Good Morning!
We're stuck in a good weather pattern and I'm loving it. DH got some of the garden in Sunday afternoon, will put my zucchini in today. The balance will not be put in until all frost has gone.
Isabella...I was thinking of your triceps today and your countertop push-ups, do you still do that? We have 18-22 members of our bone building class and I noticed a lady about 5 years older than me that had 'wings' under her arms that waved when we lift our arms up. I didn't like the looks of it and thought to myself how ugly. When I got home I checked mine out and the arms in the mirror were waving back at me, ooooohhhhhhhhhhh I was horrified! I googled underarm flab and to see what exercises to do with my bar bells. I did 40 of them yesterday, 10 at a time. I could have easily done more but didn't want to get stiff. I don't like my bar bells sitting out on the counter tops, I'm a bit of a neat freak. That brings me back to thinking of you and your counter-top pushups. I could do that anywhere but does it help your arms? What kind of condition are your underarms after your daily work-out? I guess I'm looking to see if that exercise would be the best for my arms.
Karen...I love your little movin' apartment, cute! If we had it, I'd park it up in Northern Minnesota for a summer cabin and fish every day.
Zoe...I need to switch out my winter clothes for summer too. But it's still chilly here in the mornings, right now I have a sweat shirt on with a insulated vest on over it,,,,,,brrrr. Isn't it a good thing that God gives us so much energy when we were younger to care for our children. Your daughter will pop back quickly once the twins get over their colds. I don't know much about MS but her body can probably take more than you know. How nice that you and hubby live so close and can help them out. What treasured memories you're making for you and the twins, not to mentioned how much your family appreciates the time and energy you put in.
Georgia...How fun was that? I used to go on vacation with my girlfriends every summer but we took the kids. We rented a large cabin in Northern Minnesta and partied on the beach all week, Tequila Sunrise as part of our breakfast! Hope your week-end get away was fun.

Quote:
A girlfriend weekend, so I'm abandoning the boys

Coralee...Ebaying is so much fun, I love it. What kind of cross stitch do you do? Quilts? Table Cloths & Napkins? Dish Towels? I have a beautiful scene I started years ago with many different colors of threads, it was a kit. I was overwelmed with it and put it away until I retired. That was 13 years ago, I don't even know where it is.

Quote:
Bobbi - you mentioning ebay inspired me to list some items. i sell completed cross stitch, but have not listed anything in over a year. Don't know why.

Freda...you work at Curves? Neat! I was a member there for awhile and I loved going there. Unfortunately it was a 20+ mile round trip and it's too much driving and time for me. I use my red 'Curves' T-shirt for exercising at my bone building class. That's at our church, only about 3 miles from us.
Jess...It was good to hear Lynn had at least landed on the other side of the pond. Too bad the volcano had to blow just when she had her trip planned. DH just mowed our lawn too, it's so pretty and green.
Rosey...been there, done that. 10 years ago after 35 some years of listening to MIL, I blew my top and told her off. We had 3 years of peace since she didn't talk to us. Then it all started in again. Some people will never change and knowing that we just got on with our life and ignored her (MIL) as much as possible. Now she has Alzheimers and doesn't remember how hateful she was and can't understand why her own son will never go see her. He hates her! I'm stuck with visiting her every Sunday and I only do it because Jesus would want me to, I don't like her either. She killed any love we had for her 10 years ago.
Time to get busy, you all have a great day!

