I am still tired but feeling relaxed and refreshed. I have been fighting a headache that is part allergies part stress. The stress is just the noise level from 8 kids for 5 days straight, really. Hubby and I lounged in bed til 8:30. He is making breaky.I will do a thorough clean of the kitchen and then we are off to the farm for a corn roast with his family. it will be relaxing there too. i hope the rain holds off.
I made a low fat bean dip yesterday and was super gassy all night. It was comical.
I will take a bath before we go too.

Meadow~ I am envious of the pool to dip in. Your temps are higher than ours this week and we are getting rain.Have fun in the big city!!!

Mel~ glad the machine is gone and hope they can get some results! Have fun being unphysical!!!

Tig~thanks ,I love the little ones. I am tired of the older kids by Sunday. LOL!
That sounds like an awful side effect. Hope it irons out.

Linus~ stay off of those ladders, okay?

Shad~ hope your weekend is peaceful.

Teel~sorry for your pain.Wish there was more to help you.

Ceejay~ are you having a nice weekend?

Nae~ do pop in!!

Have a splendid weekend!!!

Good morning ladies,
A busy day ahead for me. I just sent DH out the door - he's going to check out his brother's land about 2 hours east of here out in the middle of nowhere, Tennessee. He invited me along but I jumped at the chance to have the house to myself. It needs a good cleaning and I'm so much more efficient when I'm alone. Friends are coming into town tommorrow and I've invited them for a BBQ tomorrow night. That's always a good motivator for me tidying things up - NOW, not think about it, just do it.

It's super hot here - at least by our standards Shad - temps nearly at the 100 mark, heat index well above that. I'm so glad hubby insisted on a house with a pool. That will be my afternoon reward. And thank heavens for air conditioning too!

Shad, hope you are enjoying your weekend doing more than just painting and sanding. Teel, you are so right about the great feeling of peeling off the wet clothes and enjoying the dry ones Hope you have a cuddly weekend with Holly. I do see that Miss Mel has INSISTED on bringing up that bad Christmas word again in her journals. I was thinking more that we are approaching that time of year for those of us on the north side of the equator that we begin to really enjoy the days of summer before the coolness sets in. Although I am going to really enjoy a much much later autumn down here. My winter "activity" will be panicking about hearing the word "ice storm" on the weather forecast. They don't get snow here, just ICE Oh well, that's a good bit off. Best to worry about it being 100 degrees today instead of distant winter ice storms.

Meadow, a yellow clematis? That sounds just divine. I don't recall seeing any in that color and I am particularly fond of them. I have found that the more unusual colors are rather fragile. We had an ugly shed on the side of the house. DH put up lattice work and trimmed it and it's quite pretty now. We bought 2 clematis plants for one side. They sat there for months and refused to grow and within the last 2 weeks have finally woken up and are "climbing" all over the lattice work. I do hope they decide they like their new home as it will be so pretty to see the wall covered in leaves and blooms. But that yellow sounds gorgeous.

Hah hah Mel, good one with the shark joke! It's too bad you don't like fish - good source of lean protein. Maybe you just have bad ocean fish there on the east coast. DH is from Rhode Island and he didn't like fish either - just steamer clams. But now he eats it regularly. He's the ocean salt water fish eater (swordfish, yellow fin tuna) and I'm the fresh water fish eater (salmon and tilapia and orange roughy - tho I'm not sure those are all fresh water fish). I'm telling you dearie that you don't know what you're missing - maybe I need to cook some for you Tig I'm sorry to hear about the eyes. Hope it eases up for you but you sound like the kind who doesn't let things get you down. So Linus, by now I hope you are getting well to the end of fixing up the new house. It sounds lovely. You must post some pics. Perhaps you could have Bump give us a tour of the new digs. We will wait patiently until Bump decides it's time Rest up now, will you? Ceejay it sounds like you got hit with the latest worm on your computer, hope you got it cleaned up. And I too have a pile of pants that need hemming - but since YOU have the sewing machine out .... : Hope you have a good time at the corn roast Holly. Sounds yummy.

Ok, ladies my time is up - got to get busy or no pool for me while the sun is still out. Make it a good one...

Didn't get back to post yesterday. It was after 5.00 when we got back to my friends place and her DH was preparing dinner and invited me to stay. We had a lovely dinner of chicken and rice with a sauce of peppers, onion and spices. Yummy it was. He used to be a chef.

