Shad-your photos were superb! I have bookmarked your site to go back and prowl around some more. I planted a bunch of bulbs outfront, lots of mini daffodils which are my favourite and some white crocus because I'm just fickle and decided I wasn't going to plant any yellow or purple because that is what the local place "had" carried in their miniscule way and since I had to mailorder all my bulbs, I'm just honery I planted some bluebells too which I have always had a fondness for, I adore spring! I guess it is just around the corner for you Long wait up here

Mel-golly, irritants! What are you supposed to do? Wear a space helmet to keep the buggers away from your peepers? You need to reverse your magnetism and repel them somehow, hmm, must be a vitamin for that or a way to make your eyes a less hospitable host to these things. Give me some time, I'll get it figured out. Have you been to a natural path? How charming that the maintenance fellow brought you some nosh. You are must cared about by many people.

Holly-I know, I know. Both my kids have had fevers and sore throats. Emily came home from school yesterday and just crashed. She slept for two hours and threw up, said her throat was sore, wouldn't eat. I gave her some Tylenol and she seems to have rallied this morning. I don't remember being sick all the time when I was in grade school. High school sure, I had lots of bouts of can't get up itis, self inflicted How industrious are you? Having a kiosk in the market? You go girl! Avon is going to have you working in head office in no time.

Painterwoman-nice goals, the less sugar diabetic plan is a good one. Congratulations to your friend at beating the odds, melanoma is scary. I hope you are keeping your energy up and enjoying the day

Happy-aw, I loved hearing about your mom. Doesn't she brighten your day? Will she be coming back for a visit at Christmas She sounds like alot of fun, you are very lucky to still have a parent in your life to enjoy. How is your wild kitty? Have the raccoons been back?

Ceejay-EEEE! 4000 lb crocodile eating people in downtown New Orleans! you are kidding right? That is a movie in the making, just wait. Good luck on the challenge, it all begins today!

I gave the challenge some thought and I will be exercising at least three times a week, the 4 mile WATP tape. I need to drink more water. So at least 4 glasses. I am getting dehydrated, even my skin is getting flaky. I can't find a good moisturizer that doesn't clog my poors and make me all sweaty. *sorry, probably more than you wanted to know

((((Teel)))) feel better soon, I'm so sorry you are having such a tough go of it.

Linus and little Christopher-go to sleep, rest Can't wait to see a little pic of the wee one. Is everyone taking good care of you Linus? They aren't leaving it all up to you are they? Get noisy if they are, you need to focus on getting you back again after this incubation

hello lurkers and readers, do drop a line, we are the United Nations of weight loss

Meadow, don't know if you can get this stuff but I love it. I too have problems with creams. This is Neutrogena NORWEGIAN FORMULA Moisturizing Cream. It comes in a jar and a thinner version in a bottle with a pump. I prefer the thicker version in the jar. It's hypoallergenic, fragrance free and dermatologist recommended. My whole body gets dry in the cooler months but legs and feet are especially bad. I use this after a shower and sometimes when I get ready for bed at night. My sister who tries every beauty product produced gave me some for my birthday and I can't say enough about it. It even says it won't clog pores on the back of the jar.

Here's a pic.

It's a beautiful day outside. Sunny and just a just a bit of warmth. Windows are all opened and I also opened the front door - we have a big screened storm door to let in all that glorious fresh air.

I have a zinnia patch right at the front steps. There are several butterflies dancing and prancing about. Here's a picture of one that DH took this week.

Mel said for me to pop in and say hiya.. so hiya ladies!

Ceejay, I didn't get your email but I did find the story on the Internet. It's a semi hoax.

The hoax part is the email text itself: Stay out of the water . . . Now this is a Crocodile!

Man, can you imagine what else was swimming around down there in that water? Lord have mercy.....

This crocodile was found in New Orleans swimming down the street. 21 FT long, 4,500 lbs, around 80 years old minimum.

