Our fishing trip...

Took my men fishing today.

Daddy, of course, was at work making the dough, and since I had to cancel our camping trip to this exact place, the least I could do was take them fishing there... so I did.

We have this lovely camping timeshare nestled 3200 ft up into our local mountains, complete with every amenity... heated pools, 3 lakes, paddle boats, hiking trails, arcades, restaurants, mini golf, laundry, hookups, cabins and of course, RV camping... too.

It only takes us 20 minutes or so to get there... and it's JUST enough of a getaway too help us feel refreshed...

So after the requisite picture taking...

and saying "Cheese"...

I let them go have a ball.

Okay, I snuck some shots in...

And they fished... and fished.... and waiting... and waited...

And waited...

and waited...

Until FINALLY... SUCCESS!

a HUGE 3 lbs Rainbow Trout!

That sucker cost us... about $40 bucks when you add in the gas, permits, gutting... etc...

but you know what?

Who cares... really...

We were together...

They had fun, I got some sun...

All was well...

So we are on our way home, and Alex asks me about when my Dad would take me up there to wade in the creek.  It's one of my favorite childhood memories with my Pops.  He asks... "Hey Mom, is the creek really cold? is it clean?... sooooo

I pulled over, and let them see and feel for themselves!

When I was a kid, you could drink right out of the creek and it was so crisp and clean... it was like healing water... no to much anymore...

He doesn't look almost 16... does he?

Across the creek, is the side of one of our beautiful San Bernardino Mountains... made of this, gorgeous rock and shale... always shifting with each earthquake....

I love this creek.

There is one park of it, at the top, by a lovely waterfall, that is COVERED in raspberry bushes...

I used to pick and eat to my hearts content when I was young...

It was a good day...

A very good day...

That smile proves it!

Consolation Prize

I had to cancel our camping trip TWICE this week, because of my ongoing fevers... (Yes, I am still getting a fever every four hours... just 100 or so... but still...like clockwork) and it's my boys Spring Break... and I just couldn't do NOTHING... so I took them to The Cheesecake Factory (my fave) for lunch, and to a local amusement park, (No... not Disneyland... $500 for entrance and then God forbid anyone gets hungry or thirsty... nope...their education first... Disneyland later... LOL) for a little fun.

I was feeling better... so I said... what the heck...

So they rode rides...

And we took pictures

I forgot I had my sunglasses on... They are prescription, so I enjoy sight so much I forget to take them off...

besides... I wasn't wearing any eye makeup anyway...

They obliged me my manic picture needs...

And smiled for me...

And posed for me...

And were able to ride all the rides as many times as they wanted... there were only 100 people at the park... the workers said no one knew they were open, because they usually aren't open during the week... except this week... for Spring Break...

They rode this log ride AT LEAST 30 times in a row...

Tomorrow... they wanna go fishing...

Wish me luck...

Progress!!!

Yes!!! The Fireplace is ALMOST finished!  Bill is going to design a cool sheet metal hood and stack for the top, then we are going to apply the Meditteranean/Tuscan touch of slapping on some stucco to make it look super rustic...

It's a two way fireplace... see through, with an option to close either side...  The back side will have seating for about 6 comfortably... and the front (this side) is comfortable for about 10-12 in front of it.

One side will hold the wood... the other will hold the cooler or fridge...

Ahhh... the pool is allll done!

We got a grey plaster and the water looks like a turquoise jewel!

Bill fixed the lights, and as soon as the fireplace is done, we start on the cascading waterfall into the pool we are building ourselves... yes... I mean "we" this time...

It's all finally coming together...

Finally.

I better go make my bed and show you my new tiled bedroom!

Rob Doran!!! YOU ARE A MASTER!!!!

My new blog!

I have to say.. I am LOVING the new blogger.  I also have to say... I CAN'T STAND Wordpress right now... sooooo... I completely switched my entire 'Let's Eat and Lose Weight" blog over and back to blogger.  It was a total pain in the neck... but I did it... little by little.

