Life is a Journey not a Destination

Well, today we decided it was time to say goodbye to Sam. Over the last week his health has rapidly declined and we’ve been constantly saying “poor, old Sam”. He looked miserable and his stomach terribly swollen. It wasn’t an easy decision to reach but it was awful knowing he suffered and each day was worse than the one before. He had trouble walking, could only get up off the floor without aid sometimes, and had even gone off his food - though he did enjoy some chocolate today. He really has had the best life. We got him from death row at the pound when he was only 4 months old and has been a full member of the family - going to Nan’s for babysitting when I worked, sleeping in our bedroom and having full run of the house. Holidays were planned for, and around, him - loved going to Kioloa and spending hours on the beach. He was my first baby and a special one at that - he knew if you cried and were upset and would come to comfot you. We used to say he was a human in a furry body he was that sympathetic and intuitive. Until recently he followed me around the house, from room to room - even the toilet. When his legs were strong he came up on our bed for cuddles every night and morning. It will be sad not watching out for him at night and listening to his heavy breathing. It’s strange only making dinner for Belle. I’m not sure if she’ll notice he’s gone as she’s very much a loner - especially now that Sam wasn’t up to playing with her any longer. Sad though I am, I’m glad he’s not in pain - it was such a peaceful way to die. Just listening as his breathing slowed and stopped and his eyes closed as we patted him. I will miss him so much but am so glad to have had him in my life for over 14 years. We were lucky to have him so long - especially with his tumor which was diagnosed 3.5 years ago, and the temporary paralysis he suffered from 18 months ago.
Bye Sam, there will never be another dog like you.

Well, I’m quite excited as the laptop lunchbox I ordered for Amy came today. One of the blogs I visit http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/ uses this lunchbox. The author has a book out that I saw I could order through an Australian website - imagine my excitment when I saw I could also order the laptop lunchbox as well. I’ve now got three lunch books to go through - Amy shouldn’t complain of being bored with lunch for awhile. I’ve just been sitting trying to do a menu plan based on my use it up list -much harder than I thought. There are a few things I have no idea what to do with

Busy day today - got a lot done - though I did miss the gym - had to take Amy to the doctors for the results of her blood test (she has sore toe and knee) - the results were negative for anything wrong - told to come back in 10day by a very rude doctor - will go to see our normal doctor next week when she’s back from holidays. I’ve decided to do a “Use It Up” challenge - an idea from a fellow list member http://lightening74.blogspot.com/ I’ve done my list - the pantry section is a page long so I won’t post it. I’ve decided I need to use something from the list with each dinner, as a minimum.
Kevin has been sick the last 2 days though must be better now as he’s eating all of the Hawiian Banana Nut Bread that I just made.
Read a great article at the doctors this morning about SLOW FOOD - wonderful idea - very along the lines of the River Cottage. Kevin wants us to go back to buying Organic fruit & veg - to supplement what we don’t get from our own veggie garden. Hate to think how much it will cost when I was nearly $60 at the local f&v shop this afternoon - didn’t even get a lot today but did buy 4 mangos, 2 pieces of watermelon, red & green grapes and some delicious cherries - which I’ve already eaten half of. Oh, well, at least it’s nice and healthy and good for us.

Had a nice weekend. On Saturday I went to the gym, came home and helped the girls put up and decorate the Christmas tree. I spent the remainder of the day pottering around putting out all our Christmas decoration and now we’re all set. The girls LOVE it, especially Christy. We might try and talk Kevin into doing some lights outside. Enjoyed a swim later this afternoon. Kevin was out all day taking wedding photographs so we had takeaway pizza for dinner and settled in to watch the Disney Channel Movie - something we’ve taken to doing on Saturday nights, much to Amy’s delight.
Sunday we headed to Kiama Seaside Markets. We had a nice family day out - bought a few things, watched a juggler, the kids went on some rides, had lunch - nice but service was VERY slow (next time we’ll pack a picnic) and had an ice cream. I also bought the girls really gorgeous Chrismtas dresses from “I Wish I Was” fairy shop. We came home had a swim and spa. It was a lovely day and the first family day we’ve had out for a while.
Monday Amy was home sick so I just pottered around doing my WHB. She was better after lunch so ended up going to dancing.

