WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE ON THE EAST COAST.
BRIGHT & SUNNY WITH A CRYSTAL CLEAR SKY. GORGEOUS!!

HOPE EVERYONE SURVIVED THE HOLIDAY WITH NO BELLYACHES. I DID.
NOTHING NEW HERE. JUST ENJOYING THE QUIET MORNING.
HAVE A GREAT DAY






ANNIE....I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT'S SO NICE TO BE SHARING THE FESTIVITIES WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE.
EVEN HAPPIER THE FAMILIES GET ALONG TOO!!
SENDING HUGS FOR YOU AND CURTIS AND JAKE TOO!







SHAD.......SOMETIMES I WISH WE COULD ALL GO AND "WiNTER" IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS!!
MAYBE OZ IS WHERE THE COMMUNE SHOULD REALLY BE. IT'S TOO COLD HERE.
I NEED TO GROW FEATHERS & FLY MY BUTT OVER THE BIG POND!!
I LOVE HEARING ABOUT THE GARDEN....IT NOT ONLY SOUNDS GREAT BUT MAKES ME LAUGH.
I CAN JUST SEE YOU WITH THE SUN BEATING DOWN ON YOUR BACK!!
SUNDAY MUST BE LOVING HAVING HER MUM HOME SO MUCH.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. HOPE THE JOB GOES WELL NEXT WEEK.

Good morning chicks,

Glad you have a nice blue day ahead of you Mel and no repercussions from yesterday's dinner. Did you have Richie's pork roast? Hopefully the seniors will still be filled with turkey triptophan? and will be stuffed and sleepy today

Shad - yes, I have learned to live like a commoner with only one oven. Not that I was cooking that much food (or ever did) but it sure came in handy when you had to cook things at substantially different temperatures like I usually do. Turkey was roasting on a low temp but other dishes had to cook higher. I fiddled with the stuffing/dressing and opted to skip 2 other favorites for yet another day. I do agree with you about things being all commercial for the holidays. The same goes with the press to spend spend spend and no doubt the day after Thanksgiving you read some bit of insanity with shoppers trying for the discounted sales. Today it was some woman who pepper sprayed about 20 people so she could get one of the few electronic items on sale. 10 people needed medical treatment. It's just getting to be too much. I love tandori chicken - did you make it yourself?

I don't have to worry about Black Friday sales as I have no money this year Christmas will be very scaled down going forward. Right now I am looking for an upright freezer but the one I want is not as discounted as the ones where the reviews say the thing broke in a year or 2 months after the warranty expired

Annie - sounds like you had a great holiday feast. So glad you are happy with Curtis and everyone likes him as much as you do! Now to get that baby home. How was the bath time?

Michelle - I cannot believe you went out shopping!!!!!!! I hope you and DH are a little less sore. Reminds me of the shot of cortizone I'd get in my foot. The shot sure did relieve the pain but OMG you almost had to scrape my head off the ceiling from the pain of the shot itself. Made one think twice as to what was the lesser evil Anyway, rest up - hopefully you have lots of leftovers and don't have to be up and about much.

Laura - heard you had beautiful weather yesterday, hope you enjoyed the day. I'm still thinking about the wonderful smell of brownies in the house.

Ceejay - how was dinner with the family? Did it stop raining?

Geez - I have to go. DH is trying to rearrange my kitchen. I have to go intervene before something ugly happens.... later chicks.

HI GURLZZZZZ!

Sorry my personals have been far a few between...it seems life never slows down for me........

Thanksgiving was a HUGE success...just anticipating Margaritaville tonight...Everyone is coming over around 6. Just gonna be snackie foods and some leftovers....got a lil bit of pies left to serve...very little actually...but glad to get rid of them...

Lil Monkey man comes home TOMORROW, Saturday, if prayers answered and all lucky charms happen. He is so stinkin cute. Bath time was very sweet. He actually likes his bath and cooperated very well...doesn't like getting his clothes on tho....kind of had a hissy...had to laugh at him. He is up to 5 lbs 9.8 oz. He is so stinkin cute...just love the life out of him. Still very very tiny but oh so strong...takes two of us at times to get his diapers on as he just flexes his legs so hard it is impossible. Amazing lil tyke. Thank you ladies for all your thoughts, prayers and love...it means so very much to me...my salvation....you all are the very best.

Will try to post some pix here in a minute...hope your weekends are going well and everyone is happy.....loves and hugs...

Bath time!!

Various pix

Morning all,
5.45am on a dull grey steamy sort of day. I'll get this done before I start anything else and it seems like a full on day either inside or out.

