Weekend Chatter - Sept. 27 & 28
 

Good rainy morning! Pull up a chair around the table and grab a cup of coffee.
A 60% chance of rain is the forecast but that means 40% non-rain, right? It's coolish but not time to light the woodstove - yet!

Today will be an at home day although we may go to visit Harry in the nursing home. I have black bean soup to finish up and the lazy cabbage casserole to package for the freezer. I'm building up my stash of grab and eat meals for busy days.

What's happening at your place? :cofdate:

:coffee: It's a dark rainy morning here. It was so hard to get up, but I'm a creature of habit. ;)

We're talking about going to an auction up in the Amish country, then getting groceries before heading home. We'll be watching Amber and little Tyler later today so their mommy & daddy can go out for a much needed "date night". For supper, I'm going to make a butternut squash lasagna. :T: Ruth's black bean soup is sounding pretty good, too.

It is such a coffee morning! I tried to sleep in too but my internal alarm just can't distinguish weekdays from weekends and my brain starts the To Do list the minute I wake up. And that's why there's coffee :coffee2:

Ruth - Now you have me thinking of black bean soup ;) Last night's ratatouille bake was tasty. Thanks for the inspiration!

Cottage - An auction sounds like fun. Are you looking for anything special or just looking? Now I'm also thinking about butternut squash.

I think we all know how I gained so much weight ;) I do love food.
It's a real challenge cooking for a diabetic this time of year. I want stews with squash and beans or grains and beans but the combos really make for high carb counts. I spend a lot of time bulking recipes up with low carb veggies to make them work. Good thing I love to cook.

Speaking of cooking I'm enjoying this site today: http://vegkitchen.com/recipes-galore.htm
Nava Atlas is probably my favorite cook book author. Her books not only have yummy, healthy recipes they are also just really fun to read. I use MasterCook on my computer and will move a bunch of these recipes into that on a quiet winter day.

Turns out my canning class is tomorrow so today is another domestic day at home - drying veggies, baking bread, cleaning & organizing more pantry space, rotating clothes so I don't freeze this week. Sounds exciting doesn't it ;)

Enjoy your Saturday!

The sun isn't up yet here either so maybe it is rainy. I'll need to get in my contacts before I go see. We're reallly hoping that we can get out and do a lot of selling of Boy Scout popcorn since this is one of the few weekend days we are home. I have to stay relatively close to home for 6 hours today to be able to help with work.

Time to go shower and get these contacts in. Be back in a bit.

Ruth, how is Daisy with folks? I happen to know when you visit nursing homes around here for a particular resident you can take your puppy in! ALL the residents seem to like that! (of course you know that doing puppy therapy)

Cottage, enjoy the day, pick me something up from the amish! I love their stuff!

Me: Still under the weather. woke up with a cough this morning, still have sore throat and slight headache. Kitty decided best bed for the night was anywhere on mommy! Puppy thought it not right kitty in my room and not her so she sat at door crying most the night upset with me. I feel bad about that since jade was here first.

ETA: Still maintaining at 181... this is frustrating and I'm about to quit! My sis says she'd of quit a long time ago, I said if I did I'd be well over 200!

Simulpostings: Cyndi: Thanks for the recipe site, maybe I should try vegetarian for a spell?

Barb: good luck celling the corn!

Daisy just loves visiting the nursing homes and the clinic. She is a tiny bit shy and wants "Mummy" close by but likes to sit on a chair and be petted by folks in wheelchairs. She's also very good at jumping up onto couches and beds for a cuddle. She lies on her back and asks for a tummy rub.

Just had some of that lazy cabbage roll casserole for breakfast. Yummy! Now to figure out the calories. It sure makes more than just two servings so I'll note the recipe.

Morning all! Kind of chilly here this morning with all the windows open. Sitting here in my old chanille robe drinking coffee and reading an online dicipline book I downloaded. Has some great ideas in it.

Looks like we are going to have a fun day. We bought some nice tall black shelves at big lots yesterday for my classroom and we are going to head over to school this morning so my husband can put them together and I can get more organized. Bought a bunch of colorful baskets for the shelves so I can put daily papers etc in them.

