Pictures and more…

If this was growing on my house I would die. Jim and I went for a walk and found this on our neighbors cabin. I wanted to knock it down before the bees returned but since it’s been warm and we’ve seen a bee here and there Jim thought just maybe it was slightly active and he wasn’t about to touch it.

Wilbur goes where ever I go and Jim and I took a cart ride last night and he went with. He sits on my legs and “looks out the front window”. No window, I know but there’s only two seats on our cart and he likes to sit in one but I’m not about to sit in the back so I sit down and tell him to look out the window.

   

 

An experiment. It’s only April and this is Minnesota and really we are suppose to have snow and cold still happening here but it’s not so I spent $1.78 on green pepper and tomato plants and put them into the containers up at the house. First I take home made tomato cages and wrap them in shrink wrap, I planted the little plants and watered them with warm water and covered them up. I know the black bags don’t let light in (these are lighter bags so some light but not lots), but they should keep them nice and warm and just maybe they’ll survive and thrive and produce sooner then September. We’ll see.

Found this cool idea for pussy willow prints. Just a brown marker and black ink pad and our finger. I loved how they turned out.

 

Joss and I made this while the girls got to use markers and ink. They just made from pipe cleaners and pom poms.

 

We did our eggs on Friday. Some white ones, some green and also brown but they all turned out beautiful. I love how the kids fingers look afterwards. We’ve done this now for 13 years and it never gets old. I love how they come up with colors and ideas.

Love how it takes two guys to put on one little girls shoes. Joss just hangs there while Scott puts them on and grandpa holds her.

 

Our Easter Egg hunt. Mike got home from work in time to hide them and then help them find them. Grandma and grandpa came for pizza and then the hunt.

One of our final group pictures with Mike.

 

Helping me bake cookies. I’m working on making healthier versions and Joss is my taste tester. I guess these were just fine.

I still teach Merit Badges for our local boy scout troop and one of the 10 I teach is Indian Lore. We have a great Indian museum just 40 minutes away from us so 4 adults and I took 17 scouts and they proceeded to learn some amazing information and games and more. This is one of my easier MB to teach because everything is contained at the museum except the Long House we’ll be making together at one of our upcoming meetings. Tomorrow night is one of our community services. For the past 10 years one of our elderly has a huge yard and we clean it up, plants some flowers and have a treat. It’s a great event and the kids learn to work together and why we do these things.

So there you have it, you’re caught up to date on my wee ones and what’s new and happening. There’s no school tomorrow and the kids and I are going to do a roadside pick up. We do this each spring and even though there’s just 4 wee ones and myself we’ll get it done. It’s a good learning experience and makes our part of the world a little cleaner.

Take care my friends and have a blessed evening. Happy Easter to you all!!

My mama and daddy and me…

 

 

Just had to share the most beautiful loving couple in the whole world. Oh I had to sneak in there too.

Blessings everyone.

Last E2E challenge update…

Okay so I didn’t rock this challenge like I really had planned. I turn 50 in 18 days and I wanted this challenge to bring me to the end of my journey of weight loss and I could begin my journey of maintaining. Well it didn’t happen in the weight loss part and for the running part, it’s on pause right now but not because I want it to be but because my body wants it to be. However this challenge was not a dud for me either. Thought I didn’t loss any weight…my starting weight was 175.4 and today it’s 174.4 (I lost 3.6 pounds this week but remember I gained at least 12 lbs almost right away in the beginning of the challenge), and I sure can not fit into my swimming suit (this is the littlest size 14 I have ever seen but swimming suits are suppose to be tight but still…ugh!) I used as my challenge clothes

and I can’t run a full 5K yet I have learned amazing amount of things. Here are just a few to share with you:

1. I learned when I needed something you guys were there to back me up 100% of the time.

2. I learned that it takes a community to lose weight, tone up, and get somewhere in this journey.

3. I have learned so much about different foods, different way to prepare them, about different way to afford the better foods and skip those processed goodies.

