Thank you all so much for your kind words about my grandmother. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to travel to New Jersey for her funeral on Tuesday – the likely answer> is no since we have zero days off of our internship. But I’m going to check and see.
Today I’m going to WINTHROP instead of work!! We have our last monthly day of seminars + bizness to take care of before our internship comes to a close in July. It’s coming fast!!
Since I don’t have to be there until 10, I got to go to the gym this morning and get my workout out of the way so I can enjoy an all-American Friday night! It felt so good to be out biking just after sunrise.
I ate half of this sleepy banana before I left:
Bike –> 26 minutes of Stairclimber –> stretching –> Bike
Tomorrow is weights + swim!
WELCOME HOME ROLLED OATS!!!
If you are using quick or instant oats I command you to stop immediately. Old fashioned rolled oats are the creme de la creme!! So sweet and creamy. I can’t believe we’ve been out for nearly a month!
Chocolate & Zucchini = a great food blog!!
And a great oatmeal combo!
The Mix
- 1/3 cup super delicious old fashioned Quaker rolled oats
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup water plus a splash more
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 ripe banana
- 1/4 cup Organic Valley cottage cheese (a new sample they sent me!! I’ve been buying their low-fat CC since the first sample they sent and it’s the best there is!)
- 1/6 of a crumbled Great Harvest Zucchini Raisin Muffin
- Coconut
- Maranatha Chocolate Almond Butter
Spring Blend! 1 cup to go and I’m all out. <3
The Mask
I had to memorize and recite this poem in 7th grade. I still remember it!
We Wear the Mask
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
Our jasmine is in full bloom!! So pretty!
My lunch post might be a little late today because we’re working through lunch – see ya then!!
Sam says
Just want to tell you how much I love it when your pictures cycle through to the one with you eating a sandwich by the river with your big sunglasses on. It makes me smile every time. LOVE that pic!
Have a good day!
xo
Kath says
Hee hee – I like that one too! I’ll have to put more action shots in!
Shawna @ Balancing Me says
I agree! This photo of you always makes me smile!
Daniel says
I smiled at the 7th grade poem thing. Isn’t it amazing how we can remember things like that, from so long ago, yet some days we can’t remember what day it is?!
Glad to hear you have your old-fashioned oats back too, once I made the switch from instant I realized I had been missing out on greatness for so long!
Have a great day~
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
I like that poem 🙂 Though I don’t envy you for having to learn it!
I agree 100% re the oats – quick cook automatic ones are INFERIOR compared to proper ones!
I can’t believe the internship wouldn’t let you take a day off for a funeral – isn’t that against a law!?
Kath says
Well I haven’t asked yet, but it’s complicated to make up hours and stuff
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Ohh zucchini muffin and chocolate peanut butter.. amazing! And I totally agree with you about the rolled old fashion oats… instant just doesn’t compare! Have a fabulous Friday!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I love that poem!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
What a great poem! Have a wonderful Friday!
Heather (www.runningwithsass.com) says
the flowers are so pretty! I love spring! Working through lunch is no fun.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
I SO remember having to memorize that poem too! But I never really got it back then, you know?
Oh yes, NOTHING like old fashioned Quaker rolled oats..nothing!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
That jasmine is beautiful.
Both of my grandfathers passed last year, and I was almost unable to go to one of the funerals. I ended up being able to go after all, but just remember– you got to see your grandmother when it was most important– during her LIFE.
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
I agree steel or thick cut are a must. And mine heat up just fine in the microwave when mixed with oatbran! I don’t know why the packaging make them sound so much more difficult
Kara M. says
I swear, one of these days I’m going to start eating oats for breakfast! I just love the jasmine, it looks and smells so pretty!
Ally says
Kath! I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandmother. Sounds like she lived a long and full life and went peacefully which is all we can wish for though. Hope you and your family are doing okay.