Crabby Maxine says,
Yesterday I went to the doctor
for my yearly physical.
My blood pressure was high ........
My cholesterol was high ..........
I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot.
My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated
and it would solve my physical problems.
He said: Just think in colors.
Fill your plate with bright colors.
Try some greens, oranges, reds, maybe something blue, etc.
So I went right home and ate an entire bowl of M & M’s
And sure enough, I felt better immediately.
I never knew eating right could be so easy !!!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everybody!!!! We had a lovely day out at Old Sturbridge Village - a tad cooler than I would have really preferred, but mid-sixties, and nice warm sunshine with clouds blowing through. Coolish when you were under a cloud, but really warm in the sun. Both twins were up to a day out, thank goodness, and we got lots of exercise and pushing them up and down hills and dales in their big ole' double stroller. We had lunch in Sturbridge and then met my other daughter (who had to work during the day, unfortunately) for dinner and the traditional birthday cake. There were actually several birthday cakes - chocolate fudge & cherries (my favorite) and a strawberry layer cake AND a chocolate. I couldn't taste all three, but had the fudge and cherry and strawberry layered one. Back FULL STEAM with my healthy eating today - and a little sad because there's a lovely package of soft baked oatmeal raisin cookies (my ABSOLUTE favorite) in the employee coffee room. I have not succumbed, but it's been a battle, and that's the truth. (I sometimes worry about NOT eating things that I like, you know? I mean, what if I DIDN'T eat something that I really and truly wanted, and then got run over by a truck on my way home one night? What a waste to have deprived myself of one last pleasure....but with my luck, I would eat everything I wanted and end up a miserable old lady weighing in at about 500 pounds! Just can't win.....)
Oh, glad Lynn checked in with you, Bobbi. I know if I spent all that money on a trip to Europe, I'd be downright livid if something like that happened. But I don't travel that much...I suppose that people like Lynn who travel all the time just take that kind of thing in their stride - just one of the challenges of international travel and such....Glad she's enjoying the rest of the trip, though.
Oh, Rosey, we all have those relatives. It's called family dynamics. Somebody has to play the "bad guy" role so that everyone else can be nice to each other. I think that's how it works, anyway. In my case, it's my brother who peeves me royally. And I mean ROYALLY. It used to bother me a lot, but now I just don't see him, don't communicate with him, and let him spew his nastiness on my long-suffering sister-in-law. I have enough to keep up with - my husband, kids, grandkids, my sister and her family, friends, etc. I need his aggravation like I need a broken leg. So I just don't bother anymore.
Thanks, PT - you're the best!
Two weeks to vacation. Yay! I can't wait.
Attaching a pic from yesterday - hope it's not too big.
Have a great day, chickies -

Z

Morning..its a pretty day here and i have some "me" time as dh is in anchorage today..I have been keeping busy to keep me from binging ,so far success..part of this program is to change old habits..and my poor dogs are getting an earfull they sit and patiently listen to my grumblings with there little heads tilted and then lick my hands..nothing like doggy kisses to sooth a wounded spirit..thnakyou for the support.. what do your do when its your own child that caused this..im so shattered.. maybe in time but not yet..anyways this too will pass..hoping your day is great..(((hugs)))rosey

First - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next - I am sitting in a room on the Cinque Terre overlooking the Meditteranean (of course it is dark - I'm up at about 5 AM Italy time). Yesterday we walked/trained between the land spits. UNBELIEVABLY beautiful sites.

Eating WONDERFUL food - especially the dishes made with truffles. Last night I had wild boar with marmalade on garlic toast - pretty good. Walking a lot. VERY grateful we got here. Lost just one day of travel. We are OK for while we are here. Hopefully, everything will be OK for us to get back.

Will work on pictures later.

Lynn

Ok, just wrote a long post and the computer ate it!!! So annoying, and I know it's happened to most of us. Doesn't make me want to kick/yell at the computer any less!

Not too much going on here. Went to visit DSIL at the hospital yesterday. I was hoping she would come home today, so I could take her home and get her settled. I work tomorrow, so if she gets out then Ds will have to do it. Not that he will mind, but men just aren't that good at things like that.

Sports season has started, so it's keeping DH busy. So some free time in the evening. TYL!!!

Rosie, we all have relatives like that. Life. We just get through it the best we can. Hope things get better for you.

Lynn, So good to hear from you. Sounds wonderful there.

Z, nothing wrong with having a cookie now and then. I always have a "little something" most day, with my tea. Not that many calories and something to look foward too. Just pick and choose! if you don't have something you will rebell and have everything!! On second though, after the birthday cake, you've probably got all your treats in this week! Great picture of you and family. Twennies are getting so big!

Donna, Good luck with the blood work. Hope they all turn out well.

Bobbi, I don't work at Curves, I work at a local hospital. My DIL owns a Curves and I fill in when they need me. And lifting weights will help lots with those "wings". I've lifted weights for years and have gotten lots of complements on my arms. And good to start off lighter with the weights and build up. You will see a difference in about a month. In time for summer short sleeves!

Karen, you Second Home is beautiful. Talk about traveling in style! and comfort!

Freda

Hi everyone..what a crazy day..i piddeled around all day it went by fast and didnt accomplish anything lol..right now its pouring rain..i luv the way it sounds on our metal roof..very soothing..nothing new in my world..i'll check in tommorrow..(((hugs)))) rosey

Attached are views of the Cinque Terra (the one with the railing was taken from my room). Today we are in Siena. Both places are beautiful in different ways.

So far, I've been eating small portions of anything I want & walking LOTS. Probably doing OK in the long run.

Check back with pics of Siena later - this hotel has wi-fi.

