Happy Birthday America!

Pass the cake. Please. Seriously. Pass the cake. Now. I want cake!
I don’t know how you are spending your July 4th, but hubby and I spent the morning in Wal-Mart grocery shopping. Drew has high bp and cholesterol even on meds. He also listens to talk radio all day while he works. Does he listen to me when I suggest he take a sandwich or a salad instead of eating fast food for lunch? I even offered to make it, but no. Thankfully he did listen to one of the shows talk about the "Eat to Live" plan, so here we go. It’s almost vegetarian, especially to begin with, but at least I get my fruit. We did South Beach a year ago and Drew has kept off 20 pounds, but we decided high protein is not a healthy life choice for us. This plan is supposed to be really good for a lot of health problems including Drew’s. I'm still reading the book (and craving chocolate chip cookies already), but so far it makes sense.

So. We’re standing in line with a cart full of fresh and frozen fruits and veggies and an ironing board. I’m thinking, I could be knitting. I take the keys and head to the car, only I don’t remember where we parked. I circle the lot for 10 minutes- good exercise except for the 90-degree temp and 90% humidity. I finally collapse in the car and pick up my needles just in time to pretend I’d been there all along.

We get home and stash all the groceries. I fix us a huge salad, and we pour on the new 25-calorie dressing. We throw our salads away and make a mental note to never, ever buy that dressing again. Drew eats an apple; I eat a handful of walnuts and dried apricots. If tonight’s eggplant recipe isn’t wonderful, please invite me to your house for dinner.

My knitting hasn’t gone much better lately. I finished the back of the ribbon tank and frogged it last night. I didn’t like the way the colors were pooling, so I’ll rework it alternating rows with different skeins. I did finish up 3 preemie blankets with booties to send to Lubbock hospital in Texas and a couple more booties and hats.
 

I’ve finished some sewing- these are for Little B, our sponsor child, and a nighty for her doll.

And I’m reupholstering a rocking chair. There are two, but I only have room for one. It came from my parents’ house. They bought the set used early in their marriage. It’s never been very comfortable, but I’m hoping a little extra padding will help. I’ve never done this before, so wish me luck. I’ve finished the fun part- the deconstructing.

Very interesting. I’m not sure what some this stuff is,

but look at the cardboard backing. I’m thinking maybe a soft drink ad? I haven’t found fabric yet, so for now we have a naked chair in the living room.

Neighbors are shooting fire crackers, and poor Max is petrified. I'll have to skip the fire works tonight to stay with him. Happy Fourth!

Comments

[wool winder]

Good luck on your new eating plan.

Great preemie blankets! I love the knitted ones, but I never take the time for that anymore. I sew all the ones I donate.

[Lynne]

Looks like you had a great day! Even though I'm trying to eat healthier as well, I actually ate strawberry shortcake for lunch...just a big old bowl of strawberry shortcake, and it was delicious! That stuff in the chair (which is a very cool chair, by the way) is horsehair!

[Nanc]

Ha! Your escapades around the parking lot made me laugh. I've had days like that. But you didn't give up and you didn't loose face, except the fact that Drew may read this.

Good luck with the new diet. I may need to look into this. I know I need to start something soon, and high cholesteral is one of my issues.

The baby sets are so pretty and sweet. And what an adventure with that chair!

[heather]

the little wee baby sets are so precious!

hats off to you for re-doing the chair...Can't wait to see when you've finished!

[HAINAngel2000]

These patterns you created will be very helpful to our charity! Love your blog!

[Carrie K]

I got roped into redoing a chaise lounge once - it was surprisingly easy, actually. Other than putting back the 800 scalloped pillows of the back. Thank heaven for stapler guns and industrial sewing machines.

I wonder what that ad is for? Colorful.

Oh, and I'm doing my new eating plan of Cheetos, cheetos all the time interspersed with coffee frappacino's. Possibly not fully nutritious.

[Sharon]

I recently read an article about the Raw Foods Diet. Hmm. I'll take a piece of that cake too. Good luck to you and hubby, Michelle. Why does it have to be so hard!!!