Filed under When Wood Comes Alive
We have two tomato planters. We converted two brick planters on the opposite side of the house from the garden to square-foot-garden planters, though I used bags of potting soil to top them off this year. The one in the picture above we call the “niche” planter, since it’s tucked in beside the back porch and is shielded by the house.
This is an 8-foot brick planter east of the house. It’s more ‘out-in-the-open,’ much more subject to wind and gets more sun that the niche planter. Sometimes all of the plants do equally well. Sometimes the plants in one planter or the other do better in a given season. I’ve planted 8 plants in this long planter and 4 in the niche planter this year.
I found a good video on pruning tomato plants to increase yield. Usually I just leave our plants and they end up with vines all over the place – an unmanageable ‘mess’ with treasures here and there throughout. I would like to learn to prune the plants so we have plenty of greenery, but they don’t get out of hand. The video I found is “How to Prune Tomatoes for Maximum Yield and Plant Health” by Epic Gardening on YouTube. So far, I’ve learned that the type of tomato plants we grow are “indeterminate,” meaning that they continue to grow until Mother Nature kills the plants.
I’ll watch it over and over again before I actually try to prune the plants, and then I’ll take my time to sit beside each plant and really study it in a way I’ve never done before. Fingers crossed it’s a successful experiment.
They’re getting a good watering with the rain we’ve gotten overnight and today.
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
It’s too rainy to be out working in the garden or the yard today, but –
“Save a boyfriend for a rainy day – and another, in case it doesn’t rain.” ~ Mae West
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.” ~ Vladimir Nabokov
Guess what?!? It’s raining again!! Oh, NOOOOOOO!
“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton
We are just southeast of Fort Smith, so the big green blob with severe yellow and orange blobs encroaching show our day today will be full of storms. A great day to stay inside where it’s safe and warm and dry.
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~ Ashley Smith
I ended up doing a good amount of exercise yesterday, but had listed more than I could do. I did the ‘workout for week 2″ online, and that took half an hour, following by videos for warm-up, stretches, and exercises with weights – another half hour together. I also did half an hour of yoga stretches. This was a good amount of exercise for this sedentary broad. I also had elliptical trainer on the list, but was too pooped to do it. I’m going to think again about what I’m doing, since I’m doing more and more online videos, balancing the exercise time and load a bit better. I’ll try my regular trio of videos, the elliptical, and yoga today and see how that goes.
“Never run in the rain with your socks on.” ~ Billie Joe Armstrong
Filed under .gifs I Love, Mother Nature
Filed under metal art
I consider MyFitnessPal.com an indispensable tool in my efforts to lose the lard. I’m trying to eat 20 carbs or less per day and stay under a certain calorie count. I’m also trying to watch my salt, sugar, the percentages of my carbs/proteins/fats and more.
I basically eat the same lunch every day except Fridays, when we go to Lunch Bunch, so the only thing I’m having to ‘figure out’ is dinner and snacks.
I still have no real concept of how many carbs things have. For dinner tonight, I was planning in my head to eat a bacon-wrapped hamburger patty, steamed asparagus, and a low-carb biscuit from the bunch I made a couple of days ago. When I typed these in, the asparagus was 7 carbs for a cup, throwing me over my carbs for the day. I substituted spinach, and all smoothed out.
I’ll have the steamed asparagus another evening, but it’s taking me awhile to learn what combinations of food are meeting my goals right now. The MyFitnessPal website is saving me.
I’ve been feeling a bit blah the past two days – not sick, just very little energy. Instead of my list of exercises yesterday, I only managed planting tomatoes and my half hour session of yoga. Today I’m fighting with myself about how much I’ll do.
I’m TRYING to just put my head down and plow through it, but I don’t know if I’ll be successful. I know I’ll do my yoga, but the other things on the list – elliptical trainer and 3 video exercise programs of warm ups, stretches, and weights, are still on the iffy list….
The sight of the sun yesterday and today is really bringing up my spirits. I usually enjoy rainy days, but lately it seems we’ve had more of our share. We’re due for storms tonight-into-tomorrow. :0)
I bought 12 tomato plants yesterday afternoon and got them planted. I’ll take pics in awhile and share them with you. I’ll also check on my garden. My plan is to use each sunny day to clean out ONE planter in the yard. We have 14 of them, so this will take awhile. We’ll see how I do. We have errands to run first, so we’ll get some fresh air and sun while we’re out.
