Happy ST Pattys! I made some Corn beef and Cabbage for dinner. Its was very yummy! Found a very Lean corn beef that was really good 2 points for 4 ounces. Have left overs, so I can make a quick dinner.

Maria: The parade sounded like a good one. The Opal sounds beautiful. I love opals. Bet your DH will really love the ring once you get it made.

Peggy Thanks for sharing that site. So sad seeing those pictures. And the devistation that it caused.
Had to laugh at the shoes. You must have been quite a site.

Suprise! I got the picture of Anns quilt and put it up for you to see.

Anns Quilt

Its very pretty Ann you did a great job on it.

Thanks Lily the quilt looks great! What a lot of work Anne you must be very proud of the final result, very impressive indeed.

Lily mentioning about Peggy's shoes, I meant to say in my earlier post that I once did the exact same thing, except one shoe was red and the other navy blue!!! I had to go and pick someone up from the bus depot early in the morning and did not want to wake dh, what a fluke to pick a 'right' and a 'left' shoe. The shoes were identical other than the colour . I ended up going barefooted, not a pretty sight either but better than 2 different colours.

The other thing I did today was, I have booked for dh and I to do a 2 day course in basic 4x4 wheel driving and a 2 day advanced course. We will be doing it late May and early June. We have been talking about it for the past 2 years so now we are going to actually do it .

See ya all tomorrow
Cheers
Maria

Ann your quilt is beautiful. How long did it take you to make it? I bet you are going to surprise us all and make us one too. I will be waiting and checking my mail every day until it comes. Lily thanks for posting the picture. It is fun to see everyone's talents.

Ann the quilt is lovely. I know from the little bit of experience I have in quilting how long it takes. I also will be keeping an eye out for the UPS truck for when they deliver "my" quilt. How long do you think I'll have to wait, for you to just "whip" it up for me. LOL LOL
Well done Ann!

Lily thanks so much for posting the picture for us. I simply must learn what you do when you can direct us to a site by simply saying "Ann's Quilt". I know you tried to tell us some time back, but I couldn't work it out. When you get a minute would you try telling me again. Thanks Lily. I'll be back later today. Bye now.

Maria: That sounds like a lot of fun! Didnt know they had classes in 4x4 wheel driving. Would be great to do in Australia. I have done lots of silly things in my life, but shoes arent one of them!

Peggy: Good idea! I think Ann owes us all one!!!!!! Kinda like the tree skirt we never got ALAS

Slavika: When you are replying, right below the Colors and fonts you will see a gray button that has http:// on it
Click on it and a box comes up it asks you to put in words for the link thats where I put Ann's Quilt. Click OK. Then another box come up and asks you to put in the URL for the site. Just type it in or copy and paste it in. Then click oK and its there!

Ann: You really must of put alot of work into that quilt. I will be waiting for mine to arrive! UPS comes by everyday at work so I will be asking him if he has it. Its cold today so I sure could use it.

Later!

Ann, you are going to have such a fun evening tonight! Good luck at WW today. I was so impressed with your beautiful quilt. WOW! I, like the others, will be anxiously awaiting my new quilt, but ALAS! Slavika, haven't received my Christmas tree skirt yet. Maybe it got lost in the mail.

Slavika - I do believe you've got it! Think that bathroom will be just beautiful. And to think it started with just a little leak!

Maria - I think security is taking a lot of the fun and convenience out of life lately. I hate the thought that our grandchildren will be so regimented because of security. Sounds like your dh hit the jackpot on his birthday!

We had an interesting anniversary, actually just wonderful! Our son and his wife just bought a house. They were moving this weekend so we knew we would have our grandsons over the weekend. Joel had called and said he would bring them Saturday morning, but then Friday night he called and sounded so stressed. Asked if we could meet them halfway right away. Of course, we were glad to. Joel and Shanna were comically stressed out so we took our babies to save them. On Saturday we went to Wal-Mart (where else?), ate at McDonald's, went to see "Ice Age" (which is great!) and played Chicken Foot (a dominoes game). We had so much fun! Then we went to church Sunday and took them home. We helped Joel clean the old house. When I mentioned what a wonderful anniversary we had, they about died. Had forgotten it, but we are so spoiled that we almost celebrate all the time and just enjoyed the grandsons so much and being able to help our son.

Hope everyone has a great day! What is with the weather? We are cold again too.
Glenda

Glenda I just loooove to play Chicken Foot. What fun. Ann the UPS guy just passed and he didn't deliver the quilt. I really think you should make us all one just so we can "see" your quilting stitches.

Lily: thank you so much, and to all of you thanks for the kind words. But can you wait for years? It took me two years and a lot of mistakes to get this one finished. But I am going to try another one before too long. Got GD that will get married and one of those would make a nice gift.

Gkenda: Nice Anniversary. Kids are a joy.

This is just a quickie, since it will soon be time to ge getting ready for the show. Our Dress Rehearsal went fairly well, still a mistake or two, but we aren't professionals and we are in it for the fun.

My weigh-in wasn't good, up 1# but not as bad as I had thought.
Just got to get on the ball.

