Week Ending 12 of CANDO 2014: Kitchen

I CAN stay with the CANDO plan in spite of a kitchen turned upside down:

 We are replacing our kitchen floor with 8" plywood planks,
 and get this...they will be painted bright white (kiddos are all gone).
The stove is in the garage and the refrigerator is in living room.
In anticipation of trying to do this while sticking to the CANDO plan,
I have prepared many frozen meals as our microwave is still functioning.

Our dear friends even volunteered to bring us dinner. :-)

That's the NVO. 

He looks mad but I am quite certain he is happy, 

as evidenced by the "Life is Good" hat. ;-)

This was found behind the refrigerator. I had forgotten.

Four years ago I wanted to paint behind the refrigerator,

 and the NVO (Digger) asked "Why?" and I told him

 "Because people that care live here" and he agreed.

It was documented.

No one sees it...its just a hidden painted wall that simply makes our heart feel good.

It's along the lines of the NVO's favorite quote from "The Little Prince" 

by Antoine de Saint-Exupry?

"What is essential is invisible to the eye...."

Okay, so all that was to distract you from this:

I made the photo really small in hopes you would miss this.

Up 1.2 lbs and only four weeks left from my target date.

Since my target weight is 119.5 it would not be 

feasible nor healthy to try and lose 16.1 lbs in 28 days.

I CAN leave the chart the way it is, but in my mind 

I CAN shoot for 10.6 lbs in 28 days,

for a new goal of 125 lbs by the end of April.

This is still a pretty lofty goal but at least doable.

The kitchen remodel CAN possibly make it or break it.

Here are today's charts:

I report the following:

If you would like a copy of this Excel spreadsheet to customize to your own plan, 

I would be happy to send it to you. 

Just drop me an email at digger.lizzie@gmail.com requesting it.

 Good news for the CANDO homies:

Ruff has been on vacation for two weeks and did not gain any weight

and the others have remained the same.

Here is the chart that includes everyone:

Have a good CANDO week and remember that the chart that includes

 everyone is posted on the CANDO 2014 page here.

See you next Monday!

(I changed weigh in day to Monday again...I confused too many people. :-) )

YOU CANDO IT!

Spring Crochet Teaser

First and foremost, I so appreciate all your kind and loving comments about my father,

from the previous post.

You are very special friends.

Thank you for being part of my blogging world.

I am so happy to have "met" all of you.

A big hug to you all!

So back to business:

Here's a project with an ETA of 4/1/14:

 Made with:

 Encore yarn and 

Tilda yarn from My Rose Valley.

And includes...yes, you guessed it, the infamous granny rose.

(rose pattern can be purchased here.)

Stay Tuned Tuesday April 1st for the rest of the story.

Have a lovely Spring day!

My Dad

In 1962 my parents immigrated to the USA from Norway.

Here is an article I ran across this evening, from their local paper in 

Kristiansund N., Norway, in regards to their trip.

That's me on my mother's lap; I was two years old.

What a brave endeavor!

Although I am perplexed at their decision and I miss Norway, 

I am grateful for the opportunities and 

especially glad that they immigrated; otherwise, I may not have met the NVO. :-)

My father had a bakery for several years in Norway and then in the USA for 35 years.

I was his apprentice.

He passed away 12 years ago in March.

My mother moved back to Norway.

I miss him.

I miss Norway.

Here's is one of the last photos of Mor og Far together:

They were happy.

They had a good marriage.

Thank you for indulging me in my melancholy mood this evening.

The memories are good.

Rainbow Circle Pillow

In between a lot of this and that...

...I managed to make a 

Rainbow Circle Pillow. :-)

  That's what this one does during binge watching of "House of Cards",

while trying to use up the last of the rainbow and white Red Heart yarn.

Also experimenting with the reverse look.

Circle-in-a-square motif pillow pattern can be found here.

Stuffed with that $1.49 pillow from IKEA, that I love,

although the design shows through.

(That's what happens when one is trying to do too many "this and that's".)
I have not disappeared off the the face of the earth...just on the edge. :-)
I'll be around to visit you all soon...I hope. ;-)

Have a bright day!

Week Ending 11 of CANDO 2014: Spinach Pie

I CAN try something different for breakfast:

Scrambled egg whites with whatever veggies I have are good,
 but sometimes you just want something different...
luckily I stumbled across this recipe for:
Spinach Pie

Recipe found here:

I added some sun dried tomatoes too.

Hearty and Satsifying

So here it is:

134.4

Down .2

(Hmmmmm...I wonder if that roll of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies

 had anything to do with the minimal weight loss? They were frozen you know. :-) )

Back and hip still hurt a little but was able to do a bit of exercise:

TU: 1:15 walk

F: Yoga

SA: 1:15 walk and triceps weight work-out

Here are today's charts:

I report the following:

If you would like a copy of this Excel spreadsheet to customize to your own plan, 

I would be happy to send it to you. 

Just drop me an email at digger.lizzie@gmail.com requesting it.

