Hi All,

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Marie - what a drag having to spend your weekend solving the computer nightmare! I hope it all works out. Poor Blizzie getting skunked too .

Auntie G - Glad the scale at least stayed put for you. I hope the weather has cleared up.

Judy - Sorry to hear your scale is being mean. I like reading Success Stories too when I get disillusioned about losing weight. I sometimes log on to Quick and Simple Slimdown Success Stories http://www.quickandsimple.com/archiv...s-stories/10;1
I hope you have a nice time in SF without too much work stress.

Carol - I hope you had a nice day with your Mom. She must really appreciate you taking her to lunch and shopping, etc. My Mom, who is the same age as yours, doesn't get out too much anymore as she's getting very frail. Luckily my brothers and sister visit her and Dad every couple of days and get groceries, etc. for them.

Holly - Congrats on the loss.

We decided to go to the Oregon Garden instead of the beach as it's not too far. They happened to be having a vintage car show there, so that was interesting seeing all the beautiful old cars in amongst the flowers and trees!
I've been eating less for dinner in an attempt to get the scale moving in the right direction. Tonight I'm making Birchermuesli, a typical Swiss dish from my DH's homeland. It's basically cooked oatmeal, raisins, yogurt, chopped walnuts, honey and grated apple. It's very refreshing and filling. In Switzerland they eat it together with crusty bread and butter, but I'm omitting that part!

Have a great week everyone!

Well I just finished my baked apple. I made up a little recipe and it had to be less cals than a piece of apple pie. My SIL just came in to say how great her baked apple was. Funny it was so easy. Just scooped out the core added a little marg. brown sugar apple pie spice and some walnuts but it in the mico. for 3 min. wow dessert is on with a dab of cool whip. I figured with all my exercise gardening the cals would balance out. The gk's came over for a couple of hrs. we picked pears oh what will I do with them all. I have 2 bushes and more in the tree. Right now they are quite hard but it won't take long for them to ripen up I don't think. This is the first year my tree has done so well. I figure on making some low cal but tasty pear sauce just like apple sauce. Then canning some pears in a light sauce and now I am not sure about the rest we still have unpicked ones at least another bushel. Can yah say Pears!!! Wish my apple trees would of done something but oh well take what yah get.
It has been a cloudy weekend but today was not so bad at least a day to get some yard work in. I have been home all day and it felt good. Got some outside work done mulched most of the yard did 13 bags of mulch still need about 6 more bags. This acre seems like 10 sometimes. For the most part not to bad on the eating no real bad stuff like chips. Maybe my portions have been a bit bigger than they should but mostly healthy foods. Should of used sub. sugar instead of reg in that baked apple. Tonight I grilled steak and had broc. and salad did have some italian bread though. That was my weakness today. But lunch was some pretzel crackers with lite swiss cheese and mustard a yogurt and pear.
I spoke to the kids in HI today oh how I miss them. They are doing well and the baby is growing like a weed.

Well gotta go get to my reading just finishe a book Here on Earth its one Oprah has been talking about. Very good.
Marie sounds like you have been super girl.
Holly congrats on the wt. loss.
Auntie G Hanna has changed our weather to cloudy but thats all for now....
Judy hope your doing well when are you moving?
Penny gee yah got any good pear recipes? I surely will need to start to make some soaps soon. I was asked to do a mens small soap basket up any good ideas I would love to hear them.
Oh I went christmas shopping on saturday morning. I also have been asked for money towards a family game for the tv the wil not sure thats right. Oh well I was pleased then I will still get each child some clothes and be done with that group. I like knowing what they want its so much easier. I am hoping to get to the gym on monday. Talk to you all soon sorry for MIA.

Well, ladies, the skies cleared in plenty of time for a smooth take-off Saturday night. The flight was actually a pleasant one (Virgin America rocks!) and my hotel room is great. I did a lot of walking yesterday, and hung out with old friends. I've been working this morning. I'm about to head to the hotel gym (which is only so-so), then have lunch and meetings this afternoon.

Marie, I hope your Monday is an easy one, to make up for your busy weekend,

Carol, I'm moving at the end of the month. Pear sauce sounds lovely....I love harvest fruits and veggies.

Penny, thanks for the success stories link. I've been feeling fat and lumpy the past few weeks (after weeks of feeling inordinately 'skinny' ), so I need to do some mental work to back on the fast track. I've been odd ever since I fell a few weeks ago...maybe I hit my head and didn't realize it. It's been hard to get my mojo back.

Auntie G, you're like me! If I start Xmas shopping too early, I go overboard and over budget. But if I wait 'til the end of November, I feel frantic...there's gotta be a middle ground.

