Iceberg!

Here is an iceberg that floated into a little bay in St. Anthony, Newfoundland.  A short walk from our B & B.  My husband & I just returned from a holiday there.  It's lovely.  Wild and desolate in places.  Pretty and quaint in others.   It was also nice and cool which I love.

The vacation was difficult to enjoy though because, like the iceberg which only shows about a 1/3 above water, my Dad kept his health from me and my siblings, until my plane had departed as he didn't want to "spoil my trip."  He had pneumonia and then partial kidney failure from being dehydrated and had to be hospitalised for almost a week!  All so I could have a vacation.  Very selfless of him but I would always choose a live father over any vacation.  Geeze.  He has been told this in no uncertain terms.  I am now staying with him for a week or two until he is back to his independent self.  Geeze again!

Dolls and Nostalgia

I've been keeping busy with more Waldorf-type dolls.  I have now made four and I think maybe one of them (red-headed girl below) is crafted well enough for full price.  It's definitely a learning process.  I just have to construct clothing and little shoes and I'll try them out on Etsy.

Taking a page from my friend Shelley, I have been clearing out some stuff.  Yesterday I filled 5 green garbage bags with clothes for Goodwill and I still haven't touched my main closet.  There are shoes to be donated that I haven't seen or worn in years.   I think I still have my Grade 8 graduation dress somewhere...

I get attached to clothes and not just mine.  I have lots of my Mum's that I don't wear but are so imbued with her that I can't part with them.  I put my hand in her pockets and come out with a safety pin or a wadded tissue, I smell her scarves for a hint of Covergirl foundation and it takes me to her.   

I often re-purpose fabric and clothing.  I was doing it long before there were whole magazines and websites devoted to it.  I like to incorporate bits of favourites in family gifts.  If I turn up that grad dress in my clearing frenzy, I'm going to cut the skirt off (it was a peasant dress circa 1970) and make it into a handbag!

Waldorf Prototype

  This is Mandy, my first attempt at a "Waldorf" doll.  I think I did ok.  Waldorfs are supposed to be made with all natural materials thus there is a "pedagogy" which must be followed.  It means the doll has to be stuffed with sheep's wool.  Meh.  I managed to follow the instructions without using sheep's wool.  Thus, this is a vegan Waldorf or Vegal-dorf! (trademark!)  It went together pretty well as instructed with no troubles.   Connoisseurs claim any other stuffing will not feel right...that the head will not be hard enough...blah, blah and blah.  This was my prototype so I'll be keeping her.  I followed instructions from a book but they were a little weak and sometimes downright dopey so I have devised ways of making the doll go together easier without effecting the overall Waldorf-ness (other than the non-sheep stuffing).  If the next one is nice enough, I'll try to sell her or him.

Oh, and the diet is going ok too!

Hello Again

I've been away from the blog awhile. The final course assignments took up a chunk of time.  I did well with my final mark being either 85 or 89.5% based on my calculations.  I'm still deciding if I will take the next one in the series.  It will involve night courses and downtown but as I'm an early (like 4 a.m. early) morning person, it may be unpleasant.

The diet has been going better and so has the walking.  I'm getting back to it and the weather has finally started to cooperate by being above freezing for more than a few hours at a time.  I'm trying something new (old concept, new application) and if it works, I'll write about it.  Nothing foolish.  In fact it is basic, sound and makes sense.  I've always said I have the knowledge for good nutrition and wellness but the application escapes me!   I'll give you a hint...it involves proper food!

The Gold Bunny

I love the gold bunny with the red ribbon and bell.  You know the one I'm talking about.  They start appearing in February and as Easter approaches, I buy a small one for me and my husband and a big one for my Dad.

I spoil my Dad at Easter (and all the rest of the time!) because he loves chocolate and he has always been the one who takes care of everyone else.  His family didn't have much money growing up but my Papa always made sure each of his children had an Easter treat.   My Dad loves to tell the story of how he would break out the bottoms of his younger sibling's Easter bunnies and hens, with the hope they wouldn't notice, in order to get more chocolate.  He laughs about it now (and his sisters spoil him too)...so he gets a big bunny.  

When I buy Easter chocolate, I give it to my husband for safe keeping.  It's a game we play.  I know where he hides it so if I really want to eat it pre-Easter, I can find it but for the most part, it's out of sight... (not out of mind) which helps...

Less Chips, More Fruits and Veg

A lifetime of bad eating has left my husband with kidney disease.  Not all of it is his fault as genetics predisposing him to high-blood pressure did not help, but neither did his usual lunch of chips and Pepsi.  

We have always had a hands-off approach with each other when it came to indulgences.  I'm independent and I get my back up when I see people criticising their partner's eating choices.  Unless you're Mary Poppins and practically perfect in every way, I say live and let live.  I shop healthy and there is always a good variety of fruits/veg, lean protein etc, available for meals.  The problem is when we are on our own.  He likes his chips, I like chocolate.

Now he's had a wake up call.  If he doesn't halt the progression with lifestyle changes, he will be a candidate for dialysis.  

The problem with kidney disease diets is there is a lot of leeway between what you can and can't have.  I don't know about you but I do better when I have a specific plan to follow.  What we have gleaned is that he should cut salt, potassium and phosphates.  Eat lean protein but not too much.  More fruits and vegetables.  Cut back on bran and whole wheat products--which I thought was weird. Drink adequate beverages (water!), cut back on alcohol, nuts, cheese, fruit juices and dark sodas.  

So after so many years of the hands-off approach, I have to be more proactive.  I know he's an adult and capable of his own choices but I kinda want him to stick around.  Who knows? It will probably help me too.  

Paddy Appleseed

This is my husband eating a slice of apple.  The reason there is a picture of it on my blog is that this has never happened before in the 24 years that I have known this man.  Oh, he has eaten apples in my presence before... when I cut them up and present them to him in easily biteable bits!  What is odd is that he decided to eat one on his own!  I know this picture makes him look goofy but I was so surprised by the apple, I asked him to strike a pose for posterity.  

He normally doesn't eat fruit and doesn't eat many vegetables.  His snack of choice is usually chips of some kind and a soda.  Ah the paradox!  He is effortlessly a normal weight and me - who eats lots of fruits and veg (ok chocolate too) - overweight.  Go figure.  

This brings me to my course assignment  in which I had to construct a genogram of three generations of my family starting with my grandparents in order to track potential health problems and trends.  The exercise helped me identify health issues which are hereditary as well as those which I may be able to avoid or at least mitigate with better health choices.  

Now back to the apple... I think I know the reason my husband chose the apple.  He had an iffy medical test this week and will probably be told by the professionals that he needs to improve his diet.  I can only control what he eats for dinner and shop so that there are healthy alternatives for breakfast and lunch.  I can't cram them down his throat.  Apples are a good start and I'm glad he ate one.