Good morning gals! It is supposed to be spectacular today nice and warm and sunny. We have had so much rain and cloudy weather that I crave some nice sunny days.

Susan: Sure hope this new dr can get you all sorted out. It will be nice for you to have an improvement in your quality of life. Have you had asthma a long long time or is it adult onset? Let's just say you probably won't be able to play professional baseball with your medications! Have you had a lot of trouble with weight gain and the "moon" face issues? I know most people taking steroids have that issue at least at first anyhow.

Jean: If it isn't one thing it is another with your mil it seems. I know you have to really be chomping at the bit to finish school. I believe the kids around here took their T-cap tests last week. I used the asst principal's bathroom the week before when I had clinic and she was in sorting and reading stuff for t-cap. She had piles of stuff all over a table. We had lots of vomiting kids yesterday so I was busy sending kids home. Had a poor boy with a separated collarbone who was in pain and we can't give him meds so his mom got his grandma to come and give him something. Another one with a toothache as he had dental work the day before then an obnoxious kid who spilled something on his pants and didn't want to wear what I offered. I gave him a choice, it was that or nothing and he straightened right up when I wouldn't go through every pair of extra pants we had. Here is this poor boy in pain with his collarbone and the little jerk wanted to take up my time hunting for a certain pair of pants like he was at Macy's or something. I have had this kid in there before and he is this little know it all. I always dread seeing him. Didn't get to see my T boy yestereday though so the day was a downer for me. Don't know where his class was as they never came by for lunch. Maybe they were running late and I left before they went to lunch.

It is the upstairs for me today so I imagine I will get started in just a bit. I am going to have some toast for breakfast before I get started.

Have a great Thursday all! Faye
PS: If you love to read, you need to pick up the book by Glenn Beck called The Christmas Sweater. This has nothing whatsoever to do with any of his political leanings, but is a semi autobiographical story of his childhood. WARNING: This is a two kleenex box book and is superb!

Good evening, ladies. Nice day - supposed to be up to 90 Sunday.

I went to Curves after work and now I'm tired. But Grey's Anatomy is one tonight so I won't be going to bed too early.

Faye, I had asthma since I was a baby. It was pretty good for a long time but has really gotten a lot worse the last couple of years. I try really hard to stick with my menu for the day, but some days the Prenisone makes me so hungry I feel like I have to eat NOW. I have a bit of "moon" face but not too bad. I'll look for the book.

Jean, I'm sorry your MIL is doing so poorly. I do hope she improves.

I have an appointment with the Chiropractor tomorrow for my neck.

Have a good evening.

Good morning ladies! It was hot here yesterday and supposed to be more of the same today so at least spring is finally here I hope. I continue to work on my current knitting project and it is coming along. I should get the yarn for the wedding present throw tomorrow so I am anxious to see the color of that and how it knits up.

Jean: We have internal thermometers on both the Grand Marquis and the Mariner and they both will read a couple degrees hotter when we first get in the car and turn it on, but not quite what you got! I always feel old when I see that all the baseball players on the Cubs roster are younger than Jay, who is 35 and a lot of them younger than Kelly, who is 31. When we were in Indiana, there is a Hooters in front of the hotel we stayed at and the drive out of the hotel goes between it and a Del Taco. We were coming out one day and two of the Hooters girls were standing, one on each door holding it open and Jack gave a little ogle. I told him he was old enough to be their grandfather, technically. He said no he wasn't, but when I told him if he had a child when he was 19, then that child had a child when he was 19 then that child would be 22 and could work at Hooters! Spoiled his moment I think. I can't believe both Jackson is going to be 2 already and Thomas will be 9 next month. Your youngin's are growing up too. I need to get out on the deck and clean it up. I haven't even touched it this year and it is a mess.

Susan: Hope they can get you to feeling better on a more permanent basis. It worries me to think about you being home alone and possibly having a bad attack. I can imagine how those stupid steroids make you famished. You know the old saying about the cure killing you. Sometimes the stuff you have to take to help you out messes you up big time in other areas.

