Good Morning

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. I'm anticipating a productive day here and I need to get going on some of the projects I managed to creatively procrastinate yesterday. I'm going to start off with a little baking while I pick up yesterdays mess.

I made an interesting purchase while perusing for some new cookie cutters; an electric programmable pressure cooker. The price was right-a mere $60 from it's original $200 sticker. I was going to have Kirk bring one of my PC's back from Alaska this year so I feel I've contributed here by saving that step. I'm going to try a whole chicken and a pot of beans for lunch so I'll report results.

Have a great day everyone. What's happening in your part of the world??

Morning!

It's awfully muggy here today, and severe storms are expected this afternoon. I'd better make sure all the windows are closed before I leave. It's my turn to take the girls to camp this morning, and I'm picking them up early so they can go to Art Camp this afternoon. I'm sure not getting to see much of them this week, but they are having a lot of fun and enjoying camp, and that's what's it's all about.

I should get word on my laptop this morning and find out if I can pick it up today. Hopefully, it won't cost me an arm and leg to get it back.

Well, I'm off to decide what I want for breakfast. It's too hot for oatmeal, so I'm thinking perhaps Ezekiel cereal with yogurt and blueberries, or maybe an omelet. Hmmmmmmm?

ETA:

Good morning Debbie, you beat me to it! Thanks for getting us started for the day. That's quite a steal you found on that pressure cooker! Do you still have a home in Alaska and plan to go back one day?

Muggy here this morning, alas, and sure to get worse as the day goes on. The AC is in the barn for the duration of the construction so I'll just have to rely on fans.

No construction is happening as we wait for an engineer to rule on footings. I am hoping that happens today because contractor Paul is getting twitchy about his scheduled deliveries. I keep reassuring him that he got started a week ahead of schedule but.....

Today I am supposed to go to Kingston to pick out hardwood flooring and light fixtures but may delay that until a cooler day. I cancelled today's pet therapy (no dogs) but may go to the clinic anyhow with client Marion's Fair items and her cheque! She's a dear old soul who entered ten crochet items and won a plaque for most points in the Seniors class! She will be just delighted.

Happy Hump Day, Chickies.

Mornin' Ruth and Cottage

I don't envy your muggy days! AK was always cool and damp in the AM. Colo always cools way down at night even when the days are up in the 90's.
Ruth, my absolute favorite part of a fair is all the craft and food items. How wonderful for your Sr friend to still have such joy in participating.
Cottage, I hope your computer isn't a huge setback. Art Camp must be so much fun for the girls. We do still have a small beach house in AK. Its been rented ever since we came down which suits me just fine. It's a truly beautiful spot, but when DH visits he sleeps in a 10x10 glorified shed on the property which has no amenities or view. He talks about another sm cottage on the beach side but until that happens I'm happy to stay home with the dogs and tend the garden.
Cyndi, I am supposed to get turnips this week with the CSA food. Are they a viable addition to a dehydrated soup mix? If not, I'll pass them to my food partner.

Good Morning Everyone!
It's a soggy day here too...VERY hot and muggy from the storms the last couple of days. We went to Santa Fe Steak House last night and got caught in a nasty storm as we were leaving. Decided to go to Best Buy for a few minutes just to look at new computers and nearly froze to death being wet with the aircondition blasting in there.

Had major computer problems yesterday and spent most of the day downloading stuff to clear it up. I think we are ok now.

Debbie...a new kitchen toy and a bargain!! Who can ask for anything more! Have fun playing with it.

Cottage, hope your laptop is all cured. It's a pain when our good toys won't behave!

Ruth, what fun picking out new floors and light fixtures. I would LOVE to have new floors (my house was built in 1950) and even though my wood floors are ok, I'd love to have new dark wood ones!...and slate in my kitchen and in this sun room!

Me...ripping and roaring cleaning house. A friend is coming over to visit today. So far I've gotten the floors in the hall and bedroom done, got the rugs scrubbed in the living room and have my sheets in the dryer. Next I'm headed for glass cleaning. Speaking of sheets, have ya'll tried those new Purex laundry detergent/softener pad things? I really like them and found a great use for the leftover pads after they come out of the dryer. They work great on the end of a "flat mop" handle to dust floors. I put three of them next to each other plop the mop handle and voila...I don't have to wash the microfiber pads as much...I can just throw away the laundry pads instead. They are also pretty good for dusting furniture.

