Strawberries, glorious strawberries. I love them, and I eat them three times a day when the luscious crops appear in May. Three weeks or so isn't enough for me to get my fill of them. I love all kinds of fruits, but strawberries fresh from our state's fields are my very favorite.
We'll buy lots of them to eat fresh, as well as to put in the freezer. Mother is a champion at canning strawberry preserves, so we make sure there are plenty of quarts of the berries for her to use. She gives jars of the preserves to family members as gifts for birthdays and Christmas, and some of Hubbie's family buy them. Her preserves are also blue ribbon winners at the county fair each year. I'm so spoiled to eating her preserves that I can't even tolerate store brands.
Hubbie and I picked up a flat of berries at the farmer's market this morning, and Mother and I washed, capped, and sliced three quarts of them to take with us to a granddaughter's baby shower tomorrow. We prepared the rest of the them for our own refrigerator. Yum-yum.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Ballroom Dancing
After a day of violent storms yesterday that cut a deadly and destructive swath through the state, we welcomed the opportunity to de-stress for a couple of hours at ballroom dancing last night.
We didn't have as big an attendance this week as we did last week for country-western night, but those of us who were there enjoyed ourselves. The evening consisted mainly of waltzes and foxtrots, with a few Latin dances mixed in. Our instructor complimented Hubbie and me, saying we look "pretty professional out there." We know she was just being nice, but Mother keeps saying we look good together, too, and another older couple commented that "you dance like a couple of 20-year-olds." We're not convinced, but we appreciate the compliments, anyway. We know we're getting more comfortable and at ease with some of the dances.
We missed the cha-cha lesson, so our instructor took time last night to show us the steps, which will take quite a bit of practice at home. The evening ended, as usual, with a couple of lessons in line dancing, including the "Heavenly Waltz," which Hubbie particularly enjoys.
We didn't have as big an attendance this week as we did last week for country-western night, but those of us who were there enjoyed ourselves. The evening consisted mainly of waltzes and foxtrots, with a few Latin dances mixed in. Our instructor complimented Hubbie and me, saying we look "pretty professional out there." We know she was just being nice, but Mother keeps saying we look good together, too, and another older couple commented that "you dance like a couple of 20-year-olds." We're not convinced, but we appreciate the compliments, anyway. We know we're getting more comfortable and at ease with some of the dances.
We missed the cha-cha lesson, so our instructor took time last night to show us the steps, which will take quite a bit of practice at home. The evening ended, as usual, with a couple of lessons in line dancing, including the "Heavenly Waltz," which Hubbie particularly enjoys.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Stormy Day
A pleasant Thursday evening was followed by a stormy Friday.
We slept late this morning and awoke to dark skies. Turned the TV on to see what was up. The weathermen, who had apparently been reporting for an hour or so before we got up, were issuing warnings about possible tornadoes across the state. Our county was listed as one of the warning areas, though we had plenty of time to prepare.
We hurried through breakfast, got dressed, and gathered stuff into the kitchen pantry...the only place we deem safe enough for a shelter, since it's the most central room of the house, away from windows and doors.
Hubbie put a folding chair in there for Mother, and I gathered pillows to put over our heads. I also gathered my purse, my medications, my digital camera, my small jewelry box that contains sentimental items given to me by Hubbie, and three photo albums...one of black and white, irreplaceable photos of Hubbie's family, one of childhood photos of my kids for which there are no negatives, and two family scrapbook albums that Mother and I have so diligently put together. Hubbie grabbed his briefcase containing important household information, his cell phone, a tote of Shih Tzu's necessary items, and an extra flashlight. There is a combination flashlight/battery-operated radio already in the pantry.
We were as ready as we could be. Fortunately, though, we didn't need to use the shelter, since the storms passed to the east of us. But all day long weather warnings continued, with devestating tornadoes ripping through the state, leaving death and destruction in their wake. To their credit, meteorologists stayed on the air for eight straight hours, tracking the storms as they followed an easterly path across the state. Once there were no more warnings for our area, we went about our usual business, keeping an ear on the reports for other parts of the state. Our hearts sank each time we heard about a tornado touchdown and the horror it left behind. TV news reports of the aftermath are stunning.
