WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER 2015

Checking in quickly and without reading. I'm in the airport lounge in Bangkok waiting to board the flight to Singapore in about half an hour. Meanwhile I'm gorging on fresh papaya with lime juice. Somehow I'd forgotten all about tropical fruit!
/Penny, on the way from the to darn near the equator. My oh my...

Penny - have a great trip! The papaya sounds great!

Sylvia- i'm so glad to hear that!



Mary from Minnesota

Wow everybody has been busy chatting this weekend...it is taking me ages to catch up. I do want to say that Miriam, I think your thoughts about the holidays are very very wise and I am going to re-read them.
My cold is still not entirely gone after close to three weeks..was getting to the point where I was researching strep and mono yesterday but I really think it is just one mean mama virus. it is better today than yesterday.
Have been on a downsizing kick lately and am donating lots of things I do not need. Today I painted a closet and hope to get the whole room done soon. Of course the rest of the house is way neglected! It is a wonder we can find anything.
Got a little sad trying to downsize DD2's stuff a bit... Who knows when she will return, but I cannot hang on to all these things. It is hard to see clothes and remember the person wearing them.
Hugs to all the folks dealing with illness and injuries and being overwhelmed!!!
Also, I might have a few craft items to share via picture when I can get them organized! So many talented folks here!!!
Love seeing people be creative!
Betty WNY

Carol – welcome home, sorry it wasn’t all you had hoped, but …. I can’t remember who you went with? The kids???

DJ and others who asked about thanksgiving…. So I do my calorie planning backwards – I will have one or two thin pieces of pie, so reserve those calories and then work out the rest, and remember it is the week that is more important than the day, so if you can “bank” a few calories from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday then Thanksgiving day is more do-able.

appetizer is soup! A butternut soup served in shot glasses

So first is add a green salad – lots of veggies and a low calorie dressing… fills your plate up and fills you,

then the dreaded green bean casserole – grrr – tradition! So if you can get away with not making it – then replace it with roasted asparagus, it is pretty on the plate and really healthy. If you have to have green beans, then steam them and toss them with some sauted shallots and mushrooms – you can saute the shallots until they are almost crispy…

Mashed potatoes – ok ½ potatoes and ½ cauliflower and when you mash them do it with non-fat milk and some non (or low fat) cream cheese or sour cream, NO butter! No full fat anything, then go easy on the gravy…

Rolls – don’t serve them how many carb do we really need?

Sweet potatoes – baked or roasted – no marshmallows please! If you need to sweeten them up a drizzle of pure Vermont maple syrup

Turkey – that’s fine

Stuffing – Ok serve yourself a small amount

Pie – see above – I’ll be having pecan!

Well its time for me to have dinner, I have spaghetti squash and homemade marinara, and I have calories saved for a glass of wine.


November Goals -
Attend yoga each wednesday evening
Walk everyday –would like to see 160 miles
continue counseling and hold my weight where it is as I deal with my current set of emotional issues
weekly fun things
W1 – football – we won! Working on craft show crafts
W2-
W3-
W4
Kim from N. California

Thanks, Katie and Kim. I took my daughter with me but that wasn't the problem. Our accommodations were less than desirable (even free, they were not good) and it was chilly and rainy the whole time. My need was to be "in" the mountains through hiking, but not worth injury from wet rocks and leaves. Becoming "one" with the mountains by being on a trail is good for my spirit.

As it was, I spent the dreary wet time dwelling on the reason that I was attempting to escape by going to the mountains. My friend's wedding was yesterday and it was/is painful for me. Although he meant well, the fact that he was in communication with me several times this week -- including yesterday morning -- was like twisting the knife. I've swallowed my feelings (although not chased with food) and have been as gracious as I can be and still remain true to myself. Our relationship is based on truth and trust so I won't lie to him. I have a feeling that I will be struggling with this for some time to come and I am fighting hard to not slip back into depression.

