Mediterranen Diet

Scott and I are liking this idea of a Mediterranean diet. A lot less red meat but still a small amount, more fish, lots of fruits, veggies, and nuts, and using olive oil to cook (which I use anyway).

Here's a small article on it.

http://www.vitabeat.com/mediterranean-diet-may-stave-off-alzheimers-according-to-new-study/v/9646/

Mediterranean Diet May Stave Off Alzheimer's, According To New Study

February 11, 2009 - Topics study, diet, diabetes, vegetable and fish

A diet rich in fish, olive oil, yogurt and vegetables could help prevent mild cognitive impairments that could later lead to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by Columbia University researchers.

The so-called Mediterranean-style diet had been previously linked to good heart health and as a way to ward off diabetes, but now researchers say it could be good for the brain as well.

The study, published in the journal Archives of Neurology, looked at 1,393 people with healthy brains and 482 with mild cognitive impairment. Over four and a half years of follow-up, 275 of the 1,393 people who did not have cognitive impairments developed them.

Those who stuck closest to a Mediterranean diet had a 28-percent lower risk of developing brain impairments than those who strayed from the diet.

The study also found that people with mild cognitive impairments who switched to a Mediterranean diet were less likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease.

Learning to Grow Up Fast

I watched my Paw paw shave a couple of times. One time at his house and one time at my house. I don't usually see Daddy shave because he shaves in the shower. Mrs. Allison Brothers gave me my very own shaving kit for Christmas except it's not sharp like Paw paw and Daddy's.

Gramsie took a picture of me trying out some shaving stuff. They say the more you practice the better you are so I need to practice now.

What do Bears eat for Breakfast?

On Wednesday I decided I would take Zachary to the zoo for a Mommy and son outing. I decided we would go pretty early to miss the crowd and the heat.

So we did our regular morning routine which of course included breakfast. Every morning Zachary helps Scott put the ingredients in the blender to make a protein smoothie. It's got ice, frozen strawberries, milk, protein, flaxeed, and psyillim husk. We have other random things with it but we have made a habit of having a smoothie every morning since Zachary was born at least and now he's participating in drinking and making it.

So we did breakfast, prayers, yard watering (well like yard reviving), and all that and then we got ready to leave. If you have a pass you can get in to the zoo at 7:30 AM! Well, we definitely didn't get there that early but we did get there before 9. We started with the bears and the monkeys near the entrance of the zoo.

I guess since it was still early the animals had not had time to finish their breakfast. Zachary noticed right away that the first bear we saw, was eating. "He's eating" he pointed out. "Yes", I told him, "he's eating his breakfast".

Zachary's neurons put two and two together and then said, "he's having a smoothie?" which sounds more like, "he's having soomie?"

"Um, well, probably not a smoothie" I said, but after looking at the fruits, nuts and goolash compiled for the bear I said, "probably more like fruit salad".

Kitchen Helpers

I'm developing more kitchen stories of Zachary as he helps me more and more with the cooking and baking.

• One day we were baking something, I can't recall what, but it required eggs. I had actually already cracked both of the eggs we needed and put them in. While I washed my hands and my back was turned to Zachary, and who else in the world would have turned their back to wash their hands while there was an egg carton 3/4 of the way full next to their son, I don't know, but I did and then I heard the "uh oh". When I do have the courage to turn back around I see that half of the eggs are dumped into our mixing bowl whole and half are on the floor in the carton. Oh I remember now, we were making French Toast. Scott was asleep in our room on a Saturday morning, Bill was asleep in his room for his first San Antonio weekend, and I was suppose to be making progress in the kitchen with a nice country style Saturday morning breakfast. Well, with all of my half way suppressed screeches I scared off any chances of anyone else waking up to come to the kitchen. Whose fault was it of course? Mine yes. I should not have assumed that Zachary had observed enough to know that you have to, first of all crack eggs open to use them and second, think that he should wait for me to do so. :)
• On July 8, 2009 we baked a chocolate birthday cake for Daddy, cooked spaghetti noodles, made a home made marinera sauce, and was in the process of making meatballs as well. I thought for some reason that it would be a good idea to leave the spices out on the island next to Zachary who was standing on a chair to help me prepare and cook. So while I was stirring the sauce, the noodles and flipping meatballs around Zachary thought he would make sure all of the pepper looked okay and test it out to also make sure it felt nice. When i turned around I saw that their was a lovely sculpted mound of pepper in the bottom portion of our mixer (the bowl had been removed). When Zachary realizes he's done something wrong he'll either put his little hand to his head or he'll cover his ears. It breaks my heart so as I smelled pepper I tried to just explain as calmly as my nose would let me. I think he got it, but it sure was fun so who knows if it will happene again.
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Cleaning up Crayon

I found out today a few tips about cleaning crayons during a time when I really wasn't in the mood to make that discovery.

