10/23 Saturday

[Teresa]

Hello all,
The deck is approved not only by the building inspectors, but also by Spotty, who has had all his dishes put back in their usual spots. The only thing that isn’t done is the Sunsetter awning over the sliding doors. Karen’s helper, Duke, pulled a muscle in his leg/hip and is out of commission right now. We may have to wait for spring to finish that up.

Kathy,
don’t try to do too much, especially 2 man jobs, when you’re not even 1 man..

Judy,
I very much approve of Garrett’s and IZ’s job choices. Sounds like they will enjoy the work without the debt.

Hugs,
Ginny

[judy]

Today Jim and I got our Covid booster at the health department's drive through vaccination event at the fair grounds.  We probably could have found a place where it would have been quicker, but Jim gets really worn out walking and standing, so we just sat in our car and read until it was our turn.  It really was well-planned and executed, it was just that a lot of people decided to take advantage of the opportunity.  I'm just glad we got it done.

My grandson, Garrett, just stopped by to say hello.  He's here for the weekend from Wisconsin especially so he can go to one of Toby's games.  Bryn is having a family dinner this evening.  Unfortunately this is Challenge Quilt night at guild so I can't go because I'm on the Challenge Quilt Committee and have "duties", but Jim will be able to go.  I'm going to the football game tomorrow so I'll have another opportunity to see him.   My Challenge Quilt is ready!!!  It's really pretty silly, but it was fun to make.  I'll share a picture with Teresa and she can post it.  I'll post its story on the thread.  Our theme for next year is Topsy Turvy.  We have to use both sides of the Challenge fabric in our quilt.  

Tomorrow will be my fifth Write Your Life Story class.  We will be officially over half done.  It's been a really enjoyable term.  The handouts seemed to be easier to come up with. which is a relief.

Time to close for now.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Take care, Judy

 
 

[kathy]

It's Halloween! Have no idea if there will be any kids out tonight and whether any will come ring my doorbell. But I do have treats which are Goldfish Colours. I bought them and they are awaiting the kids. If not someone else can consume them.
There was a lite snow fall last night and it's cool. Warm weather clothes are on the menu.
My winter tires are on and and now I just have to read about AWD on my vehicle. Have to take another look a remote starting.

Went to Morley, Alberta for lunch yesterday, Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino. www.stoneynakodaresort.com/
I was amazed at how clean and fresh the facility was. I've been driving past it for years and have never stopped. It's on the TransCanada and the turnoff is to Kananaskis Country. Not too many having lunch but there were gearing up for a crowd. Had a nice lunch and then played the slots.
Came home with some extra cash.

So am spending more money on my reno. I am going to put pot lights in the basement room and they are going to wire my laundry closet. They will start on Wednesday. I have the old ones from the 80's that have glass globes and aren't very efficient. I will have to find a wall light for the stairwell as well as it has one of those light fixtures on it's side.

Just waiting for the plumber to quote on the laundry closet.
Master bedroom just needs the bedding to be put on the bed. I am hoping it isn't too dusty.

Work Monday to Thursday. Am going to see about getting the 3rd shot next weekend. I'm not scheduled to work so looks like it might be a good fit.

Hope everyone is healthy and fit!

Hugs
Kathy

[ginny]

How did everyone’s Trick or Treat night go? I didn’t plan to hand out candy this year, so I just turned off the lights, and actually fell asleep till the last half hour scheduled. I woke up and peeked out the front window, but didn’t hear anything. So I’m not sure if there was much going on or not, because I usually don’t get many kids past the first hour anyway. I could see my nearest neighbor was doing their usual grisley display -- they drive a car into the ditch, and then push a stuffed dummy under the car's front wheels.  Plus all kind of horror movie kinds of things.  Not my kind of decorations but their son "enjoys" them.

