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Good Morning fellow Crackers! Hope you all had great weekends. We had the Grand Prix here so my food plan for the weekend went right of the window! However I am now very firmly back on track and hoping to limit the damage by Saturday's weigh in. I'm not where I want to be yet with my dieting mojo but I am plodding on in the hope it will return! I find once I am in that "zone" I have determination like no tomorrow, unfortunately I'm just not there yet! I am so fed up of spending June and July like a mad thing trying to lose weight that I am starting now to aim for then! I am not hoping for a miracle loss but to even reach a 20lb loss will be amazing. I was thinking yesterday how many times I have started over and was really disappointed with myself then I came across this saying....."if you're fed up with starting over, stop giving up!". How wonderful is that?
I have to "pop" to the post office now, it is walkable on a good day, but we have storms so it is a two taxi job this morning. I finished both my Baable hat and Shore hap so I am off to post the hat to the UK.
Wishing you all a good week,
BM xx0 -
Hello Crackers. I commiserate with you, BM, with your dealing with the heat. Septmber here is proving hotter than normal (though not as hot as you have- here still pushing 30C and beyond). Also we have had a lot of heavy rain. A consequence is my flowers have really revived and pots of marigolds and begonias are lush. Lovely. But the downside is that I should be starting fall cleanup and empting pots. I can't leave it all to the end when the weather could turn overnight so I have been quickly planting some into the beds so I can clean the pots, something I have never done before. The leaves on the trees have not started to turn colour or fall yet, again late. However, I need to get a lot of the plants looked after before the leaves fall because that in itself is a major job. I have also discovered that my three fish have produced some offspring, not sure exactly how many. They are hard to see as they are dark when young. I don't like the idea of not trying to bring them in for the winter but it is quite a chore and will be very hard once the leaves start falling into the pond.
Although the afternoons have been very hot, the mornings are somewhat more moderate so I've been able to walk Nellie more. I also did a 20 minute bike ride this morning. I was quite pleased by that though I am mindful that it pales besides the biking an old friend of mine in England has recently done. I spoke to her a few days ago and she and her husband rode their tandem bike from their home to her husband's home, a distance of about 230 miles over a 5 day period. (As I write this, I am wondering if that would be kilometres which even so would be a good distance- I forget which is commonly used in Britain)My friend is my age, in her late sixties.
BM, don't feel badly about taking a slow pace to shift that weight; just keep at it. I am feeling better now that I am back to a better eating plan. I was thinking this morning as I ate breakfast, that it seems easier in more moderate temperatures as now I am quite content to have hot oatmeal for breakfast, usually with a teaspoon (sometimes 2) of almond butter on it or with a few raisins or walnuts pieces. All healthy and low sugar. In the summer, I often had a cold cereal and although I tried to find ones with the lowest sugar, they would still have 7-10 grams of sugar. I am trying to keep my sugar to 25 grams or less per day. It is easy to get to that just with a teaspoon (4 grams) in a relish, or a couple of teaspoons of maple syrup on yoghurt. It seems as if any real sweet has 25g or more of sugar. I had some very nice ice-cream awhile ago which was ginger flavoured with broken bits of gingerbread cookie in it- totally delicious but 34g of sugar in half a cup! Sugar is definitely my major food problem and there is so much reporting now on it. I have always been quite good at eating low fat and now the word seems to be that fats are not as bad as originally thought!
Must go now. Work to be done. Also I must finish reading a novel as I have decided to join a book club to which I have been invited. It is a serious club; it has been going for about sixty years and a couple of times a year a professor from the university is invited to discuss the work of the month. Not reading the book and just showing up for the tea and biscuits is not
done!0 -
Crackers - finally I'm back - I think I underestimated how much work I had to do...
After 2 weeks worth of washing and ironing industrial catering clothes, I was ready for a lie down but no - my husband had an aunt and uncle visiting who we invited for dinner, which then meant I had to clean the house from top to bottom. This is always happening after I've been absent!
And then because the weather was so glorious I had to get out in the garden and get my vitamin D and just like you Bracken there is lots to do. I've cut the grass, been picking up the fallen apples daily, picking raspberries and plums. I dug out a hostas and moved it as I've decided to put in a new clematis instead for next year. It can climb up the wall and I think it will get enough sun and shelter - we will see! I've crocus and snowdrops I want to plant and then the serious work begins cutting back in preparation for winter... I don't want to start as it all looks so beautiful at the moment but I know the weather can change overnight. And I have been schlipkrapfen making as we need to press on again. So it's been all go.
