Good morning ladies!

Well, I'm still very sore on my lower back, but I'm not sure if it's the lingering effects of my fall or the virus I'm still fighting off. Or maybe both. My kids were complaining of back pain last night, too, and that's very unusual for them. So I'm kinda thinking this is just another viral symptom. Hopefully it will pass soon.

I need to get over to the other thread and post some goals and get back in the game.

Last nights lessons for the kids went really well. Nickie did her bareback lesson, though not on the lunge as she'd hoped. But she did get Cookie to a trot a few times bareback, which impresses me muchly. And Machine rode the new QH Copper, and he was fairly well behaved. Machine did pretty good, though I need to get a leather punch and make some new holes in my stirrup leathers so they aren't so long for him. Yes, we used MY saddle on Copper, too! That saddle was MADE to fit those QHs, Jolly! I just hung out with my cow head... washed his tail, groomed him out, fed him carrots and let him stuff his face on grass while we watched the kids. All in all a very relaxing night. And .. *ahem* :o had pizza for dinner. *thumps head on desk* Ah well, tonight I cook the chicken bruschetta.

Hope everyone's week is going well!

Good morning all. Tracy, we have missed you. You have to get over here more often. How are you doing? HOw are classes? Sold any houses yet????

Raven, I am glad that saddle is working out for you guys. I know I always thought it was comfy, just didn't fit my trim fit Arabian. He has a super model build! (NOt couch potato like some breeds ;)

I have been having serious problems posting on our accountable thread. I have been reading, but it has not let me post. Don't know. But will try again.

Everyone, we miss you!

Hi all. REal quick post. I need your help. I know there is a low fat way to make white sauce using chicken broth and flour as opposed to butter and flour. Does anyone know the ratio? I have a client who is lactose intolerant, and I want to try making it with soy milk, so we can replace that in cooking/casseroles whatever that call for "cream of" soup. She must get real sick of sandwiches all the time. Thank you!

Hmmmmmmm

I found this one...

1 cup unsweetened soymilk
1/2 of a 10- to 12-ounce package firm silken tofu
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon oil or butter
1-2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
pinch salt (or to taste)

Blend all ingredients in a blender until very smooth. The sauce can then be warmed gently in a saucepan or double boiler (do not simmer) or refrigerated for up to 2 days. Makes a scant 2 cups.

Or this one, which is different...

2 tablespoons gluten-free flour
2 tablespoons soy margarine
2 2/3 cups soy milk
2 tablespoons honey (more or less to taste)
1. In a warm saucepan mix margarine and flour together, stirring quickly.
2. When combined and melted add milk slowly, stirring quickly.
3. Add honey.
4. Simmer whilst stirring and serve with wheat-free pasta, rice noodles, roast beef, potatoes or use in a lasagna.
5. I even use it instead of margarine on crackers with salmon or avacado.

Or here's a link to a more dietician based recipe option...

http://www.recipesource.com/soups/so...oup-base1.html


Good luck, hope this helps!

Hey all. Thanks Raven for the help., Where is everyone this morning????? I need my friends. I am off to a day long meeting. See you all in the morning. I need a pat on the back, because I did my weight training workout this morning.

YGG! *pat pat!* I didn't do my workout last night. *sigh* Time gets away from me. I have till Sunday to finish three workouts. I WILL do this. I hope today goes well for you!

Hi Ladies!

This needs to be quick, as I am trying to figure out my schedule since moving back to day shift. I love it because I get time with both my boys at night, but I hate an alarm clock. I think there is something absolutely wrong waking up to something that starts with the word alarm!

I forgot to weigh this morning. I'll do it tomorrow.

I'm here, just need to get my wits about me!

I'll try to write more later!

Chach

Hey Ladies,
Well I aced my mid-term exams, started another class (I am nuts) and our dear Cubbies disappointed us yet again (baseball). I'm sort of glad they didn't make the world series as I was giving up too much time I didn't really have in front of the TV.

Hear, hear Chachee on the alarm part. I want to wake up easy and gentle with a nice stretch. Unfortunately that would occur sometime between 10 and 11am if left to my own devices.

Yay Jolly, *pat, pat* for getting your workout in. What did the trainer at the gym recommend for you? I caught some stuff on TV about the Chicago marathon, geez it takes your body 26 days to recover when you do that race. I am not a runner and never will be but I do admire the people who take the challenge. And Jolly to answer your question, I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, 26 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, about an hour and 1/2 south of Milwaukee. We met MichelleZ and her husband for dinner once up near their home, it was over a 2 hour drive for us.

Raven, I also hear you on the time thing. I have completely blown my points. Not a sabotage thing, just too much to do, not enough time thing. I have given myself the ok to finish out the week catching up, then have to get focused again. Slowly but surely. Oh and happy belated birthday to you!

Hellos to Hippy and Tracy, I gotta hid the skids now. Will be back later chickies.

Good morning wonderful ladies!

