I'm Walkin' Yes Indeed!

Here is day 2 of my return to walking!

I double the block from yesterday and managed 4.4 blocks. I think for this week it is my set point. It was enough to bring me into a slight sweat & took me 15 minutes to complete, but that is good considering I am re-entering after convalescing. I live in a neighborhood that has lovely architecture & lots of interesting things to look at o I always have my trusty camera with me just in case


Many of the houses are well over 100 years old and some about 125-150 years old. I would love to own one of them but at least I can enjoy & dream for free.

It was interesting to se what some of my neighbors were doing in their fall gardens (or t least there gardeners were doing)


One thing I discovered from simply my micro-walk of 2 blocks yesterday was that I went to sleep around 9:30p & with the exception of 2 mini wake ups I slept soundly through the night waking up at my used to be when I had a lot of energy time of 5:30-6:00am!

If a micro walk can do that, well Whoa Nellie what will be when I am fully up to speed!

Understand I am not looking to be Wonder Woman right now. That is neither my aim or desire. My desire is regain some strength, some movement & see the world again...

I am regaining some of my life...

Yes indeed!

Weigh to Stroll~ My 1st walk since surgery.

Look what I would have missed if I had not gone for this micro-walk (above)


I had planned to wait until next week before resuming walking, but my instincts today told me get up & go for a walk. While I had my dr's ok, I was caution to be mindful if I felt dizzy or weak before starting. Finally in the last 3 days I have not had momentary dizziness or spells of weakness.

So out I went to test the market so to speak.

I only walked a very modest 2.5 blocks. It may not seem much for some, but 2 major surgeries back to back & 4 weeks out, I am pleased. It was nice to be out of the house for a change although tomorrow when I go I am aiming for way earlier so I can avoid the heat of the day.

I took my trusty camer with me & saw some of the changes in my neighbors' gardens and even some of the leaves on one very old tree in the beginning of changing colors.

I actually could have walked another 2 blocks but opted not to chance it.

There will be others and as our Gulf Coast summer fades away in Oct there will be more lovely sights to see as people prepare for the art season whick traditionally kicks off then.

I plan to increase the distance perhaps once per week as I see my stamina holds out. But I am happy to have done this today!

Peaut & Sesame Noodles

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 11.0g
• Carbohydrates: 22.9g
• Calories: 208.6
• Protein: 7.7g

Ingredients

• 2 cups of cooked whole wheat spaghetti
  
  
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  
  
• 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
  
  
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
  
  
• red pepper flakes to taste (approx. 1 teaspoon)
  
  
• 3 tablespoons hot water
  
  
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
  
  
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  
  
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  
  
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  
  

Directions

1. Cook spaghetti as directed by the manufacturer.



2. Combine all other ingredients, mix until peanut butter is dissolved.



3. Add sauce to drained pasta, toss until pasta is fully coated.



4. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.



Serves 4.

Weigh to Grow~ Eating from your harvest...

What a delight I had when today after finally a full night of restorative sleep, to, very carefully, get out & walked in to see how my garden grew despite my neglect due to the surgeries & convalesing.

Much to my delight I found an abundance of eggplants and 3 okra pods! Okra. At this size I will let them go to seed for next years crop. I was simply amazed that I got some since when I got the plant it was near death.



Eggplants~I harvested a dozen "Casper" eggplants to use and had to toss about 6 in the compost.


Cantaloupe

Green Bean plants w okra leaves


To the seasoned gardener it may not seem like much, but I had resigned myself that I had completely lost my container garden between the New Orleans heat, my neglect etc. Even my watermelons seems to have, no pun intended, taken a life of their own and started growing!

I manage to have saved one cucumber & squash plant respectively & the bell peppers seem to be trying to revitalized. My greens, brussel sprouts, kohl rabi & tomatoes are raring to be transplanted.

Not unlike me right now.

Although there wasn't a whole lot I could do, I can stand there to water, pluck away dead leaves & photograph.

And that is exactly what I did. Enjoyed the cool early morning breeze, the silence and my garden.

Tis' good!

Basic Lemon Butter Sauce

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 3.1g
• Carbohydrates: 2.1g
• Calories: 35.4
• Protein: 0.2g

Ingredients

1 1/3 cup Swanson’s 100% Natural 99% FF, no msg Chicken Broth
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Smart Balance Buttery Spread
2 cloves Garlic
1/4 tsp Pepper, black
2 Tbsp Corn Starch

Directions

1. In a small pan mix chicken broth, lemon juice, Smart Balance, garlic and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes then remove from heat.
2. In separate, heat resistant, bowl mix corn starch with 1/2 cup warm liquid mixture, a little at a time. Mix until smooth and consistent. Slowly pour corn starch mixture back into the sauce pan while whisking mixture. Watch thickness and add only enough corn starch mixture to achieve the thickness you want.
If sauce is too lumpy strain with a mesh wire strainer then re-whisk. Sometimes it helps to strain and whisk multiple times to get a good consistent sauce.

