It Was Only A Dream

This mushroom caught my attention while walking yesterday morning.

It rained like crazy here last night. It started about 9pm and poured for hours. I'm not sure what time it stopped or how many inches we got. Whatever it was, we needed it, if for no other reason to take the edge off this heat wave.

The cabin has a metal roof, and when it rains, you know it. And in a heavy rain like last night, it screams at you to tune everything else out and focus on the rain. So I turned off the TV, opened up the front door and listened to the rain. I fell asleep early listening to the rain. I woke up a few times long enough to realize it was still raining and then went right back to sleep. I dreamed I was still living at 110 Lamont Drive and the roof was leaking. Because that house sits under a gigantic oak tree which occasionally drops limbs in a storm, over the years I had my share of issues with the roof. In the nearly 16 years I lived there, I think I had this problem only twice, but that was enough to induce anxiety in all subsequent big rains. I smiled from ear to ear this morning when I realized last night's roof leak was only a dream.

It's Spring, Finally!

A red maple in full bud at Lullwater yesterday - it's Spring, finally!

7am
coffee with cream
CarbMaster Yogurt (12 grams protein, 4 grams carbs)
topped with sliced almonds

9am
coffee with cream

1130am
meatloaf with kale salad
cottage cheese with applesauce and almonds

12n
1-mile dog walk

330pm
almonds

5pm
15-minute AMRAP of Cindy

630pm
1-mile walk

7pm
steak and asparagus
2 glasses of wine
a big bowl of ice cream! :-( I regret it now. Aargh! Will I ever change?

A Late Winter Day

A late winter day at Lullwater Park.

I went for a walk at Lullwater Park yesterday. It was a beautiful, late winter day. As soon as I turned down this path, I paused to appreciate the scene. The beech trees framed the trail perfectly against the brilliant blue sky. I love beech trees; unlike most hardwoods, these trees hang onto their dead leaves until the new spring buds start to pop. The pale brown leaves rustle in the wind and provide added interest and beauty to the winter woods.

Food Journal
(not a great day eating-wise, but at least I didn't over-eat.)

9am
3 slices of bacon
2 boiled eggs
1 orange
coffee with cream

5pm
Fuji Apple Chicken Salad from Panera
brazil nuts

8pm
1 cup of vanilla ice cream with sliced almonds

Activity
-I'm getting my house ready to put on the market. I worked all day long in my attic. I hauled many loads down the pull-down stairs to the back porch, sorted it, then took two truck loads to Goodwill. I'm exhuasted!
-I took a break about 3pm and took Melvin on another long walk at Lullwater.
-I had a very active day, and I'm pleased about that.

A Farm, A Freezer, and A Crock Pot

Monday night supper.

I recently discovered Nature's Harmony Farm in Elberton, Georgia owned by Tim and Liz Young. This is a family-owned, sustainable, pasture-based farm that sells directly to local consumers. I'm still learning about them, but I am thrilled to have discovered this resource. Following is a quote from the farm's website that sums up what this jewel is all about:
"What do we mean by sustainable? We mean no artificial fertilizers, no growth hormones, no antibiotics and no keeping animals penned up. Our cattle forage on grass with sheep browsing what the cows don't eat. Chickens (pastured broilers and layers) follow the grazers, spreading fertilizer naturally, and follow their instincts by foraging for insects and scratching on the ground. Our beautiful hardwoods are the perfect environment for rare breed pigs, who are free to use their terrific "plows" to hunt acorns, tubers and all kinds of great treats."
The Young's offer farm tours now and then, and I can't wait to visit. I had the opportunity to buy some meat from them recently. I picked it up on Saturday. My order included 12 pounds of ground beef, pork chops, a beef roast, a ham roast, and a chicken. So my little freezer is stocked.
Today I cooked the first item from my Nature's Harmony stash: pork chops! I put them in the crock pot this morning with a little chicken broth, salt and pepper. I laid a piece of foil over the top of the pork chops and placed two sweet potatoes, each wrapped in foil, on top of the foil layer covering the chops. Then I set the crock pot on low and let it cook all day long. Tonight, to round it out, I cooked up a pot of collard greens. I used the frozen ones because they are easy and quick. This supper was delicious, and I have leftovers for three more meals.

