I'm here to help...

[ladykcusa 1]

Linda - so happy to hear - no surgery required. I know you are relieved. Wish I lived closer and I would buy some of that home cooking from you.

Laura - prayers for your Dad (and for strength for your Mom) as they face this again. You are such a loving daughter to be there to help support them with love thru this illness. And prayers for safety for hubby's family.

Hate to share that I've gained weight in this month of elbow issues. Not surprised since I had to quit exercise while arm healed. Doctor cautioned that I could fall again with balance compromised using only one arm. Must accept that weight fluctuates with life situations. Just keep trying and keep exercising.

Snow flakes are starting and we are expecting 2 to 4" in the next week. Don't remember snow in April in Kansas City in my lifetime. grrrrr......

Oh well, I leave for Grand Cayman on April 24th, so I'll get sunshine soon and when I return, spring will be here in K.C.

[Charlene K 1]

Hi gang!

Joyce, Good on getting rid of the sling! Go ahead and whine about the snow. I almost feel guilty that it is 85 and sunny outside. Yeah, on the weight thing. 5 down- 1 up after the fried seafood dinner. I am not giving up. I am getting used to this eating plan.

LInda, Awesome news on the MRI. I would imagine that neck pain is real bothersome when you type. I typed almost every day for 35 years. At one time I thought I had carpal tunnel. I went to Walmart and got braces for my hands and wore them at night. They worked. It was a good investment for me.

Wow, you hit the Jackpot with the meat. Happy Cooking!

Laura.....Safe Travels. I know you and Nels will put a smile on your dad's face. Prayers and HUGS!

Cheri........enjoy your Spring break. We had ours last week. All the schools are finally on the same page and everyone was out. Still praying for your daughter.

I just got back from my DGS's two year old B-day party. I won't even tell y'all what was on the menu. Not good. Thank goodness I ate boiled eggs before I left. I went grocery shopping for my mother. On my way to her house there was a man with a "I am Hungry" sign. I do not give money, but I did have some of my mother's Famous Amos Cookies. I gave him a snack bag.....he was grateful. I see these signs every time I go to Houston. I think I am going to keep a case of Water and Snacks in the car for these men. Yeah, I know most of them are drug addicts and alcoholics, but these are hard times for everyone. Don't worry, I only crack my window.....and No Money! Later peeps! Enjoy your weekend!

[ocotillo 0]

Charlene, you have a BIG heart. I want to give them people money too, but I don't. I donate to the homeless shelter here, the food bank, and to a couple of other things. That way I'm giving to organizations that really do help people locally. Bet it was a really cute birthday party. Those boiled eggs are really helpful sometimes. Your weather is hotter than ours. We're only in the 70's the last few days. It's wonderful.

Linda, I am so glad to hear you won't need any neck surgery. The PT should help in several ways, so did the doctor give you an order so you can go and get that done? Sorry about the arthritis. Good deal with all the meat....lots of work for you now, but that will pay off later. Enjoy your cooking!

Joyce, sorry your weather is icky again. Hopefully it will warm up before you go to the Caymans. I had a wonderful vacation there many many many years ago. Got my scuba certification and drank lots of Jacks Dac's on the beach.

Laura, keeping my fingers crossed for your family...your entire family, wherever they may be.

Working in the yard and other stuff. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Eva

[ifyourstomachoffendsyou 1]

Eva, the feathers story was hilarious. I like the two stage cleaning.

Linda, glad about the neck. Hope it gives you relief. I went through various treatments for over a year before they finally did surgery. The herniated discs were too severe and I had so much stenosis and spurring that they couldn't even get the epidural shot into the spinal column. They only removed bone--lots of it. No fusing.

My knees and lower back and neck have all been giving me some trouble, nothing severe, but exercise seems to be aggravating it all. I don't want to wear out my fake knees with too much exercise. I want them to last as long as possible. Wish the indoor pool by me was warmer. Water walking would be much easier on my knees and would strengthen my back as well. I used to walk backwards, sideways and forwards the way my PT showed me and it really helped.

Wow. Didn't post this and its still here hours later. So I probably missed the most recent. Grandkids are in basement right now watching a movie. Having fun.

