Drama-free December

[dill]

Hello all, it sounds like we all enjoyed. I know I did. We had extra company stop in unannounced but it was really wonderful to have them and I had made plenty of food. I usually do go a little overboard in that department!

Cyn, darn that dog toy! LOL! Did it wake anyone? I also wondered why I hadn't squeezed in a short walk yesterday, it was so sunny and nice. Today is gray and gloomy with a damp chill.

Lav, Mr. D has a shop in which he spends the lion's share of his time. It is in a barn building several yards away from the house so I have a great deal of time alone here. But you know what? I really quite like it! It's all quiet here today, like your day yesterday. I am glad to have the time to recuperate.

Pauly, I'm surprised and happy to hear that you felt being af over Christmas was easy. I hope the wind in your sails takes you right thru New Year's Eve!

Star, when I have company in I find that even tho I spend a lot of time preparing food and I make too much, I tend not to be able to eat it! I get too stressed out with all the hubbub and can't eat! I'll make up for it over the next few days I'm sure! LOL!

I heard about a new hormone discovery that scientists feel will help with weight control. It sounds promising but at the very least is interesting. Here's a link to the info:
Anti 'sweet tooth' hormone discovered by scientists - Telegraph

Happy af day after Christmas!

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Slowly easing back into normal life, took it easy yesterday, have plans to exercise today and get healthy food (note healthy) in the house. The weather here has been non-stop rain, so kind of gloomy, but at least it is not snow!

Great to hear everyone had an good Christmas, now we get to start thinking of the new year. Have a good one.

[Lavande]

Good Sunday morning friends!

52, rain & generally gloomy here as well Star. I am grateful it's not snow.
It's hard to believe that I was outside cutting broccoli from the garden for dinner yesterday - that was a first!!!!
Getting back to healthy routines after the holidays is a good thing

Dill, I look at the article you posted, very interesting!
I can actually say that I do not crave sugar but I don't have a problem with salt cravings. That's not good either for your B/P. I battle that by eating higher potassium foods like bananas, mushrooms, etc. I guess it's human nature, we are always going to crave something.
I don't mind YB hiding in his garage/shop/room or whatever but I just wish that when he is here that he would really be present. Trying to have a conversation with him is frustrating.

Pauly, have fun with your new Keurig but do go for decaf. No one needs the jitters!!!
Watching Louie for 4 days will keep you busy, have fun!

Cyn, lucky you have avoided all this damp, weird weather. I hope you get a chance to rest up a bit today!

Wishing everyone a good AF Sunday!

Lav

[treegirl]

Morning all -

The damp strange weather is here today - but it all seems fine to me, like a curtain in a theater -- all the goodness of the 2016 energy is being prepared behind the curtain, just waiting the right time to appear...

Made lists of to-dos yesterday for the coming week. I'll be busy with redoing sheets, etc for the coming visitors, and getting things ready for the dog sitter to be here overnight. We'll come back from the city on the 31st with our guest in tow, so all has to be ready for her, and we have invited people for dinner that night, so I'm cooking all of that ahead. I think I'll even set the table before we leave!

Going to a couple of open houses today, and will try to fit other stuff in between. But I've been fitting my meditation in every day - even Christmas day!

Pauly - great news about feeling good AF. Dill - you triumphed over the food worries! Star - hope you feel well; good for you for the eating healthy goals. Lav - dear me, YB is constantly giving you chances to practice, isn't he? I sure hope you get 'connection' in other parts of your life. You deserve it!

Take care all, and wishing you a great Day 3 of Christmas, AF of course... to the Light...

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Lav,I hardly crave sugar but salt cravings are strong,especially PMS time,one of my blood tests showed low sodium so maybe that's why,feeling the after Christmas blues a bit think its more to do with Bobbi leaving Tuesday, if you remember that they were here frequently this year doing catering, well I guess her bfs mom lost a major account and we're doubting she'll even bother with coming to do the smaller jobs so I don't really know when LB will be down again and when I think of it I get teary,kids should NOT be allowed to move away(unless they're brats!) Just makes me sad when I was asking customers what they were doing for the holidays and they said nothing cuz their kids and grandkids all spread out all over,I'd really hate that! Anyways I've flapped my gums long enough hope we all have a blessed,peaceful Sunday p.s start thinking of a January name

[dill]

Hello All,

I did one of the meditations today too, Cyn. The anxiety one. It was very calming.

Pauly, I miss my daughter too and hated it when she moved so far away. Fourteen hours by car is a bit much! Of course flying is shorter but much more expensive. It's a pickle.

Star, moving back into healthier habits may have to wait till after New Year's. I still have fudge and Christmas cookies here and I can't resist!

Lav, isn't it amazing all the advances being made in science? I hope this latest discovery leads to a break thru in the obesity problem in this nation! Speaking of mushrooms, I made a mushroom/spinach/cheese omelette this morning that was really good! I didn't know mushrooms were a source of potassium, so that's all the better, LOL!

I'll be thinking of January names.

[paulywogg]

Dill,I'm waiting too,some ham and cookies leftover,can't let them go to waste

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Still raining here and a little colder. Darn. I was supposed to drive to my son's today, then head farther north into Michigan, but looks like they are having an ice storm and I am a little afraid of driving in that. We'll see. I have been sleeping so well and so much, so happy I don't have to go back to work right away.

