Good morning and here's a mug of hot coffee. Wrap your fingers around it because it's cold outside. There are thousands in the area without power so I am counting my blessings this morning. (Branches laden with snow have taken down lots of power lines.) I must say that it's very beautiful out there - my huge pine tree is so loaded with snow that its branches are touching the ground.

I did get to my appointments yesterday although the driving was pretty "challenging". We rescheduled my lunch date and decided not to try to get to the quilt store which was even farther away. Claire postponed our dinner as her road was not ploughed at all so it was a cozy night at home with the furries.

Today will be breakfast at the Diner, maybe a trip to the quilt shop (1/2) hour and then an afternoon meeting for Fair planning. We also need to work on the Maple Syrup Festival which is the 3rd weekend in April. Who says there's nothing to do in a small town?

So how does your weekend look? If you want to be outside, come join me with your shovel.

Thank goodness your power stayed on, Ruth, so you could have hot coffee this frigid morning! I bet it's pretty with all that snow, though. Be careful out there, and I hope you have a wonderful day.

I managed to get showered and dressed and sneak downstairs without waking up the grandkids, so I could enjoy my first cup of coffee in peace and quiet. I don't hear any stirrings yet, so I may get to have a 2nd cup without interruptions, too. Somehow, little Tyler always finds his way onto Grandmom's lap.

The kids should complete their move-in today, and my brothers and some other friends will be showing up around 8 to give a hand. I probably should mix up some muffins or a coffee cake. Later. Coffee first.

Good Morning Beachies,

Ruth I am raising my coffee cup to you today. cheers! Buy yourself something extra special at the Quilt Store.

Today, I am making my Fruit Friendship Bread after 30 days. No it is not on plan, but it will go in the freezer in slices to be enjoyed one at a time on weekends only. (the rest will be gifted).

We are also getting a new freezer to day, an upright and we will pick up our beef and venison later this weekend to stock it full. Now we have to get rid of our small chest freezer somewhere.

Should be a nice day at home today, baking, sewing and cleaning. Relaxation. We made our first green juice drink last night it was excellent, Now I want to find more good recipes to try, I keep telling my DH we are not making fruit drinks, veggies are the ticket.

Hope everyone has a great day and all are able to enjoy it.

Good morning I'm just sipping my first cup of coffee before the morning rush. It finally looks like winter here. There's snow (though just a few inches) and it's getting very cold. I'm also glad I can't go anywhere for a couple of days. I am not a fan of cold, the older I get the less I can tolerate it. Guess I'm not cut out to be Canadian after all. Morning meds in a few so I'll try to stop back later

Good morning chicks!

I'm sitting here with a purring kitten on my lap (good grief he's adorable). Did I tell you my HUSBAND asked to keep him!? I didn't even bribe him, honest!! He does have the sweetest personality though. I'm trying to deny that we now have 5 cats. Five? Really?

It is still silent in the house (except for the heater!). It's a great day to take a road trip, and we picked a town a couple hours away with a children's museum and some other museums to visit. If we're lucky, we'll find a couple of antique stores to stop at!

More coffee, please!

Good morning everyone! It's cold here, but I am certainly not going to complain when I know that it is FREEZING elsewhere!

I can't believe that I only have 2 days of Phase I left... good news, the scale FINALLY moved for the first time since Monday. 4 oz. but still...

I am having this first cup of coffee and then heading out to Zumba. I'll have some brunch when I get back and then tackle this house (lots of cleaning and laundry to catch up).

Have a great weekend Beachers!

Good morning!

Ruth - Glad that you didn't lose power too. And I am always amazed at the goings on in your town.

Linda - I love the image of Tyler in your lap Enjoy the snuggling.

chickadeee - Did you get a juicer thingy or are you using a blender? I've never tried a green drink myself. Yet.

Cyndi - How's DW?

Twynn - LOL - You're a cat lady! Enjoy your trip.

lees - Woo hoo! Have fun at zumba.

Nothing happening here. I'm trying to come up with projects to keep me busy since I'm STILL not doing cardio! Funny how much time that frees up and how easy it would be to fill it with snacking. Sigh. So, I've got a list of things to work on and will pick one or two or three today. Beef and cabbage "soup" in the crockpot for dinner. Eating has been on plan all week and I feel so much better for it. I tried that better than tuna recipe yesterday and it was very interesting. But not as good as soup on a cold day.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Hey ladies,
Moving VERY slowly this am after my girls night out last night which included mucho wine and off plan bread - but whatever. Today is another day, unfortunately another day with a huge party for my friend's husband and I'm not sure what the food will be. But I will try to be good! We have to drive upstate today and are staying overnight, coming back tomorrow and then we have to go to a birthday party and then, of course, watch the Giants play Green Bay (Chicadee, let me just say it in advance: so sorry for your loss). Hope everyone has a great day...

Duh! You'd think, at my advanced age, I'd know how to spell January. I just fixed our title and wonder how many others I've screwed up over the years.

