Thru Thick & Thin #114
 

Thru Thick & Thin is a group that was formed to give and receive support on our journey to take off the excess pounds and to keep them off. No matter who you are or where you are from, you're welcome here with us. We'll stand with you while you're losing and stand by you if you're not. We all have ups and downs and we need support in both.

Hello Everyone :wave:

Hope you are all having a good weekend. I spent about 2 1/2 hrs at the new Super Walmart yesterday and last night I went thru old and new mail. I have to finish it up today plus balance the check book, something I'm not looking forward to and I have a funeral visitation to go to today.

I brought up Internet Explorer to start the new thread. AOL won't let you copy and paste to another thread for some reason. It is one of the things I don't like about AOL.

Has anyone made a "Dump Cake" before, the one where you dump a can of crushed pineapple, pie cherries or whatever else other fruit you want and then pour a cake mix over it and top it with nuts and pats of butter and then bake it? Someone told me it needs to bake 30 mins but I saw a recipe that said 70 mins. I'm making it for a family get together after my uncles funeral tomorrow.

Marlana, sewing on a machine is something I'm no good at. I've got a sewing machine at my mil's. I have trouble understanding the tension and anytime I start something and then have trouble, I'm totally lost on fixing the problem. I hope you catch lots of fishies today. I don't mind eatting fish but I've just not been much for the fishing part, well, I don't mind holding a fishing pole and reeling a fish in, but the worm or bait part and taking the fish off the hook isn't my thing. I guess I'm a sissy. :lol:

Skeeter, I stopped by the fish section at Walmart yesterday and I was in shock at how they have those fighter fish in those little bitty cups with lids on them. I'm surprised they are even alive. Some of them looked really sluggish to me. If I get one, I will go to this fish shop they have in town. Oh I bought the stuff for the pumpkin fluff except I couldn't find the ff/sf pudding. I have one more store to check out to see if its there. Walmart has their brand of cherry pie filling reg & sf, for $1 a can and I stocked up on that. You know how I love cherries. I really didn't do to badly with my wallet yesterday cause I had trouble finding some of the groceries I needed. I'm sending dh over to his moms today to get some things from her "grocery". :lol:

Teresa, sometimes you just have to give in to those temptations just to keep going. Could be worse, you could of ate the whole thing but you just had a small bowl so pat yourself on the back for that. I never could totally deprive myself when I was gung ho on my food plan. Dh has discovered "cookies and cream ice cream and will not settle for the ff/sf or even just the low fat kind so when its here I have a very hard time resisting. I'm going to make some of that pumpkin fluff if I can find the sf/ff pudding I need.

Tammy, how you doing, girl? Good to see you again. I have stolen your "talk to you lighter". Couldn't remember who used to use it but I use it quite often now. Stop in again and see us.

Well, I've got to get in the shower and get dressed. Talk to you all lighter.

Hey Everyone:wave:

Well my tummy is much better today but not the head. Hubby told me that was normal though. :lol:

Teresa~I also ate more than I should have last night. When my tummy quit hurting, it was like I just couldn't resist the treats. After I ate the pumpkin fluff with the s/f cake, I had some low fat pretzels. I just had the veggie soup and f/f crackers for lunch and am feeling stuffed and sleepy. It has been hot the last few days here and the a/c in running day and night again. The low 80's is nice weather though and I don't complain.

JoJo~I can't believe that your Wal Mart doesn't have the f/f s/f puddings. That's where I get all my stuff. Talk to the manager the next time that you go there. Did you see the little 2 gallon plastic Aqua Tanks in the fish section? I only paid $16 for my first one and $19 for the second one. I thought that they were so cute. All of the stores have the betas in those little cups. Then they will sell little bowls that only hold about a cup or two of water for them to live in. I hate to see them in those small things. Thanks for starting a new thread, I didn't realize that the old one had gotten so long. Marlana is the one to answer the questions about baking stuff. Try her email since she has already been on the board today.

Marlana~These fish are very easy to take care of. They don't have to have the air pumps and can live in a gold fish bowl or a large vase. You only change the water once a week if the container is a gallon. The smaller the container the more often you need to change it. You also have to be careful with the city water and the chlorine in it but you have a well that you can use the water for a fish. They eat little pellets once or twice a day and can even go without food for a weekend. The best selections are at Petsmart. I just couldn't believe the colors there. They also guarantee the fish for 14 days or your money back. A lot of those places have small containers that betas can exist in but it is not a good life for them. It would be like us living in a closet. You could get a bowl for under $5 and put some colored gravel in the bottom and maybe a small plastic plant and still not spend very much. The sugar free angel food cake is the Wal Mart brand in the bakery. We tried a few different kinds and that is the best tasting one and also the least amount of points. I eat ice cream over it too when we get some of the good low fat no sugar added stuff.

The figure skating has started and I want to watch that. Y'all have a good day.

Hello everyone. Boy that pumpkin fluff sounds great! I love pumpkin so I will have to try some.:)

I'm still learning the new ropes on this website so give me some time to respond to everyone in a little bit. I hope everyone is ok and I'll talk to you soon.

I forgot who asked about the dump cake but their is a fruit cocktail cake and it takes 45 minutes. The recipe sounds similar.

Great Day in The Morning to Ya~~I feel really good this morning, ready to go. I've already been busy that's why I'm just now getting in here to write. I baked a black walnut cake for the man who let me pick up the walnuts. Boy does it smell good. I'm going to bake hubby one later. I'm going back to finish up the job of picking up all the nuts as soon as I'm finished writing in here. The good news is that this week I lost 3 pounds. I guess those walnuts helped me to lose. I didn't get into the 60's but maybe next week.

Jo Jo~~Thanks for starting the thread, I guess I'm the guilty one for going over 25. I always go to the site from a email where someone has posted. I guess I need to go the other way sometimes. Sorry to hear about your uncle's death. I haven't made a dump cake, but I've heard of them. I bet they are good. I've been sewing since I was 10 years old. I started with making doll cloths out of my dad's old socks. I have more trouble sewing now than I used to because I don't do it enough, but I can still sew what ever I want to, it just takes me longer. I didn't get to go fishing yesterday. The B. pressure was too high and it would have been a waste of time.

Skeeter~~Enjoy your day Knot Hunting!!! I have a question about the Pumpkin Fluff, I haven't made it yet because I don't have the right pudding mix. I told my friend about it and she made it...sort of. She tried to call me, but I wasn't home. Do you just 2 cups of mile in the pudding...I thank yes...she didn't. I don't use the well water in my house, I'm on rural water. That well water would kill anything a live. Would I let the water set out for a couple of days? The bowl I know would be cheap, how much is the fish for me to kill? I used to want a reg. fish tank, but just never got one. Now you got me thanking about it again.

Tammy~~Good to see you back this morning. Just give yourself some time and you'll learn how to get around in the site. How's the kids? Glad you decided to join us again. I do hope you can do really well at the tops meetings. Have you ever been to one before. Years ago I belonged to Tops. I liked it OK. It's too for to drive for me to belong to anything.

300~270.75~167~29.25~ 103.75 TO GO!

Hello Ladies

I had such a busy weekend that I didn’t get a chance to come in and post. Friday night dh and I ended up going to a pub in our area. I did pretty good too. I only had one drink (a Chocolate Monkey mmmmm) and then I had club soda and coffee (not together of course). After there we went to check out a bookstore that is open late. It was a pretty nice evening. Then Saturday was spent at the gym and library. The evening was filled with cooking and hockey (watching not playing). I decided to make a pumpkin soup. Well I first had to cook up 4 pumpkins before I could even get started. It took over 2 hours cook this soup. But it was worth it. Let see then yesterday, I did a run and spent the afternoon shopping. Finally got my MIL’s birthday present. I was so tired yesterday that I went to bed at 9:30. That was after having a nap in the afternoon and also dozing on the couch in the evening! Oh well.

