Mid-week

beautiful garden by my in-laws

Forget the Jones'. Just trying to keep up with things here, has been awful!
My house is in a terrible state of uncleanliness ( to me anyway) and the yard needs weed trimming, garden weeding and produce removed from it and new plants put in. Hay was cut last night after Dearest came home and shall lay there until Friday when I shall (flip it) rake it and then one of us will bail it and bring it in, which is a family venture as it is small bails to go in the barn and takes many hands to bring it in.

The flip side is, both Dearest and I have head colds! It began Monday night for me, after cutting lawn for 5 hours and then stacking firewood for another 1 1/2 on the same hot day. It is now completed but I was so tired that night. In bed right after night chores. Tuesday was the worst. The weather wet and thunderstormy. Power went out a few times and I was suffering with chills and a stuffy head. But Wednesday I did very well in the city looking after my folks. I felt better as the day went on and did well until bedtime. This morning it feel more like allergy issues then a cold. It isn't stopping me from cleaning house. Just an excuse.

girls by a horticultural garden

Back in January I became a Vegetarian. For me no meat, I still ate dairy as after all that is my livelihood. However I am anemic and in need of red meats or alternatives. So I began eating some red meats each week really disliking it.

I have been doing a lot of research on Heart Health Lifestyle eating and still am convinced that I need to go an alternate way of eating. My Dat had a 4x by-pass when he was in his 50's. My Mom has been on heart medication and is an insulin depended diabetic with kidney problems. Two of my brothers are diabetic. I believe that I need to make sure I don't fall into any of these categories. Lets face it I'm not getting any younger. Golden years are around the bend and I want them to be golden, not stricken with health issues.

At Great-grandparents house on the Lake Shore, picking stones for my garden.

So beginning this week I am going on a 21 Day what is called a Jumpstart Heart Health program and see if I like it. The recipes are all written out for me, for 21 days. I will not be eating anything I don't like, and no fish. I shall just make something different the days recipes call for this. Also I will not be eating a lot of cooked breakfasts because I eat my breakfast while most are still sleeping and a large snack at 8;30am. This heath program has little sugars, oils, and no meat or dairy. We shall see how it goes. You will find some of my posts related to this subject the next little while.

No not the 'time out' log. Just some peaceful watching the water

Other nice news is, Dearest has bought us a second car. I have been without one for 8 months now. Really I didn't mind, but it meant a lot of planning. I like to keep the stroller, and car seats ( blasted things!) and grocery bags in the car, but with using only one car and his forever hockey games to play, it meant moving items in and out the car all the time. Now I am free to go anywhere ( on a gas budget)which is handy. I am thinking of getting hanging basket flowers today. Still haven't done that. The baskets are ready but no soil or plants!

The car is a 2001 Toyota Echo.

Really good on gas. It has  small engine and a great commuter car. However it was really dirty inside when we got it from a dealer friend. It was cheap but still! So after chores last night I rented a carpet cleaner for the grocery store and spent 2 hours cleaning the upholstery inside from ceiling to floor.
It is obvious smokers owned this car at one time. It was disgusting. It was still damp when Dearest left for work, sitting on a blanket on route in! The sunshine will dry it. But a lot cleaner and smells much better.

One of my smocked bonnets

Since I have the carpet cleaner here, I thought I would clean out "my" car as well. One of my jobs for today.

The teenager has exams starting next Wednesday. Since she is on-line schooled here from home, I have to drive her to the nearest distant learning school which is 1 1/2 hours away. None of her exams are the same day! All four different days which means lots of driving and time away from home, with the little ones. We will bring picnic lunches and do some touring of the area as she write the exams.


So there is the catch-up.

boardwalk to great-grandmas