Sorry, R.K, but I'm plagiarizing off of ya!
While we were at the creek during Christmas LEJ and I went on a nature walk while Nanny & Papa were taking a well-deserved nap.
I showed her the place where my sisters and I had our fort, which today is very unimpressive to a 7 year old living in the technology age. Our fort consisted of a group of old cedars that formed an oval. Inside that cedar oval we each had our own "bedroom" and also a "kitchen" and a "living room". We used to play "house" up there for hours. There's not much left of our fort and even I have a hard time envisioning it as it was when we played there. I tried to explain to LEJ that we used our imagination and it was lots of fun, but she just didn't get it.
I showed her the spot where we used to have a real playhouse made of wood that had windows and a door and I told her how we used to bring our baby dolls to it and played house there too. She asked where it was now and I told her that Daddy had to finally dismantle it because it was falling down and was dangerous. (I think that's when we moved on to our cedar fort, but I may have it backwards.) There used to be this old pecan tree next to our playhouse that had one limb that was long and low to the ground and it had this perfect indention in it to straddle like a horse. I explained to her that we used to imagine that we were on a wild horse or a bucking bull and bounce up and down on that old pecan limb for hours. That old tree is not there anymore, but there is another one we found that had a similar limb so I told her to climb on. She couldn't reach the ground to bounce herself, so I did it for her. Again, she was amazed that this was something that we did for hours at a time and was ready to get off within minutes.
I next took her down by the creek right at the base of the cliff that Mom & Dad's house faces where there is just a huge pile of huge rocks that fell from the cliff many, many years ago. I remember spending hours there climbing on those rocks. One time when my best friend Dana and I were climbing on them we discovered some man's initials and the date carved into the rock. I don't remember what that date was, or the initials, but it was a long time ago. Dana and I spent several weeks carving our initials alongside theirs. It's been at least 10 years since I've climbed up there to see them, but now that LEJ is getting older and more agile I'm planning on showing them to her.
Peeling rock is one of those rocks I used to spend a lot of time at. It's this huge bolder and on one side of it you can just peel off these big sheets of rock. Imbedded in these sheets you can find fossils. I've been peeling layers off that rock for 41 years, and when LEJ is 41 and still peeling layers off of it there will still be many more layers for her children and grandchildren to peel! We also took our annual picture at split rock, which is right next to peeling rock. I remember two stories for how split rock got that way -- it either split when it fell from the cliff or it was hit by lightening.
We next ventured to the creek where I showed her how to make a clay pot by crushing up the bits of clay laying in the creekbed, adding a little water, and then shaping them into pots, which you then had to let dry. There's no telling how many clay ashtrays my Mom & Dad got made for them during my childhood.
When we were walking back home I asked her if she had fun and if she had any questions. She answered yes to both. Her question for me was, "When you were playing out here at all of these spots that you've shown me, did you have a parent or grown up with you?" She was amazed when I told her no. I told her we would pretty much get up in the morning, maybe watch a cartoon or two if it was on the weekend because that's the only days they were on (more amazement), and then head outside by ourselves. I could see the wheels turning in her head and I know it won't be long before she starts heading out on her own when we're down there, which is what I want for her!
It was a great way to grow up and I want her to have that same opportunity someday soon. And I hope there will come a day when she takes her son or daughter on the same nature walk that we took and teaches them how to use their imagination!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Counting Calories
This morning I decided that instead of my usual breakfast taco (sometimes 2 of them) I was going to have a bowl of cereal and an apple. That was consumed at 8:00 this morning. It is now 9:00 and I'm starving.
I have managed to go a week without any potatoes though, so I'm really proud of myself. Yesterday while I was at HEB they had those Central Market veggie chips that R.W. mentioned in the comments, so I bought some of those to snack on. I have managed to also go all week long with only 1 soft drink, which is another major accomplishment for me. I usually wake up and have two diet vanilla Pepsi's EVERY morning!
