Good morning gals! It is a brisk 30 degrees out, but if I had to choose between than and -3 I think I would say.... ! That is how cold it is at my son's house and I read the local paper online and it said last night they had blizzard conditions. When the snow comes from the west across Lake Michigan and they get what they call "lake effect" snow that is badddddddd. Usually that means, feet of snow instead of inches and their wind was up around 40 mph I think. We are going to call them this morning and check on them just for "mama's" piece of mind.

We had an excellent time with T. Our dd called and said that Tom had taken her out last night and then had forgotten to tell his mom to have Thomas up and ready early so instead of them bringing him by we ended up picking up Thomas at his other grandma's around 8:45. I don't know why she couldn't have called and asked us if we wanted to keep him overnight then just take him wherever the next day but we have never been allowed to keep him overnight. Anyway, I gave him these options. I told him to listen until I said all three than pick. I told him A) we could got shopping and get him a new video game, go to lunch then go back to my house and play games and watch tv until his mom came, B) Go to Chuck E Cheese again or C) Go to see Night At the Museum, go to lunch then go to Jillians then back to my house and play game until his mom picked him up. Little stinker says, "I think I would like to choose the first part of "A" and then the last part of "C." Since I was thankful he didn't want Chuck E Cheese again, we took him to Walmart's as it was pretty much the only thing open. We let him pick a video game, then we got gas and headed downtown to Jillian's. I figured it opened at 10 but when we got there it didn't open until 11 so we got some Starbucks and sat and waited for a few minutes than walked down out the mall and down the street to Big Foot Lodge. We had a nice time at lunch culminating with making smores at the table, which is always fun. Our little guy tears up when he laughs, everytime and he got a piece of melted marshmallow string down his chip and a larger piece on his upper lip that he kept trying to drag off with his teeth and tongue. The harder he tried the worse it got and mostly because we got to laughing about it. He finally stuck his finger up there and pulled it off etc, but by that time his little eyes were streaming from laughing so hard. We then went back to Jillians and they played games and I had taken my bag of knitting so I started knitting and finished my blanket except for binding off. Thomas and Granddad had a grand time and I accomplished getting the blanket finished. We came home around 2:30 and played games until his mom and dad picked him up at 4. I had bought Scrabble Junior and we played that and he may be smart as a whip, but he is a typical 6 year old acting silly about words. We did another laughing/crying thing when he was acting silly and ask us if E-P made a word and I told him it was the word for going to the bathroom backwards, EEE-PEE instead of PEE PEE. Oh my gosh, the child laughed and laughed. It was a wonderful time and the only thing that marred it was this. His mom sent $30 along to use for him. Everytime we would go to buy something he would ask it if was his money and we would tell him no that it was Granddad's money we were spending. I told him we would save his money to play video games, which seemed ok with him. When we got to Jillians and we were going to use his money to buy a game card, he started to cry so I told Jack just to pay for it and I told him that we would just save his money. When they got finished, Granddad told him, "Put the two game cards in your pocket with your money and next time you come down here with your mom and dad you have money on them to play and just keep your money with it." Well, we were going to tell his mom that he had game card time left on both his and Granddad's card and the money he "had left" in his coat pocket, but when they were getting ready to leave, he pulled it out. She looked at me and I said he had cried when we wanted to use it and she got mad and said, "Uh-uh, that isn't your money, give it to Nonny. I gave it to Nana to give to her." Of course, he started crying that it was his and she said no it wasn't it was hers and took it away from him. He kept saying it was his that she had given it to him and she was saying no that she gave it to Nana to give to me, etc, etc. I cannot stand to see him cry and I got upset but she told me to "Stop it." Anyway, it became a big issue, and she still gave the money to me, which of course, I didn't want. I adore that baby so much and it kills me to see him cry. I do understand that she thinks he uses tears to get what he wants, but anytime I see him cry, it is because it really is that he is upset about whatever the situation is. He had a tender heart and things easily upset him, bless his heart. I am not mad at my dd as she did what she thought was best, but I am still upset this all made him cry when I didn't want the money back. I do think that because he is so incredibly intelligent that she forgets she is dealing with the way a 6 year old thinks. He is an adorable child and extremely well behaved, but he is still a 6 year old little boy with 6 year old antics.