Then we are going to head over to a town close to us on the lakefront to eat and then go clothes shopping and grocery shopping. Then back home so Terry (husband) can catch the LSU game this evening. I plan on watching girl movies, polishing my fingernails and doing laundry. Can't wait to go clothes shopping. I think I have one shirt from last year that is ok and other than that have NO winter or fall clothes and I'm in desperate need. Yesterday I wore a pair of pants from last winter and had to cover it up with a linen jacket. I used to do that so no one could see how tight my pants were and now I'm doing it so no one could see how baggy they are. I love it.

Morning Loriann! I love good recipe sites and am always happy to share the wealth :)

I don't think there's any magic to eating vegetarian (there are certainly fat vegetarians - ask anyone looking in our window last year!) but I really do think it's healthier to eat at least some meat free meals. As always YMMV.

:wave: Barb & Cat - have a good day

My resolve is weakening - we may make a trip to Trader Joe, Whole Foods, & Deals & Steals. Don't really need anything from there but we love the trip and haven't been making it in the summer. There's also a lovely used bookstore nearby....

Cyndi M:
how far is the trip. I'm spoiled I have a trader joes 2 miles from my house.

femmecreole:
oh when they get that baggy i get rid of them! good for you!

Loriann:

do not quit. I kept doing just SBD but i was deluding myself into thinking i was eating the right amounts. GET a digital scale (i hear you an find them for around 20 dollars at target and such) for the kitchen and weigh everything.



you will be amazed at how little food 3 oz is or 1 oz of cheese is for me starting weight watchers and counting points along with eating mostly south beachy food has been a godsend for me.


and to Barb Cottage and Ruth HI guys.


Me: did not get Boone... in a way I'm relieved. he's over three and that's old for a newf mix.... bagel was only 8 and i can't imagine going through this again that soon. 8 is old for a big dog ya know.

raining here.... lazy day here

oh my scale report: 206.6 this morning on my scale... (and shhhhhhhhhhh I ate BEETS last night)


love to all of you!

Nessa, the right dog is waiting for you to give him/her a forever home. Congrats on being below 210!

I really want to go shopping but my clothes from last fall still fit! Some pants are baggy but they'll be a quick fix. I'm sort of glad I didn't pitch them all in the spring - sort of glad only! I'd love to shop today.

Last weekend with the MODs I ate a lot of vegetarian foods and am now more willing to try new stuff. I just can't face tofu or soy milk though so I guess I'd be moving into lacto-ovo vegetarianism.

Time to get off my fluffy butt and get going. Have a great day!

AWe, so sorry Nessa Boone didn't work out. You'll find the right one!

Good morning ladies sounds like everyone is enjoying the start of a great FALL weekend. Cool short days. It is cool here also in the morning enough to open the doors and air out the house after a closed up summer. Have to close up though by 9 a.m.!!!

Ruth-can't wait for winter so I can make some wonderful soups. I am going to try the cabbage roll casserole when it cools down more and it doesn't cause our air conditioner to work double time to bake.
Cottage-enjoy the day of looking
Cyndi-I am going to look at the site later and find a recipe or two I can try on the family. So hard for me to get something with veges in it that they will even try.
Barb-good luck on the popcorn selling. If I remember, last year you and Brian did well at this!
Loriann-Hang in there. I was at a weight for a long time(3 months) also but I kept at it and the scale did start moving again.
Femme-sounds like a great day planned. I especially like the evening plan(minus the laundry)..

As for me it is normal weekend family stuff-laundry,bedroom cleaning,house pick up etc...

I wanted to get on earlier this month and put on a weight ticker and celebrate :celebrate:1 year with everyone. I wanted to say I have learned so much, have gotten support from everyone even though I am not able to post all that often, and have LOST(hoping never to find again!). I have not been able to figure out the ticker thing yet. I will wait to have one of my darling sons to help me out and get it posted. I am still am not willing to share my weight with them yet so it might have to wait. That is o.k. it is like my little happy secret I am holding just for me. I am going to edit the side thingy as soon as I get this post done, don't mind sharing with you. Also I want to find a picture and send it too(this will have to be with one of my sons also). Someday I will figure out this wonderful thing called a computer but right now I am busy raising children,and cleaning house :dizzy: My 7 year old baby is surprised that her mom can use the keyboard without looking!! She doesn't know I use to have a typewriter when I was in school and that is what saved me from having to write everything out by hand!!!! O.K. off with her now:wave: This is getting long :^:I will close and start my day.