For an extra Lemony taste add 1/4 cup extra lemon juice; or add 2 Tbsp white wine for a more sophisticated taste.

Warm and serve over entree or vegetables.
Makes approximately 12 to 14-2 Tbsp servings.
(Nutrition Info. Calculated for 12 servings)

Number of Servings: 12

Chef Meg's Baby Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Toasted Almonds

Ingredients

1/3 c almonds, slivered
4 c baby spinach
3/4 c strawberries, quartered
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 t Dijon mustard
1 t honey
3 T extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Place the almonds in a dry skillet or saute pan. Cook over low heat, shaking the pan the entire time until the almonds are toasting. Almonds are done when you start to smell a "nutty" scent.
Remove almonds from the pan to cool. (Do not cool in the skillet because they will burn from the heat that remains in the pan.) Wash and dry the spinach.

Prepare the dressing by placing the vinegar, mustard, and honey in a mixing bowl. Slowly whisk in the oil until all is incorporated. Place spinach in a large bowl. Add strawberries, almonds, and dressing. Toss to coat. If desired, season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 15.2g
• Carbohydrates: 6.2g
• Calories: 162.5
• Protein: 2.7g

Number of Servings: 4
www.sparkspeople.com

Cauliflower Salad

Cauliflower (tastes like potato) Salad

Ingredients

2 bags of frozen cauliflower (16 ounce bag)
1 1/2 cup of Light Miracle Whip
1 TBS of vinegar
1 TBS of mustard (more if you prefer)
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
8 strips of fully cooked bacon (not the kind you fry)
1/4 cup of chopped scallions or onion if you prefer
fresh chives (optional)

Directions

Steam the cauliflower as directed on the bag, be careful not to overcook. Drain the cauliflower. Stir together the miracle whip, mustard, sugar, and vinegar. Chop the scallions and chop the fresh chives. I prepared the bacon as directed on the package in the microwave to make it crisp. I patted the bacon to remove the excess oil. Allow the cauliflower to cool slightly and stir everything together, place in the refrigerator to chill. Approx. 10 1-cup servings.

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 5.8g
• Carbohydrates: 16.3g
• Calories: 119.1
• Protein: 4.5g

Number of Servings: 10

Weigh to Know ALL the weighs Healing takes Place...

Passionfruit©10

There are many who do not know I had an emergency hospital emergency 8 day stay with a 2nd surgery August 27th following a previous surgery stay August 11th. The second surgery came out of the blue while I was recuperating from the 1st surgery. I am ok home resting, weaken, but thankfully managing to survive 2 surgeries in 3 1/2 weeks!

In all of this I have released 23 pounds . I was prepared knowing fully just the 1st major challenge was going to allow me a dress size but I was not expecting 23 pounds. Of course I wished it had been by other means, but hey I'll take it.

And for the record, no, I did not have Gastric Bypass Surgery.

I am thankful that prior to the surgeries I was already eating far better, had an organic garden growing & being as active as my illness would allow me.

I know that these issues, long overdue, have now been addressed, I will indeed reap the benefits of vigor, a vitalization I had not enjoyed inalmost 2 years and a bounce in my step.

Needless to say it has run a major curve for me the next few weeks. But I am here and I am healing!


Which brings me to this story...


Today I had two unexpected visitors both bringing unexpected gifts. Funny thing in their way these two women brought me exactly what I needed for the day, their time attention & love.

While not knowing one another are very similar in personality and close in age (66 & 68) The 68 year old is very scattered brain, but huge heart, very passionate about New Orleans spending time before coming up my way helping others use Labor Day (how appropriately) to mow down all the high weeds & grass in a part of the Lower 9th Ward putting their time not talk into the community, health food,/organic living. She taught in Berkley on the reservations for a number of years, very hippie-ish and a very vocal advocate. Just really scattered, I tease her calling her Mrs. Magoo as driving with her is an experience.

. Anyway she went our local store and brought me lots of fresh fruit, some jambalaya (with shrimp only) a couple of newspapers & her company.

The 66 year old clean up my kitchen swept my floor, took out my garbage and visited. She also is very scattered, loud, unrefined but heart as big as all out doors. I was so tickled when she went to take out my garbage she out it in my compost because all the other times she came I gave her my compost bag to dispose so she thought this was going there too. She had never seen a compost or a organic garden before, very prim & proper knows very little about community activism, but can be verrrry vocal about ppl abusing the neighborhood.

But I watched her as she swept up my porch, bringing in all my clippings to go into my bag for my compost. (hmm maybe she's learning?) While I tried to figure out her cell phone as she knows nothing but the basics (on & off).

Shows you 60-something can be very eclectic eh?

And they are here for me as I am for them in ways that cannot always be measured. And while there are those days their collective scattering may send me up the wall, I KNOW they will be with me when the chips are down...


So now I tire and will lay down for awhile & thankful for this day.