Today I weighed in. Actually I have lost 100g (about 4oz) not good but it is a loss. I've changed my ticker but stupidly up instead of down so I need to go back and do it again.
Then it is out in the garden for an hour or so. I need to fertilise and then mulch all my little plants. Tomorrow they will be sprayed with a bug off formula and some liquid fertiliser so they should be just about walking to the pot by next weekend.
Then I'm off to the gym for weight lifting. I've gone back to the local just for that part - the cardio I can do at home and I have been back out running the footpath again. After that shopping. I have a list and hopefully will stick to it.
Then it is some housework and some ironing - much needed, no pants left. And with a bit of luck not a lot on this afternoon. May have to go visit some friends or kick back with a book. Or I could go out looking for a new car. Sort of Christmas present to me.
Tomorrow depends on the weather.

Annie - pleased to hear that the wee man is coming home tomorrow - if he is good! Doesn't like nappies on hey - hope that improves in later life. He can't always go round with his butt hanging out, not to mention other things.

Happy - glad you have joined the rest of us and making do very well with one oven. You will need to learn to cook things that have the same temperature and around the same amount of time.
You know, I remember my grandmother who cooked on a wood burning stove. There was only one temperature - Sizzling HOT. Memory may have gotten fonder over the years, but her pastry was delicious, roasts to die for and she made a mean scone. I have her banana cake recipe here, and I can make it good, but somehow it is not the same as hers. Doesn't seem to rise as much. The tandoori chicken is a chicken breast marinated in tandoori paste and thick greekstyle yoghurt. I may have overdone the paste - it was a tad warm.

Michelle - hope you are getting along alright with that back. What were you thinking about, getting up and going to the stores straight after that.

Ceejay - hope you enjoyed thanksgiving with the family and are now enjoying the company of your sister and her other half. Good stuff

Laura - yumm on the Brownies. Can just smell them now.

Have we lost Amarantha? Or is she back at work or something.

Right, coffee time, then dress for the yard, gym shops and home for breakfast/ lunch/ brunch whatever you want to call it.

Annie
The baby is so precious. Glad you TG was a success.

Happy
My bil cooks a lot on his big green egg. The turkey we had today was extremely good. I also bought an Elite toaster oven today. It bakes, broils, and does rotessire in it. Can't wait to use it.

Laura
I bought a snack package of brownies today. The chili sounds good and hadn't thought about having it with rice. More good food ideas.

Mel
Pooh on the people that will not let Jen decorate the doors. We watched Miracle on 34th Street last night .Gonna watch Frosty the Snowman tonight. My co-worker lost weight with the help of her health care professional. She was border line diabetic and she put her on 60 grams of carbs per day. Her blood sugars are normal now. I couldn't believe the difference in her.

My sister has had a couple of interviews for APN positions. But she has decided to do some contract work while she is in transition. She's working at a diet center and doing Medicare evaluations plus her week end job which has all the benefits. She's really wanting the last job she interviewed for in which she would work 3 ten hour days in a clinic.

We had a really good visit and good food yesterday at with the relatives.

Shad
Do you have a certain car in mind? Don't blame you for wanting to visit with friends or just kicking back with a good book. Wish I liked to read more but don't. I do hope that you and Laura will get me inspired again for the exercing again.

ANOTHER GLORIOUS WEEKEND IS HERE.
I ALMOST RUINED IT FOR MYSELF LAST NIGHT.
I TRIED TO THREAD MY TOES INTO THE FRONT CASTOR WHEELWELL
IT WAS A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
LOTS OF ICE, ALEVE AND HALLMARK MOVIES
THE WHOLE LOT IS SWOLLEN AND NUMB NOW. THAT'S OK BY ME.
TOES ARE ALL WORKING SO I AM ASSUMING THEY'RE NOT CRUSHED.
BUT I STILL GOT MY CHRISTMAS CHINA OUT AND IT'S WASHED & READY.
BEEN SITTING THERE FOR YEARS UNUSED.
MY GOALS FOR 2012 IS TO USE THE THINGS THAT I SAVE FOR "GOOD".
I SHOULD BE ENJOYING THE FEW THINGS I HAVE LEFT HIDDEN IN THE CLOSET.
NOTHING NEW HERE. QUIET REIGNS. MEL IS HAPPY
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.






SHAD.......LOVE THE IDEA OF THE NEW CAR FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO YOU
ENJOY THE PICKING IT OUT PART!! GONNA BE A BIOTCH TO WRAP THOUGH.
HOPE YOU GOT ALL THE PANTS WASHED CAUSE I WOULD HATE TO FIND OUT YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING ON THE FOOTPATH WITHOUT ANY!!!
CONGRATS ON THE TICKER MOVEMENT....4 0Z DOWN IS BETTER THAN UP!!!