4. I learned that I can go without sugar as long as you guys are there to help me push myself through it all.

5. I’ve learned that just because I can’t run right now does not mean I am a failure and that I need to get up. I just have to reset my mind to the beginning and keep going.

6. I’ve learned that you guys are so awesome and I have formed some great and special friendships and am truly blessed from here to eternity.

7. I learned that this journey will not be ending any time soon and as much as I had hoped my 50th birthday would mark something amazing (other then getting a tad older) it will mark the continuing journey to getting to the new me, to getting to be healthy, wealthy and wise.

I started with 3 books, 2 about running and 1 about getting older. Well that getting older one…it’s not for me right now. The Marathon books was awesome and so fun and I loved it. The complete book of Women’s Running is a bit above me right now so I will hang on to it and read it later on. The book I’m in love with is:

I have learned so much about life from this book and learning to center oneself, learning to survive and learning to become the better me for not just me but for family, friends and the most important Christ.

So my waist started at 39” and ended at 37.5 and my total inches from the beginning to now (which included my bust, waist, hips, arms and thighs) was 166” and now is 159 so I did come down, I did change some but not nearly as much as I had planned but you know what, it’s okay. Life here has been interesting and I’m learning to deal with all the new stuff, the sick ones, the kid going to college, learning to love and so much other stuff that really I am no a failure like I thought for a while.

My calories are suppose to be near 1500 a day and since I have been horrible at journaling I couldn’t tell you where they were at but I do have to tell you I know that I get my gallon of water a day, I know that I eat much more fruits and veggies then I use to and for meat, well it’s expensive so we’ve learned other ways of getting protein in. Such as, this morning I tried something new:

Almond milk, I’ve heard about it, I’ve read about it and decided it was time (I also had a $1.00 off coupon and there was a .55 cent one on the fridge door). I hadn’t a clue what kind to get so picked the unsweetened kind. I mixed it with Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar free of course) and Jillian Whey because I need it to last and protein lasts much longer then not adding it and for a total of 200 calories, 20 carbs, 6 fats and 21 proteins it was excellent. I added one large brown egg for 70 calories just to make sure I’m full so a total of 270 calories for breakfast and it’s good for me. Well I’m learning. Now to get rid of the breads and cereal’s….that’s gonna be hard.

I have to tell you my buddy, my friend, my supporter, my diet buddy….Casey has been wonderful. We have become friends and I don’t think we’ll let this friendship fall to the wayside. She has taught me so much and has supported me through this whole journey, she’s awesome.

 

My quote is still important to me and I will still become the runner I want to be….it’s just going to take extra time but you know what, I’m still planning on living until I’m 101 and I have seen lots and lots of older people running so I’ll just be a slow one to get there but I will.

"If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it." -Priscilla Welch

My second quote really just sums it all up:

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." --John Bingham

So my friends this challenge comes to an end and I’m going to miss reading all your lives and challenges and all. I plan on following as many as I can and I’ll be stopping back at the challenge page and clicking on the links that will take me to your blogs. But I know we’ll all be moving forward, moving on and if for some reason I miss something in your life, if I miss some super milestone, if I miss just plain you I am sorry. You all have been a huge part of this new year for me and I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for all you’ve done for me and for all your support.

Take care and have the most blessed and awesome Easter. And I hope and pray for each and everyone of you, that you reach your goals, you reach the place in life where you too are Healthy, wealthy and wise and if not, learning!!

Love to you all,

Julie

Thanks Mir for everything and Angela, WOW are you one amazing woman. Thank you both for all your support and love!

Midweek update

Well I totally am sucking at this end of the challenge. I am getting out and moving but not running since that’s not a possibility but I am walking my 3-4 miles each day but running, well running seems to be just out of reach right now. And that my friends bits the big one. What have I wanted to do since last year? I have wanted to run. It didn’t matter if I was 200 or 190 or even 180 pounds, I just wanted to run and now my leg is screaming at me each time I go for more then 1/4 of a mile. I’ve tried the run a bit, walk a bit, jog a bit, trot a bit but it just hurts so bad. And the doctor says nothing is wrong, humph… I’d say something is wrong but I’m no doctor but my body says I can walk, walk fast if I want too but no pounding the pavement. I thought just maybe it was my shoes, you know all you read about needing new shoes and all. Well I have two new pairs of running shoes and so far that hasn’t helped. I just don’t know so for now I will walk and move my butt and incorporate some strength training again.

