It’s not as though there’s much to take pictures of out in my garden right now. The Sago Palms have all come back from being frozen to the ground. First time that’s happened to me in over five years of living here.
Yesterday I planted as many sweet potato vine cuttings as I could find room for. The rest I put in a humongous yard bag and threw out in the garbage. Yes, there were that many.
The new honeysuckle vine I planted back in the spring has decided to reach up and latch onto the sun. Which sounds kind of poetic, doesn’t it?
It’s that point in the summer when you’d better get your watering chores done early, like as soon as it’s light outside. Then settle in to do some crafts you’ve been putting off. Or get to reading that stack of books. In the air conditioned comfort of your home, if at all possible.
Because it’s going to get worse before it gets better. And around here that means October or thereabouts.
What I will be doing is eating a good many Weight Watchers Giant Latte ice cream bars. Because Nola and I have put ourselves on the online Weight Watchers diet. Yep, we bit the bullet a few weeks ago. And we’ll keep right on biting it as we watch skinny people eating hot fudge sundaes and fried chicken with gravy.
I called her today and said: “Have you bought any of those Giant Latte ice cream bars yet?” And she said: “Just got back from the grocery store with them.” So I said: “Well, run to the freezer and grab one and take a bite, because that’s what I’m doing right now. And they’re mighty good.”
So there we were, two fifty-something women oohing and aahing over the phone. Over something so darned good it was hard to believe we had to use up only one point to enjoy it. I would have hated for anyone to be listening in to that carrying on. Because it was downright embarrassing, to tell you the honest truth. But when you’re hungry and rationing out points like we are, food enters a whole new element in your line of reasoning.
I got inspired by Diane of Crafty Passions, who has managed to lose about 25 pounds. (You go, girl!) If she could do it being the caretaker to her mother-in-law, who has Alzheimers, bless her poor heart, then surely I could put some effort out. So we’ll keep you posted. Hopefully with a lighter and brighter outlook on life.
I’m not on a diet and those ice cream bars sound divine!!
Your gardens look beautiful and especially with all the heat your having. I moved to a area that you don’t need A/C so it’s been a strange summer for me. The hottest it gets here is 80 and i laugh at all the people complaining! Back home they’re suffering with heat in the high 90′s!
Hope your summer is going well Brenda!
Thanks for the great comments on my red kitchen… i knew you’d appreciate it being a colour loving girl!
Pamela xo
Brenda, I need to shed a few or a lot of pounds, too. I have thought about weight watchers. I just hate paying money to lose weight, but I may have to. Is it easy to do on line?
Brenda,
Good for you, girl. Best of luck and keep us posted. I will have to try those bars for a snack!
Oh you two crack me up ,wish I could have been in on that phone call !!
And by the way where was my weight watcher bar?? I didn’t get one..LOL!!
I am hovering the 30 pound mark maybe tomorrow… LOL!!
I had to go clothing shopping ,I needed new undies, they were uncomfortable the fit was all wrong..so then I saw a few blouses in my old size I tried them on… wellllll((( happy dance))), I had to go back and look at clothing with new eyes,I had to hold them up to myself to see it was a better fit….. guess what>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not one but 4 sizes smaller !!!!((Happy Dance))
Yup there is less of me to love !! LOL!!
The secret…. No carbs and don’t cheat.
Think of me when you feel the urge to cheat.. dont do it !( If I can do it so can you)
Diane
Your garden is just so lovely. I can barely keep anything going right now. Phoenix summer is brutal, even on my desert plants. Sometimes I don’t know if I’m watering too much or not enough. October – yes we wait for October.
I love your box of shells. I have mine in glass but I also like that look you’ve got going.
Keep up the good work on the WW!
You go, girl! I’ll be one of your biggest cheerleaders. No, really! I’ll be one of your BIGGEST cheerleaders. I’ve lost 22 lbs., but have at least 40 to go. I’ll keep you posted.
Huge Hugs!
xoxo
Donna
Well, darn those skinny ladies who can eat fried chicken. My issues seem to be more with cholesterol counts than weight, but I’m getting tired of eating high fiber and no fat and the numbers won’t go down. Soon I’ll be living on lettuce and water.
