Good morning!

I'm still living in a construction zone but things are looking up! I have a lovely smooth side walk from my side to my front porch now AND, when Lucy escaped late yesterday afternoon, she did NOT walk over the fresh cement!

I may not be posting much for a while. I am finding this site extremely slow to open and to post. Suzanne is looking into it for me - it may be a routing problem since it's happened only since we moved to the new server in Texas. They probably route to Delta through Finland!

This weekend is the Maple Syrup Festival and the batter is already churning away in the mixer at the Fair Hall. I am "on grills" all afternoon so had better make good use of my morning. Don't worry - I won't be into pancakes and syrup. Cooking so many turns me off.

Right now I'm into the tub and shampoo and then will go to the next town to pick out new patio stones when they open at 8. I'm on a roll!

I'll try to pop back in over the weekend.

Happy Saturday.

Came in from the backyard to rest my aching legs...been bending and weeding and pulling out ivy...I got winded fast! but it's beautiful and sunny here today, and should hit 70 or at least close to it. It's way overduel

This yard will be a constant project, it is pretty overgrown, and the grassy areas are spotty and too shady. I'm working on it though!

The other big project right now is the second floor bath. Our house is a small cape, with 2 bedrooms and a full bath down, and 2 bedrooms and a full bath up. The upstairs bathroom is TINY! Very little room for anything fun, just the basics, but still, the choices for sinks and tile and all need to be finalized. DH doesn't do much in the shopping arena, so I pre-shop and then drag him for the final showing. I'm getting close, but still kicking around some different tile ideas. It's sort of fun, but to be honest, I'm getting sick of it.

eating OK today(it's only 2 pm) but finished off some good Hagen Daas last night. YUM

see ya's later. I'll check back and give you the tile updates!

d.

I should be in the garden too, Dottie, but it's not the best weather for it. I'm still aching from my marathon weeding session LAST Saturday. These pounds I've gained recently are making me very tired, puffed out and my feet and knees are bothering me more than usual. What a difference an 8 lb gain can make to feelings of well-being. Obviously, the BioChemical Machine is not the plan for me. I need more limits, I guess. I've been browsing through my Diabetic cookbook and I'm thinking of going back on that. I'm just so discouraged because nothing seems to work for me. It makes me not to want to even try anymore.
Ruth, your sidewalk sounds lovely. Where are you putting the patio?

dragged DH to the tile store. what a production. like taking a 5 year old. "are we done yet, when are we leaving" I almost offered him a Happy Meal if he was good. But he did have a good idea and we ordered a sample of a different floor tile than I was considering. Even I am getting bored with this project! And depending on my contrators schedule, this may not get done til early June anyhow.

eating OK, had ham leftover and made some lentil soup with indian spices...for lunches. fish for dinner tonight,stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. Then early to bed. I'm tired from lots of yardwork, and not enough play! DS, BIL and DN will stop by later and we may walk over to this little carnival for a catholic feast day a few blocks over. ZEPPOLE ANYBODY?

ttyl, dottie

Happy late Sunday afternoon after a hectic weekend. The Festival was a success despite two days with rain off and on! People are just anxious to get out and about after the winter and also want to keep up their record of coming to the Festival since it's beginning - 1967.

The Hyper Pypers and my grandogdaughter Bailey came in about 2 PM and have just left. They really are hyper but fun! As they own one of Hershey's pups, Lucy's sister Bailey, they are like family - the kids call me GrannyB (from Grand*****).

Now it's time to do my pre-Gail tidy and prepare for tomorrow when Kevin is to come to fix the barn roof and level the patio with new stones, weather depending, of course.

Linda, you KNOW that low carb is best for you! Have you considered South Beach again?

DTL, still with us?

L144s, now that PAssover is over, what's next on your agenda, aside from the auction?

And where is The Bride (RobinH)?

Dottie, I'd love to come work on your yard with you. As to bathroom reno, nope! I had enough of that last winter.

Kel, have you succeeded in reforming (or improving) junior SH?

I know I've missed somebody! Sorry!

Know what? I'm tired! Early bed tonight!

Good Morning everyone! OK OK OK, I know it's Monday, and I should NOT be so darn cheery... BUT...... it is a gorgeous-looking day, supposed to be near 80 today, and I don't have to be at work until 4:00!!!!! (not too much time to play tho, at noon I have my annual gyn exam - ) The weekend was very hectic: on Saturday, dd2 and I drove to Albany (3-1/2 hrs ONE WAY) for a surprise birthday luncheon (her best friend and my "extra" daughter!!), stayed 45 minutes and then had to turn around and come back home!!! The things we do for our kids! Ahhhh, but yesterday I gave myself a wonderful present! The grandbabies were coming over in the afternoon, and I've been wanting to get a digital camera, so...... with the rest of my Christmas bonus (plus a bit extra) I got a wonderful camera. a Minolta Z1... only problem is: I'm kind of electronically challenged! Oh well, I hope to get better at it before kids' birthdays and our trip to Israel in the fall.

