This and that

I have shown this before,

it's a real shock to compare to what we really do eat.

Ali over at Less equals more has done her post on the subject. 

Like so many others we have been looking at our relationship with food, what we eat, where we get it from and of course how much we eat. One of the main things I have done is to use a smaller plate, my mum would call this a breakfast plate, as you can see it's a bit smaller than our normal plates.  I try and keep my portions to the center of the plate.

  I enjoyed all three books, Cake Shop in the Garden being the best one here. 

Still doing very little sewing, I have another project forming.

We have followed loads of sport from Rio, the cycling being both our favorites, followed by the diving and gymnastics, it's a proud time to see so many medals being won. I have watched TV most evenings in the past couple of weeks, we were really late to bed last night, watching the last cycle race, with it's 3rd start, then a quick switch over to see the last dives. 

Last week we booked our holiday, just over four weeks now, and I'm on a mission to lose a few pounds of flab, so we have cut carbs to a minimum, it is hard when every day there are cakes, biscuits in the office, I sit very close to our tuck shop, and at 11.30 each day the sandwich lady comes in with lovely cakes. I still walk each lunch time, but will all the sport on TV, we don't do enough after our evening meal. That will change once the Olympics are over, hubby has serviced my bike, so we can start local riding, we have a few lovely places to visit along our water edge. 
I have started using weights to help my upper body strength, now I no longer have to take the cancer drugs, I feel I want to try and gain strength. 
I don't get the exercise in our garden, every thing is looking good and does not require any hard work, it's time now to enjoy all the previous hard work.

The sun is shinning!

It's been a busy week and not much stitching done, 

I hope to finish this second square this weekend.

 We are having the second sunny day in a row, it is so nice to feel the sun again, I popped out into the garden to check things, other than the fence, all is OK, such a nice blue sky.

 Our tree has been full of starlings, they mostly flew away when I came out, just this brave one stayed, had a nice quiet meal without the normal squabbles which starlings are so fond of. 

The tree has buds on, bit to early, but nice to see new life. 

Back inside my Amaryllis is now over two foot from the pot, still in bud, 

can't wait to see the flower.

My Poinsettia is doing well, lost a couple more green leaves.

 Last weekend I did a bit on on line shopping, went to the Sutton seeds site, my parcel arrived on Thursday, this year I want to grow a few different things. I am very excited with the Cuemelons, mixed colour carrots and the beetroot. A bit to early to start, but I now have every thing ready. 

Cuemelons are cucumbers the size of grapes with a tinge of lime flavour.

 Purdey was out side, but still wanted to check on me, she loves to sit outside the patio doors and look in.  Grace is at the bottom of the garden sunning herself. I still have to keep an eye on her, next doors cats still pick on her.

My seven foot Christmas tree arrived, I put it up last night just to check it, and now it's packed away in the attic, I can't wait for this coming Christmas, it's going to be a perfect feature for my bottom corner of the room, by the patio door.
I have finished cleaning the house, not my favourite job, but now it's done I can have the rest of the weekend doing what I like.
My 1st week of my diet went well, no problems, just trying to be good over the weekend. we are not drinking in January, not that we drink much, I only like wine. On Monday I am starting walking in my lunch break. Most of the guys I work with are all ex Navy, and one is an ex PT instructor, he knows my medical history, so he is building me a simple plan to boost my stamina, starting with walking and then on to cycling.
Fingers crossed this will be the year I get rid of all the weight again, I lost loads in 2009 before I was ill, and now almost all the weight came back.
Hope you have a great weekend, here we plan to go for a walk tomorrow, in the sun shine.