Everyone have a great day and a safe one too!!!

Morning everybody!!! It's a beautiful morning here so far! Just got in from taking the dogs for a walk (at the same time...was feeling brave today!). They did amazingly well walking together!!!

Today I can't decide what to do, I want to go look at plants for my backyard, I need to paint my hall, and I need to get groceries. And I'd like to go shopping as well...which is strange, because I hate shopping with a passion!! Hopefully when some of this weight melts off it won't be so bad!!

Quick question....at which store and where in that store do you find agave nectar?? I've looked and looked and can't find it!

Ohhhh Cat, are ya'll going to RIPS?? I had the BEST grilled talipia with some sort of a lemon sauce with grilled veggies a few weeks back....very good!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

I'm not a strict vegetarian actually. I eat about 95% vegetarian but decided several years ago when the arthritis and thyroid stuff kicked up that I would eat less soy and the occasional fish meal.

I'm not a soy milk fan but then I'm not a cow's milk fan either. I love unsweetened almond milk though. I don't know how people who don't cook survive tofu but I do think anyone who likes to cook and experiment can learn to cook it. I probably only cook with it a couple of times a month but DP eats it for lunch a couple of times a week.

Okay, we're giving in. It's an hour and a half drive so all the stores are on our route along with a Sal's Boutique for cold weather clothes and our favorite restaurant.

mandy I get it at trader joes but any health food store or i bet whole foods would have it.

Mandy, they have it at Organic Planet and also at the health food store in Ponchatoula...I haven't checked but that health food store on Market Street with the funny name...beekies or something like that probably has it. Check organic planet first. I always go there to get my bread and greek yogurt. I love that place.

We are going to Friends, but RIPS sounds like a great idea!!! I adore tilapia.

Cat...have you called Friends to make sure they're opened? They flooded pretty bad and I had heard they weren't opening until mid October.

Good morning, ladies! Will refrain from bra talk today and instead just say it's a beautiful day here. We went out to the children's consignment sale at church this morning and picked up a few things we still needed--car shades, changing table cover, pack and play sheet...and a few clothing things. Including an adorable little pink snowsuit, which we may not need here but probably from the Christmas trip to PA and OH.

I am a little swollen from talking a walk this morning and being up and around...blech. Do not enjoy this new development. Looking forward to having a pedicure afternoon with friends and supper club tonight! I am making green beans with a tomato vinaigrette from Cooking Light (it's a CL supper club)--will post the recipe if they turn out well!

Happy weekend!! Cyndi, I am the same now...I cannot sleep past 7 no matter how badly I want to. Things start running through my head.

RUTH, you should try unsweetened almond milk. I really like it, it's a lot tastier than soy milk. I'm glad you're leaning more towards the vegetarianism. :) I'm not a total vegetarian, but I'm about 3/4 there. ;) I will still eat chicken or pork occasionally, but I haven't eaten red meat in probably 15 years or so. And I do love my fish and shrimp.

CYNDI, I wasn't looking for anything particular at the auction, but Jake always likes to look through the tools. We did get a great deal on mums, though. We got 15 of them for $20, and they're huge! :) They still are mostly buds in all different colors, so they'll last a while yet. I'm hoping tomorrow will be dry enough so I can get them all planted out front.

PHXSUNFLOWER, I just noticed your stats, and CONGRATULATIONS on your progress! You're really doing great! We have stickies that will give you easy step-by-step instructions on how to make your ticker. Try it, you'll find it's not that difficult to do. ;)

MANDY, try looking in the health-food section of your grocery store for the agave nectar, you may find it there.

NESSA, sorry it didn't work out with Boone, but I hope you find the right doggy for you soon.

:wave: to everyone!

I've never seen unsweetened almond milk around here. I will look for it next time I'm in Ottawa.

I have a slight headache and sniffles so am going to have a wee nap - if I can get Disney to give me space on the couch. She certainly has settled in well - 4 months today last Thursday since she adopted me. :lol:

Phoenix - You do remember correctly. Last year Brian sold $6200 worth of popcorn but this year we have scouting stuff almost every weekend and every Monday and then quite a few other times. He has only made about 34 sales so far but he's getting there.