Mb: Sounds like you had a busy weekend planned. How were the shows? We didn’t end up going to see any movies. Just went to the pub instead. I think the rain may have passed (for now). It was sunny all weekend and the sunshine is just pouring through my window right now.

Marlana: Sorry to hear of the passing of your mouse. May it rest in peace (or is it pieces?). I also hope that I don’t have the same problem when I get my wisdom teeth pulled. It should be okay. They are referring me to a specialist to have them done and they are going to put me fully under. That is the part that scares me a bit. I have never been “knocked out” before. Hey I think the rhino looks pretty good in that thong! :lol: I just read that you finally got some of our rain. FYI you can keep it! I am enjoying this sunshine! I am not even sure I know what a black walnut is. How is different from the regular variety? (Besides being black?!) ohhh I have just a big smile on my face :D I just read your good news. CONGRATULATIONS on another loss. You are doing such an amazing job!!!!

Jojo: We didn’t end up seeing Monster Inc. Since it was opening weekend, dh thought it would be too busy and too many kids. We will probably go in about 2 weeks. We can’t go next weekend, as my BIL will be here. He will be on a stop over from San Francisco to back home in Northern Ontario. I have heard mixed reviews of the movie. Oh well I still want to see it. Sorry to hear about your uncle. I have heard of dump cake but have never made it before. 70 minutes seems like way toooooo long. I would bake it for 30 and keep testing it every 5 minutes after that. Let us know how it turns out.

Teresa: Sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time. But I am glad that you are coming in here and sharing. That’s what we are here for. Stay strong! Everyone needs some “me” time. Right now I am able to escape to the library on the weekends. It works well for me. It’s also good because they don’t allow food in the library. :lol: However, I do sneak in a bottle of water. Shhhhh

Skeeter: 3 little ones now. Congratulations! ;) What is the name of your new guy? My hubby is a shortie (for a guy that is) too. He is about 5’8” or 5’9”. Just perfect for me. Tall enough to reach things for me but short enough to properly hug. :love: My wisdom teeth are bothering me. I have one that is fully through and it scrapes along the inside of my cheek. Some days it gets so raw. As for the others, there just isn’t enough room in my mouth for them and they are starting to shift my other teeth. :( Dh is one of those lucky ones who was actually born without wisdom teeth so he will never have to worry. I do plan on getting loaded with gas before my root canal. They have already offered it to me. And when I get my wisdom teeth out, I am going to a specialist who is going to put me under. Yep my mom is a shortie like us. I think she is about your height. Oh I just read about you poor tummy! :( Hope you are feeling better today!

Jen: Glad to hear that you actually had an entire weekend off. Do battle with those leaves should give you some good exercise!

Sally: Hope you had a good weekend and a nice shopping trip. Did you guys like Monsters Inc.?

Tammie: Nice to meet ya’. Hope you stop in often.


Whew I am pooped from all of that writing. Well that’ll teach me for staying away for the weekend.

I hope you all have a HAPPY and HEALTHY day!!

Tobey
:D

Good morning gals. It seems like I was so busy this weekend, but really didn't get anything done. Saturday when I tried to mow the leaves, of course the lawn mower wouldn't start. Seems to be a theme around here. So I started raking, but I had pulled too much and hurt my hernia. So I called dear bf to rake while I burned. That takes forever. Then we went out for a late dinner. Yesterday was football day. Again I stayed away from the greasy food at the sports bar and made some acorn squash in the oven. Yummy. Today it's back to work. I can see that by the way you guys keep raving about the pumpkin fluff that I'm going to have to stop at the store and pick up the stuff to make it.

Jojo- Sorry about your uncle's death. I have heard of dump cake before, but I don't know how to make it. I agree with Tobey, 70 min seems long. I have seen the little fish in the cups with lids too. If I knew where I could safely keep them away from the cats I would get a couple. I don't want them to turn into kitty sushi.

Skeeter- Glad you're starting to feel better. Those fish are easy to take care of. I had one years ago when I was catless.

Marlana- Congrats on your 3 lb loss. Tomorrow is my weigh-in day. I'm a little nervous. I haven't peeked at all this week. Can't say I've been really good at all this week. But I'm gonna kick butt today! I was wondering the same thing about the fluff, do you make the pudding with milk or just the powder? That black walnut cake sounds yummy. Heck, any cake sounds yummy. Just for the record, last week you asked if raking leaves counted as exercise. Definately yes. I was so sore yesterday!

Tobey- Sounds like you had a good weekend. From my experience, the worst part of being "knocked out" is waiting for it. They have to hook you up to monitors for your heart, bp, and IV fluids first while you're just laying on the operating table. I get really goofy with the drugs. I'm sure I'm plenty entertaining. Once when I was just starting to feel it I told the surgeon that I felt like I was on drugs! Then when I woke up I told the nurse to thank the anesthesiologist 'cuz "that was some good ****!" Some people wake up crying for no reason, others get nauseated. Depends on the med they use. Just ask that you have something for nausea to go with it, just in case. And try to enjoy the trip!

Gotta get going, want to walk, brush the dog, do a little reading before work.

Happy and healthy,
Jen
149.5/147.5/140

Hello Y’all :wave:

First regarding the Pumpkin Fluff, according to our WW leader 1 cup = 1 point. Also, you just add the box of pudding mix, NO MILK. It ends up being very light a fluffy…the milk would make it too watery.

My weekend was as busy as it sounded. The craft fair was fun and I came away with some great ideas and I bought myself a Victorian white top and a petty coat. I’m going to make myself a black velvet skirt to wear with them for the holidays. The problem with the craft show was the food…I had a small bag of those cinnamon-coated almonds and then one of those puff pastries stuffed with spinach and cheese. My girlfriend and I then went to Applebee’s where I had the small Southwestern Salad. When I got home I couldn’t stop myself from eating the left over Holloween candy…way too much of a good thing! The devil :devil: was certainly out and on my shoulder Saturday cause that little voice in your head was telling me it was ok.

My basket show went well also, got 2 and possibly 3 bookings for new shows. The best news in this area is that for the month of October is that I was #1 in Sales for my branch. That’s a first for me, most of the time I’m lucky if I make it into the top 10!

Jo Jo, I go to the craft shows mostly for the ideas myself. I got a great one for my new baby niece’s Christmas gift. I’m going to get some fancy pants to cover her dipper and paint on it ‘princes’. I must say the ‘patriotic’ theme was everywhere and a little over done if you ask me. Especially the prices they had on the items, way too high! Sorry to hear that your Uncle passed away, its been awhile since I made a Dump Cake and I know it took a long time to cook but 70 minutes seems excessive. Why not start checking it after 45 and judge from there!

Teresa, you sound like I was a year ago. As some in this group know, I’ve had issues with my hubby and we’ve been trying to work things out with the help of counseling. Part of the problem is related to money and how we both spend it. They always seem to forget that they spend when they shouldn’t also and it just not us. The depression is something we both battle and I for one have found that it is an illness that I have experienced most of my life. It just took 40 years to realize it and get the proper treatment. I’ve also learned that I’m a depressive eater, I eat not only when I’m lonely but also when I’m depressed and those two really go together. It sounds like part of yours this past week was due to PMS, another real illness that too many people don’t treat as such, especially men. Any way, hang in there, just cause you buy yourself something is not a reason to feel guilty. Guilt is a powerful emotion that can contribute to the depression, which just starts that cycle all over again.

Marlana, Congratulations on the 3-lbs. loss you are doing so good! Keep up the good work.

Skeeter, when you send the walking stick info to Tobey can you forward to me also. I was looking at them at the craft show, remembered that your hubby makes them and would rather get one form you.

