Independence Day

On the night of the July 4th, The Reluctant Farmer and I were on our way home, and we passed this barn.  The barn sits by itself, out in the middle of a field, with only a few trees to keep it company.  I imagine, years ago the trees sheltered a house which sat there too, but I don't know that to be true.

"Miss K" and I passed this barn every week last fall, as it's on our way to her horseback riding lesson, and every week I would say: "I wish I had my camera...."  

As luck would have it, I did have my camera the eve of July 4th, and I was so happy to take pictures of this beauty.  As I was circling her, I found myself caught up in the "click" of my camera's shutter and I welcomed the strong sense of peace I felt in the middle of that soybean field.  With the essence of strength and sovereignty whirling about me in the breeze, it seemed fitting I would meet this girl on a day our country was celebrating it's independence..... 

For additional picture of this beauty, please visit her album on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/OnTheUrbanFarm/photos/?tab=album&album_id=651665014981318

How does your garden grow?

Today was a day full of hard work, but I am happy to report we have the 2016 garden up and running!   We did a massive amount of weeding, and bed preparation, but it is done.  I am so pleased that the chickens were able to "prep" these beds all winter with their manure, because I am not kidding you the soil was so rich it was black!

The garden contains:
  
12 cucumber plants
25 tomato plants
2 different types of lettuce
6 honey dew vines
8 watermelon vines
2 eggplant plants
6 bell pepper plants
2 hot pepper plants
2 tomatillo polants
2 yellow squash plants
2 zucchini plants
1 spaghetti squash plant

My hope is for large harvests and a reduced grocery bill......

Diary Of A Fat Girl - Day 3: I Have Hit Rock Bottom

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Dear Journal,

Last night "Miss K" had a bowling party with her high school equestrian team.  Thank God I had the fore site to eat before we went to the bowling alley, because you know how much food you can eat at a bowling alley when you are on Whole30?  NONE!  But my God, did it look good....  Seriously, it was if my brain had a split personality.

Some folks I didn't even know sat down next to me, and had the greasiest, gooiest, cheesiest pizza I had ever seen and all I could think was:  "Divert your eyes... Divert your eyes... Seriously! Divert your damn eyes!"

And now I know I have hit rock bottom.

After those folks got up to leave there were 4-5 pieces of their pizza left on their table, and for a second I seriously had this thought:  "Those people looked clean enough.  I could probably eat a piece of their left over pizza.  I mean why waste good food?!"

It was at about this time that the logical part of my brain piped up and said: "Are you freaking serious?!  That is disgusting!  We do NOT eat left over pizza off stranger's tables!  Control yourself!"

Turns out "logical brain" won.

But damn that cheese looked good.....

Cheese is my gateway,
Emily

Diary Of A Fat Girl - Day 2: I WANT A CUPCAKE!

The only cupcake I am getting is the soap kind!

Dear Journal,

Last night, I woke up out of a dead sleep at 11:30 pm, because I wanted a cupcake.  I didn't just "want" a cupcake.  I "needed" a cupcake the same way my lungs "need" air.  That's how much I "needed" a cupcake.

It went like this:

At 11:30 pm, the house is quiet.  All beings are sound asleep.  I sit straight up out of a dead sleep, with a clarity like no other, and say:  "I need a cupcake!"

I look over at The Reluctant Farmer, who is sleeping peacefully and I know....  She needs to get me a cupcake.  So, I shake her awake....

Me: "Honey!  I need a cupcake!"

RF:  "What?!"

Me:  "I need a cupcake, like NOW!  Can you drive to Meijer and buy me a cupcake?!  They have a 24 hour bakery I think!  AND I want LOTS of icing!"  

RF:  "Are you serious?!"

Me: "Um, yes!  Don't I sound serious?!"

RF:  "No.  No, I am not going to go buy you a cupcake at midnight.  You made it all day with no sugar.  Go back to bed."

Me: "But, now I am not tired."

RF: "Fine, take a Melatonin, and tell me if you still "need" a cupcake in 30 minutes."

Now, she knows I can't even take a child's sized dose of Benadryl with out passing out.  (I am a cheap date!)  

But, alas.  She was right.  I didn't need the cupcake....

Diary Of A Fat Girl - Day 1: One Meal At a Time

Kicking it old school and "juicing" my own O.J. by hand...

Dear Journal,

Today I lived....

It wasn't easy.  My body is pissed, and I am craving sugar like a crack addict needing her next fix.  I am going to do this though.  It helps to think that I just need to get through the next meal.  And the next meal, and the next meal...  This adventure is not as daunting if I look at it in shorter increments.

Tonight, The Reluctant Farmer said to me:  "Well, congratulations!  You lasted 12 hours longer than I thought you would!"

I wanted to reply: "Thanks, honey!" all sarcastic like.  But, I used my mouth filter.  (Which is hard to do when I want/need some carbohydrates....)

Truth is, I lasted 12 hours longer than I thought I would too!

Mazel Tov to me!

Wanting sugar and potatoes,
Emily

Diary Of A Fat Girl- Day 0: What?! Why?!

I will miss these guys....

Dear Journal,

Tomorrow I am doing it!  I am going to eliminate dairy, grain, alcohol, processed food, refined sugar and legumes from my diet.  I have been wanting to try a Paleo diet for a long time, but I just can't commit to giving up all of that amazing, delicious food for all of eternity.  I'm not good at commitment....

I am going to try this program called Whole30.  It's basically Paleo, but a little more strict.  However, 30 days seems much easier to swallow than giving up wine, Pepsi, and cheese for the rest of my life.  There is an excellent chance I won't succeed at this, but on a positive note, if I fail, I can still enjoy the weekend!

Begrudgingly changing my life,
Emily

I am nobody's rabbit!

4 days ago my life changed.  I would like to say it changed for the best, but my mind is not convinced that's the truth just yet.

4 days ago I took the plunge and committed to giving up grain, dairy, legumes, processed food, alcohol and refined sugar for 30 days.  This decision come after I had some blood work results that were not too stellar a year ago.  At that time I meant to do something about my weight and the year got away from me.  Several weeks ago I got my yearly blood work results back and they were worse than ever before.  This year my bad cholesterol was worse than bad.  My good cholesterol eluded to the fact I never exercise, and my pancreas is working harder than a Target employee on Black Friday.  Weighing 233#, it's time for a drastic change.  I have hit rock bottom and I never want to be here again.

There have been a few things helping to push me towards making the changes I need to make, other than the deplorable blood work.  

The first thing is a blog I stumbled across, 100 Days of Real Food.  I discovered this family's blog, and after reading it I really wanted to stop eating food and food substitutes that were full of chemicals.  I know eating whole, real food is important.  It's the basis of what The Reluctant Farmer and I have built our life on, and we work so hard to produce healthy food for 6 months of the year.  How have I allowed myself to get into this situation?!

The second thing is a weight loss competition we are having at work.  We have done this competition several times, and I have never really taken it too seriously until a recent conversation.  After the last competition ended, a co-worker pulled me aside and said:  "I know this is going to sound bad, but you were my rabbit through this competition and I just wanted to beat you.  I didn't want to be the heaviest person here anymore."

Well, you know what?  I am nobody's rabbit!  It is time to get my ass in gear....