4 the Birds #87

[Maple]

A new thread and hopefully a new attitude for me. :water1: :walking:

I've been tied to my desk all day doing household accounts and bookkeeping. Now that it's finished I'm feeling free for another month. I really dislike the accounting part of running a household. I have quite a bit of it online now which I like, so before too long I'm sure everything will become available for online banking. Until then I'll be doing manual and online which is a bit of a bother.

Another cooler day today. It's warm but overcast. Porsha found an upstairs door left open this afternoon and has been having herself a jolly little time in the grandchildren's room. I thought she was confined in the kitchen family room area but soon discovered differently. From my office, I heard a funny little honking noise so I went to investigate. There she is on the foyer rug with a large orange fluffy birdie hand puppet. It honks when you open and close your hand inside it's beak. Immediately I went upstairs to see what else she'd been up to. Stuffies from one end of the guest suite hall to the other! What a hoot! There were bears, cat pillows, towels out the kids bathroom, and even a small hand hooked rug pulled out. Thank goodness she hasn't discovered how much fun latching onto the end of the toilet paper and running with it is. I'm sure she will though.......Charlie did and was banned from the bathroom for quite a time. LOL

Patti I understand what's going on and will be thinking about you. If you don't feel like posting, maybe an email might be better for you right not. I'll certainly have you in my prayers on Wednesday. It's hard I know, but you are doing the right thing. Take care my friend.

[Maple]

Hi Maple! :wave:

It's so nice to chat with myself. LOL I just wanted to share my NSV this evening. My husband wanted to take me out for a Dairy Queen Blizzard tonight and I said NO thank you! I've had a good day today and I didn't want to spoil it.

[PattiG]

OK, I'll bite...what's an NSV? My first thought was "bible?!" but I know that's not it. lol

I cooked up a new recipe last night from my new vegetarian cookbook...a spinach roll (with mozzarella, grated parmesan cheese, and broccoli) served over a little warm tomato sauce. It was pretty AND delicious. This could definitely be made into a lower calorie WW dish. It would look perfect as a first dish for a holiday meal. Interested in the recipe?

[Maple]

NSV = No scale victory. NSV is a common BCB abbreviation that's been around since day 1. Guess you've never had one huh? LOL That recipe does sound good. Please post or e-mail me the recipe. I made a really good SBD recipe tonight as a replacement for mashed potatoes. I might have told you about this one before but it's worth repeating. It goes under a number of names; one being Faux Mashed Pototoes. I prefer to call it what it is; Mashed Cauliflower because somehow it never tasted like potato to me. Want the recipe?

Well it's Puppy Kindergarten Graduation tonight. Are you sitting down? Hang on for this one :jump_jack ...................they will wear a red cap complete with tassel and gown for their photos. Isn't that a hoot? I can't wait. If I manage to get a good picture (I'm thinking Porsha won't put up with this at all) I'll e-mail you one. In any case there's bound to be a prima dona in the crowd that will strut their stuff so I should get a photo on some little doggy in graduation attire.

Today is the 7th anniversary of my mother's death so I'm having a lot of mood swings which have given me a headache. She'd like it that Porsha graduates on this day. Also, I've seen a lot of butterflies today.......she used to give me "butterfly kisses" when I was a child and said she'd come back as a butterfly to let me know she was fine and to tell me she loves me. Somehow, seeing the butterflies always make me feel happy. :angel

Well it's show it! Gotta fly off and grad this little poochy.

[PattiG]

I do remember now you telling me what NSV meant. Those are important.

Butterflies work for me too. Have a happy day. :smile:

Patti
PS Congrats to the new grad and yes, please do send a picture.

[hartfaye]

Boy oh boy it is like pulling teeth to get in here. Don't know if I like this new set up or not.
How you girls doing? I swear I am just staying the same. I am coming to believe maybe this is what I should weigh at my age.
Maple isn't today your birthday? Hope you had a great day and really got to enjoy it. So Happy Birthday Maple and may the Lord bless you with many more. Sure hope I got the right Maple I got 2 on my list.
So how you doing Patti hope good and not working to hard. See where you had a graduation Maple so how did it go. Did he keep his cap or give it a toss in the air?
Well getting late so think I will go to bed. You all have a happy 4th of July. We are having a family picnic in the back yard for supper. Sure hope it don't rain.
Night all
Faye

[Maple]

Faye! I knew you'd figure it out and finally find us again. LOL Way to go buddy! :headover: The little graduate was quite the lady in her cap and gown on Monday night. Unfortunately the photographer (my husband) wouldn't believe me that he should turn on the flash so the photos aren't what I'd hoped for. I know whe would have liked to toss her cap in the air but a cute little Tibetan Terrier caught her eye before she could.