I did send a text message to LMV and PB - haven't heard back from PB so hope all is okay with her. LMV where shall I start, after her broken wrist which kept her from exercising for 8 weeks, her friend passed away, then her husband's Step-Father died last week and they are now sorting out his Mother as the Step-Father was her main carer - so nightmare.
However it is lovely to see you both here posting. There's a good quote from my dieting bible BM 'weight control is a long term process with inevitable ups and downs, not something you only have one chance at.' So you will get there.
In my 'Thin for Life' book do you have this one Bracken? I think I'm finally at what they call the final stage 'lifestyle change when you know what works and what doesn't and food is less of an emotional issue and you can maintain your healthful eating and exercise habits when vacationing.' Because I realised I am coping when I go to England now! Plus I'm still on my new personal best of keeping within 3 pounds of my target weight for 6 months now.
So my next goal is to attempt to improve my fitness levels I found it hard going again walking with my husband in the hills last week after my break in the UK. I too want to cut back on my sugar levels before I face the Dr again to be retested. All this fruit in the garden is not helping!
Right I must prepare dinner for the husband now.
Be good Crackers! 92 days until Christmas!
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Hello Crackers. A quick pop-in though that has been rather frustrated by MFP such that after reading your post, MITM, it would not let me reply but sent me on a wild goose chase of re-signing in. Argh! And the sign-in today was dodgy too. In any case, lovely to read your post. MITM, very newsy. What a difficult few months LMV has had and it seems as if more of the same is ahead for her. I'm glad you messaged her, MITM, as I too have been wondering how she was. I hope she knows that her Crackers friends are thinking of her.
MITM, I too have been in the garden most days for long periods it seems. Even today as it was drizzling I decided to go ahead and get a few more pots emptied and cleaned and tackle other fall jobs. It has been hard with the potted plants as it is still very warm though thankfully not the terrible heat of a week ago. I've decided I just have to empty many of them despite their still being in vigourous bloom. On the weekend, I emptied all my geraniums and tuberous begonias from pots; it helped that I have sent them with my brother to his school where he teaches a horticultural course. The students will take cuttings and leaves to propagate for next spring. My brother has promised me some new plants then. I'm not too concerned about that; I was really just glad not to have to pull and throw away plants in lovely bloom. Now I'm left with quite a few pots of marigolds and the small begonias which can't be used by his class. They are so lush but I must close my eyes and take them on! MITM, I assume you are picking a fall variety raspberry. I bought a pint at the local farm gate market last week; they were absolutely delicious, better I thought than the summer ones I had. I also had a couple of purple damson plums at lunch today- also delicious so I do envy you with you own fruits.
Yes, I do have the Thin for Life book (is there any diet book I haven't read or bought!!) I haven't looked at it for a while but it is full of insightful accounts by individuals who have lost and maintained substantial amounts of weight. I should look at it again for inspiration. MITM, you are definitely at the lifestyle change stage and are an inspiration. I am reading two books at the moment from the library that are food related though not specifically about dieting-
Salt, Sugar, Fat, by Michael Moss and The Dorrito Effect both of them deal with the engineering of processed foods to hook the consumer on them by manipulating salt, fat, sugar and other additives. Both books are really fascinating and really make one reflect on consumed the hyper-processed foods that are everywhere.
This pop-in must stop now so regards to all for the moment.0 -
So lovely to see the long posts, I can't wait to read them properly, unfortunately quick pop in for me as I have had oral surgery which turned into a saga (bled 5 hours post operatively) and am now slowly but surely recovering. The tablets are making me feel quite tipsy and very disorientated so I will pop back in soon. Take care all, BM xx0
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You were missed BM but that was one scenario I hadn't thought of! Take care. I'm off to the garden but will be back...0
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This really is a pop-in but truly sympathize with your plight after oral surgery. I have an appointment Friday with a specialist dentist as I have a side molar which broke such that it can't be saved and must be extracted. Not looking forward to it but am thankful I don't have the kind of complications you face, BM. Hope you are soon feeling better. Off to the garden also, MITM.0
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Thank you both very much for your kind thoughts. I envy you both going out into your gardens. I have exciting news though.......we are finally looking to buy another house in the UK, this one will be ours! By that I mean not a previous marital home or mine where my Son is currently living in and looking after for me, but ours. I am so excited! We have narrowed the search to Somerset and have a few properties in mind, one is a clear favourite so we are currently in discussions with the Estate agents/ financial Advisors etc. If things go well I will have to fly home to check the houses out and the local facilities etc. My Son has said he will come with me, I hate doing things like this on my own
Even if none of these houses are suitable or sell before we are sorted I am just happy we are finally making plans. We will still probably be here for 3 more years at least but at least I will have somewhere I can keep clothes, personal items etc. I can even buy my own car which will be brilliant after hiring cars for 9years!
