Hi, just jumping in before I shut down my laptop.

I was reading about the casseroles with the cream soups. Years ago I worked with a single dad who told me he was having "Chop Slop" for dinner so of course I had to ask. It was pork chops in the slow cooker with a can of cream of celery soup. I played with the recipe and make it several times as my kids were at home, their favorite was chicken breasts with broccoli cheddar soup. Too bad your hubbys dont' like casseroles, it is such an easy meal. My boyfriend loves sweets and really like desserts, I am not a sweets eater but he is really happy with the mug cakes you cook in the microwave-as long as I have either vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to top them with.

We are on track to get the storm tomorrow night into Monday morning. Anywhere from 6-12 inches possible, but may change to an icy mix. Hoping we don't have widespread outages. In the ice storm of 08, I had no power for 12 days, I was able to buy a generator after day 2 and we jury rigged it up to back feed the house. Where I live the power comes up over the mountains through the woods so if branches or trees take down the wires it was a long time getting restored since we are a very small town. After dragging out the generator during a blizzard one night, I said enough is enough and had a standby installed, Now if the power goes out I just wait 30 seconds and the generator comes on and I am back in business. I am not getting any younger and I knew a day would come when I couldn't pull start the old one.

Momtopands- so sorry to hear you also tested positive, your symptoms sound like mine. Today is day 7, fatigue and sore throat are my biggest issues. I have an herbal remedy I make and have been taking that has helped a lot. It is a tincture made with plantain-the kind that grows in your yard, not the funny banana like fruits.


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Adrienne, we were posting at the same time so I missed that you tested positive, too! This is getting scary now. I hope it stays mild and your daughter, too. There was only one time in my life I was too sick to eat, and that was when I had pneumonia. I always eat "to keep my strength up.". I mask all the time. I am one of the very few around here but it did increase with Omicron. I stopped wearing makeup when we started wearing masks and now its easier to just wear a mask.



Ann, Trish's husband will eat the chops with soup in the slow cooker and tomorrow I will find out if mine will. I have some celery soup so I might try that instead of chicken. That's not quite a casserole. My casseroles have noodles or rice in them along with vegetables. The whole meal in one scoop. The chicken breast with broccoli soup would be in that category. There are some men who will eat whatever you put in front of them. Why didn't I marry one of them? It is hard when you are a foodie who wants to try everything and he's not. Today I was watching " Pattie's Mexican Kitchen" and thought I would like to go to a Mexican restaurant 10 times and try something different each time. That will never happen!

I'm getting hungry but I refuse to eat. I want my 1 lb bump up gone tomorrow.

Adrienne Sorry you tested positive. Hope you and your daughter will have a mild case.

I think not eating a casserole is a man thing. I've had three hubbies and the 1st one would eat just about anything. The second would eat just about anything except casseroles.

I've been making diet desserts for DH and we both have been eating it every day, but DH told me today his blood sugar is too high. He doesn't want me to make any more of them. I threw out what we had left. We will start eating less starchy carbs. It will help me a lot because it is much easier when we both are doing it. Kept my eating window between 8 hrs, but too many carbs. Tomorrow will be better.

