WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY

joylaut

Izzy is absolutely adorable!!

I'm really tired tonight. Forced myself to walk tonight even though I was so sore from visiting the gynecologist today. He pressed so hard on my belly (of course he had to press thru all the fat) just to feel my ovaries. :grumble: No bad news but he wants me to go on estrogen cream. I managed to avoid hormones all thru menopause except for a very short time on bio-identicals...so I am not sure I want to begin with this now. Maybe I'll try it for a short while. I was too tired to go get it from Rite Aid tonight. I don't think I will be up til midnight tonight :yawn:

Joy

SherryC53

Hi, my name is Sherry and I am 57. I was introduced to MFP by my brother, "rayfromtx" who has lost 50 lbs here. He knows I have been trying to lose weight by my own methods for a long time. I have been here on mfp since October, but only now am really reaching out for support other than him. He is really a motivated person with a steel hard will and commitment when he wants to do something, so this has been relatively easy for him to do, but I am not as strong willed as he is, so here I am.
I weighed 117 (too little) in January 2000 and by May 2001 I weighed 175. I had been relatively thin most of my life and fairly active, but I have MS and Lupus and that has slowed me way down but I am not DEAD! I mean I really don't want to be dead. I can still walk, but not run, so I really want to get back to a healthy weight because I know I will have lots more energy and a longer life. I have been doing 1200 calories since mid October and lost 12 lbs but have put 5 lbs back on recently and I don't want to yoyo like that.. I want to get to where I feel good enough to do a 5k\, at least at a walking pace.
Any support, ideas, experiences, welcome.

AND, Happy New Year! :happy:

wizzywig

Happy Friday ladies

:flowerforyou: Welcome Sherry, you'll get lots of support and ideas here, welcome to the family .

:flowerforyou: Mimi Izzy looks gorgeous. She's so lucky to have you as a mama, I'm sure you'll spoil her.

I'm sat here at the computer shivering, I can't get warm today. I have a day off work mainly because it's the last day at our running club and I thought it would be good if both Jane and I went on the last one. When we are both at work we have to take it in turns as we both can't be out of the office at the same time. As I have every other Friday off anyway, it's not been too bad, but it's been a bit difficult on the Friday's I've worked. Anyway, I'll have to get some housework done soon, no point in having a day off work if I sit at the computer all day. :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

:flowerforyou: Barbiecat can't remember if I've already replied but I'm glad your procedure went well and wasn't too bad.

:flowerforyou: Joy the menopause is horrible, I sometimes feel so ill with the hot flushes that I think my head will explode and if I'm at work, I can't think straight, and forget what I'm supposed to be doing. My work colleague is 62 this year and is still getting the hot flushes, I can't bear the thought that it seems to go on well into your 60s or 70s in some cases. :grumble: :grumble:

Well I need to get moving, need to changed the doggy covers on the chairs and get the others in the wash, although we've had a few frosty mornings, during the afternoon it's warmed up enough to be very wet, and Tara likes nothing better than to go for a stroll/roll/paddle through all the muddy puddles - wet doggy smells are not good Think I'll have to get the doggy deodorant out too.

Have a good day everyone

Viv xx

kackie

Good Morning, Dear Ladies,

Lynn: Thanks for asking about me! I have been "lurking" and leaving...We have just had a few crazy but not bad things going on that have kept me away from my computer. I am doing my best to track food but not doing as well as I would like! DH has "traded" our home in MT again and I am out trying to get those things settled. It will mean a new house here with more room for our family and with our youngest son now engaged, our family is GROWING...which is a wonderful thing! BUT...our house here now is furnished and the buyer wants it furnished and the new house is not! LOTS to do!

Barbie: Glad to here you have your colonoscopy over and with good results...those of you who have not done yours yet:grumble: ...get on the phone! It is NOT bad and can save your life. Don't mean to preach but I have had 3 in less than 8 years and I had bad polyps the first 2 times that they just removed with the procedure. Had I not, who knows? Probably colon cancer by now!

Mimi: LOVE your little darling! Oh...you are making me want to go look at puppies!!!! And I loved hearing a description of where you live. It sounds delightful!

New Members: There are SO many of you...I am sorry not to welcome each one of you. I look forward to getting to know you. This is a fantastic place you have found. Good luck on your journey!

Birdie: Thank you thank you for your wonderful inspiring words. They always help me and I know they help others as well!

Amanda: Glad to hear that you are able to wait until March for your surgery. You are doing awesome!

