Apples2

Gosh...I can certainly misconstrue (sp?) things. Didn't realize today was to be "Thankful Tuesday". I am thankful to have spent time this weekend with DS's GF's son. It just renewed something in me.

WARNING....I'm back. Let the junking begin!!!!!! Phyll..wonderful photos. Your mom looks so good and is very pretty. You and your sister are also very beautiful. So sorry to see that DH HAS to put up with that dog....no love there. LOL Janet...congrats on the marketing campaign request. Your photos look great....as do your arms. I have been daring this summer and said to hell with worrying about the bits of extra skin on my upper arms. There are more offensive things (like my thighs). But, I can tell you that when I am fully naked and catch myself in the mirror, I see all the flaws as my "battle scars". I earned them and I give myself the equivalent of a purple heart for them. I decided b/4 LB that if I could take off my extra weight that I would appreciate what I ended up with. It's not beautiful but it's me. In a rush here and will not do a lot of sharing right now. Had a good weekend with DH. DS, GF and her little 5 yr old son came up on Sunday. OMG, so nice to have a child in the family again. He has an 8yr old sister and she was torn with going to a pool party or visiting the lake. She chose the friend and sent a message to her that there will be many more opportunities to visit. Anyway, this little man is just the cutest. He got to make a trip to the farm on Sat with DS and his mom, along with sis. DS took him up to the catwalk on the bin site (30 feet up but safe) and let him pee into the air. Fun was had by all. His mom said he dropped his pants so fast when DS made the suggestion to take a leak. Little butt shining in the sun and giggling. Kids are the most precious things on earth (gotta include dogs here). We are heading to town in a bit for lunch and to do some automobile business. DH surprised me with a car I have been looking at for a couple of years. He's been bugging me to give up my truck and I just couldn't. Long story short...I am now the owner of a Cadillac SRX and will also hang onto my truck for running my farmers here and there. I put over 400 miles on the new car this weekend. Love it and feel like a spoiled child. I am not one that has to have new wheels every couple of years. I fall in love with a vehicle and DH has to pry me from the steering wheel when it's time to buy. I have cried each time I have traded a vehicle. Silly but true. Now I can put my much loved truck in the extra garage and not worry about it going down the road and I don't have to worry about handing it over to DH so he can use it for a farm truck and beat the crap out of it. Silly, I know. Oh...on the one day of positive posts. Nice thought, Judy. It's just that that one day chosen for positive posts only might be a day when someone really, really needs to share something not so positive. I know I have days where I just NEED to get something off my chest. Even if nobody responds to the post (most times yes), I feel better getting it out. I am not criticizing your suggestion, Judy. My point is this; even if something going on in our lives does not pertain to WL, LB, eating habits, etc., we are here for a purpose...and that is to share and help each other. I feel our inner most struggles are partially to blame for what made up obese in the first place. I think we are all similar in the way we deal. We can go for days and post "happy" posts. Then, things tend to build up in our lives and we NEED to let it go. NEED to feel we have that support from each other. I can tell you all this and feel you might agree. Our "real" friends are not always available at our fingertips the way our "cyber" friends are. I think what has brought us to the place we are now with each other if the fact that we trust and feel comfortable enough to share our innermost thoughts and feelings with each other. Things we might not even say to our loved ones and friends. Things we can just impulsively say without worrying about being judged. As I stated Judy. Not a criticism, just my take on it. Better run. Gotta through a load of laundry in b/4 heading to town and lunch with DH. Thank God my washer and dryer are working. I have draining sinus' and a bit of nausea from it. Don't think I could handle a repairman butt crack today. Later.

Good Morning All...just jumping in to wish you all a good weekend. I'm out of here! Sending the love!

Awwww....thanks Melissa. When I look at b/4 photos, I can't believe it's me. When I look at present photos, I can't believe it is me. All I know is that I FEEL wonderful and that is what I was shooting for. Hope you got some rest (which is sooooo important when the body is run down)

Gwen...you just wait until you take that first 30-40lbs. You will not believe what a difference it makes in everything you do. Maybe on the ship you can still move but in a different kind of exercise other than walking? Have a great time! Send hugs right back at ya!

