Good morning gals. We got a big thunderstorm move through quickly this morning. It is wet but has already stopped raining.

Jack changed his tire last night after dinner so his car is back to normal and I have mine back. I was going to go pick up his contacts but I need to finish some work here at home and am making a pot roast for dinner so we will get them tomorrow. Jack has to come home early for his ortho appt so we can just go after that or I can pick them up tomorrow morning.

Susan: I sure hope this research study does help you and gives you more breathing ability. I am a tuna sandwich fan so it sounded yummy. I am a bit picky about my tuna salad though. We have a deli here that puts a lot of lemon juice in their tuna salad and it just puts off the whole flavor.

I am having trouble with my feet and lower legs swelling again so I just might have to talk to the doctor about my medication. I worry about the damage the swelling could cause. I try and walk around a lot more, drink a lot of water, etc, but nothing helps so my only reasoning is it is my one bp med which is notorious for this. I know I am tired of always being at the doctor that's for sure!

I think I need to start picking out my clothing for next week so I can be sure and pack all my Cubs stuff. I have earrings and a shirt to wear that has a baby picture of Jackson on it I had made for the last Houston fiasco so I am going to wear it with jeans. I have nail transfers I never got to wear but I may wait and wear those in Houston in October, I haven't decided. I have to find the darn things first. Since we are leaving now on Friday instead of Saturday I have to make sure everything is done before then and both of us want to get haircuts, the oil needs to be changed in the Mariner, etc.

Saturday is Thomas's Blue and Gold banquet signaling the end of his Cub Scout year. Gosh he goes into Webelos in the fall. I asked him if he thought he would go on to Boy Scouts and he said yes. My brother's son made Eagle scout when he was 14 so I wonder whether Thomas will want to put that much effort into it.

I better go gals and get chores done. Jack cooked breakfast this morning and left the dirty dishes since the dw hadn't been unloaded so I have that to look forward to. Have a great Thursday today and hopefully there is good weather where you are. Faye

Good morning ladies! It is cool this morning but I am hoping it warms up later. We had a hard rain with hail around the time Jack was coming home yesterday but he didn't see any of it on his drive home so it must have just been our area right here by the house.

He has his last ortho appt today and I am hoping he puts him on more therapy because his knee is still really causing him trouble. I guess we will limit walking as much as we can in Atlanta and not do stuff that would strain his knee. The parking lot is several blocks from the ballpark though so that he is going to have to walk. It isn't like he can't walk, he is back to full duty, it is just that I would imagine the more walking the less it can heal properly. It may just take a long time.

Jean: The pot roast did turn out pretty good. At least Jack scarfed it up. I passed on potatoes and ate a lot of carrots and a bit of meat. Guess I just wasn't very hungry, which is unusual for me! lol Glad the blood came out of the sheets. How was the Easter program? I bet the kids looked so cute.

I am going to the laundromat this morning and dry some clothes. We have decided what dryer we want but are going to wait until we get back from out trip. We have to measure the door to make sure the one we want will fit into the house then measure the doorway into the laundry room to make sure it will fit in there. Such a pain. I just think about my mom hanging clothes out to dry when I was a kid. I used to hang Kelly and Jay's baby clothing out on a clothes line because it made them smell so nice. They both wore cloth diapers and we sure couldn't afford a diaper service.

I guess I better get a move on and get a shower, get dressed and get chores done since I will have two loads of clothes to wash and take over there. Have a great weekend all! Faye

Good morning, ladies. According to the weather man it is now raining and we won't get over 60 degrees. When I look outside the sun is shining and it's already 61 degrees. I'm going to walk before lunch and then again before dinner if it stays nice.

Haven't any plans for this weekend except to get my house ready to be painted inside and get some more things ready for retreat. I will have to go to the grocery store sometime because I'm out of eggs and milk.

Faye, I don't suppose Jack would consider to use a cane for your trip so keep some of the stress of walking off his knee. I have always hung sheets out to dry in the summer and blankets and quilts and odds and ends. When I had the shed fixed, they had to take down my retractable clothes line and I didn't have it put back up. I'm really torn. I really like hanging them out, but I shouldn't be hauling the clothes basket up and down stairs. I hate to put quilts in the dryer. I haven't made pot roast in a long time, sounds like a good thing to make Sunday.

Jean, I'm glad you got the blood out. How was the Easter program? Little kids are so cute when they do them. It sounds scary to have drive by shootings going on.

