Canning

Every tried it?  You know... its that archaic wonderful thing that your grandmother did to preserve the harvest and feed her family during the lean months.  I've been reading "Animal Vegetable Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver (go read it now because it is awesome) and she writes extensively about canning and preserving food.  So, I'm inspired to give it a go. (I know that after reading my previous post some of you are rolling your eyes and saying, "Really?  Canning?  You don't have time for canning!"  But it might be a great way to slow down.)

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Where've You Been? (A weigh in of sorts)

When did I become so busy?  I kind of hate it. I have been traveling all summer, juggling my boys and Charlie's many medical requirements. I have been planning, packing, unpacking, re-working, organizing and on and on.  I'm so tired.

You've all been there, right?  That place where there are so many undone things that they become a malaise of "I'll get to it". I don't like feeling this way.  It seems the modern mother is being shot out of a cannon before she opens her eyes in the morning and is burning the midnight oil to prepare for what comes next. 

I did not weigh in yesterday.  It's the first time in over a year that a Monday came and went without my noticing. This past week is a blur. My son was fitted for orthotic leg braces, both boys were vaccinated (who doesn't love two screaming children at 11am on a Tuesday?), my husband spent Friday afternoon having a Vasectomy (yay), which put him out of commission for the weekend, and my little family of four will be flying to Seattle in two days for my brother-in-law's wedding.  (This will be the fourth time this summer that I've flown with a 2 and 4 year old).

September Goal?  Slow the fuck down. I don't care if I lose any weight. But I do care about reigning in my output, eating the way I want to eat and creating some breathing room for things like sitting in my living room without a day-planner in my hands.

How will I do this?  I'm not sure yet, but I'm going to spend a little time this weekend (in between wedding stuff) to think about what I need and how I can get it.  Any wisdom, experience or experiments you'd like to share with me in the comments section would be welcome. 

 

Pounds lost this week: 0

Total pounds lost: 78

The "I Did It" List

went to my local farmers market for fresh produce and grass-fed lamb

attended one boot camp class (the instructors cancelled classes to attend a conference)

 completed 7 loads of laundry

juiced a few mornings

reclaimed our guest room and made it over into my home office and studio

held my babies while they endured injections in the thigh and didn't fall apart

 

Weigh In - Week 63

I'm home home home!  Dallas greeted me with a big rain storm and highs in the 80's.  What a beautiful home coming.  I'm back to bootcamp this week.  I was the only one in class this Friday, so I got a serious work out.  It's so tough to come back after three weeks away, but it's a good-hurt.

I'm still holding steady at a 78 pounds loss. I'd like to do a mini juice fast this week to recalibrate my system.  I'm feeling a little digestive bogginess that might be cleared up with some serious juicing.  It also might kick up my weight loss a bit.  Tinker tinker tinker.

Pounds lost this week: 0

Total pounds lost: 78

The "I Did It" List

got back into my bootcamp routine

bought a few new songs from iTunes for my running playlist

made LOTS of green lemonade for myself and the hubby

And finally, I'm hosting a giveaway on my other blog, La Maison Boheme, that you might be interested in.  Shabby Apple is giving one of my readers a 75 dollar gift card to use as they like on their website.  Shabby Apple has lots of great clothes and accessories.  But they also have fitness gear like the stuff pictured below.  So go and enter the giveaway HERE. 

Just Get in the Water

I'm home from Oregon.  My last few days there were full, but exciting.  My step family, along with their collective four children, joined our family at my Mama's place to bring our total residents up to sixteen!  I know it can get crazy, but its always such fun to have an overflow of family.

My step-dad rented a pontoon boat on our final day and we took it out on the Brownlee Reservoir and then onto the Snake River.  We found a nice little cove and anchored the boat.  Every one started stripping off clothes and jumping into the water.  It was a hot day and the water looked divinely cool.  Walker looked up and said, "Mama, let's go!"  And I did.  I stripped to my suit and dove into the water.  Walker, buoyed by his blue life jacket, soon followed.

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My step siblings are gorgeous athletic sleek babes, always first to dive in or climb on or jump off.  I have fierce admiration for all of them. Last year, given this same situation I would have NEVER gone in the water.  This year I'm more confident and almost 80 pounds lighter.  As I look back at this moment, the question that arises for me is "Why wouldn't I get in the water at 280 pounds?"

