The Wagon

Friday was Biometrics day.  My company offered free screenings for diabetes, cholesterol, weight, height, and BMI.  Although I had all of this done a few months ago, I figured I'd take advantage of The Company paying to make sure I was still on the right track.  I also want to see if the change in what I eat has impacted my cholesterol in any way (less carbs, more protein...could be bad).

Obviously these things weren't my concern.  My concern was the weight.  I hadn't weighed in eighteen days, and I hadn't exactly been sticking close to the meal plan.  The wedding was during this time. There was food, drink, merriment...and while I tried to keep the non-food plan food and drink to a minimum, there was tea and Elijah's loaded mashed potatoes...not to mention Copper Ridge White Zin.  I tried to balance the eating with exercise as a way to minimize the damage.

So, with slight trepidation, I stepped on the scale.

And was pleasantly surprised.  I was hoping for at least no major gains.  Instead, I had lost another almost two pounds.  Now, two pounds in eighteen days isn't fantastic, I will give you that.  But, I also didn't gain anything in that time. I ended lower than I had started before.

And, even better, I was able to get back on track after being off my routine.  I might have hopped off the wagon, but I was able to hop back onto the next one.  I didn't let it run me over.

This next week, I will be searching for low-carb recipes to bring some life to the meal plan.  I want to stay on track and canned tuna and salmon are not really helping me do that.  I have become bored recently, so it is time to inject some life into the meal plan.  If I am bored, I am NOT going to stick to it.

Thankfully, there are tons of low-carb recipes available.  I also updated the ticker with my end of year goal. I think having the shorter goal will help make it feel more attainable.  I have eight weeks to lose 27.4 pounds.  It is entirely doable.  This week's focus will be exercise and experimentation.  I am looking for meals to keep me engaged with the plan, so that is the challenge for this week.

We'll see how it goes.

Beautiful Spirit

I have wanted to post some version of this blog for quite some time.  When it goes through my head, I battle with how I want to word it, how I want it to sound, and my own emotions.  I have started and erased this blog post more times than I can count.

So, what's different today?  Today I have seen so many people display their support through posts, pictures, clothing, and accessories.  I have seen many refuse to stand idly by as others are bullied to the point that they think ending their lives is the only option they have.  I have watched them display their solidarity in varied shades of purple.  Brilliant and bold.  Brave and beautiful.

Today, on Spirit Day, I finally found the words I have been longing to say.  And not all of them are mine.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12



I love people.  I have always loved people.  I have already mentioned my perpetually perky state.  Along with that goes a genuine caring about the well-being of my fellow human beings.  Color, class, creed, gender, sexual orientation, etc: none of those things have any bearing on who I care for or about.  If I take offense from a person, it is going to be solely based on the way that person and I interact (the reality is there is no one who gets along with everyone).   As a Christian, I take God's charge to love one another very seriously.

For a long time, I felt like I had to hide many of my personal feelings.  I felt stifled by those who use the Bible to support hate and judgment.  God is a God of love, not hate.  He calls upon us to care for one another, not to tear each other down.   Once, I thought that there was no one to support what seemed to be the contradiction between being a Christian and being open-minded.  I felt alone in my desire to really drive those around me to Christian caring without judgement.  I don't feel that way so much any more.

I have been blessed to meet so many who stand strong together to exhibit the love that should be the example.   Many who join with me in teaching our children that #loveislove.  Those who are brave enough to love in the face of ridicule and judgement. These beautiful people with their beautiful spirits who wore splashes of purple to remind others that we care. Those who share in my belief that enduring love comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and varieties.

Because in the end, the LOVE is the important part.

Tea Time

When I think of tea, I have two warring images.  The first is a tall glass, ice cubes, and golden nectar heavy on the sugar.  The second image is of finely dressed women with elbow length gloves sipping from fine bone china cups with pinkies extended.  So, when I was invited to tea with my soon-to-be newlywed best friend, her then-fiance (now husband, her mom, and her stepdad, I was a little concerned about making a fool of myself.  The reason?  This was not to be the cool, tall glass version.  We were having sort-of formal tea.  And I had NO idea what that would entail.  

But, I am by nature curious and adventurous.  While this wouldn't really fulfill that adventurous component (it wasn't extreme tea, after all), it fit quite nicely into the curious part. 