Anyhow, I am back off to bed now, OH has just left. He comes home on a lunchtime to walk Harry. I am still taking the tablets which put me on some kind of floaty cloud lol so I am not really safe on my feet to walk him.i see the surgeons again Friday so hopefully things will change then, I am also still on a soft diet but not too sure it's helping with weight loss.
Bracken I will be thinking of you with your Dentist Friday whilst I am with mine! I hope it all goes well for you xx
MITM hope you enjoyed your time in the garden X
Poor LMV has had such a bad time of it all lately, she must surely be wondering "what next". I sincerely hope things improve for her and her family. They are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Back to bed now before I fall asleep in my chair
Take care, BM xx0 -
Hello Crackers. Happy to read your good news, BM. It is always nice to have something to look forward to, and having a new "ours" house will be especially nice. Although it may be some time before you are permanently returned to England, I hope I am correct in assuming your will not be under pressure to buy the first house you see but will be able to take the time to consider a property. Do hope you are feeling better now from your reaction to dental surgery. MITM, are you still out in the garden? If so, I understand as I have been at it for some time through most days in September and still have work to do though I have now made major strides on emptying and cleaning the pots and decorative items. I do though have several pots still of begonias and marigolds that remain lush. I have not yet begun raking leaves as virtually none have changed colour and fallen. The teak garden bench needs to be oiled with tung oil and the fish are still in the pond so lots left to do.
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This is a continuation of the previous post which somehow magically was posted. At least it did not just disappear into the nether world of lost posts!
I had started to say that Friday turned out to be a complete disaster, linked to the dental appointment. To begin, it was raining all day and miserable. I knew there were several on-going road works projects which could delay me so I allowed an hour and ten minutes for what should be a 25 minute trip. I took a longer route to avoid the roadwork and that part went quite well and I got to the university in good time. The traffic there was very busy and I seemed to have difficulty locating the dental building and a public parking lot. (The dentist is also a professor so has an office on the university grounds). It happened that I was driving through just as classes were changing so hordes of students, most with their heads down looking at their phones so one had to be careful not to run them over! I found a parking lot, had to stop and get a ticket, then move ahead and speak to a man in a booth. I pulled away and within a second or so heard a dreadful sound- it had hit a small concrete post (I was too close to the curb after driving close to reach out to take the ticket. I immediately burst into tears and began sobbing! I was so frustrated and angry at myself. I have been so careful with my new truck. I park in the remote corners of the parking lots of malls. I had taken a careful route to the dentist's and now this. I felt like one of those characters in Greek mythology who were always trying to avoid the fates of the gods and in doing so actually brought on the fate.
(rather self-dramatic, of course, but I immediately thought of the waste of money at a time when I am trying to save money to help my niece with university next year). In any case, the campus police had to be called, a report taken, vehicle identifications all examined- all for an accident that was just me and the post, no one else involved. The post left unharmed. After all this, I ended up seeing the specialist for well under 5 minutes. It was a 'consultation.' A further frustration was that the x-ray my regular dentist took had not been sent forward and so another x-ray had to be done. For a hefty consult fee, I was told that the tooth would have to be removed (exactly why my dentist sent me there) and an appointment date in three weeks set up. As for my truck, I have decided not to bother with an insurance claim for repairs as that can increase future premium prices. Most people think if it is $2500 or less, it is better to pay oneself. If there is any consolation, it is that the family who board my horse are helping me to find a good repair shop, hopefully one that they have used. Thus ends my Friday tale of woe. And I do realize there are far, far, worse things that can happen- and am reminded of it when I see my friend, Jennifer, at the stable struggling with her ALS and now using a cane and an electronic board to communicate- that is heart-breaking.
Regards.0 -
This is a continuation of the previous post which somehow magically was posted. At least it did not just disappear into the nether world of lost posts!