We are still in the middle of tornado season, so there will no doubt be many more scares in the weeks to come.
We slept late this morning and awoke to dark skies. Turned the TV on to see what was up. The weathermen, who had apparently been reporting for an hour or so before we got up, were issuing warnings about possible tornadoes across the state. Our county was listed as one of the warning areas, though we had plenty of time to prepare.
We hurried through breakfast, got dressed, and gathered stuff into the kitchen pantry...the only place we deem safe enough for a shelter, since it's the most central room of the house, away from windows and doors.
Hubbie put a folding chair in there for Mother, and I gathered pillows to put over our heads. I also gathered my purse, my medications, my digital camera, my small jewelry box that contains sentimental items given to me by Hubbie, and three photo albums...one of black and white, irreplaceable photos of Hubbie's family, one of childhood photos of my kids for which there are no negatives, and two family scrapbook albums that Mother and I have so diligently put together. Hubbie grabbed his briefcase containing important household information, his cell phone, a tote of Shih Tzu's necessary items, and an extra flashlight. There is a combination flashlight/battery-operated radio already in the pantry.
We were as ready as we could be. Fortunately, though, we didn't need to use the shelter, since the storms passed to the east of us. But all day long weather warnings continued, with devestating tornadoes ripping through the state, leaving death and destruction in their wake. To their credit, meteorologists stayed on the air for eight straight hours, tracking the storms as they followed an easterly path across the state. Once there were no more warnings for our area, we went about our usual business, keeping an ear on the reports for other parts of the state. Our hearts sank each time we heard about a tornado touchdown and the horror it left behind. TV news reports of the aftermath are stunning.
We are still in the middle of tornado season, so there will no doubt be many more scares in the weeks to come.
Pleasant Evening Outing
We had a pleasant outing yesterday evening. It started at 5 p.m., when we went to the local community college for an event aimed mainly at women. Various businesses promoting their goods and services offered participants chances to register for prizes and gave away sample goodies like chocolates, chocolate dipped strawberries, sparkling drinks, and finger foods. We were good and resisted eating or drinking anything.
The vendors competed with each other in presenting elegant booth displays, and most of them gave little token gifts, like notepads, pens, pencils, purse-size sewing kits, sample packages of scented bath salts, sample tea and coffee packets, bite-size wrapped chocolates, silk butterflies, and even a tape measure with a built-in level. Mother won a small prize at one of the bank boothes...a device for hanging sunglasses on a car visor.
The two-hour event included a fashion show, but we could only stay for an hour before we needed to leave and go to the local hunting lodge for dinner and a "stay the course" talk by a financial advisor. The advisor's job was to quell investor fears about the current downturned economy.
As usual, the meal at the lodge was very good, if not in line with our diet. We knew the food here would be richer than we're used to, and that's why Mother and I didn't indulge in the yummies at the women's event.
The menu included a mixed greens salad with sliced stawberries, Craisins, and walnuts tossed with a sweet dressing, pork roast slices, chicken breasts with a cheese topping, herbed mashed potatoes, whole kernel corn in a cream cheese sauce, cut green beans, and yeast rolls. Dessert was a choice of strawberry shortcake, or brownie topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Since we hadn't indulged in the chocolates at the women's event, Mother and I opted for the chocolate brownie dessert.
Door prize drawings followed dinner. Mother won a package of Starbucks Vanilla Coffee Bean Truffles. Hubbie won a ball cap. Moi won nothing again, but Mother said she'd share her truffles with me.
The vendors competed with each other in presenting elegant booth displays, and most of them gave little token gifts, like notepads, pens, pencils, purse-size sewing kits, sample packages of scented bath salts, sample tea and coffee packets, bite-size wrapped chocolates, silk butterflies, and even a tape measure with a built-in level. Mother won a small prize at one of the bank boothes...a device for hanging sunglasses on a car visor.
