Prickly Pear

I joined weight watchers this past June. I had gained quite a bit of weight and was just so tired of being unhealthy. I was struggling to bend down, and just had no energy or self worth anymore. It was the best gift I could have given to myself. I am still plugging at it, 1 pound at a time. I am currently .4 away from a 25 pounds lost. I think I have about 20 more to goal according to WW.
I have been trying  new fruits and vegetables when ever I can. I must say I have tried a lot. Last week I ran into prickly pears and wanted to try it. I had to log onto the Internet to see how to peel it. I must say I found another fruit I like. I think it would add a splash of color to a fruit salad. The only downfall is the seeds are hard, almost like pomegranate but not as many or as large.
I went back to buy some more. I had one today for lunch to go along with my cottage cheese.

 

Cut of a little on each end, and then slice from top to bottom.

At the slice you just peel across and the skin comes right off.

Then I sliced in.

 

Added 1/2 cup of cottage cheese.

I then proceeded to cut it in smaller pieces, and stir into the cottage cheese.

Added a pretty color. The red pear I ate later in the evening.

I am so glad that I decided to get healthy. And this time when I get the weight off, I will still have weight watchers to help me maintain it. It helps I have a good friend to share this journey with    thank you Charlene.

Cruise 2

Second cruise of the year. Oh my, my sister in law called and invited me and my hubby to cruise with her and her wife....My husband had to work, so I opted to take my son. We were going to stay in a cabin with no windows. My travel agent called the night before and offered us an upgrade to a handicapped room with a balcony for one hundred dollars...SOLD!! Oh what a room. I have stayed in suites, but this handicapped room was so large and spacious. WOW did we luck out.

Vintage style Birdhouse revisited

Well, I must apologize for my lack of postings. I get so busy on this little magic box, that I tend

to neglect things. And for that I am sorry.

I don't know if you remember my posting on the vintage birdhouse we put together last year, here is the link to it.

I was so excited to see we did get a tenant, and the activity is so rewarding. I know they are happy campers in there, my only problem is we won't be able to clean out the house when they move out. Any ideas?

We lost a good piece of this Magnolia tree this past October in a freak snowstorm. The snow was so wet, heavy and a lot of it, that the tree couldn't withstand the weight. It had not had a chance to harden itself for winter.

Then this spring we had a early warm up and she started to bud way to early, and then we got a frost, again she took a beaten and her blossoms got frost bite and turned brown. I was hoping for a re bloom, it has yet to happen, but I am still very hopeful. The other Magnolia I have is a later bloomer and she is strutting her flowers. I will need to see if I can get some close up pics of the blossoms.

Look at this tree of dessert for the birds. They just love devouring the blossoms. This is a crab apple tree that my husband pulled a small sapling from his parents yard. He brought it home in a Styrofoam coffee cup and nursed it down in the woods until it was a plantable size in the yard. It was great to see this grow from infancy.

Happy St Patricks Day

This was done by a friend of mine, Barbara, Happy St Patricks Day.....

Happy Anniversary

Wishing my sister and her husband a very happy 40th anniversary today. I can't believe how fast the years have gone. Seems like I was just that teenager toasting with a glass of cold duck to my sister and my new brother in law. Wish I could toast today with cold duck, but of course no alcohol for me anymore, so I tip my glass of lemon water to the next 40. You guys rocked then and still do. Cheers to you.

With Love,

Ellen

Day 5 San Juan Puerto Rico

Here we are in sunny,warm San Juan Puerto Rico. This just happens to be one of the best stops on this particular cruise. You'll see why in a bit.

This is Old San Juan's fort from a distance as we started to pull into port.

We had a few minutes after breakfast to hang around the pool area before disembarking the ship.

Hubby loves to bask in the sun. Where is this mans hat and sun glasses?????

I just love cruising along the coast line as we pull in and out of ports.

Getting a bit closer.

This was such a beautiful area, and we seen a few dolphins toying around the ship.

This is the roof top of Senor frogs, a very happening place. We didn't go in but have been in one before in the Bahamas....WILD!!!

A very dear friend was staying in this hotel behind senor frogs. It is the oldest hotel n the U.S.

This is looking out a doorway along the side of the hotel, look how close our ship was to the hotel my friend was staying.

Meet my wonderful friend Terri and her hubby Joe. I met Terri through a yahoo group. Terri lives in New York. This is the second time I had the pleasure of meeting up with Terri, as she came to my State with her hubby for a business meet. She drove to my house, and we went of for the day.

This is my hubby with Terri and I. While Paul and I went into the coach store (oh my what bargains I found) Terri and Joe found this little outside are in an alley way. We sat and had a smoothie and chatted.

We walked around town, and ended up at Terri & Joe's hotel. We spent some time in the casino before we had to get back to the ship. I sure do hope to get to visit with both Terri and Joe again.

Next stop is the most gorgeous Island ever...St Maarten.

Huggles,

Ellen

Cruise (part 2) Day 4 Labadee Haiti

Day 4 we arrived in Labadee, Haiti which is one of Royal Caribbean's private Islands. The very first time we went to Labadee was in 1989. I can not believe the changes throughout the years. It now is built up, but still a very beautiful place to spend the day. The cruise line cooks a BBQ on the beach and its amazing. This is one day that is so laid back and enjoyable. In years past we would have to tend from the ship to the land now we walk off the ship and walk along a cemented walk way. I much rather walk than to have to wait for a tender.

 

The mountains are just amazing. I just feel so badly that Haiti is so poor and they are still very much suffering from that horrific earthquake. We did loose a very wonderful local teen that was volunteering over there.

This is basically how the natives travel and work. These two guys were rowing so hard and fast, they were going much faster than the ship was. They sure do put in long hard days.

This is where we set up for the morning. I just love getting to the beach early and then leave at the hottest part of the day and be done with the beach.

Hubby and I just love to walk and explore.

We found this beautiful end of the Island, that not many walk to

The views were incredible. We did run into a wedding couple, with their photographer taking pictures. Not sure if they married on Labadee or just chose there for their pictures.

As you can see the ship in the background. You could see her from many areas of the Island. She sure is pretty.

Here you can see the walkway that I told you about.

We also ran into a gentleman that was from our area and he offered to take our photo. He was out walking around while his wife baked herself at the beach. LOL

The next stop will be

San Juan Puerto Rico.

Hope you enjoyed our day In Labadee.

Hugs,

Ellen