Thursday for VINTAGE MAINTAINERS

[zip2play]

Hi everybody,
They've got whole (cleaned) small salmon on sale at the A&P[$1.99]. I think I'll check them out and slice them into thick steaks for the Foreman knockoff. I guess probably half will have to be frozen though and I hate the idea of freezing fish!

Hot and steamy overnight and through today unless we luck out with a thunderstorm but the NY Metro area really has a dome (of heat presumably) that seems to resist most of these storms. It's funny how you watch on the map and the storm front splits and passes North (Binghampton- Westchester) and South (Atlantic City) but all we get is pollution and goooey air. Year after year I've seen this same pattern all summer!
Using the LR air conditioner as a central unit for the whole apartment workks well...my concern is the cost and waste of cooling empty rooms. Oh well, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do! They've locked the meter rooms on each floor so I can't get a days reading...phooey, but I guess some thievey tenants tried to circumvent the meters!

I think today I'll take a bike ride (real bike-not stationary) and skip the gym or else just run in and take a shower when I'm done...it's NICE to have somebody else wash the towels every day! Plus no wet shower and wet towels to humidify the apartment !

Julie,
Good luck on the LDL control (See if you can find some SmartBeat margerine!) Eat lot's of fish (and take some cod liver oil, get a ton of Lecithin from Puritan)...curtail the butterfat (cheese, cream, half-and-half: take it from me- it clogs arteries.
Make sure you take an aspirin a day and 1200 mcg. of Folic Acid daily.

Jacki,
Nice grandkids, nice vacation schedule.

To all a good day (as he climbed up the hot steamy chimney and saw his reindeer fanning themselves like mad to stay cool!)

[OrchidCactus]

Hey all,

Tonight is hell night, mentally preparing myself for it. Ugh.

Shawnee, The cousin and his family that are moving here are definitely critter people--horses, dogs and who knows what all! No prob with a bit of dog hair when they are here

Zip, not sure what the London Broil that you're talking about is, since we don't buy meat at the store! I just don't remember if it was a shoulder roast or a 'round' or what. So, not sure even which end of the critter it came from!

Loretta, brain cramp here--did you ask if I wrapped it in foil? Well, I didn't wrap it (and it didn't dry out, surprisingly). Have you gotten to do any fishing or has the weather not cooperated lately?

Linda, tell me what areas in TN you'll be visiting...sure hoping you'll get close enough to us so I can meet y'all! The pig roast is about a 4 1/2 hour drive, so we won't be there

Jacki, WOOHOO IT'S YOUR LAST DAY!!!

Susan, not much longer till the little one gets here! I'm sticking to my early arrival date!

Julie, glad the trip went so well and the weather behaved for ya!

Well, gang, brain is still foggy--not enough caffeine yet I reckon. Hope all have a good day!

[Jewels]

Roger, you are so funny. Love reading your posts.
About the LDL, I'm not going to worry about it. Other tests are great. I don't eat cream, butter etc and do eat lots of flaxmeal, fish etc. Don't take asprin as my stomach screams at me as it is. More exercise seems to be what I need to do. Thanks for reminding me of all the good things I can do.

Ginny, relatives moving close by??? Are you having them for dinner tonight???? Sorry, guess I missed this when I was gone. Good luck.

Today I'm driving to the next town of Tacoma for a get together of some of my cousins. One of them fell down the stairs about 2 1/2 years ago and has been in a coma ever since so we are going to meet at the nursing home (to see her) and then go to lunch afterwards. Not sure I want to see her but for her husband I guess it will help him to know we all care. Cousins coming from Portland, Spokane and elsewhere so it should be a good reunion.
So time is at a premium this morning. Catch ya all later........

[Loretta V]

Julie glad you have returned to the fold and enjoyed your camping trip. I wish I could forget about my lipid numbers. My sister has high numbers but just says "that's life" and we are all going to die one of these days. She eats low fat too and is very thin. NO supplements for her. How young was that cousin that fell? See we just cannot predict what will happen to us. Enjoy life I say.

So Roger you have cut out most of the fats? When will you have your next lipid levels done. Did you read that a man was sueing ATkins because he got clogged arteries? Wonder where that will go. Hope he had a "before" atkins artery picture to show the jury.

