Have You Decorated for the Christmas Season,Yet?

This from the woman who frequently procrastinates until the second weekend in December...LOL!

Since last year, we moved into our new house on December 20-something (after 7 months in campers!), we really didn't "holiday decorate" at all.  Just a couple of poinsettia plants around our sparse living room.






Not even a tree.  


Heck, we were just happy for the walls, floors, doors and flushing toilets!  




I can hardly believe how quickly this year has gone by.  Wow! 








So, this year, we were determined to put some extra umph! into our seasonal home decor...Don assigned himself to outdoor lighting and pizzaz, while I have been focusing indoors.  I believe he's completed his part, as many of you saw in my little video on Facebook and Instagram a few days ago.  While I had envisioned more Longwood Gardens-type decorations outside....Don had other ideas.  He sure had fun and made us laugh, though!  Can't beat that!

Love this one! (I will be so glad when my walls have some color.  Soon!)

I'm going for the "country farmhouse" feel indoors.  Some of our decorations did not survive this move and others just looked...worn out..."dated".  Honestly, I was ready to buy some new things.  I've had fun these last two weeks gathering new things from A.C.Moore, Michael's, and Target.  Even more fun these last three days arranging things and decorating!  Almost there...just one shelf and the tree to go!





In other news, I've continued to implement changes in my diet.  Still focusing on the ones I mentioned in my last post, though I have added tomato sauce back in with no ill effects.  I just bought organic sauce with no added sugar or other crap.  And, I can do salsa, so long as I watch for hidden sugars and thickeners, too.  Always reading those labels!













The more I read, the more I realize just how important eating habits and gut health are to brain health.  Amazing design by an amazing Designer, for sure!  

Sweets and simple carbs have such a detrimental affect on both.  No wonder I have been struggling with mood swings, brain fog, and mental fatigue these last couple of years!





Those healthy fats are so important.  Instead of salad dressing, I have discovered that I enjoy my salads just as much with avocado oil and a splash of apple cider vinegar.  I munch on a handful of walnuts when I get a snack craving in the afternoon.  I use coconut milk and coconut oil generously in my meal prep.





After 5 weeks of this...cutting out the sugar and bread, adding in the good fats... there's a big difference in my mental clarity.  Hmmm...if this is working for me, I wonder...Could this help folks with Huntington's disease, like my mother-in-law?  Definitely planning to share what I've discovered with my extended family!

Each day when I awake, I have to make up my mind that I am going to avoid consuming those things that will ultimately make me feel poorly.  I've been doing fairly well so far, but Thanksgiving Day was an epic failure.  I felt HORRID the day after.  A good reminder and motivator for why I am making these changes, that's for sure!

I am actually enjoying trying new recipes and experimenting with different ingredients.  Sometimes my family is "on board", sometimes NOT.  We're working through it together, at least.

Enjoy your home-decorating, Friends!  

I look forward to seeing all those Christmas tree photos on Facebook and Instagram.  We'll certainly share ours, too.

Let's Chat about Health...

...As my own has been on my mind...A LOT... these last 4 months or so.  I feel like health, wellness, and diet have been the trendy, "hot topics" for the last 10 years, but maybe its ALWAYS been that way for my current demographic...36-50 years old, middle class, perimenopausal female.

It's that stage in life during which our previous lifestyle habits and our genetics begin to catch up with us...often, in uncomfortable ways...sometimes even crippling or life-threatening ways.

During the course of the last five years or so I have read countless "diet" books from The Maker's Diet and The Daniel Plan to The Paleo Diet and Trim, Healthy Mama...as I slowly and steadily gained 12 pounds.

All of them share this one truth in common that most of us, subconsciously,  don't want to accept:  Sugar, simple carbs, are not only highly addictive, but also do a GREAT deal of damage to our bodies and minds!

Secondly, whole foods are always heads and shoulders above any processed foods.

Thirdly, fat is not evil.  On the contrary, good healthy fats, like that from avocados, walnuts, olives, salmon and such, is SUPER important for brain function, heart health and our body's first defense, our skin.

Fourthly, Portions Matter.  Even if you already eat a relatively healthy, clean diet, you must still be conscious of your portions.  Eating half of a 16oz. bag of walnuts for a snack is NOT GOOD!



