Another day, another several thousand dollars...

I suppose most of you think this will just be salad recipes and photos. Well, that would be boring wouldn't it? No. You're going to have to hear the whole thing. You're going to have to hear all the inspiration that went into creating the salad...not just the eating. Today's salad was brought to you by my new front porch (not done yet!).

Along with eating a salad every day for lunch (and another one with dinner too) I walk a local mall for exercise. I walk three miles every morning that I make it to the mall which is to say that I walk Monday through Friday and on the weekend I try to get at least one nice walk in with someone from my family. Walking the mall is great. There is musak (I wear an ipod shuffle that my dh fills with music and pod casts to keep me up to date and to distract me). There is a clear flat walking surface. There are other people and security guards. And there is heat in the winter and AC in the summer. Perfect! This morning, on my way out of the house, I was stopped by the man working on my front porch. I live in a very old house and the porch has been gradually rotting for years. This year was the year of the porch. The original bid for the 575 square foot surface was around $8000. $8160.00 to be exact. I've already written three checks. One for $5000 and two for $2000 each. Do the math! That's $9000! Today, as I greeted the man recreated my old rotted porch he handed me ANOTHER INVOICE for $4997.13. Ouch!

Something else you need to know. Actually the food I eat does not have as significant an impact on my blood sugar as stress does. We have the data.

So I politely take the invoice after I've asked all the appropriate questions and drive to the mall...to walk.

As I walked I ruminated over what to do. I so wanted to screen the porch in. I so wanted a new front storm door (double doors actually). But $14,000 for an $8000 job! Again OUCH (louder this time)!

So I walked my three miles and came to a decision. Time to stop the bleeding. I would go home and tell him to finish the pillars and then we were done. For now. Love his work...have to stop the bleeding.

I left the mall and stopped at a bookstore to buy dh some interesting magazines because we're having a newspaper delivery problem (more on that tomorrow). In the parking lot I call him and tell him the situation and my decision. He agrees. Time to stop the bleeding.

So I come home and tell the man. And we are all fine. And then his son shows me a hole in the top of one of the old pillars holding the porch roof up (the only one that needs replacing!) and shows me the frantic birds on the porch roof...flying at him. Apparently that one pillar (curved tongue in groove wood) has been the happy home of some tiny sparrows for quite a while. Nice.

The lilacs are blooming...the power saw in buzzing... and I'm thinking about lunch ALREADY. And as much as I'd like to grab a handful of pretzels and dip them in some whipped cream cheese....I plan my salad. And here it is:

I needed a treat today. I think the choice of the dish is as important as the food on it...in this case lettuce. So, today, I chose a heart shaped platter from Poland that I found for a great price at Home Goods (don't you love that place?!). My entire lettuce selection was hydroponic bibb lettuce. That particular lettuce is my personal favorite. A campari tomato, some green olives stuffed with pimento, two sliced mushrooms. On top is a leftover from dinner boneless chicken thigh that was braised with shallots and fresh tomatoes. And on top of the chicken is some strips of marinated roasted red pepper. On the right are five fresh mozzarella flowers. My youngest loves making bento box lunches and has little cutters to make decorative food. Fresh mozzarella flowers...ta da! Two CRUNCHY (I miss dry crunchy food most of all!!). A cup of tea (in my pink mug), a bunch of grapes for dessert. Once again I've used Mr. Newman's dressing...anyone have a terrific vinegar based salad dressing? (vinegar helps with blood glucose)