Author: boomingbanter

We had our weigh in this morning and the only one making progress is Scooby who was up another pound.

Scooby is not at all fussy about what he eats. In the morning I give him a bowl of his dry kibble and he eats it as is with delight.

Krishna feels this is not enough so when it comes to the evening meals he has started special additions of little pieces of meat chopped up with love into tiny pieces or leftovers like rice.

This has been his practice with all our dogs.

The Labradors Darcy and Bingley needed no encouragement to eat. They were like massive vacuum cleaners but still they got their extras from Krishna.

He also chopped up five pounds of carrots each week for them into uniform small strips. This was their healthy treat which in some respects compensated for the milk bones and pigs ears they also got.

You can only imagine the size these babies became. People were known to ask “are they dogs or ponies”. Put it like this, they lived happily ever after!

Dibley being born in France was a “fin bec” and did need some encouragement to eat at times. Krishna took the diet pampering to extremes with him. Treats a gogo and from every dinner plate a portion set aside to give his best friend. Even when we were at a restaurant a piece of something had to come home for the furball.

This resulted in testing times when we had guests because Dibley believed he could bark his way to getting treats from everyone!

I’d get really mad at this and so had put a ban on it starting again with Scooby but I have suspicions he is sneaking a little snack from the table to fluffball now and then.

Laura has three dogs and their eating behavior is as it should be they eat dog food! Two eat at one place and Bear the little chihuahua has his bowl at the other side of the room. They all know the routine and no one tries to eat the others food. Very well behaved babies who let humans eat their food in peace.

Wish I could get Krishna to stick to such a plan too but you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks!

Blessing # 520 – Life Lesson

The girlie weekend continued with the big thanksgiving feast at Laura’s girlfriends house yesterday evening.

I’d not met this group of ladies before but it’s easy to get to like people when they provide a big banquet and yes you guessed fizz!

Diet disaster done!

The friends were quite diverse, all had different professions and ranged in age from young moms to grandmas but they all shared the same qualities of enjoying a good laugh and being supportive of each other.

They were so welcoming as was the four legged family member of the hostess Gina.

Isn’t it often the case that friends of your friends are so easy to relax with. The old adage Birds of a Feather Stick Together seems so appropriate and true!

It’s can be quite a different dynamic in the workplace or in a neighborhood even within an extended family. Why is that?

My theory is the most important piece in the friendship puzzle is laughter. Sure you need other things like kindness but the more seriously we take ourselves or any situation the less likely we will be to sustain it through success or adversity.

Blessing # 519 – New Connections

Our walk was not as lengthy as we’d planned. We didn’t do the big lake. Instead we went to a little local one and cut down a beautiful blue spruce Christmas Tree.

It’s a little early but since there is a big friendsgiving happening at Laura’s today for her daughters school mates we decided we’d go for it.

The lack of steps didn’t stop us eating though. We had such a good catch up last night and a dinner that was delicious. We washed it down with way too much bubbly and fine wine by the fire.

Sleep was sound in a big comfy bed until I heard a noise that sounded like someone knocking on the window. It went on for a while and then one of the three dogs started barking.

Convinced we had a prowler I got up. It was five forty five but there was nothing or no one to be seen but dogs and cats.

So back to bed for another snooze this time with dogs in tow only to hear the same noise again twenty minutes later. This time though the culprit was in the room! It was Miss Missy scratching and hitting her paw on the wood floor!

She did good though waking us early so we could get that turkey in the oven and all those trimmings toasting. Now all we need to do is stuff ourselves as well as that bird!

Blessing # 518 – Prowling Pets

This morning I’m leaving the boys and heading two hours north to spend a girly weekend with my bestie Laura and her daughter.

Scooby and I got our big walk in first thing this morning as soon as Aaron left for work. Those steps are going to be needed for what lies ahead.

When we worked together in France Laura and I saw each other almost everyday as the kids played together most weekends.

Now we see each other only every few months but we’re still like sisters. We have a lot in common including a love of wine.

When Laura was moving from Florida to Ohio we went house hunting together. I was with her the day she chose her home. It’s a cute 1920 cottage that she has worked so hard to transform into a  little palace out of a fairytale.

