After the Training and the Walks
A little time was needed to recuperate. I overdid it on Monday with a long walk back from Oak Island and Tuesday I did Zumba and paid the price by feeling even more sore and stiff than I was on Sunday after the Savannah half-marathon. I knew better. Just didn’t want to admit I wasn’t superwoman. The balance of the week was spent going for much shorter walks with my dog Wyke out on Oak Island where the paths are mostly sand, doing some restorative Yoga and generally being a lazy person with my feet up and a book. It was good and I am now ready to go again.
The weather is much cooler which means bundling up in the mornings with hats and fleeces but by mid-day it is back up in the 60’s and if the sun comes out even warmer. I’ll build back up again and do a couple of good long walks this week and if it gets warm enough we might even get out to the beach for a leg stretching long run for Wyke. My other plan is to investigate a shoe store that I have recently heard about whose owner has a knack for fitting people to the correct shoes. I am happy with what I have but am curious to find out if the shoes I have are really the best ones for my feet or is there something better. Stay tuned.
Setting Yearly Goals
I had a couple of goals for this year and one of them was to make sure that I was at least 10 lbs lighter when I had my physical this year. I also wanted to improve my BMI from last year. I had part one of my physical on Friday and I surpassed my goal by three pounds and my BMI went from 27.2 to 25 so I was pretty pleased about that. No matter what I do I cannot get a normal reading on my blood pressure at the doctor’s office. At home it is just fine but there, forget it. The minute I walk in the door I can feel it going up. I tried listening to music, relaxing breathing, thinking of my sweet kittens, you name it I tried it. Luckily they know that about me and don’t seem to be overly concerned. I’m the one who takes it personally! Other than that it was fine. Part two will give me results of blood tests and discussion with the doctor of where I am and where I go. Frankly, I really don’t like going to the doctor. I rather believe in the old axiom of going when you are sick but otherwise why but since my heart attack I have to play the game and go at least once a year. Truly I feel great, I know I am in good shape otherwise I wouldn’t be able to walk the miles I do, climb the hills, walk in a 30 mile three day race or walk in a half-marathon. I eat as healthy as I can with lots of fruit and vegetables, very little meat, and stay away from manufactured food.
For some reason going to the doctor just puts me in a bad mood. The questions they ask on the multiple forms that one has to fill out try my patience and I mean really try my patience. Like asking me if I can dress myself without help. Really? Actually I sometimes need help with a zipper, does that mean I am not able to live independently anymore. My guess is if I was unable to dress myself anymore I probably wouldn’t be able to fill out the darn form either. Enough of a rant but you can see why my blood pressure goes up, right? I think the nurse is a little afraid of me, she seemed very nervous. That didn’t help either.
Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, but 4 Projects Going
Picture 1 – Bookcase; Picture 2 – Bathroom and new Pocket Door; Picture 3 – Closet
Along with the improvements being made to the outside yard, a few things needed some attention on the inside. On Wednesday the demolition work started and I think I have a permanent coating of dust inside my nose. Improvements are being made to the guest area of the house with the installation of a privacy pocket door, a walk-in shower, a closet and then a proper built-in bookshelf in the living room. We had no idea they would be done concurrently. The young man with the sledge hammer said he loves his job. The man building the bookshelf loves what he is doing too. I have let go of any semblance of keeping the house clean and tidy. It’s not possible. They seem to be moving along pretty quickly so the upheaval may not last too long. In the meantime, the kittens get locked up otherwise they go into jail break mode and are out the door before you know it. Wyke needs to stay out of the way too but he is easier to encourage to stay with us rather than bother the workmen.
What to Eat When the Weather Gets Chilly
Soup! I made the pumpkin soup recipe and loved it then I found a recipe for, without a doubt, the best vegetable soup I think I have ever had. I made a huge batch of it last weekend and I have been eating it all week for lunch. It is called Big Batch Adventist Vegetable Soup and it is from one of my very favorite sources – Blue Zones. You have to give it a try. If you take your lunch to work with you then put some of this in a thermos and enjoy it at lunchtime. You won’t believe how good it is. The link goes to the online recipe but here it is so you don’t have to click on anything if you don’t want to. I love their measurements, a handful of this or a big handful of that. My kind of recipe.
Ingredients
4 carrots, diced
4-6 stalks celery, diced
1 big handful diced shallots
½ cup of sliced peppers (red, yellow)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 potatoes, large dice
4 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs oregano
1 teaspoon of Better than Bouillon vegetable base
½ cup of carrot juice (I made my own)
12 cups vegetable broth
Large handful of lentils and/or brown rice
2- 3 dollops of white, rose wine or bourbon (I used bourbon)
1 tangerine or small orange (1/2 zest, and all juice)
Handful chopped flat leaf parsley (optional
Directions
- Saute carrots, celery, shallots, and peppers in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for about 3 minutes.
- Add broth and all other ingredients except for citrus and parsley.
- Turn up heat to boil and turn down to low-med to simmer.
- Simmer for 45-50 minutes.
- Finish by squeezing in citrus juice and zest and parsley (if using).
Note: Customize this soup as you like! You can replace the lentils and/or brown rice with tofu or cooked grains or pasta towards the end of cooking time. Peas or edamame are also good additions.
Have a wonderful week. Here John and I are at the Commodore’s Ball. A rare occasion when we got dressed up and went dancing.