I finished work for the day so we'll be back out in a few minutes. It's only 88 degrees but it feels hot out there and the mosquitos are bad even during the day.

Oh my goodness, we need to go to the store! We're down to only crap in the house, which I don't want to eat, but are waiting until Monday to go to the store, since Little Guy is going to spend some time with his mom for a few weeks. Maybe I can convince Tom to let me go tomorrow and get stuff for the two of us.....

Regardless, moo.

I finished a book this weekend and have started the sequal. They're by an author named Chelsea Cain. First one is Heart Sick and the sequal is Sweetheart. Kind of gory, icky, serial killer type stuff, but still pretty well-written, and I have developed a liking for the characters, especially the reporter, who just to be different, dyes her hair colors like pink or blue. I've always wanted to have purple hair, just never have had the opportunity, and I fear that I've hit the age where it's just not right to do anymore.

Well, gonna get back to my book. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!!!

Lisa

Hi chicks, canoeing was not cancelled, and the weather turned out pretty nice, we only got sprinkled on a couple of times. The river was high from all the rain and the current pretty strong though. We started going upstream and fighting the current and planned to go a mile, but I don't think the girls made it halfway before we had to quit and turn around. Still fun though. Then we had a nice hike along Seneca Creek.
I'm pooped and planning to take it easy the rest of the day. If the weather holds maybe we'll light the fireplace and weenie roast for dinner. Then maybe a hot bath and early bed. I know I'll be feeling all that rowing in my arms later.

Hi Chicks! Well I survived Trader Joe & Whole Foods. For us TJ really is a great place for protein stuff so my freezer is full again (too full!). I picked up half a dozen cute long sleeve shirts so I'm set for the next few weeks. I've been freezing lately and have one too big jacket I've worn over everything It was time for new tops! Of course now my chore list is daunting but what else is new ;)


Cottage - Wow, great deal on the mums. Can't wait to see the pics of them all in bloom

Ruth - The vanilla unsweetened almond milk is really good in hot cereal and the chocolate mixed with coffee and a little agave :drool:

Phoenix - wow, almost 100 lbs! Wow :carrot:

Schmoodle - I used to love canoeing! Sounds like a fun and tiring day :)

Nessa - Around here everything is at least 30 miles away, especially chains. It's part of the lifestyle :)

:wave: Mandy, Weezle & jessie

Same here for distance, Cyndi, but it sure is a great place to live.

Weezle, purple hair? Go for it!

Schmoodle - my arms are aching just reading. Hot bath for sure tonight, OK?

BVarb, I think Brian (and you) earned his kudos last year. 88? We are 52 right now and I'm thinking of the heater in the back room.

Had a nap and did some more quilt cutting and calculating. When your fabric is limited, you sure have to be careful - no designing until you figure out exactly how many square inches you have. Kind of cramps creativity but it's good for the soul. Worked in a nap too! My kind of day.

Seems like a black bean soup kind of night - maybe with a glass of red.

Mandy, I didn't see your message about Friends, but we went to Rips anyway. What a great day for it. We sat out on the porch and ate. The weather was perfect. I had the seared tuna salad with cucumber dressing. It was fantastic. Thanks so much for suggesting it.

On the way to school this morning I saw cars all around the new Penney's. Seems that it finally opened today! yeah, we have a place to actually shop again!! So on the way back on the way to Mandeville, we swung by and did some clothes shopping. Nearly everything in the store was 1/2 off and I got 4 shirts, a dress and 5 pairs of pants. It was beyond wonderful trying on clothes that fit. My husband reminded me of the days when I'd leave a dressing room almost in tears and shake my head cause nothing fit me or if it did I looked like a short round lump in it. Today when I came out of the dressing room, He said "are you getting anything?" and I said "I'm getting EVERYTHING"! He was thrilled cause he loves me to get new stuff.(and 1/2 price made him happy too!) Thanks again SBD!!

I also got a great leather caramel colored "brief case" with a shoulder strap...also 1/2 price. With great compartments and pockets in it. Tres Mr. Chips. I had been looking for one for long time and could not pass up the price on it.

All in all, it was a great day!

i'm getting ready to build an ark. sheesh how can schmoodle and i live i the same state.... my baby pool in the back was empty on thursday... today it's overflowing... ALL RAIN!

Nessa - congrats on the loss! You've been doing awesome!

