The Carbs are going to get me! Yes! After another 4 hours of study today, I'm still not done with Carbs! I didn't like Carbs before I started this course, and I certainly haven't changed my mind since!
I watched a lot of tennis last night .. including the Australian, Nick Kyrgios, who had lost the first two sets when I was writing here, but who came back to win a long 5 set match. It was epic and a most enjoyable, if not frustrating match to watch.
I didn't get to bed until after 1.30am by which time Lleyton Hewitt had not started his match. When I woke this morning, he had played one and a half sets before bad light ended play, so I get to see the end of it tonight .. if I can stay awake that long.
There is a lady's match on first, which is almost over, but unfortunately for me, I have a pair of matchsticks holding my eyes open and I really don't think I have the stamina to stay awake much longer.
So I have nothing new to share. No photos. No quotes. I think I'll go to bed and put the TV onto the tennis channel and fall asleep in the comfort and snuggling warmth of my lovely bed.
Nite all.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Heavy
Atoms Symbols Formula Circulatory Vascular Sphincter Monosaccharides Homeostasis Peristalsis Chylomicrons Microvilli Chyme Bolus Jejunum Ileocaecal Epithelial Lacteals Endocrine ...
... these are but a few of the words spinning around in my head as I delve into the magical world of the digestive system!
Every time I come across another word that I can't spell without looking at it, I have a mini panic attack!
Having only read the first page of Carbohydrates, the atoms and formula are already threatening to do my head in! Here I thought a carb was a carb was a carb. Pfffft!
I'm training myself to breathe .. and look forward .. and be positive .. and re-read .. and absorb .. and imagine .. and focus ... and then take a break when it begins to feel overwhelming ... just stop for a moment and do something else for 20 minutes to rest my brain.
I'm certain that the crease across my forehead is chiselled more deeply than it was 3 months ago, from the sheer force of concentration that I require at times.
Oh how the time flies!
Oh how stimulating and exciting it is, when after struggling to 'get it', something finally makes sense! It's like finding a piece of the puzzle that creates a much bigger picture and always deserves a gasp and a knowing nod of recognition.
My poor boys at the Seat of Knowledge are copping the brunt of it. Almost every morning I come out with a "Did you know ... ???" and then ramble on for 20 minutes about some amazing fact that I discovered the day before.
Sometimes they are excited that I shared something interesting and want to know more. Other times I see their eyes glaze over and they either have no idea what I'm talking about, or they don't believe my information!
Still, every little piece of information that I repeat out loud or think about, away from my desk, is something that is being absorbed a little deeper in my brain.
Adoring Husband picked up a beautiful array of fresh, organic fruit and vegetables in our FROG box this week and I wish I had more time to spare to do some cooking .. I DID make up a lovely big batch of cauliflower and broccoli puree full of garlic and pepper and sour cream. I froze three containers of it and had the rest with our crispy skinned salmon tonight. Adoring Husband wasn't so impressed with it because apparently, he has a raw throat and the pepper was not kind to it.
So now I need to figure out how to fix that raw throat that he's probably had for 2 months and not told me about for fear that I create some concoction for him to ingest on a daily basis.
Hehehe :)
I'm currently watching an Aussie (Kyrgios) play tennis at Wimbledon. It's not looking good for him at this stage, having lost the first 2 sets. My favourite player, Lleyton Hewitt is playing at 1.30am and I really want to stay up to watch him, but it's only 10.40 pm now and I'm already struggling to stay awake! Perhaps I should go to bed and set my alarm for 2am?!
Anyway, no photos to share today, but I think I have a quote or two that you might like ...
Nite all.
... these are but a few of the words spinning around in my head as I delve into the magical world of the digestive system!
Every time I come across another word that I can't spell without looking at it, I have a mini panic attack!
Having only read the first page of Carbohydrates, the atoms and formula are already threatening to do my head in! Here I thought a carb was a carb was a carb. Pfffft!
I'm training myself to breathe .. and look forward .. and be positive .. and re-read .. and absorb .. and imagine .. and focus ... and then take a break when it begins to feel overwhelming ... just stop for a moment and do something else for 20 minutes to rest my brain.
I'm certain that the crease across my forehead is chiselled more deeply than it was 3 months ago, from the sheer force of concentration that I require at times.
Oh how the time flies!
Oh how stimulating and exciting it is, when after struggling to 'get it', something finally makes sense! It's like finding a piece of the puzzle that creates a much bigger picture and always deserves a gasp and a knowing nod of recognition.
My poor boys at the Seat of Knowledge are copping the brunt of it. Almost every morning I come out with a "Did you know ... ???" and then ramble on for 20 minutes about some amazing fact that I discovered the day before.
