@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

Hi -- wow you hiked a lot this week; plus exercise videos and yoga.. and not one pound down- that S..... It doesn't equal out the way we think it should most of the time anyway. My exercise was pretty good this week, and tonight at work it was a real struggle- I'm just plain ol tired. But I did it anyway- and so did you so- good for us.

Grilled tuna is delicious for sure, and I've also had it with mango salsa- makes me hungry. I love most any fish but especially fish like that and salmon. Maybe look for a curry sauce Indian style that you like. I want to add more to my meals too, Circumin and Tumeric is supposed to help cholestrol. I'm sure Wegmans has a a variety of seafood steaks. There is one right down the street from me. I like their "ready to pop in the oven" meals. Better than restaurant quality and it comes out right every time.

I looked up your geese breed- are they all white? I bet they are cute now. Do they have to be introduced to the others in the pen gradually or do they just have to get along right away? You will have regular little petting zoo soon. It has to be fun along with the work. The only thing I did last week along those lines was plant the " blacl locust tree" fiance got from the bee festival at the park. He brought some more info from all the tents. I planted some cone flowers and other perrenials for the bees and butterflies around the tree. I am not ready for a bee hobby yet, but at least I put in some plant. I'm fond of the ones that come back. A bee balm I left in last year is about as tall as a small tree with all the rain we had. All my herbs and peppers and mint are thriving too, but that bee balm is something else! I need to make some tea with it, just havent taken the time yet.

Summer is already a third gone and I'm trying to enjoy the days I'm off, but I won't get a whole week until Nov. I love the river and we have done some hiking at different spots, always a treat. I hope you get to do some more outdoor stuff next week too. Keep up that good exercise- I'm proud of you.

Hi -- wow you hiked a lot this week; plus exercise videos and yoga.. and not one pound down- that S..... It doesn't equal out the way we think it should most of the time anyway. My exercise was pretty good this week, and tonight at work it was a real struggle- I'm just plain ol tired. But I did it anyway- and so did you so- good for us.

Grilled tuna is delicious for sure, and I've also had it with mango salsa- makes me hungry. I love most any fish but especially fish like that and salmon. Maybe look for a curry sauce Indian style that you like. I want to add more to my meals too, Circumin and Tumeric is supposed to help cholestrol. I'm sure Wegmans has a a variety of seafood steaks. There is one right down the street from me. I like their "ready to pop in the oven" meals. Better than restaurant quality and it comes out right every time.

I looked up your geese breed- are they all white? I bet they are cute now. Do they have to be introduced to the others in the pen gradually or do they just have to get along right away? You will have regular little petting zoo soon. It has to be fun along with the work. The only thing I did last week along those lines was plant the " blacl locust tree" fiance got from the bee festival at the park. He brought some more info from all the tents. I planted some cone flowers and other perrenials for the bees and butterflies around the tree. I am not ready for a bee hobby yet, but at least I put in some plant. I'm fond of the ones that come back. A bee balm I left in last year is about as tall as a small tree with all the rain we had. All my herbs and peppers and mint are thriving too, but that bee balm is something else! I need to make some tea with it, just havent taken the time yet.

Summer is already a third gone and I'm trying to enjoy the days I'm off, but I won't get a whole week until Nov. I love the river and we have done some hiking at different spots, always a treat. I hope you get to do some more outdoor stuff next week too. Keep up that good exercise- I'm proud of you.

Hello! I did not do as much hiking this week, but today I tried the rails to trails in our county for the first time. I went on one little section, out and back, and it was so pretty! That part goes through a wetland. I saw ducks, geese, turtles, and one heron. My geese are supposed to be all white but one is feathering out brown. I don't know if they sent the wrong breed or what. They are both friendly though. I just moved them outside to the pen yesterday. I hope they will stay friendly without the constant interaction of seeing me all day from their brooder box in the house!

How are your tree and flowers doing? I bet they are pretty! Last year I planted some bee balm and it came back like crazy this year. It got knocked flat by multiple thunderstorms but is still blooming lying down! Did you try to make tea with it yet? I never did that. I have comfrey growing like crazy and I keep meaning to do something with the root or even make a poultice for boo-boos but I have not done that either.

I am making cheese today and trying a new one - blue brie. I have made brie successfully, but I have never made blue cheese successfully. Maybe the combination of the two will work! Fingers crossed!

My older son and one roommate moved to a new house and we were invited over for 4th of July dinner. From his backyard we could see fireworks through the trees while we made s'mores and drank wine. It was really nice! I don't usually go out on the 4th, so that was a treat! Did you do anything special for the 4th? I hope you had the day off at least!

