Welcome cleancowgirl ~ jump right in ~ very nice bunch of ladies here.

DeeLee--- so sorry to hear about your DH---will add him to my prayers.

Welcome cleancowgirl! Pull up a chair and grab a cup of your favorite bevarage and join in! Glad to have you with us.

Donna, so sorry to hear about your headache... I know how miserable they can be.. Feel better (((Hugs)))

Well, the trip to OK. went pretty good, except for having to drive through a lot of glasss on the highway! A truck carrying windshields lost them and they shattered!! It happend before we got there but we had no where to go but drive through. A big driving by us at the time threw up chunks of glass and ended up hitting our windshield... got a star on the passenger side! We always have some kind of event happen--- maybe this will be it for this trip! In a nice RV park with wifi but no cable tv!! Grrr! Oh well, for $22 a night you can't complain!

Hope everyone has a good day. I need to start getting somethings done in the trailer and get cleaned up. The son and GF get off work about 3:00 and then we are going to do something.....

Hi Golden Chicks - you are the greatest group. Want to say a few things.

Rosey - You have been through a lot over the years - I didn’t realize how much. I too am glad that you are walking with a cane.

Marie - enjoy your gorking and the solar eclipse. I like knowing there is someone who can answer some computer questions in plain English.

Mary - sympathy on adjusting to your new computer. I admire your tenacity. Sorry you’re not feeling well.

Bobbi - sorry you have to pay for a new pump. It’s not fun spending money on things you can’t even see.

Donna - sympathy on your adjustment to your “finger pad thingie.” I call things “thingies” too! Sorry about your headache.

Gayle - glad the state is gone and that your department did so well.

Karen 31 - have a nice trip.

Carole Sue - I love your Pittsburghese and your DGS’s hilarious comments!

Rie - great NSV! And I think you are right about the testosterone!

Isabella - hope you get a good rest and that your DGS is feeling better.

Karen 3 - I think your programs sound very good. Maybe I should get Netflix. Good luck with your bridge.

Amarantha - welcome! I look forward to getting to know you. I’ve been meaning to get over to the challenge thread.

Clean Cowgirl - (this darn pc keeps self correcting that!) Welcome to you too! You are a very busy woman. Thank you for your very sweet offer. I may take you up on that.

Thanks to everyone for your hugs, thoughts and prayers. Right back atcha!

Just got back from consult with doc. A lot of choices to make but we can take our time. The doc is going to call DH's oncologist and discuss it with her and then get back to us. I wish him luck with that. It's like trying to get in to see Oz - as in the Wizard OF OZ. We will probably consult with other docs too. I think we are both feeling better. We will just take it one step at a time. Hopefully he can have his treatment done locally.

Felt a little better yesterday but last night the UTI symptoms came back with a vengeance. I was hoping to flush it out with fluds but the bug is persistent. The urologist told me the "enviroment" in older women predisposes them plus the diabetes doesn't help. I started taking the antibiotic last night and feel better already this morning. Lynn...don't you get an infection too just cause I did! Just joking as we seem to be so much alike with these things, but I really hope for your sake you don't!

Still tryiing to catch up with housework as I've been very neglectful of my house for several days now..with the computer and not feeling so well. So far all I've done is laundry and other daily stuff. While updating the budget and paying online bills, I've been listening to Third Day. I like their music. Thinking about going to the mall. I have a $25 GC plus a $10 coupon off a $50 purchase at Lands End, but not sure I feel up to shopping. May wait a few days. Dh is busy in the yard as usual. He's such a hard worker. He came in a few min ago for his daily hug..says it gives him energy. :D Gotta love that man! So far no side effects from the new medication.

Clean Cowgirl - Welcome!! We're a friendly (and talkative!) bunch. We do seem to have several nurses here. I'm a retired RN. I admire you with the whole foods plan...that is always my intention but then I'd have to give up my mochas, wouldn't I or at least make them a different way. I use a mocha frappe mix I buy at Costco...probably not a "whole food" right? ;) Marie's would fit the bill better I'm thinking.

