Winning the fight?

I live for summer days in Oregon when I can buy blueberries by the bucket fulls and snack on them! So sweet and tart at the same time, they burst with flavor as you bite into them. I'm trying to fight the sugar cravings I get when I'm tired, and I'm tired because I had to take a Benadryl. I had to take a Benadryl because something is making me sneeze and I have an itchy mouth, even though it's been wet and rainy here. So I am fighting back by trying to eat things that will satisfy my sweet tooth without adding to my waistline. I find it easier when it's warm out, I seem to naturally gravitate towards fresh fruit and veggies, but it's downright cold here right now! Staring at a computer screen for too long doesn't help so I need to go for a walk and get my head cleared. I think though, that in order to win the weight loss war I do need to start a food diary so here goes.
June 18
Breakfast - 1 cup Left over beef stir fry noodles with extra peppers and onions. A bowl of fresh blueberries.
Lunch - 1/2 serving of low fat turkey slices on one slice of dill rye bread with lettuce, onion, yhonnaise and a sprinkling of Craisins. 9 tortilla chips with cheesy salsa.
Dinner - leftover lentil pilaf with a few chicken chunks, and more peppers and onions. 1/2 cup rocky road ice cream, more blueberries
I know, a lot of leftovers here, but we have been going out a lot and I can usually only eat a half a plate of food at a time. Tomorrow I will try and stay away from the ice cream and the cheesy salsa. The lentil pilaf is a wonderful recipe I will have to get my friend to share. It's full of nutritious ingredients, tasty and low fat as well. The stir fry wasn't too bad except I couldn't tell what the veggies were it was cooked for so long. That's another story though and we won't be eating at that restaurant again. For breakfast I think oatmeal with walnuts and Craisins will do the trick. I am not one to cut out carbs just for the sake of cutting them. If I eat carbs I try to go for whole grains, not processed junk. Honestly, we eat way too much meat and need to look to other sources for protein that aren't a heart attack waiting to happen. Marvelous Marvel has a wheat berry recipe she has been promising to share so I will snag that and share with you if it passes the Parsons taste test kitchen. :-) Regardless of how my menu looks right now, I am losing a bit of weight, probably due to walking up the hill to the lake, and lots of yard work.  Oh, and chasing the deer away from my flowers and lilacs, the little buggers! I also zigzag my way up through town on my bike alternate days. Why not go straight up the road? I've got too much to haul around right now...;-) I'm off to walk to the store for throat lozenges so taataa for now! I hope that if you are waging the weight loss war, you are winning!

Home Decorating

Wouldn't it be nice of stores such as Walmart would carry a certain line of curtains or other such items for more than one year or so? All is not lost though, I took some sheers I had in the bedroom and created a window treatment that is not only unique but versatile. The sheers were 84" long but I wanted them to just come to the bottom window sill so I folded them over the rod and made measurements so that I could create a rod pocket in each with a top ruffle. After sewing the pocket and ruffle I hung them up on the rods, and brought each fold over corner up to the center of the rod and attached them with a what is called a "yo yo" that has a button in each center. I made tie with the yo yos on them as well. I can slip the ties off when we just want the sheers to hang for more privacy, or put them on to let the sun shine in.

The walls are bare right now and we need to get the floors done, but there are two projects before the floors. We are so pleased with the color and the way the windows look! We get so many compliments on this little place and the colors we've chosen so far, and believe me, if my friends didn't like it, they would let me know....lol. The next project is a deck outside to cover the hole in front of the house created for drainage as well as to meet codes. This fall we hope to get started on the bathroom. Yay! It's so fun to have a little place to fix up!

Flag Day - A Time To Remember

Flag Day was started back in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson as a way to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as a flag representing the United States of America by the Second Continental Congress back in 1777. Though not a federal holiday, it is a day to remember as we are so blessed to live in the United States of America. For more details stop by here: Flag Day .
Rules for displaying the flag can be found here. Displaying the US Flag.
Please take the time to post your flag, and also reflect the history and goodness of this great country. Are we perfect? No, of course not, and mistakes have been made, but it doesn't take away from the gift and blessing this United States of America is to us, and the rest of the world.

Genealogy and Fishing For Chickens

As the Family History Center Director for our district in Wendover, I am in charge of helping our consultants maintain a center for the public as well as church members. I am also responsible for helping our consultants encourage and support those who are interested in doing their genealogy. It was a calling given as an answer to prayer. Funny thing, the day I actually got down on my knees and asked Heavenly Father for help with my confusing and complex family history I was given the calling to be the Family History Center Director. So, here I am finding all sorts of interesting stories, photos and information on my own family as well as my "steps" of which I have several. Don't ask. :-)
I had to share this story as it brings to life "Grandpa George", who I met as a little girl. He's the gentleman on the left and here's a story that was shared by a brother of his, not the one seen in this photo though.

"Uncle Charlie said that when he was a young man, he and his brother George used to work whenever and where ever they could. They often traveled together while George was driving a Grey Line. They hauled packaged goods to Canada and helped people move and the like.

He said they would get hungry and "accidentally" crush a box of cookies, so that they could eat them. One day George got some line and put a worm on the end of it. He tossed it several times over a fence and into a farmer's yard where there were chickens. Charlie asked him, "What are you doing?" and George replied, "Well, I am fishing for chicken!" Charlie said that they did manage to coax one out that day."

My dear friend from Sitka sent me this nice banner and sentiment from her blog Silver Strands. Stop by and see the sweet sacrifice she made for her mother. Make sure you have tissue handy. Love you Denalee! Traditionally we are supposed to pass this on, but I know that more and more folks don't like to get these. I will have to visit your blogs to see if you have an award free zone. I will be watching. :-)

Breakfast Feast

I didn't take a photo because the toast was a bit darker than I'd hoped for but here's a simple and oh so delicious recipe for a scrambled egg sandwich.

Dilly Egg Breakfast Sandwich

2 slices Orowheat's Dill Rye bread
1 slice cooked bacon, crumbled
1-2 eggs beaten and slightly seasoned with salt and pepper
Mayonnaise or Yohnnaise

In a small skillet heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium low heat. Combine bacon and egg mix and pour into heated pan. Let cook until slightly golden underneath, then flip and finish cooking.
Toast slices of bread and spread with mayonnaise. Place egg on one slice of toast and cover with other, whalaa! You have one dillyicious sandwich! You can add a dash of Tabasco for a bit of spark if you like.