Tea was to take place at the Wilmington Tea Room, situated on the Riverfront in Downtown Wilmington, NC.  While I was initially expecting a shopping trip would be needed to find appropriate attire for the tea, I was told jeans would be fine.  Hmmm...that certainly changed my first idea of stodgy boring tea.  The second thing to break down that image?  The interior of the tea house.

If you are looking for boring and sedate, then bright purple is probably not the best choice for wall coloring.  Of course, that is the first hint that tea at the Wilmington Tea Room is going to be amazing!  The second?  The menu.  There are SO many fantastic choices of tea, sandwiches, desserts, soup, salads...you name it!

The other hint that this would not be quite what I expected?  None of the china matched.  At our table, there were eight place settings.  Eight different place settings.  All of the cups and saucers matched, but they didn't match the plates below them, nor did they match the other settings on the table.  My first reaction when looking around was that it was an OCD-sufferer's nightmare.  So, it was MY nightmare.  I was earlier than the rest of my group, so I started mentally rearranging the plates, cups, and saucers from other tables.  I can't help it.  Patterns are my nemesis.  Any disruption in that and my brain begins to focus on putting the patterns to rights.  Once we got started with tea, all of that went rearranging out the window. As I relaxed into the experience, the hodge-podge, quirky mix became endearing and homey.  

We all had different kinds of tea to drink.  The choosing was probably the hardest part of the experience.  I love tea of all kinds: herbal, black, green, white, you name it.  At the tea house, you have a choice of at least thirty-six different teas (although our list was longer due to seasonal additions).   I love its warmth and all of the flavors that comprise a fantastic tea blend.  In the end, I settled on Vanilla Creme.  

What we had in common was the food:  full tea all around.  With a choice of soup or salad, I went with this creamy, wonderful, Seafood Bisque.  Probably not the best meal plan choice but I am sure completely forgivable as this was the only meal I ate that day (also probably a bad idea).   Also to be found in full tea were scones (berry and plain) with strawberry jam and Devonshire cream.  Layer two?  Yummy little puffs with cucumber and dill, others with tomato, small ham and cheese sandwiches on cinnamon raisin bread (a little strange, that), and some delicious chicken salad with craisins on marble rye.   Top of the stack was dessert: choices between mini carrot cakes with cream cheese icing (this is the only one I ate and learned I adore carrot cake), a coconut macaroon, a chocolate dipped strawberry, and the house specialty Gooey Bar (fudge square with chocolate chip cookie dough on top and bottom).  

In the end, this was one of the most amazing experiences I have had in quite some time.  I committed no major faux pas and had such a wonderful time.  The staff was fantastic, and the food and tea were superb as well.  If you are ever visiting Wilmington, I strongly recommend a stop by the tea room.  Make sure you have plenty of time to sit, eat, chat, and simply take in the surroundings.  You can also sit at tables out on the deck and take in the view.

It is one that I will not soon forget.

The Joy of Cooking

I love to watch cooking shows, and I am a huge fan of Food Network.  Food is like art to me.  The beauty in its simplicity or complexity (whichever applies) is something that draws me.  I love to watch the creation.  I love the image of a beautifully constructed project.

With art, I can only create it through the lens of a camera.  I couldn't draw a straight line if my life depended on it. And anything "abstract" looks like it could easily be made by my three-year-old.

With food, its creation can only be accomplished by me with the use of a menu.  I am, sadly, culinarily-challenged.

When I was growing up, the emphasis was on what was quick and easy.  My amazing mother was providing for two growing children on her own, so anything we made had to be inexpensive, easy to make, and even faster to complete.  We were never hungry, and I learned early that my mom was working hard to take care of us.

As I got older, I can only blame myself.  I still love food, I just never really got into preparing it beyond what I knew.  I stuck with the quick and easy.  Until lately.

I have suddenly developed this overwhelming desire to branch out.  I think it is due in part to the new meal plan and the increasing boredom that I am experiencing.  I am afraid that if I don't inject something new, I might just fall off of the plan.  Eating fish repeatedly is not keeping me interested in staying on task with this food.