Have a great day everyone!

Good Morning!

Lexxiss, You are up early! I love my pressure cooker. I make the best fried chicken in the land! Of course, that's not SB friendly.

Cottage, Good luck with your computer!

Ruth, Come on down to Alabama! I have coffee and AC.

Cat, We are missing all the storms! Blow some up here!

Me: Auston has Kindergarten testing today. They are going to find out he's the smartest kid in Remlap. Actually, I just hope he's polite and not a goofball. I'm taking off work at noon to take him. Hooray!

Hope your day is wonderful!

Wow you've been busy while I was out walking Good morning
This is the only non-rainy time of the day so I didn't want to miss it.

Cottage - Sounds like the girls are having a fun week. Good luck with the laptop.

Debbie - That pressure cooker sounds great. Can't wait to hear your review. I've just started using mine lately for beans. I haven't got the timing quite right yet but it certainly is quick.
As far as the turnips go - it depends on how strong they are and how much you like them. They could definitely work in a soup mix. We never have them around that long because DP loves them mashed and as fries.

Ruth - Good luck with the construction. Sounds like a good day to take it slow. We just aren't built for muggy up here!

Cat - Could you come to my house when you're done Enjoy your visit.

Chelby - Bring tissues I'm sure he will blow them away.

Sorry to hear so many of you have barfy cats. It does make me feel a little better though, I thought I was cursed. We got this kitty after my 20 yr old cat died a couple of years ago. I used to joke that she was my bulimic cat. Imagine my surprise when he turned out to be even worse. He also has allergies to grains and seafood so I have to be really careful about his food. Then there were the antibiotics when he first came home. I actually had to throw a rug away.

I've started working my way through The New Rules of Lifting for Women. I am bound and determined to start lifting and building some muscles. That should be interesting

Our porch finches fledged yesterday. I will miss their cute fuzzy little heads popping up when I go out the door but it will be really nice to have my porch back. Maybe now I can get my grill going again and cook out!

Hope your hump day is quick and painless and you are on the downhill slide to the weekend soon!

Chelby, I taught kindergarten for years and dreaded giving those tests. I hated them. Over and over and over and over...aughhh..

One time I thought I would die laughing. One part of the test we gave involved some little dressed bunny figures and clear plastic boxes. We would give the child a bunny and tell them, "Put the bunny OVER the box, Put the bunny UNDER the box, Make the bunny go AROUND the box, Put the bunny NEXT to the box and the last one was Put the bunny INSIDE the box.

One little girl put the bunny inside the box and then looked down at the bunny just laying in the box and said "Is he dead?" I thought I was going to bite a hole in my lip. She had a very strong drawling accent and it sounded like "Is he Dehayed?"

Oh Cat, that is a funny story! BTW-Have a nice day, a clean house and great company.

Chelby, what a big step going to K. It's the fun years before they find out school isn't as fun as they thought. My most vivid memory of K is learning to use a stapler. First I learned with paper. It was fun. Then I put my finger in and presto - not so much fun. Kirks Grandma was from Miss. He thinks she made the best fried chix and I know yours is spectacular. Maybe some day when I get South we'll make some and only have one piece. Best wishes to both you and Auston. At his age wouldn't it be polite AND a goofball?

Cyndi, my Sophie barfed behind the couch this morn. I thought I'd wait for clean up until after I finished baking.
Hmm...mashed, I might have to try once. Probably not SB friendly, I'll check. is great! I used to when I originally lost weight, but DH's hero is Arnold S. and he was just too bossy in the WR and I stopped. I love the porch birds. I always feel so motherly when they're around. I seem to remember you're driving today. Be safe.

It's weird - turnips are on our Avoid list for P1 but aren't on our P2 list at all. Other places online list them as starchy vegetables so 1/2 cup servings in P2.

Lexxiss: Thanks for getting us started this morning! You got quite a steal on that pressure cooker. I've never used one, but it would probably be fun to try. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Cottage: I bet you're missing the girls this week, but it does sound like they're having a blast! I hope the news on your laptop is good and that you get it back soon.

