Good morning ladies. So far it isn't raining today. I don't think we are supposed to get rain, but I know a couple days ago we were and we didn't so who knows?

Well, I know I am losng weight because my turkey gobbler is caving in on both sides under my neck, I got into a pair jeans though snug without laying on the bed to zip up and a shirt that was too tight to wear was nice and loose. On top of that, I have about 1/4 inch between the steering wheel and me where before my tummy was right up against it.

Jean: Sounds like you guys are ready for summer to begin. I hope the weather will adjust now so that you can be warm at the lake. I went over the other morning to check on the pool and found they changed the locks. No biggy other than I will now have to either go to the board and see if I can get a key or go swimming when everyone else does. I will probably just go at noon everyday as soon as the person opens it. We haven't been in two years so I don't even know how they are checking IDs anymore. I know they are doing something, but whomever the lazy secretary is for the board now, never sends out any info. They started a newsletter, printed and distributed it one time and then dropped it. The same board members have sat on the board for decades and accomplish little if anything. The clinic was real quiet except for lots of bandaids. They aren't working anymore, just doing movies, playing outside and such so of course no one gets sick. I had an over anxious young teacher make me call a kid's parents yesterday because he fell down and scraped and cut his arm by his elbow. She is scaring the kid to death telling him may need stitches and it a) wasn't even bleeding where the cut was, b) wasn't deep and C) was about 1/16th of an inch long. I goofed around washing it until she left then told him, he would not need stitches, just a good bandage and I put one of those large ones on to cover everything including the abraised part. I told him I would call his mom and he gave me his name. I called the house and got his dad and told his dad the whole thing and said not to freak out it was just a skinned arm for the most part as they would see when he got home, but the teacher insisted repeatedly that I call. She acted like someone was going to accuse her of purposely cutting him up or something. I documented it so that she couldn't say I didn't call, but it was the dumbest thing I have ever seen and I felt like an idiot calling the parent for a skinned arm.

Susan: I will have to check out some pancake mixes like that. Jack doesn't care for pancakes because he says they soak up all the syrup, but I really like pancakes. I have bought the ready made reduced fat ones in the freezer section and they are pretty good. I too use sf syrup and don't miss the fattier stuff at all. I put it in my oatmeal instead of splenda or sugar and like it better.

Maggie: It is very humid here now and you get sticky going outside most of the time. I have been just walking on the treadmill instead of in the neighborhood. For one thing, we sit where any direction is uphill and I have found that since my surgeries, walking uphill actually hurts somewhat or let's say is uncomfortable and not in an exercise good way. I am either going to treadmill or go to a mall and walk until I can swim everyday.

I got the yarn for T's sweater and it is so pretty. The bottom will be a goldish,orange yellow color called Caution and the top is yellow and called butter and looks like butter. I wasn't sure how they would look together so I knitted up a tiny swatch first using just one color then the next on top of it, then continued and did striping as the sleeves are striped I believe. I hope he likes it. He told me way back when I was considering doing sweaters for them again this year that he likes orange and yellow a lot so I hope he likes the combination of the two. I found the most adorable verigated yarn to make a sofa pillow to go allow with the yellow throw I am making for the wedding present. The throw color is called daffodil, but it is a deep golden yellow, more so than the picture showed. This varigated yarn has yellow and olive and several other lovely colors and very soft. I am going to take a skein of daffodil to Hobby Lobby and and put it next to a couple of these yarns as there are two it would look good with I think. Here is the daffodil yarn and the two colors for the pillow. They are pretty accurate in color so I value your opinion. I like the tangerine better, but everyone gets a vote! lol THe tangerine is the yarn next to the daffodil and the creamsicle is the third one to the right.

On to chores and things. I told Jack he could have french toast this morning. I use egg beaters and ff milk and lots of real vanilla extract since the batter isn't as rich, and it is only 4 pts for 3 slices.

Have a great Saturday. I am going to knit, knit, knit today as I have so many things to finish.
Faye

Good Morning, Flowers! I am having a lazy start to my morning. It was raining when I got up, but the sun is shining now. The weatherman says it will be thunderstorms today through Tuesday. I feel sorry for the graduates who are trying to have outdoor receptions today and tomorrow. I need to make a grocery run this morning along with every other "Tom, Dick, and Harry" in town. You'd think I would learn not to wait until the last minute especially on a holiday weekend. Oh well, I don't have any deadlines to meet this weekend.

