Coffee's on!

Morning all! Thanks for the coffee - I am a crabby chick this morning.

Would someone please tell me that it is impossible to gain 2.5 pounds overnight unless you eat 10,000 extra calories the day before! I nearly died when I weighed this morning! Now I am taking a deep breath and drinking water before my coffee and trying to think this out.

I switched back to CALP this week and I think the bacon for breakfast plus prosciutto for lunches may have done me in. Plus I have NOT been drinking water. How dumb is that? I did lick the spoon when I made chocolate truffles but that was not a big deal. Today has to be better.

Got our Christmas parcel from my daughter out west yesterday. She put in an "open me now" gift - cute Christmas earrings with dangly lights and a red bow - perfect with my new red silky blouse! I plan to wear them tonight to my music recital and party. My party pieces may bomb but I'll feel good.

The party is at Morna's place and tonight I get to brink my poor darling Hershey home. She is so thin from the puppies and has blown her coat so does not look her usual glamourous self. However, being home and special treats will get her back in shape. I know I do go on about her but we have really missed her.

Today is practice piano and voice and get the wrapping paper stuff cleared away. Yes, I'm done! And it's a really good feeling.

Have a great Friday

Morning!

It's night out there...only dark (and darker) shadows hinting that the sun will come up in the next hour or so (if we're lucky!).

I'm up early after fighting (and losing) a six hour battle against a case rabid, nocturnal cat affection. I like cats (or at least I used to before last night), but purring and kissing at 4 a.m. is too much (still talking about the cats -- dh is upstairs snoring as we speak).

Finished the kitchen painting job. YES! I changed my mind about doing a weathered wood look for the cabinet fronts -- and could use a bit of advice. We live in a 80-year old farm house and most of the wood downstairs is oak -- never painted. It has darkened over the years -- and has some rich, cherry tones. The reason I'm not painting the woodwork in the kitchen is that it looks great w/the paint colors and I think doing it the lighter color (that you see in all the books w/these mustard-colored paints) would have been a huge mistake. BUT -- my cabinet doors and some of the trim pieces are in tough shape. It seems like I heard someone on television talking about reviving old wood (w/out going through the whole stripping and refinishing project) by rubbing it w/something. But I can't remember WHAT! Denatured alcohol sort of sticks in my mind -- but dh says no. Any suggestions?

Well, hopefully will finish holiday decorating the house today...and put up a few new things I got for the kitchen (I'm accenting in Campbell's soup colors). Wish you could all come over for a cup of sugar free cafe mocha (I've perfected the art)!

Have a great one. It's a gift!

Sooner

Sooner! Martha's less talented cousin is here to help! The magic bullet you're looking for is Murphy's Oil soap! This stuff is designed especially for wood to get them spic and span. After the cleaning, I highly suggest an oil treatment for the wood. See the nice people at Home Depot and they can help you choose the right product. Happy wood cleaning!

Ruth, I kow you must be thrilled with hershey coming home and I'm sure you'll be the hit of the party with those cute earrings!

Yesterday I painted my butt off and I'm tired as all heck. Have the first coat down on the subfloor and my dh is marvelled at how good it looks. I'll just keep right on surprising him until the whole room is done!

Tomorrow is dh's compnay Christmas party and we have a busy weekend ahead of us. Miree is goign to spend it at Grandma's house and we're going for hair appointments, then dinner and the party, then hopefully sleeping in REALLY late on Sunday and just before we get Miree back, we're going to try and finish off the darn basement!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Pooky took the words right out of my mouth - or fingers.

Sooner, I don't know if Murphy's is available in the USA. If not, I can send you some. It is great stuff. I had a huge white water mark on my antique diningroom table and was ready to get it refinished. Wonderful Gail went ahead and did it with Murphy's and it's just like new.

What you may have seen on TV is a process called French Polishing. You use a solvent to dissolve the top finish (probably shellac in your old house) and then have to rub like **** before it dries. This is a process best left to professionals! But let me know if you want to try it on the woodwork and I'll send the info.
When you do your woodwork, you can come do my 100 year old piano! Unless Gail gets to it first with the Murphy's.

Gotta get going!

Good morning!

Busy day for me today. Leaving for Pensacola, FL on business in the morning so have lots to do. Hopefully I'll have a chance to pick up my pictures from New York & I'll post a few if they came out good & if I can figure out how!

Ruth - Glad Hershey is coming back today. Good luck with your recital.
Pooky - Have fun at DH's party

Hi Sooner and all to come.