I am getting ready to make catfish for dinner. We buy a bunch of filets at our farmers' market and freeze them in packs of 6 and eat that about once a week. I am roasting some squash and sweet potatoes to go with it. I have not been doing much cooking this summer, but when I do, I try to make it healthy!

I hope things are well with you!

Wow, your cheese sounds so delish - I must have missed my invite to dinner - Ha - Fish and roasted veggies are so good and yes, good for you. I am not cooking as much either, but I also like to get a package of veggies and roast them. No fuss, but it does heat up the kitchen. I'd like to grill but that doesn't always come together. I am not following a meal plan and I know I should.

I havent grown comfrey, but I hear it is used in herbal medicines like you said. The bee balm tea is supposed to be calming, and I saw how to make it as "sun tea" - I need to try that next week. I have honestly been more anxious lately, I think I need a vacation.But just days here and there so far. And my back yard is getting on my nerves. Fiance works on it, but it doesn't look like projects actually get finished. Just piles of materials covered in tarp- I'm tired of looking at it out my window.

I was on call the 4th and we didn't even try to go out. Rachael is afraid of noisy fireworks anyway. Neighbors were setting them off and the neighborhood peacock was having a fit! I'm glad you had a nice time with your son. My younger daughter just bought a small house with her boyfriend so that will be work for them and extended family - but no more rent; good for them. She is struggling with school- the Master's program at Uof R is pretty tough and she has the house, moving, a new promotion at work too. I told her it would be a strain.

I shouldn't be as down as I feel, but something has to turn a corner. My mom ruined a b-day dinner with fiance by feigning a stroke. Low level stress is more damaging than a single event they say. I'm at work this week-end and its not busy right now- thankful for that. Smile- I'm trying to do that too.

Hello, I'm feeling better now. I just hope you weren't too worried . I know we are both worry warts. It has been a better week in general. Things are a long way to getting straight and cleaned up, which seems to be a big worry factor for me - but - its just one thing as I do know. Fiance is working on the projects - if he wasn't I'd REALLY be upset. We made a day trip to Lancaster last week to pick up a mast for the boat and we met a lovely "farm family". They just moved from a small farm to a bigger one . It was out in the country - they have goats(2 babies), chickens,pigs,ducks, bees and horse - 5 of them and one is a retired racehorse with a carriage that they hitch up at school events plus all the other farm stuff you'd expect with gardening ect. The teens are being raised to be self sufficient and they were all working with the animals , carpentry and the girls make goat cheese and soap. It was fun being around them, not even counting picking up the "cheap" mast - which the boys helped Fiance load onto the truck without being asked.

Otherwise, things were pretty routine and nothng new with my meals, just day to day without much planning. The wine is not too bad and exercise is normal. I'd be depressed if I didn't exercise. We also had nic weather which makes me happy. I got outside enough to enjoy it and be thankful. No mamma-drama which also helps.

I hope you had a good week, and enjoying summer. I don't want to waste a day of my favorite season being unhappy. You either. chat soon.

Hello, I am glad you are feeling better. I know how it is to worry about your children. We had a little more drama with the younger son, and it's partly my fault that he is caught in between. I hate this situation.

I think your mother and my mother-in-law were two peas in a pod. Faking medical problems was right up her alley too. My sister-in-law just sent us a flash drive with various family videos she took over the years. One was my in-laws, and she was going on about a sweater for her horrible Chihuahua. Then they switched to my father-in-law who was talking about how he came to be in the Navy during WWII, and it was fascinating but after 5 min she couldn't stand it and kept interupting a great family history story with more stupid sweater remarks because she could not stand to let him have any attention, or to have herself not be the center of it.

Your trip to Lancaster sounds lovely! I am glad there are people like that still around. Those children will grow up to be wonderful people! Were the goats cute?? I am a bit partial. I actually grew up in southern York county, not too far from there, but I was not on a farm. My animal collecting hobby came much later!

Things are pretty normal here. Eating mostly ok, drinking more than I should but not tons, exercising when I can. I have been wanting better hiking boots because mine are not padded enough in the soles to keep my knee/neck/shoulder joint problems from flaring up if I hike a long ways. But I have short, very wide feet, so finding any footwear is a challenge. I went to REI in Short Pump on Thursday, as a last resort, having been to lots of other places over the years, and even they did not have one single boot to fit me. The guy there was nice though, and suggested a trail running shoe that has a wide toe box. I bought a pair and tried them yesterday. So far, pretty good on the fit. I would have to wear them on longer hikes to see if they cushion my sad, old joints better than my old boots.

Today I am making cheese which will take all day, and watching soccer, so probably no exercise. I should do some yoga at some point, or stretching at least.

