Yes indeed, MARIE, you started a great group and I hope we all remain, whether steady or intermittent, as we get quite fond of one another.
JACKIE, first, I want to claim the lower bunk, as SANDY is more limber and lovely than I, and secondly, I am oohing and aahing over that gorgeous photo! How heavenly to live near scenery out of the romantic books I've loved! What made you leave it years ago, and how long did you live in Canada?
I have some volunteer work I promised so I must run. Just a comment (or question): several people have mentioned about a weight loss (mine) and I don't see it, and it's still less than 10 pounds. Is it possible to appear to be thinner (same clothes) while embarking on weight loss, even though it's a minimal loss? I just don't see it yet. The legs are improving!!!
Buzz

Pasty i love sharing my life with Missy Marie. she is so adorable.Se will be with us forever.
Jerry loves her too.As long as she wants.

Marie, you and I have been friends since almost my first day on MFP in 2009. I value our friendship. Yes, I am dancing again and walking the dogs. I started by dancing part of the class and sitting for the rest of it and gradually danced more. I am walking the dogs for long distances, too. I am doing physical therapy exercises to continue to strengthen the muscles that had to be cut for the surgery so I'm not lifting anything heavy, yet.

Sandy, Sasha and Bess lay touching each other this afternoon while napping with Jake and they happily walk together on our morning walks. Bess is younger and races around more but they seem happy walking together. I have a friend who sets an alarm to remind her to get ready for bed at an early enough time.

Lin, I understand your being nervous before going to art classes. I am nervous every Friday morning before I go to teach my line dance class.

Patsy, when we were deciding what kind of dog to get after Brandy died, we were certain that we didn't want to deal with the challenge of a puppy. Bess is four years old and energetic enough. I read the book "Light Between Oceans" but didn't see the movie.

Buzz, I'm glad to hear that you are getting more exercise and sorry to hear that the bank has been such a challenge for you.


Barbie

I just everyone's pictures!

Wow, the past few days have been busy! My regular routine has been out the window.

Monday, I spent a good portion of the day making trips back and forth to the "Home Depot" store down the street looking for the perfect drawer pulls my son's chest of drawers. It isn't designed to have pulls, but the drawers don't open easily. So the obvious answer was to add pulls. Would be easy, except that in our family it must be the perfect pull. So, 3 trips, 2 stores and about 15 different pulls later, we all agreed on "the" pull. The losing pulls were returned and 6 of the winning pulls were purchased. This weekend, my husband will install our perfect looking pulls on the chest of drawers and the bed side tables.

Today, I went to the store to purchase some new stuff for the sons bathrooms. (rugs, organizers, towels,...) But just as I was about to come home, my son Jordan called to tell me he his throat was still sore. So I ended up taking him to his dad's pediatric office (though he has a "grown-up" doctor now too) so that the other pediatrician (not my hubby) could give him a prescription for some medicine. After that, we had just enough time to get his medicine, stop at the grocery store and get home to fix some dinner before my husband came home to eat and get ready to go back out. Tonight was our once a month small group home fellowship with friends from where we worship. It's always great to spend time with friends and to have a more informal Bible study time. Now, I'm back home and just ready to get some rest.

Tomorrow is suppose to be a more normal day for me. I'm so ready for a normal day!

Patsy, wonderful to hear from you and please take all you want. It is enjoyable.

I'm back from our morning doggy walk that was luckily between showers and we even felt the sun on us at times! We met a few stiles to be climbed (do you have such things in N.America?) which challenged my hips, especially after yesterday's yoga class that concentrated on our spines but I continue to tell myself that stretching is the best thing for me so although we huffed and puffed a couple of times it was so enjoyable and of course the dogs loved it. These are some of the local fields we trek across although not always to the bottom and back!!


Sandy ~ It feels to me as if I've been trying to lose the last 7 lbs forever but at the end of each winter period my weight is down more than the previous year at the same time so there is some progress. Since Monday I've been trying very hard to take back control so yesterday filled my shopping trolley with mostly veggies, fruit and salads and because our weather is currently mild think I can avoid any comfort foods! It's definitely back to the pound a week club for me so I'll see you there on Friday and I'm sure if you persevere too you'll see the weight coming off!

Buzz ~ You do of course look as gorgeous as ever and perhaps it's your increased agility that's giving the impression of far more weight loss than so far achieved. Whatever the reason enjoy and if you can bear to deal with longer hair do because it suits you! You realise the lower bunk will be shared with my lawnmower if I can't find space in my garage for it! My decision to travel to Canada was probably due to my inherited genes because my grandfather's father and siblings emigrated to Australia just before WWI and our family tree shows earlier descendants heading in the same direction during the gold rush, in fact one made a fortune, returned to the UK and bought a pub in the east end of London before frittering it all away..... luckily I don't possess those genes! In my late 20's I was loving the "swinging 60's" in London but had itchy feet so one day in my lunch break walking across Piccadilly Circus I passed an Air Canada outlet, walked in and purchased a one way ticket then headed for Canada House to start the process of entering their country.... no more thought than that!!

