HELLO LADIES ~ the weather was very enjoyable today: we had sun on and off; nice temps with a light breeze to keep it that way (comfortably cool). However, they are predicting that things are gonna heat up for the rest of the week.

Well, today was as busy as yesterday was restful. Got lots of exercise in today getting things ready for next week. We are renting a cottage for my SIS and BIL for this coming weekend but it needed some cleaning. Nobody has been there since last year; so it needed it badly. We clean it in return for a lower price. So we did the entire downstairs today; except have a few windows left to do and put up the curtains.

Next time, DH will tackle the floors upstairs. Had a bit of an adventure with water today; something got turned on wrong, as we got flooded. Thankfully, we caught it fast, but had to spend almost an hour wiping the water up which pooled in one corner ~ yeah!!! The owner said that he thinks he knows what happened and is going to go set things up for us himself ~ LOL.

So, we'll be busy for a couple of days I guess, but we have to spread it out as my feet are throbbing tonight; so I must rest them up a bit. Well, I'll sleep good tonight for sure.

HEY PURPLE ~ sounds like those places that you can go and visit are lovely; it's nice that they allow people to go visit the lakes, gardens, and parks. I wish it was that way here, but we don't have those big beautiful grand Castles and Mansion estates like you do over there; and even if we did, they would have them locked up and guarded like Fort Knox (where they keep all the gold bullion in the US).

HI MEOWEE ~ so glad that you are feeling better; sorry that you are having trouble with ups and downs in your sugar levels; my last check I was 5.3 and I am quite happy with that. They are staying pretty steady these days; and I am very thankful. I made up some more Rhubarb Conserve with strawberries; I used less sugar and part sweetener instead: just as yummy, but not so hard on the blood sugar levels. I cooked 3-4 cups rhubarb + 1 cup strawberries with 1/2 cup sugar + 1/4 cup water + one sweetener (probably didn't even need it).

HI VAL ~ hope you are having a good day!

Well, this will be a short visit (yah right; I wrote a book) as I am very tired and will be putting my feet up with a good crossword puzzle shortly. Take good care, your friend ROSEBUD

Stupid thunderstorm woke me up at 4 am and by the time I closed all the windows, I was definitely awake. Now I've had breakfast and 3 cups of coffee and I'm going to try to have a nap. Oh ya, good luck. I have an eye appointment this afternoon and could really use another couple of hours of shut-eye before having to show them to my Optometrist .

Definitely love the analog Seca scale this morning. No matter how hard I tried -- on and off a few times and even shoved it around on the floor a bit -- couldn't convince it to register any number other than 215. Must have stripped a bunch of water yesterday because I know you can't lose more than 3 pounds of fat overnight anymore than you can gain it in the same time frame. Hey, whatever it is, I like the number.

Unfortunately I don't like the BGL number nearly as well. Your numbers sound really great ROSEBUD.

Okay . . . have a great day . . .

HELLO CHICKIES ~ well, we had another busy day; went to town to pick up some things we needed and things we forgot last week. Then we came home, had a quick lunch, then headed over to the cottage to get some more done. Hung up the curtains and washed windows; vacuumed quite a bit too. We are almost finished; I think tomorrow, we shoud be done cleaning.

DH has to repair a doorway that got damaged last year during a really bad storm. There were two very large fur trees in front of the house and a big wind came and up-rooted them onto the roof. They were very lucky they didn't get a lot more damage. It is likely that which caused the door frame problem. DH is pretty handy and will likely be able to fix it.

MEOWEE ~ my last eye appt. said that I didn't need new glasses, but that I need to have them checked each year now. I can see deterioration, but my glasses still work well enuff. Yes, my sugars are swell; my doctor is quite impressed and told me that I don't have to check them as often. My new lifestyle changes have helped that, I'm sure.

HEY PURPLE ~ it's funny how Rizzie gives your DH such a hard time, but not you in the shower. NIKO is the same; many things he does much better for me, or doesn't do naughty things like he does with DH (cuz Dh lets him away with mischief and I don't). I'm consistent but not harsh. DH was commenting today how hard housework is; he says that he forgets then when he helps me with a big project like this, it brings back the memories (or as I say, the reality). LOL!

It's really nice to have our family here; I always look forward to seeing them all ... and likewise, hate to see them leave. But as they have come more often in the last few years, it isn't so sad now. We are just gonna have one week of nuttin' but fun!!!

HI VALDINE ~ hope you are having a great week!

Take good care ladies; I'm off to bed as I'm tired, which is what I expected ... ROSEBUD

Good Morning . . .

The wind shifted last night and blew away the terrible humidity we had yesterday and today we are looking at an almost perfect early Summer Day. No big plans, but guess I'd better find something to do out there -- don't want to waste this weather.

My eye appointment resulted in no change of scrip either, but he can definitely see all the new floaters I've grown in the past 6 months and thinks it is likely to do with my blood sugars being less stable since I stopped shooting insulin. Unfortunately I'm beginning to see needles in my future again. Won't panic until I see the Opthamolagist next month, but imagine he'll have the same answer.

At least the analog scale still loves me . . . down another half pound this morning . . . seems impossible and I'm beginning to wonder if the cats are tampering with it overnight.

Hope everybody else has a great day today, too . . .