The two-hour event included a fashion show, but we could only stay for an hour before we needed to leave and go to the local hunting lodge for dinner and a "stay the course" talk by a financial advisor. The advisor's job was to quell investor fears about the current downturned economy.
As usual, the meal at the lodge was very good, if not in line with our diet. We knew the food here would be richer than we're used to, and that's why Mother and I didn't indulge in the yummies at the women's event.
The menu included a mixed greens salad with sliced stawberries, Craisins, and walnuts tossed with a sweet dressing, pork roast slices, chicken breasts with a cheese topping, herbed mashed potatoes, whole kernel corn in a cream cheese sauce, cut green beans, and yeast rolls. Dessert was a choice of strawberry shortcake, or brownie topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Since we hadn't indulged in the chocolates at the women's event, Mother and I opted for the chocolate brownie dessert.
Door prize drawings followed dinner. Mother won a package of Starbucks Vanilla Coffee Bean Truffles. Hubbie won a ball cap. Moi won nothing again, but Mother said she'd share her truffles with me.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Cardiac Rehab
I increased the intensity of my workout again this morning at Cardiac Rehab. My blood pressure reading before I began was 116/67, and by the time the workout ended, it was down to to 90/56. My oxygen saturation is still at 100%. One of the other workout participants commented to me that he'd mentioned to the exercise physiologist he'd never heard of any other cardiac patient having 100% oxygen saturation, and the exercise physiologist said it was rare, and that I just have a healthy set of lungs.
I'm walking on the treadmill at 3.4 miles per hour, which is considerably better than the 2.8 miles per hour I was doing before my cardiac episode. At this rate, I should be walking pretty briskly by the end of 36 sessions.
The treadmill I use has a capacity weight of 250 pounds (I'm way, way, under that, of course). There are two other treadmills, one with a weight capacity of 350 pounds, and one that can accommodate 500 pounds. One very large man who attends a workout session just before me weighs about 400 pounds, I think. I haven't seen him on a treadmill. He's usually seated at a cardio-stepper when I arrive, and a staff member is checking his blood sugar. He also uses oxygen. I assume he does work out, but I don't know how much. I wonder how Cardiac Rehab handles people weighing more than 500 pounds. I'm not sure a person of such extreme weight could even handle much of a workout.
All of us at Cardiac Rehab have found that we need to make lifestyle changes. For instance, I've learned that I need to reduce sodium intake and increase grains in my diet, but for this very large man, changes will be super difficult. Today, the registered nurse took the gentleman and his wife to the conference area to explain how many calories a day he should consume, and the advisability of limiting fats in his diet. The poor man will feel like he's starving if he sticks to a plan that restricts him to the degree suggested by the nurse. I remember how hungry I felt when I began Weight Watchers, and I wasn't obese. I hope this man has the courage to do what is necessary to become heart healthy. He's going to need a lot of help and support from his wife. Since she brought along a legal pad and took lots of notes, I think she's firmly in her husband's corner.
I'm walking on the treadmill at 3.4 miles per hour, which is considerably better than the 2.8 miles per hour I was doing before my cardiac episode. At this rate, I should be walking pretty briskly by the end of 36 sessions.
The treadmill I use has a capacity weight of 250 pounds (I'm way, way, under that, of course). There are two other treadmills, one with a weight capacity of 350 pounds, and one that can accommodate 500 pounds. One very large man who attends a workout session just before me weighs about 400 pounds, I think. I haven't seen him on a treadmill. He's usually seated at a cardio-stepper when I arrive, and a staff member is checking his blood sugar. He also uses oxygen. I assume he does work out, but I don't know how much. I wonder how Cardiac Rehab handles people weighing more than 500 pounds. I'm not sure a person of such extreme weight could even handle much of a workout.