Jen, Tammie, Sally and anyone else I may have missed I hope your having as good as Monday as is possible! Will check in tomorrow after the WW meeting.

Marybeth

Hi Everyone.

Well, the dump cake, its probably going to the dump. It just would not finish cooking on the inside and the outside was getting burned. I think where I made my mistake was I mixed it all up in the pan and another lady that makes it says she just pours the cake mix over the fruit and puts pats of butter on top. Oh well, I made dreamcicle puddings instead cause that always goes over well at get togethers.

When I get off here, I've got to get dishes done. I'm the type who is a messy cook. Plus I'll use a spoon and then throw it in the sink with the rest of the dirty dishes forgetting I'm not done with the spoon yet so then I need a new spoon. Needless to say, I go through a lot of silverwear. :dizzy:

I've got physical therapy today. I'm supposed to go for 3 weeks but my back is feeling much better so I'm not sure I'll need 3 wks worth.

Marybeth, oh, I know all about the food at craft sales. I like the ones that have the drips that you can "sample" and I end up making several trips over there to "sample". My samples turn into a small meal. Yeah, I can imagine everyone scrambled to make stuff to sell that was patriotic. I bet they sell a lot of it to. I'm thinking about painting my own flag and then sanding it down to make it look old. Kinda folk-artish, I guess. I'd like dh put it on the front of the house.

Jen, the worst part for me when it comes to being knocked out is getting the IV. I have the worst veins and they always have trouble. My SIL works for the surgery dept and when I had my hysterectomy, she picked the anestesiologist for me and I told her I wanted to be good and doped up and usually I remember going into the operating room. Well, I remember heading to the OR but I don't remember going into the room. One surgery they couldn't get a vein and they decided to wait till I got to the operating room. I want to be doped up well before to give me a little relief from the worrying.

Tobey, whats a chocolate monkey? It has to be good if its chocolate. Have you ever heard of a duck a$$ drink? Its kaluah and 2 other liquors and is pretty potent. I'm not much of a drinking, 2 beers a year will do me but once in awhile I enjoy a mixed drink like a mud slide or something similar. Is pumpkin soup a sweet soup? I've heard of it before but have never had it.

Marlana, well, as you probably read, my dump cake didn't come out. Oh well. I got to thinking yesterday after seeing all my cousins and aunts & uncles, I don't see them enough. My cousins all have kids that I wouldn't know if I walked by them on the street and some cousins have grandkids now. Its kinda sad we only see each other during funerals. (there hasn't been a family wedding in quite a few years) And my moms brothers and sisters, well, they all are pretty much in bad health and looking kinda frail. I was watching one aunt today and it was like seeing my mom again. I did stop at my moms grave, its been awhile since I've been there. I have a hard time making myself go but someone told me that she isn't really there and that made me feel better about it. Sorry your BP is giving you trouble again. I hope its better today. Congrats on losing 3lbs. Thats good for your bp to. You'll start seeing a difference as those pounds keep coming off.

Skeeter, your dh sounds like mine as far as the comment about your head. Walmart had the sf/ff pudding, just not in butterscotch. Oh well. I made it with the regular pudding. No, I didn't check out the fishie tanks while there. I've got the urge to get me a fish so I'm sure I'll check them out one of these days. I'm going to have to try one of their angel food cakes to.

Well, I'd better get going now. Take care everyone.

Good Evening everyone. I want to eat!! I already hit my calorie limit so I thought I better come here! MARLANA congrat on your 3# lost thats great!:)
I still have that eating problem when I let the dog out! Remember how I would complain about it?:mad: I joined TOPS before and I lost since I have to face the scale it helps!
STARKEEPER sorry, the cake didn't turn out. I hate it when something I cook doesn't turn out. I hate throwing food out (that's probably part of my weight problem :lol:
MARYBETH I know what you mean about the Halloween candy! There's a bowl a few feet from me calling my name! ;)
JEN oh the leaves, I know it's hard work. I'm lucky my husband like yard work! :D
TOBEY I never had pumpkin soup it sounds like a lot of work buy sounds yummy!
Well, got to help with the boys homework.

Hidy Ho Ladies~~I ended up back asleep in my chair this morning, so I'm getting a late start this morning. I had a pretty good day with my food yesterday. I say pretty good, because it wasn't perfect, I was a little picky. But I will have a much better day today. I ended up making 2 Black Walnut cakes, I made one for hubby too. I didn't eat any of it, but I did have a small taste of the frosting.:nono:

Tobey~~I've been so busy the last week I hardly have time to pee. It's beginning to get to me too. I need to take a little time for me. I thank tomorrow I will go and get Brett. (3) and spend the day with him. He won't be little much longer, and he likes to come over here so much. I've never had pumpkin soup, but I seen Martha S. making it the other day. I'm kinda glad my mouse died, this new one is so much better. I was having a hard time winning any on the little games on the web where you have to use your mouse. My old one was hard to direct. A black walnut taste totally different from English walnuts. Black walnuts are so good, and well as they should be as hard as they are to clean up and crack. I bought a walnut cracker, it cost me $50 but well worth it, it will also crack pecans. The inside is not black, just the outside.

Jen~~Your luck with the leaves is about like mine. The leaves here are so wet it will take 2 weeks without rain for them to dry out. Girl with that hernia you have no business raking leaves at all. You just got a few more days until you get that fixed don't you? I bet you'll be glad when it's all over with. I have never eat acorn squash. I know what they look like and that you bake them. What do you put on them to eat them, there must be something. I guess I need to buy one and give it a try, we could grow them here. I sure hope you have a nice loss today when you weigh. Your so close to your goal.

Marybeth~~Thanks for Pumpkin Fluff info, because I would have put milk in. I can't wait until I go to town again and can get some pudding mix and try it. Congrats on being #1 selling the baskets. I always feels good to excel in something.


Jo Jo~~I bet your mistake was mixing all the fruit with the batter. I don't know if your suppose to put it one the bottom or the batter on the bottom. If you put the batter on the bottom and fruit on the top, I thank the fruit will end up on the bottom when the cake is done. My aunt use to make that all the time and it was good. My Mother used to make a cho. cake that was so good, you wouldn't believe it. She put the cho batter on the bottom and a cho syrup of some kind, (homemade) on the top and when that cake was cool all that sticky cho. was on the bottom and so so good. She also put pecans in it. OH yes, my blood pressure is find. I was talking about Barometric pressure, I'm sorry, I just assume everyone knew what I was talking about. Barometric pressure has to be in a certain range or the fish doesn't bite very well. That is a lesson in fishing 101.:lol:

Tammy~~ I remember you dog letting out problem very well. Didn't you say you was joining Tops on Wed. You don't got much time left before you have to start being a good girl, even when you let the dog out. Doesn't seem like it should count in the middle of the night, but I thank it counts double.:devil:

Skeeter & Sally~~Missed you this morning.

Time to go and get a little something done. Have a good day.

Hello ladies

Well the sun is shining again today. :) However it is nice to be sitting at my desk – the sun is pouring in over my desk but I know that it is coooold outside. So I am quite happy to be right here. Some of you were asking about my pumpkin soup, so I thought that I would post the recipe here. The recipe is actually calls for butternut squash but you can substitute for any type of winter squash (including pumpkin). If you don’t feel like cooking up all that pumpkin, just used canned. That is if you can spare any from your pumpkin fluff! :lol:

Butternut Squash Soup

4 Servings

1 onion
4 cups butternut squash, cooked
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red hot pepper
1 1/2 cups no-chicken broth


Chop the onion coarsely. Spray a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat. Stir the in onion add the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook until the onion is very brown but not burned, about 30 minutes, on low to medium heat. Stir frequently and keep covered. Add the cooked squash and stir in the broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for at least 45 minutes, covered, on low to medium heat.