Specialists said that he was looking to eat humans because he was too old to catch animals. This crocodile was killed by the army last Sunday at 3:00 pm, currently he is in the freezer at the Azur hotel. The contents of it's stomach will be analyzed this Friday at 2:30pm.

The reality is that it's a real picture of a real crocodile but he wasn't in New Orleans and wasn't really 21 feet long and 4,500 pounds.

These photographs actually show a crocodile that was shot and killed on 6 July 2003 at Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo. According to an article in allafrica.com, the reptile was a Nile crocodile whose vital statistics fell a bit short of the claims made above: he was estimated to be 50 years old, about 16 feet in length, and about 1,900 lbs. (not quite the 80-year-old, 21-foot, 4,500-pound monster described in e-mail). The local mayor reportedly insisted on preserving the crocodile's carcass against the efforts of locals who wanted to eat it and arranged for it to be shipped to a taxidermist.

(There were 3 pictures of the croc but this one showed it's size best in relation to the people standing next to it)

Hiya LindaT - welcome to the mad mad world of the worldly chicks.

Do you always do as Mel tells you? If we all did that, we would be spinning around out of control digging, cooking, wheeling, etc.etc. We would probably rule the world as well.

Back shortly - got a couple of things to do before I post todays chapter and verse.

So I'm sitting here watching my newsletters print - they occasionally jam so I have to keep a closer eye on them than I'd like. The up side is I get to waste more time on the computer here instead of helping DH pick up all the sticks and leaves and schmutz in the yard - bad for my allergies anyway.

I picked the last of the oregano and the scent is still on my fingers. I'm going to dry it on the counter like I did the fresh basil (I ruined the first batch trying to dry it in the microwave.)

Linda T, thanks for poppin in. I love your Halloween kitty picture. Surprised that kitty's not chasing the spider or does he have a good grip on it?

Wow Meadow, the 4 mile WATP tape? You go girl!

Same for you Mel on not slurping down the whole Lo Mein order at once. How nice of one of your buddies to look out for you. You've given me a taste for Chinese but our favorite restaurant is still closed for remodeling. Maybe next week. Enjoy your movies and rest those peepers. I'm noticing you're on here alot today. Scat woman - don't over do it. We have learned to get you in little bits and pieces. And we much prefer that to long absences when you over do it.

Ok PW, no more sugar / carb binges. The only binges we want to hear of the rest of the week are water hangovers, brocolli binges and marathon walking episodes You are hereby ordered to post one good thing you did right each day to change that negative mindset. :

Back again. Sorry about that chief. I'd forgotten that saying until the report of Don Adams death this week. Brought back some memories that did! Oh how young and silly we were back then!

Happy - NZ Christmas bush is Metrosideros thomasii not to be confused with Metrosideros excelsus which is the Pohutukawa tree. I figured that people would like the common name better than the botanical. So called Christmas bush because in NZ it flowers (you guessed it) at Christmas, likewise it's big brother the Pohutukawa. I've been trying to translate Pohutukawa and the nearest I can guess is that bitter flower. It's not quite right but close enough. Anyway back to the trees. These two wonderful specimens flower in the summer for quite long periods and grow (the trees anyway) mostly along the coast line. So imagine a rugged and rocky coastline surrounded by pounding surf and blue seas covered in those bright red almost orange spiky flowers. There are or at least were vast stretches of bright red hillsides and cliffs along the coasts. Maori legend has it that when one passes on to the next world, ones spirit (soul) flies to the very tip of the North Island and rests for a period of time in the very ancient pohutukawa tree which clings to the cliff face. From there it goes on to join the ancestors. Which explains the length of a Maori funeral.
Have fun with the newsletters. Is it part of a cunning plan to get the challenge exercise in by walking the neighbourhood?

