Hours of yardwork

Looks like, weather permitting, I will be doing yardwork this Saturday. An April project. The yard needs to be raked, sticks and limbs need to be removed. My husband wants to dig the evergreen hedge from the front of the house. It makes me sad because for years, each December, I have decorated the bushes with colorful nets. However, I know the bushes are woody and barren in some places. I guess my fear is that the front of the house will look empty and colorless. We have rhododendron in front of the porch, but the bushes do not add much. Fear the same will happen to the other side of the house. I also need to be proactive and kill the ground ivy which is threatening to take over the poppies that we got from husband's grandmother. We talked about building up a garden bed by the back deck. We would like to plant successive blooming plants...daffs, tulips and hyacinths for early spring, lily plants for later, and summer plants. I generally plant begonia and impatien in my planter boxes. We have a huge silver maple which needs to be cut down. My husband would like a garden of yellow marigolds.

Grateful

I was at home, getting ready for work, when I decided to put the store keys in my coat pocket. I looked through my purse and the keys were not there. The last time I remembered seeing them was at the grocery store the previous day. I didn't know if I lost them at the grocery store or in my husband's car. I tried calling my husband, but he was out on a delivery. I decided to call my son as he has store keys also and he lives 5 minutes from my home. I arrived at work 17 minutes late. When I finally reached my husband, the keys were not in his car. I called the grocery store and a kind woman looked and told me they had been turned in! My son was helpful and told me that he would pick them up. I am so grateful for my husband who took time to check in his car, the person that turned the keys in to lost and found and my son for making a special trip to pick them up!

Parallels

I would hope that eating and living a healthy lifestyle would parallel the fasting that I am attempting during Lent. It is difficult, however. I don't just mean fasting from carbs and refined sugar. I also am trying to eliminate those areas in my life that are ugly. I motivate myself with the Lenten "Little Black Book" and a daily inspirational derived from Pope Francis' homilies given to me by my daughter for Christmas. Words of Pope Francis: "Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words and be silent so you can listen." Pope Francis also says to have a tender heart. Not so easy to do when people drive selfishly or are rude or unhelpful. So you can see what a struggle I have both with eliminating carbs and sugar from my life (I enjoy them) and getting rid of hurting words, sadness, anger, pessimism, worries, complaints, pressures, bitterness, selfishness, grudges and blabbing.

Feeling sick with a cold

My husband has been coughing and sneezing for the past two weeks, and I could feel a cold coming on last week. It struck me down on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I threw my low carb life style to the wind, enjoyed chips and cookies and gained some weight. I have been eating healthier..chicken veggie soup, oatmeal with apples, omelets. It's amazing how muzzy headed a cold makes me feel. I am practicing for a hapkido tournament on Monday and can barely say my name, let alone ki yup. But it is what it is. I have written down some considerations for my form--BIG motions, face the proper direction, high hands and bow wrists in the hoi jeons, count so I don't lose my place, nd FOCUS! Also land squarely on the balls of both feet. I plan to spar also so hope that my weight loss and kickfit training will help! A few months ago, my sister suggested that I let my friendship with my mentally ill friend lapse. At the time, I thought I'd continue friending her, but lately, perhaps because I feel crummy, I am giving some thought to the idea. My friend doesn't want anyone to overhear so she mumbles on the phone so that I can't understand her. She uses foul language and calls her housemates ugly names. We were supposed to get together to celebrate her birthday, but she canceled. A blessing since I am sick and it is hard to take her out. She will be moving into an apartment with two other women and attending a new day program in the next couple weeks.

Something tangible for the trip out west

My elderly father drove about 40 minutes away to the RV dealership. He ordered a trailer and it is being built in Indiana. It is 16 feet long, has a front window. To the left of the door are two bunkbeds. Across from the bunks are the pantry, sink and stove. The trailer also has a toilet, sink and tub. My brother and dad will purchase a tension telescopic pole to put in the shower area to hang their clothes. There is no clothes closet. The trailer has an I pod, 2 extra stabalizing jacks, a power hitch, 2 hoses and adapters to empty the tanks. The trailer should be ready in 3 to 6 weeks! A tangible aspect of my Dad's dream! Something we can actually see and touch! I am making progress on my low carb life style. I have become acquainted with broccoli slaw! Some meals are easy--chili, tacos, roast beef, chicken. My husband and I both eat these meals without adding too much extra sides, making less work for me. It seems everyone on the online site pretty much goes their own way and there is little interaction. I expected this, but it's disppointing at the same time. Because of El Nino, there is a lot of moisture in the US, causing deadly tornados in the south, thunderstorms on the east coast and a winter storm in other states. A blessed snow day for teachers and students today! Enjoy!

Hungry at Work

Because Valentine's Day was on a Sunday, we did not have the intense business that we get if the day falls on a weekday. In some ways it was better, as we could greet and serve the customers and give them individual attention. The owner offered bonuses to us if we sold balloon, candy and bear packages. One of the girls sold 20 some add-ons. I feel like a slacker because no matter how I tried, I was not able to convince my customers to buy the packages. Yes, I sold accent flower, balloons and bears, but not the items that would have gotten me a bonus. I did get a tip, however, so that was exciting. On Saturday evening, as it became more apparent that the owner was not going to buy us dinner, I became sad and irritable. I had a most strange conversation with one of the other owners. It went, "I want chicken." She said, "I'll buy you some chicken." I replied, "No, I want to eat chicken here with the staff!" Crazy, bizarre, isn't it! I realized at home that I was tired and hungry, having eaten 7 hours before, and that I really did need chicken, or at least some protein. So I microwaved some chicken, but it didn't help much as I grumped at my husband about having to rewatch a program that he fell asleep over. He told me to go to sleep, which I did. There is a lot of support at work for a healthy life style. One woman finished the 17 day diet, another is watching her carbs. I didn't realize that eliminating carbs could help me lose weight. To date, I have lost 13 lbs, am hoping to lose 10 or so more. The challenge will be maintaining a healthy life style. I don't crave chips, sweet desserts or candy. I find that I enjoy the taste and smell of food, that these senses have become more acute.

Growing Pains

Husband has not had soda pop in a week or so now. He has had other treats--paczkis, cheesy macaroni and biscuits. Of course, he has access to healthy food. I send him off to work with a sandwich, green salad, and fruit. He finds the other goodies on his own. I'm happy that at least he is trying and hope that he'll get a bit of encouragement, so he doesn't give up the healthy life style altogether. I believe a tiny step in the right direction is the key to a healthy life style. I persevere with my lifestyle choice of healthy food and exercise. I have given some thought to Lent. I am going to focus on helping the needy--feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, welcoming strangers and also on offering instruction, forgiving and praying. Yesterday afternoon my husband and I visited my life insurance agent. My policies are in order and my husband knows how to access them. His affairs are much more complicated, but then I find he makes my life much more difficult. He is frugal so I have to be creative with items we need. He works, manages the bills and does yardwork, but the other chores fall to me. I am grateful that I can do them. His thinking is very linear, so it is difficult to converse sometimes. He is extremely self-centered and self-serving. He is a rooster, I am a dragon. I am a Virgo, he is a Libra. I guess the difficulties make sense when dealing with two opinionated, strong-willed, stubborn as mules people!