Phyll...good to hear you had a good trip as you crossed the country. Nice to hear you arrived safe and sound. Tell that other Karen that you like me best!

OK Melissa...I just dread these b/4 photos. Here's one of me but not yet at my heaviest. I put about 40lbs more one after this one was taken. The other photo is a snap shot taken at our wedding:wub:

Oh Melissa..you must know me by now...I just splay everything right out there... I weighed 119 when we got married 30 yrs ago at the age of 24. The weight started piling on when I hit menopause and was on steroids for 5 yrs of and on. I started gaining at the age of 38 or 39 and the weight came on really fast. And, yes, I did a lot of work when I was heavy. When I was thin I could eat almost anything I wanted. If I'd put on a couple of pounds, I would drop my caloric intake down to about 2000-2500 a day for a few days and it would come right off. My metabolism new is the same as it was when I was younger. If you look under my personal profile you will see my b/4 photos. Just click on my "Apples2" and it will bring you to the photos on the lower right. Hope your meds to the trick for you, Melissa. Cheri....both DH and I were raised Catholic and really never missed a Sunday until we decided to quit the church in 1994. The only time DH would miss would be in the heat of harvest or planting season. I was in the choir, taught Sunday school, was a laic minister. I would get after DH when he would buck out on church to get his work done. His favorite saying was "I'd rather be on my tractor thinking about church than be in church thinking about my tractor".

Jodi...oh boy...could I have fun with that last statement of you not knowing what it is like to be a farmers wife. I could say almost anything. But, some insight as to what I have never had to do as a farmers wife... I have never pulled a teet I have never slopped a hog I have never shoveled manuer I have never plowed anything but snow But I have... Plucked and gutted a chicken (and puked while doing it) Picked rocks in the hot sun for hours unend Pulled weeds in 160 acre plots of soybeans and then moved on to pull weeds in another 900 or so acres Drove the tractor for hours and hours digging the other 1000 acres of corn ground with a toddler on each side of me Sat up all night babysitting the corn dryer Called the fire dept three times for three different fires while babysitting the corn dryer but had the fires out by the time they drove the 15 miles to get here Unloaded semi truck after semi truck full of corn and seen to it that it got in the correct grain bin Put one of the semis in the pond because I left it in gear Put hubby's pickup into the side of his new machine shed/shop and totaled his welder at the same time Fed between 8-10 hired help every day twice a day during harvest and planting season while running my own business and working at least 60 hours a week Just a little peak into what the first 29 or so years of my life with my honey were like. I am now somewhat retired and still feel guilty that I don't do all those things. This summer and getting away more to the lake has helped me settle in a bit and leave some of it behind me. Now do you all understand why I like I am?????? A little nuts, a little this, a little that

I don't think I could have accomplished that much on no sleep. I love my good night's sleep and do not funtion without. In fact, I turn into a "B". DISCLAIMER!!!! By no means was that cake recipe I posted weightloss friendly. Only posted to help our Arlene's DGS. I should go back and delete the post so none of you make it. The other two recipes from today are fairly healthy and band friendly:biggrin:

I have done both on this cake. As I stated in my email, the cake is heavy so it just needs a bit of icing. Also good with whipped cream or cool whip

No problem.

Arlene...I have a great Bundt cake recipe. Make a butter pecan cake recipe according to the pkg. Set aside 1/3 of the mixture. Add 1 reg size box of dry butterscotch pudding mix and pour into greased and floured Bundt pant (I use the Pam spray for baking that has flour added). Take the 1/3 mixture and add 1/2 cup Hersheys syrup. Pour on top of other in pan. Bake at 350 until cake springs back to the touch. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar. Maybe this won't work if he cannot use mixes. If not, I have a great from scratch cherry nut cake that is easy to make. Just let me know

Hope this is nothing serious, Melissa and that you get some relief. Get some rest after you get home but let us know how you turn out.

