"Eat To Live"

I promised when I posted about the new diet plan I was on that I would keep you updated with my progress.  Well, I'm happy to report that I've lost twelve pounds!  It's been no effort at all (except a little more time in the kitchen, but it's fun!), and I will venture to say that I feel somewhat more energetic.  I'm learning new things about foods and it's fun making smoothies every day and testing them on the kids.

Picture TWELVE of these!
That's how much weight I've lost so far!!

I like to think of weight loss by visualizing pounds of butter.  I can't believe that I've lost twelve of those!!!  As I said when I initially posted, I'm not trying really hard, nor am I being REALLY strict about keeping on the diet.  To me, it's a lifestyle change, not a diet.  Of course, when DH brings home TWO dozen Krispy Kreme donuts one day last week, what is a person to do?  ;-)  I DID partake, and I DIDN'T have just ONE, either - LOL!  I'm noticing the weight loss so far around my "spare tire" area.

I'm absolutely LOVING my new Vitamix blender!  They are selling them at Costco (Langley) for 11 days right now (July 4-15), and my sister and I went to see the demo today.  It was awesome!  The fellow made soup in it and it was SO delicious, I couldn't believe it!  I had seen the demos on YouTube, but it's different when you are actually there.  The amazing things you can do to eat healthier - absolutely incredible.  My sister bought one, too - way to go, sis!!!!!

In my previous post about the diet, I mentioned the book I am following.  It's called Eat To Live, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  I am so glad that I found it!  What could be better than to have good health?  I can tell you first-hand, that if you don't have your health, you have NOTHING!

So, if you have a bit of spare time, check out your local library or the web for Eat To Live (now a NY Times best-seller!!).  You'll be glad you did!  And no, I'm in no way affiliated with Dr. Fuhrman or Eat To Live - I'm just a believer!

We Thought Of You Today

Life is starting to settle back into a new "normal" after losing Dad on June 9, 2012.  After going through all the things that are necessary when losing a family member, the emotions seem to catch up when life carries on.  I find myself checking to see if Dad's lights are on when I get up through the night, only to realize that he's gone....  It seems like such a hard blow when I realize it, but I was there when he left us, so I know it's true.  Why do our minds play such awful tricks? I guess all this is normal, but I just can't seem to REALLY believe he's gone.

Bye, Dad - I miss you! 

We Thought Of You Today

We thought of you today,
But that is nothing new.
We thought of you yesterday
And will tomorrow, too.

We think of you in silence
And make no outward show.
For what it meant to lose you
Only those who love you know.

Remembering you is easy,
We do it everyday.
It's the heartache of losing you
That will never go away.

In Loving Memory Of John Ronald (Ron) Tapp

June 18, 1930 - June 9, 2012

 

It's here, it's here!!!!!!!!!

Just out of the box - my NEW Vitamix!

After what seems like forever, it's finally here - my VitaMix!!!  I haven't unpacked it yet, but I can't wait to begin making smoothies and dressings and many more exciting things to help me on my way with the Eat To Live diet by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  I will keep track of my progress here.  I am going to be starting S-L-O-W-L-Y, but hope to be fully on track soon.

Tonight I had a smoothie for supper along with a nice salad with romaine, papaya, tomatoes, green onion, celery, orange peppers, snap peas, mandarin orange segments and a few other things I can't remember.  Anyways, I hope that I can get healthy and my new Vitamix is going to help me!!!!

One of Dr. Fuhrman's recipes includes an "Anti-Cancer Soup".  Can't wait to try that one!

Today marks what would have been my Dad's 82nd birthday.  He missed making it by NINE days!  Happy Birthday, Dad!  We miss you a lot!  :-(

On a little happier note, we have a new furry member of the family.....her name is Maybell.  Isn't she CUTE???!  Maybell needed a new home, so...... Not sure that hubby is too impressed, but..... LOL!

Bye, Dad

Saturday, June 9, 2012 is the day my father took his last breath here on earth.  It was nice that his three daughters were able to be by his side.  Luckily, my sister, Janet, was able to make it and arrived at 11 p.m. Friday night.  Dad passed away the next morning at 10:55 a.m.  Two of us were with him from when he was admitted to hospital on the Wednesday morning.  Dad would have been 82 on June 18.  It all still seems a bit surreal. 

This Father's Day will be a tough one.  We will take DH's father out for lunch or dinner to celebrate him.

Enjoy your fathers this weekend, everyone.

Abby's Special Egg

So, Abby (our resident feather plucker) has decided - along with every other bird in our household - that she is hormonal. What a FUN time of year!  Instead of actually LAYING an egg, she has chosen a substitute - a small plastic mug for the birds - a foraging toy.  This is Abby's "egg of choice"!  Pretty cute to see her on it, but I can't help but wonder if it isn't uncomfortable! Here are a few pics of her last night. 

"This is MY egg - even though it doesn't LOOK like an egg!"