As it’s a gorgeous day we’re going to go for a good walk at Lake Erie before huddling in light a big wood fire and catch up with a fine bottle!

Tomorrow an early thanksgiving celebration is planned so better get those steps in while we can!

Blessing # 517 – Early Starts

It’s warmed up today and feels almost balmy as we’ve just nudged past freezing. Scooby super sniffer was in heaven. The thaw must vaporize all those calling cards that were left by other puppies in the snow.

It’s two months now since we adopted Scooby and he’s changed so much. He lifts his leg now at the mail boxes and holds his tail high. He is a popular pet in the neighborhood. The kids coming off the school buses rush to say hi to him and he reciprocates. He loves other dogs and is playful with all of them. Our neighbors have just got two nine week old cockapoos and he is adorable with them. Very big brotherish and gentle letting them climb all over him.

All of us enjoy his energy. He plays by himself if no one will play with him tossing balls and running after them.

He still like to mouth a bit with his family but it’s understandable as he probably never had a chance to do that as a puppy.

He gets me walking too and as we can see from all the apps around this is no bad thing for the waistline.

One celebrity that I love and follow is Ruth Langsford. She is a big fan of walking and counting steps with her doggie too.

There are some celebrities that are divas and there are some who are just like girlfriends. They try all sorts of diets and they admit their weakness and flaws. They make you feel like you are normal and you gotta love them for being just themselves.

Blessing # 516 – Real Inspiration 

We got a slow cooker only a few years ago. Now we don’t know how we lived without one. Scooby is sold too!

How easy it is to throw a dinner together. Peel a few spuds, carrots and onions and stick them on top of a piece of meat. Might take ten minutes at most. Flick a switch and go away for the day!

There are certainly more adventurous things to do in that crock pot too. Ideal for all tastes especially vegan to build up flavor.

It’s the joy of knowing nothing is going to burn or stick to the bottom and best of all that only one pot will need washing that makes it all a dream.

For the old diet it’s great news too because that slow simmer means a lot of force in comes forward without a drop of fat added.

Tasty and tender and a timesaver too what more could you ask for a Thursday evening.

Blessing # 515 – Slowly Does It

 

The Christmas markets are opening all over the world. Even the Royals are taking them in. They are filled with all sorts of tempting treats and festive foods.

Back in the early sixties my Mom started preparing for Christmas months in advance.

She shopped a lot at the local Co-Op grocery store. It was a hybrid between an old fashioned store where you bought flour and sugar by the pound and a supermarket. What I remember most is getting stamps there. We’d put these in a little book and then Mom would redeem them for some much desired item. Once she got a roasting tin that she kept for the rest of her life.

At The Co as we called it you could put money aside in the Christmas Club. You handed it over to someone behind a desk with bars a bit like a bank. Don’t ask me why this was better than just saving it in your own purse. Maybe it took those few shillings out of the way of temptation to spend on something else. Anyway my Mom was a faithful follower of the Christmas Club that started almost as soon as the clock stuck twelve in New Years Day

She would also buy a few things each week to put away for Christmas. This included dry fruit and sugar that eventually found its way into a Christmas cake.

The very British speciality known as Mince Meat was bought to make Mince pies and a Christmas pudding or two as well

A very typical gift for family and friends at the time was a box of biscuits (cookies for you guys in USA). This selection was extensive and filled with a huge variety of diet busting business.

The big box was a great treat and soon disappeared at least in our house. The chocolate ones always disappeared first then the jammy doggers and finally there would be the plain shortbreads left that were so run of the mill they were not seen as special at all.

All this stocking up was almost as fun as the big day itself. These days if you’re anything like me you just run out at the last minute and haul it all in. Maybe an old fashioned run up to the big day is something to think about. Might help get in a few more steps too.

Blessing #514 – Counting Down

The fluffball from Texas had his first taste of snow and loved it. What a bit of racing around he did both outside and when he came back in last night.

Those little frozen paws must have needed warming up because he apparently went stir crazy and Krishna couldn’t get him to calm down last night when it started. Aaron brought him in from his last walk around 10:00 and I was already out for the count so missed the drama.

