Schoolhouse, I don't exactly know what a butter tart is, but going by just the name, they must be delicious. We've had a neighbor drop off her homemade chocolate covered toffee, and another a loaf of banana-nut bread. Both are very tasty indeed. Your dogs must have been a hoot. I can just see them in my mind. Patti, a three day case of CL sounds a lot like a bad migraine, except you can still function and there's no medication for it. (I suppose self-medication is always an option.) Mary Lu, your weather sounds like our weather, though maybe colder. The ski hill owners are loving it, though. It's good to hear from you. Eduarda, it sounds like your house is still infested with masons and other assorted workers. Isn't there some kind of spray for that? Thank you for mentioning James Taylor's album. I had forgotten about it and I need to get it playing immediately before I run out of season. TM

Good morning, gang! This week was week 4 on the South Beach diet and I am holding at 8 lbs. lost. Not as well as I had hoped, but I'm going to stick with it. When I did the Atkins plan two years ago I lost 11 lbs. the first month and 11 lbs. the second month - but couldn't stick with it beyond that. I have added a slice of homemade whole wheat toast and one serving of fruit to my regular low carb eating plan for the day. I try not to have either of those at my evening meal, but keep to protein and vegetable or salad. No elimination problems here, and I have found I have more gas when I stray off the plan than when I follow it closely. Am leaving out cottage cheese and V-8 juice as they may contribute to my stall. Ditto too many sugar free items, although I tried the Crystal Light raspberry lemonade this week and consider it my "soda pop" treat - I make it weak and like it that way, plus, I'm getting some "flavored" water in my system. I needed to use up some carrots in the fridge, so I made my marinated spice carrots last night subbing Splenda packets to taste for the 1/2 cup sugar. I know carrots are higher in carbs, but I just don't waste food. Am going to make a marinated vegetable recipe today and sub the Splenda for the sugar again. It has been very hot here, and these cold veggies will hit the spot. One thing I am trying to learn is to listen to my body. It will tell me what fuels me or what makes me sluggish. I have some stress on the job and quite a bit of physical activity for my age (at least I think so!) and I am trying to balance this with eating healthy and trying to lose weight. In other words, I'm trying to take care of myself for myself! This is sometimes hard for women to do because we have been the caretaker of others for so many years. Many times I have to decline activities after work because I'm just too tired - something other people don't understand. But I listen to my body and try to do what it needs. Sorry for rambling on like this, but I hope y'all here will understand as maybe you are in a similar place in your life. Stay focused and enjoy your weekend. Teresa

haha...bee...that is why we have rules...so we CAN break them :) I love it another bee-utiful deal !! The poem is perfect and I love that library on 5th...have ridden my bike by it many times while in NYC. Gorgeous flower from disney natesgram ! Blakey...my Mom had a mirror like that and I sure wish I had it now..have no idea where she got rid of it...I loved that old mirror. Tina's toes and puppies tongue...MATCH !! kswl..it is too close to call...they are both precious !! riverhouse...another very talented DH on this forum. we are over loaded with them !! That is one very nice sign. Can we see the house ? I bet it is lovely too. Well we are almost at an end...so what shall we do ? Have a part ll and keep it going...our little slice of life thread..I do like that title. Let me know and I will start another one. I think the nicest part of this thread is the special camaraderie that has developed within the forum.I like it..feels so good. Thank you for all the lovely comments and most of all thank you for being here for each other. c

Never was one to fall a lot. But lately, when I do it, I do it with some vigor. About 5 years ago I fell going down a snow covered icy hill. I knew I was in pain but it took a while to realize I needed to go to the hospital. My buddy wanted to take me to a hospital but I said no. Well, what, a day or two later when my shoulder dislocated, I figured it was time. They found a broken shoulder, broken arm, 2 cracked ribs and my back was messed up. Put me in an "immobilizer", a glorified sling and not to use the arm for a few months. Well, a few days later, maybe a week my other shoulder was bothering me and I tried to rub and massage it a bit and felt some movement and went, uh, those aren't supposed to be separate! No way was I going to be tying up both arms so I didn't say anything about it. I healed. Good boy. Then last February I went out to get the newspaper on an icy morning. Feet went out from under me and I went flat down on my backside. Lower back right against the top step and elbows on top of the step. I panicked for a second thinking I really might have screwed up my back, shoulders, arms and everything, but I composed myself and realized uh, that feels fine. Tried to stand up and my foot said NO WAY! Somehow I slammed it down and it hurt. No swelling or anything but after seeing how it would go the rest of the day I decided to go in and get an x-ray. What a waste. They didn't find anything. But I guess I felt better getting the x-ray. I really walk carefully on ice. In fact I avoid it whenever possible. I'll even get in the car to go get the mail out of the mailbox on an icy day or wait until I'm out and can drive up to it. And I try to always carry my cell phone on me, just in case. But guess what I didn't have on me when I fell on the steps!