Cheri

[ljv52 2]

Morning to everyone! Wow, I'm totally exhausted from cooking yesterday -- here's what I ended up making:

1 roast with gravy

ham balls with sauce

meatloaf

meatballs with mushroom gravy

meatballs to put in spaghetti sauce

another roast marinating to make sauerbraten

chicken with garlic lemon sauce

beef barley soup

Everything cooked, packaged up and in freezer containers for DH's meals -- it was a lot -- he did the clean up and I didnt' sit down until about 8:30 p.m. Started around 11:30 a.m. so a long day. So if anyone wants to give you meat that must be cooked, be sure you have energy and lots of room in the freezer. DH will love having all the food around though -- I don't cook much for him anymore and I know he misses it -- he was so happy tasting it all yesterday! LOL.

Not much else happening here - we have a lunch/auction to go to this afternoon - fundraiser for a minister's wife who doesn't have any health insurance and is suffering from breast cancer. These people are like my age - can't believe they don't have any health insurance - what a tragedy.

Aylah came over and helped me a bit - I taught her how to peel carrots - LOL. She loved it!

We lucked out - supposed to have snow but instead was sunny -- cold but nice - right now sunny and 28 so not bad. I'll be happy to see April 1st roll around next week.

Hope you all have a great Sunday!!!

Linda

[JeweI 2]

Hey Gang, I have been so busy. I have a ton of extra school work due in a week. I am also preparing for our cruise and I did end up buying that new motorcycle. We are going riding on it today hopefully if it don't rain. DH will be lowering it to my height next weekend so for now I am riding passenger on it. He is loving riding my bike while his is down for maintenance. We leave for our cruise tommorrow. I have only 4 pair of shoes packed. I will be taking my school work with me. I really must bring up my grade.

[Apples2 19]

Morning All.....Must have the same weather as Linda. Sunny but cold (with wind thrown in there). Linda...sounds like yesterday was a cooking marathon. Good to have meals in freezer. Mine is pretty well stocked right now so when it's time for me to head to the lake, my guys are fed. My guilt-free meals.

Jessica...What????? Only 4 pairs of shoes????? Have a great time on your cruise. Congrats on your new bike and be very careful while riding. You always gotta watch the other guy cuz bikes are not as visible.. Take care.

Got up this morning to an email sent by DH's sister. FIL had an accident yesterday. He was on his way back from "Senior Fair" and could not say if he fell asleep or blacked out. His truck went off the road and hit a cement culvert. He said he came to when the truck hit. Does not remember anything else. He was taken up to Phoenix hospital and DH's bro was flying in this morning to be with him. He was very lucky not to be injured worse than he was and that he did not injure others. The seatbelt left a nasty injury on his neck, pretty sore chest were the airbag hit him and a hand that needs to be "fixed". Not sure what that involves. Anyway, just happy it was not worse. I imagine this will be the end of his driving and hope it is not the end of him spending future years in AZ. He enjoys it so much. Anxious to hear what the doc has to say this morning.

Had a nice get-away with DH. We were home by 2pm yesterday.

DS, GF and her two little ones are coming out for supper tonight. Made a lasagna his morning and have a berry pie ready to go into the oven. I am not a lasagna fan and GF is on some kind of diet so I took some salmon out of the freezer for us. Looking forward to their visit.

Hope you all have a great day. I'd better do some spiffing up around here.

[ladykcusa 1]

Linda - the snow missed us too. Just very cold and cloudy here today. All that cooking -- yum, I can almost smell it from here.

Arlene - you are a doll to share Cookies with homeless man.

Karen - enjoy your dinner with family tonight.

Jessica - have a blast on that cruise and pick a lovely spot to do your homework.

Good morning to all my LB sisters.

[Great2BThin 5]

Good almost afternoon. Just got home from church and the day is turning out to be quite nice. We woke up to the white stuff on the ground but the sun is out, the sky is bright blue and it's supposed to be in the 50's now. DH is going to go play in the mud he said, he's just chomping at the bit to work in the yard. His pond had a bit of settling, think it is from the house being new construction and the dirt having been dug up etc, and now it is settling. He needs to level it out.

Karen, so sorry to hear about FIL. Does he just go to AZ for winters? Will he be coming back to MN? Thank goodness it wasn't more serious and hope it's nothing serious that caused the blackout.

Linda, sounds like lots of cooking. How do you do your meatballs with the mushroom gravy? Sounds yummy. We did cooking yeterday too. We had made that 23 lb turkey on Friday so cooked up the carcas and left overs and made a turkey noodle type thing and then froze it in FoodSaver individual servings.

Cheri, hope your pain is better. My joints have been acting up as well. I seem to be getting arthritis everywhere. Already had my knees done, now my hips (both) bother me, my shoulders, an ankle and several fingers. Really concerns me down the road.

