Sat 24 Sept

Rather hectic getting-ready this morning as I accidentally set the weekday alarm instead of the weekend one and we didn't wake til 6:54 instead of the planned 6:00 am. We had pretty much packed yesterday so there wasn't a lot of remaining work, but I worry that I may forget small important details when I'm rushing. I printed the vouchers and I believe I have all the chargers and I just put my phone in my pocket, so I think I'm good to go. Breakfast: 7:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 24 Sept

This morning we do the Hard Rocks Hiking Challenge at Standing Rocks. 8.3 mi (which I think is 12 kilometers) followed by brunch! Then choir from 12-2, and Mass this evening so we can leave bright and early tomorrow for the North Shore. Gotta pack this afternoon as well. Food: 6:10 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 103 g blackberries, coffee 9:00 am 1/2 banana, few grapes, 1/2 c chocolate covered peanuts, donut hole 10:30 am 2 pancakes, donut hole, 1/2 banana, syrup, 1 tbl chocolate chips, 1 tbl walnuts Exercise: 735-10:25 am Hard Rocks Hiking Challenge 8.3 mi at Standing Rocks 4:40-4:55 pm Walk to church 6:05-6:20 pm Walk home

Fri 23 Sept

Today I volunteer as receptionist for the flu clinic at PCHHS. Hopefully get a chance to see some of my old cronies. Means I miss out on gym and lunch w/Mary Hofer, but I thought it was a good volunteer slot for me. I repeat it on the Monday after North Shore. Seems odd getting up early and dressing for "work" again. Food: 6:30 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:30 pm 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk Exercise: 11:25-11:40 am Walk to Suzuki 1:10-1:25 pm Walk home

Thurs 22 Sept

First day of autumn, and too much rain. It has been raining steadily and quite heavily since yesterday evening. Hopefully no flooding. Haven't yet checked my email so I don't know if Kathy and I are going out in the rain to walk this morning or not. I can go either way. We chose to brave the weather and got lucky; the rain was done and we carried our umbrellas for nothing! Food: 7:15 am Chocolate croissant, 101 blackberries, coffee 11:30 am 2 scrambled eggs, 1 tbl shredded cheddar, 1 slice Loven Fresh 12 grain toast, .15 tbl butter, .5 tbl raspberry jam, 1/4 med cantaloupe Exercise: 8:10-9:45 am Walk w/Kathy 1:45-2:05 pm Walk to haircut 4:00-4:20 pm Walk home

Wed 21 Sept

International Day of Peace. Please, Lord, let it be. This is my only sure day to go to the gym this week. I still haven't heard anything further on the volunteer opportunity for Friday. I wish I knew because I'm going to need to tell Mary I can't come until 11:40ish if I work til 11:30. I've held off waiting for further info. Food: 7:35 am Apple danish, 1/4 lg cantaloupe, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am 31 g cheddar cheese, slice L'Oven Fresh 12 grain bread, .15 tbl butter, thin slice tomato, peach Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 20 Sept

Kinda foggy, grey this morning, but looking like it might just lift and clear in a bit. Lots of things I might be able to do today, including sending out the checks and forms to Grandma's will beneficiaries, returning the Tarte lip color, doing the online questionnaire for yesterday's training so I can get my CEUs.... Food: 7:50 am Cheese danish, 1/4 med cantaloupe, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am 1/2 c 1% cottage cheese, chives, peach, slice banana bread 1:00 pm 2 Oreo mint thins 4:00 pm 1/2 c Quaker Oat Squares 6:30 pm Light & Fit Italian turkey sausage, w/w bun, ketchup, pickle relish, 1/2 large beet, balsamic drizzle Exercise: 9:15-10:05 am Neighborhood walk 11:45-12:05 pm Walk to Whiting Place to mail package 1:30-2:10 pm Walk to library to return books 5:45-6:20 pm Walk w/Bob

