Good morning! I don’t know what it is but I’ve been in a really good mood. Perhaps I am feeling hopeful that this pandemic is finally being dealt with in a proper way. We are still ridiculously short on vaccines here in LA County but every day I hear that someone has gotten their vaccine so that is very good news. We are definitely moving in the right direction.
As you can see from the photo, our weather has been very mild and pretty. That photo above is a plant the pup and I walk past almost every morning. I love the pop of color. A piece of it broke off in the wind so I picked it up and popped it into soil. We shall see if it takes. Plants and the outdoors in general continue to keep me happy so whatever I can do to be outside, is done.
On a health note, you know how my doctor suggested I try a plant based diet because I was unable to lose any weight and she felt that my issue was inflammation? I didn’t go fully plant based although “I” easily could have. Between the Celiac and plant based diets it would be too much for the fam to digest. Pun intended. I went vegetarian. I have lost ten pounds in about a month. I am not tracking food or recording weight or anything. Just eating plant based when I can, vegetarian other times and the energy is there and good and I am happy. I am now looking into reactive foods which cause inflammation and one food that was a staple of mine before was salmon and it’s highly reactive. You do what you need to do for your own body so this is just what I am doing but it’s so interesting.
Okay, now books. I am really making good progress with my review copies. So much so that I’ve been dipping in and out of Edelweiss and NetGalley to find some new reads to add to my list.
This one is not a review copy but it just came out and it looks so good, The Oak Papers by James Canton. All about the human need to connect to nature. This is my new thing. Connecting to nature. I hope to pick up a copy soon.
Well, that’s pretty much it for me. college Musical Theatre auditions are over for my daughter. Now, we wait. Have a good week!
Book Chatter 
Good luck with your new food choices! I’m trying to get back in the habit of being a bit more mindful about what I eat — I got depressed and was eating, like, a box of Girl Scout Cookies a day, and then feeling physically gross after. A new dawn! 😛
I’m not much of a drinker but in the early pandemic days, I was drinking daily, it seemed. That packed the pounds on quickly. In three months I probably gained 15 or so. So this ten I lost is just a dent. I had to lose weight before that gain anyway. I am naturally a healthy eater which is why I was frustrated but age, hormones, bleh bleh. When my doc suggested plant based I was like, how is that supposed to help but for me it seems to be doing something.
I am happy to hear the new changes in diet are working for you. That is good news. I’m finally eating regular breakfasts, which my doctor urged me to do. I fell better and less dependent on 5 cups of coffee. I’m down to 2-3 depending on the day, so that’s good for me too.
More veggies in my diet, less meat fat. I have to keep a better watch on that but in a house of 6 it’s hard, especially when they want what they want. So I’ve just ended up making myself separate meals or paring down on the meat.
I hear you about outside and making you happy. I wish I were in CA! I would be out all the time. Here on the east coast it is too cold and snowy, though yesterday was an exception at nearly 60 degrees!
I am very lucky to be in a part of the country where I can still go out regularly. It was 79 yesterday. Feels like spring. Windy, though.
Congrats are feeling well and weight off as well. I lost 7 so far but am not obsessing, just being mindful of whether I’m really hungry or bored. I’ve taken the peanuts and crackers off the counter too so they don’t talk to me when I’m in the kitchen LOL
The Oak Papers sounds nice. I hoping to finish another book today and get out for a walk 40’s today after a foot of snow last week. I felt out of sorts last week and lingered in bed too much so nice to see the sun.
I don’t buy snack foods anymore. I would buy them for the others but then if I got bored I’d grab a handful of nuts or pop some popcorn. I don’t buy it now and we don’t eat it and it’s just fine.
I’m sorry you were feeling out of sorts. I am glad you have slightly higher temps so you can get outside later. It helps so much. Even on the weekend I am getting out now for walks. I used to skip the weekends but I don’t feel right if I don’t get out now.
I have book club tonight on Zoom which I really need to set a reminder for because I keep forgetting about it. We are discussing The Night Tiger which didn’t work well for me. I think the others likes it a lot more than I did.
I’m so glad that you are feeling happier and that your food is working with you better. Wonderful news.
I love the look of The Oak Papers. I hope it comes to my library.
The Oak Papers looks really good to me. I recommended that the three library systems I belong to buy it. That way I will be first to check it out when they do.
That flower is very striking! I’m interested in whether your bit roots and comes along.
Funny that you should inquire. I just went out to look and it’s not doing well. There was a freeze and although I covered it, it’s not looking good at the moment. It did root but since I had it in a large planter I couldn’t take it in. I shall try again, should there be a cutting on the floor.
I think that’s an Always Red Aloe plant. Very pretty. Congrats on your weight loss. I gained about 10 lbs. when I went through menopause (10 years ago) and haven’t been able to lose it. I’ve decided I’ll just focus on being fit and so I get outside and walk whenever the weather cooperates and ride the bike when it’s raining. I try to lift weights 3 times a week, too. I have a pretty healthy “diet,” and rarely ever snack, but I enjoy a glass of wine every night. I would probably drop 5 lbs if I gave that up, but I enjoy it too much. I’d rather skip the chips, cookies, ice cream, etc. 🙂 Enjoy your warm weather!
Red Aloe. I will need to look into it because I killed the clipping. Well, we had a freeze and it didn’t fare so well.
I am never into sweets so I have no issues with that and the only time the wine caused me a gain was in the early days of the pandemic. I was drinking a glass every evening. Now? Once a month maybe, but yes… wine over sweets any day.
Pretty cactus flower there. I’m glad you are able to find the right diet and it seems to work! We likely all need to eat more plant based foods. I’m still at my folks place in Redlands, going with them to medical appointments and touring them around their new senior care place etc. I will fly back March 5. It’s been a bit stressful but glad the weather & scenery has been mild and pretty here. The Oak Papers looks good so I will look for it. thanks!
Vegetarianism/plant based for the win! So glad you’re feeling good.
We call that plant a red hot poker. I have no idea if that’s the real name or not. I love them.
Between you and another blogger, you are both very close. Apparently it’s called Red Candelabra Aloe.