Rooted in Mississippi

After seeing these in the wayback machine, I think I need to find my old harddrive and see if I can locate the original pictures.  It is hard to believe I was this thin just five years ago, but I was.  When the photo on the left was taken, people were telling me I needed to stop losing weight.  Seems like it was just before I met my husband.  I still own the miniskirt from the middle photo, and I can’t imagine ever being able to fit into it again.  The photo on the right was taken by my husband when were just going out, he often took pictures before a date.  Hey, maybe he still has the original! 

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A lot of people were upset when I deleted my SugarBusters web site: A Sane Way of Eating.  Click here to see the archive of my weight loss comparison photos from that website.  I am back dieting and exercising, using the Spark People web site to track my weight, caloric intake, water consumption, and exercise.  I do not do Sugar Busters any longer, but I do try to eat mostly good carbs and stay at the shallow end of the recommendations on SparkPeople. 

Some of you know my tale of woe.  I gained a lot of weight when I was depressed, then I lost about 100 pounds and kept it off for a few years.  I was a much thinner woman when I met my husband.  While we were dating, I got sick and gained about forty pounds in a very short period of time.  Turns out that I have Hashimoto’s Auto-immune Thyroiditis.  Even though I was on medication, I did not lose any weight.  So, I got to a point where I just stopped trying.  When I quit work, I asked for a gym membership, and I started going there regularly.

After months of diet and exercise, the scale was just not moving.  I changed my thyroid medication from Synthroid (synthetic T4) to Armour (desiccated porcine thyroid) seven weeks ago and I am thrilled to report that the scale is finally moving in the right direction.  I have lost as much in the last few weeks as I did in the five months prior.  Admittedly, it is not a lot of weight, only eleven pounds total, but it is so nice to finally see some movement in the right direction! 

I like the SparkPeople concept.  I find myself keeping track of everything and it is helpful to see it all in print.   I add products that are not already listed and even use the recipe generator to calculate nutritional information on my own cooking.  I have a couple of dozen recipes in there already, but I have only shared one, the pecan pie!  There is a button on the recipe that lets you add it to the nutrition tracker.

I still think I might be eating too little, I rarely ever break 1200 calories a day, even on days when I am doing more than 90 minutes of cardio.  I can also see that I really do eat well.  I mean, I make healthy choices in what I eat.  The nutrition tracker has a lot of fast food and pre-packaged foods entered, which makes it more user friendly for the real world.  Whatever the difference has been, it is such a relief to see tangible results from all my hard work.

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Elizabeth D’s comment got me to thinking and we all know how dangerous that can be!  I do not think of housewife as a derogatory term, maybe because I chose this lifestyle.  I made a conscious decision to leave my well-paying job in order to stay home, take care of the house and pursue my hobbies.  I see staying at home as a reward.  Plus, as far as labels go, this is one that I chose. 

In comments on the same post, SueB pointed out that it is a mistake to get hung up on labels and I think she is right.  In general, I bristle at labels and the thought of being pigeon-holed, but I actually like housewife.  In fact, I listed it as my occupation on my most recent passport application.  I am not a domestic goddess; I am a housewife!  I enjoy being free to explore new things and take time for self-examination. 

I do not feel burdened by my daily routine, cooking, or caring for the dogs.  I am glad to be living this life.  I wake up every day knowing that it is full of possibilities.  I can sit on the sofa, knit, spin, do needle work, belly dance, watch television, read a book, paint a picture, or anything else that my heart desires.  I enjoy playing with the dogs and getting into the kitchen.  I love looking out the window and watching the squirrels and leaves.  It is a good life.

I have the benefit of a maid, so I do not have to worry about cleaning toilets, tubs or mopping floors.  That said, I do not mind doing laundry, dishes or ironing my husband’s shirts.  It takes time and effort to keep a house in order, especially an older one that is in constant need of repair, but it leaves me plenty of time for other things.

I am not ready to give that up in order to spend eight hours a day in the studio.  I am not ready to become an artist or a craftsman.  The commitment of time and sellable finished product is what keeps me from submitting my work to the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi.  Everyone has to find their place and I seem to have found mine.  I am actually happy and not ready to change my life right now.

