Eat a Peach!

I'm pretty excited!  I canned peaches last night for the first time ever.  Since I still have half a box of fresh peaches left I don't really want to tear into a can and see how they taste but they look pretty.

It was a lot of work!  Not hard but very time consuming.  Peeling and cutting all those peaches up... man!  Then dragging out the water bath canner and heating up the water, lids, jars.  I had almost talked myself out of doing it again.  But it was very awesome to see the finished product sitting there on the counter.  I'm sure I will be very happy when I open a can in January too :) I love peaches!  And the peaches you get in the store are just crap!  I've given up ever buying them at Safeway.  They always look nice but have no taste at all!  Anyway... doing it for the first time... seemed like I cut peaches forever and I didn't have a good idea of how many jars it would make so I quit when I thought I had seven quarts but I miscalculated.  It only made 5 but now I know for next time, which will be tonight. I searched and searched for a low sugar recipe and finally found a link from some university nutrition site that said there is no "rule" for how much sugar you have to use.  I dumped about a cup in the bottom of the bowl I was slicing them into and added a little lemon juice on top from time to time.  I also added a little no sugar added orange/mango juice we had in the fridge.  More to prevent browning than anything else.  If I need to add sugar or Splenda or something when I'm using them I'll just do that.  I'll let you know how they turn out.

I spent so much time canning last night that I didn't have any time to snack.  :)  I did eat about half a peach one slice at a time while I was peeling them.  Who can resist?  I wondered what that would do to my blood sugar so late at night but my reading was 92 this morning so that's good and the fatometer read 150.4.  Still looking forward to getting under the 150 mark!

Well... I bought a new little "netbook" at Costco last time I was in Woodinville.  I thought it would be great for leaving on my side table by the couch or for traveling - and it will be but at this moment in time as I type it keeps skipping back and inserting the typing seemingly randomly anywhere.  I may throw it against the wall!  Or I suppose I could call support and find out what weired setting I need to change before I destroy it.  Anyone know the cure???  If so please tell me!  I really have to quit!  Can't take it anymore!!! 

Ciao!

Meatloaf Monday :)

It's somewhat comforting to start the day knowing what the end result will be.  Today that means meatloaf for dinner.  Yesterday I made an enormous pot of chili and used up about 5 lbs of ground beef.  Amberlyn (daughter) and her boyfriend Ty came to visit so fortunately we had some help eating that.  Still I had to freeze enough to provide us with a quick dinner or lunch for probably most of the fall.    I've been working on clearing out room in the freezer to make room for the fall supply of beef.  It's just really sad that my fall beef has a name - Panda!  :(  I may have to convert and become a vegetarian.  It's really difficult to be on a first name basis with my beef!  (Insert big sigh here)  Anyway... we were discussing the contents of the freezer which is at this point mostly ground beef and Dave said "You really should make meatloaf more often.  I don't get enough meatloaf."  That's easy!  I can do meatloaf for sure.  I have plenty of eggs, onions, garlic, herbs and all the things that make meatloaf tasty.  If I made a two pound meatloaf once a week (Meatloaf Monday) it would take me probably 6 months to use up the rest of the ground beef in the freezer.  I think there is a whole lot more chili, tacos, spaghetti sauce and... anything else I can think of to use ground beef in my immediate future.  Maybe I'll start a new plan... all visitors take home ground beef.  So where was I going with all that?  I don't know.  Why start worrying about having a point now?  :)  Bummer for you!  Ha ha!  So... Oh yeah I recall... I was aiming at explaining my elevated glucose reading this morning which was 115.  I blame it on the very tasty Texas toast that accompanied the chili yesterday.  Thick grilled bread slathered with garlic butter and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.  :)  Yummy!  I only had half a piece but I've discovered that white bread makes my blood sugar shoot up more than anything else!  I also had a peach.  I need to go back and check to see where they fall on the glycemic index.  I guess I should have done that before I bought a whole box of them at the fruit stand in Ellensburg on Friday.  Anyway... back to the chili... I made it all from scratch and loaded it with good things from the garden.  It contained several zucchinis, onions and the first of my bell peppers.  I also picked and canned some more beans yesterday and dehydrated more zucchini.  I will have to decide today what to do with the rest of that box of peaches. 

I was a little bummed by the 115 glucose reading but pleased by 150.1 weight.  Well... really I'll be pleased when I reach 140.  Still it's ever so much better than 170 which was my beginning weight in May.  I have to work on the blood glucose this week though!  It was elevated slightly all last week.  No more Texas toast for awhile.  I should have known I couldn't get away with that! 

