Indian Summer and Biking

 Living in subtropical Georgia has lots of benefits.

Our Indian Summer is so lovely...

Rather exotic looking Yucca lily in bloom on October 24, as we biked.

Had to zoom in as I was a bit reluctant with my sandal feet to get into the ditch...

Copperheads are being born live in the fall and I sure don't want to step onto one!

On a lovely sunny October 15, on the bridge across the Oconee River.

That's me posing next to Pieter's New Green Deal...

We went back to the bridge for the first time since Pieter got a flat tire there!

That was quite something... I swapped bike with him so he could ride home on mine and come back with the car, backseat flat for transporting his bike. It JUST fit...

I've managed to push it for about 4 km and it was hard to do in the heat, full sun and uphill!

Next we had to go to Atlanta Cycling for getting a new back tire; they happened to have just the LAST one, at their other location.

So we keep our fingers crossed that things go well!

Oh, on one of the longer rides, Pieter had an empty battery... he thought he had more than wat it was.

So I swapped with him again and pedaled that heavy sucker home for some 20 km... Those hills are killing you!

There still are lots of yellow wildflowers alongside the road.

Golden Rod with a happy Bumble Bee feasting on its pollen.

Pieter in his TREK Atlanta Cycling top.

We love the quiet back roads since we do not have bike lanes here, like in The Netherlands.

WISH we had them!

Lovely wildflowers... 

Huge field where peanuts already have been harvested!

Here they were still harvesting the peanuts.

Georgia is a BIG peanut exporter!

Photo is from October 17, and these Confederate Rose shrubs (Hibiscus mutabilis) are blooming everywhere!

We used to have one in our wood garden but of course, the competition with tree roots is fierce.

These goat kids were loose once we biked past this meadow.

Now the owner has secured the fencing a lot better, attached mesh wire in front of the planks so they no longer can escape!

There were five more of those goats in front of an old school bus.

Hate to see old cars or equipment sitting somewhere; why not recycle?!

October 22, blue sky and at this lake there always is lots of water fowl.

If there would be a bench, one could observe different birds.

October 22, it was 28℃ or 82℉

Guess on a Saturday we ought to clean out this barn...

Horses are a far better sight!

Pieter captured me when I went closer for capturing that Yucca lily.

Did not want to go into the ditch bare footed... think about snakes from my previous post (see link below).

Love to wear these cotton terry shorts from Escada, with a cotton t-shirt from Indonesia.

Wish this photo would work LIVE as you could see those birds flying away in a big cloud...

Smart cooperation, the cows stir up insects and they're right there!

Pieter counted 50 cows but they have such vast meadows here, compared to The Netherlands!

Another farm where they usually keep horses but this time they had several Llamas.

Haha, this one tried its very best to smile at the camera!

On LIVE it does...

Hope you enjoyed this little view of rural Georgia.

Related link:

New Green Deal | previous post

Copperhead Snake | previous post

{Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Tofu with Tri Color Quinoa}

For Healthy Living we love to shop at Trader Joe's and that's how I found these Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Tofu with Tri Color Quinoa. 

Brussels Sprouts are a favorite vegetable for both of us.

My Dad used to grow them commercially and so did Pieter's Dad, thus we grew up with them.

But that they now are being offered 'SHAVED' that was new!

High Protein Super Firm Tofu for dicing up and ready to go.

Of course, having lived and worked in Indonesia, we are so used to a Tofu rich diet and we love it!

Either in soups or other dishes.

Japanese food also uses lots of tofu and fermented tofu.

In Indonesia we call the fermented tofu, tempeh.

That too we can buy at Trader Joe's!

Wish my Parents could have seen this product; they would be amazed.

Using Olive Oil, I did first stir-fry some garlic, than the diced tofu and adding the shaved brussels sprouts.

You can use some oriental spices of your liking or add some sauce.

For a quick and healthy meal I did add tri-colored Quinoa from Trader Joe's and that was it!

Are you using any of these ingredients for your supper?