Happy New Year

A single, old-fashioned Christmas light shines brightly against the winter woods,
framed perfectly by the porch railings of the cabin.

That photograph is one of my favorites from the Christmas holidays. I took it on Christmas Eve at the cabin, mid-afternoon, just before the rain started. It was a cold, gray day, but I was happy, toasting pecans in the oven, and preparing to head over to Mama's house for the family festivities. I never got around to sharing it with you during the holidays so I decided to use it today. For me it captures the slight melancholy that I feel now that we must return to normal. The lights are out. The parties are over. Work looms on Monday. I'm a little sad to see it all end.

Time to turn our view to the future. It's a new year. And a new decade. Rather than looking back, we can look forward to a fresh year with a fresh start. Maybe you've set some resolutions for yourself. I think it's in vogue now to say that you don't do New Year's resolutions. But I do. I'm always setting goals for myself and trying to improve in this area or that. It's just my nature. And of course, I fail a lot and have to start over. Or adjust my expectations. But still, I like setting goals and thinking about what I want for myself and others in the future. I won't bore you with all the details of my 2010 resolutions. Suffice it to say that I continue to pursue good health and happiness. And I wish the same for you.

A friend of mine posted the following quote on her Facebook page on New Year's Day. I liked it a lot. I hope you do too. Happy New Year, friends.

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.
~Henry Ward Beecher~

Lovely Nonetheless

"Straight ahead or to the left?"
Melvin listens intently for instructions during our hike at Vogel State Park on Thursday.

The leaves in north Georgia were awe inspiring on Thursday. I drove over to Blue Ridge to visit Mercier Orchards to purchase some fresh, locally grown apples. I bought three types: Mutzu, Pink Lady, and Cameo. Afterwards, I stopped briefly in downtown Blue Ridge for a latte at a quaint little cafe. There are lots of cute shops in Blue Ridge, and you could definitely make a day of it there. But I wasn't in a shopping mood. On the return, I took highway 129/19, a spectacular winding mountain drive that leads past Vogel State Park. I had planned to stop at Vogel to break up the trip and allow Melvin a little exercise. We did a short 1-mile loop around the lake, and just as we were completing the walk, I spotted a pileated woodpecker in a large conifer at the lake's edge. He was strikingly handsome and allowed me to admire him for quite some time before he retreated from view.

It was a lovely day. A little lonely, but lovely nonetheless.

The lake at Vogel State Park.

This Little Island

Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island

I just returned home from a few days at Jekyll Island. The weather was just about perfect -- sunny, mild days and cool nights. One of my favorite things about Jekyll is that dogs are allowed on the beach, a clear indication that this little island has its priorities in order. A vacation at Jekyll is quiet, simple, and laid back. No fast food restaurants, no neon signs, and just one tiny grocery store. I love Jekyll Island. I love the commitment to conservation, preservation, and restoration. I love the respect for history. I love the quirky bookstore with its many rooms and the big porch for lounging. I love sipping a great cup of coffee on the veranda at the Jekyll Island Club. I love Driftwood Beach and the marshland, the perfectly manicured grounds of the historic district, and the majestic live oaks draped in moss. I love this little island.

Visiting Longleaf

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
~ Henry David Thoreau ~

I visited my brother, Jack over the weekend. He works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as forester at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge in McBee, South Carolina. This 45,000 acre refuge is devoted to restoring and protecting the longleaf pine ecosystem which once covered 90 million acres across the southeast. Fewer than two million acres of longleaf pine forest remain. As this habitat disappears, so do many of the species that thrive there. The red cockaded woodpecker, on the endangered list since 1970, is given special attention at the refuge. The current world-wide population is estimated at about 12,500. This is the only woodpecker that nests in living pine trees (preferably longleaf pines). While other woodpeckers bore into the decaying wood of dead trees, the red cockaded woodpecker bores a cavity into a living, mature tree. They establish a "neighborhood" of nesting trees and live out their lives in a tightknit extended-family setting. For their survival, they require large, open, longleaf pine forests. At the refuge nesting trees are identified and marked so that the population of this endangered bird can be monitored and protected.