My eating isn't too bad, except for some yummy sweet potato fries with friends yesterday. I'm not drinking enough water, though, and I'm a bit low on the veggies.

Time to sweat!

judy

Auntie G can't yeah just bet thats one of my favorite days to shop and save also. I am cuting back this year a bit. A little less shopping as the kids want a wil game for the tv so I am giving some family funds towards that. And some clothes to go along with it for each gchild. I got some great deals the other day and so I got started with 10 off a 25 dollar purchase and sales to go along with it all. I figure if it comes a little at a time it won't hurt as much.
Yes I will be busy with those pears bear has decided he likes them and ate into a few so I had to move them crazy doggie!
Judy have a good time its sounding like you have your mind in the right direction knowing what we need or don't need is a big step in the right direction. I felt fat last night think it was due to a sub for lunch. Today I have tuna in a baggie with a little mayo and celery, onion, carrot sticks and pepper wedges and will have it on a bed of greens. A new dressing my male coworker offered me with roasted red peppers and currry. I will measure my amt. as its not lite. An apple to add to it and there is lunch.
Our weather is changing this week tonight to be in the low 40's. Good night to read I finished a book and now I am reading The Memory Boxs Keeper. Oh its good. I need to have it finished by the 13th or renew it. Gotta push myself.
Penny boy it sure is time to make some soap. I need to work on some jewelry as well. Need to pick up a few supplies today.
Auntie g homemade sauce is so good and wish we got enough tomatoes to can but not this year too much rain made some rot quickly before they ripened. I did make chili last night with my own tomatoes except for one little can.
Work is crazy this week the State has been to one site monday and ck'd my books yesterday. I passed that one without any issues. Now they are at another house I found out at 3 yesterday and picked another one of my folks so I need to get ready again this a.m. and ensure everything is in the right place etc... Wow and its only wed. I am taking some workout clothes and plann to take off an hr. this afternoon and go work out. I THINK its a super idea soon my membership will run out and I am not sure my ins. is giving us money towards it this year.. Might have to build a gym at home.

Carol - I don't have any pear recipes, but I love pears. We don't have a very big crop this year and the critters get most of them anyway. I'm going to be making some soaps soon for our fall bazaar. You asked about soaps for men, well I make some different kinds such as peppermint or eucalyptus with pumice (I buy fine ground pumice online). Guys seem to like the scent as it's not too "girly". I also sometimes make clear soap with coffee grounds as it is a good odor remover. Another popular one is when I put a 1" slice of loofah into a soap - they are good for use in the kitchen or as a "gardener's soap".

Auntie G - I just make the Birchermeusli with cooked oats (I use steel cut kind). The original recipe calls for uncooked oats that is soaked in water overnight but I prefer it cooked. I use about 2 cups cooked oats, handful of raisins, 6 oz. container of yogurt, 2 tbsp. honey, 1 lg. Gala apple grated on large holes of grater and a handfull of chopped nuts. It keeps in the fridge for a couple of days. As I mentioned, it's incredibly filling and very tasty. If you don't care for yogurt, you could try using a few tbsp. sour cream or whole milk.

Judy - I'm glad your trip to SF is going well. I'm glad you reminded me about the Success Stories as I need some inspiration too right now. I'm also feeling very frumpy lately, so let's hope we both get our mojo back soon!

Marie - I really enjoyed our trip to the Oregon Garden and even though I'm not a real "car buff" I enjoyed looking at all the beautifully restored cars and trucks - they don't make them like that any more! They had over 100 cars and trucks on display. It was kind of unusual seeing the cars posed next to lilly ponds and flower beds! Here is the Oregon Garden website http://www.oregongarden.org. Here is info on the Car Show http://www.oregongarden.org/Carshow.htm. They have an events calendar on it so you can check if they have another car show next year.

I had a very long and stressful meeting yesterday - our first one after the summer hiatus. I can't believe we're already organizing our Christmas bazaar. I wasn't feeling well and after filling my plate at the buffet lunch I couldn't eat a bite - very unusual for me. I'm still having sinus problems, so maybe that had something to do with it. I seem to have my appetite back a bit today. It would be handy to be able to turn my appetite on and off at will like that!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Work - a little better but not great. But truly I see an end in sight of the insanity.

Carol, good luck with the starting of Christmas shopping.

Penny, don't forget the unscented aloe soap you made my hubby. He has dry, sensitive skin and the soap has been wonderful. He really likes it and he doesn't stink so it must be working.

Auntie g, I too think that making marinara with real tomatoes is too much work. I always make my own, but with canned tomatoes. I do know that homegrown tomatoes make the marinara really awesome, but the work is too much for me.

Judy, hope the trip is good.

