Our young grandson – five granddaughters and then Bode!
From the very moment they pulled in – he asked that question –
PAPA – CAN WE GO ON YOUR HIKE?
To him – a hike is like back home – rocks – hills forest – streams!
I tried to explain to him it is different here –
But PAPA – That is not a hike – we have to go to the mountains!
Bode – entering the forest for our hike – along the ICW and the marsh land – no gators – at least we saw none!
“FOLLOW ME GUYS”!
He is a leader – and always out in front!
This is him to a tee – always staying ahead of the game – his own mind.
We walked a good mile and one half through the woods –
although he was out in front of me or alongside of me –
he never sought to run off –
staying close to me!
There were many intersections going in different directions – which way do we go PAPA he would ask – I had a map so I could tell him – he always listened to what I would say!
The twins – Taylor and Cassidy stayed close to their MORMOR ( Sherry)
We spent the better part of a hour walking the marsh and the woods
I want to come back here in the Summer so we can see more wild life!
Cassidy MORMOR Taylor Tammy Bode
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The day we went on our hike –
Bode now understands a hike can be different
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At the end of the hike – snacks and a swing – life is good and feeling blessed!
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The first thing they wanted to do was walk the beach!
Now – wouldn’t you know it that it got cold and windy the day they arrived!
It was so warm the day before people were sitting on the beach and wading in the water!
So we pressed on and walked down and onto the beach.
The wind was the culprit – making it very cold.
Even Bode has enough even though he had no shoes on!
Cassidy Taylor Bode after he put his shoes back on!
We walked to the next beach entrance and exited!
MorMor Bode Cassidy Taylor Tammy
It was a very short walk – but they got to see just how close we are!
Tammy said the kids were great – she had told them she would not stop and she didn’t making the seven hour drive in a little over six hours and they never complained!
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And that night after the kids went to bed – we relaxed and watched a playoff game
We are all from Western New York
and were huge fans when Buffalo Bills made their four straight Super Bowls!
One of my favorite beers from back in Western New York!
When the day begins with a splash – each day break is different! Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach – SC!
This is the view I saw in the ad for this rental!
This view sold us and we jumped on it right away!
Each morning is different!
Our view of the small lake –
Water fowl flying in and out!
There are six fountains that we can see!
Each at night is lit up!
The moon and fountains light the water !
This never gets old.
I will miss this when we move into our new house.
But – we will have enjoyed it for nine months!
We are social distancing from here – in the condo!
We knew when we moved in October 1st. that we would be mostly alone-
that we would not be able to eat out –
but what we have here is the ability to walk!
Every day – we can walk different routes and still end up at the beach!
One half mile walk brings us to this! If you want information on this place – just contact us here or through my wife’s web site: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com and we will answer.
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The view from our living room through the screened in Lanai – plus you get this same view from the master bedroom!
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Every morning when the sun rises – we get to see this!
This view is what first got my attention when I was looking for a place to rent!
I came across it and right away I called to Sherry –
“How would you like to live here for a while” ?
It took maybe one minute to decide – this is where we will go until we find another place!
We have now been here – at this time of writing – early January – some 13 weeks!
And – expecting our house to be done – the end of June!
But – that view is not all – we can walk to this every day!
The other reason is the walk to the beach –
a little over 1/2 mile and we are standing here.
Although the clouds roll in and out –
very few times have we not been able to walk with rain ruining it!
Plus – we are so close to other trails – nature – we can explore.
We are building a house – in the long run – it was about the same as buying one already built!
In our price range.
And – we will still be close to this – one half hour away!
The area we choose is in N.C. 15 miles away.
There we are close to two other beaches!
Ocean Isle Beach ( which is the address) and Sunset Beach.
Both about 4 and 6 miles away!
Although we will not see this on our walks – we will have a entirely different view.
The skies here are wonderful – different each day – I always notice skies where ever we are!
Just above the fountain – two black dots – the SWANS have returned – they come and go!Looking back toward the beach entrance – and .66 miles away – our rented condo!
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The skies of North Myrtle Beach – where we live-walk!
NO IT DOES NOT GET OLD!TWO AND ONE HALF MONTHS – WAKING UP TO THIS!
Every morning – the sunrise from our condo –
it paints a different sky each day.
I watch this as it develops each morning –
Sherry has the same view from our bedroom!
She has almost never seen the sunrise – but now she wakes up to this
and has almost trained herself to wake up to it!
