Rock Springs Preserve

Today Clif and I decided to get an early start, and venture off on a hike in Lake County at the Rock Springs Run Preserve.  This is a wildlife management area, that is bordered by both the Rock Springs Run river to the south and Wekiva River to the east.  Being we got there just 15 minutes after they opened, we hoped to see lots of wildlife.  Well, sad to say, the only wildlife we saw were wild turkeys and ticks....lots of ticks.



I was very excited starting off on what we thought was a 9 mile loop.  This would be perfect as we have to dinner/game night engagement with some friends.  We'd head down to the river and be done by 12-1pm.  The scenery is beautiful as you can see.



We had parked in area 2, and decided to take the spur to the Pond Trail which then connected to the Challenge Trail.  Early indication is that everything would be well marked.



I even got more excited when I realized we'd be hiking in real woods with a canopy.  Those that have followed previous blogs know I don't care for hiking through miles of palmettos and sand.



Once we had come to the area where you could either complete the Pond Trail or continue onto the Challenge Trail, we soon realized why it has this name!



I was perplexed as this was the actual trail.  Obviously it is not maintained or has much foot traffic.



 Clif is standing directly in front of the trail marker (we were on the white blaze trail that is a 9 mile loop).



There he goes, so I will follow even though I am weary.  I couldn't stop for any pictures along the rest of this portion as I needed both supports of the hiking sticks to bushwhack my way through. :)



Clif was able to get some pictures though with his camera as I made my way through.



This was one of the areas where we collected the most ticks.  We would stop at each small clearing and swipe them off our clothes.  We were thankful that we wore long sleeved shirts and pants.



We finally come to an area that recently had a fire.  I think it was one back this past Feb.
Anyway, there was no end in sight as to how far we'd be hiking after all, does this look like there is a river nearby???



But once to the other side, (about 2 miles or so) and trying to acclimate our position to the map, we were back to bushwhacking our way through.  Our goal was to get to the Rock Springs Run which is a popular canoeing river that ties into Wekiva Springs Run.  We had a hard time identifying the trail blazes.  Clif would go ahead as I talked to him, and once he found a blaze, he'd yell for me to catch up.



We finally made it.  Across from where we came out at the river's edge is where we hiked a couple months ago at Wekiva Springs.  I had blogged about Big Buck Camp in January where we hiked a 10 mile loop.



Continuing on the loop, I was now getting very frustrated.  It was already 1:00, and we had already hiked 10 + miles.  It was clear that the map or the trails weren't accurate.  It is advised, "stay on the marked trail to avoid getting lost".  Well, that's all fine and dandy if you knew where you were on the map in relation to the trail blazes you were following!!!  None of these roads were on our map.





How's this for ya?!



I snapped this shot when we got back to the truck at 3:00pm and 14 miles later! Old Road 433 is where our truck is parked about 1 1/2 miles to the north of the Lake/Orange County line.  I'm just glad we finally made it back.  I was exhausted.

Kyle this is for you

Originally, this was the closest before/after pictures I could find under your guidance as my personal trainer.



But then I found this one which was at the end of your first month at the Planet Fitness location I go to.  I thought it was cool to see the difference both wearing a dress and pants.  Dresses always look more flattering on me, but the capris show weight loss better.  From Nov 2011 to Apr 2013, I lost a total of 50 pounds, 35 + which were lost in the past year!

Thanks for all you do to motivate me to work hard and keep on track in attaining my goal.  THANKS! :)

Garden

Many of you have been inquiring about how our Spring garden is coming along.  I thought I'd post a few pictures so you can see for yourselves.  Providing the bugs can be kept away, we should have a good harvest. 



Several varieties of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers in the buckets, and you can't see it well, but a blueberry bush that after 2 years finally has some blueberries on it.  We'll be lucky if we get 20.



In years past, the bugs get the tomatoes before we do.  This year, I have picked a couple early, and put in paper bags to ripen.  What we've eaten so far have been tasty.



