I cannot possibly communicate just how much fun I am having here in beautiful Lake Tahoe.   Spending time with these wild and wiley women has been so theraputic!   They are a great bunch of gals and I am amazed at how well everyone gets along–  even though I don’t know them well yet, I feel as if I fit in.   (and with this bunch- that’s a bit frightning!)

For those who are awaiting photos, I really haven’t been shooting much.   But thanks to fellow Freddie, Lonna there are a couple of photos of my pinecone mauled boob floating around somewhere.  Trust me- that’s more than anyone out there wants to see, but the story behind it was amazing-  I was actually attacked by a falling pinecone.  

Yesterday was spent at the beach- mostly in the water.  There is something so healing about the cool waters of Lake Tahoe.  The burn I received wasn’t so cooling, but my fuschia skin tone makes quite the fashion statement with the lime green top I wore today.     Painful events aside, I have rarely felt more alive than I do now.

We took a ride on the gondola at Heavenly Valley today.   The view was incredible!  I hope to make it down here again soon so that I can take Sami along.   It is a bit pricy, but worth every penny.

All in all, I’m having a blast at FRED 2008!  I miss my daughter and family, but it’s still going to be hard to leave this magical place.

The tomatoes are in!!!   The tomatoes are in!!!!

I should have posted this yesterday, but I simply couldn’t get away for long enough to update this site.   So, you’ll have to read yesterday’s news today- which is sort of forecasting next week’s news a bit early.    Confused?  That’s OK.   Just follow along.   I’ll start making sense soon enough.

As anyone who knows me is keenly aware,  I love visiting (and shopping at) our local farmers’ market.  I used to bring my camera out there every week to capture photographs of the baskets and tables of colorful produce, eggs, and meats.   I haven’t been doing this very much this year (maybe just once, even) because I’m too loaded down with baskets and bags- each filled to the brim of farm fresh finds that I bring home for the kidlet and I in an attempt to eat healthier.   (We still miss out on the healthy part when we find other not so nutritious things to binge on in between the fruits and veggies, but we’re certainly eating happier!   Farm fresh produce just cannot be beat!)

I’ve also been trying to do my part in the ‘Eat Local Mid-Willamette Valley Challenge’.   I haven’t been able bring as much variety to the table as I would prefer (working 12, 13, and 18 hour days takes it’s toll), but I’ve been whipping up some tasty salads and out-and-out mouthwatering veggie stir-frys (with mostly and sometimes, all local ingredients).   I really hope to do something creative soon— perhaps some blueberry pancakes made with local blueberries or a colorful pasta primavera.   

If you haven’t made it out to the market yet this year, I encourage you to grab your bicycle or best walking shoes, a good basket, and your appetite and trek down to the Corvallis waterfront.     With more musical entertainment than ever, local arts and crafts, delectable produce, and of course market favorites the “Hotcakes and Soysage/Market Pad Thai” guy and Zia (New Mexican cuisine), the Corvallis Farmers’ Market rates as one of my favorite home-town hangouts.

Now, I have a date with a vine ripened, market fresh beefsteak tomato and a salt shaker. 

Every once in a while, I stumble upon a product that I find so good (be it tasty, efficient, attractive, or whatever) that I have to share the news.   Since I have a few fellow WW’ers who read this blog, I wanted to share my newest find– Kellogg’s All Bran Strawberry Medley cereal.   Just 170 calories and 1.5 grams fat per one cup serving PLUS a whopping 10 grams of fiber!  (it also boasts a decent amount of protein at 5 grams per serving).  This stuff is tasty, too!  Each bowl is filled with crunchy lightly sweetened bran flakes, little rice squares, and granola bits. Dried strawberry slices add tons of flavor and gorgeous color, too!

No… I have nothing to gain by sharing this. This isn’t a paid advertisement or anything like that. I just love this stuff and I think that a few of my readers would like it, too. For you Corvallis locals… you can find Kelloggs All Bran Strawberry Medley cereal at Grocery Outlet on 10th Street for just $1.99 a box.

Eating healthy (and conveniently) never tasted so good.

I made the grave mistake (actually it was more of a bad decision) to eat something today that I shouldn’t have and now I have an upset tummy.  I have a ton of stuff to do before leaving for Portland tomorrow AM, but I’m not going to freak out if I cannot get it all done.

I wish I had more time to play in PDX, but this will be a quick trip-  I’m picking my brother, Scott up from the airport.  (Bonnie?  We do need to get together sometime soon!  I miss shooting with you! :-)  ) 

And to Scott…  Safe travels, Little A.   I cannot wait to see you again!