Mon 19 Sept

Today is Respect for the Aged day in Japan. I wonder what their definition of "aged" is. Going to NCTC in Wausau for a conference on Suicide Prevention today. Meeting Heather there for the day. We're driving separately because it's Carter's birthday today and she has to drive him to school with his homemade birthday treats for the class. Because this is Heather. Food: 7:00 am Blackberry danish, 104 g blackberries, coffee 10:15 am Small danish 12:10 pm Large salad w/ 2 oz grilled chicken, 2 oz ham, 2 tbl shredded cheese, veggies, 1 breadstick 2:30 pm Oatmeal raisin cookie 7:15 pm 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk Exercise: 5:45-7:15 pm Schmeeckle long lake loop walk

Sat 17 Sept

Foggy morning. We will head down to Madison around 10 after walking to the Farmer's Market for pastries and a somewhat leisurely breakfast. After visiting with Laura and the usual Costco run, we will head over to LaCrosse this evening to stay at the Lumber Baron Inn. Tomorrow after the amazing breakfast and church, we will do a hurried visit to Bauer's Farm Market to pick up fall apples and a quick lunch before heading home for the first choir practice of the season with a brand new director. Should make for a nice weekend. Food: 8:15 am Pumpkin chocolate danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 16 Sept

As predicted, a grey, rainy day again today, but the weekend is promised to be sunny and lovely. Fortunately I have a functioning dryer so if I can't hang my laundry outside, it doesn't mean I can't get it done. This batch of prune ponczkas from Panacea were all very generously filled, just the way I like them. Wow, it's surprising how much energy it takes to do one of the old Jessica Smith Stride & Strength videos when it's been quite a long time. Good to use those muscles again. Food: 7:05 am Prune ponczka, 99 g blackberries, coffee 11:20 am 10 oz homemade cream of tomato soup, med banana, slice banana bread 1:00 pm 1 Coffee Nip 1:30 pm 1 Godiva Caramel truffle 5:00 pm 4 cheese fries, 2/3 c rhubarb sauce, 8 baby carrots Exercise: 2:20-2:55 pm Jessica Smith Stride & Strength YouTube

Thurs 15 Sept

Back to Thursday walk with Kathy and no one in my bathroom window this morning. Sunshine and pleasant temps. What more can one ask? Food: 7:15 am Prune ponczka, 104 g blackberries, coffee 9:15 am Coffee 10:30 am 1 Effie's Cocoa-Cake 11:30 am 2 scrambled eggs, peach 1:00 pm 2 slices banana bread 1:40 pm 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk 7:05 pm Bowl beef stew, slice banana bread Exercise: 8:00-10:00 am Walk w/Kathy w/stop for coffee 3:30-4:05 pm Walk to courthouse & Journal office and back 5:15-6:35 pm Hike at Mead

Wed 14 Sept

Apparently the roofers are hoping to finish today. I won't miss conversation outside my bathroom window while I'm doing my morning ablutions. Then it will be time to pay the piper, but it will be done and no longer an unknown obligation. Weather is a bit cooler which is quite welcome. I enjoyed walking about town yesterday in a long-sleeve t-shirt and jeans. I had a bit more energy for exercise this morning, with more oomph on the treadmill and in Body Pump. Felt good. Food: 7:25 am Honey bear pastry, 99 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 12 oz cream of tomato soup, prune ponczka, peach, monster cookie Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 5:15-6:45 pm Hiking Rib

Tues 13 Sept

Fortunately the rain finished quite early this morning so the roofers were able to come at their normal 7:00 am start. Maybe they'll finish at least by tomorrow. It's good to get the work done, but never pleasant working around work crews at your house. An open Tuesday today with possibilities to work some more on the basement pantry cupboard or even to walk to the courthouse with Mom's will to see what needs to be done to change the house deed over. Would be nice to have that out of the way finally. Yay! I finally motivated to go to the courthouse and begin the probate process to transfer the deed for 2308 to me. Also to change my name on the 1801 deed to LeGault and add Bob to the title so he doesn't have to mess with probate if something happens to me. Still steps to continue, but the process is underway! Food: 8:00 am Chocolate croissant, 98 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 2 scrambled eggs, prune ponczka, peach 2:45 pm 1/2 c Quaker Oat Squares 6:45 pm Bowl pressure cooker beef stew, 6 oz pumpkin ale Exercise: 10:15-12:05 pm Walk to courthouse to begin probate/deed transfers 1:25-2:05 pm Neighborhood walk

