I am continually amazed.......

at the way our bodies develop strength. I'm a big framed girl, even though I'm short, and I'm also pretty darned strong. I can sling a 50 lb sack of goat or horse feed up onto my shoulder and trek down to the barn, open the door, open the bin and dump that feed in without thinking twice about it. If I have to, I can squat down to pick something up with that 50 lb sack of grain on my shoulder and manage to get back up.

Now having gotten that little tidbit outta the way, since I've been working out I've been getting progressively stronger. When I first started working out, I could do knee push ups without much trouble, but I couldn't do triangle push ups at all. Then after a couple weeks of working out, lo and behold I could do triangle push ups, but I couldn't do medicine ball push ups. Fast forward to this morning.....and praise be I can now do medicine ball push ups! Granted I can only do 3 of the suckers, but I couldn't even do one a few weeks ago! Today my hubs and I cut wood for our fireplace. I ran my chainsaw and he split the wood with a maul. I was able to run that chainsaw for close to 2 hours! There was a time when I was only strong enough to cut one little log!

Wow, that just really makes me happy. It also makes me so thankful to God for the wonderful way that he designed our bodies! No matter the abuse, neglect, or what have you, our wonderful amazing bodies will continue to bounce back (to a certain extent I'm sure). I used to feel like I'd ruined my body. Lets face it, 20 years of massive gains and losses hasn't exactly been kind to my poor body, but that body is bouncing back. Ok, so I may never have the flawless (airbrushed I'm sure) skin of a Hollywood celebrity, but I can be the best me that I can be, and that is plenty good enough! I won't dwell on the sagging breasts, the stretch marked belly, the flabby triceps. I will rejoice in having stamina, in being able to see muscles in my biceps, in increasing my endurance and strength every single week! It feels good and I revel in it!

Till next time.......I'm unTHICKINandsoTHINNIN

Getting in some wood.....and a homeowner tragedy...

Today my clan spent some quality time cutting some wood for the fireplace. At this time, we don't have a wood stove, but we do have a fireplace and can usually make it well into December before we have to start using the furnace. Having a fireplace necessitates wood.....lots and lots of wood! Fireplaces burn way more wood than a stove does because of the openness, but we still like it. Nothing like sitting at the table by a roaring fire working on a quilt or some embroidery!

I cut the logs up with my trusty Stihl chainsaw and The Man splits with the maul. Then together we toss the wood in the truck.

While The Man and I were busily getting the wood in, The Youngun was building herself a house.

This is the finished product. She is sitting on her hammock and her house is to the right. Isn't it beautiful!

Uh oh..........

Every homeowners nightmare has come to visit!

Naomi has discovered her home!!

Maybe if she goes inside Naomi will go away?

No such luck.........now all the girls are devouring her house!

The saddened home owner retreated to her hammock to contemplate how best to goat proof her design for next time!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend, wherever you are!

Till next time.........GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

A good day begins.........

With a workout! Yesterday I didn't get my workout in for the first time since I began WW. I went back to bed after hubby left for work and slept till time to get my beautiful girl up and ready for school. Then I had salsa to make and that kept me busy until time to pick her up from school. I had plans to do my workout after she got home, but she had so much to tell me and I love chatting with her about her day! So.........the workout didn't happen. But you know what? It wasn't a tragedy! Really, it didn't derail me, didn't stop my progress, didn't even ruin my life! I know it, that's just crazy talk, but it's so true. See I'm a bit of a freak, as if you didn't already know this, and I tend to be the type of person who goes along just great until something stops me from my schedule for one day. Then it's all over for me. I fall off the wagon and the freakin wagon runs me over! But not this time.........not with WW! I am almost at the 2 month point and I'm still doing great! I've had some instances where before I would have totally fallen apart and quit, and I haven't. I've gut it out so to speak.

I got out there in the hillbilly hotel this morning, right after getting the hub-unit off to work and getting my milking done. I did my 30 minutes of walking jogging on the treadmill, then my 30 min weight lifting routine and then was in and showered and getting Sissy up by 6:30. It was a good moment for me knowing that even though my routine got off yesterday, it didn't totally derail the train! WHOO HOO! Because the way that I see things......if we are going to do this for life............forever..........God willing for the next 60 years or so.........(come on I can live till 92 can't I?) then we have to be f*l*e*x*i*b*l*e. If we can't, then it's never ever gonna work! It's gonna work for me baby..........I know it! So work it for you.....every day......in every way.........oh yeah, and head over to anti-gravity, cause laughing has GOT to be worth some activity points!

Till next time......I'm lauginmywaytounTHICKIN and smilinmywaytoTHINNIN

WI yesterday........

and I was up .4 of a pound. It's ok though cause TOM was standing on the scale when I weighed. He called today to let me know that he'd be here tomorrow. YES......I totally can't wait to see him........NOT! I really hate TOM, but I won't dwell on that cause it gets old and I know that. My back hurts, my legs ache, but the worst problem is that he pokes me demon. Yes that's right TOM gets a big ole pointy stick and pokes.....and pokes........and pokes trying his hardest to wake that demon up so that they can be mean to me! I spent most of yesterday afternoon singing the stupid demon back to sleep after TOM KEPT POKING HIM!

