Just wanted to POP in for a minute and say I hope everyone has had a good Day! We're getting ready to go to Good Friday services at church and it has been a pretty nice day. Didn't do a lot (but should have) but did go and get some chain link fence to see if we can't get a temporary fence up right now until the guy comes to get his storage building and then Tim wants to get one for us too. But at least the girls would be happy if they had a place they could be outside without a leash on all the time.

Karen-- thanks for that comment, it made me get all fluttery inside! I know I missed you too! I really don't want to have to be that long without internet ever again!!!!

Donna, glad that the fires are all taken care of for now at least. They can be so scary!

Hello to everyone else and I will try to get back later this evening after church. Glad to be able to say that!!!! LOL!!!

Hi Gals. I've been busy doing stuff all day yesterday and today. Made MIL an Easter cake and some cupcakes for us this weekend, cleaned the house and cooked. I wasn't expecting anyone here but DS#2 is coming tomorrow and staying overnight but won't be here for Sunday dinner so we're having a family dinner tomorrow. I've invited DIL's parents and sister and family as well. So we'll have about 9 people here (including us) for dinner tomorrow. I've made a huge lasagna and a small macaroni and cheese (because not everyone likes lasagna!!! ) I'll serve that with broccoli, corn, salad, baked beans and fried potatoes (just to make sure we overload on carbs, lol) and garlic bread. We'll have the cupcakes for dessert and I also made sugar free desserts for the diabetics. They're not very healthy or low fat but no sugar. Ah, heck, it's dessert.

Yesterday was cake day and I only licked when I had to, lol. I was more in control of the icing situation than last time I made cake. I just love that buttercream icing but I tried very hard not to eat any. I think half of my problem is habit. I'm always tasting as I cook but with the icing it just gets crazy. I think I may have had a couple of tablespoons instead of my usual half cup or more. I was wishing I had gum. I believe Marie suggested chewing gum when baking. I don't chew because gum makes me hungry but I'd have given it a try. Must buy a pack when I go out.

Karen31, welcome back to the boards. We really missed you. Your new house looks really nice and roomy.

Rosey, so glad everyone made it to your house in one piece. I'm sure the pets will calm down and let you pee normally, lol.

Welcome, Debbi. Stick around and enjoy the chatter.

Gayle, I like the trim you picked out. I don't know the nurses from the housekeeping staff when I visit the hospital. Half the time the nurses don't have their name tags on. I remember the days when no one mistook a nurse, or a doctor for that matter.

I'm doing this from memory...not good!

Karen3, your dinner sounded lovely with all those vegetables.

Marie, get well. I hate colds. I used to get a bad one every year when I first started teaching. The last few years I never caught a cold as I think I'd had every strain known to man.

Lynn, are you enjoying your reunion?

OK, that's it for the memory, so I'll give a BIG to everyone I've missed.

I didn't get any exercise done today but I was quite active cleaning and cooking.

Take care everyone and Happy Easter

Deelee - I think if your mother is going to eat sweets, she is better to have them as dessert right after dinner. I have heard that if sugar is eaten with other foods the sugar is absorbed more slowly and doesn't give your BS the high. At 80 years old, she is going to do what she wants to, and she has earned that right IMO.

I have taken statins for about 10 years. I take Lovastatin 80 mg, the highest dosage allowed. My pcp wants to put me on a newer drug, but I know that means more $$$. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Right? As far as I know it isn't causing any bad side effects. When I started having the tendon pains from the Cipro I thought the statin might have been contrbuting to it so I stopped the statin for a week or so. The pain is subsiding somewhat, but I don't know if it's because I quit the statin or if it's just going away on it's own. I am afraid to start taking the statin again for fear that the pain will come back. I know I shouldn't play around with my meds like this, but I'm an old lady and I already know I'm not going to live forever. When I worked for Medco a pharmacist told me that anyone who is on a statin should take COQ10. I took it for a while and didn't feel any different so I quit taking it.

Karen31- I like your new picture. I had to look at the name to see who it was. LOL I think it was because you didn't have your glasses on. How are you liking the new house so far? The office looks nice.

Bobbi - This is my first time reading anything by Janet Evanovich so I didn't have anything to compare it to.

Marie - DH and I don't have the same tastes in food, that is why we eat out so often. We can each choose what we want from the menu. I am making ham, turkey and kielbassi for Easter coming up, to accomodate everyone's preferences. DH never thinks I am making enough food. He has visions of an empty table with 10 hungry people sitting around it. So I end up cooking for 25 people and then sending leftovers home with everyone. I really don't mind, but I wish he would trust my judgement.

