4 The Birds #82

[PattiG]

Hi Ladies,

It's a sunny sunny day here and I just looked out the window and noticed our crocuses have bloomed! Gee, it's about time. Maple, you're flowers are probably on their second set of blooms by now (lol). I took the day off from work so maybe I'll pull out my bicycle this afternoon and take a whirl around the neighborhood.

Faye, I have never done Fast Track on WW but I know a lot of people who have. I think WW suggests Fast Track for people first starting on WW so they get a good bang for their buck for the first two weeks. But, you can certainly do it anytime. Most of my friends said it's tough keeping only to 20 pts/day. My point range is 18-23 On average I use about 22 pts per day. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen much loss when I stick to the pts only. For me, I HAVE to exercise too and exercise hard enough to break a good sweat. A 20 minute walk doesn't help me at all. Also, I agree with Maple...are you weighing yourself at the same time each day? My weight varies about 2 lbs between morning and night. But you know what, if SS was working for you...maybe that plan is better for you than WW. Also, are you drinking enough water?

We heading out to a nursery now to by a new flowering tree for our backyard. I'd like a weeping cherry tree but I know the wind knocks off the blooms so easily and we have a windy backyard. My mother will probably pick out a crab apple or possibly a goldenrod. We'll see. Actually, anything flowering would be pretty.

Catch you gals later. Have a happy day!
Patti

[Faye]

Hi Girls
Well I weigh again this morning. This is when I always weigh first thing in the morning strip naked. Back down to 165 again lost what the scale said I gain.
In fact my scale I was using shot craps and I had to drag out "Old Betsey" she is over forty plus but still going, ugly but still working. I weighed on it plus my new scale. It had me 164 lost even. Yesterday it was weighing the same as my new scale and they were both showing the same gain. I sure don't understand what is going on.
Yes Patti I will go back to SS if I don't loose on this. I do like SS but my bowels always act up when I am on it. I wanted to eat some bread, and potatoes once in a while too which you don't on SS.
So you having any luck Maple sure hope so? Patti I always have good intention to exercise but I have a problem following through on that one. graemlins/ugh.gif I drink 2 quarts of water a day plus my decaff coffee.
I got a good work out today though. Went up and clean my sister bedroom. I feel it in my back ouch. graemlins/ugh.gif
What kind of tree did your Mom pick out Patti? I like those pear trees I think they are pretty. We got to plant some kind of bush not for sure when or what to plant.
Ok have a good evening got to get supper.
Faye

[Maple]

What a georgeous day it was today. 66 degrees! I planted all my salad greens this afternoon and have all my other veggie beds ready to go. This morning I dug over compost and started my first batch of the season in my compost tumbler. During the winter my compost tumbler leaked 10 gallons of "compost tea" so I'm diluting that and watering all the perennials with it. I should have some great results with that I think. That was my exercise for the day besides the stretching exercises I did early this morning. I'm finding I really need to do stretching exercises now because I have noticed I'm feeling stiff after sitting to long and when I get up in the morning. Got to stretch those old muscles and joints if I expect to keep doing what I like to be doing.

http://www.kountrylife.com/gallery/tumbler.gif This is sort of like my compost tumbler, except mine has two compartments; one to keep adding to while the other side is "cooking". Mine looks nicer than this one too; it's powder coated brown. During the warm weather I can get finished compost in 4 - 6 weeks!

[ March 29, 2004, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Maple ]

[Maple]

http://mantisgardentools.com/Mantis/stores/1/images/compost_twin/accessories/sifter_screen.jpg Here it is.....this is the one.

