H.A. Larson's Blog, page 20

A Sense of Time

The older I've gotten, the faster time has gone by. It's a fact of life, this fleeting time, and while it's frightening at times, it's something that I've gotten used to. Because of this sense of time, there never seemed to be enough of it, so everything I did was gauged against this measurement. "I just worked all day and made supper, do I really want to do the dishes right now?" "I've had a long, busy week, I think I'll just watch something mindless and go to bed early." So many things that I should do or want to do, would be carefully measured against how much extra time I felt I had to spare.
Things have changed, as we all know, and suddenly, I found myself with a lot more excess time. At first, I didn't know what to do with it, and, mentally, I struggled to do so. Recently, however, I've begun to realize what a gift this actually is. For once in my life, time has slowed down. 
I have more time than ever to indulge in things I'm passionate about. I have more time to spend with my kids that are nearly grown and out of the house. And, I can combine my time to get more necessary things done. What I mean by this is that during the week, I can do laundry, bake bread, do dishes, vacuum, and a host of other tasks while I'm working. I can take long, mindful walks before my workday begins or I can watch a show or take a nap - if I so choose - on my lunch break. 
I can be ready to get out and hike before my workday ends so that I'm in my car and on my way to my destination the minute I'm done with work. I can stay up later reading that book, and sleep in until right before my day starts if I so choose. I don't have to even put a bra on if I don't want to. 
While I hated all this extra time at first, for a few reasons, I'm enjoying it to the fullest now. I know it won't last forever, so I'm going to embrace it as long as I can. Until my twilight years, I'll probably never know another period in my life where time has slowed to a crawl. I'm more relaxed than I probably have ever been. 
I'm good with that.

Going the Distance

With all this extra time on my hands lately, and with social distancing firmly in place, I've fallen back on walking and hiking more than ever. 



Since two of my goals are to walk a marathon and hike up a 14er, I ramped up my mileage.



I don't like to walk or hike anything under five miles anymore, even though I will, but my preference is the equivalent of a 10k (roughly 6.24 miles).



And that's exactly what I've been doing. 



Whether I walk our long city trail, my beloved Iowa Mountains, or the local mountain bike park (early before almost anyone else is there), I've been putting in the miles.



On these three sojourns shown, I walked a combined total of 21.52 miles. Just like anything else in life, the more you do it, the easier it becomes and the more normalized it seems. Besides, I can't walk a marathon if I don't train right? And I can't hike up a 14er if I'm not ready for it.
I'll be ready for both of them.

Coffee Talk: Adjusting, Goals, and Life

Good morning! It's been a minute since we had coffee and a chat, so I thought today was as good of a day as any. I have my coffee beside me, the morning light is starting to stream in through the window, and it's quiet. Let's talk.
______________________

I'm just going to come out and say it: this past week for me sucked. Admittedly, it wasn't all bad, but it was, by and large, a big ball of shit. There wasn't anything that happened to make it so, it's just a testament to my mood. The pandemic has created the need for social distancing and that makes things especially hard. My house is small, all of us are home, and we can't go anywhere other than out for a solitary walk or a hike. Not that I mind doing those things as I love doing both and they help keep my sanity, but, I admit, that I miss being able to work from my office, I miss being able to go to the store, and I miss seeing my family and friends. This is why I am partly a city girl - I love the hustle and bustle of the city. It's this that I miss and it's putting a damper on my mood. I woke up feeling a bit better this morning and I'm determined to find ways to combat these feelings. We'll see how it all plays out.
______________________

In the goals department, I'm knocking it out of the park. I have a whole post that I'm dedicating to this, this coming week, so I won't delve into it too much. Let's just say that I'm closer to my marathon walk than ever before. I do have more time on my hands and with the aforementioned social distancing in place, I can move closer towards making my goals a reality. 
______________________

Besides my goals, I've firmly rooted myself in some new hobbies. I've been doing some research into some things I've had more than a passing interest in doing, and have made up my mind to dive in headfirst. 
You all know how much I like what I call "easy to make booze". Well, I had some recent success with a newer kind I've made a couple of times (without success I might add), so I purchased an actual fermentation rig to start making more of it. I'm going to try making some wine as well, so wish me luck! I grew up learning about the outdoors from a dad who was an outdoorsman. There are some things connected with that, that I have been interested in for a while, but I am now doing research and gathering up equipment to make that happen. I'll definitely be making a new blog series dedicated to this in the future, so stay tuned.