In the good news category, I have lost 12 pounds of regained weight since my surgery. Also, I should have a date coming up this weekend. The guy and I have been talking on the phone regularly for a couple of weeks and I am loving talking to him. He sounds like a good old country boy hick, but the more we talk, the more his intelligence shines through. We'll see...

Good night, all!

Carol in NC

Just took him s a shower. Workout in itself for him an me and the shoulder! They moved him to another room
Nite peeps

Mary - i'll pm it to you tomorrow, but it takes all day so you have to make it at a time you are home.

GodMomKim wrote: »

Mary - i'll pm it to you tomorrow, but it takes all day so you have to make it at a time you are home.

Thanks!

Mary from Minnesota

Glo- Fingers crossed for a decent rental soon.

Miriam - You are a talented lady and the embroidery is wonderful. It's good to hear your son is doing better. My heart hurt for you when I read your story about the dog. That was certainly cruel to subject your son and you to. I'm glad you are away from that terrible situation. You are so courageous.

Mindy - Time for some extreme self care.

Pip - I'm glad that your friends and neighbours are helping you. Did you make the quilt ? We have a trunk that looks remarkably like yours. It has been in Larry's family forever.

DJ - Born to be a model!

Sylvia - HaHa

Joyce - I hope Charlie's new medication starts working right away.

Lillian - The picture of Aiden is delightful. We need our toques out here on the prairies. Lol

Lazy start to the day. Lots of back pain. Sucked it up and got ready for the shower. My lack of planning showed up at the shower where I succumbed to the please of Baileys and coffee, Cheese and crackers and a cupcake.

We went out for supper and I didn't eat much but spinach dip and pita chips weren't a stellar choice. On to shopping night at the store. The 3 littlest are done for Christmas although I need to get a birthday present for DGS . I also forgot about DGGS. Sheesh.

Tim Horton's for coffee and a shared fruit explosion. My sister dived into it before I even sat down. We had a good day but a combination of bad choices has left me suffering acid reflux and afraid to lay down. tomorrow will be better. I'm going to attempt to plan out meals for the week. I am not good at that. I usually decide on supper a few hours before the main event.

I took a short walk before and after the shower. The baby received mounds of presents and more clothes than one little gaffer will be able to wear. One aunt gave 20 outfits. I felt it was showing off but I guess that's my problem.

Tomorrow is day off so laundry, dishes, cleaning and planning.

Trying my luck at being flat
-Sharon is sunny southern Alberta

So much reading so no time left for comments. I loved all the embroidery photos. As others have said, the talent of the girls on this thread is inspirational. So much creativity and good homespun advice, too. I feel very blessed to know you all.




I stepped on the scale this morning and it seems that my refocus is paying off. I have gone back down and another pound below my lowest weight. I have now lost 55lbs since starting on this journey.

Pip Kirby is a 'diamond geezer'. His determination shines through, and as you so right say, he is one handsome dude, even all beat up by his accident. Healing thoughts to you both. Remember that you need to take care of yourself to be able to take care of him. You are an amazing woman.

Janetr So sorry that you have been suffering so much. I feel an affinity with you and Pip because we had our ops round about the same time. I am glad that you finally went to the doctor and got some help. Sometimes we tend to be a little too independent, but we need to ask for help sooner rather than later.

Healing thoughts and prayers to those who need them!

Welcome to our Newbies. Sit a spell!

Each one of us is a vital cog in an infinite universe.
We may not know our purpose, but each cog needs to be oiled and tended.

May peace and joy shine on your day!



Irish Terri

Morning all!

Joyce - I'm the one in the black raincoat with the red bag. The one in the tan jacket is the friend I see most often. The one in the purple anorak lives in Glasgow and the one behind her is the difficult friend. She actually lives quite near me, but I very rarely choose to see her.

