Happy Saturday!!! Yes I'm seed planting now - but in different ways. I cannot plant until after the last frost day - normally in Ontario Canada it's the 3rd weekend in May. Right now I am starting some stuff to grow indoors - even a few tomato plants. I have ample south facing windows. Some of my veggies are to share with friends too. Things like some of my slow growing flowers - lavender - I like to start a huge tray indoors. Since the onion seeds are from big onions, I'd be lucking in spring to have small bulbs from the seeds. The herbs will eventually go outside. My next venture is using water jugs I saved from the summer to do 'Winter Sowing' - had lots of success with that over the years everywhere I lived. Trudi who started it all now has her own website and has moved on but left terrific FAQs at GW. My other focus for this week is challenging others to tackle a box a day to declutter (it's on the KT). Makes this unpacking a little more fun. Misery loves company! LOL. Last night we had friends over for dinner and cards. We had a riot. I had waaaaay too much fun. Let myself go too much but mentally it was all worth it. Haven't laughed like that in some time. Besides laughter burns energy. I'm carrying on today. Did not get my cook ahead done because DH and I spent the afternoon giving this place a good cleaning over (felt fantastic afterwards). My new friend Catherine last night mentioned a nearby town (she lives just outside) is starting a quilt club. She's interested and so am I. We're going to check that out. While we go quilting our boys will enjoy male bonding. I'm getting more social activity in the country than I had living in the city. You can take a bus in the city to a shopping venue or park but that's not socializing. This is better than prozac! Besides I have a ton of quilting magazines I might find good homes for. So lets really get out there an enjoy this weekend. My continued love and support to all of use - my arms are open for sharing hugs. Take care everyone - let's breath, find something beautiful in every day. Today we take another step forward, together. Whoooo Hoooooooo! Peggy

Sounds like everyone is in this together! -And doing very well! *************YOU GO, GIRLFRIENDS!******************* NWRoseLady: Where are you in Puget Sound? What part? I'm out in the islands off the Anacortes ferry. NHSuzanne: A little soulful, hopeful light for Belle coming at you from me! McPeg: How's the college app going????? Good luck! Wodka: I think eliminating alcohol makes losing easier. The alcohol calories + snacks calories = LIPS to HIPS! Jan, you will stay on track and not become a wuss(your words!) here. You see, I have these boots that are very pointy and have really high heels! Gretchen: Cool deal your daughter's doing. One word: DEET! I used a lot of it in Nicaragua, Alaska, and Aussie Land! Of course, in Alaska, the state bird is the mosquito! But, my gawd, woman, get out to Cali and see your son! Give yourself a reward! Your photo link is COOL! Thanks for sharing! Dee: I can't tell you if Biggest Loser is worth the time, but I can tell you that I haven't had TV since July, don't miss it, and I really like NetFlix and reading books! Lol! Hugs for your late aunt-hope you made all your travels okay. Great job multi-tasking, BTW! Raeanne: Lots of FLOODING in the NW--but none on the rock, except for the sheer volume on the roofs. Some roofs are failing--like ours--and water is currently pouring down the walls in our business office! The roofer is in there now, trying to fix it. BTW, we took our house off the market until spring. We're taking a mental vacation! Do you think you could send me the 3 foot tall version of the St. Joseph statue for when we put it back on the market???? LOL! I wish your hubby was here to sell it for us. I'd feel a LOT better! Let me know when you go to S.D. if you go in the summer. My in-laws live right by there; I'll fly down and we could rendezvous for a NON-FAT latte. Definately worth the air fare! DonnaSNJ: Most of the Biggest Losers DO NOT maintain their weight. I just read an article on them and it was very disappointing (and sad) to me to read about them and their weight creeping back on. It's a lifetime of a lifestyle---it's HARD! Milkdud- I'd go to the gym if there was a buncha guys there to help me work out!!! I tend to gravitate toward firefighters more than police officers though...(giggle) Okay, ummmm, things I'm doing for me: 1. My family bought me a light box for Christmas and I'm on my 3rd day of using it. It's so dark in the winter on the rock and I live in porched house with very tall trees all around. I cannot tell if the light box is working for a few more days, but it makes me SIT STILL for about 30-45 minutes a day! I actually look forward to it! The light is VERY bright and I like it. 2. I started using Slim Shots and it seems to help to curb my appetite. You can google them if you're interested but basically, it's a combination of oat oil and palm oil in a little cup the size of coffee creamer and you drink one with brekky and--if you want to--one with lunch. Anyway, it seems to help me a lot, so we'll see how it works when the psychological effect wears off in a week! 3. I am also keeping a food diary. I discovered I eat a lot crunchy food like rye toast w/ butter and veggie bootie when I'm stressed---and I am still snacking on the CRUNCHY FOODS when I'm bored, upset, or feel like I want to be a bad girl. I realized from the diary that I was drinking WAY too many lattes per week. I have stopped going to the latte drive thru---BUT when I have company--not very often--it's sort of a Northwest tradition to have a coffee with friends! I also have a late night eating habit that I need to curb. Soooooooooo, I've lost a pound since starting all this and hopefully, a downward trend on the scale will continue. I am making small changes and don't want to DIET because I just set myself up for failure. I will add in some exercise next week and continue to reinforce my 3 New Year's habits. I want to add water, but the water here is positively putrid to drink, and I hate buying bottled---ideas? I watched a great movie last night: PEACEFUL WARRIOR. A must see!

Well....calling all cars, calling all cars! Come in! How ya doing? I noticed this morning in the mirror that I am looking smaller on my tummy and my pants are looser. My weight will now probably plateau for a week or two while my body shifts but after looking in the mirror I am just inspired. My usual lunch treat today at work is a gorgeous fruit salad. My hunger pains are more at bay today, now that TOM is settling down. Going to have half my salad at dinner tonight with added celery and chicken with a lovely hot cuppa broth. Do you like pancakes? Instead of frying them, you could try baking them on a non-stick baking sheet. Lemon Sauce - guilt free A nice lemon sauce would go lovely over the top (you can use 1/2 cup water, juice of 1 lemon and 1 tsp of cornstarch - bring to a boil from COLD on the stove, turn down heat and stir slowly until clear and thick. Remove from heat and THEN add sweetener to taste (not during the heating as it makes the sweetner bitter). This also works making a lovely baked apple dessert...I microwave a chopped apple in a dish and drizzle over the top. You can also use things like 7 UP instead of lemon juice, Apple juice and cinnamon. Just about any juice and sugar free drink would work. Also make great toppings for low fat ice creams, a slice of angel food cake (very low fat and the egg whites are good for you). Have you tried anything new lately? do tell! Calling all cars! McPeg

Thank you all very much for your thoughts and prayers. There are always miracles, but from what we have been told so far, this is the "bad" kind - adenocarcinoma. We will know more on Tuesday. I appreciate so much you keeping her and our family in your prayers.