See you later tonight, when itis all over. Ann

Well what a day, our server was down all day and was unable to get on the net or e-mail . It had better not happen too often otherwise I should have to look for another job

It is 6 pm and I should be getting dinner but just had to check the posts.

Glenda what a lovely anniversary you had. When I hear you all talk of your grandchildren, I do feel a little left out. I never thought I would hear myself say that It will be a little while before I will be having grandchildren, sounds like it will be worth waiting for.

Anne You are going to be busy with all those quilts Pleased you were happy with your weigh in.

Hi to everyone else, better go and get some food ready

See ya tomorrow (I hope)
Cheers
Maria

Our musical banquet is just a memory now. It was a great success, and well received by the audience. We all had a 'fun' time. Now a chance to relax, and get back on my exercise schedule.

Maria: How dreadful that you had a whole day with no internet service at all. I would certainly check out a new job if that unpleasantness continues.::: I'm glad I have a few years to finish granddaughters quilts. Since not one is yet engaged, and two of them are still in grade school, I think I am safe for awhile.

This has to be short this a.m. as we are going to a health screening soon, having carotid arteries checked. We have a program called LIfeLine Screening. The company comes to our location, sets up their portable equipment, and can test for Carotid arteries, Abcominal aneurism, Venal circulation in the legs, and a check for osteoporosis. All much cheaper than if done at hospital, and then their reports go to your Dr. if anything is found that needs more followup. 2 years ago, with one of these tests I found I have osteoporosis. We have had several friends who found they needed surgery on the Carotid arteries, to avoid a stoke. So-it is really a good thing.

Hi all. See you later. Ann

Hi Everybody
I received a new recipe for muffins yesterday from my friend who is still in Maui (lucky lady). I made them this morning to serve at Tea Time today and had one for breakfast. I think they are very good.

TROPICAL MUFFINS

1 pkg (3oz) Lite cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sour cream
2 cans (8oz each) crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 to 1/2 cup sliced almonds (just 3 or 4 on top of each muffin)

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extracts until smooth; stir in egg.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt;
Add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, just until moistened
Fold in pineapple and coconut
Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full.
Sprinkle with almonds.
Bake 350 for 25 minutes or until muffins test done.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks
Yield: 1 1/2 DOZEN for a total of 49 points.

I think each muffin works out to about 2.7 points each.

***NOTE: the recipe is correct, it does NOT contain baking powder or added fat. I baked mine in paper-lined cups and sprayed a shot of Pam on the inside of each paper cup. I thought they might be difficult to remove from the paper liners but they came out beautifully.

If you try them, let me know what you thought. "Talk" to you all later.

Glenda: Never heard of chicken foot. SOunds like you had a great anniversary!

Maria: I think I would look for another job to if it happens alot I know when it goes down here its awful. Absolulety nothing to do with out a puter.

Ann: Sounds like it was a success! Wish I could see some of these things you are doing. SOunds like so much fun!

Slavika: Those look really good. Gonna try them for Sunday. They sound really yummy.

Yeah! the sun is back and its suppose to be warm today.

Later!

Slavika the muffins sound delicious. I am going to try them soon. Maria how awful not to be able to connect. How did you get through the day. Ann I hope your pass all your tests. That is a good thing to do. Tomorrow is the last day of this stupid arm panel that I am on. All I can say is IT'S ABOUT TIME! I have seen more of those people than I have my family. Have a nice rest of the day.

G'day all,

Back on line this morning and good morning to everyone!
I brought in my laptop to do some 'stuff' (like organising the wedding photos in a PowerPoint Presentation ) but I am glad the system is up and running again. Looking for a new job is now firmly back on 'hold' again

Slavika The muffins sound great, another recipe I will file away for when I am home again.

Ann Pleased to hear your 'musical banquet' was a great success. What an excellent thing to do getting all those potentially lethal conditions checked. As you may remember I had my cholestral and blood pressure tested with a similar service, yours is much broader.
Do you find quilting a little 'compulsive'?? I do a lot of cross stitch and it takes forever but then when it is finished, I just feel I 'have' to do another

Peggy now that the testing is almost finished, what are you going to spend your fee on??? Hope you decide on something really nice for yourself.

It is another very hot day here but overcast which makes it so humid .
I had a call from friends last night that will be over at Easter and they asked for me to book to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not sure if I will bother, it is very expensive, $190 per person and I get the same view from my office window, and I get there by lift
We are going to have quite a busy April with visitors. Really looking forward to the kids coming

Will check in a bit later
Cheers
Maria

A nice restful night. Just a chance to not have to run around.

Glenda: I like Chicken foot too. Do you play that if you get left with the double blank, it counts 50 points against you? Some do, some don't. We also like to play Mexican Train. That is a fun dominoe game too.

Maria: Glad you were back on line today.

Peggy: I bet you are glad to be nearly finished with your testing experience. That fee will be really appreciated, I bet.

Slavika: Copied your recipe. It sounds very good. Will try it soon when I get the right ingredients.

Going to turn in early for me, tonight. See y ou all tomorrow. Ann