So I'm trying to keep up my resolutions that I made!
Today I'm starting to keep track of my calorie intake. I'm also in the market for some kind of exercise contraption. I love the elliptical machine, so I may go that route. I saw one in some advertisement the other day that was an elliptical/stationary bike which may be a good option since it would give me a 2-in-one piece of equipment. I'm pretty sure I don't want a treadmill -- if I want to walk I could just go outside and walk is my thinking there. (Not that I do, just that I could)
I'm determined this year to lose some weight one way or another. I'm dangerously close to 200 pounds and it's the biggest I've ever been. I realize I'll never be the 120 pounds that I was in high school many moons ago and that's not my goal. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and see where I end up!
I have managed to go a week without any potatoes though, so I'm really proud of myself. Yesterday while I was at HEB they had those Central Market veggie chips that R.W. mentioned in the comments, so I bought some of those to snack on. I have managed to also go all week long with only 1 soft drink, which is another major accomplishment for me. I usually wake up and have two diet vanilla Pepsi's EVERY morning!
So I'm trying to keep up my resolutions that I made!
Today I'm starting to keep track of my calorie intake. I'm also in the market for some kind of exercise contraption. I love the elliptical machine, so I may go that route. I saw one in some advertisement the other day that was an elliptical/stationary bike which may be a good option since it would give me a 2-in-one piece of equipment. I'm pretty sure I don't want a treadmill -- if I want to walk I could just go outside and walk is my thinking there. (Not that I do, just that I could)
I'm determined this year to lose some weight one way or another. I'm dangerously close to 200 pounds and it's the biggest I've ever been. I realize I'll never be the 120 pounds that I was in high school many moons ago and that's not my goal. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and see where I end up!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Girl Scout Cookies
G.S. cookie sales are to begin on 1-21-09 and will continue through 3-1-09. This will be our troop's first year to sale cookies. Sounds fairly simple, doesn't it? Not so.
The leader and I were informed early on that we should select one of our "moms" to be the "cookie coordinator" and not undertake the task ourselves because it was very time consuming, so we got one of our moms to "volunteer" for the job. This past month the G.S. organization has been busy preparing for the upcoming sales, but when we inquired of our "cookie coordinator" as to whether certain things were on her schedule of things that needed to be done she had no clue as to what were talking about. Big red flag. When we started asking more questions about scheduling, etc, our "cookie coordinator" admitted that it was a bit overwhelming for her and her schedule and she resigned. Not good. So now the leader and I are going to try to navigate our way through our first year of cookie sales, and still keep our meetings well planned and organized.
Our first order of business was to attend the "cookie booth" selection process today. (I really didn't have anything else planned for a Sunday afternoon, so why not?) We had no clue what we were doing and it was very stressful. I'm still not sure what the exact outcome of our selections today will mean, but I do know that pretty much every Saturday and Sunday from January 25th through February 21st my butt will be parked outside some store with Linsday selling cookies. JOY.
So when this cookie bonanza begins and you see those smiling G.S.'s sitting outside your favorite store asking if you'd like to purchase a box of cookies, think about me sitting somewhere with Lindsay, and then say yes and hand over your money, and then you can have a good laugh and some really good cookies.
The leader and I were informed early on that we should select one of our "moms" to be the "cookie coordinator" and not undertake the task ourselves because it was very time consuming, so we got one of our moms to "volunteer" for the job. This past month the G.S. organization has been busy preparing for the upcoming sales, but when we inquired of our "cookie coordinator" as to whether certain things were on her schedule of things that needed to be done she had no clue as to what were talking about. Big red flag. When we started asking more questions about scheduling, etc, our "cookie coordinator" admitted that it was a bit overwhelming for her and her schedule and she resigned. Not good. So now the leader and I are going to try to navigate our way through our first year of cookie sales, and still keep our meetings well planned and organized.
