I celebrated by sleeping in and then, making milkrice for brunch. Milkrice is basically rice cooked with milk, a bit like rice pudding minus the sugar. It is something we make for celebratory and auspicious occasions and the first day of the month is considered to be an auspicious day! So, it is traditional to make milkrice for breakfast on the first of the month. Since I made it for brunch, I ate it with some meatball curry and, since I had eaten ice cream, last night, I was good today, and didn't eat a second serving of milkrice with jaggery (palm sugar) or brown sugar as I often do.
I spent a leisurely morning, replying to blog comments, reading other blogs and commenting (sorry, I am behind with some of my blog reading and commenting), and having a long conversation with one of my cousins who called with some good news (her daughter found a job) and some sad news (a friend's brother died). In order to feel productive, however, I tossed in a load of laundry to wash and hung it up to dry. And I cleaned the litter box. That was my productivity for the day!
In the afternoon, I cut out and started to sew another blouse. I haven't quite finished sewing it yet. I finished the machine sewing, but have the hand sewing to do. I stopped because I was starting to get tired and that's when I start making mistakes, usually. I hope to finish it, tomorrow, and then, I'll post a picture and write a post about how not to sew a blouse! LOL.
One of my friends has inspired me to challenge myself to walk a certain number of miles this month. My doctors have been urging me to walk for 30 minutes a day and that has been a bit hit or miss; OK, I admit, it's been more miss than hit! So, today, I started on my challenge. My friend suggested starting out easy, with perhaps a 12.5 miles/20 km goal and then, gradually building up to 25 miles/40 km. Earlier, I had measured the distance of 1 mile from my house, using the mileage meter in my car! It is the distance of two major intersections (with traffic lights) and there are 13 blocks. Today, I walked from my house to the 1st major intersection plus 1 block. That took me 12 minutes at a comfortable but purposeful pace. I figured it was a distance of about half a mile. Then, I walked back and I noticed that my pace was a little bit slower on my return. I didn't try to push myself. I checked the time when I got home and I had walked for almost 30 minutes. The return walk had taken me 16 minutes to accomplish. I figured it was good enough. The real challenge will be to do it again, tomorrow!
Today, I am grateful for:
- A new month and a new beginning
- Another cooler day
- The fabric stash!
- Sewing skills
- Friends who inspire me to challenge myself
Weekend To Do List:
- Laundry - Did 1 load
- Dust
- Vacuum
- Run dishwasher
- Clean and tidy kitchen
- Sew a blouse - Started
- Plant the succulents
- Water the garden
- Go out to lunch with friend
How was your Saturday? Did you have a good start to your weekend and the month?
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| A Glimpse of Things to Come! |
Happy July! Good for you to challenge yourself and get some exercise! Is the nearby fire no longer an issue, then?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nathalie. Happy July to you, too. The fire has been put out and the smoke has cleared; the air quality is better but I did have my rescue inhaler with me when I went on my walk, just in case. I guess I no longer have an excuse for not vacuuming, now, huh?
DeleteI think walking is so beneficial. I think you did extremely well to cover a mile in 30 minutes. I suggest you have a goal to walk for 30 minutes each day at a pace you feel comfortable at and not focus on the distance. You should be able to carry on a conversation. Pay attention to the outside temperature. We are all different but I do not tolerate heat very well. So this means for me to go out early morning. For years I was out the door by 6 am came home took a shower and then went to work. Done and dusted for the day! Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteHubby has been gone all weekend so I have put together Easy Creamy Potato Soup in the crock pot for dinner. Now time for a cup if tea.
Your creamy potato soup sounds delicious! I made a potato soup, once, with smoked sausage in it and that was very tasty, too.
DeleteI am not really a morning person and I know I won't go walking first thing in the morning! Evenings are the best time for me, except when it is too dark in the evenings in winter. By then, I hope to be able to walk for 30 mins. during my lunch break, at the office. I will concentrate on getting 30 minutes of walking each day, for now. Eventually, I'd like to be able to make it a mile each way without getting tired, but that's for later.
I'm catching up with your news, and I love the pretty lace blouse you made and will look forward to seeing the one you are currently working on. I see you have had some frustration over trying to make someone understand why you couldn't have the breast ultrasound without the mammogram. I hope you get totally healed soon to get these tests done.
ReplyDeleteYour orchid plant is lovely, and I see that in another photo Dancer is actually zeroing in on the ice cream in your purchases. Smart cat!
I'm glad to hear that you are getting out to walk. Even a short walk is good, one doesn't have to be a jogger to stay fit! I like to get 20 or 30 minutes walk a few times a week but if I wear my step tracker, just walking round the house, up and down stairs adds quite a number of steps. I also park away from the 2 stores I use most, and then walk to them, but I have to be csreful not to buy too much to carry. I do have a shopping bag on wheels for the summer months but don't always take it out with me. I hope the air quality improves around you.
Nice to hear from you, Bushlady. I don't have stairs in my house but I have been trying to climb a couple of flights of stairs at the office. Two flights are what I can do comfortably, right now, but I will try to increase the frequency and then, build up as I go.
DeleteHope all is well with you and you are keeping those mosquitoes at bay!
Can't wait to see the glimpse of things to come when it is a thing.
ReplyDeleteLike you I am behind responding to blogs. I was at the lake for the weekend and have limited internet connection there along with a dying Ipad. I think I am going to start taking my laptop instead.
Here's to a marvelous July!
Hope you had a lovely weekend at the lake. The glimpse is now a thing and has been posted. :)
Delete"In order to feel productive, however, I tossed in a load of laundry to wash and hung it up to dry." *laugh* That is exactly what I do some days. When I feel I SHOULD be doing something domestic, but I don't feel like it; this is what I do. Vacuuming takes too much time and physical effort, but I love to do laundry.
ReplyDeleteWow! Now you have begun to walk for fitness. Kudos to you. After working in the garden or mowing the lawn, I just don't feel up to doing anything more. But I am sure my doctor will disagree.
Susan, you are a kindred spirit! A washing machine is such a wonderful thing! I just put everything in and push a knob and it does all the work for me and I can feel productive and virtuous! :D
DeleteGood luck with your walking challenge! I will cheer you on as I embark on my fitness challenge, too. I do love to walk, although the heat and humidity here make that a challenge in the summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. We will cheer each other on!
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