Back to Normal

Well, life is back to normal in several ways.  Most importantly, our weather has returned to March frost.   It has been quite chilly the past few mornings, and it took me a while to realize that I had to wear a heavier jacket than the light sweaters I was tossing on last week.  Instead of sitting on the back deck, soaking in the sunshine and watching the birds flit around I'm back in the house on the computer and reading books.  I'm even considering pulling out my knitting and hiding in the basement with the gas fireplace on.  Needless to say the flowers I planted last week are not happy with me.  They had no seasoning before facing plunging nighttime temperatures and they are droopy, to say the least.

Another way I'm back to normal is in the food preparation department.  Last week I barbecued almost every night, this week I'm planning chicken lentil soup and home made bread.  Heavier, warming meals that will have leftovers for several days.

I'm also back to exercise class.  We were on hiatus for two weeks and I enjoyed lazing around the house in the morning and then puttering around in the yard.  I didn't get a lot accomplished, but I enjoyed every minute of the sunshine and warm weather.  This morning I started the new fit-for-life exercise class and was out of the house shortly after 8 am.  I really enjoy being out and about earlier in the day because I feel like I've accomplished so much by lunchtime.  I enjoyed the new class style and think it will raise my cardio fitness, which was the primary goal.
Tomorrow is pilates, which will be a real shock to my system.  My husband and son are hoping to go golfing in the afternoon, which means I can climb into the bathtub with the epsom salts and enjoy a good long bubbly soak.

I gave up on all the books I had out from the library last week.  Although the titles appealed to me, I just couldn't get into the stories.  Either the introduction was too long and drawn out or the character wasn't sympathetic, or the circumstances weren't believable.  Instead I've been reading cookbooks.  I just finished Crescent Dragonwagon's newest book "Bean by Bean".  Crescent is a passionate vegetarian cook who has written several cookbooks and was the owner/chef of the Ozarks Inn.  I enjoy her writing style and am fascinated by her food.  In "Bean by Bean" Crescent provides vegetarian, vegan and meatist alternatives to most of her recipes.