Rie - This computer was the easiest to set up, I've ever had! No wires/cables at all except the power cable! It picked up my wi-fi immediately (well the modem sits right next to it so should I guess). I connected my printer and immediately it installed it. Only problem is my printer still isn't workiing so I guess I need a new printer too. I was hoping a good computer might make it work like one tech said was a possiblity but another tech I talked to said he'd never heard of that working. He'd advised getting a new one since I've had mine almost 11 years. Oh, and Rie, I don't have to use the touch feature if I don't want to...it has TWO desktops...one for touch and one the regular Win. On the regular Win desktop I can touch and open things but on the other desktop I can write on it with my finger and attach what they call magnets (shortcuts). GFY on the NSV! I love it when I can see improvement! Right now my biggest NSV is simply not being so focused on food and weight. I feel much more relaxed and confident about it all ...I have only lost 4 pounds but I'm ok with that as long as I know I'm eating right most of the time.


Slmn11 - Thanks for the info on SS. If you find out more, let me know. I'm also going to ask my sister when we visit because I think she was already drawing SS when her dh died (also on SS). I asked her once but forgot what she said. If I survive dh and can draw both of our SS that would really help as my income will drop significantly but seems almost too good to be true. And with the state of our present economy I hope SS can stand the strain of all the older people right now. I'm also concerned about how companies (esp the smaller ones) and the government are going handle the burdens of increased spousal benefits if all the states approve gay marriage. I foresee financial disaster, but hopefully I'm wrong.

Glynn - Chair dancing? Never heard of it except in the old game. Whatever will get us up and moving has to be a good thing. Let us know how you like it. I haven't been to the the gym for several days now due to appts and not feeling so well. I miss it.


Need to go reboot my laundry. You all have a good Saturday.

Good Morning...I skipped church today. Thought it would be a good time to catch up on all your adventures.
Marie... it wasn't the well pump that went out. It was the well tank that was $620.00. We already replaced our well pump a few years ago and that was over $3000.00. (DH was still working and it was no problem paying off.) How are you doing now that the monthly curse if gone? You sure did spring back fast after your surgery, hugs to the fur babies. They want you to stay home. I'm happy to hear the surgery went well for your dear daddy.

Andi...good job on not gaining...hiking is fun for everyone

Isabella...Yup, Church Lady is a good name for you. God bless people like you that give and give and give some more. You do have a good heart.
Karenmo..You did find a great place to park, $22 is wonderful for parking and for the waste station or whatever they call it. We used to camp when Tiffany was small and loved it. The smell of campfire and coffee in the morning was wonderful. I especially loved cooking bacon on the camp stove out side. We did have a cooking stove in the camper but I never used it. Being outside was just too much fun.

Gayle...I wanted to thank you too for the recipe for city chicken. All the frying with fat years ago is so weird, nobody was fat back then. Now we have fat free foods available everywhere and our country is on the chubby side. Go figure?:dizzy:
Rie..I'm glad you're going to start posting again in the Colorado trip. Don't worry about not traveling thru interesting counties. If I'm between towns, I just go to the nearest town and see what's happening. Some times I just make up stories like Buck and Bubba, some hayseeds I met on the road.


Dee...sorry to hear of DH's cancer. I'll keep him/you/family in my prayers. We know how hard it must be for your DH to deal with, but you and family too.
Mary...I was just thinking about you and wonder what you've won so far.:val2: How sweet of your DH to want his daily hugs for energy.:val2:

Carol Sue....I need to run over and give you a hug.:hug:I'll be 67 in a couple of weeks, way past the age of receiving Social Security. I developed Plantar Fasciitis back in 1998 and quit work completely, that was 14 years ago. I've been getting SS for almost 5 years. DH said I'd get all mine and 1/2 of his if he dies first. (Too funny about your 3 yr. old GS, I think we'd all be surprised to hear everyone's voices and accents if the Golden Girls all got together)

Good afternoon GG’s,

It has mostly been a nice weekend. Almost over though. Back to work tomorrow.

I had been thinking about some of my friends who I have lost contact with. My fault ~ I am such a bad procrastinator. I think of them often, but then don’t get beyond the thinking to writing. Anyway, I was trying to find them on Facebook. Facebook makes it so easy to find people, reconnect and keep in touch after. I have recently reconnected with a couple of the ladies from nursing school. I was looking for two ladies who were my roommates (apartment) when I was in college. We kept in touch for a few years, but I guess, moved around and busy with work and kids, communication kind of dwindled. I still haven’t found one, the other I found, but sadly not on Facebook, but her obituary. She passed away last summer at the age of 56. Too young.

I am enjoying some alone time today. Sara and her family and DH went to the coast. I had a couple projects I had been wanting to get done, but hadn’t been able to. So, I stayed home to work on those. Maybe too, feeling a little down at the unexpected news of my friend. I got one project done, need a little help from Corbin and Maddie to finish the other ( is something I am making for Sara ~ their mom).

