Just stopping by to say I'll not be posting for the next week or two, although I will be around to visit as I'm able. I'm hoping I will get inspired, as it seems my blogging posts have been somewhat lackluster of late.

I've done tea parties, table settings, weight loss, Project 333, going gray . . . hmmm . . . now what? More of the same? A new direction? Some new project? I'll be thinking . . . 

Here is a beautiful composed salad our daughter and her fiancé put together for our Easter dinner.

And here is a gyro made with leftover Easter lamb and homemade tzatziki sauce.

(Just in case you wanted to see some food.)

See you all soon. xo Deborah

Just got back from a long weekend in Texas for our nephew's wedding. Guess who I met for lunch?

Our dear friend Kitty from Kitty's Kozy Kitchen!

Kitty was one of my first blog friends. I met her through Sandi's weekly tea party, now No Place Like Home. Many of you have enjoyed the delicious recipes that Kitty shares on her blog.

Well, she is just as sweet and kind as you could imagine, and we had a wonderful time, yakking away like we'd known each other forever.

The red shoes I ordered came yesterday.

So comfortable! And so fun! I usually stick with muted blues, grays, and plums in my wardrobe, so red is a departure. One I should have made a while ago!

I was so reminded of a children's book I used to read to my daughter.

It was one of those books I read over and over, so many times that I had it practically memorized.

It's about a little girl who insists on wearing her red things even though her mother is always pointing out that the red gloves or boots or whatever either don't match or fit, or work for the particular weather. But the little girl is determined -- red is best! 

It reminds me of my daughter, who always wore her red shoes with everything, including all her pink dresses.

Great memories. And I feel just like that little girl, with my new red shoes. "I can jump higher in my red shoes!" (Maybe.)

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By the way, just to let you know how far I've come since I started blogging . . . or how far I've fallen . . . I just put these new shoes on right out of the box and snapped a couple pictures. Bam. Done.

When I first started blogging, I would have gone and shaved my legs, moisturized, and maybe put some tanning lotion on. I would have done a pedicure (even though you can barely see a toenail in the first picture and none in the second). And I would have swept and mopped the floor, or at least the part showing in the picture. Whew, no wonder I didn't get anything else done.

But now, you're all like good friends I can just invite in, even if things aren't perfect. So nice that.

True confession time.

Last year I chronicled my 30-pound weight-loss journey. It was very difficult, but I was so pleased to be lighter and feeling healthier, and to be able to fit into my clothes.

But, I have to be honest here. I have gained back almost eight pounds. Around four over this past summer, and another four over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

The alarms are going off, and I have to stop this. Right now.

I know how to do it. It's just hard to face the fact that I'm going to be hungry for the next couple of months, and maybe for the rest of my life if I truly want to keep it off permanently.

Okay, that sounds dramatic, but seriously.

To keep this weight off I'm going to have to be a little hungry all the time.

Not just psychological hunger. Real stomach-growling hunger. Even with good fats and protein.

Does anyone else have this problem? Or is hunger just part and parcel of the deal? I know I'll be hungry losing weight, but it seems I'm hungry even in the maintenance phase. Help!?

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My bird feeders went unfilled for nearly three weeks, as I was up north and then dealing with bronchitis. My poor little birdies! Talk about going hungry! But now they're singing "happy days are here again," and it seems all is forgiven.