THE JUNE BUG CHALLENGE THREAD

[sjl330]

The way we love it is saute onion and garlic in OO. Add some fresh basil, a chopped tomato, the swiss chard and a little bit of water and cook it down. Don't overcook but cook until tender. One of our favorite Italian restaurants serves this occasionally and they call it scolota. I don't know if that spelling is right but that's what it sounds like. And it's so yummy!

[TuscanGirl]

Morning!

Thanks for the dill ideas - recipes too please!

It's so hot here - another day of over 100!

Went to see The Proposal last night - LOVED IT!

[sjl330]

Didn't you just LOVE that puppy? I told my DD she better not let DGD go see it or she's going to want one right now. Like she needs a puppy in college! Ha!

Well, I'm back down to 145.5 this a.m. which is exactly what I was at last Wed. a.m. too. One good thing, I don't think I have any big plans this weekend so I just might be able to hold onto some loss. Maybe.

MK, Pickles are easy to make. But you do need cucumbers along with the dill. Or you can just buy a jar. That works too. I haven't made pickles in years, but I sure love homemade pickles.

[Buffy45]

Morning gang.
Wow, whole lotta cookin going on! You guys are putting me to shame.

My cold is no better nor worse. I feel yucky but rested yesterday and today although I want to go back to bed, I am making myself do 1 load of laundry and work in the office. I am so far behind from all the traveling and not feeling well.

Yes, it is HOT in TX. I hate it. But, I am not outside much so I shouldn't complain, I feel bad for the people who have to work outside.

Never made pickles but had a recipe for and used to make a wonderful hot dog relish, lost the recipe and never found it again. It had ground green tomatoes in it, I used to make it and give it as Christmas gifts and people raved about it. I looked and looked for that darn recipe for years.

Be good gang!

[sjl330]

Hey Buffy, do a search for hot dog relish recipe with green tomatoes and maybe you'll find something similar enough it will make you remember the rest? Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.

It's so hot here this week too. I feel like it's TX or AZ!

[CarolynF]

Hi ladies,

I'm on a shake day until dinner.. I've had 3 so far..LOLO..The last one was with some coconut milk, so I am hoping it will hold me for a while..

There is a good recipe for LC Bread and Butter Pickles that is fabulous and extremely easy..

Buffy: Gary didn't feel well for several days with his summer cold..No fun..Rest up, that's the best thing.

I'm going in the pool today.. It is 93 outside, but the shade helps alot.

BBL..

[Lise]

everyone....well it looks like everyone is doing well....cooking up a storm and maintaining or losing some...

Well it's official...I am the Biggest Loser at work...I lost 13.4 lb in 12 weeks.....plus I get $55.......my avi is me receiving my prize....I also have a full body shot wearing my crown that I will post once I have access to photobucket...

Have a great day

Lise

[CarolynF]

Lise: We are so proud of you.........................You are the Queen....can we be your princesses???

Hurray..

[sjl330]

WTG Lise!!! That's fabulous!! And you look fantastic!!! Yes, can we be your princesses? Maybe, if we're very good?

I went to DGS's pool for a couple of hours today. I just floated around and listened to my Ipod. I'll probably end up messing around and dropping one of my players in the pool this year. I clip it to my visor and so far so good, lol. And I also vacuumed for him so he wouldn't have to do it when he gets home. He works outside all day so I know this weather is making it extra hard on him. All my guys work outside or in non air conditioned conditions so I really wish this weather would cool up a bit and give them all a break.

[TuscanGirl]

Took DS16 to his sports physical, and then my computer to be cleaned.
It runs so quietly and quickly now! Wow!

They also took off McAfee and put on some other virus/spyware/adware stuff. They said it's the best so . . . . AND it was free!

Then then added 1 GB of RAM - I should just zip along now!

LISE!! That's great!!!


Sandy - I'm already a Princess!

Carolyn - so you have the Greek recipe?

i was down to 123 today - now whether I can hold onto it . . . .

Buffy - I think we have Texas hot up here! And we're very whiny about it!

[CarolynF]

Which Greek one do you want, Mary Kay of the Super Computer?? Falfalel? or the yoggie/cuke sauce?

[TuscanGirl]

The yogurt/cuke sauce!!

[CarolynF]

We are getting a new deck..thank God. Gary has been patching it for years..It is a huge deck...the whole length of our house.. Of course, this means I may be pool-less for a while..or I can move it to another part of the yard. But, they won't start right away..

Let me think:

1/2 cup of Greek yogurt OR 1 cup of regular yogurt, drained (yocheese)
1/2 cucumber,peeled, seeded and chopped
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dill weed

Take your cuke, add 1/4 tsp. salt and the lemon juice. Put this mixture in a colander and let it drain for 30 minutes. You will surprised how much water leaves the cuke.

Then add all the other ingredients together, chill and serve or serve room temp.



The key

[CindyCRNA]

Mary Kay, I also put my cuke between paper towels and pressed. You may be able to add more dill than 1t. I doubled mine to 2t and that's dry. Fresh, you could probably double it again but taste it first. OK, now I have to get out my leg of lamb and make some Tzaki! I pile the Tzaki on my Gyros.