Anyway, I'm fine........just feeling very fragile. After a good night's sleep in my hubby's arms, I'm sure I'll be good tomorrow. It usually only lasts one day.

Ok, sorry that this post was so disturbing and mental!

till next time..........I'll be unTHICKIN and sortaTHINNIN!

Such a long way to go........

Yesterday morning as I was dressed to workout and waiting for my hubby to get ready, I was looking at myself in the full length mirror across from his bathroom. He was washing his face and brushing his teeth and I sighed and said to him......I still have such a long way to go. He said......you'll get there and I said......I know. We went and worked out and then went about the rest of our day. I did and do know that I'll get there but it just felt so insurmountable.

This morning as I was coming back in from milking (I seem to have all my great epiphany's at that time) the thought flashed into my head.......I still have such a long way to go.......but this time that thought was immediately followed by another one.......yeah, the rest of your life. Shockingly, instead of depressing me, that cheered me up alot! It brought it into perspective once again that this is a forever life change. It isn't a flash in the pan, as soon as the weight is gone it's over kind of thing. This is the new me. It has to be. If it isn't, I'll be overweight forever. I've gone through this 3 different times in my life. Lost alot of weight, only to gain it back. I don't want that to happen again, so it has to be a total life change. That's gonna take a bit longer than 6 weeks!

So to make a long story short (and this is gonna be a short story cause my warm bed and my even warmer hubby are calling to me) I've still got a long way to go, but I've got the rest of my life to get there!

Till next time.......I'm unTHICKIN and soTHINNIN!

God told me to post......

As I went out to milk Tulip this morning at about 4:30 and was entering the barnyard.........wait let me explain how my backyard is layed out. My entire backyard is covered in shade trees. I do mean covered. We can't even get grass to grow back there. As I go through the gate to enter the barnyard the sky opens up like a (and I just can't find the right metaphor!) So as I pass through the gate, milk pail and wash bucket in hand, I look up and see the beautiful, gorgeous night sky. The stars are just amazing, the sky is still velvety black and the stars.........I just can't even describe them. I tried to take a picture, but that just didn't even work!

I stopped right there, just through the gate of the barnyard and praised my Maker. I said to Him, "Thank you Lord God for making this beautiful world for us to live in. Thank you for giving me life and for giving me goats to milk so that I was outside at this beautiful time of day to see and appreciate this world."

See to my way of thinking, God didn't have to make our world beautiful. He didn't have to make trees and flowers and grass and a moon and stars. He could have gone so many different ways with our habitat, but He loved us so much that He created this world just for us and He not only created it, He made it heartbreakingly beautiful! And even better than that, there are all types of habitats within our world. There are cities and towns, and villages, and countryside. Wilderness, tundra, deserts, beaches. We can live in whatever part of this world makes us happiest (most of us have that choice anyway) and (and here's the kicker) God gave us the ability and the power to create happiness wherever we are. We can choose to be happy.

Now I know there may be people reading this who are saying, "Goodwife, it just isn't that simple!" to which I reply, "YES it is" God gave us free will, he gave us the ability to choose and trust in Him and He gave us the ability to reject Him and try to make it on our own. That isn't to say that choosing Him will make your life all sunshine and roses. There has to be rain and thorns, but even through the rain and thorns we have the ability to open our eyes in the morning and say......."Today I choose You Lord, and I'm going to choose to be happy and thankful for what I have, and not to dwell on the things that I don't have and the things that I can't change!" When you do that, fully and whole-heartedly, your life will change in ways that you can't even imagine!

I choose Him...........what will you choose today?

Till next time..........GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Made a discovery....

I love working out. I know I know, it might not sound all that earth shattering, but this is coming from a person who won't walk 2 blocks to the grocery store to buy a package of kool aid! Isn't that why I own a car? I mean seriously.........However, that said I've been working out 6 days a week for 6 weeks now and I love it! It makes me feel so strong and powerful and healthy and just really really good. I urge anybody who thinks they don't like it to give it a shot. Keep trying until you find an activity that you enjoy......rowing machine, elliptical, treadmill, swimming, walking the dog, whatever and DO IT! I'll bet you'll come to love it as much as I do! And even if you don't come to love it.........think of it as an real investment in your health. I'm much more capable of doing this program because I am thinking of it less in terms of weight lost and more in terms of being strong and healthy. The weight is just a really nice kicker!

Have a great day and remember........together we'llbesounTHICKIN and gettinfitandTHINNIN!

Thank you to my Jesus!