________________________

Last, but not least, my short story book is really taking shape. It's been quite fascinating to put together a book of short stories as opposed to a book. I'm excited about how the final product will turn out. One of the stories that are in the book is the latest short story series I'm doing via my author newsletter, so if you are curious about it, please sign up for that! 
________________________


I hope you have a great weekend. I've got some plans for the weekend, along with some homework to do, so I will be busy. Let me know what you're up to in the comments.

Finding Solitude

My daughter shows off some flowering seeds she found on the ground on a recent hike.
Hiking has always been my thing. For me, it's not just a way to stay in shape and be one with nature, it's a way of life and my passion. More than that, it's also my refuge and how I find solitude and escape amidst life in a busy, urban world. 
Recently, this has become a challenge. There are a handful of places close-by that I hit up regularly that fulfill my nature needs, but lately, things have changed. Because of the global pandemic and the need for social distancing, more people than ever are getting outside - and going to all of my usual places. This is a challenge as it not only hampers my ability to find solitude, but it makes social distancing quite difficult. Not that I can blame any of these people. When you're stuck inside and can't go to your usual places, you have to get out somewhere, right?



Because of all this, I've started falling back on places farther out of the city - both new and old to me. 



These places allow me the break from the city I look forward to, the nature I crave, and the solitude I so desperately need. 



It's so nice to be able to get outside somewhere where it feels like you're all alone.



We've been having a good time exploring places we haven't been in a while, and places that have become new favorites.



We found some animal bones on one of these trips and my daughter brought them home to do some research. She's my nature girl for sure.



She passes up NO opportunity to walk on fallen trees - something her brother taught her from a young age.



In this post, I've shared pictures of three places we've gone to lately. I had intended to make a post about each one separately, but, because of the need for people to understandably get outside, I'm no longer sharing the names of places I'm going...at least for a while. I want to keep them all to myself and to the much fewer of us willing and able to go to them. 
As I write this post, I'm sipping coffee and packing up a big picnic lunch to take on a big hike today. It's another new place and somewhere I was going to meet up with my dad to tackle. We can't meet up though, which makes me really sad, but I'm going to hike it today and tell him all about it later.



I hope you're all doing well and that you are spending more time outside. If anything, I hope one of the positives to come out of all of this is that people shed their more sedentary lifestyles and be more active. Have a good rest of your weekend.

All the Bread

No-Knead Crusty Bread beckons me from its warm oven cradle.
While I'm not obsessive about baking, by any means, I do like to make homemade bread. I have two bread machines that I put through the paces a few times a month. Now, though, with excess time on my hands, baking bread has become a thing I do while I'm working at home.



This is a loaf of Oatmeal Maple bread. The recipe was in the ancient booklet that came with the ancient machine I picked up at a thrift store years ago. I typically only use the "Basic White Bread" recipe and maybe do some add-ins here and there. This time, I decided to try a different recipe. Unfortunately, I accidentally turned off the machine after the first rise because I was wiping it down. Why? Well, cleaning is another thing that seems to be happening around here at a more accelerated rate. More time = more cleaning projects. I digress, however, and since I turned off the machine, I pulled the dough out of it, put it in an actual bread pan, let it rise a second time, and then baked it in the oven. It came out perfect! It was so delicious as well. Oats tend to give things a nice flavor, and there was just a hint of maple. 



I had been meaning to make banana ice cream for a while, so I made a batch. It was not a hit with any of us, but since it's just blended, ripe bananas, I thought that I could just make a large batch of banana bread so I wouldn't waste it. I have to say, it was the BEST banana bread I have ever made. Wonderful for breakfast or dessert.



One bread I had wanted to make for MONTHS but hadn't was No-Knead Crusty Bread. It's a lengthy process, yet easy, so I finally got around to making it. It...was...awesome! I served one loaf with a hearty pot of homemade lentil soup and it was a delicious meal.

I also made a loaf of the Basic White Bread but it wasn't very pretty - it rose over the bowl insert in the machine for some reason - so I'm not bothering to post it. 



I made these delectable Lemony Cornmeal Waffles for breakfast this past weekend and they were a big hit. Are they bread? Well, yes, they are a kind of quick bread. Besides, they were so amazing that I couldn't leave them out of this post.



