Here I am girls, let’s talk about how our health-kick is progressing! Here’s some MUSICA to help knock off a couple of calories while chair dancing! I happen to know for a fact it works! 🙂
I can barely type with this music playing, my hands fly off the keys … ← I just made those dots in time with the music! These are pages from my book Girlfriends Forever – ideas I’ve accumulated over the years for living a healthy life. I lift small weights every other day and wanted to show you some of the simple exercises I do with them to keep my upper body strong, with those little back-bone-protecting muscles so I can continue to carry shopping bags, and climb hills in the Yorkshire Dales!
P O W E R F O O D S
Everyday we find out about food-as-almost-medicine, food that delivers a nutritional punch — crunchy vegetables, satisfying proteins, juicy fruits that are vibrant and alive and make us feel that way too.♥ Shop as close to home as possible for freshest and best of everything.
Here are a couple of my favorite “mini meals” I like to eat when I’m trying to cut back and trim down. This first one serves two: Prick a large organic sweet potato, the oranger the better, with a knife, rub the skin with soft butter, salt it, put it on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil (because it will drip on to your oven floor and we can’t have that), roast at 425° until done, about an hour and 15 min. Cut it in half, mash up the potato, pepper it and enjoy. Eat the skin too which will have caramelized in spots, making it even more delicious, filling, and it’s stuffed with healthy beta carotene antioxidants.
Another sort of one-item dinner that’s really filling and low calorie is an artichoke which you eat with your hands, giving extra satisfaction. I get two, one for Joe, one for me. They are good hot or cold, so cook extra if you like them. To make them: put a large pot of water on to boil. Wash the artichokes and trim off the tops (pointy part) of the leaves with scissors (you don’t have to do this, I just like to). Drizzle a bit of olive oil into the tops, drop them into the water, and pour another couple of tablespoons of oil into the water. Grind lots of fresh pepper 
into the water and add about a tsp. of salt. Cover and simmer gently (about a half hour or so) until a fork pierces the stem very easily. You can test for doneness: pull off a leaf, the little lump of meat (at the bottom of each leaf in case you’ve never made an artichoke) should come off easily when you pull on it with your teeth. When they’re done, drain them well. Put them on a plate. If you are a purist, squeeze over lemon juice pull off one leaf at a time, and enjoy. If you are like me and inherently impure (I inherited it from my dad), give yourself a TBSP of mayonnaise in a little side-cup to dip the leaves in. If this is your whole dinner, you can afford some mayo calories since there are only about 60 in the artichoke. Some people like to dip the leaves in melted butter; I like mayo better, but try it and see what you think. After you have eaten all the leaves and are down to the skinny feathery ones, don’t eat those. 
Scrape them out of the base of the artichoke with a dinner knife. What’s left is the heart, the most delicious of all, the reward at the end, and wonderful with a little mayo. It takes a little while to eat an artichoke giving your tummy plenty of time to realize it’s been fed, thereby ending the begging for more thing. Always remember how important consciousness is while trying to eat healthy. If your mind is crying out for a hot fudge sundae, just remember to say to yourself, “In ten minutes, this voice will be gone. This too shall pass.” And it will, just give it a minute.
That year is going to pass anyway.
I bet lots of you have one-food meal tips, foods that “get you through.” Share please! Have you ever made my easy recipe for wholesome, soul-satisfying Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti? It’s really good. If you haven’t and you’d like the recipe, let me know — I’ll put it in the next post. For you who have the Girlfriend’s Book, it’s on the page titled “Healthy Quick Cook”, page 110. Which brings me to this . . .
Oh yes. Good segue eh? It’s time to give away these two books! And I have to say, any cooking you do at home, anything you make from scratch is bound to be healthier than anything store bought. I am sure none of you would think about putting preservatives or MSG into your food — so although the Summer Book is not a “diet” book in any way, the recipes reflect my favorite things in cooking, “easy, quick, elegant, delicious, and nutritious.” Vanna knows this because she is the perfect example of health. Here she comes now, toddling in with her scrambled egg-white breakfast, her face smeared with a masque that looks like chocolate, and kind of smells like it too. (Hmm, is she not telling me something?)
“Vanna, will you please draw us a winning name? In fact, draw two, so you can get back to pampersville.” (I hear the bubble bath water running upstairs, we wouldn’t want to hold her up. VANNA MUSICA PLEASE.)
Into the basket filled to the brim with your names she goes, long arm reaching deep, round and round she swirls her arm, she’s stirring them up really well. “OK, Vanna, go for it!” Up she comes, just halfway, she stops, she’s fishing around. The gleam in her eye tells me she has one … she starts up again, and out of the flying slips of paper, she brings ONE NAME, the winner of the two books has landed! “Go back down Vanna, we have another book to give away.” Down she goes, to the very bottom, and slowly, because of her drama queen propensities, she withdraws the second name. She hands it to me with a flourish. OK, I have them both. “Bye, Vanna, thank you darling girl! Good job!” OK, Girlfriends, are you ready? I said, ARE YOU READY? (Do you hate me now?) OK, here we go. With no further adieu, here are our winners:
For the two books, The Summer Book and Girlfriends Forever:
The Lucky Winner is: PATTY P.
(the Patty P. who had “tichi” as part of her email address)
Everyone say: YAY FOR PATTY P!!
For my newest book, COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS, Book of DAYS
Our fortunate girlfriend is:
Sally L’H . . . hooray for Sally!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to both of you! You’re going to find an email in your boxes announcing you as our WINNERS. Write me back, tell me the names you want in the books so I can sign them for you, include your addresses and they’ll go into the mail very soon. We are so happy for you!
And for all of you who didn’t win this time, we hope for better news next go ’round! And for you who tried to order the BLESSINGS DAY PLANNER BOOK from our web store, and couldn’t, that’s because we ran out! So sorry, it’s always hard to gauge how many we should order, but Kellee tells me that more are on their way. She’s going to fix it so you can order them today, but they won’t go out until we get them into the studio, which she says could be up to three weeks or so. Oh! And I forgot to tell you — last week Kellee put up the new CALENDARS for Pre-Order … you can reserve your copies now if you like.
And now, I hope a walk in the garden on a spring day on Martha’s Vineyard will feel like a nice consolation prize. I’m so sorry if you didn’t win. You have no idea how hard it is to pick just one or two winners. In our last two posts we had almost 3,000 comments! That’s quite amazing, and does cut the chances down a bit! Still better than the lottery. Oh well, let’s go to the garden and drown our sorrows in flower petals.♥
You can almost hear the water rolling onto shore . . . and smell the petals blowing out of the trees. I’m not sure you can really see the petal situation . . . so here . . .
this is how the lawn looks — just one of the many reasons to plant a flowering tree . . . so you have something to roll around in on warm spring days!
Flowering trees also make very nice wedding and baby presents . . . here’s the one we gave to our friends Laura and Charles Harris on their wedding day about ten years ago . . . her mom just emailed to me. ♥ So fun to see it!
Speaking of beauty, our pink angelique tulips are coming into bloom
Angeliques are very famous tulips and you can see why . . . just click on that link and see if you get inspired to plant some of your own next fall. They will grow in warmer climates too, but you have to keep the bulbs in the fridge for awhile so they can “winter over.”
I looked over and saw these two little people waiting for me at the door . . .
Yes, we do have deer on the island … they supposedly swam over here from the mainland. They rarely come into town, lucky for us. This one went strolling through our yard last year. Quite a surprise, thank goodness she didn’t stop for lunch! Obviously a “city deer” — she looks both ways before she crosses.
Home I go through the petals. Have a wonderful day wherever you are — be sure to try one of those easy recipes girlfriends. And remember, our “health kick” isn’t all about being thin. The real prizes, as I wrote above, are energy, vitality, self-confidence, strength of spirit, character, and grace. Most of which you already have . . . and for those things and for us, I leave you with this toast . . .
Love you. xoxo, Susan
Oh, that Angelique tulip! Swooooon!….and hello to you, of course, and Girl Kitty and Jack!
Is that what that orange one is? I’ve been lusting for it since it showed up in an earlier post (even tho I don’t have a yard!). It’s gorgeous.
The pink one is the Angelique — the orange ones were just labeled “orange” — no real name. We just put them in last year, love the color!
Thank you for always inspiring us to be our better selves, inside and out! I started the morning sitting on the bed with my kitty looking out at our beautiful flowering cherry tree that is snowing pink all over the ground. It is a peaceful way to begin the day. I love the real “prizes” you mentioned, all of which you have in abundance. Happiness and vibrant health to all!
Thank you Rosanne, sweet thing to say!
Yea, Patty P.! Hooray, Sally! Way to go, you lucky girlfriends:). Now I’m off to order my “Counting Our Blessings” book…got a little nervous yesterday when I saw that it was already sold out!
Congrats Patty and Sally! Love, love the tulips, Susan! This weekend I planted a champagne poppy. It was a pale creamy white. Then another bud burst into bloom and it is orange! They look like tissue paper flowers.
We are having dreary rainy weather here in central Va. The rain is good, but I want to see the sun. I hope all the girlfriends have finally seen the last of winter! It helps to get fit when the sun reminds you of beach weather!
mmmm Poppies! 🙂
Yay for Patti P& Sally L H! Congratulations ladies! Just came in from working outside, raining now, good excuse to quit! Such a nice surprise to see who won your great prizes! Thank you so much dear GF for your generosity – you sure know how to draw a crowd! Also, thanks for the healthy food pep talk, I needed it! And, very good exercise hints! So far today, I’ve walked with my friend, & then yanked some !@# weeds to make room for more beautiful flowers! Now I’m off to eat an orange (& pretend it’s a cinnamon roll), then go help my 97 yr old Mom! BTW, we think Mom is 97 because when they retired from their little grocery store (she did all the stocking), she started walking an hour a day!! And she has always been a healthy eater (unlike her daughter), she’s amazing! She still walks twice a day for 10 min. with her walker!!! xoxoxo
Love your mom Joan, such positive energy to be related to!
Congrats to our girlfriends who won!
I love every one of the blogs; it is like we are winners every time that there is a new one.
Happy Spring! My lilacs are starting to open and smell oh so wonderful.
Congratulations Patty and Sally, you lucky girlfriends. Just adore that pic of Girl Kitty and Jack. They didn’t like that you went outside without them. Being of the same age as you I know all about the wonderful recipes, info, and exercises you shared. I started eating healthier about 8 years ago and I have lost a few pounds and really feel better. Walk with the dogs for an hour a day, 30 minutes twice a day. We can do it!
My walk truly is the best part of my day. I say it every time I’m out there.
Just LOVE your cute quotes! They always bring a smile………..
And just what I needed……..had put my walking shoes on to “exercise myself” but thought I’d SIT down and peek to see if there might be any word from Susie B. this morning……..my pet name for a sweet girl we all love……… and wouldn’t you know! You had exercise in mind, too! So! It really worked out well that I postponed my exercise a bit and got a new idea for my little weights……I usually pump them up and down as I trot my first quarter mile on the treadmill but hey! I could do these reps while watching an old movie…….like “Friendly Persuasion!” (I just put in a request for it at my library! Thanks for the movie hints, too!” )
I will be on the Vineyard next Tuesday or Wednesday, so if you happen to see an extremely sun deprived woman from Minnesota admiring your garden please come out and say hello!
