Healthy Choices 07/22/08

Good morning everyone still hot and humid here garden seem to be loving it picked cucumbers, radishes, acorn squash, carrots, beets, string beans and onions yesterday.

GD said we had a big watermelon in the garden but I think it’s a pumpkin, never can tell with the luck I have been having also have plenty of tomatoes but green as grass.

Sue glad that you found the ants at this time if there carpenter ants they can do a great deal of damage hope they have not been around to long.

Jo Ann prayers are going out for your friend I hope her pain will go away soon. I hope your cake turned out good and that you had a very nice dinner say Happy Birthday to Frank from all of use.

Lusi has your bike got the lock built right into the bike from the factory I seen they did that in Sweden and thought it was so neat instead of carrying a separate locking device like they do over here.

Marti so sorry you had to cancel your vacation time but I must agree that if you just worried about Joe when you were gone it wouldn’t be any fun anyway, prayers are going you for the both of you daily and the little one looks so perishes growing like a weed I suppose.

Yes Verna I forgot to put in my top plate yesterday morning and did not realize it until I was going to have breakfast. LOL Might be getting the big A…..

JoLynn prayers going out for your DM I hope everything is alright keep use posted please.

Shirley so glad to see you posting I hope you are feeling better, will take time but sounds like you are getting around pretty good. If the meds are making you sick could the doctor give you something different?

Walked 4.1 miles.

Good morning all. Looks like no rain today I hope. At least that’s what the weather channel says. I will be hanging some laundry out shortly.

Viny, we didn’t see any chewed wood near the nest or behind the baseboards so I hope all is ok. Anyway, the pest control will take care of it. Your garden is really doing well. I have picked 2 small zucchini and the flowers from seeds I got from NursePat for Christmas are doing very well.

Jolynn, after I posted yesterday I remembered that 2-4-D was for weeds and very powerful stuff too! I remember I dropped a teaspoon of it on a weed and I had a dead spot as big as a manhole cover for the rest of the year. I know other countries use DDT, when I hear fruit from Chile advertised in winter I always wonder what else they use down there. I hope you DM is doing better now, we worry about them like we worry about our kids don’t we?

Shirley, I hope you are feeling better today. There is a pill for nausea, very expensive but it works immediately. If that is your problem ask your doctor about it. I had those after some surgery once; I always get nauseous from anesthesia and from some pain killers like Vicodin and Darvon.

We have WW tomorrow at work, it was cancelled last week.

Here is yesterday and it’s pretty strange:

B: tuna salad on 6 Ritz crackers

S: small caramel rice cakes

L: leftover Chinese Beef & Broccoli (no rice), more tuna on Ritz

D: peas & carrots, ½ cup baked beans, 1 biscuit with light margarine, 1 slice WW 3 point cake with Cool Whip Frosting

I made the cake with a white cake mix and 1 can diet 7-Up. The frosting is an 8 ounce tub of fat free cool whip mixed with a small package of sugar free lemon jello (dry). It tastes pretty good.

Got to get out and hang that laundry. Have a good one, Sue

Good morning Viny, Sue and everyone who will be here today.

We had a very nice day, yesterday for DH's birthday.  Thanks for all of the birthday wishes for him.  Verna, the cake was a big hit, very good cake and Frank, of course loved it and gave it his "make it again" rating.  lol  Dinner was excellejt, a little too excellent, but it always is at that restaurant. 

Yesterday's food journal:

B - fresh fruit bowl: cantalope, strawberries, blueberries, grapes and ff yogurt

L - skipped ( know I shouldn't)

D - ceasar salad, pan seared cod, green beans, mashed potatoes yum!

S - lemon "birthday cake" yum again!

Was good with water and did get in the one milk serving.

Viny, we are getting some nice cucumbers out of the garden and can see some tomatoes that are well on their way.  Do you make the creamed cucumbers with sour cream?  That's the only recipe I know, and we do like it.  I seed the cukes, add lf sour cream and dill.  Do you have another recipe?

Shirley, good to see you here, but I'm sorry you're not feeling too well.  Hope your stomach is better today and that you can discontinue the pain meds soon.  I'm keeping you in my prayers.

Marti, thanks for the pictures.  What a little sweetie!  I love the pictures.  How is Joe doing now?  I hope he's still continuing to feel stronger.

JoLynn, keeping your Mom in my prayers and hoping she's feeling better today.

Sue, thanks for the information on freezing cake.  I'll try that.  Do you use plastic wrap?  When we replaced the ceiling in the sunroom, and the workers took down one panel, out spilled hundreds of carpenter ants.  It was because of a leak from the winter ice and they like damp wood.  We got pest control, too and have not had a problem with them in the house since. I'll have to mention the Tempo, soneone mentioned, though, because we do still see some in the yard and driveway.  Good luck in getting rid of yours. 