Regular Spring day today. Rain in the morning, sun and wind in the afternoon. Now I have to get my sprinkler system turned on to water the top seeded areas in the lawn because the forcast is for more warm sunny weather beginning tomorrow. All my flowering trees, camelias, forsythia, red flowering currant and magnolias are in full bloom. There are daffodils, tulips, primroses and rockery plants ablaze with colour now too. My greenhouse is full of sprouting seeds so I'm going to have myself a very busy season this year. I didn't do any of this last year because we didn't get home from our trip until the end of June. I really missed it so this year I'm in there like a "dirty shirt". LOL, actually my shirt is dirty right now. My garden will be in full glory this summer for sure.

graemlins/wave.gif tata for now

[Faye]

http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nIQAAAAAKKoPB3TBFJV*0OXHAysbIGEgwJGy7B!63E EM1jpvLKrOR*lanNHJm2mSUf3fKlsBv6WU

Maple one of the girls had this signature I thought you might like it. Don't think it would matter if you wanted to use it.
Faye

[Maple]

Thanks Faye. I've copied and saved it in case I want to use it again. http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nIQAAAAAKKoPB3TBFJV*0OXHAysbIGEgwJGy7B!63E EM1jpvLKrOR*lanNHJm2mSUf3fKlsBv6WU

[PattiG]

Hi Bootcampers,

lol Last night I came across an old paperback cookbook that's been sitting in my bookcase for eons. I don't know when we got it or where it came from but it's yellowed and beat up. It looks like it's ancient . Anyway, there's a recipe in there for pork loin cooked with apples. ROTFL... Maple is this similar to your recipe?....it calls for suet! Oooooooooh. Yuck! Now, is that the suet with the birdseed or the insects? LOL A little extra protein could go a long way on Atkins or SB. Bleeeccchh tongue.gif http://images.animfactory.com/animations/food/vegetables/toss_salad_wooden_bowl_md_wht.gif

[ March 31, 2004, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: PattiG ]

[Maple]

OMG Suet! That is an old recipe. I have a couple of books like that but I've retired them and they are waiting for me to die so they can go to new homes; namely my kids. My mother used to make a suet pudding.....very English and much like Christmas pudding (steamed cakey thing) It was very good too. But now we know better not to eat things like that so we feed it to our bird friends instead. Let them get hardening of the arteries instead. Funny thing though, they seem to thrive on it. Hmmmm, do you suppose one day we'll be hearing that we should have been eating suet all along because it was the one missing link in retaining a firm slender body. No wonder we're fat! We've not been eating suet! Remember what they said about eggs and cholesterol? Now they are telling us to eat chocolate again; which make perfect sense to me.

I have some photos to download now so I'll say cherrio for now. Cherrio, pip, pip and all that rot! graemlins/wave.gif

[Faye]

Boy did I screw up today. I was so good all week just eating 20 points a day.
We went to that dinner theater and had a little of every thing they was serving. Really good. They gave us a special today desert with our meal. It was a chocolate fudge brownie really chocolate. They usually don't do this when we go. You order your desert or not, and usually I don't. Well since it came with the package I though do it. Can't pass up free stuff, and I am not really a chocolate eater. So blow it then the rest of the day. Always goes down that way for me.
Well tomorrow is a new day so will go back to my 20 points.
Your so talent and jack-of-all-trades Maple. What can you tell me about "lavender plants" I think they are like bushes??? You plant them 1 1/2 feet a part. I am thinking about planting them on the side of my house. So far I haven't had a lot of luck with flowers growing there. I seen the lavender plants advertise in the Parade paper.
Well time for bed so good night. Have a good day tomorrow.
Faye

[PattiG]

http://www.millan.net/anims/giffar/fool3.gif

A veritably fun day for me! lol I'll be back later.

[Faye]

Hi Girls want to show off my new signature that a friend made me.
I think it is so neat.
http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetMBPhoto&ImageID=nHQAAAN8Kk5hMBaz5Xgi*ll9DXHyVEHXakBAgnQuiE GPS09akWqWQuA7umfGXY7H5

[Faye]

http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nFwAAAB8GjTQ!qV0Gf0*ikOQbcF9qOhZMqt4tlLHal Oo5j!bLZdcsWQ

Look's like we are going to have a beautiful day today.
Hope everyone is doing well. Today is our WW meeting for lunch at my nephews.
Faye

[PattiG]

Hi,

Faye, how does your friend make those signature designs? I love the one she made for you! Does she do this with some computer program or from something here at Bootcamp?

