Friday Roundup

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.

Author Unknown

Good morning all, and what a wonderful morning it is.  Yesterday morning was a bit too warm and humid for me.  One doesn't know how to dress in this weather.  Absolutely loved my class yesterday.  Such an awesome teacher with an impressive array of licenses... BBA, MBA, MS and Ph.D and several Board certifications.  Unlike the other teacher, this one is not afraid to take questions and can answer anything you throw at him.

A cancer survivor who'd been sent home to die in the early 90's, he took control of his life and started looking into alternatives and nutrition.  And what the doctors didn't do, he did for himself...and then went back to school for a degree.  When he went back to the hospital to share his knowledge they didn't want to hear of it.  Of course not, there is no money to be made in a cure. So, he went into teaching to give back what he has learned and has been at Brooklyn College ever since.

As for me, because I am a pre-diabetic, he told me I was eating too much fruit.  TOO MUCH FRUIT???? How can one eat too much?  But, some are higher in sugar and those are the ones I adore and eat every day. Try to limit how much I eat and substitute with veggies instead.  Now, I love veggies as well, but not as a snack.  And I honestly don't like raw veggies.  I was thinking of steaming some and using a healthy dip.  Any suggestions?  

Lost another .6 at Weight Watchers.  Now I know I have overcome that 40 pound hurdle. 

Now, not only are my clothes hanging off me, but so are my coats and I can't afford new ones. . Aside from a couple of spring jackets and one very heavy winter coat, the rest just hang off me. So I am not sure what to wear today. It's too cool for the spring and too warm for the winter. Plus with the rain. Whoever knew that losing weight would cause so many problems....but aside from not having enough to buy anything new right now, I am definitely not complaining. I'll take my health any day of the week.

I'm so proud of myself I have to brag. Left the house early so I could get to school before the heavy rain. I don't mind getting wet on the way home because I can change my clothes, but getting wet on the way in and sitting in the wet clothes is another story. Well, I got to school about 11:15 and my class started at 12:10 so I had already decided before I left that I would sit in the cafeteria and have a little lunch.

Well, here I am surrounded by pizza, overstuffed sandwiches, a full buffet, hamburgers and fries, and an awesome looking pudding parfait, and what did I choose? Tuna on a bed of lettuce and a fruit salad for dessert. Nice and healthy and pretty low on points. Of course, knowing that tomorrow morning is my weigh in may have had a little something to do with my choice.

 Whole wheat bread crumbs, egg, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.

Have a good one.

Thursday Photos

There is a beautiful spirit breathing now
Its mellowed richness on the clustered trees,
And, from a beaker full of richest dyes,
Pouring new glory on the autumn woods,
And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds.
Morn on the mountain, like a summer bird,
Lifts up her purple wing, and in the vales
The gentle wind, a sweet and passionate wooer,
Kisses the blushing leaf, and stirs up life
Within the solemn woods of ash deep-crimsoned,
And silver beech, and maple yellow-leaved,
Where Autumn, like a faint old man, sits down
By the wayside a-weary.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn. 

And some wonderful Autumn flowers.

 Have a good one.

Wednesday Thoughts and Rambles

Weather is a great metaphor for life — sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and there’s nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella or choose to dance in the rain! 

Terri Guillemets

Morning all.  It's a windy and rainy day here in Brooklyn, and I realize don't like going out in this kind of weather, but I also don't want to miss my Spanish class.  It is one of my favorites.  And then, since I am already out in it, I might as well stay for literature class as well...even though I don't like and couldn't get into the assigned book.

I will never forget the night hubby sang and danced in the rain for me.  It was early in our relationship, and we were heading out to a movie when the sky opened up.  I ran under and awning but hubby stood out there kicking his feet like Fred Astaire and while he belted out, "Singing in the Rain." A man not afraid to play in the rain. I knew then that we'd always be together.

My nutrition course is over and none too soon if you ask me. Yesterday was a joke. The topic was sugar and diabetes which is an important topic if one really knows what they are talking about, but our teacher left a lot to be desired. Someone asked her what the difference between sucrose and fructose was and all she said was they were different kinds of sugars. Granted, that's true, but someone who really knew would at least have said that one is natural and the other refined. Won't be seeing her when the new semester begins in February.

Been thinking about what I can do to keep me busy when this semester ends in December and I am thinking of trying out some chair yoga at the union and finding a free Spanish class. The library also has lots of stuff going on so while the ground is clear of snow and ice I will still be on the run. 

Last night's awesome dinner.  Swiss Steak.

Dip round steak in flour and season with salt and pepper. Pound until flattened. Diced tomatoes, peppers and onions, low sodium beef broth, garlic powder, marjoram, thyme, and bay leaf. Brown steak in oil and remove to plate. Saute peppers and onions. Add rest of ingredients plus a little water. Add steak and simmer until fork tender.

Have a good one.

Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee; "Which are you?

I stumbled across this the other day and thought it would be a great share. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

---AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Monday Morning This and That

When you walk across the fields with your mind pure and holy, then from all the stones, and all growing things, and all animals, the sparks of their soul come out and cling to you, and then they are purified and become a holy fire in you.

