redhenfarm

I think it's some of the water content. Sort of like when you cook down soup stock or tomatoe sauce and it has all the flavor but there's less of it. Jan

Good morning everyone. Looks like rain today ... and tomorrow and most days this week. Yesterday I saw a vinca blooming in a pot I planted last year. Looks like all my tulips are coming up but it will be quite awhile before they bloom. Yesterday on our way to visit friends we saw daffodil stands on the highway. The ones I planted bloom closer to Easter. We'll go to church this morning (sure glad it starts at 11). Mommafitz: Moving is such a joy. Our last (and hopefully final) move was in 1999 when my husband was downsized out of his job and I was still working and trying to find a replacement and then training her. So DH had to do some of the packing. I told him to mark the boxes by the room they were from like "kitchen" but we sure wished we had marked what was in them on the box, too. Took me three days to find my pots and pans and the things we use a lot. It'll be a busy week for you! Jan

Goose Liver: Yes, do take care of yourself. It can be hard to concentrate on that during times of stress like you are in right now. I remember well the "Whopper" (Burger King) had their big sale going when my Dad was in hospice and way too many made their way onto my body during that time (oh, but they were so cheap!). Hope you get the breathing thing worked out. It would seem if it was asthma the allergy meds would work. Keep us informed so we can support you. Jan

Good morning It is cloudy here today with a high of about 52 (we'll see, doesn't feel that way right now). I was able to sleep in until 7 and that's good for me. I'm having my hair cut in awhile. We are having dinner with friends tonight at their house so I don't have to think about what to fix. Mommafitz: Glad you got throw the house showing. It will be such a relief when you are moved. Snowmom: Hope the party is great fun for everyone today and you got your pictures copied in time. Jan

Good morning everyone, It's not quite light and I can hear birds happily chirping outside. I should have been in the shower ten minutes ago to get ready for work so I'll have to just fly soon. My cats food was changed (change one you change both) because Bobbi had some crystals in her urine (sounds sort of fancy for what seemed to be a painful thing). They are not thrilled with the new food. I've worked overtime at work so I will leave early (they don't want to pay overtime and would probably love it if we "donated time" but I've done enough of that). Mommafitz: If your packing to move, etc. the house just isn't going to show the same. I'm praying for this. I hate having my house shown to other people, but you've got so much more than that going on. Sounds like good things for your son's future. I can name cats and dogs but I haven't been able to think of anything for hampsters. We always remember once we picked up our cat at the vets and right then someone came in with baby hampsters and the vet said "Oh, look at the little cocoa's!" So I always think of them as being cocoas. Okay, now it's time to fly. Jan

Coconut Mandarin Orange Salad (serves 6) 1 (4 serving) pkg. Jello sugar free instant vanilla pudding mix 1 (4 serving) pkg. Jello sugar free orange gelatin 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder 3/4 cup plain fat-free or low fat yogurt 3/4 cup water 3/4 cup Cool Whip Free (or Lite) 1 tsp. coconut extract 3 cups (three 11 oz. cans) mandarin oranges, drained 2 Tbsp. flaked coconut In a large bowl, combine dry pudding mix, dry gelatin and dry milk powder. Add yogurt and water. Mix well to combine. Fold in Cool Whip and coconut extract. Add mandarin oranges and coconut. Mix gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Gently stir again before serving.

I hope you find some relief. Someone close to me needed to take antidepressants for about six months and then weaned off and this person has done very well (it's been several years). Ginger had a good idea of asking for samples. One day when my Mom was visiting her doctor she told him how much her medications cost so he reviewed them and he has given her samples ever since on one of them that was pretty pricey- so I hope if your doctor knows there's a need he/she will be able to give samples. ((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) Jan

Here I am dragging in here at 9 PM. Wednesdays are my busiest days - just sort of non-stop. We went to Ash Wednesday service tonight. Found out a fellow who goes to the church lives in a group home that used to be my aunt's house. I loved this aunt so much and she was a great refuge for me as a kid - everybody needs somebody like that! Anyway this was the house she and her sister and brother were born in, their mama and papa passed on there. I spent all my summers there as a kid and it was a hoot with two little old ladies who never drove a car, didn't have a TV until the late 60s - we listened to the radio and played New York Rummy for five pennies a game, took long walks around the neighborhood in the evening, picked blackberries down at the riverfront and on and on. Anyway, just lots of memories. I asked Ernie if the house still had a "hatch" in the floor leading to the basement and he said yes. Didn't think to ask him if the basement still had a little cement vault in the floor (built during the war I think for documents) that they always told me fairies lived in so I'd always go down there and see if I could open the door real fast and see them. I'm tired. Talk to ya all tomorrow. Jan

