PHYSICAL CHALLENGES ...October

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  •   #46  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-23-2009 07:40 PM
    HI LADIES ~ hope you are all having a FABULOUS FRIDAY NIGHT ... just takin' it ez at home tonight. We had Pita Pizzas for dinner and homemade Veggie & dumpling soup for lunch. Still cold here but the did shine for us today!

    We had many new fine feathered friends come by again today -- junkos, chickadees, and sparrows. Had a good day overall. Hope you all have too!

    Take good care of yourselves and hope you all have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND too ...     ROSEBUD
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  •   #47  
    valpal23's Avatarvalpal23 , 10-23-2009 09:48 PM
    Thompson received five cm of snow today.

    And this morning I realized that my seasonal depression was back. I've been sleeping 3 hours more each night then usual and completly lost interest/stamina in running (I was 3 runs away from completing my 5km program) I started having a really bad attitude and being far too curt and indifferent at work. My appetitie is gone.

    So instead of waiting for it to turn into an MS flare up, I booked myself a doctor's apt the same day. And am doing a whole new round of blood work. and have given a prescription for celexa.

    And it's depressing!! Back into a long winter we go.... not sure how much more of this I can take!
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  •   #48  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-24-2009 12:19 AM
    HIYA VAL ~ I know what you mean -- we have a white-out snowstorm going on outside as we speak/write ... I could tell it felt cold in here and DH came out from his haven from watching a movie, and put the heat up. He went to take NIKO outside to do his duty for the last time tonight, and I could hear him shovelling ... now, there's a hint!

    So we have lots of the white stuff ****** out there too, and it's only the 23rd. Last year we didn't get snow like this until the second week of November; guess we got spoiled. Usually we just have a couple of light snows which melt right away; and have a clear Halloween and then snow again the first or second week of November.

    The weather people say that we will have rain and sun for the next few days so it may get rid of most of it (if not all of it). I'm sorry that you have been feeling down in the dumps and tired at/of work. I was wondering when you were thinking of going back to school; I thought maybe next September.

    I hope your new meds help you a bit. Also, I will send up some ^prayers^ for you for the next while that your spirits may be lifted somewhat. That was wise of you to go to the docs right away to get some intervention as soon as possible. Be sure to put lots of lights on indoors, if needs be; and did you get one of those special SAD lamps that you were talking about before?

    I was doing extra walking myself and with all this snow, that won't happen as often either. We'll just have to wait for the nice days and go then. I have been trying to do walks 3-4 days a week plus xtra in the evenings a few times as well. We are gonna go look at our local community center and see if we can walk around in there.

    We have been using our local department stores to do some 'mall-walking' this year; lots of people do that here. I told DH I don't care if it costs us a bit more in gas; it is worth it to get some walking in, and I can really feel the difference it makes when I go. I feel so good about it afterwards -- mentally and physically.

    Anyways, it was so nice that you dropped by to see us; I sure hope that you can drop by more often during the winter season. Let us try to help cheer you up; that's what we are here for. Hey, even if we all just try to maintain over the winter; that isn't so bad -- and you can still go out for walks on the good days. I've got my ski poles already hanging by my back door ...

    Have yourself a restful weekend; get in all the sleep you need. My DH always says, "You must have needed it". Sleep is a great healer of the body, mind, and spirit. Take good care my friend; and come back to see us real soon ...
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  •   #49  
    purpleorc's Avatarpurpleorc , 10-24-2009 05:27 AM
    Hi Fellow chicks

    Yesterday was a lovely sunny day and rather hot at times dare I say. Good weather for doing our journey which took nigh on 10 hours in total. I must admit it went a whole lot smoother than I ever hoped for so pleased about that.

    The worse part of the journey was the queuing up to pay the toll for travelling on the Dartford Bridge or the Dartford tunnel. Going south you go over the bridge but going north it is the tunnel. once upon a time not that long ago it was just the tunnel that took both north and south traffic so a nightmare at the best of times around there. Even though there were many booths to pay your money it still was bottling up the traffic. So today is just recovering from that journey I had. The customer was lovely I must admit well not customer as DH BIL had bought the staircase though I am sure you know what I mean. We were offered a drink wow and it even came with biscuit. Such a kind thought the coffee was so welcomed I must admit so still some out there in disguise.

