Pages

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Ahhhhh... A Spa Day

Spa time!

I decided it was way past time to have a 'pamper Teri' day.  The stresses of everyday life, getting serious again with the weight loss thing, and the toll of working hard in the yard were starting to show a bit too much.  

First activity on the agenda... a detox bath.

I did a bit of research to find a detox bath recipe that I was comfortable using.  OK... I'm doing the opt out bit here -- I'm no expert and I am NOT saying you should do exactly as I did.  You need to do your own research and decide what is best (if anything) for you personally.

There were a lot of cautions no matter where I researched.  From 'make sure you drink a lot before as it is dehydrating' and 'you might feel very light-headed' all the way to 'you might have flu-like symptoms'.  Because of those warnings, I made sure Himself was home when I did this.



This is the recipe I used for my bath waters:

2 cups Epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup sea salt (I had a lavender bath salt already and used that)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
A few drops lavender oil

I filled the tub with the hottest water I could stand and started my soak in my own little personal Dead Sea.  For a good 15 minutes I felt nothing different than a regular soak in the tub (other than slippery water).  At 15 minutes my hands started reacting.  It was a weird achy/itchy feeling that made me really want to rub them.  I did so in the 'spa massage' sort of way... from from fingertips stroking up towards the heart.  A few minutes later my feet and lower legs got that feeling and I rubbed them in the same way.  Felt good.

At 20 minutes the sweating started.  Sauna kind of sweating.  Wow.

At 30 minutes the light-headed feeling started.  And that is where I finished.  I called Himself to start up a cool shower for me.  Almost all of the instruction sites said that rinsing off the salt was "optional".  Well, it wasn't optional for me...it was coming off!  I rinsed without soap since my pores were wide open.

While rinsing, I did some smoothing of my feet to prepare for the pedicure portion of my spa day.



Time to chill out for a bit while sipping some hot tea.  Ahhhhhhh...  I was a noodle for several hours and slept great that night.



For my spa day facial, I used a Rodan & Fields sample gift from my friend Brenda Hagood ( http://brendahagood.myrandf.com )  Very nice stuff.  Brightened my skin and didn't cause any issues for me (I have sensitive face skin).

Next up for pampering were the fingers and toes... mani/pedi time!



With continued yard work in my very near future (like tomorrow) I didn't waste too much effort with my hands.  

I did try a whitening technique I found on Pinterest.  

Soak your nails for a few minutes in very warm water, then give them a good washing.  Spread over and under your nails a mixture of 2.5 TBS of baking soda and 1 TBS of hydrogen peroxide.  Let sit for 3 minutes then rinse well.

It did make my nails look better but definitely NOT like the Pinterest photos show.

Note:  Do not do this if you have any sort of cut on your finger tips!  Ouch!!

Afterwards I deep conditioned the cuticles and slathered on cocoa butter.

Done.  

Feet... they got more work.  After all, we are heading into sandal season!

My dry heels were actually looking pretty good after my post-soak smoothing so my next step was to get some nail polish on.  Hardest part of that was picking the color.

It was purple.

Didn't do anything with the hair today as I did a basic wash-and-go yesterday.  My hair is fine and thin... oh joy.  My short cut lets it lift a bit and I don't have to use a blow dryer.  I rotate shampoo ... mostly a gentle wash that rinses clean and then every couple weeks a moisturizing shampoo and a conditioner.  Any more than that weighs it down to limp strings.  Bleh.

So there I'm done and feeling great!



BTW, here's my latest weight loss photo in my new power walking outfit.  I am 2/3 of the way to my goal weight!!



Monday, May 30, 2016

Never Forget That Freedom Is Not Free...

... it has come at a great cost.



Sunday, May 29, 2016

Travel Trinkets: It's a SPAM!

Sometimes a travel trinket can be a piece of family history.

Himself's Uncle A worked for Hormel Foods for many years, eventually retiring for the company.


In his job as a meat cutter, he used this mesh glove to protect his hand.


On one of our visits, he and Aunt D took us to the SPAM Museum.  This display showed exactly what his section dressed like.  Here he is showing us how the glove would be used.


The mesh is very tightly woven, yet it is amazingly flexible... and heavy!



When we returned from the museum visit, Uncle A gave Himself this glove that he had used.

An heirloom.



Friday, May 27, 2016

Bonsai - A Tree You Can Hold

In 2009 I started doing bonsai as a member of the Nashville Bonsai Society.  I really enjoyed it and was starting to get a nice collection of trees...until my watering system malfunctioned while I was on summer vacation.  I lost every one of my trees.

I was so upset I lost the heart to keep at it.  After several years away from it, I've decided it was time to rejoin the group.


Wonderfully I got back to the group just as a member hosted an Open House social at his home and bonsai nursery.

Here's some of the bonsai eye candy he has...













Beautiful, yes?


This planting is called "Kusamono" (which means "grass thing").  It's a small planting that you display with your bonsai (they can also be displayed alone).  It's usually something very natural looking.


Our host with one of his stunning trees.


Explaining a starting tree.



We had an enjoyable time visiting with everyone.


Plus we were treated to a delicious lunch.


Thanks for the great day J!



Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Persia's Sssssssurprise


Himself came home the other day with a little visitor.


A young grey rat snake.


Little fellow was so nervous he was all tied up in knots!


Reminds me of Kah from "The Jungle Book" but not so big.  That's a kitchen skewer he's hanging on to.


"Cheese!"

Then of course we had to show him to Persia!


"WHAT is that??"


"It's moving!"


"I've got to get a closer look at this..."

They soon were bored with each other and Himself took Little Kah back to the woods.






Monday, May 23, 2016

The Invitation

A conversation Himself struck up with a stranger at the Amish plant auction, led to a delightful afternoon.  Somehow their conversation turned to raspberries and L asked if we'd like to have some heirloom raspberries.  Free.

Well YES!

A few days later we drove out to their lovely farm.  After digging the raspberry starts, L and her husband R asked if we'd like to see the old grist mill on the property.

Well YES!


L drove us down to an old bridge.


A really cool rusty old bridge.


A cool old bridge that looked out at the grist mill and dam.


A cool old bridge held up for many years on limestone pillars.


It was a lovely place for a chat or a picnic.


Then we headed back up to their home to meet their pets.


A sweet faced old boy.


And his 'Betty Davis eyes' sister.


This darling girl is 16 years old.


And her horse.  She had his mother and raised him from a baby.


There was a cute Shetland too.  You could tell she works with them a lot as he wasn't snotty like most Shetlands.


Why are pony noses so cute?




Her gardens were beautiful.


Too soon a storm kicked up and we had to leave.

The raspberries?

Here's the little shoots...


...and the long more mature canes - which already have berries on them.

Since I wasn't planning on planting raspberries this year, they will stay potted up until this fall  when I will have a nice fenced in bed made for them.