Kathy, Glad you had some luck at the casino—with all the remodeling changes it sounds like you’ll have a place to use a bit of money. Hope that all your projects go smoothly and quickly. I have wanted to do pot lights in my kitchen, but was talked out of it by my handy man; he didn’t think I would get enough light from them. I don’t know whether he would have been right or not, (actually I think he just didn't want to do the job), but I think I am pooped out anyway for awhile. My third covid shot went better than the second one did, nothing other than a sore arm for about a week. Have you gotten your energy back now that you have recovered from your surgery?

Judy, glad to hear you and Jim were able to get your third shots. I am not sure whether to feel safer or not but at least I’ve done all that can be done. I think the handouts for your class are getting easier to create because you have had more experience doing so. Glad you are enjoying it though. And I’m looking forward to seeing the pictures of your challenge quilt. Our local PBS station started showing some reruns of the Sewing with Nancy shows where she shows how to machine quilt a variety of  triangular patterns from squares  and I have been watching them. The last time I saw some of these was when I was teaching middle school, and  at the time I was brave enough to try some simple things with my students. Somehow mine never turn out as nice as Nancy’s (or the kid’s either, for sure) but it has peeked my interest in it once again. I don’t know whether or not I might try something once again or not. I no longer have boxes of unused fabric and the fabric store has closed, so I’d have to shop online. My favorite part of the whole process was walking around in the store, picking up fabrics that I liked and went well together. I will at least commit to watching the shows though.

Virtual Hugs,
Ginny

[judy]

Teresa, thanks for the nice thread.  It's always fun to see what you will come up with.

Ginny, my only reaction also was a sore arm for awhile.  I was actually lucky with all the injections.  I'm not sure what that means, but as you say, we are doing all we can.

So, while my Challenge Quilt was not anything write home about.  I did get the prize for best story.  I can't remember if I told you the name of my quilt, "I made a deal."  That deal was with the Pillsbury Doughboy.  After you read the story you'll see why I said when I accepted the prize, "My mother would be so disappointed."    A very unexpected surprise was the small wall hanging I was presented.  Some time ago I gave one of my quilt friends a stack of African theme material because as much as I loved the fabric I knew I wasn't going to use it.  She has done some very creative things with figures of women on fabric, and some of this fabric had African scenes with women.  She was so pleased and at one point gave me a very colorful mug rug, but this wall hanging is exquisite.   She added embellishments and it is a beautiful piece of art.  I was so surprised, after she shared it during Show and Tell she told everyone that it was for me. 

We also presented next year's challenge and the new fabric packet.  Our new Challenge Quilt Chair (I was the old one.) is very creative and we did a little skit to introduce the presentation of this year's challenge quilts, and then she put together a very cute poem to introduce next year's challenge.  I think I mentioned we have to use both sides of the fabric.  It is always fun to see what people come up with. 

This morning my Zen moment was watching a small herd of deer.  We often see a few together, but this morning there was the mom with her twins-they are no longer small-two other does and a buck.  They were grazing in the field below the house.  Although they weren't close, I stood still as I watched them because they seem to be able to see movement behind the glass, and if I had opened the door I know they would have scattered.  Ginny, I know you live next door to a refuge, and I enjoy living in the country because we have lots of wildlife too.

Hope everyone is having a good week.  We are having LOTS of rain, and our dry lawns and fields are no longer yellow, but bright green.  They recover so quickly once the rains begin.  Take care, Judy

 
  

[kathy]

I had 9 kids before I turned the lights off. I had to work at midnight so I did get a few hours of sleep.

I am putting pot lights in my basement room. The lights that are there are old ones from the 80's and they look out of date and really get dusty. I had the same light in my closet and put an old fixture that was in my hallway in there. I have an old light fixture that the previous owners hand wired above where I have my desk. The Electrician is going to put a pot light in the area. Then it will look better. I had all the plugs upgraded in the basement to white got rid of the toggle switches that were almond so they are all white through out the whole house. I can't believe the electrician from a the previous work didn't replace the plugs in the bathroom with ground fault. Electric Code says bathrooms have to have them. It's done so now I'm up to date. My laundry closet is being done next week. I was going to get it done in February but I figure I better get it done now as the cost of Copper Wire is getting to be so expensive that it will cost more next year. Also finally getting the floor in the laundry room done. I will be so glad when these guys finish so I can get rid of the dust in the house. It is everywhere and I can't seem to get rid of it.

