Ode to the Raspberry

First a little introduction - This years raspberries are late - a very wet, colder than normal spring, has caused the fruit of the gods to wait. That is OK - since I was in D.C. when they would have normally become ripe. This lateness has brought with it a foe - birds. Birds do not know the proper etiquette for eating raspberries. They pick at part of the berry, never eating the whole thing. Leaving scraps for ME. It is normally the other way around - I leave scraps for THEM. Tonight I was picking the berries and a robin comes flying up and lands - no kidding - about a foot away from me. I start to tell Mr. Robin that these raspberries are mine and that I don't mind sharing a few but would he please eat the whole berry. I actually got that whole sentence out before the very rude bird noticed me and with a start flew off. I just hope he was listening.

Now --- MY ODE TO RASPBERRIES

Raspberry Jam
Raspberry cobbler
Angle food cake with fresh Raspberries
Raspberries in my Cheerios
Just a had full of Raspberries - or two
YUM !!!!

I could go on but I think that says it all - I'll try to freeze some for Christmas - but no promises!!

Weight Watchers

What a name - Weight Watchers - so is that what we all do? Watch our weight? Well, if you are me the answers is yes. I have been watching my weight go up and up ever so slowly for years now. If I was lucky it would go down - a pound or two - and then go right back up. And to be honest it hasn't gone down in over a year. Time to do something.

Now my daughter Cristy is a dietitian. She has been trying to "teach" me how to eat for years. I have been fighting her - why? - because I love fat. It tastes good. Oh, the thought of an Oreo Ice cream sundae just makes my mouth water - and the seams to my pants scream. So I have finally reached the point where I know I must do something about my eating habits. I love my daughter but she is not always available to answer all my questions about food - so I have joined weight watchers. They teach the same stuff Cris has been trying to get me to do for years only their stuff is easier to look up.

I am amazed how bad my diet really was. I never realized how much I ate out. I hope I can stick to a healthier diet now - for the rest of my life.

Now that is not to say that I haven't splurged now and then. When in D.C. I took everyone to "Uno's" a very good Chicago Pizza Restaurant. I would be safe to say that one piece of pizza was my allotted calories for the day. But I haven't been able to eat at Uno's in years. It was great!!! Well, almost great - wasn't quite what I remembered - but it was still good. I felt lousy that night but it was still good. OK - OK - OK - I have learned that when you splurge you do that small also. But Ice cream is another story.

I have also learned something about myself. I am no longer a young woman who can burn off a pizza just by thinking about exercise - I must actually do it!! Aging is just cruel. I used to be able to do so much - now.... well, to give an example. Last week my Father bought 2 and half yards of top soil. For those of you who don't know - a yard of soil is two scoops of soil with a front loader (tractor) . So Dad had the dirt dropped on my front lawn since most of that dirt was for my front yard. That meant that Dad and I had to shovel the dirt into a wheel barrow and then wheel the dirt to the place in the yard we wanted it and dump it. IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER. Not that that made a difference. My Father is 84 years old and he worked circles around me. I kept coming up with excuses - "Dad - time to drink some water" "Dad - let me barrow that rake for a second" "Dad - I'm going to die now, just put the rest of that dirt on top of me"

So, I'm trying to ride my bike again - the weather is co-operating and I've been going out at least 4 times a week. Mandy and I are walking too - when it isn't so hot. Matt and I walk on the week-ends also. I'm getting off the couch.

Oh - just in case you where wondering I have lost 9 pounds so far. Nothing to sneeze at but it is a start. Matt is doing this with me and yes he has lost more than me. Maybe by Christmas we won't mind the kids posting pictures of us on their blogs.

Wish us luck!!!

Troy, Hallie and Washinton DC

I got to go meet Troy. My seventh grand child and a happy one at that. I was lucky enough to be there when he figured out how to smile. He does it very well, especially in the morning.

The first week was just hanging out with some shopping thrown in there. Cris was able to figure out how she wanted to decorate the nursery and we got some material and wooden letters to spell out Troy for the wall. It was just great to be able to get to know little Troy and to spend time with my oldest daughter. Cristy later realized that we had not spent much time together - just the two of us - in many years - I would guess, a good 10 years. Time well spent.
Cristy was a good sport and let her aging Mother have fun. When you have a grandson with so much hair you just have to play. It has been a long time since I have played with my Barbie and Ken dolls - but when you have a real doll - you just have to play. I think the above picture shows Troy a little nervous to what is about to happen to him.
Look out for this bad boy.
But this Moreira has Idaho blood running through his veins. He is one smart boy.
And he enjoys a good joke - or this is when he was getting even with us and he just filled his diaper.
After the first week Papa Matt came and Troy was happy to have one more adult to love him.

Now it was time to show Troy and Papa Matt some of the sights of Washington D.C.
So this is some garden by some museum. I wanted to just show pictures of Troy and say this is Troy at the Air and space Museum and this is Troy outside the White House and so forth but I never really took any pictures while we where acting all touristy.
Then Hallie came. And she brought with her Grant and Liz.
Hallie is a very happy baby. It was great to see Grant and Liz again.
The cousins had a great time too.
Then I had one of those moments when you realize you are turning into one of your parents. This is me realizing that I am becoming my Mother because this is what I saw as everyone walked so much faster than I. We went and saw the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. This was after a dinner at Uno's . Yummy, Chicago Pizza.
Then it was time for Troy to be blessed. A sharp looking boy - all dressed up in his borrowed tux from Georgey and Grayam. The blessing was great - of course - only Nathaniel forgot to press record on the tape recorder - and since he was recording it non of us took notes. But because Grant has an amazing memory along with a few other memories from the rest of us I think they where able to get the blessing written down.
All of us who where there - family that is - the rest of the ward wouldn't co-operate and get in the picture.
Another one of Hallie - cause she is so stinking cute.
The reason for the trip.

The next day was C&N 2nd wedding anniversary - so Matt and I let them go to dinner alone. We watched Troy and well....

I guess the last two weeks caught up with me.

Matt and I left the next day and that was a very hard good-by.

To Cristy and Nathaniel - thank -you for letting us disrupt your lives for two weeks - tell Cesar and Susan thanks for the great dinner - thank-you to Grant and Liz for driving 9 hours so that we could see you and Hallie. Love you all.

Family time is the greatest time!!!