Maryea - Metformin hasn't effected my appetite either, but I've heard that it has in some. Also, some people say to start taking it gradually and build up to the prescribed amount because it can cause diahrrea, but that didn't happen with me either.

The shoes look nice, but too small for me.

Hi Debbi - Welcome back!

Good Morning! Kind of a cool and cloudy day here. That is OK though, we need to get a few more things for the fence and it makes it nice to work on that when it is cooler! The one way Tim had it layed out to put up wasn't going to work so refigured it and need to get a few extras now but then the girls should have a place to "call home" in a few days!!

Welcome back Debbie! I remember you from before too. Sure is hard to be away from these ladies!!

CarolSue, Thanks for the compliment. I also have contacts and wear them once in awhile. The thing is I can't read or see close up when I have them on so I need to have reader glasses with me too.. Kind of a pain but sometimes I get in the mood to just deal with it!

Isabella, sounds like you may have a housefull for Easter! My whole family agreed this year to just go to Cracker Barrel after church and have dinner. That way we can all visit and nobody has to do a lot of cooking or clean up! I kind of like that idea but also am relieved that it isn't going to be here this year!! Still not ready for that! But I do look forward to having some family dinners here in the near future--- hopefully we will get a pool this year, not holding my breath but still hoping. So much to do that seems to be higher on the priority list. Who knows? Come June, July and August, it would be nice to have one!

Well, hello to all. I need to get cleaned up and get ready to go get this running done! Have a GREAT DAY!!

Good Morning and Happy Easter! We're going to DD's house since she has a new kitchen. I'll take my camera and post the pics on here or facebook. That was a big project and DH is so glad it's over. Brenda...onto the next project, our 32 chevy. We didn't actually paint the car ourselves, we got estimates on the paint job, the lowest was around $1,800.00. We went with him and he had it for a whole year and charged us $3,000. The jerk! Welcome back Debbie, I recognized your name from last year and wondered what happened to you. KarenMo...I like your new picture too and you look so much younger without your glasses. I see you have a magic bullet, I looked into getting one but too expensive. I purchased one from Walmart for $18.00 (not a magic bullet) and took it back. It didn't hold enough for a large smoothie and the motor smelled like it was over heating after using it only once. I always thought eating/chewing was the way to go for lunch but lately I've been too busy to eat. I peel and slice bananas, put them each in wax paper/zip bags and freeze them. I also put skim milk in one of my ice cube trays and freeze that. When I make my smoothie, I use 6 or 7 frozen milk cubes in the blender and fill it with liquid milk to the 8 oz. Line, add the frozen banana and slim fast. It makes the shake so thick I have to use a spoon and it's really filling. I made the mistake of offering one to DH and now that's all he wants for lunch. Rosey...cute picture of toots and glad your family made it safely home. All those cats and dogs together in the house would drive me batty. You must have the patience of a saint, steve too. Gayle...cute picture of you and Maddie too. I like the zebra trim for your dreaded black scrubs. Carol Sue...I love entertaining, love getting my good dishes and crystal out, love using cloth napkins, love cooking for it. I've spent my time at the card table too even tho we have a large dining room table with 4 leafs in it. Leafs? (Is that what there're called.) We use a simple card table with a cloth over it so it doesn't look like the black sheep table. You're dad says he never sees his kids? That's to be expected, same here with MIL. No sooner do I get home from spending Sunday afternoon with her and she calls and says nobody ever comes to visit her. I'm on 20mg of Lovastatin and take CoQ10 with it, doc okay-ed it. I don't remember why I started taking CoQ10, maybe something Dr. Oz said. As to the Explosive 18 book, you really need to start with book # 1 to appreciate the series. Just wait until Ranger is introduced early on in the books, you'll really like him. Dee...speaking of CoQ10, you mentioned muscle aches, is that what helps with aches? I'll have to google it and see what the main reason for woman taking it. I forget why I take half the supplements in my pill box. Marie...I'm thinking you're over your cold by now and back to being your sassy self. DD and I finally finished our 'Words with Friends' game, that was the longest game in history. She didn't start a new game until this morning, I see she wants me to beat her again. Isabella...you'll be cooking and entertaining as I type this since your family will be here today. I was curious about something, do you have a meatless meal? Hi Donna...what are you doing for Easter? KarenFla...I never used to like Brussels Sprouts until I saw a recipe on the cooking channel, they roasted them with other roots veggies, tossed with olive oil and salt. After trying that recipe, I've made them many times and still amazed how delicious brussel sprouts are. As to your mention of bed skirts, I purchased one for my bed after pulling the carpet. I thought it would prevent the dust bunnies, wrong. I think they grow even more with the dust ruffle. Mary...Last time I was at the dollar store, I saw some vanilla soy milk in a box and purchased it. At the time I was thinking of using it to make my homemade yogurt. But now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it would work. Do you drink it because you're allergic to milk? Hope you find your lost wallet. One time when going to church, I switched my purses to match my outfit and stuck the checkbook in a side invisible zipper pocket. After switching purses, I missed the checkbook and tore the house apart looking for it. I kept looking in the last place I had the checkbook, forgetting about that invisible side pocket. Geeeeeeeeeez, what a dummy. I kept going back to that same darn purse and finally found it. I think I had a pit in my tummy for a whole week, dumb and dummer. DH is starting to complain, he always has the most important things to say to me when I'm on the computer. He's jealous I think. That happen to any of you?
Hi Freda, how's everything?
You all have a wonderful Easter with family and friends today and tomorrow. He is Risen!