I’ll recognize you by the leaping for joy for the sun! (Praying we deliver it for you!)
Congratulations to Patty & Sally! You [or whomever is going to get them] will love those books, girls… I say this as a Girlfriend Guarantee!
Love the idea of sharing our own little health-kick tips. The best one I know is to REVERSE THE SIZE OF YOUR MEALS – make breakfast your biggest, most calorie-laden meal and supper the smallest/lightest. Now this is where I usually hear people say, “Oh but I’m never hungry in the morning etc etc…” That’s because they were so well-fortified at last night’s dinner. But when all you eat for supper is a simple salad – bowl of soup – dish of scrambled eggs etc the night before, you soon WILL BE looking around the kitchen with more interest in the am. And here are 5 items from my own MUST-HAVE list:
1 – PLAIN GREEK YOGURT. Let’s just say I’m addicted – a Super Food in my book. Fat-free and twice as much protein as regular yogurt [I eat 8 oz every am].
2 – ALBACORE TUNA. Spend a few cents more for albacore – just because it’s so delicious. PS – it really is chicken-like. Great added to any kind of salad [except fruit]. Of course a great sandwich – and also great just with a little Italian salad dressing drizzled in [yes!].
3 – RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT [either fresh fruit or juice, preferably both]. One of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Ever.
4 – CANNELLINI BEANS [dry or canned – either is great]. Something else that can be added as low-fat protein to so many things.
5 – FILIPO BERIO EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. Keep this for “direct eating” – dipping bread, making your own salad dressings etc. Use other milder olive oils for cooking purposes. Our family started using this decades ago on the advice of one of my mom’s bestest friends – a very wise Italian lady – and we never looked back. So good I would happily do a commercial for the Filipo Berio people for free [oh I guess I just did]. :>)
And now, a palate cleanser… Did everyone see the wonderful feature on Grilled Cheese Sandwiches done by the ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ yesterday? Apparently… grilled cheese is “trending.” cbsnews.com/sunday-morning/ Have a wonderful week all! :>)
These are some great suggestions, Janet. Also, I always keep Romaine and a bag or package of variety greens on hand, along with avacados, cucumbers, radishes, snap peas, cherry tomatoes and really good black olives. Two or three nights a week, I’ll just have a salad for dinner. And even when I have something else, I’ll have a small salad of just greens.
I love Romaine too, Victoria. And Boston/butter/bibb lettuce – LOVE that too. I have at least 3 Caesar salads a week [always adding chicken, tuna or beans]. I love Burt Wolf’s line about lettuce [I think it was Burt Wolf]: ‘…iceberg lettuce has about as much nutrition as an iceberg…” !! :>)
Hi Susan and Janet, I have a friend who is eating the way you describe and she has lost about 15 pounds. She says to eat like a king at breakfast, eat like a prince at lunch and eat like a pauper at dinner. You will get used to doing this very quickly.
I agree! Sometimes I have a nice big (but healthy) “late lunch” and something very tiny for dinner.
They say that your largest meal should be breakfast and the smallest one dinner. Tell my husband that though, LOL
I know. You’re right, Carol – I don’t think most men would easily embrace the Big-Breakfast/Small-Supper plan. I guess there are SOME good things about not having a husband/family. Don’t have to contend with anyone else’s schedules, preferences etc. I can eat whenever and whatever I please. And I am bad sometimes. Example – every November when Girl Scout Cookies are delivered, I have a much-anticipated supper consisting of nothing but ice cold milk and one whole row of Thin Mints – YUM! :>)
We sort of just add some monster food at the end of the regular meal. Like with the sweet potato, Joe has pork chops!
Thin mints…. Yum!!!! My favorites!!
“Monster food” – !!! Hahahaha! :>)
YES, I saw the grilled cheese segment and I immediately made one for brunch/lunch….boy was it good!
Wasn’t that great? I was just salivating… Apparently grilled cheese is “trending” because of the economy [people tend to gravitate toward childhood comfort foods during difficult times]. I loved seeing all the different combinations and inventions… even dessert grilled cheese! :>)
Hoorah for Patty and Sally 🙂
Love the flowers and the deer and the cat peeps at the door.
Such sweet faces!
.*✻✿✿¸.*✻ Huge Congratz to Patty P. & Sally! Very Lucky Gals Sweet Sue! I Love Your Blog Today I Feel Healthier Just Reading it…& Very Inspired too! I Love Your Video of Springtime on Your Island & That Beautiful Tree covered in Pink Blossoms….Gorgeous! I Can Feel The Breeze… 😉 The Photo of The Kitties watching & waiting for You to Come Back Inside… Beyond Kitty~Kute! Meow & Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! 🙂 After 7 Days of Rain The Temps Dropped & The Sunshine is Back & Our Spring is Just Glorious! all My Windows are Opened Makes Me want to Twirl! Shall We? 😉 Love & Laughter for a Wonderful Week Sweetest Sue! xoxo Poof! .*✻✿✿¸.*✻
I betcha all that flitting around, sparkle spreading, keeps the weight off you really well Angie!
✻✿✿¸.*✻ 😉 ✻✿✿¸.*✻ xoxo Poof!
~ Good Afternoon~
Congrats to the winners!~ my favorite healthy recipe is My Favorite Blueberry Chicken Salad from a couple of posts back and for exercise~ I always walk for 30 minutes after I get up~ no excuses! ~ I usually end up doing it in the house as I’m still in jammies!~ I hope the sun is shining wherever you are~ that’s always a motivator!~
Blessings~
Lynn
Huge help, a nice day makes it all easier!
I have another recipe I will be using again today~ unfortunately~ the dog got sprayed the last 2 days by a skunk!~ investigated the yard before letting him out but out of nowhere~PU!!! I consider it healthy as it is mostly natural and makes the Ir almost fit to breathe!
~Here is the recipe if you ever need it~ hope you don’t!~
Rubber gloves
1 qt. hydrogen peroxide ~ 3%
1/4 cup baking soda
1-2 teaspoons Dawn dish soap
Mix all ingredients together and apply to your damp pet
Leave on for at least 5 minutes and then rinse
Re~ bathe as needed
*Use care around your pet’s eyes, ears and mouth~ also the hydrogen peroxide has bleaching properties so it may lighten you pet a bit or anything you may get it on*
Consult your vet if you have questions before using~ Good Luck!
Makes the air fit to breathe~ cannot see what I am typing through the fumes!!
Yikes Lynn, I’ve smelled it close and it’s nasty!
I’e always heard tomato juice … have you ever tried that? It’s probably an old wive’s tale but lots of times they work!
~ Hi again~
Just finished bathing my inquisitive beagle~ I can breathe again for the most part!~ I tried tomato juice and shampoo from the vet but this remedy works the best~ it is actually scientific~ these ingredients~ when mixed together~ actually neutralize the smelly, greasy, musky mess~ who would have thought I could be so “brainy” at such an early hour?? It STILL stinks outside and I can smell it in my basement~ why can’t they smell like gardenias or roses or lilacs?????N
If this keeps up I will have arms like The Incredible Hulk! My beagle is not exactly small~ I have started his involuntary quest to lose a few pounds too~ maybe it’s revenge????
~And it’s birthday month at my house!~ Maybe I need to be doing beagle presses and lifts the entire month??
Beagle Presses! I should have thought of that when I was painting my weight lifting poses!
I guess because then everyone would hug them they are so cute!
Yes … tomato juice does work. It is not an old wives tale… or maybe it is! Does the job … and well 🙂
I think that sounds rather nice, a bath in tomato juice! Relatively speaking!
Hi~
I’d rather use my tomato juice for a Bloody Mary! LOL!
Congratulations to the winning girls!!! And Susan, thanks for sharing the photos–our grass is turning green now but the tulips and daffodils here will still be off a couple of weeks, as well as the flowering crabapples…I think we are FINALLY through with the snow, though! 🙂 Temps in high-70’s for a couple of days. Time to wash rag rugs I’ve woven and hang them out and start Spring Housecleaning! Good idea to give a tree for a gift–the gift that keeps giving! And I had to laugh at your technique of salting your dessert–yikes!
I know, Joe really does not like it, but it works. I get a bite, and goodbye to eating the entire thing! It’s worth it! A $5 bite! Oh well.
What if you and Joe shared one dessert? You have your bite and hand the rest off to him – though maybe he’s not a Dessert Guy??
He’s not, and I become the victim! He brings home delicious things that he never eats! Once I opened the fridge and there was a great big juicy chocolate eclair in there!
OMG – Joe? That’s shocking!! Doesn’t sound at all like the Joe we’ve heard about in song and story… That’s torture!! You tell him if it’s not nicer to you, he’s going to get a visit from Amnesty International – and he’ll have some ‘splainin’ to do!! :>)
He’s a gift giver, little presents are around. Deep in my heart, I saw that chocolate eclair and went yesssssssss!
I love you more!
🙂
Last summer you mentioned a limeade that you make – it had an herb in it? Is that recipe on the site some place? The weather here is warm and that sounds good!
Yes, Basil — yum! Here it is: BASIL LIMEADE
Susan, you are a rock star! Thank you so much! This time I wrote down the recipe (on one of my SB cards, of course), and can’t wait to try it, especially with a turquoise straw!
Thank you for asking — it looked so delicious, I sent the recipe out on Twitter too! Thank you for the reminder!
Congratulations to those winning the books. I’m headed over to order Blessings now. Your Health Kick info was just what I needed today. I’m slowly losing as that is the best way. I try not to think how far I have to go. I appreciate the exercise tips. The perimeter of our property, not counting the woods, is one-third mile. I’m trying to walk the dog the perimeter 3 times daily. The weight lifting tips will be good for alternate and rainy days. Speaking of rain, we’ve had so much we can’t plant the garden, but the flowers are loving it. Hugs and thanks.
Get a book on tape, it’s the perfect thing for walking, and makes you look forward to it SO much when you get a good book.
Susan, I too have cleaned up my diet starting in February and I feel so much better. Along with smoothies for breakfast (I add baby spinach, Greek yogurt, assorted fruit, 2-3 ice cubes, 1/4 cup of water or almond milk and 1Tb of Chia seeds) I have also discovered Corn Thins (found next to the rice cakes) only 23 cal. each. They are crunchy and good with Almond Butter or Tuna Fish…actually anything you would like to top them with. I like them much better than rice cakes. They are also Gluten free. I just wanted to tell you and the Girlfriends about my new find, they may not be new but new to me. Have a beautiful day!
I will look for them. I’m enjoying a seeded rice cracker, very thin, and my favorite thing, really crunchy. Also delicious with everything.
they sound great! I’m going to look for them as well.
