Good Evening, Flowers!
It has been a very long day and I am tired and crabby. I have the headache from he** to boot! It's 1 degree outside as I type and it is supposed to be 10 below before the night is over.

Joyce -- We have seen the Gaither show and they do put on a good one. We sat too close though; they played in the round in a big auditorium and we were on the floor about 3 rows back from the stage. We could see their faces but not their feet because of all the sound equipment. CONGRATULATIONS on another pound gone forever! 80#s is something to be proud of for sure!

Donna -- Wow! You've lost another 10#s -- that's terrific! How long did it take you? CONGRATULATIONS! "Weigh" to go!

Bubbles -- You are braver than I to drive over one lane country roads and especially so when you don't have the correct directions! I have had heel spurs and they are NOT fun! I hope you foot is better. When my feet hurt, I hurt all over!

Maggie -- Thanks for the #15 post warning! Does the Woman's World magazine come out monthly or weekly? I just bought one at Wally World and did a quick glance through it -- didn't see anything about the Wendie Plan (Feb. 4) but will have to study it further. Diversity Day is history for another 2 years. The Mexican band played at the beginning assembly and they were so very loud that several teachers left to stand out in the hall. It was simply noise as far as we could tell. Each speaking part of the program was spoken in Lao, Spanish, and English. The best part of the whole day was the gospel singers at the very end!

I am heading for bed! Have a fantastic Friday, Flowers!

Jean -- in Iowa!

Jean: Jack weighed me a week or so ago so I lost that much in about a week and a half. I think I plummeted so fast because I changed my diet so drastically from what I was eating. Probably cut fat and calories more than half. It will settle in soon and then I will be thrilled with 2 lbs a week.

Donna

Jean that magazine comes out weekly and the gal that lost a lot of weight is on the front cover and in big letters it talks about the plan on the front...... it is the Feb. 11th issue.

Good Afternoon, Flowers!
It's sunny, windy, and cold in my corner of the world today. It's not a nice day to be outside that's for sure. I am a happy camper though . . . Winterfest Week is over and done with! Can you tell I'm glad?

Donna -- The only way I could lose that much weight in that amount of time would be to not eat anything! I don't think I like that idea at all. I would like to see a steady 2# a week loss but I know me well enough to know that will never happen. I just keep trying though. I hope it is warm where you live today!

Maggie -- I will have to check again at the store. I think the new magazines hit our stores long after the east side and the west side get them. We used to have several places that carried magazines and now we are down to Wally World and one grocery store.

We are beginning to make plans for redoing my bathroom upstairs. I just wanted to update it from the " '60s aqua" and it is turning into a major production. . . tearing out a doorway or perhaps cutting a hole in the outside wall to get a new tub and surround in. I just ask that it be done before school gets out so I don't have to put up with the workmen in and out.

I hope you all have a nice weekend.

Jean -- from Iowa!

GOOD EVENING MAGNOLIAS

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of our Blizzard of '78 when we had snow for three days and at one time it was snowing at the rate of 3" per hr. We had a total of 2-3 feet with much drifting. It was snowing this AM and it looked like the same kind of soft white stuff. However, we are promised it will stop sometime tonight with an accumulation of 18" here and lesser amounts in areas surrounding us. What makes this a different storm is there is no hurricane winds and the tides are not above normal...those living on the water were washed away in '78.
Nuff about fun in MA.

Maggie: I feel soooo bad that you had to have the top up. However you are still a losing woman.....I got Woman's World and saw the article and your mention...it was a great article.

JEAN: Good luck on the bathroom redo. I hope it is finished before the end of school... not fun having people running in and out while you are recuperating from a year of school adventures.

DONNA: That is a great loss....CONGRATULATIONS!!!

JOYCE: You too, are going in the right direction, Congrats to you!!

BUBBLES: Ooh! That is some ride over those back roads and without the best of directions.....I donn't think I would have tried it. I especially don't like driving at night and in the rain...rain makes it so hard to see.

Gloria in MA.....although the plow has been by twice and probable will come by in the AM...DH & I will go out and do the walk and stairs before the snow freezes. Slow and steady are what we will be. Have a great weekend all.

Happy Saturday Morning!

YOuall are giving me credit for being a daredevil driver, which I am not.........although I do feel pretty invincible with my 4wheel drive My backroads drive happened at around noon, the sun was shining, and I had a pretty good idea of where we were. I love exploring back roads, and have hit practically every one on this end of the county. I knew where the "paved road" was going to end, just couldn't find the gravel lane to their house.
This area attracted lots of hippies in the 60s, thanks to gorgeous scenery, cheap land, clean air and water, and relatively remote locations where they could grow their "wacky tobaccy". Consequently, we're used to people being off the beaten path. Those hippies are now adults and have had a very positive impact on the community at large. They are very proactive re: the environment and have been able to save the integrity of our river, they're also politically proactive and keep "the good ol' boys" on the straight and narrow, and have been a big part of the development/preservation of the arts in this area. What used to be a women's Jr. college, is now a community college, thanks to lots of hard work by many people. On the campus is Carnegie Hall, the only one other than the one in NYC. It's been restored and has attracted such folks as Isaac Stern, Wynton Marsalis, and other performers of their stature. This all in a town of only about 6,000 people. Visitors are always amazed at how sophisticated our burg is. GW was at the Greenbrier Hotel Friday night..........you should have seen the security around here........amazing!
Jean, hope you get farther with your bathroom than I have with my kitchen! I've had plans and pictures collected for almost two years. I'm afraid to spend the money now that I'm on a fixed income and the market's going south..........we'll see.