Painter - I don't care when you get the exercise in - as long as you do it. I haven't checked up on all the challenges but some of us are trying to make ourselves perfect in one go. The idea really is to have a do able challenge that you don't have think about all day and within 21 days it might just become a habit. You are being very hard on yourself my friend. Try one or two things at a time and achieve them, then on to the harder bits. Here's a hug for you to keep up your spirits {{{{PW}}}}

Meadow - I'm a bit ornery about my plants and colour schemes as well. My local nursery carries a lot of roses, but I don't buy them from there for a couple of reasons. One, they tend to have a small selection to choose from and the stock answer is (if you ask for another variety) 'that one doesn't grow well up here'. Two, their roses are more expensive than the nursery I do go to and who hand out advice free, gratis and for nothing and whose personnel all are dedicated rose growers. Your spring garden sounds wonderful. I've tried but most bulbs up here become annuals. It just doesn't get cold enough for them. I have some success with the creamy white Erlicheer jonquil and the coloured friesias but that is about it apart from those gigantic hippeastrums you saw on the pics.

Holly - will you please stop the Christmas countdown. I don't need it at all. And slow down for heavens sake, you are making me tired and it's only 6.32am.

Mel - the maintenance manager - have you fixed the pipes yet? Can you organise for a man to come and put in my tap in the bathroom - oh and change out the spout over the bath and maybe plumb in some new pipes in the laundry?? What - how much $$$$ did you say???? Take care sis, enjoy the time. It may be what you need to keep occupied but if you overdo it, there will be consequences. So think, plan, organise before you go rushing into the basement and take the works apart.
Also, like Painter, you may be overdoing the things to do on the challenge. Change things gradually - not all at once. Geez, when I said my mission in life was to change just one American attitude, I didn't realise how hard it was going to be. That frenzied rushing about, get it done now, must be born in you. Ever heard of relaxation?? That's r-e-l-a-x-a-t-i-o-n. Means to sit back, reflect on the achievements already done, count your blessing, rest, renew, recuperate, recreate. No forget the recreate bit. Okay, lecture over.

Ceejay - Your measurements are very similar to mine when I started keeping the records. Looking forward to next month to see your progress. Have a nice time with the extended family today.

It's going to be a beautiful day, the sun is shining, there is a cool breeze at the moment but it will warm up. The sky is a clear blue. The Willy Wagtails are digging worms out of the garden, the blue jays are building another nest in the Silky Oak tree (last one got blown down eggs and all in the big wind), the Poinciana is showing the first signs of fuzzy green, the Cockatoos are having a family argument while flying overhead - what a noise! Other than that, it is a peaceful, quiet, lovely day - well so far anyway. The new neighbour had a house warming party last night. She came over and warned me it was going to happen. So I guess the other neighbours will get their own back later in the day with lawnmowers, power tools, car revving etc.etc. We have our own noise laws around here!

Okay, that's it for this morning. I have things to do, places to go, people to see and the bloody gym equipment to look at for an hour this morning as well. Best go get breakfast or it will be sitting in the stomach while I am trying to pound out the k's on the treadie.

I am completely pooped form the fair. I have just guzzled 4 glasses of water, fed the kids and now the boys are going to a 2 hour hockey practise. Holy crap.
DD is lounging on the couch.
No trophies this year at Mutton Busting.
It was fun, festive, saw lots of friends.
My goal for tonight is to tidy every surface in the house! and fold 3 basket of laundry.
I have cleaners coming on Monday to super fall clean the kitchen. Weehee!!

Happy~ Avon has totally stepped up. There is loads of potential to make cashola. I am gunning for Prez Club too.

I just had such a lovely read thru!!! I adore you ladies. What a chatty Saturday/Sunday. I will try to look at the pics from everyone later.

Meadow~ I am partial to the African Shea Butter from Avon and the Naturals line.

Love ya chickies!!