Sometimes they are excited that I shared something interesting and want to know more. Other times I see their eyes glaze over and they either have no idea what I'm talking about, or they don't believe my information!
Still, every little piece of information that I repeat out loud or think about, away from my desk, is something that is being absorbed a little deeper in my brain.
Adoring Husband picked up a beautiful array of fresh, organic fruit and vegetables in our FROG box this week and I wish I had more time to spare to do some cooking .. I DID make up a lovely big batch of cauliflower and broccoli puree full of garlic and pepper and sour cream. I froze three containers of it and had the rest with our crispy skinned salmon tonight. Adoring Husband wasn't so impressed with it because apparently, he has a raw throat and the pepper was not kind to it.
So now I need to figure out how to fix that raw throat that he's probably had for 2 months and not told me about for fear that I create some concoction for him to ingest on a daily basis.
Hehehe :)
I'm currently watching an Aussie (Kyrgios) play tennis at Wimbledon. It's not looking good for him at this stage, having lost the first 2 sets. My favourite player, Lleyton Hewitt is playing at 1.30am and I really want to stay up to watch him, but it's only 10.40 pm now and I'm already struggling to stay awake! Perhaps I should go to bed and set my alarm for 2am?!
Anyway, no photos to share today, but I think I have a quote or two that you might like ...
Nite all.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Lady's Day
Today was the monthly lunch for a rather large group of ladies from our community.
Our lunches have included catching The Boat Club bus into The Bay for lunch at the club, travel to Bundaberg for shopping and lunch at the local club, lunching at the pub here in town, gathering at the local park for a picnic lunch, travelling by bus to Childers for lunch at a winery ... the list goes on.
Today, we caught the Burrum River Quest across the river to Walker's Point, where the Woodgate Bowls Club buses were waiting to take us on the ten minute trip to the Bowls Club for lunch.
The photos aren't great, taken very quickly and without much thought .. and as you can see, it was quite chilly here today!
There were 22 of us, including 4 or 5 new ladies in the group. A couple of them have been in town for quite a few years but don't get out much and a couple of them have only been in town for a few months and were taking the opportunity to meet some new people.
Two of them were my new neighbours from behind and beside my house.
I like both of my neighbours very much, so far, and it was really nice to introduce them to my friends and see them fit right in and have such a lovely time. They've both decided to come to next month's lunch as well, so that's a good sign!
I only drank two glasses of wine while I was out, so after I got home, at about 3pm, I had a quick 'face time' call with my crazy little Chicklet and her Mama and then got stuck into some study. I squeezed in about 2 hours before this happened ...
We had a nice quick dinner of home-crumbed chicken, salad and organic corn on the cob for dinner and now I am rugged up in tracky dacks and slippers to watch a few hours of Wimbledon.
I love it when it actually feels like Winter :)
Nite all.
Our lunches have included catching The Boat Club bus into The Bay for lunch at the club, travel to Bundaberg for shopping and lunch at the local club, lunching at the pub here in town, gathering at the local park for a picnic lunch, travelling by bus to Childers for lunch at a winery ... the list goes on.
Today, we caught the Burrum River Quest across the river to Walker's Point, where the Woodgate Bowls Club buses were waiting to take us on the ten minute trip to the Bowls Club for lunch.
The photos aren't great, taken very quickly and without much thought .. and as you can see, it was quite chilly here today!
There were 22 of us, including 4 or 5 new ladies in the group. A couple of them have been in town for quite a few years but don't get out much and a couple of them have only been in town for a few months and were taking the opportunity to meet some new people.
Two of them were my new neighbours from behind and beside my house.
I like both of my neighbours very much, so far, and it was really nice to introduce them to my friends and see them fit right in and have such a lovely time. They've both decided to come to next month's lunch as well, so that's a good sign!
I only drank two glasses of wine while I was out, so after I got home, at about 3pm, I had a quick 'face time' call with my crazy little Chicklet and her Mama and then got stuck into some study. I squeezed in about 2 hours before this happened ...
We had a nice quick dinner of home-crumbed chicken, salad and organic corn on the cob for dinner and now I am rugged up in tracky dacks and slippers to watch a few hours of Wimbledon.
I love it when it actually feels like Winter :)
Nite all.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Concerned Citizen
The day before yesterday, after I had finished taking my balloon shot on the beach, I was standing on the soft sand at the base of the steps that lead up the bank to where I had parked my trike, packing my camera gear away properly, when I could hear a child's voice in the distance.