Some days – we walk when we should of just stayed inside! LOL
Those days are mostly when the high winds are around.
One is because of the giant trees here!
They are high above our fourth floor condo!
And branches – even though small – come down!
We do not want to get hit by them!
The wind causing the sand to blow across the beach!You can see that when it is windy – very few people venture forth! The sand is blown across all but wiping out the footprints!
Papa and MorMor – we tried as you can see –
but the wind was so strong –
and the sand was stinging our faces!
We decided not to for go a walk here
and instead walked the sidewalks where it was bearable!
We returned to the condo after getting in our three mile
beach less walk!
There are days such as this that we also do our errands!
Or go to a late lunch early dinner
when no one is around
keeping social distance!
Back at the condo – we await the late show
not on TV but outside
once again in the dark sky
the rising of not the sun
but the full moon!
Both sun rise and moon lit nights from our own private Lanai!
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FULL MOON FROM THE LANAI!All our decorations are in storage – so Sherry put together our own CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Cindy Sherry Buck on the green – now to select where we are putting from
We have decided to build a house – in the long run –
it will work out the same or cheaper than buying!
The market keeps going up for resales on houses
and we can build and have brand new for the same!
Cindy and Sherry – down the middle is normal for them – Cindy getting yardage to the pin!
And we will build right across the road from this and three other courses
in what is called Cameron Woods!
In fact within a 5 mile radius –
20 golf courses and two beaches
Ocean Isle beach and Sunset beach.
We had searched and searched – condos – houses- apartments
and by chance we found this – and the model –
Sherry once again had her dream home!
And it knocked off about 45 minutes for the drive back to NVA!
Sherry hitting off the middle to the green – water to the left!
All we are waiting for now is the plans to be final
and then a meeting with the construction manager
to go over those plans
and then a start and probable finish date
4 to 6 months start to finish!
By the time you are reading this
we will have already done that!
Buck and me – it was a great time to golf with friends on a very good course – to think there are three more in here and it is a mile from where we will live!Cindy hitting fro the fairway to the green!
We love this area – the drive to both beaches is less than 15 minutes
Shopping is 6 minutes
Calabash is 15 minutes
and Route 17 is ten minutes.
Our friends house is about 30 to 40 minutes
And a lot of places to dine out on the I.C.W.!
We have extended our stay where we are until the end of June
hoping that the build will be done
We have to buy furniture and move what we have in storage
down here.
Cindy – Buck – Papa – Sherry we are golfing regular now – mostly with our friends – whom we have golfed with for about 30 years!A lot of the golf cart paths run through the sand – we saw no gators but not sure if they are here or not – but saw signs for snakes!Cindy and Sherry discussing their next shot as we let a twosome play through – these ladies are serious and hard to tie!
We did not want to go farther South –
we wanted a temperate climate
and still be 7 hours to home!
Bridge to number 18 – the final hole with waterfall!
We have found that place here – among the golf courses and beaches
but still only a 30 minute drive to North Myrtle Beach
I first met Jim some years back – his wife Claudia is a close friend of my wife Sherry!
Jim is a very large man – standing 6’5 ” of taller!
He loves to cook and always was making BBQ for his employees!
Claudia was interested in what Sherry was doing for her health.
Then – Jim became interested.
He sent me this email – I had no idea he was writing it.
It is such a story of health and a journey for a individual
who one day said enough is enough!
IN HIS OWN WORDS – JIM MARTIN!
My name is Jim Martin, and I am 65 years old. I live in Reston, Virginia, I still maintain a full-time job.
Heaviest Weight: 350 pounds
Current Weight: 260 pounds
I struggled with my weight my entire adult life. It led to binge eating and weight gain. Before trying Juice Plus, I had done yo-yo diets my whole life. My weight has gone up and down 50 to 80 pounds over the years, but nothing ever stuck.
Before Juice Plus, a typical day consisted of a lack of sleeping of no more that 4 to 5 hours a night and grabbing either a breakfast burrito with an apple juice or a chicken biscuit from a drive thru. I would go to work at my incredibly stressful sales job from 7:30-4:30 and get little to no movement at work. I would always eat out for lunch and pick very unhealthy options—sometimes I would even get dessert (cookies) with lunch! After work I would come home and eat dinner around 6:30 pm and sit on the couch until it was time for bed. Before bed, I would usually have ice cream or another dessert. Sometimes I would wake up and get a “midnight snack.” I was literally eating around the clock.
