Now, to go back and catch up on what you've all been up to!

What a thrill and a delight to pop in for a quickie post and find kat and wsw both checking in. Just made my days, Royals, just as Arabella's posts and walkabout always do.

And 40 pounds over 3 years is a magnificent loss - truly. If I had lost that much average per year since I've been at this thing - well, I'd have disappeared

Yes, we had the two lovely days but woke up to 5 inches or so of snow today. Sun is out and it's looking lovely and the lovely neighbors have already done their thing. I can't express how much I love them. How did I get to live here among the best? Lucky, lucky.

Oh yes, we had the wind. And it was the day of the funeral which was an hour north of here and the cemetery was almost to the top of the mountain. Brrrr, and brrrr. Unfortunately, then I felt like it was okay to eat too much at the luncheon afterward. Not that funeral food is usually lo-cal anyway. However, am back on track today. So not a lot of damage but also no progress.

Nothing new yet on niece and brain situation. Trying to get in to specialists.

Glad you're feeling a wee bit better, Arabella. Hope it continues. And that pesky Punxatawny Phil better straighten up and get that "early spring" here.

Back to the taxes - working on it only a bit at a time but coming into the home stretch.........at least I hope so.

PS - Patio of P&C is looking a bit bedraggled at the moment. Branches still down all over the yard etc. - I didn't work on the nice days but ran around and did do some walking, etc. Garage a big mess as I've been sorting out, sorting out, ridding, etc. and in the earliest stages of spring yard sale participation. Hopefully. A goal, anyway.

But thanks for reminding me of how relaxing it will soon be. Little niblets of things showed up when the snow was gone and the days are getting longer so it's just a matter of time. Time to work on the rest of the winter "goals" and look for the pot of gold.

Ok, tax stuff ready, appt. made. Up a wee this a.m. but more or less in the "normal" scheme of things. Cold, cold, cold again but bright and sunny. Going to a little local historical talk at noon and that's about it for the day. Rest will be spent on "projects". Since spring is coming I want to make some progress inside so I can spend lots of time outside soon.

First thing in the morning exercise? Not I. I can function w/o coffee these days (not when I was youinger/busier) but it's got to be s l o w. Glad your schedule is working out better, kat, but never hurts to at least try something different. Never know what's going to work.

Up in the middle of the night again. This is not good for weight loss

Partly the prednisone, I think, although I'm in the tapering off stage. Partly family drama. Sister with all the problems wants support but not calls or questions. So best I've been doing is email. And she is drowning in problems. Also sort of drawn into another problem in her family - want to help but need to tread lightly - one of those things where you're caught between rock/hard place.

I have an only-child friend who's always saying she envies my large family but I feel there are times one might prefer being an only child

Anyway, I feel like tomorrow (nope, make that today) is going to be a tough one re limited eating. Never know though - if I could get in a good couple of hours yet, I'd be okay. Too wired yet to try and don't feel like doing much in a substantial way right now.

So, I'll just wish all Palace people a marvelous Thursday. Thursdays are sort of ho-hum days to me for some reason but right now I'll be glad for ho-hum.

Good Morning, pretty s! I won't be back til Saturday, so I wanted to get a post in now... Today is DH's 55th birthday, so I've planned a little getaway for us. Going into the city for two nights, tickets for a show, maybe catch a museum, definitely some walks in Central Park and whatever else we feel like doing! I thought I'd get a chattier post in, but he's hovering over my shoulder, and I do need to pack, so I'll just say "See you on Saturday!"

What a great little getaway, kat, and hope you both enjoy lots.

And your writers' group does sound stimulating, Arabella. Yesterday I went to an interesting presentation on Lee's HQ at Gettysburg. I feel so much better when I do those little thingies I like.

Sunday I'm going for a "first". I've never been to an opera (though I've seen them on tv ). Local symphony is preenting "La Boheme" and a friend invited me. Should be fun. She is fun and I think I'll like the performance.

So far, so good today. Did crawl back to bed eventually and got a few more z's. Have been tackling little parts of at least 3 projects. Wish I had more discipline and could just get at it and get it done. All involve "sorting out, clearing out. Why is that so hard? Too much of a romantic?\

Dentist this afternoon. Blah.

Luckly little DGS. How fun. How are the "away" weeks working out? Or is this the first? Confess I've lost track (I do that a lot in all areas of my life any more).

At 196.8 today so I'm happy with that. Cold and sunny now but rain to come. Hope it doesn't rain on your getaway, kat.

All around it sounds like a nice arrangement, Arabella, with best of several worlds. Maybe not for forever but a little "shake it up " for a while.

Fairly decent afternoon here (after a week of snow, rain, winds) so I did a very little yard work = mostly picking up lots of fallen branches. Which I must tie in six foot lengths or less for them to be picked up w/trash. Far from done but a little start is better than none.

Being a tad lazy now and I think that will be it for the day - other than church this evening. Was @196.4 this a.m. but the pancake breakfast I went to will probably change that somewhat

Anyway, it IS the weekend so I shall indulge my lazy self.