    VAL Nice to hear from you but sorry to hear that you are going through the mill with S.A.D. Not heard of the medication that the doctor has prescribed but it maybe under a different name here in the UK which is frequently the case. I hope the medication provides some relief for you as it is a horrid condition to have to deal with without having additional issues as the MS to worry about. You have done the right thing by trying to nip the problem in the bud by going to the doctors. All the advice I can offer is with your appetite being poor try and make sure that you eat nutritious food. So what food you do eat is good for you. I know it is not easy when the appetite is awful.

    Snow yikes all this talk of snow makes me feel cold Here,s me having beautiful sunshine and having glorious days for October. I do not know how lucky I am where I live sometimes. I know if there was snow on the ground it would make me less independent than I am. The thought of me and ice conjures up pictures of Bambi on ice not a good mixture I thinks. It would give me a one way trip to hospital I think, I have broke a couple of bones in the past as a child/teen that was enough thank you.

    ROSEBUD The spiral stair case it transpires are going in the unit (BIL work place) they had another level built and it only has one set of stairs thus only one exit point. So this will provide in an emergency a second route of exit should it be needed on this floor.

    Excellent idea to go to the shopping centre (mall) for extra exercise in the winter months. I know the cost of fuel has to be added in but a small price to pay to ensure you are in the best possible health and fitness you can be. This way you will keep up your stamina in the winter that you have built up in the summer and I am sure that will be a help when the better weather comes around and you can do things outdoors again. Exercise helps with the mood and it is a natural pain killer as well so added bonus. Not to mention the burning off of calories that it does.

    Sounds like you are getting a different variety of birds visiting your area. Swallows and swifts (not that I see any where I live but I do see them on my travels) have departed our shores (well nearly all of them) to warmer climate of South Africa so a long journey of about 6000 miles.

    The school at the back of our bungalow is now nearing its completion. It is suppose to be completed in November not sure when the children start school there though. Have seen pictures that the company send out to all the local neighbours to let us know what has been happening every step of the way. The pictures depict the swimming pool and the court yard. This is a special need school hence the swimming pool as most schools do not have a swimming pool unless it is of this nature. Though as a young child 5-11 years old my school did have a small 10 metre by 10 metre pool which was outdoors I hasten to add. The changing rooms were crude by today's standard just build out of breeze ( spelling) blocks. Looking back it was freezing really but I learnt to swim at a very early age in this pool.

    Mind you looking back my school was very out of date the toilets were out side as well so freezing come winter. Though you thought nothing of it has children as things were just like that. My nanna and granddad did not have an inside toilet either. It was in the yard in made out of corrugated iron sheets now that was horrid to say the least. You had to take a stick in to bang on the iron sheets to scare the resident grass snake that seemed to like it in there Homes during the 1970's here were still very dated but by the late 1970's people started to modernise no longer toilets outside and no bathrooms. So gone were the tin bath in front of the fire and the hard work in filling it. Not to mention the back breaking work of emptying it either.

    Time to get my morning cuppa and go and do my bird's nest of hair . Take care ladies till next time

    purpleorc


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  •   #50  
    SpicyWoman's AvatarSpicyWoman , 10-24-2009 02:03 PM
    Happy Saturday, Chickies-
    Hello, Val- I tend to get depressed when the days get shorter and there's days and days of rain or gloomy grey skies. I am on a "cocktail" of antidepressents for that. Like you, the sadness tends to trigger my physical problems. Sometimes it is like an endless cycle. But! Today the sun is shining here and I know that in about 5 or 6 weeks I will go to New Orleans for the month of December. It will be warm there, and I will be surrounded by my family. I try to focus on that as a beacon of hope. I wish you well.

    Rosebud- I often see people walking in the local mall here. It seems like a much safer place to walk, especially when the weather isn't good. Less chance of slipping! Especially in that snow you guys have. It does snow in our part of Arkansas, but not regularly. Maybe two or three times a winter. The most we have had at one time is about 12 inches.

    Purple- I think it was you who wrote about the sweet potatoes in the oven. I did that today. Cut them like french fries, sprayed them with cooking spray, and baked in the oven. Very good! It is sweet potato season here so there's an abundance of them at the farmers' market.

    I have been feeling better in the last day or two. Thankfully.