I could hear him asking his mother "what is the red thing near that lady over there?" and they discussed it as they got closer to me. Their voices were carrying across the flats on the breeze.
They were walking across the flats at low tide and had come quite a distance, so as they got closer, I decided to give the balloon to the boy, who was about 6 yrs of age.
I walked back down the steps towards them and asked him if he would like the balloon and he responded very enthusiastically with a big "YES PLEASE". So I handed him the balloon and walked back up the steps.
He and his mum followed me, and as he reached the top of the stairs, the balloon touched something sharp on the rails and with a loud bang, exploded into nothingness!
His little face dropped, but luckily I had a bag of balloons in my camera bag, so, much to his joy, I told him it was ok and that I could fix it.
At that point his mother said "I have to take the dog and put him in the yard before another dog comes along. I'll be back in a minute." Off she walked to a house, not too far from us, and disappeared into the back yard.
It was a holiday rental, so they weren't locals and were obviously holidaying here.
Meanwhile I blew up the new balloon and tied it to the string for the boy and soon his mum came back out to join us. They both thanked me with big smiles and headed back into the house.
She would have been gone for about 5 minutes and as I left, I thought how trusting she was to leave her young son alone with me, a complete stranger, in a strange town, for 5 long minutes.
Recently, among friends, I have had long, intense conversations about childhoods and experiences that damaged our psyche. Some have been hurt by trusted family members or friends, others abused by complete strangers, but the numbers are significant and the circumstances often surprising.
A predator or child abuser needs very little time to cause lasting damage to an innocent child. For a parent who has never experienced such horror, either directly, or indirectly, it probably seems really stupid to suggest that they watch their child for every waking moment and to not trust strangers alone with them either .. but for those of us who have experienced it, both directly AND indirectly, it just seems inexplicable that any parent would take that risk.
Tempting though it was to offer that woman some words of warning, what it really comes down to, is that it's nice that some people feel safe enough and comfortable enough to not worry about that kind of thing and can simply enjoy the kindness of strangers without suspicion.
How nice that must be.
Nite all.
I could hear him asking his mother "what is the red thing near that lady over there?" and they discussed it as they got closer to me. Their voices were carrying across the flats on the breeze.
They were walking across the flats at low tide and had come quite a distance, so as they got closer, I decided to give the balloon to the boy, who was about 6 yrs of age.
I walked back down the steps towards them and asked him if he would like the balloon and he responded very enthusiastically with a big "YES PLEASE". So I handed him the balloon and walked back up the steps.
He and his mum followed me, and as he reached the top of the stairs, the balloon touched something sharp on the rails and with a loud bang, exploded into nothingness!
His little face dropped, but luckily I had a bag of balloons in my camera bag, so, much to his joy, I told him it was ok and that I could fix it.
At that point his mother said "I have to take the dog and put him in the yard before another dog comes along. I'll be back in a minute." Off she walked to a house, not too far from us, and disappeared into the back yard.
It was a holiday rental, so they weren't locals and were obviously holidaying here.
Meanwhile I blew up the new balloon and tied it to the string for the boy and soon his mum came back out to join us. They both thanked me with big smiles and headed back into the house.
She would have been gone for about 5 minutes and as I left, I thought how trusting she was to leave her young son alone with me, a complete stranger, in a strange town, for 5 long minutes.
Recently, among friends, I have had long, intense conversations about childhoods and experiences that damaged our psyche. Some have been hurt by trusted family members or friends, others abused by complete strangers, but the numbers are significant and the circumstances often surprising.
A predator or child abuser needs very little time to cause lasting damage to an innocent child. For a parent who has never experienced such horror, either directly, or indirectly, it probably seems really stupid to suggest that they watch their child for every waking moment and to not trust strangers alone with them either .. but for those of us who have experienced it, both directly AND indirectly, it just seems inexplicable that any parent would take that risk.
Tempting though it was to offer that woman some words of warning, what it really comes down to, is that it's nice that some people feel safe enough and comfortable enough to not worry about that kind of thing and can simply enjoy the kindness of strangers without suspicion.
How nice that must be.
Nite all.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Risk Taking
I'm writing this post early tonight because I took a risk that may find me in the bathroom for the next few hours.
A neighbour kindly delivered some fresh fish that he caught on the weekend, but couldn't tell me what the fish was. He and his mate caught 8 fish out at sea and they filleted the fish all at the same time and put all of the fillets together. He gave us 3 large fillets.
I'm allergic to Sea Perch. It makes me lose control of ALL of my bodily functions and I need to attend hospital for an injection to help me regain control.