I have clinic this afternoon and I need to get jumping on work this morning. I didn't get any cleaning done yesterday because I was putting away dishes out of the dishwasher yesterday morning and one of the brass clips that holds an upper shelve came loose, fell out and caused the top shelf to tip. I tried to catch/fix it and pulled a shoulder muscle so I hurt all day yesterday. I am still a bit sore, but pretty much right as rain. I may have to just hold off doing the upstairs until tomorrow and get Jack's help. The vacuum is pretty heavy to push around so I may ask him to do the vacuuming for me.

Have a great weekend gals. Should be nice everywhere!
Faye

Good evening, ladies! A beautiful day in the 70s today.

I did a bit of housework, went to Curves, and bought a new pair of sandals. Planned my meals for next week so I could get the grocery list together.

Faye, we have a Hooters here, too. I've never been in one but I can imagine those girls would turn any man's head. I remember you waiting with packed bags for Jackson to decide to be born. Time flies so fast. I hope you get to see Thomas today.

Jean, before you know it, you'll be a retired lady! I love this time of year. I put 3 Hyacinths out so far. I really need to get my self in gear and get some more plants this week end and get them in. I'm glad your MIL is back to walking some.

Well, I guess I should fix my dinner before it's time to go to bed. Talapia and salad tonight.

Good morning gals. Fixing myself some sourdough toast as I am starving this morning. I really need to get out into the back and clean it up today, but we shall see. I need to work on knitting too as I have deadlines!

Jean: I had lots of work yesterday and as usual at the last minute. I had a bloody nose I couldn't get stopped and had to send her home, an older gal that wet her pants, a kid who likes spending time in the clinic according to her mom so we aren't supposed to call her unless the girl is feverish or vomiting and a leaky ceiling! I do enjoy it though. I volunteer more than anyone so the kids are now used to seeing me and they wave when they walk past now. Thomas was busy with friends going to lunch and I barely got an acknowledgement yesterday. He does have his priorities! lol

Susan: I can't see how the Hooter girls can be the least bit comfortable. Skin tight tshirts and shorts where your bums always hang out. Guess you have to be young! Hope you are getting to feeling better.

Maggie: I am fine. Thankfully it wasn't very serious and went away fairly quickly. Jack put my piece back in and put the shelf back on, albeit it backwards, but for now, we will just let it be until it starts driving me nuts.

Gotta go girls. Lots I want to accomplish today!
faye

Good morning, ladies! A beautiful day today - 86 degrees already.

I went to WW this morning, down 1.8 pounds. :

Had to do the usual grocery shopping. Went to Trader Joe's and Kroger. I'm trying a new veggie this week, actually I had some with my lunch - jicama. Yum. A little like turnip in taste.

I saw "The Biggest Loser 30-Day Jumpstart" and started looking at it out of curiosity. I always thought they had to live on a lettuce leaf, one carrot, and lots of water to lose so much weight every week but actually its a very healthy 1500 calories. Since I'm tired of planning meals, I bought the book. I'll see what I can do in 30 days. It's pretty much how I already eat. The recipes really look good. They also have exercises for each day and they aren't too difficult either. Looks like an old lady can do them so I'm trying. They had a signup sheet at Curves yesterday to see who would be interested in Yoga classes on Saturday afternoon at $5 per lesson. Sounds like fun to me so I put my name on the list. The owner knows I have to pace myself and probably can't keep up but she's fine with that.

Maggie, you are so organized to have the village all done. I'd have been finishing it the night before it was due. There were still some of the $6 hungrys at my WW meeting. If you want, I'll get one and mail it to you.

Faye, did you get your yarn yesterday? I love the color you posted. I thought of you when I bought my asparagus today. I keep it standing upright in a big glass half full of water and it lasts me all week. I'm have it tonight roasted with 1 T. of blue cheese on top. A nice man at work gave me some Maytag Blue Cheese. Maytag is the name of a farm in Iowa where they make it. It is the most delicious I have ever had. I'm going to order a wheel and some of their cheddar as well.

Jean, the sandals are nothing much - brown mules. They are nice enough I can wear them to church. We had the ups and downs with temperatures, too. It is maddening! I think in another week we can start complaining about the heat.

Well, have a great evening!