I had started to say that Friday turned out to be a complete disaster, linked to the dental appointment. To begin, it was raining all day and miserable. I knew there were several on-going road works projects which could delay me so I allowed an hour and ten minutes for what should be a 25 minute trip. I took a longer route to avoid the roadwork and that part went quite well and I got to the university in good time. The traffic there was very busy and I seemed to have difficulty locating the dental building and a public parking lot. (The dentist is also a professor so has an office on the university grounds). It happened that I was driving through just as classes were changing so hordes of students, most with their heads down looking at their phones so one had to be careful not to run them over! I found a parking lot, had to stop and get a ticket, then move ahead and speak to a man in a booth. I pulled away and within a second or so heard a dreadful sound- it had hit a small concrete post (I was too close to the curb after driving close to reach out to take the ticket. I immediately burst into tears and began sobbing! I was so frustrated and angry at myself. I have been so careful with my new truck. I park in the remote corners of the parking lots of malls. I had taken a careful route to the dentist's and now this. I felt like one of those characters in Greek mythology who were always trying to avoid the fates of the gods and in doing so actually brought on the fate.
(rather self-dramatic, of course, but I immediately thought of the waste of money at a time when I am trying to save money to help my niece with university next year). In any case, the campus police had to be called, a report taken, vehicle identifications all examined- all for an accident that was just me and the post, no one else involved. The post left unharmed. After all this, I ended up seeing the specialist for well under 5 minutes. It was a 'consultation.' A further frustration was that the x-ray my regular dentist took had not been sent forward and so another x-ray had to be done. For a hefty consult fee, I was told that the tooth would have to be removed (exactly why my dentist sent me there) and an appointment date in three weeks set up. As for my truck, I have decided not to bother with an insurance claim for repairs as that can increase future premium prices. Most people think if it is $2500 or less, it is better to pay oneself. If there is any consolation, it is that the family who board my horse are helping me to find a good repair shop, hopefully one that they have used. Thus ends my Friday tale of woe. And I do realize there are far, far, worse things that can happen- and am reminded of it when I see my friend, Jennifer, at the stable struggling with her ALS and now using a cane and an electronic board to communicate- that is heart-breaking.
Regards.0 -
Good morning Crackers!
'New Monday, new week, new goals' okay I know it's Tuesday but I saw this yesterday and I thought 'yes'. I did not have a good weekend, I succumbed to buying a tub of cappuccino ice-cream on Friday during my weekly shop. And yes I scoffed the lot come the evening, as I was tired and fed up from almost 2 weeks non stop of schlipfkrapfen making, working late into the night.... Did the ice-cream help not really! And then Sunday my husband invited his Godfather and Aunt to lunch and it was the full works - he served up a 5 course menu so come Monday morning I needed to draw the line!
Bracken - sorry to hear about your accident, perfectly understandable to have burst into tears. I'm quite sure I would have done the same with sheer frustration but then seeing your poor friend in her dreadful situation does make you see things in a different light. I hope you had more success BM at your dental appointment?
Well sadly our Indian summer vanished into thin air over the weekend (a bit like the ice-cream!) in fact I changed the summer duvet over for the winter one I was so cold in the night. It then pounded with rain all day Sunday and I regretted having only cut back 2 bushes when I should have done more, especially when I sighted the first snow on the mountain tops yesterday, however it is real Autumn weather now, cooler but still sunny so I'm now seriously cracking on in the garden and raked 3 wheelbarrow loads of leaves.
BM - what wonderful news! So is Somerset the compromise between Cambridge and Wales?! My husband and I spent our first year of marriage in Bath which I loved - still do for shopping!
Talking of shopping, I invested/treated myself to a new blouse last week, to add to my capsule wardrobe; semi sheer, with a soft ruffle neck and cuff in this season's shade of milkshake pale pink with navy textured spots. I was only reading over the weekend in my John Lewis 'Edition' magazine, 'the arrival of a whole new fashion season in September is presumably a kind of celestial consolation prize for summer being over. You need a new look. This doesn't mean you need a new wardrobe. A new look works best when it's 25% newness and 75% you-ness. That means sticking to the colours and silhouettes that work for you, but updating the details.' That could be me!!! I confess I will have little use for such a blouse up my mountain, but I'm going to stay overnight again in London with my Mother as we have tickets for 'Cinderella' at the Palladium after Christmas. And I'm meeting up with old friends when I'm next home in November.