HAPPY.......I GUESS THE SEARCH FOR THE FREEZER CONTINUES.
IF YOU WAIT A BIT LONGER, YOU CAN DIG IN THE SNOW AND MAKE YOUR OWN.
HOW GOES THE UNPACKING. BET YOU GUYS ARE TIRED OUT.
I WAS WONDERING IF MOM OR THE REST OF THE FAMILY HAVE SEEN THE HOUSE YET?
WE DIDN'T ORDER THE ROAT PORK OR MAKE A TURKEY THIS YEAR.
SOME OF OUR TUMMYIES WERE NOT RIGHT.
GOOD THING WE DIDN'T CAUSE A POLITICIAN SENT DINNERS FOR US.
I MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN TO SAY THAT THE OTHER DAY.
I WAS SURPRISED HE HAD HEARD WE WEREN'T FEELING GOOD.
THINKING YOF YOU IN YOUR COZY HOME






ANNIE....THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THE PICTURES.
GONNA PRINT THEM OFF FOR JEN TO SEE.
HE IS ADORABLE AND SOOO TINY! OMG, TOO CUTE!
FINGERS CROSSED THT TODAY WILL BE HIS BIG HOMECOMING
HOPE THE MARGARITAVILLE NITE WENT OK.






CEEJAY.......HOPE YOUR SISTER GETS THE JOB OF HER DREAMS!
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DEAL WITH THE 3 10 HR DAYS.
WE WERE WATCHING CHRISMAS CARTOONS LAST NIGHT TOO.
JEN & RICHIE WATCHED SHREK III. THEY LOVE HIM.
BEEN MEANING TO SAY I THAT .LOVE YOUR AVATAR. VERY PRETTY.

Mel
I watched a bit of Shrek III but I was so tired I ended up going to sleep on the couch. You do need to start using those things. Ouch on the toes.
-----------
Slept till 8 a.m. this morning. I was exhausted. The rain is moving in and I want to go for a few groceries before the heavy downpours.
My bedroom is back to normal and the kitchen is almost back to normal. I'm having to rearrange a few counter items to fit this new little oven.And laundry has been started.
The weather channel has us for snow flurries on Monday. Ugh, not ready for this type of weather.
My new starting point is 194.6 fully clothed. Weigh in's will be on Saturday mornings.
I said I wasn't going to put out any Christmas decorations but I do want the fiber optic tree. One needs a little bit of Christmas cheer.

Good morning chicks,

Happy Saturday. Looks like we are getting some rain today maybe changing to snow flurries late. Thanksgiving was quiet but nice. Still inundated with boxes. We did find our good knives and some utensils. Still missing the power cord to the printer which I really need, enough parts to make one working lamp and my Ipod. I'm really tired of boxes and stuff everywhere. Going to try and get most of it out of the house by tomorrow and then work on one box at a time. DH is burning paper outside and I can smell it coming into the house. Ick. We are in a quandry here - we had probably 375 boxes come in. They want you to recycle them but they CHARGE you at the recycling place to take them back. We had to pay for them in the first place and have to pay again to get rid of them???????? We have one recycling bin that they only pick up once a MONTH - can you imagine that? So I now understand why most people don't bother to recycle. Anyway the easiest way to get rid of the paper is to burn it. We have a whole house air exchanger which brings air in from the outside - gotta make sure DH turns that off if he's going to burn. Today is wet - a good day for burning but it also makes for a smoky fire too. Anyway - might get freezer today if Sears will throw in free delivery but other than that it's laundry and more unpacking for me.

Ceejay - does this mean the fall downpours are moving in? It sure did know how to rain hard out your way. I'm surprised you are getting talk of snow flurries already. Best to get out and run your errands and then snuggle up at home for the weekend. I think you should put out a few decorations - it will make you feel more festive and you might regret it if you don't.

Mel - OMG on the toes!!!!! That's not good at all. What happened? I hope you feel better. Guess I need to send you some sturdy army boots (chit kickers - LOL) I know we talk about KICKING off the holidays but geez woman not like that! I completely agree with you about not saving stuff for the right time. Enjoy it now. Especially when you only have enough room to keep the stuff you love anyway. So pull it out and enjoy it NOW! As for our house, my Mom and sister have seen pictures from the listing. My one set of cousins who live down the road have been here and my other set of cousins who live an hour away - the guy took his Mom (my aunt) here but his wife has not seen it. My BIL has already mapped out the fishing holes - this is the kind of country he will love as he came up here alot as a kid. I'm hoping my sister will come visit even though she does not like long car rides and I'm thinking in the spring we'll go pick Mom up for a long visit. We could bring her back after Christmas but I don't think she will want to leave the house alone in the dead of winter. But I do hope unlike TN, that they will come and visit - particularly since we don't have a cat anymore and many of my family members are allergic - they won't have that excuse anymore :lol;

Annie - adorable pictures of the baby. He's still so tiny even though he is growing like a weed. I hope he comes home today!