OK, I can’t stand it anymore I have to finally ask… Do you HAND write everything, like the first page of this post? Or do you have a font of your handwriting? If you do indeed hand write all that MAN!!! how do you not make mistakes?! ,keep it so clean and straight?! I promise I won’t tell if it is a secret 🙂 ssssshhhhh.
Oh and BTW, chair dancing is about as active as I get! Saw a “sign” on pinterest the other day that is SO ME… “My exercise routine consist of doing diddly squats”. HA! SO ME!
LOL, diddly squats! All my books (so far) have been handwritten. I’ve had a lot of practice, that’s number one. Number two, I do make mistakes, and then I have to fix them. I have a good eye for straight or crooked things. It just came with the territory.
Love that, Nancy! One of my favourites is ‘I never run with scissors . . oh! wait, the last two words are redundant!’
Seriously can’t believe im tattling on myself, but i run a diner and just sat down to lunch chicken finger basket and a banana foster milkshake (our special happy hour shake of the month) no booze: its noon in Wyoming.
Does the side of water and cottage cheese count for anything?
YUM!!! I mean, really!
“Happy Hour Shake of the Month” – what a great idea! Now I wish I lived in Wyoming – just so I could come and get one!! If I ever win the lottery I’m going to play “On the Road With Charles Kuralt” and drive all over the US in my tricked-out Winnebago visiting all the Girlfriends’ towns and document Real Life in America! I’ll visit Cougar Mountain, and Issaquah, and Cave Junction, and Bainbridge Island, and Knickerbocker, and Chihuahua Flats, and Cottonwood – ALL the wonderful little and big Girlfriend home towns we hear about… How much fun would THAT be?? :>)
You could have happy hour shake of the month in the Winnebago!
You’re always welcome at Chihuahua Flats! (Sandy from Chihuahua Flats)
OMG – I’d be so busy gabbing with the girlfriends the poor shake would probably melt and go all warm and flat on me before I remembered about it! :>)
Thank you Sandy! I know I’d love it… xoxo :>)
You are welcome any time!
* Hi again, Janet (in Rochester) *
I really enjoyed Susan’s new post …”Health Kick”…and I read your comments…delightful.
So, you wrote…if you ever win the lottery you plan to “go on the road in your cool Winnebago and visit all the Girlfriends’ towns. Real life in America”. What an awesome idea!
I see you listed me, on Cougar Mountain, as one of the girlfriends you would visit. Well, Janet…
I welcome you, Cougar Mountain welcomes you and the beautiful Pacific Northwest awaits you.
In fact, here on Cougar Mountain, I’ll have an afternoon brunch and tea for you…your favorite blended tea and my favorite cookies from Cougar Mountain Baking Company…Double Chocolate Chip Macadamia, Apple Walnut and of course, Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin.
I know, according to your post, you have your favorite cookies, the Girl Scout Thin Mints, but you have to try our Cougar Mountain cookies. They’re amazingly delicious too. Would you like me to send you a box to sample?
Speaking of posts, check out my reply to your May 1 post on Susan’s previous blog, “Blueberry Angel Cake,” where you commented on the lovely leaves in Rochester, having the same spring-green color as a Crayola box of crayons. I sent you a reply about that.
Have a happy day!
* Dorothy Ann on Cougar Mountain, Washington *
Hey, Dorothy-Ann! I can’t think of much else that would be more fun than bopping around the US seeing the sights and visiting with the Girlfriends. I KNOW I’d get to see the whole country, because Sue has fans/readers in every single corner of it. Although I now think I would actually travel by car and train and get recommendations from the Girlfriends for bed-and-breakfasts and quiet little boutique hotels. As much as I’d love tooting around in a big ole ‘Bago, I think that would be far-and-away the Greener Thing to do.
Sorry I missed your reply – I’ll be sure to go back & check. It’s getting harder with each post to keep up with all the comments. How Sue manages is Beyond Me [I think she’s a summa cum laude graduate of Evelyn Wood]. :>) But I WANT to read everything because this has to be the only place on the web where the comments are [almost] as great as the posts themselves. I never fail to laugh – cry – smile – sigh – learn – relate – remember with every post. That’s pretty awesome in my book.
If there is one, please post the website for the Cougar Mountain cookies. I’m always interested in learning about & supporting family/small businesses. Two out of every 3 new jobs in the US is created by a small business so we need them more than ever. It doesn’t just take a village to raise a child – it takes villages to raise a country. Uh-oh, gotta get going now – here come the Fives!! Take care & xo :>)
* Good Evening Janet (in Rochester) *
It’s about 10:30 PM here on Cougar Mountain.
I just read your reply. So nice to hear from you again. And… here I am with a little follow-up.
You’re right, all kidding aside, the best way to see the USA is by train and car. Of course, I can see you are very much a “green” girlfriend.
Oh sure! Cougar Mountain Baking Company does have its own little website. Just go to: cmbc.com
You’ll find a wonderful home page where you can click onto the company’s story, find out all about those delicious gourmet cookies and browse the online store. If you have any questions just let me know.
Interesting…you signed off your 5/8 post with a reference to…”got to go…here come the “Fives”.
I am an avid fan of the “Fives” too…such a fabulous roundtable of Fox news hosts.
Catch you soon on Susan’s posting pages.
* Dorothy Ann on Cougar Mountain, Washington *
Oh Dorothy-Ann – I have to clarify. For me, the Fives are my kindergartners – they were charging in from the playground when I said “…the Fives are coming…” I call them “The Fives” because in my teacher training so much of the curriculum for very young children was organized by age – activities the Threes can do, the Fours, the Sixes etc. I just thought it was kinda cute and kept it up. Now for 35 years [gulp]. Sorry – that wasn’t very clear of me… Hey – have a happy weekend on Cougar Mountain! I will check out the cookie site too – thanks! :>)
Just finished my lunch. What an inspiration you have shared. Started Weight Watchers 3 weeks ago and have lost 8lbs. I agree, I’m not doing it to be thin but to be healthy and energetic and feel good about myself. I can almost smell that tree! It’s beautiful. Have a good day!
Congratulations, 8 lbs! That’s wonderful.
I didn’t see the desk calendar. I hope you will have one for 2014. I just love mine in my office!
Have a great day!
Paula
Our blotter calendar publisher (Lifeguard Press) has decided they don’t want to do it anymore! ;-( we are devastated. So sorry Paula, and everyone.
Poo! to Lifeguard Press! I LOVE my blotter calendar. Large spaces to write everything and Susan’s love on each page! I’ll have to get a regular calendar and then stick it under my keyboard! LOL
We love it too. Such gorgeous paper!
That was my question, too! Oh, boo,hoo. My fridge will be bare next year and my husband will never know what is going on! But I am so glad I have six more months to enjoy!
What a nice way to look at it Rita — so sorry!
OH NO!!!!!
How will I ever make it through without your blotter calendar? Even office supply stores don’t have nice ones. A store clerk looked at me as though I was an antique when I asked for one. I had to explain what they were! So many really great things that have brightened our lives are disappearing, like going past a store that you’ve loved for years & years, only to see a “closed for good” sign in the window. I guess “I will survive,” somehow, “I will survive.” (Sandy from Chihuahua Flats)
That is the problem with licensing, you have so little control over the products. At first it seemed like the right thing to do, but in the end you never know when they get a new idea, or the company is sold and new people come in, or it just goes out of business. We are trying to make more things ourselves these days, but it’s difficult to find manufacturers in the USA, and overseas is a whole other thing. But we keep trying, and every so often we do manage to come up with something.
Sandy…..I think we are antiques!….but doesn’t that make us more valuable?!
OH NOOOO! I can’t believe it!! What on earth will I do? I’ve bought the blotter calendar every year since you first had them available and keep it on my computer desk!! The large squares and beautiful drawings and pics are perfect. Along with that now, I haven’t been able to find the “months of the year” stickers for a long, long time (the last time I found some it was at your shop in Arroyo Grande where I picked up about six sets and they’re all gone now.) The SB pajamas are no longer available….I’m falling apart! Susan, everything and anything you make is habit forming and it’s hard to let go! 🙁 What’s a girlfriend to do??
I know, so many of the companies I used to license my art to have either gone out of business or downsized. Plus these kinds of products are not made to be around forever. They are supplying the crazy marketplace that requires something new every week. Even my new Blessings Book will not be around forever. When it’s gone, it’s gone. I am just happy when there is something! But I do wish some of it could stick around longer.
Distressing news – when what this country could really use is work for small businesses. You’d think there’d be SOME little start-up printing business around maybe – that would LOVE to get an order like this. Especially with your following. We could pre-order [always a bonus with calendars] so they’d know ahead of time what production costs would be, how much raw material to order, could plan on the number of hours and people needed etc. A win-win situation for the printer, for you and for the Girlfriends [general public too]. A darned shame… :>)
There are rules — you have to print a certain number of anything or they won’t do it. We are relatively small, don’t have a regular store, so in order to print enough so that we could make them ourselves, we would then have to somehow sell it into lots of other stores, which, as you can imagine, opens up a can of worms because then you need to do shows, have sales people, etc. So you would have to grow. I love my small world. But it’s always been a big temptation. Depends on what you want. We go back and forth all the time. I want to be an artist, not a business person.
The angelique tulip is lovely and reminds me of when I grew them at my house in the country. Seems as though they would always choose the week of spring break to bloom while we were away skiing. My neighbors would always tell me how beautiful they were. I’m so glad that you shared yours with us. Thanks for brightening my day. Hugs from The Lady in the Pink House
I had a tree that used to do that to me — pop into bloom when I was away! I finally laid a trap for it.
Congratulations to the lucky winners . . and also to the ‘losers’ who are shedding them pounds. I have dropped about 7lbs, that’s ½ a stone in British measurements, just by sensible eating and a little extra exercise. The wonderful British gardener Monty Don says gardeners do not need to go to the gym so I have been gardening! Far better than impersonating a hamster on a treadmill, don’t you think? Tomorrow, I am going to weed my neighbour’s little patch outside her house. She has a bad eye and cannot bend to pull the weeds that are taking over. She has gone away for a few days, so I am going to give her a surprise when she returns. Hopefully, by the time it needs doing again she will be well and able to do it herself.
Love that tree blossom, why, it looks like snow on the ground. Susan, you have such a lovely, musical lilt to your voice, I could listen all day. Just this week, the leaves have finally appeared on my apple tree, but no blossom or ‘snow’ yet, very worrying. Will I have apples this year? I’ll get back to you on that one.
Well, you have deer, and I had a red fox in my garden! He was such a handsome fellow, very like Mr Tod, or the fox in Jemima Puddleduck, whose name I forget now. He was right up, so close to my cottage I could scarcely believe it! I took a lot of photographs, of course, because my camera is always to hand.
I love when wildlife comes into my garden, and I’m not fussy about letting plants and flowers self seed all over the place either. Nature’s gifts and blessings . . counting, counting, counting them blessings!
Forgot these two little ditties, handed down from my Great Grandma
Eat breakfast like a prince, dinner (lunch) like a king, and supper like a pauper
After dinner (lunch) rest a while; after supper walk a mile
Love walking after dinner on summer nights, and here they come!