--

Wondering if anybody saw my post in yesterday's daily about the little girl who was over at our house....I've just been in a daze all day today wondering what to do.

Jenny: We've tried get togethers at their house...she isn't as destructive, but she is still super mean! It breaks my heart to see her trying as hard as she can to get DS in trouble and purposely breaking his toys. She ripped this little star man apart last night as well - DS showed it to me this morning in tears. It wasn't anything really important, he had taken it from my mom's office....but he referred to it as his "mawmaw star"....he sobbed when we threw it away. :(
The little girl's birthday was today - we were supposed to go but I was in too much pain to go anywhere. I just got out of bed for the first time a few minutes ago.

My sciatic nerve hurts incredibly bad today...I can barely walk. DH got new tires on his car today...I've been in bed but lying down is uncomfortable as well.

Wow, what a day! Stopped at JC Penney, mind you in the past three weeks I've stopped at a different Pennys, Macey's, Walmart, Kmart, Target, TJ Maxx, Bon Ton and couldn't find a bra.!!! Thats with THREE ladies measuring me! Walked into Penney's, had asked a lady to measure me (just to see what she'd say) and boy did I get an education! Every other measure was off! She measured in not two, but three places, top of breast which should equal band size, (it's a double check system) across chest, and the band area (and the ONLY one to measure where your suppose to!)... The she proceeded to ask me what I was looking for, I said comfort and support, she led me first to the bra I ended up buying, i'll explain in a minute, then to three other styles. She said the other styles have more support with the underwire, so I tried them on. I can't tell you how many bras I've tried on with under wire and they didn't fit, the underwire didn't go where they needed to be, UNDER the breast! So I tried these on. She told me there's six things to look at when looking for new bra's, the strap (should be able to put ONE finger under strap comfortably), the band, should be able to take two fingers flat against back and slide across the band, the breast should not be popping out anywhere from the cup, take hand and move from neck down, should be smooth, not puckered... then move arms around, and move side ways to make sure breasts don't pop out of cups, and sit, make sure it's comfortable, should be able to know the wire is there but shouldn't bother you! Well, the first wire bra I tried on I LOVED it, but when I sat down the wire was cutting into me, so I passed. The next wire same thing, I found them to be uncomfortable... So I went back to the first bra, which surprised me, it's the 18 hr bra by playtex. I've been wearing these for years, but never had support in them. My problem? I was buying from walmart! I'm NOT lying when I say these ones from penneys are different! the support is AWESOME! I can't say enough how thrilled I am to find bras that fit, support, comfortable AND buy one get one half off! (so in essence I ended up paying same price I would of at walmart for the cheaper ones)...

My son was with me, we stopped at target. I was backing out of parking spot, had moved gear to drive to pull forward to continue to leave, and this idiot back into my car! everyone is alright, but I do have a busted tail light! SIGH! One more thing to deal with. We called cops, no report because not over 1K. Just an inconvenience!

Son's moving out of where he is into a place down the street at a friends... I hope this will cause him to get a job! I doubt his friend will allow him to smooch off him too long! :). Hoping someday son will straighten up! not a bad kid, everyone likes him... just not motivated! ARGH!

Thanks for letting me share my exciting day!

ETA: Oh, I forgot, kitty somehow got outside! This morning Jade was sniffing around washer/dryer, so I pulled them out and there's a hole there, I think she got out that way, I put a board I had in the shed against it, with washer pushed up tight so she can't get in there! But I had to crawl under the house! Thats right, literally on my bellly, like a snake, on the dirt! I went right by her, the little bugger had gone back up into the insulation... I had gone half way down the house when I decided to turn back cause I wasn't catching her with the flash light, when I turned around there she was... she climbed once again up into the insulation, so I called her, went over, put my hand up on the insulation just moving fingers, she wearily came to my hand. Poor thing was scared! BUT I GOT HER BACK INSIDE! And blocked that nasty hole!

Now i know how Gideon used to get out! GGRRRRRR

Ruthie, not sure that I'll land an Executive Assistant position with purple hair..... maybe once I get a new job. :D

Hi everyone! Had a busy week but I am still plugging along on Phase 2. I am down a total of 13.4 lbs. I really believe that I can make it to goal this time. The other day I put on a pair of pants that I just bought and they were way too big. Off to do some reading!

