got serenity?: sky shots

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Continuing Sky Obsession & Weird Egg?

You could ask anyone, I am really not a patient person. I am antsy and frustrated, most of the time, really! But there are a few things that go against those personality traits that I enjoy. I like to fish. In a boat. With my husband. I've never caught any kind of fish that one might brag about, once I caught an eerie looking drum fish. You might have thought I caught a prize winning marlin, the way I went on about it....
I also enjoy the watching the sky. Why in the world would I watch the sky??
I don't know, really. Except I catch sites like this:

And just a few minutes later:

Perhaps living in the country, where more of the horizon is visible, has got me looking up and out??

I have received such nice comments and emails from readers that want to know more about my progress on my diet adventure. Some emailed me directly, not wanting to post a comment and a few shared some stories about weight and gain and loss. I have decided to post the meals and the progress and see how it goes. I realize now I am not alone in this struggle to keep things under control, and some of you might like to hear about how it goes.

The South Beach Diet appealed to me because it is not stringent about the amount of food, however, there are very strict rules about the type of food. It encourages lots of high fiber, low carb food. I haven't had a bit of sugar or carbohydrate since Saturday night. Yesterday, I felt a little like I did when I quit smoking, those pangs of craving were lurking in my mind, but they soon passed. After all, I think I am literally addicted to candy.
I was eating candy for breakfast! I looked down at the pile of wrappers next to my coffee cup and I was shocked. I had eaten over a dozen little Butterfingers. Before 7am!!? How can that be right? How can that be good?
With that thought in my mind, I went to work on Friday and there were several boxes of assorted candy on my desk. It was every where. I knew my diet had to be tied to my lack of energy and I needed to get a handle on things before I went over 200lbs.
Sunday, Jeff and I entered Phase 1 of the South Beach, which is 2 weeks of zero carbs and sugar, meant to rid the body of the effects of a high sugar/carb diet. But you can eat as many zero carb/zero sugar snacks as you'd like! Eat till you're satisfied, but not stuffed. Sounds like a good plan for me.
Speaking of plans....

This eating plan takes a lot of planning. Much more than I am accustomed to. I plan for breakfast, lunch and dinners, along with 2 snacks a day, for both of us. No bread, no fruit, no sugar. The internet has become invaluable. So many of the South Beach followers spend their Sundays cooking quiches and egg muffins and prepping veggies. None of that interests me at all. Most weekends, we have a sporting even on one of the days, leaving me one day to do the planning and the shopping, I surely don't want to spend the remainder of the weekend doing more chores!!
Breakfasts for us used to be cereal. Everyone had their own box and we'd eat our bowls of cereals.
We can't do that, with the new plan; but I am not making quiches all day long!!
Here is what you must adhere to for the breakfast on Phase 1:

Protein: Quantity is not limited.

Vegetables: Minimum 1/2 cup.

Fruit, Starch, Milk: None

Fat: 1 tsp mayonnaise or oil (optional)

So, many of the webcooks fix quiches, fritattas and egg muffins on their weekends and cut them up for the work days. Not me. I've figured out a way to follow the rules in 2 minutes.

Here's my breakfast. 2 eggs, scrambled with 1/2 cup of spinach and a squirt of water and 1 ounce of low fat cheese. It is really good! My kids think it is strange, but hubby and I have found time in the morning to enjoy this together!

I spray the coffee mug with non stick spray. Crack 2 or 3 eggs into mug. Add 1/2 cup fresh spinach, torn, 1 oz shredded low fat cheese and a splash of water. I mix this right in the cup, toss it in the microwave and after 90 seconds, we have what (kinda) resembles a souffle!

My breakfast is Jeff's dinner, at least until the first of the year, when he goes back to days. When he gets home, I can serve these eggs in a cup with a glass of V-8 and we share this time together.

Sure, the eggs are a little tougher than they might be in a pan, but this is just too easy. It is what works for me!!

Tomorrow, I will weigh myself. I think the last time I did that was May...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Did You See This??

Lately I have been fascinated by the sunsets. As I was out taking pictures last night, I was treated to Venus!

Can you see her??

You can really see the planet!

I never noticed the sky before I got my camera. At least, I don't remember noticing it.

Now, I am fascinated!!

Friday, September 09, 2011

Lots of Orange Today...

Paprika OsO Rose

They tell us these clouds are the remnants of Hurricane Lee, throwing its weight around.

This is SUPPOSED to be Picasso Canna.
No way. It's not even 2 feet tall.
That's what you get when you purchase your bulbs at the Wally, I guess!

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Strange Sights at work

When not working for the grower, I work for a friend who runs an embroidery and screen printing shop in her backyard. I do graphic design and production and have basically taken over the sales department recently. She lives on a farm with a couple thousand acres, we are basically surrounded by corn.
The other day, I heard the strangest noise and took my camera out to investigate.

A helicopter was cropdusting! I had never in my life seen this before and if you weren't expecting it, it will be quite unnerving. He was still at it when I was driving home and many cars were pulled over, with folks taking shots with their cameras.