Hey Everyone, hope the weekend is fun and full of the little jobs and projects getting done. I completed my first day on the challenge and ready for day 2. It seems like taking your vitamins would be a simple thing to do but I am using this challenge to make it a daily habit..... sort of have a problem getting them down. Mental thing I am sure.
Shad I am so glad your trip is approaching and you get to do some travelling again. I have a girlfriend who's stepson is just recently moved to Japan to play basketball for a semi pro team...I am sure he stands out!
I am getting ready to plant a few bulbs this weekend and to do some more work on the newsletter I am trying to get out.... it is taking me forever!!!!
My little fawns are still around mewing and the weather each day carries a promise of cooler wetter days ahead.
Mel you asked about my creatures.... Tiny Teeka Tiger is the princess 101/2 yr old yorkie...my love. Then the new kid Toby Two my yorkie mix...he is hilarious.... then I have Sparky he will be 3 this november a Red Slider Turtle.... and also Squirt will be 2 this november another Red Slider Turtle.... and I have a small tank of tetra's, a molly, two monkey fish and some guppies..... besides all of the wilderness creatures....they all entertain me.
Hope everyone is well and looking forward to all those holidays which are fast approaching.... I made a delicious batch of turkey chili yesterday.... turned out sooo good!
Take Good Care,
Nae

LINDA~ SO GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE!! HOPE YOU STAY AWHILE AND JUST MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME. LESS FORMAL HERE AND CHIT CHATTY. LOVE KITTY'S PICTURE!!! SHAD WILL SHOW YOU TO YOUR NEW ROOM IF YOU WANT TO STAY.
WE TRY HARD NOT TO CHASE ANYONE AWAY BUT GUESS WE'RE A SCARY LOT CAUSE SOME DO LEAVE!

PAINTER~ AFTER READING IT AGAIN....IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS MEASURING EYEBALLS AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ELSE! ROFLMAO
I DON'T THINK LATE STARTS ARE A BAD THING....AFTER ALL, YOU DID IT. THAT'S WHAT COUNTS. UNIFORMS? DID I HEAR YOU SAY UNIFORMS!!!?!?! YUM YUM!!!

MEADOW~ I WONDER IF THEY MAKE BUBBLE SUITS "TO GO"!!! THEY MUST HAVE VERY LONG CORDS ON THEM. AFTER MY SHOWER, I USE NEUTROGENA LIGHT SESAME OIL BUT ONLY ON ARMS AND LEGS. EVERYTHING ELSE BREAKS OUT!!! LOL NOW I'M THINKING OF TRYING HAPPY'S CREAM! GOOD LUCK WITH THE GOALS.

HAPPY~ I HAVE SEEN IT AND WILL BUY IT NOW. I HAVE ABOUT TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE MARKET! LOL WE HAD A LOVELY DAY HERE TOO SAMS THE BUTTERFLIES. UNLESS YOU COUNT THE KID THAT WAS THROWING ROCKS OFF OUR 8 STORY BLDG!!! THEY WERE FLYING!!! CROCODILES!!! YIKES!!! THANK GOD I LIVE IN THE NORTH! LOL I am watching the eyes....but the face!

SHAD~JEN AND I USED TO SAY THAT ALL THE TIME!!! "SORRY ABOUT THAT CHIEF" I HAD FORGOTTEN TILL YOU MENTIONED IT! I'D LIKE TO COME BACK AS A FLOWERING PLANT. MAYBE SOMEONE WOULD TAKE GOOD CARE OF ME THEN! LOVED THE FUNERAL; STORY...THINK I MIGHT GO AND LOOK FOR A PICTURE SO I KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR SO I CAN STOP AND REST THERE TOO. YOUR MISSION TO SLOW ME DOWN IS A TOUGH ONE AND I DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITION! LOL I AM TRYING TO GET ORGANIZED FOR THE WEEK. I AM ALSO THINKING I CAN DO A LOT OF IT FROM HERE. TALKED TO THE LADS YESTERDAY AND THEY THINK THE SAME. THERE IS A FLIGHT OF STAIRS RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR AND I'M ONLY ONE SHORT FLIGHT UP. ANd WE ALL HAVE THE SAME RADIO/CEL PHONE. I DECIDED on THIS CAUSE THE EYES AND FACE ARE JUST BARELY HEALING WITHOUT THE PILLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE BALANCE IN MY FAVOR! LOL AM GOING TO SEE YOUR PICS TODAY. I WAS ALSO THINKING......SEEMS ODD THAT SOMEONE WHO NEVER SITS STILL IS TRYING TO GIVE ME FLAT TIRES!