Robin: Thinking of you at your new job! Hope that goes well.

Barb: Good to hear from you too!

Have a wonderful weekend. I am heading down the mountain to town today to price "stuff" for the new place then back up to meet with inspectors, etc. There are a few issues that need resolving with the new place. Hope it is not too complicated.:huh:

Kackie

BirdieM

I'm annoyed with myself for not doing better with what I've eaten today. Unfortunately, there are no magic shortcuts, just one day at a time. I did get out for a walk with Izzy, so that's good!

Be kind to yourself. You can only change the present moment. So make positive choices now.:bigsmile: ...and as you know....they all add up and make a difference! Look what you've accomplished! You've done so great! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
BirdieM
Izzy is adorable!

jam0525

Hello everyone new and old!

I can't believe (well, really I can) how many posts since last Saturday. We are all back to our chatty selves. Unfortunately, I don't know if I will be able to go back and read all of them. So some general comments:

Gratz to all doing well, warm thoughts to all who need them and a Friday wish for us all to have a safe and happy weekend and stay within our calorie limits.

Mimi - cute dog!

Dad is home and Mom is moving out since she is no longer the center of attention. I had to give her the "don't interfere with Dad's care" speech before the home health care nurse got there and the hope PT starts. The biggest threat to my Dad's health and safety is my stubborn mother who interferes and sulks when she is not the center of attention. So far things look good for Dad. No damage to his heart, but he is weak and back in a wheel chair and on O2 again. I have to have some one there 5 days a week for a while and an extra person on the days when Mom has to go out. He looked better this morning, so we will just take one day at a time.

I did find out that salt is not my friend. Dad and Mom are both on a low salt and low fat diet now. They should have been years ago, but Mom would not change. Now they have to. It will be hard, but I know not to take away everything with salt, just reduce it when and where I can and not worry about some of when I can't.

I saw a lot of prayers going Dalis' way, but not see the original string, so Dalis' I will send prayers your way and to all who need them.

Jeannie

lyn54

Sherry-Welcome, I know some of what you are and have dealt with. If I can help you have support, I will do my best.:flowerforyou:

Joy- don't stress over the hormones the doctor has given you. I have took replacement hormones since I was 32. I had surgery at that time. I have been through the cancer scare that "went around" for about 8 years, 5 years back and the old nine yards. First it would cause cancer now the cancer institute my sister went to this summer told her that the combination of both hormones wasn't good but the estrogen we have taken for years saved her life. Taking one or the other is not harmful but helpful to your body when it isn't producing hormones by itself. It is a choice. I don't regret not one pill I have ever taken. I told my doctors several times that quality of life or quanitity should be my choice. The first doctor that started talking negatively about it, later we learned the pharmaceuticals were pushing the bone medicines using him to help them. You aren't supposed to take those together. There were more kick-backs and perks from pushing the bone meds than an older medicine like what we took. I did a lot of research and talked to different doctors. I finally told my family doctor that they would do research in five years and find that there was more depression, murders and suicides amongst women pulled off of them.
He laughted but later came back and changed his mind. He told me last year that he used that in a seminar that he lectured at in Florida, Texas, New York and Italy. :laugh: :laugh: They never did change my mind. I tried it without and it was not a pretty picture. I had no hormones without it. None of them now WANT us to go off them. My mom(75), my sister (50) and I have all been on the same hormone for over 20 years. We are all happy with it. I go to a GYN at an all Ladies clinic. My gyn told me should would be taking them when she needed them and would take them until she died. Again, I stress...it's a choice.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Robin-good luck with your job today!!

rjadams

first day is going well. i miss my Bodi boy tho. I brought healthy food and have been walking up a storm so its good. catch up with you all later.

msh0530

Tried two yummy new recipes tonight. I cut my pork chops to 4 ounces, used chicken broth, and used light salad dressing, cutting the calories by almost half. The peas were good also - my husband doesn't even like frozen peas and went back for seconds.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Italian-Pork-Chops-3
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Green-Peas-with-Onion

barbiecat

:bigsmile: Hi Sherry, welcome to the most supportive and encouraging group of women......these women have changed my life and I hope that they can do the same for you.:bigsmile: Everything I know and do well now is something that I learned a little at a time and made gradual changes....I continue to look for new ways to exercise and new ideas about healthy eating.....so much of what works in my life is something I learned on this thread.......I hope you will become a part of this group :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

:sad: I made a tiny mistake in my knitting that affects the pattern and didn't discover the mistake until I was about five rows down so I have been carefully taking the stitches out and have finally fixed the mistake and am back to knitting again.:bigsmile:

:bigsmile: I'm being picked up at 8:30 tomorrow morning to go off to one of those all day meetings an hour and half away so eating right and exercising will be a challenge.....I will try to take some food with me in case the lunch they serve is too different from what I eat but since I'm not going in my own car, I don't think I'm going to try to take a cooler.:sad: and I'd better get to bed early :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn:

:drinker: :flowerforyou: Robin, I hope your first day on the new job went well :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

joylaut

Welcome Newbies and Oldbies.