The first time I heard about Juice Plus was almost a year ago. I was not into fitness at the time, but back then I thought Juice Plus would help me lose weight and promote a good immune system. However, after years of putting on weight, I started learning more about it and decided I wanted to give it a try and joined the “Shred Your Way” Facebook group.
My turning point came on January 6, 2020 with the “Shred Your Way” Sugar Shred Challenge, No sugar for 10 days. As a result of completing this challenge, I have completely removed sugar from my diet for the past 11 months. I have no sugar cravings or desire to eat sweets as I did in the past. This all happened two months prior to the COVID lockdown and I was stress eating like crazy. It was a Monday morning and I stepped on the scale that I had been avoiding for months. After I read it, I just said, “That’s enough.” Something had to change.
My goal when I started this journey was to be in better shape than I was when I was 45. Back then, I was 260 pounds and less than 20% bodyfat. From the start of this journey to get healthy, I told myself that I wanted to be in better shape in the next year than I was in the last.
I found that adding Fasting, Healthy eating and Walking to my journey
I loved it so much, I added the Fasting (Zero Fast), Food Monitoring (MyFitnessPal) and Walking (Fitbit) apps to help me stay on track. It has been a huge help in my journey. Tracking the fast, steps, and foods It helps me to see trends, and with that I can make adjustments. I love being able to look back and see how I have done. The Shred Your Way Facebook group has also been a great source of motivation.
I currently follow a 16:8 fasting schedule, walking 8 to 10 miles a day, and eating about 1500 to 1800 calories a day, while trying to keep it flexible. Most days I end up following 17:7 Fasting, 25,000 steps and 1600 calories. I change my fasting times to suit my lifestyle. If I want to go out and have a big dinner with my wife, I will just do a longer fast leading up to it, so I stay in a deficit. And some days when I am hungry, I will break my fast at 13-14 hours (minimum of 13 hours to be considered fasting). I listen to my body and hunger signals. That is what I love about intermittent fasting—it is all about flexibility.
The first few mornings I started fasting I was so hungry, but honestly by the second week my body had adapted well. That is part of the reason I have been able to do this so long (coming up on 7 months). It is not a struggle for me to follow the plan.
Aside from the weight loss, fasting gives me freedom from food, walking gives me the movement I need and Juice Plus give me a healthy immune system. I no longer feel like food is my source of comfort. I can focus my thoughts and feelings more. I also did change my overall diet. I discovered tons of extremely healthy choices. However, that is another writing exercise.
Here is what I typically eat in a day:
Breakfast: Black coffee, breakfast cereal (Ezekiel or Sola brands, no/exceptionally low sugar) blueberries, raspberries, almond milk, and chia seeds.
Lunch: Arnold whole wheat bread or a Mission brand low carb whole wheat wrap, turkey or ham, mustard, lettuce., tomato and Kettle Brand avocado and Himalaya salt potato chips.
Dinner: Taco Bowl (steak, brown rice, pinto beans, salsa, cheese,) Kevin Brand Chicken entrees with steam veggies.
Snacks: Mixed nuts or, protein shake (1G or less sugar) or apple or protein bar (2G or less sugar)
Dessert: 1oz70% Dark Chocolate
I feel completely different now that I added fasting and walking to my Juice Plus daily routine. I no longer have a need to eat wasteful and harmful foods like sugar. Before, I would always eat a huge lunch and then be worthless for hours afterwards. Now, I experience the mental clarity that comes from eating the right foods, fasting, and walking. I am tracking all my calories in MyFitnessPal because I wanted to stay in a deficit, which was key for weight loss. I aim to eat 1,800 calories each day. I walk 7 days a week. It has been great.
These three changes contributed the most to my weight loss success.
Change 1: I gave myself more than a year to reach my goal.
By taking a longer-view approach, I do not get discouraged by little missteps. I still have plenty of time to reach my goal. When you set a short timeframe to reach your goal, you can get discouraged if it does not happen “fast” enough.
Change 2: I focused on healthy eating at first. I’ve done diets before, and when you change everything in the first week, you drain yourself of willpower and end up falling off the wagon. I just focused on finding healthy food choices that minimize or eliminate SUGAR. SUGAR is the killer of any plan that includes weight loss or a good immune system.
