dieting

WEIGHT: 158.0

BREAKFAST: 1 piece homemade toast with Smart Balance, canola mayo, and natural ham, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: 6 Triscuits with natural peanut butter

LUNCH: Natural turkey breast sandwitch on a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo, and some raw string beans.

SUPPER: salad with thousand island dressing, chicken fingers from Rudy's, 2 glasses of merlot.

SNACK: 1/2 cup of Smartfood popcorn

EXERCISE: I jogged to and from Rudy's store after school. Kylie is visiting so I didn't go for a walk but I did move around plenty taking care of and playing with her.

Here are some pictures of my beautiful granddaughter:

Day 47 of the Diet: Monday

WEIGHT: 156.9

BREAKFAST: 1 piece of momemade toast with Smart Balance, canola mayo, and natural ham, a banana, skim milk

SNACK: a cup of Smartfood popcorn

LUNCH: natural chicken breast on a WW Deli Flat with canola mayo and horseradish sauce, raw string beans

SUPPER: leftover chicken that my mother-in-law gave us to take home on WW bread with fresh asparagus with cheese sauce, skim milk

EXERCISE: I mowed the lawn and after supper I walked around the block for a half hour.

Day 46 of the Diet: Sunday

WEIGHT: I forgot to weight myself until after breakfast so said to heck with it until tomorrow.

BRUNCH: a cup of decaf with half and half and skim milk, Kahlua, and Amaretto. I know, I know, but I only do this once every two months or so. I also had two pieces of homemade toast with Smart Balance.

SUPPER: Gary's mom invited us. I had two small glasses of merlot, chicken in gravy, baked potato with butter and sour cream, peas with heavy cream, and for dessert, a tiny slice of cherry pie.

EXERCISE: When we got home I walked around the block for about 45 minutes. Plus, I washed all the downstairs windows inside and out this afternoon. It was 60 degrees!

My 45th Day of Dieting: Saturday

WEIGHT: 157.3

BRUNCH: Omelette of 2 eggs, green peppers, ham, cheese, and hollandaise, two small pieces of my homemade toast, Smart Balance, and a glass of milk

SUPPER: 2 tacos made from hamburg sauteed in olive oil, taco seasoning, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, salsa, and sour cream on a whole grain tortilla. Glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: I walked 10 times around the block for over 2 miles. Plus, did normal chores and laundry, etc.

Pink?

What was I thinking, painting a pink background in fall?

I almost repainted it but just started layering stuff on and went with it.

Some you win.

Some you lose.

This was a loser!

44 Days of Dieting: Friday

WEIGHT: 159.0

BREAKFAST: 1/2 English muffin with smart Balance w/ olive oil, canola mayo, and turkey breast, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: 6 Triscuit crisps with natural peanut butter

LUNCH: Natural chicken breast sandwich with canola mayo on homemade wheat bread, carrot sticks

SUPPER: Gary made it! 2 slices of bacon, scrambled eggs with green peppers and onions, and 2 pieces of homemade toast with....BUTTER! So damn good! 2 glasses of merlot.

EXERCISE: Not a hell of a lot! I ran from my room to the office and back this afternoon. I should be out walking around the block as we speak but I just don't feel like it! Blame the wine. Blame Friday night. Blame the temperature in the teens. Blame my laziness. Blame me! I'm going to bed.

Monday Evening

I missed the moon coming over the hill but caught it not too long afterwards while the sky was still pink.

The large building is the junior high school I taught in for 19 years.

More skies can be seen at Skywatch Friday.

Day 43 of the Diet: Thursday

WEIGHT: 159.3

BREAKFAST: 1/2 WW English muffin with Benecol, canola mayo, and turkey breast, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: a cup of Smartfood popcorn

LUNCH: turkey breast on my homemade wheat bread with canola mayo and horseradish sauce, carrot sticks, and an apple

SUPPER: 3 boiled hotdogs dunked in a mayo and ketchup sauce, about a quarter of a cup of baked beans, and a slice of my wheat bread with Benecol and a glass of milk.

EXERCISE: I only walked for about a mile because it was spitting snow, and I was lazy, and I wanted to watch Two and a Half Men, and I was pooped from spending over an hour at Walmart after school. 'Nuff said!

6 Weeks of dieting: Day 42: Wednesday

WEIGHT: 157.9 I like the looks of that! But it won't last long; wait until you see what I ate for supper!

BREAKFAST: 1/2 WW English muffin with Benecol and shrimp salad made with canola mayo and chopped celery, a banana, and a glass of skim milk.

SNACK: 6 Triscuit Crisps with natural peanut butter

LUNCH: Shrimp salad on my homemade wheat bread, an apple, and carrot sticks.

SNACK: a glass of merlot. Dottie came over to visit.

SUPPER: We went to Sinibaldi's with my mother-in-law and Dottie. I started with another glass of merlot, corn chowder, and a salad with ranch dressing. For my entree I had Chicken Dijon which was 2 chicken breasts grilled and brushed with honey dijon sauce. I also had a baked potato with just one pat of butter and a little sour cream. I ate everything! And enjoyed it!

EXERCISE: I walked for about 45 minutes when we got home from the restaurant.

Tuesday Day 41 of the Diet

WEIGHT: 159

BREAKFAST: 1/2 English muffin with tuna salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: a cup of Smartfood popcorn

LUNCH: Tuna salad on my homemade bread, an apple, water

SUPPER: The same as last night: leftover WW angel hair with my veggie and chicken sauce. This was nice and easy since I had a hair appointment and didn't get home until late. I also had a glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: 40 minutes of brisk walking.

Day 40 of the Diet: Monday

WEIGHT: 159.5

BREAKFAST: 1/2 WW English muffin with Benecol and chicken salad, a banana, and a glass of skim milk

SNACK: a cup of Smartfood popcorn

LUNCH: Chicken salad on my homemade wheat bread, carrot sticks.

SUPPER: WW angel hair pasta with a sauce filled with lots of veggies and leftover chicken, glass of skim milk

EXERCISE: I walked 8 times around the block for a good 40 minutes under an awesome full moon.

Here's a photo I took just as it was rising over Cates Hill:

Day 39: Sunday Dieting or Not!

WEIGHT: 159.4

BREAKFAST: Cheese, green pepper, bacon omelette on a WW English muffin with Benecol and canola mayo. Glass of skim milk.

SNACK: banana

LUNCH: Chicken sandwich on homemade wheat bread (Yes, I made bread again. three loaves this week.) with Benecol and canola mayo and a glass of skim milk.

SUPPER: 2 pieces of my bread, toasted with Benecol and natural peanut butter and another glass of skim milk.

EXERCISE: Two miles around the block. Other than that just up and down the stairs to do laundry. We sat and watched 6 episodes of Law and Order: SVU all afternoon. Bad!

Lime and Red?

The more pages I do, the crazier my color combinations!