I don't think there is a kinder thing one can do, then visit someone who feels forgotten or just very alone, and listen.

So True Patricia; good to remember~
The value of just listening & a person's presence & being there is sometimes really all it takes.

Makes all the difference in the world!

hi-

beautiful day- took a great walk.

Planned RM tonight: salad, beef brisket sandwich, coleslaw, water.

Planned RM tomorrow: salad, chicken breast stuffed with spinach and cheese, spinach, risotto for DH. Not sure what I'll have for carb.

later-
E

hello!
It's a beautiful day- took a walk in the woods with DH. I want it to be fall!

Today's planned RM: salad, chicken stuffed with ricotta cheese baked with marinara sauce served over a bed of spinach, bread and water to drink.
(DH will have pasta instead of spinach. I'm using the last of my homemade pesto sauce for the pasta!).

Tomorrow we have a heavy appetizer reception- I may eat a CM type small meal and use the event as my carb.

later-
E

Weather here is getting very 'fall' like.
I decorated the house for the first time ever with more
Autumn/ Fall colours. Makes everything more cheerful and warm.

Trying to will myself to go out walking here but i'm on the tired side today and it's quite breezy outside so not inclined but think i'll force myself to anyway.
Sometimes you just got to do it..no matter how you feel i suppose.

Will be meal prepping some egg, broccoli, and red pepper mini quiches later.

I did the same, went out before the heat had kicked in, and did some long needed weeding along the entrance walk.

Your mini quiche's sound good!

Hello!
Hi Mary- we are still waiting for fall here. Enjoy!

Tonight's planned RM: salad, beef brisket bbq, pasta (for DH), cauliflower (for me!), and either bread or fruit for my carb.
DH will also have ice cream.

I'll roast the cauliflower and use the leftover for mashed cauliflower for another RM meal.

later-
E

hi-
another beautiful but hot day.

tonight's planned RM: salad, chicken sausage patties, eggplant parm and roll for my carb. DH will add on the pasta and ice cream.

Tomorrow's planned RM: bread, salmon, mashed cauliflower, spinach.

later-
E

Maryh,
we are getting cooler here. Tonight it will be in the 40s, and we think the last gasp of heat (80s) is coming middle of next week, then to the 60s.

The leaves are diving off the trees, and some lovely color is evident on others.
The wild turkeys across the street are getting pretty chatty

We have to finish our woodshed, splitting the logs we were given, and pick up the cord of wood we bought. Soon we will need to get our wood burning insert fired up for heating the house.

Made thai curry beef last night (trying to make interesting recipes for dh), this was second or third time. I don't think I will bother again, too sweet/rich of a sauce, though it was a great way to use some lean meat, and a lot of broccoli.

I need to try my hand at a broccoli slaw sometime.

Heard there are still really high temperatures in the US alright.
I suppose Fall doesn't kick in until the sunlight dwindles & brings out those colours in the leaves...right?

I love the smell of wood burning! Splitting those logs sounds like hard work although i can imagine being outside in the fresh air would be really enjoyable too.


Tried Kefir lately as i heard of all these amazing health benefits; extremely sour! Over the top sour... .Will try to finish the bottle whatever about making it into a habit.

Need to come up with a game plan to stay happy, healthy and sane over the winter here.
Easier said than done i find.

The log splitting that I do isn't bad - once a log is in smaller chunks (which my husband does with a chain saw) we have a log splitter that is easy to use. It's my way (besides stacking the split wood) to help. I can't lift the logs when we get them (we have an arborist we work with who lets us take wood from his jobs, from a designated pile that is "ours". We are lucky he will do this for us, and is only a short drive away.) Wood (already split and seasoned) is very expensive (usually at least $150 a cord), we don't mind waiting a year for some of this to season. Some of what he is giving us is Ash - which due to ash borers is already dead by the time he logs it (we met him having him take down a dead ash - huge one, that was too close to our house, had to come down before it fell in a wind storm). Dead ash is essentially already seasoned (dry) and ready to burn.

But enough about wood!
I have a chance to be back in the 260s tomorrow, first time since 9/02. SIGH. One never thinks a dip off will lead to a 2 week struggle to get to where you were. Amazing how much I seem to need repetitive lessons.

Fall and holidays - I have my favorite on plan recipes for colder weather - a certain chicken cauliflower casserole my husband loves, a roasted cauliflower and leek soup, and I drink a LOT of tea

That is very interesting to me re: the wood Patricia.
I like the sound of it. Sometimes we buy a load of wood but
Here, what we do is go to a bog in the summer and save peat 'turf'.
It can be a really hard process at times.
First the rows of turf must be turned...then when this has a chance to dry it has to be kind of stacked into little bundles which is called 'footing' it.
Then sometimes this must be re-arranged again depending on the weather or how wet it was. Then put into bags and dragged home.
Can be very hard on your back and legs as your always humped over and bent down when saving it. You'd need to be in the full of your health.
The bog is such a peaceful place and almost spiritual...i like helping out too. The turf quality can be very hit or miss though depending on the weather...mostly its a challenge to get it dry enough but this year we had a few warm and v.windy days that almost dried it too much and then it kind of falls apart and turns almost to dust. Oh well!
In future i hope an alternative to the fossil fuels can be found for us all.

I understand how hard it can be to get back on plan too; i'm not currently
able to manage it after my last slip up....I'm not enjoying the side effects or consequence of being off plan at all. Need to work on my mindset badly.

I admire you so much for all your organisation and tenacity to keep going.
I'm in it too alongside you for the long haul.

I would love to see a bog, they sound so fascinating to me (and a bit scary).

I think we will both get where we want, because the alternative is worth fighting against! Yes, double meaning there

Oh yes -As a child i found the bog really terrifying; as there were huge drains that
looked like they were made of quick sand and also a train railway ran alongside it.....
i was terrified of everything...trains, planes, hens, everything!!!
I got lured down there as there was the promise of a picnic..(Tea, sandwiches and biscuits) -yes
it was those carbs again..

Still don't really like to look at the drains in a bog for long; they're a creepy prospect if you were to fall in to one.

This week i'm working on cultivating hope; even though I've only had part time success with CAD in the past; i realise it took me far enough & its so worth it to continue working on it.

Hope everyone has a good week ahead!

Oh I know it's worth it, having accomplished so much with calp previously. I just need to figure out the maintenance on it