Hope you enjoyed your WW luncheon today....WITHOUT any "illegal" desserts! I agree with you...it's hard to pass up a free chocolate fudge brownie. Today I passed up a free pizza lunch here at work in favor of a salad with turkey that I brought from home. I can't begin to tell you how unsatisfying it is to smell pizza and eat a cold salad. :(

Speaking of food, in my wildest dreams I can't picture myself eating suet pudding! That sounds absolutely horrible (then again so does blood pudding, and I know people used to eat that). bleeeccch! Obviously no part of any animal was EVER tossed away. I think of some of the things my grandmother told me she used to make and it makes me gag. lol I'm so glad I'm living in this generation. Then again, these days we have totally different likes and addictions, right?!
http://images.animfactory.com/animations/food/beverages/man_enjoying_coffee_mug_md_wht.gif

[ April 03, 2004, 11:32 AM: Message edited by: PattiG ]

[PattiG]

Good Morning & Good Afternoon (lol depends on who's reading this)

Just a quickie post right now to report in for my "New Orleans Weight Challenge." Didn't have great news on the scale this morning although I was 99% OP all week and treadmilled till it hurt...only -0.5 lb this week. I can't say that I'm surprised though after having a really good loss last week. I figured my body would take a week to regroup. Anyway, now I've got to lose 5 lbs in 4 weeks. I think it's doable if I just continue on with the food the way I've been going and possibily kick up the exercise a notch if I have to. I'm thinking that if I stay on the treadmill an additional 5-8 minutes each time to work off 50 more calories, it would be like getting in 1 more workout by the end of the week. lol I might need crutches and a new pair of legs by then, but by George, I'M GONNA DO THIS!!! :mad:
http://images.animfactory.com/animations/sports/track_field/runner_athlete_running_md_wht.gif

ROTFL Look, I'm losing weight AND I turned color!

[ April 03, 2004, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: PattiG ]

[PattiG]

[ April 03, 2004, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: PattiG ]

[Faye]

You go Patti girl you can do it. With all that determination with those exercise I don't see how you could fail. I am cheering you on.

I don't know how that girl makes those name icons. I think they are so cute. She is suppose to make me a diamond one I hope she don't forget.

Went and check out that lavander plant but didn't look like what I thought it would. The gal said the first of May they would have them in gallon buckets, and I could see then. Said just 3 kinds would be good for this area. So will wait and see.

Have a good week-end. Found this cute scale icon hope it post ok. Remind me of my scales lol

Maple where are you girl friend.

According to the preview it didn't post had an x in the box. Darn so cute too. Oh well back to the drawing board.

Faye http://by12fd.bay12.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/getmsg?curmbox=F000000001&a=392b5d3b1e0aa7155740bdf77519eab2&msg=MSG1081031749.20&start=276032&len=191696&mimepart=12

[PattiG]

Good Monday Morning Ladies graemlins/wave.gif

Reporting from 34 degree weather this morning with possible snow flurries. Can you believe it? I think God has decided to omit Spring as one of our seasons again this year. Perhaps one of you has found an extra season stuck inbetween your own? If so, please return it to us here in the Northeast.

Faye, I had a lavender plant once as a houseplant but not as an outdoor plant. I didn't know there were different varieties of them If I remember correctly the flowers are very pretty and delicate along the little branches.

Guess what? I saw a baby red-bellied woodpecker yesterday. Actually at first I didn't reallize it was a young one because it was just about full size but it happen to hop almost right up to our back door and I got a good close-up view of it. It body was still fuzzy like a baby chick and you know the red patch on it's head?...it wasn't smooth and flat like mature feathers...ROTFL...it looked as if someone had plopped a giant red pom-pom on it's head. Really! Like a pom-pom hat. And when it went to peck at something on the ground, it had to turn it's head to the side and pick it up in it's beak sideways. Almost as if it couldn't see what it was reaching for if it had gone straight down. It was very unusual. And his body was so puffed up, you couldn't see its feet. It looked like he was hopping right on it's tummy. lol

Ok, I'm off. Got a busy day ahead. BTW, is everyone on Daylight Savings time now? If I remember correctly we all are.

[PattiG]

Helloooo anyone out there today? Was there some sort of wild weekend that I missed out on that everyone is recuperating from?