Lets hope this day is better than yesterday. ( or this week for that matter)

Jolly- I hope your meeting went well. Hope it didn't seem like all day and that it was interesting. Great job on staying on track with the weight training. How is the kickboxing coming? I thought maybe I might try ty bo (sp?) with my neighbor.

Raven - I'll try to give you a little boost here. here I am in my little cheerleading outfit, pompoms waving "You can do it, You can do it! You are getting close to your third goal so You CAN do it. Sorry not much of a cheerleader.

Chach - Thats great that day shift is going well. The boys must like having you home also. Hope its an easy transition for everyones schedule change.

Happy - What happened at the last baseball game? Its big news but I keep missing it! Great job on the midterms. What is it you are taking?

Must run and get ready for another nightmare day at work. We are having a closeout sale and yesterday if you were at the back of the line, it took 1 hour and 15 minutes to get through. No breaks for us yesterday.

Have a wonderful day.
Kathy

Good morning everyone :) Chachee, I understand how hard it is to adjust to a new shift. Yikes. I think you should send your beagles to me, so that my dogs can train them on proper wake up procedures. I finally got my girl to understand not to jump on me until the alarm goes off, so she does her vulture routine. You remember Snoopy from Charlie Brown. Well . . . . I woke up one morning and all I could see was a wet nose, and a lot of brown hair. She was sitting above me on my pillow. Her nose was 1/8 of an inch above mine, her ears flopping on either side of my head. Now technically, she wasn't touching me, but she was sure wanting me to wake up. Happy, I live about 20 minutes from Michelle. We try to work out together once in awhile. Congrats on the midterms. Way to go. Lucky, where do you work? Sounds crazy right now. You must love it at the holidays!

I am waiting to hear about an interview. We shall see. They may decide that my boss has me on a nice tight leash now, why risk letting me loose! I can only hope.

Gotta run. have a super day eveyrone.

Good morning all. I have ditched the diabetic plan. I can' control carb cravings on it because the majority of the plan is carb eating. My dear hubby has diabetes and has never been able to follow that plan and stay on it. His sugar is high and he's feeling bad so I suggested that he try the South Beach with me. He has agreed since I harp about how great it made me feel. I'm going to the grocery today to stock up. I will be doing phase 1 again so I can do it with him. I lost all of my energy when i stopped following that plan so I'm going back to it. I love the way I felt when I was eating healthy and not bogging myself down with all of the carbs. If I can make it through the 2 weeks with Gary not having bread then all will be fine.

I'm having a Creative Memories home class tomorrow so I will spend the afternoon cleaning and getting things ready. UGH! The things I get myself into sometimes!!

Hope everyone is well. Have a great weekend!

some pics
 

My daughter and her horse.

More pics
 

A blurry me and my horse. It was getting dark, and I didn't realize that would have such an impact on the digital.

Good evening everyone

I love the pictures. You will have to explain to me how to post the pictures. It is great to put a face to the person. Raven you must have fun showering your beauty after a good roll in the dirt. (a roll in the dirt after the shower which starts the cycle all over.)

Jolly what are your dogs names and what type of dogs are they? I have to say that would be a great way to wake up because you couldn't do anything but laugh at that. Thanks for the chuckle.
I manage a clothing store, but I have just gone back to work after a years maternity leave. They have just decided to close the store due to leasing problems. The company is probably going to build a new store but it won't be open for a year or so. This was the third day in a row that it was so darn busy. The time people stood in line today was an hour. The wait was down by 15 minutes.

Hippy you'll have to let me know how the party went. I have never been to one of those, but I have a friend who is sure trying to get me to have one.
What is the SB diet? Did it work for you before? Good luck on starting it again.

Hi Chachee and Happy, hope you both had a great day.

Have a great weekend.

Kathy

Hey all!

Raven, the horses are beautiful! And your daughters hair! I would love to have hair like that!

Lucky, I guess you have to like to scrapbook to enjoy those classes. I love it. For me it's so much fun to take the pictures and put a page together useing papers and stickers that fit the in with the picture. It's alot of fun and a great way to preserve your pictures. I had all of mine in a box and a mouse had a good time with a few of them so I decided to scrapbook them so I didn't lose any pics of Jordan growing up or other pictures. The SBD is a phase plan. Phase 1 you have no bread, pasta, potatoes and so on. This is to rid your body of carb cravings. This phase lasts for 2 weeks, after that you slowly add good carbs back into your diet. Whole wheat bread, pasta, fruit and so on. You stay on phase 2 until you meet your goal weight. I lost 9 pounds in the first 2 weeks and 18 pounds total in7 weeks. If you follow the plan with no cheating the first 2 weeks you can lose anywhere from 6 to 13 pounds I think it is. When you go into Phase 2 you lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. After the first 4 days I had so much energy I didn't know what to do. I felt like a new person. That's the plan in a nutshell. There is book and a a website if you want to check it out.

Jolly, Chach, Happy, Tracy, Hope all is well with you guys.