I am including a picture of the finished blanket. I hope my LJ loves it and loves it. I am including the sweater set picture I took with the blanket.

Maggie: Thank you for your kind words. I was down about the 1 lb loss on Friday, but to tell you the truth I think it was more hormonal issue that was making me upset because I was ok on Saturday morning. I agree a 1 lb loss is a good loss and I am not discounting that.

Jean: Boy is sounds like the school could use a real good shot in the arm of school spirit. That sounds perfectly pathetic that there weren't more people there. The poor kids that play the sports.

I guess I better get out of here and get the old New Balance on and get out to walk this morning. I didn't get to walk Friday or yesterday and I need it after the fattier foods from yesterday.

Have a good Sunday gals.

Faye

Good morning gals! I see the extreme cold is staying up north, thank goodness. It is in the 20's here, which is plenty cold enough and unusual for here at this time of year. I see that my son's weather is going to be more snow and just barely above zero or below zero at night. I do so worry about Alicia getting out in this weather and slipping and falling.

Jean: Did you happen to see the Superbowl commercial with the two animals trying to make the internet come on using a real mouse? That one was funny even though I couldn't watch it with the mouse thing. {{{SHIVER}}} I sat downstairs and knitted but went upstairs before the quarter was finished, changed out the sheets on the bed and crawled between the covers and watched tv than just drifted off to sleep. Jack say Indianapolis won, yeah!!! The sweater is the same pattern, but I changed things around in each one so they looked different and the yarn is a different brand, which made a big difference too.

Maggie: Hope you are doing well! My stinker of a husband has lost 5 lbs on WW so far. I am almost more thrilled with the fact that he likes the program than I am anything else. I have tried to keep him on something so he can lose the weight he needs to so that heart of his stays healthy. He isn't obese or anything, probably needs to lose about 30, but he carries it totally around his middle, the worst possible place. You would swear he was a beer guzzler with his tummy, but he isn't.

I made a great smoothie for breakfast yesterday. Jack hadn't gone to the store to get the milk we needed yet so I used half carton of ff vanilla yogurt, frozen strawberries, and a ripe banana and a bit of cold water to thin it out some. It was terrific. The reason I made it in the first place is that my bananas are getting too ripe and Jack won't eat banana bread so I need to find a way to use them. It is 4 pts and very yummy. It would make a great snack too.

Well, I am behind on time this morning and need to get out and walk. I am almost done with the front of my dd's sweater and will be able to start on the sleeves today so I am excited about that.

Have a great beginning to the week! Oh and here's a favorite of mine that I have adapted for WW.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits: WW version yields 6 biscuits 2 pt apiece

3/4 c Heart Smart Biscuick
2 tablespoon margarine (make sure it is cold)
1/2 c fat free cheddar cheese grated
3/8 c skim milk
1/8 tsp garlic powder

topping on biscuits: when they come out of the oven and are hot, spray I Can't Believe it's not Butter spray on each and shake a little garlic powder over the top

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
mix butter and biscuick together so that it looks like peas or chunky cornmeal, add cheese, milk and garlic powder mixing gently. Don't mix too well.

drop 1/4 cup of mix onto ungreased cookie sheet (an ice cream scoop is perfect for this) and bake 15-17 minutes until the tops are light brown. Don't bake too long.

When removed, follow the rest of the directions for topping biscuits and serve hot.

Faye

Good morning, ladies - a cold 27 degrees for us but the sun is shining. Makes me feel better just to see it.

Faye, congratulations on another pound gone. Some weeks are like that. I weigh in Thursday since I signed up for the biggest loser. Didn't do well over the weekend - too many oreos (6 - sigh!) and a fish sandwich from Arby's. I made the receipes you posed for the sirloin tips yesterday. I added mushrooms to it and a bit of fat-free sourcream at the end. It was really good.

Stan is improving daily so I think it was the Plavix that was causing the bleeding. We go to the doctor Friday so hopefull the kidney function is back to what is good for him.

