Mini-Update

Thanks, everyone. I will try to visit periodically...even if it's just lurking a little! (I never thought I'd say that!) I still do care about what's going on in everyone's life but I just need more time for mine and the things I need to do daily that I take so long to do. I am spending more time in our newly-renovated room where there is no computer. There is the gas fireplace to enjoy and the view of the outside world that we've never had before. My cats are slowly coming into the room more often to be with us so the cosiness beckons me.

The snow is finally melting and we are getting warmer daily temps, enough to get the maple sap running faster. It is a late start here for that. The muddy back yard is not something we're looking forward to cleaning up after the mess of the fall reno. We'd rather be getting the gardens going but that will have to take a back seat.

Within, the next few weeks, the kitchen counters,island,cupboards, floors, lighting and painting should all be done and new stove and dishwasher installed. FINALLY! Looking forward to "learning" how my new kitchen will work!

My health needs a spring tune-up! Sound familiar? I have gained some "winter weight" and need to take off 10 pounds. This is not an easy task for me. I have to take about 10 blood sugar tests a day, write down everything I eat, and the exercise I do. It totally consumes every hour of my life thinking about if I need to eat some carb and if I need to match it with insulin.

I have been trying to swim about 3-4 times a week in a salt water pool plus do some treadmill or nordic walking with poles twice a week. It is always dependent upon whether my knees and/or foot joints are painful or not. My downfall is that exercise makes me sore and HUNGRY! In order not to over-eat, I need to cut down my insulin prior to and after exercise which is the trickiest balancing act ever.

Looking forward to this coming Easter weekend when I'm visiting family. It is so early this year, it is the first year we've had snow decorations alongside the bunnies and eggs in the office!

Hope your spring tune-up is happening and if you celebrate Easter, have a happy one!

The Spring BIG Item Pick-up!

I don't dare go out for a walk any time now. I may never make it home. And this has nothing to do with my recent heart condition. You see, it's that time of year again. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming and people are sorting their junk for the big item pick-up!! Yes, you can't walk one door down from your own house before coming across a huge pile of items no longer of use to the owners just stacked at the curb free for the taking!

It goes without saying, (hey, but I'm saying it!) that anyone who has a vehicle of any sort is out cruising the streets and shopping for any items they could possibly ever put to use. No one can resist. No one is immune to the magnetic effect. I am completely awestruck and totally at the mercy of the curb this time of year. I innocently start out on my walk, supposedly to get my heart rate up with increased speed, but alas, to no avail! Invariably I have to stop and scout the inventory at each house.

And you can't rush these things. You have to peruse slowly and "savour the flavour",trying to think of a variety ofuses for every item you see. Creative thinking knows no bounds! Most of the time it is well worth a thorough search. There is always perfectly good stuff there and I constantly wonder why it was discarded. More often than not, I just get past a few houses and my hands are full, which necessitates a return trip home to unload. Then, I nicely get a fast walking pace going again when I get pulled in once more a bit further along by some more enticing garbage. And so it goes until my garage and basement are full and I still haven't done my walk!

It is rather exciting though, and gets my adrenaline firing with each stop I make! Toaster ovens, couches, stereos, old window frames....The curb is my oyster and the basement is the world in which these pearls reside for yet another year when I finally put them out on MY curb!!

Mother of Invention, looking forward to her walk today!!

Red-winged Blackbird! (Mother's Day)

I saw you on a
Sunday morn so beautiful,
red and yellow bands
Riot of colour
screams out to me from the black
as I walk by you,
sitting on top of
dead old corn stalks from last fall
I can't help but stop
on this Mother's Day
you were singing just for me
Nature celebrates
It's what you gave me
and I have to honour it
I loved your spring song