Last Dance

Yes, I'm gonna say it again. I'm giving up zumba dancing. This is like the fifty hundredth time I've said I was gonna give up zumba but I finally did it. I took zumba classes for three years and until about six months ago, I couldn't wait til the next class. It was so fun and felt I was getting a great workout.

Then it happened. My zumba friends began to drift away to other things and other places until finally I found myself dancing on the back row again feeling like I did not fit in and a wall began to build around me, just like before I ever started dancing. The high was gone. Oh, I hate this feeling. I really loved dancing.

The last class I attended, I knew it was the last dance for me therefore I had no enthusiasm.
As I looked around the room at everyone that I tried to be friends with for years, I could not help but wonder if they will even know I'm gone.

Between my feelings, my achy knees and the fact that money is tight right now, It just didn't seem to be beneficial for me to continue. I wouldn't get home from work until 5:30 each day and since I like to eat before 7:00 at night,  I'd rush to eat supper and rush out the door to make class. I did this three times a week. It just became not worth it.


What am I gonna do now?

I have this fear that giving up dance will cause me to gain weight, but then again, it never caused me to loose weight so ill take the chance. Meanwhile, I plan to spend more time after work being at home with my husband.
My plans are to walk more and eat less. Walking is good exercise for me and alot easier on my knees. So now after dinner, me and my husband will take a rapid two mile walk through the neighborhood and talk about our day. After all, we are best friends and togetherness is precious to us.
Maybe I'll have time for dinner with a friend or two sometime and maybe join a couple church activities throughout the month or attend more art classes.

When things pick up and the holidays are gone, maybe me and my husband can join a gym together or some kind of workout routine together at home to keep us in shape. Maybe I can find another dance class somewhere after the first of the year that will fit better into my schedule and not take away from my family life. Maybe I will not need knee surgery before I'm 50!

Pumpkin Guts

Its time for Halloween. I do not believe Halloween is a holiday or get all into it like some people do but that does not mean I don't enjoy the festivities of seeing little kids and adults dressed up and give out candy to trick or treaters.

Halloween at my house is when I carve a pumpkin. I could just paint something on my pumpkin but why waste the goodies inside!

Once I pick out the perfect pumpkin, I wash it and dig out the insides. I always called it "pumpkin guts". Sounds good for Halloween.


I know I waste a lot of the orange goop in the middle but I have no idea how to use it. I do not know what parts to eat or how too. All I know is I get my hands all messy digging out the "guts" to get the seeds. fun fun.

I cut off the bottom this time instead of the top so it will be easier to clean and set over a candle instead of trying to set and light a tiny candle on the inside.


Now that's a clean pumpkin!

I rinse the seeds.

 
 I tried leaving on all the gooey stuff on them one year and that didn't work very well,


So, I rinse the seeds and poured them onto a cookie sheet and sprayed with olive oil spray, spinkled with salt and baked for about 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. I did my cleaning and carving while they cooked.



I ended up with about 2 cups of seeds. They are so tasty and crunchy. They kind of have a popcorn taste to me.
So, don't let your pumpkin seeds go to waste. either plant them, or eat them. You will love it.

*Please be aware that the seeds can be a chocking hazard to both adults and children.

 
Here is my finished carved pumpkin. I didn't not have a carving kit so I had to use a knife and spoon to get the results. 

Happy Halloween!!!!!
 
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