All of us at Cardiac Rehab have found that we need to make lifestyle changes. For instance, I've learned that I need to reduce sodium intake and increase grains in my diet, but for this very large man, changes will be super difficult. Today, the registered nurse took the gentleman and his wife to the conference area to explain how many calories a day he should consume, and the advisability of limiting fats in his diet. The poor man will feel like he's starving if he sticks to a plan that restricts him to the degree suggested by the nurse. I remember how hungry I felt when I began Weight Watchers, and I wasn't obese. I hope this man has the courage to do what is necessary to become heart healthy. He's going to need a lot of help and support from his wife. Since she brought along a legal pad and took lots of notes, I think she's firmly in her husband's corner.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
More Spring Flowers
The tulips are gone now, and the dogwood bloosoms are giving way to leaves, but other spring flowers are on display. The first of the clematis is blooming. We are particularly fond of these flowering vines, because they produce blooms throughout the summer.
The irises, like the white one above, are just beginning to bloom, too. There are yellow ones along the fence, as well, but the purple ones in the backyard beds are just now budding. Irises in our yard bloom later than others we've seen around town. We're not sure why, unless it's because so cool here because of all the sweetgum trees.
In the third snapshot above, a tiger swallowtail butterfly seeks nectar in an azalea blossom. The fourth photo is a closeup of phlox. This time of year provides a feast for the eyes.
Interesting Wednesday
We could have slept later this morning if nature hadn't called Hubbie and me around 7 a.m. Since we were wide awake after that, we launched into the day. After breakfast, I did a 30-minute walk on the treadmill. Mid-morning, Mother came over, and we gathered together various items for two birthday gifts and a baby shower gift for this weekend.
Although we have a couple of drawers filled with gift bags of assorted sizes, wouldn't you know we didn't have the right size for the baby shower gift that includes a large package of disposable diapers. So off we went to the dollar store. Once there, we couldn't resist browsing through scrapbook supplies, which meant we couldn't resist picking up rubber stamps, a photo trimmer, and several cards of alphabet stickers. And we found what we came for, too...a large baby gift bag.
We settled for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bananas for lunch, and then Mother and I went to the beauty shop for haircuts. From there, we visited the farmer's market for the first time this year. Hooray! Our state's luscious strawberries are in. I picked up a couple of quarts, but we'll be visiting frequently to pick up flats of the them to put in the freezer. The market vendor has my name and number so she can let me know when she gets a new shipment from the southern part of our state, where the juiciest berries are grown. I also bought Florida tomatoes that the vendor assures me are good, and a box of new potatoes.
From the farmer's market, we went to walk at the college lake. There was only one other person at the lake today, a young Hispanic man who pointed out something unusual...a crow feeding on a large black and yellow kingsnake that he said this bird and another one had teamed up to kill. One bird, he said snapped at the back end of the snake, while the other one attacked the striking head. I know that crows are opportunistic and will feed on whatever they find, including carrion, but this is the first time I've heard of them killing kingsnakes.
Like always, I learn something new every day.
Although we have a couple of drawers filled with gift bags of assorted sizes, wouldn't you know we didn't have the right size for the baby shower gift that includes a large package of disposable diapers. So off we went to the dollar store. Once there, we couldn't resist browsing through scrapbook supplies, which meant we couldn't resist picking up rubber stamps, a photo trimmer, and several cards of alphabet stickers. And we found what we came for, too...a large baby gift bag.
We settled for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bananas for lunch, and then Mother and I went to the beauty shop for haircuts. From there, we visited the farmer's market for the first time this year. Hooray! Our state's luscious strawberries are in. I picked up a couple of quarts, but we'll be visiting frequently to pick up flats of the them to put in the freezer. The market vendor has my name and number so she can let me know when she gets a new shipment from the southern part of our state, where the juiciest berries are grown. I also bought Florida tomatoes that the vendor assures me are good, and a box of new potatoes.
From the farmer's market, we went to walk at the college lake. There was only one other person at the lake today, a young Hispanic man who pointed out something unusual...a crow feeding on a large black and yellow kingsnake that he said this bird and another one had teamed up to kill. One bird, he said snapped at the back end of the snake, while the other one attacked the striking head. I know that crows are opportunistic and will feed on whatever they find, including carrion, but this is the first time I've heard of them killing kingsnakes.
Like always, I learn something new every day.
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