My computer went online=not sure my virus protection is working so I need to be careful/ Cold!!! How about feels like 1.
Good trip-put heat on and went to dinner.
NO WATER=pipes are frozen. Brad has a crazy plan that we will move into Dennis' apt and he is hooking up other water heater and going somewhere to get water. I need to clean a bit but I have no water. massage appt this am-they have bathrooms.
I WANT TO GET RID OF THIS HOUSE. Course, that wouldn't have happened if someone hadn't closed the door in the boiler room. That's why we came back-because other people don't know everything. Well-it's only a week-supposed to be warmer tomorrow.
Gotta discipline myself to do my exercises. Oh our aching feet.
Kate-go slow with the yoga-Don't overstretch. I love yoga but stopped when I tore my rotator cuff.
Going to heat some bottled water to wash up/ It's like camping. Praise God for the computer-I am an addict. Mima

Oh my, is it ever cold here this morning! 28 degrees with the wind chill factor. Not even suppose to get over 55 today and this is Florida for Pete's sake! Can't remember it ever being this cold since I've been here. But the "Queen" is just loving it of course.
I've been so sore from shampooing the rug I haven't gotten back to the yoga yet. I could barely move my arms from the repetitive back-and-forth of the rug machine. Thankfully, I don't have to do that too often! I will try the yoga again tomorroiw morning as they put hubby back on days starting tomorrow. This company is a real piece of work......but like I have said before...it's a job. My husband seems to just roll with it....but that's because he's got me to pick up the slack when there's a schedule change!
The "Bolivian Pork Chops" came out quite spicy, and I even cut back on the red pepper the recipe called for! The dish is made with boneless pork loin chops rubbed with spices and lemon zest, pan seared, then finished off in the oven. It's served with a split pea mash that is cooked with onions, carrots, celery, chicken stock and spices. I thought the dish was great but it was a bit much for hubby! Tonight is mediterranean codfish for me and baked cod for hubby. (He's not crazy about cooked tomatoes and onions on his fish). He was raised on meat and potatoes and is happiest when served plain old cheeseburgers! Since I'm the cook..... well, you ladies know the rest, right?
Not planning much today. I hope to get a session on the elliptical in sometime this morning. It's just so darn cold...my body doesn't want to move! Hope everyone stays warm today....bye for now.

It was 36 here on this side of Fl. today. Supposed to be colder tonight.. Hope being close to Gulf will help my plants. I am just not up to taking out the sheets and covering everything.Then I have to wash them all the next day..
Hubby agreed to see a Dr. today. Wouldn't you know no Dr's in office today. Got an appointment for tomorrow.I think it is just a bad cold but with his history of heart dx. and his age (83) we decided to play it safe..
Mima- Hope you get your water back soon.. Stay warm..
Hello Everybody...Joanne

Mima, frozen pipes aren't a good thing.

Kate, I think I'd like the fish with tomatoes and onions.

Joanne, let us know what the doctor tells hubby. Since it's cold down there, I should call my BIL and rub it in. He always calls when it's cold up here and warm down there.

Here we are...another "chilly" morning in Florida! Everyone was out covering their plants last night. Only 23 degrees with the wind chill today so far. There was even a frost on the grass this morning when I walked the "Queen". Suppose to get up to a high of 65 today. One more cold night and we will be warming up again....to the mid 70's by Saturday...Yippee! Definitely don't like this cold!
Made a delicious soup yesterday with chicken, cabbage, onions and tomatoes. Found the recipe online at one of the health sites and it was very tasty. Great for lunch time. Now I have some leftovers to count on for the weekend so I can finally get some time off before company starts arriving. I'm making a shepherd's pie casserole for tonight and we can eat leftovers for at least two days. The recipe for the soup follows if anyone is interested:

1 pound chicken breast (cut into small bite sized pieces)
1 TBL canola oil
1Cup diced onion
1/2 C diced celery
4C chopped cabbage
1 potato (diced)
1-14.5oz can petite diced tomatoes with juice
4C chicken broth (1 large Swansons)
3C water
1 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme leaf
1/4 tsp caraway seed
2 tsp sea salt
pepper to taste
1 TBL chopped parsley
2 tsp Splenda
1 TBL lemon juice

Heat oil in soup pot. Add chicken and saute for a few minutes. Add onions, celery, cabbage and stir well. Add thyme, bay leaf, caraway, salt and pepper. Add tomatoes with juice, water and stock. Cover and bring to boil. Turn down heat to low and simmer about 30-40 minutes until chicken and vegetables are done. Add diced potato, splenda and lemon juice. Simmer another 10 minutes until potato is done. For a heartier soup, you can add 1 can of drained white beans. This is about 8 servings and is diabetic friendly.