[Apples2 19]

Good almost afternoon. Just got home from church and the day is turning out to be quite nice. We woke up to the white stuff on the ground but the sun is out, the sky is bright blue and it's supposed to be in the 50's now. DH is going to go play in the mud he said, he's just chomping at the bit to work in the yard. His pond had a bit of settling, think it is from the house being new construction and the dirt having been dug up etc, and now it is settling. He needs to level it out.

Karen, so sorry to hear about FIL. Does he just go to AZ for winters? Will he be coming back to MN? Thank goodness it wasn't more serious and hope it's nothing serious that caused the blackout.

Linda, sounds like lots of cooking. How do you do your meatballs with the mushroom gravy? Sounds yummy. We did cooking yeterday too. We had made that 23 lb turkey on Friday so cooked up the carcas and left overs and made a turkey noodle type thing and then froze it in FoodSaver individual servings.

Cheri, hope your pain is better. My joints have been acting up as well. I seem to be getting arthritis everywhere. Already had my knees done, now my hips (both) bother me, my shoulders, an ankle and several fingers. Really concerns me down the road.

FIL winters in AZ. He went down in Nov. and planned on coming home mid-May. Unsure right now if we will try to get him home sooner. So hard when he so far away. He's pretty independent for 87 and afraid this accident will take some of that away from him. Found out a bit ago that he had to be airlifted from Casa Grande last night. He has surgery at 5pm today. Just happy BIL is with him.

That was one huge turkey you cooked yesterday. Your DH will be eating it for awhile.

Sorry to hear of your arthritis. You should really check it out with a specialist if it is flaring. I consider myself lucky to not have aches and pains. I lived for years with what I was told was FM. It's been almost three years now and not a symptom. I feel very fortunate. Cannot tell you how miserable I was for years.

Cheri...also sorry to hear of your recent flare-ups. Maybe once spring comes you will be able to be more active and find a way to get in some exercise without affecting your joints.

I started a few projects today and now I wondering why. Better get back at them so I am done b/4 the kids get here.

[ocotillo 0]

Great, don't you just love the food Saver? It was one of the best do dads I've ever bought. I've even used it on bread. I get this very dense German rye bread in Colorado and one loaf is just too big especially the way I eat bread now, so I froze 1/3 loafs. I sucked out too much air the first time and squished the bread...it was pretty funny. Then I figured out how to stop the suction and seal it before it flattened the bread. It works great. Don't think I'd try it on regular bread however. Sorry to hear about the arthritis all over...I have some of that going on too and I'm worried about it down the road. I think the trick is to keep active for as long as you can. Even modified movement helps.

Jessica, have a great time on your cruise. Glad you got y our own bike too. Sounds like fun! Good luck studying while on vacation. I've tried to do that before too. Hope you get further along than I did.

Linda, wow, that was lots of cooking and would take a lot of energy. Did you sleep well after all that? I do a lot of stuff, but I do get tired and then I have to take Advil to sleep because I'm too tired. So do you freeze individual packages so your DH can just pull something out for himself?

Apples, sounds like you had a good weekend. Have fun at dinner tonight. I love lasagna and it's one of the foods that goes down easily. I'm so sorry to hear about FIL...please keep us posted on his progress. Email me if you need me to do anything. I'm glad one of his kids is here to help. I really hope this doesn't keep him from coming down in the winters. I think it would be harder on him to stay in MN during the winters. We'll working something out for him, don't worry.

Cheri, I've been using the inversion thing, but I have to tell you my back hurts. It's not bad and it seems to be mostly muscle soreness, but it's weird. I think it's helping because the nerve pain hasn't been as present. So I still hanging (hahaha) in there. I love doing pool work and have plans to be in Cindy's pool this summer. I might even be able to use the neighbor's across the street since they are moving and won't be here. It's still way too cold for that though.

I've been doing everything except work on my homework. I need to get to it. I have a first draft due tomorrow. All the baby tortoises are up and outside now. I but the two hatchlings in an outdoor enclosure and they made it through the night. Junior aka Egg is up and eating too. It's too early for them but the weather is too nice and they are up and semi-active.

Got to get to work...later ladies.

Eva

[Charlene K 1]

Hi Gang! Ugh! Off track. I thought I could eat a few carbs yesterday and get on track today.......NOT! My DD took me to Olive Garden after church. I had a salad and a piece of pizza and fried zucchini. Okay, now I am back on track. I plan on walking this evening.