Jack has the good fortune of living on the refuge. His house sits pretty much in the middle of this 45,000 acre national treasure. There are several lakes within walking distance of his house and hiking trails in every direction. Saturday morning we took a long hike -- some of it on trails, some of it through the forest. We left shortly after breakfast and got back just in time to watch the Georgia game on TV. It was a perfect day. Sunday morning we went for a shorter hike in a different direction. I'll be sharing some of the photos from my visit on the blog this week.

In wilderness is the preservation of the world.
~ Henry David Thoreau ~

Getting There from Here

The Lake at Lullwater Park on Emory Campus.

I have been trying for days now to find my way back to the land of sugar-free and low-carb. I lost my way over a week ago, and it has been a battle ever since. I started to panic, thinking that I might never locate it again. I felt like a character from Lost in search of the mysterious island -- unsure of how I arrived there in the first place, desperate to return, and clueless on how to get there again. Maybe it really was just a fluke. Maybe it's not possible to get there from here. Maybe it requires a cataclysmic event or perfect planetary alignment. Maybe it is simply beyond my control.

But then I remembered the simple commitment I made in the beginning. Just cut out the sugar, grains, and refined carbohydrates. I ate as much as I needed of meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and nuts to feel satisfied . I also included some dairy. In the first few days, I needed more food to feel satisfied. But as my body adjusted to eating more protein/fat and fewer carbohydrates, the cravings disappeared, and the hunger subsided. And that will happen again after a few days. So there's no need to panic. Just cut out the sugar, grains, and refined carbs. It's not mysterious or magic. It just requires commitment to abstain from the thing that makes me crazy. I can do this. I have two sugar-free days under my belt. I'm well on my way, and feeling a little better.

Tuesday night dinner.
Meatloaf, broccoli, and creamy cauliflower.

The creamy cauliflower is a reasonable low-carb replacement for rice or mashed potatoes. Quite tasty, easy to make, and is as good leftover as it is on day 1. I found the recipe in Protein Power by Michael Eades, M.D.

Creamy Cauliflower

1 large head of cauliflower
2 T butter, melted
1/2 Boursin Cheese with Herbs and Garlic, at room temp
1 T cream
salt and pepper to taste

Steam (or boil) the cauliflower until tender. I prefer steaming because you don't lose all the flavor and nutrients in the water.

Place the cooked cauliflower in the work bowl of a food processor. Add the melted butter, cheese, cream, salt and pepper. Process in pulses to start and then on high until smooth. Add more cream if needed to achieve a smooth puree that holds its shape like mashed potatoes. (I don't own a food processor so I just mashed mine with a fork and then used a hand mixer. The texture was maybe not as smooth as it would have been with a food processor, but it was still good).

In Defiance of the Gray Day

I love pumpkins!
I spotted these lovelies in front of Whole Foods last night.

I was grumpy and negative all last week. I'm tired of being grumpy and negative. Life is too good, too sweet, and too short to spend one minute of it being pessimistic. So today's post is a slap on my wrist and a kick in my rear - a reminder that I have so much to be thankful for. When I look for the negative in myself and the world, it's easy to find. But beauty is all around, and with a slight mental adjustment, it comes into focus. Coddle it just a little and beauty overtakes the darkness and warms the heart. It's a choice. I choose to be grateful, hopeful, and optimistic.

In the past, I have written about what I call "happy grateful bits" - small everyday happenings that are easily overlooked, but that can change your whole outlook if given a chance. Here are some of my recent happy grateful bits. Share yours if you like.