All right, girls. I went to my hormone doc for them to draw labs: Estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and thyroid. I've gained 5 pounds and my hair is falling out! Sounds like thyroid to me. 10 days for results so I'll keep you informed. Overweight and bald is not a good look!!

[CarolynF]

OH NOES!!! Hair is falling out..definitely the thyroid..You are getting to be that "age". I hope they drew the Free T3 and Free T4, too. Keep us posted. Oh yeah, that bald comment reminded me that I have to dye my grey roots tomorrow..

Note: Our deck guy came by tonight and at the end I said that it was time for a new deck, etc..
He said, "Well, it probably would last a couple more years..(then the killer) unless your cat (see Alex to the left) walks out on it." I told him that Alex doesn't go outside, so that wasn't a problem..
Good thing I have a sense of humor, huh????

[Kapri]

Hi ladies,

I haven't been around for a while the company I work for is being outsourced and most of the senior staff's jobs are being made redundant inclduing mine which means I stop work after the 30th.


It's been a tough and stressful time but at least I have managed to stick to the diet and have lost since I started around 7 pounds.

I bought a lovely, elegant alternative party dress for this weekend (had a credit note from the store so it didn't cost too much at all) and the choice will be made tonight!

I have lovely party shoes to make it more partyish.

Cindy sorry about your hair. I've had hair issues it turned out to be iron levels as well as female pattern baldness ..I went to Philip Kingsley Trichology in the UK and they sorted me out with drops and all sorts. My hair is fine (and fine!) slightly thinner at the roots but nobody can tell.

Carolyn, on the on/off day thing...I've found that a combination of low carb and calorie counting is effective but sometimes have found myself waking up in the night ..possibly stress but possibly hungry stomach (1400 - 1600 a day). I had a lowish cal day yesterday but had some pasta too ..felt slightly sick ..it was pasta with meat balls ... but slept through the night and this morning I had a small amount of oatmeal with cream and blueberries. I just felt that my body needed more starch!

We'll see. I'll report back about the dress too.

Kathryn

[CindyCRNA]

Oh, Kathryn, so sorry about your job. That has been a common thing, unfortunently, here in the states. Will work be difficult to find as it is here right now? I understand about the carb thing also. I had a small bowl of Bob's Red Mill 5 grain oatmeal. That stuff is good, even if it is 100 degrees here.

Well, if you all will notice the time, this means I'm at work and up geting ready to do a case. I hate being up at 3am. The body does not like being up between 1 and 5 am. Cortisol peaks during this period, which is why MOST people are sound asleep.

[TuscanGirl]

Morning!

Cindy - Yikes! though I'm sure you'd still be cute - even if you're fat and bald!


Carolyn - thanks for the recipe!

Kathryn - I'm so sorry! Thoughts on where you'd like to work next?

DH was snoring this morning - so even though I thought I needed more sleep, it wasn't going to happen!

DD22 and I are going to see a regional theater production of The Wedding Singer tonight.
Besides that - we'll just be running last minute errands . . . .

[Kapri]

Cindy and Tuscangirl

The job situation here is very dodgy too ..I don't know how difficult it will actually be to find work next becaus I'm not sure yet where I want to focus. It is been a really busy time here dealing with the outsourcing etc etc and I'm just beginning to get my head around what next. It could be in publishing again, it could be free-lance writing/publishing.... I work for a large church organization here in the UK and have enjoyed that element of my publishing work so will need to see.

I'm really sad to say goodbye to the team here. They are a lovely group of individuals ..I've learnt tons being here.

This morning the sweetest thing happened. The staff rep (a union member) who has been incredibly supportive to the team (he's a total honey) brought down rhubarb pie ( a German recipe) that he had made for us all last night (we are a team of 12).

Nice things happen in the midst of the grot!

x

[TuscanGirl]

That's so nice!!

[sjl330]

Carolyn, a new deck will be great! I don't even think your kitty looks fat!! Hummmm. Maybe you should get another bid, lol.

Cindy, sorry about your hair and weight. I lose a ton of hair every single day and have since I had my first child 40 years ago! I have a ton of hair but I hate shedding everywhere I go. And I'm on thyroid meds and have been for at least 10-15 years. And they test in the normal ranges. Of course, I can never get it across to them that I want free T3 and free T4 when I get tested. Maybe you'll have better luck being a nurse. I'll be anxious to see.

Kathyrn, so sorry to hear of your job loss but quite excited to hear of your weight loss. We're still expecting a picture in whichever dress you end up wearing. It's always so nice to have a face to put with a name. I hope you find another job quickly.

MK, I love The Wedding Singer. I bet in a live performance it'll be great! I'm taking youngest DGD with me to dinner theater next week to see Sound of Music. DH just really has no desire to see that and she loves singing and has never been. She's very excited to go.