If the soup seems too watery, simmer uncovered until it reduces. Serve hot, topped with cilantro or parsley (optional).

Amount Per Serving
Calories 104 Calories from Fat 4
Percent Total Calories From:
Fat 4% Protein 9% Carb. 87%

Nutrient Amount per Serving % Daily Value
Total Fat 0 g 1%
Saturated Fat 0 g 0%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 355 mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 22 g 7%
Dietary Fibre 2 g 9%
Sugars 0 g
Protein 2 g

Vitamin A 222% Vitamin C 54% Calcium 0% Iron 7%


Jen: At least BF was around to help. I am sure that you both earned dinner that night. I love baked squash! Mmmmmm Guess I should just sit back and relax and enjoy my legal “trip”. I don’t know yet when I will have them removed – probably not until the new year. I have to have my root canal first which is scheduled for December 19th. I will be getting some lovely gas for that.

Mb: Congratulations on being number 1!! That’s fantastic news! Your holiday outfit sounds absolutely beautiful. I have that little devil as well. I find that when I start munching something “not so healthy” I end up going overboard on everything! I catch myself saying – why stop now?

Jojo: I am also a very messy cook! Especially when I bake. I also do the same thing – throw something in the sink just to realize a minute later that I still need it. :rolleyes: Good to know that I am not the only one out there! Glad to hear that your back is getting better. Oh a chocolate monkey is sooo goood. It is vodka, banana liqueur, and crème de cacao. The problem is that you can just gulp them down because you can’t taste any alcohol. I’ve never tried a “duck’s a$$” :) before. Does sound good though. The pumpkin soup isn’t sweet at all. It is very savoury. In fact it taste like a cream soup but there is no dairy in it and no fat! Even dh likes this soup and he is not a big soup eatin’ guy.

Tammie: I find this board a good distraction when I want to eat even though I’m not hungry. Your dog story sounds interesting….

Marlana: I think it would be great for you to spend the day with Brett. Those walnuts and walnut cakes sound sooooo good. I am so bad for nibbling as I bake. I am always tasting the batter – and I still haven’t given up licking the spoon. It is still as much fun as when I was 6! :lol: That is a lot for a nut cracker. But who am I to say anything? I spent $30 on a water bottle and $12 for a pair of socks. :eek: The only fresh nuts I have (right off the tree that is) are hazelnuts. My grandparents had trees at their house and cottage. I sure have a soft spot for those. In fact I think they caused some of my soft spots! ;)

Okay I am getting giddy so I think I should go. I want to run to the bank downstairs. I have been collecting my change for a few months and have collected over $200. So I have decided to open a savings account for it. I’ll keep collecting and then dh can do something special. Haven’t decided what yet.

Happy day!

Tobey
:D

Hey Everyone:wave:

I have two days to catch up on here but will do my best. We went knot hunting yesterday from about 9:30 until almost 4:30. We really had a great time and never saw another human being the whole time. We very seldom run into anyone in the woods. Deer season starts Saturday so we won't be going into the woods like that until January. I am sure going to miss it too.

Tobey~Sounds like you had a busy but fun filled weekend. I usually hit the book store when we are at the mall and manage to pick up good books on sale. I have never had pumpkin soup and can't even imagine how it would taste. Hubby named the newest fish Moby. I just can't get over how pretty he is. I am hoping that a picture turns out well enough for everyone to see him. Or everyone can go to Petsmart and check out all the bettas and look for the really light colored ones. :lol: I'm sorry that your wisdom teeth are bothering you. It's best to get them out once they start hurting. Hubby is working on all the sticks but it will take a while before they are finished. I will take a picture of a few tomorrow to get it on my present roll of film. Of course finishing that roll of film could take a while also. Isn't it great to have someone around that can reach things? I have the stools but get so tired of having to use them. That's a good idea with the change. My husband has always collected change that way. It is amazing how fast it reaches large amounts. A few years ago, we offered a contract on house that was only 11 months old. We gave the realtor a check for $1000 but the owner wanted another $1500 on the contract. We didn't want to touch our savings or checking account so we started rolling the change and quit when we got to $1600. We couldn't believe that we still had change left and he had only been saving it for 2 years.

Jen~I agree that raking leaves doesn't sound like a good thing to be doing with that hernia. You'll love the pumpkin fluff, I think I'm addicted to it. My mom used to bake squash with brown sugar and butter. I use summer squash in my WW veggie soup and I also like it raw on a relish tray. That's the only kind that I have ever eaten and don't have a clue what winter squash is. Oh, all this talk about trips and not really going anywhere. Sounds like the 70's. I just love the funny nose at the dentists, it almost makes the dental work worth it. :lol:

Marlana~WTG with losing 3# more. You are doing good. My scales are the same as last Monday. I was sure hoping to at least drop one pound. What is in your well water that is so bad? Your city water would have chlorine that would kill the fish according to that website. It said that you can buy drops to eliminate the chorine but I don't know about setting it out for a few days. I let my water set but it's mostly so that the temperature is the same. That site also suggested keeping the Ph at about 7.2 so I bought a little kit. My friend has kept hers in distilled water since last Christmas and he is doing great. Supposedly, that is a big no-no but these little guys are very forgiving about their upkeep. The fish only cost $3-$4 everywhere. Petsmart is selling them for $2.50 right now.

Marybeth~Thanks for the info again on the pumpkin fluff. I have been counting it as 2 points for each cup but will have to start eating 2 cups. :D My husband didn't care for it and boy was I glad. Now I get it all to myself. Congratulations on being #1 in sales. You are starting to realize a lot of accomplishments lately. After losing over 50#, I would think that you deserve a day to celebrate once in a while as long as we get back OP the next day. Otherwise, we could end up back where we started from. That is what I have to keep telling myself anyhow. I'll send a picture of the sticks to you too as soon as I get that roll developed. I can send a larger picture that way instead of making it so small for an attachment here.

JoJo~How do you make the dreamsicle puddings? We have been buying Blue Bunny No Sugar Added Fat Free Creme Bars that taste like dreamsicles to me. They are only 1 point each and come in orange/vanilla and raspberry/vanilla. The box says that it is sweetened with Aspartame. Your dump cake sounds like what my stuff turns out like. That's why I gave up trying. I don't know what I do wrong and how to change it to make a difference so I use the easy way, box mixes. I also think that most good cooks are also messy cooks. My kitchen almost clean by the time something is in the oven, so what does that tell you? :) I'm sorry to hear about your uncle dying. It's typical for most families to see each other only during funerals and weddings though.

Tammie~We are glad to have you back in the group. It looks like you learned the new board pretty fast. I think that everyone hated it the first couple of days but have grown to love it and can't remember it being any other way. All the new features are so much fun to play with also.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. It is a gorgeous sunny day here with a little cooler temps.

Good Morning. I had my weigh-in today. I lost 2 lbs. At least I'm setting a good pace, 2 lbs a week. I was incredibly good yesterday. Just veggies, fruit, and a healthy choice dinner after work. I even turned down rice crispies and brownies at work. :D

Marybeth- I am definately going to have to make that pumpkin fluff. It sounds sooo yummy. I always get caught up in the food at the craft shows too. The last one I went to I got white chocolate almond popcorn! Very good, but probably not on the plan! ;)

Jojo- If they say 3 weeks of PT you should do 3 weeks of PT, even if you feel better. There is a reason they pulled that number out of the air. (Sorry, the nurse just took over!) Usually the anesthesiologist has to start my IV. I have Raynauds disease, which when I get cold, and the surgical suite is always freezing, my circulation to my hands, feet, ears, etc pretty much cuts off. I actually look like I'm frost-bitten, turn white and numb. I usually don't freak out til I walk into the OR and I'm on the table getting hooked up.