Today is my weigh in day as you all know (all three of my faithful readers, lol) When I got on the scale I had lost 3.2 lbs this week! Yiiippeeeeeeeeee! Wow, my hands truly flew up to cover my face and I squealed "Thank You God! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!" I can't believe that I am doing this. I can't believe how strong and healthy I feel. I truly feel like this is something that I can do for the rest of my life! I truly feel like it really can be a lifestyle change, an investment in my health! I'm so thankful for the online WW community that is so supportive and understanding. It's so nice to know that I can blog about something and somebody will leave me a comment or post something on my wall letting me know that they are right there with me, feeling it, living it, or that they've been there at some time in the past. I'm very thankful to God for sending me to WW!

This is where I am at in week 6 of my weight loss journey..........
Starting weight..... 229
Current weight..... 215.4
Total loss............... 13.6

I've achieved my initial goal of a reduction of 5% of my body weight which was very exciting. My next goal is to lose 10% of my beginning weight which will be to weigh 206. When I reach that goal then I will set another goal. I think that the setting of smaller goals makes this much more doable than just saying that I want to weigh a certain amount. Getting those little stars from WW means so much to me!

Thanks so much to everybody who has been so supportive, my new friends from WW and most especially my sister, who is always ready to listen and be there for me!

Love to you all.............till next time...........I'm unTHICKIN and sosweetlyTHINNIN!

Some of my favorite healthy recipes......

I thought I'd share some of my go-to recipes for keeping my stomach happy on this weight loss journey! All of these recipes make 1 serving unless otherwise specified. Most are my own creations, or else something that I found on WW and revamped to make them my own.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken (6 WW points per serving)
(this is my all time favorite and I eat it at least twice a week if not more)

4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
1 TBSP soy sauce
1/2 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup thinly sliced onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced raw carrot
2 TBSP brown sugar

Cut chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Put in covered bowl with soy sauce and toss to coat, set aside. Heat canola oil in small (#3) cast iron skillet. Add chicken and saute till done. Meanwhile in smallish saucepan add salsa, onion, carrot, and brown sugar and heat over medium heat till bubbly, then reduce heat to simmer until chicken is done. Add chicken into saucepan and stir to combine, simmer for about 1 minute just to blend flavors.

I eat this with 2 oz of whole wheat spaghetti noodles. It is also good with rice or potatoes, depending on your mood!

Chavarti Potato Salad (9 WW points per serving)

This is one that I concocted myself and it's really quite yummy as well!

1 cup raw potatoes, diced but not peeled
4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 tsp canola oil
1 oz havarti cheese
2 TBSP chives
2 tsp minced garlic
1TBSP miracle whip (I use generic!)

Boil potatoes in salted water til done but not mushy. Drain. Add chunked Havarti cheese and cover to let cheese soften a bit. Heat canola oil in cast iron skillet (#3) and add the garlic, saute till browned. Add diced chicken breast, saute till done, add chives and saute till bright green (this happens very quickly). Add warm chicken to potatoes/cheese mixture. Add a couple grinds of sea salt and pepper and the miracle whip. Stir well. Serve warm or cold. I like it warm! Yummy yummy yummy!

Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast (6 points per serving)
This is a bit more of an involved recipe but for sure worth it!

4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast (more of a cutlet)
1 tsp canola oil (divided into 1/2 tsp each)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach
2 TBSP blue cheese crumbles
1/4 tsp lemon juice

Microwave spinach in glass measuring cup till just heated. Stir in lemon juice, blue cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Pound chicken breast thin (very thin), put spinach mixture in middle of breast, roll up and secure with toothpicks. Grate fresh salt and pepper over. Heat 1/2 tsp of canola oil in medium cast iron skillet (#8) saute onion till golden. Add remaining canola oil and sear chicken till golden brown on all sides, turning to do so. Then cover with a lid and reduce heat, cooking until it reaches a temp of 165 in the middle. Serve with brown rice and california style veggies! This is sooooo very very good!

Blue Cheese Chicken Burgers (6 WW points per burger, including the bread or bun)
These are my daughter's favorite thing! This was a WW recipe that I corrupted into my own.

4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into large chunks)
4 saltine crackers
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup sliced onion
2 TBSP bbq sauce (any flavor, I use Sweet Baby Ray's chipotle)
1 TBSP blue cheese crumbles
1 tsp canola oil

In your food processor with the multipurpose blade in, add chicken, crackers, garlic, and onion. Pulse until chicken is ground and well mixed with the other ingredients. Remove from food processor bowl and add in the bbq sauce and the blue cheese crumbles, mixing well with a spatula. Shape into a patty (it will be a very large patty!). Heat oil in your trusty cast iron skillet and cook patty until done, flipping once. Once again, making sure that it reaches 165 degrees in the center. Serve with lettuce, tomato, onion, or whatever your favorite fixins on either one slice of whole grain bread, cut in half, or a mixed grain hamburger roll. (Depending on your toppings and choice of bread, this can affect your points) These are so good and my daughter likes them almost better than hamburgers! If you don't have a way to do these in your food processor, just use ground chicken and mix the other stuff in my hand.

Finally we have.........