It is kind of nice to just be alone once in a while.

Hope you all have had a nice weekend.

Take care

Just got home from eating out. We used the free steak dinner I won back in March. Just finally got it a couple weeks ago. Now I've got everything I won in the first 3 mo of the year. I don't even want to talk about how many calories and carbs I got in that one meal and I really didn't even eat that much!! We brought home a lot. That restaurant (Outback) is not a place for people trying to lose weight! I should have looked up the calories before I ate...just didn't think AGAIN...but really if I had I might as well walk out of the restaurant because I couldn't have had anything I wanted. Think it's best I just don't go there again. The good thing...my NSV was that I didn't eat much of what I ordered and I didn't really stuff myself but I still got way too many cals and carbs. Often when I get restaurant food even when I'm stuffed it sets me up to overeat here at home...often within an hour of arriving home...but I don't feel that way now. It's just like, ok, that was a big meal but I've had enough and don't need to eat for a while. The change that has occurred in me recently is not so much about what and how much I eat but more that I'm not so obsessed with eating. Dh went to visit a sick friend so I'm here alone. Going to research printers since I need to buy one. I'm liking my computer pretty well now and think I will keep it.

The talk about soap chips made me think...I used to collect them and put them in an old liquid soap container I kept at my bathroom sink. I'd add hot water and kept the soap going in that container for years! But when the kids came, they'd make fun of it...mom, what's this stuff in here? Finally the plastic container got cracked and I stopped doing it. Another thing I do...since we have traveled quite a lot, and I take home a bar of soap from each place we stay...now I have this huge bag of soap. I add it to mission boxes and giving to the needy etc, but I still have a lot so now I don't buy the nice smelling bath/shower washes I love and am using the bars to use them up faster and save money. It works fine but I do miss the liquid bath washes.

Bobbi - I've only won two small things this month...a Dr Suess book and a tote.

You all have a great Sunday!!

hey.....got one more hour of Doc Martin....phew what a fun weekend!

Bobbi the deer didn't jump over went under or broke thru where ever they found a weak spot. I'll find pics of the deer pens and post! Another fabulous government helpful intervention....ha Be back when doc is doen k3

Hi everyone. hope your weekend was nice. we went to a bq yesterday and another one today. so much fun and i didnt have to cook :D im being lazy now,with 2 dogs and a cat on my lap.ttfn :hug: rosey :wave
graduation pics.Ps i got to see the eclipse. at the bq on the nikiski bluff. we used the hosts welding hood to see it awsome!

Quick note to Bobbi:

I have planted stevia for the last couple of years. I got it in the herb section of the local greenhouse. It grows in a straight stalk with leaves branching off, something like basil. I dry it and use the pulverized leaves but I am not fond of that. However, it is worth growing because I love it in the summer time in my tea. I just make sun tea and throw in the green leaves while it steeps. Really good. It is an annual and needs to be replanted each year.

I think Freda has grown it also. Supposedly, it can winter in the house, too.

Good morning GG's,

About to head out to work. Had to share something funny with you all.

I had taken my cereal bowl to the sink to rinse. I dried my hands on the hand towel and decided that I needed to turn it around to the fresh side. When I did this, something fell ~ clunked on the counter. I didn't see anything, so went on my way doing other stuff. I came back to that area to make some coffee. Still kept looking, because I know I'm not crazy and had heard something fall. Looked on the counter and floor, still could not find anything. Finally, I noticed something in the sink ~ an evil Cadburry Egg. Where on earth did it come from? I sent a text to my DH asking if he was trying to leave it and test me? Or, the thought crossed my mind ~ maybe God was testing me somehow. I had just a few minutes before read my little Daily Bread daily devotional ~ and the topic was doing what is right ~ even though no one is watching ~ LOL. Guess maybe it was a good thing that had been the reading for the day, or I would have inhaled that egg. Also, got an answer from DH and the egg belonged to Maddie. So, I am glad I had read that thing and not eaten that egg and ended up with a disappointed Maddie.

It did give me a chance though to send a scathing text to DH. Telling him finding that egg was like cocaine to a drug addict, and to please keep that stuff out of our house. Also, told him that he doesn't/refuses to understand my struggles, and that I get frustrated with him saying ~ just don't do it. That if it was that easy, that me and the millions like me would not still be struggling. It probably didn't do any good, as he can not see the situation from someone elses point of view.

