A Setback

I posted about my garden here and how excited I was about it.  If you didn't see the pictures be sure to check them out. I was pretty proud of it.

Then last week we got a freak hail storm. This weather has been crazy.  Thursday I was on my way home from bible study and ran into a storm, by time I got home I knew it had been bad.  A tree in our neighbor's yard had been snapped apart.  I didn't even want to see my garden. The next morning I ventured down with much hesitation.

*tear*

My garden was a mess.  The tomatoes were on the ground... entire posts just pushed over - some on my pepper plants and cucumbers.  Random parts of my corn just looked like they were pushed over by a person.  My peas were smashed into the ground, most of the tops off my onions were broke off.  Oh my zucchini plants.... destroyed. Absolutely destroyed, the leaves just ripped to shreds.

It was heartbreaking to be honest. I had invested so much time and energy into this garden.  I just walked away and couldn't bear to even deal with it.

Later that day I got to thinking about how I've been complaining about conveniences and how much are they really a blessing to us.  Well I found out, because my garden was destroyed did not mean our family would starve to death this winter.  We still have the option of going to the grocery store and buying food that will sustain us over the months.

That is a blessing for sure.  Be sure to come back tomorrow to find out what God continued to teach me through out the weekend. :)

Our growing garden

My post today is about something new that I've never done - growing potatoes.  Many years ago I bookmarked this link from Heavenly Homemakers, one of my favorite blogs. I've hung onto this print-out for a couple years, moving it here and there. Finally my mom found an article too and got interested so boom we were on a mission.

About two weeks ago we made our potato pots, four in total, bought some seed potatoes, used some old chicken wire we had laying around, old newspaper to line them, and some bags of potting soil/compost.  The cost really wasn't that much for how many we ended up planting.  The basic theory is to plant some seed potatoes with eyes, let them sprout, once the plants get to a certain point, cover with another layer of soil, wait for plants to grow again, cover again and repeat... once you reach the top, you let the plants grow and blossom.  Wait a couple weeks after the plants die and turn yellow and then clip the the plastic ties used to hold the pots together and VIOLA pounds and pounds of potatoes to store for the winter!  I'm thinking digging through the dirt for all those treasure is going to be an excellent job for my little ones.

There does seem to be some disagreement or confusion over at what point we put another layer of soil over the plants.... one of the bonuses of the internet - you learn how to do things and then you learn there are many ways to do the same things.  Some say 1-2 inches, others say 7-8 inches... big difference there.  We might try one of each since we have multiple pots. Don't know how it works but supposedly it does.


We'll play it by ear this year and make changes for next year. :)  Have any of you done this before?

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C25k: Days 7 and 8

So I've been lax in posting and I think I'm only a day behind. This week instead of exercising M, W, F. So far it's been Tuesday and Thursday, hopefully I'll be able to fit it in on Saturday at some point.  So while I'm still not at the level the program is telling me to jog at I am making progress.  Today (day seven) was a struggle.... a couple times I was ready to give up and just say I can't do it (which I have many times in the past) As soon as I start to sweat I call it quits and walk away. But I didn't. I pushed through and finished.  I'm feeling pretty happy with myself right now.

Day Six's workout:
5 minute warm-up
16 minutes
1 min walk
2 mins jog
3.5mph/4.5mph
5 minute cool down

Recap: I did not bump up to 4.5mph the intervals but I did bump up to 4mph which is progress for me.

Totals: 26 minutes, 1.45 miles


Day Seven's workout:
5 minute warm-up
16 minutes
1 min walk
2 mins jog
3.5mph/4.5mph
5 minute cool down

Recap: I did not bump up to 4.5mph the intervals but I did bump up to 4.1mph which is progress for me.  I didn't seem to get as far which I'm confused about but I think I during my warm-up I didn't speed up soon enough so I didn't cover as much mileage.

Totals: 26 minutes, 1.48 miles

Sausage Taco

One of the desires that I had when I started this blog was to share information that would be helpful and enjoyable to others. 

My gram is constantly passing along her older magazines to me and sometimes I glance through them and sometimes I don't. But lately I've been in a rut with dinner lately.  Just no interest in cooking and creating new things.  Well... she gave me a Woman's Day and there were a bunch of taco recipes in it. So I went with it and made one last night.... and it was a huge hit with Nathan and I!

But of course I tweaked a bit cause that's just what I do.  There were no peppers in the original recipe but since I am trying to make everything healthier I don't miss any opportunity to add some extra vegetables to all meals. :)

Sausage, Pepper, Onion, Potato Tacos
1 large yellow pepper chopped
1 large red pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
1 lb hash browns
olive oil
paprika, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, pepper

I chopped up a large yellow pepper, red pepper, onion and sautéed them in a little bit of olive oil.  While that was cooking, I rehydrated the hash browns (Hungry Jack's where you just add water - love them!).  And then threw them in a skillet to crisp them up a bit in olive oil.  After the vegetables were softened, I added  sweet Italian sausage with the casings removed.   I broke the sausage up with a spoon, and cooked until sausage was brown, and vegetables were tender.  Then I added a 1/2 tsp of paprika, oregano, and chili powder; plus 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper.  And left to cook/blend the flavors together.   Finally, I threw the crisped hash browns in, mixed together and left to cook for another minute or so.

