LESS IS MORE Lens-Artist #43 (Pruning, Neapolitan Blooms, and KETTLEBELL Workout)

Posted on by Prior...

The lens-artist theme is LESS IS MORE this week (here).  

For my take, I have photos from this weekend. 

First –

We prune back certain shrubs and plants because they are healthier this way.

I enjoy using my small chainsaw for trimming the Rose of Sharon shrubs. (The blooms in the top are from a nearby Azalea shrub. While trimming, there is a certain type of “flow” that allows for mental decompression.  – I was a few weeks late in this pruning/trimming and when I got out there this weekend – I was reminded about how pruning shrubs – having less of their branches – leads to better shrub health. For example, I have lost some butterfly bushes because I let them grow wild and free. They were pretty for a while – but branches became too long, too heavy – and many split. Or some branches became leggy and it impacted appearance and health. Sometimes the branches crossed over and it just wasn’t ideal for that shrub in that space. It needed to be cut back – with love and care – to give it boundaries and health (just like people do –  – eh?)

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Second, I was visiting family in Charlottesville this week. I looked up to see this beautiful color towering over us. Basic blooms bringing joy. 

Up View A (linked to OWS)

Do you see my logo on that first image?  A white box.

I realized the white box might be too much.

 On this next photo I have a more subtle logo.

Do you think the lesser logo is better? I do. And which tree bloom upview do you like better? A or B

Up View B (linked to Sunday Trees)

When I first looked up and saw those colorful blooms, I thought of Neapolitan ice cream.

Doesn’t it sort of look like the colors in Neapolitan? It is funny how that trio mix is now considered very basic for ice cream options – but while growing up – it was exciting to get that mix at home. And at our house – the strawberry was the last to go.  Oh and my husband has a recipe for homemade ice cream that is super simple: coconut milk (or coconut cream), stevia, dash of salt and cocoa. The secret is using an ice cream maker. Mmmmm Can also add nuts and shredded coconut. (sorry – no photos of that ice cream yet –  maybe sometime soon)

Speaking of food… my next image is of some basic chicken- that was mmm – mmm – good. 

Less was definitely more with this simple meal. Took a bone-in thigh (need to show Joey this) – it was already baked and this was a reheat. Put it into a cast iron pan (which is less in the culinary world compared to some high-tech cookware – but the ol’ iron items are so much healthier for us).  I added butter, a few sprays of non-industrial oil (here), garlic, handful of greens, and the skin of the chicken (it became crispy-crunchy good).  Less was more I tell ya – and nutrient dense too. 

 

My last entry for this post is a shot of kettlebells. 

I have been wanting to share about my favorite new workout for a while – and the “less is more theme” is perfect because this is exactly why it has been a help for me.

Sometimes working out can take up hours of a day. The drive to and from – and then setting up – suddenly an hour class cost us three hours.  Seriously – that happens all too easily.

A few months ago, my hubs showed me Chi Chi’s Beginner’s Kettlebell workout (here – and below) and it has been my new favorite thing. 

 

 

When I first started doing Chi Chi’s kettlebell workouts – I took a lot of recovery days. I listened to my body – let it rest – even if that meant eight days of rest. Now – I NOW do a ten-minute kettlebell workout (of some sort) every other day. Sometimes twice a day – if I need it and when I feel extra strong. If you are looking for a way to improve your health with “less being more” – walking should be on your list of course – but I also suggest kettlebell workouts. This little tool is not just for power lifters. The bell weights are versatile, require no set up, and take up little space. Chi Chi’s beginner workout (below) also helps posture. You see, anytime you stand with good posture – it can boost confidence and can positively impact good hormones in the body.  Even if you do not continue that posture into the whole day you have already benefitted. (But the more you train your posture the core that which supports it – the more you will have default good posture). Mike, aka Magnesium Mike, was just giving a talk about how “confidence postures” can add to vitality to hormone health.  When we take certain strong postures – even just standing erect – it can help with balance between dopamine and cortisol, and it can help “meridian” energy flow in the chest, fascia, and gut (which is life flow). Also, when humans have strong posture when faced with stress they “can maintain self-esteem, reduce negative mood, and increase positive mood compared to a slumped posture” (Nair, 2015).

Less is more with Chi-Chi’s amazing (and fun) kettlebell workouts.  

Chi Chi has a lot of videos – but here is the Beginner one: 

 

Would you care to join in with the #lens-artists challenge?