:wave:Morning all, I'm so far behind here and even father behind at work so I'm going to just do a drive by...

Rie, I'd never heard of wall o water so I looked them up. I bought 12 of them. Now I can get the darn tomato plants out of my bedroom window and outside where it is still frosty every few nights (like tomorrow night).

Deelee, :hug: to you and your DH. I'm so sorry about the bad news.

Gayle, good for you pushing what you need is help, not hindrance with your eating plan. Good job.

Bobbi, holy smokes, if we had repair bills like you do, we'd be broke. DH replaced your well tank for under 100 bucks and he said it was easy.

:wave: to everyone I missed. I know I missed most of you. BTW, the eclipse was cool for the part I saw. Just short of the full ring of fire, a big nasty black cloud rolled through. Long enough to cover the full ring. But is was amazing watching the moon cover up the sun. DH and I watched with our funky glasses and sipped on Strawberry Daiquiris. Quite a nice way to spend the evening.
Marie

I cannot seem to get too far ahead. I do exercise almost every day. But I turn around and eat sweet treats and undo what good I have done. I have been in this mode for way too long. I bought fresh fruit and veggies yesterday. They look ok but the cake looks better. How can I take steps to motivate myself? Thanks.

Hi everyone. a quick check in to see what everyones doing. its raining here but we need it. nothing on my agenda today. i have a pot of 15 bean soup simmering. Cindygail my best advice that works for me is dont bring it into the house like cake. if its not there you cant eat it.;) ttfn rosey :wave:

Still not feeling quite good enough for exercise plus didn't get enough sleep ...at least that was my excuse, so dh went to the gym alone. The good news is my weight didn't change much with yesterday's big meal. It is still stable..up a few ounces, down a few ounces each day. I'm planning to go shopping for a new printer today Depends on how I feel. Also want to continue to catch up with my housework. Our 12 year old gs is coming Thurs and so want the house clean so I can goof off more while he is here.

Welcome Cindy_Gail - What you describe has been me so often. I had a big eating day yesterday not so much because I ate a lot but I ate at a restaurant that serves extremely high cal foods. I'm doing ok now but my snacking (eve mostly) has always been my downfall. I love the sweets too. My suggestion is to not keep them in the house, and if you want one just buy one serving for yourself so you'll be limited at least. That's what we do and it helps. When we go to New Seasons market, if dh goes with me he always wants to buy a little container with one large piece of pineapple upside down cake. We just buy the one and split it. Other than that the only thing that helps me is to keep my eye on where I want to be each day. I have set my calorie limit and my carb limit and try to stay within them. I know I will never be perfect but if I do it most of the time, that should help.

Marie - I forgot about the eclipse and missed it! Glad you and your dh enjoyed watching it. The last eclipse I watched was in Casa Grande, AZ.

Glynne - Funny about the egg! I love the peanut butter ones and I must admit I usually buy myself one at Easter time. Sometimes get one for my dh too and I tell him to eat it, don't let it lay around as I might be tempted. LOL BTW, my dh uses the Daily Bread devotionals for his personal devotional time too and seems to get a lot out of them.

Rie - interesting about growing Stevia! I never thought of doing that. I rarely use it but would like to. Just have so much Splenda on hand and I use it so seldom that it seems to never run out. I don't for a minute believe it's good for me though! I didn't gain from the restaurant meal so I feel ok about it. I remembered it was high calorie from a previous visit and tried to eat carefully yet still enjoy it, but it's ridiculous for a restaurant to serve such extremely high calorie food and we won't go back there again. I know other restaurants where I can do much better.

ETA: I finally got my sig reset to show my present weight. Pretty much starting all over again, but I have lost 4-5 lbs (depending on the day) since about the 25th of April. I've been staying 165.8 to 166.4. Today was 166.2. Not bad after that big meal yesterday!

Deelee, so sorry to hear of the news about thy DH. Hugs to both o' ye!

Gayle - DH tells me the same thing. He likes sweets and always has them in the house. He doesn't feel that he should have to give them up because I can't have them. I decided a long time ago, he's right. I am faced with things I shouldn't eat everywhere, not just at home. At restaurants, at friends homes, at family gatherings and other social functions. It's my job to decide not to eat them. I don't want to live the rest of my life hiding in my room so I am not tempted by food. So I am working very hard at learning how to resist it. Occasionally I give in and eat it, but I do find that I am getting better and better at passing it up. I don't think your DH is trying to be mean. He just wants you to learn to fight temptation.