I'm off to the gym.
Have a great day, it's gorgeous here, if a bit nippy........windchill of 2.
Fondly,
Bubs

Good Morning, Flowers!
There a lazy snowflakes falling but it doesn't look like anything serious is going to accumulate. I almost wish we would get a good snow to cover up all the brown and dirty that is typical this time of year. Spring can't get here fast enough for me!

I'm waiting for a load in my washer in order to get another one going. Have the usual Saturday cleaning to do. DH is doing farm chores for his friend so we won't be going too far away this weekend. I was hoping for a quick Ian visit but may have to wait until next weekend.

Gloria -- You and your DH be careful out there with the shovels! Don't over do! I remember the winter of '78! I remember it as being more cold but I know we had lots of snow also. I was pregnant with Beth and couldn't get my coat buttoned all the way! It's not that I ever have to go anywhere during a snowstorm, it's the fact that I couldn't get out if I had to and that bothers me more than anything! We have an EMT who lives across the street but with my luck he would be snowed in at the hospital when I needed him.

Bubbles -- I remember the hippies from the '60s! I was always proud that I wasn't one of "them!" Our college had the Vietnam protesters marching regularly -- those were the days! I might add that as I look back they were the GOOD old days too! Families lived closer to each other and you could understand the words to the music! I don't think I would want to go back though; maybe if I knew then what I know now . . . . . . . .

Have a relaxing weekend, Flowers! I need to get busy!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Happy Sunday, Flowers!
The sun is shining and the snow flakes are falling; they sparkle like diamonds in the sunshine. It's 16 degrees and windy so not a day to stand around outside for any length of time.

We've been to church and DH just left to do his chores. The bells made it through the piece . . . I didn't lose my place so we all ended at the same time! Next I'm going to make coffee and read the papers.

I hope you all enjoy your day doing something nice for yourself!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Good Morning to all you wonderful Ladies

Well, I had a long weekend and didn't accomplish everything I would have liked to. Still having sewer problems. Washer water was backing in the drain again. I think they have it fixed now Gets frustrating to keep turning the washer off and on so the water all goes down the line and not into the basement...

I baked a bunch of chicken breasts to put back in the freezer for meals this week. And I made some meringue cookies with choc chips and nuts. I ended up putting in more that I thought. 2 point cookies and VERY good. Won't do that again. Ate too many yesterday. Going to have to get the points down so they are about 2 cookies for 1 point.

Jean - I bet those bells sound really good!!! How big is your group?

I have a lot to do today at work - I hope I can get back for a visit. Retirement sounds better all the time (2 years, 10.5 months )

Good BRRRRY Afternoon!
It's only 9 degrees right now as I type; it was 0 when I left for school this morning.

It is awfully quiet here . . . . where is everyone?

Joyce -- I'm glad to see you today! We have 11 regular bell ringers playing 5 octaves of bells. We just acquired a 4 octave set of chimes but haven't used them in church yet. Sometimes we will recruit an extra person to help play the high bells or help out on the lowest bells. It's almost impossible to ring the lowest bells if they play very often. I play 3rd from the bottom -- E and F below middle C plus their sharps and flats. Sometimes I'm really busy and other times I might play once or twice every other line or so. Keeps me on my toes! Would you share your cookie recipe please? I don't have a specific timeline but retirement is looking pretty good to me. I always thought I would hold out for 62 but 60 is looking better and better; that's another 3 years. It won't make any difference as far as my school retirement benefit goes because I took so many years off when the kids were little. You have to have 30 years to really get the full benefit package. Hope your sewer problems are fixed; that is so annoying. I didn't get much done this weekend either -- mainly laundry and now I have another pile of ironing to work on.

Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Jean - I just happened to be checking out the thread to see if anyone posted. Looks like you just did.
Those bells sound like they would be beautiful to hear.
I watch the Cooking Thin show on FoodTV. She offers tips on how to lose weight and cook lighter. The host has lost 75# herself. She did the cookies one time. I really like them just have to lighten them up a little.


Rita's Ultra-Lite Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

> See this recipe on-air on 03/13/2003 at 5:30 PM ET.

Recipe courtesy Rita Daelemans

4 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
12 ounces mini chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

In a mixer on medium-low speed, beat the egg whites until frothy, about 2 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to high, add salt and whip to stiff, but not dry peaks. Reduce the speed to medium. Add the vanilla and then the sugar, a few tablespoons at a time. Whip to glossy peaks, about 2 minutes. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and the pecans. Drop by the tablespoon onto cookie sheets lined with parchment. Bake 45 minutes. Turn oven off and leave in oven overnight without opening the oven door.