Last, but certainly not least, I made a bunch of herbed flatbreads to serve with a curry I made. I started posting a list of supper ideas on one of the kitchen cabinets and every day, someone gets to pick what they want us to eat that night. My daughter decided that the curry and flatbreads sounded really good, so she helped me make all of it. After we ate, she happily declared that flatbread is her favorite bread. I don't blame her one bit.


Have you been making any bread? Let me know what you made and how it came out!

Things You Can Do When You're Stuck at Home

Being stuck at home can be quite boring. Not being able to see friends, family, or go to your favorite places can, let's face it, suck. Fortunately, there are things you can do to cut down on the boredom. Have you ever wanted to learn how to play guitar? See the Mona Lisa? Start working out? Well, you can! I've been compiling a list of such things so I can share them with you - and keep them for my own reference. So, here are some things you can do during social isolation:
1. Tour the Paris Catacombs.
2. Take three free months of guitar lessons from Fender.
3. Check out a play, a concert, or other culture. 
4. Have Neil Gaiman read one of his stories to you.
5. Take classes from Harvard or another Ivy League school.
6. Start working out with instructors.
7. Start reading again! Read books from here or here. You can also download the Kindle app on your phone for free and access lots of free books from Amazon's catalog. Magazines more your thing? You can read those, too!
8. Watch free movies.
9. Learn how to cook, organize your kitchen, and even use a chef knife.
10. Take a virtual tour of the infamous Winchester Mansion.
11. Download the SkySafari app to your phone and explore the night sky from your yard or living room.
12. This one is a no-brainer as I've seen more people doing it now than ever before but GET OUTSIDE. Take a walk around your neighborhood or the local park, making sure to stay a good distance from other people when you come across them.
13. Have a virtual party! I have the Zoom app on my phone for work meetings, as do many of my friends, so we've been hanging out together that way. We drink, we laugh, we talk, and, man, does it really help lift your spirits.
14. Tackle those projects you've been meaning to do!


So, there you have it: a list of things you can do when you're largely stuck at home. This list is NOT comprehensive so therefore it's fluid. If you have any suggestions or ideas, I will add them to this list. Just send me an email or COMMENT below and I will edit this post on an on-going basis.

Thirty Days

It is no secret that I have struggled with my health and my weight for most of my life. I've talked about it often and have made great strides since I began, in earnest, a transformation back in January of 2014. But, truth be told, I have fallen off the wagon a few times, gaining back weight and languishing in bad choices. This has been the case again for me for a while now. 
In April of 2018, I stepped on the scale and noticed how far I had fallen off the wagon yet again, gaining back some weight, being lazy, and eating like crap/overeating. I got motivated to take charge and started walking 100 miles a month. Over the next few months, I went back to eating better and introducing intermittent fasting. This all resulted in me losing the weight I had regained plus more, putting me at a total of 125 lbs lost. I was excited and thrilled and in the best shape of my life.
But, all wasn't well. Something was bugging me in 2018, and it hit me like a ton of bricks around the same time that I started walking again. A dark cloud hung over me and I couldn't figure out what was going on. By the time 2019 loomed, I was in the throes of a months-long, dark and deep depression...but I didn't know it. I started self-medicating and hiding from the world. 
This led to me craving animal products and eating those for a while. It wasn't long before I noticed I was eating the same way I had before I started my initial journey in 2014. If that wasn't bad enough, my self-medicating meant drinking a lot and often, exacerbating my eating issues. I thought, "Well, I'll do keto." That was a failure. I went back to eating plant-based because I genuinely missed it but I was depressed so I overate constantly as a way to pacify myself. Somewhere in the Spring of 2019, I finally figured out that I was, indeed, in the midst of horrible depression and was able to come out of that as the months wore on, but I was already enmeshed in bad habits.
Fast forward to February of this year when I once again faced the scale, knowing how my eating and lifestyle habits were becoming an issue. I was sad to see that I had gained back a good 15 lbs. On top of this, I had quit walking during my lunch break altogether. After looking at my weight, I told myself that that was it - I needed to make a lifestyle change for the better and stick with it.
I thought back to when I first saw the documentary, "Forks over Knives", and how informative it was. I had purchased the companion cookbook after I watched it, so I decided it was high time that I dust it off and start using it in earnest. On February 18th, I made it my goal to spend the next 30 days doing four things:
1. Eat mainly a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.2. Practice intermittent fasting (IF).3. Walk my 100 miles a month, no exceptions.4. Give up drinking altogether.
I was determined to give myself 30 days to prove to myself that it would be enough time - as long as I was disciplined - to make a significant change in my health. Those 30 days were up on the 18th...so how did I do? Well, I'm happy to report that I did great! Here's how it breaks down:
1. I did well for the most part on the WFPB diet. I, unfortunately, had a very long period so I craved a bunch of carbs. I still managed to keep it roughly 80% WFPB, so that makes me happy.
2. I did so well on IF this time around. There were only a couple of days that I didn't stay within my 8-hour feeding window. I use an app called Zero to help me stay on track with IF and I love it. There are a couple of other apps for IF that I'm aware of but the one I use is great.
3. I not only got my 100 miles in for February, and am well on the way for March, but I also started stair-training. Instead of walking on my lunch break, I opted to start climbing stairs. It's more of a workout, great for mountain hiking practice, and takes up less time.
4. I drank socially about three times, but other than that I stayed sober. This was as helpful as I had hoped it would be. It kept me on track with IF and with WFPB eating. I'm also much more productive and feel so much better.
5. Last, but not least, I lost 10 lbs of the 15 lbs I had gained back! This means I'm only five pounds over from my smallest on my healthy life journey. 
Overall, not only was I successful, but I think I'm well on the way to finally making those permanent health changes that will ensure success and wellness for many decades. This was always my end goal as, while I would like to be a healthy weight, my overall health is my biggest concern. I'd like to be able to be well and active until the day I die and I think having healthy habits will ensure this for me more than anything else.
Is it a rocky road to get there? Absolutely, but as long as I don't give up or let some backsliding moments completely derail me, I'll get where I need to be. 