My friend had their dog put dog last week. They are feeling a bit lost but they are getting better. They have decided to rent a house instead of buying and now the hard part of finding what they are looking for and what's available. Then they are going to reno their house and put it on the market. It's a house that's a little tired and needs some modernizing.
I'm thinking of going to a Festival of Crafts this weekend. I've seen Connie Beattie's paintings and I was going to see if she had one that said take me home. I have a couple of days off so am going to revamp some of the stuff at my place and hopefully get my Master bedroom put together! That's the plan .

The grass is brown green and it's not going to turn green. The temperatures aren't that warm and that white stuff could come anytime and stay awhile.

Hope everyone is healthy and safe. Have a great Friday!

Hugs
Kathy

[Teresa]

Finally made it to onederland after all the teasing and stalling for months and months. Lets see if I can keep it that way.

[judy]

Teresa, that number is awesome.  How wonderful that you are in the next "century"!!!

Doesn't it feel wonderful?

Take care, Judy

[Teresa]

Judy, I can hardly believe it and I am only a smidgen under so lets see if I can hold on to it. It has been such a struggle to break through past the 200 mark. I am talking months and months. I was ready to beat the tar out of my scale.

Day before yesterday Chibs and I went on a walk and I walked 1.84 miles without wearing oxygen. By the time we were done I was feeling it but I was so darn excited I couldnt stand myself.

[judy]

Teresa, you are definitely healthier than you were before you began this journey.  Chibs is not only lovable and fun (as well as occasionally exasperating) but good for you.  My goal this winter is lose five pounds and maintain at the level just below my goal weight.  

I just finished writing my handout for Week 7 for my Write Your Life Story.  I saw a post on FB about a class called Write a Food Memoir.  I will not take the class, but it gave me a great idea for a handout of the same title.  This class description suggests being very analytical and how food affected your life, and while my students may write an analytical essay about food.  I was thinking more in terms of what are your favorite foods?  What are your memories about those foods?  My probably most favorite food is Chicken and Dumplings.  I remember eating it at my grandparents' home.  My grandma was a great cook.  I don't get to eat it very often, and I now I usually compare it to my memories of my grandmother's Chicken and Dumplings.  Other favorites that came to mind were abalone steak and geoduck (gooey duck) Chinese food, (I hated it as a kid.) and pasties (the meat pie kind, not the other. )

Now just one more handout and I'm done for the quarter.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  Take care, Judy
 

[ginny]

Teresa,
It is so wonderful to hear your great weight loss news! I admire and congratulate you on your persistence. I’ve been doing a little bit better, but only because my numbers aren’t so good, and my doctor growls at me. At least she doesn’t want to see me for another 5 months, so that gives me some time to do my best and see what happens. I especially think your fitness is wonderful. I’ve gone downhill since the Covid, and need to do more exercise.

Judy, I think your goal sounds wonderful, reasonable and hopefully even doable. Keep up the good work. I also like your writing idea for your class. I think almost everyone has memories of foods and/or problems with food. I definitely remember my dad walking with me in a stroller to the White Castle store, and I understand one of my first words was “omburger”. I still love them.

Kathy I know you will be glad when all the remodeling is done. It sounds like your home will be ready for the photographers to come and do a shoot. I have so much stuff that needs to be done, even after spending all the time and money on the deck—it is depressing.

I’m beginning to look forward to the holidays, maybe even actually have either or both a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at my home. Fingers crossed!!

