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Active Living in the US Navy Even Has an IPhone App! DoD Blogger Roundtable
“They have an IPhone App for their program…” Spring seems to be a great time to get started on new workout plans, healthier eating, gardens and more! May is even designated as physical fitness and sports month so it was great timing for the DoD Blogger Roundtable to discuss the US Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System and some new and better ways to help stay healthy! As a long time advocate for a healthy lifestyle I was very interested in the topic but wanted to make sure that it would be interesting for our followers. Diana Strock, Physical Fitness and Injury Prevention Program Manager said they had “resounding feedback”…
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Grandpa, my favorite antagonist
This weekend we will lay to rest my grandfather. James Marion Kissinger, 88, of Lake Placid, Florida, died on January 31, 2013, and is now present with the Lord.Jim was born in Culver, Indiana to James and Cynthia Jane (Anderson) Kissinger on March 15, 1924. He was one of nine children including: Irene (Don) Weimer, Wilbur (Helen) Kissinger, Clifford (Virginia ) Kissinger, Dannie Kissinger, Lloyd (Nancy) Kissinger, Marjorie (Russ) Underwood, Janey (Dean) Cernek, and Karl (Julie) Kissinger. He graduated from Liberty Twp. High School in 1942. He served honorably in the US Army during World War II where he spent a considerable time in England with 685th Engineer Base Equipment…
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The Blackberry Patch and Col K
Our crop is going to be cut by 90% and this “farmer” is a bit sad watching them shrivel. 2011 Blackberry PatchThey are in the blood and sometimes they draw our blood through their thorns! Growing up outside of Gary, Indiana, we lived in farm country. It was a completely different world than our city cousins or the Air Force life I would eventually join. Ten acres of strawberries, black raspberries, vegetables and woods with a small pond kept us out of the house and busy in the spring/summer – whether working or playing, it did not matter. We were the “berry pickin” cousins and as we got older we…
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Summer 2012 Bucket List
Summer Vacation is soon upon us. A time of year I LOVE! The lack of routine is so refreshing but amazingly enough becomes a little old after only a few weeks (and depending on the moment, sometimes only after a few days). So this summer my boys and I have created a ‘Bucket List’. Things we all want to do in the course of our lazy-days of summer. Somethings are things I want to do as a family. Some things are dreams. Others are already being planned. This is our list of plans, ideas and joys for the summer: Ride our Bike to Tasty Freeze Have a backyard game of kickball Catch fireflies…
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Tasty Tuesday Blackberry Scones
Blackberry Scones. Right there, I am drooling!Warm, wet and wonderful hot out of the oven; berries popping out the sides of blackberry scones. From start to finish, these are ready to eat within the hour using everyday shelf items: with the exception of those juicy berries. We have berries growing and thriving and multiplying like 60. Dale picks them, I clean them; we eat them. Simple! Today we had oatmeal with blackberries for breakfast, a 10 o’clock snack was a blackberry muffin from last night and lunch will be a garden fresh tossed salad topped with… Yep! Blackberries, plump purple and delicious. The scone idea is new. Neighbors are coming…
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The Blackberry Patch
Beautiful Michigan Blackberries!I think He understands and hears my prayers while in the patch. This is a favorite time of the year for me! I enjoy spending time in our wild blackberry patch which is now at its peak! The blackberries were a gift that we found behind our woods the second year we arrived after that last PCS! It was number 18 move and we looked forward to being grounded for a bit and being close to family after 30 years of being “transients”. But … back to the berries! We purchased a house that was placed on a hill overlooking the nearby river valley and deep in a…
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Flourless Baked Berry Oatmeal Brunch Crunch
Sunrise service coming up with a brunch to follow. What to bring? When folks are allergic to flour, they search the table… When sugar is not friendly to a diabetic, they search the table. Here is a recipe for a flour less dish using Splenda Brown sugar. Baked Oatmeal1 1/2 C frozen blackberries1 T molasses1 1/3 c regular oats (Quaker oats)2 large eggs1/4 c firmly packed Splenda brown sugar (if using regular brown sugar use 1/2 c.)1/2 c unsweetened applesauce1/2 t ground cinnamon2 t. baking soda1/4 t baking powder1/2 t. salt2/3 c water1/4 c melted butterTopping1/2 c slivered almonds Spread blackberries evenly on the bottom of a lightly greased 8″…
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“Let’s Move” How Healthy Are You and Your Military Family? – DoD Roundtable
We see it everyday! Sometimes in our own mirror, in family members, at the Exchange, at church/chapel, around town, while visiting family and at the doctor’s office: Many Americans including our children are overweight! We need to get active! The “Let’s Move” campaign is a national effort to improve our health and we need to get going! As the military order goes, “Move Out” on this one! “She said the campaign was focusing on three targets: Diet, Activity and Screen Time.” I am encouraged by the interest of our country’s leaders taking a stand because this is becoming a health care issue with record numbers of childhood diabetes, adult onset…
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Blackberry Grunt
Our fields are alive… not with the sound of music, but the glory of berries. The wild raspberries were a healthy crop this year, not the blood letting usual that brought in a meager pint. We served up fruity oatmeal in the morning, fruity salad at lunch and tasty desserts after dinner. No complaints.Now the dew berries are thick and jet black full of their individual globes of pulp and ready to be picked. They are the precursor to the blackberries: the ultimate gift of the land. We don’t have to work for them, the plants are wild, full and laden. It’s a walk in the park… or the back…
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Leftover Pork meets Fresh Blackberries and Feta
I love to cook… that being said… I love to entertain. Sometimes I make a tad bit too much for the folks! That’s OK, as it just causes me to think of ways to stretch what I have and make a new dish. Fresh Vegetables with Pork and Berries2 T. olive oil1/2 c sliced onions1 cup fresh green beans, snapped into 1 inch pieces2 ears of cooked corn on the cob, kernels removed1 T basil1/2 t salt4 oz cooked pork sliced thin2 T wine vinegar1 t Dijon mustard1 T olive oil2 cups fresh beet greens1/2 c fresh blackberries1 oz feta cheese, crumbled In a heavy skillet saute onion until softened,…