Troubling Times

In my forty-eight years of life, this is the first time I've ever had to deal with a situation like the one we're facing now. The coronavirus has devastated the world and the panic left in its wake has reeled us. In my city, they've shut down the schools, moving towards an alternative teaching method while other businesses are closed. The streets are quiet and get quieter with each passing day. 
I can already see the impact it's having on the economy and this will only get worse as time moves on, and I feel bad for anyone living paycheck to paycheck who worries about all that could happen if they are faced without an income during these dark times. I'm fortunate that I can work from home, I know not everyone can, so I don't take it for granted. 
Our whole household is actively practicing social distancing right now. It's honestly the best thing that we can do to protect the elderly and the immuno-compromised people. My daughter, having allergies and asthma issues is one of the latter, and I'm worried about what might happen if she were to catch the virus. Honestly, though, at the rate this is spreading, I have a feeling that most people are going to get it so I'm mentally preparing myself for it. Because of this, I still believe in "flattening the curve" so social isolation is still the best practice.
After my workday ends every day, I spend time with the kids. We live not far from a large city park that has a creek and some woods, so we take walks down there, avoiding people. We also play ball and other yard activities, as well as play games, bake, cook, and watch the things we enjoy. I'm trying to make things as normal as possible. 
It's so surreal now, and it feels like I'm living in a movie. I started working from home a week after I isolated the kids and I could just feel their sense of relief to have me home, especially my daughter. She just feels safer and better now that mom is home, and I can't blame her. While I'm worried, I keep calm for my kids...what else can we do anyway?
There are some fun things that you and your family can do to help make it through these quiet, social-distancing times. Here are some links:
1. A nice list of virtual culture things like concerts, museums, and plays.
2. Neil Gaiman and others read his books for you for free.
3. Magazines you can read for free.
4. Inquirer magazine has a fun list of things you can do while you're stuck at home.
5. Want to stay in shape? Check out these free online workouts.
6. Now is the perfect time to take some free, online classes!
a. Ones to enhance your job.
b. Classes from Ivy League colleges!
7. Places where you can stream free movies.
8. Free books! It's time to start reading again.
Another free book source.


Please, friends, be safe during this scary, uncertain time, and practice social distancing. It's the smartest thing we can do right now to protect ourselves and others.

Much love from me to you, H.A.

