PC - Week 3

Well, I'm a bit disappointed but not as much as last week. I lost only 2 pounds. I know it's what is supposed to be healthy but after last week's big ZERO I was hoping it would sort of balance out. I also was losing 3 a week when I did this last year. Of course, that could be due to the fact that I am much closer to my goal than when I first started this last year. It goes like this on Bigger Loser, too, so I know I'm probably doing fine overall.

Onward...

Live On Stage!

The Cleveland Orchestra season opener was last night and included the Chamber Chorus ensemble for Bach's Mass in F major. The concert was an odd mix of new modern and classical genres. John was able to come with a friend of his and they both seemed to enjoy it. We are performing the same concert again Saturday night at 8pm (EST) which will be broadcast live on the internet at www.wclv.com. Listen in and hear me live on stage!

The concert program:
Takemitsu - Dream/Window
Bach - Mass in F major (BWV233)
DeBussy - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

FYI, the Chorus began rehearsals 10 days ago for this concert. This is one of the most challenging soprano parts I have sung, but also one of the most fun. My first glace at the second movement, I saw only lots of black notes running together. At the dress rehearsal, everything finally came together for us and my voice felt like a violin running over all those notes. It's so fun to be able to do great music with a great orchestra. Even though it's taxing and exhausting, I will miss it when we leave Cleveland.

PC - Week 2

I hate it when this happens!

I did really well this week keeping track of what I ate and not going over my allotted points, in spite of going out to a heavy lunch one day and hosting a good-bye luncheon at work the following day. I lost nothing! How maddening, irritating, and dejecting! I want a vat of Milk Duds now!!! A cheesecake would work, too, I guess.

John says it's just my body adjusting to weight loss-mode and it takes a week or so to see the changes compute to the scale, I hope he's right. If the same thing happens next week, I think I'll jump off the band wagon.

Reindeer Magic

I found this pattern at a quilting store in Bozeman this summer. My bestest friend inspired the idea when she told me that she likes to buy yarn from each place she visits as a souvenir. I think it's a much better souvenir than a key chain or magnet or something. Then you get to be creative and crafty at home, remembering your trip each time you see the finished project.

I changed the color-scheme a bit, using fabrics I had on hand. (I apparently have a bunch of Christmas fabric.) After I had it together I thought it looked too busy, but I didn't want to make another one. Cutting out those antlers was quite a chore!

So, I added a brown border around the outside then backed it with the same fabric as the center border. I brought the backing fabric around to the front to complete the quilt as an outside border. I also added a piece on the back for a dowel to run through, which will allow the quilt to hang without bunching or sagging.

It turned out very nicely. I can't wait to hang it up at Christmas.

PC - Week 1

What is it about Mondays that makes starting a weight loss plan seem so much more do-able? I tried to start on Wednesday, but failed. I didn't go crazy but I also didn't write down what I was eating, so nothing lost. Today it seems much easier, so far so good. My official goal date is October 18, 5 weeks from today.

I found some really awesome plaid prints at JoAnn's which I want to make into skirts for the winter. I also have some fabric from last year that I never got to for a jumper (yes, that's right but it's retro-style, Natalie, so it's ok) and dress. I refuse to make them until I am at my goal weight. Hopefully, looking at all that new fabric will be just another inspiration to stay on track.

More next Monday...

On the horizon

Yesterday evening on my walk with the dogs, I noticed this tree:

The first real sign of fall. The trees have been threatening to change since the weather turned spastic a couple of weeks ago. While they were still green I could pretend that summer would go on forever, sort of like the opposite of Narnia. For me, fall means winter and I hate winter. We probably won't get a snowfall until after Thanksgiving, but it's there...just waiting.

A Personal Challenge

I've been lazy for a while now.

Last year I lost about 25 pounds, which was great. The problem is that I still have 15 that I want/need to lose...and that's where lazy comes in. After months of procrastinating and making excuses, it's finally time to just do it. I want to be ahead of the game for the holidays and not have to make another New Year's resolution that will be broken. Plus, I want to wear Aunt Pam's black velvet dresses that I inhereted this summer! (Not that I have anywhere to go in them, but still.)

So, my self-challenge is 15 pounds in 5 weeks. That's 3 pounds a week, which I can do if I stick with my Weight Watchers based plan. I'm going to post weekly on my progress, so that I feel accountable to somebodies other than me and don't get into the procrastination/excuses cycle again. I may decide to lose more than that, but I'll see when I get there.

Who's with me? We can help each other and feel great!

Polishing A Turd

That's what John has come to call our "just make it look better so we can sell it" projects. This time it was painting the garage. It took John 2 summers to scrape and paint the entire thing. There were 4 or 5 layers of paint already on it and you can tell! But it looks so much better now.

See? That's much better.

Now how 'bout that driveway?