"Gma" -- It would be nice if you can get a key to the pool and swim by yourselves if that is what you prefer. It's too bad that people who agree to take an office on organization boards don't follow through with the duties assigned to that office. We have had that happen at church and at the hospital auiliary -- frustrating! I'm guessing the teacher was following the school rules that parents be notified whenever an injury occurs during school hours. I know we've had several during PE classes, and high school parents have to be notified, if there is physical evidence, no matter how small the incident. If it's one thing I have learned over the years it is document, document, document! There have been many times where I have something notated that a teacher might need for the IEP records and no one else bothered to record the incident/date. I vote for the creamsicle color just because it wouldn't be such a contrasting color. Whichever you choose will be very attractive, I'm sure. French toast sounds good , I haven't made that in a long time. We often do breakfast items for lunch or supper just because I run out of ideas; quick and easy is my motto!

I'm off to take my shower and get my day going. Have a nice day and smile!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Good evening, ladies! A beautiful day in the high 80s.

I washed 2 quilts that I used in the winter today and hung them out. I have the big bed quilts to do tomorrow. My neighbor invited me over for breakfast this morning and then I had an early dinner with my other friend (we had a Ruby Tuesday BOGO coupon).

Faye, I vote for creamsicle. I like the softer color.

Maggie, good to hear from you. I'll have to look into Schwan's. About once a month, a couple of the drivers will set up on a Saturday and have a truck load sale.

Jean, I hope you get some nice weather for the holiday!

Well, I'm ready to head up to bed - have to get up early for Church. Have a good Sunday!

Good morning ladies. Hope your Sunday is going well. Looks like Creamsicle is winning by a landslide so far... I liked both equally well so either one would make a pretty pillow in my opinion.

Jean: We had a hard rainstorm overnight. It has passed through now but lots of water all over. Tomorrow is the first day the pool should be open so I am keeping an eye out. They took the "pool closed for the season" sign down several days ago but looks like the cleaner needs to come in and clean it to me, but then I didn't get too close. The water will be freezing for at least 6 weeks of really hot weather, but I don't care. I am going to use it everyday pretty much unless they don't open it.

Susan: Where did you ever get a BOGO coupon for Ruby Tuesday? I love their salad bar and usually get it. We have our dinner out for the month this weekend and though we had agreed it was whatever we want to eat as a treat, we then got to thinking how many calories that might be and decided to go to a restaurant where their website had nutrition facts. So, we are going to Olive Garden. Jack's is a higher calorie count than I as he wants the salad and dressing and only really eats spaghetti and meat sauce, but it is a treat that we are supposed to be able to have whatever we want. The fact that we normally eat out 2-3 meals a WEEK, this has been a defining moment for us and then on top of that choosing to pass by our favorite restaurant for one in which we can actually fit points in makes it even better. I have always always stuck to the thought that weight loss occurs first in the head before what goes into the mouth. I know you agree with this. I mean, just look at some of the spokespeople celebrities for like Nutrisystem or Jennie Craig. Kirstie Alley I read has gained back 90 lbs. I saw that blond celebrity from the Nutrisystem commercials on another type of commercial and it looks like she is maybe 20 lbs heavier then she was. Surgery is no better. Carrie Wilson has gained back at leat 60 lbs from her surgery. If you don't adapt your diet to a lifestyle, you are losing your battle right there. Jack and I sat and talked about it yesterday. How many points would he be getting to live on once he lost what he wanted to lose. One thing I have started doing is compiling recipes I have changed from the normal fatty ones to more WW friendly. For example, the french toast yesterday. I made it with egg beaters and skim milk instead of cream and eggs and then used real vanilla an extra splash and butter pam to help make up the richness a bit. Jack is definitely my scale. He is kind of picky and if I make changes that he will eat then I know we can just live this way. I fixed meat loaf and scalloped potatoes last night and used gr sirloin egg beaters and 1/4 cup of crumbs and put the ketchup on the top instead of inside the meat loaf mix. I bet I cut 10 pts off a regular meat loaf and Jack loved it. I used the new potatos in the can well rinsed and then used only 1 tbl of margarine and skim milk for the roue. He gets his comfort food without high points. We went to beef tenderloin for steaks instead of regular steak if we want steak once in awhile. The calories and fat are about half what they are for other steak. I also take one tenderloin and cut it in half and give us each 6 oz instead of a big 8-16 oz steak. So we are coming right along with everything well. Jack has lost almost 10 lbs and sees his pants getting less tight and I can tell his tummy is shrinking. For me it is less obvious yet but I see things in clothing and such too.

Well enough blabbing. I have things I need to do. Have a great day everyone.
Faye