    Here's hoping you all have a good weekend. Thanks for sharing your life with me.

    spicy
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  •   #51  
    purpleorc's Avatarpurpleorc , 10-25-2009 12:06 PM
    Hi Ladies


    The weather does not know what it wants to do today one minute sun shine the next pouring down with rain. Good old British weather getting all seasons in one day I think

    Saw an advertisement on a bus yesterday that said one in four people will need mental health intervention. This claim then was backed up by a programme I watched about young people who had come in contact with the psychiatric services in some way. Again they said one in four people will need at some point in their life some mental health intervention. Gosh when I was nursing the figure was one in eight so it shows how this has gone up over the years. I have been wondering why this is. Is this to do with the pressures of life with the worries of work, finance and media. I have put media in there as the fact now they use air brushing so the models look "perfect" so we have a distorted idea what our bodies should look like. When in actual fact we come in all different sizes and yet can be a healthy body weight for our height. They use models that are a size 8 when a lady whom is 5ft 11" would struggle to be that size. This then may lead her or him for that matter in to the psychiatric services with eating disorders.

    I during my training I did the specialist ward on forensic psychiatry. ( this means mentally ill and committed a crime at the same time). I did a few shifts to help out on drug and alcohol ward and during my time in the community working with a nurse there I had contact with eating disorders. This was as where my community nurse was based this was the referral area for treating eating disorders in the community. It shows that psychiatric or mental health covers a wide area and often peoples idea what to be mentally ill is are not correct. At the severe end of things the person would not be able to work but most can continue to work, raise a family and generally participate in life. This shows that often the reality and the misconception of mental illness are miles apart.

    A friend of mine was so horrified when he was asked to go and see a psychiatrist by his solicitor. He had been involved in an accident which I hasten to add was not his fault and there had been 3 fatalities. Though some years earlier he had again been involved in an accident with one fatality again nothing to do with him. In fact he was horrified at being asked to see a psychiatrist as he was afraid of being labelled "mad". He was eventually persuaded to go and it was shown that he was suffering from post traumatic stress which is to be expected when he had been in horrendous accidents. Just recently he asked me about this and I said that just because you were ill you it does not mean you can not go about your daily tasks as a farmer. I think he thought if you were ill it would not be the case. I said to him that most can work and for some it provides comfort as it is routine and something they are familiar with. It maybe somewhere they do not have time to think about their own problems. Right time to come off my soap box

    SPICY Nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear that you also have S.A.D it is surprising how many people do have this condition. Good to see that you have a positive attitude and use your family as your beacon of hope and light.

    Years ago well 25 to be precise I had a spell on antidepressants myself after hitting a very low patch in my life. I think really it had more to do with it was my longest placement during my training on a ward and I hated that ward. Not the people or the nurses don't get me wrong it was the fact it was a mother and baby psychiatry unit. I was often expected to look after the babies as I was a woman. (it was still back then thought very strange that a woman should want a career) I am not in the least maternal in any shape way or form. So for me it was my worse nightmare the ward was in it's infancy so psychiatric nurses looked after the babies as well as mum. Now many of the babies were very young only a few days/weeks old. So many feeds and nappy (diaper) changes. Now I know there are nursery nurses or paediatric nurses to care for the babies. The spell on antidepressants helped me through a rough time in my life and the next ward it was lovely I had a great time it aided my recovery.

    I am on antidepressants again but not high enough doses for this but small doses for pain relief for nerve pain. I take one at night and it helps greatly to give me a good night sleep. My sister is also now taking this at night but until the surgery is done she will be in a huge amount of pain. I know the operation will not get rid of it all but if it decrease the amount of pain then that can only be a good thing.


    Glad you liked the recipe for the sweet potato fries which you liked. It is nice to have recipes that give you some variation to your "diet". I have tried the same recipe with butternut squash and made fries from that. They are softer than conventional potatoes but nice all the same. Since embarking on this journey I have kept such recipes and popped them in a folder on my computer so I have now quite a repertoire building up. I have a mixture of savoury dishes and sweet ones.

    Well must run and put the kettle on and have a cuppa Take care till next time bye bye


    purpleorc
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  •   #52  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-25-2009 08:20 PM
    Well, I did get in here to read yesterday, but then got busy and forgot to get back in to put in a post; and I couldn't remember if I had or not but was very tired, so I went to bed a bit earlier last night. We have been getting lots of **** on and off for the last few days; much has melted but the big flakes are coming in from the north again tonight.