Pauly and Dill, when my daughter moved away, at first it was OK, then it wasn't. She was so far away (5 hours) that I couldn't be a part of her life. But, she loves where she lives and has her own life. That is why we moved, to be closer so we can be in her life. With my son, we'll see. He was so much better over Christmas as far as anxiety goes. Now, trying to find a job will be the next challenge, but passing all those classes was an ongoing stressor for him. 2016 will be another interesting year. I know you always make plans, Dill, to see your daughter, and Pauly, I used to do that too. Maybe some trips are in your future?

Lav, it was interesting to hear about your husband and his noncommunicative ways. My husband is always watching TV and on his phone playing games. I find it so annoying, and hurtful. I guess for me it is one of those things that I have to accept because it is not going to change. Hey, I am going to exercise again this morning, it makes me feel good and I am determined to be at a healthier weight. So glad your Curves is going on.

Cyn, what lovely plans you have for the week. Have a wonderful time. Loved your description of this rainy time as a curtain. Interesting.

Names for January: Joyous, Genuine, need help! Have a good one.

[treegirl]

Morning all --

I vote for Genuine January, Star! Though I like all the names you came up with.

Speaking of kids moving away; I must say, I moved away from home to college, and I never returned to live there. But most of those years I was a 6 hour drive away, and I did it often. I do feel bad that I wasn't closer in the last years of my Mom's life, when I had to move further away. We did a lot of traveling to be with one another, but the expense and stress of plane travel made it hard. I remember on Christmas when I flew in just in time for midnight mass, and slipped into the pew next to her. I regret not being more a part of her life in her last year...

This morning I'm gathering some strength and 'steam' to crank up my activity again for the next few days. Honestly, 2016 can't come soon enough - HB will be on a trip from the 2nd on, and the house will be quiet for a week. I have to say that I'm looking forward to that! In the meantime, I'm doing meditations throughout the day, and trying not to obsess about the small stuff. Traveling back from NYC and giving a dinner party on the same night was maybe not the best idea, but I think if I get things done ahead, I'll be happier. I just researched a make-ahead version of Blueberry French Toast (for my guest, not for me!) that would make New Year's Day morning a little less hectic make minestrone ahead for lunch. Going to do a turkey breast in the slow cooker for New Year's Day dinner, make pasta sauces and even the pasta ahead for New Year's dinner...let's hope it all works!

Wishing all a great 4th day of Christmas!

[Lavande]

Good Monday morning friends!

Not raining at the moment - yay! I saw the sun peek through a minute ago but it didn't stick around long.
My dogs are taking turns wanting to go out in the middle of the night & I am finding it difficult to go back to sleep - darn. I really think they are dealing with a doggie virus or some such thing.

YB is off until after New Years & he is just putzing around not doing much. He is supposed to be retiring this Spring & has been especially weird about that. I am not getting involved in his negativity, won't go there again. Most people figure out how to entertain themselves after retirement so he'll have to figure it out too.

Hello to Star, Cyn, Dill & Pauly!
I am heading to Curves then going straight to my daughter's to hang out with her for a while. We may have to do a little post Christmas shopping

Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, I like Genuine January too just a quick pop in from me this morning, slept like poop last night and unlike Lav I can't blame the dog,just my lovely hormones gearing up Lav,I seen that restore stuff you like on Facebook is that what you take? Pretty$$$$! Hope we all have a nice Monday,I'm so ready for my old routine

[Lavande]

Pauly, what 'Restore' stuff are you talking about? The supplement for leaky gut syndrome?
No, I don't take that. I had to do my best to fix my gut issues by eliminating dairy & red meat & taking lots of probiotics over the years. I WISH that stuff had been around years ago when I was really suffering

Getting cold & windy now & more rain due to move in overnight, yay (not).

[Lavande]

Good morning friends!

It's a dark & damp Tuesday so far, oh well.
I'm going to ignore that & just get on with the business of having a great AF day!
Wishing the same for everyone!

Lav

[dill]

December is almost gone and with it, the year 2015. Wow.

Lav, I don't think Mr. L sounds like a good candidate for retirement with his tendencies toward depression. I hope he makes some kind of plan for how he'll spend his time. I recall looking forward to retirement but I also remember worrying about being at home 24/7 with Mr. D. It has turned out not to be so bad but that's because he has his hobbies and he has lots of work to do just keeping this place going. There's firewood to cut and split, fencing, animal care (cattle) and the like. I keep pretty busy too with my hobbies and friends.

Cyn, your description of going to college and never returning home was just exactly my own except that I only moved 4 hours away. I have often regretted not being a bigger part of my parents' lives in the later years of their lives. I console myself with the knowledge that my brothers were there close to them.

Pauly, I hear you on being ready for the old routine! Me too. I just sabotaged myself on getting back to my regular diet tho. I just baked a batch of my favorite holiday cookie: traditional sugar cookies. I don't know what I was thinking!

Star, my daughter loves where she lives and has a really good life. I'm happy for her but have had to resign myself to the fact that she will always be 14 hours away, unless we move down to New Orleans. I really don't like the weather down south so it isn't likely. I am making a New Year resolution to do what I can to connect more with her. I am not one to talk on the phone and I find it difficult to communicate over distance. But I'm going to make an effort to text her a couple of times a week and call her once a week. Believe it or not we go for weeks without speaking on the phone! I'm going to try to change that this year.

Any body else have a New Year resolution?

[paulywogg]

Evening friends,had a horrible nights sleep,stomach was acting crazy feel sad today cuz Bobbi's gone back+I was too tired to watch Louie and I feel so guilty!and I miss him but I didn't want to be crabby Nanny around him,he seems to sense when I don't feel good and is more rambunctious, went to the store and seen kids and started crying like a weirdo,good thing I was wearing sunglasses will deal,just pray for a better tomorrow, hope all are well