Whosh, the day is flying by. I babysat til 1, then took DD to the dentist, picked up a few things, planned supper and here I sit. Gotta get DS from a friends soon.
I have had a bit of a duh!( this may fall under TMI) . I was feeling really bloated, last night I was monumentally tired and I snacked. Today I started my monthly.If I had been paying attention I would have known.The remarkable thing is that I was down 2 lb this week.That would be a first.
I managed to do the weights 5 out of 7( if i do them tonight). I ate cheese twice this week.
For this week starting Saturday I will only eat cheese for my personal little party on wed eve. I will do the upper body weights and 3 sets of 10 crunches every day.
I will chat some more this evening!

I have done my weights everyday, just haven't done today yet I fell flat on my face in regards to the sugar challenge, my period week, so I'm blaming hormones It certainly couldn't be my willpower I just received my WATP video in the mail today, so I will try that this weekend, might even put in my weights for dummies which also came and see how much I don't know I have a pal coming to stay so I will be in hiccup life mode till Saturday night when she leaves. Right now I need to run the vaccuum, dump the four baskets of clean laundry on the girl's bed and sort it all through

Shad- yummy cheese board. What Spanish red do you like? My favorite is the Torres "Sangre de Toro" very deep, rich flavour. So how bad were the Sydney folks anyway? Did you sense that they would be useful to you in the future or just a headache?


Mel-feeling strong in your head sounds like you are ready to do some damage... is it your closet that is the intended target or are you going to tackle the chair people? Take your vitamins. How long will the hot water be off? That is a big inconvenience, I'm sorry.

Linus-be careful with yourself. Don't want anything breaking in that back of yours, I hope the doctor can give you something workable. I know all about the jumping food, devilish

Happy-your house plans sound so exciting. How fabulous to get to buy new furniture, are you looking through magazines to get ideas? What is your decorating style? Are you going lush, streamlined or country? I hope you have flipped your pillow over to the sweet dreams side and aren't having those terrible swooping nightmares. What movies have you been watching to put such awful thoughts swirling in your brain? For pete's sake watch Antonio in Desperado for some lovely fantasy adventures in dreamland Hope work information is etching itself in the right places and you are able to concentrate without that nagging "must remember this" voice going off

Diane-congratulations on becoming a granny again! A little girl will be nice to buy stuff for Plus all those lovely baby smells to come. They smell so great when they are just new.

Rose-you sound motivated for some action! I'm sensing someone has been getting on your nerves though, trouble around the home front or further afield? Let it out if you want to have a good vent or maybe you need a punching bag in your garage? I keep wanting to Watch out for those sewing needles, they are sharp, use a thimble.

Holly-ah, ME time. I usually put on the headphones and crank up the tunes for awhile. My form of meditation, zoning out totally. You need to savour your cheese and crackers, take a note out of Shad's book and open a nice bottle of wine to compliment it all. Nothing speaks to your soul more than a great full bodied wine or is that just me again

Teel-you little toasted muffin you! What are you doing with yourself?

Tig are you running on the beach? Text us a note to let us know how it is going.

We seem to have a few MIA's amongst us!!!
Nae must be playing outside with the deer and the antelope.
Tig is chasing her Hubby down the beach or vice versa.
Shaker....did she ever get out of the blue dress?
Teel must just be too cozy to bother typing!
Suzi went on vacation and never came home!

Linus~ I realize 10 mins were too much so this week will be 5-8.
Feeling the burn is NOT a good thing in our case!
good luck at the physio. I could use a bit of advice myself!

Holly~ Congratulations on the weight lodss! Good for you! Nice exercising too. Hope this week goes well too!
good luck.

Meadow you must have been one of the best exercisers and surpassed all the goals!! WOW!! I am impressed. When you do something you REALLY do it! Nice job. Hope y
the weekend is fun and enjoy the time with your friend!! Don't do any typing and drinking!

Time to tackle the bedroom as the cable repairman is coming tomorrow afternoon to replace the box in there. It's always SOMETHING!! Oh well at least the sun is shining in all it's glory!! That ought to give me some energy! Have a wonderful day!

