Thanks for the information, Chelby. At the time we took the course I still had a protective order against him. We still normally do the kid exchange in a public place. The assault was a one time only thing a few months after I had asked for the divorce but it still bothers me that Brian saw it. I'll be glad when it is all over. Robert's supposed to enter a plea in a week and a half but it's been delayed so many times. He doesn't want to accept conditional dismissal after taking the Anger Management course because he says it will take 2 years to totally clear his record but a guilty finding will hurt his record more.

Quick good morning after a three dog night. Bailey was invited to sleep with me but decided she wanted to be with the rest of the pack when the two downstairs dogs started to howl. They certainly have bonded. All was peaceful until I came downstairs at 6 and then everyone wanted attention at once.

Dinner with the Pypers at their rental cottage was just great. Here are some pictures of the lovely place. I can see why they don't rent to folks with pets or small children. We made a huge dent in the turkey but Margo insisted I bring the "remains" home. I'll freeze some, treat the dogs and make turkey soup - unless I decide to use it to feed the Fair Board members. Turkey, mushrooms and gravy on a bun? Hmmm.

I'm off to Church this morning and then have some pre-Fair stuff to finish this afternoon. There's always a sign missing and I am supposed to be the expert - I am the neatest printer. I did retain that part of my schoolmarm life!

I hope your Sunday is peaceful and serene.

Wow, the cats actually let me sleep in until 6! How nice of them :rolleyes:

Cat - I'm going to share that doggy tip with my neighbor. her poor dog always ends up outside our door when it storms and she is at work. Poor thing trembles and drools, it's not pretty.

Mythreesons - Isn't New England weather entertaining? Changes so often we can never say we're bored ;) (except the rain this year)

Ruth - Hope your visit and dinner were fun. How are the dogs doing? (I know you are out there posting as I type this!)

Sunshine - Must be the time of year because we were cleaning closets yesterday too. We have different bags for different places. I'm still finding clothes that are too big that I thought fit. Oops

Barb - Sounds like a fun day :)

Chelby - What do you do at the agency? It really sounds like a good place to work.

Well, I got through part of my chore list but not all. We got distracted by closet cleaning, a good thing to do but vacuuming waits for no one.

We did take a break to check out another park and hike the small trail to the peak. It was very lovely but too open to the weather. A rainy day would be awful. We have 1-2 more options in our region of the state. We are going to take today's break to check out one and the other may not even be available. I'm still committed to making a decision this week. Then I need to find someone to actually, you know, marry us ;)

Today's list includes cooking some beans for the week and prepping and dehydrating zucchini. The greens I dried turned out great and I'm hoping that sealing them in jars rather than bags will solve the over concentration problem. It's cool enough to bake bread too, so I'll fit that in along the way.

In the meantime the sun is out and it looks like a lovely day is starting. Hope your plans include some time for fun and a little exercise :carrot:

:wave: Hi Ruth :) What a beautiful spot! I have the world's worst handwriting, thank goodness for printers. Hope the sun is shining on you today.

Good morning. It's a chilly 53* this morning, but it's supposed to stay sunny and warm up into the high 70s. Such a strange summer! :dizzy:

We're headed to Home Depot after breakfast, as Jake wants to look at lawnmowers. Our 12 year old mower is getting too old and reluctant to start, so I think it's time for a new one. ;) I want to visit Mom & Dad today, too, as I printed out some info for Dad for following a low potassium diet. His potassium levels are dangerously high, and the darned doctor didn't give him any information at all on foods to eat and foods to avoid. :mad:
I'm sure Dustin, Andrea and the grandkids will be over later this afternoon, so I have to figure what to make for dinner. Maybe a pork tenderloin on the grill for them, and grilled portobellos for me. If I get energetic enough, I may finally try Lexxiss's gingerbread recipe for dessert.

Ruth, I've been dreaming of those cottages on the lake, what a lovely place! I'm actually considering asking my DD and SIL if they'd like to rent one with me next summer. ;)

Good morning, Cyndi!

Good Morning All!

Those cabin pictures are great, Ruth! Looks like a wonderful place to pass some time!

Nothing exiting going on here. Going to hit the grocery store in a while to pick up stuff for a big dinner tonight. My oldest son and his girlfriend are coming over tonight for a little "farewell" dinner for youngest son. I'm going to try to cook all of his favorites. Chicken ettouffee, rice and brownies! Also some smothered green beans and salad for those of us who eat green stuff. (the boy is a carnivore)

Oldest son came over yesterday evening with his big old truck filled with his posessions to move in. He is more of a neat freak than I am and had everything all organized and packed in those big grey Sterlite containers. For now it's all stacked up in my guest room. He is not going to move in for a few weeks though. It will be nice to have him around. He'll just stay in my guest room till his brother's "5 week trial visit at the friary" is up...And if Beau decides to stay in New York, Graham will move all of his stuff in Beau's room. I dread thinking about having to pack up and "de-Beau" that bedroom. It's going to break my heart. At the friary, the only thing Beau will own as a personal possession will be his toothbrush (and some clothes, but not many), so the rest of his belongings have to be packed up or given away. My Dad left him a HUGE collection of leather bound books that fill up 3 bookcases...those are MINE!
I got really tickled with him when I asked him how everything was at the friary. He told me he just loved it, but the only thing was the coffee ...he said "Man, is it WEAK!!!". So I guess I'll send him regular shipments of coffee that will of course be shared with everyone! Since they are not used to it, there may be some really wired priests up there!

