Man I wasn't done and clicked dum move...
Penny I loved the cartoon and wow it makes so much sense. I haven't been on my square but need to by wed. this week. I do have on a pair of pants from last fall and they feel okay so I am hoping things aren't so bad. If they are I will have to face the facts....
Marie I am jealous which I could do stained glass too. I never tried that but your description of the picture just was so clear in my head. Sounds wonderful must be the season to start getting busy. I put together a necklace and a new pair of earring this weekend. Some of my favorite stones from HI. Good for you and all the others in the losing dept. your inspiring me to get my butt in gear. I did purchase groceries lots of veggies and healthy things. Made some homemade soup yesterday which came out excellent of course then I ate my crackle pear cake I made but not to big of a piece. Everyone enjoyed it. I am thinking of making a couple of extras and freezing them for later in the fall. Does anyone know how does coffee cake freeze it does have diced pears in it? Just a thought.
Welcome Paniania this is an awesome site and hope you become a regular or at least come back to visit often.
Crock pot season is here. I have plans to do lean pork ribs and sauerkraut this week with a few potatoes in it. Maybe on wed. as I am planning to work later on that day.
Well I did get some walking in Canada as we walked the town of Gananque spelled wrong sorry there is an o in there somewhere. It was very pretty. One girl we won't ask to go next time as all she did was complain afterwards about one girl putting a couple of dollars less in on gas. Yah know the girl complaining has more money than any of us will ever have doesn't it figure. Yah know if you have to count every penny than we shouldn't of even gone thats my feelings. At any rate it was a nice girls day out.
Well I am off to work gotta have a bit of breakfast first and soup from yesterday will be my lunch and some fruit. So I am off to a good start. I think tonights dinner might be grilled burgers or goulash. Not sure til I get home and see if its grilling weather. Hope you all have a super monday with not to much stress. I am off to a long drive in the country to one of my clients homes about 56 miles round trip but beautiful area mountains pretty trees changing colors etc.. nice way to end my day.

Marie - Your stained glass project sounds gorgeous. You are a many-talented lady! You've been busy decorating too - I don't know where you get all your energy - please send me some! My shoulder/arm is a bit better so I've been working out at Curves but skipping the arm machines. At least I'm getting some kind of workout - better than nothing. For the pot roast, I just use a McCormicks or similar pot roast seasoning mix and mix it with about a cup of water. I add 1 lg. carrot, 2 lg. sticks of celery and 1/2 medium onion cut up into large chunks. I get whatever cut of meat looks good and is on sale. I cook it overnight on low (about 8 hrs.) A good trick is to put the crock pot into the fridge to chill and then you can easily remove the slab of fat that forms on the top. You can then warm it up in the microwave before serving. This saves lots of calories.

Auntie G - Looks like everyone is dusting off their crock pots! Here is the recipe I gave our DS, who hasn't done much cooking:
1 10 oz. can Campbell's cream of mushroom soup with garlic, 1 8oz container sour cream, 1/4 cup water, 1 container sliced mushrooms, 1 lb. cubed chicken breast or tenders, 1 tsp. dried tarrragon (optional). Stir the wet ingredients together in the crock pot, add the mushrooms, chicken and tarragon and stir. Cook on low for 3-4 hrs. hours till chicken is cooked through and tender. I think the slow cooking really develops the flavors, more so than just heating it all up in a saucepan.

Judy - I hope your antibiotics help you feel better. I'm sure you're getting quite a workout with packing, etc.

Carol - I'm glad you had fun in Canada, despite getting sick. There's no stopping you - you're like the energizer bunny! Your pear cake sounds delish. It probably would freeze ok - it's worth a try. I'm sure you'll get on the good side of your new director if you take one in to work! I might try a goulash in my crock pot - it's getting to be that time of the year for stews, etc.

I'm enjoying my "alone time" with my DH being in Switzerland. I had a leisurely weekend and did a little pruning in my garden. It's looking really nice now. What a change from last year. I have to go to the ENT doctor today as I want to make sure my sinus infection is taken care of before my surgery next month. My dentist took some X-rays during a recent visit and he could see some cloudiness in my sinus. I think I'll need to get some antibiotics just in case. It's amazing how many people have sinus problems - it must give the doctors a steady income!

The sauce in the crock pot works out well for goulash but don't add the noodles in they get ukky! Just thought I would let you know. I do a seperate pan cook them and then add it together afterwards. It came out well and now hubby has some dinners or lunches set for the week. Tonight I am going to do a chicken stir fry w/garlic olive oil and lots of veggies served over a little brown rice. I have also packed my lunch for the day salad with feta, lots of veggies and I will add some croutons. I made sf jello and took some for work and an apple from the local orchard so crunchy.... The cake went over supper well and everyone enjoyed it. I will make some pear sauce tonight to freeze gotta use up those pears. I gave some to the sec at work she likes to bake.
Sounds like everyone is in the fall mode. Me too and trying to get a grip on my menus to fit into my healthier life style. I am planning on a nice walk today got those sneakers packed. Marie your 15 miles and then 15 min puts me to shame.... Good for you.
Penny enjoy the time to curl up and just do some special things for yourself. The little time in our year we have for ourselves I can't remember when I had more than a half of day in the past two years only for myself no one else around at home etc. Sounds a little like heaven even know yah love the hubby.... distance brings the heart to new levels...
Auntie g oh shopping how fun even though the wallet sags.
Judy hope the move is going as smooth as possible just think the extra cals your burning. Setting up a new place in a new season sounds kind of exciting to me. I think of fall candles, dried flower arrangements and many boxes to be unpacked and a nice glass of wine to top it all off. Good luck!!
Well gotta go put my face on and get out the door free cup of coffee on tues if I get my butt in gear.