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I used up three odd skeins of super bulky yarn making two basic knit caps.  The yarn is really pretty and I got it on clearance, but I was a little miffed when I realized one skein had been rewound and was “light.”  Granted, I got it for 50% off, but the store obviously charges more than retail.  When I looked it up online, I discovered that I paid more on clearance than it sells for full price most places.  Go figure.

I was not satisfied with my self portraits with one of the caps on, so I decided to let the dogs be my models.  They are too cute for words and there are two of them after all.  If only they had fit!

I made a trip to the Bargain Boutique, this time to drop off a wagon load of donations.  While I was waiting for my receipt, I walked around and found a few silk blouses and a single silk dress.  I love reclaimed fabrics, but I need to find a way to share, because my stash is getting a little out of control!  When I finished up there, I went shopping and picked up a couple of hip scarves and some more active wear.  At least I will look the part, which feeds into my fake until you make it philosophy.

Speaking of active wear and hip scarves, I did work out today, but the exercise definitely aggravates my cough.  I finally got around to watching and working out with my “The Heartbeat of Belly Dance: Rhythms & Dance Combinations for Drum Solos” DVD with Jenna & Raquy.  It is fantastic!  I might actually be able to learn the beginner’s routine.  Ironically, the other DVD I tried for the first time today was not my cup of tea.  First, Middle Eastern dance looks a little strange when a muscular person with ripped abs is doing it.  Such a feminine dance looks infinitely better on a more feminine form.  Oh, well, it only cost $7, so no big loss. 

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Wow, I actually got a lot done this weekend.  My Knit Your Bit scarf is finished, packed and ready to mail!  Speaking of mail, all of my Arty Meme stuff is also packed and ready to go.  I will be heading out to the post office in a little while to make it all official.  Well, all except for Cynthia’s, which I will give to her on her next visit to Jackson. 

 

I also started a new scarf with some expensive designer yarn that I bought on sale somewhere in the last year.  I am not sure if there will be enough yarn, because I only have three skeins.  If it looks like it will not be enough when I have knit up the first skein, I will frog it and use it for hats instead.

I also got a couple of dozen vases put away.  That sounds lame, but I have a really impressive collection, because I had tons of rose bushes at my old house.  This house has an odd floor plan and we combined households, so a lot of my furniture ended up in the garage or being given away.  The long weekend and big meal gave me the excuse I needed to get some of my kitchen things sorted and other things put into storage.  I also bagged up clothing for the Salvation Army and boxed household goods for the Bargain Boutique.  All in all, I feel like I got a lot done.

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Sharon Boggon made a very provocative post today.  I commented on her blog and gave my personal excuses for why I have stalled, but I think I nailed it on the head with my first remark.  Since leaving my day job, I have seen myself as a housewife with hobbies, not an artist.

I wrote a short list of immediate goals, assuming that more would unfold as I shift my priorities. The list is as follows:

1. Set a schedule and stick to it.
2. Spend time every day in my needlework studio. 
3. Better utilize, and therefore reduce, my time online.
4. Get back into the habit of doing my morning pages.
5. Get rid of the dining room table and turn it into an art/fiber area.

I also need to decide what I really want to be.  I still feel strange thinking of myself as an artist, fiber artist, or even needle artist.  Ding, ding, ding!  I have found the problem.  If I can not see myself as an artist, how can I possibly ever become one? 

Of course, there is no shame in being a housewife with hobbies, which goes a long way toward explaining why I have been in this mode for several months now. I think that maybe it would be nice if I could be a productive housewife with hobbies.  Then again, do I really want to be in the business of production? It really was much easier to go to work and bring home a pay check.  There is little room for self-doubt when you have a job; not that I want to go back to work! 

Seriously, I guess this discussion has come around full circle. I am at baseline happy with my life right now.  I do not need to find a way to change my self perception.  I do not need to evolve into an artist.  I think that what I really need is to strike a balance. 

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There is also a cultural museum, with exhibits of what daily life was like in the past, at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum. There are old quilts, flat irons, washing boards, cotton bales, carved wooden canoes, and just about anything else you can imagine. I think that it is cool to see what a kitchen looked like in the 1930s. Maybe it is my love of anthropology and social history, but I never cease to discover new and interesting things every time I take a walk through the facility.

