Weekend Prep

I'm in a stretch of prep for the weekend.  I was planning to do easy vodka drinks, but my youngest wanted lime drinks ... squeezed and froze 2 Costco bags of limes (!!)  Freezing ahead is a nice time saver.

BIG, 7 day cookies baked beautifully.  These are monster cookies and would be awesome for ice cream sammies.  I used Guittard large, flat chips (ordered through the website).  Cookies are Caputo's Sea Salt recipe.  I think they look even better in person.  Took all afternoon to bake the double batch.  

After I get home from hubby's colonoscopy, I'm making wonton meatballs for munchies.  Nom Nom Paleo recipe and they taste exactly like wontons.  I put everything in the food processor (shrimp, pork, scallions, mushrooms, etc) and it's relatively quick to make.  This is another freeze-ahead recipe.

Thursday is grocery shopping in Asheville and that's most of the work until Saturday and Sunday.  I can prep a few things on Friday, but not a lot more ahead of the weekend.

Weather forecast cleared nicely so we are set for a good time.  Hike guide reached out and I'm excited for fun trek in the mountains on the 4th.  Looks like it's all coming together.  Whew (!!)

Have a great day -- later gators.

Birthday Recap

It was a FUN and FULL birthday weekend.  Here's the quick scoop ...

(1)  Esalen Massage -- BEST massage EVER (!!)  Long strokes from your head to your toes.  Different arm and leg positioning for change in muscle tension.  It was relaxing and felt ridiculously good.  They blend their own tea in a homemade tea bag -- delicious warm spices without overdone.  Top notch spa.

(2)  Salt water sensory depravation float.  I did it!  Only freaked out once.  Bees wax and water proof bandaids helped any stings from the high salt water.  13 inches of water in a tank about 5' x 12'.  1000 lbs of epson salts dissolved.  It's crazy buoyancy.  Water is body temp so you don't realize you are moving at all.  First time my head floated up against the wall, I jumped a mile.  I enjoyed the experience, but I'll stick to massage.  It was worth experiencing once though.

(3)  Chocolate and kombucha in the city.  Quick trip into town for chocolate to bring to happy hour (and some for us AND some as a thank-you gift).  Also, got craft brewed kombucha from the local Bucci Bar -- amazing.  Asheville is totally a hippie foodie town.

(4)  Happy Hour.  My god, our neighbor's gardens are incredible.  1/2 acre of nothing but beautiful natural gardens.  She's an amazing painter and is going to paint something for our house this fall.  It was casual and easy.  She put out a little cheese, crackers and strawberries.  We stayed for a couple of hours.  Very nice evening.

(5)  Forging Tour.  3 hours in fields and the woods.  It's incredible to learn, not only what's edible, but how different everything tastes.  We forged and then had a little cooked taster using what was found.

(6)  Dinner at the Grove Park Inn.  EXPENSIVE (!!)  But it was delicious.  We got a puff pastry dish using the forged items.  I got a forged mushroom dinner and wagyu beef tartar starter.

And that's a wrap.  Next stop, hubby's birthday and a family weekend which I'm in full swing prepping for it all.

Busy week.  Last of the BUSY for a few weeks and I'm ready for some downtime.  I'm extra out of practice (!!)  We super duper over-scheduled these 2 weeks.  Two long, fun weekends smashed between colonoscopies for both of us, contract work on both houses, appointments, etc.  Will I ever learn?

Hair appointment today, grocery shopping and cooking for the weekend (to freeze ahead).  Full day.  Let's have a terrific day anyway :)  Later gators.

New Year -- #51

Quick hello on my birthday morning.

I had a good day yesterday.  After the car ride here, I walked a mile to my favorite vegan lunch cafe.  Picked up lunch and dinner -- both delicious.  While I was waiting, I popped into a shop and found a few things for my office in GA.  Pictures to come.  Called hubby for a pickup since I couldn't walk back with all the loot (!!)

We hung a big mirror and did some garden weeding.

I ran into a neighbor and we got an invite for drinks and munchies tonight.  I'll bring kombucha for me -- holding off the alcohol.  She didn't want us to bring anything so I have to figure out a hostess gift.  There are a couple of well-known chocolate stores downtown that seem like a good "bring."  Hubby is picking me up again (from the spa this time) and driving me downtown since time will be tight.

I had to watch a video about the salt water deprivation tank.  This is going to be an adventure.  AND, I forgot my hair cap.  I thought it was in a bin and it was in a box I decided to leave home.  I have a lot of open skin areas between poison ivy and my raw bottom.  Wish me luck and fingers crossed.  The whole experience is out of my comfort zone -- but choosing the bigger life which means choosing outside my box sometimes and finding the FUN.