It seems like this post has been mostly a tribute to beef so I'll end with this little bit.  When my granddaughter Aubrey comes over she loves to feed the animals.  She knows just where all the feed is for the chickens and cows.  She knows them all by name.  She accompanies me often when I drive back and forth to Woodinville to go visit her daddy and Nana and other family members.  Along the way we sing and say hi to the horses and cows and birds we see out the window.  She likes to name off the chicks and cows and so we say, "Hi Ginger, hi Panda, hi Mumbo, hi T-bone!"  On down the list we go.  A couple of weeks ago I sent this little text/pic to Nicole for Aubrey...

HI AUBREY!!!

from Ginger

(who Dave has promised will never end up in the freezer - because she's his personal pet)

Have a great Monday!  

Ciao!

Home Again!

Well...magically upon waking up this morning my blood glucose read 93.  It must just like to be home :)  and the fatometer read 150.3.  I actually went on a big fat binge last night.  :(  I know! I'm just horrible.  A whole bag of popcorn, a few handfuls of cashews, a small bowl of peanuts in the shell, another small bowl of pistachios,   several pieces of sugar free chocolate... was that all?  Yep, I think that about covers it :)   Each snack in itself would have been ok but all of them?  Oh boy.  Well... that's how to NOT lose weight!  Really I'm surprised my glucose level wasn't higher.  I may see a rise and fall  over then next few datys.  I had phad thai and cashew chicken for lunch out with my friend Johnna yesterday before driving home which means noodles and rice.  Oh well!  I really enjoyed it and over all I've done really well and I think 150.3 is a new low.  By a couple of ounces anyway.  I was really hoping to have weighed in under 150 this morning but I know it will come soon.

I've already been out to the garden and seen that I need to pick and can more green beans.  There are onions that need to be picked.  A few more ripe tomatoes.  A ginormous spaghetti squash that is still somewhat white looking.  I don't even know what to think abouit that!  I picked cucumber and an acorn squash today.  I'm getting a little nervous.  The temp is getting pretty cold at night and my tomatoes are still mostly green.  Some are turning but not soon enough for me!  The big fat pumpkin is way bigger than last week.  I can't wait to see how big it gets!

One thing that I really miss about being home is the Friday Farmer's Market here in Chewelah.  I was unable to go yesterday since I was on the road.  I meant to write about the market last week but I was so busy  prepping my little garden for my absence that I missed it so I will write about it now.  Our farmer's market is just a small gathering of local farmers who bring their fabulous fresh produce and hand made crafts to sell.  It's located in Chewelah just off 395 in the parking lot of one of our local churches and situated along the creek.  It's a beautiful little setting.  I absolutely love going!  I always stop there before going on to our little Safeway store.  Why wouldn't I buy peaches from eastern WA instead of grapes from California?  Not that I don't enjoy my California produce.  I do... but if I can purchase food straight from our local farms how much healthier is that?  I want high quality food and also to support our local economy.  I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into raising premium produce without hormones and pesticides.  I'm thankful we have local farmers who still care enough to provide this service to our community.   I've gone off on a little tangent though.  :)  This time of year my garden produces a lot of what we eat but I always find something tasty to buy.  Last week Charlie and Betsy Kessler of Kessler's Pinetree Produce located in Valley, WA (just down the road from my home) were kind enough to let me take a couple of pictures of their market stall.  It's alway so pretty.  They have wonderful flowers and a great assortment of vegetables.  I love the wooden produce display baskets that their son makes.  Before my basil was ready to pick I alway's bought a little bunch from Betsy.  This year due to working really hard on keeping my glucose level down I did not plant potatoes.  I love them though and so just as a special treat I bought a small bag of beautiful little fingerling potatoes from the Kessler's.   Locally grown produce is so wonderful.  You know you are enjoying the very best of food that God's green earth has to offer.  If you happen to be in Chewelah on a Friday afternoon I invite you to come by and visit the Kessler's and the other awesome farmers and craftsmen.  If you can't come see us then please where ever you are... support your local farmers - and grow your own.  Your body will thank you for it :)  Here are  the pics... thanks Charlie and Betsy!  I love your market stall!

Well... as much fun as I've had amusing myself with my meanderings this morning it's not getting those beans picked so I better get my basket and my garden gloves and get out there!

Have a great weekend - Ciao!

It's Fabulous Friday!