Hi all, as expected I shed the fluid retention and weighed a pound lighter at 158 today after eating yesterday. I was not really worried and don't usually weigh after my eating days, but I am glad I checked.
Youngest DD was visiting oldest DD and they came over for a bit in the evening. We did a video birthday card for a little friend (dancing and lip syncing to Stevie Wonder's Birthday Song) and had a nice visit. We will always wonder if the older one had Covid in December, She had 3 rapid tests all negative, and was not around anyone who was sick or got sick other than her. But it happened after a group party for her work and we wonder if she got it from someone who was asymptomatic as they were all vaccinated. If it was a cold, she also has no idea where that came from. OH well. It seems we now know so many who have it or are just getting over it. Our health system is almost overwhelmed and DH has dental surgery booked, or I would consider trying to get it now.
Have also been dealing with headaches.
Adrienne, sorry you have Covid now as well, but this seems to be a way for you to consider fasting, it obviously works. If you eat carefully with recovery, I am sure you won't rebound too badly.
We will have some extremes of weather today, with the temperatures going from -21 up to near freezing by this afternoon, and a major snow dump overnight. We will see if the kids get back to online learning tomorrow or if there will be a snow day, LOL.
I can understand why a light freeze can have a strong effect on a place like Georgia. I can manage our weather as long as I am prepared. I always have good winter boots, a range of coats and jackets for different temperatures, good gloves and mitts as toques and scarves etc. I have snow tires on my car, and always have food on hand in case we get snowed in. We are ready for winter. Its not worth it to do all that if you are in a warm climate where this happens only once every year or two, or even less frequently. I guess the supplies help for being ready for other weather extremes, like hurricanes or flooding rains etc.

Have a nice Sunday everyone. Get well soon to our friends with Covid.

Good morning,

fifteen below zero here, just awful, but at least the wind has died down. Only supposed to hit a high of 20, then the storm moves in. I need to bundle up and take my veggie scraps out to the compost bin. It is only a 150 feet from the house but I haven't felt up to it all week, no choice now as the container is full.

This morning I realized I can't smell anything, practically had my head inside the coffee can, then started checking some new candles, can't smell a thing. Adrienne, I am having similar symptoms to you, my entire mouth, throat, and nasal passages feel incredibly dry and sore. I feel like I have overdosed on decongestant but I haven't taken any commercial medications. Today is my 8th day of symptoms, I am hoping it ends soon.

I am almost out of cream for my coffee so I either will have to use the powdered stuff or switch to tea. My daughter lives 30 miles away and has offered to drop off anything I need. I just hate to ask her to go out of her way. She is a nurse and works 10p to 6a and needs to get rest, she is also immune compromised and is still going through chemo. She has enough on her plate. Otis has plenty of his prescription dog food here so I can make do as long as I have to. My boyfriend lives 70 miles away in Vermont, he would come if I needed anything, and has said he would come down and snow blow the driveway so I would not have to do it. I just hate the thought of someone coming here and I can't hug them. I am also independent and hate to ask for help or admit that I need it.

Today is going to be a lot like the last week, just sitting around. I will try to get on my bike before lunch. I have a huge pile of paperwork I need to file, as well as go back through old stuff and toss.

The pork chops are in the slow cooker. I decided on Celery Soup. I browned then lightly in olive oil first just to add some color and seal in the juices. We'll see how they turn out. By dinnertime it will be too late to go out to eat if they don't turn out good. They will at least be edible.

I slept long but not good. Maybe I should stop wearing my Fitbit to bed.

I hope Ann, Adrienne and Mad all feel better. Mad, it doesn't sound like your daughter has covid. One of those tests would have showed it. I'm surprised that DH and I have dodged the bullet so far . The only place we go is the casino and we stay away from others mostly. Sometimes its unavoidable. I do have my chronic cough from 20 years ago so its surprising that they don't stay away from me!

I thought stores would be crowded today but maybe they did all that yesterday. DH went out to get gas and stopped at the local grocery store. Both the gas station and the grocery store were empty. Sunday is usually a very busy day at the grocery store. I'm not sure when the snow is supposed to start but right now the sky is clear.

Trish, I am glad your DH let you know his blood sugar is up. The diet desserts are probably ok occasionally but not daily.

My pork chops are done already. I put them on at 9:30, one hour on high then low. They are small boneless loin chops. I stuck a fork in one and it broke off. I don't want them to overcook so we will be eating early. I never know the right time for things.

Someone in NC says they have 6 " already. It started snowing in Atlanta. Ours is due to start around 5.

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I never made cauliflower rice before but I had a bag in the freezer that I bought to try. DH came into the kitchen and asked what I was making. I said cauliflower rice but I don't think he was paying attention. I put some of the sauce from the pork chops on mine but he put his on his plate plain. I'm waiting for him to ask me what it is!