Shawnee thanks for that "flour site" Do you know anyone that has tried it. Let us know about it. I would be willing to use it esp for my cookies. Be a little worried to go for 10# of it without trying it first or have a good recommendation, like Yours Truly.
I am saving that info. We have some low lands that are flooded as well as some of my flowers, no matter that I tried to protect them, they have croaked.

Jackie thanks for the graduation pics. Darling grandkids and pup.
HAPPY LAST DAY !!!!!!!!!!!! Head for some sun and fun, and the backyard.

Linda I guess being there in NY you would not need central A/C. But boy we sure need it here in Ky. How about a pic when you get those chairs decorated.

Ginny any news on DH job situation, or has he begun the new job already. Glad you cousins are pet people. How about introducing them to ORkids too.

SuSUN now that Jackie as gotten to her last day we can concentrate harder for ELLA.

I do have other grandchildren. Leah has just taken over for a while.

This is Connor on his 3rd birthday, he is a big Spiderman fan.


My DGD Beth at a recent Dance Recital, that I did not get to see.


Later

[zip2play]

Loretta,
I watch very carefully ever since my stent. Doc said there were plenty of other smaller plaques in there. I need to keep them from growing so I've eliminated my easiest fats to tackle:
1. NOTHING gets bought if it has hydrogenated oils in it.
2. I eat cheese very rarely now (used to do at least 3-4 ounces a day...I LOVE the stuff but it's 75% fat and thats close to 90 grams of fat A DAY!))
3. Each 14 ounce coffee now gets exactly an ounce of Fat-Free half and half...that saves 90 grams of fat ever 10 days (fat in one quart regular H&H
4. Smart Beat replaces most of my butter (except for a particularly delicious crusty French loaf (few and far between) and a stick of butter is 176 grams fat (highly saturates) compared to 32 grams for 4 ounce SB (ZERO saturated) saving 144grams fat with each stiick!
5. Thanks to Atkinsers, beef is NEVER on sale anymore :ROFL: so that's another whopping pile of fat saved...no hamburgers! If I do a rare beef pot roast it's always the cheap one- AND THE LEANEST- Top Round braised to death.
6. I drink 8- 16 ounces of kefir every day and my switch to 2% milk saves 9 grams a day (on the 16 ounce portions.)
7. I've cut WAY back on the junky hot dogs/kielbasi/salami/pepperoni kind of stuff and really don't want any meat products that are more than 50% fat by calories (some are 90%!)

I still wallow in roast chicken skin at least once a week and still love my eggs (thrice a week) and have a little MAYO and regular salad dressing.
And some sort of roast once a week gets happily eaten!
I still stir fry in generous olive or canola.

I've cut out LOTS of fat without much pain at all- maybe a couple hundred grams a week. If I squeeze more, it can get tougher than I'd like. So I concentrate on the day to day regulars. No sense worrying about the butter I dip lobster in...ONCE A YEAR!

I'm going to get a lipid panel done and complete physical in a week or two (or three). Maybe get a referral to my cardiologist for a stress/echo; perhaps a shoulder surgeon<shudder>referral. Maybe some cialis!!!

LAZY NOTHING TODAY! Those chum (Silverbrite) salmon were 8 pounds each...I bought 2 half pound steaks instead at $2.99...I've seen nicer salmon but ça va...I'll cook it with some grilled eggplant.

[Loretta V]

Zip you have really slashed the fat from your diet. WTG I should save your post.

I have eliminated milk or cream from my coffee completely. I did not think I could do it. But skim had extra carbs and cream was just too much fat. Try to drink it black for a few weeks and see if you can tolerate it. You will eliminate even more calories and fat.

I have kept my once a week root beer float with REAL CREAM. We do need some rewards.

Loretta

[Jewels]

Just got home from our little reunion. It turned out another cousin was there to surprise me from Tenn. Oakridge, Ginny. Near you? We had the best time at lunch and had a wonderful visit. We saw my comatose cousin and she did open her eyes when we asked but only for a couple of seconds. So sad. Haven't a clue why they are keeping her alive. Not sure what I would do but I wouldn't want to live my life like that. She is 90% brain dead they said and would be a vegetable if she woke up.

