My SW Daybook - July 2016 edition

July is underway, and I thought I’d catch up with another Simple Woman’s Daybook post. So here we go.

Looking out my window …

I see a stunning summer day. It’s quiet, at least for a moment, and everything is blooming in full force. Even the impatiens in my cone hanging baskets seem to be thriving this year. I have to say, that’s something of a miracle, ever since a certain somebody retired and began to fancy himself as a floral expert. My flowers, particularly the potted ones, have received prodigious amounts of Miracle-Gro and super-zealous daily waterings.

One might say their cups runneth over.

Yes, I am that lady who showed up at the garden center after summer was already in full swing, scavenging for leftover annuals to fill in for those that were drowned in my home pots by a well-meaning interloper.

And yet, for now, the impatiens is holding its own.

I am thinking …

Somewhere there is a list that spells out all of the items I wanted to pick up at the grocery store yesterday. I have no idea where it is, but we are already out of peanut butter and ketchup.

I am thankful …

Every day, I want to practice gratitude. And sometimes I actually do.

Even in these turbulent times, when headlines holler bad news, blessings still surround us. The sun comes up. We breathe and eat and sleep and spend time with special people. And Heaven awaits. God is still good.

One of my favorite things …

Maybe it’s not a thing, per se. But one of my favorite sensations is sinking my bare feet into soft, warm beach sand. In fact, I’m packing for a quick jaunt in a few days. I cannot get enough of the sun and the sand and the sweet rolling waves.

I am wearing …

The thermometer says it’s close to 83 (F) degrees around here, and the temperature is expected to climb into the 90s by this afternoon. What’s a girl to do? Grab a billowing sundress!

I’m sporting this simple frock to dart in and out for various appointments and errands today. Yes, I sewed it myself, using McCall's M6114.  I opted for the matching vee yoke and added two front-patch pockets. (Hey, a girl's gotta have pockets!)

Sewing is something of a stress reliever for me, when I can find the time to do it. What fun it is to wear something no one else wears! What’s more, I haven’t been exactly tempted by this year’s uber-skimpy sundresses in the stores. Even if I were still a teenager (um, not even close), I wouldn’t wear ‘em. So sewing fits the bill nicely.

Plus, this dress cost me less than $10 to make. Can’t beat that!

I am watching …

Netflix. We recently subscribed to this service, and I am winding my way through it, trying to determine what worthwhile movies or TV series I may have missed. My list is still rather short. Got any suggestions?

I am reading …

A friend passed along her copy of The American Heiress, by Daisy Goodwin. She said, “If you liked Downton Abbey, you’ll like this.” I’m just diving in, but it seems like an interesting story.

This is not Dorothy Eden’s American Heiress (about a trip on the torpedoed Lusitania in 1915). And it’s not Jeffrey Toobin’s American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst. It’s a whole different story.

I am listening to …

Plug this in, and give it a listen. It’s “My Story,” by Big Daddy Weave. This song is a super reset for a creative writer … or anyone.

I am hoping …

Back to the weather: The forecast calls for midday thunderstorms. I am hoping those boomers and showers cool things down, so I can slip out for a run. You see, there’s this race coming up, and I’m running the relay with a bunch of athletic military veterans, and I’m not feeling all that athletic right now. So I need the practice and the build-up.

Plus, these spiffy New Balance sneakers need a workout.

I am learning …

Lookie there. It’s time for another hard life lesson. Just when I thought it was safe …

A publisher for whom I have written 10 columns monthly (for years) recently announced it was closing. Writers received about one week’s notice. I spent much of the past week downloading and saving PDF files/screenshots of my thousands of articles on the site, which is supposed to vanish at any moment. (The publisher had announced a closure date of four days ago, but failed to meet that deadline. Still, it looms.)

What’s the lesson? Maybe it’s time for a new chapter. It could be an altogether different pursuit. I might even finish the handful of books I have already outlined. This is definitely an occasion for evaluating current and future efforts.

I think there’s another lesson here. And it’s not a new one. Life is unpredictable. Plans change. Holding on loosely may be the healthiest option.

In my kitchen …

Midsummer it is, and that usually means I try to prepare simple, light, extra-healthy foods. Sure, I ought to do this all year round, and I aim there. But summer’s fresh and colorful bounty makes that a whole lot more fun.

Tonight is big salad night. I have a giant bin of cleaned lettuces, a tub of cherry tomatoes, a bunch of sweet carrots, a bag of broccoli, and some leftover herb chicken breasts from last night’s dinner. Oh, and shredded cheese. Gotta have that. (Did I mention we live in Wisconsin?)

In the school room …

My kids are out of school.

One might say I am sort of being schooled in exercise. Not officially, of course. But I am trying to build back up after an injury and a rough MS season that sidelined me for a while.

Just now, the Runkeeper app on my not-so-smart phone beeped in with this message:

“Isn’t it time to work out again?”

Groan.

In my garden …

Certain plants are exploding in my garden at this point. This is both a bane and a blessing.