The guy is fixing our roof today. He's a younger guy but he has an old man (maybe his father) with him and my dh is out there supervising and helping him move the ladders around. I got a good sleep until I heard them talking and pounding on the roof. I am SO glad I stopped taking the hot flash supplements!! I still have a few HF day and night but they are much much milder and usually over very quickly. I think it was just time and that I was doing more harm than good at this point with the supplements. Yesterday got very busy and today promises to be as well. The sun has come out so it's a good day to get things done for the guy on the roof and me.

I just finished a book by Mary Higgins Clark called Two Little Girls in Blue. I like her books but usually am able to figure them out pretty quickly...but this one kept me guessing about who the main bad guy was. I like that.

Bobbi - No I don't have an allergy to milk, I drink vanilla soy milk because it tastes good. I don't care for it on cereal but I love about anything sweet and creamy and it is one of those things. I drink it alone or in smoothies. I take fish oil (or sometimes flax oil) for my cholesterol/triglicerides. Strange how an oil (fat) helps with that but they say it does. Bot dh and I take about 3000 mgs a day.

Marie - Yes, I'll try ebay. Was hoping someone local would just come over and pick them up.

Karen31 - I had contacts when I was in my 20s, lost my last pair and never replaced them. At that time they weren't so easy to wear and I also think I look better with glasses. But now they'd only be a hassle for me. Not even glasses help me with my up close vision...I have to take my glasses off and just hold it up close to read small print. My eye doctor said there is no more they can do about my presbyopia. However my distant vision problem which I've had since I was about nine years old, they are still able to correct with glasses. Strange as i used to think that would be the vision that would go since it has been a problem for so long. Very thankful it hasn't though. My eye pressure is quite high but so far I am able to pass the field vision test so no dx of glaucoma yet and so far no signs of macular degeneration or diabetic changes although I do have small cataracts.

Debbie - Glad you are back with us!

Hi everyone
getting some rain today. very gray.But warmer.
Making some Dinner Rolls today and scalloped pototoes. Gotta get something going for dessert to.

Karen31 you do look great. Good to see you back here. Your pool sounds awesome. I love to swim and in missouri in june july and august girl i know you need a pool

Bobbi all your dishes and napkins and great cooking sounds so nice. I love all that too. we have no children and no family near so our holidays are pretty quiet but i always try and make them special with a pretty table and yummy meals.

Rosey your home sounds full of LOVE today, im happy for you.

Sold a bike on craigslist today lady coming here soon to pick it up.
Love and Happy Easter to you All.
Brenda

Donna, That is Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing with us!! Have a Happy Easter!

Karen31 Thank you kindly, several look very familiar to me.

Bobb thank you. The good news is when i came back my weight was apx 7 lbs less. But at the rate, ill be here forever.

It sure seem as i get older, this task of losing weight becomes much harder. My mobility is less then it was, my hands/wrists hurt as well as my knees.

But i did wake up this am, for which im very very happy.

Happy Easter Everyone, i have no plans what so ever. No meal planned, and my kids are on vacation. Perhaps ill go shopping in the am.

Im doing well today with my eating, and im very excited about getting going again. Thank YOU all for your support. debbie[/COLOR]