Good Sunday Morning!
 

Dark and wet here this morning. Disney got me up at 5:30 to go out and was quite disgusted by the weather. She's back zzzzing now. For the first time, she spent the night on my bed instead of in the back room where she and Hersh used to sleep.

Church this morning is a parish service with the Bishop AND the Primate coming. It isn't until 10:30 and is followed by a lunch which I'll skip. I really don't want to face macaroni salad, scalloped potatoes and ham! I'll probably check in on Harry and break the news to him about Hershey. :(

This afternoon will be another ME time; maybe a nap and some sewing.

What's up chez-toi this Sunday morning? :cofdate:

Morning Ruth and everyone else.

hannah is sleeping with girl child but my body wanted me up... so at 6:30 here i am with coffee just finishing...

oy this is the time of day i've got the energy to clean but with the family sleeping I don't dare.

Good Morning Ruth and Nessa...

Woke up with no hearing in left ear and the nose is runny, sore throat, headache.... wanted to lie there, but no sense in that so I got up to start the coffee going. I don't think I'll go to church this morning and pass on whatever it is I'm fighting.

Kitty is a pain in the rear! Yesterday found a hole in the wall behind washer and got outside under the house, I had to go get her. I boarded up the hole, and within mins of having her in the house I hear "MEOW"... she'd gotten back there again and realized it was different, and all I seen was her head sticking out as she climbed back up! Silly kitty.

Jade is oh so JEALOUS of kitty, kitty was in office with me and Jade came in crying at me as if to say "I'm here, why you petting her?"... KIDS!

oy that kitty is a handful Lori!

AWE but oh so worth it!

woke up with a bad rash on my ankle as well, can't figure out for the life of me what it is! Hoping its from wearing my new ankle weights with no socks or pants there yesterday. :)

It's a dark and gloomy looking morning here, making it hard for me to get out of bed. I could hear Jake hacking away downstairs, though, so I finally got up. Seems he caught my cold, poor guy. ;)

We had lots of fun playing with the grandkids last night. Little Tyler is just about to start walking, and it was fun watching him trying to take a few steps. He's such a sweetheart! Amber and I made cinnamon rolls, and she was really proud of her accomplishment! I only ate 1/2 of one, and made sure all the leftovers went home with them!

Today I must get over to visit Mom & Dad. I've been staying away while I was suffering from my bad cold, but they're anxious to hear all about my trip last week and see the pictures. I hope to get my mums planted if it ever stops raining, and there's the ever present laundry to do, too.

chiggers?

we have a flea infestation right now...



Morning Cottage....

A dark and damp morning here too. I'm so glad there's coffee.

Ruth - Enjoy your "me" time!

Nessa - My daughter always got the urge to clean at 2 in the morning when she was a crazy teen. She would just get this rush of energy before falling asleep. Nothing like a vacuum cleaner running in the middle of the night.
Any new puppy leads?

Lori- Gotta watch that kitty :) I'm sure that working out with those weights without socks under could cause the rash. Is it itchy or just rashy?

Cottage - Enjoy your day :)

Today is make-up day - now I've got a 2 day To Do list and only one day to do it all! Ah well, had fun yesterday so no complaints from me. It looks like it will not be all rain all day here so I can get up to the orchard again. I'm going for heirloom apples this time. It's fun experimenting with different dried apples. After yesterday's TJ trip I also need to organize that freezer. Chest freezers really can be a challenge!

Have a good day everyone :)

* added - I have lost and regained the same two lbs for two months now. It's driving me nuts! Down a whole lb from yesterday but I was up .5 from the day before. I may toss the scale into the rive!

All's quiet right now. Last night we babysat our precious grandson while our daughter & son-in-law attended his 10 yr reunion. Everyone is still sleeping but I am sure I will hear Aidan moving around soon. He feel asleep pretty early last night. I think we are going out for breakfast/brunch later this morning. . .yum!

I am starting my 4th week of SBD and loving the results. Hoping to make a steady decline in weight loss between now and the end of the year. DH and I have a long weekend trip to FL planned in November and hoping my bathing suit is much looser by then. My biggest problem some days is making sure I am getting enough to eat. I need to keep better track of the amounts of protein and beans I am consuming each day.

Off to read the newspapers.

Happy Sunday morning!