Goood Sunday morning Y'all!
Man did I go WAY off plan yesterday! but I did spend the entire day canoeing.
Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! the weather was actually kinda cool for here.. (I think the high was 79 or 80) and the water was downright cold! As for eating.. bad bad bad! I had a good high fiber cereal for breakfast.. then it was over... we had brought granola bars and a mostly dried fruit trail mix.. I did eat an apple and drink lots of water. then when we got home.. we had to shower and go to a going away party for my b-i-l at a mexican restaurant... and being extremely tired..my reserve was down.. and I launched into the chips without even realizing what I was doing! and had some flour tortillas with my chicken... actually other than the chips and tortillas, the dinner I ordered wasn't too bad.. I probably could have done without the tortillas and been ok, I guess that's what happens when you tired... starving... tempted!
Oh well.. back today straight up... but I will probably have to cheat again this afternoon... my youngest dtr is having her baby shower this afternoon... and my step mom has gone to great lengths to make all the food for it.

Tonight my DH and I are planning on having a nice little campfire in our fire pit.. and burning off some of the limbs that have fallen in our yard during all these storms we've had. that'll be nice!
hope you all are having a great weekend!!!
tina

Good Morning:sunny:

It's a beautiful sunny day here! I'm in frustration-ville right now, but taking care of myself. Step-D came over yesterday and our "family" plan for today is sketchy. She went out last night and now prefers to sleep all day.

So...after much deliberation, DH and I are headed to the pool then to our friends' house to pick pie cherries before it gets too hot.

We were planning to take a day drive to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which is 100 miles through mountains, ranch and fruit country. We'll make that decision now when we get home.

Hi to everyone and Happy Sunday! I'll enjoy my peaceful morning, anyway. :fr:

good morning and happy weekend all. just a quick visit as I have a very long to-do list today.

DH made it home but insisted on a visit to our favorite local restaurant, i went with a cobb salad with blackened shrimp and ate half, not a choice I'd normally make, but I cannot lie, I ate the 6 croutons and a bite of DH's pasta, I just couldn't not. Trying to get my life back OP today with a trip to the supermarket and some bean cooking.

I'm confident that with all your support I can make it through my second week on Phase 1.

Quick chore break!

Cottage - I am often my parents source for accurate info too. It amazes me how little they get from their Dr.s with all the different stuff they have going on! I hope we will get a review of that cake. I've been thinking about trying it once I get motivated ;)

Cat - How do you cook those green beans? I'm trying to come up with more ways to eat them (I usually go with raw ;) )

Tina - I always loved canoeing. We gave ours up a few years ago after taking the side mirror off the car with it. It was just too heavy for us. I'm hoping to get a kayak in the next year.
You didn't ask for advice so feel free to ignore this. I wouldn't plan to go off plan as early as you are with your return to SBD. IMO it just sets you up to fail. Life will always happen and there will always be events, parties, meals out and other off plan opportunities. It's really important for you to start learning to plan for those things. That's just my two cents though :)

Debbie - How frustrating to have your plans thrown off that way. I hope you can all come up with something that works for everyone and is still fun!

Mrs. B - Good luck with your list. I'm working through mine but it keeps getting bigger!
Apparently I'm in nag mode ;) You just have to resist those spoonfuls for now. I don't know about you but spoonfuls while cooking, of unfinished kid meals, just to taste things were a big part of my problem. After a few months of successfully following the program it's easier to start to judge when you can take minor detours without causing problems, but early on it's really important to follow the plan.

Sorry if I sound lecture-y today. Must be one of those days ;)

So far I've done 2 loads of laundry, set up 7 trays of zucchini to dry, made chick pea crunchies from dry beans and cooked baby lima beans for a garlic bean spread, and reorganized a small dresser. No wonder I'm tired already ;)

ETA - and I dusted too :eek:

Good morning!

Cat, you're going to have to pack some Tony's in Beau's things, too. :)

Cyndi, I am the secretary/receptionist in the office. It's not glamorous, but I really enjoy it. It's not the same job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, which I appreciate. As an adult survivor of abuse, I feel like I'm making a little difference in people's lives.

Lexxiss, I've been to the Black Canyon!

Me: My MIL's birthday is today. We're going to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner. If I can stay away from warm yeast rolls, dinner will be OP. Someone tell me, NO BREAD! :)

Yesterday was kind of hard. I was HUNGRY! I didn't go off plan, but ate lots on plan. Today is already better.

Have a great Sunday!

Chelby - I've had the hungries for days! Don't know what's up with that but I'm eating beans at every meal and more veggies than I'd ever admit. Let's just say they recognize my car at the farm stand and they've only been open a couple of weeks. I even added a little cheese in hoping the extra fat would fill me up. Maybe my body expects a hard winter and wants to stock up? ;)

Cyndi- While I appreciate that you've been OP for a long time and consider yourself a SB expert, when I was looking for support judgment and criticism was not exactly what I was looking for. I'm not going to post anymore and I encourage you to re-evaluate how you speak to newbies from now on.

Cyndi..re the beans. I like to use either fresh or the "hericot vert" frozen ones.

I saute onions (vidalia when available!) in olive oil along with sliced up turkey bacon. When that is finished sauteing, I add the beans, creole seasoning (I prefer zatarains, but any will do I guess) and then I add either chicken or vegetable stock and let it cook down for a long time. I know a lot of people like their beans "crispy", but I like mine the oldfashioned southern way...comfort food! To me, crispy beans are a bloody mary garnish!

Looks like my big dinner is postponed till tomorrow (I find this out AFTER I finish grocery shopping!) Seems like the church where Beau goes is having a little get together for him after mass this evening....
The best laid plans of mice and mommies I guess. So we will do it tomorrow evening.

I'm sorry MrsB that you feel this way. Most of us need the occasional kick in the pants for this plan to work. :kickbutt: We respect the advice we get from the SB elders and I don't think Cyndi's post was disrespectful of you or harsh. Just my opinion. Hope you continue to post.