Hanging At The Park With Friends…

Hey everyone, finally a little update from me. We’re delivering 8 pups between Saturday and Tuesday of next week so I’m really stressing to get things done with them and get ready for tons of guests to come in and out of my house. I know I promised a weekly photo of myself along with an update but you’ll have to skip the photo this week and I’ll double up on them next week. The results though this week were great- I’m down 1kg or 2.2lbs! It was actually 900 grams on the weigh day, but when I checked today I’m down 1kg and 100 grams…hahaha…so I’m happy. Yesterday I BIKED 30 minutes up some killer hills- the downhill part wasn’t bad- I coasted and enjoyed scenery…but then there was uphill and while I did get off at one point and walked a bit, I got on the last part of the hill and rode up without stopping, I even left Thomas in my dust, complaining about how having to wear the “stupid” bike hat was slowing him down and he needed a break and….so on and so on…hahaha…I also walked for almost 2 hours yesterday (at various times) so I was pleased with my efforts yesterday. Walked today but only 30 minutes as we have guests now. But I’m still being good…made a homemade pizza with whole grain bun and one pizza had bbq sauce and chicken and low cal cheese and veggies and the other had lowfat hamburger and lowfat cheese and veggies…had two small pieces and a huge salad with pineapple for desert!!

We have this lovely park here on the island called Skurven. I love this park. It’s so lush and green and there is a big open field where you can sit and chat with friends…

Or you can run around with friends or wrestle with friends in the soft grass…

Or you can just sit back on one of the picnic tables and enjoy the views…

If you’re really lucky, you can sit on the beach and enjoy the views…

And maybe be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of what people call the Mjøsa Lake’s "White Swan"

Ok folks, it’s almost midnight and my pups will be up around 6:30-7AM tomorrow…so I’m heading to bed, just had to check in and give a sign of life and an update for those who were interested!

Have a fabulous weekend and I’ll be back after the weekend…

Until next time my friends….

My First Video Blog

Ok folks…I promised I’d bring you along on my weight loss journey and I promised there would be a video blog or two along the way….so here is the first one! DON’T LAUGH!!!!

Now this might not seem like much to many of you but my postbox is a LONG way from my house, so I figured I’d use this as my starting point to build up to biking other places around the island. There are hills everywhere here and nothing is flat. When you aren’t use to biking you need to start somewhere- right??? Baby steps to a healthier life..that is my new motto.

Biking DOWN to the postboxs- not a big problem except that I felt the bike went a bit fast for my old fashioned liking….however we made up for the fast part on the way up by going not so fast…but speed wasn’t my goal here, it was getting up to the house without getting off the bike and I MADE IT! You can hear me breathing like a woman in labor in the last part of the film..but I also excitedly announce “ I didn’t get off!” hahaha…uff, hate that you guys get to see ALL of me live…but I promised and I keep my promises…and besides…when I get down in weight like I want, we can all look back at these videos and laugh, cry, whatever we feel like ok? If by some small miracle I inspire someone else to get out there and try moving a bit…cool…just understand that you’re not alone in thinking it’s hard to get going…but I have to tell ya, once I’m going….it’s so fun!!!

OK…ready….here ya go…

Until next time my friends…..

Effectiveness Before 6:30AM…

This morning the pups awoke around 6AM. Actually they were starting to settle back down but I went ahead and got up to go the bathroom and one of them saw me and all of a sudden all their heads were up and focused on me….I went ahead and went to the bathroom only to hear the choir singing in the room next to me.

Got them all outside and made their breakfast…put coffee water on and cleaned up. As the tiny lion cubs slowed down for what would be one of many naps throughout the day…

I decided to make some whole grain rolls or in Norwegian, Grov Rundstykker, for breakfast. We had no bread in the house as we’ve been eating knekkebrød (breakable bread- I’ve seen them in America- Wasa sells them) but today I felt like some sort of bread for breakfast. So I decided to make whole grain rolls. I did not use any white flour for this recipe at all. I also kept this simple. For me, the whole grain rolls with seeds and nuts in it are the best but the kids aren’t always keen on all the “birdseed” in the rolls…so today we took whole grain flour and no seeds or nuts.

I read in a baking book I have that it is almost impossible to knead bread enough by hand…and yet it is my preferable way to knead. I love to feel the dough in my hands and work with it. I worked this one today a little longer then normal and was a bit worried it wouldn’t rise like I wanted it too but it did really well and I rolled out 11 various sized rolls…

After a bit they were done…

Finally it was time for my own breakfast….yum

The rest of the day has gone to laundry, a visit from a couple we know from Oslo, puppies, and walks in the woods. I made my asian noodle salad for lunch and for dinner we had fresh shrimp on white bread with leftover asian noodle salad. YUM. But I have to tell you, as much as I love shrimps on white bread…I get so tired of peeling them! So I never manage more then a couple breads..maybe three…but that would be stretching it.