So glad you found a tasty treat and a friend to share your diet with. I imagine that helps a bit.
I think your garden looks wonderful even if the heat has gotten to it.
hi brenda,
good for you. i know many who have lost weight on weight watchers. very inspiring. i am awful about portion control. having your pal to do this with will be a huge help. way to go!
your garden is cheerful as always!
xo
elyse
Good for you, Brenda…I could stand to lose a few, too. Tonight in the checkout line I decided to not pick up those peanut butter cups…trying to win one battle at a time! Those bars sound really good!
Way to go Brenda! I’ll have to look for those latte bars at my grocery store! And I love your plants, mine need huge drinks every morning and every evening too!
Kat
Your plants are beautiful and your yard looks so inviting…A well groomed yard is one of my favs.
Enjoyed your blog
Shug
Good for you my friend…I bet it is hard to resist those ice cream treats.
Love your yard. xoxoxo
Hi, Brenda,
I’ve gone on record to renew my January goal — weight loss, organization, and writing my novel. I’ll be posting on my progress (baby steps, probably) and will be following yours also. Best wishes to all who are working on getting healthy! Annie
Just found your blog, love it! Sounds like we are kindred dieting spirits! I am not on WW but am still trying to drop several unwanted pounds. Lovely blog pictures,too. Really like the chair post.
Here’s to reading LESS of you in the coming days! LOL
Your garden looks so much greener than mine. We have to work hard and do lots of watering to get some green here in the desert. I hope the diet goes well. My friend recently lost 50 lbs on Weight Watchers. She looks great.
Blessings,
Marcia
I love the flexibility of WW and it seems to get easier and easier to figure out the points…the ice cream bars sound divine!
Looks like we have many of the same books on our summer reading list…stay cool and enjoy.
It’s hot here in Texas… watering in the evenings for sure! I saved the picture of your pond to my favorites file so I could print it out one day and show it to someone who can help me build a pond. I am so in love with your pond!! Ok… I’ll stop now :O)
It sure does sound hot down there. Our summer continues to be a strange one with the weather. I’ve gotten very lazy about watering right now since nothing really seems to dry out much other than containers and a few newly planted plants. The ice cream bars sound delicous. Good luck with WW
LOVE your pics,
the first especially.
I hate dieting but
find as I get older
that you have to
be ever vigilant…
or it creeps up….
Those bars sound
wonderful!!! Try
to stay cool. We
finally hit 90+
again, yesterday;
only the 9th day
so far this summer,
so even when the
heat index is 100,
we soak it all up!
Happy Wednesday,
Brenda!
xx Suzanne
O, Brenda…good good luck on your quest for a healthier eating lifestyle. I know you can do it.
)
I would LOVE to lose about 15 lbs. but, alas, the very minute I think of cutting back, food becomes formost in my mind. I quit smoking about 7 years ago (after smoking for over 30 years) and never looked back….so I KNOW I have willpower, if I put it in gear.
It has been hot here, too…not quite as hot as East Texas. I do all my watering in the early morning and then stay inside…blogging.
xo bj
Hi Brenda, oooh those latte bars sound divine..I am getting myself back to ww this fall..have not had the $$ to do it, and I need meetings, online won’t work for me…Good luck to you.
Hot here to in Palm Springs area, and October is about when we start cooling, too…Yay! for A/C!
Blessings,
Barb
Good luck! Your yard is beautiful I just love looking at the pictures and dreaming of my yard looking like that someday!
I have also been reading…and staying out of the sun…this has been one of the sunniest summers on the Jersey Shore…ever!! I yearn for drizzly days. We have a Whole foods near us, and they have the best ice pops…everyone in the house loves them.
Lynne-The heat index here for today is 110-117! It just saps the strength out of me (and makes me a little irritable
Your palms are beautiful! Just about everyhing of mine has given up–even with constant watering! Good luck with the WW!! My husband lost 60 pounds doing weight watchers and has kept it off over a year! It is a very doable way to live. I am making WW eggplant chips for dinner tonight! There are some geeat online recipes!