Have to get busy with lots of sorting, throwing away and filing since I let that pile up again. :(      I have to get it all finished today because the birthday celebration continues tomorrow for DH. He wants to take a day trip to Amish country and take advantage of his free birthday dinner at the Amish Door Restaurant.  The temps are only supposed to be 75 tomorrow, perfect for a little outing.

Will check back later.  Have a good Tuesday. God bless. Jo Ann

Good morning all.  Another sweltering day here....that seems to be an everyday occurence.  Already 84º.

Sue, I like your menu for yesterday...sounds like the way I eat sometimes.

Yesterday...

B...3 donut hole, 1 donut

L..Caesar salad with grilled chicken, gingersnaps...too many

S..more gingersnaps

D..pan grilled trout, double helping green beans, 2 slices garlic toast, the rest of the gingersnaps

Lots of water all day long

I'm off to get a haircut and a manicure...need both pretty bad!  My manicurist used a new base coat last time and it didn't work well...had chipped nails early on...back to the good stuff today.

There was a segment on GMA this morning about a couple losing weight...they journaled.  Pure and simple....and we all know it works.  I didn't see the whole segment, but they journaled their meals included the calorie counts for each item and then stopped eating when they'd used all their calories.  Perhaps you can look it up on line and see the story.

OK...got to run.  I'll be back later.

vammie

Good morning friends,

It’s sunny today but not as hot and humid.

I took a short walk down the street with my PT.

She thinks my backward bend is getting better ~~that’s a good thing.

Nothing exciting going on for me.

I’m not sure it’s the pain med making me feel sick. I just get very tired and food doesn’t appeal to me.

Holley is going to grill a rib eye for us for supper. I will cook fresh green beans and bake potatoes.

It sounds wonderful right now. I hope I can eat tonight.

Jo Lynn I hope your Mom is feeling better today.

Yesterdays menu

B – 1 egg, 2 slices of bacon, 1 slice of toast with butter and coffee with milk

S – grapes

Lunch – 1 oz cheddar cheese with grapes

              1 slice bread with peanut butter

S – Cold Shrimp salad and green bean salad brought to us by a church friend.

S – V-8 juice

Water

Verna I’m never lucky enough to catch you on IM.

Have a good day everyone.

Shirley

 Hi.   I had myself a lazy day today.   Just puttered around the house, and I got lots done.   I filed a whole lot of stuff this morning and sorted papers.  This afternoon I made a new cushion cover for one rather large floor cushion we have in the living room.   I happened to remember that one of the sisters gave me a nice piece of fabric that matches my new sofa cushions perfectly.  I have been really enjoying my sewing machine again.  I've got another quilt top cut out and I'm ready to stitch any time the spirit moves me.

 DH is flying out of Africa tonight.   He made it out of the bush just fine.  I'm always worried about those little planes he flies in there.   So he has a night flight to London and then he has many waiting hours for his connection.  I think he gets home quite late tomorrow.   I would be willing to wager that he will not notice the new kitchen curtains or the newly covered sofa cushions.   And he certainly won't notice the clean windows and waxed floors!

My friend who lives in LA told me about some new brand of bottled water there called H2Om.   They claim to have stimulated the water after bottling with music and meditation, and the drinker can feel the effects.   Many celebrities are drinking it.   She didn't mention the price, but I can only imagine.   Now why didn't I think of that silly idea?   Can't believe the gimmicks people fall for.

Well, I need to clear up the kitchen for the evening.   lusi

Good morning all... its overcast today and its only supposed to get to about 82 today, with a chance of thunderstorms later this afternoon.

Thank you for your prayers for Mom; she had to wear a heart monitor until today. My brother will go up and take it back for her and I will go up on Monday and take her to the heart specialist to see if they find out anything.

Viny, I am so jealous of all the vegetables you are getting out of your garden already - even winter squash. We have quite a few tomatoes, but they are still very green. The sugarsnap peas are finally ready and I’m going to use some of those in a stir-fry tomorrow night. Dfil will pickle what I don’t use fresh.

Sue, had to laugh about your experience with 2-4-D. I have to watch dh carefully when he gets the Roundup out or we would have dead spots all over the yard. Did you get the invitations done the other night?

Verna, I liked your breakfast yesterday morning. You will feel like a new woman after you get your hair and nails done. Have you heard anything from Hawaii?

JoAnn, your day out tomorrow sounds like fun. I have only been to the Amish country once and that was about 11 years ago. I really enjoyed it - especially the crafts and the food.