The coast was warm and sunny and very windy. Didn't get much of a chance to walk (exercise wise anyway) but it was a very pleasant day. It seems that this wedding anniversary will be bigger than the Ben Hur production right down to the original wedding bouquet. Anyway it was a pleasant day. I got to meet 4 of the 5 Aunts although figuring out which is which on the night may be a bit difficult - have to think in terms of out of town one come to stay, bad knee one, crafty one, etc.etc.

My friend Chris from Japan sent me an e-mail yesterday to say she is back in Japan but not particularly well. She is suffering from a numbness in hands and feet and one arm. Doctor is trying to sort it out. Will keep my fingers crossed for her and hope it is nothing serious. She has enough problems with health as it is. In the meantime I will keep planning the Italian job but may also think about plan B as well. She also wants me to help develop one of her pupil's speech a little further as our original speech has won the local competition and come 2nd in the Prefecture competition, so now it is on to the national comps for this kid and the speech needs to be a bit longer. Since I obviously know how to go on and on and on, she's asked for more help.

So on to today, Sunday. All those things I was going to do yesterday will now need to be done today. I'm not going to bust myself to get them done, I deserved yesterdays goof off and don't feel guilty about it. So things will just get put back another day or so.

Tig, I am so sorry to hear about these awful side effects. Please take great care and nail that doctor to see if there is another drug which will do the same thing but not give side effects. There has to be something out there.

Holly - have a great time at the corn roast. That sounds like fun.

Teel, my little pommy buddy - what are we going to do. I refuse to believe that there is nothing that can be done to help you apart from Morphine. Yeah I know I have called you our resident drug addict before. A 40 minute drive? well it sounds like you might be calling on friends again if and when you get in. It's too long to wait until I get there next year!

Linus + bump. Not long to go. Hang in there, we are all waiting for the answer to our question. I know Teel and I think it is a little girl. Mel thought it was a boy. Maybe we should have a competition here!

Meadow - enjoy the big smoke, although lazing around the pool sounds like a better proposition to me - although given the predilections of the neighbours maybe not. The rose and clematis sound nice. There are some wonderful varieties available now, although I have never seen a yellow one. Your dinner sounded divine too. Just love fish. I tend to be happy with a bit of spice and a good grill and really it doesn't matter what type of fish it is, just as long as it is fresh, juicy and flavourful. I know some are better than others with the fish oil and Omega 3's and 6's but who's worried when they taste just divine.

Ceejay, happy weekend sewing and trimming and looking for 'mums.

Happy - happy house cleaning. Does DH good to get out and about without us once in a while. Hope he finds the land in good order. Hope it is still in the same place and not shot off down the road.

Talking about things moving. My sister takes the cake with this one.

She went to find the graves of my paternal grandparents (well great grandparents actually) She wanted to check out some dates for the family tree. But unfortunately she couldn't find the grave, they are buried together.
She reports back: "I searched hi and lo, in and out but I think they have hopped it, maybe it wasn't their wish for the final resting place and they have upped and moved."
Hope that doesn't mean they are on their way over for a visit!

Gotta go, laundry calls, then breakfast and the dishes, finally some more exercise in the garden. Have a fun day y'all.

Well Shad, ditto on the "does one good to get out and about" for a change. Sounds like you had a nice time on the coast. Can't remember the last time you spent some part of the weekend enjoying yourself. It's about time.

Today literally FLEW by. I had the hose out watering the flowers and shrubs and had to move it every 30 minutes as we pay for our water usage. I set a timer and it seemed like no more than 5 minutes passed and I was outside again. I did get some cleaning done but not as much as I planned, laundry is all finished, all living things out in the yard have received a drink or two of water and I did get Bump's pressie wrapped and addressed (FINALLY). I do feel quite stupid but I can't seem to find if Federal Express or the Royal Mail even delivers to Scotland. Am I dumb or what? No worries tho, I will take it to the post office next week and I'm sure they will know what to do. They got Teel's letters off without a hitch.

I do like to go in the pool when the sun is shining and the day was racing by. DH came home from his trip in the late afternoon - a wasted effort of time, energy and high priced gas money as he got all the way out there and it seems they mounted a large gate around the area - you need a code to enter the community and BIL did not provide one to us. DH was tired and went down for a nap while I went swimming. I did my exercises and had just settled down in a float for a nice rest. I was floating along peacefully when I felt something on my leg and before I could react the "tickle" turned into a deep burning pain. I looked over to see a bee floating in the water and a stinger in the back of my leg. It was too far down for me to see well so I had to trudge dripping into the house and wake up DH who was sawing logs to be my friend and help me out. I felt badly as I knew I'd wake him up and he wouldn't get back to sleep again (which did happen) but I also knew I had to get that venom sac and stinger out of my leg. It still is tender to the touch but I am very grateful that I am not allergic to bee stings. And it was a tiny little bumblebee at that. I don't know where it came from, I shook the raft as I was bringing it to the pool. Oh well the raft is black and yellow like the bee, perhaps it thought it was it's "big mama"