Of course part of what interests me when I tour through the museum is the antique Crazy Quilt that they have in their collection. I have never really gotten a good close up since, it is behind a barricade. I asked for permission to examine it more closely, but it seems like either the personnel change or they just do not know exactly how to handle my request. I did take a few photos while I was in there, but the quilt is hung very high.

There are some interesting things I had already noticed about this quilt. While it seems that it was pieced all by one person, I sincerely doubt that it was stitched all by the same person. The center blocks and one up on the top left are much more ornate than the majority of the blocks. It is signed by M. L., age 72 and dated August 13, 1890. I think that someone put it onto the pink backing at some later date. Maybe a daughter or granddaughter sought to finish the top on behalf of M. L. I hear there is some provenance about the quilt, but they have yet to put me in contact with the person who knows the details. I need to pursue access a little more aggressively!

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I picked another meme up from Red Shoe Ramblings.  Gathering the photos to create the collages presented me with an interesting challenge. 

1. Closest red thing to you? Bed quilt.
2. Has anyone ever cheated on you in a relationship? More than one actually.
3. The last thing to make you angry?  Not sure, I get mad easily when I feel like someone is mistreating me, but I tend to let go of it.  There are only a few insults that have stuck with me over time. 
4. Are you a fan of romance? Personally, I think it is overrated.  Maybe the chakra test was right, maybe I am cold and distant. LOL
5. Have you ever been in love? I am.
6. Do you have a temper?  Oh, yeah, given the right circumstances!

1. Closest green thing to you? Blanket on my bed. 
2. Do you care about the environment? Sure, but I am neither radical nor zealous.
3. Are you jealous of anyone right now? Not a soul.
4. Are you a lucky person? I have no idea what that means really.  I do not gamble or like games of chance…but in the important things, like life, I would say I am very lucky.
5. Do you always want what you can’t have?  Almost never.  Well, for some reason the only time I think about Chick-fil-a is on Sundays…that is about as close to coveting as I get.
6. Are you Irish?  It is perhaps the only nationality not represented in my heritage.

1. Closest purple thing to you? The sofa, the predominant color is purple, with wine accents.
2. Like being treated to expensive things? It depends.  I like nice things, but expense is not always an appropriate indicator.
3. Do you like mysterious things? I do, I like to ferret things out and try to find the solution to mysteries in print, film and television. 
4. Favourite type of chocolate? White…I know it is not really chocolate, but I don’t have a chocolate jones.  Once every few years, we will be in line at the bookstore and I will grab a couple of thise Lindt Lindor White Chocolate Truffles.  Yet antoher way I am strange, I suppose. 
5. Ever met any royalty?  What makes you think I am not royalty? 
6. Are you creative? I am. I am not afraid to do my own thing or to be the one person who does something different from everyone else.
7. Are you lonely? Never.

1. Closest blue thing to you? Sheets
2. Are you good at calming people down? That is a loaded question.  I am very good with people who are brain-damaged.  Very patient, caring and understanding. I was very good at calming people down in my professional life too…but I can also goad and incite people.  Go figure. 
3. Do you like the ocean? I do.  I am a water person.
4. What was the last thing that made you cry? I cry at anything on the television or in a book.  I flow on the emotional roller coaster where fiction is concerned.
5. Are you a logical thinker? Most often I am.  I am one of those people who can do very right or very left brained activities.  I used to be in love with Spock. 
6. Can you sleep easily? Most of the time.  Sometimes I have these hypnogogic hallucinations (sort of like a nightmare just as your are drifting off) where I think someone is menacing me, so it creates a lot of stress and anxiety at night.
7. Do you prefer the beach or the woods?  I like both, but I think of the beach as a get away, probably because I live in the woods.  Well, not exactly the woods, but I have walls of windows upstairs and down, that look out onto the trees.  Plus I hear acorns drop constantly this time of year and makes for great percussive sounds.

1. Closest yellow thing to you? Book jacket.
2. The happiest time(s) of your life?  Right now.
3. Favourite holiday? I suppose my Honeymoon Cruise to Hawaii.
4. Are you a coward? Only rarely…most of the time I will stick up for my rights and the rights of others. 
5. Do you burn or tan? Lordy, it has been so long since I put that one to the test!  But when I was younger, I would blister, then tan.  They used to call me “little hickory nut” when I was a kid.  I hung out in the pool most summers.
6. Do you want children? Never have.
7. What makes you happy? Lots of things, sometimes just the quality of the light is enough to make me happy. I am happiest when those near and dear to me are happy and healthy.