Already started this when it was light enough at 4:00 p.m.! Now going out around 7:30 daily (weather permitting 😉 ) Evening strolls are the best when the day’s work is done and I relax surrounded by nature as I prepare for my night’s restful sleep.
Oh, you are the beloved! A person who sneaks into the yard and weeds! I love it when my girlfriends and I are deep in conversation and end up weeding each other’s yards as we talk! I saw my first red fox on our trip to England. He just stood there on the path in front of us, deep in the woods, and let us admire him. It was really wonderful. Love hearing the news from over the pond, thank you Deborah.
What a lovely and inspirational posting! Thanks for the uplifting words of encouragement and to be ourselves as well!
A few days ago I got out my hand weights which were scattered around the house.
I put them in a basket in the family room . After I saw your blog this morning I got
started on my arm exercises—thank you for the inspiration!! Also wanted to let you
know how much I loved the blog, as usual ! I especially love anything in your garden.
Congratulations Winners!!!
Susan, I would love your spaghetti squash recipe! Sounds yummy!
I just have to say, and I’ve said it on here before, you are SUCH AN INSPIRATION!! You have taught me to relish the little things in life. I love reading your website and looking at my wall calendar daily. Sometimes I peak ahead to the next month but I try not to…I like it be a fun surprise 🙂
Your biggest fan!
Shellie
Thank you so much Shellie! Love having you here!
Congratulations to the lucky winners! I second Jeannine’s comment – every time I visit here, just reading your blog posts is like winning a little prize. Thank you for sharing your fairyland tulips and blossoms blowing on the breeze.
We eat a lot more veggie meals in the spring and summer. Calabacitas (sliced squash – usually zucchini and yellow crooknecks, though sometimes we add patty pan or whatever other squash we have growing — diced tomatoes, kidney beans, bell peppers and corn cooked in a little chicken broth – kind of a stew, served with spanish or yellow rice), is one of our favorites (if we’re feeling decadent, we’ll sprinkle some grated cheese on top). Also, stir frying whatever veggies come ripe from the garden or that we have on hand – in a little sunflower oil (a dash of sesame oil can make it extra tasty, if you have some), with a dash of soy sauce and rice vinegar at the end, always makes for an interesting meal. Depending on our mood and the veggies on hand – we substitute olive oil with a little red wine or red wine vinegar (really good with new little potatoes and mushrooms!) instead, for a more Mediterranean-style flavor.
Serendipitously, we just had an artichoke meal last night (we were bad though and had both a little mayo and butter – but sometimes it’s good to be bad ; ) – and also just yesterday, I transplanted two little spaghetti squash plants into my little raised bed kitchen garden. While I may be counting my spaghetti squash before they’re hatched, I would LOVE your recipe for them!
Also – sorry, I seem to be writing a book of my own here, but meant to mention, lol — tucking a garlic clove down into the middle of the artichokes before you steam them, is delicious with the artichoke heart. I don’t have any scientific info to back it up, but it also seems to make the ‘choke-y’ parts looser and easier to get rid of…
Hmmm, very interesting!
You sound like a wonderful cook — making me hungry!
Your recipes always make me hungry – happy to return the flavor, lol
🙂 Terri!
Good morning Susan!
I was so moved by your ‘falling petals’ video. It took me on a ‘mind journey’ right back home to Iowa where I was born. We don’t typically get that same gorgeous display here in Southern CA!
I just wanted to chime in regarding the above mention of canola oil and soy milk. They are listed under the ‘good for us’ category, but nothing could be further from the truth. Canola oil is genetically modified rapeseed oil, and is subjected to intense industrially processing, which leaves it’s fragile fatty acids oxidized and destroyed. This in turn leads to free-radical damage in our own bodies. It is especially hazardous when subjected to further denaturing through high temperature frying, which is what the restaurant industry does with it! It’s much safer (and tastier) to cook our food the traditional way, with heat stable animal fats. Remember, the traditional fat for French fries was tallow. Speaking of the French, it’s important to note that Julia Child herself (as well as her husband) lived into their nineties… and her motto was “If you’re afraid of butter, use cream!”
Soymilk is likewise an new-fangled industrial food product, and as such bears little relationship to the carefully fermented soy products our Asian ancestors consumed. Unlike shoyu, tempeh, natto & miso, unfermented soy is a goitrogen which interferes with our thyroid’s ability to take up iodine. In addition, it has pseudo-estrogenic properties that disrupt our hormonal balance, and anti-nutrient chemicals like phytic acid that block mineral absorption. EEK! I recommend The Whole Soy Story by Kaayla Daniel to help unscramble the industry driven soy propaganda.
For cooking, I prefer to use the fats and oils our great-grandmothers enjoyed such as lard from pasture-raised pigs, tallow & butter from grass-fed cows, goats and sheep, schmaltz (poultry fat) from birds on pasture and organic coconut oil & olive oils. Flax oil is a traditional oil, but must be used raw and stored carefully, as it contains fragile and easily oxidized polyunsaturated oils.
The latest research is proving what great-grandma knew a century ago… it’s not good, wholesome, nutrient-dense animal fats and tropical oils that put weight on our tummies and thighs, but SUGAR in all it’s forms; including pasta, bagels, cakes, cookies, pie, etc. Combine these overly processed grain-based foods with industrial, trans-fat laden seed oils, and the recipe for a perfect storm of inflammation, obesity and degenerative disease is achieved. I encourage you ladies to explore two of my favorite books by Sally Fallon EAT FAT/LOSE FAT and NOURISHING TRADITIONS to learn more.
Much love,
Annie
lardmouth.com (no kidding!)
All good information, thank you Annie. My Joe would agree with you… I scrape the fat off the chicken stock and throw it away, he saves it and sneaks it into everything he cooks. I throw away chicken skin, but if he’s around, he saves it. He’s probably right. But I worry about cholesterol. There are so many different ways of doing things, for every “rule” there is someone out there saying “nay!”
Here’s a factoid that may help. The legendary nutritionist Adelle Davis points out in one of her books that the first recorded case of heart disease in the US is not documented until 1912. Even though farmers had pork chops, pie, whole milk and fresh-churned full-fat butter day after day, meal after meal. However around that same time, the US began widespread refining of grains [in other words, the Birth of White Bread]. Until then ALL the grains people ate were whole grains. AND — if a person eats whole grains, the body is able to emulsify most fats fairly well and cholesterol is not an issue [chemically, the whole grains contain whatever’s needed for our bodies to productively use the fats]. So eat whole-grain breads, brown rice, nuts and seeds… just watch frequency and portion sizes. Moderation in everything! :>)
You’re correct Susan… Joe has it right! Contrary to popular belief, blood cholesterol is a poor indicator of a person’s risk for heart disease. Approximately half of all folks who succumb to a heart attack had normal or even low blood cholesterol at the time of their attack.
A much better and more accurate indicator of heart disease risk is the C-reactive protein test which measures inflammation.
Another and much easier way to assess your risk at home is to simply measure your waist to hip ratio; here’s a link to a free online calculator…
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator/
Excessive inches around the middle section is a predictor of insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, which in turn leads to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Cholesterol is an absolutely vital nutrient that is especially critical to proper brain function as well as hormonal balance and believe it or not, reducing inflammation. Surprising to most people is the fact that cholesterol is a powerful anti-oxidant utilized by the body to repair the damage to arteries caused by, in addition to stress and poor lifestyle choices, excessive sugar and the rancid processed industrial vegetable oils found in almost every packaged grocery store product.
When we blame cholesterol for causing heart disease, it’s equivalent to blaming firemen for starting a fire. Guilt by association! If a person’s blood cholesterol is high, it’s an indication that the body is working to combat the ravages of inflammation by signaling the liver to produce more cholesterol and send it to the site of the ‘battle’. Rather than attempting to lower it (which can only be done with drugs rather than dietary restriction anyway) it’s clearly more sensible to attempt to ‘put out the fire’ by eliminating the cause(s) of inflammation.
Numerous studies reveal that older people with higher blood cholesterol readings have a lower death rate from ALL CAUSES, and that cholesterol levels below 160 are associated with higher ALL CAUSE death rates. This information is obscured because it doesn’t sell statin drugs.
When you understand that the body can either be fueled by sugar or fat, then you begin to understand that drastically reducing or eliminating healthy plant and animal fats will by default result in choosing sugar (in all it’s forms) to fuel your engine.
This is a dangerous strategy, because excess and especially processed, empty carbohydrates again, lead to insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. Much better to follow in the footsteps of our wise ancestors and fuel the body with nutrient-dense animal fats like butter, cream, egg yolks, liver, lard, schmaltz & tallow from pastured animals, and/or organically grown tropical oils like coconut and palm… which were by the way, the ubiquitous fats used by the baking industry up until the time we were kids… remember?
Animal fats are uniquely rich in certain fat-soluble nutrients necessary to a whole host of body operating and repairing functions. Vitamins A, D, K2 and yes, cholesterol, help our immune, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive and neurological systems function properly, protect themselves when there is stress, and repair themselves when there is damage.
Janet is almost correct when she states that the first case of myocardial infarction was recorded in 1912, it was in fact in 1921. Anyone can intuit that it’s no coincidence that Crisco was introduced to the American market in 1911, and heavily marketed as the ‘upper class’ replacement for the ‘peasant foods’ lard and tallow.
Don’t take my word for it ladies, a quick trip down the google highway will prove highly enlightening regarding the truth of the USDA food pyramid. Follow the money! There is little to be gained in terms of profit by offering the American public the wholesome family-farmed foods our ancestors thrived on, and an obscene profit margin for ConAgra in the marketing of the products of industrial agriculture, namely corn, wheat, soy and canola oil. If you’re interested in learning more, here’s an article called The Oiling of America by Sally Fallon.
http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/the-oiling-of-america
Pass the butter dish please! Bon appetit!
Annie
Again, I have to say it, I learn so much here! xoxo Thank you Annie!
Wonderful information, Annie! Thanks for taking the time to post it. I know that after I read Adelle Davis’ “Let’s Eat Right to Keep Fit” I banned margarine from my home and went back to all natural dairy products and real “regular” mayonnaise. I have made lots of adjustments in quantity and portion – but would rather eat a little bit of real butter than a whole lot of chemical margarine… etc etc. :>)
Me too. I’ve never eaten margarine — mainly because my dad would never let it in the house and we all copied him!
Congrats to Patty and Sally on winning ..Awe~some and happy for you both!!
AND …HAPPY that I was able to pre~order the 2014 Caldendars …Hope lots of Pre~Orders will come flying YOUR way!!! A ”win~win” kind of order!!!!
Yes, Kellee decided to do it — we can tell better how many to order when we do this. I really do not like running out of things!
That’s so funny that Rosanne from Oregon inquired about the basil lemonade; I had just sifted through post after post looking for it a couple of days ago! (I book marked the page for future reference.) Question: Is there an easier (or faster) way to revisit older posts? Are they archived someplace that I’m not finding?