Chicken Salsa Slaw (5 WW points per serving.....the recipe makes 2 servings)

1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup green cabbage, shredded
1 apple, cored, sliced, and diced
1/4 cup onion, diced
4 oz roasted white meat chicken, pulled and shredded
3 TBSP miracle whip (once again, I use generic)
1 cup salsa
2 tsp minced garlic

Toss first five ingredients together in large bowl. In small bowl, mix miracle whip, salsa, and garlic together well. Add to cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Chill and serve. This is so delicious!!

That's it for now! Hope you try some of these and enjoy them as much as I do. They are wonderful even if you aren't trying to lose weight!

Till next time..............I'll be unTHICKIN and soTHINNIN!

How to Milk a Goat............or Goat Milking 101........

Ok kids............today's lesson is.........How to Milk a Goat..........

Here at Goodwife Farm, I prefer Kinders!

Let me have just a minute to take roll............Bueller...............Bueller................Bueller............

Ok ok, now that I've got that out of my system................on to our class!

First off you are going to need a goat..........any goat will do, any goat at all.Um............strike that...........it may be best if it were a FEMALE goat.


And it would probably be helpful if she were lactating.

Much like human women, you just can't get much milk out unless they are lactating!

There we go...........that's better.
Now we are ready to milk that goat!

First you need to get your girlie up on the milk stand.

My dad built me this handy dandy milk stand and he only charged me $975.00 not including labor. He's a funny guy my dad!

Ok now that you have bribed your sweet and tractable goat up on the stand with some yummy goatie granola............

You are ready to get started.

You have already gathered up all your milking supplies........your pail.........your bucket of booby wash............your lid to cover that foamy fresh milk.........paper towels........and eeeny weeny dixie cups!

The first thing you need to do is wash those hooters...........

Not yours silly...........the goat's! And please resist the urge to refer to your goat as "Boobs, or Pam". It makes her feel like an object and really is just plain rude!

Then you dry them really good.........nobody wants chapped hooters, not even your goat girl!

You are now READY TO MILK........

I know it's terribly exciting!

Give your girl her serving of goat granola.

She will act like she hasn't eaten in weeks......that's ok......she's a hungry girl, and you know what that's like!

Now you are going to massage those teats. It relaxes her and convinces her that it's ok to let you have her milk instead of trying to keep it for her kids!

Since this is a G-rated blog I'll refrain from showing a photograph of this step!

Sit down beside your goat, in whatever position is comfortable for you.

I like the hunched over, bent up old crone position, but you do whatever works for you!

Now don't be afraid, this is where lesser goodwives can get a little corn-fused, but you can do this!

Grasp the teat (at the top where it joins the udder) with your thumb and forefinger. Be sure to close the teat off completely or the milk will just go back up! Now close the rest of your fingers. Be prepared for the milk to come shooting out........much like it did when that one kid choked on his chocolate milk in Kindergarten! Don't pull down, you aren't pulling the bell chain for the servants! Now just point it down into the milk bucket and you are all set! Get a rhythm going alternating teats as you go. Milk till you can't milk no more and then milk some more. You can develop a bit of a hand cramp if this is your first milking, but you must persevere........you've got to get all that milk out! When the milk slows down, stop and massage that udder again. Don't feel like you are feeling her up........it's ok.......she needs you to do this so that she will let down all of the milk! Begin milking again and milk till no more milk will come out. And you're all done! Almost...........

Remember those little dixie cups? Go get one and dip it in the bucket of booby wash. Bring it over to your patiently waiting girl and dip each one of her teats in. Now you are done but for one final step!

Please forgive me as I spruced this picture up a bit cause it left a little to be desired, taking a photo of your own hand dipping a teat is harder than it sounds! Here is the most important part of milking............are you ready?

You must remember to UNLOCK YOUR GOAT'S HEAD FROM THE MILKING STAND! This is very very important. Just ask Tulip about the time that she had to stand patiently ALL FREAKIN' DAY LONG with her head stuck in that stanchion because her loser owner FORGOT TO LET HER OUT! Bad bad day here at Goodwife Farm, but luckily Tulip is a good girl and didn't break her neck. She was just very thirsty and had to pee really really bad!

Ok, now you've got a milk pail full of foamy, rich, warm milk.

Cover it with your lid to prevent any stray dust, hair, or bugs from landing in the foam! Take that yummy stuff to the house, strain it, and chill it in an ice bath to get it cold as quick as you can. Now pour yourself a big ole glass and enjoy!

Till next time............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

I recycled this post for my first Farm Friend Friday.  It's fun, you should link up and also visit the other bloggers!

The goofy, sweet, funny Goodwife Child.........

Ok, my kid is watching a DVD of King of the Hill. I was sitting here at the computer. She comes out with this statement..........."Mama I hope that my husband knows how to save money, cause I sure don't"

Out of the mouths of babes.............such wisdom.........she knows herself so well.........

Till next time........GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Banana Butter and Salsa

Yesterday I made Banana Butter for the first time. It's pretty good but very very sweet. I wonder if I could make it with less sugar? I may have to do some research on that little topic!