Change 3: I do not get discourage… focus on the big picture
Life happens, and if I get down on myself for being human, that is not going to help me in the future. So instead, I give myself grace and understand this will happen. I acknowledge it and move on instead of making myself feel like a failure. I could barely walk a mile without resting, now I can complete a 10K in less that two hours. It takes one step at a time.
I hope my successful journey can help other archive the life changing experience this has been for me. I think the most rewarding part about making this change has been the mental clarity and focus that comes in the last few hours before breaking a fast. I do not feel mentally drained. But the weight loss has made the biggest difference. It is going to allow me to live an active life well into old age. If I had continued putting on weight, I would have been in extremely poor health within the next five years. But now I feel strong, and I do not feel deprived.
The new Jim Martin – at 260 lbs.
As a side note – Claudia Martin has literally folllowed in Jim’s footsteps.
I love this picture – I told Sherry we need to get it blown up and framed!
And – it all happened in a space of two or thee minutes!
Maddy took her phone – while we all just sort of found a place –
put it up and braced it on a tree limb –
set the timer for 6 seconds and “BOOM”
there it was!
We went back to the new trail – but this time – the whole family went!
This family hikes all the time – that is their form of family time together!
Mike will take the older two – Maddy and Ella – overnight hiking!
He would take Sarah – but she is into more like N.Y.City hiking!
Sarah – but she is the adventure type – always climbing – swinging from vines – exploring woods and meadows.
She is the one I think really likes it but has aspirations of one day dancing – acting – fashion –
But once you do get her out there – no boundry is off limits – being the free spirit she is!
Ella – come on – follow me!
Ella is 5 ‘ 8 1/2 ” Sarah who just turned 14 – I think will be taller – both taking after their grand mother Sherry – who is 5’ 9″
We made it a family day hiking – where Debby – Sherry and I had gone the day before!
A new trail within the city limits of Winchester Va.
When it is completed – with all the side trails and loops
you pretty much can get a easy five miles in!
YEP! there are also pastures and cows!Walking the trail – Ella Maddy Sarah Mike Papa the trail is made of crushed limestone the whole way! Easy to walk on and not trip!
This day was somewhat cool but warm in the Sun!
And we made a day of it as long as we could.
Many volunteers keep this project going
helping to clear out brush
and maintaining the cut area’s!
There is a farm silo – which you can walk into – and look up and see this. A hand crank on the wall – makes these turn in opposite directions – providing the look of birds soaring in the clouds!A old farm tractor just sitting there offering a photo opportunity!Thank you for reading Papa’s World – where friends like you meet our family!Sarah on one of the many standing sculptures along the path!Daughter and Mother – living life to the plus – one day at a time!
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Papa (Tom) & MorMor ( Sherry) Swede for Mothers Mother
The night before we came back home to N.VA. – we drove 45 minutes South
Near Pawley’s Island S.C
to “BROOK GREEN”!
( and we will go back in warmer weather – to see it again in daylight!)
Huge Oak trees – with hanging lights – almost from the top!Reflections in the water of lights!
The whole place – hundreds of acres – is dressed up in colored themes –
and over 1000 candles lit by hand!
Bronze statues are everywhere!
Some of the 1000 candles lit by hand!Candles and lights – everywhere we went – a different theme – and colorful lights!
There were food trucks and a tent set up with drinks – hot chocolate – coffee and tea as well as water – soft drinks and beer!
So many different areas lit up – hard to capture them all!You had to stay on the paths – and after dark – you could easily get lost in the maze of light!Hanging moss lit up!Paper lanterns lit in red and white colors!Like fire flies in the sunset!Sculptures with light reflecting on the water!
There must be a lot of volunteers to do all of this!
And – we only saw part of the park –
there also is a zoo here but was closed!
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WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
First you gather the ingredients – then you gather the grand daughters and their mother!Mother ( Debby) Ella Sarah Sherry ( grand ma) Maddy
Memories are made each year during the holidays –
making Christmas cookies is one of them!
Sherry has done this for years – and they all love it!
They laugh and laugh at her and with her!
The results – or a small fraction of the results – all decorated by each of the grand daughters!
She teaches them her heritage and is passed down generation to generation.
Sherry is Swedish – her grand mother was born in Sweden.
She is 5 ‘ 9″ tall – and Ella is almost as tall – Sarah will be that also and Taylor at 10 years old
comes up to her chin!