I hope you continue to feel better! Stress is no good for us, and we are both very subject to it! Enjoy the nice sunny weather today!!

Hello, I hope your week went well. Mine was ok. We went to see my older son's band do an outdoor concert on Sunday evening, then went back to his house to play a board game with him and his gf and drink some wine. We really enjoyed that. My eating and drinking have been so-so this week, and I did not get a lot of exercise.

I was figuring to get a lot of exercise this coming week. We are headed out to our vacation near Luray tomorrow, with my mom, sisters, aunt, and my kids. This is a mixture sure to have awkwardness and uncomfortableness, mostly between my husband and my family, pllus me and my son's wife. But, I figured we'll be out hiking and kayaking a lot so I'll get exercise and it will be smaller groups at a time. So now I see it will be thunderstorming almost every day and we will be stuck in the cabin together a lot. Sigh. We are bringing lots of games but I need lots of outdoor time too! It's also usually the only time I kayak all year. I can do that in the rain, but not thunderstorms. Boo. I was going to hike today too, to help relieve the anxiety of the coming trip, but it's raining today too.

I got a mammogram yesterday, and also an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound was to follow up on a high value in my bloodwork from my annual physical. One of the liver compounds is usually on the high end of normal for me, but this year it was above the normal range, so I'm getting more bloodwork done and a peek at the liver itself. They look at the gall bladder too (and spleen, kidneys, aorta) which the gastroenterologist contemplated scanning in Jan and decided against, so it's probably a good thing to just get the whole abdominal area done. There is a hereditary condition that makes people produce too much of this compound (bilirubin) and the condition is basically harmless, so hopefully that's all that this is. I am not going to worry about it yet. Luckily, my doctor says it is nothing to do with alcohol consumption!

Let me know how things are going with you!

Hello,

I've been back home a week but just finally getting around to writing. It rained a bunch for most of the week so I didn't get outside as much as I wanted, but on Friday did a long hike, and Saturday a long kayak trip. We had 2 shorter kayak trips earlier in the week too. We did a few things at the beginning of the week, but also a lot of sitting inside EATING and DRINKING alcohol. Sigh. Played lots of fun games too. I was on edge almost the whole week from the various stressful dynamics between people, and slept horribly. We were all in one cabin, which was huge with plenty of room, but no sound insulation at all. So the people who stayed up late kept me awake, then the early risers disturbed the late sleepers. I was in a room between my sisters who both snore, and one got sick midweek so she was coughing also. I was glad to be home.

How wonderful that your daughter and your boyfriend bought a house! And how nice of you to give them the down payment! My older son just moved into a single family home with a roommate he's been living with. They are renting, but it's a step up from where they were in a townhouse, more room and a yard. He is starting a new job on Monday, with a pay raise and better benefits, so all seems well with him. My younger son and his wife have bought a puppy, against all common sense. They have a tiny 2-bedroom apartment and it's a golden retriever. I hope they don't get evicted from all the barking, and that it doesn't destroy the place since my husband had to be on the lease.

How is it going with the tea drinking? I became a fan of hot tea just a few years ago, after never liking tea at all before. I recently got some matcha tea, with apple and mint. It was expensive but I like it! I ate really well this week after a terrible week last week. Next week I go back to school though, and it will be more of the nonstop candy, cookies, junk. Your jam sounds delicious! A friend offered me a pint of homemade mint ice cream yesterday (with mint I grew and gave him) and I declined! If only I had that kind of willpower at school. It's so much harder for me to say no when I am still in the same location as the junk food. With the ice cream I declined and then left his house and the ice cream stayed there so I was safe from it!!

Good news on my liver. The ultrasound was normal. The followup bloodwork shows my bilirubin still elevated. Of the 3 usual causes of that (hereditary, anemia, or internal bleed likely from lungs) my doctor thinks it's a hereditary condition and nothing to worry about. So for now, we just do nothing until my next year's physical! Works for me!

With the order you just joined, can you do your daily prayers anywhere? I was raised Catholic and do not go to church anymore, but I also pray daily, mainly giving thanks for the good things in my life. My faith for me is very private and I never felt much connection to the church anyway, mostly disagreements with much of it. Several years ago they changed the wording of the service, so when I would go occasionally, it wasn't even the service I grew up with and had memorized, so I felt completely disconnected from it. I feel closer to God in the forest or even in my bed at night.

I hope all is well with you!