[Faye]

Hi Girls want to show off my new signature that a friend made me.
I think it is so neat.
http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetMBPhoto&ImageID=nHQAAAN8Kk5hMBaz5Xgi*ll9DXHyVEHXakBAgnQuiE GPS09akWqWQuA7umfGXY7H5

[Faye]

Hello there no didn't have any wild week-end wish I did sound like fun.
Les put this roboform on my computer that fills out your name and pass word for you. I click it and it sent an old message and sent it before I could correct it. So if your wondering why I sent the same post that I posted before you know what happen.
Your getting snow Patti? I sure hope that is behind us and we don't get any more.
Going to my computer club meeting tomorrow afternoon.
Not much really going on here.
Maple take a break from your compose and gardening girl you need to post and let us know your still with us.
Don't work to hard Patti
Have a good day tomorrow.
Faye

[Maple]

Faye, I got a new puppy! Same breed as Charlie, a black and silver miniature schnauzer. We've named her Porsha and she's 9 weeks old. Charlie has been good with her but mostly tries to pretend she's not here. LOL

I noticed your post about the lavender plants. Indeed, they do develop into small bushes and are wonderful to have in the garden. Hopefully you intended place for them will be close to a door, window or walkway so you can enjoy the wonderful heady aroma as you pass by. If you are intending on planting several in a group, I'd suggest that you plant all one variety; don't mix them or they won't look as nice. Another thing to consider is their growing habits. Some are much taller than others so make sure you are getting the one that is will look nice in the location you've chosen. You could go to the web and look up "lavender species" to help you decide. There are over 200 different lavender plant types so it will be worth the effort to research it before buying. I have several varieties in my garden; one growing 48" tall and has a "knock your socks off" scent. BTW, the bees love lavender too, so don't be surprised to see the blossoms covered in bees in late summer. In my opinion, no garden is complete without lavender and rosemary.

Patti I do believe you are growing shorter by the minute! Remember what we discussed about the relationship of weight to height. If you get too short, guess what................ Yep, you will have to set a new goal. LOL Now one other thing my friend. Seriously now.....I know why you are exercising so much and can completely understand why you are doing it too, but remember you will have to keep up the same routine to keep it off. Can you do it? Or is the trip worth the effort and gain? I will ask you though to limit your consumption of beignets to a maximum of six a day. Oh yes, don't forget to make a stop at Pat O'Brien's for a couple of his world famous Hurricanes and experience brunch at Brennan's. Of course after all that, you should sell your return ticket and walk back home. LOL

Snow! Still? E-gad that sounds dreadful at this time of year when the rest of the world is in full bloom. We've cut our lawn 5 times already and there are so many blossoms I couldn't begin to count. Our temperatures have been in the high 60's and low 70's with the exception of the occassional spring shower. The tides are getting lower and the beach is beckoning again so it won't be long before we introduce Porsha to the joys of sand and salt water.

I think I better finish this now before I lose this one like I did the post I typed earlier in the day. Don't you just hate that when you spend 20 minutes typing and poof! it's gone. This time it wasn't even my fault. BCB bogged down and wouldn't post so when I tried to refresh it really got stuck. Oh well, here's this one.

[Faye]