I think some of the girls have it figured out, but I really don’t know — I just Google them — such as Susan Branch basil Lemonade. They come up pretty easily like that.
…I also was on the hunt for the post that featured a baked sweet potato, loaded with all sorts of goodies…haven’t found that one yet. I don’t mind the search, though.
Here you go, our favorite stuffed sweet potato recipe! No butter either — and just delicious!
That’s it! Thank you; I’ve been thinking of that interesting combination and want to make them this week.
You are going to love them. Those cold crisp bean sprouts are the perfect compliment to the hot dry soft potato. It’s a surprise. The nuts too. It’s got it all.
Sue – have you ever tried making these with the yellow sweet potato as opposed to the orange variety? The yellows are harder to find sometimes but are very similar to an Idaho Russet, drier, fluffier flesh but [obviously] sweeter and SO GOOD. If you haven’t and can get the “yellows” on the Vineyard, I highly recommend them. :>)
I have, I agree, they are wonderful — but I learned the brighter colored orange potatoes are better for you, so that’s why I go there. I think the lighter ones are the real “sweet potato” while the orange are the “yams.”
Oh, that stuffed sweet potato recipe got me hooked on baked sweet potatoes good and proper! I’ve been eating two a week all winter long. Apparently sweet potato is one of the good foods to eat in the battle against SAD (which I suffer from). Love this recipe. Thank you Susan!
Did you try Vitamin D for SAD? It’s a miracle as far as I’m concerned! Like night and day.
No, Susan, I haven’t, other than in my daily vitamin supplement. I try to treat it holistically, with a light box, diet, meditation, and trying to get out even on the most wuthering of days for some exercise. Will go and look it up! Thanks for the suggestion.
I did all of that too, light box, etc. But I was lacking vitamin D (they say most of us who have dark winters are) and taking it changed everything and almost immediately. I didn’t use the light box at all this entire year. I’m excited for you, I think it will work!
I wish I could live in your shoes for a day…you are so inspiring, and I would hope to learn to look at the world the way that you do. You are so fun and practical at the same time, you see beauty everywhere you look!
I have to tell you I would also enjoy the opportunity to just live in your home, take your walks, and sit in your gardens. I am in the woodworking business and love the historical homes in your area. Thank you for sharing your life through your photographs and paintings.
I hope that you will consider turning your blog posts in to a book, in the very near future. I feel so free of stress and full of energy when I read them.
The historical homes are probably a good part of the reason I came here — isn’t the architecture wonderful? It’s great that you appreciate it too. All that old trim, picket fences, gingerbread. Keep coming here and in a very short time noticing all the beauty around you and counting your blessings will be a regular thing. Then you’re set for life.♥
Thank you for such a pretty and positive post! 🙂
Everything in “The Skinny” is something that we should all incorporate in our daily lives…….thanks for reminding us!
I’m so glad you mentioned yoga – I personally recommend it to everyone I know – it has taught me so much about balance and posture and core strength – all important for exercise of any kind – not to mention every day life!
My little “recipe” for your consideration – oven roasted vegetables.
Mix 1/2 teaspoon each tumeric, ground pepper (I use white pepper) and 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt – mix with enough good quality olive oil to coat the veggies you are using. I have done this with kohlrabi, brocoli and cauliflower and my all time favorite, brussel sprouts. Put all this on a parchment lined baking sheet (for easy clean up afterward)
Pop into a 400 degree oven and after about 10-12 minutes, shake everything around to get the other sides of the veggies ‘toasted’ and bake for another 10-12 minutes. I personally like my brussel sprouts in particular just a little ‘charred’ – but watch things in general during the second go round to make sure you aren’t creating briquets. 🙂
LOL, your recipe sounds so good, but I love the way you ended it!
My sister has a sampler in her kitchen that says: “Dinner is ready when the smoke detector goes off.” 🙂 🙂 I try not to emulate that!
LOL!
That music got me going right off the bat. I kept going back for more and by the time I got to your basket with the herbs and tomatoes in it on your blog I got lost in music outter space! Been listing to Tears for Fears “The seeds of love” album. I could dance around the house every day/all day to all that great music. You find them for me, I’ll do the dancing. LOL
Happy to do my part! 🙂
Dearest Sue and Girlfriends,
Spring came late around Lancaster, but now with such cool(er) weather, it is lasting for the longest-loveliest time! Usually a heat wave for several days hastens all our blooms, but this year–my tulips are still up with glorious color and our blooming trees are blooming their little hearts out. We have “pink snow” just like you, Susan!
I know I haven’t commented for awhile–trying to get my digestive system straightened out. I think I’m back to normal.
Here is my diet tip: Use smaller plates. And then fill half with vegetables; 1/4 with meat and the other 1/4 with a whole wheat grain. I also always allow myself one dark chocolate dove–I call it my vitamin!!–after supper. And when you are doing aerobic exercise, try interval training. That’s when you run as fast as you can for 2-3 (or more!) minutes and then slow down for 2-3 minutes. You keep doing that until 30 or so minutes! And, I know this sounds crazy (and maybe it’s the elementary teacher in me), but go out and get some stickers or stars and when you have had a good day (you met your goals) put a “star” on your calendar! I can’t tell you how fun it looks, and how great you’ll feel when you see your calendar filled up with stars!!
Love to all the Girlfriends, and especially, you, dear Susan, who makes all this Wonderfulness possible,
Linda
Love the elementary teacher in you, Linda! Everyone deserves a gold star on their red letter days!
Hi Linda,
You know I was beginning to worry. But here you are, and so glad you are feeling better! What a wonderful spring you are having. Ours is pretty good…it hasn’t hit 100 degrees and here it is May 7th!! Maybe it will even start raining!
I took a day trip to San Antonio to buy plants at Milberger Nursery, that’s how optimistic I am that it may rain this year! Plants are still on the porch, but I will get them planted!!
Won’t be long and the school year will be over and you will be kicking back in those Adirondack chairs and enjoying the view in your backyard.
And should Janet in Rochester come through in her Winnebago…see if you can’t hitch a ride with her to head cross country and visit all of the girlfriends out West. What a marvelous reunion it would be! Bet I could get Jim to stoke up the smoker, and turn out a West Texas BBQ for all of you..or as they say in West Texas, “all ya all!”
Take care Girlfriend!
Chris
Dear Chris,
I can’t tell you how many times I think, “I wonder if Kevin would be up for a road trip where we see the sights and stop and visit some of the Girlfriends….” You are very special to me, Chris. I was so delighted to hear about the rain you had earlier and will continue to pray for more!! How fun to go flower shopping! Today my plan is to buy some annuals and pepper and tomato plants.
I teach at a UMS elementary school (University Model School) where I teach my first grade class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and send home lesson plans and strategies for the parents on the other days. So I like to think that it is the best of home school and traditional school. I think this had its start in Texas (somewhere in your great state). This is our first year and it has been an amazing success! So, I DO have time to enjoy gardening, family, and even sitting outside! But the summer will be nice when I can put aside the 3 Rs for awhile and focus on home.
And, oh my goodness, the thought of a West Texas BBQ makes me drool and it is only 8:30 in the morning!
Love to you!
Linda
OMG Chris! Forget the Winnebago – I would WALK to Texas for genuine, down-home Texas barbecue!! What can I bring??? :>)
You never cease to amaze me! Adding one more hat (to your seemingly endless repertoire) as health guru. Watch out Dr. Oz! Thank you for your smart, healthy-living ideas and the “sense and sensibility” of them all. My favorite recipe of late is the Tuscan Kale Salad from True Food Kitchen at the Biltmore in Phoenix. Simply toss kale with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, S&P and hot pepper flakes. Then toss it again with Pecorino, Asiago or Parmesan cheese and let it sit 5 minutes. Toss again with bread crumbs & top with more cheese. Its sooo easy … and letting the dressing sit kind of softens the kale. YUM! Here’s the recipe from Dr. Andrew Weil who helped develop the menu at True Food:
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/RCP02206/Tuscan-Kale-Salad.html
“I would rather be covered with sweat at the gym than covered with clothes at the beach.”
The recipe looks delicious Mary — Kale too! Thank you!
Congratulations to Sally and Patty! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. I luv my Summer Book so much; when it first gets summery out every year I get it out and start going through it. And when I’m finally willing to admit that it’s Fall, I put it back in the bookshelf until next year (or until I’m reminded of something in there and pull it out again.) It’s one of my favorite books, and I have perhaps a couple thousand of them. This is a wonderful post, but then, they’re all wonderful posts! Susan, you should make a book of your posts! It would be lovely to leaf through, like a photo album (which it would be that, too!) However, forgive me. You just finished a book we are all eagerly awaiting! Take a much deserved break for awhile and just enjoy. Oh, you have the book tour coming, too. Anyhow, two of the best tips ever for losing weight. I have been retired four years, and without doing anything other than cleaning up my eating habits and walking (and occasionally having little exercise bursts, when I felt like it, which wasn’t much), I’ve lost more than 40 pounds. Now I’m trying to pay a bit more attention. I read something about a man who walked an hour a day every day for a year, and he lost 60 pounds without doing anything else. Just walk one way for a half hour, and back for a half hour, and voila. Also, a good thing for when one has a craving is to simply drink a glass of water. Fiji water is really wonderful, and then it becomes a treat. Or the Italian fizzy water. Thank you again for this post, because I keep meaning to get back on the bandwagon. I have a stack of books, and even a folder I put together. I do everything to prepare, and then I sit down and read. But I’m getting there! I will get up and do it! I will! Oh, that’s something else I read. When you don’t feel like doing it, ignore the feeling and just get up and do it. The whole secret of doing things is ~ just do it! And thank you for all the lovely flower photos. Sigh.
Forty pounds! It sounds like you live on the bandwagon! Good for you! You have the secret!
Having the secret is one thing. LIVING the secret is a whole other thing! Don’t we all secretly want a personal trainer, just to give us a good shove, “Just get up and DO IT!”
Maybe that will be your new career! You can inspire!
Congratulations to Patty and Sally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just in time for Mother’s Day! You are so inspirational!! I worked out today at the gym….working on those ‘wedding arms’!!! Anyone want to challenge me to an ‘arm’ check in?
No use of blusher, bronzer, or other make-up to look like muscles allowed! LOL
This is week 3 and I don’t look any different. I think my body wants to stay the way it is, quite frankly.
On your list of healthy things to eat, maybe we need some updating….soy is a big no-no for most women; it mimics hormones and canola oil should be coconut oil instead. Canola is manufactured and unhealthy. I love this quote from Maya Angelou: She said, “We do the best we can, until we know better….then we do better.”
I’m always on the path to better. It’s never perfect and I slip up but I’m always trying…………….
Have a beautiful week. My hope is that our BIG SNOW that we just had will fill our reservoirs and green things up around here!!
Love you!
xo
Joann
There’s always something … remember when we were supposed to eat everything fat free? Now it’s no Canola Oil but these people at Eating Well have a different take on it. And coconut oil has it’s naysayers too. Hard to know. But just balance, a little of this and a little of that and not only one thing, and we should be OK!