So my new weight loss blog is at http://www.eatabiglunch.blogspot.com/

I have recipes, true stories, facts, deep stuff, light hearted stuff, affirmations, food facts, and confession on that blog.  Needless to say... it has really helped me shed these 75 lbs, knowing I have a place to convene with friends and followers, and fellow LDL'ers and commiserate and share joy also!!!

Sooo... won't you check it out?  It's not a DIET site per se... it's more a peek into my head... (scary place though it may be) and my journey thus far...

I would be honored if you would read me... click to be a follower if you like... even if you don't have any weight to lose, there are TONS of ways to get healthier and live with more vitality and less fatigue.
Weight loss is just one benefit of my eating plan... there are soooooo many other benefits also...

I look forward to hearing from you...

Sandra...

Writer's Workshop 4-1-10

The Prompt.

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List 10 things blogging has taught me.

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MamaKat 's Writer's Workshop is in full swing...

Away we go...

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1. There are a LOT of incredible writers out there... who are funny, concise, heartbreaking, soul lifting, hilarious and beautiful... most of them women... which makes my heart sing.

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2. To enjoy my camera more.

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3. The courage to send my writing pieces to publications I would never have before.

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4. That people ACTUALLY read me... religiously... and notice when I'm not around as much... this baffles me to this day... that someone WANTS to read me... I always feel honored and loved...

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5.That just because you can't drop in on the blogging friends everyday... doesn't mean they aren't important to my life... my blogging friends are very special to me... and it's a phenomenon I am still getting used to.

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6. A lot of people still don't "get" blogging... and continue to look at me a little strangely.

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7. People behave around me a lot more now... and I don't like it. People know if they do something to me or around me noteworthy, it will be blogged about.. LOL! I'll never use names.. (well... I can't say "never"... it depends on the crime...) but I will mention what was done...

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8. My kids have to constantly ask... "Mom... are you gonna blog about this?"

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9. uploading pictures in backwards order SUCKS!

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10. Printing a book from my blog is the best way for my future family to really know me... when I'm gone... it's incredible.

New Floor goin in!

Well... last week was the pool... this week is the tile in our Master Bedroom.

We have been "Floorless" for about 6 months now... and I've had it...

We tore out the old, disgusting emerald green carpet that was in our room, 6 months ago, and I told Bill I wanted to just have cement in there for a while, so I can get a feel for the look and atmosphere I want in our room... and I have decided on 18 inch Italian Tile. I just picked it out this morning, and our friend and Tile Guy, Rob Dorn is installing it as I type.

No, we didn't hit Lotto, nor do we ever get money back on our taxes... it's just time to get this crud done, so we can get on with some fun living...

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I read, every single day... about everyone going to Disneyland, and day trips here and there... and here we are... chained to our house because of all the sports and commitments to different organizations.. and since I have to be here all the time...dang it... I want it to be beautiful... NOW!

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My hubby, Bill, has done the other 1200 square feet of tile installation all over the house... and he finally decided to say... "Hey, you do tile... why don't I hire you to do it for me." MUCH TO MY PLEASURE!!! Bill does beautiful work, don't get me wrong... he completely remodeled our kitchen all by himself, 5 years ago... all of it... From this... To this... no help... this picture was taken before all the decorating was done... I can't find that picture, and the kitchen is too messy today to photograph... LOL he built our backyard Cape Cod Style Patio, he is building our new outdoor fireplace, he remodeled our guest bathroom everything... but finally... he cracked that wallet open and decided to let someone else do a little for us... Yay Bill! *** So... I am chained to the house for a little while again... but I don't mind... we are making our house even more of a home... and I can't wait... Pictures forthcoming!

Weekly prep...

Breakfast bread for the week...

and a huge loaf of sourdough... for the week...

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It is necessary for me to have a head start on my week... every week...

With Baseball practices, and games all over Southern California, volunteering, and running my businesses... the LAST thing I want to do is worry about what to make, for breakfast and dinner.

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So I sliced up 8 onions, chopped up a bunch of peppers, shredded a boatload of carrots, washed 10 heads of lettuce, sliced up three cucumbers, and made all the lunch sandwiches for the week...

made four loaves of Hawaiian Sweet Bread and Sourdough Loaf for knoshing... (for my men, I am no longer eating bread of any kind)

in just a couple of hours last night...