I'm on track food wise, staying in my 1500 cals. Today is less clear as my boss took our dept out for lunch. They chose a restaurant (Mexican) that had no one healthy item on the menu. And in a group of 7, making a big deal out of special ordering wasn't wise. I had a chicken quesadilla. I figured the tortilla was in the 250 cal range, didn't have much chicken, maybe 1-2 oz so that would be about 70 cals and then some cheese (it wasn't too cheesy). So I guestimated (with cal database help) about 550 cals and I had a tablespoon of sour cream. So adding that in with breakfast, I don't have a lot of dinner room. I decided a protein drink would be healthy so that will keep me in the 1500 range (at best guess). The awesome part of lunch was the chips and salsa. I did NOT eat even one. At one point I sat on my hands, but I didn't have any. YEAH!!!!!! I did 3 miles WATP this am and then 10 minutes toning/crunches. I'm thinking of no exercise this evening as I'm enjoying being home. It's relaxing and I'm not really working (just monitoring the server then I'll do a file transfer later as I haven't had time to automate the process). So I'm being a bum, playing with Kai, Kody and Blizzard (aka skunk breath). I just love 'em so much. They take all stress and irritation away from my day. Although today was a good day at work, at least relatively speaking to the last few weeks.

One other things - do you all remember my trip to the great cyber mall a couple weeks ago? Well I had a little Christmas yesterday. The Black jeans skirt that jumped in my basket arrived and I LOVE it (wearing it now). It's not snug (I bought my current size). I liked it so much when I tried it on yesterday that I decided to order another in 2 sizes smaller. It will be my incentive to continue being angelic with food. I won't lose new clothes that I like. BTW, I didn't mention that purchase to DH. He wouldn't get it.
Marie

Today was a nice light day. I made stuffed peppers for the first time in my life, and only because I planted peppers this year. It was actually the first time I ever even ate a pepper! Much easier than making tomato sauce, I must say!

Carol, now you've got me thinking about starting Christmas shopping, but I'm going to try to resist a little longer! Keep up the good eating, and good luck with work!

Penny, I am definitely going to try that muesli soon - thanks for the info! Hope your sinuses are improving!

Marie, unscheduled eating out is the worst! But it sounds like you did a fine job, and congrats on staying away from the chips! Hope it's a great night with the dogs, they really do erase a lot of life's miseries... And a woo hoo on the skirt- it's so nice when it works out and you don't have to send it back.

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up Okay, I guess I can get up, I just feel too depressed and would rather lay here and wallow for a while....I got back home early Thursday morning, after flying a red-eye, then fighting through roadblocks and traffic jams caused by the opening of the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, which is just a mile from where I live. I got a few hours of sleep before coming to the office for half a day. I'm still tired today, so again, no exercise and a few too many calories. The thin veneer of cordiality around my boss's firing is about worn off. I'm in a tough position, trying to get her and the board to come to agreement. I expect fireworks any day now. All this is bad for my sleep and my stress levels. I hope it's like a painful procedure at the dentist's office--excruciating pain, seemingly for an eternity, a little discomfort, then it's over.

I worked out some while I was away. The hotel's fitness room was the only disappointment I had. The few cardio machines seemed to be purchased from a yard sale! I didn't walk around nearly as much as I usually do on a trip to San Francisco, and overall I ate poorly. Overall, I feel like a fat, listless slug. Must snap out of this...

auntie G, I love stuffed peppers, although I haven't made them in ages. It sounds like your garden is introducing you to some new recipes--cool!

Marie, good luck with the foot doctor. I hope you have a fun weekend, with no work.

Carol, I hope the rest of our visit with the state went okay. Is the book you're reading Memory Keeper's Daughter? If so, I read that last year, it was good.

Penny, I hope you're feeling better today. Sinus problems can really sap your energy.

Okay, back to work. Have a great weekend!

judy

Yay! It's the weekend!
Even though I'm PMSing, I'm hoping the scale behaves tomorrow, at least a little bit. I had a great NSV last night- I was finally able to take off one of my rings that had been so tight that it would not even turn! That really got me excited, so I bought new sneakers today in hopes of starting a new walking routine. I, too, have been having some serious heel pain for a while now. I think I did some damage that day I ran barefoot after that creepy lurking guy. The pain's worse in bare feet than in cushioned shoes, so hopefully I'll get down on it!

Marie, glad you have the weekend off. Don't let Mr Scale get you down, he'll come around... It was probably from sponging up the pool water anyway! How'd you make out at the podiatrist?

Judy, sounds like you need a nice restful weekend! Job stress and travel sure can have an effect, so take a break if you can- at least for the weekend. Give yourself time to recover, and you'll get back on track. This mess, too, shall pass...