Pumpkins on display outside Whole Foods last night.
Perfect fall weather over the weekend.
Two deer running through the woods on Sunday morning.
Hardy Ageratum and Ryan's Pink Chrysanthemums blooming together.
Seeing an old friend at the gym this morning.
A red rose blooming outside my window, in defiance of the gray day.

Ryan's Pink Chrysanthemums and Hardy Ageratum

Eternity in an Hour

The Beautyberries at Mama's house were gorgeous yesterday.
Botanical name: Callicarpa americana

It's going to be a beautiful fall week! Clear, sunny days and temps in the 50's at night. Perfection! It started yesterday with a clear, mild, breezy day. I drove to the cabin for the afternoon and dropped by Mama's and stepdad Lamar's house on the way home. My sister and I call Mama and Lamar "LaMama" for short (and for fun) when we are referring to both of them. :-)

LaMama's garden had me snapping photo's left and right. The Beautyberries, pictured above, are awesome right now. I like them best when the berries have turned that outrageous, screaming purple and before the leaves drop. And before the birds get all the berries!

Hopefully you are fortunate enough to have some mums and asters in your garden. Mine are just starting to bloom, but LaMama's were in full swing. I snapped this photo of Aster 'English Countryside'. That's just one little plant. It was this big after one year. Awesome plant. I have it in my yard too, but it is only just starting to show color.

Aster 'English Countryside'

I don't have a cultivated garden at the cabin. Just nature at it's best. I noticed the dogwoods are starting to turn, and the fruit has ripened to a bright red. Golden rod was blooming all along the dirt road that leads to the cabin. And the oaks have dropped tons of fresh, bright green acorns.

I love fall. I hope you won't wait for the one or two weekends that are deemed "peak" for fall foliage. Savor this season. Take time each day to slow down and appreciate the beauty of autumn. In the words of William Blake, "...see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour."

Ripened Dogwood Fruit

Fall Still Life of Golden Rod, Fresh Acorns, and Fallen Leaves

Welcome, September!

Cardinal Flower is in bloom now at Lullwater Park, signaling that Fall is just around the corner.

Welcome, September! I love fall, and even though it's not officially Autumn yet, September starts the season for me. On my walks recently at Lullwater Park, I felt a hint of fall with the late season wildflowers starting to bloom. If you can, treat yourself to some walks there and watch the season change. (I've written previously about Lullwater Park. If you are new to the blog, check out my post, "A Lost Treasure Found" for more information.)

September
by John Updike


The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-

Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.

The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze.

I Hope Also With You

Piedmont Park
A beautiful view observed along the main pathway.

I went for a walk in Piedmont Park last Friday. What a treat. I haven't been there in a while, and I was impressed. The lawns have recovered nicely from the drought, and all the restoration work looks really good. I must remember to enjoy this jewel just down the road. Melvin agrees.

I have continued to visit gyms. Since I last blogged, I visited CrossFit Rx and CrossFit Peachtree. I have decided to join CrossFit Rx. This is a great little gym with outstanding trainers, and it's just 3 miles from my house. And I already know a few people who workout there, so that's a big plus. Being part of a supportive Crossfit community is very important to me, and I hope to find this at CFRX. I liked CrossFit Peachtree a lot, but given the midtown location, it is obviously not a practical option. I hope to visit CFPT again with my friend, Russell who has decided to join there.

The knee continues to improve, ever so slowly.

I'm doing fairly well with my nutrition. I got side-tracked a little over the weekend and found myself feeding some junky emotions. The good news is that I nipped it in the bud before things got too out of control. I'm working on a couple of articles for the blog that are deeper, more soul-searching. But these take time, and I have to be in the right frame of mind to write -- and then share these.

So even though the posts are fewer lately, lots of good stuff is happening with me. I hope also with you.

This Time of Year

I love this time of year. It puts me in such a happy mood. I'm not complaining that the holiday lights are already up in Decatur. It doesn't bother me that Starbucks broke out the red cups and added the gingerbread latte to their menu the day after Halloween. Last week, I was shopping at Target during lunch and stumbled upon the holiday section; they had ripped out the Halloween display and were in the process of replacing it with Christmas. I didn't fuss for a second about it being too early; I just wandered the aisles and took it all in. I love all the trinkets and decorations, the beautiful ribbon and wrapping paper, the cards, and the lights.