Looking forward to some warmer weather this weekend. Mima, please leave the cold up there when you come back, okay?? Anne, we're not letting anymore cold fronts down this way....we are the sunshine state and we do not need any more cold weather here.
Enjoy the rest of the day, folks!

Kate..sounds like our weather! Soup sounds good but what is the splenda for..could you leave it out?..and I would probably add more tomatoes.

Meme....you sound so much like me! ..and we have dogs to match!LOL

Mima..frozen pipes..what a pain.....hope you get it taken care of.

Tammy....I would like Kate's fish too!

Joanne..let us no about DH....glad he is going to the doc.

My poor toe is hurting not sure when I will get a shoe on. I had all my soaking stuff and clean bandages laid out and the dog chewed them up..he is such a stinker! Here is a pic of the nailess toe...the dark part is what I smashed and the light part is the new nail he took off near the bottom, said it needed to come off to so he could clean the nail bed up from all the bleeding. Gross I know!

Good morning.

Mima - sorry you went home to frozen pipes, but it's a good thing you got their before they burst. If you are going to live pt in Florida, it would be smarter to buy a small condo to have, as that way you can leave it, and not worry. My brother and his wife, lived in a 5th wheel for 3 or 4 years, before they bought a condo here, and had a modular home put on their lot in YUMA. Now, they have a camper, for when they want to travel elsewhere.

Kate - Don't you like that nice fresh air???? We broke records here the past while, with it being 6 consecutive days above 32F for the month of January. NEVER before has that happened. Heavens, it was up in the 50's one day. It is heading to -8F tonight, so a bit cooler for a few days, but next week again, it is going to be around 30F. It sure helps shorten winter when it is nice out. That soup sounds good. Here is a recipe for Cabbage Soup that I made the other night, and I really enjoyed it.

Smart Cabbage Soup

1 (28-oz.) can unsalted diced tomatoes
4 cups fat free, reduced-sodium beef broth
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 large or 2 small bay leaves
1/2 tsp. whole black peppercorns
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 cups diced carrots
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onion
2 pound cabbage, quartered, cored and cut crosswise into 3/4-inch
strips
3/4 cup chopped scallions, green and white parts
5 oz. white mushrooms, stemmed and thickly sliced

In large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, heat oil over medium-high
heat. Sauté carrots, green pepper, celery and onion until moist, 3
minutes. Add cabbage, 3 to 4 handfuls at a time, stirring until it
collapses, 2 to 3 minutes. Add scallions and mushrooms and cook
until vegetables look moist, 4 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to medium-
low, and cook for 8 minutes, until vegetables let their juices out.

Add tomatoes, with their liquid, to vegetables. Add broth, parsley,
garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns and red pepper, if using. Bring liquid
to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender,
40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve hot. Or cool to room temperature and refrigerate up to 4 days.
Reheat over medium heat before serving.

Note: For variety, when reheating the soup, add red kidney or
cannelini beans, or small turkey meatballs that cook in the soup. Or
serve with a dollop of reduced-fat sour cream and some chopped dill.

Makes 12 servings.

Per serving: 70 calories, 1.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 11 g
carbohydrate,
3 g protein, 4 g dietary fiber, 230 mg sodium.


Candice - Have I told you, how nice it is to come here and see your name on the board, again?? Hope your toe gets better. Is it cut or what are the bandages for? Somehow, I must of missed that. My toe is still giving me grief as well. I don't think the anti-infammatories are working, so I guess I will have to go back to the Dr - AGAIN!! I know that Voltaren is a prescription, as the Dr. used to precribe it for me; however, just withing the past week, they have made it an over the counter thing. Don't know it is as strong as what the Dr. would give you or not. In any case, I have been putting it on my foot and it is NOT helping. It sure slows a person down, when you have a sore foot!

Joanne - I hope hubby is feeling better today. Let us know. Now you said you had lost a bunch of weight. Hope it isn't because you have not been well; I know you are happy about it, but it sure does make a difference on how and why you lost it.

Tammy - How is your little poochie doing? How is the diet going? I seem to be stuck here.

Well stress and FM = Pain. My GF (who I have know forever, more like a sister) brother passed away (know him since he was 2 yrs old). It was unexpected- had some kind of seizure. He was 57. Funeral is today. I keep seeing, in my minds eye, this little boy, that used to come to my house, everyday at lunch time to visit my dad, and the young boy and then the man he had become. It's such a sad day.