I was feeling a bit off yesterday, so only did the tomato planting and my yoga for exercise. I’ll try to do my full list today. I’m doing a month-long exercise plan by Mike of MoreLifeHealth.com and I’m eager to see what the new workout is for the week. I’m supposed to do this every other day during the week.
I’ve been cooking up a storm (for me) lately, trying to rely on meals I make, rather than only the Real Food and Stu’s Clean Cookin’ meals. They are too high in carbs for me right now. Two days ago I made a bunch of ‘Bacon-Wrapped Cheesy Chicken Breasts” by Suzanne Ryan of Simply Keto. Yesterday I made her “Keto Chili.” Tonight I’m making bacon-wrapped hamburger patties. I’m freezing the leftovers in individual serving (or one meal for two) packages so that I won’t need to spend a lot of time in the kitchen for awhile. This saves me work, plus decreases the temptation to eat something I shouldn’t.
Have a great day. I’ll check back with you when we’re back from errands and I have pics to share.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Gardening, Mother Nature, Thoughts on a ________
It seems that winter is having trouble saying goodbye this year. The coasts of the U.S. are both braving snow this week, while the mid-section is suffering through waves of severe spring storms. It’s really a challenge.
Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together. ~ Verna M. Kelly
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. – Victor Hugo
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. Albert Camus
Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart. Victor Hugo
When there’s snow on the ground, I like to pretend I’m walking on clouds. Takayuki Ikkaku
Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it. ~
Richard Adams
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Seasons
Filed under Chainsaw Art, Tree Carving Art, When Wood Comes Alive
Victor Fritch ArtBeats – Recycled Metal Art – Etsy.com
It’s only 50 degrees F. here in Arkansas this morning, but the sun is shining brightly.
If it warms up some more, I’m planning to go buy and then plant tomato plants today. I’m eager to get them in the ground because sliced ripe tomatoes are one of our very favorite things. I’m researching how to prune the plants because it would be nice if we had more tomatoes and less greenery. Usually they get to the point where they spill over the planters and I’m afraid to do anything except enjoy the tomatoes we get.
Today I start WEEK 4 on my low-carb eating and exercise regimen. I’m making “Low-carb Keto Chili” by Suzanne Ryan of Simply Keto. Last week I tried a new recipe, “Tender and Fluffy Keto Almond Flour Biscuits” by heathyrecipesblogs.com. I made a double recipe, so I have plenty for the coming week. My husband is still eating one deli dinner roll per day until he finishes them before switching to low-carb on bread. I’m enjoying these biscuits.
Exercise for today: 1) exercise videos by Mike of MoreLifeHealthSeniors – ‘warm-up,’ ‘stretches,’ ‘weights,’ and exercise workout 2a. Then I’m doing half an hour of yoga and planting tomatoes.
Meanwhile –
Happy Monday!
Filed under .gifs I Love, DIET!, exercise, Gardening
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Joke of the Day
Today is the end of Week 3 of my new push to get the lard off and exercise more to get and stay healthier, whatever my age.
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I will measure at the end of April, but to date there is 28.7 inches less of me than at my heaviest.
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Feelings:
Onward to WEEK 4!
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, character-building exercises, DIET!, exercise
Victor Fritch ArtBeats Recycled Metal Art – Etsy.com
Filed under Driftwood Art, When Wood Comes Alive
Filed under paper art, paper mache
Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Sunday!
I wish you a happy day, a happy celebration, a quiet, calm day.
Yet another rainy day here in Arkansas. After today, we’re supposed to have something appear in the sky that lights everything up and warms the air. I’m interested to see what that is. Maybe we can find and plant some tomato plants either Monday or Tuesday!
I have Easter memories swirling.
Fuzzy SOFT pink angora sweater that made me feel very feminine for the first time a hundred years ago. Sweet rabbits my parents got for the family as pets – we named them “Welsh” and “Peter” Rabbit. Dyeing Easter eggs. Hunting for Easter eggs with a big basket. Eating Easter eggs. Then, many years later, Dyeing and Hiding Easter eggs for our son, plus for my students at school where I taught. Beautiful services. Soul-filling songs.
I am hoping for a quiet, calm day today. :0)
Filed under .gifs I Love, acorn art, holidays, memories, Petr Vaclavek - Dubanci.cz
I’m having a busy day and about half of it is already gone!
The sun came out about 10:30 this morning and the rain stopped (for awhile) so I went out and uncovered my veggie plants. They seem to have come through the trauma of the storms, hail, and heavy, wet sheets fine. I wheel-barrowed the wet sheets back to the house and am washing and drying them, 2 at a time. One more load to go in the washer. Then I’ll fold and put them in the trash bag and take them out to the shop for next time.