Marti, that was a lot of corn you did yesterday. Do you have one of those corn zippers? I got one at a kitchen shop when I was down visiting dd; I haven’t tried it and I was wondering if it worked. I hope you were able to get some sleep last night. I think if I did as much as you do, I wouldn’t have trouble sleeping.

Shirley, I don’t know if this would work for you or not - but, what about having your bigger meal at noon instead of at night - maybe you would feel more like eating it then. It must have felt good to get out and walk down the street a bit.

lusi, It really doesn’t sound like you were very lazy at all today - it sounds more like you are really enjoying your vacation and being very creative. Listening to you talk about all the things you have made, makes me think I should get my sewing machine out and start sewing again. It has been so long since I used it, I’m not sure I remember how to thread it! That water sounds a little far out there for me. I think I’ll stick to our good old well water. Although, it sounds like something one of dh’s sisters would fall for.

Until later...

JoLynn

I can't believe I'm this late getting here, I thought I turned over a new leaf and would do better.

Viny, your garden really does sound wonderful, Most gardens in our area have dried up, unless you live on a stream and water it. Peaches are much sweeter this year because of the hot dry weather but much smaller than past years. Next week, I plan to pick peaches early one morning and put a few in the freezer and I always make peach jam to use as small gifts.
Jolynn, Remembering your Mom and hope all turns out well for her, I know you wish you lived closer so you could check on her frequently.  Joe don't like me to get the round up out, I killed the entire lawn in back a few years ago, every weed that popped up got zapped and even though the grass should not have died, it did.  And the wonderful thing, I didn't have to mow that year.  I do have one of these things you cut corn off with, but I don't use it,  to me it is too slow going so I keep several knives sharpened and use a knife.  I may put up about that much more next week, but for some reason, I'm losing interest in filling my freezer, prices are so high to buy the veggies to freeze.
Sue, I hope you get the ants taken care of today,  I know you have a mess with all that. 
Jo Ann, your birthday get together sounds so good, even your menu looks good,  I wish I could go to the Amish restaurant with you.  I love Amish cooking, in fact, I'm not canceling our reservations for our trip to PA. in Oct. in hopes that things will have settled down here and we can make our annual trip.  Enjoy your trip and the good food
Verna, wish you could take my hair and get it cut today.  I made my appt. for 5 weeks and my hair looks like a booger, I'll remember not to do that again. For the first time in years, I have some length on my nails and I think it is a strengther that a nail tech told me about. They aren't breaking as easily.  I love to see pretty nails and I know it makes you feel better to get them done
Shirley, I hope you feel better today and are able to eat the wonderful meal Holly is fixing for you.
Medications always cause me to lose my appetite, good to hear that you were able to take a short walk this morning. You will do more and more of that with therapy.
Lusi, I hope Leo arrives home safely. I know it is a big concern when he is on these trips. I'm very interested to know if he notices all you have done.  Joe notices everything, and I sometimes wish he didn't but his Mom told me he always noticied things when he was growing up.  I always said he should have been a decorator or a car salesman. Praying for Leo to have a safe trip
B. Oatmeal with 8 oz milk
L. Tomato sandwich on WW bread, with mayo not FF, Peach
S. Corn, okra, tomato,cucumber, cantaloupe, pepper, 2 small peaches
Water and unsweetened tea.   I don't think I got all my water in yesterday so I'm working on that today. My SS class has a salad supper tonight and I'm trying to decide if I want to go because I know I will eat someting I shouldn't but I fixed a Peach congealed salad to take, just in case I decide to go
A friend bought by peaches and the making for a peach pie,  she has done this two weeks now and i'll need to make the pie for Joe and hope I won't eat any.

We have terrible storms, electrical last night, one University nearby suffered over a million dollars in damage, a cousin of Joe's house had 3 huge oak trees on it.  We have those oaks that are over a 100 years old and they can wipe a house out  Storms predicted again late today

Good Afternoon.   I'm just typing here as opposed to word since I'm going to be short.   This has been a rotten morning - Kim's DH is being such a jerk.   I won't go into details, but the guy is a champion twister of words.   Only thing this time, Kim has much of it in writing.   But what he is trying to do is make out like she is nuts, like she's imagining things.   Absolutely ludicrous!

So I've spent some time with her this morning and then went out into the oven to do some watering.   Now I ate lunch and had to catch up with all of you since I babysat yesterday.   It is heating up so think we will get thunderstorms later.   We had rain yesterday but had a cloud cover most of the day, so didn't heat up that bad.

