Birthday!

Yesterday was my son's birthday!

We started out the day with a good breakfast at Junior's over on 12th st here in Portland. It was really good. Then to Freddy's to get another lantern (caves are really dark). Then on the road to
Mt. Saint Helens to the Ape Caves and were totally surprised by snow with 70 degree sunshine! (that's my son in the picture above).

We slushed through the snow for about 3/4's of a mile to the cave and then walked another mile into the cave. Most amazing thing I've ever done in a long while. If we were really quiet, all you could hear was the water dripping. Very peaceful.


That's the snow we trudged through. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be, really throws you off balance and it's hard work.



Mehran and William at the very end of the cave. We met up with a group of Eagle Scouts who gone to the real end of the cave but said that you had to get down on your hands and knees, something I wasn't going to do, so we called where we were the end of the cave.
It wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be, just very peaceful.

The road back from the caves.


William, Mehran and Brandie ~ so much fun spending the day with them, I'm so blessed to have a wonderful son, daughter-in-law and friend. Mehran has been a good friend to William and Brandie and so glad that he could come to celebrate William's birthday!

We got home and William opened his gifts and then on to dinner at a Thai place on Belmont via the cemetery ~ it's really a beautiful one and old, so there are great photos to be taken. Great dinner and then another walk back through the cemetery and on to wonderful cupcakes from Saint Cupcake (Vegan style!).

It was a great day and wonderful to spend the day with the 3 of them.


p.s. I'm doing well with the weight thing. I want it to be faster, I want it off now! Know that this is a slow thing and it's better for it (the weight) to come off slow and steady. I've been going to the gym, eating really well and keeping a good attitude (for the most part). I've got great support from family and friends.

That's it for now ~

A few projects and update

I've been busy sewing lately ~ made this piece for my journal quilt group. The word was spring and there was no technique so I made this. It's a take off from Charley Harper's art, which I adore. It's also all freehand cut and appliqued on with the machine. Really love how it turned out. I'll be doing some quilting on it and then make it into a pillow for my bed.

This next project is rather a large one. A friend and I are doing it together and I'm enjoying how it's turning out! It's the Single Girl quilt and I just happened to have a bunch of fat quarters of Denyse Schmidts! Really like it quite a lot. It's going to be huge! Each block is about 18" and there's 16 of them. Very grateful that my friend Kathie is doing this with me, she's a fabulous quilter and knows what she's doing!



Now on to the weight thing.

I've been exercising everyday and managed to get to the gym on Friday. My daughter-in-law and son went with me for support (they exercised too) and I also went on Saturday and today! I've also been doing a video by Jillian Michaels everyday. It's amazing how just a little exercise can make you feel so much better.

I've also changed what I'm eating and how much water I'm drinking. I've noticed a few changes, but know that I've got a ways to go. The thing is, I'm doing something about it instead of just lying on the couch feeling sorry for myself.

Hope all are having a glorious day (the sun is shining here!) and that you are doing what you love!
elsa

A REALLY longtime

It's been a really long time since I last posted on my blog ~ since December 24th last year, in fact.

I've done a lot in that time ~ did lots of knitting, sewing and various other things. Just haven't felt the desire to blog.

I've also gained lots of weight. That's probably why I haven't wanted to blog. Knew I wanted to talk about it and do something about it, but it wasn't till last week that I joined back up with Weight Watchers (I can't seem to do the weight loss thing on my own). Went to a meeting yesterday and after really paying attention to what I'm eating, drinking and doing a bit of exercise, I gained a pound. Very disappointing and felt like what's the use, if I'm going to just gain weight.

So, I'm going to be blogging about it. I need some accountability and what better way but to make it known. I don't want to say how much I weigh, it's such a source of shame and pain for me, but know that secrets do me absolutely no good if I don't admit where I am. Then you can see the progress I've made.

I'm weighing 181 pounds as of yesterday. There. It's out. Done.

My goal is at least 30 pounds, but I'm going to do it one pound at a time. I'm also going to post a picture (much as I hate to do it) so that in a few months I can look back and see the progress I've made. Need my son or dil to take the picture and they aren't around at the moment, so I'll do it next post.

Today I also started an exercise video ~ Jillian Michaels ~ and plan to go back to the gym (I don't want to do that either at this weight, lots of pride involved).

I plan to post a few times a week just to check in ~ if you're interested in doing this with me, let me know so I can cheer you on too!

elsa