I have to keep hitting hands and knives away from this bread when I make it... if I didn't keep a careful watch over it... it would literally be gone in one night...

So, I need to wrap each one up, and hide them in different places in the fridge and freezer, so they can have a nice big slice of homemade Hawaiian Bread Toast in the morning... with their eggs and coffee...

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I'm almost to my 2 year Anniversary of not having purchased a loaf of any type of bread... no bagels, brioche, rolls, cinnamon rolls.. nothing... but homemade bread...

Now... when my family eats bread elsewhere... they say they can taste the difference, and don't like it much...

Yeah... I know... I'm setting my future Daughters in law up for failure...

I can't help it...

I don't want my family eating any processed foods with unnecessary sugars and preservatives... and this is my way of contributing to their health...

I'll just have to provide cooking classes for their future wives... or have them over for dinner all the time... and just love her in spite of her not being able to cook.. LOL

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Yeah... that'll go over really well HUH???

Ha!

Johnny's Play

I did it! Finally! My first video upload!!! I sure hope it works!

If I did it right... this is Johnny, singing one of the leads in his class play...

"American Ideal" a take on American Idol, with a biblical twist.

Johnny plays "Will Win" a guy who ADORES himself, and feels he is a total blessing to everyone he meets...

In the end, which you won't see, a young girl sings a song that teaches the other three contestants a lesson in humility, and love for God over themselves...

It's kinda long... but indulge me... I'm so proud of him...

THE POOL'S DONE!!!!

Pool... before renovation... after pulling the winter cover off... yuck!!!

The awesome plaster guys company... free advertising never hurt anyone... right??? They were sub contracted out by the AWESOME CRYSTAL POOL GROUP... 1-818-582 -3003... ask for Sean Khan... The pool is filling up now...

After... I chose grey plaster to match the house... and blue tiles to match the boys living with me... otherwise... I would have totally chosen purple tiles... for real...

The pool is actually about 30 years old... and now doesn't look a day old...

Yahooooooo!

Now if I can just get my husband to finish the fireplace and cement around it... I CAN HAVE A PARTY TO CELEBRATE!!! \

Writer's Workshop 3-22-10

Writer's Workshop

3-22-10

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"If repeating something healthy and inspiring to myself several times a day helps... then I'm gonna do it"

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I am a HUGE proponent of affirmations said to a mirror. Huge!

Self talk is SOOOO important to people... especially women.

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On my other blog here, I mention self talk A LOT... always giving an assignment to go look in the mirror and tell that person staring back at you, that she is special, and worthy of good things, and is loved... etc...

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There are plenty of people in the world that want to put down and stomp on our hopes and dreams, and make us feel badly about ourselves...

WE don't need to be one of them...

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I like to repeat that... I love myself... where I am at... at this very moment... imperfect, overweight, happy and in it to win it.

I don't make myself wait to be "better" or "thinner" or "younger looking" to have good self esteem and to tell the world that no matter what... I matter and am relevant... no matter what I look like or how I'm dressed or what kind of car I drive... or the size of my house...

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I don't love myself more now... 75 lbs lighter... than I did 9 months ago, 75 lbs heavier...

I look at each pound lost, as a pound that was put on to teach me something about myself.

Everything is allowed to happen for a reason.

We learn and grow and become better with each passing day... and loving the creation that "is" is honoring God and ourselves.

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These are some favorite affirmations I have taught women to say over the years...

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If one is single, and looking for love... "I am worthy of a great man, who fills my heart and soul with love and kindness. I am worth a man who works, and takes care of his business. I do not need to settle for Mr. Right Now... Mr. Right is what I am worthy of".

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If one is struggling with Motherhood or Wifedom... "I love my children... and it's okay to doubt myself, and to question how I do things... it's okay to say "I'm sorry" to my kids...

I am and will be a good Mom/Wife... I'm not finished yet..."

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If one is struggling with self esteem or her Looks... "I am a strong, confident woman, with great taste, a zest for life, and people who love me. I am worthy of kind words and my looks are more than just my outer shell... I will let others see "me" with my words, and actions... and I will be even more beautiful because of them..."

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What do you say to your reflection?