Tomorrow is my “Free” day from my weight program and I’ve already got desert planned- I have bought a brownie package which the kids can make tomorrow and some yoghurt ice cream to go with. I’ll just have a small portion but I’m really looking forward to it!!! I’ve saved up all my free cards which you get throughout the week to use on something good…like a cookie with coffee or something. Each card is worth 25 calories and you get 2 per day…so according to my math skills…that means I have 350 calories to use tomorrow for seven days worth of free cards?? mmmmmm….can taste that brownie now!! hehehe..

Otherwise I’m doing really well and proud of myself, no real hunger pains or anything. Eating a lot of fruit and no problems with smaller amounts…so far so good!!! I’ve also been able to get away the last couple days for two walks which were both 30 minutes long. (Well, yesterday one was 45 minutes and the other was 30 minutes- today we walked faster) Felt good about that and hope to keep that up for the next couple weeks, then I’m going to increase my walking after the pups leave.

Now I’m laying in bed at 9 in the evening with my nightclothes on ready for bed. My throat is killing me and I’m stuffy- I’ve also lost my voice today after our visit. So I’m going to head to bed now so I’ll be ready for my morning shift tomorrow..

Have a great evening everyone…

Until next time

A Super Easy Winner

The following lunch suggestion is something my dearest son said, and I quote, “ If you’re ever going to apply for a job you should take this along with knekkebrød!” So this is an obvious winner with him, I made it last night and didn’t make that much as usually I’m the only one who eats tuna around here but he tried it and loved it and the rest of the gang tried it and also loved it. So I was asked to make it again for lunch today.

This couldn’t get easier but I just wing it…no recipe really…so bare with me.

AMY’S TUNA WINNER SALAD

Servings (about 2-3 people, depending on how much you put on your bread or cracker)

1 can tuna in water

1 hard cooked egg

a quarter red onion sliced and diced

about a teaspoon of fresh chili sliced and diced

1 carrot shredded

2 tbsp remulade (the only way I can describe this to Americans would be like mayonaise with pickles in it or something? They use it a lot with seafood over here..maybe kinda like a tartar sauce or something but a little thicker?)

Lemon pepper after taste

Mix all together and……..

…..voila!! A healthy yummy salad your whole family will love!! Bon Appetit my friends….

Until next time!!

Noticing Little Things

So I’ve been soul searching these last few days…thinking a lot about everything. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to overlook the little things? Take things for granted?

I was walking with the kids in the woods today and we had four puppies with us each time we went into the woods (so 3 trips) and while I was waiting for the perfect shot of puppies looking dreamy off into no where land(puppies who were more interested in discovering the woods then sitting pretty for me…)

I started looking around me…the forest is what it is…green…broken branches..pine cones..mushrooms and ant hills…there aren’t a lot of flowers…but when you see one- you notice it..

I sat next to a tree, waiting for a puppy to appear with some adorable look on it’s face…and I started looking at the bark of the tree…noticing the detail…wondering how long it took to get like that…

I think sometimes in life it’s easy to overlook things. Take them for granted…they are there…we know that and we don’t usually give these things second thoughts…but how wonderful these things are when we stop and really look…look at the beauty…notice the peacefulness…appreciate how long it took for things to get like they are..

I finally got the shot of my puppy looking dreamy off into no where land…

This is my boy, Jackson….isn’t he a sweety?

Doing really well on my program so far..day 2 has gone along without any catches. I’m determined..I think that is what I notice most this time.

Dinner was low fat ground meat with some Slap Ya Mamma cajun spices my dear friend Kelli in Denmark sent me after one of her recent trips to the USA. Real simple meatballs with some rice and a big ol’ salad. Kept the salad simple as my kids are more likely to eat it then.

Talked to my dad tonight, his reservations are made. He and his girlfriend arrive the 1st of September and leave Norway the 1st of October! I’m so grateful we’ll have so much time together. We are all looking forward to their visit so much.

Oh and you guys are soooo sweet with your comments! I was blushing when I read all the very nice things you wrote about me yesterday. That was certainly not the reason for putting out those pictures but hey…if you guys are going to be that sweet every time I do that I’ll have to hold my word and post a photo a week…your warm comments give me such a boost and I really appreciate it and NEED it!! So thank you thank you thank you!!! Big hugs to all of you!!!