My poor tomatoes just aren't doing well at all this year (as I've lamented in other posts). I got 6 pints of salsa made which will last us about 2 weeks! But that is ok, as every little bit helps and I'll have more, just not near as much as I've had in years past. My green beans are done for. They produced much longer than they usually do, the cool temperatures and plenty of rain (which is what is hindering my tomatoes) helped out alot!

Tulip is milking her little udder out! She is giving me right at 5 lbs a day, which isn't a huge amount but it is a respectable amount for a Kinder and way more than we can use. Some Kinders are gallon a day milkers and I have no clue what I'd do with that much milk! We have corrupted our neighbors into drinking goat milk and are pushing as much off on them as we can. Mr. Man neighbor is a big time milk drinker and he loves it so that's good, he is also tricking Mrs. Man neighbor into drinking it by putting it in her milk jug. I just love to introduce people to the wonder that is fresh raw milk!! I've milk frozen and canned as well and since Naomi is due in December we shouldn't have any trouble getting through when Tulip is dried off.

Well that's about it for today.........

Till next time.....GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

I think I lost a tooth.............

Ok, I admit it.......I'm a confirmed "sweetie" I love sweets and desserts. The goo-ier, chocolaty-er, and richer the better. You know when you hear people say........ugh, that's good but way to rich......I scoff at those light weights..........wussies, I say! Since beginning my WW journey, I've been eating so much healthy food (which I'm also in love with........did I mention that I love food and pretty much eat and love anything that doesn't eat me first?......no matter as I digress) that I haven't been hungry for sweets. In the very beginning I would eat a couple tablespoons of chocolate chips, but then even that desire went away. I bought some T Marzetti's caramel apple dip and eat it every once in awhile just for form........I don't even want it! Yesterday I think the very last vestige of my sweet tooth rotted and fell away........I made some Banana Butter for The Man to eat on ice cream and The Youngun to eat on pancakes and PB sandwiches. I tasted some of it and it's good but way too sweet! *gasping and clutching my heart* I have turned into one of those lightweight wussies that I always made fun of! I mixed two tablespoons of it with some cream cheese and used it for an apple dip and it was all I could do to choke it down. Once again, it was good but TOO SWEET! *sigh* I never thought I'd hear myself say such a horrible thing.........lol! Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I'll never again eat a piece of Caramel Fudge Cake, or Fudge Cake with thick homemade Fudge Frosting, but for whatever reason, it just doesn't even sound good to me right now. Even my raisin bran is almost too sweet..........perhaps I'm just finally sweet enough? I don't know, but I'm not really complaining. It makes giving up those wonderfully decadent sweets that my tooth used to love that much easier. The thing that has me really puzzled is that if I wanted it I could have it, I just don't want it. hmmmm.........that's a thinker!

Till next time...........I'm unTHICKIN and soTHINNIN!

How we roll at Casa De Goodwife......

Ok so tonight is cheeseburger and fry night here at Chateau du Goodwife.........I had the oil heating up for the fries (I do this outside on the side burner of my grill) the grill preheating for the burgers, some eggs on to boil for deviled eggs (cause The Man requested them) and was getting ready to fry some zucchini (cause The Youngun requested that!). Asked The Youngun if we could have zucchini tomorrow night cause it just wasn't gonna happen......she said yes....(bless her pea-pickin little heart). So, went out to put the burgers on the grill.....checked the oil temp for the fries, came back in to tend to the eggs......long story longer.......I burnt the burgers.......and I mean charcoal briquette burned.......inedible burned.....hockey puck burned. I came in with said burnt burgers and The Man says......."What'd ya do burn the burgers?" I said nothing.........then The Man says........"Are the fries burnt too?" I (brandishing a butter knife at the time) said "That will get your head cut right off mister!" To which The Youngun replied....."What are ya gonna do, cut it off with a butter knife?" She's such the pithy one. Now you know what really goes on around here........I'm sorry I had to share it........

Nother story about The Youngun and this one is a hoot. This took place about 2 or 3 years ago when said Child was about 8. We had gone to wally world with my folks and The Man had bought one of those ginormous cans of cashews. When we got back here Granny Bob (aka, my mom) was making sure that everything of ours was out of their vehicle. She says to The Youngun...."Where are your dad's nuts?"..........(I'm sure you know where this is going)..........To which The Youngun responded..........."Well I hope they are attached to his body!".........
My mom came flying in the house saying "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DAUGHTER JUST SAID!" trying to be horrified and not laugh. I wasn't a bit surprised.....my kid is sweet, savvy, and very very funny. I simply can't wait for the teen years!