Hasidic saying

Good morning everyone, and a happy Monday to all. Today it is going to be cool and sunny, my favorite type of Autumn day.  Had a busy Saturday, but Sunday was pretty restful.  Saturday has become my new cooking day so I spend the day in the kitchen preparing meals for the upcoming week.  On Sunday I was off to church, got caught in the rain, and afterwards back home for a restful afternoon.  

Saturday was also the day of Hallmark's annual Halloween showing of all "The Good Witch" movies, so you know where I was during breaks from cooking.  I love all of them.  Wasn't too keen on the series because it isn't the same without the hubby and some of the other characters, but I understand the hubby has a steady part elsewhere so they had to kill him off.  So is the way with television.

Speaking of Halloween, I am so excited that it is almost here, but ashamed to admit that, for someone who loves the holiday so much, I've done nothing in the way of planning for the day.  I haven't even planned my menu.  Time to get busy here.

As for homework this weekend I have a short story by Edith Wharton to read. Should be enjoyable. I love everything that she writes. Gave up on "Villette". Just couldn't get into it much as I tried. One class ended and a new one is beginning, "Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson". Aside from the writing assignments it should be fun. We are assigned fairy tales to read and then given questions to analyze and interpret what we read. It's a good weekend to get started on my assigned tales.

My easy homemade Puerto Rican marinate for chicken. Lime juice, olive oil Spanish oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. A little goes a long way. And here is the finished product. Melt in your mouth good.

I  did a lot better in Tai Chi on Friday, and I discovered what the 'real' problem is. The real reason I cannot seem to get it. It's too hot in that gym. In fact, the entire school, every building, is too hot. Tai Chi has a lot to do with the mind and when all you can think of is how miserable you feel, how is one expected to learn. Really mean it that I am going to practice at home this week.

Hope you all have a good one.

Friday Roundup

Autumn. . . makes a double demand. It asks that we prepare
for the future--that we be wise in the ways of garnering and keeping.
But it also asks that we learn to let go--to acknowledge
the beauty of sparseness.

Bonaro W. Overstreet

Good morning, everyone.  We've been having some pretty summer like weather, but it looks as if the temps will be on their way back down again. Only going to reach the 50's today.  Just don't know how to dress in this crazy up and down weather.  No wonder people are catching colds.  So much sniffling on the bus.  Not looking for another cold. 

Still trying to sort out my email issues, but I discovered that Gmail is just as good as Yahoo.  And the only reason I needed Yahoo is because I take a few online courses which are sent via email and placed in Yahoo folders.  Funny thing about this whole thing is I am not able to get or send email, but I can open my folders.  Problem is that all I can see is the old stuff.  Anything placed in a folder after 10/12 is not there.  

You know, since I retired I sometimes rue that I wasted so many years in substance abuse counseling when I could have been a nutritionist instead.  Then, the other day I receive the following on my FB messenger:

 Good to see your okay! Thank you so much for your support and help when you were my counselor at Greenwich house in NYC 2004/ by the grace of God I didn't go back to prison and have become a law abiding citizen.I will always be grateful you were my counselor! God Bless you miss mary!

Brought tears to my eyes and made me realize it was all worth it.  Everything was as it was meant to be.  

Well, I stayed the same at Weight Watchers this week.  At least I didn't gain, but it sure has been hard trying to reach that illusive 50 pound loss.  Been playing around with 39 and 40 for months now.  Not giving up, though.  One day I'll get it.  Have to have faith.

Remember how when you were in school there was always one student the teacher signaled out not so much to chide for bad behavior, but to assist when she is trying to provide the class with an example. Well, I am that person in Spanish class. She has taken a liking to me, and every time she wants to put on a little skit in Spanish, I am called to the front of the class to take part in it. If she only knew how much I have always disliked talking in front of the class. I may have come a long way, but that shy little girl is still very much a part of my life.

Have a good one.

Thursday Photos

The question, "Which is the happiest season of life?" was asked of an aged man.
And he replied: "When spring comes, and in the soft air the buds are breaking
on the trees, and they are covered with blossoms, I think, 'How beautiful is spring';
and when summer comes and covers the trees with its heavy foliage, and singing birds
are among the branches, I think, 'How beautiful is summer.' When autumn loads them
with golden fruit, and their leaves bear the gorgeous tint of frost, I think, 'How
beautiful is autumn.' And when it is severe winter, and there is neither foliage nor
fruit, then I look up through the leafless branches as I never could
until now, and see the stars shine in God's home.

Unknown

Leaves are starting to change as Autumn struggles to take hold, but....

...summer continues to hang on.

Cloud cluster over the high school

 The sun shining brightly over the church on Sunday morning.

 Another gorgeous sky picture.

The other day I got to thinking about how things have changed since I retired.  I was always in such a hurry, I had no time to take notice of the awesome beauty that surrounds me.  Today I am in awe of all the gifts that nature provides.  Feels good  to slow down and admire all that Mother Nature gives us.