I'm also allergic to fresh water lobster, yabbies, sea scallops, cooked oysters and another fish whose name I don't know .. I just know that I was guaranteed, when I ordered it, that it wasn't Sea Perch .. which means that I have to be very wary when eating any new fish.
Anyway, I crumbed this fish tonight and ate two fillets! It wouldn't matter if I had one mouthful or 6 fillets, it has the same affect on me and it usually takes about 90 minutes from when I eat it.
So the countdown is on.
I spent some time this morning attempting to set up another red balloon shot, but I wasn't happy with any of them, so I decided on this one ...
It's the same as the one I shared yesterday, but edited differently.
I got some good study in today, although I disagree with some of the teachings and have voiced my objections to my supervisor and asked if I will be penalised for a differing opinion if I use it in my assignments. I'm still waiting to hear back .. they say that all contact will receive a response 'within 48 hrs' so we shall see!
Well, I have approximately 30 minutes left before I know my fate for the evening so I am off to make good use of that time.
Nite all.
A neighbour kindly delivered some fresh fish that he caught on the weekend, but couldn't tell me what the fish was. He and his mate caught 8 fish out at sea and they filleted the fish all at the same time and put all of the fillets together. He gave us 3 large fillets.
I'm allergic to Sea Perch. It makes me lose control of ALL of my bodily functions and I need to attend hospital for an injection to help me regain control.
I'm also allergic to fresh water lobster, yabbies, sea scallops, cooked oysters and another fish whose name I don't know .. I just know that I was guaranteed, when I ordered it, that it wasn't Sea Perch .. which means that I have to be very wary when eating any new fish.
Anyway, I crumbed this fish tonight and ate two fillets! It wouldn't matter if I had one mouthful or 6 fillets, it has the same affect on me and it usually takes about 90 minutes from when I eat it.
So the countdown is on.
I spent some time this morning attempting to set up another red balloon shot, but I wasn't happy with any of them, so I decided on this one ...
It's the same as the one I shared yesterday, but edited differently.
I got some good study in today, although I disagree with some of the teachings and have voiced my objections to my supervisor and asked if I will be penalised for a differing opinion if I use it in my assignments. I'm still waiting to hear back .. they say that all contact will receive a response 'within 48 hrs' so we shall see!
Well, I have approximately 30 minutes left before I know my fate for the evening so I am off to make good use of that time.
Nite all.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Just Desserts
This is what we had for dessert tonight...
Chocolate Mousse
1 ripe avocado, peeled and stone removed.
60 ml almond milk (I used pure cream)
1T Chia seeds
1t vanilla extract
4T ground cacao
1/4 cup of combination of honey and maple syrup
Some chopped strawberries and kiwi fruit (or fresh fruit of your choice)
Chopped nuts
Throw everything, except the fruit and nuts, in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
In a couple of ramekin dishes, place a layer of mousse, then a layer of strawberries, a layer of kiwi fruit, a layer of mousse, some whipped cream on the top and then sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Adoring Husband ate all of his, but I couldn't get through all of mine, so I still have some in the fridge for a snack tomorrow!
It's very healthy, very delicious and very quick and easy to make.
I had an attempt at the challenge photo for Single Red Balloon today. I was very lucky because as I arrived at the beach to create the shot, a heavy fog rolled in from the sea, which lasted for about 45 minutes and then it lifted just as quickly as it arrived!
I'm not completely happy with the shot though, so I may have to rethink or rework it. Just not sure what to do with it .. I know The Nikonian would have a brilliant idea for it .. if only I had her clever, complex brain.
Now my biggest decision is whether to watch the late movie with George Clooney in it, or go to bed.
Study tomorrow and Wimbledon starts tomorrow night .. so maybe my best option is to sleep.
Nite all.
Chocolate Mousse
1 ripe avocado, peeled and stone removed.
60 ml almond milk (I used pure cream)
1T Chia seeds
1t vanilla extract
4T ground cacao
1/4 cup of combination of honey and maple syrup
Some chopped strawberries and kiwi fruit (or fresh fruit of your choice)
Chopped nuts
Throw everything, except the fruit and nuts, in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
In a couple of ramekin dishes, place a layer of mousse, then a layer of strawberries, a layer of kiwi fruit, a layer of mousse, some whipped cream on the top and then sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Adoring Husband ate all of his, but I couldn't get through all of mine, so I still have some in the fridge for a snack tomorrow!
It's very healthy, very delicious and very quick and easy to make.
I had an attempt at the challenge photo for Single Red Balloon today. I was very lucky because as I arrived at the beach to create the shot, a heavy fog rolled in from the sea, which lasted for about 45 minutes and then it lifted just as quickly as it arrived!