Good luck on those wedding arms! You looked great when I saw you, you can’t have too far to go! xoxo
Oh Susan, I think you wrote this post just for me!! Loved it, and will implement lots of useful tips!
Congrats to the lucky ladies who won! xo
The Summer Book was my introduction to you! Thanks for always being a safe and joy filled spot in my day. Here in Phoenix my annuals are a bit past prime and keeping me busy dead-heading. Don’t flowers bring us such happiness.
Even deadheading is a nice pastime!
Congratulations Patti P.! Enjoy your lovely gifts 🙂
I love the weight loss tips and pics. I also love artichokes for a meal, but I like butter AND mayo….so I really have to watch it or I get carried away. That little dab on the side can become an extra 5 pounds if I dont watch out.
I am trying to get healthier this year too…not just for weight loss, but I do need to lose a few….but to feel better and stronger and have more energy. Right now I am sitting here eating one of my fav. meals: a simple chopped salad w/ cucumber, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and a dash of galic olive oil, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and salt. I let it all sit after I toss it together so that the flavors blend and then I take my time eating a large bowl of health. I dont really even taste the veggies…it all mingles together and tastes delicious. Some days I enjoy a healthy smoothie for a meal….a large one from the Vitamix. I toss in greek yogurt for protein and calcium, and then frozen berries, a frozen banana, small handful of kale and spinach, a few ice cubes and either almond milk, or coconut milk, a bit of vanilla and a dash of pumpkin pie spice, and another dash of stevia. I blend it all up and pour it into a 64 oz mason jar. If you havent tried 1/8 tsp of pumpkin pie spice in your smoothies before, you are in for a real treat! It makes things taste like a pie or a dessert…yum. It is also very filling, which I like.
Loved the pictures of the kitties looking out at you from behind the screen door! They are just so cute!
Thank you for the health tips…it is encouraging to know that some girlfriends are also on a health and weight loss quest right now. I am taking it slow, but steady and trying to replace some old habits that I used to be able to get away with …with some healthier , new habits. I think being consistent is key…and like you wrote…if we lose 1 pound a week for 52 weeks….my goodness….I might have to eat more butter to put on a few pounds! Wouldnt that be heavenly?! 🙂
I love the pumpkin pie spice hint — that sounds really good.
Oh, Susan! That Angelique tulip is sooo beautiful….I just went to Breck’s and ordered some gorgeous pink ones….and right now they are having a sale….$25 off when one orders $50 in product! Of course I had to get four different varieties and will be praying the deer don’t eat my blooms, but I have to try! Thanks for this great post! 😉
Thanks for the sale news Nancy!
Hi Susan,
I just love this post….not that I don’t love all of them. 🙂 The picture of the kitties was priceless. You can just guess what they’re thinking!
Enjoy your day,
Maureen
“Can I come out too.” I think that’s it. 🙂
Encouragement from you means so much on the healthy eating and moving the body front. Thank you! I love spaghetti squash with a little fresh goat cheese stirred in and butter, too. Then top with sauteed kale, chard, spinach — maybe a little caramelized onion. I’ve started making smoothies with recipes from Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Juices & Succulent Smoothies e-book. This amazing young woman brought herself to vibrant health by taking charge when diagnosed with a serious cancer some years ago. Did I mention dancing?! I’ve created a playlist on my computer so I can hop up during the day and have a dance! Great for everything and really opens the heart-brain for an infusion of inspiration. Love all the comments shared here – thank you every single girlfriend!
Mmmm, that spaghetti squash sounds wonderful … I thought pine nuts too, or walnuts. Dancing, SUCH a wonderful happy way to move a lot. Thank you Jana!
Hi Susan!
Yes please ~ share the recipe for Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti~
Smiles, Genie in N.C.
Hi Susan
I too have been losing a few pounds. I was just saying yesterday I needed to find some arm and upper body exercises. And here it was today!! I grabbed my weights and already did them. Thank you for the pep talk also. It got me thru the afternoon slump. The recipes are always great too. Take care and can’t wait for the next update.
You do know I have been trying to motivate myself to get that exercise thing going, don’t you! you sure did an excellent job on this blog note!
Worked so hard in the yard this past week end but need my planned routine again!
The ‘GREEN’ is back! Which always wakes me from my winter cocoon! It’s like the seasons have truly turned a page in time here!
OK,OK, I’ll get to work on it…..
That yard work probably primed the pump for you, you’re ready to go!
You were so right!
Read the blog again! You spoil us so much!XXOO
Congratulations to Patty P and Sally for being Vanna’s pick today! The Angelique Tulip is gorgeous Susan! It looks like a rose. Have a lovely Spring day!
Just an added note. Since I didn’t win the Girlfriends book (& it is no longer available from your store), I went on Ebay & found a copy. So I feel like I won, too!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Good Pam!
I read and re-read your Girlfriends book every year.. at our local library. They have such a great “Susan Branch” section of books.
It’s so nice to hear that! 🙂
I worked at a summer camp on Vashon Island, which is right across from Seattle. One summer there was a black bear that swam over from the mainland! It got into everyone’s trash cans, so they darted him and took him back to a mountain. I think he had a good little vacation on the island though!
Feisty little critter!
Congratulations Patty and Sally!!!
We play a game and lay on the ground and when the petals fall make a wish. You can do the same in the fall with the leaves! Known as a “Joy Break” a break in the day just for some joy!
Another wonderful way to enjoy nature.
The cats are precious! Oh how I miss having a cat!
I hope you’re able to get one soon!
thanks again for a great blog. I have only lost 30lbs in the last 12 months but I do have a hint..don’t measure with a tape measure but use string and put a knot where you are and then you see inches go and it is encouraging. one string for each part you measure. use masking tape to tag each one.
ONLY? Thirty pounds, that is just wonderful. Like writing a book, one little page/pound at a time, but at the end, you did it.
Congrats to Patty and Sally! Wonderful books to enjoy. Thanks Susan for all of the get healthy tips in today’s posting. It is so much more fun to read about exercising with lovely art pictures to lead the way! I am enjoying all of the photos of Spring on the island too. What a paradise of blooms in your yard and streets. Your walks must be just inspiring every morning!
And thanks for allowing us to order the Blessing diary. I have a few friends I think would enjoy this for a gift this year. It looks so pretty from your photos and I love that it is usable for any calendar year. Whoop!!
Those cute kitties waiting for you are just the best. Who can resist such adorable faces!!!
Not me Winnie!
Love all your good good tips, Susan. My sister & I together have been improving our bodies, we’ve lost 80 lbs together. My favorite supper is a small cheese wedge or stick, a few wheat crackers with an orange or a few grapes. Your inspire us to stop and enjoy the beauty all around us! Thanks.
On your book tour will you be stopping in Texas?
How great for you and your sister — and to do it together! GOOD FOR YOU! You are an inspiration. We hope to stop in Texas — we start contacting bookstores soon and then we’ll know.
hello, good afternoon susan and girlfriends. congrats to the winners, but in a way I think we all win here, just for the energy and positive thinking and the good things like walks in the flower petals, or along the beach, or watching a deer in the yard, or turkeys…. the simple pleasures of this life. its been a busy afternoon here, laundry day and hanging laundry out on the line to dry. love sun dried shirts, socks and hankies.. they smell so sweet when I bring them in. plus have to keep an eye on the peeps, they are so big now…swear the sun makes them grow that much faster since we have been putting them outside for the day. plus watering my plants, and checking on the chickens. have 1 broody hen and I hope we see some babies from her soon. love all the good tips on healthy eating, I sort of did that yesterday, well sort of. since it was Cinco de Mayo, we were celebrating by grilling fajitas on the bbq and sitting out back sipping beer margaritas. well they were lower in calories than an actual margarita and actually a lot more refreshing. its simply a thawed can of lime-ade, added to a pitcher of beer, mix well and serve chilled…very cooling and refreshing on hot days. think that just may be my summer drink this year, that and cool water with some lemon or lime juice added for flavor. well off to go fill the duck pool, they splash a lot out during the day and then onward to getting dinner fixed and a salad ready. you all have a great evening, nice time to be sitting out on the porch and watching the sun set. hugs to everyone…… 🙂
Oh Susan, what a funny toast! And here’s to Patty and Sally! Congratulations dear ladies! Thanks for the excersize info Susan, and I love artichokes, I put cloves and garlic powder in my boiing water also. Gives it a great taste, hope te ladies don’t eat the whole leaf, just the tips where the meat is! I like to eat the warm ones with garlic butter, and the cold ones with garlic mayo, and of course lemon juice with both, and in the water. We have been doing them this way for years. And we sure will need these excersizes after making your blueberry cake! Course angle food is the lightest of cakes, so we’re ok. BUT, I confess I made a mint julep pie saturday for the running of the roses, it was to die for! Absolutely delish! (Shame on me!)
Oh well, on to the excersizes! Onward and upwards!
Thanks Susan,
Love ya!
Jeannie
Tweet tweet!
Is there chocolate in that mint julep pie? 🙂
So happy for the winners! Such nice prizes for a Susan Branch girlfriend! Thanks for yet another perfect post! My husband and I worked all day in the yard! Man am I tired, and HE did all the hard stuff! Our Violets ( purple and darling white ones) are dancing in the grass, our Lily of the Valley will be open by Sunday, and the Lilacs have enough open budding to smell sooooo lovely.
I get tired in the garden too, but it’s a good kind of tired! Better than the tired I get from sitting!
Ahhh…what beautiful photos…thank you for sharing and also for your healthy inspirations…spring “sprang” here today…the day before my birthday…the sun is shining and I woke up today so life is good…congratulations to Sally and Patty…they are two lucky ducks…xoxo…
Happy Birthday Rae Ann!
Thank you Susan…it’s a beautiful day here…beautiful cards arrived yesterday from my children and grandchildren with lovely drawings…couldn’t be more special…xoxo…
Happy Birthday Rae Ann! From Sandy, who grew up in Minnesota..
Congrats to Sally and Patty P! I am trying to eat lighter later in the day, and I just love salad!
So filling and tasty and crunchy! You are right Susan, it isn’t about being thin, but feeling good.. I feel a difference in just the short time I have been taking my little walks. And we just brought my bicycle (that has a nice size seat 🙂 ) up from the basement, and my husband is getting it tuned up for me.. Another way to get some fresh air and exercise!
You’re on your way Sandy, happy spring!
Love the new blog, Susan… yes I do! Thanks for reminding us that it’s not all about being thin, but our inter most being. I was wondering the other day just how the Girlfriends are coming along with their diets. Are we all on track? I’ve made it through 2 weeks almost. Hmmm…. seems longer that we all discussed how we were going to lose weight from winter. I go by how my clothes fit me. I’m not one that can lose a bunch of weight, but I don’t really have to. I bought some new clothes a couple years ago (just one size down) and couldn’t get into them last summer. Of course over winter, it got worse. I’m gradually making progress in that I can get into one of my capris now. The other ones still will take some doing. Lots of green salads and NO snacks during the day. I still do have a small snack before bedtime. I’m anxious to hear how everyone is doing.
