Holly your tarts look delicious! I'm always a fan of a good fruit tart I really like the idea of gardening, but I'm petrified of spiders, and it really puts me off... At the moment we're in a top floor apartment with a balcony though, so don't have the chance to garden anyway! I have a few vegetables growing in my window boxes. I would like to move to a house just a little out of the city one day, with a small garden to keep a vegetable patch in.

Lisa - good luck pulling your finances together over the next month, even if it means eating bread an water for the whole month! And I'm so glad Jennifer calmed down when she got home. Have you lived there long?

I started knitting earlier this year and I've been enjoying it, it's a good distraction and it's nice to be making things. I just finished my first big project, which was a shawl. I'm going to knit a footstool next. Everyone will be getting knitted gifts for Christmas this year

I just wrote a long post on my phone and lost it while trying to post emojis and using the back button. I just wanted to say hello and check in. Not much new to report, but I sure appreciate everyone's support and encouragement. I read all posts, but it's so late now and I don't have the time or energy for another long post. Will try to check in again soon. Hope all is well with everyone!

Holly, those desserts made my mouth-water! Does the rat b*stard know how talented you are?

Lisa, have you considered going to a food bank? My neighbor volunteers at her church one, and she told me that the people that go are usually working people who do not qualify for food stamps, but need a little help. I consider that a hand up, not a hand-out, and it is something to consider. It is certainly not good for your health to not eat. The ones around here only ask for proof that you live in the towns they serve - a license or electric bill.

Kathleen, I have had long posts disappear many times - I have also posted to the previous month's thread a few times! So frustrating! I hope things are working out for you and your family. Your son is lucky that you are able to afford to pay to have him live elsewhere as he certainly cannot live with the family at this point in time.

Coop, I knitted a lot years ago - then I did a very complicated Nantucket afghan, and that was that. I put the needles down and did not pick them back up for at least 20 years! Then, a few years ago I saw one of those frilly scarves, and when I heard it was a skein of yarn, I made about 20 of them - I gave them to friends and family that Christmas. Then, you saw them everywhere, and I got sick of doing them. The best part about knitting is it kept my hands busy - and not eating!

Hello to everyone else.

This is exactly why I'm doing it so much just now! It is keeping me occupied. I'm so sure I'll end up like you, sick to death after one nightmare project! I'll run out of knitting ideas soon too...

A good idea to try the local food bank, it is a good backup plan.

I've got zero motivation right now, likely my new medication. I just can't be bothered with cooking or housework or exercise, anything that isn't easy. I have been eating a lot of really unhealthy food, just because it's easy. This weekend I've persuaded myself to do some lazy batch cooking though to turn things around. I bought 12 baking potatoes which I'm going to bake and freeze for later, and I'm going to boil up some chicken stock and make a big pot of soup in the slow cooker.

Hey friends a quick hello before i get ready for work.

Lisa - oh I feel sad that you will be saying goodbye to Ruby and Felix, maybe a new kitten adoption is what is needed!! I hope so much you get your pain managed and money problems lessened, I wish your life was easier my friend!! and I hope you know we want to hear from you no matter the situation.

Coop yay to you for doing some 'lazy day' big batch cooking, that is smart. I wish you had a patch of garden to get dirty in I dont see many spiders while grubbing in the dirt, thank goodness

Hi EasySpirit / Monica, yes the Rat B. does know my talents but I do not do any baking for him, just the cash register or sandwiches. And that makes me happy I just do baking at the summer job place. Today I have to finish 100 super-mini tarts (1") and 100 mini cupcakes. How is the renovating/decorating going??

HI Kathleen OH so frustrating to have a long post disappear! we know how detailed and personalized your posts to us are we are all sending your positive energy towards the situation with your son. Have you had some good weather for pool time?

I haven't been on my m'cycle for 10 days!! Either rain, or COLD (we got down to the low 40's the other night, and a high of 50 the other day)


'

Lisa, sorry to hear felix is moving out with Jennifer, I know how much you were enjoying his company. Maybe you can get another cat when things have settled down? Best wishes for your phone interview tomorrow I have everything crossed!

Holly - your baking sounds amazing. It's kind of the best all round, you get the joy of baking, you get to sample one or two, but you don't risk eating everything in one sitting all to yourself! Hope the weather picks up for you so you can get out on your bike soon

Day one of my cook-a-thon went well, and I've made a good effort to get clutter out the house too - I've donated 3 garbage bags full of clothes yesterday. A bit wiped out today though; our rabbit broke his foot, so we had a panic visit to the vet this morning. He'll be ok, but I'm feeling a lot of owner guilt!

Lisa: How did your interview go? I hope things went well! What kind of job are you seeking? That makes me so sad to think that not only Jennifer will be moving out, but Ruby and Felix, too. I thought Felix was your cat. Couldn't you keep Felix, especially since the 2 cats don't get along well? Darn, that just sucks! I sure do hope your load lightens SOON!!! You are always in my prayers. Hang in there!

Coop: Good for you for pushing through your blah mood and making yourself do some things! I know from personal experience how difficult that can be. Glad to hear that knitting is keeping you occupied. How in the world does a rabbit break his foot? Regardless, I hope he's okay!