Mon 12 Sept

Roofers are back this morning. They came before I got out of the shower and started putting up the scaffolding outside the bathroom window. I managed to get out and get some clothes on before they started walking back and forth outside the window, but they were cruising past while I dried my hair. Not sure whether it was more disconcerting for me or for them. Food: 7:35 am Apricot almond pinwheel, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm Fit & Active Pumpkin yogurt, prune ponczka, peach 2:00 pm 1 mint Oreo Thin 6:50 pm 2 W/w Fit & Active tortillas, quinoa w/chopped tomatoes, peppers, black beans, corn, shredded cheddar Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 11:45-12:10 pm Neighborhood walk 3:45-4:00 pm Walk to Suzuki 4:35-4:50 pm Walk home

Sun 11 Sept

A day that will live in infamy. Seems like such a vague memory now, but what a momentous day, and what ripples it has caused in our culture and how we approach security now. Sigh. No roofers today in spite of the sunshine. Thought they might work on the weekend if weather was good since you can't always count on it for weekdays. We will likely go to Panacea this afternoon, possibly for chicken dinner and to check out the Silent Auction specifically for UWSP Theatre tickets. Joan and Jack brought Jeanette to church this morning and invited me to sit with them as Bob was ushering. I had just been thinking about my mom this morning and how we used to bring her to church so it was especially nice to see Jeanette there. Food: 7:35 am Cheese danish, 98 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am 2 pc cheese/sausage/mushroom/tomato pizza 1:30 pm Monster cookie Exercise: 910-9:30 am Walk to church 11:10-11:30 am Walk home 1:45-3:35 pm Schmeeckle walk w/Bob

Sat 10 Sept

Another rainy day for the Walk for Hope. We will take the car down to the Farmer's Market to get pastries which should help a bit with time to get me to my t-shirt getter post by 8:30. Maybe the rain won't fall during the actual walk. Food: 7:50 am Blackberry danish, 98 g blackberries, coffee 10:00 am Med banana 12:40 pm 2 scrambled eggs, slice sprouted toast, .15 tbl butter, peach Exercise: 10:00-11:00 am Walk for Hope 5K w/Bob

Fri 9 Sept

Looks like some on-and-off rain again today. Hopefully they won't abort the roof work altogether. Steady rain when I came home from gym, and roofers have buttoned up and gone. Bob and I have reservations at Two Lakes for supper tonight. This will likely be the evening out for the week (not counting Sunday at the fair and in Mpls, of course). Panacea is this weekend so we might do chicken dinner after Mass Sunday, but maybe not. We'll at least go check out the Silent Auction for possible UWSP Theatre tickets. Food: 7:30 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:25 am 20 oz coffee w/almond milk, creamer, Hershey's dark syrup 12:25 pm 2 slices Angelic sprouted bread, 1 tbl peanut butter, 1 tbl raspberry jam, peach, 8 oz iced coffee 3;10 pm 2 Mint Oreo thins Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 8 Sept

The roofers are back today, and I'm hoping they might finish before the weekend, though that remains to be seen. Today Heather is taking me out for lunch for my birthday. We're meeting at noon at Emy J's. It should be fun. Kathy and John stopped by with my birthday present yesterday evening. They are going out of town today so she isn't able to walk this week so I'm on my own for exercise today. Lacking my walking buddy, I walked the Schmeeckle loop alone. It may be cooler, but it's still very humid. Food: 8:05 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 1/2 Thai chicken wrap, sweet potato chips 2:00 pm Pomegranate TJ's lollipop Exercise: 9:45-11:05 am Walk Schmeeckle loop 11:40-12:00 pm Walk to Emy J's 1:25-1:45 pm Walk home