Lynn, thanks for your estrogen support.

Viv, I have heard the same about having hot flashes well into your 60's! Luckily mine are more like warm flushes than hot flashes. Many alternative health practitioners claim that managing diet and types of food one eats also manages the discomfort. For example, eliminating white sugar and eating fresh fruits and veggies. Stuff we should probably be doing anyway...

Kackie good to see you again. It's fun to shop for new stuff but takes a lot of energy, too.

Robin glad your 1st day went well. It's good you get to ease into it.

Alice, cool pix ( pun intended) of your icicles. I remember those from when I grew up back east.

Mimi, I also hesitate to mention my SoCal weather here or to my east coast relatives on facebook.

So tonight was my one of my grandson's 8 year old birthday party --- pizza and ice cream. Fortunately they had caesar salad and I had only one piece of pizza (still 290 calories). If I declined the sangria or the ice cream, I would have come in under calories....
oh well. I planned on exercising today but instead spent that time going to 6 different local stores to find birthday party paper plates! Nobody had them until I hit Smart and Final.

And I'm really hungry now -- but I won't eat as it is 11pm.
Tomorrow's another day ---and I know I can get a good long walk in.

Joy

edmontonukeplayer

Hello

I shared with you that last Tuesday I had a bit of a bad day with my specialist after he told me that it might be a while until I am back to work (and perhaps never :sick: ). I agree with him that I can't work when I am having so many RUQ pain attacks that would keep me from working many days a week. A challenging thing about what is happening to me is that between attacks, I am really good and able to do many things: but..... when I am having or recovering from an attack, I am physically very miserable because of the pain, fatigue and the floating liver enzymes and emotionally I have very little energy/patience. (Mary, I asked specialist specifically about PSC: he said last MRI did not reveal any cysts but PCS is something they are concerned about. I have another MRI coming up in the next month so they will look again in case last MRI was a little early and PCS is what is developing. Let's hope not!)

So to what I believe is the good news: in an attempt to assuage my funk, after the specialist appointment I drove right over to one of the seniors centres downtown and joined the seniors ukulele Hawaiian Band. They have slack guitar players and singers and hula dancers and do 2X week practices and then concerts about 1x a month if they get hired: it is really a hoot! I am definitely the youngest. One lady even asked where I bought my seniors membership so I could join the band?? I patiently replied that I joined under my husband's membership as he is fair amount older than me. She seemed satisfied with that answer: but I think I will offer her some free uke lessons over skype as she just joined and expressed that she needs some extra lessons. I hope that should help any concerns she has about me not being a senior! But the band leader has already sent me an email stating he is very pleased I joined the band and is looking forward to my participation! This band should be a nice distraction for me. They meet every Monday and Thursday morning: I will go to practices/concerts if I am not sick, but I can stay home if I have attacks! Last night my husband asked what the LTD insurance company would think of me being in a band?? I don't think they would like it, but I think this will help my mental health so I am hoping they wouldn't get upset. And I will stay home if I am sick: perhaps I should track how many practices I have to miss due to attacks in case asked???

I will admit while I am off work, I am trying to fill my life with healthy distractions during the times I am feeling good. It is amazing the things I have been able to find that allow me to cancel or change at a moments notice if I have an attack: walking with Leslie Sansone (suggested by an MFP contact; thanks again!), my uke playing, time spent tracking food/ community on MFP, visiting with certain friends who understand (many don't like if I have to cancel), a 'one on one' membership at the local Apple store so I can learn more about my Mac computer, etc. etc.

But I want all of you to know that I read with interest all of the posts on this thread and you have become my 'work' substitute social circle. I think of each of your posts and issues during the day and send out prayers and good thoughts to you.

Have a good Saturday all, sending out hopes for a healthy day for all on this thread. Darlis, I know you are probably very busy right now with dealing with your health issues and concerns over the new 'flags' over your husbands health: hope all is going well, you remain in my thoughts and prayers each day. Amanda, your such an inspiration with what you have done to improve your health while you still face health issues: :flowerforyou: To all that I have not named, I am thinking of you: have a good day!