Ruth...... glad you are done with the festival. I don't know that I would have been able to do it........ how's the construction (or do I say DE-struction?) going? dh is still doing painting, etc here, and the place won't be back together until the end of the month - that's when he must be done because the carpet is coming. However, at that point, we need to start tearing down the kitchen wallpaper (which is peeling off anyhow - along with a little bit of help from the grandbabies yesterday!!)....

Dottie, when you and Ruth feel the need of more challenging yardwork, feel free to come on over!!! LindaBC, you are invited too, of course!

Oh well, better go get some laundry out of the dryer before it wrinkles and I have to <gasp!) iron it! ... nah, I'd probably just re-wet it and put it back in the dryer
Have a great day, ladies!

Hi ladies..
I thought I posted some time over the weekend but alas I did not. I worked on Auction stuff on Sunday and today id patriots day here in MA so no school. It has topped out at 88 today and well not so bad with out th humididty.

Sono, the camera will get easier to use the more you play with it. i want to hear more about your trip in the fall.

For the rest of you I am a non gardener. I can't take care of any plants except the silk ones an I neglect those of dusting regularly....

Opening day for ladies golf is tomorrow and I am looking forward to playing. my friend KFS and I are in excellent shape for the auction on Saturday and we will catch up on Wed. leaving me a FREE day...woo hoo.
Ok off to karate with the kids....
be well,
-L

Happy Monday evening-

Surprise! Junior SH's parents showed up this a.m. to take him back to Florida. After much Cuban yelling & many tears they left for the airport this afternoon. So now I'm left to console my brokenhearted daughter - poor baby. It's been a roller coaster couple of weeks for her. At least she got to enjoy her Senior Ball. Damn - I wouldn't go back to being 17 years old for all the tea in China.

Ruth - Glad the Festival was a sucess. Hey, I like your GrannyB handle - especially since I know what the B stands for! Hope your Kevin lad came today and did his thing.

Linda - How are you doing today? Get to the pool or work in the garden? It's been threatening rain all day (appropriately grey to go with the mood of the day) here but we are supposed to have better sunshine tomorrow.

L - Sounds like you guys have things in shipshape for the auction. Hope it is sucessful and the school makes lots of money!

Sono - New camera, huh? I'm a bit techo-challenged also. I've got a video camera that I need to figure out since I am chief video taker now.

Well, I need to go figure out something for dinner. Maybe mac and cheese (that's comfort food, right?) for the kids and a caesar chicken salad for me.

Tomorrow will be a new day, with new hopes and dreams and possiblities.

Kel

Gosh Kel, Poor Melissa! Good thing you are stong cus it sounds like she is going to need a shoulder to cry on!

A beautiful day today and I get to play golf or pretend to play! DH rearranged his plans so he could get the kids this afternoon. We played on Sunday and I thin he relised that if he wants to retire to some golf corse in some hick town he had better find a way for his wife to play and LIKE the game. At the moment I can't say that I love it and I won't retire someplace or even entertain the idea of "plantation" living in the south. This is a big problem for him....

We have a new low carb store here. I bought some low carb bagels, a little cardboardy (is that a word) but I did get some really good brownies....
Anyway off to finish up a little work this morning before I go. Enjoy the day..
-L

Cool and drizzly here today. I don't feel like gardening anyhow. I have some errands to run but may put them off until tomorrow when I have to go to the opthalmologist early...like 7:30. I many have to have minor surgery on my right eye. The tear duct is almost completely blocked but will know more after my appointment. Not a big deal but that eye is constantly watering and feels irritated. Forget about eyeliner or mascara. LOL

Yesterday was my women's club AGM over which I had to preside. It was a good day and I was happy to hand over the presidency to someone else, having completed the maximum allowed of 3 years myself. They gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers. Now to somehow avoid being roped into any further offices. Iknow our own group will be needing a new president come autumn and I have a feeling they are all conspiring against me to get me into it. Gaaaah!

I won't even go into my disastrous eating habits of late except to say that I will never, EVER again have a dish of ice cream (even low everything ice cream) late in the evening. I had a hellish night of heartburn and misery from it. Nuff said.

It's a beautiful evening here, been 70 all day(even though I was inside at work) I am enjoying it now! I am doing my midweek catch-up of the housework, etc., that didn't get done over the weekend. So, a load of darks in the dryer, cleaned out the frig, and the odd tupperware and pots running in the dishwasher. I am going to plop down outside and wait for the chicken to be done. DH will not be home til late and that has it's good side : A lot gets done!

I am 2 good days into LC again and feeling better already. Back on egg and ham for breakfast, cottage cheese or cheese for a snack, cold cuts at noon, or celery and tuna... I eat so much healthier this way. On WW I eat twizzlers, cereal, bagels, pasta and feel like crap. How many times do I have to be reminded of this?

LINDABC!!! Listen to Ruth, you always do best on LC>

Hi to everyone else- hey Sono, you sound busy!

be good,
dottie

Hey my low carb friends!!!!! I need to catch up! Robin is getting married? congrats!!!! Spot had alot of Cuban yelling?

I miss you guys. I don't seem to get much time on the computer anymore and I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it is all the time I sit and think about getting on the treadmill and then I actually get on the treadmill and then I have to recover from actually being ON the treadmill.