Auntie G - That's so funny your DH ending up with TWO suits! I can completely relate as my DH hates wearing suits. Your cleaning frenzy definitely counts as exercise. I need a bit of a frenzy around here too!

Marie - Sorry your scale was mean. It's not fair - what with all the exercise you do. I hope your foot cooperates. I also don't use soy protein because of my health history (it can affect estrogen) so I use an egg protein mix called MLO Natural. It has 21g of protein per serving and 110 calories. It tastes pretty good.

Carol - I learned the lesson about noodles in the crock pot a while ago - nothing worse than limp noodles! You're lucky having so many pears - we only got a few this year. Right now I have some chicken breast in the crock pot for a nice hot curry. I kind of made it up from what I had on hand, so I'm interested to see how it turns out.

Judy - I hope you're feeling better.

I got some antibiotics yesterday as my doc also thinks it's a good idea to clear up the infection before my surgery.

Here is a joke I saw today that I think we can all relate to: A doctor is handing a woman a jar of lotion and says "If you want to make your stretch marks less visible, rub some of this cream on your mirror" - I think I might try this on my scale!

Just a quick one I am more on task with choices but slipped up with a hand ful of m&m's peanut ones at least last night. Gave the rest to the skinny hubby and said you have them and I don't want to see them okay.... I ate poached eggs and raisin toast for breakfast have a healthy salad packed with plain tuna, walnuts, gr. grapes and romaine, tomatoe for lunch, crockpot has pork roast lean , saurerkraut for dinner, gr. sf jello and apple for dessert. I am trying its not so easy. Got my mini walk in yesterday gym today.
I will catch up on personals later on.

Well I stopped to buy yogurt and a pumpkin cookie came out and grabbed my hand and forced its package in my basket. Wow! I guess it was much healthier than a choc.chip cookie or something and seasonably desirable. I did share them I will tell you with my hubbie, sil and have one packed for my mom. I am dropping her off some dinner for tonight and thought she'd enjoy the last cookie. I usually make them every year never buy them but they were full of good things like raisins and walnuts so how bad was it really and pumpkin for goodness sakes. Well okay I guess I let out the fact of the sugar.... but it could of been worse.... Other than that a good day. I didn't go exercise but fit in stairs and walking a bit. I just am still dragging a bit from the cold virus thing. Started to feel better then yesterday it was a little whoosh down again. Today I feel better again. I am going to the farmers market on my lunch time nothing like Pikes Market in Seattle my favorite market but some fresh veggies and good fruits. Tonight is leftover night. I think I am going to make every thurs. that sounds wonderful clean out the ref. night. SIL turned up her nose at my sauerkraut and pork roast but ate it. I said you can make something else but this is what I am serving. Hey its not the restaurant palace. Oh sometime I have to bite my tongue a bit. I have tried hard to accomadate her dietary needs and all but there is a limit. Okay now I feel better just had to clear my head.
Marie no peanut butter huh? I love that with an apple. My new snack at work for the fall. I have made a drawer in my desk for groceries. Took in somethings to beable to make better choices if I get hungry or don't have time for lunch. Been bringing this week but on fridays we normally will order and this week is pay week. I think asking today to be prepared for tomomrow will be smart.
Digging out pants, sweaters from last year to get up for my fall wardrobe. Took back a couple of returns yesterday and got out of the store without anything. I do have to go back though got a couple of great coupons to use but will go to the store in the city better selection. Gotta have a couple new things to feel good for the fall. I need to finish my 2 year sweater project then maybe make a new one a longer style made with some big needles to work up quickly. Didn't accomplish anything last night gotta get a basket with my projects so no thinking is involved just grab and keep busy. Busy hands less munching....
Take care and yes we are on the slide down to friday!!!!
Eat healthier, and keep moving I am trying!!!!

Not a bad day in the food front but lets say its time to have nothing else tonight except for my sf jello with a little cool whip sprayed on. Hah hah. Marie I know Bear tries to get me everytime I am on the floor. Hope the doggie learns eventually. I did a 30 min. walk at work today. The new director doesn't mind us doing so during our day take a break to walk. So we were thinking maybe 3 times a week. I was really hungry afterwards have to learn to take an extra apple for the ride home. Too hungry when I arrived today. Well it was left over night. Something she will have to adjust to. I agree working full time and cooking is a bit tough. I am not sure if she enjoyed it and is kind of quiet this evening. Oh well sometimes thats life I guess. I was told today I will be getting a new computer soon. Can't wait. I pray its a laptop maybe I will know soon? They are announcing something on Friday reflecting our dept. hopefully its a move to a lovely new building that I could take too. Well take care and enjoy your evening.