Tip: To reduce calories further, you can scale back on the sugar, chocolate chips, and pecans. I recommend making them the first time with the full amount of sugar to get a feel for how much you want to cut back.


Yield: 32 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 10 hours
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Hey ladies how are you this evening?

Jean: I would love to hear your bell ringing sometime. I had a childrens' group once and they were a hoot.

Joyce: Wonder if Splenda would work instead of sugar? I have just started using it and haven't baked with it at all. Do you know if it works well in baking? Thanks for the recipe. It sounds yummy.

Looks like everyone is working on their houses. We bought this condo in Sept and boy have we put the work in and it is definitely an ongoing process. I am a color freak and since we had always lived in rental property and had cream or white walls for 30 years, I went color wild! The entranceway was wallpapered in this big ugly black and tan diamond pattern. I decided to jazz it up a bit and since it had no natural light, lighten it up. I painted the walls a light cream called birch bark and then sponged a bright bright green on the walls. We absolutely love it. I bought too much of the paint and am thinking about doing a plaid halfway up on the 2nd floor landing and hallway area and then a chair rail or 1/2 wall solid green and a wallpaper border. We have cherry bedroom furniture so I wanted to keep something that would compliment that color in there. I painted a color called apple red (very deep almost maroon) and a medium gray. All the woodwork is gray and the walls are all the red except the wall with the two windows. We put our bed between the windows and I first painted the whole wall gray then we sectioned off 18 inch stripes and painted them red. It really jazzes up the room for a totally different look. It had been a lot of work but a lot of fun too.

Have a good evening!

Donna

GOOD NIGHT MAGNOLIAS

Not much going on around here except running errands and having fun. Totally enjoying all this top down weather.

JOYCE thanks for that recipe sure looks good and I will lighten it up when I bake them.

DONNA yes you can bake with Splenda for heat doesn't destroy it at all.

JEAN retire as early as you can is my recommendation. I have been retired since age 45 and have loved it!

Nighters all - this chick is tired.

Good Morning Y'all. Definitely not top down weather here. Just hope the wind has quit. We had gusts up to 70 mph day before yesterday, then still quite windy yesterday.

Donna - Yes, you should be able to use Splenda. But that amount of sugar, 3/4 C is 11.25 points for 39 cookies, is really not that much, it's the other stuff in it. At least it was 39 this last batch. Once I made some with half the chips and no nuts, came out with 33 cookies and 1 point each. I tried putting 1T of ameretto DaVinci syrup in it and I think that was too much liquid, came out a little chewy. So I've been playing with the recipe and have had it a 1 point each. I'm looking for something that is chocolatey for those days when I need that chocolate fix.

Jean - I am really looking forward to retirement. But my mom keeps telling my to quit wishing my life away. So I will enjoy life til I retire. Then enjoy it more after I retire. I wanted to retire before I turned 60 and if all goes as planned, I will turn 60 a few months after. So I will make it. I want to be able to enjoy it. I will be at goal!! I will be healthy!! My parents knew several couples that kept putting retirement off because they said they didn't think they could afford it. Well, it seems that something always happened, like one of them would die, or have a stroke. Then they had no time to enjoy a retirement. My dad retired from the AirForce and then retired early from the old Frontier Airlines and they got to travel for 12 years in their 5th wheel trailer before settling down again. They loved it.

Maggie - Sounds like you are enjoying your retirement every day with your top down car. Are you going to be staying in CA for awhile? I think one of trips after retiring is going to be spent roaming the Pacific coastline from north to south.

Well, I gotta go check out all my emails then get to work. I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

Good Evening, Flowers!
It is so very windy here tonight! There were wind warnings out during the day and when I got home from school somebody's awning was in pieces scattered around our back yard. Our patio table, that has four chairs stored beneath it, was moved on the deck. It's 19 degrees but the wind chill is near 0. I'm glad it's not snowing or we would be having a blizzard for sure!

Joyce -- I'm not sure if we get the Cooking Thin program or not. We do have a cooking channel so I will have to look. Thanks for sharing the recipe! It sounds simple enough that I just might be able to make it! My dad retired at 55 and always said if he ran out of money, he would go back to work at 65. He never did go back to work though. I guess the uncertain economy makes me as nervous as anything. I kind of like being able to spend $$$$$ without wondering where my next meal will come from. Come to think about that, I could miss a few meals and it wouldn't hurt me a bit!

Donna -- Oh! How I wish you lived close enough to help me decorate! I see what other people do and when I try the same things, they just never seem to look quite as good. I definitely am in a rut and am not good at changing things. Your colors and decorating ideas sound great! :

Maggie -- It's a good thing you aren't in Iowa today . . . you top would be long gone! One thing about Iowa weather, if you wait long enough it will change to something else! I have lots of projects to keep me busy but I just don't know if I'm ready to take that final step into retirement. One of these days something will happen that will push me over the edge!

Hope you all have a wonder Wednesday. This week is flying by so fast!

Jean -- from Iowa!