1. Closest pink thing to you?  Pillowcase.
2. Do you like sweet things? Not so much.  I prefer starchy stuff, like bread and chips.
3. Like play-fighting?  Not so much. Being the youngest of five, I always got hurt whenever there ws play-fighting involved.
4. Are you sensitive?  Oh yeah.  I have very thin skin and am often wounded. 
5. Do you like punk music? I used to!  I was a punker in the 80s. 
6. What is your favourite flower? Roses are still my favorite flowers, if you are talking about the live plant. If you are talking cut, I dig those spider mums in a spring mix.
7. Does someone have a crush on you? Definitely, my husband is blinded by love.

1. Closest orange thing to you?  A quilt that my sister made for me.
2. Do you like to burn things? Not so much, I let my husband tend to the chiminea.
3. Dress up for Halloween?  Not in years, but I love to play dress-up.
4. Are you usually a warm-hearted person?  I must be or I would not be so in tune with animals. I am a soft touch.
5. Do you prefer the single life or the security of a relationship?  I prefer being in a relationship with the “right” person.
6. What would your super power be? Breathing under water…Aquawoman, I suppose.

1. Closest white thing to you? Duvet cover.
2. Would you say you’re innocent? I lost my innocence very young.
3. Always try to keep the peace?  Not really.
4. How do you imagine your wedding?  Well, it is over and done with now. There is a photo of the ceremony in a previous post.
5. Do you like to play in the snow? Sure, because it only happens every once in a great while here in the deep south.
6. Are you afraid of going to the doctors or dentist? No, but I can’t say that I enjoy either visit.

1. Closest black thing to you? The laptop of course.
2. Ever enjoy hurting people?  No, I carry shame for ever hurting anyone.
3. Are you sophisticated or silly?  Definitely silly.
4. Do you have a lot of secrets?  Not really, I am sort of an open book.
5. What is your favourite colour(s)?  Depends on my mood and the purpose.  For clothing I am big into green, for other things…purple, red, and orange.
6. Does the colour you wear affect your mood?  No, but it does effect my eye color.

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Southern Pecan Pie

Twice the pecans and half the goo of traditional pecan pie!

Ingredients:

9″ Pie crust, frozen, ready-to-bake, 1 crust
3 large Eggs
1/4 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend (or 1/2 cup brown sugar)
1/2 tsp Salt 
3/4 of a stick melted Butter,
1/2 cup Light Corn Syrup
1 tsp  Vanilla Extract
2.5 cups Pecans, halves or pieces

Directions:

Preheat over to 375° Fahrenheit.

Combine the eggs, splenda (or brown sugar), salt, butter, corn syrup and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.

Fold in the pecans.

Slowly transfer the filling into the pie crust.

Put the pie in the oven, preferably the lower rack. Bake for 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the pie filling is fairly well set. You can determine this by sliding the pan back and forth to see if the contents are fluid or solid.

Cool and serve. Pecan Pie is always high calorie, so the smaller the slice, the better.

Makes 1 pie. 

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Most of the time people make their matzo balls too large, because that is how they are made and served in most delicatessens.  The problem with one big matzo ball is that they rarely cook all the way through and can be heavy.  Matzo balls should be light and fluffy.  So, I guess it is time for me to reveal my matzo ball secrets. 

First it is okay to use a commercial mix.  Never over mix the meal, egg and oil.  Always refrigerate the mix for at least fifteen minutes before adding them to the soup.  I like to form them no bigger than a golf ball. Drop each one immediately into rapidly boiling soup stock.  That way they cook all the way the through and will be light and fluffy. 

Now for the confession; I sometimes use schmaltz instead of vegetable/olive oil to make the matzo balls.  It just tastes so much better! For the uninitiated, schmaltz is basically just chicken fat.  Whenever I make chicken stock for soup, I refrigerate the broth, then skim off the chicken fat for use in other recipes.  It is the Jewish equivalent of bacon drippings.

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