HELLO LADIES ~ well, NIKO and I ended up staying home today; and I was glad of that becuz I needed the rest. DH went to help my Dad finish off the shingles on his cottage today (and they did) ... plus .... drum roll please ... they finally laid down the first bricks of our foundation today!!!! YAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I was starting to wonder if we would ever get going at it. So much planning over the years and too much waiting for my liking. Now we're into phase II of VII (phase I: site prep/ phase II: foundation/ phase III: floor/ phase IV: walls/ phase V: roof/ phase VI: windows and doors/ and phase 7: finishing up. Now, that is the basic plan of the main structure; the siding and indoor finishing comes after that ...

I did get some laundry done today and just the general daily stuff; had to let this body rest esp with the added stress of TOM and this month is a tuffer one; they vary each time: sometimes regular while others are more difficult. The best thing to do in such cases is wrap up in a warm comfy and sleep.

If we feel up to it tomorrow, we want to go pick up a couple of lilac bushes, if we can find some for a decent price and plant them on our lot. Lilacs are my all-time favorite flower: I like that they are a bush that comes every year with such pretty and fagrant blooms. When we were kids, we used to pick them and suck the nector out of the stems; and lilac, purple, and pink were my favorite colors.

HEY PURPLE ~ you are probably right that NIKO senses that he shoud be more careful around me; he really is sweet to me and senses things like our PIN PIN used to do (it's kinda eerie). Yes, DH is a handyman: he can fix a lot of things, and I'm glad for that.

HI MEOWEE ~ sorry to hear that you may have to go on needles. That's why my doctor wanted me to get things under control now, so that I won't have to go on them. I am very grateful, as my mother and one brother had/have diabetes. We seem to be able to get things managed so far. I know that I will have to watch my sugar intake for the rest of my life; thankfully, I was not ever a big sweets person. I got into baking for DH and I think that's where the problem came in; but now all I make is low-fat bran & fruit muffins for him, and maybe pumpkin pie for holidays, and possibly a small cake on his birthday. We have really limited our sugary stuff now.

HI VAL ~ having fun spending your rebate?

Take good care chickies, your friend ROSEBUD

Sounds like things are starting to move along there ROSEBUD . . . hope the pace keeps going at a good clip.

Yesterday's walking managed to give me a blister on the top of my foot . . . owee . . . so don't know what shoes will be semi comfy for today; but I will get some kind of activity in, that's for sure. We are having another gorgeous and sunny day although it is forecast to be a little warmer and a little more humid than the absolutely perfect levels we had yesterday.

Hope everybody else has a great day, too . . .

so my parents are in town, it was my birthday yesterday. I have more than 100 hours of banked time at work, was elected the president of Tourism North Manitoba.... and have picked up a casual weekend job at the local women's clothing chain (Reitmans.. which gets me a discount at 5 other stores nationwide)

I'm sorry I dont have time.. .and wont have time for a while. I put my rebate on my student debt.. 2 years ago it was more than 30 grand.. and today it's less than 3!

I had some scary interferon side effects this week too. woke up unable to move because of hepatic pain that ended up making a foot go numb. fortunatly I keep a cell phone by my bed and could call for help....

i started taking melatonin to help me sleep. the fatigue is kicking my butt pretty bad most days. and I'm getting tired of weight loss... I just want to be done...

Rosebud Purple meowee

Morning . . . nasty thunderstorms booming about outside . . . hope to get back later . . .

HELLO CHICKIES ~ Well I typed a huge post only to lose it all for some reason that I don't understand at all! Been very busy lately and working hard, but getting lots of exercise in too and that's always good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VALDINE ~ hope you had a marvellous day!



CONGRATS on your new appointment as President of Tourism North Manitoba; an honor and a responsibility that I have no doubt you will handle very well. You sure have a lot on your plate these days; hope you don't overdo it too much!

We have lots of Reitman's in southern Ontario; they have very upscale and fashionable ladie's clothing there. Good for you paying off such a large student debt so quickly; that is very commendable, VAL!

I don't think you need to worry about losing weight; you are going to be so busy working that you will likely forget to eat and/or the weight will fall off by osmosis. You don't have to post much VAL; just come in one a week and briefly tell us how you are and what you are doing ~ as we enjoy hearing from you very much!

I have heard of MELATONIN for sleeping, but I would recommend that you talk to your personal physician about any possible side effects or contra-indications mixing M with your MS meds ...

Be back in a few minutes; tea is ready ... I'M BACK ...

MEOWEE ~ I used to get blisters on my feet whenever I wore NEW shoes; and must wear socks or hosiery whenever walking to prevent irritation.

HEY PURPLE ~ yes, you can sip the nectar out of Lilac flowers; try it the next time you see some in the early spring (we have them out right now here). We picked up two yesterday and DH and I went to the lot and he planted them today. A pinkish-mauve one in the front yard and a lovely light purple one in the back yard right beside our girls.

That flood turned out to be a pipe that burst in the wall, just like DH suspected so the plumbers are coming on Saturday to fix it so we have water. We worked hard this week, but I am starting to feel much better.

I even cleaned up my DAD's place today; he put in his bathroom while he was here and moved in lots of stuff, so there was a bit of a mess to clean. While DH put in some more foundation blocks in our place, I cleaned Dad's place (which was mostly sweeping).

We can now get ready for our holiday in the rented cottage; so looking forward to this time as are my SIS and BIL too. My DAD gave DH a row boat for helping him with his place so much: so we will be going boating next week too.

Well I think I have written enuff for now; take good care ladies ... your friend ROSEBUD

Another stormy and humid day and I have a migraine (weather-induced). Also three days of less than stellar eating has resulted in my finding an extra 1.5 pounds. Mostly water I think since the ankles were very puffy by the end of yeterday.