The First Fall SMART Day Has Begun

"My dear hubby, Rob ... doesn't he look handsome reading my blog post last night on my "Butterfly" laptop.  I was thinking it adds a little colour to him.  My very best photo subject he is, let me "Tell The World"."

I was up and at it pretty dang early this morning if you ask me.  My "Crabby Cabbie" had been called out after midnight sometime, not returning back home until after 2 am this morning.  Once our "pack" was all looked after, I took it upon myself to get some dusting done, as surely I don't make too much noise doing that while Rob gets some much needed sleep.

Today was the first day of the 10 week VON SMART exercise to beginning in Wiarton.  I was getting myself psyched up as I have gotten pretty rusty since Springtime.  

"My Notes already printed out on my favourite colour so I would be more inspired.  I have pink cue cards to note the "Flexibility" (stretch) exercises out on.  Not sure how I am going to manage when I ever begin doing the Aerobics end of things, as that is too busy for notes ... guess I will have to "wing it" and use what I have learned (I am sure it is stashed up there somewhere)?"

I headed out from home just after 9:00 am, just in case there were a few pointers I could pick up from fellow gal pal volunteers, my support team, before the 10:00 am session began and participants began to arrive.

"Here they are before I had arrived myself, Andrea and Cathy.  Way too organized for me these two are ..... thank goodness I have them on my team !  Our other gal pal "Smartie" volunteer, BJ, was otherwise occupied today, so will be catching up with her next time around."

We had a great first session today.  Andrea lead the first part with warm up, aerobics, following all with a cool down; I lead the Strengthening portion, while Cathy ended it all up with "Flexibility".  One hour can go pretty quickly some days .... quick, smooth and fun it was.  You have to keep it a little on the "fun" side, as a little bit with everything you know?

"Why attend a VON SMART exercise program?  Ha ... not too loose weight, not that it won't help, but to maintain strong muscles to ensure we can continue with those "Activities of Daily Living" that are so important to all of us."

Our SMART Guru, Coordinator, Dorothy Embacher, was in attendance with us today.  It is always a pleasure "hanging" out with Dorothy and listen to her speak on SMART topics, as she makes it all sound so easy and manageable.  

"Dorothy awarded Cathy with her VON Group Leader Certificate today.  Yay Cathy !!!"

I must say, we have a great group of participants also, which makes it easy to head out every Wednesday to "lead them into maintaining a Healthier lifestyle for themselves".  SMART?  Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together.  How to find a SMART program in your area, Canada wide, contact a VON location in your area by clicking HERE.

Back home I noticed the flag up on our mailbox, so stop to collect I did.  What a "Happy" mail day it was too !

"Brand new photos of our grandsons, Aiden and Connor !  What makes it even more special this day is it is Aiden's 8th Birthday ... Happy Birthday, Dear Aiden !  Grandma & Poppa love you muches and bunches .... so I told him in person when I called him this morning at 7:30 am to sing him Happy Birthday."

Also in the mail along with the photos was ....

"An official notice of my youngest son getting married.  I won't be able to forget this notice, as it is on a magnet, placed on the front of our fridge.  Lovely picture of our boy, Paul, and his Holly."

I had taken a pound of hamburger out of the freezer yesterday.  What to make for lunch?, as I had been thinking out loud ... Rob goes to the cupboard and pulls out a box of Hamburger Helper he had bought some time or another.  I really don't care for Hamburger Helper, and I know I have mentioned this before.  Back into the cupboard it went, while I carried on with some browning, chopping, dicing and mincing ....

"Time to add the pasta to the "main" ingredients.  Tomatoes, onions, pepper and garlic all "garden" fresh, not out of a box."

"It wasn't too long at all before we had a wholesome "homemade" dinner sitting in front of us."

RECIPE PLEASE?  Printable Recipe HERE.

While I was at VON SMART this morning, my dear hubby, Rob, had been pretty busy himself.  How could I not notice when I looked out our patio window ....

"How much worked he had put into tilling the garden all up? ... a lot of work it was too !"

It won't be long before we will be pulling all the expired plants out from the garden and plowing it all under for the approaching Winter months.  Oh my ... I said that dreaded word, "winter" !!!

By the time I took Rob back over to our mechanics for him to pickup his now fixed "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle, it was 3:00 pm when I returned home.  A little bit of this, a little bit of that ....

"A basket of some Garden produce and canning put together for a friend."

.... and before I knew it, it was time to sit down to reflect back on my day once again.

Life is good when your Pockets Are Full of Sunshine ....



.... keep your pockets full.

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth.” ― William W. Purkey

Life was good today, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".