Roger, thanks for all the idea's for keeping the fat lower. I WILL keep your post. I don't eat the cream, half and half, butter but I do eat too much cheese so that is where I'll concentrate. Try and stick to maybe 1 oz. at first. Thanks again.
Just recieved the WestBend egg cooker in the mail so I'll not be cutting out the eggs either.

Loretta, do you eat eggs and how many a week?

[SuSUN]

Hi Magnificient Ones!

Another lovely day up here! That's this week over. Can you believe I only had to work two days this week but it is still tiring.!sp?

WELCOME BACK JULIE! Did you have a relaxing time, we were all thinking of you, envying you actually! All that fresh air, breathtaking and so good for the psyche!
I've got your due date in my cyber pool. Thanks again.
Good for you going to for the visit to the nursing home. Bless her!

JACKI'S LAST DAY! Oh, what a feeling! Are ya jumping for joy today?
LOVE those Gbrat pics. I just can't wait! Do send Grandma tips my way. I am still in training.
DD is looking for a chair or wheelbarrow to decorate with flowers. She found some old boots, but new pots, at the store yesterday and filled those. LOL! See what you have started?
How old are your Gbrats? What kind of pup?
Sorry, I missed your post last night. I started to type way before your post and then had to leave my post half way, long phone call from neighbour. So I did not see it was your last day till today.

Loretta,
ADORABLE GBRATS TOO!
It is so lovely to open the BB and see those young 'uns looking back at you.
You do well with your lipids. Have ya made the cabbage noodles lately? I love them in alfredo sauce from the RR, not low fat I'm afraid! A great side with some lean meat or fish.

Ginny,
Take it easy with that night from Hell! How long are your shifts? 8 or 12 hours? Sometimes when we dread a nightshift, we get pleasantly surprized! I hope you do!

Roger,
Wow, you always have great bargins down there. I will have to cross the border weekly to buy in those provisions. I think Ogdensburgh is the closest crossing for us.
Hope you managed the real bike ride today! How is the book going?

Linda,
Ya workin today?
I am thinking up a new scheme, before retirement completely, not sure if they will go for it at work but I think I could handle half days!

SuSUN!

[Loretta V]

Julie yes I do eat eggs. I fix one whole egg with one egg white scrambled 1x a week, some days (x2) I have hard boiled eggs (1) but eat very little of the yolk. On Sundays I have 2 eggs fried in bacon FAT. (the best)

SuSun I keep cabbage noodles on hand in the freezer. I put them up in individual servings of less than a cup. That way they stay fresh and I can just take out what I want to eat. With spagetti sauce, Yummy Chicken, or in my home made chicken soup. Freezing them just helps them stay and I can make up a bunch and be done with that chore. Cabbage just flies all over my countertop when I'm shredding it.

Loretta

[JackiCWa]

Yayyyy Yayyyyyy, Happy Dayyyyyyyy

It's over!!!

My grandson is eleven and my grdaughter is 7. The pup is grson's new pup. A full blood staffordshire terrier (fancy name for pit bull). She is the most cuddly, soft, precious pup. She grunts and has puppy breath. Shawnee knows I'm a sucker for puppy breath. Her name is Mindy. She's only 6 weeks old. And she loves me already.

Susan, I had a chair planter on my porch for several years. An old wood kitchen chair. Bought some of that heavy landscape fabric to make a cradle to hold the soil where the seat was. Painted the chair a cheerful color and added the plants. Easy as pie. You can find chairs at any garage sale. Boots work nice great too. My grandmother had my hubbies caulk boots with geraniums planted in them. Very pretty. One garage sale I went to this spring---I found an old cream separator. Took the two pieces apart and made two planters. Another planter is my old thumbscrew style pressure canner. Lid busted so the bottom is now for flowers. Also, keep an eye out for those galvanized tubs. You can find them at feed stores probably cheaper than at a nursery.

Lorreta, your grkids are so cute. Isn't it nice to get all the brag and none of the responsibility. Just enjoy enjoy enjoy.

