Wattle time! A few weekends ago our neighbors B & M were trimming the leader sprouts from their apple trees and I jumped at the chance to get my wattle fence started.  From the two trees there was just enough to start building one panel of the fence. It isn't perfect, but it is fun to put together and I think really adds to the overall appearance of the garden.  A bit less of an eye sore for the neighbors, and a welcome hand built addition to the garden.  Especially as I look into a few cottage flowers that can be grown along the fence that are not of preference to the deer. (since nothing is truly deer proof, they will eat anything, I just need it to be non-preferential for them to avoid it if they have good food elsewhere)

The weather has been difficult over the last few weekends, and in conjunction with my injury, work, and other commitments, it has been too difficult to get the garden beds built.  grrr. This does not bode well for the next few months.  Driving by others garden I am starting to notice the overturned soil, the building up of the internal structures, and a few other critical winter projects.  I am not 'behind' on my ultimate timeline, but, with each passing weekend it means that more needs to be crammed into the few weeks before planting. 

I am excited thinking about the garden. It livens my spirit and gives me a positive surge of emotion.  A much needed jolt to my psyche when there are other stresses from outside that are pushing me down.  That.... is for another post however. 

A win is a win

This weekend was an interesting set of milestones.  Or in my case 1/4 mile stones.  Saturday morning I woke up and stepped on the scale, like I usually do, to find that my weight was somewhere around 160.  It is hard to tell since it is one of the standard scales with the dial, not a digital read out.  If this is really the case then it means I have made some progress since a month ago.  Structurally I have lost about 8 pounds.  YAY!  The working out is paying off, if only a little bit.  Still, if I want to see any real change in my physique, I need to not only continue what I am doing, but up the ante. 

Another positive side effect of the working out, in the roller derby bout that I had Saturday night I played in nearly half of the game, and didn't notice any tiredness, any fatigue, or any other issues. In general I was under control (mental stuff aside), and my body did well. This is in part because of the team we were playing -they are clean/safe players- but it is also in part because of my own fitness.  I took a few BIG hits that sent me flying through the air spread eagle, but it was just a bounce and roll and I was back on my feet no problem.

Last nights dinner was simple and easy, and I am kind of proud of it.  One of the local grocery stores has started a bulk buy section.  A perfect place for me to find whole grains, beans, and other things that are silly to buy in one cup increments.  There, in a new plexi-glass bin was Forbidden Rice, which is something that I used to eat when I was in California.  A dark purple almost black rice that is very nutty, and said to be a super food packed with more of the good stuff per grain than any other rice.  This rice has so much nutty flavor and texture, that a pad of butter is all that is needed in rounding out the taste.  I cooked up a batch of forbidden rice, some simple vegetables, and had the guy do a pork tenderloin.  Round it all out with a Spire Dark and Dry Hard Cider, and it was a perfect meal.

Frakenthumb, Festivities, Failure, and uhm... F

Today I am pondering those things which begin with F.  First off there is my Frankenthumb.  The slice and stitches above the thumb from my wound make it look like I have been pieced together.  The pain is still somewhat there, but the throbbing has gone away.  A thankful change in circumstance, especially with a rather busy week ahead.  (Saturday is yet another roller derby bout, against a more difficult opponent than last time).

Last night I showed up to the track to skate, only to come off my skates during warm up due to an equipment malfunction. I tried to make the best of it and do squats and sit ups to stay active and warm. The workout tho, was a failure, and I found myself heading home early.  Stopping at the frozen yogurt place to try their new 32cal half a cup toasted coconut blend.  Ohm nom nom. Yesterday was somewhat of a 'gorging day'.  I had lots of carbs in the form of 7 grain bread and the yogurt.  The thought process being that I am going to need a good storage tank come Saturday, and don't really want to eat heavy before practice Thursday, or on Saturday morning.  Friday will also be a complicated day due to some plans.

I truncated my work-out on Wednesday also; due to a surprising number of people in the gym.  So, as of this moment I am in a deficit when it comes to my workout. Not a good place to be when I need to be upping the ante even more than I have been.  Tonight, I hope to make up for that.  Starting out the day right by eliminating bread from my breakfast.  Followed by lunch of cut carrots, grapes, and tea, and a mid day snack of an orange.  Dinner tonight, I am not sure yet, but it will be simple. Perhaps a spinach salad?




Finally, I am being frank with myself and focusing on the fact that if I fail to workout... I fail myself.

Axes and Accidents, and maybe a bit of temptation.

What a feverish weekend.  Mom and J were over this weekend, and Saturday while the boys were out playing in the sunshine, I decided to split some kindling.  As I am stacking another log on the splitter, I ran my hand up into the axe blade.  A few hours later, some stitches, and I have all of my fingers and thumb, and thankfully no nerve or tendon damage.
Yay!!!  Of course it placed a small kink in the dinner plans, and the evening skating with my mom and my best friends, but overall it is what it is.

On an up note I did notice while out to eat at a restaurant, that I was full before I ate half of my burger, and had even removed the bun and most of the starchy sides.  Additionally, I found myself very content with smaller portions and eating simply.  Didn't want dessert or other sweet goods, (except for when at the hospital, I need hard candies to help stay focused).  I also felt really good after my small workout on Friday.  30 minutes of cardio, followed by a 5 crazy exercise circuit with minimal breaks, repeated 3 times.  I was dripping sweat and having a hard time completing them all. YAY!  Now, I am somewhat glad that I did a LOT of pushups on Friday, because it might be some time before I can do them again.

I took some photos of myself, some very honest photos, of me in my skivies.  Using them as a comparison along with my weight and measurements to see where I am, how far I have come, and generally.... to keep me motivated to keep going.

Today's measurements:
weight: 166
waist: 30
hips: 41