Friday Photos- Food for thought and a celebration of knowledge

A look back at the week, Monday thru Friday, through photos

Food was one theme for the week-

I will be in a bathing suit soon, so the flesh has been on my mind. Specifically, some unwanted flub that has my flesh expanding in ways and places that I once never thought probable on my physique. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I know that a six pack is not going to happen in one day (or ever, but hopefully you catch my drift). However, making small, consistent healthy changes to my diet for just a week or so has resulted in me noticing some positive changes in how my clothes are fitting which is super encouraging. My bathing suit confidence hasn’t improved too much but my cover up confidence is all right :). 

To avoid snacking on sugary candy/ cakes, etc. I decided to try some new to me fruit including these. They are adorably named to boot so, winning...

Funny looking- good tasting, too!

Just because I am not eating sweets does not mean that I am not buying any especially when it’s on sale. And when Donnie and I walk to a store together to get items 😁. On one of the nice days this week, Donnie mentioned that he was out of Necco Wafers- one of his favorite candies. One store that’s in walking distance of our house sells them and I suggested that we walk there after dinner to get them. I was kind of surprised that he wanted to walk to the store- it’s almost two miles one way. Normally our after dinner on nice day walks consist of maybe a mile and a half total. But since he was game, walk to the store we did and ended up buying several items, most of which was candy. It was all on sale and not all of it (or even most of it) is for me. Bonus, by 8:30 that evening, I had 20,000 steps (I had run that morning, so I had quite a few steps in already before the walk).

Such a fun candy selection...

This is what we bought...

I got in over 20K steps on this day. I know that my watch shows not that many; however, I had to charge my watch at least two times during the day so I walked plenty of “unaccounted” for steps while my watch was charging. 

Speaking of sales, when something you like goes on sale, that means you buy a lot of it, right? Inflation has resulted in prices increasing and product quantities decreasing so sale prices aren’t what they used to be... however, I have noticed that many sales are really good- like 50% off or more of the original (albeit sky high price). For instance, at our Kroger, Tostitos chips are regularly over five dollars a bag. That is nuts... and means that I won’t purchase them absent a sale. But sales there recently have been quite good. Tostitos were on sale for just over $2 if you bought several packages of them. So of course I bought multiple packages!

Speaking of multiples, I bought a seed starting tray to try my hand at growing veggies indoors and transplanting them outside once the threat of frost is over.  I did not have high hopes nor did I invest in heat lamps/ lights as some suggest for optimal chances of success. And I bought the cheapest seeds available- they were four packets for a dollar! Needless to say, my expectations were low.

One day last week, I sowed the seeds, watered the soil and put the cover on the tray (the cover provides a lighthouse effect) and just kind of forgot about it. Then this past Sunday, I glanced at the tray and then did a double take. I wondered what on earth (no pun intended) was in the tray. I looked more closely. The thing that I saw in the tray was a seedling! I noticed more. It has been so fun watching the lil’ seedlings grow. I do so hope the seedlings continue to thrive, that I successfully transplant them to the garden, that the critters do not eat the leaves, that I adequately water the plans and that maybe, eventually, hopefully, from these seeds, I will be able to harvest veggies. A gardener can dream, right?

At school one day this week, I subbed for an intervention specialist who spends time in a math classroom. The math teacher is new this year- fresh out of college and seems like a great teacher the few times that I have been in his room. When I walked into his room and saw on the board that a “Celebration of Knowledge” was written on the board for the day’s activity, that got my somewhat curmudgeon-y hackles raised a little. How about less celebrations and more learning? It seems like very often there are non academic activities happening and/ or too many random days off of school. Like, if we have a system called education, let’s you know, educate. And we do have a system called education that is a huge industry/ tax burden for taxpayers. We owe it to them and to the students to actually educate and not just house students for several hours a school day (when school is even in session).

These thoughts were swirling through my mind. So when I found out what the “Celebration of Knowledge” actually entailed, I was thoroughly mollified.  And even felt a little guilty for caring little for this newly minted teacher’s lesson plan. You see, the “Celebration of Knowledge” was a euphemistic phrase for “test.” The students were taking a test in math class that day! The teacher turned the normal concept of a test on its head and made it sound positive. As in, the students get to share/ celebrate the knowledge they have of the math concepts that they had recently learned. I loved it! The new and revised name for test and for the creativity of thought behind it (I knew there was a reason I liked this teacher so much (and not just because he reminds me (somewhat) physically of Jacob)).

Another day, I subbed in art class. How adorable is this door??