Let's shoot for Hawaii next year for our LB meet. It will be another month b/4 we see the sugar beet trucks. Not too many in our immediate area. 40 miles north and 40 miles south. With hauling sugar beets comes several deaths in our state each year. Too many hours driving in one shift, dusty or muddy roads, big heavy trucks. Sad. It's one job that I would not want DH or DS to do. Things must me coming around of BF if you are talking of the future. Wishing you the best and hope this relationship will be all that you could wish for, Laura.

Tip for the above recipe...you can use cod or any white fish and cook as directed above. I like halibut cuz it stays pretty firm. I don't do cod...ever cuz I just cannot stand the fishy icky taste and it's used as bait for halibut fishing. Reason enough

OK...I have another recipe I have always been going to share. We just bought a bunch of halibut from Alaska and it reminded me of this recipe. In 1977 I was managing a restaurant and the editor of a major MPLS newspaper came in. We served this dish on the salad bar along with small cocktail bread and crackers. Anyway, he came to my office and wanted me to enter this recipe in a contest his paper was running. I got first and $250. As a young 22 yrs old, the $$$$ came in handy. In a large skillet with lid, add about 1/2 inch Water and 1 tsp dill weed. Bring to almost a boil and stir. Add 4 bayleaves and add 2 lbs halibut filets making sure that the fillets are sitting on top of bayleaves and cook on medium heat until done. While fish is cooling mix: 2 cups ketchup 4 Tbls horseradish Juice from 1/2 fresh lemon Lemon zest (about 1-2 Tbls) Dash of Tabasco sauce When the fish is cooled, break into bite-sized peices. Cool in frig and litely stir in cocktail sauce. I usually serve this as an appetizer in a crystal bowl and garnish with slices of lemon lefteover from 1/2 not used in recipe. I brush small cocktail bread brushed with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees until crunchy. Now, can someone send me a cyber butt kick and tell me to go get my work done?

Joyce....good luck with your LB doc's scales today. Can't remember for sure but thought you said you were going for a fill? Sorry about your yeast infection. Never fun. Hope it clears up quickly. Only had one incident of yeast infection 35 yrs ago. That was enough for me! Pop back on and let us know how your appt. went.

Linda...good news about Merry. The poor little baby. As you said, she will adapt. You just hate to see them in pain, etc. She will catch on to it all before you know it and this will all be behind you. Jessica...nice to hear that Jake was up and ready for school this morning and heading to breakfast at school. Had tears in my eyes when I read your post yesterday. Just try to keep your eyes and ears open to what he shares and step in with teaches, etc. if you think it's something he is not handling well. Hopefully, he will just fit right in and feel comfortable with his classmates. That volunteer job sounds like something that might me rewarding to you in more than one way. Will also look good on your resume once you are done with school and searching for a job. Eva...Jacqui posted during the night that she saw an oncologist and he is quite optomistic for a full recovery. Was a great post to come across. Would love to get into the real estate field but don't think I could fit it into my selfish lifestyle. Let's see....my job application would say "Summer hours April 15 thru Oct 1...I can work Mondays. Winter hours...I need 2 consecutive months off." Yep, that would go over good. LOL. Hope you will enjoy what you are doing and be able to have some flexibility with your hours. We used to do annuities each year since we have been self-employed all but 2 yrs of our married life. I had my license to sell but did not do any more after 1999. Our retirement is what we have invested in our land. We will appreciate those annuities when the time comes though. I was a believer in locking in the rates and happy I did so. Some of ours are at 6.5-7% interest rates. You are smart to "shop" and decide which way to go. Julie....my plate is full today. Was in town by 8am to do bank and farm errands. Stopped by the grocery store to restock the frig and pantry. Laundry, floor scrubbing, tending to my flower beds, etc. Just the regular farm wife stuff. Have a wake tonight for our hired man's son. He just died in his sleep. Sad. Going to head to the lake in the morning if I catch up with everything here. Not too difficult for me to get my work done this week. Just clumsy working with the splint on my hand and arm. As I stated yesterday, the only thing that gives me trouble is my wrist and that just needs time to heal. No complaints really. Not too long now b/4 you get some answers. You are going to the best place you can. Mayo doesn't give up till they get to the root of the problem. We spent close to a month there in 1988 with DH. If we would not have gone there, he most likely would have been paralyzed withing a couple of months (nerve sheath tumor the size of a football with fingers than were wrapped in his spine). Beautiful day here in MN. Was 50 degrees at 5:30am. Needed a jacket when I went to town. Still only 64. That's MN weather....last week was a humid sweltering high 90's. There's a feeling of fall in the air. Leaves will be turning b/4 we know it. Just making one meal a day here. My guys are tiling so the lunch buckets get packed for the day. I am a princess this time of the year but make up for it during planting and harvest seasons. Kind of boring around here without the guys. Ususally gone at 6am and don't see them until after dark when they eat supper. I really look forward to harvest, which should be early this year. DH is so nice to not have a problem with me going to Vegas in the heat of harvest. Depends on our fall when we lock up the lake place. I was thinking we should do it the weekend b/4 our Vegas trip but we usually have a week or more between bean and corn harvest so might just go up there some in Oct. It's the most beautiful time of the year to be up there. Quite and peaceful. Could run around the resort in my underpants if I wanted to. Well....better get my butt in gear. Making a seafood stew for supper tonight. Really easy and we all love it. I will share my recipe...I use my large crock pot. 46 oz V-8 juice (I use the spicy) 2-14.5 oz Hunts fire roasted diced tomatoes 1 large onion chopped 3 stalks chopped celery 1 Tbls minced garlic 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 dash Tabasco or hot pepper sauce Cook all the above on high for 3 hours. Add... 1 lb crab meat (optional) If you omit crab, substitute with another fish or lobster 1 lb shelled medium/large shrimp 1 lb fish (any 1 or a mixture of halibut, salmon, cod or talapia) Cut or break fish into bite sized peices Cook another 2 hours on medium heat. Do not stir as it will break the fish up. This freezes well. Enjoy!