Good afternoon to everyone!! I am sorry....I have fallen! I have fallen for something in the sales in the Edinburgh Wool Shop in Bury St Edmunds. It was their cotton roll neck tops down to £7.49 each. Linus will bear me out that this IS a real bargain! So I purchased two...one cream and the other a sky blue...Oh dear and I was being SO restrained!!!
It feels very cold here today..it says it is 7 degrees but it feels more like 2!!!
I am also sorry that I have failed as far as excercise is concerned, having not swam since last Saturday, although I have been eating a good plan and my diabetic glucose levels have been on track this week.
The chaos is slowely getting back to a normal level! I moved the spare bedroom wardrobe to a different position and also the ottoman and I am pleased to say the room does appear to have more space in it! I am sad though to have lost the shelving in the airing cupboard. I shall have to find a carpenter to fix some new ones in the bottom half that is still usable.
LINUS how are you all today? Is DS 's nose repairing itself neatly and without trouble? And my dear how is your goodself and your back? Please be ultra careful...if I am going to come up to Scotland in the summer I do not want to find you flat on your back because you have been up to miscief!! Please be good and careful. Good luck with the physio on Monday.
SHAD I see you haven't got your lawn mower back on you turf again. Naughty DS. Threaten him that he will have to do your lawn with the scissors if he doesn't get them back to your garden shed before much longer....Better luck with the NOPE challenge next week Remember we cannot do everything, all of the time! We can only do bits and pieces some of the time and then we will see the difference...
MEL how is your day turning out to be? Keep warm and cosy...I think your weather is usually colder than we have it here and today it feels very chilly...
Hello and good wishes to TIG, MEADOW, HAPPY (when you are unearthed from the packing cases) ROSEBLUSH, HOLLYHOCK and CANDLELADY. Good luck for the coming week!!
With love,
from Teel xx

Oooh MEL you snuck in there just 1 minute before I hit the submit button! See I am not MIA really...just a bit slow off the mark!!

Teel you tiptoed so lightly that I didn't hear you sneaking up behind me! glad all is well and be careful moving furniture or you will be on YOUR back and Linus will have to go to you!!!! Too bad about the exercise but the food was good and all in the midst of the electric men! Have a great day! I took a peek in the mailbox and found you so I couldn't resist a chance to say HI!

Hello wordly chicks.I am about to have a great day!!!
Doin' a Happy Dance!!!!!!!!!
Kids are at the Lake!!!!!! DS played an awesome game this morning. He stopped the puck right at the very last second of the game to prevent the tie being broken. The crowd went WILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DH just made plans to go and install a dishwasher this aft and then go to a buddies for a few beers. WOOOOOHOOOOOOO-yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
This is an unexpected gift!!! The house to myself for a few hours. I will eat the food that only I like for supper.I may dance around naked, take a bubble bath and watch decorating shows to my hearts content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The real plan is to. Get the kitchen cleaned up while listening to some good ole 70’s rock. Pull out the files. Sort. Start inputting data. Take a break. Dance around the house. Fold some laundry. Do more bookkeeping. Eat hummus and such. Have a bath. Maybe some more bookwork. Watch TLC shows and work on photo albums. Take a break.Do arm weights and crunches. Drink a glass of wine. This will all be mostly done in flannel PJ’s.
WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! !!!!
Repeat tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

Oh the madness of it all. I must turn off the phone. LOL!!!!

Hey Everyone so nice to get up a read about everyone....Teel so good to see you back here more often telling us about things your way...... IT is good to get some great buys for yourself...enjoy!
Well I slept in hurrah for me... I was up at 3:15 yesterday and put in a hard day to boot! Having some difficulties with the oldest son this last week even though I try not to stress out it does find a way. SO this morning little Teeka and I snuggled til almost 9..... and I missed the elk in the front lawn the rubbles of snow and pawing the ground is evident...and the size of the droppings left behind.....
I can hardly believe how good I did with my eating this week....the oatmeal in the mornings is the trick for me...I am using my treadmill though it won't keep running the entire mile so I have to get off and restart..... using my pedometer to help me track my miles too.
Everyone who is considering doing crutches don't put your hands behind you head and pull up.... just cross them in front of your chest and then just barely raise your head toward the ceiling more of an upward motion not throwing yourself forward.... and with a good hold... very easy that will accomplish the same thing and safe your neck...must always protect the neck......!!!!! I wish I could take MEl and Linus and Teel and have them on the mats at work..... and help all of you with some ways to aide each of you simply in movement.... my thoughts are always concerned about your welfare.
I have made enough soup to last me another week and in some batches I add a few beans for more protein..... and I have cut my sandwiches to only one slice.... of bread with turkey or just cucumbers and tomatos. My weakest the last two weeks have been little vanilla wafers.... but nothing else. My turkey breast is about finished for this week so I have a nice peice of London Broil to roast up and I will eat off of that all week in a variety of ways.
I do want to be able to wear some decent clothes for my spring getaway with my ex sisterinlaws...... I am looking forward to it so much. I finished another scarf and gave it away and am starting another one. I will attempt the pillows this afternoon....... I went and got a molly and a guppy for the tetra tank and they look so good in there..... oh yes and then I bought a bag of goodies for the neighbors horses so I can feed them.... they haven't been over to my side of the fence yet but maybe sometime this weekend.
Geez sorry for the long post just gabbing away like you were all just sitting right here.... wish you were, the sun is out the coffee is great.... the view is so fabulous.... .
Blessings to everyone and their families......
Nae