Linda, my zucchini popped up today and I have about five tomatoes on a couple of plants. All of your cooking sounds so yummy!

Jessica......have fun on your cruise!

Eva......is the Colorado home the one your parents lived in?

Apples.......please keep us informed on your FIL. My mother is 87 too. She hasn't bounced back as well from this last illness.....very forgetful. I hope your FIL can keep going to AZ. You might have to add on to your "love shack". Have fun with the kiddos today!

Great......snow! Sending you HUGS of sunshine!

Joyce......Good morning to you! You need HUGS of sunshine too!

Janet and Phyl......lucky seven week must have wore you two OUT! Check in when you catch your breath.

Julie......How's it going?

[ocotillo 0]

Charlene, yes, this is the house that my parents lived in. The Realtor said the husband's parents own the land behind the house so maybe they'll be a good fit there. The house looks out on several fields, a farm house, and then a line of trees where the river runs. It's very nice and I love the view. Pikes Peak can be seen from there too. Hope they can buy it and hope they can pay for it. Don't want any more issues with that house.

Cool your veggies are doing well so far. My eggplant doesn't seem too happy. I'm hoping it will start doing something like putting on more leaves pretty soon.

Working on my homework. BBL

[Meredith2424 0]

Hello all!!!

I've been reading, but so busy working I haven't had time to post. I mean WORKING! Thank goodness I've been super busy at work. That means more money in my pocket. In fact, I even got an opportunity to work at a charity event dinner tomorrow night serving and greeting guests. Many of whom are clients at the salon. It's all about networking!

I'm going to do the 5DPT again starting Tuesday because I want to lose 5 pounds before I leave for my Florida vacation on the 5th. I was sad to read that you didn't like it Lori. Did you lose weight on it? Let me tell you, I cannot wait to get out of this weather! It is absolutely HORRIBLE! I am not one to really complain about winter, but enough is enough! I wanted to work outside today on the yard. It was sunny and beautiful! Well, I got out there, and it was frigid! I could only work for about a half an hour or so. Too cold.

Apples~ Sorry to hear of FIL's health troubles and his accident. What did he have surgery on? How scary for all of you!

Julie~ So glad you are feeling better! I am so glad for you! Hopefully this pain free existence sticks around for you! Hugs and prayers!

Jewel~ I am so happy for you! Way to go on the purchase of your bike. BE CAREFUL! I get so nervous! Have a great time on your cruise. You are going to have a great time. Good luck with the school work. Like Eva, I too have tried it. Hope it works out for you.

Arlene~ Back on track tomorrow! So glad it is a new day!

Eva~ You know I am obsessed with all things turtle, right?!?! I enjoy hearing all about your new little additions!

Great~ We are supposed to get snow too. Ugh. So over it!

Linda~ Are your meatballs like swedish meatballs? Those are my absolute favorite! Especially over egg noodles. Haven't had them in so very long. Also, what are ham balls, and what kind of sauce do they go with? I too haven't cooked for Andrew in awhile. I know he misses it. I feel bad for him sometimes, but he knows why. I have been supposed to go to the grocery store for days now, and finally tomorrow, I HAVE to go!

Laura~ Hope you are having a nice time with your mom and dad. Looks like Nels was having a good time with the toasted marshmallows! Too cute!

Ok, sorry if I missed anyone. I must make Andrews lunch and do a load of laundry before bed.

Have a good Monday everyone!

Meredith

[ifyourstomachoffendsyou 1]

Eva,

Work into the inversion thing slowly, adding 30 more seconds every few days. Sometimes just 30 second to a minute in the morning and again at night. It takes time to slowly learn to relax all your muscles and let the weight of your body pull you straighter and straighter. It does stretch your muscles and ligaments in directions they've not been stretched ever since we quit hanging from our knees on the monkey bars when we were kids. But it surely does relieve pressure on the discs and allows them to gently shift back into place and gradually stay that way. Just don't try to hang for five minutes right from the start. Sometimes, after I've hung for awhile, I lie down on the bed with support under my lower/mid back and under my knees and neck so the vertabrae will settle into the right position after being stretched. Hope that house sells soon without problems.

Apples, sorry about your FIL. Hope you find an acceptable solution for his future.

Jessica, have a great cruise.

You ladies who cook are amazing. I try to avoid it AMAP.

Had a great time with my grandkids overnight. Then my husband's kids came over with his DGD and we went out to eat. His daughter is due the last week of May with another girl and so is my DIL with a boy. I can't keep up with them all.

Yawning my head off, so g'night all.

Cheri