Roger, you have so much more control of your eating than I. But then, everyone does. Gotta whip myself back into the WOE. I enjoy hearing about your bargins.

Orchid, sending my support to you for getting through the night. Don't know why it's hell night...but I'm supporting you anyway.

Everyone----have a good evening. I know I will.

[shawneesioux]

Hi Y'all

HOT here, we saw 94&deg; on the old temp gage.


CONGRATS, JACKI...You're FREE ! YAHOO !
I remember that chair..way cool!

Loretta, the GBrats are so cute...grow up waaay to fast. Keep the pics coming. A friend (who posted for me when I was out of commission) told me about Chigger Bites...poor YOU...

she said:
I forgot to mention...tell Loretta to try damping the chiggter bites and then rubbing a regular asprin on them..
Also a home remedy that Grandma used and it does seem to take the itch out for a while is dabbing baking soda on them!

Poor Loretta! Ant, tick, and skeeter bites are bad enough but those darn chigger bites are just maddening and they can take up from 2-3 weeks to heal up competely! Bless her heart!

(Chiggers are actually venomous ..a mite member of the spider family!..Gosh!!... Did ya know that? Check this out!)

http://ksks.essortment.com/controllingch_rzkz.htm


Zip, I'll be looking for a bag of split peas. No cream in coffee, but love it in recipes. Please don't say anything bad about yogurt, I gotta HAVE it.

Ginny, Glad to hear the RIGHT kinda kinfolk are moving nearby
Hope its not as hellish as anticipated.

Julie, glad y'all were able to turn the solomn occasion around, and enjoy the get together.

SuSUN, enjoy your temp. freedom...and I hope your new work scheme works out

Montana...did ya find some plants today?


I took piccies today. Click on this, then click on Slideshow...a lil Dropdown will let ya slow from 3 to 6-7...

(look for the yellow butterfly in #4...upper Right corner)

http://img59.photobucket.com/albums/...?action=logout

later

Shawnee

[Jewels]

Shawnee, how lovely!! All of them are. Love your baskets but roses are my favorite.
I love yogurt too. What kind do you eat? I've been buying the lc crap but absolutely NO flavor. Think I'll go back to Fred Meyers lite. Most of them are only about 15 carbs. Never give up my yogurt!!! No cream in my coffee either. Always had it plain black!!

[LoveMontana]

Hi everyone,

Hectic and busy day for me. all I did was run my butt around. Let the pup out, went to Sam's, pharmacy and the grocery store and stopped to see little Nicholas. Boy he is getting big. Weighs over 10 lbs now and eats like a little pig. He still sleeps only 4 hrs. Bad boy. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera. Tomorrow I have to go to let the pup out, post office for stop mail forms, pick up some wine and visit the other set of grandbrats.

Roger, It is strange how weather patterns seem to "split" away near water, especially rivers. In this area they tend to split at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers. Storms then push north and south. Unfortunately we are south.

So how did the Salmon steaks turn out? Can't say as I blame you for not wanting to freeze the flavor out of a whole fish.

and a huge Thank You to you and Bob for the video. What a lovely surprise. We will watch it this weekend.

You sure have that low fat down to a science. I'm impressed.

Ginny, Hell Night?? God that doesn't sound good at all. Hope you survive it.

Aww the fur baby gene must run in your family. You and your relatives will have a ball getting together with all of them..

It's going to be a 12 to 14 hr. drive to the pig roast area but I would drive another 4 or 5 hrs to meet both you and Loretta. Unfortunately Gerard HATES to spend much time in the car so I don't know if we can do it. If I can convince him, I'll e mail you for your address and phone number.

Julie, what a nice surprise to have another cousin visit. Glad you all enjoyed the get to gether except for the visit to your poor unfortunate comatose cousin. How tragic.

I sure wouldn't want to be kept alive in that state and hope that my family follow my instructions should it ever happen. LOL but according to you low fat people, that probably won't be necessary. With any luck a massive coronary will do me in quickly.

Loretta, what lovely grand kids you have. You must be very proud.
Did little Leah's tooth pop through yet?

Oh yes we do need central air in this area however our builder talked us out of it because of this super insulated, passive solar house. Should have listened to my instincts. It does get pretty darn hot and HUMID here so we run the two large window units a lot.