Rie - It was on the news today that the pkgs of chopped onion are on recall because of salmonella, as well as a lot of bagged produce. I have been known to buy bagged salad and dh would never eat it. It's been on recall so often that I am beginning to be afraid to buy it. DH just like iceburg lettuce in his salad, but I like all the different varieties. If I buy all the kinds I like, I end up with so much salad I could never eat it all before it goes bad. Even in one restaurant we go to I saw them making the salads and they were dumping it out of a bag. It's scary. The onions, we buy bags of onions and they go bad on us, but you can buy one onion if you don't use a lot of onions.

Bobbi - You don't look your age, and you are so active and able to do so many things! I never hear you mention a medical problem. So I thought you were a youngster. LOL

Hello Gals. What a weekend with family and friends. I'm stuffed and not with good things and my frig freezer is filled with ice cream. Gotta get that stuff hidden in the downstairs freezer, lol. I'm all good, though. I won't get on the scales until close to the end of the week when, hopefully, all this junk is out of my system and I'm back on track. Our gs was not in party mode until this morning when he was feeling much better. He still won't give me a kiss or hug and is refusing to have his picture taken. hahahaha. Well, we did get pictures much to his chagrin, and he did get hugs and kisses, lol. Poor little guy did pretty well for not feeling too good. His other grandmother was here too and she's always worrying when he doesn't eat when he's sick. I figure if he's sick and won't eat leave him alone until he's feeling better.

Dee, so sorry about your DH. I'll keep you both in my prayers and hope the doctors will work together to get him all better again.

I need to get out in my yard and get my flower beds dug out of the weeds. They have been neglected for several years and look like the enchanted forest from sleeping beauty. Today would have been a good day as it's not too warm but I'm dead beat from the weekend. Tomorrow might be a better day as DH will be back to work and I can muddle about at my own pace but it's going to be warmer. I'll have to get at it early on in the morning. For me, this is my favourite time of year. The leaves have just come out on the trees and they are that lovely spring green and still fragile looking. The grass is lush green and flowers and plants are just starting to look like real plants. The rhubarb is growing by leaps and bounds over night and the weather is not hot. I feel like Snoopy when he dances.

Someone asked if it was Victoria Day weekend in Canada, and it was. It's a big weekend in Canada and I think Newfoundlanders really enjoy it the most, lol. For many of us it is the start of the summer camping season. We don't have a camper and used to tent camp with the kids when we were younger. Now, I can see myself stuck in the tent, on an air mattress, struggling to get on my feet and frozen to the bone. Funny, I didn't mind that even 10 years ago. Now, I want a bed off the ground. I still wouldn't mind tenting but a camper has much more appeal.

This afternoon I had a 3 hour nap. I never nap! I left dinner out on the table for DH and fell into a deep sleep. I think I remember him rummaging around but it's a distant hazy memory. Anyway, when I woke up the dinner was gone and the left overs were in the frig. Now, I hope I'll sleep tonight.

I've read all the posts and enjoy all the chatter and information. There are just some days that a blanket hug and acknowledgement is the best I can do. :D You know what I mean.

Have a great day. Love you all.

Carol Sue...:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:What a nice thing to say, thank you. I'm very healthy and stay active. I have the occasional headache but that's it. We live out in the country on an acreage and have a huge yard/garden to take care of. (many flower gardens too). When late summer comes around I freeze most of our vegetables, make jam with all the grapes, make/freeze apples, apricots, plums and cherries. Maybe eating all the home grown food keeps us healthy, no preservatives.

Good Morning GG's,

So much catching up to do. I did come on and read but didn't have time to answer, just want to make sure everyone is ok.

Dee, Prayers for you and DD. Lots more options out there than there used to be.

Rie, Yes, you are nice! I don't plant stevia, it must have been one of the others. Actually, I don't care for it. I thought your knee was feeling better. Do you wear a knee brace? Have you tried the pain patches.

Cowgirl, Welcome. I'm another one of the nurses here. This is a very interesting group, so make yourself at home.

Rosie, Your daughter looks so much like you. I know you were so proud of your grandson. And smart and handsome.

Bobbi, Isn't that just the way it goes. About the time you get your head above water, there's something else popping up. Always expenses you don't think about.