Dh has departed, kitchen is clean, dancing has been done, files sorted, some data inputted................ I am feeling a little giddy and am trying to get centred.

Happy~ (((hugs))) You sound overloaded. Hope you are having a restful weekend. Enjoy the shopping and planning!!!

CL~ glad you had some downtime. Very exciting about the granddaughter. My DD is the youngest on both sides. She is adored and has both Grandpa's completely manipulated!! LOL!

Mel~ I hope the hot water is on and the cable is hooked up. Did you get the room all tidied? How goes the closet organizing?

Shad~ hope the cheese and wine was devine. MMMMM! Thanks for starting the challenge.

Linus~ those chips are sneaky buggers. Hope all goes well at the Physio. Take it easy.

Meadow~ woohoo. You are the challenge queen. Good for you. How did you like the WATP??

Teel~ you've been busy. Moving furniture IS exercise, isn't it? Your catologue shopping sounds exciting.

Nae~ and blessings to you. What a lovely post. You sound like you are on a real roll with everything. Very nice!

I have a bubblebath and laundry folding next on the agenda! Maybe nutmeg ginger bath salts. MMM ,yup ,thats it.

Have a glorious day.

ps Mel~ it is beautiful , very cold and sunny here too.

Views from the breakfast table Nae style. How nice.
What can I see from my vantage point at the moment. I can see the bright green Murraya hedge, behind that are the tops of trees from neighbours yards down the slope. Closer to home are the Chinese Emperor bushes in front of the hedge and the Kurume Azaleas in front of them. The Hippeastrum leaves are turning yellow but still poking up through the aforementioned bushes and the heliotrope is displaying its perfumed purple flowers over in the far corner of the garden. The overlong lawn comes next and closer to the house next to the patio is the rose garden, now past it's best and ready for a haircut. The lavender hedge borders the patio and rose garden. On the patio are 5 big pots. One with a standard rose and petunias, one chili bush also underplanted with petunias, one calamondin or cumquat plant with petunias and alysum. There are two large pots of aloevera plants down the far end. There is the small table and chairs out there, my herb garden is over to the left and out of site and Sunday the cat is busily eyeing up the small lizards and geckos that dance over the patio all day long collecting ants and bugs. Down the bottom of the garden somewhere is Percy the bearded dragon who has a home in an old terracotta pipe that I buried down there for him. He eats the bigger insects. He's not visible very often and goes visiting down in the bush once in a while. My place is not as rural as Nae's but the view from the patio is not bad from time to time. I love it at breakfast, when I have the time. Like Nae, I wish you were all here for coffee. It's just magic right now.

I'll be back later to finish last weeks challenge and announce the winner. Meantime there are some weeds in the garden challenging me.

Good evening all.
It's been one of the hottest days in Queensland today. Nearly up to 40degrees. I managed to get a bit done, but it was a real effort. I'm going to try to do the ironing tonight but I don't like my chances much.

