Being sensible on a Saturday.

Part of the reason [motherly advice] bugs us as daughters is because our mothers are so powerful in our lives. They loom like giants. The reason mothers keep at it is because they're so powerless. They cannot get you to do what is so obvious to them you should do.

- Deborah Tannen. 

I managed to get generous portions of meat at the grocery store, along with the rest of the groceries, and still stay under my budget. I thought that was a feat worth repeating next week. I divided up the meat in 7 portions and had two helpings of pork tonight which I had let simmer over a low fire the whole afternoon so that they practically fell apart when it came time to eat them. 

I certainly did enjoy that and it agreed with my stomach well, because it was just enough food. I think without really intending to, I have started on a diet that is rich in protein and which is totally different from how I was trying to eat before. I also had whole fat yogurt earlier in the day and that filed me up plenty and I rarely have a feeling of real hunger. The way I am eating now is very fulfilling. 

I do put plenty of sugar in my yogurt and I drink lots of tall glasses of lemonade, and it has sugar in it, so I am not dieting. I never worry about how much of something I eat or drink. I just have it until I have had enough and I am full. 

I do think I was having a shortage of proteins, and possibly iron, that I was not getting compensated for in my diet before. My arms and legs were wasting away and I was worried about that. I was starting to look like a stick figure and I was losing some of the strength in them. I think I am going to be alright now, thanks to the amazing heavy enamel pot that I can simmer the meat in. 

I bought some small containers of meat for Gandhi, because lately she does not seem interested in her kibbles anymore. When I put the contents of one on a saucer, she nearly attacked it, but it was too much for her to eat all at once and she has been going back and forth to it all day. She does like it very much, so I think this is a success. It is such a nice feeling to make an animal happy and especially Gandhi who has such few demands. 

I got the rest of my chores done this morning too and could take the rest of the day off with a peaceful heart and I even took a nap that was very pleasant and of which I awoke in a good mood and not too confused about what time of the day it was. Tyke slept on the bed with me, his new "Danish Dog" bone close by in case he wanted to gnaw on it. He is always prepared to be amused under all circumstances.