Also, my other gf, who I have known since I was 6 yrs old, is having a 3rd brain surgery on Monday. This time the tumor is on the brainstem, and it is much more serious than the other ones were. She had a "bad" feeling about it this time, as it could leave her paralyzed, or in a vegetative state, or kill her, or it could all come out ok. EVERYTHING we do, goes through the brainstem. If you could find a moment to sent a prayer up for her .. her name is Susan.

So now you all know how MY week was!! Found it hard to stick to anything, as all I really wanted to do was EAT chocolate. Had to fight with MYSELF to try to be good.

Hope you all have a good day.

Wow-sorry about your friends , Anne. It makes us know we are not immortal.
I am sitting in 46 degrees because we turned the heat down upstairs and moved into the apt. That was a job-Brad and his friend brought the queen size matteress down and put it on the floor. I slept good.
had a massage but back is bad becuse of all the work -chiro tomorrow, Nice haircut and frost last night.
Dennis is doing better-we told his sister he can't come back to the apt. We cleaned wjhat we could yesterday-the bathroom was the worst and all the dog hair. We will go visit him tomorrow,
Going to bil's to take a shower. The pipes can't be fixed now-not til spring. Brad has water for the toilet and washing your hands. We are like campers!!
Bye-and hi everyone, The dog ate your bandages!! yikes-too funny.
Hope hubby is better, There is a cold going around-our neighbors in Fl have it.

Anne, Sorry about your friends. That's hard ... lost my best friend in the whole world several years ago to leukemia so I know how you feel. She was sick for 2 years before she died.

Well, the cold has finally let up some here. It's 48 out and the sun is shining ... although it's supposed to rain tomorrow. No school again today, though. There are still a few spots of snow scattered around. Our school super has no sense. When there is snow on the mountain he closes ALL the schools. There's only ONE school up there but instead of only closing that one he has all the kids in the whole county stay home. But, this is the third superintendent we've had since I've lived here that has done that so I guess they are all dumb! If I were in that position, I'd just close that one school, then if we had too many snow days (which we have done before) they would be the only school that would have to go into the summer to make them up. The board could make that decision if they agreed to. (Or perhaps I should say if they were smart enough to!)

Mima, not having water is rough. Makes me think of how our ancestors had to live ... wonder how they would react if we could bring them back to today's time? I read a book once about a teenage girl who went through a mirror in the attic and changed places with a great-great grandmother or something. They were both in their teens. The one from the past was amazed ... she had never seen a felt-tipped pen. One thing I remember her doing was washing the dishes by hand and putting them "away" in the dishwasher because she thought it was the 'dish-safe'! Good book ... title: The Mirror.

Candice ... that toe looks horrible. Makes me hurt just to look at it! YUCK! (Funny about the dog eating your bandages, though). Yes, I think we are a lot alike ... we decided that years ago didn't we? Our dog's names are even alike ... and they both like to eat paper stuff!!! (But at least I don't have a bloody toe)

Kate that soup sounds good ... I'm hungry. I just may try it next week. I'm going to make chicken cassarole tonight. I have praise team practice so that's something I can make and leave on the stove for hubby when he gets home. I have the kids again today since school is out. And they are fighting today. Thank goodness one of them is leaving at 1 to go to a friend's house. Can't stand them all day!

Joanne, hope the doctor gets your hubby straightened out and you don't get that. That's all you need!

Hey Tammy. What have you been up to ... inquiring minds want to know? Read any good books lately? I saw yesterday where Ted Dekker has a new one out that he co-wrote with his editor (I think). It's about a girl who loses her memory and goes home. Then she says if she gets it back she's afraid she will die. Sounds good.

Hello Everybody.. We say the Dr. today. Hubby has a virus. And I am on my way of getting it.. Sore throath (sp) don't feel like looking it up.. We got a double bottle of med incase I get it or have it.. For the cough . has codeine in it. I won't take it unless I have to.. I don't like the sleepy feeling when I can't think clear..
34 degrees here this am. Christie didn't know where to pee with the frost on the ground..She is so spoiled!!!
Back later ...Joanne