Go here for general info

P  R  I  O  R  H  O  U  S  E 

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57 thoughts on “LESS IS MORE Lens-Artist #43 (Pruning, Neapolitan Blooms, and KETTLEBELL Workout)”

  1. It’s near lunchtime and the chicken photograph made me really hungry. I also like your Neapolitan trees

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for reading – and you know I thought of you while
      Trimming dear rose of Sharon’s ((sometimes you come to mind because we share a love for this classic beauty))

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My Rose of Sharon came through the winter great! It’s looking good and leafing out. I hope for many blooms this year. Last year it gave me one perfect bloom. The color was a lovely lavender.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Well I hope you get a lot of blooms this year!
      And mine are currently going to be delayed in their bloom – I should have gotten the “trim” done in March but forgot about it until this week when they seemed to have grown a lot overnight – so might be late June when I see flowers – – hmmm

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi d – thanks – because many of the neighborhoods we are in or near – are so “new” we don’t tend to have this towering canopy and so sometimes it takes my breath away-

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh thanks for the feedback on the two pics – it really helps because I was all set on the second photo as my choice for the post – but the first one had something special with the light to the left
      And please keep me posted if the kettlebell works for you
      I really needed extra recovery days the first handful of times because it must have been getting muscles and areas that needed fortifying –

      Like

  7. I like the second of the two “up” shots. It seems to have more color. I walk, do a yoga routine, and have to get back to the gym for weights (although we do have some in the basement.) There’s nothing like the feeling of working out and being in shape. 🙂

    janet

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Another excellent crop of photos, Yvette. I can see why you thought of Neapolitan with the trees shots! Well done again. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Cast iron pans are the only way to go IMHO!! I used to do kettle bells- maybe I’ll go back to it at the gym. Put a bit too much strain on my arms 🙂 I like the 2nd looking up at the trees photo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for the feedback on the tree shots – and I can see how the kettle bells could add strain – I only use the small sizes and I watch my wrists

      Liked by 1 person

  11. First I loved your blooming trees against that beautiful blue sky. As far as your logo goes, I am of two minds. If you are trying to get your logo to be the focal point, the white box draws the eye. But the white box also takes some beauty out of the shot. I guess it depends on your purpose. Both are good.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That is a great comment – thx – and my purpose is just a blog share and so the logo is just to note that it is mine and does not have to be obvious – (or does not need to even be there really)

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Neopolitan ice cream was my absolute favourite, growing up. I like both of your watermarks, but the transparent one is the better of the two. I prefer the second up shot of the tree blossoms. So beautiful. Umm…….kettle bells don’t feature in my workout plan, but who knows, maybe at some later date. 😀 We do have some at our gym, but there isn’t a class for them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well maybe someday there will be a class – and without Chi Chi’s videos I am not sure I would have found a use for kettlebells –
      And thanks for the feedback on trees logo and ice cream -(mmmm to Neapolitan)
      😉

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Quite an interesting approach Yvette! (but I must admit the logo in the second image is a bit too small to be seen). And YES, definitely Neopolitan ice cream!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks
      For the feedback – it did not look small on my version but I see that when the photo goes into the post it gets smaller – so I will keep that in mind for the future

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi BB – the “no white box” is the top choice – now I see why I never use the white box – ha
      Just a small trimmer but it is powerful – and yet a 14 year old could work it

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I always loved Neapolitan ice cream when I was a kid. I felt like I was getting away with something sneaky when I got three flavors in one scoop of ice cream. Kid logic.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Omg – you are so right about the trend YC – and on the radio last Thursday – I think it was NPR – but they interviewed a Millennial who owned very little
      Possessions –
      He rented a bed in an open space – rented a locker at his gym
      Where he stirred his second outfit – used Uber and Lyft -so
      Owned no car – and rented a desk for his work space.
      However – I guess some of these youngens with little stuff do have digital hoarding –

      Liked by 1 person

  23. The tree blossoms are beautiful this time of year – I like both photos, but I liked B better for the blossoms and logo and I think “neopolitan ice cream too”. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Love the ‘Neapolitan’ trees 🙂 Beautiful shots against the blue skies. Mmm, spring!
    One of my family’s universally loved meals is cheesy quinoa, carrots, and chicken thighs, seared IN CAST IRON 🙂 I got my iron up after I got my cast iron, no joke. Anemic all my life til that skillet came along. Who knew? Bet you did. Not eating much meat had always been to blame. I tell you, I don’t eat more meat now, I just use my cast iron.
    The chicken sounds hellatender and looks great!
    Kettle ball sway squats have the terrible and wonderful problem of being slightly zen-like and easy, leading to aches for days 😉

    Like

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