We had a most marvelous, warm and sunny week last week. Almost got up to 80 degrees I think. Loved it!! Put me in the traveling mood, but it has to be someplace hot. Down south would be great, but the fires are really bad from the Santa Anna winds. I hope that where your Calif. home is, Susan, is ok still. It’s just starting to rain a bit now and the temps are going down down down.
Congratulations to Sally and Patty for being the lucky winners of the books this time around! You guys will thoroughly enjoy them. And, the rest of us got to go traveling amongst the pedels of flowers. Yes, I did see them raining down in the video.
I’m ready for the spaghetti squash!!! Yes I am 🙂
Til later~~~
Carol M
You probably do this all the time Carol — have you gone up the Redwood Highway? I did, so long ago, and never forgot. We stopped the car and walked in among the giant sequoias, on the soft spongy ancient floor of fallen pine leaves. It was so quiet, I almost had to run out, could not even hear the logging trucks on the road anymore. I can see how people get lost in there!
We love to go on the Redwood Highway! Love going to the Avenue of the Giants. Each year when my granddaughter came to visit, it was a must that we go see the Founder’s Tree. It’s amazing. Like you, I love to get out and walk the trails and almost get lost in the quiet of the trees. Funny, but I’d much prefer going to the Avenue of the Giants than the ocean. I can barely see the ocean from our upstair’s bedroom window.
I think I agree. There is something about those ancient trees, the smell for one thing. Not that the ocean isn’t wonderful too!
It’s an unseasonably warm 82 here in the Seattle area so I thought I would indulge in a little cookie dough ice cream as sat down to read my email. So…I’m sitting here eating ice cream while I read your post about eating healthy!! (Ooo, you caught me!) Well, I did enjoy the ice cream, and equally enjoyed your post! I had oven roasted yams with dinner and strawberries for dessert last night, so I don’t feel too guilty. 🙂 I just love spring and everything is blooming profusely right now! Lilacs, rhodies, dogwoods, wisteria, tulips…blue sky and sunshine makes it even lovelier. God is so good to give us such beauty all around us!
I say, hooray for balance! 🙂
Congrats Patty/Sally, enjoy the books! Susan, I’m happy to have the company with so many of you eating healthier and no matter how many of you say it is not to become thinner just healthier….ladies it goes hand in hand. The weight comes off and 1-2# a week is perfect….do not get discouraged when you have the times where you hit a plateau and no weight comes off keep on going. It will soon be 7 mos. that I have been eating light and I enjoy a small amount of walnuts (heart health) and dill pickles for a snack. I do enjoy salads and occasionally put grilled chicken (protein) on them at home; but, it is not necessary. We have a brand here named Aunt Millie’s and we buy the whole grain buns and english muffins (not a big bread eater) which are just delicious. I am not a big breakfast person although I do have oatmeal some days or an english muffin with a thin smear of peanut butter for a treat. I have to eat light because of health issues and truly it is just good to purge fats out of our diets isn’t it? My advice to all of you that only want to lose weight (without any health issues) is cut back, eat plenty of fruits/veggies, yogurts, grains/nuts, and WATER and get out and move. I tend to avoid all sweets (treat yourselves from time to time) so you don’t just give up. The saying is “Eat like a King for Breakfast, a Queen for Lunch, and a Pauper for Dinner”. I think I have that right but you get the jest, in this Country we tend to turn that around. I am reading where the newest fad is to eat small meals every 3 hours and never feel hungry?? I can remember Bob Greene (Oprah’s Trainer) telling us on her show once to not eat after 7pm and the pangs you feel mean you are losing weight?? I don’t think there is a science except put in less and move more maybe. Eat to Live vs Live to Eat!!! Good Luck Everyone!!
It really comes down to such a simple thing, eat less, move more. Think about all those diet books — it’s a billion dollar industry! I really don’t think everyone was born to be thin. Some just aren’t and that’s the way it is. Like some are not born blond. How awful it would be to never be allowed to be who you are.
Congratulations Patty P. and Sally L,H!
Love you Susan. Your blog is my happy place.
I love taking a garden walk with you Susan, especially with the live commentary. Makes the magic even more special with the feeling that we are actually walking beside you. Oh the awesomeness of internet computer video! Your tree is over the heavens beautiful ♥
Congratulations to the winner Patty!
♥Lee Ann G.
So happy for the girlfriends who won these treasured books! Nothing better than a Susan Branch book! Mine are my treasures!! And after reading today’s blog post, I am so ready to try an artichoke! They have always intimidated me, but Susan, you have offered such simple instructions, I think I just might be able to handle it!!! And with the mayo, YUM!!! I will add artichokes to my grocery list, written on my Susan Branch grocery list note pad, if course!!!
It might be an acquired taste, let’s see what you think — I love them, but I’ve been eating them all my life. Write back and tell us!
Well, I tried an artichoke tonight for supper….delicious! I made some lemon mayonnaise to dip the leaves in and it was scrumptious!! Thank you so much for demystifying the artichoke for me and introducing me to a wonderful new food to add to my repertoire!!
Yay! How fun to hear that! Always great to add new things to the food palette.
I just wondering when the new Willard will be out. Thanks you’re an inspiration to us all. Marge
I’ve been so busy I haven’t written a WILLARD lately. I need to do that! Thank you for asking Marge.
If anyone is into smoothies a good one I have is made w/kale, fresh pineapple chunks, one banana, celery, big squeeze of lemon, almond milk, lots of ice – blend away! I add a scoop of soy protein powder for a little more heft. I’ve been trying to have one for lunch twice a week…..makes me feel squeaky clean inside 🙂
The Girlfriends book is the best! Always makes me feel good when I read it – thanks for the push today Susan!
Love the sound of that interesting smoothie. I’m a pineapple person, kale too, has to be good! Thank you Anne!
Thank you Anne! 🙂
This is my first visit to your blog. I have had your cookbooks and many of your stickers for years. This is by far the most beautiful blog I have ever seen, although that doesn’t surprise me.
Michelle. thebashfulnest.blogspot.com
Nice to meet you Michelle!
How funny, I just started doing light weights last week. Found a 10 minute workout on Pinterest – I am almost 65 and I don’t want to lose my arm strength. A couple of months ago I finished reading Gladys Taber’s The Best of Stillmeadow – that was the most relaxing book I have ever read. That’s how I feel your book will be – relaxing to read and not wanting it to end. Your tulips are just coming up – and here in Bakersfield ours have bloomed and died back. Thank you for the recipes – the Blueberry Angel Cake will be made for book club.
Say Hi to the Book Club Linda! I felt the same way about Best of Stillmeadow. Just love that book, and Gladys.
Hi Susan! I’m hoping this comment gets through……I wrote a comment on your Lighthearted post but never saw it in the “comments”…you actually should have had 1878 comments!!! 😉 This post is another wonderful one…..great ideas and lovely pictures…especially love the one of Jack and Girl watching you through the screen door!!!! Too cute!! We are lovers of artichokes too and wanted to share that added to the salt and olive oil, I like to put in the water dried sweet basil and fresh garlic. We mix abit of pesto to the mayo and it is yummy. Our cockapoo loved them too and would slide her teeth over the leaves as we held it for her!!!!! Your Blessings book looks wonderful!!!
Hugs to you, Miriam
Too funny, artichoke eating cockapoo! We seem to have a gremlin on this blog — every so often a comment goes missing. My replies too. It doesn’t happen very often, but I’ve heard this before so I know it does. So sorry, but we’ll try this one!
Sorry I didn’t win~ but happy for the winners!
Everything is good here, we could go outdoors without coats today. Still no leaves on our trees or flowers.
I finished a gift quilt on Friday. Started a patriotic quilt for my grandson yesterday. He’s graduating from Robert Morris U. in PA. and straight into the Army as an officer. He asked for a “flag” quilt about ten years ago. I’m ashamed, but it feels good to get started and I will have it completed in a month.
Thanks for telling us how to prepare an artichoke I want to try that. I have one for you- Mix an angel food cake mix (the kind that only requires water) as is, dry, with a 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple in it’s own juice. Stir it with a spoon and bake in ungreased baking dish 30 min. @ 350.I have made this twice and Betty Crocker mix is best! Great with the creamy cool whip. It couldn’t be any easier 🙂 bye for now
It sounds like your quilt is coming at the perfect time! He is going to love it! Thanks for the quick recipe!
Forgot to say 9×13 baking dish
My lilacs and snowball bush are blooming so I went out and picked purple and white lilacs and big armfuls of snowballs. I put them in vases in the family room and on the dining room table. My hubby came in a short while later after doing yard work with huge bouquets of both. He was so proud until he looked around and saw that I had already cut some. Bless his heart! I just smiled and said we need some in the bedroom and living room, too. I love spring and I love my sweet man!
Guys who bring us flowers are a treasure. If all men only knew how truly easy we are! 🙂
Hello Susan! Thank you for the beautifully illustrated weight lifting exercises!!! I will absolutely try them ASAP, because I have low bone density per my last bone scan 🙁 You have given me inspiration 🙂 Just what the doctor ordered!!! A great big congratulations to the book winners Patty and Sally!!!! Lucky girls you both are!!!
I’m with you …. going in to do mine as soon as I finish reading these comments. xoxo
Oh yes………….and thank you for the video of the tree. We don’t have big gorgeous blossoming trees like that. Later on, there will be smaller ones, but nothing like this, so watching the wind blow the teeny petals to the ground was almost magical!
xo
Joann
That’s what makes the Internet so great, we can see each other’s worlds now!
Love this post! I’ll be on the Vineyard next Tuesday or Wednesday, so if you see a sun deprived woman from Minnesota admiring your garden pop out and say hello!
Praying for sunshine for you Debbie!
I had no idea — and I’m 48 and was at the rodeo the 1st time around — that Gloria Gaynor was singing “Oh, no not I” in “I Will Survive!” I could NEVER tell what she was saying. Apparently, even as a child in Junior High, I couldn’t fathom bad grammar … Love your blog, Susan. Thanks for solving this ancient mystery!
You could probably do one of those hysterical singalongs using all made up words!
I LOVE the pink angelique tulips!! I have never seen tulips like those before!!
And Girl and Jack look sooooooo adorable, sitting at the screen door waiting for you!!! I love them!
Love from Mary S. in Fresno CA
Hello Girlfriends,
My biggest problem when it comes to maintaining my weight is portion control. I have a chart on my fridge with recommended portion sizes and it helps. I also invested in a very good kitchen scale.
I do have a downfall, though… Nutella. Omg! I have to continuously remind myself that the jar is NOT a single-serving container. So, last summer I tried this little trick: I took the molten deliciousness out of the jar and put it in a plastic bag and cut the tip off of the corner to make a little pastry bag. Then I put little “chip” size dots onto a cookie sheet then put them in the fridge to harden. Once they were hard, I put them in a jar and kept them in the fridge (the back of the fridge, mind you). So, now I only have two or three little chips when I’m DYING for something chocolate-y. It has helped. Also, I stopped drinking flavored drinks and started adding lemon and mint and cucumber slices to my drinking water. Very tasty.