HOLLY~ I AM GLAD THE FAIR WAS SO NICE!! I MISS STUFF LIKE THAT WHEN I LIVED IN THE COUNTRY FOR A SHORT SPELL.
HOPE THE WEEK IS A BIT SLOWER AND YOU ENJOY THE CLEANERS!!!

NAE~ HOW SURROUNDED YOU ARE BY FRIENDS!! OR SHOULD I SAY "FAMILY" BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY ARE. DOES TEEKA GET JEALOUS? NOW SHE HAS TO SHARE MOM WITH ANOTHER 4 FOOTED RELATIVE! I AM USING THE CHALLENGE FOR MY SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDS. I HATE TAKING PILLS ALSO FOR SOME REASON AND HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES TO FIGURE OUT WHY! THEY DON'T SWALLOW SO EASY!!! LOLI CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND JEN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THEM YESTERDAY. SHE ASKED IF I NEEDED HELP THIS YEAR WITH THE BOXES! I SAID YA WANNA DO IT TODAY? ALL I GOT WAS A LOUD AND LONG MAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I LOVE TURKEY CHILI! :eating1:

CEEJAY~ I AM WITH YOU IN PARAGOULD IN SPIRIT MY FRIEND. I WAS THINKING WHEN I READ YOUR POST THAT MAYBE SHE TRUSTED YOU WITH THIS MISSION TO FIND THE GRAVE BECAUSE IN OUR MINDS WE KNOW WHO TO PICK....THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EMOTIONS UPON THE DISCOVERY OF THE GRAVE AND ACTUALLY SEEING IT. SHE MUST WANT THAT PERSON TO BE YOU. I THINK IT'S A GREAT TRUST SHE HAS IN YOU...EVEN MORE THAN HER OWN SISTER. HOPE IT ALL WENT WELL.

I HAVE GOT TO GET THY BUTT MOVING. THE CHALLENGE IS A SNAP FOR ME ON THE WEEKENDS.....THE REAL TEST WILL BE THIS WEEK AND THE ADDED GOALS THAT ARE MON-FRI.
I CAN DO THIS!!! ;bubb;es:
HAPPY SUNDAY AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!

HOPE ALL THE REST ARE WELL AND HAPPY.

I'm enjoying my first iced mocha of the day so I thought I'd stop back in because Mel would run me down if I didn't. Besides, quite a few of you have run off from the journals and I miss you.

Shad, I do some things Mel tells me to because if I don't she'll start singing Christmas Carols all the time and drive me bonkers earlier than normal. You KNOW she likes to do that.

Happy, all those things in the kitty icon are put there but PaintShop Pro magic. She wouldn't sit still for a spider in her paws or candy corn in her ears. I made another icon for one of the mods here.. I like doing the seasonal stuff. Hers has a witch hat and other things in it. I have slime and all sorts of stuff for Halloween.

Mel, you and your holidays!!

I just finished my 73 minutes of step aerobics and need to go eat breakfast before I start eating things I shouldn't. Arggh gotta go and clean off the cat anyway. She has long hair and well let's just say she has a present for me.

Hiya. I only cleared 2/3 of the surfaces but it's a start. Church was nice.We now have a hockey game at 2 and I want to go. I have all my veggies for the salsa. I guess I will run them through the processor after supper and let it stew all night.Hubby will have a fit. BUT I am up till 12 and he is up at 5:30. I am certain the house wont burn down.
Did I mention I have cleaners coming!!! Gotta love Avon cash bonuses!!!