I got a little more cleaning in this evening, DH said he'd help with the rest tomorrow but there's not that much more to do. Our friends are due in between 6 and 7 tomorrow, I just hope if it has to rain it does so in the afternoon or late tomorrow night. I think I'll go off and vacumn the rugs and think about tomorrow's menu. I probably won't get to check in before Monday so have a nice Sunday.

Holly~ with the price of gasoline so high we could use a ton of your bean dip!

Happy~ It felt like Africa Hot all over again this weekend here too. Have a great time with the friends and the BBQ. I loved fish in Florida!

Shad~ Sending healing vibes to chris. I hope it's nothing serious. What is plan b? For you to go there?!?!? Had a giggle with your DS!!! If they are on the "move" best to get the spare room finished!

Today is cooking day and I have already started cleaning etc. The loo seems to have my name on it today....not sure what I ate wrong. Maybe too much fruit. I better get out of here and finish what I have started. Chicken breasts broiled, steamed veggies and rice and the week's oatmeal. Happy Sunday/Monday and make the week a good one!

hi chickies ,i slept not at all lsat night so this ill be very short and sweet as my darling sons have no clothes ironed for school tomorrow !!!!!! so that needs to be done before i collapse , i think a call to my midwife will be forthcoming tomorrow as she is back from holiday and will find out my temporary midwife signed me off from anti natal care !!!! hoep everyone had a good weekend and ill be back {hopefully refreshed }tomorrow
lots of love
kirsty and keeping mummy awake all night bump

Morning all,
Well here we are back at work on a sunny Monday morning. The sky is blue, the grass is brown etc.etc.etc. Am I impressed with Monday, no not at all.

Sleep well Linus. Interesting time you are having there. The baby is deciding that since you keep it awake bouncing around all over the place all day long, it's going to get it's own back at night time. Happens all the time. I saw some bath toys in the Supermarket yesterday I wish I had seen earlier. They were a whole bunch of fishy creatures and boogey boarding animals which tell the temperature of the water - they change colour (underneath) and you see the word hot appear. They looked great - however they weren't very cheap - otherwise you might have got another parcel of things.

I will pass on your vibes to Chris, Mel. Thank you. Geez I hope the dear departed grands don't come over for an extended stopover - they will be a bit thin on it by now and will need an extra soft mattress to support those bones. My spare bed is a futon and a rather thin one at that. Happy cooking. I was brewing soup last night just to keep you company. We now have sweet potato and cumin chowder in the freezer. I don't think I read the recipe quite right as the cumin flavour is quite strong. Lucky I like the spice hey? Plan B is yet to come to fruition but will more likely be a tour of some sort although I am not fond of buses and crowds - or maybe for something completely different a cruise or a round of Canada and US in the fall, back to UK and Ireland for a relly hunt, don't know yet. Will think about it slowly and see how the situation pans out.

Happy - Royal mail doesn't deliver to Scotland???? It's almost the home of Royalty. Post Offices always know what to do, only problem is you just about have to take out an extra mortgage to pay for what they know. Poor DH, it's a wonder he wasn't grumpy as well as tired. 2 hours x 2 just to see a gate in a fence???!!!! I think DB would have got a speech if he did that to me. Or does he not know that they have fenced him out now that they have his money???

My SIL is to be operated on today. DB1 is supposed to ring me to let me know the outcome but won't so I will have to ring him later myself. I'd best get some flowers sent from all of us (DB2 will not think about it and DSister is gravehopping trying to find the GPs. Keep all fingers and toes crossed please.

I have decided that my motivation to lose weight has completely gone. I am just going to try for maintenance for the next few months or so. I'm sitting between 72 and 73kg. (158lb and 160lb), and it doesn't seem to matter how much effort I put into it, nothing shifts, just bounces from 73 to 72 and sometimes to 71.5 but nothing further. I've just had enough. I'll settle for what it is and continue doing what I am doing - ie eating well and going to the gym. I can do without the stress and depression of that situation. I've given up writing in the journals. I can get more information, help, friendship here. I make the odd comment here and there but that's it, I don't have anything to say and since I haven't made an entry in 10 days and no one has missed me yet, obviously whatever I had to say wasn't interesting. So that's that. It doesn't worry me, I've been losing interest in them for a while.