For starters... I did avoid the lasagna AND the birthday cake at Aubrey's birthday party last night.  I'm pretty proud of myself since I wanted some of both in the worst way!  I did eat a salad before going to the party.  I wasn't hungry - just wanted the goodies.  For my heroic efforts to control my blood sugar yesterday I was rewarded with a small reduction from the day prior.  The number this morning is 114.  Still high.  I'm beginning to suspect that the lack of exercise is a big factor while I'm over here.  Must change that.  On Wednesday I almost went out and bougt a new pair of sneakers so I could go for a walk and then I talked myself out of it based on the fact that I have 4 pairs of sneakers at home and since I spent the evening birthday shopping and Thursday was the party... what would be the chances of actually taking a walk this week here?   ZERO.  So I just need to remember to bring some with me next time... and use them!

I'm having a debate with Lorie over her scale.  I think it's off by about three pounds so we'll see in the morning.  When I get home and weigh in.  I hope it's what I thnk it is.  If I'm right I lost some weight over here.  If I'm wrong... what a big fat drag!

I get to go home today :)  Always a happy thing!  And ... the weatherman is predicting the winds to die down so my little car won't get blown to Kansas.  Yay!  I understand that I may be going home to lots of smoke due to fires very close by.  :( I have a short day at work so gotta roll! 

Ciao!

Happy Birthday Little Grand Daughter

It's Aubrey's 2nd birthday today.  When I look at my wee little ones I remember why I'm putting in the effort to be healthy.  I'd like to be around and watch them grow up.  I'd prefer to not be watching on the sidelines either so happy birthday Aubrey!  Mumsey will skip out on the cake :) 

This mornign my glucose was 119.  Still high.  Not terrible but not normal.  Better than 130 though.  I ate as healthily as possible yesterday.  The tricky part though was a late dinner... I was famished by the time I got around to meeting my friends at... of all places Famous Dave's!  :)  We sat in the bar (iced tea for me-with Splena) and I explained to the waiter that I was looking really hard for something pretty healthy to eat.  He very good naturedly laughed and said... "You're in the wrong place!"  I did come up with a salad and a cup of chili though.  The salad was awesome.  The dressing was great... honey BBQ.  So yeah... I only drizzled a little bit of it and the chili was probably the best chili I have ever eaten in a reasturant.  I gave my cornbread away immediately!  So... it is possible to have a "reasonable" dinner out.  Of course I wanted to woof down on the rib tips they were eating but I limited myself to one little piece.  Tonight we are having lasagna for Aubrey's birthday party dinner.  The best plan for me is just to grab a salad before I even go.  I love lasagna so much that eating a tiny piece would be way more torture than just not having any at all.  I did have the last of my fabulous farmers market peaches today.  I'll have to take a hit there but oh so worth it!  Since I have been getting no exercise I decided to skip around the whole building and distract everyone and make them think I'm a crazy loon.  They are right, I am and it was fun.  So was having the conversation with one of my delinquent customers that I would consider taking his Harley in trade for the debt owed.  Of course we'd have to sell it to pay off the debt but can you just see a nice shiny Harley sitting in the front of our store with a sign... pay your bill or your bike is next?  Ha ha!  Fun!  Well... it's a crappy job so I have to make it fun somehow.  :) 

I'll let you know if I was able to resist the cake and lasagna...

Ciao!

Hump Day Once Again

It's Wednesday of my week in Woodinville.  I've been working so hard on eating good-mostly.  :)  On Monday morning I was in a rush to get on the road and I forgot to eat breakfast but I packed up as much of my fresh fruit, veggies & cheese as I could bring with me so I munched out on a cheese stick and then had another one later.  I had a few grapes too but gave most of them to little Aubrey who was riding along with me to see Nana and Daddy and Aunty(s).  Tomorrow is her birthday and she will  be two years old.  This is Aubrey with her daddy (Daniel).

Anyway when I arrived at work I had a big lovely bowl of steamed broccoli and some zucchini sticks dipped in a little honey mustard dressing.  After work Daniel and I picked up Aubrey and took her to the park.  I was starving so I stopped by Burger King - I know... my intentions were good though.  I bought a grilled chicken salad and brought it to the park to eat.  I discovered once I was there that they had forgotten to include a fork.  REALLY???  Major fail!  I just ate it with my fingers and decided that salad dressing would be too messy so I saved those calories.  When we took Aubrey back to Nana's house she gave me a lovely peach as she had just come home from Wenatchee.  I was really glad to have that peach when I finally arrived at Lorie's house (my home away from home).  There was an evil peach cobbler on the counter and I resisted temptation by eating my fresh from the orchard Wenatchee peach.  Yum!