Hi Brenda! I have a few friends who have tried Weight Watchers. Not only did they lose weight, but they kept it off. I think it’s the most sensible diet around. Good luck and keep at it. Just wish you had not mentioned fried chicken with gravy … can’t stop thinking about it now!!
Lots of love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
PS: Is that Charlie I spot in the garden? Give all your fur babies hugs for me!!
nice blog! i see a shell on your blog they, are wonderful! i collecting shells too!
I watered the garden this early am, but I have to tell you, it looks pathetic. I’ve never seen it this bad so early. Usually it is down and out by about mid to late August, but it has been sad since mid July. Too much hot sun and not enough rain.
I may have to invest in weight watchers dessert. It sounds awfully tasty!
xo
Claudia
I’m laughing all over again reading your account of our “Latte Bars Incident”! (Don’t even ask how many of them I ate yesterday!)
I’m doing the happy dance with Diane! Wow, 4 sizes smaller, go Diane, go!
I have joined a weight loss blogging group and hope to shed some of my excess baggage and see if it helps with the chronic pain and fatigue problems. Good luck to you–and to me. Gotta get me some of those latte bar things.
Congrats on your new efforts! I absolutely hate dieting and I really should be joining myself. I could stand to lose some pounds. I’ve actually pondered the thought of starting a diet blog too…we’ll see.
Keep your sense of humor! It serves one well – in the heat and dieting both! I’m gonna look for some of those bars!
HI Brenda I am over here to nose around and look at your garden,and I realize I was here yesterday! So you are in Texas and up here in Boston we have the Texas heat! I gained 5 lbs a yr for the past 3 years. I agree with Diane that counting carbs is the easiest way to lose, and I lost 14 lbs in two months by having one rule: less than 20 carbs per day. thats it. And it works, but no cheating or you can blow it quickly. I am taking alittle summer food break and having fun and eating waht I want but will start back on the lo carb plan tomorrow. It is an easy way for me to control my weight. I did WW in my twenties and was successful with that too. Just wanted to share!
Oh you will do great! I need to put effort into too. Those bars sound amazing! I love your garden. Your books are great too. Read a few and saw a Jane Green I need to look for I love her books! Have a great day and stay cool!
Hugs, Lisa
Good for you Brenda! Best of luck and don’t forget to keep us posted. Love all the photos.
~ Tracy
Can’t say I’m dieting, but just eating differently and have lost 7 pounds since July 11th. Just cutting out carbs is a huge help.
DI
Hello Brenda!
The Latte Bars from WW’s sound quite yummy! I love WW’s fudge bars, so now I will need to try these! Good luck on WW. It is a great program! I have lost the same 35 lbs. over and over again but it works! LOL!
Your garden always looks so beautiful. You have a green thumb, even in the summer!
Hugs,
Maryjane
Thanks for the ice cream tip–maybe this way I can fit in another dessert! Ha! I sure love “reach up and latch onto the sun”. I read it before I saw it and was so impressed! I love the photo with the starfish and the box of driftwood and shells. Being the indoorsy type your day plan sounds pretty good. Nice reading list too! Your pal, Jacqueline
Cactus is it? Yucca maybe? Or as my French friend would say, Cactoos, or Yoooka!
Our big storms have cooled things off and it’s in the low 80s. Joy! Even inside in ac one still feels drained. I like your idea of the ice cream bars and a good book.
Best,
Bonnie
Love that red chair!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving the nice comment. I just lost my 14-year-old lab about a month and a half ago…it’s been a long summer. I’ll be so glad when this nightmare is all over.
the gerden really looks so pretty…. enjoy your weight watchers ice cream and the remainder of your week. I hope you will see results in your diet!If I had extra money I would do it… So instead I am trying on my own…changing the way I eatand getting outside more. Hugs,Mica
the gerden really looks so pretty…. enjoy your weight watchers ice cream and the remainder of your week. I hope you will see results in your diet!If I had extra money I would do it… So instead I am trying on my own…changing the way I eat and getting outside more. Hugs,Mica