I'm pleased to report I am on day 9 of my Jorge '8 minutes in the morning' exercises. No matter what the scales currently say, my mirror tells me I'm looking better for doing them! The sugar monitoring I'm struggling with so I have ordered 'The 8 week Blood Sugar Diet Recipe Book' written my Dr Moseley's wife who is also a doctor with the help of a nutritionist to aid me on my way as I need more guidance and ideas for meal planning.
Right I have potatoes that have cooled so I must get back to work and then head for the garden once more.
Be good Crackers!
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Hello Crackers. I should make this a bit of a pop-in as I have lots to do today because tomorrow we are having Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's. ( I am not sure if Thanksgiving is celebrated in Britain. And in the U.S. it is celebrated at the end of November and is marked by huge shopping extravaganzas known as Black Friday Sales. Here it is a more gentile holiday- no special shopping, no gifts, a time for family dinners and to celebrate the harvest. I am taking roasted butternut squash, wine, and making a pumpkin pudding. I like to make it from scratch using fresh, not canned pumpkin- a little more work but worth it.
The day has been more busy because this morning I had to take my truck to the repair shop for an estimate. The good part is that the fellow recommended to me seems very professional and capable of doing a good job.
Recent weather has continued hot, with humidex reports still issued fort eh weather which was in the high 20's/low 30's all last week. It is now moderating but still sunny.
I had a bit of a sad incident after I came home today. I happened to look out the window and saw Nellie with something in her mouth. I yelled to her and ran to the back yard. She had captured one of the chipmunks that live under my front steps and mauled it badly. The poor thing had crawled to a log. I found it, very badly mauled but still alive. I'm not sure if the best course would have been to kill it mercifully but I could not do that. I held the little creature in my hands wrapped in a cloth I had grabbed. Then I put it in a bucket and went in the house and got some wet wipes and some antiseptic cream. I washed the blood off and put the cream on and set it near some gardening wood in my garage. For a few seconds it did not move but when I turned my back it disappeared under the wood. I'm not sure if it can survive but hope this is better than being destroyed by Nellie (only doing what is natural to her, of course). I do hate to think it is suffering as its jaw was rather injured. I had hoped the chipmunks would stay away from the back yard as I do not have the birdfeeders there.
Well, MITM, you again have a lot of testing in your resolve to keep trim and seem to be doing a good job of keeping those little lapses from turning into a full relapse. I enjoyed hearing about your fall wardrobe plans and purchase. It has been so warm I have still been basically wearing summer clothes and am quite tired of them. Tomorrow should be cool enough to wear a new camel coloured mock turtle sweater I bought with a really pretty infinity scarf which is predominately rust coloured with a pattern, sort of abstract florals, of dark browns and olive greens and mustardy yellows (hard to describe); I've really been wanting to wear it before we suddenly jump into wools! Must go.
Regards all.0 -
Hello Crackers. I should make this a bit of a pop-in as I have lots to do today because tomorrow we are having Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's. ( I am not sure if Thanksgiving is celebrated in Britain. And in the U.S. it is celebrated at the end of November and is marked by huge shopping extravaganzas known as Black Friday Sales. Here it is a more gentile holiday- no special shopping, no gifts, a time for family dinners and to celebrate the harvest. I am taking roasted butternut squash, wine, and making a pumpkin pudding. I like to make it from scratch using fresh, not canned pumpkin- a little more work but worth it.
The day has been more busy because this morning I had to take my truck to the repair shop for an estimate. The good part is that the fellow recommended to me seems very professional and capable of doing a good job.
Recent weather has continued hot, with humidex reports still issued fort eh weather which was in the high 20's/low 30's all last week. It is now moderating but still sunny.
I had a bit of a sad incident after I came home today. I happened to look out the window and saw Nellie with something in her mouth. I yelled to her and ran to the back yard. She had captured one of the chipmunks that live under my front steps and mauled it badly. The poor thing had crawled to a log. I found it, very badly mauled but still alive. I'm not sure if the best course would have been to kill it mercifully but I could not do that. I held the little creature in my hands wrapped in a cloth I had grabbed. Then I put it in a bucket and went in the house and got some wet wipes and some antiseptic cream. I washed the blood off and put the cream on and set it near some gardening wood in my garage. For a few seconds it did not move but when I turned my back it disappeared under the wood. I'm not sure if it can survive but hope this is better than being destroyed by Nellie (only doing what is natural to her, of course). I do hate to think it is suffering as its jaw was rather injured. I had hoped the chipmunks would stay away from the back yard as I do not have the birdfeeders there.