And, ladies (and gents) just let me say. You are all so gorgeous no matter what. I hope we can all find a little bit more health and find ways to fall even more in love with our bodies this summer. Take care. And as always, Shine on Sue! You’re the Best! 😉
Thank you Andrea — I love the creativity that manifests around this issue. Your little Nutella dots! Brilliant!
I agree! Such a clever idea. I drink loose tea. Most that I drink are blended teas, so I don’t add any sugar.
I have been on a new regimen of eating and exercise for the last month and it has been paying off. I’m down 8 pounds, but really happy about feeling more energetic. Please post the spaghetti squash recipe – I have not tried it before.
I’ll do it Ellen, congratulations!
Congrats Patti and Sally!
Thank you Susan for the lovely pictures of the flowers.
Btw, my furry critters, Benson and Maggie, give me the the same sorrowful look when we leave the house even for five minutes. That ” how could you?” look is a heartbreaker. It tickles me no end how expressive they can be. Happy day…
You have to have good eyes to see that expressiveness on a kitty’s face, but where there is love, anything is possible! 🙂
Hi Susan……………and congrats to the girlfriends who won your books. So happy for them. Yes, the Angelique flowers are beautiful. Will have to hunt them out at the various garden centers. Also, I’m enjoying the tips from everyone about exercising and losing weight. I too would like the recipe for Spaghetti Squash but I bought one of those once and it was so hard I couldn’t even cut it. You would have to use an axe on it. I saw a recipe to cut it in half and bake it in the oven. How in the world do you cut it? I bet it would be delicious with spaghetti sauce on it. So that is my dilemma. About the artichokes, I only had one once at a friends house and they cut the tips and then sprinkled Italian bread crumbs on each and drizzled the olive oil over………….but guess that might be more calories also.
Wishing you a lovely day! With hugs, Gail Buss, Fl XX
Opening them is probably the hardest part! I was going to try to explain how I do it (unless Joe’s around and then he does it, and this same way), but watch this — it’s a perfect demonstration!
Very interesting. OK. I’ll have to remember to get one next fall. I’ve never had one, but it’s got to be a good alternative than pasta.
Thank you for this Healthy Post!
.
We here, are into Juicing… Eating organic foods… A little grass fed beef… Fresh caught fish… We are lucky to have a great little fish market, which brings fresh fist up from down state, daily. Not buying foods with lots of weird ingredients…. Etc.
.
Being in our 70’s, we are too old, to add lots of years to our lives. But it can’t hurt, to clean-up the food we put in our bodies!!!!!!!!
Hugs, “Auntie”
I am curious as to where you live. You mentioned getting fresh fish from “down state”. Where is that?
Love the ideas for weight loss. Just had a scare with tachycardia and my doc says lose the pounds now. Going to get back out my Girlfriends book and try some recipes. I really love your weight training suggestions. I need more upper body strength to haul my quilts around!
That does take some hauling, especially getting them out of the bathtub after a wash! Wringing them out!
What a wonderful heap of information. Although, I just couldn’t do the salt on the dessert trick, my brain (the area which gets excited about desserts) can’t handle it.
Have a lovely day from a rainy Riverside, Ca.
Rebecca
Rain in Riverside — that must be making some people very happy!
Yes, ma’am. Rain on two consecutive days–woohoo; living it up in the semi-desert.
I’m with you Rebecca! I will finish a dessert even if I’m full. I tell myself if it’s part of dinner, then it isn’t extra calories. 🙂 Only in-between snacks are full of calories!
That’s good, very good Cathy.
Just wanted to say thank you for all the great eating and exercising tips. I have to get some of those weights, they look like something I could do! The falling petals were so pretty even on the ground. And congradulations to Patty and Sally, you both must be thrilled! My favorite, of course, your “Kids” at the screen door!!! Have a wonderful and healthful week.
Hi Susan & Girlfriends!! It is gloomy here this morning in Chino Valley, Az. The perfect remedy is this wonderful post. Thank you everyone for bringing the sunshine in :0). Congrats to Patty & Sally~~~those books are treasures. Going to make a trip to Trader Joe’s tomorrow & stock up. Want to try some new things & get my mojo started. Must confess, I’ve been dra-a-a-ging my feet but inspiration broke through. Thank you everyone! I will catch up. Have a lovely day girls.
XOXO, Linda
Congratulations to Patty and Sally!
I love all your ideas for exercising and meals. When I go out for lunch or dinner with girlfriends, we usually share a dessert–that way we get a couple of bites each–of course it only works if the others with you are willing to share!
And if they do their part and eat it! 🙂
I haven’t had any problem yet with my friends willing to dig in and do their part!
Joe will order dessert just because he knows I like it, but then he won’t eat any. But you’re right, if we’re in a group someone will almost always help.
We are also enjoying the petals falling from the flowering trees. I watch my granddaughter who is 4 and 1/2. We walk to my mothers and when my granddaughter saw the petals on the ground she ran to gather them and exclaimed, ” petals! Nana this is a dram come true “.
How wonderful!
Hi Susan…………..just saw the video about cutting the spaghetti squash…………..yes this might be something I’ll try to get Joe to do but at the same time I say to myself, if that gal can do it, then I can do it too. At least I can try and if it doesn’t work……..I’ll ask him. Thanks so much………..love trying new recipes. Can’t wait to get to the grocery store and better make sure my knife is really sharp. Thanks a million! Hugs, Gail
It is a lot easier to do it in halves, that’s for sure!
Thanks to the girlfriend who recommended the book, “The House at Tynford” by Natasha Solomons. I just finished it and I hated for it to end. Very Downtown Abbeyish right down to ironing the newspapers. Loved it.
Patty and Sally…you lucky Girlfriends…enjoy your wins!
Susan, thanks for sharing your “health tips.” I’m pretty much on the same page with you, except I allow myself a two-bite indulgence of a “no-no” whenever “life moments” decide to celebrate in my presence. Portion control and balance (in everything) are my mantra for keeping things on track.
Confession: Every evening, Ray and I, each have an ice-cream bite. It’s called “Dove Variety Pack.” There are 14 (vanilla & chocolate bites, covered in dark chocolate) to a box. They are delish and only 60 calories each. I get 3 small bites out of mine, because I want to make it last. 🙂
Ciao for now, GF’s !
Bliss!
Marie xo
Makes me laugh, “three small bites.” I always do that too!
I’m typing this tonight weary and I know we all say that gardening is suppose to be relaxing and almost spiritual…..WELL, I decided this morning today is the day that I will plant my GLADIOLUS….so excited and then I remembered how much work digging an 8″ hole x 15 bulbs was!!! UGH I tried to remain cheery and thinking the old saying “You are never closer to God than being in a Garden”…..all that was trying to creep into my mind was how much I hate digging holes and planting bulbs!!! I think it took me 3 hrs. to dig 15 holes mainly because of small tree roots. I also wish I would of bought P. Allen Smith bulbs because the size of these bulbs were not impressive and I’m thinking all this work and maybe they will come up/bloom or maybe not!!! Yikes I did think of you Susan and Dawn because I know how much we all love Glads so that did help!!! Poor Pat, she calls just to say hello and what you doing just as I sat down so that phone call was me complaining and bless her heart she just listened. OK, I’m finished complaining and now here comes my 1 positive….I was outside and it was almost sunny and the rain stayed away and it did give me pleasure to be able to be outside!!!! 🙂 Also, blessings to the ladies that escaped being imprisoned for 10 yrs. in Cleveland….makes you really count your blessings.
??? where did the smiley face come from??? cute but I didn’t put it there…..hmmmm
Gremlin.
Wait til those Glads come up. It’s going to be a very happy day, maybe make up for all that trouble they caused getting there!
I’m so hopeful they will produce flowers Susan and then I think how can that small bulb produce those beautiful flowers?? I’m afraid the bulbs were just too small and next time I will get the large bulbs…I’m keeping my fingers crossed though and will let you know in a few months!!!
Do you know how much I look forward to a new blog? It comes before anything else as soon as I see it posted. I started my day healthily before I read your post. I had a walk with my husband and two pups past all the homes in my neighborhood built in the 20’s and 30’s goggling at all the flowering trees and bushes. I picked up three oranges on the sidewalk, added them to my own oranges that had been sitting on the counter and proceded to squeeze myself a huge glass of fresh orange juice. Then I started doing the exercises you showed us with my weights. Now I really am energized. Thanks a bunch for lovely inspiration. S.
Thank you Sheryl!
Oh WOW what a wonderful post! Again…you are an inspiration! All the pictures of “Spring meets Martha’s Vineyard”were just icing on the cake. Not to mention the sweet, sweet kitties! I showed my cats their pictures and they looked at me as if to say….yeah, we sit and wait for you like that but you never blogged about us!!
Congratulations – and color me green with envy – to the winners of the books. I have one word for you two….LUCKY!! And a few words for you Miss Susan….you are such a generous person to allow us these opportunities!
Healthy living: 16 months ago I started making some changes in my diet & exercise (which before then was nothing) and now I am only 22 pounds from my goal. So far I’ve LOST 82 lbs but I FOUND a whole new person!! I’m healthy, off blood pressure meds (that I have taken for YEARS) and love, love, L*O*V*E walking everyday. Yup, it’s the new and improved Willa! Thank you for inspiring me to get those last few pounds off. I hope to do that by the end of the summer and I know I will…..so change that “hope to do that” to “will do that!” Thanks girlfriends for sharing the wonderful recipes and suggestions! Let’s keep on keeping on!!
Oh my goodness, only 22 to go for goal weight, that is fantastic Willa! You’ve lost 82 pounds, you are an inspiration! Congratulations! Getting rid of those meds, that’s the best. Good for you!!
Yay, Patty P! Hooray, Sally! Those are all great books. You’ll love them!
Now, in the realm of exercise, I’ve always wondered why they don’t just say, “do it 45 times” instead of do 3 sets of 15 reps! Guess 45 times might scare us? LOL. I love the toast at the end! I have a girl’s weekend at the lake coming up and will memorize it (exercise for the mind) and say it when we have our celebration of being together! Thanks, Susan!
You are supposed to rest between reps. You do fifteen, then do something else, then do another fifteen. I gave that toast at a party and it went over very well 🙂 — always a little afraid to call us “my good fat friends!”
If I rest between reps I might not return to the reps! I know…I’m supposed to do 15 reps of something else but I’d probably literally REST! Lol!
One of my favorite good-for-me snacks is almonds, lightly salted. Twenty-eight nuts is just 170 calories and GOOD for YOU.
Congratulations to Patty and Sally! Love this post…and your dieting ideas…I try to remember several of them!
Blessings,
Gert
I’m adding my congratulations to the book winners and appreciating all of the healthy tips. Thanks to Susan and girlfriends! But truly my favorite part of this post is the Oreo in a bikini!! That was a real LOL and precious to boot.
I should make shopping notepads with that bikini cookie to remind us!
Congrats to the happy happy winners, Patti and Sally !