Additionally, the constant images created by CanonChefTom and bluebelleinbg are inspiring.  I have to point out that there is NO way that I will ever be able to create most of those dishes (spaghettios are an exception). And that is perfectly fine.  Everyone has to start somewhere.

My first experiment was beef stew.  I went in search of a recipe that would stick to my simple requirement but still allow me to stretch my wings a little.  Traditional beef stew contains carrots and potatoes, and this one was no different.  However, both of those items are definitely off-limits for the meal plan.  The solution?  Eat around them.  I did splurge on the organic honey wheat low-carb bread but after 9 weeks of carb deficient food, I figured I was due a reward.

It was during this experiment that I discovered something:  I LOVE cooking.  While it took longer than my normal 20 minute meal, I found that I enjoyed the peeling, cutting, the creation.  The smells from my kitchen were warm and comforting.  And I made them happen.  I cannot even begin to describe the feeling of accomplishment over something so simple.  It was empowering.

So, I decided to try again.  I have for some time been enthralled with the spaghetti squash.  I love pasta, but I have to abstain due to the meal plan. I have contemplated the possibility of substituting something for the noodles for some time, but I really couldn't figure out what. And then I saw the spaghetti squash at the grocery.   I had no idea what would happen or how to cook this thing, but I was feeling adventurous.  I did a little research to find out how to actually prepare it and learned it could be the perfect partner for my standard spaghetti sauce with turkey meatballs.

And that is what I did.  I don't think I cooked the squash long enough.  It ended up being a little on the crunchy side.  I was too afraid of making spaghetti squash mush, so I cooked it until it came out of the skin easily.  While the texture was a little off from what my brain was expecting, the outcome was delicious!  Paired with my favorite broccoli salad, I came out with way fewer carbs than I would have if I had broken down and had actual pasta.  Add to it another feeling of cooking accomplishment, and it was totally worth the substitution!

And last, but certainly not least (or truly last), I decided to stretch my taste buds (and skills) and venture into the world of Tom's celery root soup that had been much touted by Rachel.  This one was a little harder for me (and hard to find, it took four stores to find the main ingredient - the celery root itself).  I had to force myself to be patient, as this one took some major time.  I didn't want to rush the process and the payoff was worth it.  I left it a little thicker than planned, as it will be reheated today and more stock added to thin it out.  I also now own an immersion blender, meaning the first time won't be the last.  I didn't eat the soup until tonight.  I initially tried it on its own, and it was a little on the sweet side for me.  So, I took the advice in the recipe optionals and added sour cream to cut the sweetness a little.  One word:  divine.  The taste matched the smell that had overtaken my house last night.

I can say with a great deal of certainty that this would never be my career.  I still need to work on patience and realizing that some of the best rewards come to those who wait.  But I do know that there is joy in the process.

And satisfaction in the results.

Bluegrass (Part 2)

When I was in high school, I worked at the Big M of fast food.  I also had a teacher whose belief it was that I would spend the rest of my life doing just that.  One day, he asked the class how we would pronounce the capitol of Kentucky.  "Do you say 'Looeyville, Loolvul, or Lewisville?' "  When he got to me, I politely answered "None of the above.  I say 'Frankfort'."

He wasn't amused.

There is just no pleasing some people.

But, I was correct.  And the capitol of Kentucky, Frankfort, is located in the Bluegrass region.

Visitors of Frankfort are welcome to visit the capitol building.  The highlight of the tour is actually the grounds that surround the building.  Immaculately kept, the gardens are home to beautiful landscaping that includes a clock designed out of flowers.  For understandable reasons, tours inside the building are guided only and do end fairly early in the day (3:30 pm).

For the history buff, the region is home to Fort Boonesborough. When Daniel Boone and company arrived on the Kentucky River in 1775, they created this second permanent settlement in Kentucky.  Today, skilled artisans keep the fort running to give visitors an idea of what life would have been like in the 18th century.  A newer addition, The Kentucky River Museum, is also here and tells the story of how commerce was developed on the river.

Henry Clay's home, Ashland, is also open to the public and is located in Lexington.  Guided tours are provided through the 18-room mansion.  There are also outbuildings (self-guided), as well as a permanent exhibit on Clay's life, a garden and walking trails, and a cafe (open seasonally).