I had a nice 4 day R&R in the coach and am now busy getting ready for our Ontario house guests. I was doing quite well until we left but am leary of getting on the scale just yet. Maybe a couple of "good" days will equalize everything.

[Maple]

I was just fooling around and thought I'd give "posting a Poll" a go.

[Maple]

LOL Patti!

So we both posted in the Poll and we are neck and neck in our votes. I doubt anyone else will post in the next couple of days so I guess that's it. In any case, I learned how to post a Poll and I'm satisfied I'm a little bit more knowledgeable. Come on in Faye, and :help: break that tie.

I've been working my butt off today getting ready for our guests. You know how it goes; one thing leads to another and before you realize it the day is almost over. I've spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen cooking the things that can be prepared ahead of time. I decided to make a cold Sabayon for the berries..........a little rich but oh, so worth it. Just a tad will suffic so I don't think I'm going overboard here. Do all the licks of the wisk and finger around the bowl count? What about that drip on the counter? It was really just a small one after all.

I better get cracking and finish the laundry before I have to begin dinner prep.

[Faye]

Wow this is so hard to get in here any more. I kept on and luck out and found a list of members and got in that way. Where is that pole post you mention Maple? I got a notice that you had posted that is how come I came in.
Did you all have a Happy 4th? We really had a nice one.
Got to take Roxie to the vet tomorrow morning. I don't know what is going on with her. She is really uncomfortable she is breaking out with a rash or some darn thing. Hope the vet will know what is going on. She has got bumps breaking out on her back. More white hairs for me.
Sound like your cooking up a storm Maple. Hope you don't wear your self out before your company comes.
Good night will be back if I can remember how to get back lol.
Faye

[Maple]

I'm just taking a breather and thought I'd pop in to say hi. :exercise2 All my chores and cooking are done. All that's left is to groom the dogs and get changed; then I'm ready to drive out to the airport and pick up my guests. Why do we fuss so when company is coming? Silly isn't it? Charlie has been having bouts of shaking today and yesterday. I don't really know why but it could be arthritis flaring up or something else that's hurting him. He was limping yesterday and his pads are very dry and cracked so maybe his feet are sore from all the walking he did on gravel over the weekend. I gave him a half dose of the tranquilizer the vet prescribed for last Halloween's inevitable fireworks noise that scares him so badly. Talking about fireworks, we had quite a display on the 4th of July right from our bedroom window. These were being set off somewhere on the American San Juan Islands and or Bellingham. As a refresher, we look out onto the Canadian and American San Juan Islands so we get fireworks on July 1st for Canada Day then again for your 4th of July celebrations. I'm not sure you have ever looked at the map to see where Vancouver Island is situated. If they had drawn the Canadian-American border straight across, Victoria would be in Washington state. Fortunately the power that be, decided to allow the entire Island remain in one country and bend the border down and under the southern point of Vancouver Island. Well now that you've had your geography lesson for the day, I'm off to make lunch.

[PattiG]

Good Morning All,

Maple, you made zabaglione? Mmmm, how delicious. Now that said, YES, EVERY single bite, lick, and taste (also known as BLT's) counts! lol Now I'm sure THAT was not OP!

As for Charlie's paws...maybe you should have your vet check him out. I don't think a couple of days of just walking on gravel would cause them to dry out and crack. Teddy had a problem with that. It turned out he was allergic to grass (yes I know, that's bizarre for a dog). It messed up his paws terribly and he would lick them to no end. It got to the point that he licked them so much that the pads became discolored and soft (not hard and black). The remedy was allergy shots once a month. Worked like a charm. We stopped getting them for him the last two years and it the problem didn't come back.

Speaking of animals, we have tiny little 4-legged critter in the house. It was sooo funny, I came home late last night and see my mother standing in the kitchen with her arms folded and totally distraught. There's banging coming from the den. Apparently they were sitting watching tv when a tiny little mousey came running out from behind my organ and ran INTO my organ. Sure, what the heck are THEY upset about? I'm the one who was sitting there the day before playing without any shoes on! :eek: LOL Anyway, I was handed a broom to guard the mouse from leaving the room while dad got a couple of mouse traps from the garage. He set them up, we closed the doors to the room and my mother had us stopping up the bottoms of the doors with towels. LOL You'd think she'd seen a man-eating tiger inside! I don't know if we caught Speedy Gonzales last night...I ws told NOT to open the doors before leaving for work. ROFTL

[PattiG]

LOL Now I feel like Maple talking to myself. Anybody out there? I'm nesting here by myself!