Tammy- Good choice coming to the thread instead of the fridge. I hope it worked!

Marlana- I've got til the 15th for surgery. I can't wait to get it over with (and have a few weeks off of work!). My grandma came up with a great idea about the leaves. If she's on the far side of the yard, she rakes them onto an old bedsheet and drags them to her burn pile. When I bake acorn squash I cut them in half and scoop out the seeds. Put in a little butter (lite) and brown sugar, sf pancake syrup along the edge and bake about an hour. Sometimes I'll toss in some walnuts or diced apples too.

Tobey- Your soup sounds good, but I'll probably go the canned pumpkin route. Looks like I need to go to the store and get a few cans, between the soup and the fluff, I'll turn orange!

Skeeter- My dear bf has already offered to come back and finish the leaves. My biggest problem is the burning restrictions, mon, wed, and sat 8-5. I work every mon, in class all day wed, and work every other sat. I guess it's his deal now! I love summer squash. I slice it up with some onion, green pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, whatever I have and throw it in a dish on the grill. The mushrooms make a nice juice.

Well, looks like I'm about done here, need to go get ready for work again!

Happy and healthy,
Jen
149.5/145.5/140

HOWDY TO ALL OF YOU:wave:

I was in here a week ago and we are already on #114!!!! Where does the time go? I know this is unusual for me to ge here during the week. Well, I am home tonight. Basketball doesn't start for another two weeks so I have some time tonight and decided to surf the net. I did that for a while and wanted to come in and see how things are going. Of course, I haven't read all the previous threads, I will have to try and do that over the weekend some.

Our play went very well. We had the shows on Thurs.-Sat. It is nice to be finished with the rehearsals and have a little more time. This week on Wed. and Thurs. night and Fri. morning we have parent/teacher conferences. Then I can concentrate on getting the house straightened for Thanksgiving. I will have 16 people here on Friday, Nov. 23 for "Christ-giving". We will have our traditional dinner and then open presents. My dad and 3 of my sisters are going to New Mexico for Christmas to my other sisters so we are doing the celebration over Turkey Day weekend. I am still trying to decide if I will put up the tree for it. It would take an afternoon. Could wait and do it the Wednesday before or do it Thanksgiving night when some are here to help. Now that is a new idea :smug: Anyway, I am making some sf desserts for it as well as doing the main course. Everything will work out fine.

All of you seem to have been busy over the past weeks. I just have to get in here and try to keep up better. I tried to get in through my puter at school, but it wouldn't take and I don't know why. It said I had to register and everything again. Well, I didn't have my password with me, so I better find that. I have too many to remember them all.

Oh, dh is working for a fellow in construction. He drove by last Monday and saw him working in the yard and called him that night. He asked if he was working and offered him a job. Now dh doesn't know too much if anything about carpentry, but this guy is willing to work with him. The other job is done and I was wondering how things were going to go. He would have been able to get unemployment. It just shows that worrying will not get you anywhere. We will just see how this goes.

I better go for now. I know that I didn't write to any of you individually. I just feel that I have been out of touch and almost butting in because I don't get here as often now. I know that some of you have been struggling with life a bit more. Keep at it and things will get better. Enjoy every little success you have no matter what that success is in. Everyone have a great week.

I forgot to tell you, I weighed in tonight and have lost another 4 pounds, only 15 more to go! :D Marlana, congratulations on your loss. Way to go!

I'll try to talk to you later in the week. I should go to the old threads and try to catch up. That may take a week or two in itsself the way I am going.:lol:

Take care everyone and remember you all are worth the effort.

CAROL

Morning Ladies,
I don't know what happened Monday...I came in and read and forgot to post. I had a senior moment, I guess. Then yesterday my Little Man was home; he tore a ligament in his leg and has a brace on it, so he didn't feel like standing all day at work, and propped himself and his brace in front of the computer and TV for the day. He limped off to work this morning. I hope it doesn't make the leg worse, but who listens to me??? No one in this house!!:devil:
I'm horribly depressed this week and can't seem to work myself out of it.....I GAINED weight last weigh in....I cannot stand to go in the wrong direction. I lost 49.6 pounds....almost 50. Almost. Then what do I do? Hah! Gain 1.5 pounds back. I think I will buy some tents to wear and join the circus as the fat lady. I'm so mad...can you tell? :mad: :mad: :mad:
I'm going to go and read some before I make everyone mad at me or depressed like I am.....do you all forgive me? :( I'll be better, I suppose. I'm just mad at myself, and now the holidays are coming up and it will be even harder! Yuck.
I'll be back tomorrow, if you'll let me come back!
Love you all,
Sally
224/175.9:mad: /120ish

Mornin Girls~~I'm up and going already, and feelin good. Got to get the house work done before Brett gets here. My food was OK, but I had another day when I just wanted to eat all day. I didn't, but I sure wanted too. I hope the obsession is gone today. I'm going to spend most of my day outside working on walnuts. Brett can play while I do that.

Tobey~~The weather is so warm here. It's really a little to warm in the afternoons. But not to worry it will change. I want to you know that, that walnut cake hasn't touched these lips or tongue. It is so funny how my mind works, I know right now that I won't eat any of that cake. I pretty well know of a morning if I'm going to get through the day without a binge. Today, no I'm not going to over eat.

Skeeter~~Glad you had a good day in the woods. Hope hubby got enough knots to keep him busy for a while. Well I know now I have to have one of those fishes. So your going to have to send me complete instructions on how to feed him. I really can't tell you what is in the well water, it may be natural gas. What ever it is it comes all mixed up in the water when it is run, like in a tank and you can see it clear up, and kind a like steam comes off it until it is all clear. It taste like crap.

Jen~~Your doing great on you diet. Congrats on another 2 pound loss. I thank the worst part of any surgery is the waiting for it to get here. I always get so nervous. My gosh I just thought of something, I haven't had to have any surgery in about 3 years. I got into a habit almost one time of having surgery every few months. I had 4 in less than 2 years. Everything from a tumor in the female organs to a broken bone in my elbow, which gives me a lot of problems now. It seems to get a little worse as I get older. I broke it about 5 years ago.


Carol~~Boy we did do a lot of writing while you was gone didn't we?:lol: Glad your hubby has found a new job, and I hope it works out for him. I used to work part time in construction. Everything from working out a punch list, things that needs to be done before final inspection to doing a final cleaning. It's hard work. Sounds like school is keeping you very busy. And a big congrats on losing 4 pounds. You aren't for from your goal, that is wonderful.

Sally~~You was in early this morning. Sorry hubby hurt himself. If he's like mine he wants to talk about it all the time, and to be treated like a baby. Oh boy, depression, what a bummer. Been there done that. I which I could tell you how to pull yourself out of it, but I don't know. Is it that time of the month? Please don't get upset over 1.5 pound gain. That is something that will happen from time to time. That's not much more than a big glass of water. Now you just pick yourself up and move on. And it will be AUK during the holidays, we can stay on our food plans, we can. We can also let ourselves have something good for the big dinner. The secret is not to let that happen for several dinners. We love you Sally.

I can't believe how long it takes me to answer these post. I started at 5:30 and it's now 7:00. Gee:dizzy: does it take the rest of you that long? Well I'm off to meet my day head on. Have a good one everyone.

Good morning all.

Not too much to report today. I am getting ready for my BIL who will be coming for a visit. He managed to get a stop over in Toronto on his way home from San Francisco. He will be arriving on Saturday at 6:11 AM! Good thing we love ‘em. There isn’t that much to do – just make sure there are some fresh sheets and some general tidying. I also have to go and pick up some tickets today for a concert we are going to on Saturday night. It should be a lot of fun. I haven’t seen my BIL since the summer and dh hasn’t seen this brother in over a year! It is too bad that we only get two days with him.