A variety of plants: basil, carrots (still in the ground from the Fall garden, cantelope, more cucumber, sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, green pepper, scallions, green beans, lettuce, and spinach.



Looking from the other direction gives a better view of the spinach (what's left after the squirrels got into it), lettuce and green beans.



A closer view of the scallions, green pepper, and cantelope.

Thanking the Lord in advance for a bountiful crop. :)

Before and Almost After

            I was in the Annual St. Isaac Women's Guild Fashion Show today.

People have been commenting lately about how much weight I have lost, and they want to know what I am doing to be losing it.



   

Truth be known, I had gone off the Effexor I was on for 10+ years.  This medicine not only made me gain 100+ pounds, but sent my thyroid into a tizzy, made my good cholesterol plummet, blood pressure to increase, along with a gammot of other side effects.  After 3 years of being on the medicine I refused to gain any more weight.  I tweaked my eating habits (hard to give up some of the foods you love!), started to exercise more, and over the next 5 years worked up to a very regimented exercise routine of 5-6 days a week about an hour each day.  Still being on the Effexor, I would muster a weight loss of 5-10 pounds a year.  How frustrating.  Then I had to get serious about really monitoring my eating habits.  Even so, still only managed about 5-10 pounds a year.



        Vacation 2006.  This was not the heaviest I was, but close enough.



          This was taken at Michael's Dreamer and Doer Award in 2007. 



                              This picture was taken December 2008.

Now, fast forward to December 2011 when I was completely weaned off the medicine.  I have lost 55 pounds in a year and a half.  Nothing has changed as far as the tweaked eating habits and exercise routine.  The only difference is I am no longer on Effexor!  The panic attacks have returned, although not as frequent or severe, and I have scoured the internet finding many helpful websites to redirect my internal dialogue/thought process to snap out of them. 

I have found a gynecologist who found I had way too much Estrogen, and hardly any Progesterone which is being corrected, along with a genetic test that found I was lacking an enzyme that allows for proper metabolizing of B6.  We're working on that also.  As a matter of fact, she found so many different deficiencies within my system, that she is addressing them all, and little by little, day by day, I am feeling almost as good as I did on the Effexor without all the side effects.



Now, I only have about 20 more pounds to go to my goal weight!
For that I am grateful. :)

Valerie's Baby Shower

Today I had Valerie's Baby Shower.  It was the perfect day, and I am quite grateful.
The weather was sunny, mild, breezy and best of all low humidity!  I was able to open the house, and we ate our lunch outside.



I used www.bigdotofhappiness.com  to order the supplies.  Using them was such a joy, and the products were of great quality.  The artwork is unique which I loved. :)



The party favors were fun to put together.



I even got creative and made a diaper cake.  The You Tube video was quite helpful.  After searching many, I found this one sponsored by Pampers that seemed to be the easiest.  I had this made in a 1/2 hour!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Lr64xo_Rw  This also doubled as "The Memory Game".



Cousins Dina and Sandra were first to arrive.



They brought along Aunt LaDon from Stuart. 



After lunch, we played our games...Sweet, Sweet Baby was a challenge for them trying to think of candy names to match the birthing words. 



They starting conversing with one another trying to figure them out.  Diane resorted to her cell phone.



Janet made her a Magic Hanky.  It is a old tradition that has been handed down for generations. :)



Aunt LaDon crocheted a pair of booties and stuffed money inside. :)
Oh, and us sisters chipped in and gave Valerie the overstuffed rocking chair she's sitting in. It is SO comfy.  We all took turns sitting in it after the gifts were opened.



I made her a receiving blanket.  The print says, "I love Mommy and Daddy".




Barbara, Sandra, and Nereida are checking their Bingo sheets to see if they guessed the gifts correctly.



And being we were told she's having a girl ahead of time, many of us added to our original purchase and bought all kinds of cute clothes.  They won't have to do laundry for weeks!









Just a few last group photos before everyone dispersed.  From the left to right, Dina, Nathaniel, Aunt LaDon, Michael, Samuel, Sandra, and Gabriel.  All the boys are Dina's.