This is the same child who at 3 asked Pop Pop (aka my dad) how you "make sex". This as you can imagine sent my father into orbit. He says to me...."I don't know what you've got going on down there but your daughter just asked me how you make sex!!!" To which I replied...."Oh, we're making pornos and she's running the camera." (The Youngun didn't come by her pithy-ness on her own) I mean seriously people, sex is everywhere.........you can't get away from it. I mentioned it to The Youngun and asked her what she wanted to know. She told me that she just wanted to know if Pop Pop and Granny ever "made sex" so I ever so casually explained that sex is how babies get made and since they had me and her dear Auntie that they had indeed "made sex". I then asked her if she wanted to know anything else and she came back with "How come trees have green leaves?" or something equally difficult to answer. I explained to her that she was free to ask me or Daddy anything at all, but perhaps she should refrain from asking others questions such as these as they tend to cause cardiac episodes. Since then we've had lots of really great conversations about LOTS of stuff and I'm so thankful to God that she is comfortable coming to me with this stuff. As awkward as it sometimes is, I wouldn't have it any other way! As I said, she's a savvy kid and I'm hopeful that she will always come to me with her questions even when they are hard ones!
Till next time..............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

5 week weigh in.........

K, so I lost .6 lbs..........but it's still a loss and not a gain so I'm trying to be happy. I told EJ the other night that God would test me..........make me want this. I am happy about it. I know there will be weeks of gain and weeks of losses that are bigger and losses that are smaller. It's all the journey to a healthy mindset and a healthy body. That's my goal anyway, to become strong and healthy.

So anyhoo, things are good, I've lost a total of 10.4 lbs yaaay me! I got my 5lb and 5 more lb milestones from WW so that's really cool. I like to see those happy little stars down there smiling at me! I'm losing inches on my hips and thighs at a rapid rate too! 2.5 inches off of my hips and 2.5 inches off of each of my thighs, which as anybody who knows me knows that's my problem areas! lol

K till next time......i'm.....unTHICKIN and soTHINNIN!

Treadmill bay-be!

K, so yesterday we had to go to Granny Bob and Pop Pop's house to pick up the kid. I also picked up their treadmill so that it could come and live with me and get some exercise! It was diagnosed with high blood pressure and told that it needed to lose 70 pounds also.......we'll do it together! This morning I used it for the first time. Here's what I learned..........

1) Do NOT try to look behind you while rapidly walking on a treadmill! All I'm sayin is thanks to the fella who invented that little "key" that stops it in an emergency!
2) Do NOT look to the side either........I can only seem to keep my balance if I'm looking straight ahead at King of the Hill on the TV......am I the only one?
3) Switching up your cardio after doing the same thing for 5 weeks is a good thing........I sweated my oldies off!
4) When you get off of the treadmill for the first time after doing 25 minutes, you will feel a little bit like a pirate getting off the boat for the first time after 3 months at sea........gotta get yer land legs back!

It felt good. I even jogged for 2 full minutes..........look out J-Lo, I'll be runnin beside you in a marathon soon! Program One on the elliptical (dear sweet Program One, do you all remember my post from a few weeks ago about my buddy Program One?) doesn't work me very hard at all, so now I plan to do the treadmill Monday, Wednesday, and Friday along with my ab workout and my weightlifting program. Then on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I'll do the dreaded and evil Program Two on the elliptical along with my other weight lifting routine. It's good!

Tomorrow is weigh day again (already) so I'll check in then!

Till next time......totallyunTHICKIN and so sweetlyTHINNIN!

Response to Amy's post on writing........

Writing prompt......write about the nicest thing your parents ever did for you.

When I was a kid we were poor. I don't remember my folks ever buying cold breakfast cereal or soda pop (not that this was a hardship when you had icy cold well water to drink and yummy homemade pancakes and eggs for breakfast). I clearly remember the first time I went to a McDonalds. My darling Aunt Robyn took me and my sister. She was single with no kids and liked to spoil us.
I will never forget two things about my folks. Do you know what hog rings are? They are these little rings that you put in a hog's nose to keep him from digging. Well my dad's boots were plumb wore out. The soles had come unsewed all the way around so daddy hog ringed the soles back on. He hog ringed his boots so that my sister and I could have shoes. We sure as heck didn't have Nike or Reebok shoes, but we had good shoes on our feet that weren't held together with hog rings!
My mom had a coat of many colors. She didn't have money to buy herself a winter coat but she did have lots and lots of fabric (mom is a sewing machine! lol no pun intended) so she made herself a coat out of different strips of fabric. It was beautiful and made in a crazy quilt style. She wore that coat for years so that we could have things like braces and dentist visits, eye doctor visits.

Sounds dramatic I know, but it's the truth. I think those two things stand out as the nicest of many many things that my folks ever did for me!

Till next time........GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Catfish Gaboo.......

I just concocted this yummy mess for my lunch today. I am going to post the recipe here for you to try! It's really good and healthy for you too. I posted it on my other blog Thickin and Thinnin but wanted to post it here as well.

CATFISH GABOO........by Goodwife Farm

makes 4 (1.5 cup) servings

1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 cups water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 cup diced potatoes
9 oz boneless catfish fillet, cut into bite sized pieces
2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup frozen spinach
1/4 cup cider vinegar

Combine all ingredients except spinach and vinegar in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are tender and catfish flakes easily (about 20-30 minutes). Add spinach and cider vinegar, simmer until spinach is heated through (about 10 min more)

Serve this with 1/2 a sandwich or some crusty garlic bread. Delicious!

