A beautiful sunny day which I started early with a walk in the woods with George and a friend who came along to keep us company. I'm now in the process of taking as much furniture out of the lounge as possible now so that I can pull and cut up the old carpet and finish the last bit of painting so no Lin, not quite there yet! The dining table I use with my laptop is covered in house plants and a variety of bits and bobs that will probably go to a car boot sale in the summer as I'm now going to de-clutter.

Patsy ~ A could post a photo of the room as it is now for a before and after session but don't want to mess up Marie and Buzz's computers. Hopefully MFP will sort themselves out soon and I'll get a photo of the completed lounge posted.

Buzz ~ Today on the walk we met a very nice man with a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog that was wonderfully calm and gentle because he was apparently runt of the litter! He was huge and at one point jumped up on my back and nearly sent me flying so I suppose I can understand the fear of a Great Dane hurtling in someone's direction. A shame that dog's owner would get the sack though!

Bob ~ As I cleared my bookshelves to get to the area behind with a paintbrush I rediscovered a rather dog-eared copy of T S Eliot's "Old Possum's book of practical cats" so an flicking through the pages when I should be stirring paint.... I'll have to shut my eyes as the other books are carried out!

Anne ~ So who taught us how to eat a Walnut Whip because we all seemed to attack it in the same manner?? I'm delighted you've been encouraged to get back to your painting as you do seem to enjoy the pastime and as PATSY commented, it is a wonderful way to pass time!!

Barbie ~I have the same thought about vegan food in that so much preparation seems to be involved but also for me I do enjoy my meals and planning something different each day.

Oops, well past midday so I must get on with my plan to finish painting today in the next couple of hours before going to view an auction that will be held tomorrow because I see on line they have a couple of antique bookcases that might look good in my cottage.

I just came within a whisker of losing this post so will wish you all a wonderful Sunday, SANDY, DIANE and all that I missed.

Jackie

Quick PS. Thought for the day: Painting should be recommended for all of us wishing to lose weight. One gets so engrossed one forgets mundane things like meal times! I don't think the emaciated looking artists of the past where actually starving in garrets at all, they just forgot it was dinner time!

Hey Lin – I think you will like “Enough Said.” I’ll have to check out that Fed Up childhood obesity doc sometime….did you like it?

Barbie – I can’t see myself ever going true vegan. I have cut my red meat intake probably by 75% compared with old eating habits and I no longer get the biggest size cut – when I do order.

Patsy – I will check out "Poems to Learn by Heart.". I wish I had read your post earlier – I was at Barnes & Noble earlier today. The store is on the other side of town, so I don’t get that that often (but this week I was there twice).

Buzz – Thrilled your friends triple by-pass went well. As for keeping relationships alive etc…. it took a LONG time for me to realize. For many, I think it comes with age. As we lose loved ones – young & old – we are reminded of that saying “no one is promised tomorrow.

Along the same topic. Church was an emotional place today.

The 84 y/o family friend my wife has known for decades (and has about 1 mos. to live) was in attendance. She still lives at the nursing home and can’t walk etc. but her grown children are wonderful to her and take her out etc. She is the kind of person you want to do things for.

My wife went to breakfast with her girlfriend (dating back to high school) this morning. Her friend is having a tumor removed from her breast tomorrow and then will need daily radiation for a couple weeks.

Another friend / parishioner let everyone know they would be out of town. Last Friday, her 19 year-old niece was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. Again – the lesson on how important each day can be.

I started the day by - burning 320 calories doing 60 minutes of cardio exercises, including walking treadmill gym 45 minutes.

Then breakfast of (Calories: 112) Dannon - Light & Fit Carb & Sugar Control Vanilla Cream Yogurt, 4 oz.; Dole - mandarin oranges in water NO SUGAR 1 container; Sugar Free Jello , 2 Snack; Fresh Blueberries - 1.5 oz [blended then let it freeze a bit and ate as sort of a mid-morning treat]

Tonight we will be watching The 2015 Academy of Country Music Awards -- not sure I can watch it all at once as it goes from 8pm to 11:30pm -- I might watch til 10pm then flip to something else and tape the remainder...

Got our bikes out yesterday and discovered both had rim rubber falling off etc. so I dropped them at the bike shop. I haven't been on my bike in "years" because of super obesity. Looking forward to riding the bike path at the nearby lake this summer.

Have a great evening everyone. Bob

Bob, I gave up red meat a couple of years ago because I found myself with digestive problems after eating it. Our decision to give up meat has some ethical reasons involved. I'll never move to vegan because the Isagenix shakes I have as part of my eating are based on whey protein. Isagenix makes a dairy free shake but it's not as tasty as the chocolate one I love so much. Jake eats a bit of cheese, too, and puts milk in his coffee. We also wanted to be able to eat fish and eggs.,,,,congrats on thinning down enough to be able to ride your bike again.