I just took a new (double) recipe for “Tender and Fluffy Keto Almond Flour Biscuits” out of the oven to serve with dinner later. The recipe is from Healthy Recipes Blog. The author is Vered DeLeeuw. They are gluten free. The serving size is 2 biscuits, but I’m going to try to be happy with one. My husband will weigh in, also. I’ll check out more of the recipes there. Next up will be a recipe for low carb bagels from my friend, Susy.
I’m about to start my exercising for the day – 3 short exercise videos and yoga.
Hope you’re having a nice Saturday.
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That’s what he gets for eating those beans!
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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
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Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
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And the winner is….
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?
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Filed under communication, Word Play
J.K. Brown – Scrap Metal Artist – Etsy – via boredpanda.com
Filed under metal art, scrap metal art
I use this to play some of my favorite songs when I’m on my elliptical trainer. I have earphones attached and can ‘zone out,’ lost in the wonderful world of music, transported, singing along while I try to do good things for my body.
This is a very old player. Almost everything we own nowadays is ancient when we try to get parts, get things fixed, try to find another one like it to replace what we love – when we’re forced to.
I’ve done two 10-minute sessions on the elliptical trainer recently. I got out my mp3 player and started on the elliptical, only to find my player wasn’t working. After the first session, I came in, plugged it in to recharge it (it had been a LOOOOOONG time since I used it). A day or so later, I did the 2nd session on the elliptical, but the player wasn’t working. I plugged it in AGAIN, this time leaving it ‘on’ while recharging.
This morning my husband told me to order another one. I went to check it to make sure it was, indeed, unchargeable, and found IT WAS PLAYING!
So, like ME, it seems to have some life in it yet. I’ll be using it later today when I have another session on the elliptical scheduled. Fingers crossed both it – and I – are working.
Filed under Favorite Things
A couple of weeks ago at Lunch Bunch, we were having a discussion about habits. I was saying I wanted to build a habit of exercising every day. Bud, Kay’s husband, said he thought that I should be saying “regimen” instead of ‘habit’ because habit could be good or bad and could be broken, while regimen suggested concentration and motivation.
I went home and looked up the words and have to agree. I want to build a REGIMEN on exercising that becomes so ingrained that it’s automatic in my day. I told him yesterday that he was right, and he was pleased. :0)
My REGIMEN is now made up of –
I’m eating low-carb, mainly using recipes from Suzanne Ryan’s Simply Keto. These are delicious recipes not requiring weird or hard-to-find ingredients, and don’t take a lot of preparation. I can make double recipes, freezing the leftovers into individual portions. I’m also experimenting with trying to find some recipes for low carb dinner rolls. (I’m trying a new one today.)
My goals are –
I will finish Week 3 tomorrow. Onward and downward!
Filed under Challenges, Changes, DIET!, exercise
Deep purple is my favorite color. Whenever I see it, my soul reacts, with happiness welling up inside and spilling over. Spring is one time of the year where our yard reflects my love of the color.
They are blooming almost all the way down one side of the driveway now. When they are finished, yellow ones take over.
You can see my heart is really full this time of year. There is much to do in the yard, and little time right now to do it between severe weather. Soon things will tame down (hopefully) and I can get our planters weeded and cleared out, tomato plants in, and buy some purple petunias for the deck. :0)
Stay warm and dry!
Filed under Favorite Things, Gardening, Mother Nature, Seasons
I checked the weather website yesterday evening right before dark to find that, not only were we supposed to get rain after sunset, but HAIL. I went out and clothes-pinned sheets over my veggie planter boxes to protect my sweet, young veggies as much as I could.
It DID storm overnight and we’re still under a ‘thunderstorm and hail’ forecast this morning. It’s raining and very dark outside now, though the thunder and lightning are so noticeable. It looks like the sheets won’t come off until at least lunch time. I hope the plants don’t get squashed by the weight of the wet sheets!
Here was what 3 of the 6 garden boxes looked like last night –
“Read books. Lots of books.”
“Find contentment in creating chaos.”
“Take time to indulge yourself every once in awhile. You deserve it!”
“Don’t be afraid to try something different.”
“Make sure the people you care about know it.”
“Give hugs.”
“Accept everyone for who they are.”
“Be yourself. It doesn’t matter if you don’t fit in!”
“Get into mischief.”
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
creativeartworksblog 