Anyway I had better go get some work down before this turns into a novel.

Catch up later.

Just in for a quick post. I must have made you people think I had that worm in my computer. No. I hope that firewall is still protecting me.

Part of my week end was good the other part I was sick. Ended up in the doc's office on Friday. Allergies were the main problem but I did have symptoms of the colitis. I wanted the doc to be aware of it because I was running a temperature. He diagnosed the problem this time as messentery adenitis. It was also time for my cholesterol and thyroid to be checked. Will get those results on Thursday.

It's been to hot to be working in the flower bed besides the sun would scortch any thing planted right now. The machine I want to use is called a surger. Another one of my aunt's is supposed to see if she can help me thread it when I go back to Paragould next Friday.

Every one have a good day.

Hi-dee ho ladies.

Linus, I feel so sorry for you. My friends came by tonight. Baby is 9 months old. She's quite the kicker. Kick, kick, kick, kick bounce, giggle, kick. ALL NIGHT LONG. Mum said "now you know how I felt all through this pregnancy". It was quite the visual. Although... I must agree with Shad about you bopping about here and there and everywhere. Do remember that when I was in the flat for the short time at the beggining of the year when I could not sleep with all the noise upstairs/outside I took the broom and did a bangity bangity bangity on the ceiling. Bump may be trying to tell you something.

Ceejay, I think I could use one of those surger's myself. The threads are wearing out on my bathing suits even tho I hand wash them to get the chlorine out - it's so difficult to mend something that's stretchy fabric. Is that why you wanted it or are you doing some fancy sewing?

Shad, I'm sure that Royal Mail delivers to Scotland. They just don't make it easy for dummies like me to figure it out. I will keep your SIL and Chris in my prayers that all goes well. Sometimes all we can do is send out a little "soul medicine" and good vibes. As for the journals, I got away from them a while ago. If I go back, I do private postings just for myself. I wouldn't say people don't miss you. Some of the old timers like Ruth and Madcat love you dearly but stick with their own journals as time allows. From the pictures you last posted, I would tell you not to get discouraged. The changes are very noticeable. Not that you were morbidly obese or anything, but I see quite the change in your profile. You ARE getting results, even if the stubborn scale refuses to budge. Don't loose the faith, ok?

So Mel, did you see any wild jungle animals in "Hot Africa" out by you? Good way to put it. It was 100 degrees again today. Too steamy for me to be outside. So did the apparatus they strapped on you help any or was it more of a nuisance?

Today I cleaned 11 rooms in my house. Now granted, not all rooms needed the same amount of attention - some just got a "Fly Lady Blessing". Others got much more of my time and attention. After all that there were 2 rooms left, one I didn't bother with as it is just storage on the 3rd floor and the other was our "office" and I simply ran out of time. As it was, I was expecting my company in the early evening. I was at the grocery store when I hear my purse singing - DH was trying to reach me on the cell phone. I really never pay attention to the cell phone, I will have to download some obnoxiously loud hard rock acid heavy metal song so I will hear my phone. Anyway, my friends got into town early and were planning on coming over in 45 minutes. Luckily I was just paying for the goods and dinner was something I could lay down quickly. I got home about 30 minutes before they arrived and set to cutting up the fruit and cooking pasta for the salad. As I was giving them a tour of the house, I realized just how tired my poor feet were after all that trudging through the house during the day. I was wearing slippers and not good shoes with supports in them which is my own dumb fault. My feet hurt so badly at this point I could just scream. The friends left about 8:30 when the baby got cranky. Took another hour or so to clean up the kitchen - I cannot leave things lying about anymore (thank you FlyLady). So it was almost 10 before I got a chance to sit down from when I rolled out of bed this morning. The good thing is that my house is nice and shiny clean now. If only it would stay that way on it's own

I think the best thing I can do for myself right now is to just head on up to bed. A group of us from my old job are getting together for dinner tomorrow night. Will be good to see me chums again. Looking forward to it. So I'd best get to sleep so's I don't fall asleep in my salad tomorrow. Have a good Monday, including you Shad - there to produce what they forgot to tell you they needed before they get round to asking you about it I know that place

Oh I love it. That's one I will print out and tape to the cubicle walls in large print. Sleep well Happy, and have a great day tomorrow with the oldjob chickies.

PS SIL is out of theatre and is doing okay. They do not think the tumour was cancer. Yahoo and hallelujah.

Oh and I haven't given up. Just gone in to maintenance for a while. Well lets face it I've been there for nearly the past year.