Have a great day!
Jennifer

Checking in briefly to say I hope you ALL have a fabulous weekend!

I am moving, moving, moving!!! Woooohooo!!

Jenniwookie

Sooner~Murphy's Oil Soap! Love that stuff! We had dark paneling in our den and dark kitchen cabinets (until dh painted them white 2 yrs ago!) and Murphy's is the only thing I would use!

Ruth~now you know you didn't gain 2.5 lbs over night! It's got to be water. And prob cause you haven't been getting yours in! lol I enjoy your sharing stories of Hershey! I think she's become our cyber pet! What are you playing for the recital?

Pooky~You are going to post pictures of your new project, aren't you? I can't even attempt those type of home projects. DH is a builder and there's no way I could do an "acceptable" job for him! He tells me to "leave it to the professionals"! Have a wonderful time at the party! (and alone time with dh)

Jennifer~Have a safe trip! Can't wait till you post your NY pics! Isn't the weather we're having crazy? Feels like we should be hiding easter eggs instead of preasants!

Jenni~Have a great weekend!

We got "hit" with more crap yesterday. I must admit that I just broke down and cried. My friend Susie walked in and all she could say is "OMG hon, what is going on with your life?" Talked to our lawyer about some things and he was the same way. Ever feel someone has cast some kind of voodoo spell on you or something? lol Everyone deals with stress, but whew, it's been one major ordeal after another all year long. We sure could use a break. I just keep praying.

Today is some paperwork for dh, finishing up some laundry. Susie is trying to talk me into a Wally World trip but I sure dread the thought on a Friday!

Better run so I can fold clothes and watch John Edward at the same time!

Hello to all to come!

J

hey there gang! just checking in quickly!

MamaJ you are sooooooo right about the weather - we are having the same stuff here in Louisiana! yucky and just so good for my naturally curly hair! NOT!

Jennifer have a great trip and email me with details of these 2 weekends when you get a second.

Ruth - that is water - not weight - I do the same thing! It reminds me to stay off the scale and only get on it once a week - sometimes even once in 2 weeks. Dang numbers!

I have been sooooooo good this week! 80 oz or more of water every day, 1200 to 1500 calories a day, journaling, watching carbs and walking every day! Dang give me a gold star!

It feels good to be good!

Everybody have a great day and a great weekend! We are finally getting up those Christmas decorations outside tonight! Keep reminding myself it will be pretty once they are up!

hugs, cathy

MamaJ - {{{hugs!}}} You have had it rough lately. Hope it all works out for you. I'm a John Edward fan myself. Do you watch him at 10:00 on the SciFi channel? My MIL went to see him when he was in New Orleans but no one came through for her. She was hoping to connect with her dad.

Cathy - Hugs to you too. I'll e-mail you next week. You're doing great with your food, exercise, journaling, etc. You deserve several gold stars. I have naturally curly hair too & this weather is doing a number on it. Yuck!

Jennifer

No time to post about my day, but I wanted to jump on really quick and send you some hugs Mama J!!! I don't know what happened, but I am thinking about you and sending my prayers--what a year you have had!!!! Take care of yourself!

Also Murphy's Soap--Only way to go!!!

Will try to post--it has been a Long day!

Take care!

Thanks, everyone, for the notes on Murphy's Oil Soap -- as it turns out, I had some in my laundry room and I made good use of it on my cupboards today.

Ruth, French polishing is what I saw on television -- but they made it look EASY!

Thanks, again!

Sooner

ps Janice -- I know it must be hard but just try to jusy take it one day at a time (or maybe even one minute at a time -- I've gotten through a few things like that). I'm glad that you have people around you to support you through this. And, it may be getting harder to believe, but sooner or later you will come out on the other side of this -- and my guess is stronger and more compassionate than you ever imagined you'd be. You and your family are in my prayers.

I can't tell you enuff how much I care for you all. I don't really have the time to post in detail, but, in reading your posts I just wanted to say......THANK YOU.

Yes, this has been a most unusual and very difficult year for us. Your continued PRAYERS, LOVE AND SUPPORT means more than you probably know. I'm a pretty private person and other than Susie in my "real life" I don't share much.

I keep believing that God has a reason for all things...must admit that I don't understand it during such a continuous difficult time, but I will keep praying.

I love ya'll. (Those are not just words-I wish I knew how to relay what I feel) Thank you so very much.

Hugs and well wishes to all.

J