We just came from lunch with super good friends who spend most of their time out of state. We ate at our favorite Chinese restaurant (too much sodium). I had broccoli in garlic sauce and brown rice.

Barbie

Good evening. I've read all the posts and enjoyed them thoroughly.

Today was a long day at church. I did help the lady with communion particularly as she seems to have chemo fog or whatever it might be called. She just didn't know what she was doing or where she was putting things down or that things had to be washed up. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to try to get through that while living alone. She loves being at church and kind of is *grandma* to a lot of the young children.

Sad news about a relatively young lady at our church. I've been sending cards to her periodically for years. She's had a long fight with cancer and was in remission for a while until the cancer returned and was pretty much systemic. They gave up on chemo quite a few months ago. She's been extremely weak but now has developed an infection and is in serious condition. Everyone is upset as she is reported to be in uncontrollable pain. I don't understand how they cannot administer enough drugs alone or in combination to keep her comfortable. Okay, rant over.

Bob, the documentary was a bit disturbing, not because I didn't realize what they'd be talking about, but that the children are suffering so much. That got to me. I think it's worth watching.

No one asked but I'll volunteer that I am whole-food plant-based so I don't use packaged foods. Most food additives and colors make me ill. I'm no salt, no sugar, no oil as well. And I do not eat any animal products. And everything I purchase has to be gluten free. Just finding appropriate products keeps me on my toes. When I finally have my products in the house, my food prep time probably takes longer some days than most people would consider reasonable. However, there are many vegans who spend little time preparing food---they buy anything in a store labelled as vegan and many of these products are just as much junk food as the non-vegan options.

Everyone has to find their own way. I am eating what I consider to be the healthiest foods possible as they are my medicine and hopefully my medical insurance. Since it's that important to me, I really do not mind in the least spending time on it. The other factor is that I eat large volumes of fresh vegetables. I go through pounds and pounds of fresh vegetables in a week but I do not prepare all of them at one time as they don't keep well that way.

A lady at church was telling me how healthy green salad is so she buys a bag of prepared salad (iceberg lettuce, carrots, cabbage) and makes 3 or 4 salads out of it. She tops each one with bacon bits. Another person told me if she had to clean and chop Romaine lettuce she'd never eat salad as it was too much work. Whereas a donut and coffee is not such a time investment apparently since that's what she was eating while talking to me.

If it doesn't end up working for me at least I've done everything possible. At least that's my theory.

I guess I had another rant in me. Haaa.

I hope folks are able to start posting pictures again. They are so enjoyable.

Tomorrow--off to shop for vegetables and fruit. Then I need to start bubble-wrapping the other dishes I'll be sending off for sale. I've decided I'll do a few a day until I get the job completed. Then I'll take a tote out to that same shop and check on final packing and shipping prices.

See you tomorrow.

Lin

WOWOWOWOWOW! Go Bob. Wahoo! (And the photo looks fine to me Bob but I'm on Chrome.......)

Sandy - cold and windy here today. Back to a heavy coat and a hat. They are quoting wind chills again for gosh sakes.

Anne - that is wonderful that the combination of avoiding tomatoes and losing some lbs has wiped out your arthritis. My friend's husband had a knee replaced and then he got serious after rehab in doing exercises and walking. As a result he has lost a lot of weight (he won't say how much) and he is feeling so much better he is not going to have the other knee replacement surgery. I am so glad to here these stories.........!

A couple of errands out of the way, time to get the laundry out of the dryer and then a few more errands to do today.

See you later my friends.

Lin

Good morning sneakers. Today there is fog and damp chilly weather. So it is sweaters and a fire in the fireplace weather again. Our hanging geraniums baskets are fine. They are hearty enough to take a light frost I think. I am hoping that doesn't happen. Spring here is elusive. One day in the 70s and the next hovering near freezing.

Anne: thanks for the advice. I think that the plan of action will need to be just what you suggest. I am not as disciplined as you, Lin and Bob. I guess you could say I learn everything the hard way. Eventually I get it!

Bob: the photos came through great. I use an iPad and never had difficulty with the photos or posts. But I am impressed like everyone, with your weight loss and fitness routine. It sounds like you have a new lease on life. We are all inspired by your dedication and good humor. Not an easy combination, in truth!

Lin: you always have such amazing research in process. Thanks for sharing. I do think, as you do, good health requires concentrated good habits. It is often a juggling act to keep it all under control. I drop the ball so often it is startling. I need to Get up, dust off, and try to pay more attention to my life.

Jackie: looking around this house I see areas that need painting and we will get to it but there is much to do. I know you will enjoy all your efforts when completed. I hope little George minds his manners when he is around the newly repainted and re carpeted areas. Our furry girls are very curious about changes in their invironment. They often disapprove of changes.

BUZZ! So glad the old Buzz is back! Back to normal webpage, fingers, legs and eyes crossed!

Here are a couple pics from my stay in Abu D
Habit One of me with the 2year old grand daughter and one with my daughter and her two little girls.