I served them in just flour tortillas burrito style.  Now I personally think we needed something else on them... sour cream, guacamole, fresh tomato salsa, some cheese.... something to offset the spiciness. But for the first time making them I think the were pretty yummy.

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c25k - day five

Today was rough getting up. I just had no desire, Josiah had a rough night of sleep for some reason and although I could hear him it was like I was in a dream hearing him (Nathan was up with him so don't think I neglected my buddy!) and I physically couldn't get out of bed.  I was so exhausted again last night.

Day Five's workout:
5 minute warm-up
12 minutes
 30 second intervals
Walk/Jog
3.5mph/4.5mph
5 minute cool down
2% incline

Recap: I once again did not bump up to 4.5mph for the 1 minute intervals... it takes too much time for the treadmill to speed up and slow down, so I just stayed at the 3.5mph for 11 minutes, the last minute interval I did push it up to 4.3mph and then pushed myself to jog an extra minute at that speed.  Which I'm happy with. :)  I didn't think the 2% incline was going to do much. whew! I was wrong.

Totals: 23.50 minutes, 1.25 miles

c25k - Day four

ugh. Today was a struggle to get out of bed. Last week and this week held some personal struggles for me and yesterday after church I was so wiped out I slipped into a nap coma for about 2 hours. I have not slept that long or that deep during a nap for a very long time. It was wonderful.... until I tried to go to sleep last night 1) not tired at all, and 2) experiencing shooting pains in my right shoulder and down my arm from napping on the couch. sigh.... So when that alarm went off this morning getting up was not on my mind, and to be honest last night I had already told myself if I got awake and my arm was hurting I was not going to run.  Mind you these pains in my arm were nauseating they hurt so bad.  But I did get up and I'm happy I did!  I just had to keep ignoring my husband who was ogling me the entire time I was jogging. ha!  

Day Four's workout:
5 minute warm-up
12 minutes
 30 second intervals
Walk/Jog
3.5mph/4.5mph
5 minute cool down


Recap: I once again did not bump up to 4.5mph for 30 seconds... it takes too much time for the treadmill to speed up and slow down, so I just stayed at the 3.5mph for 11 1/2 minutes, the last 30 second interval I did push it up to 4.3mph and then pushed myself to jog an extra minute at that speed.  Which I'm happy with. :)

Totals: 23 minutes, 1.21 miles

c25k - day three

I must be crazy. I've actually gotten up, out of bed before my alarm to walk/job on the treadmill.  This never happens.  Since Jan 2007 I have either been pregnant or nursing one of my babies.... this is the first time in a long time that sleep was not my number one priority. It doesn't help (but it is nice) that my husband's goal every morning is to let me get as much sleep as possible.... so I'm not normally encouraged to get out of bed!  :)

Day three's workout:
5 minute warm-up
10 minutes
1 minute intervals
Walk/Jog
3.5mph/4.5mph
5 minute cool down
(20.30 minutes, 1.05 miles)

You win some, you work at some - for two of the 1 minute intervals I got up to 4.5mph, and for the last one I pushed myself to jog 1 and 1/2 minutes!  My fails for today - I didn't make it up to 4.5mph for all the 1 minute intervals....but hopefully I'll get there. And the next fail hasn't happened quite yet but I have 6 children in my house today, the three extra even spent the night last night.  I'm guessing about noon I'm be thinking - why didn't I stay in bed longer. I'm tired already!

I have also been making a conscious effort to eat better, each meal has had a salad and a vegetable - there is an ongoing discussion in my house that a salad counts as a vegetable; I don't agree. I think we still need another vegetable PLUS a salad. :)

I will be refusing to weigh myself until the end of this 8 weeks. I want to focus more on how I am feeling and how my clothes are feeling then how much I actually weigh.  We'll see if I hold out or not.

c25k - day two

I did it!!! I got up again to walk/jog on the treadmill. girls - this is huge for me.  :)


Seriously having so many people pulling for me (Lia, Debbie, and Marissa for instance) and that is really making me more accountable. And I'm loving that! so THANK YOU. :)

Here was day two's workout:
5 minute warm-up
10 minutes
30 sec intervals
Walk/Jog
3.5mph/4.5mph
5 minute cool down

You win some, you work at some - my successes for today - I got up. I was on the treadmill for a full 20 minutes, and I completed 1 mile.  Mind you I have not run/jogged a mile since high school (some odd 14 years ago).  My fails for today - I did not make it up to 4.5mph.  I walked or jogged at 3.5mph. That is one downfall of the treadmill - you can't easily and quickly jump between the two speeds. Maybe when the intervals are longer it will work, but with only doing it for 30 seconds at a time, I just stayed at one speed.