Until next time my friends…

Here We Go…..Again…

Hate hate hate posting photos of me, especially below the boobs….but hey…part of fixing a problem is facing it. I told you I was taking you guys on this journey with me, so here we go. This is my before photos. Today I start, officially, my new lifestyle. I will fix it this time. I will make it- why you ask?Because the problems I’ve had lately I blame partly because of my weight.

I am not the same person with this extra weight. I’m tired, unmotivated, not exciting or fun. I want to hide from the world and do as little as possible for fear someone will comment my weight. Ugh, it’s just a horrible cycle. I’ve seen so many people biking around here and I make jokes that I would like to bike but I’m afraid my butt in spandex bike shorts would make people crash as they drive up upon me biking….I’m my own worst critique. But now I’m going to change. I’m going to improve…

My goals for doing this are trying to continue eating whatever I want…but keeping snacks to weekends and keeping portion sizes in check and most importantly for me, exercising consistently. I am good for awhile and then it rains……or I am too tired….something happens and I stop up. But now I’m going to keep it going…even if my exercise is only a 30 minute walk…something is better then nothing. And with all these dogs I really have no excuse not to walk every day…

So stick around folks…my course is 8 weeks. I’ll keep you updated how things are going weekly, with a new photo and you guys can let me know if you see any changes ok?

Uff….ready……here I am today…

Ugh…the shame….and I didn’t even put makeup on for y’all….but hey, I’m playing with 12 puppies, it is raining outside which means everyone is peeing and pooping inside all day…it’s messy and stinky….so I decided to drop the fanciness today…hehehe…not that I’m a fancy girl to begin with…but…I usually put my face on if I show myself in public…hahaha…

Ok, thanks for stopping by and to all of you who comment- THANKS…funny how comments from strangers (and some of you comment so much that you aren’t strangers anymore) and people around the world can affect your day in such a positive way!

Until next time my friends…..

Puppy Overdose

Not a bunch to say right now except that since I gave you all a heads up what’s going in my life I should say that it WILL get better…but it’s a long road ahead. I appreciate all the advice and warm thoughtful words both here and privately.

While I deal with things on the homefront I’ll leave you with some photos of puppies…puppies always bring a smile to your face and they are a great reminder of how life works…life never slows down…even during sadness, difficulties, times when you wish the world would just stop…it never does..and as I mentioned once upon a time before- you just have to keep going and I will and the puppies are helping..

This is Randi, the owner of Caiser, the father to this litter…she came to visit the pups this past weekend and fell in love…who could blame her?

Caiser, the father of our litter now…

 

Caiser meets his daughter, Carma for the first time…she will go to live with her dad.

Here she is giving him a kiss…love you Dad!

Until next time my friends…

Guess Who Came To Visit Again?

Rememeber the moose mamma who visited me last year with her babies? She came back last night, interestingly enough after I had mentioned earlier in the day that I wondered where my moose was from last year….there she was last night with her two new calves!! They didn’t stay very long and unfortunately came as the evening was getting darker quick. They were so far away and I didn’t have time to get out my tripod, so I apologize the bad quality in these photos. I contemplated riding out to her on my ATV but figured there wasn’t enough speed to get me out there and back home safely if she decided to have a go at me…so I just took photos from my veranda like last year.

My marriage has hit a rough spot….it’s weighing heavily on me right now. On top of having 12 puppies to look after and everything else, now there is this problem.

I’m going to do my best to work through things…I don’t believe in giving up and no marriage has only smooth sailing…but I really don’t know right now how it will end…if there will be a happy ending or a sad ending? I don’t know…

I have to make some changes in my life…some improvements I guess? The Captain is unhappy with how things are right now. I’m willing to meet him part way on some of these things….but some things are just life- get use to it…

I’ll probably end up looking for a co-owner home for two of my leonberger females….so if you are interested (and living in Norway) or know someone who could be interested in a 2 or 4 year old female- not problem girls but preferrably people with big dog experience and hopefully not to far away from me as I want to continue showing them and maybe have a litter on them…let me know.

My girls are aware of what is going on and keep asking me if we will be getting a divorce…I tell them I don’t think so, but we are in a rough place and need to see if we can work through this…kinda hard while he is in Brazil and I am here, but I imagine we’ll find time when he gets back and try and do our best to communicate in the meantime. It isn’t easy- life isn’t easy….but like I said, I’m not giving up and I just hope he doesn’t either…

I’m getting company tonight who will overnight until tomororw…not really in the mood for company but it might be just what I need?

Until next time my friends….

A New Peon And A Visit

One of the peon plants I planted last year has bloomed. Only this single bloom, but isn’t she lovely? I’m so excited to see if there will come more and more blooms for every year. I was wondering, is there anything special I need to do to protect my peon plants through the hard winters? Put an extra layer of dirt on them before the snow comes?? Does anyone know the answer please comment!!

