Personal Training, Holiday, and the Garden
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| both spirea plants have survived the snow ... really happy to see the new growth |
Yesterday's personal training was as much fun as it always is and, even though it was an easy-ish session, I felt I'd had a good workout. I misunderstood Amy's text about the start of her maternity leave so I have one more session next Monday, and then she starts her break. Provided everything goes according to plan, she will keep in touch during her maternity leave and we chatted a little around my own plans for that period. So far I've been focused on improving my fitness levels and will continue with that but now I need to add in the focus on weight loss as well so, as Amy is also a nutritionist, she's going to support me in that aspect of life. By the time I see her again, so next Monday, I need to come up with a list of ideas for healthy breakfasts. Each meal has to contain protein and should be a reasonably substantial meal so any ideas will be very much appreciated please.
I didn't make it to the music school yesterday so will try to do that this afternoon. Fortunately I phoned them before driving over otherwise it would have been a wasted journey as the person I have to see wasn't at work yesterday! Instead I got carried away online and seemed to have booked three nights away at the end of July. I'll be staying in Cirencester for one night to meet up with a friend and will travel on to a guest house near Kidderminster for the other two nights. I've booked a ticket for a talk by Ruth Goodman (she of the Victorian Farm fame), which is part of the Harvington Hall History Festival, and also a ticket for a guided tour around the house. There are other talks that I'd enjoying listening to so I may book tickets for those at a later date but there are also other places I'd like to see, so it depends on whether I want to pay for another night or two to stay in the area and have a look around Worcester or Gloucester ... that's still to be decided.
On to today and M will be here later this morning to work her magic in the garden. There's lots to tidy and I don't know whether she'll get it all done this visit, but at least it will be started and we can also start throwing ideas around for this year's 'look' and 'colours'. I have an idea of what I want for the annuals but am undecided about whether to have hanging baskets of flowers this year or whether to try hanging baskets of fruits instead. I'll try to see neighbour S over the weekend to see when he and R plan to sort out the pergola ... I'm ready for it to be done now. It's quite exciting isn't it!
Right, I need to get started. Hope you all have a good day and I'll 'see' you all tomorrow.
I hope you can come up with your breakfast meal plan, I'm no help as I don't eat breakfast and I know I should. Your break booked for July sounds interesting and something to look forward to. Plans for your garden sound exciting it'd be lovely to have some fruits growing and the pergola in place too. xx.
ReplyDeleteI have some ideas for breakfasts already but thought it would be interesting to see what others suggested.
DeleteI'm looking forward to my July break. I've wanted to see Ruth Goodman for years. I like that she details how women lived at various times in history.
I like the idea of growing some fruit but I keep changing my mind ... there's lots of flowers I like too! xx
I like how you photographed your spirea plant! What beautiful colors, too!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you'll have another session with Amy and that she will continue to help you as a nutritionist. Healthy breakfasts - well, I don't usually eat breakfast, but, eggs with some vegetables added to them? Chick peas/garbanzo beans either boiled and sauteed or made into hummus? I sometimes eat boiled mung beans for breakfast, with a spicy sambol or just plain. Cheese toast? Tuna salad?
Sounds like you've another holiday to look forward to! How nice!
Looking forward to seeing how your garden turns out, this year. I rather like the sound of hanging baskets of fruit! I'm picturing you going out into the garden to pick ripe strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries from a hanging basket! Or, perhaps, blackberries. I've never tried growing fruit in hanging baskets as they'd need daily or even twice daily watering in my climate, but, it would be fun to see them grow!
Thanks Bless. The spirea are very pretty with lovely colours all year round. Mine don't usually lose their leaves but the first lot of snow was just too much for them this time. I'm glad to see the growing again.
DeleteThanks for the breakfast ideas. I quite fancy eggs with asparagus when it's in season and I often eat soft boiled eggs with toast soldiers. I need to add other non-egg ideas to my list as eggs can be hard to get with the bird flu causing supply difficulties. I like the idea of having hummus with veggie sticks so that's a good option.
I'm looking forward to the holiday, just a short break but it'll be fun.
I've ordered the first lot of corms for the garden but more about that in tomorrow's post. If I do the fruit in hanging baskets it'll be cherry tomatoes, raspberries and strawberries. It's the watering side of things that makes me hesitate as I have plans to be away for three or four breaks so it's a lot of work to expect someone else to do on the daily watering. xx
Good morning, you don’t know me but I read you most mornings. I want to say thanks for your blog. Today you inspired me to look into my breakfast protein content. (Oatmeal). Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteHi, and thanks for your comment. I'm glad my ramblings were of use to you. xx
DeleteI always eat porridge with semi skimmed milk for breakfast, I make mine in the microwave, it keeps me full until lunch and beyond if I'm out. I often add raspberries or blueberries, and if I'm in need of a treat, so golden syrup.