Finally, drinking plenty of plain old water is essential!  MOST of us don't drink enough.



I've "connected dots" these last few months....







....With very little help from conventional wisdom and doctors, but rather with the assistance of my acupuncturist,  a few women who've overcome health issues similar to mine, and MANY hours of my own research.

                  For instance, the digestive system contains as many neurotransmitters as the brain and is responsible for producing 90% of the body's serotonin.  Our gut is known as our second brain!  

In addition to the "women's health" issues that I've been dealing with for nearly 5 years now, my digestive health has been slowly sliding downhill.  So slowly, in fact, that I had almost accepted the uncomfortable bloating and painful gas as "normal" for my age.  But, then, the heartburn began.  I felt terribly uncomfortable, even after small meals.  I couldn't understand how I still felt so full and uncomfortable after cutting my portions almost by half. (Of course, I was "grazing" between meals, which probably wasn't helping!)   Couldn't understand how I wasn't losing much weight, either.


Then, I went through my month-long drag in August- extreme fatigue, joint-pain, TMJ, muscle soreness, along with my digestive discomforts.  OYE!

Pretty bush in California!

I had to face facts after a good conversation with my acupuncturist:  I was hopelessly addicted to sugary drinks, bread, pasta, cheese and ice cream.  My diet had become atrocious!  Although...Was I really eating all that differently than I had most of my life? 

Clearly, my eating habits of the last twenty years were catching up with me.

Even the organic foods and supposed "health foods" I began to purchase in place of the obvious saboteurs were chock-full of simple carbs and added sugars disguised by names like "dextrose", "malt syrup", and "evaporated cane juice".

I set about cutting the sugar out of my diet. (An on-going struggle, indeed!)  Including most fruits, too.  Even though that helped, I still felt pretty yucky.  Apparently, I have some food sensitivities going on as well.  So,  I've eliminated all wheat products, all dairy, and most nightshade veggies for the time being.  I have become a crazy woman about reading labels at the grocery store!

I know I have...have probably had for several years... low stomach acid,  and I strongly suspect I have a leaky gut.  Many Americans suffer from leaky gut, largely due to our awful American diet, stress, and candida overgrowth due to taking too many antibiotics!

Symptoms range from headaches and brain fog to IBS and acid reflux to allergies and joint pain.

First order of business: Find a good probiotic to take daily, as well as an appropriate vitamin supplement.

A lengthy conversation with an apothecary in California led me to beautiful, wonderful bitters.  A lifesaver.  I take a dropper-full or two of digestive bitters about 10 minutes before I eat - no more heartburn! (Unless I ingest dairy - then nothing helps.) No more acid-taste in my mouth between meals.


GREATLY reduced sugar cravings.  Phew!
















I've also added sauerkraut, kimchi and a few other fermented foods to my daily meals.  It doesn't take much - just two to three tablespoons once or twice a day!  I am planning to try making my own coconut milk kefir, too.

I am learning to make my own, but these are a great start!

Additionally, two 8 oz. mugs of bone broth each day - full of collagen, glucosamine, amino acids.  Good for the gut.  Good for joints.



















In all my reading these last few years, I have also realized the absolute necessity of moderate exercise.  Not fanatical, super-athlete exercise.  Not just "take a leisurely 30-minute walk on Sunday afternoons" exercise.  But,  a solid 30-40 minutes of "git yer heart-pumpin' " exercise three to five times per week.

I began feeling better just by swimming laps for 30 minutes four times per week!


I'm only on week #4 of all these dietary changes, so I am still learning and working my way through it.  However, I do feel much better already.  And, while weight loss is not my main goal at this time, I have lost 5 pounds and a couple of inches - Yes!  And, my skin looks terrific!

I'll share a health update next month - this holiday season is going to be tricky for me!

Next Post:  Decorating for the Christmas season in our one-year-old house!