Jacqui...hopefully a year from now you can look back on this as an inconvenient bump in the road of life. Good to hear that your doc is optimistic. Take care.

BTW..our sunporch church does not include chanting, etc...we just look at the crops that grow in the back yard and are thankful...not because of what they deposit in the checkbook....but because of the number of ppl they feed. I guess you could say that we have a non-denominational feel about it all. OK...I explained it.

Janet...it's so funny how you all miss me when I'm gone. I would never guess that someone would miss my farm wife posts. Oh well, I'll just lap it up and go with it. OK...I'm not sure how much of you pray or believe in Got or whatever. It's a personal thing and I am believer in keeping my faith to myself. (Actually, I believe but I am one to KNOW God knows me and where I come from and we have sunporch church on Sunday mornings while eating homemade muffins...doesn't get better than that). I'm putting out a prayer request. One of our LBT longtimers found our she has rectal cancer. I have followed this girl from day 1. I just find her to be cute, full of spunk and very helpful to newbies. Can we all just say an extra shout out to God (even if you don't believe) for this woman. She's the kind that makes you smile just cuz she is such an individual and does not give a crap if you agree or not. Thanks for the healing prayers...she need it and know she will feel it. BTW....user name Jacqui.

Jacqui...I have followed your success story since DAY 1. You have been such an inspiration to me. I love your spunk and your piss and vinager attitude. I just love you and the way you share your life with us. And, I know you do your sharing to help you along in you LB journey but also to help others. Most women do not have testicles...you do. Love that about you. Please keep this thread going and keep us informed as to how you are doing. I truly care. Thanks for sharing. Be tough, be strong...sending the love.

Linda...I have been going to ask you this question since last week. Talking to Arlene about the shape up shoes reminded me. You were talking about your hip bothering you. You didn't by chance do a lot of walking in a pair of shoes like that, did you? I notice that if I have not worn them for a week or so (when I am wearing one of my other 200 pair) I tend to get sore hips the first day or so. Just wondering.

BTW, Arlene...I'm always my "old self". Just hit a couple of bumps in the road for a couple of weeks. The arm is doing better. The wrist is a bugger but new doc said splint for 3 more weeks (which will be 6 wks) which will give the wrist time to heal.