Loser...but I did get to sew!

I am such a loser...I have not had any motivation to go to the gym. Not at all. I am trying to go so that I can increase my cardio strength, muscle strength and lose some weight. Not alot, but some, because it seems as the years continue to march on...the weight decides its' going along for the ride. I don't like gaining ten pounds, not one bit! But...oh! I love to eat! So, it was a deal I made with myself. Start going to the gym, eating right and miraculously I would look sweet in my swimsuit. I thought about going this morning, I really did. Then I thought about going for a bike ride.I really thought about it. Then I remembered I had some Foccacia dough that needed to be kneaded for a second rise. I spread it out in a pan and topped with fresh Basil, Olives, Olive Oil, Pepper and let it do its' thing, then into the oven it went. Well, I couldn't leave the house now to go to the gym so, into my sewing room I went. To finish (what else?) a snack bag to take my goodies to work. YUMMY!!!! I know since everyone who knows me, knows my love of fish that this bag screams ME!!!!

It's a bit larger than a paper lunch sack, it's reusable so I am doing something green. I can put all my healthy veggie snacks and protien in this bag so I can always eat healthy and there by lose the weight I want/need to. See, it all works out. I am not really a loser, now to sample the Foccacia.

...a beautiful day for a dive...

Whew!!! What a weekend. I was busy with all cool diving stuff. On Sunday Tim and I hurried to catch the last day of the Northwest Dive Expo. It was fun to see all the cool products and was even more fun to see all our friends! It's kinda special to have so much diving karma in one big area.

Then there was a rumor that the visibility in Puget Sound was stellar or at least 15' to 20', not the previous 3-5' pea soup. So for Tim and I, Monday was a must dive day!!! We went to Les Davis which is on the water front in Tacoma...Commencment Bay. This site is sometimes tempermental. Meaning Viz could be great or not, the critters could be found...or not. Well, we had a little bit of both. Vis was great and we headed N.E. a bit to get down to the concrete slabs. These were brought in to create an artificial reef in the hopes of attracting marine life. Some of these have worked, some not...but anyways. We swam out and dropped down and it was wonderful to be back in the water and diving. Diving...diving...I love Scuba Diving...but I digress. We got on down to the slabs and didn't really see any big critters but saw a few Nudis', alot of Feather Duster Worms and Rock Fish...even some Black Rock Fish that one doesn't normally see on this side.

I didn't get alot of pictures as I had the settings on my camera wrong...but I did get to dive. Did I mention I love to Scuba Dive. Our dive lasted like 61mins...and it was a wonderful 61mins of shear bliss...floating and breathing and floating...I love to Scuba Dive....oh, viz wasn't too bad either, till we were down at the slabs and the tide turned and it went down to about 10feet...

But, I got to dive....

I'm just a foodie at heart (or waist)

I love to cook...

If I said it once, I'll say it again...I love to cook! The neighbor went over to Ellensburg and brought back some Asparagus. I don't like Asparagus but take a look at these. They were begging me to do something with them. So, this is what I did. I made Aspargus, Proscuitto Wraps. Actually I used ham as Proscuitto was way too expensive at F.M. (so maybe I'm not really a Foodie), it was also my first time using puff pastry.

I am no food photographer so the pictures do not do it justice...but I think you get the gist of the idea. I blanched the Asparagus for about 5 mins in boiling water. I know, the time was a bit long but these are some gigantic stalks of Asparagus. I then wrapped the stalks in a generous helping of ham, laid them on the bed of puff pastrey dough, put some haystacks of grated parmasean cheese, tucked those little babies in and baked 'em for about 13mins @ 350 in my newly calibrated gas oven.

I think they turned out rather scrumptous. My husband thinks so as well. I like them, but I like anything in dough and paired with cheese. Next time, if I make them again, I will use a bit more delicate spears/stalks of Aspargus, I will splurge on real Proscuitto and I won't share!

Mothers Day and a busy husband...

I worked all day and into the night on Mothers' Day... I was gone for about 10 hours from my family...and when I returned...WOW!!!

My husband was a Super Husband..I cannot begin to tell you how much stuff (i.e. chores) he got done!!! There were plant holders and bean pole sticks, there was pizza dough in the fridge, there were kolatches that he was still working on when I got home, three kinds with sausage and cheese and such...the floors were vacummed and mopped...he was crazy busy...most importantly, he had a great day to himself with the pups and a fun time doing all his list of chores...

Garden planting...part two!!!

We had a tremendous wind storm last week and at one point they said we had hurricane 1  winds of 76 mph or more, sustained.
Some of the damage caused were trees down and power outages, we were lucky as we only lost a tomato plant and a couple of squash plants. So, this past weekend with Mothers day being so nice and such...some things got planted like the hanging baskets and the plants got replaced with new tomatoes and squash.
This year we are also trying potatoes and pole beans...
Hhhmmmm...but if all goes to plan then YUMMY!!!

Cooking and cooking...eating and eating...

WTH!!!
I know this blog was supposed to be mainly about my quilting adventures but hey, I got side tracked! It all started with this damn economy. In an effort to cut back on spending, we quit going out to eat so much. So, I had to cook! I got bored with the same 'ole same O so I started perusing cooking sites and cookbooks. One of my favorites is Tasty Kitchen, yummy...along with a couple of others but...with all this good cooking came a couple of pounds so I started an attempt to eat healthier. Hello Tosca Reno and Clean Eating (tm)!!! I'm not saying that I follow every little thing they advise, nor do I workout like a maniac but I have become a bit more conscious of what I am putting in my mouth. I can also honestly say that the last time I ate fast food, well I didn't feel too good after! So, I'm just warning you...I will have to post and show pics of my cooking adventures as well!!!
Now, off to the gym!

Will Spring ever stay awhile???

I thought that April Showers meant May flowers! What the heck is happening here? I never got a true chance to enjoy the cherry blossoms or the tulips or daffodils because of this crappy weather we have been having here in the PNW! Ok! I should be grateful that we aren't getting pounded like some other parts of the nation but come on....really???? I planted some seeds of veggies and those are having a hard time of it as well as the two Cucumber plants that have died along with the several squash plants that are barely hanging on! It hasn't been up past the mid fifties in the day and has been getting into the high thirties at night. This is not conducive to a wonderful, producing garden or beautiful hanging flower baskets. Ok, rant over...