Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

 

It’s the start strawberry season in Florida.  It will forever be strange to me that strawberry season happens in Florida during the winter months, because June is strawberry season in Michigan.  There are Florida strawberries at great prices at the grocery stores, as well as farm fresh quarts at the Farmer’s Market.  Of course we all eat strawberries year around now, but there is nothing better than fresh, local fruit in season.

I made this delicious baked oatmeal with some of the Farmer’s Market strawberries I bought and it was full of flavor.  Making baked oatmeal of any variety is a favorite of mine because it’s quick and easy to put together as well as refrigerating well for multiple days of a delicious breakfast.  Just pop a piece in the microwave and it tastes like it is just out of the oven.

The recipe can be found here and also, by entering “baked oatmeal” in my search box, you will find many other baked oatmeal recipes in many flavors.

Enjoy!

Keep Moving

 

Yoga is kind of a passion of mine, but when lock downs started, I let myself get out of the habit of practicing on a regular basis.  Then, when things did open up and there were at least beach yoga classes to attend, I hurt my knee and have been afraid to injure it more.

Well, I am paying for that now.  By not stretching and moving, I have made everything much worse.  I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with pain from IT band tightness.  This can cause pain and irritation in the hip or knee.  I was told to do IT band stretches and apply ice before follow up with an orthopedic doctor if necessary. Yoga is perfect for stretching the hip, so that is what I have been doing; both regular longer practices and ten minute stretches targeted to the IT Band.  I am choosing to practice at home with an app I really like (Down Dog) as well as You Tube.  Until I am able to move my knee a bit better again, that is what feels the most comfortable and I have a pretty good view if I set up my mat poolside.

All this said, the point of this post is advise from a fit mid life women who stopped moving (besides walking) for too long.  It showed me how important it is to stretch and stay strong and flexible.  I want to be active for a long time and it is a slippery slope to aches and pains if you don’t persevere.  My back also paid the price of not stretching and I have been a regular at my massage place.

The good news is that after two weeks of consistent yoga, I already see improvement.  

Namaste my friends.

Winter Reading List

 

I sound like a Floridian when I say that it has been a chilly winter here with temperatures hovering around 60.  When you are used to the 80’s it’s a big change.  So, as I wrap up in a blanket, (don’t laugh) waiting  to get back in the pool, I have been refining and adding to my reading list.  It’s been a bit sparse for a while, but it looks like February will be a big publishing month at least with the authors I tend to read.

These four books are all by authors I have read before and like.  The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths is a favorite, but she has also been branching out with an additional series (Brighton Mysteries) and another stand alone title  (The Stranger Diaries) that I have enjoyed. 

Three mysteries have caught my eye or been recommended to me and I have high hopes for all of them.  Two are set in Victorian England and seem quite interesting and different.

Finally, there are a couple of non fiction as well as one fiction, but based on a true story, that I look forward to reading.  If you read this blog regularly, you know I am an Outlander fan and the book by Sam and Graham (Jamie and Dougal) looks delightful and will be an immersion and escape into Scottish life.

Happy Reading!