Quickie this morning as I have a huge list of "must do" stuff. I goofed off a bit yesterday with coffee with the "lads" in the morning and two hours of tea and chat with Claire in the afternoon. No regrets though!

My dinner party has now grown to nine people but I have tons of food so I'm OK there. However, Margo, Elaine and Bailey the grand-dog will be here by noon and I need to do lots of scurrying before then.

How does your weekend look? Fun and frolic hope.

Sounds like a busy but fun day for you, Ruth, at least you won't be bored! Enjoy your company tonight!

I'm taking advantage of Caitlyn still asleep to get a little computer time! What is it with teens and computers, anyway? She did get all her homework finished, though. Jake wants to go out for breakfast and I can hear Carley making noises, so I guess I'll knock on Caite's door and try to wake her up. No sleeping in around here!

You're always so busy, Ruth. Sounds like fun though.

cottage - I've got to go wake up Brian now so there is no sleeping in here. We're taking our cat Allie in for her shots and microchipping at 8 this morning and we also have 74 cases of popcorn to label so it will be a busy day for us.

My husband finally cleared the back room for the popcorn, reluctantly and then complained of the door being opened "letting mosquitos in" while 12 people helped deliver it. I swear he is driving me batty. I honestly can't take much more of this. Brian is going on a 5th grade field trip and will be gone Wednesday through Friday afternoon and I plan to have a talk with DH on Wednesday night. If I don't chicken out, I plan to tell him I want a divorce. I just can't take this way of living any more. The only good thing about the stress is I'm losing weight. I'm down 5.5 pounds since Monday morning but that is really too fast to be healthy. I am eating though.

Good morning-
Ruth- Have a wonerful time tonight. Sounds like fun.
Cottage- Have a great breakfast with the family.
Barbara- Good luck with your conversation this week. I am so sorry things are not going better for you.

I am off today to find the perfect beach for our wedding ceremony next June. It's only supposed to be 65 today so we will be doing this as quickly as possible an thene out to dinner.
Have a great weekend everyone.

Morning chicks, it's gray and gloomy here today, and I'm having a hard time getting my motor started. 1 lb. down this morning. Yes, I was really hoping for more than that, but one is fine. DS has horsebackriding and DD has a girl scout event this morning. Then I think they'll be going to my parents to hang out this afternoon. My brother ended up in the hospital this week with an infected gall bladder and is coming home from the hospital today (hopefully), so my parents brought his kids up to stay for a day or two. My kids like to spend time with them whenever they get the chance. I didn't get much done yesterday, so I will be playing catch up all weekend, blah. I'm not feeling great, very tired and achy since yesterday, like I'm getting sick, but so far it hasn't amounted to anything. Only thing to look forward to is getting my hair done tomorrow, but I've got to make some decisions how I want it cut. I feel like I'm ready for a change.

Ruth, have fun with your company!
Cottage, have fun with your girls!
Barb, sorry about your stress. I'm sure that was a very difficult decision for you.
Thinbyjune, i love outdoor weddings and I love the beach. That will be so romantic and fun! I had my wedding in a rose garden overlooking the bay. Hope you find the perfect spot today!

A quick good day to all!

Busy here too..got up around 4 to work for a few hours, then worked on my rose bed, then made a big Sat. morning breakfast (eggs,toast, chicken sausage w/olives and artichokes and a pear and grape cup..yum).
Now I'm working on cleaning the house and then back to client work.

Had a great time in Baton Rouge yesterday. The restaurant was great..the oyster were perfect and I had my "cheat" crackers and sauce with them...can't eat them without it. Then we found a lot of neat stuff at whole foods...like an orange colored cauliflower. The pears we got are fantastic and we got some tequila/lime fish for dinner this evening.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Cat, let's declare today "Colored Cauliflower Day"! I just bought a purple one at the Amish market this morning.

Barb, I'm so sorry about the problems your having with your DH. There are so many times when I've come so, so, close to telling Jake I want a divorce. I put up with a lot, but I just don't talk about it much. There comes a time, though, when we just have to say "Enough!". I did get him to quit smoking, though, and that has helped a lot. But I get so tired of coming home from working a long day, and find him on the couch while I have to make supper, clean up, do laundry, pay bills, etc., etc., etc. Maybe after talking with your DH, he'll realize you mean business, and get his act together. I hope the best for you, whatever happens.

We've been on the go most of the day, and now I have Carley down for a nap and a load of laundry going. I should start getting supper together, and Caitlyn wants me to make an apple crisp, too, so I'd better get going. I know she's just dying to use the computer, too, so she can chat with her friends.

Barb, if that's what you want, you can do it!!! I have the greatest husband in the world...he's a dream. Supportive on EVERYTHING I do and appreciate of everything I do even after almost 16 years. That's cause I got rid of husband #1 17 years ago! (that sounds mean...he's really a great guy, but wasn't the right guy for me after dating for 5 years and married for 13. We were just on 2 different wave legnths. I was the one that instigated the divorce) I wasn't as big as I was before starting SBD when we decided to separate, but I was down to 104 lbs by the time the divorce was final.

It is NOT an easy thing to go through...not at all. But we are both a zillion times happier. He got remarried years ago and I think it was best for all of us..including the kids. Not easy when they were young, but worth it in the long run.I think both of us are better suited to our present spouses and happier parents make for happier kids.

