It has been proven to me that exercise is VERY bad for you, so is doing dishes!  Last week I decided that I would be getting up in the morning and getting on the treadmill to start my journey back into running.  So I got up thought I should clean the kitchen first.  Started with the dishes, and that was it.  Bent over to pick up a plate and my back went out.  So there I was, not moving off the couch for 4 days.  I was just getting back to where I felt good yesterday and again the thought of working out came into my mind.  NOT A GOOD IDEA.  I picked up a book off my bed and SNAP, back to where I was a week ago.  So what have we learned boys and girls...no exercise and no dishes!

Let Them Eat Cake, or brownies, or cookies......

      Remember when a bake sale at school meant there would be cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and a bevy of other home baked goodness?  Since my children started school these wonderful bake sales that kids look forward to, have now become "healthy snack sales."  Now, before some of you jump all over me, I am all for health eating, especially for children, but once in a while is not going to be the end of the world for them.  But I digress,back to bake sales. 
      This has been kind of a pet peeve of mine since my children started school.  There's a group of parents that for some reason can not leave well enough alone and start these "groups" to put an end to things like bake sales.  They have turned them into "HEALTHY SNACK SALES" (and the ones in charge send home a list of what constitutes "healthy" in case we were too stupid to know).  They always have the same reasoning....."it is SOOOO unhealthy."  "Sugar is soooo horrible for these children", "do you know how hard it is for them to concentrate when they have had sugar in the last ^ months (inserts sarcasm here)."  You get my point.  That is all fine and well but what happened to letting kids be kids and have something yummy once in a while?
      If I hear one more mother tell me about sugar highs and how bad some of the kids act after having sugary things I think I might scream!!!! The only kids that are going to be affected with the no bake sale/healthy food only crap will be kids like mine that already eat very healthy everyday.  My kids eat their veggies and fruits and I make sure that is what is in their lunch boxes everyday.  The kids that have "problems" with sugar are the kids that are bringing a soda to school for lunch in kindergarten or maybe that 7 year old that I saw with a cappuccino in her hand last week as she went into school.  I don't think that them having a cupcake will really change that.    I will let you all in on a little secret, (not that much of a secret if you know us) my kids and my husband eat cake and cookies for breakfast. That's right! SWEETS!!!!! My husband always has and for a while I tried to fight it with the kids but I finally gave in.  In all honesty my kids may start with a brownie but they usually have fruit with it.  How is it any different then giving them pancakes and syrup? It's not.  I love to see other mom's reactions when I tell them this.  They usually say stupid things like, "well they aren't hyperactive", "they aren't fat", "they're really smart", or "really, you would never know!"   Crazy isn't it!!!! My kids are some of the healthiest kids out there and I am told this every time they go to the pediatrician (and yes he knows what they eat for breakfast, he just says we doing something right).  These are also the parents that tell me what picky eaters their kids are and can't believe that mine will try anything and have been taught to eat what is on their plate (when at other people's homes).  Stop trying to feed them crap that 1) is nasty and 2) no one has ever heard of.  (Oh and usually organic.)
     The bottom line is, let you kids have a brownie from the school bake sale.  Bake sales are supposed to be something kids look forward to.  No one wants to go to a bake sale and get celery!

 
  

Downton Abbey.......where are the tissues?

                                               http://wallpaperen.com/downton-abbey.html
            
    By now all of the die hard DA fans have seen the season 3 finale.  WHAT?!?! REALLY?!?!?! Is this how we are to be left until next January.  One dead daughter, one dead son-in-law/heir, two new babies, and one very lonely, sad chauffeur/son-in-law. As one of my friends stated, is there some connection between the creators ad the anti depressant companies?  We are all surely going to be taking them after this season.
    I have to say that while it is very tragic that Matthew is now among those we have loved and lost, I was not as torn up about it as I was about Lady Sybil.  I was devastated when she was taken from us at such a young age. (my greif for fictional characters is at times great)  I think it was her and Tom's true and undying love that they had for each other that made her death so much worse then Matthew's.  Tom Branson's panic when she was near death was heart wrenching.  He truly loved her.  I can see that Mary will be upset, but in true Mary fashion, she will go on and find someone new to make sure that Downton goes on as it should.   I see the conversation that Branson had with Mrs. Hughes was far more moving then the car accident.
    Ahhh, anyway, back to reality for me. As much as I would like to just sit back and pretend that  nothing else that matters in the world then if Tom ends up with the new nanny or how will Mary deal with the death of Matthew or will Anna and Bates ever have a baby, I have to go clean the bathroom....where is the housemaid when I need her.