Skeeter: Sounds like you had a great Monday. Guess you have to get as much of it in now before deer season. Squash soup (including pumpkin) is soooo yummy. It is a really thick soup and tastes like a heavy cream soup but ZERO FAT! That’s why I say it is worth the effort. Don’t worry about rushing dh. I will take one for February. Don’t think my mom could get much use out of it before then anyways. It is amazing how much change you collect – especially in Canada as we have $1 and $2 coins. We used to save our change in a glass jar but that was too easy to dip into. So a few weekends ago I bought the cutest piggy bank. He is huge and weighs about 5 pounds empty! I bought him at store that specializes in Adobe style furniture and accessories. In fact it is so nice I have him out in the living room.

Jen: 2 more! WOOHOO! Congratulations. :D I have just recently discovered using pumpkin for more than just pies. If you like winter squashes, which it sounds like you do, then you should like eating pumpkin as well. It is also so good for you. 1 cup of canned pumpkin only has 83 calories but has a whopping 7 grams of dietary fibre. Geese I sound like I work for the Pumpkin Advisory Board (if there is such a thing) :lol:

Boss: CONGRATULATIONS on your loss! That is so amazing! You are so close! Glad to hear that the play went well. Wish I could have been there to see it. If memory serves me correctly, you put on a production of “Harvey”. I have friends who are teachers and they said the parent/teacher conferences can be very draining. Hope you survive! ;) So with Christ-giving, will you still have a celebration in December as well? It sounds like it should be a blast. A lot of work though! Glad to hear that your hubby is working.

Sally: Please don’t beat yourself up!! I have been there it isn’t worth it! Your body is probably just adjusting to its new weight and you will more than likely start losing again very soon. It is also possible that it was just water weight. Water can account for up to a 5lb difference. I have gone through this so please trust me when I say that everything will be fine. Just keep on doing what you are doing – DON’T GIVE UP!! Stay positive – how can you be depressed when you have lost close to 50?! Be proud. Don’t worry there is nothing to forgive you for. Look at me I got on such a rant that I almost forgot to say sorry about your hubby’s leg. That sounds so painful. What did he do to tear a ligament?

Marlana: You have had just the best attitude lately. You make me feel good after reading your posts. Glad to hear that you will get to spend the day with Brett. Sounds like it should be a good one.

Well back to work for me! Have a good one!

Tobey
:D

Hello Y’all :wave:

Never made it in yesterday, sometimes Tuesday ends up being really crazy with WW and on of my team-mates left around 10AM for a sales meeting in Atlanta, so we were short handed and a little crazy. The good news is that even with being bad over the weekend the exercising must have paid off cause I loss 1.2-lbs. Now this is the third time I’ve tried to post today, for some reason our power keeps going out. The first time was for about 40 minutes and I was downstairs in the gym. And let me tell you it was very dark in there with no power. Lucky for me I was done and off the treadmill, taking a shower and getting dress in semi-darkness sure was different. :lol:

Ok, here’s my tip for getting through Thanksgiving Day. I attended the Fitness Seminar on Monday and this was our tip. First thing you want to do when you get up is EXERCISE – walk – ride your bike – anything for 30 to 45 minutes, or longer if you can. Then eat a LOW CARB. Breakfast. Snack the rest of the day till dinner on fresh vegetables and fruit that are also low in carbs. Drink extra water! If you normally drink 8-8oz glasses, added another 2, 1 before you exercise and a second after. Then eat a single serving of what’s offered for your Thanksgiving Dinner. [For Carol it would be her Christ – giving.] The theory here is that the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is full of carbohydrates so you want to limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat before the dinner. This sure makes sense to me and I figure it’s a plan!

Tobey, I can’t wait to try your recipe, sounds so good and hubby and I are big soup eaters so this will fit right in to our rotation. I know what you mean about saving change. A couple months ago we started again. We use to do it and somewhere along the line fell out of the habit. We have an old gallon Baccari Rum bottle that we cut a slot in the top. Generally we end up with about $400 or more when its full. Another trick I learned for saving was to take what you save on coupons at the store and put it into your saving account. I don’t know if you now have banks in the grocery store as we now do in the states but it’s amazing how fast that grows!

Jen, Congratulations on another 2-lbs. loss! You are doing so well and are sure on track to meet the goal you set! I like your leaf raking plan…my is to let hubby do it. Yesterday, he said it took 2 hours to tune-up the blower before he could start, but he is now making progress its just that they keep falling. :lol:

Carol, A Big Congratulations on your weight loss you are doing so well and are so close to your goal. Sounds like things at school are keeping you busy and I’m glad the play was a success!

Sally, STOP THAT! That small of weight gain means nothing. You are doing so good and are still well a head of me in reaching your goal. You know, sometimes I think a small gain like that or staying the same is our body say, ‘hey I’ve got to adjust here…give me a break’ So, now that we have all told you not to worry or be depressed are you feeling any better? I sure hope so!

Marlana, Congratulations on your 3-lbs. loss! You sure seem to have turned the corner and are doing well again, I’m so happy for you! I’d love to have a black walnut tree! With all my holiday baking they would be wonderful!

Well, the computer has stayed up long enough that I might actually get this posted.
Hope everyone has a great Wednesday and as it’s ‘hump-day’ Friday will be here before we know it!

Marybeth
241/189.4/160

Leaf Hog
 

If you're sick of raking leaves, I've found the Leaf Hog by Black and Decker to be a miracle! You can blow all of the leaves into a central area w/ the Leaf Hog and then you can reverse the machine to suck up the leaves and mulch them into a bag. ;)

If you're interested, here's a link to the product website:

http://www.blackanddecker.com/produc...ID=782_Sub_Web

Hey Everyone:wave:

Whew.....We have been gone all day and I am kind of tired. I had my mammogram to start off with then a trip to my GYN to drop some info off so she can call in a new prescription for my hormones. Is anyone else out there dealing with formulary medications versus non-formulary. It amazes me at the things the insurance companies come up with to make things harder on us. Anyhow, we had to go to the mall also to pick up some T shirts that hubby had ordered and a new belt sander so he can get some more work done on the sticks. His antique sander finally died. We stopped for salads for lunch and then ended with grocery shopping.

Jen~WTG on losing another 2#. I was feeling bad that I didn't lose any this weigh in but then I had to look at the bigger picture. I have lost 6# in the past few weeks so I am not totally hopeless. I really need to start drinking more water and making an attempt to get on this treadmill more often.

Carol~It is good to hear from you again in the middle of the week. We like to hear what is going on with you so don't feel bad about only coming in occasionally. We all know how busy you are and understand. Congratulations on losing 4#. That is wonderful.

Marlana~I sure hope that you enjoy your fish as much as I do mine. Do you have a Petsmart that you can look at the fish? Buy everything else at Wal Mart because it is cheaper there. But Petsmart carries the largest selection of colors that I have ever seen. You will be able to find your favorite color there. I remember reading about gases in well water on a website the other day. I was looking up some info on live plants in aquariums and found that info too. It said to run air through the water for several days to get rid of the gases. That sounds like too much trouble for a little gallon of water for a betta. It would be easier to just get the drops to eliminate the chlorine from city water. Sometimes it also takes me a long time to type up a post. I've already been on this thing for 1 1/2 hours this evening but I had some emails to write. You got to read a couple of them. :lol:

Sally~Don't beat yourself up for a little setback. You have done so well for the past few months. You even lost on vacation this summer. Besides, it very likely is just water weight. Don't be depressed about it because it will probably be gone by tomorrow.