Yesterday I attended a work related seminar down at Southcenter.  I knew there would be breakfast but didn't know what they might be serving so I ate a little baby bell cheese wheel on the way.  I was delighted to discover scrambled eggs with ham amidst the big pile to pastrys.  I had just the eggs and ham.  I also had to resist beautiful brownies and cookies at break time so by the time 1 pm rolled around when the seminar ended I was starved and bolted from the room.  I drove immediately to the nearest McDonalds and bought a Southwest grilled chicken salad and WOOFED it down... tiny taco chips and all.  I only used about a third of the dressing though.  After a very frustrating remainder of the day at the office I went to console myself on my friend Dee's deck.  We munched out of tomatoes and sugar peas from her garden and then decided to drift on down to have a little mexican food in Snohomish.  She lives up on the ridge looking at the Snohomish valley and has a beautiful view!  It is the place to be in the summer!   I was so content that I considered not going to mexican but... yeah... twist my arm and twist it hard!  :)  We shared fajitas.  I had two tortillas though and while waiting for the fajitas I had an unknown but guess high number of chips with oh so yummy salsa.  And because we had her small fry Cyara with us we ordered chuuros for dessert.  I only had the smallest piece but apparently all the above tipped the glose monitor and I got a reading of 1 freakin 30 this morning.  That's right... 130!  It hasn't been that high in a long time!  It's a darn good thing I once again resisted the evil peach cobbler still on the counter!  The other factor is that I'm not getting any exercize while I'm here.  I need to change that!

Hoping for a better number tomorrow and have eaten accordingly today. 

Ciao!

A Weekend In the Garden!

In the morning I'm heading to Woodinville and will have to stay until Friday.  I knew my garden would be completely out of control if I didn't give it some serious attention so that's what I did most of the weekend.  I had to pull out the peas that were shot.  I pulled out a spent broccoli plant, cut back a lot of zucchini leaves that were shading other plants.  I picked green beans again and pulled out a few bean plants.  They were just too crowded!    I pruned the tomato plants too.  I've been impatiently waiting for some tomatoes to ripen and finally had my very first ripe tomato today.  Yay!  They were hidden down low.  I found them while I was cutting back the zucchini.  I also cut back the spaghetti and acorn squash.  It was like a jungle in there :)  The cows ate everything I pulled out of there.  They were happy cows today!  Here are a few pics I took today in the garden:

First up... Anaheim chilies that still need to ripen - but aren't they pretty?

 

  

A lone Walla Walla sweet and below are the very first of my tomatoes to ripen.

I just love my pumpkins.  They are the color of butter right now.  I'm amazed how fast they are growing!  That pumpkin blossom (with the bee inside) is about three inches in diameter.  It looks tiny next to the pumpkin.  Just a few days ago the pumpkin was the size of a soccer ball.  I showed Dave today.  He's amazed too.  All I can say is our cows have some pretty amazing poop :) 

This is the pick of the day.  Basil, broccoli and of course zucchini.  I also picked green beans.  I wrapped them well and will store them in the fridge until I get back.  Dave promised to pick beans twice while I'm gone and I'll can them all when I come home.

And finally... here's the first sunflower to bloom.  This one just surprised me this year.  It's growing right in the middle of the garden and looks pretty silly.  We had a big wind a couple of weeks ago and it was partially uprooted.   I didn't think it would make it but here it is!  I just love sunflowers.  Can you think of a happier looking flower?

Well... all good things (the weekend) must come to an end.  I'm not sure who made up that rule - but when I find them they are fired for sure!  Anyway... I't getting late so I must go to bed.  I'm a little nervous that Dave will neglect my crops while I'm gone.  He's been very preoccupied with his latest building project - the new carport.  I usually don't mind the trips to Woodinville but I really hate to go when the garden is in full swing :)  I'm imagining coming home and finding zucchini the size of baseball bats.  

Oh!  I guess I better report the stats... 150.7 and glucose 99.  I have to say I'm surprised.  I was expecting bad numbers because Saturday we went out for breakfast and even though we split breakfast... biscuits and gravy with hash browns is not exactly diet food!  Then Saturday night we went to a party at the home of one of Dave's rail road work buddies.  The food was great :)  And oh!  The desserts :)  I was bad.  Very very bad!  

So good bye weekend, good bye garden, good bye animals, good bye Dave!  I miss home already and I'm not even gone yet :)

Ciao!