For anyone that wants to know:

1. Crayon comes off of a flat screen computer with a Pentel brand eraser (usually white). And then a little rubbing alcohol cleans all of it up for a finishing touch.

2. It also works on magnadoodles.

3. I have some Mom on the web to thank for sharing with everyone and her kid to thank for doing it to her so I could learn.

Too many cute stories

I'm so irritated that our camera is broken. That's one of the 80 things that broke this week. I felt like I had the Midas Touch of Death! Car AC, house AC, Scott's engine oil, the clock, the camera, the TV system.....

In the mean time Zachary has been doing so many cute things of course, like every two year old does. I just wish I had my camera to post pictures with these things.

Well, I'm going to write these down so in 20 years we will have memorable moments remembering.

Two days ago Scott and I noticed Zachary carrying around a small guitar that belongs to my Snoopy Statue. It doesn't play music or anything and it's barely big enough to fit the strap over my hand.

I've really been trying to emphasize live music making with Zachary. I learned in my Music Together teacher training that we as humans have bonding receptors that go off when we make live music and dance with other human beings. I also learned that Primary Music Development happens at it's best between birth and age 9. Like a language it becomes more difficult to establish and music achievement concerning pitch and rhythm. It can be done of course but with more work.

Zachary is not able to hum songs exactly on pitch or hold a complete melody yet like some two year olds can. But I know he's taking things in. So two days ago he carried Snoopy's guitar around on and off throughout the day. I noticed him saying, "do do do, dah, dah dah do na na...".
And then I realized he was pretending to strum too. When I looked at him smiling and said, "oh you're playing the guitar! It sounds so nice!" he smiled SO proudly. I'm so thrilled!! I can't wait to start our own band :)


On our way back from the lake Zachary recalled many events from the week to us. We confirmed his thoughts and I enjoyed remembering the good times at the lake. He then picked up his toy camera and pressed button over and over saying, "cheese, Pop2!" I wonder what he had flashed at him all week.

Wednesday my Dad called me early in the morning. We were taking it easy and being lazy. It was nice to have our AC back after a very annoying and hot Tuesday without it. Zachary somehow knew I was talking to his Paw paw. Of course, they figure out everything it seems. He also heard me say "yeah come visit" or "yeah come see us".

So later Zachary picked up his very old play rotary phone and said, "Paw Paaaw, come visit Paw Paw!"

My silly dogs

I still consider the dogs at my parents house, "my dogs". One of them grew up with me, (Zara) and the other is new (Fiona), but still my family. They are both springer spaniels although Zara looks slightly unusual for a springer.

My very first dog was named Alicia, also a springer. She was so beautiful and sweet, yet feisty if she was hunting or securing the yard. A great bird and gecko hunter too. She lived to be 17 years and passed away when I was a senior in college. So not too long ago. She still has my heart.

Zara is 11 years old and her personality is sweet and lazy. She's also got to be touching you at all times, usually accomplished by sitting on your foot. Somehow she never misses; knows exactly where to aim. Her favorite game to play with Berch was hide and seek. She was always the seeker waiting in the laundry room until she heard Berch call for her. She used her nose and ALWAYS found him. Even when he was hanging from a door frame. She stopped underneath and was puzzled until she looked up. Her head is small and her body is quite large. She kept Alicia young and active for many years but she's definitely slowing down. Exercise is not on her list of "to dos".

Fiona, I wish I could get to know better but we're just not in the woodlands long enough. She has a very funny personality. Another one of those dogs who likes to hear her own bark. She's always got some mission she's on. If she's not inspecting the yard she's inspecting you.

I wish I would have written down all of the funny stories from my dogs. The latest one happens to be about Fiona.

Mom was cleaning the pool this past week. She used the net to fish things out. Fiona was going bananas on the side running back and forth around the pool, whining like crazy. Mom looked at her and then followed Fiona's eyes in the pool. Oh, a dead frog. "Okay, hang on I'm going to get it out" Mom said. Fiona paced back and forth a few feet here and there, finally just couldn't stand it anymore, jumped in the pool next snatched the frog and swallowed it whole. Mom was shocked. Nothin like raw frog legs.