I was thinking of my mom a lot today and decided to make bread like she did.  All the while trying to channel my mom and her expertise.  I've not baked bread since 2004 and I've only made it by hand a couple of times.  The first time I did was 2004.  My husband and I were in a long distance relationship and he was coming out to visit.  He missed his flight, so the picnic was pushed out.  We had a very romantic picnic on the beach at night with candles. We had wine, cheese, fig spread...other tasty treats and my home made bread. Pretty cool first date. 


That time was the first time that I made bread after my mom passed away the year before.  She used to make it a lot.  Recently, my older son was visiting, and he was looking through a notebook of my moms and he found her bread recipe along with many other recipes and prayers....and a hand written Will.  That was my mom...she wanted to cover all the bases.  In this book was also her life insurance account number with the number to call.  About a week after she died, I dreamt of her and in the dream, she wanted me to give her this red notebook.  That morning, I found the life insurance information.  It's much more just that, though. This red notebook is a piece of my mother.  All of her favorite recipes.  All of her favorite prayers for her children and herself.  


So, I baked bread today.

Here's the first rising....

and the second...

shape, then let rise again...

Off to the oven after a light egg washing....

and....yummy....almost time to eat!

Another week done.  It went by fast as most weeks lately do. Time is flying by and I want it to slow down.

My grandson is growing so fast and my sons are growing older. I live so far from them all.  My newly married son and his wife live 6 hours North of me by car and my younger son and grandson live 6 hours West by plane. This distance saddens me at times. Tonight, how far away they are is heavy on my mind. I miss them so much.

I only see my sons about 3 times a year.  They don't call me as much as I'd like, but I call them at least 1-2 times a week (sometimes more) and we are very close, even though we are far apart right now.

On a positive note....Progress on my shoulder is, well, progressing.  Each day is better then the last. Why I didn't have the discipline to stretch and exercise daily before, I couldn't say anything but just plain laziness.  I also just wanted the shots to fix it, but they didn't.

As for my guitar and bar chords....I am happy that I'm so much stronger on my bar chords. It's amazing what practicing them will do!  I've played for many years, but if there was a bar chord in a song, I'd find away around playing the chord, or just not play that song.  Now, with a guitar teacher...or more of a coach...I have not other choice except to plow through and that's a good thing.

Well, blogging has lifted my spirits some... :-)

My Shoulder is improving!!!


I've been doing my shoulder stretches and exercises daily for about a week now.  It's actually getting better!  I didn't get another cortisone shot either...I'm relieved it's getting better. 


The reason I'm so determined is because I talked to my doctor's assistant. She explained the surgery to me when I called. Good thing I was sitting down. Good thing I had my heat flash fan. That called scared me into my plan.


Things that have improved so far...there is still some pain in doing these, but it's bearable.


1.  I can do a nice good morning stretch without doubling over.
2.  I can put my left hand behind my back. 
3.  When I do my pulley exercises, my arm is closer to being straight up.
4.  My left arm is stronger when doing my strength exercises.
5.  My range of motion is much better...not like my right shoulder, but better.
6.  The miracle ball shoulder stretch exercise.

I've decided to do the Mud run in my area in August....then, I'm seriously considering the 1/2 Marathon.

The Shamrock 8K -- My First 8K.....Check!  


Well, I did it!  My first 8K!!!  My chip time was exactly, to the second, the same as the clock time and I was not in the first group (the speedy group) when the clock started.  I know what happened though.  It was already proving to be a warm morning, so I took off my outer top and left my group in search for my husband. I figured he would be close to the Start Line to watch me begin the race. I couldn't find him, but I walked passed and to the right of the Start Line before turning around, top tied around my waist, to reposition myself with my group.  


So, here's what I believe happened.  As I passed by the Start Line in search for my husband, my chip was turned on and waiting for the clock to start. It began timing my run when the clock started, but before I even started walking to the Start Line. It took about 4 minutes after the clock started for me to cross the mats at the Start Line. When I crossed the finish, I forgot to stop my watch. I realized I'd not stopped it after getting my water and snack after the race. I stopped it at about 57 minutes.

I found that shirt when I picked up my race packet...had to have it...

With all that said, I ran the 8K in about 54 minutes and the clock time was 58.36 (as well as my in error chip time). 


I'm looking forward to my next race.  I'm planning on running the 10K Wicked in October and if I can get with a training group, I may consider running the 1/2 marathon on Labor Day.


Running clears my head and lifts my mood. It keeps my joints flexible.  My back hurts less than before and when I don't run for a week, my lower back aches. 

Second night of working my shoulder.

I was a little sore today after last night's workout, but worked it out again tonight.  It seemed a little easier tonight.

Tomorrow I'm running in my first 8K.  I'm looking forward to it. I'm checked in and went and got my packet at the Health Expo.  I bought a green running shirt too.  The shirt is funny...it says...well really it reads... "does this shirt make my butt look fast?"  It's on the front and it's on the back at about butt level. I thought it was really funny.  I hear people dress up in all types of getups, my funny T-shirt will fit right in.

Time to sleep...big day tomorrow.

Ever write an email that while you wrote it you were sad and depleted, only to read it back one more time after it's been sent to discover that it could be taken that I wrote it in anger?  I did one of those emails today. 

I wasn't angry at all, but I did need to unload the feelings that have been sucking my energy today.   

I just don't feel like running today. I'm emotionally, mentally and physically spent today. I ran 5 miles on both Sunday and Tuesday, so I'm not feeling too guilty. I'm running my first 8K on Saturday and I'll be fine for the run.

I've decided to hold off on the shoulder surgery.  After my run on Tuesday, my shoulder actually had more range of movement before the pain. I'm hoping that if I diligently do my exercises and my stretching that I'll beat it like I did the other shoulder that had the same issues. My course of action is to stretch to my pain limit and hold till I can't take it, then relax. I don't want to go past that pain limit, just up to it.  I also have "Magic Balls" that I bought at Costco a few years back. There are some shoulder stretches with those too that I'll do. I'll track my progress here.

 

Went to my shoulder doctor today.  I decided to wait a little longer before getting the surgery. I'm just very scared of the surgery. I'm going to really do my stretches and exercises on a regular basis.  I'm going to get my shoulder better. I have pretty good range of motion, so it's not frozen, but there are certain movements that radiate pain down my arm. I did some new stretching exercises last night and today and today the movements were a little easier with a slight reduction of pain.  

A weekend half over...I'm hoping for a better second half of it.

I've not been blogging...I didn't think anyone was reading, but then I received a comment because I'd not blogged. That was nice. So, I'm back.

I was in Florida for a family wedding last weekend...another reason for not blogging.  It was a nice visit with my husband's family. I jogged along side a river and was able to run 5 miles with a few 30-40 seconds of walking now and then.  I have an 8K next Saturday and now I know I'll be ok...even if I need to walk a little.  When I did the 5K, I thought that I'd walk too, but I didn't.

Menopause is still happening, but it's not that bad.  Only five more months until I reach the 1 year mark. Can't wait. I was asked if I carry 'supplies' around all the time. I don't because I'm not expecting it to happen. Maybe I should be prepared, but I don't want to jinx it. My cousin said she got to 11 months twice. I hope that doesn't happen to me. I'm ready to be done with it permanently.  Last year I went 7 months and the day my son got married, it started...full on too!  This is my 2nd or 3rd 7 months.

Spring is coming...our bird feeders are attracting pretty birds.  I wish we had picture windows to watch.

Anyway...sorry for being so disjointed...and rather boring today...