Tobey~I sure hope that you have a good visit with your BIL. That soup sounds really good for a winter dish. I am going to have to try it with the summer squash. It is just about time for me to make something for my lunches. Hubby has a 1 gallon Old Crow whiskey bottle in it's own little stand that is probably and antique. He also has one of the old glass jugs that they used to use in water coolers before they went to plastic. That is what he puts his change in. When we both worked, he never spent any change at all. He would bust a dollar for a nickel and then empty his pockets into one of the jars every night. Now that we are on a fixed income, he doesn't do that all the time but still manages to put away a lot of change. I have a little cement hog sitting on her butt with a baby sitting the same way between her front legs. We painted the whole thing a blue to match my decor in the family room and set it by the fireplace. We live in an area of the forest that is nicknamed Hog Valley and also have several cement hogs placed in outdoor landscaping.

Marybeth~WTG on more weight off. You and Sally just amaze me. I sure need to pay closer attention to your advise so I can do better. I think during the week that I am doing so good with the food and writing everything down. I stay within my point range. At the end of each day though, I realize that I didn't get much water in and forgot to get on the treadmill or just stay too busy to do it. I have no one to blame but myself.

Sorry that this is kind of short but it's been a long day and I am tired. The CMA awards are coming on and I want to watch. Have a good evening.

Morning Ladies,
I'm somewhat better today; thank you for all your support. I guess I'd better snap out of it before it gets out of hand. I ate everything in the house last night--I ate so much that I made myself sick and went to bed. But I'm better today.
Skeeter, I've had trouble with our insurance paying for medicine too; it didn't pay for hubby's anti-inflammatory for his leg because we didn't have preapproval...it's sort of hard to get preapproval when you go to the emergency room. I guess medicine is so expensive now, they try to cut their costs too. I'm taking my little Maltese to Petsmart Saturday to get his grooming done, and I think I will take a look at the fishies....I may come home with one if they have some pretty colors. I need a book about their care, though, so I won't kill them.
Marybeth, I will try some of those tips on Thanksgiving....I was making our list for dinner and drooling all the while. I noticed my treadmill was a bit dusty yesterday--I need to fire it back up again.
Tobey, I think I will try the pumpkin soup, too... I need to go back and read more of your recipes. I just normally use the computer for a few minutes in the morning, and I don't have time to do all that I want to on here....but it keeps me away from Ebay, anyway!
:devil: I don't know how hubby tore the ligament. The doctor said it may have been from bike riding. He got a little carried away with the girls when we went camping the last time....he sometimes forgets that he will be 45 next month! :lol: He said that it doesn't really hurt much now, it just looks like he has a baseball under his knee, and he has those skinny little chicken legs anyway, so it looks weird. The kids come up and poke it when he's sitting on the couch. I think they think it will blow up or something.
Hi Mama; thank you for your kind words. They do help; that's one reason I dragged myself in here yesterday and made myself confess THE GAIN. I think my hormones are screwy lately, so that may be part of it....but my eating habits are the rest of it! I'll get them under control here before the holidays. And I think I will take the girls out this weekend and start walking again at the park, since Jeff can't ride his bike with them for a while. It's awfully warm here, too, and very, very dry. We haven't done our leaves yet, cause Jeff can't use the riding mower to grind them up with that brace on his leg, and also cause they haven't all fallen yet....maybe before Thanksgiving. He'll have to chop them up, though, it's too dry to burn them.
Hi Jen, Teresa, Carol & everyone I missed. Love you all....I'll be back sometime over the weekend. Hubby has a class all day Saturday, so if he's able to limp off to it, I'll have the computer to myself.
Love, Sally

Good Morning buddies. :wave:

I didn't make it in here yesterday and I think I may of forgot to post the day before to. Yesterday was just a screwed up day. Someone waited till after I had finished up 50 3 page letters to pass on vital information and I had to re-do pages 1 & 3. Then I get snapped at for griping about having to re-do them!!! That really ticked me off. I didn't say anything then but next time I will. I get tired of crap like that. It wasnt like I jumped down her throat, I just said "Oh my lord, you mean I have to re-do all those letters?" Actually I was hoping she'd tell me no but that would of been in my dreams. :lol: So today, I'm back to where I was on Tuesday, trying to get all these letters in the mail.

I'm up an hour early this morning. I thought I'd feel worse if I tried to go back to sleep for another hour so I got up.

Skeeter, ooh, I forgot all about getting a mammogram and I don't know what I did with the order so I should call and have them write another one up for me so I can get one. I should of gotten it done when they had the mobil mammogram unit at my office building over the summer but...I didn't. You asked about Dreamciccle pudding. Its very easy to make.

1 sm bx of sf orange jello
1 sm bx of sf/ff vanilla pudding
1 sm can of mandarin oranges (drained be best you can)
1 8 oz container of cool whip lite or regular
Dissolve the jello in 1 cup of boiling water and then let it cool for awhile, I put it in the fridge for 10 mins or so. Then add the box of pudding, whisk it for 2-3 mins and then I put it in the fridge for 5 or 10 mins although I don't think the recipe calls for that, I just think it does better when the pudding sets up a little better. Then you add the oranges and fold in the cool whip. Thats it. Very simple and very yummy. I almost bought a box of those Blue Bunny ice cream bars when I was in the new Walmart over the weekend but I wasn't sure if I was going right home afterwards. I've only seen that brand at 2 stores around here and one carried frozen yogurt bars in that brand that were only 70 calories. I'm going to have to get some of those. Maybe it will keep me out of DH's ice cream.

Marybeth, your tips for getting thru Thanksgiving are good. Do you think you could repost them the day before? Maybe I'll copy and past them to an email and send them to myself. That is a hard day to get thru and I usually don't do as bad as I think I will. Congrats on the weight loss. Thats wonderful.

Tobey, I'm going to have to remember the name of that chocolate monkey drink for the next time I go out some place that serves drinks. It sounds yummy. I hope you have a great visit with your bil. My bil will be up for a month around Thanksgiving and its always good to see him.

Sally, I say give yourself a pat on the back for how good you've done with losing weight so far. You've done great so don't worry about that smidgin you gained. It is dissappointing especially when you feel you should of lost but I agree with the others, its either your body adjusting or it could be water. We had one lady who had an 8lb gain in one week and it was water.

Marlana, I think you are right about mixing the cake mix up in the pan. And I think your idea of putting the dry cake mix on the bottom of the pan and the fruit and margarin on top makes more sence to me. I'll have to try it again, maybe I'll make it to take for Thanksgiving. But no MIXING! :lol: I got a good chuckle over your Barometric pressure explanation. I seriously thought you were talking about BLOOD pressure. Well, I'm glad you blood pressure is doing good.

Carol, that is great your dh has another job. That was nice of his friend to offer it to him. Congrats on losing 4 lbs. Thats great.

Jen, Yes Ma'm!!! :lol: I'm going to finish the pt. Actually I feel like I"m going to an exercise class. I really work up a sweat. I'm kinda sore this morning after yesterday's pt. I've had to have anesthesiolgists start iv's that the nurses couldnt do. One thing I like about them is they numb it first or most of them do.

Well, I need to get off here and get ready for work. You all have a good day and take care.

Morning Friends~~I'm a dead head this morning. Just can't wake up. I've already had a nap this morning. Well I'm hoping to get a tooth filled today. I called my dentist office yesterday afternoon and she said he had been working of a morning, but was having to go home at noon. Guess when my appointment is, YEP!! 11:00 AM. I hope he ain't in pain or too doped up or something. I forgot to tell you girls what I bought myself for my birthday, or was it what I spent my $25.00 Christmas money from last year on.(Mother in Law) Anyway, I bought myself another porcelain doll. She is the cutest thing. I have about 8 of them now. She is the only one that is a little girl, about 18 months old. She is laying on her tummy on a pillow and has the biggest lil grin on her face with her little tongue sticking out and 2 teeth. I have a peach color in that room and she has on a peach color dress made of satin. I'm going to have to take pictures of my dolls and post for you all to see. I'm taking care of the little girl in me. I started collecting them because 2 of my grand daughters collect them. Jacky and Kassie. I wanted Jillie to have some too so I decided to but some for me and leave them to her when I'm gone. If I bought them for her I would have to buy for step daughter too, and I don't want to. Besides they would just play with them and mess them up. Yahoo, Wahoo, yeepee, I was not obsessed with food yesterday. Going to have a good day today too. I used to thank I couldn't check out at Walmart without having a Mt.Dew or a candy bar. But now I can have a Mt. Dew, just a diet one, and I like it now.