Karlene

rjadams

so day one went well. I love the people I am working with. I still really don't know what It is I will be doing as yesterday was a meet everyone and try to get things set up day. I did get to walk a couple of planes on the line. It is soooooo cool to be up inside them as they are in various stages of completion. the new 747-8 is a beautiful bird.
The scale moved this morning. yay. almost back to my ticker.

have a good day all.

lyn54

Robin, Glad things went well for you...I would love to see a plane on the line. I know my grandsons would love that too.

Karlene-music is the soul of me. Humor and music have helped me to live my life through good times and bad times ...it's my light!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: Good luck with your band and may you have many happy hours. Thanks for thinking of me.

Kackie- was glad to see you post. Hope your house business works out well for you.:flowerforyou:

Jeannie- Hope things with your parents get better.:flowerforyou:

I took an antibiotic about 5 weeks ago and it has really messed with my weight loss. If you have followed my posts you know that my weight loss is slow no matter what I do. I am completely stalled right now. It's up and down. I just have to gather my patience throw some humor and music in and "keep on truckin'"....

Have a good weekend everyone!

jam0525

Hello all,

Finally, things have calmed down and I am sitting reading the posts with a cup of coffee again.

To Sherry and other newcomers, I echo Barbie’s advice. All my changes that have been successful have been gradual ones. At the beginning I used whole milk for my coffee and cooking because that is what my family drank. Just stepping down to 2%, then to 1% or skimmed took off at least 10 pounds. No one even notices that I cook with low fat milk, so there is another lowering of calories.

Robin – I hope this new job sticks around for as long as you need it to and that you find a walking buddy for breaks and lunches.

Barbie – Hopefully, the all day meeting will have better food that you are thinking it will. So many people are trying to loose weight diet options are more common than they use to be.

Joy- I count all the walking I do shopping as exercise. I just under estimate the minutes and use the slowest walking unit on MFP. It takes 5 minutes to walk across our Super Walmart without stopping. I’ve timed it a few times.

Karlene- It is hard when you are use to working to suddenly not be. I hope things work out with your health issues and the upcoming tests.


Dad forgot he was using a wheelchair this morning and just started to walk with his walker. (Got to love short term memory loss). Mom continues to fight the changes needed for Dad's safety.

I bounced up 5 pounds since last week when Dad went into the hospital. I know I didn't eat enough food for it to be actual weight, so I am giving myself one week to get back to my ticker weight or I will adjust my ticker.

Heart disease sodium fact: Any packaged food that has over 500mg sodium per serving is considered to be high sodium. By packaged foods I mean prepared meals in any manner. It was highlighted in the book the doctor gave me about living with congestive heart failure. It sure changed my way of reading food labels.

Have a great day all,

Jeannie

mrsanderson404

Jam...I can soooo relate to your struggles with your parents...Mine are days away from moving out of my house and into their own mobil home...well, out of their RV that has been parked in my backyard for 3 years. Mom is exactly like yours and honestly they don't seem to be able (or desire) to care for each other as long as I am around. It's emotionally draining at times. Dad is better health wise and has been leading the slow, gradual move. As soon as the living room furniture is delivered, they will be in their new place. Mom, however, is dragging her heals big-time! She has now realized that I will no longer be taking care of her husband! DUH!! She will have to step it up and begin running her home again....she is able....just really is over the whole wife and mother thing. Am I a little frustrated?? You bet! I know I will be over there often but at least I will also have my own time back.

The comments and stories about menopause and hormones is very helpful...I will be 50 this May and other than the occasional hot flash at night and PMS migraines, I haven't experienced many symptoms yet....oh, except for the occasional memory loss, sorry, forgot about that.

I'm worried that once it hits, it will hit with a vengance...I'm afraid my family will hate the ogre I may become....I'm afraid of losing sexual desire (okay, that may be TMI, but it's true).....it helps to hear of all of your experiences....thanks for sharing!!

frogmama

Jam0525- You mentioned that anything over 500 mg of sodium per serving is considered high. Do you know of any prepared /or dried soup mixes that have less than this? It seems that all that I look at are high.

mimi7- Glad to hear that it is sunny and warm in California. It makes me feel better to know that somewhere it is warm. Just cold and snowy here in NY.

Making crock pot pulled chicken for dinner. I love coming home from work to a ready meal. Exercise in for the day. Trying so hard to knock off the pound I added last week!