I am a very numeric person - I knew I had 10 sets to complete so that's how I ticked them off in my head. It works - I even counted steps 30 for walking, 60 for jogging.... odd I know but that way I know the end is coming and where I'm at on that scale.

The program is 8 weeks, three days a week.  My 'goal' is to complete the program on M, W, F.  On the off days I will try to complete some mini-trampoline work, and dropspins (if anyone was color guard you'll know what I mean).  We used to do hundreds of these at practice while I was in high school.  I can barely do 50 on each arm now without them burning..... I have lots of work to do. :)

If anyone is interested - here's the link where I found this program at - Treadmill Workout.

C25k

Anyone know what that title means?

C25k - Couch to a 5K program. Yup. I'm going to do it.

I completed the first piece of it this morning. I am quite happy for myself. I do not like to run, I do not like to sweat, I like to sleep.  I am lazy and I will admit that.

I also had a really bad health weekend, I haven't been sleeping, and struggled with a migraine most of it.  I was so discouraged thinking I wasn't even going to be able to start the program when I wanted.  But I was able to take a nap Sunday afternoon and woke up feeling much better.  :)

I hope to be posting each day I complete another step of the program. There are 24 steps - 8 weeks, three times a week. Which I love - it's slowly getting me into this. Right now even Wednesday looks daunting to me cause I will walk/jog for most of it.  This is pushing me WAY out of my comfort zone.

Here is the first step I did this morning:
5 minute warm-up
10 minutes at 3.5 mph
5 minute cool-down
couple stretches

But I did it and I am thrilled - pat on my own back. ha!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is so easy, healthy, and cheap!

Actually I have almost all of the ingredients to make the soup for free!

3 cups chicken (we had 5 free range chickens given to us a couple months ago)
6 cups chicken broth (from the 5 free range chickens)
1-2 jars of tomatoes with green chilies (tomatoes from our garden, chilies from our gracious neighbor)
6 cups sliced red, green, yellow peppers, and onions stir fry style (from our garden)

Place everything into a 4-6 quart crock-pot and let simmer on low for as least 4 hours but I've left my on for up to 8 hours. The size of the crock-pot depends on how much soup you are making. I'm sure you could put it on high for just a couple hours as well and it would be warmed through and the peppers cooked.   If you would stop here the soup would basically be free.  But we enjoy putting some crushed up tortilla chips in each bowl, and sprinkled with a little Mexican cheese.  The wonderful thing about this soup too is you can add or subtract each ingredient as you like - rather be heavy on chicken and light on the veggies - go for it!  And it's so easy to make this in large quantities and freeze it for lunches.

This soup is so easy.  And very healthy as I know where each and every item that is in it came from.  And well you cant get much cheaper then free.  I love having this soup ready for when my hubby comes in from hunting on these cool fall days.  Nothing better!

Enjoy.

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Ladies Fellowship Day - Living Well

I would like to extend an invitation to all my 'vitural' friends!  Hope some of you can attend!

I am co-hosting a Ladies Fellowship Day at our church, Bethany Chapel in Marion Center PA.

November 13th, 2010

8:30 – Registration, light refreshments 9:00 – Living Well – Taking care of your health & body 10:00 – A Life of Contentment - The life of Ruth 11:00 – Making the most of the money God has given 12:00 – Lunch and Closing (Lunch will be provided) Please RSVP before November 7th. We encourage you to bring your mom, co-workers, sister, a friend (or two!). For a special activity – please bring your favorite time-saving or money-saving tip! Please either send me an email or post below if you will be staying for lunch so we know how many to prepare for! And if you will need childcare. ______ Number attending all morning (including Lunch) ______ Number only attending morning sessions (no Lunch) _____ Will you need childcare (yes/no) *There is no cost for attending.

Smoothie

Well I tried something new this morning and it turned out pretty well.

Hubby and I are attempting to completely re-vamp our diet with this program pH Miracle Living. It's all about keeping your alkaline levels up and acid levels down.  It's interesting and incredibly hard.  We know a couple who went on this radically over night due to extreme health problems and it's worked amazingly for them.

We have one issue... my husband likes very very few vegetables and vegetables basically make up the entire diet. 

Back to my smoothie - we started drinking 'green' powder a couple weeks - it's HORRID!  This morning I made a smoothie (with my FREE delmonte smoothie blends!) with the mixed berry powder.  It's actually  pretty good.  I hope as we continue down this path (small changes at a time!) I will post with our results and thoughts. 

Anyone know what to do with avocados?  :)