Still waiting to hear about exchange and completion. If it's not this week, then it will have to be the end of the following as we are babysitting up in London on Monday. The DGD is starting at a new childminder and her mum wants her to start with half days. Then we will pick up DGS from school. Leave at 6.40 pm. I so wish this selling business were all over. :sad:

This time of year I always feel like retreating into myself. Will pop down to the shops with DH today to buy easy stuff to prep. Can't get excited about anything. A passing phase I'm sure.

Love to all. Heather UK

Sylvia, so glad the leotard fits! It is tough on little girl's egos when clothes don't fit. I remember how I felt as a kid. I was NOT fat, but have this German peasant build bone structure and am very short. So if things fit my shoulders, upper arms and thighs, they were too loose everywhere else and WAY too long. And shoes. I have MEN"S EEEE width feet. I can rarely find a woman's shoe that has a foot bed as wide as my feet are. I hate to shop, and I am certain that it is because I always feel awful about my build when I do try to. Switching my photo to the one that shows how I was not fat, but had to make my own clothes at 12, so you can all can see.

About Thanksgiving Food.....Please tell us about your traditions as I know they vary as to what part of the country you live in.

Do any of you prepare Southern Cornbread Dressing? I use Paula Dean's recipe and it is wonderful. Of course, I grew up on this. We cook the dressing in the oven not in the turkey. Make giblet gravy with chopped hard boiled eggs. Instead of the green bean casserole, I use drained canned asparagus instead of green beans. My sister-in-law brings a strawberry pretzel salad that is to die for. Google strawberries, pretzels, cool whip, and cream cheese.

Such talented human beings you all are--and Miriam, you need to write a book, if you haven't, about your experiences, both with the abuser and with your experiences as bipolar and with the condition in your family. I started a small publishing company with my first book, and can get you going on publishing it, if need be. You are enormously articulate, and understand how words impact the heart. Sounds like a writer to me.

Heather--I no longer keep people in my life that make me feel like your 'friend' makes you feel. And yes, I agree you to need to say what's on your mind, and risk her absence from your life. There are too many amazing moments to be had yet to waste time feeling angry and uncomfortable.

Carol in NC--so glad to see you intrigued by someone! Hope the date goes well.

And Pip, that's the first time I've seen Kirby without his glasses. Be still my heart! What a truly gorgeous man, even when he looks like he lost a fight with a lion.

For all of you--I just read through four pages, and far too many to answer all individually, but yes, this is the place I, too, go whenever I possibly can, to just warm my hands over the fires we build--whether signal fires for help with hurts physical, mental or emotional, or celebratory bonfires to share our triumphs and happy moments. To those in pain and ill, you have a place in the healing part of my heart, and to the joyful, a place in the sunniest rooms of my soul.
_____________________

Busy weekend, and the DH is wrapped up in a massive effort to prepare three massive aviation gas trucks to supply C-130s with fuel at the military training camp on the south part of the ranch. He's often exhausted and stumbling through the evenings and falling in bed, and I've actually been cooking whenever I can, so he'll have a few moment's relaxation (ordinarily, he's the cook in the family). The training center is part of the ranch, but literally an hour and a half away, whether on ranch roads or highway. Another massive training is coming up November 30, as well, but as he puts it, as long as the vehicles are working, he's just facilitating, not participating. He does love his job, which is a good thing.

I'm here instead of writing this morning, and have some catch-up work to do on that. Haven't been good about tracking, and I'm usually quite faithful, so back to that this morning, as well.

Hosted a write-in for the writer's group at the ranch yesterday, and took them on a quick, chilly buggy ride up and over some of the nearby hills. Only the youngest came--and treated it as an adventure. They inspire me, and I hope the day inspired them. I'm the one on the bottom right in the buggy selfie. The panoramic view was looking to the south from the hill that overlooks the ranch, so the western sky is actually at right, as the sun was setting.

The ribboncutting at the warehouse is one week away, lots to get done this week.

Happy Monday, peeps!
Lisa in chilly West Texas