Catfish Gaboo.........

I just concocted this delicious mess for my lunch today! Soo yummy and good for you. Very good for my WW journey and only 4 points per 1.5 cup serving.

I'll post the recipe for you to try as well!

CATFISH GABOO..........by Goodwife Farm

makes 4 (1.5 cup) servings

1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 TBSP minced garlic
2 cups water
1 chicken boullion cube
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 cup diced potatoes
9 oz boneless catfish fillet, cut into bite size pieces
2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup frozen spinach
1/4 cup cider vinegar

Combine all ingredients except spinach and vinegar in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are tender and catfish flakes easily (about 20-30 minutes). Add spinach and cider vinegar, simmer until spinach is heated through (about 10 minutes more)

Serve this with 1/2 a sandwich or some crusty garlic bread. Delicious!

Till next time.......... I'm unTHICKIN and soTHINNIN!

Green beans........how do I love thee?

I love green beans..........they are so yummy........so delicious...........so good for you! Lucky for me my green beans are just green beanin out the ying yang this summer! They are calling to me right now...........ooohhhhgooooooddwiiiiife!!!! Come piiiiiick uuussssss! My tomatoes are starting to come on but they aren't doing near as well. I need tomatoes.......it's a burning desire. I set out 36 tomato plants every year and usually use all of them........this year my poor little tomatoes just aren't tomatoing. Could it be because I planted them when the garden was so muddy that I had to plant them wearing their little rain bonnets and galoshes? Alas, I shall just have to suffer through and hope that some of my friends have tomatoes to spare so that I can at least get my 5o to 60 jars of salsa made. Will I have to buy bbq sauce? *gasp* and chopped tomatoes for soup *the horror!* what about spaghetti sauce? *oh my word*! Such is the life of a homesteading goodwife..........some years the green beans are king.......other years it's the tomatoes that take over..........and still others it's the zucchini, or cucumbers, or horror of all horrors the pumpkins!

On a really happy note, I had a nice serving of carrots canned from my lovely garden last night. How come home canned carrots are so sweet and delicious? I can barely eat canned carrots from the store but the carrots that I canned a few weeks ago are like candy. I didn't even have to drown them under brown sugar...........

I'm thankful to God that we are in a place where we can grown our own food, and raise our own chickens for eggs and meat, and keep my beautiful ladies that give me such creamy delicious milk. God is good, God is great, and God knows all. He puts us where we need to be, when we need to be there, even if it isn't where WE want to be. Sometimes we fight him. There was a time in my life, just before we found this place, where we were living in town. I couldn't have my critters, I was boarding my horse, and I couldn't even have a garden, although I did try to grow some stuff along the fence. I was very unhappy and wasn't shy about telling God about it. I told him (much like a petulant 4 year old) "But I don't WANT to be here" and He said to me "Well suck it up sista, and deal with it.....this is where I want you right now!" and I said, "But I don't WANNA!!" and again He said, "GET OVER IT, I know what I'm doing" I was unhappy for weeks until I finally gave in and said "Ok Lord, if this is where you want us to be, then so be it. I'm not happy about it (I just couldn't resist letting Him know that once again) but I accept it, and I accept Your Will." When I did that, when I finally said Ok ok, You win, You are in charge and I accept that I am where you want me to be at the time that you want me to be there, the peace that descended was awesome. I got happy, even though I wasn't living exactly where I wanted to be, I was happy each and every day and I knew that God had a plan for us being there. Within a year God had redirected us and we moved to this place. That is a whole nother story of God's Grace and Love, but I don't want to type it all right now. It's enough to say that the Paintiff family knows without a doubt that God is in control of every aspect of our lives, from the food we eat, the cars we drive, our jobs, schooling, every single thing that crosses our paths is because of God's plan and direction and that is a beautiful beautiful thing!

Till next time.......pray for His direction and the courage to follow it.........GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Victory!

Last month when I began working out I printed off some workouts from WW. One of the ones that I printed off was an arm workout and it included triangle pushups. I can do regular pushups (knees down, not plank position) without much trouble. I can usually do about 3 sets of 25 reps of regular pushups. When I began that workout from WW, I couldn't even do one triangle pushup! Today I thought I'd try doing them again after my regular workout was over. I was able to do them! I did 2 sets of 10 reps. I'm so excited! I also increased my weight that I am working out with.

I am now doing 11lbs on my bicep curls (that doesn't include the weight of the actual metal dumbell bar) 2 sets of 8 reps, 25 lbs on my overhead triceps extensions, 25 lbs on my french presses, and 25 lbs on my biceps curls with the straight bar. Again, none of those weights include the weight of the actual bar. I just count the amount of weight plates that I'm putting on. I'm going to add in bench pressing and narrow grip bench pressing, as well as some dumbell lateral raises.

