Positive changes

Mark and I have been eating so many veggies its not funny.  And though I do long for the days of rice, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese, I have to say, I am feeling far healthier.  I *think* my BP is down (haven't been good about taking it lately), I have dropped a few pounds here and there, and I am sleeping well.  Plus, my energy level is up!  So here is what we (mostly I) are currently doing:

Peppers and eggs, cottage cheese

Black coffee, no creamer!
Lots of water during the day - I'm completely off soda, rarely drink iced tea
Lots of cooked and raw veggies - both for meals and for snacks
Fresh fruits
Red meat no more than once a week, and we eat fish or chicken breast a lot
Oatmeal 3X a week
No more than 3 eggs per week, and usually less
Waaay less salt and I read the labels on things obsessively now, looking for sodium content
Whole grains, in bread and side dishes (farro!)
Less fried food when we eat out, not as many canned or frozen things at home
Less sugar - we use honey in our oatmeal
And, we both cut back on the beer and wine and neither of us eat breakfast or lunch out during the week.

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Mark was pretty grumpy this morning over his weight not dropping - but he is stress eating a lot of popcorn and other stuff at the end of the day, plus I'm not sure that he eats enough during the day or drinks enough water or moves from his desk much.  {I can only make suggestions!}  As for me, I am scheduled for a follow up with my doc at the end of February and I am looking forward to getting a good report.  I know that I have made positive changes that I can maintain.  Along with dietary changes, we are making big ones on finances, too.  Another story for another day...

Are you a city or country person?

I'm using writing prompts from Rustico and although I won't blog a post everyday, I will try to do it at least once a week!

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Our retirement place is out in the country, and though I love it, I'm not one on living the rustic life.  I don't particularly like hearing the coyotes wail at night when they sound like they're on the other side of the fence.  I don't like that there is almost zero light outside to see as you figure your way to the pumphouse to go potty.  I am not a fan of snakes and scorpions.  I don't like that mice can easily take over wherever you are planning to prepare a meal - the BBQ grill, for example. I hate that my "kids" won't be coming there to spend larger chunks of time with us and that we have to give up Camp Rustown to be out there.   And I am worried about being isolated out there, just Mark and me, old and vulnerable, and alone, just the two of us. Wah.

But.

I'm excited to build and design a house that meets our tastes and needs, not just one that's conveniently big enough and in a good school district.  I look forward to us gardening.  Together.  I like that we can sit on our lawn chairs and look around at the countryside and think "this belongs to us".  I like to imagine that Mark and I will have a magical place for our grandchidren to look forward to visiting in the summer and at Christmastime.  And I know that, Mark in particular, will be happier and more relaxed when we are out here, and that will make me happy, too.

Well.  I guess that makes me a country person.  Although I do love Camp Rustown and it will be so bittersweet to leave a place where we have raised our family.

How do you normally spend your weekends?

*I'm using writing prompts from Rustico and although I won't blog a post everyday, I will try to do it at least once a week!

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{During the week, I also blog a weekend re-cap on The Cannary Family so that I can journal our weekends.}  Since we both still work full-time, Mark and I have only two full days each week to "go and do" together and we try to fill those days with as much exploring and relaxing as we can.  (read: NOT wasted on housework or chores at Camp Rustown)  Sometimes that means we drive a bit - visiting new wineries, a brewery, or distillery and enjoy the beauty of Central Texas.  There's no one at home waiting for us and no one to tag along.  Sometimes we will meet my sister and BIL somewhere, but just as often its just us two.
Which is fine.

Mark at Vista Brewing

When our kids were little, we had no money for such things, and weekends were a chance to catch up for the week on laundry, groceries, etc.  So we were mostly hanging out at home, though we also went to parks, the pool, and such.  When our family grew to six of us, I went on the weekend shift at work.  There was no way we could have afforded daycare for four kids in the summer.  Mark was the one shuttling them to scouting or swim team or bowling or karate or birthday parties. It was drudgery at times, sure.  But, it baffles me that people take kids to breweries and wineries.  With both parents drinking.  Not to be all judgey, but even if we'd had the money to do that, we wouldn't have.

Highlands

Sometimes weekends are a time for hanging out at Highlands (our property in Burnet), listening to all of the "quiet" from our lounge chairs,  enjoying nature during the day, a quiet firepit at night.  We might eat breakfast out at a favorite Mexican restaurant, or or work on some projects up there like the current barn build-out.  But mostly we recharge.  On Sunday afternoons we walk down to the swing at the far end of our drive for a view of the lake and just sit and talk about future plans.  Its very bittersweet to walk back up the hill, pack up the truck, and head back to Austin.  But we know that we have a cozy home to come home to, usually with a nice dinner.  

And since most weekends are over in a flash - we want to spend them like shiny new pennies!