Zoe, I visited Sturbridge Village years and years ago. I hadn't thought of it until you mentioned it. I think my oldest was about 10 months old at the time. We were on vacation with friends of ours and we hit some of the many tourist attractions in Massachusetts. I love New England.

Poor little chicken, Bobbi. I know you are so attached to your chickens as you post about them so often. What kind of a wild cat was it? A domesticated feral?

Lynn, I'm really enjoying your vacation entries. It's a cold rainy day here and just reading about the sunny South is warming.

Gayle, 1/2 pound lost is going in the right direction.

That black bean and cheese enchiladas were so easy to make. I steam fried onions and peppers together and added rinsed canned black beans. I mashed the beans a bit with the back of my spoon and then spooned the mixture unto small corn tortillas and sprinkled with cheese. I rolled them up and put them in a dish and covered them with mild salsa and a sprinkle of cheese on top of that. Then I baked them 20-25 minutes. We don't like "hot" food so I always use mild salsa. You could make these much hotter if you used hot peppers, etc.

I had an interesting walk today. It was stop and go for a bit--like walking a dog. I stopped at the town hall looking for a map of the walking trails in town but they didn't have one. But I got a map of the town so I'll try and figure out the route from that. I'm taking a group walking on the weekend (weather permitting) as it's Canadian Thanksgiving. And then farther on my walk I came across a group of pre-schoolers and their teachers just coming back from a nature walk. I stopped and chatted with the kids and sang them a song about walking. They were happy and so was I. It's cold out today. I had on a long sleeved t-shirt, a hoodie, a jacket, a scarf around my neck and gloves on. I even had up 2 hoods at times. I was finally warm by the time I got back home. The leaves are falling and everything looks bright with the colors of the trees. I'll keep walking until ice forms on the streets. That should be sometime in late December or January. Sometimes, even in the winter the roads are clear enough to walk so I'm hoping for that. I fall on ice. I have traumatic memories.

I have to get off my bum and hang a few diplomas and certificates in the study. They've been lying around for almost 2 weeks and today is the day for a hanging.

Catch you all later.

Day 4 -

Ooops where did the sunny south go? Rainy here today. Took the trolley around Savannah in the rain - saw all 21 squares & LOTS of mansions. Tomorrow we will walk around & go into some.

BC of the rain, we went to movies - Invention of Lying - don't bother.

Tonight is Paula Deen's - Uh Oh. I'll do my impression of a restaurant critic tomorrow.

Lynn

We spent from 1:30 this afternoon until 6:00 this evening at the VA Clinic getting Tim all set up for his medical benifits!! WHEW!! I'm tired and didn't get any thing done this afternoon. We ate at Arbys on the way home so that is why I didn't even try to calculate my calories tonight. I don't think it would be possible. Didn't get much walking done either. Tomorrow is a new day!!!

Good Morning, too busy to chat.
Isabella, I'm going to make your bean recipe for tonight, easy. thanks and bye everyone.
gotta check into challenge quick.

Report on Paula Deen's -

Small; NOT fancy; good service - attached to BIG store.

Ate -
Fried green tomatoes w red pepper & sweet onion relish
Cheddar butter biscuit
Cornbread pancake
Salmon
Green beans w onions
Wild rice
Chocolate mousse pie w chocolate chips & chocolate shavings

Result - REALLY sick - didn't get to sleet until after 3 am. My body is just not used to so much fat and sugar. Tasted good - especially the fried green tomatoes & dessert, but back on wagon today.

Yes, Lynn, you should have skipped the wild rice. That was just overload.
Paula Deen should join 3FC.

Karen31, that kind of day is so tiring. You'll do better today.

I had a nice walk in the mist and little showers this morning. The temperature was a bit warmer than yesterday so I wasn't cold today.

I got all the diplomas and certificates hung yesterday so it seems I accomplished something more than making dinner. Now to sort the photos! Actually, I'm just getting a photo box and stuffing them all in for another day. At least it will look neat on the shelf.

Catch you all later.

I'm down almost 7# on SBD this first week. I know I can't trust ALL of it, because of water weight, etc., but there HAS been progress! Is anyone else out there??????

7 pounds is great for the first week. You'll slow down a bit on the second week and those following. After a few more pounds your clothing will start feeling lose. Keep up the good work and come and chat.

Good afternoon ladies,

Today's the day!!! I have a Dr. appointment and hopefully I'll be able to quit wearing this "Moon Boot". Wish me luck.

