Much like Typepad, I have been staffing my personal operations 'a little lighter than usual'. However, between Christmas and New Years' I have managed to work with my staff and disinfect ALL of the toys and surfaces in our two classrooms, do some end-of-year paperwork for my job and our rental business, and weed out and organize around the old Camp. We even got in an afternoon of hiking yesterday!
This is definitely a winter photo of the North fork of the Yuba River.... there is enough moisture in the sunny day to give it a certain glow that can only happen this time of year, with the sun at such a low angle... it was actually about 1:30 PM yesterday, when we hiked up above the Colgate powerhouse and I snapped this photo. It is looking downstream, on the opposite side of the river canyon from a spot we visited about a month ago, which I was able to pinpoint on the hike, even without binoculars, which I thought was pretty cool!
I was excited to be able to actually climb up a kick-butt road, even though I had to stop a few times, as 2008 has got to be the worst year for my health ever.... all those viruses (seven between Sept. 2007 and May 2008), discovering I needed thyroid replacement, and then finding out the day before Thanksgiving, when my results weren't as good as predicted, that I was also dangerously low on iron (did you know that if your iron levels drop low enough, you can suffer central nervous system impairment? I didn't, but am relieved that supplementation has given me more strength and clearer thinking!). I was finally able to start a strength training and walking workout plan at the beginning of December, and make some headway... I have always been a physically active person and found it emotionally frazzling to not be able to get any better or do all of the things I love with the same Energizer Bunny spirit. Good-bye 2008, and on to 2009 with a more positive attitude, thanks to a great day outdoors.
I have also managed to lose 4 pounds in December, I discovered this morning, and part of it has been from keeping much closer track of what I eat and what is in that food calorie-wise... lots of home cooking can lead to weight gain, but can also lead to better food selection... here's a loaf of no-knead whole grain bread straight out of the oven a half hour ago.
I am finishing this post while waiting for a lunch of roasted veggies and this great, crunchy-looking bread to be ready, and wish all of you a brighter, happier, and healthier New Year!