And "The Gang" as we are known...Diane, Vicky, Nereida, Mary, Valerie, Aunt LaDon, Me, Janet, and Barbara.  It was wonderful that we were able to all be together, and spend the afternoon in fun and fellowship.  What a wonderful celebration indeed. Thank you Lord for blessing us with family. :)



Just thought I'd show a few more projects I made for the baby.  This is a car seat throw.  It is a "no sew" where I cut slits and pulled the fringe through.



Valerie's favorite animal is the elephant.  When I saw this panel, I just couldn't resist making it into a crib blanket.





This material goes with the theme and colors.  It is a fringe blanket in which I sewed a 6 inch border first, then cut the fridge to the stitching.  It makes it look like a lion's mane. :)



And of course, the receiving blanket so you can see the back side.




The collection wouldn't be complete without a blanket to have at Grandma's house!  This one is made of fleece.

I am getting more excited as the due date is getting closer.  I am thinking about making some more projects. Hmmmm....what'll be next?!

Easter Sunday 2013

What a gorgeous day here in Orlando, FL!  It is what I call the "perfect" Easter weather.  Crystal clear blue skies, sun shining, a light breeze, and a comfortable 80 degrees.

The kids came over and spent the day with us.  I appreciated having help with the Easter Decor, and fixing dinner.  Usually I have the decor done by Saturday night before I go to the Easter Vigil Mass, but yesterday I lost track of time preparing for Valerie's baby shower that will be here Apr 6.  (If I didn't get the remainder of the shopping done, it wouldn't get done.  Our Spring Break has ended).

Anyway, I enjoyed Valerie's laughter as she filled the eggs with Easter candy.  She was up to some sort of trickery, and only time would tell.  This is a tradition in the Rando household to have these eggs on the table throughout the 50 days of Easter.  Clif appreciates having lots of choices after having a barren Lent for 40 days. 



I had to laugh because as soon as I took the camera out to snap a picture before we started dinner, everyone bolted!  Poor Valerie, being almost 7 months pregnant couldn't escape because her shower gift box had her trapped (it's a rocking chair).  I promised her I'd do my best to keep her out of the picture.



After the kitchen was cleaned up, we decided to compete playing Skip-Bo.  Each couple was a team.  As you can see, Stephen is excited over Amber's strategic move.  They won the first game.  Michael and Valerie won the next.

 Oh, and the laughter returned as we began to get into those Easter eggs.  Valerie mixed up the candies and had us completely baffled...dark chocolate M&M's mixed with milk chocolate ones, Skittles mixed with Jolly Rancher jelly beans, Jelly Bellies mixed with M&M's, and even over-stuffed a few so that when Stephen opened one, beans flew everywhere.  Have you ever laughed so hard, you cry?  Well, that's the kind of laughter we had this evening.  What a blessed and joyous day.

Palm Sunday

I decided to spend the weekend with my dad in Clearwater.  We had a busy and enjoyable weekend.  I decided to come back early after taking Barbara, Pete, and Dad out for breakfast after 8:00 Mass.  I am so glad I came home early.  Ordinarily, I come home around 2-4 pm, but being it is our last prayer session this afternoon at 4, I left at 10, and was home by noon. 

We had a storm move through at 2:30 that came in with a vengence, and lasted about 10 minutes.  The wind, rain, hail, lightning, and thundering left me to cover our home in prayer that we would be safe from any "acts of God".



This pond appeared shortly after the downpour started.  I had to wait til the rain let up to get out to snap the picture. 



Then Clif and I had to assess the garden to make sure it survived the hail.  It seems it did.



Some of the hail was a lot bigger than the normal "pea" sized hail we normally see.

Boy was I glad I wasn't driving home in this mess!  Stephen is sure to be busy today.  He went on shift at 2:00, and we have been hearing sirens since 2:45.  I pray that God keeps everyone protected under His tender, loving care.