Well, MITM, you again have a lot of testing in your resolve to keep trim and seem to be doing a good job of keeping those little lapses from turning into a full relapse. I enjoyed hearing about your fall wardrobe plans and purchase. It has been so warm I have still been basically wearing summer clothes and am quite tired of them. Tomorrow should be cool enough to wear a new camel coloured mock turtle sweater I bought with a really pretty infinity scarf which is predominately rust coloured with a pattern, sort of abstract florals, of dark browns and olive greens and mustardy yellows (hard to describe); I've really been wanting to wear it before we suddenly jump into wools! Must go.
Regards all.0 -
So lovely to sit down with a cup of tea on a Monday morning and catch up with the Crackers...... So sad for the chipmunk Bracken but you were very kind to try and help it. I could not have just left it either. Fingers crossed it wil survive and be strong again. It was awful to read of your accident with the truck, how easy these things happen too. We have a huge Range Rover thingy here, I don't drive on the roads here thank goodness but when I had to move it to the 2nd basement garage for OH to move the work vehicle I drove it over a large curb. In my defence it is so difficult to see the ground immediately around you because, and I should imagine your truck is the same, you are so high off the floor! Happy that you have found someone trustworthy to do it for you though and let's hope it's not too expensive either xx Have a lovely Thanksgiving.
MITM, I laughed out loud at your reaction to Somerset being the compromise between Cambridge and Wales. I am so happy OH actually found the house there and decided on the area. It is only 110 miles from my Welsh home but 210 from his Cambridge home. Although as I laughingly pointed out to him it is still in England and not Wales. So your reaction was very similar to mine when he first showed me the plans! We have found a new build we really like but it has been a bit of a nightmare. We thought we could just pay the majority of the cost in cash and get a mortgage for the rest for over 3 years. Nothing is ever that simple! We have had to prove we are British Citizens as we are also Singapore residents, which I can understand, but we have had to send copies of passports and proof of bank accounts and owner ships of properties etc just to the company selling the house! Our solicitor assured us this is normal practice but what a fuss! The biggest problem is OH is paid in American dollars into a Singapore bank and we wanted a British mortgage. The majority of our money is sent immediately each month to the UK and has been for 9years so it is all just up in the air at the moment and we have a week left to either sell a house, or find a U.K. Bank who will lend to Expats. His step Daughter messed us around for almost a week, she has always said she will have the Cambridge home, but when we offered her first refusal of it we hadn't realised she just wanted it given to her and not have to buy it! We wouldn't have expected the full market value of it off her, but her Husband has an excellent job, they have no mortgage or debts, drive brand new cars every year and live really well. They also brag about how well they are doing too.....she then turned around and emailed OH and the least said about that the better, but she is not having that house now if she offers us over market value for it! So we may possibly lose this house which I will be really sad over but at least the Cambridge house will be up for sale which I am delighted about. OH has said he will be rally Glad to see it go and move from there. As hard as it has been for me bite my tongue through all of this the decisions have all been OH's even though I have been accused of "forcing OH to sell it against his will!". That made us both laugh (although if I'm honest it did upset me). OH can be the most stubborn man alive when he wants and I could and would never do anything to force him into a decision he didn't want! I told my Daughter what his stepdaughter had been saying (I just had to confide in someone and my Daughter is a calm sensible person) and she actually said if she was me she would give his stepdaughter a good shaking to try and put some sense into her and to stop her hurting her Dad so much with her behaviour! She knows I could never do that, I am far from being a violent person and I hate confrontation, but as she said trying to talk to or reason with a person who thinks the world revolves around her, and only her is never going to be easy!
Anyhow, I apologise profusely for ranting on but it has been so cathartic to get this off my chest, (my heart breaks for this lovely, wonderful kind man who is so caring and good. That he has to end up with a step Daughter who thinks his only worth is his wallet. He has now seen it with his own eyes, and although I suspect he has always known it, to have proof is something different entirely).
If you have stayed with me to the end of this rant I thank you, it feels good to write it all down.
Please take care of yourselves.
