I had good intentions

We've been trying really hard to be more active, and eat more healthy. It's been going pretty well. Jacob exercises a lot more than me, and he's seen some great results. I can't get up off the couch, so I haven't been so lucky.

So Saturday morning was the perfect time to get out and go for a little jaunt in the woods with our snowshoes. We were out there for about an hour. If I had my way, it probably would have only been about 20 minutes, but we got a little lost.

Here's Jacob, happy to be out getting some fresh air:

And here's me. I look like I'd rather be doing anything but this!

So then for dinner that night, I thought I'd try making something healthy... (note to self: next time, don't bother). I tried tofu. I found a recipe for tofu with peanut sauce and spinach. It had great reviews online (they must have paid them to say something good).

This is what it looked like:

And this is what happened next. Jacob pretended he was on Fear Factor and ate every last bite. As long as he had snow peas in each bite, he said it was edible.

I went for the Doritos. At least they were baked.

I just don't think I'm cut out for this healthy lifestyle.

Happy New Year!

Hope your festivities were as exciting as ours:

2008 was good, can't really complain about much. The highlight was having my whole side of the family together for Peter and Jenna's wedding this summer.

But I'm hoping to see a few changes in 2009 including:

- A vacation. Our 2 night camping trip in the cold, wind and rain didn't really work well for me. I'd prefer a little more sun and a little more activity than downeast Maine can offer.

- I'd like to get pregnant. And stay pregnant.  A minor little project I've been working on for 2 years now.

- It would be nice to have a bigger garden this summer. I'm working on being self-sufficient. It isn't going so well. I'm a little more "of the world" than "in the world" than I'd like to be. But little by little I'll get there, right? Before you know it I'll have my own flock of sheep in my back yard and I'll knit you all sweaters for Christmas :-)

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

A Simple Christmas Wish...

All I want for Christmas this year is...

A SNOWBLOWER!

Our driveway isn't too long, but it's too long to shovel when there are 3 storms in one week.

And if this winter is anything like last winter, we'll spend more in chiropractor's visits than a snowblower itself would cost.

So PLEASE Santa, PLEASE bring us a snowblower?

This is a picture of Jacob, diligently chiseling away at the end of the driveway- the worst part of all.

And here I am- dancing the dance of joy- simply at the thought that maybe, just maybe, this is the last time I'll have to shovel, ever!

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

It really is the most wonderful time of the year! I love it!

Thankful Friday

Isn't he cute?? Today I am most thankful for Jacob. He offered to finish the last of the painting today on his day off. While I went shopping and visited my friend... not that he would have wanted to go anyways. Thanks Jacob! It looks great!

I was just looking through my pictures earlier today and realized I am also very thankful that we do not still live here.



And right now I'm grateful for my warm, comfy bed. And that is where I'm going.

Goodnight!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a great day! I got to spend the day with my family- both my side and Jacob's side.

My grandmother has always been a special person to me. She's always been a great friend and I've been honored to call her my grandmother. She recently has moved into a nursing home and it has truly broken my heart to see her there. Today we all got to spend a few hours together. I am reminded yet again of the great example she is to me.

She has worked harder than anyone I know. Life dealt her some tough blows, but she isn't a complainer. She did what she had to do to live a happy, righteous life. She is an amazing seamstress, a great cook, and a tough, tough lady. She is a 2 time cancer survivor, a cerebral hemorrhage survivor (who actually survives that??) and was a widow at a young age.

When I was younger I used to love to go spend the night at her house. She would pop me popcorn and we'd watch TV together on her little black and white TV. Then the next day we'd go for long walks together. When I was older and in college, we'd go on lunch dates to KFC about once a month. These days she's not so strong, not so stable. I try to visit her when I can. When I leave her room I feel sadder than the time before. She just isn't the way I remember her.

But today I am thankful for her example and her legacy.
When I think of hard work, I think of her.
When I think of kindness, I think of her.
When I think of integrity, I think of her.

Thank you Grammie! I am thankful for you!

Today I'm thankful for my job

I really am. Where else can you go and get paid for doing so little? And considering how many people are getting laid off all over the country, I am even more grateful.

Subsequently, I am thankful for the internet and all the distractions the internet provides.

On a regular basis I plan fancy vacations I will never go on, shop for clothes, jewelry and furniture I could never afford, plan gourmet meals I'll never make, and look up homes that I can only dream of living in some day. 

And I really really love keeping in touch with my friends and family online. I stalk many many blogs that I don't have listed on here. Email and Facebook provide me with hours of distraction, and I frequent a few message boards and forums where I have made some good friends.

People survived for years without the internet, but I don't know how they did it. They probably were much more efficient and productive in their jobs, but did they realize they were missing out on some great friendships?