Mother's Day 2016

By the Artist Betsy

Happy Mother's Day!

 1975

 JD's birthday 2016

Everybody's favorite flowers--straight from the garden :)

Low Carb Happy

Christmas 2015.  231 pounds.  I was miserable unhappy eating all the time. And I. Did. Not. Know What. To. Do.  I didn't want to be overweight.  I didn't want to see the scales go up every time I stepped on them.  But I didn't want to be hungry either.  And changing my eating had always meant being hungry.  I love you Oprah, and I love bread too, but every time I went on Weight Watchers I was HunGrY.  And mad about it.  Oh wait--that's another blog post. 

Through some unknown way, I found a  facebook group that told me about a low-carb-high-fat ketogenic way of eating.  Yes.  Low Carb and High Fat.  Keto.   And now I'm down 32 pounds.  My husband is managing and reversing a serious case of diabetes.  Seriously, this group and this information changed the course of my life.

Here's the link--just ask to join and they'll add you as a member:

Ketogenic Success  (11,000+ members and counting)

I'd also recommend the book  Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore. 

The New Atkins book. 

And Dr. Sarah Hallberg's Ted Talk   

Reversing Type II Diabetes Starts with Ignoring the Guidelines 

And Butter Bob's Butter Makes Your Pants Fall Off . 

Pinterest is full of low carb recipes.  If you have a favorite high-carb food, there's a low carb version of it out there.  It may take a while for your sense of taste to adjust, but  it will.

And one last link for now:  MyFitnessPal a free app where you can track carbs, fat, & protein.

Some doctors are on board with LCHF keto way of eating.  My doctor is.  I hope yours is too, but don't be surprised or sidetracked if you hear the 50-60 carbs per meal message--that's still part of the ADA's food pyramid.  See Dr Hallberg's video above for more on that.   

We don't have to be overfed or starve and feel deprived.  It really is possible to be Low Carb and Happy. And if you need some help along the way, join me in the support group, read and watch the links above.  And let me know how it goes!  I wanna hear about your journey too :)

By the Artist Peggy

Mama's angels at The Farm :)

Lilac Bouquet

And That Was March

I got to spend a few days with Judson and the kids last week.  We had a great time.  Here's Bets with Bo-bo.

Off to school.

We made gummy bears.  I'm ready to go back to visit again!

And a little update on our Skye girl.  Here she is with a new toy.

And here she is in puppy class.  She's my little therapy-dog-in-training girl :)

ISFA 2016

Inspired by the class led by Rene Van Rems this past weekend at the Illinois State Florists' Spring Show.  This was originally a hand tied, but I always want to take class projects apart and put them back together once I get home. The compote is very in these days and this one was grandma's.  Rene's work is gorgeous and some of those bouquets were absolutely breathtaking.  Like this one with hyacinth & ruscus, so simple and it smelled like heaven.

  Deborah de la Flor is an ambassador for florists everywhere.  This was my favorite of her bouquets, roses & tree fern. 

 

I made a floral necklace for the banquet Saturday night, inspired by Francois & Susan with some of PJ's beautiful vintage finds.  Wish they had all been at the show with me  too :)

LCHF Ketogenic WOL (Low-Carb-High-Fat Way-of-Living)

Two months ago, I found  Ketogenic Success on facebook.  They  provide a daily stream of education, hope and inspiration on my news feed.

With their help, I've lost 22 pounds.  
And I'm off NSAIDs for the first time in 15 years.  

I used to think there was something wrong with me because I couldn't lose weight--that I was weak and had no willpower.  Turns out the sugar and grains were making me fat and keeping me hungry & craving all the time.

If you're interested,  join us at  Ketogenic Success.
And let me know what you think! 
  

 

60 and Counting

 

Thank you Mark for the birthday flowers!  

I have dreaded the day, but it's here and of course it's all good.  

Hard to believe I'm all of 60; but really, don't we all feel ageless inside?  

I have been blessed beyond all I ever dreamed.  

Golden Report

 Mark has cleaned up all the flower beds for me and the sun is shining, promising another spring.  G is so happy that we'll be having coffee in the garden again. 

 Skye graduated from her beginning Dog Manners class.  She's going to intermediate school next month.  Maybe she'll even go to graduate school :)

Leap Day

The sign reads:  When Life Gets Too Hard to Stand, Kneel in the Garden."  

It was made for me by Amy's rehab class at the hospital. 

Since this bench is on the verge of rotting though, 

I could ask them to make another sign for a caption that reads:

 "Cause you sure as hell can't sit on this bench."

January Golden Report

It's been a up & down kind of January at Canada Garden with new puppy Skye and G Dog having surgery.  Skye is  growing every.single.day and is overall such a good puppy.  G has recovered from his surgery but continues to have a few digestive issues along the way.  It's warming up out there these last few days of January so now instead of snow, we get to deal with mud!

January

I know it's January, but I still complain about the cold!

 

 Photo from Rachel.  I didn't take one opening-gifts picture this year.  I was too busy keeping an eagle eye on Skye who went with us to visit Judson & family.  We had a really good time.  It rained and rained and rained.

And speaking of Skye:

She's making herself right at home :)

Thank You to Grandma Peggy!

Betsy shared her joke book with me, V, and Nanny Laura last night.

Merry Christmas Grandma Peggy!

 

Merry Christmas

Christmas Flowers

The pitcher is one that Mark gave me years ago.

 

 

 

And this container was grandma's. 

Front Door Christmas

December Report

We had a great visit with Isaac.  His 2016 gem-show adventures start in Arizona right after the New Year.  We'll miss him but are glad he's doing what he loves.

Francoise Weeks Workshop

I keep saying thank you to Francoise and to Susan for the class.   And thank you also  to Abby Rose Photo, Imagine Three Beauty, and to  gorgeous model Chaune’Rael-Whitsit.  Susan says we might do this again!?!  A girl can dream. . .