Well, I need to make some phone calls and get some laundry going. Have a good day!

Good Morning, Flowers! The sun is shining brightly with wind and 36 degrees it is cold outside. I am tired this morning! We didn't get home until 11 last night; we drank 'real' coffee after the program so we could stay awake for the 2 1/2 hour drive home. The program was just for the "after school" kids so it was short and sweet . . . about a half hour. Ian had a speaking part and knew it by heart. He is a 'performer' at heart -- smiles and sways to the music. Amanda didn't realize Zowie wasn't part of the program so she had a nice new dress and shoes to wear. Amanda's parents also came and we all went out to eat at Perkins afterwards.

"Gma" -- Would Jack consider wearing a knee brace when he has to walk any distance? I've never worn one but know that the kids at school wore them for a few days to take pressure off the knee. I hope he gets some more pt time. I would have to eat the potatoes as they are my most favorite part of the meal. I'm not a big meat eater and I know I don't get enough protein at times. I think Zowie was a little put out she wasn't in the Easter program. She goes to preschool, but I guess since she is in daycare she didn't qualify.

Susan -- I'm not sure how our painting project will turn out, or who will be painting. What color(s) are you planning to use? Our main living area is an ivory color and Bob wants to do something different, but definitely not white which is what we had before. As we drove through the 'shooting' area I thought the houses were set back pretty far from the road to be hit by bullets. I have no clue how far guns shoot but wouldn't think the shooters would be dumb enough to pull into the lanes and leave tire tracks.

I have lots I can do today but first on my list is to vacuum fur and dust bunnies. Ernie had a wild streak this morning -- he tears up the stairs, over the bed, down the stairs and behind the couch, to the patio door, and then does the same route several more times. As I've said before he is a weird cat!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Maggie -- We are having the same windy day you are, and our sun has disappeared. I think childhood memories are the best and it's special when children can spend time with grandparents. Your new appliance sounds interesting. I've never used one. I've also never heard of Panko crumbs. What are they?

I spent most of the afternoon putzing downtown. I had our wedding cake knife engraved with Beth and Will's names and dates so could pick that up this afternoon. We know the store owners so always "visit" whenever we go in there for anything. I received a 15% off coupon for tennis shoes and the shoe store just happened to be in the same block so, of course, I stopped in there and found a pair of NB shoes that fit perfectly. The Hallmark store is in the same block and I had a list of retirement, April, and May birthday cards to pick up so spent a lot of time in there. The store used to be our Penneys store so it is quite large; they carry a lot of bridal registry items, children's educational toys, baby clothes, etc., that most Hallmark stores don't have.

Bob went in for his lab work this morning and then a "chat" with his doctor. There was a student doctor there and Bob was asked if he minded that she do the appointment, then the regular doctor left the room. She went over the lab results and then mentioned his shoulder. The MRI shows a torn tendon and rotator cuff. The regular doctor came back in and reviewed what the student doc had said, then winked at Bob and said he would let the orthopedic doc explain the MRI results not knowing that Bob already knew. He just told Bob not to plan on playing any golf this summer and to lose the 5#s he hadn't lost since he was there 2 months ago. He also said not to worry about the nosebleed unless it would happen again and then he wanted to know.

I need to accomplish something before Bob gets home! Maybe clearing off the kitchen would be a good start! Enjoy your evening.

Good morning to everybody. Jean and Maggie have blown their windy day towards us so we are expecting a lot of wind today and not just from politicians....

Jean: Panko are Japanese bread crumbs, very fine and are really love to use. You have probably had them as a coating on something in a restaurant at some time because they do such a great job but aren't heavy. Oh my gosh, poor Bob. Did they put him in a sling or anything to keep his shoulder from moving? He has to be in pain, poor man. Five lbs? Sheesh, don't we all wish we only needed to lose 5 lbs. Jack is wearing an elastic brace thingy on his knee. I told him he needs to use the crutches again to take some of the weight off. When he went yesterday they are scheduling him for an MRI now so maybe we will get to the bottom of what is wrong because it is getting worse.

Maggie: I have a horizontol rotisserie (one of Ron Popeil's miracles) that I really like but clean up is such a mess that I do rotisserie chicken in a dutch oven in the oven. I have a recipe for the spices and it turns out exactly like the store bought ones. In fact, we haven't had chicken or cornish hens that way in a long time. I might have to do them again. I strip the skin off and they still come out really yummy. I put ff chicken broth in the bottom of my pan to keep everything moist.