I liked the pork chops cooked that way. You could cut them with your fork. I liked the celery soup because it was good over the cauliflower rice. I will buy the cauliflower rice again. It didn't really taste like cauliflower but my brain told me I was eating rice. It will be much better for my blood sugar . DH ate it but he's on the phone with his brother so I'll have to ask him how he liked it. I will buy it for me even if he didn't like it. I think pork chops in the slow cooker will stay on my menu. . Maybe i will try chicken tenderloins, too. I also had baby carrots in the slow cooker and microwaved broccoli that DH requested.

Hope you who are sick will feel better soon. I read online our county isn't on the list for the big numbers of covid cases which is amazing since we are a big county. I notice every time I go to the local store a lot of people are getting vaxxed. Don't know if that is the reason or not. It seems that people here are experiencing no taste and/or smell. I need to lose both for a while but thankful I haven't.

Carol Sue I’m glad you and DH haven’t gotten it. Like you, we don’t go out a whole lot and even though we don’t wear a mask unless we are in a place that requires it, most people around us still don’t get too close to each other. Stores have distance marked in pharmacy and checkout areas again. It seems that most of the people who are masked are people who haven’t been vaxxed or have been exposed.

After posting last night, I finished tracking my food on MFP for yesterday and calories were 1265. I think I must be eating the amount of carbs to maintain because weight has been 185 lbs for 4 days. FBG was 100 today so definitely time to get losing weight again. I don't like the way I have been feeling eating the way I have been because it made me feel bloated. So back OP lower carb plan again, but not extremely low.

I was going to cook a beef roast, but we decided that was more than we want after feeling so bloated yesterday. We will have breakfast for dinner. After watching a YouTube video explaining what happens when we eat oatmeal, l we decided to eat it for our evening meal. In fact, we both need to be eating more of it because of the health benefits are so great. I knew Mama ate it to keep her cholesterol down, but I didn’t know that it helps lower triglycerides too. Very healthy food for diabetics. Calories planned today is less than 1200 and net carbs 83 and a 2MAD with a 4 hr eating window.

Have a nice day everybody and stay warm and safe.

good afternoon
up to a balmy 25 here and still sunny. I got out side and took care of compost, filled bird feeder and found a finch feeder in the barn and filled it with thistle. That wore me out.

I have my 'breakfast' in the oven. I do a bit of IF so my first meal is anywhere from 11-2 pm most days. I had defrosted a pork chop so I seasoned it with a mix I bought for chicken and pork, and have it baking now. I steamed some broccoli and put in baking dish with cheese, a little butter and some zero carb bread crumbs. This will be a hearty meal for about 400 calories, and 1.5 grams of carbs. This should keep me filled all day. I do have Atkins bars and shakes I can grab if I need a little something later. I tested FBS this after noon and it was 86, more like what I think it should be after a 18 hour fast.

I guess I must be feeling better because I have been thinking how good a vodka and diet tonic would taste right about now.

Carol, I love cauliflower rice. I heat up some olive oil in a skilled and add some minced garlic, then the cauliflower. stir , I add a little water, cover and cook 10-15 mins stirring occasionally When I take it off the heat I stir in about a quarter cup of grated parmesan and serve. Gosh I eat a whole bag my myself sometimes.

Ann, I have been really enjoying cauliflower with parmesan cheese but now that I've tried the cauliflower rice I think I like that better. I know I could eat a whole bag, too!

I'm starting to get hungry again since dinner was so early but I don't want to eat. I have a small container of a combination of cauliflower rice, 2 baby carrots, 2 pork chops and the sauce over all, topped with broccoli florettes. Tomorrows lunch. Maybe some tea would hold me over.

So Trish, what did the video tell you about oatmeal? Do you still drink the protein shakes?

It is snowing hard now. No cars out on the road. Many people are home watching football.

