resolutions or not



I chuckled a bit as I slid some peanut butter cookie dough into the refrigerator to chill.  It took a place right next to my probiotic drink and the green smoothie I had just made.  Maybe I'm working on balance.  Balancing my butter and sugar intake with my probiotics. 

 

For reals though, if it's not for legitimate dietary restrictions, I think people think about food way too much.  What they can eat, what they can't, how many points, how many sit-ups...  It's easy to get caught up.  Especially now, with the new year and the new resolutions. 

 

If anything, resolve to not resolve to lose weight and work out!  Instead, eat quality and stay active.  For me, I'm eating peanut butter cookies and drinking green smoothies and walking my dog.  Can we just live life instead of living in slavery to a diet or a program?

 

As December comes to a close I looked through my pictures from the month and came up with a few to share here.

 

The first is my really rad and amazing Adidas shoes that I adore.  The picture was taken while I was sitting in the bleachers at a high school and my Blake was warming up with his team.  I've been in the stands watching wrestling for 8 years now and I really kind of enjoy it.  Except when my Blake is on the mat, then I get so nervous and anxious.

 

 



 

 

 

 

Sometimes I take myself out for coffee.  I'll get a scone or a cookie or a muffin and when I do I always dip it in the foam of the coffee.  The foam has just a hint of coffee flavor and is firm enough to sit on the cookie like whipped cream.  Ah.  So good.  This picture is of a caramel latte and a molasses cookie.  A very good pairing.

 

 

 

My Charlie dog is the highlight of every day.  He is so warm and genuine and honest.  His only desire is to be close to me or to chase squirrels or to nap.  One morning as I was doing my yoga, and because he always insists on being on my mat with me and sprawling out and licking my face, I put his bed on the couch and plopped him in it.  When I was finished with yoga this was what I found, fast asleep.

 

 

 

Winter is wrestling season.  Blake usually has two competitions a week.  Saturdays are tournament days which his dad always goes to but I can't make as I work on the weekends at the restaurant.  But during the week when he has a match, Aaron and I drive to whatever school (usually within an hour drive) and watch our boy.  It's so fun and I usually get popcorn and we sit with whatever parents also made the drive and we cheer and we yell.  There's a lot of yelling at wrestling matches.

 

Here's the guys warming up...

 

 

We had my work Christmas party at the bowling alley this year.  I don't know how many of you have worked at a restaurant but sometimes, it's really hard.  I feel like I've been in the trenches with these people.  They've seen me on the days where I've had enough.  We share mistakes and stories of crazy customers.  We make each other laugh and really support each other through the hard shifts.  I probably wouldn't know most of these people if it weren't for work but I am glad I know them.  By the way, I'm a terrible bowler but my husband is pretty good (he's in the red chair in the pic, just right of center).

 

 

Storm Duals in Bellingham.  Eight teams, four mats.  Everyone wrestles four matches.  Blake won all four of his.  We had Panda Express after this.  That boy can eat!  He finished his then he finished mine. 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve it began snowing.  Within just two hours the roads were covered.  Thankfully Blake was let off work an hour early and despite some sliding around, he made it home safely (parents of 16 year olds understand).  Austin didn't work that day so we were all home and safe and together.

 

We always open our stockings on Christmas Eve.  We watched A Christmas Story.  Thankfully, we woke up to a white Christmas which is pretty rare here at sea level.

 

The next day the snow was still here.  This is our town's waterfront...

 

 

That same day after Christmas, Aaron and I went on a hike.  I caught an unwilling picture of him and just love his face.  One of his son's bought him that Adidas jacket for Christmas.  Stylin'.

 

 

The snow glittered in the sunlight like gemstones...

 

As 2017 fades into 2018 I have set some goals.  Perhaps I'll share some here another time.  For now I'll tell you a big one because I want for YOU to do it too.  Ok?  Will you purpose to achieve this goal along with me?  Here we go:

Complain less and be grateful more.

 

 

early December

Monday evening...

Two loaves of bread are baking.  Homemade barbeque baked beans in the crockpot.  There is a dog in a too-small sweater vest at my feet.  The Christmas tree stands tall in the corner, bedazzled in 61 feet of multicolored lights.  Hopefully we'll get the ornaments on tonight.

Hans Zimmer, in the mood of Pirates of The Caribbean streams through my earbuds.  It's my study/work music as I sit here editing today's photography work.  I took my little sweater clad puppy along for the ride but he stayed in the car while I worked my session.  He got a nice walk out of the deal so no worries.

I'm heading to an evening yoga class here in bit, after my bread is done.  One son is at wrestling practice and the other son took off with his bass guitar to jam with a friend who has drums.  Aaron is working on hanging the lights on the outside of the house.

Did I ever mention that I only have three chickens left?  Five was whittled to four by a raccoon.  Four was whittled to three by a neighbor's dog.  My beautiful Golden Laced Wyandotte has a terrible case of molting.  She's lost all of her luster and scurries about the yard nervously.

Tuesday noonish...

The morning was frosty and cold.  The house was chilly and I sat for awhile with my puppy dog under a blanket.  He snuggled his body up close and rested his head on my leg.  Dogs are the best.

It is already noon and I'm just sitting down to breakfast.  Two fried eggs, some ham, and two pieces of homemade bread, toasted with butter and blackberry jam.  I joked with someone the other day that my body is instinctively putting on it's winter coat.  You know, that little bit of insulation to survive a cold winter?  Thus, the craving for fried eggs and toast with butter.  All the good things.

After cuddles with my pup, we braved the morning chill and ventured outside.  He smelled all the smells and I split some larger pieces of firewood, cut kindling, and cleaned the chicken coop.  Loaded the firewood inside and filled the space under the hearth.  Now there is a roaring fire and the house is warm.

I finished editing the images from yesterday's session and got those sent over to the client.  After a couple weeks of living distracted by hospital visits with my youngest son, it feels good to be back to business.

Other than me and the dog, the house is empty today.  I took advantage of the quiet and sat down at my piano.  I began playing 10 years ago and have been self-taught the whole way.  A few months ago I bought some practice books at thrift stores and have been honing in on proper hand positioning, technique, and really focusing on what my left hand is up to.  It's been fun and challenging at the same time.

My violin has seen more practice as well.  Playing Disney tunes.  Playing fiddle tunes.  It's been about working the skills I have.  Strengthening the quality of what I do, in all I do.

Find what sets your soul on fire and do more of that.  Am I right?  It's taken me a lot of years to get to the point where I could recognize and honor that.

Until next time!