I've had really good luck with my diet since the challenge. Or I suppose i shouldn't call it luck. It's planning and hard work. I'm looking forward to adding some exercise to it. I always do better when I exercise.

Zoe, I'd love to see pictures of the twins. So fun, aren't they? They are just about the same age as my brothers.

Isabella, You mentioned the Deploma's and Ceertificates that you are hanging. What are they for? I'm looking forward to trying your recipe too. I make your vegetable curry dish often. I'm found a lot of good recipes here. I like making things that other people have already tried.

Gayle, slow gets there too. I'm happy with every ounce that I lose. Really, at this age, it's just hard.

Lynn, Oh my, You've been eating some of my favorite southern things. I get the same results now when I over do. I had a piece of pizza for dinner last night, with a large salad. i was sick! And I love spicy things!

Bobbi, Sorry to hear about your little chicken. Being a farm girl myself, i know how attached you can get.

Jess, Wonderful!!! Just keep doing what you're doing, it's obviously working! Come tell us about your "journey"

Karen, Every day is a new start. And sitting in hospitals and Dr.'s offices all day is so stressful.

Phyllis, Good to hear from you. You know we will all be praying for you. Aren't the medical advances they've made facinating?

Freda

Freda, my diplomas are from college and university and the certificates are just little health courses or notes of appreciation I've gathered over the years. A couple of years ago I decided I'd hang them up in the study. Teachers rarely have their diplomas hanging in their classrooms and I don't know why. Every other professional does, even the dental assistant and hairdressers do. So I decided it was time I recognized all the hard work I'd put into getting those degrees and hung them up in my own study at home. Glad you're enjoying the recipes. I'm always on the lookout for new foods and recipes to try out.

I'd almost forgotten about your foot. You'll feel like your walking on air when the cast comes off. You'll probably have one skinny leg for awhile.

Must really go and put those photos away. I'm a #1 procrastinator.

Hello alll...My road to H*ll is still paved with good intentions and someday soon i will get back to doing personals.

Sunday afternoon dear friends of ours did a bit of intervention and told DH he had to get with his program for theirsakes. He spent Monday reading all the literature the kidney doc gave him and had the decaf coffee out ready to split with regular. (need I say I am in caffine withdrawl!) He has some things a little screwed up like 2 oz of protein aday when it is 5! but it is a start.

It is just impossible to try and combine his menu with my South Beach diet. He can not have whole grains...yipes they are hi in phoshorus and that includes all nuts, seeds and root vegies and winter squashes. Ditto tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, dried beans, bananas and even yogert. Cooked carrots are ok but raw nope, Fresh mushrooms okay but not canned. No chocolate, cola drinks or caffine. And that is all before we than start on diabetic diet. I actually feel that if I eat this way am gonna get so unbalanced and deprived....yuck! No bran, no cerals, So am gonna eat my diet and cook wonderful tasty bland meals for him. will get my caffine on the way to bridge hid my legal snacks in my desk.

Bobbi...when my kids were little we raised 2 steers a year to keep us under farm tax. We put one in our freezer and sold the other one to friends. Of course we named them. we lost many a company when my kids would ask if we were eating Sophie or Sonia or LBJ....Sally was the hog that was the other woman in DH's life. We ate her, too. Guess if you don't know where the meat/leather products come from it is easier to swallow. But we know what went into our meat and it was much healthier.
ps....LBJ was Little Black Joe...an angus steer.

We had 2-3 days last week with the a/c off. My Yankee genes kicked in and I need some Fall. It is back close to 90 and can't bring self to put up Fall door wreath. Gosh my pointsetta is still hang on the front porch. Tossed last year hanging pot of geraminiums Sat because they were so leggy. One more month until the azales bloom. I live in a strange land for sure.

House smells wonderful. I just made eggplant parm with just a dash of sauce. That should make himself a happy man. I don't like it so it's all for him. Did 4 eggplants! He eats it cold best. blahhhhhhhh.

Lynn....you must try everything at Paula's. I make her chicken bog all the time. Or did. sighhhhhhhh I always feel when watching her I know her. Well, I play bridge with a dozen ladies just like her. Those sweet southernbelles, who will polite you to death and are stainless steel underneath. Now that is not a putdown that is how the Charleston ladies kept Sherman from burning the city. They polited him to death. Just love that story.