Good evening I should say good morning it is almost one.
Wednesday I turn another year 71. Rex and I are the same age now. Really had a lovely birthday got so many beautiful cards, flowers, calls, visit, presents and steak dinner. Enjoy birthdays but the only part you get older instead of younger. I remember when I could hardly wait to be 16, and that fantastic age of 21. I don't really know why those 2 years was so important for me to turn.
So needless to say boy have I been a bad girl. So Monday after Easter I am going to be good again.
Got some news about my baby Roxie that is stressing me out. She is going to be operated on Monday. She got two tumors around her private area. We thought she was having problems with her anal gland cause she does have to be clean out ever so often. She was pulling her self all over I couldn't understand why cause we had been to the vet twice all ready. I pick her up to put some medicine on her and saw how red she was and the 2 tumors. There I was putting the medicine on the wrong spot. The vet hadn't noticed it either thinking it was her anal gland acting up. She has never been away from us so worried about her being left at the vet for a few hours. We take her in at 7:30 am and then we can pick her up in the afternoon. So please say a prayer for her that it won't be cancer. I would like to put her on the prayer chain. Lot of people think people like me who thinks there dogs is like their children is nuts. They are getting cheated out of one of life blessing is all I can say.
Maple the gal told me that there are just 3 varieties of lavender that grows here in our region. I want to put it on the west side of my house right next to it. It is real sunny and kind of dry when it rains doesn’t get a lot of rain there. I haven't had much luck with any thing so far I planted there. Yes I will plant all the same kind if I go that way. They suppose to be hardy aren't they?? Don't want to tall of a plant there.
Are you still exercising up a storm Patti? Hope you have a good lost this week.
The weatherman is saying we might have snow this weekend. Here we are having weather in the seventies and saying snow crazy! So we might be joining in with your weather Patti.
You got a new puppy how sweet. Charley isn’t jealous? Course maybe since you got a little girl. I was going to get a silver miniature dog like yours when I got Roxie then I changed my mind. I decided maybe some day I wouldn’t be able to afford having that type of dog groom. So decided on my red headed dachshund. Who is the love of my life. I had a lot of dogs but done has loving as Roxie. Course I got her after I was retired and my kids away from home lol.
Well better get to bed. Have a good day tomorrow.
Faye

[PattiG]

Happy Friday Everyone!

Faye, we'll all be saying a little prayer for Roxie. I'm sure she'll do well with the surgery and feel better for it. On the positive side, she won't have to stay overnight at the vet's office. In fact, based on my experience with Teddy, she might even be a little groggy when you pick her up. If that's the case, she won't suffer too much of the separation anxiety.

As for people who don't understand how attached we are to our pets, I agree with you 100%...they are the ones who are being cheated out of a truly special and unconditional relationship that isn't found between humans.

On Wednesday we took Teddy to get his annual vaccinations and had a heart to heart talk with the vet as to when enough is enough considering Teddy is old and having some major health issues. I would NEVER EVER let him suffer, but by the same token it's sometimes a fine line between what is considered "quality" time for a dog. Fortunately the the vet feels Teddy will probably be able to manage well enough through the summer (unless his balance gets worse)and that since he still likes to play (albeit for only 5 minutes at a time), we don't need to make any decisions at this point. But you know, we have had to make a number of changes in our lives and household to accomodate his needs and we do it willingly and lovingly because he has given us so much joy over the years. Faye, if your friends don't get it..it's their loss.

Now as for little Porsha, Maple please send us some photos of her of her. lol She must look like a little miniature Charlie! lol And I love the way puppies are so rolly polly and fall all over themselves! I think it's wonderful that you decided to get her. Have you gotten her a scarf and pair of goggles yet so she could go driving with you in her namesake?

Yes, yes still exercising like mad. I'm hoping for a good WI tomorrow. ROTFL...Maple don't even THINK about me shrinking in height due to crippled legs. If I had to set a new goal for myself, I think I'd sooner lop off an arm to lose weight! And you know how every time we have ever gotten to or close to goal we promise ourselves never to gain the weight back...well this time I REALLY mean it. The last 4 weeks have been harder than ever before and I want to believe I won't have to do this again in the future (lol yeah, I've said that before.) Hopefully I won't have to work as hard to maintain the loss.

Ok, it's lunch time and I'm going to head off for a walk. I found it's easier to walk at lunch time and after dinner than to tack on the extra time at night.

Ciao!

[PattiG]

http://www.millan.net/anims/giffar/ceaster2.gif

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday!

Patti

[Faye]

http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nJQAAAPMLPbvOxzP0BsoLQB4Yxzm0tCAR7MaL7SdWq GY6vsNr!pTzpoUu9QctZ2jlCiDQBr4JWOQ

May You and Yours have a Blessed Easter

Faye

[Faye]

Hello Girls:
Took Roxie to the vet to be operated on this morning. She is home came through it good. Will take her back in 10 days to get the stitches out look like she got quite a few of them. Will have the biopsy back by then too. It didn't sound good cause he said it was not smooth it was ragged but won't know any thing till the test get back. When she heals we got to get her on a diet cause she has got fat in her liver and she could become diabetic. He said not to do it till she is heal though to loose the weight. So just hope and pray it will be ok.
Thank you for your prayers for Roxie.
Faye