    We had a nice mix of and *****today and we decided to go for a drive this afternoon just to get out and enjoy that lovely sunshine. We picked up some premade homestyle dinners that were on sale on the way home; so I cheated in that I didn't have to make it. Just popped it in the oven and let the oven do the work.

    I had cabbage rolls and DH had his favorite Fireside Pie which is just another version of Shepherd's pie (it has carrots for the veggie instead of corn -- that's all). He loved it so much he ate almost the whole thing all by himself; I managed to get a small piece just to try it. I had 2.5 cabbage rolls and have the same amount leftover that I can now have for my lunch tomorrow. I told DH now that he ate the rest that he won't have any for lunch and he said that he didn't care becuz he enjoyed it so much for dinner tonight.

    The next time I make a homemade one, I think I'll make an extra one to throw in the freezer since he loves them so much, but they were on sale today and the ingredients would have cost the same, but I just didn't have to do the work and that was the best part for me.

    So I managed to get in some walking today and ate well today too (kudos for that); it was a good day overall. I had caught a cold from DH and I felt a bit sickly for a few brief moments today, but they didn't last long, so I'm so very glad about that. Sure hope it goes away; it's not a really bad one, just makes you feel a bit sickly at times. I thought it may be my meds as I do find the Metformin can make me feel a bit queezy at times too.

    Hope all you ladies had a great weekend and a peaceful and restful Sunday -- take good care ... ROSEBUD
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  •   #53  
    purpleorc's Avatarpurpleorc , 10-26-2009 12:23 PM
    Good afternoon fellow chicks

    It is a grey over cast day today but no rain thus far. It is exceptionally warm outside for this time of year. I went out this lunch time to have lunch with BIL and I just went with a long thick cardigan on my arms. No coat needed though I did take one but ended up carting it about as it was too warm to wear. Though you could guarantee if I hadn't taken it the heavens would have opened or it would be to chilly for me.

    There has been a programme on I watched as I saw it was going to be situated in Canada. The man presenting it is one for the great outdoors showing the wonders of it and how to live off the land. Often using old techniques that native people would have done or they show him how to do it. Today it was first native people of Canada whom showed him some decorative work made out of bark of a tree and the pattern made by the teeth alone. Last night programme was in Prince Albert National park it showed the contrast as well between Autumn (fall) and winter. This was has he went back to the same area to show the comparison. The area looked so beautiful such a sea of trees nesting besides the river. I don't know if any of you have been to the Prince Albert National park that the programme was based in last night.

    ROSEBUD Often those simple meals like fireside pie are the best. I too love shepherds pie so I am sure I would like this version of it. As long as my arch enemy the humble pea was not lurking in there to get me Anyone who knows me knows I hate peas with a passion. I avoid them at all costs, I do not like them in any shape way or form and haven't since I was a little child. Mushy peas are the worse in my opinion even the smell is horrendous and it is enough to make me go green a the gills

    Those home made ready meals sure do come in handy. I have a whole section in my freezer dedicated to just that. So I know at any one time what I have in stock. I like to make an extra portion when ever I can so that it makes another meal to go in store for those days you just can't be bothered or not so well. They are also great when you have been busy and don't have time to make a meal from scratch.

    To pick up home style meal are handy way when you are short for time. Glad you have somewhere like that close to home to "cheat" when time is pressing for you. ~Sometimes when you have been out all your energy has gone into that and now you just want something quick. That meal just fit the bill.

    Horrible side effect the metformin has with the nausea. It is not nice when we experience the negative side of the drugs which aid us in so many ways. Your drug is very important to you as it helps regulate your diabetes. I have side effects but nothing so horrid as nausea. Mine is mainly the constipation and dry mouth. So on the big scheme of things it is not that bad really.