Love the poem, and I really love the Jasmine! We walked by some when I was on my short Florida getaway last weekend and it smelled so beautiful but I wasn’t sure what it was. It looks a little like honey suckle flowers but I knew it smelled different. Thanks for clearing that up, have a beautiful day!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
I love old-fashioned oats–don’t know how people stomach the instant stuff.
Shawna @ Balancing Me says
So sorry to hear about your grandmother, Kath. I do hope they let you take a day off to travel.
Hannah says
Next, you jsut have to add grated zucchini to the oatmeal itself! 😉
Good luck talking to the internship people about time off for the funeral – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Teacherwoman says
Love the poem. Sorry to hear about your grandmother.
rustique says
I’m so sorry about your grandma. I just read your post from yesterday and it was beautiful to see her with her granddaughters–I can only hope to be so lucky in my old age as so be surrounded by the people I love.
On the happier subject of oatmeal…rolled oats are simply the best. I absolutely love the Silver Palate’s Thick and Rough rolled oatmeal because they toast it first, so it has this really unique texture that’s hard to explain. Very creamy but still with a nice tooth, not mushy at all.
Lori (Finding Radiance) says
Sorry to hear about your grandmother. If you can’t go, maybe you could do something at home to celebrate her life?
My husband picked up oats for me a couple weeks ago and got the quick cook oats by mistake. They are just so different (not necessarily bad). I miss my rolled!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
So sorry about your grandmother. Hopefully your internship can bend the rules and you can get up there.
kalli@fitandfortysomething says
so sorry about your grandma……..
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
That’s really sad if they wont let you have a few days off for the funeral.
I don’t have time to cook regular oats so I use quick cook. It their a way to make regular oats with hot water or microwaving?
Maggie says
Hi Kath,
I am really sorry bout the loss of your grandmother.
Last year my grandfather died, and I didn’t go to the funeral because it was in another country, and I couldn’t take a week off. It is something that I regret a lot.
I would try as hard as possible to go. In the long run, missing a day or two of an internship won’t seem like a big deal. I am not sure if you will be able to say the same thing about your grandmothers funeral.
Whitney says
I agree!!!
Stacy Grows Healthy says
You are so creative with your oats. I need to branch out a little more. Thanks for the ideas 🙂
Diana says
I had to memorize a poem in 5th grade that I still remember!
Here goes…
I have a gift inside of me
called my imagination
I like to turn the TV off
and I can be the station
I make up stories in my head,
my cartoons are the best
It’s fun to use my mind a lot
and let the TV rest!
🙂 lol
Anywho, I hope you can make it to your grandmother’s funeral. I’ll keep my fingers crossed they give you the time you need. Hopefully they recognize this is an important situation.
Jen says
When I read “Chocolate and Zucchini,” I thought you were having chocolate and zucchini oatmeal. Now I have to try that. I’ve been enjoying zucchini oatmeal for a few weeks now. It’s so good. Very similar to carrot cake oatmeal. Yum! I’m sorry about your grandma!
Tez says
Can you microwave rolled oats without losing their goodness? I just don’t have time to do the stove top thing most days…
Kath says
It’s questionable 🙂 But they would def. be better than instant!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
So sorry to hear about your grandmother Kath. It’s great that you have such fond last memories with her. I hope you’re able to attend her funeral. I’ll cross my fingers for you!
Camille says
I still remember how to spell Supercalifragilistexpialidicious from the 4th grade 🙂
Great party trick!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
I looove the smell of Jasmine. It always reminds me of jumping on the trampoline in the late spring when I was younger <3
Funky Lady says
Thanks for sharing that poem! I live in Dayton, Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s hometown, but I am ashamed to admit I do not know his work. I may post that poem in my office!
