I found my home

 Life is busy !!!!

How can the days go so fast but the to do list never seems to get smaller?   

Chickens and bees

The chickens have finally been evicted from my family room.  Yes, the chickens resided in my house for about 6 weeks.   They would have gone outside earlier but it was cold….and then rainy.  And well, Jason just didn’t want to put them out in those conditions.   I was done with chickens in my house. Seriously, is not a Newfoundland, a cat, some crabs and a parrot enough in my house?  Then to add 4 chickens…for 6 weeks!   Eiiyiiyii!  But the weather finally was deemed acceptable by Jason and out they went!   Yay!   But seriously, I can’t complain about it….his heart and compassion for animals was part of what made me fall in love in the first place!

So the chickens are out in their run and sleeping in their coop!   Last night they finally figured it out and put themselves to bed in the coop.  Jason has been having to physically put them in the coop at night.  They would stand at the gate crying for him to come get them to I guess take them inside to the brooder box.  (He did that for a week or so…would let them out in the day when it was warm but put them back in the brooder at night!)

They are cute…and fun to watch.  (It will be some mo the before we get any eggs!) the bee hive is set up…but no bees.   That will probably be next spring!

Garden

The weather was crazy through April and May.  The garden work kept getting pushed aside.  Finally I realized that if we were going to have a garden at all that I had to get working!  So I spent one weekend outside preparing the beds.  And then this last weekend I dodged raindrops to plant the main garden.  I also spent a lot of time putting together a raised bed….filling it with soil and compost (the compost piles are on the other side of the property…) and then planting that.  I was so tired!  But the garden is planted!

Weight Loss

Non existent!  Seriously non existent!  It is depressing and disheartening….but I know I haven’t put my all into it.   I have been eating about 1700 calories per day.  Which sounds great …but I don’t lose at that rate.  Sadly.  So lose is what I am NOT doing!

I am working to turn it around. Lowering/watching my calories more.  That sort of thing.   I am also making a concerted effort to move more around the house.   More projects and such to keep me active.   

Home

A few months ago I decided to join Crunch …the gym/franchise/location  that was being built near my house. I signed up and waited…and waited…and waited.  I was hoping that they would have some classes that would work with my schedule.  Zumba was my hope!  They finally opened last weekend and that means I FINALLY got to see the class schedule!   There are a few Zumba classes that I can consistently make work with my work schedule…and some sacrifices at home.  I was excited but nervous as I was going by myself…and would know no one once I got there.   But I did it.  I registered for my class and went last night.

The music was loud.  The room was full (the Zumba classes have been consistently booked full on the schedule….walk ins are not happening at this time).   It was hot.  It was so fun!   About 15-20 minutes in I was overcome with an emotion.  That emotion?  I felt as if I had come home.   

I always knew that I had enjoyed my Zumba classes years ago when I went.  But I thought it was mostly for the social hour.  It wasn’t until last night that I knew.  Yeah the social hour was good fun….but Zumba is my home. 

My work schedule allows me to attend a class on Friday! Fridays will be a sporadic able to visit day….and this Friday is a ‘I can go to class’ Friday!  I can’t wait!  

My body….handled it pretty well….my legs may be a bit tired.

Life is busy.  But it’s going well.  This is my time to lose this weight and get back into shape!   Even better, I’m excited about the getting in shape!   Bring it on Zumba!

A month?

 How has it been a month since I last wrote anything.  I swear it was more recent!   I will also say this.....I have thought about writing on more than one occasion. Honestly, I just don't have much to say regarding the elusive weight loss.   Oh well, and life has been crazy busy!

Crazy Busy

Life has been nuts.  Just about a month ago we decided to pull the trigger on something that we have talked about for a few years.  In all honesty, it has been something that was in my mind for quite a few years, even in my first marriage.   Two things actually. 

 Number one, I bought a bee hive.   I don't have bees yet but I have put together my hive.   Why?   I know I WANT bees.  I predict that I will have bees sometime in the near future.   No problem and I was holding tight on getting my hive until I was ready.  But the field behind us is being built up as a subdivision.  This means we will have neighbors right behind us.   I want my bee hives in place BEFORE people buy their properties.  I want them to see my hives and know that bees are welcome here.  So if they are allergic that they can make an educated decision about buying a house near a bee hive!  I figure that may cause less tension then pulling out the hives AFTER neighbors move in.

The second thing that I've always pondered.  Chickens.  So about 4 weeks ago, Jason and I got four chicks.   They have been living in my family room for the last 4 (ish) weeks.   Soon they will transition to their coop and run outside and I will be able to reclaim my family room.  Chicken coop did you say?   Well yes, I did say chicken coop.   We didn't have a chicken coop before all this began.  So I bought one online that was supposedly for 6-8 chickens.  I put it together and holy cow, I don't know what size chickens they were talking about, but there is no way that I would put 6-8 chickens in that tiny coop.  I wouldn't even put our 4 in there.  Inhumane!     So back to the drawing board, another purchase and a full day of construction later and we have a nice coop and run in the backyard.  We have a few last minute things to do for the coop...and I do want to paint it (to protect and to match our shed) but we at least have a permanent home for our four chickens.   I have referred to the chickens as "Esmerelda, Mildred, Gertrude and Millicent".  

And of course we have been mowing and doing yard work.  PLUS, I am FINALLY getting my storm doors on the front and back doors!  YAY!!!  

Work has been busy.  We had one or two times where people (multiple on the same day) have called out sick.  When three people call out sick on one day in an office where there are only 6 people total, it really wreaks havoc!  Plus, I have just been busy.  I went to a training about a month and a half ago and I have been putting that knowledge into practice and learning....which is somewhat exhausting.  But I'm getting it! 

 Elusive Weight Loss

It isn't for lack of trying!  But yes, my weight loss has been elusive and quite honestly missing.  I started with Weight Watchers strong and gung ho.  I lost the first two weeks and was doing great.  Week three I did the exact same thing and gained.....week four and week five I stayed the course and trusted the program and I hovered with minimal gains and losses....all within the same 2 pound range.   I have been stuck there since then.  Seriously stuck.  WHen I get stuck like that, I tend to give up.  "Why bother"   

So admittedly, in the last week or two I have NOT tracked my food.  I am still conscious of what I am eating, but I have not tracked.  (Which for me is dangerous!) 

I had joined a gym that is opening up close to my house.  I just got word yesterday that they are FINALLY opening their doors later this month.  SO I am hoping and praying that there are some good classes that I can get to at least 2-3 times a week.  And well, I guess I will be adjusting my menu again to account for some evenings that I am out later each night.  

I'm not out for the count...but seriously demoralized about this weight loss thing.