However my trying to get healthy continues. Just cuz I can’t run doesn’t mean I have to forgo getting healthy and in shape. However it took me a little bit to get that through my thick skull. I so wanted to become a runner that was really all I was thinking about and because I couldn’t do that right now I sorta let everything else go. The scale showed it, my body type showed it and my clothes showed it. It’s not terrible but it’s a step backwards that now I have to work forwards to remove and keep going. I know that stress heads right to the belly and with the lack of exercise and the stress….well my 14’s are starting to show it.

Now my intake has been on track 90% of the time, that 10% was dinner out with mama last night though I kept it to 2 pieces of pizza and a huge glass of ice water and then at the theater nothing at all. Easter is here at daycare and that means candy, cookies, angel food cake and more pizza but I have bought fresh green beans, asparagus, snap peas and have salad and chicken breast so for the 3 days they are off school I have goodness for me.

So it’s Thursday, our last day is Sunday and I know from the bottom of my heart I did not work this challenge as good as I could of but I also know that December 28th was the beginning of our hardship and changes and I am learning to go with the flow and I am learning to handle things better. So once things settle down like when Mike is off and running, mama and Cindy both get their test results back and we know what’s next, when I might now what the future will bring driving bus and …. well a few more personal things I can get back to taking care of me. I haven’t been perfect but I’m working at it. That’s why my blogs name is healthy, wealthy and wise: NOT… but learning. I am learning.

I hope you are all ending the challenge with at least a great learning experience. I know that so many of you have taken the time to support me, answer my question, teach me something, share with me that this challenge has been a wonderful learning experience.

Take care my friends and have a great and blessed rest of the week. Blessing to you all!!

I am slow…

Today I went for a walk. My leg is bothering me again so instead of trying to push it to run I went for a walk. 3.18 miles in 59 minutes. That’s slow for me but at least it means I was still out there moving my behinder.

I took some pictures with my phone to share with you. I had planned on making today my Jelly Bean Run but since I walked I’ll wait and see what my next time out brings.

My walking partners. They are always so eager to go with me. A different route today. I chose the dirt road down from our place since I wasn’t running a perfect quiet place to enjoy.

 

The cabins at the point down from our place a couple of miles and my grandparents use to own the property across the lake.

 

Up, up and away. The hill doesn’t look huge but it is. Both of these hills are long and steep.

It was a great walk though and the temp was perfect for just a short sleeve blouse. I didn’t wear my iPod because a different road I wasn’t sure of the traffic. But this also meant I heard for the first time the Loons on the lake and the frogs in the swamp.

Signs of spring, a month early for Minnesota. My rhubarb is already sprouting and the wild pansies are on the edge of the woods.

A new week and I want to get in at least 15 miles of walking/running. We’ll see how this leg of mine feels but I do know if it’s not running it will be walking and moving.

Take are my friends and have a blessed week.

Jelly Bean 5K…

I knew I had a run coming up. So this is what’s on my agenda this week. I’m not sure what day I’ll get it done but I’m hoping the first part of the week. I’m going to print out my bib and carry it with me this week so if I get a chance to run/walk  after work I’ll do it.

Got anything up your sleeve this week?

Blessings!!

Hugs and Kisses…

That is what this beautiful bouquet of flowers Mike got me means. I called him a little Sh** because he knew these would make me cry and fill me up with more love for him. See what else he sent me? He’s the cutest little teddy bear and the card…WOW!!! Love this young man to death, I surely do.

  

I love you so much Mike. Thank you for more then just the flowers, though they are the most beautiful bunch ever.

Blessings my friends. Enjoy your Sunday!!