Wei-Wei says
I’ve only ever tried rolled oats; instant just doesn’t roll well with this gal! 😛
I really hope you can make it to your grandmother’s funeral. Family’s what’s most important, and definitely pass along all of your reader’s heartfelt wishes to your family. We all love you! 🙂
Wei-Wei
Kellie says
I have an oat addiction. Well any hot cereal. My cupboards are full of containers. I agree, whole oats are the best.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I am really sorry about your grandmother. I hope you can work it out with your internship to go to the funeral. Closure always helps. I have to agree with the zucchini and oats…yum! I hope you have a good day and my thoughts are with you.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. i hope you can go, but i think that it would be understood if you can’t. i hope you have a beautiful day today!
Paige(Running Around Normal) says
Kath I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I hope your internship understands and lets you have the day off for the funeral.
Your jasmine plant is absolutely gorgeous.
shannon (the daily balance) says
i remember that Mask poem! we had to learn it, too!
so sorry to hear about your grandma — HUGS 😉
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Chocolate + zucchini does sound like a delish combo, especially in muffin and nut butter form. 🙂
Jenn
Morgan @ Life After Bagels says
I am still eating quick oats. For some reason I had bags of oats in my pantry and never ate oatmeal until last fall. So in the name of not wasting I am eating them all up before I love on to “the real deal”
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I hope they have leave for bereavement. I got 3 days for the funeral when I was in seminary.
I totally agree with you about rolled oats. After making the switch a few months back I’ll never go back to the quick stuff.
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
I had to memorize a few poems during grade school and middle school that I can still recite word for word too. Amazing what sticks with you from those years. 🙂
Mastering Public Health says
I hope your internship advisers allow you to attend your grandmother’s funeral; that would only be human. Great lookin’ bowl of oats!
jenna says
great bowl of oatmeal!
Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries says
I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother- I sincerely hope they let you attend her funeral.
It’s cute that you remembered that poem from 7th grade! Oh and I like that you called it a “sleepy banana” 🙂
Carrie (Love Healthy Living) says
Where do you get your energy, girl? Keep up the good work!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
mmm mmm nothing like old fashioned oats. hope you’re able to go to your grandma’s funeral – where in NJ (that’s where i’m from).
Jenny says
It’s crazy that you still remember that poem!!
Veggielady4life says
Thanks for the link to chocolate and zucchini… great find!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
Mmmm!! I only started eating oats again recently after not eating them since my childhood and there is just nothing like them. I LOVE the smell and the texture and flavor.
Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies says
I really hope they allow you the time off to go to the funeral. <3 I agree – rolled oats are where its at.
Samantha @ Food Edu says
I am sorry about your grandmother and I hope your intership will allow you to leave–some things are just more important than following the rules. I agree with you on the oats–those little instant packets just don’t cut it–old fashioned or “slow oats” is the way to go!
Ilana says
Kath, my condolences on your loss. I really do hope you get to take time off.
It’s so funny you posted that poem! I was just talking about it the other day. We read that in 9th grade and had to write poems based on it, after which my mom decided I was “depressed” and tried to make me go see a therapist. I only recently explained to her it was a school assignment! I never knew why she made me go to therapy until now!
wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
I see ta-tas in your coffee!
Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life says
Old fashioned rolled oats are DEFINITELY the way to go!
And that bowl you got over there looks quite delicious 🙂 You can’t go wrong with crumbled muffin toppings!
runnerforever says
I love how you mix up your workout routine, I bet it keeps it a lot more fun.
Can’t ever go wrong with old fashioned oats, so healthy too!
Erin (thehealthyapron.com) says
Too funny, I still remember a poem from first grade we had to recite before leaving the classroom.
Danica says
I am so sorry to hear about your Grandma, but, I LOVED your memoir post for her….I am sure she knows how much you loved her.
I have to agree with you – Old Fashioned Rolls Oats are the BEST…..I am spoiled, i can’t do instant 🙂
Happy Friday!!! Enjoy your night!
linda says
Hi Kath,
i can’t seem to find how much shipping is on open sky? i’m thinking of ordering the mugs!
~linda 🙂
Kath says
Linda,
I believe it’s a flat $5.95. Hope you like them!
K