On the upside, the little cell pack of home-seeded hollyhocks a friend gave me last year turned out to be a giant gift. Those four baby plants have boomed and bloomed and now reach higher than the garage wall. I almost want to climb one of the plants and see if there’s a giant castle up there with a goose laying golden eggs.

Alas, bunches of downright aggressive orange daylilies seem to be set on taking over much of the yard. I have pitchforked and yanked out truckloads of these things, hoping to make room for perennials I like even better.

I'm not a flower snob. I just want to allow ample space for my favorites. Sure, the orange blossoms are cheery. But these are those everyday ditch lilies, just like the ones that grow by the highway. They're practically weeds. My garden is mature enough now that I have fluffy, fancy, pretty daylilies in lots of colors. It’s time to lose the basic orange ones that seem to spread almost hourly and supplant everything else that wants to grow. (Sorry. Had to.)

Board room …

“Sometimes a little cattywompus isn’t half bad.” Got that right. This design comes on tee shirts, ball caps, coasters, tiles, hoodies, and all sorts of stuff. I might have to order one. So I pinned it to my Cats and Kittens board.

Post Script …

Just for fun: Here’s my author page on Amazon.com.

Shared Quote …

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

A moment from my day …

Gonna try to sneak off and see this old boy today. Love him!

Image/s:

The Simple Woman's Daybook logo - fair use
All photos copyrighted by LAN/Practically at Home,
except book cover and product image - both fair use.

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Finding Fitness and Walking My Butt Off

Physical fitness really does come along once step at a time.  It’s true. The first mile or so is often a torturous test of determination and die-hard perseverance, but the path nearly always improves from there.

Last week, I posted this on my Facebook page:

The first mile is always the hardest ...

 then everything suddenly changes.

Energy + Endurance + Endorphins = Enthusiasm
#whateveryoudojustkeepdoingit

Maybe you know the feeling.

Two recent suggestions jump-started this sojourn for me.

•  First, a friend beckoned me to participate in a fund-raising walk/hike for a popular health cause.
•  Maybe two days later, a writing colleague invited me to join her group for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge.

This pair of suggestions was somehow serendipitous.

I’ve been feeling like something of a slug lately. Sure, I work with horses almost daily, but a chronic and progressive medical condition has all but sidelined me from mounted activities. An extra-hot summer has exacerbated my symptoms, keeping me out of the saddle more than in it on far too many days.
 

I enlisted my fashionable and fitness-savvy teenager to accompany me to the mall, where we visited a real athletic footwear store for measuring and appropriate shoe selection. Sure, we live in factory outlet land, but I was pretty sure a significant footwear investment would keep me faithful to the cause.

I’ve already logged dozens of miles in those spiffy running shoes.

At this point, my running shoes have cost me about $1 a mile, but that cost is going down each day. And they haven’t produced a single blister. Thank you, Nike!

I even purchased a pedometer (see ad below) to measure my steps. More than once, I’ve retraced my steps around a block or two, just to make it to the next mile mark.

Mostly, I walk, rather than running.

I have a doctor’s note for that. Balance and vertigo issues often keep me from running straight and steady, especially on bumpy or uneven terrain. Even at the walk, my toes tend to turn numb around the two-mile mark. Running can be tricky and treacherous for me. At such times, I walk.

Besides, if I can walk pleasurably for an hour or more, instead of running for a fraction of that time and hating it, that’s certainly worth something to me.

Even at the walk, I’m lapping my neighbors.

I clip along at a pretty brisk pace. Over the weekend, I passed a few jogging neighbors. And I surely sprinted past those who never laced on their sneakers at all.

Sometimes I even strap on wrist weights (see ad below), just to up the effort level and maybe burn off a few more pesky pounds.

Today, I begin the third week in the eight-week Presidential Challenge. I currently hold second place in our group for total fitness points, although I honestly have no idea what that’s worth. I'm not even sure who's in first, as if it mattered.

However, if I meet the general requirements of exertion for six out of the eight weeks, I am supposed to receive some sort of certificate or patch. I’m not even sure.

I’ve already logged two weeks’ worth – or 40% of the challenge. Here’s my bar chart.

But the challenge makes it almost fun.

Here are a few bonuses I’ve discovered on my road to fitness.

• My jeans fit better.
• My diet has improved. A cursory study of calorie-burning rates has made me aware of how many miles I must cover to make up for every munch. (Who knew a handful of wheat crackers had 140 calories? Burning that nifty nosh can take about an hour of moderate walking. Is it worth it?)
• I’m training my neighbors’ dogs to stop barking at me. Their friendly fire continues, but we’re making some progress.
• My nature photography collection is growing, as I snap pretty sights with my cell phone.
• I’ve met a few fine folks in the area, who greet me daily, putting the proverbial extra spring in my step.

Now, if I could only see a numerical drop when I step on the scale each morning.