Our first order of business was to attend the "cookie booth" selection process today. (I really didn't have anything else planned for a Sunday afternoon, so why not?) We had no clue what we were doing and it was very stressful. I'm still not sure what the exact outcome of our selections today will mean, but I do know that pretty much every Saturday and Sunday from January 25th through February 21st my butt will be parked outside some store with Linsday selling cookies. JOY.
So when this cookie bonanza begins and you see those smiling G.S.'s sitting outside your favorite store asking if you'd like to purchase a box of cookies, think about me sitting somewhere with Lindsay, and then say yes and hand over your money, and then you can have a good laugh and some really good cookies.
Brownie Field Trip
As you all know I'm the assistant troop leader for Lindsay's girl scout troop. The troop leader is a lady named Patricia and she's been a great one. Her and I are both a little obsessive over our role as troop leaders, but we both agree that our number one priority are the girls and teaching them courage, confidence and character.
On Saturday we took the Troop to the Zilker Botanical Gardens to help the girls in their goal of earning the Eco-Explorer badge. We lucked out with the weather -- it was a beautiful day. We did a nature search, so the girls all had a list of living and non-living things they were looking for and they all had a great time finding those and marking them off their list. We took a sack lunch so after we were through we had a picnic in the park.
The Gardens were beautiful and I can't believe it was the first time I had gone to see them. I bet they're even more beautiful in the spring and summer so we will definitely be making a return trip.
On Saturday we took the Troop to the Zilker Botanical Gardens to help the girls in their goal of earning the Eco-Explorer badge. We lucked out with the weather -- it was a beautiful day. We did a nature search, so the girls all had a list of living and non-living things they were looking for and they all had a great time finding those and marking them off their list. We took a sack lunch so after we were through we had a picnic in the park.
The Gardens were beautiful and I can't believe it was the first time I had gone to see them. I bet they're even more beautiful in the spring and summer so we will definitely be making a return trip.
2009 Resolutions
As usual we slept through the New Year festivities.
My only resolution for 2009 is to try to eat more healthily. Number 1 on my "trying to eat more healthy" list is to not eat potatoes at every meal, which is what I've been doing for a while now. I love potatoes no matter how they're cooked. Number 2 on my "TTEMH" list is to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet. Number 3 on the list is to not drink so many .................................. sodas. (You've gotta be crazy to think I'm giving up my Miller Lite!)
I also intend to try to add a little exercise into my weekly routine, but I don't really have a game plan for that happening yet. I'll be sure to put that at the top of my "to do" list. ;<)
Happy 2009 Everyone!
My only resolution for 2009 is to try to eat more healthily. Number 1 on my "trying to eat more healthy" list is to not eat potatoes at every meal, which is what I've been doing for a while now. I love potatoes no matter how they're cooked. Number 2 on my "TTEMH" list is to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet. Number 3 on the list is to not drink so many .................................. sodas. (You've gotta be crazy to think I'm giving up my Miller Lite!)
I also intend to try to add a little exercise into my weekly routine, but I don't really have a game plan for that happening yet. I'll be sure to put that at the top of my "to do" list. ;<)
Happy 2009 Everyone!
Daisy
Daisy is a Lindsay's new dwarf hamster which we brought home on 1-2-09. Lindsay is a little disappointed in the fact that Daisy sleeps all day, but since the cage is in her room and Daisy is active at night it has gotten Lindsay to sleep in her own bed for the past to nights so she can go to sleep watching Daisy play. So that's a BIG plus right there in my book. Go Daisy Go. Lindsay promised before we got Daisy that she would keep her room clean and so far that has worked, but it's only been 2 days. The how-to book that I purchased at the same time as Daisy instructs us that hamster and owner need to get used to each other before any handling and Lindsay is being patient with this process, but is ready to hold her new pet. I'm trying to tell her that a hamster isn't really a pet that you "play" with, but she's not buying that. Will try to get a picture of Daisy posted soon!
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