Good Morning

I'm still very tired and will try to take it easy today. DH is grumpy so I'll try to stay out of his way. I've put away the last of the ornaments and have been working on the refinishing of the chair (project left over from Moms). Now to get to my green smoothie before I get too hungry. I'm sure looking forward to Spring. Oh, well.

Have a great day everyone!

You should see my house! We are in day 2 of kitchen construction. All the cabinets from the kitchen are either in the living room or the computer room. The fridge is in the computer room. The stove is going to the thrift store tomorrow. Then the kitchen will be completely empty. Sweet hubby made me a nice little 'kiosk' in the foyer for my coffee set-up. He's so good to me! Hopefully, this will take less than 2 weeks. We are getting a beautiful tile floor, new counter tops, and new appliances. Jeff is arguing the fact that, "The refrigerator is perfectly fine!" I think that if we are getting a new stove, dishwasher, and above-the-stove microwave, we may as well get a new, matching fridge too! Right???

Anyway....

Ruth, In Alabama we stay home if they *say* the words snow or ice!

Twynn, Anything over 4 cats makes you, officially, 'Crazy Cat People'!

Everyone else: Enjoy your weekend!

Good morning everyone and welcome to Sunday.

Um ... Chelby ... it always takes longer than they say. Many years ago I went through a kitchen reno done by my then BIL. All meals were cooked in an electric frying pan in my livingroom for five frassing weeks. Be prepared.

Yesterday was a lovely day when I did only what I wanted to do! I drove to Brockville (icy roads but I was careful) and got some quilting things and other odds and ends that have been bugging me. A simple supper and some wine finished off a lovely day. (The big BD celebration is dinner tonight - Claire has invited eight adults and no kids so it should be a good evening. I will try to remember I have gym at 7:30 tomorrow!)

Church this morning and then I drive (carefully) to Gananoque to do the second last evaluation session for a handler and her dog. I expect they will do just fine. The dog is a Rottie who behaved beautifully in all the previous sessions.

Happy Sunday to all and stay warm if you are in this deep freeze. It's -23C or -9.4 F right now! Woolies and hot coffee are needed.

It sounds like you have a lovely day ahead, Ruthie, and I'm glad you had
a pleasant day yesterday. I know a visit to a quilting store always makes you happy.

Chelby, I hope you post pictures of your new kitchen when it's done. How exciting! And, yes, definitely push for a new fridge to complete the package. If you are going to the expense for a new kitchen, then you deserve ALL new appliances, too! I hope the reno does only take a couple weeks. I remember a few years ago Jake decided to rip out our kitchen the day after Christmas, and, what with this and that, it wasn't totally completed until August.

The kids are all moved in and mostly settled. My brothers are both coming again this morning to help take some heavy stuff to Dustin's storage units. We had a really full house yesterday, since Monica and Carley came out, and Caite drove out after work, and they stayed til nearly midnight. I was exhausted by the time I went to bed and thought I'd sleep like a rock, but I ended tossing and turning all night. Go figure.

I have 50-ish people coming over February 25 for a Mardi Gras party. The kitchen HAS to be done!

Ruth, I have an electric skillet and a little convection oven. My in-laws live next door. We are welcome to eat and cook down there. In fact, I'm cooking there tonight.

Cottage, A house-full of family really sounds lovely.

MIL and I are going to look at appliances next weekend, if she is feeling up to it. She has another round of chemo this week. I hope she is well because I want to shop with her and not Jeff. She and I will look at features. Jeff will look at price tags. I've been saving money for 3 years for this remodel. I don't want the white one because it's $100 less.

Auston and I are going to Walmart this morning. He brought home his report card Friday -- All As! He's earned a prize!

Good morning It's a balmy .1 degrees above zero out there. You know it's bad when any part of a degree counts. I never did get back yesterday. My day is tightly scheduled around meds, tube feeds, etc and I grab the time I have to get chores done. I should get a system worked out just about when DW is back on her feet again.

Cottage - Good luck with your house guests. I hope you have a quiet corner to bring a glass of wine and hide.

Ruth - I'm happy to hear you had the kind of day you wanted to yesterday

Chel - Good luck with the renovations

Debbie - Hope the day brightened up and you found some quiet space for you.

Matilda - happy, safe travel

Karen - It's a soup week here too. I'm looking through recipes deciding what I want for the week.

lees - Congratulations on almost being out of phase 1. Have you picked out your first Phase 1.5 food? I remember wanting an apple more than anything in the world

Twynn - Chel is right Purring kittens are hard to resist. I try to avoid them because I know I'd be doomed.

Chickadee

Since DW is getting food from a can I'm working on using food already in the house. This morning I made a mock snack cake for breakfast. It was chai spice and really yummy. Can't wait until she is eating soft foods again, she will definitely like it.

Well time to get some kitchen clean-up done and laundry started before the next medical task. Hope you have someplace warm and snuggly to spend some of this cold day.