There was a time when people ate more than 350 different types of plants in a year.  Now, the number is less than 50!

Markham Regional Arboretum Society

I found this in a cook book and checked it out. It is actually true. The current lack of variety in our plant based diets is attributed to several factors. Among them is the fact that there are fewer home gardens, lack of choice in grocery stores, and fewer farmer’s markets. Another factor is that there simply is not the demand for foods that are considered exotic.

Again, I found this hard to believe, but check out your grocery store produce counter: broccoli, corn, salad ingredients (Lettuce/tomatoes/ green onions) some squashes, carrots, a bunch of bagged salads, and imported fruits.

This is not a complaint, but I do wonder not only about lack of variety, but about the fact that statistics also show that many people simply do not cook anymore. What do YOU think?

Love, Judith

PS-We have many farmer’s markets around here in season and I shop/love them, but even here there is a lack of variety.

I live in a pretty cold climate. Yes, it is cold here and the wind howls up to 30 miles per hour. It is 16 degrees today. Last night I made a big mistake. I watched a program called Island Life on HGTV. A couple was looking to buy a vacation home in the Abacos Islands and everyone on the show had on a bathing suit and a lovely tan. they were splashing around in the ocean, scuba diving, and sitting outside eating fried shrimp. What a downer.

OK, so on to the next-I now vow to not let the cold get me down! I am going to go someplace every day and bundle up so as not to be defeated by mother nature. I live here and I love it so let’s MOVE ON, fellow cold weather guys!

Someone gave me a compliment today. I needed it, too. It was a cold, bummer day  and I had bad hair and the wrong outfit and a bunch of other stuff happening. Then, one of the ladies in my card group told me I loooked like I had lost weight. Boy, you can’t get a better compliment than that I don’t think. I battle weight daily and felt like I had lost 5 pounds right then and there.

Thanks, Barbara!!!

#Yes, We Can!  I know, I Know, we are pretty much hash tagged up these days, but I just wanted to have a word or two. I am not famous, not an actress, not a business woman trying to get ahead nor am I a single mom who has to keep her job no matter what. I have been in a field that has a low threat of sexual harassment and I have seldom been afraid of a man. I say seldom, not never.

The show of power lately among women has made me very proud of those who have come forward, but also fearful for them. I saw a woman on TV the other day who was one of the original Clinton accusers and she was intimidated, frightened, and yes, harassds repeatedly in both overt and covert ways the first of which was a job loss.

The rich and famous seem to simply go on. Meryl Streep “did not know” and many others say the same and get away with it. (#Eyes Closed, Ladies!)  Yet, they criticize  Ivanka Trump instead of championing her causes and respecting her courage. She praises Oprah and “they” again tear her to shreds. Boy, it is so difficult to even speak up with one’s opinion either way and that should NOT be. Where is our loyalty and understanding and compassion for the sisterhood?

Anyway, the purpose of this post is about a totally different empowerment of women. I am blessed to belong to a lovely Women’s Bible Study Group that meets monthly in members homes and let me tell you, we are our own tower of strength. We care for each other, trust each other, pray for each other and offer a place to simply vent when necessary. I could go on and on, but you tell me-do you belong to a group of women like this? If so, talk, or just think to your self,  a bit about its value to you.  Love, Judith

“Finding our true self may be the work of a whole lifetime, but surely it is well worth the ongoing search. Are we not different people with each lesson learned, person loved, and trust upheld?”

The Uphill Skater

(Love, Judith)

It has been long enough for me to ask you the big Christmas Question: What was your favorite present and why?

Was it an item?

Was it homemade food/candy

Who was it from? Was that part of why it was a favorite?

I shared a favorite a couple of days ago, but here is another : It  was tickets-yes, tickets to an event., and it was a gift I gave, not a gift I received.  My husband had always wanted to see Celtic Thunder and lo and behold, the show came to a town near us. I grabbed up tickets ASAP and when he open them on Christmas he was thrilled. It is not often in this world of Pajama Gram, Harry and David, and WalMart that we are able to give a truly thoughtful gift and I did it.

Did you get or get something unique? What to share your story?

Love, Judith

“There are better things ahead than any we may leave behind.”

C. S. Lewis

So, what does this actually mean?  Personally, I think that it is a statement about hope. Boy, I’ll tell you what, without hope for a better future, life would be totally bleak. If you are having good days, hope for great days. If you are having great days, hope for greater days for more people, and on it goes. Can we actually pay it forward HOPE wise? Why, yes. Of course we can!

Love, Judith

2018 is going to be even more eventful than 2017. Hard to believe? Well, trust me, it is true. No FAKE NEWS on this blog, ever. 

We have had a lovely morning and it has been such a great kick-off to the New Year that I wanted to share a thought with everyone:

Treasured and cherished gifts are often small and inexpensive. My favorite gift this Christmas was a cookie sheet from my daughter-in-law. She is frequently in my kitchen and she saw that my old cookie sheet was exactly that. It was so scared, burned, and bent that it was really not usable. It is gone now and, I hope, happy in old cookie sheet heaven. My NEW one has a non-stick surface-who knew? That tells you how bad the old one really had become. 

What was your favorite gift and why?

Dear Skating Uphill followers-2018 is going to be a very big and eventful year. Can’t you just feel it? There will be a lot happening on this blog as well so please keep tuning in and, of course, keep those comments coming!  Good-bye 2017!

Love, Judith