Final Thoughts and Cool Photos

Hope your weekend was as lovely as mine.  Couple of my fave clients came in for haircuts on Saturday morning, then hiked with my hubby, enjoying the lovely fall foliage.  On Sunday, we attended our terrific new neighbors' church, enjoying a thought-provoking service and meeting some new folks.  Then we headed to our dear friends' annual Fall Fest for the evening, reconnecting with some old friends and building some new friendships!  And, the weather was Fan-Tab-U-Lous!  (Not a real word, but I like it!)

From our canoe trip on Russian River

Thought I'd take a break from editing and grading my classes' papers this gloomy Monday morning, and wrap up my commentary about our incredible trip.




We visited both the Petrified Forest and Safari West on the outskirts of Santa Rosa.  Because of the location of these attractions, we had to drive through the area of Santa Rosa ravaged by wildfires in early- October of last year. 

Wow.

I was amazed and heart-broken at the same time.  Sadden for the many, many homeowners that lost their homes.  Many appeared to still be living in RV's and campers while rebuilding - to that, Don and I can relate!  On the other hand, amazed by how well the natural landscape has recovered in just one year.  Sure, we saw many crispy, blackened trees, some dead, some just barely alive.  But, we also saw quite a bit of green.  New growth.

Healing...Recovery!

In the Petrified Forest

The once-active volcano that created the Petrified Forest in Sonoma County.

Living tree grew through a petrified tree!

Miraculously, the fires burned in such a way that they skirted around the beautiful Safari West.  While the small animals and humans evacuated as the fires approached, there was no way to collect and move all of the large animals.  All they could do was hope and pray that these magnificent, exotic creatures were spared.  Sure enough, not one beast was lost!  Praise God!




Just wanted to share these last few photos with you - especially for the animal lovers who follow!  Don't know about you, but we are animal-documentary geeks.  On any given lazy weekend afternoon during the winter, you can find Don and I plopped in front of the tube watching something about the Serengeti or another exotic place with cool critters!

Thanks for following me through our latest adventure! 

Gearing up to decorate for Christmas very soon...might not even be able to wait for Thanksgiving weekend this year. I need to go through the decorations that spent months in a storage unit or in the barn just in case some were broken or stained and need to go.  Then, the girls and I will head out shopping.  Gonna spruce it up in style this year!  I'll be sure to share photos, Friends!

California, Part 2

The gardens @ Fort Ross

Every place we stayed was wonderful....bar one.  I am talking specifically about our lodgings now.  Timber Cove Resort on the north side of Jenner, a quirky, outdoorsy, "bohemian" feel was my absolutely fave!  That's where we started our adventure. I hope to stay there on our next California vacation.

Fort Ross

And, the quaintly-decorated, yet spacious B&B cottage, where we spent our last four nights was lovely, too.  The delectable breakfast meals were presented to us, by the owner, in our private cottage promptly at 8am each day!

Fort Ross

We had a little mishap in the middle, though.  The place Don reserved had been artfully advertised on-line with a few very strategically-captured photos, as a "riverside resort".  We should've kept driving when we pulled up to the cheap-looking, poorly-lit 12 x 14 sign at the end of the driveway, but we decided to give it a chance. (The bed and pillows had to be thirty years old. The sofa, dingy and stained. The bathroom, so teeny that Don could hardly turn around in it, let alone get a decent shower!) Lesson learned!  If the price and the photos don't quite "match", it has less than 4 stars on Google, and the sign looks "fishy", we probably shouldn't stay there!

Don found a terrific replacement on the fly, though.  Called Vinters' Inn.  Absolutely Spectacular!  Surrounded by the beautiful vineyards of Santa Rosa.

Sea Ranch Chapel

Inside Sea Ranch Chapel

The first half of our week we did our own sight-seeing, visiting places like Fort Ross, Salt Point State Park, The Sea Ranch Chapel (a unique little structure, "non-denominational" prayer chapel designed and built in the early-1980's by architect, James Hubbell), Armstrong Redwoods Reserve and more.

Driving the snot out of our cool convertible rental car, of course!

 

The second half of our adventure, orchestrated by our B&B host, Carol Tate, included visits to three vineyards and the famous Korbel champagne cellars, as well as zip-lining with Sonoma Canopy Tours and a 5-hour canoe trip on the Russian River.

The huge sequoias made for some terrific hikes.


None large enough to drive through (those live further north), but magnificent nonetheless!