{CHIA for Iron Boost and Good for Blood Sugar Level}

Are you already aware of the great benefits of using CHIA seeds in your daily diet? Use CHIA for Iron Boost and it is also Good for Blood Sugar Level. That are two big reasons for me to embrace these powerful seeds! Being Diabetes type 2 and also having had on and off bouts of anemia, sure made CHIA a permanent item in our kitchen! Are you using it too?

CHIA seeds can be used in a number of ways. Here I added it to some cole slaw, together with dried cranberries and a dressing of Trader Joe's reduced fat mayonaise with some brown rice vinegar and CHIA Seeds. You can find below post a link from previous post with photos of this mayonaise.

Daily we both add CHIA Seeds to our Trader Joe's 0% Greek Yogurt with some fresh fruits. Chia seeds work gelatinous so keep that in mind when adding to certain dishes. Best is to do it right before being served.

So again, I did reveal another Secret for my size and weight...

For USA, Canada and Mexico citizens you can find CHIA SEEDS from Carrington Farms  at Costco Wholesale 

More you can read about Carrington Farms below my post.

Healthy Foods for a Healthy Soul

This sure belongs in the group of Antioxidant Super Foods!

CHIA SEEDS The Costco Connection, July 2013 (click link for Pdf format)

Combat Diabetes

Get More Fibre

Stock Up On Omega-3

Stronger Teeth And Bones

Don't Forget Manganese

Plenty Of Phosphorus

Pack In The Protein

Fight Belly Fat

Get Full. Faster.

Improve Heart Health

Chia Seed Benefits: 10 Reasons To Add Chia To Your Diet (link from above 10)

So are you using CHIA already?

Related links:
{Healthy & Quick Vegetarian Supper} | previous post by me showing Trader Joe's Reduced Fat Mayonaise

Carrington Farms Healthy Foods for a Healthy Soul | FB Fan Page
11 Health Benefits of Chia Seeds - Eco Watch info about Chia Seeds

{SUGAR is your #1 enemy!}

• Since some of you have asked me what my secret is for maintaining the same size and weight since I was 15, here is an interesting story about sugar. 
• In 2007 I learned that I had high blood sugar levels, diabetes type 2 or diabetes mellitus as they call it. Since than I have removed most sweet foods from my daily diet. 
• I never drank coke or any soft drinks, just plain water. 
• From childhood on I always have had a fondness of fruits and vegetables, of course being the daughter of a market gardener I was born into them. 
• That is a good and healthy habit. 
• In a later post I will show you some fruits that are natural diuretics, that also helps you for looking slim(mer). Below this post you find some helpful links to my previous posts!
• Now about this fun way of expressing the effect of sugar intake. I received it in an email and below the post I can give you a link of info I found on the Internet. 
• Guess the sugar consumption world wide is very, very high and we can tell! Be aware...

• A Unique Way To Present This...
• 4.2 grams = 1 teaspoon of sugar, so this looks like 1 cube is about the same!
• Someone ought to get an award for this. 
• We know the facts, but this brings it into perspective quickly, doesn’t it? 
• Each cube is a teaspoonful (American teaspoon sizing is larger than elsewhere).

• The fresh fruit sugar, called glucose, is not as bad as processed sugar. It will be broken down by our body slowly and is converted into sucrose and glycogen. Versus processed sugar that will be absorbed very fast into the bloodstream. Therefore fruits are always recommended for Diabetes type 2 patients.

• Now someone needs to do this with salt!

'When someone shares something of value

with you and you benefit from it, you have

a moral obligation to share it with others.'

Related link:

Just a spoonful of sugar helps...
Flat Belly Diet Foods - Meet the MUFAs! | previous post by me
Foods that Support the Skin | previous post by me
Natural Healing Chart for almost all Sickness | previous post by me with a wealth of information!
{9 'Harmless' Habits That Age You} | previous post by me with great tips
Sugar: The Bitter Truth | A very informative video with LOTS of information