Carol Sue, I can't remember everything it said but I was impressed that it lowers bp, bs protects us from asthma I looked it up online and will share a link for those who want to read it. No, I haven't been using the protein drinks. I think that is because the weather is too cool for shakes. May get back to those in the springtime.

Link is Benefits of eating oatmeal every day - Search (bing.com)

Horrible sleep. I give up.

Trish, I saw some of those last night but I thought you said it was a video. I'll look at that later. Thanks! The thing is, I heard before that it helps with blood sugar and blood pressure. But when I was eating it daily I didnt experience any changes. I only eat it in the winter a few days a week, not daily.

We only got 4 inches overnight and I thought that was it but now its starting again . DH has the police scanner on and on the news they said the roads are terrible. I'm so glad we have nowhere to go today. Step daughter probably won't go to wrk today. There won't be any customers. Their driveway is terrible. A long hill. Her DH has a plow, but he had to go to work overnight because part of his job is to plow the parking lot. He wont be home until 4 pm. One thing I kept in mind when we bought our house was how will we get out of the driveway if it snows. I would not look at any houses that had a hilly driveway.

I think we will be eating ravioli today.

Good morning,

Started snowing around 1 am and still going strong. I had 6 inches when I got up at 7 and we have wind with 45 mph gusts. Total whiteout. Supposed to stop around 10 and get a bit of ice, but I see nothing but heavy snow. I am going to bundle up and try to snowblow the driveway and a path for the oil man. I just hate anything blowing in my face, I can wear a ski mask but it doesn't help the eyes. I need to move the 8-10 we have before it gets wet, then it is like trying to move cow poo.

Feeling much better today. just a bit of sniffles. I have to be symptom free for 24 hours to go to dog class tomorrow. I really hate to miss another one. This is a tricks class and it is so much fun. Everyone is masked and we are all at least 12 feet apart.

I am going to dig out my winter wear and get this done, if I put it off, I am going to be sorry.

Hi all> 157 today after my fast. I am thinking of extending it to 46 hours and just doing OMAD today. I found some chicken in the freezer so we can have that, will make Butter Chicken tonight. I also like cauliflower rice, but have to be careful of the "dosage". Even with taking Beano, it gives me gas and cramps if I have too much. I love all the cruciferous veggies, but with the low FODMAP elimination diet I did 4 years ago, I discovered my gut sensitivities to these veggies. I take Beano digestive enzymes when I eat them, but I still get some griping.
We got more than the 6 inches that we expected here. Schools are closed, so the first day back to in-person learning for the kids has been cancelled. Some silly folks tried to drive before the plows are done their work, so digging out will go on all day. We waited until now, and DH is out with the Subaru, which has high clearance and great traction, all wheel drive etc. One of the reasons we kept it.
He got to his periodontal appointment without a problem, since they made it in he did not want to cancel if he could go safely. By the time he went, the major roads had been plowed so he was fine.
The dog loved jumping through the snow on his walk. This was a shorter walk, because I was not so thrilled to be trudging through it. Its still snowing here. We are on the edge of the heaving snow, and to the east of us, they are getting 1.5-2 feet or even more. Apparently blizzard conditions are going on to the east as well, and we don't have to deal with that at least.
I do love winter and will break out the skiis and snow shoes for the afternoon walk. LOL
Well, that was nice to talk about weather and not covid for a change, but Ann and Adrienne, rest assured we are thinking positive thoughts. Ann, sounds like you are doing better, that's great. I hope the same for Adrienne. I am sure I will get it sooner or later, and am not looking forward to it.
Hope everyone does well this week. Stay well and safe friends.

Mad, I am really thinking positive, that neither I or DH will get it. I hope you and DH and Trish and DH don't either.

Ann, I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better. Be careful digging out. We got 4" overnight and then it started again this morning and gave us a couple more. Our street had been plowed twice but it's not down to bare cement yet. I don't know if more is coming or not.

Adrienne, I hope you and daughter are OK. All my people here are recovered,

I ate my leftovers from yesterday and shared the pork chops with the dog. He liked them! It was better today than yesterday.