The Democarats had a meeting at Kingsmill on Saturday and Bush flew down in Air Force Once. Security was at a high level. You couldn't get near the place and I64 became a nightmare. I got stuck on I64 and didn't make it to my friend's memorial service. I felt so bad about that.

Jean, we have "mixed" schools here and plenty of parental support from all. Must be more than just that. Who knows with kids these days?

I made new drapes for the living room and they look really nice. Lined them with white so we have a uniform look from the street.

I went to the Power Workout at Curves Saturday - The first 10 minutes I thought I was going to die or at least not be able to finish it. Then I got my second wind and made it through. I felt so good when it was done and I sure worked muscles that had been domant for a very long time. Hopefully if I do that once a week in addition to my regular Curves it will get my thyroid moving and help me get some weight off. I'm loving the higher protein diet. (Not like Atkins, do have bread, cereal, potatoes, rice, pasta, just small amounts),

Guess I better get to work. Have a good day!

Good morning, Y'all. It is still nippy here for the south, but nothing like Jean and my son and dil are having to put up with. It is time for that cold front to just move on out to the Atlantic, don't ya think???

Maggie: Thanks for the recipe, Maggie. I took a cookbook I have that is all recreations of famous recipes and just adapted it from that. I will have to try your and you try mine and we will see which tastes better.

Jean: It is sad your little community is going down hill. The little town I lived in is the same way. When I was growing up we had 3 doctors in town, a drugstore, a supermarket and a smaller mom and pop store run by my uncle, a five and dime, barber shops, bank, gas stations, hardware, a diner and two restaurants, several taverns and churches. It really was a little Mayberry. Now most of the stores are closed and you couldn't find a doctor there if you tried. I think America has gotten too big for its britches, needs too much money to live on and so the shops and places of old can't survive any longer. Little towns are becoming a thing of the past.

Susan: I am so glad Stan is getting better. That Plavix can be a life saver to a person, but it does have side effects as both your hubby and mine found out.

I finished my dd's sweater front so it is on to the sleeves today. I have the bottom of the sweater I am knitting for myself started too and boy what a pretty peach color.

I need to go and get around. Everyone have a super Tuesday!

Faye
Susan:

It was 12 degrees this morning and now has reached 21 at Noon! I put a thermal shirt on under my sweater this morning.

The Mexican population is increasing here. They come to work in the seafood packing plants, do landscaping and construction. They are noted for being hard workers and doing a good job. We also have a large oriental population. I taught ESL for 2 years to Vietmanese back in the early 90s. It was very enlightening and I enjoyed it a lot.

Jean, the Curves I go to has 13 machines and 13 recovery boards. You can start on any place you like and then do 2 circuits. It would be chaos to have people jumping all over to get a different machine and you wouldn't finish in 30 minutes (actually 45 when you do the stretching at the end like you are supposed to). Once a month, they move the machines into a different order. I don't get bored. I just concentrate on the machine I'm on, when on the recovery boards I'll talk to others. The time just flies by.

Good morning gals! It got up to near 60 yesterday afternoon and it was so nice here. I didn't know it was that nice until I went out to get the mail because it was cold when I went walking yesterday morning.

I have to take Fortune in to have his teeth cleaned on Friday. I got a 15% discount because it is pet dental health month and it is still going to cost me $121! Sheesh! I wonder how much it would have been had I had a St Bernard, $3000? It needs to be done and I am going to fork out the money, but grudgingly...

We pick up the rental car on Friday afternoon and our car is going into the shop to have a bunch of maintenance done on it. We are having an idling problem that needs to be checked out and shocks, new tires, new brakes, the fan on the heater needs to be checked out etc so I rented a car so we don't have to panic about how long it will take. We will drop the car off on Friday afte we pick up the rental car.

I have weigh in on Friday too, so Friday will be a busy day. Until then, I am going to keep knitting. I ripped out the part of my dd's sweater sleeve I had done. It wasn't coming together like I liked so I ripped back to the cuff and am starting over.

I hope everyone has a good day and they start to warm up. It says it is 52 right now! It is supposed to drop back to 38 today though.

Faye