Well off to go have Daddy Errand Day today. Dr., grocery, drugstore, etc., etc. And another hot one here today and steamy too after our rain last night. Yuck!!

[Buffy45]

Morning gang. Waiting for Dr.'s office to open so I can call and try to get in. Last night my throat started getting really sore, ears started hurting. I have been having trouble sleeping since I got this and finally realized it is probably something in the dayquil I am taking, since it makes you feel better and peppyier during the day?? Anyway, tossed and turned all night and was miserable. If it wasn't for my history of pneumonia, I would just let it run it's course but with my luck I will end up sicker so going to see my Dr. today if I can get in.

Carolyn, have you checked out the synthetic deck materials? They are very pricey but supposed to outlast real wood by years and years. What an insult to our beautiful sleek Alex, LOL. Yes, that must be a flattering picture of him, he doesn't look chubby at all in his picture.

Lise, we are soooo proud of our greatest loser! I will have to be "snuffy" princess with my cold!

Sandy, nice you have DGS's pool to enjoy. DD#2 and DSIL, DGS9 are looking for another home, trying to find one very near to us and want one with a pool, I am thinking I will really enjoy that!

MK, keep enjoying this time with DD. And, don't you just love getting a new or fixed computer that runs fast and flawlessly! It doesn't take long for them to get bogged down with cookies, kind of like us humans, LOL.

Cindy, hope they pinpoint which of your hormones is causing the hair loss. Most of us get thinning hair as we age anyway, we don't need any extra hair loss.

Kathryn, so sorry about your job, hoping you find another one that you love as much and very soon. I am amazed you were able to follow, stick to and lose on the diet while under this stress. Good job on that.

Will let you all know what the good Dr. says! Wish he would just call in a Zpak but I know he will want to see me first.

[CindyCRNA]

Kathryn, that is so sweet about the rhubarb pie. Fortunately, rhubarb is my least fav but you do have to eat a few bites because the person who made it is so proud. Maybe I've just never had good rhubarb pie! What a stressful time. Please stay close to us and keep us updated.

MK, I don't want to be cute, fat and bald! I want to be cute, thin and have a head of hair! And I loved The Wedding Singer also!

Buffy, I hate it when a cold settles in my ears. You can't hear, you keep trying to clear them. Then everything you take either puts you to sleep or keeps you awake!

Lise, your Avi looks great! You are our fav Biggest Loser!

[CarolynF]

Good early afternoon everyone..

What fun it was to read all the news...Although, I am very sorry for Kathryn's loss of employment, but I'm sure she will get something soon..

Yes, our deck guy..Dusty..(LOL) wasn't any too sleek himself..LOL..But, he was a yell leader for KState and graduated, so Alex and I forgave him.

Buffy: I'm betting you have strep, my friend. You should be better by now..
Let us know what's up.

Kathryn: We want to see you all "dolled" up for the wedding.. You'll have a great time.

MKay: You will really enjoy the Wedding Singer.. You are making memories with your dd..My dd loves theater, too..On vacation, we always try to make
a play in the local town.

Sandy: Sound of Music??? That's Beth's favorite movie/show of all time..Maybe she will go with a gfriend.

On the deck material thing..We are going with real wood..We aren't going to be here forever..(hopefully) and our deckguy really knows his wood, etc..
It will be expensive enough with the real stuff. I have also heard that the synthetic can be problematic, too.

Tonight I am making Hot German Turnip Salad..I love, love, love it with taters, so I am hoping that this will be good, too.

I'm doing shakes during the day again..It's so darned hot, they taste good..
I got some coconut milk to use..

[CarolynF]

This was on the playground..If you have 5 minutes and need a laugh..

Parkway Rest Stop The Ultimate Wedding Dance.

It's the best wedding dance ever..LOL.

[sjl330]

I can't wait to hear how that salad turns out Carolyn. I love Hot German Tater Salad!!

Well, we got all the errands ran and had lunch. By the time we got done it was very steamy here again. I'm so tired of this heat!!

My MIL used to make a rhubarb/raisin cobbler that was to die for!! Before she had her stroke.

Buffy, hoping your Dr. lets you come today. You've dealt with this long enough!!

[CarolynF]

Yup..just took a dip in the pool and Maddie, the black lab, decided to hop in, too. Luckily, I don't swim around, I just float..

Dying my hair now...Yes, I am anxious to see how those turnips turn out. I might pre-cook them in some cream/water to take the bitterness out of them..

[Kapri]

Thank you all for kind and encouraging words.

I will endeavour to get a photo of me in party gear for this little group.

Interestingly, it's been good to have the focus of learning a new way of eating ..it's been helpful. I am also very grateful to Fitday ..I am so much more aware of what I am eating.

[CarolynF]

Yup...We can't wait to see you in your party gear, K.. being aware of what we eat is a very important step to health........

[sjl330]

Be careful Maddie's claws don't puncture your pool bottom. That would not be good in this heat! My pup loves water too. She's always thought she was a Lab since she was raised around my son's chocolate Lab. The other Eskies in the family hate water, but not her. She dives right in with the big dogs!