Finally (for purposes of this blog, anyway) there is Duncan Tavern.  Located in bluebelleinbg's hometown of Paris (say hello to her while you are there), this tavern was a popular gathering place for pioneers in the area.  Currently, it is home to the Kentucky chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution.

I have it on good authority that a trip to Lexington should also mean a trip to Columbia's Steakhouse.  As the name suggests, Columbia's offers steaks, as well as chicken and seafood.  However, the restaurant's real claim to fame is its focus on the traditional fare of Kentucky (such as the hot brown pictured to the right...thanks managerflo for the visual).  I have also been told that the other must haves are as follows:  the Nighthawk Special, Flo's Sweet Potato Casserole, and the Corn Pudding.

Another area specialty that CANNOT be missed while in the Bluegrass region is Ale8One ("a late one").  This soft drink has been bottled since 1926 and was named based on one of America's first "name-the-product" contest.  I remember many nights in the dorms at LWC enjoying this favorite "smuggled" into our room by bluebelleinbg.

While I don't remember this other local favorite ever being brought to the hallowed walkways of Lily Hall, I have been educated that it is another "not-to-be-missed" item while in the Bluegrass region.  Mingua Brothers beef jerky is handmade in Paris and available at multiple locations throughout the Bluegrass.  As I am a long-time connoisseur of all things dried meat, I am a little disappointed that there are no stores that stock it closer to me.  Of course...there is always online ordering, the great equalizer.

 The Bluegrass region is also home to three of the stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  Four Roses, Wild Turkey, and Woodford Reserve distilleries are all located in this region.  All three offer tours and tastings.  Four Roses and Wild Turkey tours are free.  Woodford Reserve, the oldest distillery in Kentucky, offers tours for $5 for those over 18.  A more extensive tour option is also available for a mere $10. 










It is essential to point out that this is no way begins to scratch the surface of the Bluegrass region.  I have to thank bluebelleinbg, MJansenMiller, CanonChefTom, thommarshall, and managerflo for providing ideas and visuals.  More importantly, thank you for sharing your home with me.


If there is one region that pulls me towards it outside of my own, it is the Bluegrass region. It is home to my dearest friend and the new ones I have met through her.  The life and love of this region is evident in the fondness that they each expressed for what they love that is there.  


It is with a heavy heart that I move on, in blog only.  But the farewell will not be for long.  I plan to physically visit this wonderful region in the very near future.  

Bluegrass

When I started this journey, there were two regions that drew my attention most.  First, there was my own Caves, Lakes, & Corvettes region.  It required two parts to detail stops in the region that inspire me, and I probably could have moved into a third.

The second region is the Bluegrass region.  It is home to most of the blog writers that I follow (if not all, actually).  It is also home to one of the most brave and beautiful women I have ever had the pleasure to know, bluebelleinbg.  She is a wonderful person, and I count myself blessed to be able to call her friend.  She also provided much of the list for the trip through the bluegrass region.

Since the region is most famously known for horse farms, I thought I would use day one of our visit here to focus on all things equine.
One of the most unique of these farms is the Kentucky Horse Park.  At its base, the park is an operating horse farm.  Home to fifty different breeds, visitors can take tours through the park and identify these regal animals.  These tours detail the proud racing history that is ingrained in Kentucky's heritage.  The park is also home to two museums that house trophies, horse-themed artwork, and a detailed history of the Saddlebred, Kentucky's first native horse breed.

Currently, the Kentucky Horse Park is playing host to the 2010 World Equestrian Games.  The games are the national championships for eight equestrian sports: dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage, reining, and vaulting.  The games are held every four years (two years before the Olympics and in the same year as the FIFA World Cup).

In addition to the events, there is a Trade Show (where all things equine, and some not, can be purchased), an Equine Village (featuring opportunities for the industry to showcase itself), and even the Kentucky Experience (where visitors can learn about Kentucky without leaving the park).  There are also other activities and entertainment available to see.  You can find them all here.
(Special thanks to CanonChefTom and MJansenMiller for the pics)

While in Lexington, be sure to make a stop at Thoroughbred Park.  You can take pictures with the bronze statues of horses racing as Thoroughbreds graze in the nearby pastures.