    Well must go and drink my tea before it goes stone cold. So before I go I will say to RONNIE , VAL & SPICY. I know for both Ronnie and Val their lives are very busy at the moment with one thing or another. We caught up with Spicy at the weekend which was lovely. Bye bye and take care ladies

    purpleorc
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  •   #54  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-26-2009 03:14 PM
    I made a yummy smoothie for my afternoon snack -- as I am always getting hungry before dinner, so I am hoping this will help tide me over. I have been experimenting and this is the one I made today; it was very filling, and it is surprisingly thick just like a milkshake but without the ice cream though ~

    1/2 cup milk
    1 small fresh banana
    3 inch piece of cucumber, optional
    2 handfuls of frozen blueberries (about 1/2 cup)
    1 tbl Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
    1 tsp sugar-free berry Metamucil
    1 tbl cocoa powder
    1/2 a sweetener
    1 tsp flax meal

    I whipped this in my $5.00 blender and it made a generous 2 cups. Last time, I didn't put the cuke in. I read somewhere that it is good for lowering blood sugar and great in smoothies (you don't even notice that it is in there), and it is a great way to use them up. This is nice with the cocoa powder or without. It actually tastes very sweet and probably doesn't even need the artificial sweetener at all.

    You can get many kinds of thickener like Metamucil or plain Fibersure; I just like the sugar-free berry one; but you could probably make this without it and it would still be good too. I put the Vanilla Whey Protein Powder in for flavor and to get protein in it. This makes a great breakfast substitute too -- thought you might like to try it.
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  •   #55  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-26-2009 10:13 PM
    HI LADIES ~ just got back from a quick evening walk; boy, it is raining/sleeting out there and it is sooo cold on the face. I even had on a hat, scarf, and mittens. I was concerned it may be icy so I took my poles, but it is just mild enuff that it felt like cold rain. It seems to be crossing back and forth between mini-snow pellets and rain.

    Anyways, I made it up to the end of the block and back much faster with the poles as they really help give me better balance, but it's UPHILL all the way, so it is a good workout nevertheless. I am trying to take advantage of the clear sidewalks for as long as I can; I will still try to go out, but will use my poles more often then ...

    Just wanted to drop by again and say HI; we had a good day. Just did stuff like light housekeeping today at home as the weather isn't that nice here right now, but it is supposed to be sunnier mid-week so we'll take advantage of that too. DH pulled out the big bird feeder so it is handy for when we want to put it up; which will probably be in November sometime.

    PURPLE ~ you reminded me that I still had a casserole in my freezer, so I decided we would have that for dinner tonight. I also roasted some veggies in a glass casserole at the same time: a mixture of green & yellow beans, baby carrots, and cauliflower on top. It was very nice: a meatless casserole with cheese for the protein tonight.

    You are having exceptionally warm weather; and we are having the opposite. Oh well, must go with the flow: I'm telling myself how beautiful it is outside and gee, it actually helps you feel OK about it. Could be worse, as they say ...

    No, I don't think I have been to that park but my DH may have, as he has been out west and even further north than me; oh yes, we have some grand forests, especially in the northern areas. Yes, I have also seen that bark demonstration before where they use their teeth to put designs in the bark (I think it was birch tree bark); actually I saw it on a program here as well, and it was very interesting. We have a lot of native and Metis people in our town, plus a lot of natives from the far north come here regularly as well; and I supposed some of them would know this technique as well.

    HEY VAL ~ I just wanted to tell you that I was reading on a site somewhere, and this doctor said that going for a walk was just as good as jogging or running. You can just pick up the pace a bit and swing those arms to get almost the same aerobic effect. I am still gonna go out even when the snow comes; I'm gonna use my ski poles like I did tonight as they really help me pick up the pace. Had my heart pumping good tonight ...

    HI to SPICEY, and RONNIE ~ hope you ladies are having a wonderful week!

    Well, I had a good day: ate very well and got my exercises in too -- so I am glad for that. Hope all of you ladies had a good day too, and hope that you have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY tomorrow as well! Take good care ladies ... ROSEBUD
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  •   #56  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-27-2009 09:20 PM
    HI LADIES ~ boy, people are scarce on the threads lately, and not just in this one either. Seems people are really busy or life is sending them lots of challenges to handle at this time. We had foggy, rainy weather all day today. It cleared up a bit and now the fog is back, but at least it's not raining or sleeting.

    Last night, after I was in posting, I went for a walk and for the second night in a row, it started snow-raining and my face was almost frozen by the time I got back home. Today, I stayed home for the day just doing stuff around here. I am still debating whether to go out as the temps are dropping quite fast out there; and it's really chilly.

    Made a very healthy chicken stew for dinner and it was really nice; we had a good day though. I have just been doing stuff around the house; did some indoor exercises and walking so far today. DH just put NIKO out for the last time; if I feel up to it, I may go for a short jaunt outdoors just to see how the winds are ... DH just went out and checked the weather for me and he says that it isn't too bad, so I think I will venture out for a few minutes at least.