Lynn

Pretty pics, Lynn. Makes me homesick for Little Compton, Rhode Island - it's not the Medditerranean, by any means, but it's the ocean that my family knows and loves. Maybe someday - when I am well and truly retired - DH and I will fly off to some ancient and sun-splashed land to soak up the history and culture. Maybe not, of course. Knowing MY family, there will always be a child - or grandchild - whose needs will come first. In the meantime, isn't it nice that I can visit vicariously through your reports and pictures?
So, PT - how did the blood work go? Everything A-Okay? Oh, yes, I hope you're enjoying this very early spring, as well. The fruit trees - apples, cherry - and some forsythia are in bloom hereabouts, and it sure is a pleasant change from all the winter grayness. I am SO looking forward to spending a LOT more time outside now that the days have gotten longer and it's still daylight outside when I get home from work. I think that my feelings of slogginess and depression during winter are at least in part because of going to work in the dark and getting home in the dark. I have perked up a bit now that that's over with for another season.
Oh, Rosey. Children can and will break your heart. I've learned that resiliency - and not buying into whatever it is they're in a snit over - is the key. You just have to wait this stuff out, let emotions cool down, and get some space between you and them (emotionally and physically) until it all blows over. Of course, I know full well that it's WAY easier said than done, but I find that reminding myself (as I grit my teeth) that I am the older and wiser party seems to help (a little).
MORE free time, Freda? My gosh, what are you going to DO with all these empty hours of yours? (Yeah, right!) Well, enjoy 'em while you've got 'em, girl....you know how hard they are to come by!
Bobbi, that little story brought back memories of my college days when I could drop ten pounds in a week or less by eating nothing but M&M's. Not a very well balanced diet plan, but it sure fed my chocolate addiction royally!
Late to the game - you are Giovanna, correct? (I think). Thanks for the birthday wishes! I had a terrific day!
Hello, Isabella! What's up in your neighborhood today? Shopping again, maybe? You'd better watch out - you're beginning to sound like me!!
Okay, this old chick needs to get some work done. Have a super day, y'all!

Z

Good Morning Girls!
Lynn...lovely view and so glad the airports have opened up. All the walking should out-balance your foods and keep those pictures coming.
Hi Rosey...I love to bake cookies when it rains, something we did as kids when we couldn't be outside. (Fun memories for me)
Jess...good advice to Rosey, my daughter has been upset with me many times in the past. Kids sometimes think they know whats best for us old folks and can tell us what to do or how to act. NOT!

Quote:
Rosey, I'm so sorry you're upset! Family members can hurt us the most, yes? I'll send good thoughts upward... just don't let this de-rail your good efforts. We're proud of you!

Freda...tell me more since you're a pro at this. Exactly what kind of bar bell exercise should I do to pin-point the wings? What kind, how to do them and how many to start with, when to increase?

Quote:
And lifting weights will help lots with those "wings". I've lifted weights for years and have gotten lots of complements on my arms. And good to start off lighter with the weights and build up. You will see a difference in about a month. In time for summer short sleeves!

Zoe...Crabby Maxine says, Any day above ground is a good day!
Your funny side to this reminds me of Erma Bombeck, she says the same thing. Nice picture of your family, what fun for everyone.

Quote:
I mean, what if I DIDN'T eat something that I really and truly wanted, and then got run over by a truck on my way home one night? What a waste to have deprived myself of one last pleasure....

Hey Isabella...where art thou?
You all have a fantastic day, I know I will. I worked out in the shed all day yesterday pricing items for our up-coming rummage sale at my brothers house. I had my pedometer on and had over 10,000 steps, hope to get that many in again today when I finish up pricing. The sales on ebay have been fantastic, so many hunters out there and my hubby has sooooooo many items to sell.
See ya

Morning all from snowy alaska..ugh spring isnt here yet..yes family dynamics can hurt but ive decided to concentrate on myself..afterall my dd is a grown women and im giving her the space she asked for even tho us moms always want to fix and make better..i have not jumped into a bag of chocolate or snitched on my exercise..who says an old dog cant learn my next dr.apt is monday the official weigh in and im confident the scale will be happy..lynn what awsome pictures am so glad u are having fun inspite of the valcano..Bobbie it turned to snow so baking cookies feels like xmas lol..good advice zoe and jess i dont feel better but putting it in its place,thankyou.. hoping you all have a great day i'll check in later i here laundry and dishes calling to me ugh where's the house work fairy..((((hugs))) rosey

Me eating pizza and drinking wine in Siena, cathedral in Siena, view from my room in Siena.

Today we are off to a small country home in Tuscany. Tomorrow is a national holiday.

Ciao!