Ruth: That really stinks about the footings for the addition. I hope everything comes through quickly so that the boys can really get going. Enjoy your day!

Cat: What a great idea for those laundry pads! Can you come do my windows next? I've neglected them for a bit too long. I hope you have a wonderful visit with you're friend!

Chelby: Good luck to you and Auston today! I'm sure everything will be fine; he sounds like such a smart kid! Can't wait to hear how it went!

Cyndi: Glad you got your porch back. I don't know what DH and I would do if we couldn't BBQ over the summer! We tend to do it every Saturday night. I hope you have a nice day planned.


Me: Not much here. Just the usual! Work in 30 minutes, then home to work out and then dinner. I'm feeling pretty good this morning, D3 of P1. I hopped on the scale this morning to take a peek at where I was and I'm down 4 lbs. since Monday!!! That puts me 2 lbs. away from my half-way point!! I felt 100% yesterday than I did Monday and got through the day without a headache or anything like that. I was even able to ignore the chocolate-chocolate cake and homemade vanilla ice cream that was passed around for a coworker's birthday!

My big plan for tonight is to sweep and mop all of the floors and go through my yarn stash and decide what to keep and what to give away. My hope is to get it all down to one shelf in my craft cabinet, but we'll see.

Okay, I'm off! I'd like to get the dishes washed before I have to head out. I hope everyone to come has a great day!!!

Ugh, I was awoken at 7AM by a call from DD1 who is having roommate issues. Her roommate has decided she doesn't want to pay rent anymore - she's getting married and needs to save money. I didn't want her to move in with this person in the first place, but my advice wasn't required at that time - needless to say it is now! I advised her and hope she can handle it on her own without me having to get involved (or put out any cash).
Stormy day here, dentist appt for DS, Parks and Rec meeting tonight. I got excited and weighed myself early ( I try for only once a month). I lost two pounds in June and looks like 3 for July - I'm excited to have two losing months back to back, particularly with two weeks of vacations in there. That hasn't happened in a while. I'm hoping August will be a little more impressive. Ph1 is totally kicking my butt this time around though, I hardly had energy to do anything last night. I may add some oatmeal today.

Lexxis, I love my pressure cooker. I just wish I had a smaller one, DH brought me a Seb back from France and it's enormous, so I don't feeling like dragging it out too often. Your place in Alaska sounds amazing.
cottage, good luck with the laptop. It's been so hot and muggy I just haven't felt like eating. I forced myself to eat some canned refried beans for dinner last night, and left DH to dig through the freezer.
Ruth, I hope your engineer makes a decision today.
Kim, great job on resisting the goodies. Doesn't it feel so great to be on plan?
cyndi, I never even checked the food lists - I was eating mashed turnips like crazy last winter. I forgot to tell you I thought of you last week on vacation. Our condo was right on the bay and we had so many water birds to watch - herons, pelicans, of course seagulls all over the place.
Chelby, good luck to Auston today. I will probably take you up on your class and dinner. I hate being stuck in a hotel room for five nights, so it will be good to have a fun outing planned. I'll just have to check and see which nights the banquet and social are planned. Are any of those nights better for you? I'll PM or facebook you my cell number.
Cat, I got those sheets to take to the condo - I don't use them at home because I line dry so I don't need fabric softener/anti-static. They worked pretty well, and I did save all the used sheets and bring them home - they looked like they'd make pretty good scrubbers.

Cat, What a great story! My mom says that Auston is going to have trouble when he has to start separating sylables. He puts extra sylables in lots of words. Shrimp = Shray-imp. I don't talk like that!

Schmoodle!!! I'm so excited!!! You let me know what day you're coming. Any day is fine with me. It will be fun!

Leaving in about 10 minutes for Auston's testing....

Eh, just for the record, this Sophie doesn't barf behind sofas. Might have hugged a few toilet bowls in my youth.
Busy today restringing the pearl necklace. Its hard to be a perfectionist sometimes, when the knot doesn't sit right against the pearl, I undo it and that is delicate work.
take care
Sophie

Haven't we all.... I tossed my tequila down the outside of my boyfriend's truck door. Those were the days!

ETA: Forgot to add, Auston is brilliant, of course. He did a great job and answered all the questions. He called 12 the number 21, but they are going to let him in anyway.