DS came and mowed the lawn today. Along with his mate Russell - although Russell didn't do much. Last night DS had the January birthday party. A lot of his good mates have January birthdays and they chose a place and a time every year and exchange birthday cakes and on occasions presents depending on how financial they are. This year was at the DS's place. We all wandered along at the appropriate time, had a barbecue and went home when ready. I and the DB2 went around midnight. Apparently around 2 a few others went. Some stayed over and had breakfast as well. Such a wonderful thing to be young.
This morning I planted out some lettuces. It is probably a bit early for that yet but I have done it. Cut down the roses, they are now a bunch of sticks and cleared out the weeds from one of the beds. The washing got done, brought in and folded and put away and only the ironing and the dishes are waiting to be done. I repotted an orchid I bought the other day. It has a wonderful fragrance which is why I bought it.
I'm too tired to think about the challenge today, but I promise I will get to it tomorrow. See you then.

Mornin'
I was enjoying Shad and Nae's morning veiws and decided to take a good look at mine. I do come here to have a coffee and visit with the chicks. The kids watch cartoons first thing so it is quiet in here.My computer is in what we call the library.It is where we keep our books.Sounds fancier than it is is. It is a lovely room, with old fashioned blue floral wallpaper and pine wainscotting, at the back of the house. It has a big picture window( no curtains). It is pretty drab out there right now. I do enjoy all the seasons though. The yard was completely empty when we moved here and they burned stuff in the middle so the ground was scorched. It is all twigs and the ground is snow covered. The bush is behind us, all bare trees and snow. We mostly have birds and squirrels although we do see a deer about once a winter.
Mostly it has made me feel a sense of pride and peace. Our yard has become a nice retreat. I have planted a beautiful hedge and rock gardens. I know in a few months the green will poke out of the ground. This room is the host of my picture gallery, including wedding pics from both sides of the family going back to our Great, great grandparents. That was an enjoyable quest!!Some of the relatives thought I was a nut, other made their own copies.
Yesterday was great. I didn't exercise. I found the bookkeeping and sitting still that long made me really tired. I went to bed. I had a fantastic sleep. I am enjoying the quiet right now. DH met my Dad and DS at the arena for practise at 7 am. DD is still at the lake. I will get her this aft. I might go for a walk with my Mommy.
I think I will do pot roast for supper. DH's fav.I could get it in the slow cooker!

CL~ I love your pic. it would go quite nicely in my house or garden, LOL.

Shad~ your day and family sound so nice!

Shad, your garden sounds so great.... I have an orchid but I don't know what type of medium to transplant it into....it is still in the small original pot I got it in.....any suggestions? I like my indoor plants.... I am a little lame when it comes to trying to make this outside wilderness into a garden spot.
I went to the girls basketball game last night and the girls won it was fun and I spent it with two little girls that I always see there. One of the sisters we had in therapy and became buddies. I will go pick them up this afternoon so they can come up to my house and spend some time with me. I took my knitting to the game and this little boy in front of me was so interested so it turned out he was my yarn over guy as I knitted ..... so fun.
I know for next week I need to drink more water too.... and continue my treadmill. My plans for April are starting to shape up and I want to have some good energy for the whole thing and losing weight and getting into shape is such an energizing habit.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend...please stop by here and let us know what you have been up too????????? Inquiring minds want to know right MEL?
Peace,
Nae

good day to you all !!!
i had a not bad day yesterday eating was practically non existant as i wasnt feeling too good dh was a little bit disappointed as i was supposed to be going out with him in the evening and i was supposed to be going to an ann summers at a neighbours house i ended up with my freind and her son and his freind for 4 hours so by the time she left at 6pmi still had no housework done and hadnt fed the dogs or made the tea so mum phoned and said that shed babysit if i wanted to go out so "what the hay" i went i went to my freinds for her knicker party and then met my freind leanne and went to the pub to meet DH had a brill time got home at 12.30 and then it went all downhill had a chinese takeaway then mum phoned to say shed been stopped and searched by the police twice trying to get home once at the end of our road and once half way up the main street someone had been murdered criag was staying at his freinds so i ha a we moment of anxiety but thought hed be welltucked up in his freinds house so didnt think anymore about it BIG MISTAKE
i told craig to be home by twelve this afternoon and he wasnt home by 1.30 i went to his mates house to get him up and he wasnt there and neither was his mate !!!!!!! his mate didnt stay there
mother panicked and he wasnt answering his phone either so when he got home i went to town and he says im out of order
so now im really depressed and feel like a total failure and ive just about had enough and feel like i really have to get away
kirsty