Category: Fun

Wednesday Diet Wisdom: Lessons in the struggle

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Sticking to it

I am on a weight reduction program I created, and I decided I will check in once a week with a post to let you know how it is going and any tips I might have learned along the way.

I am grateful to say I have stuck to my weightloss plan faithfully since I began on May 13th.

But it hasn’t been easy.

For example last night I had to work from 430 until 9 PM skipping supper. Suddenly I had a terrible craving for food.

This apple rescued me.

Instead of going for junk food I was happy to discover I still had an apple in my work bag.

Another thing that I turn to if I’m not drinking black coffee for a beverage is this.

Club soda and a maraschino cherry

Club soda has zero calories. A maraschino cherry has about 10 calories.

But there are not all those diet soda chemicals in a simple drink such as club soda with maraschino cherry.

One day I came home from work and I was famished.

The quickest thing I could think about was making a miso soup.

I sliced up the tofu, the mushrooms, garlic and grated some carrot and got some green onions from the garden. I boiled up the miso broth and threw in the vegetables that I had fried a little bit in Pam cooking spray. I let everything simmer for about 10 minutes and found the delicious soup so satisfying and delicious! 😋

My steamer is always producing a good hot meal whenever I need something filling and hot like this Field Roast vegetarian sausage, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes dish with Herdez Avocado hot sauce.

Sometimes I will sautée the steamed veggies in a cast-iron pan with a small amount of oil, or cooking spray to brown them and make them crunchier.😋

Delicious hot and filling vegetarian fare

So it’s been over 16 days since I began my weight reduction plan.

I was delighted to see I have dropped 7 pounds already.

I did not subscribe to any weight company except counting calories and exercising daily.

I still have a very long way to go but I decided that this would be a healthy lifestyle from now on.

We all need to set boundaries in our life and counting calories works for me.

P.S. All diet advice by me is my opinion and does not reflect on any professional advice. Lose weight at your own risk.

On the Tube: Hattie McDaniel

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Hattie in a hat

We pay money for streaming services, but yet again I spent last night watching old programs on YouTube.

In particular, I enjoyed this documentary about the life of the multi-talented Hattie McDaniel.

https://youtu.be/xtUO0n08k4A

Unfortunately, they really didn’t mention she had 5 husbands, but just focused on her final marriage and divorce to Larry Williams, a shiftless layabout.

More details about Ms. McDaniel’s personal life are revealed on her Wikipedia page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hattie_McDaniel

Poor Hattie died at age 59 after being a target of protests against her subservient “house-maid” stereotype.

https://hollywoodforever.com/story/hattie-mcdaniel/

In retrospect, most startling to me was the relatively short lives of the leads of “Gone with the wind.”

Clark Gable died at age 59, Vivian Leigh died at age 53, and Leslie Howard was 50 years old when he died in 1943.

However, only Olivia De Haviland lived a long, lengthy life. She made it to age 104!

I just noticed her first name has the word “live” in it!

Also, she noted years later although she lost the Academy award to her rival Hattie, she felt it was a far better, and much bigger thing for the world.

Strangely, whereas Olivia de Haviland’s character Melanie dies in the movie, “Gone with the wind,” the actress Olivia out-lived all her co-stars in real life, while the other stars survived in the film.

P.S. In Georgia there is a “Gone with the wind” museum.

https://youtu.be/7YySgAr2_AE

Music that heals

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Glorious Chopin music 🎶

Last night my husband and I were treated to some beautiful music played by a friend of ours, Ben Marti.

He is a fantastic musician and the son of the owners of Morgan Creek vineyards. He performs each Friday night there.

Wine down Fridays

https://www.morgancreekvineyards.com/staff

Sadly, while he played these glorious tones on the Steinway upright, people yacked loudly, eating, drinking, texting and all I could think was, “Pearls before swine.” Perhaps a bit harsh. Nice atmosphere, nevertheless. Ben says it’s a salon-style vibe.

Nevertheless, after what happened recently in Texas, the horrible elementary school massacre, and the shootings in Buffalo at the grocery store, the music came to me as a balm, and a healing. I so wished many others could be so comforted by it.