Jean,

Good morning to you all! We are tackling the run amok deck this morning and at least get it under control. Since I had surgery this time last year, we haven't worked on it since the year before. I did get out last fall after the leaves fell and blew them out for the landscaping service to pick up, but we need to blow what is left out, trim the two bushes, I sprayed the weed/wild flower with weed kill and will get it pulled out and then wash down the deck. I want to buy a new patio set except for a table so I am not putting any patio stuff out this year. Our table sits out year round. It is a round glass one and is in great shape and no need to be replaced. I just need new chairs and cushions and a new umbrella to match.

Susan: I was getting ready to make up my grocery list for the next two weeks so looked at recipes for asparagus that I thought Jack would like. I found this one that seems to be low in calories and looks tasty. I would think you could even just spray the asparagus with olive oil spray instead of using olive oil to cut calories/fat. Seems it is basically for the roasting and to make spices adhere. I have never had jicama, but I actually like turnips mashed sort of like mashed potatoes. That is the only way I have ever had them. I love beets and plan on getting some of them, though canned as Jack won't eat them (I did try to get him to try them but he is not veggie friendly yet!lol) I am going to look for the ww bagels and cream cheese at Walmarts and see if I can find smoked salmon somewhere to have a change up for breakfast. I eat mostly cereal or yogurt and toast. I did get my yarn and it is a much deeper yellow color with richer sort of deep butter tones. So, I decided to jazz the throw up a bit and I am putting these cute buttons on each corner of the throw and if I get time, I am going to make a pillow to match. I also increased the size just a smidge so it is more like 60"


Roasted Asparagus, Mushrooms and Onions:
Ingredients
8 ounces asparagus, trimmed
5 1/3 ounces mushrooms, thickly sliced
1/3 medium red onion, sliced
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
garlic powder, to taste
shredded parmesan cheese, to taste
Directions
1Heat oven to 425°F.
2Line a 10 x 15 inch rimmed baking sheet with foil.
3Place vegetables in pan and sprinkle with olive oil and toss until covered evenly.
4Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
5Roast 10 minutes, stir, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and roast an additional 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are slightly charred and tender.

Jean: It was near 90 here yesterday. We went out to run an errand yesterday around noon and it was so warm we had to close the sunroof because it was beating down on us and I was afraid of getting sunburned. I am so glad it has turned warm now. As for the kids clothing, Memphis City schools have uniforms and county schools have a dress code and I know that the elementary is pretty enforced. This way at least the boys are wearing gang stuff and the girls aren't falling out of their clothing.

Maggie: I have got to mess with my bread machine. It is brand new and so far, I haven't been able to get it to work properly. I had a panasonic one and loved it but it finally went kaput early last year. I bought this one and have yet to have a loaf of bread come out correctly or at least the dough as I like to make my own loaves of bread or rolls.

Well gals, I need to get morning chores accomplished and get to knitting. You all have a great day!
Faye

Good morning, ladies! Another hot day in the 90s.

I went to church this morning so now I'm ready for my day. I want to get a few things cooked ahead for this week. I have to do my bible study questions. Then I'm going for my walk. Life is good.

Maggie, I would love to have your Jicama salad recipe. You'll love your Hungry! I have ceiling fans in every room in the house. Have you ever noticed when the redo a room on the TV decorating shows, they get rid of the ceiling fan. If they had to live there, I'll bet they wouldn't. It saves a lot on air-conditioning.

Faye, I saved your recipe and I'll be having it this week. I eat a lot of asparagus while its cheaper. I eat turnip raw as well as cooked. It has a nice crunch. Smoked salmon is not hard to find. My Walmart has it. It comes in a 3 oz. package. If you have a Kroger near you, they also carry the WW bagels and cheeses and have smoked salmon.

I made a new recipe today from the BL book. I almost didn't make it because it called for tofu, but I decided to do it and see. Oh, my it is so good. I dipped veggies in it. It would be good with apple or on crackers, too.

PEANUTTY SPREAD

9 oz. Tofu (about 1 cup)
1/3 cup Natural Peanut Butter
4 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons lime juice

Put everything in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. If it seems too thick, add a tablespoon or 2 of water to thin it.

Makes 12 servings of 2 Tablespoons = 1 point

Have a great day!