Hiya Linda. We aren't scary at all!!! Dont let Mel fool ya.

Melly, Melly quit scaring off our friends!! DS is has irritant issues( WTF) I did have him skin tested and did all the food elimination stuff and he has no real allergies.He is sensitive to a few things. Annoying. I wonder if I have irritant issues with my family, LOL!!

HUGS Teel, wishing you peace.
Cuddles to CJ and his Momma.
CJ~ how was paragould?
PW~ you keep on.
Shadster~ busy as usual. I still haven't gone ot the pic lnk. Damn kids keep interfering.
Miss Meadow you exercizing Vixen!!!
Hi back atcha Happy.
Nae~ your life sounds so peaceful at the mo.

HUGS worldly chicks!!!

Here we go again, another Monday.

Yesterday was really busy, I started at one end of the house and finished at the other. Loads of washing in between. Plus an hour at the gym and a couple of hours tv viewing I guess. See I do sit down Mel. I do a flylady thing - X number of minutes then a ten minute rest. It is amazing how much can get done when you are on a time trial I watched an Aussie made program called 'Small Gardens' yesterday afternoon to see if it gave me any ideas. There was a courtyard garden which was absolutely beautiful - French provincial in style and I loved it until they said that it would cost $15,000 to do in a 4m x 3.7m courtyard (13ft x 10ft more or less) Apparently the urns - which by the way were not vintage, antique or anything else and were made of fibreglass - cost $2500 each and they had 2 of them! Had a few thoughts about my garden but they will have to wait till the big stuff is done. My garden looks all right for the time being.

Holly - what sort of salsa is it that has to stew for all those hours? What I call a salsa is chunks of veges and fruit like tomato, avocado, mango, onion etc. You sound like you are making a huge batch of pasta sauce or something - ketchup? Ummmm am I missing something? - talking about Mel scaring off our new friends and irritants in the same paragraph?

Linda I know just what you mean about all of those irritating Christmas Carols. Bad enough that I spied Christmas decorations in the shops last week and they will be doing all the Chrissy displays soon. It's much too early. And the thought of sickly Christmas music assaulting my senses in the stores is enough to send me out to buy all the Christmas gifts now and stay out of the shops for the rest of the so called 'season'. Hope you got breakfast in time. Would you believe that I actually forgot about breakfast this morning! Forgot! Food! Me!!! So today is my treat day for breakfast. Normally that comes on a Wednesday when the exercise is done for the week.

Is it Queens Birthday in Western Australia today then Mel? Or is it somewhere else in the world. Certainly nothing like it on this side of the continent. Who is having Labour Day? I'm trying to work out the 'Steps' - you aren't thinking of climbing up and down them are you???

Roseblush - so nice to hear about the rural sector. You sound like you have such a lovely back yard. Maybe my big overseas trip in the future will have to be a drive around the States and Canada getting to see all the things I only get to read about on here. Okay, maybe not driving - although I only managed to frighten a few of the people in Arizona with my drift to the left. And at least they sort of speak English over there. Imagine trying to drive on the wrong side of the road and be unable to explain ones actions or interpret the road signs. Think I might learn to ride a bike again.

Teel's away for another couple of days, Tig has ridden off into the sunset with Slim and scabbard, Meadow is out planting for spring, Linus is busy with the baby, Happy must have got lost delivering the newsletters or maybe she has found something interesting to see and do. Painter is busy with the cheque book and taking speaking engagements. Or is she just busy shaving her legs.

The challenge seems to be going well, although I think I overdid it with the veges for dinner last night. Roasted veg with a herb and garlic sauce, steamed zucchini and snow peas. Too much and too yummy. Also had lo fat, lo carb icecream and apricots. Don't usually like the lo fat varieties but this one is not bad - from an ice cream addict that is saying something. I forget what day I am on here - is it 3? Will need to go back and look. After this I might use the day as a title. That way I can't forget.

Have a good day - or what is left of it for those on Sunday.