ReplyDeleteI like overnight oats but am not that fond of porridge, the difficulty being that I don't like warm milk and can't eat porridge with cold milk ... I'm just awkward I suppose! Thanks for your comment as it has reminded me to add overnight oats to my list. xx
DeleteThat's a happy surprise to have one more session with Amy. I really want you to clone Amy for me; my search for fitness/nutrition coach isn't going well. How exciting to be beginning your garden wish list & M's return to help with your wishes & visions. Your trip for July sounds like a good holiday to look forward to. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm really pleased to have one more session next week. I can't clone her, sorry, so why don't you move to Trowbridge and then the problem is solved!
DeleteM worked her magic today and the garden looks so much better. I'm looking forward to my July trip. xx
Good breakfast with proteins are eggs, so homemade savory muffins with bacon and toms. Also homemade almond pancakes, using ground almonds instead of flour and serve with berries and full fat yogurt. If you need more ideas, just ask, also recipes. Helen S.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean egg muffins? Yes please to the recipe if you don't mind. xx
DeleteIt sounds really exciting - definitely envious of the Ruth Goodman talk as she gives such practicality to history. Your garden is going to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to see one of Ruth Goodman talks ever since I first saw her on TV, so years ago. I'm really excited that I have a ticket! xx
DeleteYes porridge is my breakfast too. As i am getting older i am a little more fixed, which i don't know it that is a good thing. But for the same breakfast every morning like poppypatchwork here, i throw in a lot of local stuff, seeds and berries. no milk nor sugar for me ... but yes fatty yoghurt (na) helps when you miss the sweetness. But it is something i got used too, now i find sugar rather gross. As a treat i will add raisons or nuts...but for me they have to come from too far
ReplyDeleteI need to add some variety so couldn't stick to the same breakfast every day. I'll eat cold overnight oats but warm porridge isn't a favourite of mine. I don't add sugar to anything any more. xx
DeleteBreakfast for me is half a bagel with lactose free cream cheese. Very unexciting and not particularly healthy. I'm reading the ideas others suggest! Hanging baskets of fruit sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that a bagel and cream cheese will have enough protein but it is tempting! xx
DeleteHi Eileen,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delay in sending you the recpies, but hubby is off on Thursday and Friday. Thursday we visited my cousin and yesterday was a shopping day. Today I am getting around to it.
Almond Pancakes.
4oz Ground almonds
1 tbs Coconut Flour
3 eggs
125 ml coconut milk
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
In a large mixing bowl whisk the ground almonds and the coconut flour, along with the ground cinamon, and the whipped eggs and coconut milk. Set aside for a few minutes.
In a non-stick frying pan heat some olive oil over a medium heat and allow to get hot, (not too hot). Add a spoonful of batter (do not crowd the pan). So make the pancakes one a a time. Cook for a few minutes then turn and repeat for the reverse side until cooked. Turn onto a plate and serve with berries and some yoghurt.
(I would rather let them cool and serve cold). They say it serves 2 so I always keep half for the following day.
You can also alter the flavour with orange zest, mixed spice etc. There is no additional sugar added to this recipe.
This is the link for the Bacon and tomato muffins, you can change the filling if you want to and/or include grated cheese. I have found the muffins freeze well or keep in the fridge for a few days.
https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/bacon-and-tomato-muffins.html
I also thought of a few more ideas for breakfast:- Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Stuffed mushrooms with bacon and cheese. Bacon and scrambled eggs with avocado. Sausages, eggs and tomatoes. Hope this comes through ok as I have written quite a lot. No need to publish it. Kind regards, Helen S. xx
I love my breakfasts. I'm sure I would have no new ideas for you but please do take a peek in my SW blog (there's a list of breakfasts in one of the pages, tabs at the top), if you like. I can't promise they all have protein though. xx
ReplyDeleteI've had a look at your list of breakfasts and have added them to the list but need to check the protein amounts. Thanks xx
DeleteI can hear the excitement in your voice about your garden prospects. I have no good ideas for breakfast, although I will tend to eat leftovers from previous night's dinner, so getting protein is usually not a problem for me. This morning it will be the leftover 1 1/2 deviled eggs from Easter, which is really quite a normal breakfast.
ReplyDelete