I was waiting to hear how your week went ; sounds like some fun and some misery. Note to you - next time get 2 smaller cabins.Ha. When we reserve the yurt for Thaksgiving I intentionally get a one bedroom, actually just one big room though they do come with separate bed rooms. I do that so no one can stay in the other bedroom(like my mother) . We add on a hotel room for her for just one night in the main lodge so she can have Thanksgiving dinner with us then she goes back to the Home. It is an easy hour drive so Fiance does that while I have a little more time to myself- which I really need. We leave one night ahead of the end of the week so my daughter and her fiance can stay that night. But- we don't sleep in the same yurt at the same time, or I'd need a vacation after that. I'm glad you got at least some outdoor exercise, I would love that part. We went to the beach at Yorktown last week on the one day it didn't rain and that was nice.

I feel for your concern over a big dog in a small apartment. My daughter inherited 2 big labs from a previous boyfriend who went away to medical school- before they were his dogs, then their dogs, then HER dogs. Then she added a cat, then another kitten. At least they do have the house now with a nice fenced yard. Still, I'm afraid it will be a lot when they add a baby to the mix. Plus she is super attached to the dogs now so if one of then dies, I'm sure she will get another lab for a companion for the other one, and so on. Oh well, what can you say.

My strawberry jalapeno jam was a hit even with coworkers who generally don't like hot petters. The sweetness adds enough flavor to make the peppers hot for just a moment. I made smal jars so it would be easy to share. I think I'm done for this year. I spent more time in the basement cleaning out moldy cardboard boxes and now I'm on a roll with that. It is such a mess of tools,jars or screws and tools and household stuff; but I at least got some cleaning started. I load up my trunk every day with boxes of trash and dispose of it when Fiance is out somewhere. He would pick over every little thing and i'm over that ridiculous-ness. I make me a big pitcher of iced green and ginger tea and get to work. And BTW. I wouldn't pass on homemade mint ice cream - really- that sounds so cool and refreshing.

Hey- good to hear about your checkup. applause button. I bet you are right about the inherited cause. I have inherited high cholestrol and I do try to get the LDL down, but since I had clean scans for heart and carotid vessels,I'm not too worried. Keep up your healthy habits the best you can . so many factors to health, we can't control everything.

I pledge for the Daughters of the King tomorrow. As for prayer, we simply make a vow as we wear our cross ( that I get tomorrow) to be a daily example of Jesus' love to everyone we meet- as part of that to pray and serve others. Prayer can be lots of different styles, and everyone has different ways to pray. It can be walking in nature, reading scripture or written prayers,, in church or other groups,personal individual prayers for yourself and others, or just mindful meditation or music/chants. I We are encouraged to include gratitide, confession and petitions and praise. Episcopalians are pretty liberal in faith practice even though we do have liturgy, not everyone agrees on doctrine and questions about faith are expected and encouraged. You can go to lots of diffenr services and find many different worship and community styles, so there is something for everyone from very strict Rite One to contemporary bands and even jozz services or bluegrass gospel. I love the varity. One thing about the praydisciscipline is a reminder so I don't forget. Plus- studies have shown in FMRI that is actually is good for your brain health. What is old is now new-age. Anyway, I'm happy about tomorrow, and my daughter is supposed to come too for the ceremony. she doesn't attend church now either, but was raised Christian. Whatever works for each person is best I think.

I hope you have a pleasant week to end up summer and get some down time with your meagerie. Peace out.

Hello! I went back to work this week. I spent the week helping K and 1st teachers get rooms ready, making "bus tags" for K-2, going to meetings, etc. My para team finally got our schedules yesterday. We mostly did instruction with K and 1 in my first 3 years. Apparently we are technically available for K-6, though with 6 people that's impossible. They decided to spread us out through 4th grade though, so they took 2 of our team away from K and they are serving 2-4 all morning, and then all 6 of us do first grade in the afternoon. There is definitely a need in those grades, but I hate that they are dminishing support to K, which really needs it, in order to help older grades. What they need to do is add more paras!! But that will never happen. Anyway, I am very, VERY grateful that I was not one of the people moved. I love doing K and I hate anything over 2nd. I am no good with older grades - I am much more nurturing than authoritative and the big kids need somebody strong. The kids come back on Monday!

The constant treats at school was underway from day 1. Giant cookies with icing, donuts twice, August birthdays celebration day with all kinds of junk. I was very good and had one cookie, plus some crackers and crab dip. all week. Otherwise I stuck to my own healthy food. I have not gotten back to the Y yet, but I did a little hiking this week. My shoulder has been sore since my kayaking on vacation. That's going to limit what I can do at the Y and elsewhere until it decides to settle back down. Also, most mornings and evenings I am squeezing in a little yoga or stretching or PT - maybe 20 min. I also went back to no alcohol on weekdays so I have a better chance of sleeping, though last night I had 2 glasses. I know I will have some again tonight but maybe I can stick to just one glass.

How are things with you this week?