 CANDO homies report the following:

Have a good CANDO week and remember that the chart that includes

 everyone is posted on the CANDO 2014 page here.

See you next time on Sunday next week!

YOU CANDO IT!

Pin Cushion in Pink Gingham

I made another pin cushion. :-)

 And I use it nearly everyday.

For more information on how to make this pin cushion see this post.

Have a good week!

Week Ending 10 of CANDO 2014: Sunday

I CAN change weigh-in day to Sunday.
Kiddos come for dinner late on Sunday nights; hence,
Monday becomes discouraging for weigh-in.
Is everyone good with that?

I'm getting that overwhelmed feeling again.
Struggling a little with finding balance.
Blogging has taken a back seat for a bit.
I've read all your comments and they are so heart warming.
Thank you for sticking with me.

But all in all it was a pretty good week on the health and fitness front
 except for a set-back with some back pain
 and then there were those chocolate dipped fortune cookies and caramel corn...

So here it is:

134.6

Down .6

(this was yesterday's weight.)

Did not weigh in today.

I'm 14.6 lbs from my goal and half way there.

That's exciting. :-)

My exercise routine suffered due to the back issue.

Last week looked like this:

M: 15 minute EXTREME weight work-out - thighs.

M: Hurt back while tying shoe for heavens sake!

(I'm thinking stronger abs and better form during weight lifting may help this reoccurring problem.)

TH: 60 minute walk with Little Bug. 

(Stair sprint at end.)

SU: 60 minute walk with the NVO.

Here are today's charts:

I report the following:

If you would like a copy of this Excel spreadsheet to customize to your own plan, 

I would be happy to send it to you. 

Just drop me an email at digger.lizzie@gmail.com requesting it.

 CANDO homies report the following:

Have a good CANDO week and remember that the chart that includes

 everyone is posted on the CANDO 2014 page here.

See you next time on Sunday next week!

YOU CANDO IT!

Panang Curry

One of our favorite home cooked meals:

 And this is how you make this fresh and flavorful meal:

Chop up 2 large green and 2 large red bell peppers.

Shred 4 kefir lime leaves.

10-12 Thai basil leaves.

 Cube 3 large chicken breasts.

Gather up:

Coconut oil, coconut milk, fish sauce and panang curry paste.

(These were purchased at the Asian market; however,

they may be found at some grocery stores.)

Melt 1 T coconut oil in pan.

 Add cubed chicken

 and cook until white.

 Add 1/8 cup fish oil,

 and vegetables, basil and lime leaves.

Cook for 3-5 minutes.

 Add 2 T panang curry paste and,

 one can of coconut milk.

Simmer until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are cooked to desired crispness.

(I like mine quite crisp so I do not cook them for very long.)

Then enjoy this spicy dish from Thailand!

Week Ending 9 of CANDO 2014: Flavorful Food

I CAN flavor our food with herbs and spices.

The most flavorful dish I made this week was Panang Curry.

(Recipe with photo how-to's on tomorrow's post.)

This week I was super careful with my eating plan,
the flavorful foods helped and
it resulted in this:

135.2

Down 3.2!!!

My exercise routine is still on track.

Last week looked like this:

M, W, SA: 15 minute EXTREME weight work-out.

F: Yoga class called "Stiffer Bodies" with Little Bug.

SU: Walking with intermittent 30 second bursts of jogging with the NVO.

Here are today's charts:

I report the following:

It's finally headed in the right direction again!.

If you would like a copy of this Excel spreadsheet to customize to your own plan, 

I would be happy to send it to you. 

Just drop me an email at digger.lizzie@gmail.com requesting it.

 CANDO homies report the following:

Have a good CANDO week and remember that the chart that includes

 everyone is posted on the CANDO 2014 page here.

YOU CANDO IT!

Rainbow Rose Heart Pillow

There were a bunch of colorful roses laying around...

so a white pillow was crocheted for a place to "store" them for future projects .

A white pillow with white heart buttons that is...

 Rose pattern can be found here.

Yarn is from My Rose Valley found here.

Pillow made with Red Heart in white.

 Use an "I" (5.5 mm) hook

Root around for a pillow.

make a chain the width of the pillow.

your first stitch will be in the second ch from the hook.

 It's that simple stitch that I love:

 1 sc and 1 dc in the same stitch then skip a stitch,

 and keep repeating to end.

(No turning chains.)

Keep crocheting until the pillow cover is long enough

 to wrap all the way around the pillow.

See, no turning chains and edges look good.

on second to last row: sc across, but ch 3 and skip two stitches for button holes 

or however many you need to fit the chosen button.

 last row, sc crochet across again and 3-4 sc in button hole.

 Should look like this:

Fold in half and sew two sides together leaving button hole side open.

Sew button on inside of opposite side from button hole side.

Crochet roses and place in desired pattern.

Stitch the roses onto the cover.

Stuff the cover with the "rooted around" pillow.

And there you have it:

Rose storage on display. :-)