Karen, We used to go tent camping, but those days are long gone. No sleeping on the ground for me any more, thank you! I'm not sure I could walk, if I could get up. But a nice RV? Maybe....

Gail, So sorry to hear that you found your friend, but to find that she was gone. Just shows us how precious life is and to take advantage of every oporturinity to keep n touch.

Isabella, You must have been exhaused to take a 3 hour nap! Sometimes the body just tells us to slow down for awhile.

Jess, Rainstorms used to help me sleep, but I wake up with a headache. But I still love to hear rain on a tin roof. My sister just built a new house and got a tin roof. I can't wait to visit and i'm going to pray for rain at least one night. Not something I usually do when I'm on vacation.

Z, I know you're out there lying on the beach, sipping wine and enjoying your freedome.

Gayle, You go girl! I'm proud of you for asking DH to help you instead of making more temptations.

Carol Sue, I agree with you. There is always going to be food around that I don't want to have. I started to write "can't have". But I can have anything I want, I just choose not too. that said, there are a few things that I an't say no to and I don't want them in the house. DH knows he's in trouble if he brings fritoes home. But there are always sweets here, because DH loves them. Me too, actually, but I can say no to most of them. I don't buy the bagged lettuce because it goes bad so quickly. Something got to be wrong there. And eggs are just too easy to boil.

Marie, My DH is a mechanic and he fixes most things around the house too. I guess i'm amazed at how much things cost to fix because we seldom have anything that DH can't do himself.

CindyGail, Same thing most of the others have said. If you can't resist it, don't bring it home. Set your self up for success not failure.

Lots to do today, so I better go start doing it. Have a great day ladies,

Freda

Good morrow, Golden Girls! I do read this thread and apologies for such short answers, have only been around this support group a short time and hope to get to know more and more of ye as time goes.

CindyGail, I so resonate with thy dilemma as I also feel sometimes that I can't seem to get far ahead without circling back. That's when I start looking over all my data and accomplishments for the past few decades and I see the true pattern that I DO make progress and that I HAVE lost more than 100 pounds and kept it off for decades (struggling now and then with regains).

Gayle, good for you for dealing with that Cadbury Egg in a sensible fashion and standing up for yourself.

Cadbury Eggs are EVIL! If I didn't live in a hot climate where they melt walking out of the store, I'd eat them, but happily their messiness saves me. When I lived in the midwest I ate more of them lol.

To all, have a great day!

OOPS, forgot to mention the social security issues I've been reading. My SIL just started drawing SS. She has been married 5 times. She was told that she had to draw her SS and a portion of 1 husband, the one that made the most. It was her first husband, that she really hates. At first she refused but her daughter (of the first husband) talked her into it. She didn't follow my advice to take it because he never gave her anything but grief while they were together and that would "get back at him".

Good morning GG's,

One day down ~ 3 more to go. There was a giant bucket of salty type snacky stuff on the break room table. The words of wisdom of several of you came to mind ~ one that sticks out (sorry I can not remember which one of you said it) that unless it was going to be something awesome, it wasn't worth it. I was able to leave it alone. It looked like a bucket of junk. Funny ~ a lot of that stuff looks good and your mouth waters for it, then it is a disappointment. Hope I can be as strong if sweets appear ~ they are my downfall.

Gonna play one of those games ~ don't know if it will help. Gonna give myself one of these :flow1: for every day that I succeed in leaving the junk alone.

I feel pretty good this morning. I am trying to think in my mind that eating that sugar and junk is maybe similar to a hangover. My daughter sometimes drinks too much and has one the next day. I think ~ why would a person do that to themselves, but that is probably similar to what I am doing to myself by eating that junk.

Ok, gotta get ready for work. Hope you all have a good day.

Take care

Days of no junk ~ :flow1:

Freda ~ I'm glad your sister listened to her daughter and agreed to take the portion of #1 husband. To not take it would be like "cutting off her nose to spite her face" as my mom used to say. In these hard times, I'm glad she chose the option that would give her the most money ~ it might come in handy.

Freda - I can understand your SIL's reluctance to take the SS from the husband she hated, because her pride didn't want her to ever feel that she needed anything from him. I always said I would live in a homeless shelter before I would accept help from a family member I didn't get along with. Luckily I never had to eat those words.