Tobey~~I'm sure you'll have a nice visit with your brother in law this week end. I'm trying to get my attitude pepped up this morning, but it's working a bit slow today. All kidding aside, I'm very happy and I'm trying to live in an attitude of gratitude these days. I have so much to be thankful for. Just to be alive is something to be grateful for. I'm even grateful that I have all the girls in this group. You guys are the greatest! I'm getting sappy now.

Marybeth~~A great big congrats on your 1.2 pound loss. Thanks for your advice on the holiday eating. It is a hard time for us all. But I can tell you that we can get through it with eating a normal amount of food. I'm planning on that right now. I want to get through the holiday's losing some weight. I'm working my butt off on these black walnuts, but I sure like having them in my freezer for cakes or what ever I want them for. I'm in the process of taking the outer hulls off right now, as well as picking out goodies at night. Hubby is cracking them.

Genesis~~Thanks for the leaf information. I need all the help I can get with leaves. I've still got that to do too.

Skeeter~~I hope you don't have any problems with the Mammogram and don't run into trouble like I did. My hormones are on their own, I've never taken anything. It seems so strange for your hubby to go to town with you all the time. Bobby and I never go shopping together. He don't shop, and sure don't want him with me. I like to shop alone. I don't even know when I will get to a town where they will have the fish. I bet I would have to get it in Tulsa, and right now I have no plans of going in the near future. How many colors do they have in those fish? I want to get THE ONE I want the first time around. I only want one.

Sally~~Glad your feeling better today. We've all been in that place where we seek to make ourselves feel better with food. I don't know about you but when I get in that shape I can't hold enough to feel better. As I said to Skeeter I don't take hormones, and I don't thank I have any of my own left.:lol: I do remember the games they play with you though. You have done so good with your diet the last few months, Please don't give up and slide back into the abyss of eating yourself to death. I lost 56 pounds and then fell off the wagon and I am just now getting back on. Don't make that mistake. I almost gained all of it back before I got back into control. We want you to by your happy little self.

Jo Jo~~I am so grateful I don't work outside the home. I'm my own boss here and that's just the way I want it. You have such a stressful job. And yes you need to go and get a mammogram, you never know when there might be a problem. Oh yummy...the dream thingie sounds so good. Go buy stock in Jell-O diet pudding, because I thank it's going to become a reg. thing for me. Hold your horses here....I didn't know you was using dry cake mix in the dump cake. I thought it was a batter. Throw out my opinion on it all together.

Time for me to go and meet my day head on. I don't know if I'll make it in here in the morning, Hubby will be home and maybe we will go fishing. Have a good one everyone.

Hello Ladies

The rain is back again today. However, it is a just a light sprinkle. I have decided not to complain, as it is better than snow. It is also quite warm for this time of year. It is supposed to be in the low 60s today. Dh is going to a lecture with a friend tonight so I am going to take the opportunity to get the place ready for BIL.

Mb: Congratulations on another loss! :D Showering in the semi-dark how fun! :lol: We once had a power failure at our office and wouldn’t you know it but I had to go to the bathroom so bad (all that water!). The problem is that there were no back up lights in our washroom. So I managed to dig up a flashlight and had to use that. Not easy! But funny in retrospect. We have one chain of grocery stores here that have a bank in them. That is a good idea though.

Skeeter: Wow what a busy day you had yesterday! Unfortunately not all of it sounds like fun (esp the doctor). I am not sure how the soup would turn out with summer squash. Most of the texture comes from the squash and summer squash has a much higher water content than winter squash. Summer squash also has less flavour. You hogs sound too cute. I think that is a great idea for Hog Valley! Well hope you get a chance to relax today!

Sally: Glad you are better today. Also glad to hear that hubby’s leg isn’t so painful anymore. However, that knee does sound a little gross! :lol: What kind of class does hubby have? Is he taking it or teaching it?

Jojo: Wow you are an early bird today! I don’t blame you for getting frustrated over those letters. I really hate having to pay the price for others disorganization! What a waste of your time and in the end a waste of the company’s money. I don’t understand how others can’t see it as that well. Oh I can feel a rant coming on – think I will just bite my tongue now and think happy thoughts…………………………. Ahhhhh…………… That’s better. ;) I love when either of my BILs come to visit. I am an only child and they feel like they are my own brothers. Although I didn’t have to grow up and be tortured by them as a child. The best of both worlds. :)

Marlana: I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your appointment today. I would love to see a picture of your dolls. I have seen some of the porcelain dolls – they are so beautiful and the detail is just amazing. Some of them look so real! Glad to hear that today will be a good day – seems like you are having more and more of those! :D :D :D Hey nothing wrong with being sappy – it is better than being crappy!

The clouds have just parted and now the sun is streaming though my window. Oh that feels good. Well I think that is all for now. Have a HEALTHY and HAPPY day!

Tobey
:D

Good morning gals. Yesterday I was soooo tired. I had class all day and it was such a joke. It's supposed to be 3hrs in the morning and 3 hrs in the afternoon, but neither instructor was there. The morning class was a 2 hr lecture from a guest speaker and the afternoon was a 1 hr videotaped lecture. What a waste of my time.

Tobey- The weather has changed drastically here today. Yesterday it was beautiful, sunny, and 75. Today it is cold, windy, rainy, and only supposed to get to 52! It may just be a soup day! If I feel up to it, I'm gonna run to the store and get the stuff to make the pumpkin soup and fluff. I'm gonna be orange. Oh yeah, since you are on the Pumpkin Advisory Board, it is also high in potassium!

Marlana- Sounds like you have a good collection started with your dolls. We all need something to collect, dolls, fish,...:lol: I've been feeling sluggish ever since the time change. I've been trying to get up earlier so that I can see more daylight. Today I was up at 8:30 which is early for me!

Jojo- I would have been p-oed about the letters. Nothing is more irritating than someone else's idiocy. Your dreamsicle pudding sounds yummy. Now, you don't mix up the pudding right, just the powder mix?

Sally- I'm glad you are starting to feel better. I actually read somewhere that they recommended that you weigh in every day so that you can chart your average for the week since it can fluctuate from day to day. As long as the average was dropping. I weigh in at least every other day usually, I'm either motivated by a loss, or by not losing and I can cut back before it gets out of hand.

Skeeter- Your day with the mammogram and gyn sounds like a great day! Not. I have not had any problems with insurance and meds, but get this. I went to one of those express care clinics run by my hospital after regular doctor hours. My insurance won't pay for it because I didn't get a referral from my doc. But yet they would have paid for a trip to the ER. I called them up and boy did I go off. Not that it matters much, they don't care. I need to set up an appt to see by gyn sometime soon. I am so looking forward to it!

Marybeth- I like your tips for getting through Thanksgiving. It is full of alot of carbs. Maybe I'll volunteer to make some sort of veggie or fruit dish, or just take some!

I should go for now. I've got some homework and cleaning I want to get done today!

Jen
149.5/145.5/140

Good afternoon ladies: I forgot how to start a new thread so I will let someone else. I started Tops yesterday so I'm off to a great start doing well so far today. Sorry so short but I have to take my son to get his hair cut. I'll talk more later.
:dizzy:

I'll start #115. See Y'all there.