EasySpirit: I just can't bring myself to call you Monica yet, since I just picture you as a wise and easy spirit. Even though you chose your name from a shoe... LOL... it fits you in my mind. Anyway, yes, we are SO blessed that we can afford to allow our son to live somewhere else right now. This isn't forever, though! I had to take his (OUR!) car yesterday... again... and I told him the place he's staying is next. I can't even imagine putting him out on the streets, but if he doesn't straighten up his act, that's where he will be. And I can't even tell you how sad I am that it is coming to this point. I just pray and hold out hope that he will make some serious behavioral changes before it's too late. He might have to hit rock bottom before he straightens up. I sure hope not! I remind myself and my husband that things COULD be worse, but I get tired of looking at the bright side in my life sometimes. I have to do it a lot with all of the crap I've/we've been through. Today is just one of those days that I feel defeated. I hope things are going well for you! I always appreciate your wisdom and perspective.

Holly: Sorry to hear that you haven't been able to get out on your motorcycle. Hope that changes soon! Oh my gosh, those tarts you posted recently made my mouth water, too!!! At least they each contained about a serving of fruit! At least that's what I would tell myself as I devoured them! I truly don't know how you bake all of those goodies and not dig in! You sure have a lot of self-discipline, unlike me. I just finally had time to get out by our pool this afternoon, and wouldn't you know it, our pool is in chlorine lock. The water is so cloudy that you can't even see the bottom of the pool. I tried to google whether or not it is safe to swim in a pool that is in a state of chlorine lock, but couldn't find an answer, so I decided to wait until my hubby fixes things. We literally just cancelled the pool company that was servicing our pool so that my hubby could take over the job (at his request; he felt we were always getting ripped off by them and he knows a bit about it from when he was a lifeguard). Anyway, I sat in the sun with my daughter for a little while. It was nice, but I didn't last too long since it is in the 80s and sunny here today. Not complaining about the weather at all, but it felt too hot to be out there without being able to cool off in the water. What project are you currently working on in your yard and/or home? And have you still been maintaining your workouts? Hope all is well!

Hi all,

Been a bit quiet here, so I thought I'd post. I've been checking in, but not a lot exciting going on here. Feeling very tired, which I think is partially because my diet has been poor and my medication increased. Going to give up non-water drinks next week I think.

Kathleen - not sure how bun broke his foot, they are masters at hiding injury (because the weakest in the pack is an easy target in the wild) so I don't even know when he broke it! But he seems to be feeling better with his painkillers. How are things going with the son? Is he showing signs of finding his feet? Have you had your pool sorted?

Lisa - I really hope your interview went well on Monday, please let us know how you got on!

Holly, hope the weather picked up there and you've made it out on your bike!

Hope everyone else is well

I'm here.


Not much to say lately, I'm sorry. I'm not really down just not much going on.


I have a second interview next Thursday.


Jennifer didn't get her du-plex to rent, she's incredibly sad. She even cried. I know she wants to get out of here. I'm going to support her move when she finds a place. It makes me so sad to know she's sad.

I'm sorry I haven't posted much. I'll try to.


Have a great night and I'll try to post again soon.

Hi ladies,

I wanted to update you. I went to see the nurse practitioner today. She is going to refer me for physical therapy for my back, to strengthen it. I also have a rather large cyst by my inner eyelid, next to my nose. I mentioned it during my visit and she said to just leave it alone and hopefully, my body would take care of it. She is also going to refer me to a nutritionist.


Jennifer will be gone all weekend.


That is about it from here. Will post again soon.

Lisa - good luck with your next interview! Such a shame jennifer didn't get the apartment, I hope something better comes available soon!

I handed in my my notice at work this week to move on to a new job. My boss doesn't want me to go, and made a comment that he thinks the prospects where I'm going really aren't that great, and the move is amistake.... now I'm nervous. I said I'd think things through this weekend whether I might change my mind, but my project manager, not realising it still wasn't public started telling the rest of the office. Feel a bit like I'm committed now that it's public.

I have a good rapport with my colleagues. I will be very sad to no longer work with them, as they have been so understanding in getting me through such a horrible period in my life.

Coop - perhaps the comment from the boss is only because he is sorry to be losing you? I HOPE very much that the job move IS better for you!! is it totally apart from your current colleauges? that is nice that they have been so supportive. I was sorry to hear about bunny's foot! and that he/she is drifting along nicely on the meds Sorry to hear you are feeling tired, yes maybe straight water is the way to go (for all of us , guilty here too)

Lisa, HI we are so glad to see you but sorry about your general low-feeling, and sorry about Jennifer's disappointment. Really hope that maybe the visits to the physical thereapy and nutritionist help you!!!

HI Kathleen sorry about the chlorine problem hope it is better now?? and we are all so concerned about your son and family situation must be so hard!!! and how is YOUR health??? and your arm , was it edema?? so much going around you that I don't want to forget what major health battles you have fought.

we have had a couple/three sunny warm days in a row so I am happy riding to work, then coming home and working on the yard. I am *trying* to get into the habit of working out at 6 am each morning, I've done it twice, wowee right but I am a 'schedule' person so maybe looking at the clock at 6 am will do it for me. I have been doing Shelly Dose on youtube, she is SO energetic and smiley

I had second eye doctor visit and she confirmed that apparently my peripheal vision is declining, due to the results of this STUPID SUCKY DUMB test I asked her, "maybe I just SUCK at taking this test?!" its the early glaucoma testing. So I still have to go to the specialist next month. I dunno, I was sitting outside a bit ago with my coffee, looking straight ahead, sensed movement to my left, it was a robin dicking around, but it was a 90 degree angle away and I saw it, take that, pessimistic optomitrist lady