I have doctor appt tomorrow for yearly check - a little concerned about that.   So will check in after that.   Thursday is a state holiday here, so think Kim and I are taking little one to one of the many parades.   It is the anniversary of Utah becoming a state.   It's when the state had to clamp down and the church people had to agree that there would no longer be polygamy.   But there still are and they are the FLDS that you've read about lately.  The F is for Fundamentalist.   LDS is for Latter Day Saints.   The FLDS broke off from the LDS, so they are not one and the same.

At noon, heard about the impending hurricane coming up to the Houston area.   Brownsville is first on the coast - that's a city my DH lived in once.   I don't think our Verna is near any of this.

No Maureen...not anywhere close to the coast...closest is a five hour drive...but sometimes we get some rains afterwards.  Sorry you have such a rotten soon to be EXsil.  Kinda like my deposition...which I got in the mail Friday...to read and make corrections...every time I open it, my blood pressure goes up and I get ticked!

Marti, you didn't have any protein yesterday.  Dang it...you wouldn't need B12 shots if you'd eat some red meat or white meat or any color meat!  Consider yourself scolded!!

I do want to report that I did some arm exercises yesterday and headed into the den to do some more.  I have  Kris Kristofferson CD that has some pretty rhythmic music so will do a workout with weights for that.  Probably not too long as I don't want to overwork my shoulder...but at least it's better than just sitting!

Planning to drive to Georgetown Sunday to see the DGGDs and really looking forward to that.  We'll leave here early enough to stop for kolaches in West and to swing through Salado.

I'd better get busy...got to figure out dinner...have ground meat thawing.  Guess I could make Marti a burger....!

vammie

Verna, thanks for scolding me,  I realized that late last night.  I'll make up for it today with at least 4 oz of red meat.  I did walk over 6 miles yesterday and have almost that much today.

Maureen, my heart goes out to your family & especially Kim.  I know this has to be so hard on all of you. Just don't let Kim back down.

JoAnn, I wrapped the layers in plastic wrap then froze them. After they were frozen solid I put them in a Ziploc bag, removed as much air as possible and put them back in the freezer. It helps to have them frozen before you put them in the Ziploc bags so condensation won’t develop inside the bags. Could you go thru my files for me, I can’t get another thing in the top drawer. We have 5 file drawers completely full and according to DH we need all of it (NOT!).

Shirley, your menu doesn’t sound too bad for yesterday, much better than mine was. Maybe you can cut back on the pain meds a little or ask for something else to see if that is making you sick.

Lusi, music and meditation water? Who can fall for that one? I just drink tap water.

JoLynn, I wrote out the address but still have to do the return addresses. DD had the RSVP envelopes done already. She designed the invitations and hid 2 tiny cats in the scrollwork.

Marti, that’s really looking at the bright side of your Roundup experience.

The pest control guy verified they are carpenter ants and the nest we found is not the main one, there are more outside. He sprayed the perimeter of the house and the nests outside. He didn’t have to spray inside at all. He said we have to trim our evergreens so they are not touching the house in front, which could be a point of entry. There are only a few so DH will need to work on that over the weekend. So what does your hair look like again? ROFL! My hair appt is Saturday and I can’t wait, the bangs are in my eyes. I have had acrylic on my nails for almost 10 years and love it.

Maureen, all you can do is be there for Kim and support her any way you can. I know this must be almost as hard for you as for her.

Vammie, overnight that burger to Marti. Have fun with the DGGDs.

I’m going to drink a Mike’s Hard Lemonade on the patio now, WOO HOO! Sue

Sue, that is interesting about the ants coming in where the trees touch the house. Fortunately, out of all of the trees we have around our place, only 2 are very close to the house - I will have to go and check and see if any of the branchs are hitting the house.  Can I join you on the patio?

Maureen, Kim is so fortunate to have you close by to lean on - especially during this time. I hope the exsoil will see the light and do what is best for Ava. He needs to put her first instead of himself. I'm glad Kim is keeping good records.

Marti, I've never heard anyone describe their hair like that. I can't imagine that it looks that bad! I know produce is high this year; but, just think how much better it will taste than what you buy in the frozen food aisle later next winter.

We are getting a little shower right now - I'm not sure if it will be enough to do any good for the crops, but, we'll take it. It should help the yard and flowers.

I don't think that I told you that they filmed a car comercial on the highway along side dfil's house a couple of weeks ago. We went down and watched them for awhile. They closed down the highway while they filmed and they had an suv with a boom sticking out in front of it with a camera on it. There were 2 different cars and they had them all covered (almost wrapped) up so that you couldn't tell what kind they were. They made dfil promise not to take any pictures while they were there and they paid him several hundred dollars to use part of his property as a staging area for the afternoon. They had these big tents set up with all the catering stuff under there - like you see in the movies.  Its was kind of fun. When I find out what the car comercial it is, I will let you know.

Later...