Anne – Congrats on being able to walk and climb stairs again normally!

Sandy – What a nice comment about your ex…so nice for Robby to have such mature grandparents.

Lin & Patsy –
Thank you – You’re right about the new lease on life. I am equally inspired by such a great bunch of people.

Buzz – another interest includes old standards – so....

As a mini-treat for myself – I picked up a Record Day special release copy this morning of 1964's Dream with Dean (subtitled "the intimate Dean Martin"). It was newly re-mastered from the original analog tapes for this RSD 180-gram vinyl release and features Dino's signature "Everybody Loves Somebody." The sound is incredible on the turntable my daughter gave me for Christmas.

Shirley – Isaac looks beautiful. Love that name with its meaning of - "he laughs". Looks like everyone here is getting ready for the good weather. As for laundry – it reminds me of the time I told my wife it wasn’t necessary to work so hard with laundry / ironing. She said “you don’t understand – ironing relaxes me.” My response was – “who am I to keep you from relaxing – now get ironing!” LOL

Time for side #2 of Dean…
Bob

Lin, when we had lunch with our friends at the Chinese restaurant on Sunday, we told them about our new directions in eating. They are great friends who buy organic food and can be a bit fussy and snobbish about food and recipes, but as soon as we mentioned no meat (and I don't eat shellfish), they seemed to take a defensive tone to their responses. Jake and I agreed that we aren't going to be talking to people about how we eat except to say something like "we have odd eating practices" and leave it like that.

Bob, that is great news from your scale. Your good habits and attitude are enduring, but it's nice to have the scale say something positive, as well.

Buzz, if I had my way, I'd never eat in a restaurant again. I go rarely so if the broccoli in brown sauce is high sodium, it's balanced by the low/moderate sodium eating I do the rest of the time. When I eat high sodium stuff, my weight goes up about two pounds immediately and takes about a week to get back to normal.


No more time for chatting...gotta walk the dogs.

Barbie

Good morning - oh my yes! Wonderful pictures once again.

Shirley, I should have known a nautical theme would appear on your dear grandson soon. What a darling!! Will you spend less time on the boat this year in favor of time with your family?

Phyllis - also adore those pictures. You look so happy in the picture with your sweet granddaughter. And I adore the picture of your daughter and the little ones. How the heck did she look so great after just having a baby!!! Wow. I am glad you're back with us.

Sandy - I hope you're enjoying a nap now. You are so adaptable in your schedule. How was the visit yesterday?

Barbie - thanks for sharing your story about your friends reactions to your topic of a change in diet. It is reassuring to know I am not the only person whose habits are very uncomfortable for others. I don't eat in restaurants more than a couple of times a year. Or rather I go along, but don't really eat. Since I live alone and don't have pets, I would like more social interactions with my friends and acquaintances. Unfortunately that seems to involve restaurants about 98% of the time. They respect that eating in restaurants makes me ill but unfortunately the solution is to exclude me from all activities. I have mixed emotions about the situation. The only other thing they do from time to time is go to a movie but there's little talking at a movie and then they usually go to eat afterwards. Well, a conundrum for sure.

Gayla - it is so good to hear from you. I saw a post on the news feed the other day but I am really glad to see you here as well! I am glad things are going fairly well and that Neil is relatively happy. I cannot believe Owen is 2 already!!! Oh my gosh. We'll take an updated photo anytime you want to post (hint).

Anne and Patsy - I admire your creativity. I wish I could stir things up enough to rouse some type of muse within myself.

Bob - I do not doubt for a moment that you would love Dean Martin..........how was side 2?

Marie - did Alice get your computer all fixed up again? Or didn't she visit this weekend?

I've been doing a bit of cleaning in my house this morning. It is always a dirty disaster but sometimes it goes beyond even my comfort level and I do a bit of this and that until I'm not anxious about it.

The folks who have always said they wanted to buy my dad's acreage and who have been mowing, plowing snow, trimming trees, spraying weeds, helping with little things and only charging me minimal fees overall have decided they do not want to take on a larger mortgage at this point in their lives so they are going to pass. That really let the air out of my sails since that's all we've been talking about since 2008. Their son parks a car in the garage, they have keys to the detached garage and the house and have been coming and going at will all these years. He'd told me they wanted to keep things in the garage, etc. And he was 100% comfortable with the house since he knew pretty much everything about the place. I was close to tears while I talked to him on the phone. And it is what my dad wanted if I wasn't going to live there he was happy that Scott would be there.

I know that sounds like a very small thing but it really threw me off balance. Time to regroup and think some more. The house still needs a thorough cleaning and there are lots of little things that need to be fixed. I cannot find a cleaning service and I cannot find a handyman. I hate feeling I don't know what to do---if I have a course of action, I'm much more comfortable.

Okay, enough of my life. Back to my cup of tea and then more cleaning!

Hugs to everyone---be healthy!

Lin