I managed to exercise last week, at the health club, for all three days. First week was easy. I only had one set of 12 counts for each machine. This week, I have to do two sets of each. I did today and it wasn't as easy as last week which is good. I almost forgot to go but I did make it. I was not in a mood for exercise until I got there. I did enjoy it, which gives me hope. I also used the treadmill for 20 minutes. Way to go!. I only have 378 days to go before my membership expires. I plan to lose most of my excess weight by them. I am going to be one hot old momma. I can dream, can't I. Actually, dreams are essential because "you gotta have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna make a dream come true..." At least that how I think the song from South Pacific goes. I feel rather good about my chances this time. I wish me luck. I am considering taking a basket making class this week, although I don't know what good that specific piece of knowledge is going to do me. You never know. Pumpkin is whinning. He wants food. So I am out of here.

I am a compulsive shopper and a hoarder. Acquiring things and keeping them is my thing. Do I hate myself for it? Yes. Can I control it? At this time, no. But as far as hoarding goes, I have managed to change enough that I now am not messy about it. That for me is a big, huge accomplishment. (Please no comments about being proud of me.) I also have a problem with food. I don't eat a lot at meals, but I do snack a lot, potato chips being my undoing. Why am I putting myself down? because you have to be down before you can be up. Now for the up. I actually met, yesterday, with the person who showed me to use the weight machines. I'm not so sure she is all that knowledgeable but I do know more than I let on. I have failed to workout not because I am not aware of how it can help me but because I have not feel compulsed to do it. If I felt about exercise as I do about shopping, I would be one fit, almost, senior citizen. (By the way, I do not consider myself one in spite of that comment.) Anyway, I did work out for an hour last night and so far, I am not in pain. What I do feel like doing today (and yesterday afternoon) is writing poetry. Strange thing is I am not a poetry type person and to be honest it has been decades since my last poem. You go figure. Today is a very foggy day and I feel great. There is still hope for me. Somehow, I feel something inside me is changing. I sold my nice house which I bought new ten years ago and bought this old one. To be honest, although this house needs a lot of work, I feel a connection to it that I never had to other houses I have owned. Today I was thinking that the only thing I miss of that very nice house is the fact that it was close to Wirth Park, the largest park in Minneapolis, complete with lakes, small hills, beautiful sunrises and wildflowers. I used to love to go walking there especially during the early morning. Got to go Pumpkin is whinning because I am making him wait an additional hour for second breakfast (or first lunch). He can, also, afford to lose some weight.

I have joined the St Francis Health Club. I finally decided that I had to do something about myself. I found out how out of shape I was when I began buying soil and manure for my microfarm. I could lift them with a lot of difficulty. Next year I will be doing a lot more in the yard, so I figure I have to develop a lot more strength. I, also, signed up for swimming classes. I have been meaning to do that for 30 or 40 year, so I am finally doing it. I really hope to get in shape (to something other than round). I don't know about dieting since I have started almost as many diets as I have years and I have been steadily gaining weight through the years. Just a few a year but since I'm getting along in years it has really added up. I could stop eating but I do like food. I bought a soda maker machine so I am carbonating my own water and mostly making it with only plain water. I stopped drinking colas. I am hoping that will help a lot since I am saving on at least a few hundred calories a day. I wish myself luck, since I will need it. (I will post my photo, along with a fat one, when I lose fifty pounds.)

I have not blogged in a few days, I have been busy reading and taking notes. I want to read all I can on gardening herbs, flowers, vegetables and fruits. Also, on anything I can do, related to those things, to make money. I need money bad. Of course, living in Minnesota, right now I am not going to be doing much gardening. I did bring in herbs, a pepper and a few tomato plants. Problem is the tomatoes and pepper are still growing, flowering but not doing too well. I would guess they would like the house to be a lot warmer. For the first time ever, I am keeping the temperature of the house at only 61 degrees, energy prices being what they are. Don't pity me because my basement feels 10 degrees warmer than the upstairs since it is mostly under ground. I do have a very large glass door (almost looks like French doors) and two large glass block areas. Someone, in the 89 year history of this house make the basement a walk-out to the large yard and fixed half the basement as a family (guy) room with nice wood boards covering all the walls. It looks quite nice. I have a computer, craft, and family room areas (it is a large room) so I don't spend most of my time freezing. And, there is a small bathroom with a shower that I didn't know about when I bought the house. The rest is storage and laundry area. There is also a gas fireplace down here so it is perfect for when the temperature goes down after sundown and I don't want to warm the whole house. Anyway, back to the gardening. I found a book that is just great for money making ideas with herbs, most which apply to the other things I am growing. It will be a while before I can implement them but I want to be ready. For now, my art will be on hold. I need to dedicate my time to planning and figuring out how to make money. I could get a "job" but I don't want to. I have problems working for others, although I have done it most of my life, so unless I absolutely have to I want to work for myself instead even if I make a lot less and have to change my spending habits. (I am a spendaholic.) Well, back to my reading.