Nearly time to go home - another 50 minutes or so. More Hoorays and hallelujahs

Shad~ I am so glad about the SIL and will send prayers anyway for a good outcome. Hope Chris will find out soon too. Fingers and toes are still crossed. Glad work is over and you are home!! The soup sounded good. I like cumin but just a dash!
I weighed in at 171 again today. The same as last week. Just can't seem to get out of the 170's! I know what you mean about the not giving up part...it's more like WTF LOL

Happy~ Nice cleaning job....do you hire out?! I just took my flylady journal and tossed it yesterday. I did learn a lot from her and have been a much tidier person since we met!
That machine was ONLY for testing the carbon dioxide/oxygen/pulse/heart rate I have during the night. Results will be forthcoming I guess. LOL wonder if they will tell me I'm dead?! We hit 97 yesterday so I came back in and cleaned some more. You would think my apt. was immaculate by now but there is more dvd watching going on in between the cleaning bits! I thought of you yesterday when I was tossing out papers and found an article for a butterfly Garden.
BTW....How is rocky Racoon and the kitten?!

Ceehay~ Paragould!!! YAY!!! talke me with you to get serger instructions!! Jen always wanted one of them. They're supposed to make great seams for jackets too. she loves fleece and all the patterns she liked called for a serger. Good luck!!! I hope you feel better too. Bad sinus weather for all of us. Was the diagnosis about adenoids?! Not sure what it was. Hope the colitis calms down too. I had "rear" problems for MANY years till I went on a diet. Now I have the OPPOSITE problem!! Neither are nice I can tell you that much! (((((HUGS))))) Get well soon.

Linus~ Poor Bump :b: has had a very bumpy ride for the last 8 months!!! Poor little sod is just getting back at you for keeping him/her up so many nights! Rest well little Mother.

I was going to the Mall but don't feel the need to be out in this heat. It's an outdoor mall where you have to keep going outside to the next store so I am taking a pass. Wednesday is the Seniors BBQ and I don't want to miss that....hope it cools off some. S.O.S. over here so I will get the day started. I feel like i'm in slow motion today! lol good morning Sunshine

Hi from me...
As usual its absolutely chucking it down here now. It started off a really lovely morning but by 11:00hrs it was doing the wet thing

Shad I am so releived about SIL's operation. How great that it turned out to be a benign tumour. I pray it will keep that way!!
Sorry to hear that your travelling friend is not well. I wonder what all that numbness is all about?I do hope Chris is ok and fully recovered in time for your trip together in Italy next year.

Happy its a good job you are not allergic to bee and wasp stings!. Poor Dh!! He must be a dab hand at the tweezers!

Linus...are you counting the days yet?? I hope yiu got in touch with the midwife and that she was a help to you. You must be shattered after a sleepless night. Tell bump to settle down, shut up and go to sleep!!

Melly Melly I am sending you Hugs and I think Tig is in need of a few too with both your eye troubles...

In fact I think most of us in this thread need a good supply of a [[[[hug]]]] at the moment.

I saw my social worker today. She was very quick off the mark to see that my mental health is somewhat floundering at the moment! Just call her Einstein....tut tut Teel...down, girl Get back in your tree!!!!

I have been fiddling with a printer copier I "stole " from the church. no one there uses it and I need it for church stuff. It is a little sticky but I keep on copying stuff and it is working better.
Sessions meeting tonight. It was our anniversary yesterday. A non event. Sometimes we go out for dinner but the kitchen tap fell apart so we got a new tap for our anniversay ,LOL!
It is a beautiful 19C,68F here!!! A perfect temp for living!!! Did an hour of digging and mulching this morning.

HUGS to ALL!!! it was lovely to read everyones news. Healing thought to those who need them and restful thoughts to miss Linus!!

hi folks ,how are we all???
SHAD so glad sil seems to have missed out on very much worse news and that hopefully thigns will go so much better for her and hubby now
MEL andrew has sleep apneo unfortunatly the only person it worrys is me ,the person with the problem never knows about it as they are usually asleep
HAPPY i think it might be the heat in the bedroom that is contributing to the non sleep but im now keeping andy awake to which is not good so im gonna see how it is tonight and i may retire to the sofa as it is so much cooler down here
TEEL keep your chin up hun and ill speak to you tomorrow night again
and to all my other chickies hugs and thoughts
right ive spent way to much time gassing tonight with my freinds who visited{the bikers} and teel now you my chickies so im off #
lots of love kirsty+bump
ps garden and tomatoes are still fine lol