New Year's Sweater

    Ahhh, a new year. Kids are off to school, hubby off to work, I kind of have the day off since I don't have to be at the salon until later this afternoon, but until then I am thinking about all the things that I would like to do this year.  Of course the same as many people, I want to get in better shape, be a better parent, don't swear so much, fold the laundry as it gets done in the dryer, blah, blah, blah.  But the things that I feel like I have better control of are my knitting and sewing.   Like finally putting together the sweater that I made for myself that is sitting in 4 pieces in a basket in my room.  It is a beautiful orange/red staghorn cabled pattern. I will be honest, the getting fit goes along with this.  I started it about 2 years ago when I had lost a good amount of weight and in the last few months put some of the weight back on (not all, thank God, but some) so I fell like all my hard work may be in vain.  Knitting work that is.  And we all know what it's like to put on something that doesn't quite fit the way we want, depressing.  So I guess it's a mental block that is keeping me from blocking it. LOL.  If I lose some more weight then I will put it together, right????  UGH.  So I guess with that sentiment I leave you all to go get on the treadmill.  Maybe I will find some very mindless telly to watch.

New Year

          It has been proven that odd numbered years are better for us.  I know that sounds stupid but all the best things in our lives have happened in odd numbered years, married:1999, baby boy:2001, baby girl:2003.  There is more but no need to go on about that.  So I look forward to 2013.
           
          In the rest of the world there are a couple of things to look forward to this year.  A new season of Downton Abbey starts January 6th.  What's not to like about that???  Of course I can't forget to mention the impending arrival of the Royal Baby.  I am predicting that if a girl, they will name Elizabeth. 
           
         So to all of you, Happy New Year!!! My wish is for all of you to have a happy, healthy, and peaceful year.

Winter is here!

So it has happened.  The first real storm of the winter is upon us.  I don't really love the snow but I don't really hate it either.  As long as I don't have to be anywhere or it doesn't interfere with any plans, the snow and I get along quite well.  Today has been a VERY lazy day, a great deal of knitting and television watching and yes.... eating has taken place. 

The Brook

 

There were some visitors this morning, about 16 wild turkeys.  Once the dogs caught sight of them it was GAME ON!  Poor George just kept looking at us with a look that was just so sad, as if to say "please, please can I go see what they're doing."  Of course I'm sure all that would happen would be that we would end up with turkey for dinner.  And I'm pretty sure that's not quite a legal way to get it. Needless to say the bird dogs were very sad and excited for several minutes.

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat.....

All 3 geese are getting fat to be more precise! Lexie, Hector, and even Molly, our transgendered goose.  That's what I said, transgendered.  When she hatched we were sure she was a girl but as she got older the grey on her back stopped coming in and she is pretty much white.  Hector, our male Pilgrim goose is the typical all white, and let's just say HUGE.  Lexie, I got her from a friend/neighbor that hatched her, she is the grey Pilgrim, beautiful bird.  The problem is that Molly does seem to be a bit smaller like Lexie but mostly white like Hector, and has yet (in the almost 2 years here) to lay an egg.  So since she knows her name we call "her" Molly and continue to refer to her as a "HER."

Anyway, knitting projects seem to be finished for the holidays and I have now started to do a few things for myself.  I am sure none of which will get done in a timely manner.  I finished a sweater for myself in September and have yet to block it.  UGH! 

Shopping is done and the baking should be started soon but that little thing called work is in the way. Family is starting to arrive.  My new niece, Kimberly, arrived in town last night, she brought her parents with her too.  She was born in September in Alaska so we have yet to meet her which to me means I have yet to get my hands on her!!! My brother should arrive Friday and then the fun shall begin.  My father's birthday Saturday, my nephew Parker and niece Kimberly will be baptized Sunday with myself as the Godmother to handsome Mr. Parker. Monday bringing Christmas Eve and my family Christmas, and of course the day itself Tuesday.  So the next week shall be a little busy, but really it would seem odd if  wasn't.

I would just like to mention that our hearts and prayers are with all that have been affected by the horrible events of Friday the 14th in CT.  God Bless.