BM0 -
Happy Weekend all. I weighed this morning for the first time in over 2 weeks. I am down a few pounds, yay! I haven't logged it accurately as I was hoping to go a month without weighing. I do feel less pressurised and am not having so many of the "hate myself fat days" I have when the scale hasn't dropped or STS. My alcohol consumption is at probably the lowest point of my life so that's helping too. I still enjoy my Chardonnay immensely but only once a week.
Hope you all have a great weekend
BM xx0 -
Hello Crackers.
BM, I did stay to the end of your rant and do sympathize with the maze of bureaucracy you have to negotiate in buying your house- not to mention the issue with the Cambridge house.
Good to hear also that you are making some progress with your weight and feeling better about it.
Here Thanksgiving was very nice. I was at my brother's in the country along with a number of other family members. Nellie was able to attend also and had a great day along with three other dogs. I had a nice walkabout before dinner but that weekend the leaves had not changed much. This weekend they are much further along and there are some really magnificent scenes. Even in my suburban neighbourhood which has a lot of older trees, there is a wonderful variety of colours. I have maples which are a reddish orange but down the street are trees that are solid golden yellow and other that are like a peach and others that are a dark red. Still the trees here are not even half turned colour and have only begun to fall.
A week ago Thursday I had an appointment about my skin cancer. I thought it was to be a checkup but in fact, a further treatment was scheduled, followed by a second one Thursday past. As I could have predicted since I am so prone to picking up any cough or respiratory infection, I have had some kind of a viral infection for the past ten days.The treatments require being at the clinic for over four hours so it really cuts into the day. This week I am scheduled for the tooth extraction on Thursday (at the same place where the wretched collision with the post happened) . Next week my truck will be in for its repairs.
And then more appointments with the regular dentist to develop a new tooth. I am getting tired of these appointments!
However, I have managed to get back on my horse after doing nothing during the prolonged heat spell. ( we have had more moderate temps but still some days with a reported humidex,
including tomorrow which is supposed to hit 30C) I am also going to try to have a ride on my bike a couple of times this week while it is still good weather for that. I have got most of my garden pots cleaned and put away although there are still several with begonias still flourishing and one large pot of marigolds. I am still trying to figure out what to do with my larger fish.(just three) They have reproduced! I have set up a ten gallon aquarium in my den which has 4 small fish at the moment. I have seen at least two more in the pond so will try to net them also. The large fish may go to the pond at my stables which is very deep so they could winter over. My sister has also told me about a method of keeping them in a pond like mine but I'm not sure if I can get the materials.
Must get on with some other jobs now but hope to be back soon. Regards.
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Afternoon Crackers!
I've been so busy, I've only just read my Sunday weekly 'Fabulous Forever' blog. As you can see I'm embracing this over 50 lark full on!! This is a make-up site specializing in make-up for the over 50s. Over the past year I've come full circle, now that my 17 year old daughter wears make-up it has slowly dawned on me, what might suit her young skin does not necessarily do me any favors anymore! And then by chance I read an article on the founder of 'Fabulous Forever' and she's such a character that I now subscribe to her weekly blog.
This weeks blog was all about the older woman not wearing make-up and looking so pale and washed out... I have to confess living up my mountain, I can go days without wearing make-up or making an effort to tame my wild hair but then I'm surrounded by women of my age and older, who think nothing of dying their greying hair jet black, or bright red but don't know what make-up is and in my opinion look absolutely dreadful! And yet in the UK I wouldn't dream of leaving the house without my lipstick on!! Interestingly this blog points out 'older faces need make-up more than younger faces but they don't need more make-up'. I consider myself a 'look fabulous forever' customer because I do like to look good at important moments but I'm not a slave to fashion.
Last weekend was the 5th anniversary of my mother-in-law's death so there was a mass for her. In her honor I made the effort to control the curls and made up my face and took off my gardening work clothes and looked presentable and I felt a bit like Cinderella. I put in all this effort to exercise (I'm on day 23 of Jorge), eat right and then I hide my body under a sack of baggy clothing 98% of the time! I think I need to get out and about more and meet up with my 'Joan Collins' friend!
BM - so pleased to hear that you are winning the battle with the scales. I'm playing a game with them this week, I did actually lose on my weigh in day but I didn't have time to register it and just as well. Due to family attending the mass I had to bake and decided upon Nigel Slater's chocolate and banana loaf... with cream. I don't want to post a huge gain next week so I'm staying away from the scales for a while! Any joy with the house buying?