Susan, you may be able to get food a little more reasonable in NY. ( Ogdensburgh is nice) but we have outrageous sales tax here.

No work today and not until July 6 but only 4 hrs each day...two days a week... until the end of July and then it's "Take this Job and Shove It." ( oh hell, now that darn song will run through my head all night. So what are you going to propose to your employer?

Jackie,

Yippie for you!! Enjoy every minute of your long summer vacation. You sure have earned it. How long are you going to be off?

Gosh you have some creative ideas for planters. Gotta get my butt in gear and do something before summer is over.

Shawnee, the slide show is nothing short of spectacular!!! I especially like the hanging pots on the side of the house. At least that's what I think it is.
My God, you have such a lovely, lush, and colorful yard.

Unfortunately I didn't get to the garden center. Traffic was a nightmare with nothing but construction every where I turned. Ran to Sam's club and the grocery store but didn't see any pretty plants.

Maybe tomorrow.

Didn't bake those buns either but did buy more flax meal.

Off to catch up.

[SuSUN]

Wow! I just thought I would check back here....and it is alive and bouncing with life!

Forgot to mention DH came home with a digital camera bargain, we have to run it by DSIL to see if it meets all the specs, or return it promptly.

It is a Kodak Easy Share CX7300 3.2MP 3x digital zoom
It was 179.88 plus 15% sales tax so about $207.00 Cdn.
Did he do good or not?

I guess with the baby coming, it prompted him to buy a digital to catch up with all this technology! LOL!

Jacki,
Great ideas for planters! I will pass on to DD, she has more motivation than I. Although YOU are wetting my gardening appetite. Gardening is exercise too eh?

Linda,
This contract ends in October, so will plan my next strike then.
Sounds like a lot of fun running around today, especially dropping in on Nikolas and your other Gbrats. If ya move South, will ya miss being close to them, or will they come to visit you?
I have heard some folks driving to Ogdensburgh for some items. Massena is close by too. Are you far from there?
That drive South sounds like a long 'un! Sheesh!

Loretta,
That's a great idea to get the shredding and mess over with all at once. I did not know you could freeze cabbage.
I know the midwives in England used to swear by cabbage leaves chilled in the fridge and placed down the bra healed engorgement. Okay, I know, another piece of old info, not high speed for the high tech age!

Back tomorrow on the countdown 21 more days to go!

SuSun!

[shawneesioux]

Loretta...
that's a heartbreaker, to lose flowers! Glad tho it wasn't your home, or worse.

About the flour: I kinda "track" a few good cooks on the Recipe Help...some really know how to bake with LC flours, and don't use Soy. I noticed they were using this new stuff, so I Pm'd to get the inside info.........then I read the actual make-up ingredients in it...Well, it ain't as perfect as "real" flour, but looks closer than WPI. Can't wait for that order to arrive...and hope this HOT weather is gone by then, so I can turn on the oven!...or make Nuker recipes, or go out to the travel trailer to bake.
You KNOW I'll be playing Show & Tell if its any good.

Julie, I tried some of those little LC -Dannon carb control thingies...spendy and small and not great. I sometimes pick up the FM Lite too. Love the Stonyfield Plain, and add whatever I like, plus make homemade yoggie from it.

ZIP, I picked up the split peas....did you use green or yellow? Carb count was the same for both.

Montana, you chased your own tail today Glad ya got to see the Wee One. Maybe he wakes up cause he's hungry! Takes a lot of energy to grow all that hair

SuSUN...Hope the camera gets the OK ! I have a slightly smaller version of it, a CX6330...3.1 mega Pixels.
You DO need it for Ella
........................................
Glad y'all liked the Slideshow...fun, huh?
Gotta go out and water those plants now, before dark.

Shawnee

[LoveMontana]

Susan, LMAO and thanks for the correct spelling of my grand brat's name. Sheesh!!

Don't know much about digital cameras but use our older, Kodak easy share cx4200 and love it. Boy it's an easy one to use.

Shawnee, yeah I was chasing my own tail.

Can't wait to get your reviews of the "flour". Hopefully it will be a keeper.