A Welcome Distraction

Every weekend since Spring decided to arrive early, I've been getting out into nature every Saturday and Sunday. This past Saturday I did not as it snowed and I had a bunch of things to take care of inside the house, so when Sunday rolled around, I knew I was going to get out. 



My daughter has become my steadfast hiking partner and she comes with me every time. We have some big hiking goals and it's a chance for us to train, spend time together, and, of course, keep in shape for the trails and for ourselves.



With all the craziness going on in the world right now, social isolation is not only recommended but highly encouraged. While it sucks to have to spend so much time indoors and away from others, it's probably one of the smartest things we can do. 



Luckily, as hikers, getting out in nature, especially on colder, snowy days, is a great way to get some fresh air, get outside, and still stay away from people. We hit up one of our favorite spots, Neale Woods, and while we saw the snowy footprints of others, we were the only ones there the whole entire time. It was quiet, it was peaceful, and it was serene.



It was also mentally and physically so wonderful. After an already tense handful of days at home, it was just what we needed.



We mainly stayed away from the valley areas because even before this light snowfall on Saturday, the valleys were still pretty muddy from Winter. It takes a while for the ground to dry up after all the snow melts, so while it has been getting a bit drier each successive weekend, certain areas are still treacherous.



Still, we took a nice variety of higher-ground trails and eeked out a good 5.36 miles. Each time I climb now, I inwardly thank myself for all the stair-training I've been doing. It really has helped immensely.



We ended our afternoon of hiking by stopping at another park, Hummel, on the way home to climb their long set of wooden stairs. It's a quick way to get some exercise while getting some stairs in.
I hope you have a good week and that you stay safe, my friends. Don't panic but try to take some standard precautions. It's always better to be safe than sorry, as my grandma used to say.

Portland Vacation: Plant-Based Deliciousness

Random picture of some delicious food.
It's been over four months since my yearly trip out to Portland, and I realized that I hadn't made my last vacation post. Crazy, right? Well, I did finally remember it and I can't not post it, even if it's late. Anyway, while I do tend to get groceries and eat at the places I stay when I travel, I do like to eat out a few times to experience some local cuisine. Being a plant-based eater can be a challenge in some places, but in a city such as Portland, your options are nearly endless. Because of this, I make sure to try out new places each time I go - places I carefully search for before I even leave home!



I arrived in Portland late on a Saturday afternoon, so after we dropped off my stuff at my bestie's house, we went in search of food. Since she doesn't live far from Off the Griddle, we hoofed it over there to get a beer and some food. I ordered the Soy Curl Lettuce Wraps and a Tecate to wash it all down. It was delicious.



Of course, every time I'm in a different place and I'm eating out for the first time, I tend to order more than one item. In addition to the lettuce wraps, I ordered their BBQ Wings. Made with seitan and jackfruit, and molded around bamboo "bones", these wings were not only amazingly delicious, but they were the most authentic vegan wings I've ever had.



On Sunday I cooked a big meal at Lisa's, but on Monday, while she was working, I went out and explored the city solo. I already knew before I left home that I would go to Vtopia for lunch on that day, and I did. Vtopia specializes in vegan cheese and I'm always on the lookout for authentic, tasty vegan cheese. After a two-mile walk to get there, I was ready to eat and happily ordered a cheese plate with three cheeses. Beside the olives, dolma, blueberries, crackers, and bread, I ordered (from left to right) the House Chevre, the Sriracha Cheddar, and the Smokey Whiskey Cheddar. They had some of the most authentic-tasting vegan cheese I've ever had.



Since Monday was my last night in town before my flight left early the next morning, I walked over to Lisa's job in time for her to get off work. We walked over to the White Owl Social Club to get dinner one last time before my journey back home. Now, this was one place I had been to before as this was the first place we went when I was there the year before. That time, I had the Impossible Burger for the first time. I digress though, as it's time to talk about what I got this time: BBQ Cauliflower wings. Man, they were soooo good and served with a side of homemade vegan ranch. As is usual here, I get a drink and the pickle shot. Yum.



Lisa also got the wings, but hers were teriyaki-flavored. We had a bit of each other's to try them out. They were just as delicious, I'm happy to report.
That's my final post from my yearly trip to Portland, late as it is. Even if you're not a plant-based eater, all of this food is delicious and worth trying. So, if you're ever in Portland, consider checking these places out!