Image:

Black Nikes – Fair Use Photo

Presidential Fitness Promotional Graphics – Fair Use

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Migraine madness amid the joys of June

June brings the Summer Solstice. Mild, pleasant temperatures and the longest day of the year arrive in the Northern Hemisphere during this lovely month. Brides are wed, and dads and grads are honored.

Why would anyone have a headache in June?

“What is so rare as a day in June?” asked American poet James Russell Lowell (1819-1891). “Then, if ever, come perfect days.”

Perhaps Lowell was right. June is marked by bright, sunny days. School ends, and folks of every age skip outdoors to enjoy summer fun in June. We plan picnics and pick teams for softball and Frisbee tournaments.

But June has a darker side.

As the pollen flies, the mercury climbs, and the sun’s rays seem to grow ever brighter this month. Thus,   headache sufferers may groan in June.

This month, creeping up on the year’s halfway point, is Migraine Awareness Month. The National Headache Foundation presents educational events and programs. Locally, hospitals and health-related organizations offer seminars and workshops on migraine prevention and treatment.

Migraines make any month miserable.

Trust me. I’ve had migraines for decades. OK, individual headaches haven’t lasted that long, but their looming possibilities and frequent offsets might as well have.

Do you have migraine headaches, or do you know someone who does?

Check out these helpful articles on migraines, penned by a host of headache-savvy writers.

Sudden Headaches: 3 Causes and Tips for Headache Relief – Angela Tague

Since the onset of several autoimmune illnesses, I've noticed recurring, sudden headaches. The headaches have occurred for months, and I've figured out my top three triggers--and how to avoid them.

Migraines and Salt Intake – Amy Browne

Many people do not realize the effects that salt has on their bodies. After I had my heart attacks in October of 2009, I had to go on a low salt diet. Within months, I realized that the migraines that plagued me since I was five were gone.

Living with Migraine Headaches: 3 Decades and Counting – Linda Ann Nickerson

8 Traits of Life with Migraines. Migraines are a pain in the neck, a pain in the brain and often a pain from head to toe. Ask any survivor of migraines, the dreaded chronic vascular headaches. What is it like to live with migraine headaches?

Could Your Pain Be from New Daily Persistent Headache? – Vonda J. Sines

It's a chronic type of headache shrouded in mystery. New daily persistent deadache is one of the rarest forms of headaches and is often misdiagnosed.

How to Fight Headaches Naturally With These 3 Foods – R. Elizabeth Kitchen

We have all had a headache at some point. Some of us get them often and would just rather treat them naturally. Here is a detailed list of foods that are purported to be effective for headaches.

Headache Helpers – Linda Ann Nickerson

Anyone who's had a migraine headache knows exactly what no one else can ever understand. Your head throbs. Your neck and back ache. Your stomach is queasy, and your body thermostat has gone haywire. What can you do?

Are Migraines Ruining Your Life? – Cindi Pearce

Migraines are no laughing matter. They can destroy a person's life if left untreated.

Migraine Headaches: Exercise vs. Drugs for Pain Relief – Jillita Horton

Is it possible that exercise can work better at relieving the pain of a migraine headache, than a prescription drug?

10 Natural Migraine Cures – Jennifer Twardowski

Find yourself subject to an agonzing migraine? Look no further! We have 10 natural ways to prevent and cure a migraine.

Acupuncture: A Holistic Approach for Migraine Relief – Tania Cowling

Are you looking for a natural way to relieve the pain of headaches and migraines? Continue reading for information on how acupuncture may deliver the feeling of well-being and quell the pain.

Migraine headaches are misery, during June’s Migraine Awareness Month or anytime. Don’t you wish we could simply wipe migraines off the map?

Related Items:

• 11 Foods to Skip for a Migraine-free Fourth of July – Can headache sufferers find independence from migraine pain on Independence? Patriotic picnic spreads offer tempting varieties. Which traditional Fourth of July foods are most likely to trigger migraines in headache-prone individuals?
• Do Me a Flavor - Avoiding the Nightmare of MSG – A flavor enhancer, MSG over-stimulates brain activity, causing headaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, panic attacks, palpitations, seizures, shortness of breath, mood swings, lethargy, insomnia, and more. How can it be avoided?
• Menstrual Migraines: 5 Ways I Managed the Monthly Mayhem – The menstrual migraine is an ogre, appearing each month. Of women suffering regularly from migraines, two thirds link their headaches to their menstrual periods. Here are five weapons I have used to fight the hormonal horrors of the menstrual migraine.
• Neurologists Link Migraines and Multiple Sclerosis – The American Academy of Neurology revealed a link between migraine headaches and multiple sclerosis. Migraines may be more prevalent among women with MS. This announcement affirms what MS patients have known from personal experience.

Image/s:  

Headache by Shanghai Killer Whale

Creative Commons Licensing/Wikipedia Commons Photos

Excedrin Users:
A recent recall has wiped Excedrin products off store shelves. But you can obtain store-brand equivalents, containing the same ingredients and dosages (aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine). Here's one to try:

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