Ha!  I became a tree-hugger in CA!  LOL

The wineries we visited were all lovely in their own way.


But, our favorite, by far, was Gary Farrell.

The view was fantastic.

Our tour guide, Jessie, was so hospitable and incredibly knowledgeable.

Our tour, very personal.

Don, with his pioneer spirit, loved learning about how Gary Farrell got his start.  And, greatly admired his ingenuity.











And, with our background in agriculture, we enjoyed learning about how the differing soils and microclimates across Sonoma County determine the type of grapes grown in a specific area, when the grapes are harvested, and how the end result, WINE, will taste!

Soil samples from the grape growers that supply Gary Farrell!

The sampling room.

I think this is a good place to wrap up today's blog post.  Hope you enjoyed my photos and commentary!  Next post, the last about our California adventure, includes some fascinating photos of the petrified forest and Safari West in Santa Rosa, CA.  Watch for it this weekend!

Left My Heart in California...

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco Bay

More specifically, the Sonoma Coastline.  Wow!  Don't get me wrong - I thoroughly enjoyed wine country, zip-lining through the redwoods, and floating down the Russian River, too, but the coast...ahhh!...grabbed hold of my very soul!




It's gonna take two or three blog posts to share my best photos and my reflections on this lovely adventure, so bear with me, Friends and followers.



Given these last few, rather stressful, years in our life together... and, the toll it has taken on our marriage...Don knew, intuitively, that we desperately needed a time of renewal.  Just us.  No distractions (Okay!...MUCH fewer distractions.) And, more than just a day or two this time.


He did not disappoint.  My hero!!  He proved how well he knows me, knows my heart, with this adventure.

And, he did this in true "Don-style"...aka. Go big or go home!






We haven't taken a trip together, just the two of us, since our honeymoon 22 years ago!

I'm sure those of you who've been married for quite awhile can relate - we even went through a stretch of time where we forgot to even "date" one another in the throes of daily life with young children and making ends meet, financially.

If you know any couples in that stage of life, offer to babysit!  In fact, TELL them, "We'll be over at 5pm on Friday, you are going out on a date!" 

It is incredibly important to regularly revisit why you LIKED your spouse in the first place.  That's the glue that keeps you together through those inevitable stressful, sometimes painful, times in your journey together.



Anyway, our week in California was wonderful!  A grand adventure, indeed! 

Bodega Bay

We created many memories together that will warm our hearts and refresh our minds for years to come.  Stories and reflections...all the fascinating things we've learned!.... we will share with our kids, our siblings, our parents, our future grandkids....basically, anyone who'll listen!











AND...we've determined we will NOT be waiting 20 years to do it again.  In fact, our new goal?  Plan a week-long "adventure",  just the two of us, every two or three years!


See unique places.  Check things off our "bucket lists".  Try new foods.  Meet interesting people.  Relax and unplug.

On that note, I'll shut up and share a few more great photos from the Sonoma coast, where we spent the first three days of our trip.

Photo credit: Don Westbrook, my hubby!

That's me on the adirondack chair!  (Don gets photo credit.)

The Pacific coast is so different from the Atlantic coast.  I loved seeing the seals and sea lions up close and watching a few hump-back whales move along the coast to warmer waters for the winter.

The rock formations.  The unique critters in the tidal pools.  And, the beautiful coastal vegetation.  Wow!  (I know.  I'm such a geek!)   

And, simply driving up and down Coastal Highway route 1...in a convertible BMW...was thrilling!  I thought our PA roads were windy and dangerous.  We got nothin' on CA route 1!  (Large sections have no guard rails along the 100+ foot drops - Yikes!)

The coast was a bit chilly: about 47 degrees in the early morning, warming up to 68 or so. We experienced a heavy coastal fog each morning that usually cleared by mid-afternoon.


The really cool thing?  Every place we visited lay within the same county, 1,567 square miles, yet each location had its own distinctive climate. (More about that later!)

 Hope you enjoyed these photos. FYI:  Don took nearly half of our 200+ photos!  He's a regular old photographer, now!   In my next post, I'll share more about our sight-seeing, the places we visited, and some terrific photos.  Check back in a few days, Friends.