 Lexington is also home to Thoroughbred Center.   Tours are offered through the center, which offers visitors a glimpse into the daily life of a racehorse.  Early morning tours also allow for the chance to see the horses being trained on one of two tracks at the facility. The Thoroughbred Center is owned by a local racing facility: Keeneland.  Speaking of which...

For the avid horse-racing fan, a stop at Keeneland is a must.  Although, it would be a shame to just leave racing as the idea of the only thing to do while there.  Keeneland also offers visitors the opportunity to see morning exercises and a self-guided tour of the grounds.  Stop at the track kitchen for breakfast, where you just might rub elbows with jockeys, trainers, or owners.  Thoroughbred sales at Keeneland are also open to the public: just be careful lest you find yourself bidding millions on a future champion.

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about these majestic animals and what the Bluegrass region offers in terms of enjoying them and learning more about them.

As I previously mentioned, one day is not enough for this beautiful region.  In an effort to assuage my OCD, I elected to separate details of the area into two specific parts:  Day 1, all things equine; Day 2, all things not.

So tomorrow:  all things not.

 

Kentucky's Derby Region

This region of Kentucky is probably the most misnamed of the regions.  Calling it the Derby Region seriously limits the beauty and wonder that awaits a visitor here.  And, after all, the Derby Festival happens once a year, lasts only two weeks, and the actual race itself is just under two minutes.

A rather short length of time by which to label an entire region.

While I won't completely ignore the Derby and Festival, I do want to talk about some of the other wonderful things the region has to offer.

So, we will start with the Derby and Festival.  The Festival is held for the two weeks preceding the actual race.  There are contests, concerts, specialty meals, and so much more.  The culmination of the Festival is the actual running of the race.  The race is the first of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Races (generally just called the Triple Crown).  Side note: no horse has won all three races since 1978.

As previously mentioned, Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky.  His birthplace, Hodgenville, is located in this region of Kentucky.  This actual house is enshrined in the Memorial Building on the property.  The site recently reopened after undergoing renovations to restore and preserve.  Visitors can see the site where the Lincolns got the water they used on a daily basis.  As a fun fact (no real purpose), Abraham Lincoln's last living relative passed away in 1985.

The Derby region is also home to several stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  Bardstown, considered the bourbon capital of the world, is located in this region.  Visitors can complete a "passport," which shows they have stopped at all six of the distilleries on the Trail.  Doing so will gain the visitor a commemorative t-shirt. Of the six stops, only one has a very small admission fee.  The others are free and all six offer tours and tastings.

While in Bardstown, you can visit Federal Hill.  The mansion in this state park served as the inspiration for Kentucky's state song, "My Old Kentucky Home."  Costumed guides will take you on tours through the house, transporting you back to antebellum South.  While there, you can also see "Stephen Foster: The Musical," depicting the life of this amazing composer.   

This musical is Kentucky's longest running outdoor drama.  Stephen Foster Productions also offers two other shows: Floyd Collins and Footloose.  Additionally, the company also has a Live at the Park concert series through the summer.  

For the food-minded visitor to Louisville, the Hot Brown is a must-have.  Created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, this dish was born out of the need for a new menu item in a hurry.  Like it enough to want to re-create it?  The Brown Hotel's website offers the recipe!

Sports fans will find fun in Louisville as well.  Louisville is the hometown of Muhammad Ali and is the location of the Muhammad Ali Center.  The Center strives to move past simply being a museum.  Visitors can take a tour through Ali's career and memorabilia. However, the exhibits are designed to relay Ali's story based on the six core values of his life.  The hope is that inspiration will come to those who visit and they will strive to live lives of purpose through Ali's example.

Finally, no stop in Louisville would be complete for any baseball fan without a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory: if for no other reason than to get a picture with a bat that is 120 feet tall.  Visitors can also see bats being made, learn the history of the bat and see the evolution of the sport, and follow the walk of fame.






Most of my trips to Louisville have been for conferences, so I have not had much time to visit the city or what it has to offer.  I plan to add stops in Louisville to my travels, to get a chance to experience what the city has available to visitors.

Over the next couple of days, I am going to spend time in the Bluegrass Region.  This is home to some wonderful people I have met through my bff bluebelleinbg.  I am as excited about writing of this region as I was about my own.  I cannot wait to learn more about the region my friends call home!