Wed 7 Sept

Rainy day today. Looks likely that the roofers are taking a bye today so I should be able to use the driveway. Hopefully they'll have enough good weather Thurs/Fri to finish. Yesterday they de-shingled the garage and overhang and put on tar paper. Food: 7:35 am Chocolate eclair, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:05 am Soy shake, 29 g Simply Nature multigrain crackers, lg peach 2:45 pm Slice cranberry bread 5:20 pm Bowl of shrimp broccoli risotto Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 6 Sept

The roofers are finally here! I will be glad to see this project finished and paid for so we no longer have it hanging over our heads. Much better to have a new roof hanging over our heads. I won't be surprised if they're here most of the week, especially with rain predicted for most of tomorrow. Food: 7:45 am Chocolate croissant, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 5 Sept

Here I am, back at home, a year older and full of fair goodies and Mpls food. I was so tired when we got home last night that I fell in bed at 10 pm and just conked out. I believe I slept quite well. This is the first morning in a long time that I'm sitting around in jammies for breakfast, but hey, it's a holiday! Had Michael and Taylor over for an impromptu lunch of turkey brats, quinoa pilaf (a new pressure cooker recipe), and caprese salad. Food: 8:30 am Mixed berry pastry, 105 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am 6 oz homemade frappuccino 3:00 pm Homemade frappuccino, turkey sausage w/bun & ketchup, 1/2 c quinoa pilaf, caprese salad 6:25 pm 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1 1/2 c watermelon Exercise: 11:15-1:30 pm Walk to Michael's, then on to Copps' and back 4:55-5:25 pm Walk at Mead w/Bob

Sat 3 Sept

Cool, crisp morning. Getting ready to walk down for pastries prior to leaving for Minneapolis and the State Fair tomorrow. This evening, we will spend some time with Kurt and Barb. We will try to make the 4:30 pm Mass at Lumen Christi. Food: 8:15 am Gibassier, coffee Exercise: 7:15-8:10 am Walk to Farmer's Market

Fri 2 Sept

Didn't feel altogether well last night. I had taken my ease most of the day, getting my hourly steps and a nice walk with Kathy, but otherwise reading and relaxing, even to the extent of a second afternoon nap. When we went to hike Rib, I found myself getting a bit light-headed. I had to stop for a moment in the middle section, and Bob suggested we just turn around there. After my head didn't really clear, I agreed and had a difficult time walking back for a short ways until my head cleared. I ate quite well and drank quite a bit of water at the Great Dane, so I may have been a tad dehydrated. I hadn't had as much water as usual, though I did have a cup of tea, a cup of hot chocolate, and a small glass of iced mocha during the day. I seem to feel okay today. As I suspected, they had finished setting up the library window this morning and no one bothered to let me know. Well, a walk is never wasted. Food: 7:25 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 68 g blackberries, coffee 11:15 am 1/2 c chicken peanut stew, 1/4 large cantaloupe, slice w/w beer bread w/rhubarb & nuts Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 11:45-12:00 pm Walk to library 12:20-12:35 pm Walk home

Thurs 1 Sept

September has arrived! Always been one of my favorite months, somewhat because of my birthday, but mostly the changing weather, still warm but crisp. The changing leaves, back to school. Minnesota State Fair. A good time all around. A cooler morning to welcome the month today, and anticipating a nice walk with Kathy. Food: 7:10 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 98 g blackberries, coffee 10:30 am Orange mousse Pu-Erh tea 11:35 am Sm grilled cheese sandwich, 1/4 large cantaloupe, 29 g tomato Exercise: 8:00-9:25 am Walk w/Kathy to Schmeeckle 10:10-10:30 am Neighborhood walk 5:15-6:15 pm Hike Rib