MacMadame

Hey, since my doc cleared me to exercise again, I went on a big bike ride today. Yippee!

mimi7grands

Big game day today. Who knows who’s playing. I just love all the commotion!

My ticker finally moved! I’ve been down to this weight before but not claimed it because I wanted to see if it lasted. This time, I’m claiming it, by golly, and am going to make it stick. 180’s here I come!

Birdie, thanks so much for the wise advice. Being kind to myself is a lot more productive than scolding myself. Somehow, scolding never (ever) works.

Kackie, sounds like you have an exciting project on your hands. Wow! Getting a house ready to live in has got to be a big job. Will you be keeping your house in the south?

Karlene, I too hope you don’t have PSC. Your symptoms have been going on so long that the odds are good you don’t. Good for you on broadening your horizons uke-wise.

Amanda, thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it and it makes a difference.

Robin, hurray for you on the job!

Jeannie, your mom sounds like a pistol. She and Chiclet’s mom would make quite a pair!

Woo hoo, on the bike ride MacMadame. I’m happy for you.

Gotta run to the store. I didn’t get to say “hello” to everyone individually but I’ve read all your posts and am thinking about you.

pmjsmom

I've been reading all your posts and am trying to keep up. Having my DD's family in the same house seems to cut into my "me" time and I have rearranged my bedroom so I have room to do most of my workout videos in there instead of in the living room.
My grandson is crawling like crazy now and gets WAY too interested in the computer lights (the computer in the living room is hooked up to the flat screen TV) so until we get a play pen for him--hopefully this week!--we need to keep it off when he is downstairs.

Mary--I read your post about the pork chop recipe and am going to try it tonight. It sounds really good! I'll be fixing a green bean recipe to go with them though as we don't have any peas!

Robin--I am so glad your first day back went well.

Jeannie--I sure hope your parents start doing better. It must be hard to have to deal with your Mom's attitude on top of all the health problems!

mrsanderson404--Not everyone has a hard time with menopause. I have not had any hot flashes, headaches or any other symptom. The only way I knew I was there was my TOM has not visited for well over a year now!

I am thinking of all of you and am sorry for any I may have missed! Welcome to any and all newbies, also!

mrsanderson404

Pmjsmom....that's encouraging...I'm going to hope that I have a similar experience....my doctor recommended an over-th-counter supplement and it does help. That and a good B complex vitamin!

dear hubby smoked a turkey last night and we enjoyed it for lunch...yummmmm....will throw some of that on a salad for lunch this week. We just got a new smoker and this is the first turkey we've done...soooo juicy

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday....I'm going to plant a bareroot blackberry and take a catnap.

MacMadame

My ticker finally moved!

Yeah!

rjadams

no real tme to post. I have been reading all the posts but I am trying to pack and get things ready for the wedding along with figuring out how to be ready to leave for work with DH at 4:30 in the morning so we can carpool. I will have to kill some time at the office when I get there but not having to drive and park will be great. His office is about a 1/2 mile from mine so I will get a lot of walking in but at least if it is raining I can walki inside the plant.

Mimi - glad the ticker moved.
Mac - glad you have been cleared to exercise.
Mrs. Anderson - smoked turkey sounds great.
kathy - I think you are very lucky not to have to deal with the hot flashes. they can really suck.
to everyone else. I love you all and I hhope you are doing well. I probably won't post much until I get back from vegas and share pics of the wedding (especially the flowers:flowerforyou: )

msh0530

It is true, some of us are lucky and don't really even notice menopause. I started my first period on my 13th birthday, and thought "what a birthday present!" Coincidentally, I started my last period on my 50th birthday, and once I finally decided that they must be done, thought "what a birthday present!" Funny how much happier I was about it at 50. Anyway, that was 6 years ago, and I've never had a hot flash or any other symptom. However, I now get colder than I used to, and my husband teases me, saying that I got cold flashes instead of hot flashes!

barbiecat

:drinker: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
just a quick hello so nobody sends out a search party looking for me :laugh: :laugh:

:flowerforyou: I weathered the event yesterday but did a terrible job with lunch

---

fabulous salad with only a tiny bit of Italian dressing, a sane portion of veggie lasagne, and then at garlic bread with butter :sad: but I did stay away from the cheesecake even with time on the exercise bike and walking and jogging in the house in the evening I was over my calories.....fortunately today is Isagenix cleanse day so that evened things up a bit.