Shad - I have to admit I am a bit jealous of your garden already sprouting and growing. I will have to get your advice when I start mine when spring rolls around here. When are you heading off to NZ?

Hellos to the rest of the chicks - Laura, Michelle and Amarantha. I'd better go find me some lunch and get busy here.

Good Afternoon My Worldlie Lovelies!

BIG NEWS....the wee lil monkey man came HOME TODAY!! He is doing awesomely....too much excitement for one weekend.

My niece and GREAT niece (her daughter) spent the night with us and stayed all morning into the afternoon before going on to my brother's house (her uncle). Madeline is just a year old and oh so sweet...even learned to say NANNA while here.

Last night's Margaritaville was awesome...Had about 15 peeps come over...since is was 60 degrees, yep here in November...we had a pit fire and a great time in the backyard. My across the pond friends came over and it was all good. We had meatballs, cheeseball, margaritas, wine and beer...I made cheese dip with ground beef and onion...it was wiped out clean...I am having the time of my life..

Yesterday I had to cut the grass...wow almost December and I am cutting grass...the seed that I threw out just before the drough decided to take hold with all the rain and grew by leaps and bounds..actually HAD to cut grass...just nuts...of course I am loving great weather and working in the yard....just excited for spring to get here....the heck with winter and S.

Curtis has been my constant and such great support...yes, girls...I love him and he, me. So wish you all could meet him...well and me too, for that matter...haha...as if you don't know who I am and what I am about....xoxo.

No personals as I am about to go over to DDs house and see my GRANDSON! Thank you chickies for all your support, love and prayers during my crazyiness. I love you all.

Have a great night/morning/weekend.....hugs

Hey everyone!

Shad - We're getting rain here too, and if it weren'y going to get into the 30's in the next day or so I'd be worried about the grass starting to grow again. As it is, the daylilies I cut back had been sprouting during our rather mild autumn. Nice to hear your garden is coming along. Ooh, a new car sounds exciting!!

Happy- too bad about the recycling situation. Wonder if you have a local craigslist and/or freecycle community up there - moving boxes seem to be a popular "free" listing item in the Chicago. Hope you eventually find everything that's eluding you at the moment.

Ceejay - I think we're in for all the rain you're getting, or it may turn to snow... I must have missed something - did you get a toaster oven? Those are really handy appliances.

Mel- I'm sorry to hear about your foot!! I have a pair of steel-toed shoes I no longr need, shall I send them, lol. JK, take care and keep enjoying those hallmark movies!

Annie - Glad your Tg was good. Hoping the little guy gets to go home today!! Love the pic of him yawning!

Hi Michelle! Hope your back & dh's knee are feeling better. Did u really shop at midnight?!
---
Doing a bit of nothing. Our Tg was nice, the bil's in laws are very nice folks. We had fresh turkey - wow was it ever moist! We also had ham. I did pretty good w eating too. Brownies were delish. I had one in Tg & we took home 3 - 2 for bf, 1 for me. Saving it.

Yesterday was lazy til 11ish, then we bagged leaves in the backyard - 9 bags worth. Lunch, dog walk, and mor laziness. Bf went to a friend's & I warned some Telly & read.

This morning I did a circuit class like a good girl. Finally set up the sewing machine & sewed the strap on my purse. Also made two tiny little pouches out of s lens cleaning cloth for our bike computers. ( They come off the bike when it's not being ridden, bit you don't just jam them in pocket or purse.)

Just sorted a bunch of laundry & got a load going. I wonder if my new brightly colored dish towels bled color over the old ones. I kept the ones I didnt want wrecked out of that load!

The house is awash with a lot of paper clutter, so some picking up is needed. I'd rather just stay here w my books & tea, but feel guilty when i look around. Better get to it.

Have a hood rest of the weekend everyone!!

Whoo Annie!!! So happy to hear lol monkey is home!!!

Your margarita party sounds like it was a lot of fun, and great weather to boot!! Our Tg weather was mild, but gray. Yesterday was sunny early, but windy, and later it clouded up. Today is drizzly - yuck. But it means no raking, so there's an upside, lol. Too funny u had to mow your lawn!! You sound happy as a clam - keep smilin' girl.

While it is cold enough out here to use the deck and outside as a second refrigerator and / or freezer - this is why you can't do it. This picture was taken outside a friend of my cousin's house about 30 minutes from here. Apparently you have to get not only a snow, but a sustained snow for a while to keep the bears under wraps. The first snow sent them to their dens but the weather "warmed" up after that and brought them back out again.