Good night, all!

I cannot tell you all how thankful I am that I was able to spend the Independence Day holiday with my family.   (Sami is spending the time with her boyfriend’s family, but I got to be with my brother and parents- which makes me very happy!).

Even though we could not afford to make our annual trek to Seattle for the holiday, I enjoyed my time off on Friday.   I worked (puttered) around the apartment for most of the day.  (I did get one of the hall closets organized.)  Then, I journeyed across town to my parent’s house and indulged in BBQ London Broil (done just right), corn on the cob, potato salad, green beans,and (as if to make up for the sins of the day) a Weight Watchers fudge bar.   My father, mother, and brother Kris and I dined on the back deck, which made the event even more special.   This was the first time that I had spent leisure time with the family since my mother started her dialysis treatments.   It was so nice to know that she was actually present and that she was enjoying the time as much as we were.    She even helped prepare and cleanup dinner!

The family-July 4, 2008

Afterward, I headed back home to do more housework and to catch the fireworks display.  Sure, the local Corvallis fireworks show couldn’t hold a candle (let alone a large mortar) to the big show up in Lake Union, but the display was quite colorful and festive.   Being able to dodge traffic and watch from the third floor of my apartment building was an added bonus!   I snapped a few shots, but as I’d left my tripod downstairs and was too lazy to run down and get it, only two or three turned out to be presentable.    I’m actually not terribly distraught over it.   Sitting with the neighbors and enjoying the show was the perfect low key ending to a perfect low-key day.

Corvallis under fire- the view from the balcony. July 4, 2008

This AM, I slept in and then dragged myself out of bed to go to the library (my new favorite hangout) and then off to the Saturday Farmers Market.  I left the camera at home.  I think that may have been a good move because if I’d been weighed down with gear, I might not have been able to bring home market fresh, local red cabbage, snow peas, sugar snap peas, french red fingerling potatoes, fan-freaking-tabulous red-leaf lettuce, sunflower sprouts (great on salads and in stir-frys!), and succulent berries!  Nothing tastes as good as fresh veggies….  NOTHING!

When I got home, I discovered that my IRS stimulus check had arrived.    Ahhh, gas money.   Tahoe here I come!

Up: Mom’s doing much better.   No one told us that dialysis would help her become taller.    Really, she is!  It’s really because she’s standing up straight, instead of that ‘little old woman’ hunch thing she had going on.   She’s feeling stronger, too.

Down: Busy weekend with a garage sale.  Total net: 63 bucks.  Total time and energy used?  Well, let’s just say that the incoming cash didn’t make it worth it.   But I got some things cleared out of my house, my storage, and most importantly- my parent’s garage.  Now, I’m making daily runs to the Goodwill to get rid of the leftovers.

Up: I lost two more pounds this week, bringing my loss to a total of 34 pounds in just two months (14 of that was water weight that was lost when I resumed my BP meds, but 20.8 pounds were lost the old fashioned way– and I feel soooo much better!

Down:  Work is insane.  There is way too much to do and never enough time to do it in.   I know… I could be describing anyone’s job, but for now- this is my life.   So, I’m sneaking in early to get a bit extra done before I’m officially ‘in the office’.  

Up:  Scott is coming to visit this weekend!  I should be picking him up from the airport on Sunday, although I have yet to obtain his itinerary.  The house is still in ‘post garage sale’ mayhem, but it’ll be ready by the time he gets here.

Up:  Mom has passed on to phase two of the transplant qualification process.   She is scheduled for a doctor’s visit in the next month or so up at Legacy in Portland.   This is not the end of the road, but it’s wonderful news that she’s still in the running after the initial interview.

Up:  30 days until FRED (friendship and fun in my beloved Lake Tahoe).   I am so excited about this, I can hardly stand it!

Down:  I have to be in the office in just about five hours.   I’d better finish putting produce away in the fridge and go to bed. 

Hope your week has more ups than downs.

I hate knowing that you are feeling so much pain right now.  If there is ANYTHING that I can do, please let me know.

Love, Jen

My mother underwent a procedure today were a venous catheter was surgically inserted under her skin, tapping into a vein in her chest.    Tomorrow, she starts dialysis.  

She’s battled with kidney disease for years and her health has rapidly deteriorated to the point where the doctor did not feel that she could wait for the ’set up time’ required for in-home peritoneal dialysis.   I desperately hope that this brings her relief and will help her return to better health.

It’s hard watching bad things happen to people you love.