[Faye]

Good evening! I sure like the idea that they notify when a message is posted. That way I can remember to come in and chat lol short memory.
Patti that is what the vet told me about Roxie that she is allergic to grass. He gave her 3 shots in all. She was due for one shot though. Got 2 different medicines to take then have to go back when she is through with the medicine. She had an infection with the allergy look like cigarette burns all over her coat. The vet said this is normal for dachshund cause of the short coat. It is a black thick spot and the hair is thin on top or gone. We got to wash her feet and her underside when she comes in from out doors. I think something is helping she isn't licking her feet as bad and switching around like something is biting her. She has lost between 2 1/2 to 3 pounds, which was happy to hear. How old was your dog when she started having this problem? Roxie is seven.
Got a big laugh reading about your mouse. Your Mom was going to get that sucker one way or another. Sure hope she got it.
Maple must be entertaining. What was that desert never heard of it?
I notice it has post icons and you can't they all have red x's by each one. Sure different in a lot of ways then the old boards isn't it?
You all have a good week-end.
Faye

[Maple]

My house guests are away for the weekend so I'm taking a break with my feet up, TV on, cup of tea at my side and computer on my lap. You know what Faye, I'm having the same problem as you with the "Post Icons" below. All it shows now is a bunch of boxes with an "x" in them and the name of what the icon is..........no icon! The first week they were all there and now they are gone. I noticed though, Patti is still getting them.

We had a huge downpour this morning. The rain was coming down so fast and hard that it was pouring off the roof totally missing the gutter and downspout. It's still nice and warn out so I suppose it was just a Canadian tropical storm. LOL

Charlie from time to time has licked his paws a lot and the vet said it could be an alergy too. He didn't say the alergy treatment could be as easy as a shot once a month. Now, I'd not want to put him through that. The past 3 days he's been having bouts of shaking. Because of the damp weather I'm thinking it might be arthritis acting up when he goes out and get wet. Poor wee soul, he just sits there and shakes. I've been giving him a whole low dose aspirin when it happens and it seems to help so I'm asuming it's pain that causing the shaking. In any case, he'll be going in to the vet next week for the follow up urine and blood test after finishing his prescription. I'll be telling them about the shaking because it is really upsetting me. I want to know what is happening and not be guessing. Talking about the vet. Porsha goes in on Monday to be spayed. I'm not looking forward to that. I hated it when Charlie was neutered, I felt like such a rat.

Patti I hope you are doing better than me. I'm off kilter and realize it just isn't going to work for me at this time. Therefore, I'm going to make an advance commitment for September 1st. August might work some of the time but I want a firm commitment without anything getting in the way, so September 1st is "IT"! :bcbsalute

[Faye]

Good morning girls,
Well I started on a new plan yesterday. I am trying the South Beach diet. So far so good accept it seem like I have had a headache the past 2 days. Not from switching to decaff cause I already was doing that. I didn't weigh though cause I have been like a condemn person eating what ever I wanted before Monday came lol isn't that crazy thinking???
Roxie seem to be doing better. Not licking as bad or breaking out on her skin. When she gets through with her pills we go back. Don't know what he will have us do then. He did mention something about an antihistamine. Will fine out I guess when we go.
Catch you girls later. I notice the x is still filling up all the post icons down below.
Faye

[Faye]

Hi Girls what happen your not posting? I thought maybe this wasn't working cause I was getting notified when anyone posted. So thought I would come and check and see. Sure enough no one has posted since I did the last time. Hope you both are ok?
Got to tell you my wonderful news. The last time I went to the Dr. my cholesterol was up and I told him what diet I was on. He told me if I was going to be on that diet for me to do the South Beach. Well I went on a food binge and didn't drink water either for two weeks. I do mean I went on a binge. Why I do that I have never figure out nuts I guess. So then I decided I would try the SBD. I didn't weigh on Monday when I started I weigh on Wednesday. So when I weigh Monday when my first week was up I had lost 9.3. I couldn't believe my eyes. I never ever have lost that much for my first week. I really probably lost more then that since I didn't weigh on the first day. So far I have just lost one more since Monday. Just had to share my good news and no one is here in the nest. Did everyone fly away for good???
Faye

[Faye]

Trying to see what I changed. Didn't see any change so am trying to delete it.

[Maple]

Hi Faye. I've been busy all month with house guest from Ontario (family actually) They will be leaving at the end of next week. I'm looking forward to some quiet time again. It's been a bit too long to have company around most of the time and trying to juggle schedules. Mid August we are going away for a couple of weeks in our coach so I'll not be posting much until probably the beginning of September. I will, however, post whenever I get a chance so please don't give up on the "Birds".

[Faye]

Wow I bet you are needing some quiet time if you had a lot of company that long. Well enjoy your trip and get rested up.
Well with the notification when ever any one post it helps to know weather to come in or not. I will come back when ever I see anyone post.
Is Patty still coming in? Haven't seen her post for a while either. Take care and enjoy your trip.
Faye