I've always enjoyed lifting weights. It makes me feel so strong and fit! I've never stuck with it this long or this consistently before so that makes me feel good too!

Hope all of you are having a great day (that means you Sis, cause I know you are the only one who reads this.....oh and you too Deb ;)

Till next time......I'm sounTHICKIN and gettingtightandTHINNIN!

Here is the pic......

Picture on the top is the starting photo.....July 7, 2009 Picture on the bottom is this morning......August 4, 2009 One month after beginning the program and 9.8 lbs down! Visually not much of a difference, but I sure do feel it in my clothes and the way I feel about myself. Still, Pollyanna Happypants just doesn't understand who in the heck the fat girl in the picture is since Jennifer Aniston lives in her head................oh well this time next year, maybe she will stop being so camera shy and actually show up in a photograph! lol


Have a great day everybody and I hope that your life has more good days than bad!

Weigh Day!

Today is my one month anniversary of being on the WW plan. I've lost 9.8 lbs total! Yipee! This week I lost a little over 2 lbs. When I logged my weight on WW, they told me that I'm losing too fast and need to slow down. Not exactly sure how to do that as I feel like I'm eating a TON of food, but it's all good healthy stuff. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. If I want to eat out (which we do about once a week) I'm going to do it, track it (with WW) and move on.

I feel so great! Still working out 5 days a week which is pretty incredible for me cause in the past I've been a certified exercise hater and I really enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, at times I have to force myself to get out there and do it, but I feel better afterwards!

I'll post an updated pic later today! Have a good one everybody!

Till next time......I'm so unTHICKIN and sototallyTHINNIN!

Little Mountain House: Dancing down the wedding aisle#links

Little Mountain House: Dancing down the wedding aisle#links

This is the most amazing thing I've seen in a long time. What a wonderful expression of joy!

Much better today!

I'm feeling so much better today! I know it's all hormonal and so after a good night's sleep last night and doing my work out this morning I'm much better. I get like this every month and you'd think I'd be used to it by now but such is the joy of being a woman. When I was a kid, before I had a kid, I never had a day of PMS, never even once. I used to make fun of girls at school who suffered with it. Then I had Shayla and now I get horrid PMS. I guess that's what I get for making fun huh!

Yesterday, because I was in a funk, I didn't drink enough, and that gave me a raging headache, which just made the funk all the worse! I also don't work out on the weekends because I work out 5 days a week. I'm thinking that I need to do some type of exercise either Saturday or Sunday just because it makes me feel better, but I just didn't know if I needed to give my body a rest or what. I'll get it all figured out. What I really should do is make it a point to ride on both of those days because that is a bit of exercise but not too taxing and it's a good morale boost to get on Champ and go!

Well just wanted to let you all know (if anybody even reads this silly thing, lol) that I'm feeling much better today. Tomorrow is my weigh day and it marks one month on WW so I'll be updating a picture. I can't even believe that a month has gone by, it has flown!

Till tomorrow...........I'm once again unTHICKIN and soslimminTHINNIN!

The Pit of Despair........

I'm feeling very down today. Not sure why, unless it's the work of that nefarious evildoer TOM. I feel overwhelmed, despondent, and just plain sad and tired. I feel like I've got an insurmountable amount of weight to lose and I feel so incapable of doing it. I feel like even if I do manage to get it off, that it will just come right back like it has always done before. On the WW website they tell you not to get discouraged because it is a complete lifestyle change. To take it one day at a time because you've got the rest of your life to do this. Even that is overwhelming me today! I'm staying perfectly on the WW plan and shouldn't be feeling this way. I'm doing just great and I know that. BLAH!

I just feel very disconnected today. I'm ok, I'm not about to give up, I'm just very down today. Probably because my house is a wreck, we didn't get to bed until midnight last night (which is 4 hours beyond the time that we usually go to bed!!) I'm trying to plan our monthly menu.........BLAH! lol

I can't even describe how I feel other than overwhelmed. I know it's because of stupid TOM, I know it is. I get so messed up around when he's around!

Sorry this is a bit rambling and disturbed.........at times I am a bit rambling and disturbed.........

till next time I'm still THICKIN but trying to get THINNIN!

TOM is visiting........

Well TOM finally showed up and boy is he a pain in the tookis! He makes me so hungry and restless and my legs hurt and I'm cranky. I don't much care for TOM. I've been positively starving all day today and it's all because of TOM. At least he only stays a few days and then moves on until his next scheduled visit. I'm staying on my WW plan though and it's all good.

I'm getting a treadmill this weekend (or else picking it up Tuesday, not sure which yet) so I'm excited about that. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying exercising! I really like it alot. I'm working out 5 days a week currently, and once in awhile I work out on Saturday or Sunday as well. I feel like I should be giving my body a rest, but I really like working out!

Well I totally have nothing to say.......except that things are going well still!

Till next time........I'm unTHICKIN and soTHINNIN!