Patsy ~ This morning on our walk my friend stopped at the top of one of the stiles to point out our first sign of Spring ~ golden yellow catkins hanging from a branch over her head which brought big smiles to both our faces. It's not too far off now! As ever, lovely to read your wonderful post full of puppy talk, stories from art school and a movie critique thrown in. I'll certainly look out for your recommendation if it's a recent release because at the moment there isn't much out there that appeals.

Jeri ~ Knitting does seem to have become a popular hobby again here in the UK and many friends are sourcing English wool rather than poor quality from a certain far east country! It's great to know it's being shown to children in school and I bet you had fun with them.

Marcella ~ You were on a mission weren't you finding those drawer pulls!!

Suddenly the wind has picked up and torrential rain is hitting the windows so I think it's time for my homemade bean casserole with a jacket potato to offer me some comfort! Hello to Lin, Marie, Barbie and anyone else I've missed.

Jackie

Great pics, great posts, thank you for commenting and I might attempt to keep the longer hair, at least until my weight looks appropriate for a smaller head! A friendly neighbor gave me her ticket for "West Side Story" this afternoon, so I am rather rushing to shower and dress so I won't miss our bus! Love not having to cope with a parking lot any more! Back later!
Buzz

Loved all the photos and Barbie's new addition to the family. She looks so sweet. Jackie your spa vacation looks like a fabulous place to go and relax, don't worry about the extra pounds I know you will take those off soon. Marie looks like you are back to plant based meals again and yes..there is alot of salt in canned vegetables, and dried fruit and syrupy fruit should be used in moderation because they are full of sugar. No fun having to watch all that! I am sure you will do great as you have lost a lot already. Marcella you have been so busy lately and you need some down time which I see you have gotten. Patsy glad to see you are back with your stories of your new pup which sounds like a very busy fur baby. You are always welcome here! Lin I can't keep up with your activities lately and your coloring pictures are beautiful and you are talented, so don't let the other artists intimdate, I would feel the same, shy at trying new things. Buzz you are doing so much lately and keeping yourself busy and losing weight, kudos to you! Jeri You finally had a day to yourself and you enjoyed it! How is the reflux doing?

Today was lunch with my friend across the pond, she had foot surgery but is coming along. We did order lunch in with pizza and ice cream for dessert. Not my usual eating but I'll take it! We exchanged
some left over Christmas gifts we were keeping.

Well Monday will be my orthopedic doctor apt. about my knee. Finally the ball is rolling. I had yoga this morning and have to be careful but so far so good. So my weeks have been Monday, aqua fit,
Tuesday yoga or rest day depending how the knee feels, Wed. yoga and Thursday maybe a day off and
Friday's aqua fit. Then add two visits a week with the chiropractor so that has been my routine for a while now. The knee is not any better but not any worse right now.

Yesterday I had a TM (meditation) meeting which I like to check in at least once a month to keep up to date and hear anything new going on. I also get all the emails on a weekly basis.

Speaking of meditation I got get going and do that before dinner.

Enjoy your evening,

Shirley

Good evening, before I forget, I have been looking for an online Dominos game for iPad. I don't know how to play so hopefully there would be some kind of tutor and/or expert function. I can't find anything that looks good in the App Store. I got the official Scrabble game and am loving that! Anyone have a favorite?

Okay, another gal and I each purchased some special diecut cards (undecorated) and I said I would bring one finished card to our get together tomorrow. Well, it took alot longer than anticipated and then I got started doing additional heat embossing because I had all the supplies out. And then some messing with some ribbon. I applied some Mod Podge to both sides of the ribbon and then embossed the strips. I made a couple into book marks and now I just started playing with distress ink. The idea is to use the finished ribbon as an element in making cards. We will see.

Meanwhile, here is my first three panel card.





Once again I must say, we are an interesting group! Love everyone's activities.

I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow. I did spend more than an hour talking to my friend who has pancreatic cancer. They are leaving for Mayo Clinic in a few days. This is quite difficult as she acknowledged she wanted to talk now as she is not certain if she will have the strength soon to talk. Her biopsy revealed she has the worse type of pancreatic cancer and no surgery is possible. They hope Mayo will have some ideas for prolonging her life.

Sorry, gotta go.

Hugs.

Lin

The show was excellent, with updated choreography and a marvelous dance group! However, I found sitting that long became very uncomfortable and remembered why I stopped buying season tickets to shows! I also seem to be needing more sleep. At dinner I was famished and allowed myself a corn muffin, which I will surely regret at weigh-in tomorrow!
Thanks, SHIRLEY, for that Word Trek app I'll look for it. Eyes closing so goodnight, all...
Buzz

Lin

Buzz