Bracken - my hedge is one glorious mass of orange, yellow and gold leaves but not for long as it's getting colder by the day and I've been raking... My flower pots are clean and ready to be stored away but my window box flowers are still up as they are in full bloom and protected but I will have to take them down before I leave for the UK end of next week. Have you got your fish out of your pond? If it makes you feel any better after your collision, my husband damaged his car driving out of our garage recklessly, so took my car instead to work and drove into an 'old' woman driving too slowly in front of him. His definition of old - she was fifty. I was so cross with him I'm sure you could see steam coming out of my ears! However luckily everything has now been repaired. I hope your appointments go well.
Right, as ever I have potatoes cooking so I must press on.
Be good Crackers!0 -
Good evening. I have spent so long accessing (GRRR) this site that now I only have a short time to respond but have thoroughly enjoyed your post, MITM. I too am getting to the end of my fall cleanup but not the raking of leaves as trees are still largely green and leaves have not fallen. Weather here though has changed to much cooler- today 8C high. I have set up the aquarium with the offspring fish, as many as I could catch, but the large ones are still in the pond- not sure yet what I am doing. Today a Cooper's hawk, a magnificent looking bird, but of course a prey bird, was directly outside my kitchen window by the birdfeeder. I saw him take down a sparrow- it was quite dreadful. he had it under his feet and I think I startled him and I saw the sparrow flutter away , the hawk in pursuit but do not no the outcome. Of course, the hawk must eat but I wish it could stick to mice! Enjoyed your anecdote about your husband's accident and did chuckle at his expense with your description of events. Must off.
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Afternoon Crackers!
I realized on Saturday when I stepped on the scales, the past 5 weeks have finally caught up with me! I think I've had an autumn lull - at least where the diet is concerned...
I completed my 28 days of 8 minute exercises in the morning with Jorge and ended up weighing heavier than I started by 2 pounds. However on a positive note I was looking slightly in better shape. Shedding weight is a simple mathematical sum - less in than out and due to circumstances this last month I have not put that into practice and I'm now paying the price...
Work has been hectic - which I knew beforehand it would be having had 2 weeks off end of the summer in the UK and I'm going away again end of this week for 3 weeks. So that's 5 missing weeks of work, that needed to be crammed into the already busy 6 weeks in between which is not fun! Making schlipfkrapfen does not burn calories, it's finger work sat on my backside for hours on end although pressing potatoes does help tone the upper arms! But when you have a deadline and you work too long it becomes exhausting and we work mainly in the evenings and when I'm weary and tired, I make bad food choices, late at night...
Plus this past month my husband has been home on Sundays and we have had to entertain, so I've baked every week which I haven't done in a long, long time, all extra unplanned calories...
My daily walking friend also had a hysterectomy and although we have still been out trotting, we've only walked on the flats and for just 20 minutes. I never fully appreciated until now how that hour of daily gentle hill walking all adds up.
I also realized with less than a week until I leave just how much still had to be done in the garden. I've been pottering around too much... so my husband and I spent Saturday afternoon putting the garden to bed. We accomplished much, cut the hedge, many bushes, took down the window boxes and then disaster struck - we were tying back a large bush in preparation for snow and the wire suddenly snapped with me on the end of it, flinging me with such force into my rockery. Fortunately I landed on my backside between 2 large rocks (I don't want to think about had I landed on one of them), my head missing the wall by centimeters but I broke my wrist!
Luckily (ha! ha!) it's not my schlipfkrapfen making/dominant hand although it's my writing hand and I won't be pressing potatoes anytime soon - husband now has to do that - and we've been able to continue working - slowly but the sheer inconvenience of what I can't do and as for my hair?!?! However I'm looking on the bright side according to my husband I'm lucky not to have broken my neck. I'm not sure what my family and friends will make of this, last year I went home with a black eye, this year a broken wrist!!!
AND to add insult to injury I'm now even heavier than ever, okay I have a plaster but I know it's down to the chocolates, biscuits and general comfort eating whilst feeling very, very sorry for myself!
However my 4.6 pound gain which feels more like a stone, I am not allowing to become 7 pounds so I will not be having a winter hibernation, I will be pounding the city streets in the UK and I will be back at target again for Christmas!
Be good Crackers!
P.S. Bracken I love your posts it like a nature program, there is always something happening in your garden!0