Gayle - Good for you on passing up the salty snacks! Each time you do that you will get stronger. I always tell myself that it's not going to taste as good as it does in my imagination. Sometimes it works, sometimes not! I always think to myself, although I love bread, if I had a gluten allergy it would be unfair for me to expect my family to go without bread, so I try to apply that same attitude toward the snacks.

Isabella - Friends of our used to have a tent trailer when their kids were young. They would take it to a campground. It was more economical than an RV, but they didn't have to be on the ground. I don't really know what they had inside to sleep on, but it was probably air mattresses.

I have the same dilemma as you with the overgrown flower beds. I usually clean them up every spring and add mulch. They are all perienniels so I don't have to plant. Last year I had so many medical issues that I never got around to it and it looks like a jungle. Some of the weeds are larger than the flowers and DH doesn't know which are weeds and which are periennials. We bought red mulch, but before we put it down we have to dig up the whole flower beds and I will separate the weeds from the flowers and then replant the flowers. These things reseed themselves, so I have some growing where they're not supposed to be. Also, I want to get rid of the gladiolias because they get so high and top heavy they fall over and look terrible. Two years ago I dug them up and gave them to a woman at work, but they grew back anyway! LOL I guess I didn't get all the bulbs. They just don't want to go away. Maybe I will leave them there, and when they flower I will cut them and put them in a vase. Then I'll have to see how my allergies react to having them in the house.

Bobbi - We usually only plant tomatoes. Since I have been trying new foods, I am planting swiss chard and collard greens to see what they will do. I also wanted some summer yellow squash, but at the plant place I bought the wrong thing and I'm going to end up with scallopini squash. I look them up on the internet and they are green and yellow, sort of flat and star shaped. They look like gourds. But I did find a recipe for them that I will try if they grow. You slice them in half crosswise and stuff them with a mixture of cheese and breadcrumbs and bake them. I will try it. If not, I only wasted $2.49, nothing I've never done before. I would love to grow all kinds of things, but for the most part, dh wouldn't eat them so why bother. I'll never change him.

Hello Gals. I had great plans for the garden today and I did make it out there but not as early as I wanted. I fell back to sleep after DH got up and never woke up until 8 o'clock so it was around 9 before I made my appearance outside. I hung up a line of clothes first and then DH was home and helped dig up the peonies and transplant them in another area. I know it's almost too late or the wrong season but it had to be done. If they die I'll get more or maybe not. He mowed down the rest of the plants by the house as I didn't want them and tomorrow or sometime soon he's going to dig everything up and I'm going to put down landscape material and cover it over with crushed rock. I'll leave a narrow boarder to plant a few annuals. I have more to do by the fence. Oh my, what a tangle over there! I found my Irises and cleaned them out a bit but they need more work. I have other plants there that are completely covered in but I'll find them. We only worked for 1 1/2 hours as its hot today, over 30 degrees C (over 80 F). I think I burned my eyes as they were stinging for about 2 hours after we came in. I dug out my sunglasses and will wear them from now on. If we can get in an hour or so every fine day we'll have everything done by June. It's supposed to rain tomorrow but if it isn't in the morning I'll get more done. I hope removing the plants by the house will cut down on the earwig problem this year.

Cindy Gail, get rid of those treats! :D I can't have potato chips in the house or I'm like a maniac. They are my crack cocaine. The only way I'll bring them in the house is if we are having a large group of people who will eat them or occasionally I'll buy DH and myself each a small personal sized bag. I can't even buy a box or bag of the small sized chips to dole out because I'll sit down and open every bag and eat them all in one sitting. So clear out the cake and cookies and only bring them in the house when you know they will be eaten by more than you.

Rosey, lovely pictures of your GS's grad. You must have been very proud grandparents. And, yes as someone mentioned, your daughter is very much like you. Two pretty women.

Mary, 4-5 pounds in a month is really good. If we could do that every month we'd lose around 60 pounds in a year.

Freda, I must have been exhausted, for sure as I never have a nap. Hope you're having a good day and getting lots done.

Amarantha2, LOL about the sticky eggs. I don't like the Cadbury eggs but I know what you mean about messy, sticky chocolate.

Gayle, good for you not succumbing to that bucket of salty treats. I don't know if I'd have had as much will power because I'm all about the salty treats. I could leave the candy. I love the idea of :flow1: for each day treat free.

Carol Sue, those tent trailers are quite comfortable. The sides that stick out hold the platform for a sponge mattress which is a sight bit more comfortable than an air mattress flat on the ground. They also have a kitchen table and a stove. Friends of ours had one, too.