Confidence?  Yes.  Embarrassment?  Yes.  But this was my family.  Why would they even care?  The fact is, they wouldn't care.  They wanted me to enjoy the experience with them.  And last year I would have denied myself and my son this thrilling, exhilarating experience because of my weight.  I never realized what a prison my weight was.  When faced with things like hiking or jumping off a boat, I always shrugged it off. "Oh, I don't want to go anyway. I don't like hiking.  I don't want to get algae lake water in my hair.  I don't care for fun, adventure or endorphins. Count me out.  I'll just sit here and man the inanimate objects while you all engage in soulful recreational activities."

I wish I could whisper to my Bigger Sarah - the 2004 Sarah, the 2010 Sarah - and say "No one cares. They want your company. You need to nurture yourself. Just get in the water."  What do they say about hindsight?  Well, since I can't tell my former self, I'm telling you.  This is the time to do it.  Its time to do all the wonderful things that you want to do.

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Weigh In - Week 62

I haven't been posting much this week because I'm still on vacation at my Mama's home in Oregon.  I'll be home in a few days and back to my morning boot camp classes, my Vitamix and my beloved Breville juicer.  But for now, I'm content with the slower pace, country roads and fresh produce of Richland, Oregon.

I only got out for one 2-mile run this week.  And while I've been eating well, I've also had my share of goodies - two huckleberry milkshakes, a big plate of Mexican food smothered in cheese, a margarita and more than a few beers.  These kinds of treats - all of them smashed together in one week - used to totally throw me off my diet.  I'd gain a few pounds and feel horrible.  But now, while they aren't very sensible choices, at least my body can bounce back.

Pounds lost this week: 0

Total pounds lost: 78

The "I Did It" List

ran two miles

ate lots of vegetables and fruit

waded in a mountain stream

watched falling stars during the Perseid Meteor Shower

paid my credit card bills

published a new article on Houzz.com

Weigh In - Week 61

This week has been an interesting mix of vacation Utopia and tiresome solo parenting.  I have loved being at my mother's farm with my boys.  Walker especially seems braver and more expansive here. Every morning he pulls on his rubber boots and heads outside to see what his Grandpa is working on.  Some mornings, my Mom takes Charlie so I can go for a run. And every day is filled with some kind of fresh, just-yanked-from-the-garden, produce that makes me swoon and curse my city life.  Seriously, I ate an heirloom tomato this week that brought me to my knees. Ah well, we can't have everything we want all at once - right? 

The good news this week?  I've finally broken my weight loss stand off.  I'm down two pounds this week.  Why?  I have no flippin' idea. (I know, I know... so helpful right?  Isn't this supposed to be a blog where I share my weight loss secrets and impart valuable and tested techniques to my readers?) My mom says losing weight is like finding a good man.  If you're trying to hard, you'll never succeed. Its only when you stop trying and let things flow that you drop the weight or meet Mr. Awesome.  Maybe so.

Pounds lost this week: 2

Total pounds lost: 78

The "I Did It" List

ran over 6 miles (three 2-mile runs)

ate amazing fresh produce

prepared beautiful meals for my family

picked up some literature about canning and preserving food (oh its on!)

I'm reading Barbabra Kingsolver's book "Animal Vegetable Miracle" (I'm almost done)

celebrated Charlie's 2nd birthday by baking carrot cupcakes

Run For Fun?

I think I may finally at the point where I can sometimes (not all the time, mind you, but every once in a while) run for fun.  I've been taking little 2 and 3 mile runs every other day or so while visiting my mom in Oregon.  And today, I felt excited to get out and run away from everything for a few minutes.  It's pretty exhillerating to run out of the house, away from the computer, away from my kids and away from the feeling that I "have" to be doing something.  Then, its just as exciting to turn around and run back - back to my family, back to a cold glass of water, back to my daily routines and comforts of home. 

P.S.  I thought that this image above was perfect for me.  This should be my simple four step plan for the rest of the year.  Run longer, eat better, feel stronger, look amazing.  Ready, set, go.

Someone Else's Garden

One of the amazing things about visiting my Mama in Eastern Oregon is the fresh produce.  Sure, you can get it at the co-op in the town 48 miles away, but the fresh produce I'm talking about comes from the neighbors.  Every time I stop at someone's home or run into a neighbor, they fill my arms with yummy things from their garden.  And everyone has a garden.  Everyone.

The other day I came home with 7 pounds of fresh peaches, a zucchini the size of my arm and an enormous basket of onions, beets, carrots, chard, kale, basil, fennel and tomatoes. All of it is fresh and all of it is organic.  I'm so impressed with these sweet gardens.  The Dallas heat is searing all of my meager plantings into a burnt mound of decaying greens, but here climate, compost and steady hands are making magic.  The photos below were taken at a neighbor's home.  When I was leaving, I thanked her for the amazing gift and she said, "Come back when you need more."  Will do!