Yesterday's cold, blustery weather was perfect too. Waves of leaves floated from the sky, sometimes just a few, sometimes lots all at once. They have gathered ankle-deep at the edge of the rode where the curb meets my yard. The overcast sky reminded me of my favorite holiday album, December by George Winston. I played it yesterday for the first of many times this season. It captures the mood of this season perfectly--the joy, thanksgiving, hope, and even the melancholy that will inevitably come by year's end when we must pack it all away. But for now, the season is ours to enjoy, and I am happy to get a head start and make it last as long as possible.

A Country Weekend

It was a fantastic fall weekend in the country. Restful, relaxing, and filled with simple, fleeting moments that capture the essence of a grateful life.

I wanted to write about the wonderful coat rack I made from salvaged lumber this weekend. The wood had a terrific patina, weathered gray from years outside. I used nails leftover from the cabin construction for the hooks, and I topped the rack with a shelf made from the same wood. I laid a wildflower bouquet and two long leaf pine cones atop the shelf. A denim shirt and binoculars hung from two of the nails. Country still life. Begging for a snapshot. And I obliged.

And then I thought I might write about the walk my sister and I took Sunday morning. Melvin, my sister’s two dogs, Tucker and Sonny, and my mom’s dog, Josie frolicked all around us as we walked. We hiked over to the far side of the property to checkout the color on the sourwood trees. Sourwoods are known for early, vibrant fall color, and they did not disappoint. The light was just right, and I snapped several pictures.

I even thought I might write about the cozy swivel rocker I bought for $25, bargained down from $40, at the Potter’s House on Saturday. Its old fashioned style hugs you in comfort, and the 360 degree swivel allows you to take in the views from any direction. Draped in a plaid throw, it made a charming country picture.

I considered writing about my stroll with Melvin Saturday afternoon. Melvin sniffed along in front of me, nose to the ground on the grassy drive, his tail up and wagging. Low hanging limbs framed him just right—the perfect picture to speak a thousand words.

Towards the end of the weekend I decided a picture of the cabin would be best for the blog, and so I took several shots of the cabin surrounded by trees just beginning to hint at shades of yellow, orange, and red. Satisfied, I loaded up the truck and headed back to Atlanta. On the drive home I thought about possibly using several pictures from the weekend because I captured so many moments that I wanted to share.

Upon arriving home, I discovered I had left the camera behind. Melancholy swept over me, thinking of the camera with all those heartfelt moments locked inside—waiting in the empty, still cabin for my return. And so today's photo is from some earlier trip, but captures the feeling I get everytime I turn onto this little country path. The cabin sits beyond the horizon, out of sight. The uneven drive forces me to slow down, if I haven't already, and I can feel my cares peel away as I creep along the bumpy lane.

On Finding Serenity

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

photograph by Jack Culpepper

My brother sent me a few photographs he took recently at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge where he lives and works. All the pictures were beautiful, and as I told him, “they made me squeal with delight.” I’m sure you will see more of his photographs on the blog in the future, but this one really spoke to me. The first word that came to mind--serenity. I was immediately reminded of the times I have visited Jack’s home on this 45,000 acre refuge devoted to protecting the longleaf pine ecosystem and the red cockaded woodpecker. There is a quiet and a calm there like I have not experienced anywhere else. The only sounds are those of nature, undisturbed.

Since most of us don’t have an oasis of serenity right outside our door, we need to find ways of cultivating peace and tranquility wherever we are. With 24-hour news (and most of it bad), the internet, email, cell phones, email on your cell phone, text messaging, and the like—all intended to make our lives easier of course—it’s not unusual to find yourself in a perpetual state of stress and angst.

We have to make a point to slow down, to breathe, and just be quiet—to listen to the voice inside.