The Debussy pieces he played were especially touching and lyrical evoking a feeling of bliss and tranquility. It felt like you were out taking a walk in nature.

Natural beauty in the countryside
Hubby quaffing his Schell’s beer
Classical and Jazz piano played live
I love a glass of Bison Blu wine and heavenly music 🎶
Never stop caring ❤

Songs that come my way: “Nuages.”

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I have decided to dedicate each Friday blog post to songs that come my way.

Whenever I discover a new song or remember a good song to share, I will post it here on Fridays.

Today we are going to feature a song that I had not heard before, or did not know much about.

A song called Clouds or “Nuages”

It was dedicated to me by a jazz trio because I was wearing my beret at a jazz night last Saturday night.

Me in my beret looking French with wine!

The band leader said, “Here is a Django Reinhardt song for you called, “Nuages,” a French word for clouds. ☁️

Here is the illustrious Monsieur Reinhardt on the guitar performing, “Nuages.”

https://youtu.be/DY0FF4iR9Cw

Jim McGuire trio played it for me

To find out more about Django Reinhardt you can click here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_Reinhardt

Watch Django Reinhardt play incredible music with just 2 fingers on the fretboard.

https://youtu.be/ANArGmr74u4

Time has come today

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Starting 11 days ago, I began counting my calories.

True, I took an hiatus from the scale all winter long.

https://zentsmusicstudio.com/2022/04/28/less-self-loathing/

To quote the song by the Chamber Brothers, “Time has Come Today.”

https://youtu.be/hIqwzQ7g-Cc

The time has come to quit too much unlimited fun eating and boozing. Mind you, I do allow for a few treats each day, but they are planned and oh so appreciated!

It seems restrictions heighten enjoyments.

I use my smartphone app, Samsung Health, to track my physical progress, including steps, food, sleep and weight.

Now I do not avoid the scale. I get on that sucker every morning and follow my calorie budget of 1450 a day.

I will stick to the plan for I heartily believe that a diet is like a marriage, it doesn’t work if you cheat.

Printing classes

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Welcome friends!
Pressing times

We went to the open house.

The local arts center offers to teach the public the fine art of printing!

https://www.thegrandnewulm.com/cellar-press

The patience of these artists is amazing!

Fine artists
A display of beautuful prints

Benjamin Franklin was a printer.

You can be one too!

Change of scenery

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The sun peeking through the trees

There is so much to enjoy when the weather turns warmer.

Walks up the street enjoying the blue sky, the trees, and homes brings fun and a bit of stress relief from the crazy news.

To feel better, take time to take in nature.

Lush trees

On the tube: “The Green Hornet.”

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Van Williams and Bruce Lee

Each Monday I will show you what I’ve been watching in a new feature I have decided to call, “On the tube.”

Today I’m watching, “The Green Hornet.”

Campy fun.

Fun locator gadgets
Crime fighting fun

Sadly, it only went for one season on ABC, but such a lark.

Longer days

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Hubby at Morgan Creek Vineyards

Yesterday was a very long day.

Nevertheless, it was time to get out of Dodge.

Hubby and I decided to let someone else entertain us with food and music for a change!

So we drove to Morgan Creek Vineyards on a chilly night.

https://www.morgancreekvineyards.com/

It was so pretty outside in the country, but we were able to sit indoors to enjoy the warmth of food, drinks & music!

Amy Zents by a blooming crab tree

We went to hear my former college guitar teacher, James McGuire play with his combo.

My former college instructor
Live music and fresh wine

Longer daylight seems to provide more energy for the soul!

Jazz trio

Music and Pasta Fazool

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Molly and Sonny Boy

Today my post is about music and food, two of life’s greatest blessings!

Today my little music duo, Molly and Sonny Boy ( hubby Jim and I,) did a nice little number for you, “That’s Amore.” Just guitar, tambourine and 2 vocals.

https://youtu.be/uk7FCTmL2p0

It’s a song that mentions Pasta Fazool.

Hubby cooks it often from a recipe he got from his Italian ex-girlfriend’s mother. It contains ditalini pasta, Great Northern beans, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes dried Romano cheese chunks, black pepper, red pepper, rosemary, garlic and olive oil.

Musician couple