Oh boy, such a busy forum today!! Anne, so sorry about your friends. I just lost a close GF here this past year to cancer. She was diagnosed a year ago April with stage 4 and went through 2 weeks of radiation and 1 round of chemo. She was gone in a matter of months. She said she had absolutely no symptoms prior to her hip/back hurting. They discovered it had already metastisized to her bones and there was nothing they could do. It was a devasting thing to watch her go so quickly. I'll be sure to say a prayer for your friend Susan. And thanks for another soup recipe...always need some good cabbage soup recipes! My hubby is Polish (and half French/Canadian) don't you know!!
Candice, I think the splenda is in there to off-set the lemon juice but I am sure you can omit it with no problem. I also love tomatoes, so adding extra couldn't hurt! The calorie count is 80 calories per serving with mine. Good luck with your poor toe! Ouch is all I can say....
Mima, Mima....how brave you are to be up there in this weather with no water!! My first reaction would be to head for the nearest motel!! Good luck to you and I do hope things work out for your former tenant. Sounds like you might be up there again in the spring to get the pipes fixed.
Meme, I never had children so I am safe where the care-giving thing goes. I was never crazy about being around young children but I do get along well with teenagers and older kids. I also love baby-babies...you know, infants? After they turn 2 years old though I don't want to see them again until they reach 14-15. It's a full time job in itself being a parent/grandparent now-a-days. (My kids probably would have never lived passed puberty!) My husband's mother raised all 4 of her grandchildren (his brother's kids) when their mother left. They were very young, too. I think the youngest boy was only 9 months old. I just couldn't imagine it but I guess you just do what needs to be done. All I can say is that my husband is so different from his family. Both his folks are alive (in their 90's) and his brother is now disabled. They all live in Rhode Island so we don't get to see them all that often. Hubby usually gets up there 2X a year. We definitely have a different life from them.
And I leave this forum wishing a speedy recovery to Joanne and her hubby. It's no fun having the "crud" as I call it. I have been fortunate in the sickness department....(knocking on wood here!). Hope everyone stays well.
Kate

Kate, the soup sounds good. Might have to give it a try.

Candice, ick to the ouchy toe.

Anne, your soup sounds good too! Maurice is doing great. He is so funny. I went to my first official weigh in last night, and I was down 3 pounds since 2 weeks ago. I am happy. I am eating, not starving myself. Also exercising. So sorry about your friend's brother. Will keep Susan in prayers. Keep us posted.

Mima, I never did like camping. lol

Meme, I've worked for several superintendents over the years, and not too many of them were the brightest when it came to common sense. I've been staying busy with classes at the Y and the 2 bible studies. I just finished 3 books by Beverly Lewis. The first was The Shunning, then The Confession, & The Reckoning. They are about the Amish. I really enjoyed them. Haven't read any Dekker books for a while. RIght now I am reading Truth Teller by Angela Hunt. Good!

Joanne, hope you and hubby feel better. Laughed about Christie and the frost. Maurice was that way when it snowed the first time. Now he just plows right into it.

Happy..I dropped something on the toe, it got bad ,and the doc removed the nail so it could heal. Now it is very painful..the whole foot not just the toe. I have two bad feet now! So not using the treadmill , can't wear my tie shoes. Soup sounds good...I love sopus so will print off both recipes. Our weather has been colder than yours here! Prayers for your friend

Meme...gave the dog a bath and now he sleeping...he is pretty easy to bathe but heavy! Your g. kids should be old enough not to fight now huh?

Tammy....great on the loss...Maurice sounds like a cutie.

Joanne...glad hubby is better but now you have to take care of you and him! Christie doesn't like to get her feet wet? NOthing bothers Jazzie!

Kate.....I like babies too but can't hold them with the Firbro...I also like well behaved childdren....no grandkids here yet just the animals.

He is a clean pup now! Needs a haircut though....but he smells good and is so soft and fluffy Not quite dry yet.

So cute!!! This will be the last time I will be on the computer til I get home. I don't mind no water because Brad got some to use the toilet. Went to his bro's last night to showere and then took them out to eat. We owe him big time for everything he did during the storms.
The apt is warm-latest plan is to move down there. Someone is interested in the upstairs. I get to get a new couch and tv on the wall.
We went to see Dennis-he's still in ICU but almost going into a regular room and then rehab.
He wants to come back here but we didn't tell him he can't but he can't. We did bring him a Bible and tried to talk to him about getting him self straight with God etc. He listened a little-he can't talk because of his throat.
Went to chiro today-great!! But he didn't have any accupuncture needles. But he did ultrasound on my foot.
Tomorrow night is a church dinner.
We are going to a motel Tues night near the airport. Then we can close everything down on Tues afternoon. I am going shopping tomorrow with sil and niece and daughter. But it's going to get very cold.
Candice-hope that foot gets better fast, Ouch. And everyone else stay warm. Should be ok when we get back on Wed. I am sorry you are sick Joanne-zinc and vitamin c. Rest!! Bye for now Mima\
ps-I am reading Obsessed and I just finished another one by Dekker . Tell you the name later. Mima