Off to make a dessert for DH....apple and cranberries come to mind....Karen3

ps Renal dr's office just called and said they recieved his kidney sonogram and it was ok...meaning did not need a repeat and of course he took that as he is ok with no renal disease. ....I had to call the office back and let her explain....Gesh LUCY!

Hi ladies! Some days are just crazy, you know?

Tonight I'm popping pills and swigging water in prep for a colonoscopy tomorrow. Fun stuff. No problems, though. I had a colon resection five years ago (perforated diverticulitis) and this is my five year check up. The doc wants to see how his handiwork is holding up. Good, I hope!

Here's a funny story. Today I got a UPS package with two dozen camouflage baseball caps, complete with the word Rimydal and a black dog embroidered on the front. I used to work in PR and know what that's all about, but I'm retired now and I never ordered these babies. They came addressed to my maiden name, too, which is strange--but not completely strange, as I lived here under that name before marriage. So when I call the company on the box's sticker, they're mystified too, because they sent those caps to someone who works for Pfizer, the big drug company. Someone who just happens to have the same name AND lives in the same town I do. Well... this woman and I just keep crossing paths! Before marriage, I couldn't go to the hospital without having to double check EVERYTHING. She and I share: the same first name, middle initial, and last (maiden) name; the same birth year, the same birth MONTH; the same doctor (drove doc's staff crazy); indeed, the same doctors for a handful of sundry ailments. Medical personnel would show up thinking I was her, asking about surgeries, conditions and medications I never had in my life. I got some of her bills and she got some of mine. Gosh, I feel like I know her. Today I proposed a camouflage cap swap in a public location but the company preferred to have UPS just pick it up. Still, I think it's only a matter of time before this gal and I meet up.

Jess, I don't do SB so don't know much about it, but 7 lbs. is a wonderful start! Yeah, the weight comes off more slowly after that first surge, still it's nice to get such a nice jump, isn't it.

Karen, I'm checking out that Sherman/Charleston story. Love history!

I'm also checking out all the recipes you all are sharing. I tried a butternut squash macaroni and cheese I found on here that was quite good. The enchiladas sound like a yummy change of pace.

Greetings, all...

This week is turning out to be a busy one at work - more meetings than I need for sure. Feels good to get home, kick my shoes off and climb into my PJ's. Tonight, DH baked some pork chops and sweet potatoes for our supper - I taught him how, and it's paying off pretty nicely.
Freda, here are my twins...I call them my beanie boys. It takes a minute for the big picture to download because I guess it's pretty big - I don't know - no techno-genius here, trust me.
Wow, Linda...that must feel really strange. Having this other person who is so much like you...gotta wonder if she LOOKS like you, too, huh? Now THAT would really call for some Twilight Zone music!
Karen3, I've gotta tell you - fall is lovely, but WAY too short. I know danged well that it won't be but another MINUTE before I look outside and there's snow coming down! Used to like snow, but not anymore...and the Farmer's Almanac says we're going to have a very cold and snowy winter hereabouts. Yay. (Not)
Isabella, I wouldn't even know where to find my diplomas and degrees and such...haven't looked at them in years and have no idea whether they even survived the last few moves. You're right about the time and effort, though. I got my masters by going to class two nights a week while working full time as a social worker and with two little kiddos at home. Now, all I REALLY want to do is retire and do a little sculpting, sewing, reading, hiking and hanging out with my grandbabies. Oh, and I'm trying your recipe too...sounds too good...
Jess, seven pounds is seven pounds! That's pretty great progress. The other gals are right about it slowing down some as the weeks go by, but it's always encouraging to get a nice head start like that. Just keep up the good work!
Lynn, I know exactly how you feel....whenever I just say to heck with it, I'm going to eat what I want for a change, my body never fails to rebel on me. I guess we really have changed our eating habits, haven't we? That's gotta be a good thing.
Karen31, I hope today was better than yesterday...that waiting around for bureaucrats to do their thing can wear you out.
Hiya Bobbi....let us know how Isabella's recipe turns out!
And now I'm off to get my bath...have a great evening, everybody!
Z

Oh, Zoe, the babies are darling!!! How old are they?

Tuesday -

Started day at the gym; spent the day walking around Savannah - squares, houses, and stores during the day - riverwalk in the evening. Ate sanely & slept well.

Today is our last day in Savannah - leave for Charleston tomorrow morning. Maybe visit Tybee Island today.

Lynn