Susan: Today is Blue and Gold banquet for T so we will have supper there tonight. They ordered bbq from the place next door to us so we told Kelly we would help her bring it. She has to come over here because she has to pay for it with a Pack check but I told her we could transport for her. They make great food and the price is right. They gave her a huge discount I guess. The man that owns the place is a devout Christian and very fair guy. He even closes his store on Sunday, which is pretty much unheard of except for Chik-fil-a in this town. Our pot roast was good and I usually take what is left and use ff beef broth make a gravy and make stew so we get two meals out of it. I usually add some more veggies but that's about it.

We watched the cutest movie last night. I am on a buy a dvd each payday kick and I bought this one two weeks ago planning on watching it in the hotel room or on the trip or whatever but Jack wanted to have an at home date night so I made mexican food and we had a movie night. It is called "Did you Hear about the Morgans?" and it was so cute and very funny in parts. It starred Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker. If you get a chance, rent it or watch it. The scene with Hugh Grant and the bear is pretty funny.

Well gals, I need to unload the dishwasher, put away the other basket of clothes and get us some breakfast. Have a marvelous Saturday! Faye

Good Morning, Flowers! It is cloudy and gloomy outside this morning. The lake is really dark so I expect the ice might go this weekend. Three ice fishermen fell through one day last week; they were fishing by the inlet which has been open for several weeks. Dumb! Lucky for them someone saw it happen and called 911. Bob's doctor told him to go buy the South Beach Diet book and get busy losing the first 5#s. One of the teachers used that diet and did very well with it; I'm not big on meat so it will be interesting to see the book. I'm debating about going to WM on a Saturday when every other Tom, Dick, Harry, Juan, and Maria are out and about.

"Gma" -- Bob didn't like the MRI experience at all! They had to pull him back out to get his heart rate to go down, put a wet cloth over his eyes, and earphones with music playing on him. He still didn't like it and it took 45 minutes to get done. Our machine is brand new and supposed to be 'state of the art' but it is enclosed rather than open. I hope Jack has a better experience, and they find something that they can fix for him. Bob has no pain, unless he moves his arm up too fast, and is taking nothing for pain right now. The local surgeon buys his BCBS from Bob and was in the office yesterday afternoon. He always shakes hands and Bob said he would pass this time. The doc asked what happened and when Bob explained it to him, the doc said it could be fixed and Bob would be fine. I have heard that that movie was a good one -- not sure if it has been here yet or not. Enjoy your banquet with Thomas tonight!

I need to get laundry going and put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Have a super Saturday and remember to have a on your face!

Jean -- and from Iowa!

Good afternoon, ladies. A nice sunny day but only in the 40s. It's windy here, too.

I went to WW this morning and was down another .6 for a total of 17 pounds and reached my 10% and got my key chain. I'm filling in the last page of my 3 month tracker today so will start a new one tomorrow.

Jean, men are crazy when it comes to fishermen. We had 2 watermen that drowned about 6 weeks ago and they just found one of the bodies yesterday. I love the panko bread crumbs. They are very light but big crumbs and make a nice crunchy coating. Poor Jack. I've had 2 close friends who had to have rotar cuff repairs recently. He won't be doing a lot of manual work at the cabin this year. The South Beach Diet is rough the first 2 weeks because that is only protein, veggies and dairy. After that you slowly add back whole grains and starches. It's pretty much WW Simply Filling Technique. It is very doable for life. I have all the books and cookbooks and love the recipes. It is not a low carb plan.

Maggie, I know you'll love your rotisserie and use it often.

Faye, I hope the MRI shows what is wrong with Jack's knee and they can get it fixed. There is so much they can do for knees these days. I'd like your spice rub recipe, too.

Have a good day!

Maggie: Here you go and this works great!


Roast Sticky Chicken-Rotisserie Style
(makes up to 2 whole 4 lb chickens)

4 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1tsp dried thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp cayeene pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder


mix all the spices then after rinsing and patting dry chicken rubs spice mix inside and out, if baking in oven put in resealable bag refrigerate overnight or 4-6 hours.
Preheat oven to 250, place poultry in roasting pans and bake uncovered 5 hours. Let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

Now I have mixed my spice, rubbed my birds and baked them right away in a 325 oven for about 2 hours or until wing join is loose.

If using a rotisserie, just follow your rotisserie directions. This is yummmmmyyyyyy!

Thanks, ladies. I've put all of them into my MasterCook.