Hi all!

I am in the midst of an "Autumn Clean-up" -- with DW back on her feet after 18 weeks on crutches, I am putting her to work

I am making my list for Phase 1 and just finished my menu for the week. I am playing it smart though: only buying food to last until through until Wed. at lunch and then will food shop for the rest of the week that night so nothing goes bad!

Tomorrow, we may see a movie. I will eat lunch before we go so as not to be tempted by the popcorn!!

Ruth: YIKES! Nine people? What's on the menu?
Cottage: I have the same issue but with DW! She's getting her master's online but would rather play her war game instead!!!
Barb: Oh Barb...if you ever need to talk or vent, let me know!
Thinbyjune: We had our wedding at the beach! I attached a pic below! Let me know if you need any planning help (we did it all ourselves though it was non-denominational)
Schmoodie: YIKES!!! I had my gallbladder removed last year (a month before the wedding!) and it was not fun! Enjoy the ret of your day.
Femme: Orange Cauliflower? I'd love to see a picture of that! FUN-NAY!

Cat, that sounds exactly like me! My XDH didn't believe I was serious and had me followed for several months thinking there was someone else involved. I felt like I was dating the detective! Barb, being a single parent is hard but being unhappy is much harder. Actually, you really are a single parent right now from what I read in your posts. Strong lady! PM me if you need a CyberMom.

Margo and Elaine with Bailey are coming later - 4:30 which is perfect. I just struggled to get the dining room table open so I could put in the extra leaves. A hammer and a crowbar did the trick. Men do come in handy sometimes but feminine ingenuity works too. I'm about to set the table and finish the flowers and then change into something a little better than my jeans and bleach-stained t-shirt. I have cherry tomatoes to stuff with pearl bocconcini and pesto, a fiddly job but maybe I can get Margo to help. Everything else is ready to roll. The colder weather means the wine is chilled on the back deck rather than crowding my fridge.

The people coming for dinner are the friends that did lots of doggie duty for me. We were going to bury Lucy's ashes this afternoon but, on thinking on it, she probably wouldn't stay buried! I am going to spread her ashes in as many of her old haunts as possible including some up at the Church. That's a job for a sunny day when Hersh and I will take a walk.

OK - back at it and then I may have some time to quilt!

(The chicken dish I'm serving is a make ahead and is just yummy. I'll post the recipe later - it has honey in it so will be a Phase III unless someone experiments with sf syrup.)

Menu? Well, be warned, it's food porn but .....
Appetizers: with drinks, of course - Doug's martinis, champagne, etc. to toast Lucy
- artichoke/asiago tapenade with melba toast
- cherry tomatoes stuffed with bocconcini pearls and pesto
- crab cakes and shrimp cakes with tartar sauce
- red pepper hummus with assorted raw veggies
Dinner:
- chicken baked in an incredibly easy sauce which is also the marinade
- wild and brown rice pilaf
- green beans with orange gremolata
- red, orange and yellow peppers cut up and baked with mushrooms, etc - very colourful and OP
- spring green salad
Dessert: Rum cake with fruit salad and ice cream for those that want it

I will ignore the appetizers and pick and choose from the rest. I'm going to serve it buffet style which makes it easier. Ten at my table is a bit cramped for passing around food.

Here's a picture of Elaine Pyper with Lucy. They were quite a pair!

Hey Ladies!
DH is conked out the couch we had a big day and he worked 24 hours straight with 4 hours of sleep! up at 7:30 this AM to go to the Marconi Museum in South Jersey.
I'm so crap fooded out! Bleh we went to our fave seafood place for lunch with the other radio guys and I had New England clam chowder ( I swear All i need to do is start smoking <neva!> and I'll be my Gramma)
Came home bonded with my Martha Stewart living while he started sawing logs (he has to work tonight too)

Ruth I hope your dinner is going well!!! I love the Lucy Pic! you can see her spirit and Love being able to put a face to the HyperPypers!!
Barb Do what you need to do to be happy! If you need anything please don't hesitate!!
Thin A Beach wedding!!! that sounds dreamy! I hope you had a great day
Schmoo can't wait to hear about your hair feel better!!
Jenn Loved your pic! When you guys are done want to come over and kick our butts into clean up Gear? Bring on Ph 1!
Cottage How was your day with the girls??
Cat: I love WHole foods its gastronomic wonderland

Last night My gf and I went to Trader Joe's I sent her home with all the bad stuff except for the choc milk I bought for DH So I have some Hummus to wrap with my LF cheese and cold cuts and some WW bread and Pita for DH and celery
for hummus PB and to put in chicken soup
I'm going to try out those ricotta muffins tomorrow Wish me luck!
I'm off to strike some inspiration!
Kierie

Barb

Love you girls........ off to bed, but couldn't scan without giving Barb some love.

Thanks, everyone. It means so much to me. I almost told him today just to get the stress out but Brian is here and I don't want to upset him before he goes on his three day two night field trip with school.

Good morning Chickies!

Just a quickie before we're off for breakfast. Afterwards we're going to my favorite toy store for Grandparent's Day. 20% off! Can't pass that up!
See you all later!