The temptations are there – YUMMY!She is a educator – teaching them to be themselves – honor – compassion and self worth!
Respect is what they have for her.
Admiration – and laughing – both at her and with her.
Going shopping with Grandma!
MEMORIES for a lifetime!
Ella Sarah Sherry
We will come up once more and spend a couple days and Christmas eve.
Then we will go back to Tammy’s for Christmas day!
The little ones are so excited and she made cookies with them also!
To them she is not grand ma – but MORMOR – mother’s mother in Swedish!
After Christmas we will once again head back to S.C.
Knowing that Memories were once again made
and captured into this blog
for future reading – seeing !
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My little contribution to the cookie making!ELLA will be on a soccer team in college – and will play against her sister Maddy at the University of Lynchburg!
I saw a post that stated ” GRAND PARENTS REMAIN YOUNG ” while watching their grand kids ! Boy – that was right on !
As most of you know – Sherry and I – pick up the twins from school -bring them home until their father picks up the youngest ( only boy grandchild) and then stops to pick up the twins !
Tammy opened her store almost one year ago – Kids consignment store – which is open every day except Monday 10 am. – 5 pm.
So – they needed help and we stepped in along with Marcus’s parents Jennie and Gehard. Since Bode’s preschool is close to them – they pick him up at 1:00 pm. and then Marcus goes after work to pick him up.
Now I must say – I really enjoy my little trip to the school – a little over one mile away. “PAPA – BE FIRST IN LINE ” is what they tell me. Well – even though I am in line one hour before they get out – most times I am second !!! That person must get there after breakfast !But – I use that time to listen and read !
Listening to my favorite radio station – not classic rock or country or rap or whatever else is out there – but ” SPORTS RADIO” 106.7 The Fan! I enjoy kicking back – using a couple wadded up blankets – for a pillow – and just spacing out listening to the talk show. This relaxes me and yes sometime I catch a quick 10 minute power nap ! When I was working – I used my lunch – one hour – every day to do the same thing ! Habits are hard to break !
But – I also listen to these two little girls – talking – conversing and sometimes a argument breaks out ! Now at that time I either look back and tell them to stop or I turn up the radio so loud – that they become silent ! LOL But I find they actually talk so much like adults – on their own daily lives.
Being with them makes me feel young at heart – relating to them – and oh my goodness – the questions are endless – and” WHY” is always asked.
But – then it gets adult like with the answer ” OF COURSE ” or ” ACTUALLY ” or “PAPA” ! I love that – and it makes you think when you answer the “WHY” !
” WHY ARE YOU NUMBER TWO AND NOT NUMBER ONE ” ? I get that one almost every week ! But – how can you argue the fact that life is about staying young even though it might only be a frame of mind !
Turn back time – can’t – capture thoughts words and deeds in pictures – you can – but staying young is a art that we all try to master.
Mine is a matter of mind over physical – thinking – acting and doing! I may not be number one in line but I think I try harder at being number two – after all – “PAPA – WHY AREN’T YOU NUMBER ONE ” keeps me on my toes each week to give a answer and that my friends keeps me young !
The years went by so quickly – fourteen to be exact. When she was four – she started playing soccer. It was at that time – the ball seemed to be almost as big as she was !
Our Grand daughter – Madison ( Maddy ) last week signed her letter of intent to play college soccer at the University Of Lynchburg in central Va.
We took the 60 mile journey to Winchester Va. to James Wood H.S. where she is in her last year – for a celebration by the school – and the other part of this story is that her friend and playmate for the last fourteen years – ” Katie P ” also signed her letter of intent to play at the University DeSales in Pa. !
They both had played as four year old’s all the way through H.S. including travel teams in Winchester and the last three years traveling 65 miles one way – three times a week for practice with the Loudoun County Red team.
Maddy has had this goal in mind for a very long time and with all this she still has maintained a 4 . 10 GPA ! Katie also has done the same.
Her college team is going to be a three hour drive for us – which in my mind is ” ROAD TRIP ” something we both enjoy.
Very proud of the young lady she has become – from being the smallest on the field to a strong midfielder who has become defined by her coaches as the ” FULL PACKAGE ” , everything comes through her on the field.
And as you can see – she has grown into the part – taking after my wife who with Swedish heritage – is 5 ‘ 9″-
Maddy certainly has those genes. Another day in PAPA’S WORLD – living healthy and life to the plus !
I 