Found this beauty in my garden also. Over in a forgotten patch of the yard where I thought at one time I’d have a rose garden….and possibly still will someday…I looked over and several blooms, including this one were shining through after a rain storm.

I don’t know if I should share this with you considering my announcement of a healthier lifestyle last post…but I can’t resist. I made a carrot cake…my favourite cake of all time….and hey…carrot…isn’t that kind of healthy???

The fat girl in me has an excuse for this delicious morsel….you knew she would right??? A reason to celebrate….my Dad announced he will be coming to visit in September!! He will stay 3 or 4 (4 if I have my way) weeks and I can’t wait!!! So excited to have him here and show him around and just spend time with him, letting him see our life here.

To wash down this scrumptious cake, I attempted Sun tea….Sun tea my foreign friends are thinking, what is that?? I’ll tell you real simple- it’s tea that cooks in the sun. I used six bags of Lipton Yellow Tea and cold water. You put it in a jar like the one shown below and let it sit out in the sun all day long. Now my first attempt at this was on a day when there was hardly any sun (in fact it rained) and I only used 4 tea bags. We got a weak result. However, the second attempt worked out much better. A dash of sugar and some lemon and you’ve got a summer thirst quencher here…

I’ve finally picked my pup….let me proudly introduce the newest member of our family, Seaprides Kodiak Bear Hugs or Jackson as we will call him daily…

 

This sweetheart below will be heading to Seattle Washington in the good ol’ US of A where he will enjoy a pampered life with two other leonbergers who are 11 years old each!! His name will be Bamse which is Norwegian for Teddy Bear and his pedigree name will be Seaprides Teddy Bear Hugs..

So if you’re ever in Seattle or you live there and you see this handsome boy, give him a hug from his “grandma” in Norway ok? :-))

Well folks, this is all for now…pups think I’ve been on here long enough and my cord to my computer is becoming increasingly popular as I ignore the pups in order to write….they have such a way of getting their opinions out there…hahahaha..

Until next time my friends….

Exhaustion

I’m exhausted. I’m totally and underly exhausted. I have no words for how exhausted I am, there is no way to describe this feeling. My head which usually races with a million thoughts, still has those million thoughts racing only it’s caos on my brain waves…my thoughts get mixed up and I can’t think straight. Simple things are difficult and I’m emotional. I go between extreme anger and flying off the handle at the blink of an eye to crying uncontrollably for no apparent reason and laughing til my stomach hurts at the silliest things. It’s just weird…this exhaustion. But then I look over at these sweet babies…

And I think, it’s only for a few more weeks…then they will leave and the only one left will be Jackson. The boy we’re keeping and the pup going to Japan…..oh and the little girl whose owners will be on vacation until the 10th of August. Ok…so there will be 3 or 4…but still compared to 12 it’s nothing…

I’ve begun using ear plugs when I sleep because they do this…

 

at night and usually it’s one lone pup that sits there in the midst of all it’s siblings and begins this lonesome song…and after awhile several others wake to join him…hoping (I’m sure) that someone will hear their pitiful song and come rescue them…but with the help of ear plugs I shall teach them at night we sleep…we do not sing, we do not eat, we do not play….we sleep….sleep is good…sleep is important…we need sleep…

Next week I’ll be starting an online diet course similar to Weight Watchers. I’ll write down my menu for a week and how much I exercise and someone will go over this with me and tell me where I can improve things. I’m ready to make these changes. There are things in my life that are demanding this change…whether I’m wanting it completely or not, I must..I must make these changes once and for all. My biggest grrrrrr is that I want to make these changes without sacrificing the good things in life…eating things I want, baking when I feel for it, etc etc. There HAS to be a way to live normally and still lose weight and be healthy?? Well, I’ve been thinking about doing some videos on my weight loss journey and posting them here..maybe while I’m out exercising or something- thoughts and such of a woman on a mission- sounds exciting doesn’t it? I’m sure you all want to hear my baby voice and see my big gigantic jumbo body on video…so stay tuned…hahaha..

Believe it or not I’ve been able to do some gardening with the pups around and I’m also blessed with a field of wild flowers which are so beautiful to look at and give me such peace..what do you think? Isn’t this peaceful?

The kids have been great, helping me with the pups….

and picking the most delicious little strawberries which grow wild around here in the woods and in our yard…they are so sweet, like little bursts of sweetness…

I love my blog and I love reading all of your blogs…I send a huge warm hug to all of you who have continued to be loyal to this blog despite the lack of updates and I promise to repay the loyalty by continuing to read all of your blogs once my life gets a little less caotic and the exhaustion levels get back to normal..

Until next time my dear friends….