Hugs,
Ginny

[Teresa]

The new WW program is definitely a shock to ones frame of mind haha. I have spent the day floundering some. My daily points went down from 23 to 16, I had a panic moment but I got Avocados and potatoes as 0pt food. Super excited about that. I worry about the potatoes a little because we all know I am a potato head. I had to rescan everything I usually use because the points on some of them have changed. Any way I started out with 16 points but I earned points from water and veggies so even though I ate all of my 16 points I still have 10 left over at the end of the day. If the potatoes cause me to not lose I will retake the questions and see what happens but for right now I am enjoying free potatoes. I am heading to the store tomorrow to buy more, red and russets. Tuna fish is no longer 0pts for me and that is okay except I just bought a bunch of it. Hopefully this change will keep me moving down.

What does everyone else think of it?

[judy]

Well, I am struggling with the new program, too.  When I got to my goal many years ago, I began weighing everyday and the now scales show the struggle I'm having at my current goal...up one day, down the next.  I found myself irritated with the new point system, and so what did I do in defiance...ate more than I should, and had too many treats.  Luckily, before things got completely out of hand, I stopped giving myself permission to do the negative things I was doing.  That mind set is still a work in progress.

Next week is my last class for Fall Quarter.  I have especially enjoyed doing the last two class handouts.  This week was a suggestion to write a food memoir, and several of my students, as well as me, did write one.  It was so much fun to hear the result.  Another handout suggestion ended up in my email that suggested writing Six-Word Memoirs and then writing the backstory for the memoir.  I had done the Six-Word Memoir as a challenging and enjoyable exercise, but I never thought of writing the backstory using the six-word memoir as a writing prompt.  I hope my students try it.  I found a whole page of six-word memoirs in my writing files.  Have you ever tried this exercise?

Here are a few of the ones I wrote years ago.

"Celebrations mark special moments in life."  I have a definite backstory for this one because today is my 56th wedding anniversary.  Jim gave me the most beautiful card.  

"Great Grandfather's letters - personal war experiences."  This refers to all the Civil War letters that I have.

"Quilts - stories in patterns and stitches."  All my quilts have stories.

Once I got started all those years ago, I thought of all kinds of six-word memoirs.

Guess I'd better get busy with today's list.  Our son is coming to visit, and we are looking forward to it.  We haven't seen him for a while.  Unfortunately, only he is coming, Paige is being super careful apparently about going out.  Hope she will eventually feel safer about leaving her bubble.

Take care and have a good weekend, Judy 

[Teresa]

Well I took the questions again and took fruit off as a 0pt food. I dont eat a lot of fruit and when I do it is only bananas or blueberries. It only raised my pts by 2 but it gave me back 0pt fish so that is good. Bananas are now 3 pts for one and blueberries are 3 pts for a cup.

Hopefully I can get into the swing of all this new stuff

[ginny]

Hello all,
well finally about 3 months after I purchased the new computer, Karen and I got it sort of set up—but I think I should not have tried to switch from my Mac to an android. We have somehow got both computers up and sort of running, but had a problem with the passwords yesterday, and when I tried to get on this morning I can’t get on one of them. So I’m writing this from my old computer today, till Karen gets here and hopefully gets me straightened out again.

Teresa, I don’t know anything about the WW changes, but I was surprised to hear the numbers for blueberries and bananas. I know bananas are frequently considered a problem in the regular world (when I was seeing a dietitian she expected me to only eat a half of one.) I fortunately don’t have a problem with bananas, I probably only eat one a month, but when I do eat a banana I eat the whole thing. But blueberries being the same points value as bananas does surprise me. Berries of any kind to my knowledge are super foods, low in carbs and calories, and blueberries especially high in all kinds of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Unfortunately my favorite way to eat blueberries is in a muffin, though, which would probably cause my dietitian to go into sugar shock. I’m afraid having potatoes as a free food wouldn’t work for me as I love them too much. How do you count Pam Spray now? Well I am not really counting anything so I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m just trying to keep my numbers in check. OK, I’m going to get off here and try to get a few phone calls made that I’ve been putting off.

Hugs to you all,
Ginny