How many of you remember pin curls? You know how you twist a strand of hair around your finger and then pin it in place with a couple of bobby pins. Ha, ha. I'm sitting here with my hair done up in pin curls just for the heck of it. I remember my mother and aunt doing their hair that way and they'd do mine too, but I was very young. I stumbled across pin curls on youtube a few days ago and thought I'd take a stab at it. As it's a nice hot breezy day and I'd just washed my hair I took the plunge and did the curls. I look just like I remember my mom looked with the pins in her hair.

http://iloapp.retroella.se/blog/blog...1298881461.jpg

Well, I'll catch you all later. Hugs to all of you. Hope your day is as pleasant as mine.

Hello may golden girls. I would love to join in your group. I'm 51 and started my dieting adventure on February 14. I have about 60 more lbs to lose. Maybe more. Just going to see when I get there.

Not much going on here. dh went to his Tai Chi class but I stayed home again. Wanted to get all the rest and healing in I can before our gs comes. Am going grocery shopping in a little bit and otherwise just puttering around doing this and that. I did well on calories and carbs yesterday and my weight was down a teensy bit today but my bs was up. If it's not one thing it's another. LOL

CajunLady - Welome!!

Retiredone - Sounds like you're hard at work at the gardening. We bought some more potting soil yesterday and dh plans to fill the pots on our patio. They looked so nice last year. Hope your eyes are ok now. I have chronic dry eye and boy that can hurt sometimes, esp at night. Yes I remember pin curls. I don't do anything to my hair anymore...so freeing...I remember working so hard at my hair in my younger years. Now I'm totally wash and wear!

Glynne- GFY in turning down the "junk"! It's just not worth it usually. I agree they can look good but then be disappointing and I try to remember that.

Slmn11/Glynne - I was the same way about my dh. He would buy sweets and I'd tell him it wasn't fair to eat in front of me. He'd try to sneak them for a while but then soon it'd be the same again. He'd say just say no or eat only a little, but it seemed like I couldn't do that. Then one day I realized he had a right to eat what he wanted in his own home and I would run into temptation every where so I was the one who had to change. I still ask him to please only buy one serving of most things but sometimes he doesn't and now that I know I'm in control and not food it doesn't bother me. For me it's been a change of mindset that's made the difference. Took me a long time to get where I am now and I just pray everyday to continue to be this way. I've messed up so many times on diets but I feel very good right now...I just take it one day at a time.

Dee - I'm sorry to hear about your dh...I hope things work out ok. I'm sure it must be difficult to go through esp since he's had problems before. We are here if you need to vent now and then.

Well, I am sitting here waiting for the dryer to call me so thought that I would share a couple pics from our weekend. There is one of my hubby and me and one of our son and his girlfriend. We hadn't met her before and she seems to be pretty nice. They seem happy and that is a good thing! Didn't do much except just visit and go to dinner both Saturday and Sunday. Playing catch up today with laundry and some housework-- how can furniture get so dusty even when no one is here!!!

Have a good day!!

Karen I was wondering..is this the son that used to drive you crazy? If so, perhaps he's finally gotten himself straightened out? It is good when we see our children happy and more settled.

Good evening GG’s,

Just some thoughts about the different comments about my DH and the snacking/sweets.

He tries to help as best he can and is open to suggestions. I don’t expect him to not eat any of those things just because I am trying to stay away from that stuff. He doesn’t eat in front of me. I have asked him to hide the stuff that is hard for me to resist. I also asked him to please not dispose of the empty wrappers in the trash in the kitchen where I would see it. (That makes me crave it.) He has done what I have asked. Unfortunatly, I accidentally came across the hiding place of the goodies one day. I wasn’t looking for it, I was looking for a plastic magazine rack and knew he had some empty ones stored in the compartment under the coffee table in his TV room. Mostly, I leave it alone, but on occasion when I am having one of those times where I am wanting something so bad it is like needing a “fix”, I have gotten into the stuff. I don’t know whether he realizes it or not. If he does, he hasn’t said anything. I probably should confess and ask him to find a better spot. I want to, but feel so stupid to have to admit that I have gotten into the stuff after he has tried to help me. Don’t want to risk getting an eye roll. :rolleyes:

Two days down ~ two to go.

The day is close enough to being over ~ :flow1: :flow1: = two days of not eating junk

Hope you all are having a nice evening.

Take care