We also got an invite for yard games on Saturday evening from another neighbor, but we have dinner plans.  It's a nice group of people on our street.

I'm still recovering from the colonoscopy and lack of sleep and discomfort.  I'm bloated and my stomach is off.  I seem to always need extra recovery time from anything that "stresses" my system.  I got a good night's sleep, but could use more downtime.  Hopefully a 90 minute massage and an hour float will help recovery.  

That's all from here.  Happy birthday to me.  Later gators.

Frame of Mind

I'm tired.

Broken, low sleep all prep night and my stomach was upset last night so I didn't sleep well.  We have to be on the road early to meet the HVAC service company this afternoon and I have a lot to do this morning.

I should have told hubby to reschedule the annual service.  I needed to sleep in and let my body recover.

I super duper don't want to spoil this birthday fun feeling crappy.  I need a new frame of mind and plan to feel better.

My stomach is still bloated and upset.  My backside hurts.  My energy is tanked.

The plan ... rest today.  Even if that means a nap this afternoon.  I don't love napping because I fall into such a deep sleep that I won't sleep well at night.  But maybe I need it today.  And gut rest.  I'm going to do easy foods for the next 2 days.  Saturday is a hike and dinner and I need my stomach feeling better.

I planned to walk into town this afternoon and do a bit of gift shopping for a thank-you gift.  Not sure if my backside or my stomach can handle the walk.  

My frame of mind is from FUN to REST today.  Whenever my body goes through something, I seem to need more recovery than I expect -- especially when my sleep is off.  I barely slept on prep night because I was in the bathroom over and over.

Rest and gratitude today -- I'll focus on both.

My mindset is wonky this morning because I don't feel well.  I'm thinking that the birthday massage and salt water float won't be amazing because I don't feel my best.  I need to change this pronto.  That thought isn't helping anything.

Wish me luck.  Last day being 50.  It's been quite a ride this year.  Next stop ... 51.  Later gators.

PSA

Dang, I had a pre-cancerous polyp.  It's out for biopsy, but doc said BIG + FLAT = pre-cancerous.  He said it would've developed into colon cancer if left.

Screening is a must.

Because of the size, I have a metal clip to prevent bleeding.  Low activity for a couple of days and no heavy lifting.

Never ever would have expected it.  Super duper GRATEFUL (!!)

I'm now on a 3 year rotation.  I'm seriously dumbfounded I had any polyp, let alone this kind.  Goes to show you never know.  

P.S.  The procedure was a breeze.  Apparently, I woke up strangely saying I was driving and I kept trying to sit up.  I remember dreaming about driving.  Wild to be awake one minute and then it's over.  This was my first anesthesia experience aside from c-section blocks.  

Off to Asheville tomorrow -- hubby, dogs and 7 potted plants LOL.  My bottom is SORE.  Hope the ride with 2 dogs on my lap goes smoothly.

Let the BIRTHDAY FUN continue :)  

Little Itty Bitty Garden

A bit of progress ...  soon I'll need to move the herbs inside.  Days around 90 degrees are too hot for herbs to hold up.

Hopefully, I get to eat them before the birds get them :)

New pots with wild flowers.
Basil is great -- all from a few seeds.
Still getting lettuce leaves.
Chives in the front.

Up early for the final prep drink.  No issue drinking -- tastes fine.  Worst part was hunger in the afternoon and interrupted sleep for the night. 

Almost over ...

Later gators.

30 Hours

This morning starts the colonoscopy 30-hours-until-it's-over countdown.  Prep day is here.  Procedure is scheduled for 11 o'clock tomorrow.

I needed a day when hubby was home and off work (he's had these vacation days planned all year).  Tomorrow was the day that worked and the only time available was later in the morning.

Nothing begins until this afternoon.  I need to remember to not eat anything (!!)

What am I doing on a clear liquid day?  Prepping food for hubby's birthday weekend, of course.  Cooking bacon for freezing and making a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies that has to sit in the refrigerator for 7 days before baking.  More on that next week if they turn out okay.

Once prep begins, MY time begins.  Feet up, book in hand and bathroom close.  Taking care of ONLY myself.

Man, I'm glad to get this over.  I don't know why I've been dreading it because it's not a big deal.  I think it's everyone's complaint stories that have me all fussy and I'm anxious to know everything is fine.

Monti decided he didn't want to cuddle on the new office chairs yesterday -- he HAD to be held.  Love this little boy.  He slept for an hour like this while I sat and listened to a podcast.  

Have a great day.  I'll be out of commission tomorrow morning and then leaving for Asheville for my birthday week continuation.  Hellos will be spotty, but lots of fun to chat about.