    I'm going to have a tea and a small snack as I feel a bit hungry tonight, but we had a very light dinner as the stew was really just a thick soup with lots of veggies in it. Hope you all had a good day, and that you have A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY tomorrow too!

    Take good care of yourselves; and don't be shy about dropping by for a few minutes sometime this week ... ROSEBUD
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  •   #57  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-27-2009 10:06 PM
    Well, I decided to go for a walk before having my tea and snack as the weather was not too bad out there. I took my trekking poles again tonight becuz they really help me getting up that hill, and I am getting faster each time so I went a bit further tonight. It took me about 25 minutes (5 more than last night becuz I went further to extend the time).

    So tomorrow, I will have to go a bit further again to get back to my 30 minutes. The poles really help my back from hurting while going up the hills and makes it easier for me overall. DH says that he will go with me tomorrow and we will go out a bit earlier too.

    We haven't turned our clocks back yet; our gov has decided to extend our daylight savings time by 3 weeks: 2 in the spring and 1 week in the fall, so we won't turn them back until next week. We almost turned them back last night, but then I found an article on our weather site that reminded us not to turn them back until next Sunday night. I can see that this site has already turned theirs back becuz the time on here and my pc is one hour earlier than here.

    Well, now I am going to have my tea and a light snack; I am having a small apple, and some carrot sticks with 1 tbl peanut butter ... this is one of my new favorite ways to eat PB: no bread this way and the carrots taste really good with it plus it adds a raw veggie with a protein for a healthy snack.

    Salut -- have a great night ...
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  •   #58  
    purpleorc's Avatarpurpleorc , 10-28-2009 10:15 AM
    Hi fellow chicks

    Gosh where did yesterday go it went in the blink of an eye. It was the day of my treatment then I came home to start preparing a meal. Yesterday I did a yummy meal a fresh beef burger in a plain bread bun with a small side dish of sweet potato chips (fries) seasoned with a little curry powder. It was very filling and no ill effect from the tummy with the touch of curry. I didn't go to heavy handed with the curry just did a light dusting of it. DH said it really enjoyed it did not know how the sweet potato would go with him rather than the ordinary potato I need not have worried I don't think it touched the sides he enjoyed them so much.

    Good to drop by today I was so determined to do so. A big thank you to Rosebud for holding the fort. Today is trying to make it's mind up weather wise what it wants to do. It is looking like rain one minute then brilliant sunshine the next. Nothing new here just typical British weather having all types of weather in one day

    Today we are going out for a special meal as DH is taking me out to a pub in the countryside for a meal. Really looking forward to it. You see it was my birthday on Saturday and I was so shattered after our journey to Kent the day before. It was a 10 hour round trip well it took it's toll. We decided it was best that I didn't go to far a field but to enjoy a more simple day. I had a nice day anyway as I was given some perfume by my DH, money and necklace from my sister and nieces. Money from my parents which I think is going towards another perfume I have my eye on I love perfume and jewellery. Not that I wear a huge amount of jewellery I have a few rings, I wear a necklace, sometimes a bracelet or brooch. I don't like to wear too much at once. I tend to go for costume jewellery rather than the more expensive silver/gold/platinum type. I was a lucky bunny and was taken out for a meal on Monday by BIL.

    I have done the shopping today but again I did not need a great deal mainly the fresh produces and tinned fruit of course at this time of year when fresh fruit is more expensive. It is so amazing what I had ferreted away in our freezers and it has feed us well for weeks. Though big gaps are starting to appear. There will be enough room soon to allow me to defrost the smaller freezer which is not self defrosting. I will move food items from the small freezer to the larger one then commence doing the job in hand. Not that it will take that long when I set my mind to it. It is just getting myself into gear to sort it out.

    ROSEBUD Thanks for the the smoothie. I never think of putting cucumber in but seeing that they do not taste of a great deal I can see how they would lend themselves to going into a smoothie and be unnoticed. It would be a great way for parents to sneak them in there for their children who were fussy about foods. I see you have put in flax meal which I sometimes do. I have also put it in or sometimes porridge oats just a small portion. It is gives it a nutty flavour to it and a texture to the smoothie. Porridge oats have properties known to lower the cholesterol for anyone with troubles in that area. It is always useful to use foods that have a positive effect on our bodies like cucumber and oats.