I went to a flea market today. This is the one where my crafty friend gets all her wood to paint. I didn't buy one darn splinter of wood! I have four bags stacked up in the toy room...who needs more? Dh is on the SH list, the kids are fine, the little red car died, and I got fitted for new bras a couple of weeks ago. The excitement goes on.

Food is going ok. I need to eat cleaner without grazing. Grazing really kills me. Dry roasted edame (oh, that is not spelled right....they are little green beanie things) save me when I get hungry...full of protein.

that's the excitement from here!


peach

Happy happy hump day everyone! Started out w/some rain, right now the sun is out and I'll take it! It's been gorgeous here on LI for a few days, but the weatherpeople are calling for rain from now til the weekend - uck! Well, I'll take the sun for as long as it lasts!

Everyone sounds like they're up to SOMEthing - which is good. I love keeping up and catching up with everyone..... even when my eating is out of control (like lately )

Kel, sorry about the jrSH, hopefully Melis enjoyed the ball and showing off that there really WAS such a person (even if he IS a jrSH) - I remember how traumatic that stuff is for our kids, and I hope that she gets thru it soon. About that video camera, we got a digital one about 1-1/2 yrs ago, I learned how to do the basic stuff on it, but it sure is complicated. I wish I could read the manual as I go along! Same with the new one I got - my old eyes (and BRAIN!!) have trouble reading the manual, seeing the buttons and putting it all together at the same time! Oh well, I AM gonna figure it out, and so will you!

L - about the trip: it will be our 5th time going to Israel. We will spend a week in Jerusalem, a couple of days around Tel Aviv and a couple of days up around Tiberius. Our first time was with a group of "first-timers" on a tour with the synagogue; that was about 15 yrs ago. The second time (10 yrs ago) was for 3 weeks with another couple (the same folks we are going with this time) - we stayed in Jerusalem, got unlimited bus passes for the whole time, and did day trips and tours, going where we wanted and seeing what we wanted for as long as we wanted! Not at all like going with the tour! We were able to spend 2 whole days in the Israel museum, whereas the first time, we only got 2 hours there!! The last 2 times we went with a volunteer group "Volunteers for Israel" - where we spent 2 - 3 weeks in the Israeli army, doing stuff to free up the soldiers, but we had the weekends off to do whatever we wanted. Last time, after the army, we spent a week in Eilat, snorkeling and just relaxing - it was wonderful!

LindaBC - "must be strong must be strong must be strong" - make this your mantra so that you don't let the ladies strong-arm you into the presidency!!! It's time for you to make MORE time for you to relax and do whatever you wish!

Dottie, I see you're enjoying the fabulous weather just as much as I am - my offer to let you come on over and work in my yard still stands

Peachie!!! hello! missed you around here! I'm glad to see you pop in - TREADMILL?!?!?!? wow! I am soooo impressed! Everytime I walk past mine (the one that is piled high with "Clifford the Big Red Dog" and lots of Clifford books - more grandkiddie toys, etc etc etc) I try not to see it! In fact, since it only takes up space, I'm thinking of getting rid of it. It's a big one, not being used. Anyone want to come get it? Yours for the removal! I know I'm just not gonna use it - maybe I'll try Curves, my friend loves it, and I just know I've got to do SOMETHING!

Ruth Ruth Ruth..... where are you? do I have to send out the search and rescue for you? I hope that you're just outside in the greenhouse and/or on your porch enjoying gorgeous weather with the girls!

Well, it's now time to take a shower and get ready for an afternoon shift today.

Have a great day everyone...........

Hi gang. Peachie, good to see you.
I'm just heading out into the garden before it gets too warm. I had an early medical appointment...7:30...yoiks! and came home with a wicked headache but a couple of Tylenols have helped matters so I'm ready to get out there and tackle the weed patch. Lovely day for a change.
Don't think I'm ignoring all the advice to get back on LC. I'm mulling it over. Meanwhile, the heartburn is starting to get to me. Actually, I think it's more like acid reflux.
Sono, I'm so amazed that you would be going to Israel now. There seems to be so much unrest there and something tragic in the news nearly every day. Of course, people said that to me when we went to Zimbabwe four years ago and we saw nothing disturbing at all during our month there. Just be very careful, okay?

I am procrastinating about getting in the shower and getting dressed. I really have to be in the car in about 1/2 hour! I am on my second cup of coffee, and having trouble moving...
Doing OK, but need some food in the house. As usual, lunches are hardest, and having adequate snacks. i am out of my house from 7:30 am til 6 or 7 at night and that covers most of my eating time. Even breakfast is scrambled eggs and ham eaten out of tupperware in the car! So I need to cook some burgers up this weekend that can be nuked at work.
Nice to see ya Peach! Of course, we can't be friends now that you have turned on me with your sweaty huffing and puffing and machines. But it's still nice to have you posting!
Linda, how did your surgery go? Is everything OK with your eye?

Hi to everyone else, craft fairs, and lads and puppies and kids and jobs. Can't we just relax more?

fighting my way to the weekend,
dottie