:flowerforyou: Robin, I'm glad things look good for you on your new job and I hope it lasts as long as you want/need it :bigsmile:

:flowerforyou: :drinker: Mimi, congrats on your ticker moving

:flowerforyou: Macmadame, glad you got to ride your bike again

---

:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

:yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn:

valerian101

I joined MFP yesterday and am looking for friends. This thread seems to be exactly what I am looking for! So pleased that everyone has put a photo or something as their avatar image. Nothing is more off putting when you join than seeing a load of blank faces and 'I haven't filled this in yet'.

You can check out my profile if you want to see who I am and what my aims are.

I think it is wonderful to find a website that offers so much for free.

to you all

bkrbabe57

Good Morning Ladies,
" We're caught in a heat wave... a tropical heat wave...."
IT"S ABOVE 0!!!!!! we should be slowly getting out of the freezer and by Friday we are predicted to be 29. :drinker:
However on the minus side we should be getting snow today :sad:

I am off today so what amI doing? I am up at 5:00 doing laundry and drinking coffee :noway:
I will putz about this morning then wonder back north (68 miles) to my dads where I have been staying for the past year. Dad is so much better but now that he has gotten use to me being around moving will be hard on him. I will stay until winter is over then transisition to being around in the mornings to help him and the afternoons to help my brother before going to be with DF. At least that is how it will work in my brain. :bigsmile:

This week end went well although all of our plans went right out the window.... I was to cold to do anything more then the basics (grocery shopping) I get cold easier but I think that is more because of the weight loss.

As for menopause.... I don't notice it much. I get warm at night and ditch the covers but then I get cold right away and bundle back up. I just haven't had TOM since last January so I am happilyfiguring I am done!!!!!!!

I made a lovely Wild Rice soup last night and even though it has LOTS of stuff that isn't good I was able to keep it to 319 calories per serving !!! DF loves it so I will now research what I can use to substitute to make it more body friendly. :happy:

I am thinking of you all and praying for you as you go about your day.


Peggy

smwert

I see everyone being successful and I am so ashamed. I once again gained back what I lost during the week over the weekend. I may need to go to work 7 days at week!!!

jam0525

Mimi - Gratz on the weight loss

Chicklet – Maybe we should take Mimi's suggestion and put our Moms together somewhere and just take turns watching them both? Lol. They do both sound like "pistols".

Robin – That is so cool that you can car pool even though it is so early. I miss not being able to take the train and walk from the station.

Mary, Mrs Anderson & others – I thought I didn't have any menopause issues either, but some of the things we don't think relate actually are, so I've decided for 2011 to find a obgyn again.

Valerian – welcome!

Peggy – Good luck with all you do for your Dad. It seems like there are a lot of us who care for our parents in this group. Let me know when the new soup recipe is perfected.

Big news flash – DD and I watched Julia & Julia and now we have set the goal of cooking 10 new recipes a month for one year. We have started February now as it is a short month and we made Italian green beans with cheese last night. It has 157 calories per serving, but absolutely wonderful. DS and Hubby each had more than one serving. Mom and Dad loved it too.

Happy Monday all!

Jeannie

kackie

Good morning, Ladies!

Welcome to Valerian! You have found a great place here...good luck on your journey and we look forward to getting to know you!

The SUN IS OUT!!! Yeah! It isn't very cold here on the mountain, compared to some parts of the country, but it has been snowing, snowing and there has been very little sun. I NEED the sun. One of the reasons we love to be out here in the winter is the SUN, which is the norm here in Big Sky Country. Just not this year.

Regarding new house here: Mary, we will continue to spend a couple of months here in the winter and a couple at the end of the summer into September when it is so hot and humid in SC. Home will always be SC though, so not getting rid of that house. ... we do LOVE Montana and my husband is always looking at investment-type opportunities. I'm not sure this new house will be that but we both love it and it will give us more room for our growing family, and it is a good time to buy. So....off we go. I have found enough furniture here (also some good buys!) to have a bed to sleep on and a place to sit. It will be very empty for a while but I can just picture granddaughter, Lyla, running all over the empty rooms! She will love it!

Menopause: I feel for those of you who struggle with hot flashes and the like. Yuk! I suffered from horrid menstral cramps all of my live UNTIL menopause, so I guess we ladies get it one way or another.

Lynn: Don't beat yourself up! You are not alone. :flowerforyou:

MacMadame: Glad you and your bike are back together. ENJOY!

Take care all. I need to get out in that sunshine! I have meetings with plumbers, builder, etc. the rest of the day then back to SC in the morning. Kackie