Down 33 Pounds

Four months ago, on March 10th, I decided to take control of my body and lose weight. I still haven't gotten into an exercise regime, but based solely on eating healthier, I've lost 33 lbs, and dropped 4 BMI points.

I don't allow myself to let any food develop into a craving and if I want a piece of cake or cookie, I eat it. However, I seem to have trained my brain to look at food and automatically convert it into fat, sugar and calories. My Easter bunny is still sitting there on an extra chair at the table. I see it every day but so far, have to wish to eat it.

I'm using the 'Lose It' application on my iTouch and it's helping me keep an eye on what I eat. Because of this, I'm choosing healthier stuff.

Here's a photo of what my normal lunch looks like. For a dip, I usually have a small bowl of The Source yogurt on the side. I also try to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.

:)

Swallow Baby Photos & Book Giveaway

I'm hosting Love Inspired Suspense author Stephanie Newton over on the Prairie Chicks blog today, so if you want the chance at winning a free book, head on over to Prairie Chicks Write Romance.

Meanwhile, as promised, I took some photos of the Swallows nest above our garage-turned-rec centre where my office is located.

Here's where they made the nest for the second year in a row.

So far, I've seen 4 babies waiting for momma.

Now don't laugh at me, but I can't figure out if this bird is looking up or down. I can't see her face.

The top part looks like the same beak coloring as the babies, but if it is, why is the bird looking up? I took several shots of the nest like this and that adult bird didn't move.

But, if it's the back end, where are the tail feathers?

The swallows really don't want me going to work and dive-bomb me every chance they get.

And when I finally get inside, they sit right outside the window and watch the door.

This looks like papa, doesn't it?

So, any birds dive-bombing you lately?

Prairie Wildlife Photos

These days, I'm busy working on the final draft of my historical romance, Emma's Outlaw, so I thought I'd give you some photos to check out. They are all of prairie wildlife in my area.

Do you remember the afternoon JJ and I sat in the van on the empty dirt road with the suspicious looking dynamite box and waited for the Mountie? Well, these cowbirds kept us company.

I had this photo in mind and just needed to wait for the cowbird to take flight.

I waited.

And, I waited.

Then, I almost missed it because my arm was getting tired holding the camera in position and the bird decided to take off at the same moment I lowered the camera.

About a quarter mile away on the same road but on a different day, I glanced at this familiar old bridge and saw a mule deer hiding underneath. As soon as my mind understood what I'd seen, I backed up to get a photo. The buck was still there--so still--that I thought it was a wooden silhouette like the ones I saw on hilltops along the highways in Wyoming last Sept. He was real, though, because we saw him move his head a few times.

This photo was taken on Hwy 48 around 8pm at the end of June. I was aiming for the reflection of the steel collar and was fortunate to find a yellow-headed cowbird in the close vicinity. You have to look close, but he's on a cattail on the right side.

The barn swallows are dive-bombing me on the way to my office in our renovated garage and when I look up at the nest, I can see open beaks patiently waiting. I'll try and get a pic of that for you for next time.

Do you have these prairie birds and mule deer where you live?

Happy Canada Day

It's July 1st and Canadians are celebrating the 143rd birthday of our great country.

If you are Canadian, how will you celebrate, today?

If you are one of our American friends, how will you celebrate your country's birthday in 3 days?

:)

Free Book Giveaway Contest

I'm back from my annual writing retreat at St. Peter's College and feeling great! I got so much done while at the monastery and want to share my joyful feelings, so I'm giving away a new copy of Jillian Hart's Love Inspired The Soldier's Holiday Vow. Yes, the book was released in Dec 2009 but the one I'm giving away has never been read.

I want to make this a fun contest which involves both writers and readers.

Last week, my son and I had a bit of excitement when we found what we thought was 100 sticks of dynamite on the side of the road. Well, it wasn't dynamite but an empty U.S. fireworks container. The thing is, it could have been a dangerous situation.

One of the readers of my blog over at eHarlequin mentioned something about possible terrorists planning a raid at the G8/G20 summit in Toronto.

My theory is that it was left as part of an exercise by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Training Academy which is in Regina, close to where I found the item.

Now it's your turn. Leave a comment on this post between now and midnight June 30th for your name in the draw.

You'll get your name thrown in again, every time you play this 'Who, What, Why' game:

1. What did the container contain? 
2. Who left it? 
3. Why did they leave it? 
4. What was the result? 
5. What is your email address (Use the (dot) and [at] to keep the web spiders from latching onto it.)

That means, you don't need to answer in the above format if you don't want to, but if you do, you'll get an extra chance at winning the book.

I'll make the draw on Canada Day, July 1st.

Have fun... maybe this will inspire a new story for you.

:)