"I DON'T appreciate the intrusion!!"

"I LOVE my green egg!!!"

It's really fun trying to change her paper as she is so protective!!  Cute, hey????

Springtime Easter Bunny Giveaway!!

Angi over at Drakestone Primitives Country Cabin is having a generous giveaway!  She is offering the sweetest little primitive Easter bunny holding his own Easter egg - he is just SO sweet!  Go to Angi's blog and check it out! 


Sweet Bunny giveaway at Drakestone Primitives
Country Cabin - SWEET or what????

Good luck to everyone who enters and thanks Angi!

A Sunday Morning Surprise

I love having Bantam hens around the farm.  They are SO cute!  We have a Bantam (meaning SMALLER) hen on the farm currently - her name is Molly!  She's VERY cute!  She came to live with us back in the fall.  She found a friend in Reuben the rooster.  He's a very handsome guy and easy to get along with.

The only BAD thing about Bantam hens is this.....



Molly the Banty hen and one of her brand new babies


I looked out the laundry room window this morning to see Molly with EIGHT of these!!!!!  It certainly WAS a Sunday morning surprise!!!!!

Clear The Roads

DS got his "L" today.  In British Columbia, we have a graduated driving license program.  The "L" allows people to drive only with supervision for the first year.

 

The "L" is a magnet that is issued by the Government and it MUST be displayed on the back of a vehicle that is being driven by an "L" (learner) driver.

So, my friends, be forewarned!  The roads will NEVER be the same!!! 

The Seasons of Life

I had a pretty yucky flu before/during/after Christmas.  With the cough that was one of the last "stages" of this flu, I was affected for almost 8 weeks.  It was a doozy and many people I have spoken with have also been down for several weeks with this one.  My 81-year-old father lives with us in a mobile home on our property.  He is able to be independent and we each have our privacy, but are close enough if need be. 

Well, the nasty flu bug caught up with Dad.  He went downhill pretty fast once he caught it.  He also has prostate cancer, so is somewhat immune compromised with the meds he is on.  Well, within 10 days, I ended up having to call an ambulance for Dad. He had pneumonia. It was a particularly snowy night and he had fallen and was not altogether coherent, so I called because I certainly was NOT comfortable taking him into the hospital by myself.  He was in the hospital for six days and never left the emergency department of the Abbotsford Regional Hospital the entire time he was there.  That is how BUSY our hospital is!  After six days, he was released.  My sister, Karen, brought him home in a very weakened state.  I was out of town that weekend helping a friend move. 

Long story short, Dad is recovering, albeit slowly.  It turns out that he has never been truly sick in his 81 years on this planet!  Can you believe that?  He was nauseous in the hospital for several days and had never experienced that sensation before - almost impossible to comprehend for the average person!!! He is NOT a happy sick person (of course, who is??).  We have HomeCare coming in to assist him once a day with dressing and bathing.  I am helping where I can with meals, meds, etc. and my wonderful sister, Karen is helping me when she can.  She lives 45 minutes away, so it's difficult, but she is always there for me if/when I need her whether it be for physical or mental support!! Thanks, Karen!! Y

So, my life is not quite my own right now.  DS turned 16 on Saturday the 4th.  DD is 13 and they both are really becoming mature young adults.  I guess that's why they call us the "sandwich" generation - finish with the kids and then help care for the parents.  "Seasons of life".  I'm certainly not complaining, but it's not easy!

My dear friend, Connie, lost her Grampie at the age of 91 years on Saturday.  I will forever remember that date as that was DS's 16th birthday.  I had the priviledge of meeting Connie's Grammie and Grampie in 2008 when she and I went back to visit with her family in Ontario.  My thoughts and prayers are with you & your family, my dear.  I know how much you loved your Grampie and how special he was.

Blessings to all!  Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to those in blogland.  It seems like time goes so very quickly and other things take priority over blogging.

2011 ended with a bit of a flop in that I had a pretty awful flu through Christmas and the holidays and wasn't feeling too good.  Thankfully I'm on the mend now with just a residual cough.  My 82-year-old Dad has the flu now, though, so hopefully he will be able to fend it off - I'll be keeping a close eye on him.

We did have a wonderful Christmas dinner on Christmas day at my sister, Karen and her hubby Allen's house.  It was really wonderful to enjoy Christmas dinner with family even though I was feeling under the weather.  A very special time, for sure.  Karen, your house looked beautiful and the dinner was AWESOME!  Thank you for having all of us and I'm sorry that it's so much work and stress for the hostess.

Here's hoping that 2012 is kind to everyone. It's like a clean slate and a fresh start, isn't it? 

I'm off tonight to join one of my "other" daughters (Connie's daughter, Tianna) in picking out her wedding dress for an upcoming August 2012 wedding!!  How exciting!!!

Bird count: 2 Greys, 4 Quakers plus 2 foster Quakers plus visiting Lucy Quaker plus 2 Society Finches