I'm not completely happy with the shot though, so I may have to rethink or rework it. Just not sure what to do with it .. I know The Nikonian would have a brilliant idea for it .. if only I had her clever, complex brain.
Now my biggest decision is whether to watch the late movie with George Clooney in it, or go to bed.
Study tomorrow and Wimbledon starts tomorrow night .. so maybe my best option is to sleep.
Nite all.
Catch Up
I have a new recipe book.
"Eat Yourself Beautiful" by Lee Holmes.
Apparently you can get it cheaper at Kmart and Big W - for around $20.
The recipes are quick and easy and focus on anti-inflammatory foods. Lots of gluten free, wheat free, sugar free, dairy free and vegetarian recipes. It also has lots of interesting information at the front of the book explaining which foods to avoid and why, alternative sweeteners, detoxing, good fats, vitamins and minerals, meal plans and a shopping list.
I made my first recipe out of it today. Sweet Potato Hash.
The basic recipe:
1 Large sweet potato, peeled and grated
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch of Himalayan salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 organic eggs, lightly whisked
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
40g (half a cup) grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 220C and grease a baking tray with the olive oil.
In a medium bowl, combine the sweet potato, onion, cumin, salt pepper and eggs.
Use your hands to squeeze out any excess moisture and spread the mixture over the baking tray. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the mixture and cook in the oven for 30 minutes or until crispy.
Remove from the oven, cut into 4 large slices and serve hot.
I forgot to take a photo.
I made this for lunch with some chicken maryland and then reheated the hash to have with dinner. It's not so nice reheated .. a bit dry, so I recommend you eat it all at the first sitting.
I also think it would be nice with some bacon chopped through it OR served with either chopped baby spinach or rocket (or both together) sprinkled over it and a dollop of sour cream.
I think Happy Harry would like this recipe, considering his new love for sweet potato.
This afternoon, I had catch up drinks with Woman of Many Talents, who has been away travelling and also with Mrs Bucket, who will be moving away this year. A couple of other friends, The Dog Walker and Goldilocks joined us briefly too.
It was a nice afternoon.
Adoring Husband spent the day in Gympie at some SES training, so I was able to squeeze in some study time this morning too.
The only disappointing part of the day was when my football team lost to New Zealand - bugger!
I'm excited that Wimbledon Tennis Championships start this Monday, but I have 3 assignments due in three weeks, so sadly, I'm going to have to prioritise and NOT stay up all night watching tennis.
It's rapidly heading towards 1am, so I'm off to bed.
Nite all.
"Eat Yourself Beautiful" by Lee Holmes.
Apparently you can get it cheaper at Kmart and Big W - for around $20.
The recipes are quick and easy and focus on anti-inflammatory foods. Lots of gluten free, wheat free, sugar free, dairy free and vegetarian recipes. It also has lots of interesting information at the front of the book explaining which foods to avoid and why, alternative sweeteners, detoxing, good fats, vitamins and minerals, meal plans and a shopping list.
I made my first recipe out of it today. Sweet Potato Hash.
The basic recipe:
1 Large sweet potato, peeled and grated
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch of Himalayan salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 organic eggs, lightly whisked
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
40g (half a cup) grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 220C and grease a baking tray with the olive oil.
In a medium bowl, combine the sweet potato, onion, cumin, salt pepper and eggs.
Use your hands to squeeze out any excess moisture and spread the mixture over the baking tray. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the mixture and cook in the oven for 30 minutes or until crispy.
Remove from the oven, cut into 4 large slices and serve hot.
I forgot to take a photo.
I made this for lunch with some chicken maryland and then reheated the hash to have with dinner. It's not so nice reheated .. a bit dry, so I recommend you eat it all at the first sitting.
I also think it would be nice with some bacon chopped through it OR served with either chopped baby spinach or rocket (or both together) sprinkled over it and a dollop of sour cream.
I think Happy Harry would like this recipe, considering his new love for sweet potato.
This afternoon, I had catch up drinks with Woman of Many Talents, who has been away travelling and also with Mrs Bucket, who will be moving away this year. A couple of other friends, The Dog Walker and Goldilocks joined us briefly too.
It was a nice afternoon.
Adoring Husband spent the day in Gympie at some SES training, so I was able to squeeze in some study time this morning too.
The only disappointing part of the day was when my football team lost to New Zealand - bugger!
I'm excited that Wimbledon Tennis Championships start this Monday, but I have 3 assignments due in three weeks, so sadly, I'm going to have to prioritise and NOT stay up all night watching tennis.
It's rapidly heading towards 1am, so I'm off to bed.
Nite all.
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