    The weather still remains mild and again went out with just a cardigan. I am sure we will pay for our mild spell we are having but I am enjoying it while it lasts. sorry to hear your having the other flip of the coin as yours it worse than mine have colder weather and more snow to boot no doubt.

    Yes you were right the patterns were made my first nations people on birch bark. One of his previous series he followed the native people of Australia (Aboriginals) and learnt the skills they had used for hundreds of years. The Aboriginal people had such a wealth of skills than we have lost over the years as we have moved away from the land.

    Well done on your improvement in your length of time walking that is great news and shows a development in your walking. It is great to have mini goals to head towards and try and better. Like me they are small ones but they feel big ones with our challenges that life has to throw at us. To achieve another goal or beat a time etc gives me a buzz. I am a person who likes to better something I have done bit of perfectionist that is me. I am very critical of things that I do but not of others weird I know in my life.

    I am going to have my cuppa now that I made earlier before it goes stone cold on me which I hate Take care and catch you later.



    purpleorc
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  •   #59  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-29-2009 12:06 AM
    HI LADIES ~ I had a heck of a time getting in here tonight; this is my third time trying, as I just gave up after the second time. There is a huge new AD on the top of the site as we come in that was just freezing up my computer tonight. The first time, my internet page collapsed on me; then I started all over and it froze up my PC again, so I just gave up and left; went and put my feet up and read for awhile.

    I see from another post that I am not the only one having that problem; it is odd that one advertisement is using such a powerful means to advertise that it is freezing up our PC's. They may get us to look at their ad by freezing up our screens, but I won't buy their product if they ruin my experience on the net or stop me from coming into this or any other site. I understand that the ads are needed to pay for the site, but that's more than advertising and needs to be addressed.

    Anyways, better get this post in whilst I can as it's getting late now. Had a busy day as we started to work on putting up our Christmas lights; we actually wanted to put them up for Hallowed Eve. Couldn't find enuff orange bulbs, so we used yellow instead and that really brightened things up on our front porch. We will finish up tomorrow by putting up the glowing pumpkin men I made today. That took us all afternoon by itself.

    We didn't get the sun they promised but at least it didn't rain or snow today; just a dull, gray overcast but it could have been much worse. It actually got up to 5C today ... woo-hoo ... spent a lot of time on my feet walking around here so I didn't bother going out tonight as my feet were already hurting by dinner time.

    Made boneless center pork chops and a nice mix of steamed veggies and rice for dinner tonight; it turned out really good. I must have been tired too becuz after I put my legs up at only 8:30 pm, I nodded off after reading a bit until about 11:15. Our NIKO came out to check on me and was laying near the sofa, then started playing games with my feet and that woke me up ...

    Tomorrow, we hope to get the rest of the decos done out front, so that will keep us busy again. Hope you all have a nice day tomorrow too; take good care ... ROSEBUD
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  •   #60  
    Justwant2Bhealthy's AvatarJustwant2Bhealthy , 10-29-2009 12:25 AM



    HAPPY BIRTHDAY

    P U R P L E !!!


    So sorry I missed your birthday on Saturday; but I am glad that you got to celebrate it even if it was a tad bit later. So nice that you got some lovely gifts from family and friends. This year, I spent my birthday at a friend's place and he made us a nice rib dinner. Usually, we go out for dinner to a restaurant on my birthday, but that was even nicer to me ... to spend it with friends, and I didn't have to cook!!!

    Sorry that long trip tired you out so much, but you were able to make up for it on another day; that's what I do too. Tonight, my feet were very sore; so I just took it easy. I went out for walk almost every night this week and did lots around here too, so I accomplished a lot more than I could have hoped for. I am trying for a minimum of 10 minutes each day and am aiming for 30 minutes daily, but I think that I am surpassing that by far ...

    Yes, I also put some flax meal into my porridge and cream of wheat as well; that makes for a very filling breakfast too. I like to have a smoothie for a snack sometimes just becuz it really fills me up and gives me a change from the norm as well. I had sweet potato fries for the first time this past week as well, and liked them; they are a bit softer in the center but I liked them a bit crispy on the outside. They were nice for a change and are very healthy for us too.

    Hope you have a nice restful day tomorrow ... take good care!
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