This morning was what you might dream of for Christmas. There was a full moon and a perfect blanket of crispy snow. It didn’t stay perfect for long when the young man got at it. He had such fun and so did I even though it was well before dawn.

School has called at five thirty to let us know there would be a two hour delay because of the weather so of course no chance for me to go back to sleep. Scooby and I did the only sensible thing you could and got into the white stuff.

I absolutely LOVE snow. It makes me feel so bright and happy. Even if it’s frigid like it was today the light is amazing and makes everything so beautiful.

It also makes diets and dinner easy because everyone wants soup. Except of course a fellow who just wants to eat his full of this very special H2O!

Blessing # 513 – Texas Snowman!

With snow in the forecast when Aaron got back from school today we went for our flu shots to CVS our local pharmacy. Dad had his already when he went for his check up at the docs.

The shots are covered by insurance but CVS gives everyone who gets one a five dollar token for future purchases over $25. They also gave us a 20% discount coupon. Good incentives but not of course the reason for our trip.

Krishna has had really bad flu in the past and Aaron too but I’ve  never had flu in my life. Doesn’t hurt to take precautions though.

This is yet another reminder that the winter and all the festivities are coming fast and furious. Everyone’s weight move downwards this week including the fluffball. Maybe we’ll still manage to fatten him up like the proverbial goose before Christmas.

Aaron loves to talk about food so we got to planning thanksgiving on our drive. Aaron doesn’t care for Turkey on the bone. In fact he’s a strange Chinese because he doesn’t like bones at all. He loves crispy skin though so we agreed we’d still get a small Turkey and a big ham.

All the other fixings are everywhere in the stores. Stuffings of all sorts and enough pumpkin to sink an oil tanker. One of the most delicious dishes that goes along with thanksgiving is sweet potato casserole. My friend Laura makes a fabulous one. It is a mix of sweet potato, sugar, spices, butter and cream and it’s all topped with pecans and marshmallows. Sounds like a dessert doesn’t it? It’s not though it’s a side beside your Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes and it’s amazing.

Those pilgrims and their kind native America neighbors have something to answer for but since I’m only seven pounds away from my goal I’m going to make us some  fabulous fixings!

Blessing #512 – Vaccines and Vittles

Today at Church was the first day for people to sign up to bake for our  annual Cookie Walk.

My friend Kathy was at the desk today and usually I’m straight in there signing up to make ten dozen. This year I’m reflecting. Is it better to support the efforts by buying more rather than baking?

Kathy, like many of our Lily Circle who organise the event, are expert bakers. They turn out these creations that are truly works of art. Ice snowmen, Santa’s with hats and beards, Christmas Trees you name it they are beautiful.

Each year I have disasters. Once I asked my cousin Yvonne to give me her easiest recipe for no bake treats called fifteens which she did. They are festive looking and well known in Irish homes around the holidays.

I then proceeded to make them using ingredients from the USA that were only a close approximation to those used in the UK and it was a complete disaster. My friend Patricia was over staying with us when this happened and she was doubled in two laughing at the mess.

Patricia sent me Mary Berry’s Baking Bible for Christmas that year and so come cookie walk baking time the next year I was armed and ready to make Viennese Swills. Invariably at the start the confidence level is high. These are destined to be perfection! Soon reality sets in as hard as the dough! Bible or no these didn’t make it to Church!

For the past few years I’ve stuck with making simple sugar cookies in the form of stars or angels but invariably I burn some because the speedy Gonzales’s in me makes me try to get them all done in a couple of hours.

Even the best of them look pathetic beside the other iced and spiced masterpieces. A good annual lesson in humility for the super confident I suppose!

So what to do? Apart from slow down and follow a recipe for once. Well maybe I’ll try Yvonne’s fifteens again and use the right ingredients this time or maybe make mini sugars that are so tiny and sweet they’ll be irresistible!

You can help by sharing your easiest most impressive cookie recipes. You might help some other soul in the same boat!

Whats all this to do with Diets? Well you can be sure that at least part of what’s not sellable is edible so we nosh them down rather than pack them up and pack on pounds!

Blessing # 511 – Seasonal ReStarts