Saturday, May 19, 2018

fasting

Dr. Bob Rawls
Just read and article on Bob Rawls blog about fasting.  Interesting concept that fasting may play a part in rebooting the immune system by killing off old cells and building new cells.  Dr. Rawls pointed out that the fasting diets have all the earmarks of a fad diet but if it can help me control my inflammatory processes I am willing to try.

Dr. Rawls cites several articles and studies in his post but I can't fast long periods of time due to an insulinoma.  Whats an insulinoma?` It is a tumor that secretes insulin when I don't eat for long periods of time...like more then 24-36 hours.  I was diagnosed with it by Dr. Belknap in 1992 when as doctor I was working with noticed I was functioning properly but not thinking well.  I was positive on blood tests but could never find it on the CT because they are so small and can be anywhere in the body not just on the liver or pancreas.   That said I think I may try a shorter form of fasting that Dr. Rawls talked about called time restricted fasting where you only allow yourself to eat during a 6-8 hour window each day.  I normally don't feel like eating till late in the day so I may limit my eating from say 3pm-10pm at night and see how that works.  If I show any symptoms or problems with the fasting I will quit....doesn't hurt to try!

Go check out the reference backed article Can Fasting Renew Your Immune System at the Rawls.md.  Be careful in trying any fasting diet for any period of time.  If you have any health issues like hypertension, diabetes, or others check with your doctor first.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

WOYWW and life

WOO HOO!  I made it to the party!  It is Wednesday and WOYWW!  If you would like to check out some other blogs check in with Julia's blog to see how to hop along!  ust got back from a trip to California and my desk really doesn't look much different then it did the last post except while I was gone I received an order from Stampin Up! and it is now scattered about the place...I love new stash!
If anyone is interested in swapping an ATC with me please leave a comment or send me your addy at okienurse@gmail.com  I am going to finish making them this weekend so I can get them in the mail next week.
I didn't get much in the way of crafting done the past two weeks because of either not feeling well or travel.  My daughter and her husband had me out to their house in San Jose, CA for Mother's Day and I had a blast...wish it was as nice of weather here as it was the whole time there.
Brunch with friends 

Heather and Michael at the Russian Family Restaurant
We managed to make it to the ocean this visit with a trip to Pescadero State Park and boy was it windy and the air off the ocean a bit cool...I know you folks in England think I am nuts when I say 60°f is cool but it really was! 
The beach was gorgeous!
Heather and I were blowing in the breeze in these pictures...I was glad to have my jacket at hand
Bright sunny day!
Heather










































I met up with some friends from OK on Saturday for a nice lunch at a Vegan restaurant in San Jose.  I think it is amazing how many people from Norman live out there now.







 I think most of you remember my granddogs from pictures I have posted before...now to say these dogs are spoiled would be an understatement.  Michael grows oat grass for them so they can have fresh grass to eat...the grass they are laying on is a type of low maintenance astro turf and now very good noms!
Michael growing puppy grass.
My grand dogs...Mocha, Leo, and Wesley

Sorry I didn't make it around to all the desks the last time I posted but will try and do it this week cause I really enjoy seeing what everyone is up to!  Have a great week!
Thought I would add a few garden pictures here at the tail end...things definitely changed while I was gone...imagine what a bit of rain and sunshine can do!
The garden beds

Potatoes

peppers and artichokes

Tomatoes with corn in the bed behind

green beans


beets and cabbages

The flower planter around the new patio


clueless as to what these wildflowers are but Chuck is growing them 
Onions 
deck pots

My dirty pool...but it is open now!

deck pots 
yuccas!



Wednesday, May 2, 2018

WOYWW

OMG!  It is Wednesday and I remembered in time to post with the rest of the folks...well the stateside folks anyway!  If you want to know why Wednesday is special and what I am posting about visit Stamping Ground and Julia will fill you in on WOYWW!  Essentially we share what we did crafting during the week and what our desks look like!  Anyone interested in swapping ATC's this year?

My desk this week isn't much to write home about...very messy and covered with stuff I cleared out of my tote after returning home from the scrapbook crop this past weekend.  I love those school boxes to put stuff in to drag around then I just unload them when I get home!
I really enjoyed the crop on Friday and Saturday.  I haven't been to a crop in almost 3 years for various reasons so it was a real treat that I think I will continue to enjoy on a monthly basis with Marti, Shiryl (her Mom) and the Paperdolls!  Marti's father pastors the church where the crop is held each month and her mother is an absolute hoot. We had lots of food and fun!  I managed to get 3 layouts (6 pages) and 12 cards made!  The layouts were from a kit from Close to My Heart called Calypso that is now retired.
                                                                               I didn't put picture on any of them because I am going to use them for my trip next month on a Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica!
 I put either mats or sticky notes to show the size of the picture that needs to go there.
I love the color scheme of this kit... There are cards in this kit too but I haven't made them yet...will post when I do.
The card kit I did do was also a CTMH kit called You Are More...once again retired.  I bought a bunch of kits last year before surgery thinking I would have all sorts of time to make them but I didn't figure in an anoxic brain injury into my surgery plans...it has been almost a year and the doctor promised it would all be back in about a year...so far so good!  I can make up my kits now!  This kit made up 6 of each style!
 I had to change up this card cause I bought some coral pink glitter ribbon/tape and I just had to use it!  I thought the washi tape I used on the envelopes worked out nicely!
Love the sentiments in this stamp set and I will probably end up using it a lot.  Does anyone cut their stamps apart like I do?  I take a blade and separate words so I can use them to form different combinations!

Okay I guess I will get off here and go do something constructive...maybe get my hair cut or nails done...I am going to California to visit my daughter on Saturday and I want to look presentable for the flight...haha...  Remember the days of dressing up to take a flight anywhere.  Now it isn't much different then jumping in the car and taking off somewhere!

I have been mumbling and grumbling around here after I got over feeling bad and sorry for myself last week!  Do you ever get tired of the status quo?  Do you ever want a change?  I was sitting here thinking about it after typing my post out last week that it seems that my life has settled in with a sameness that is a two edged sword. I like living in my comfortable life and really have it a easier then a lot of others I know but...  What do you do to change things up a bit?   I joined that scrapbook crop group and a couple swap groups on Facebook.