Kevin and I have been watching the UK series River Cottage www.rivercottage.net . Great show. Hugh’s main purpose is trying to educate people about where food comes from - he breeds his own animals for slaughter and while I still don’t believe we need to kill animals for food, I think his message is something that everyone who eats meat should here. The show we watched last night was called River Cottage Treatment and he has 6 chicken eaters come live at his farm - he shows them how his chooks live then takes them to a battery farm (where the chooks can barely walk - some can’t), an organic farm and a free range farm. By the end of the show even the hardest case is convinced to buy free-range or organic chicken. And it took the death of one of his own chicken to convince her that the animal that died for her dinner deserved a decent and humane life.

On a personal note the whole sugar thing has gone out the window but it’s something I still want to persue. At the moment I’m really concetrating on getting the house organised and under control. OUr veggie garden is growing really well - probably due to the “bit” of rain we’ve had the last few weeks and our chooks just keep on growing. Still trying to work out how to post a picture. They are just the cutest girls.

Another website I’m enjoying exploring is http://www.happyfoody.blogspot.com/

when you’re trying to reduce sugar consumption and money spending……. Hmmm…. it all went out the window today. Amy needed some moulding clay for a school project (she has to make a model of the solar system) and the only place i knew I could get it was at Miranda. So Christy and I went there today. I set off with the best of intentions - even packed my own snacks. I did okay until I got upset by a saleslady - probably not her fault but I must be emotional today. Then that was it - I decided to go to sugar fix. This store has stuff from the USA and UK and since I don’t go very often (I refuse to visit the website - that would be deadly) so I tend to stock up a bit. Today I bought some christmas presents and a few things for the family to share. Didn’t do too badly with the spending money - most was christmas presents - but I did buy some sheet for Amy (could have waited but scared the line is discontinued and this matches her new quilt cover) and a christmas bear for Christy. Another bear you might say? I know it seems a waste but it was only $10 and she was very well behaved. I know i’ll be donating it before long so I just looked at it like a charity donation.

Well, I am happy to report that I manage to have no extra sugar yesterday. A few people questioned what I meant by giving up sugar so I thought I should clarify. I will still eat natural sugars and small amounts in foods. The main focus is giving up sugary foods like cake, biscuits, chocolate, ice cream, etc. Another rule I read somewhere was to avoid any food with sugar in the first 4 ingredients. At this stage I am also avoid artificial sweetners (farewell my beloved Diet Coke) but may introduce them later. I am not even sure I will stay sugar free forever - my goal is the end of November. Hopefully by then I will be past cravings and enjoying the new way I feel. I am hoping this will be like when I became a vegetarian 2 years ago. Then I said I might eat meat occassionally - but I never have. I gave up meat surely I can give up sugar - one is bad for animals, one is bad for my health - both are just as important.
As for my no spend challenge - it’s going okay. Christy wanted her normal cheese rolls from Bakers Delight so I had to withdraw cash for that. Then Amy lost her swimming goggles so I had to buy her some new ones. I also bought some chips at swimming lessons for Christy and I to share. But other than that - and really only the chips were extras - all is good and the cash is staying in my wallet.

I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching over the last few days. For some
reason I’m not “happy” with
life. I’ve been spending out of control the last
few weeks (though luckily I have enough money in our savings account to cover
it and it’s not stupid stuff just not essential stuff). But I do have a problem and am obviously
shopping to fulfill a need. One website I’ve found great has
been www.simpleliving.net <http://www.simpleliving.net/> . There is a
forum called ENOUGH and that’s been just what I’ve needed. I’ve made a list
of everything I have enough of and some ways to not add to it. I’ve
also made a list of things I need to do to simply my life and this week
I will be focusing on those things around the house. We had friends
for lunch yesterday so the house got a little clean so I won’t do the
WHB today and will get started on my simple living list. I also think I
have a problem with mood swings and lethargy and I think sugar might be
to blame so I’m going to try eliminating sugar from my diet as much
as possible.

I’m challenging myself to a no shop week (except
groceries).