I have been reading the Mary Shomon book on hypothyroidism. I'm sure glad she is there as a resource since doctors tend to take the stance that they follow the numbers only and, oh well if you're not feeling well. When I start seeing a new doctor I usually pack up all the stuff I take - used to be Westhroid (natural), natural hormone replacement. One doctor made a huge production of opening the bottle of thyroid meds and saying "Pew! How can you take that!" That was the last time I saw him, I was really irritated that he tried to shame me out of taking what had been working well. Debbielee, have you told your doctor you don't feel well? Mine gave me a blood test for anemia when I told her that and then I heard nothing. It will be interesting to hear what your doctor says. I intend to tell my doctor on my next visit what a dramatic difference in the way I feel between different thyroid meds. Jan

Mine is the Blues and I like it. But just like I like to move furniture around every now and then I will probably try other colors. Jan

Good morning everyone, We're back into rainy mode but it came in yesterday and wasn't the pouring down kind so that is an improvement. I'm training two new students in my office and I can't tell you how glad I am the one I'd had for the last 6 weeks is GONE . He was a regular pill. We had all 19 sick beds full yesterday with some kind of virus going around. Last fall we had so many with that flu they had to open a dormitory after our sick beds filled up. (((((((((((((Mommafitz))))))))))))))))) It will be so good when you get moved. You will be in my prayers. Snowmom: Glad it all went well for you yesterday. Sounds like you had a good day shopping, etc. Hope that camper can be a dream come true for you. Well, I need a cup of coffee. Someone at church told me coffee is Norweigen starter fluid. Have a good day everyone. Jan

I started Synthroid on Sunday and I'm hoping I will be feeling better. I started thyroid meds in 1999 taking a natural hormone and when I moved my first doctor was okay with that but he moved on and I haven't found another who thinks there's any value in natural thyroid. About a year ago I was prescribed Synthroid and my doctor thought the generic was fine but I haven't felt well. She says the typical "but your lab numbers are right". Now my insurance company won't even cover the generic (makes you wonder) so great hopes maybe this one will be better. I'm giving it three months. My irritating symptoms are fatigue to the point when I get home from work I rarely have energy to do anything and weight gain or difficulty losing I should say. Goose Liver and any others have any input from your experiences? Jan

Good morning everyone . When I get up I don't do anything until the coffee has taken effect and then it's only to get ready to go to fly out of here to work. No housework. Golly, I've got packing boxes in my attic I sure would like to get rid of from our move (5 years ago almost) wish you lived closer. I'm going to try to unload them on a coworker. Snowmom: Hope you have a good trip to the city today and all goes well. Cat: Hope you are feeling better. Wishing everyone a good day. Jan

Well, it looks like I'm the last one lagging in here. I felt better today and was getting ready to go out when my stomach got upset (and who wants to be away from home then?!). DH and son went over to a lake in Washington where white swans migrate for awhile most years. Darn, I only got to see them on the camera. Maybe they'll hang around until next weekend. Mamafitz, I want to encourage you that there was a time when my Mom was being very irksome and my sister and I called her on it. It didn't turn out well at all and she wrote my sister a note telling her that we could "unadopt" her or something like that. Very painful for awhile and some of her actions (we were also living in a rental on the other side of her duplex at the time attempting to help her out after my Dad passed away). Well, all that to say we have worked things out to a pretty good deal now. There was no talking things out - just wouldn't work with her - but we got beyond the pain and picked up the pieces that were there and went from there. I don't know your situation but I can understand the pain when a parent is treating you that way. Okay, so next week is the last week of February and Leap Day so you can celebrate that! Snowmom, Praying for a good day for you tomorrow and your "tuneup" goes well. I hope we start off with a good week. Jan

And I got my secret pal, too and I'm so happy! Jan

Thank you for the hugs and compassion. I can't tell you how long we prayed before he decided to marry this woman. I also talked to him one day when we were on the beach alone about her lack of care or nurturing for him (way before they married). Well, there's a lot I could say but I just wish she would get it together. We can't be close to her because she sees another meaning in everything (or so I hear). So we continue to try to be polite and kind and hope they work it out. She wants to move back to Portland where her dysfunctional mother is and is running every angle to talk our son into that. He is very happy at his job here and the quieter lifestyle. He is a cook but he does a lot of mentoring/counseling with the students at work. It's like he's found his niche. I doubt if she would be happy in Portland since her Mom never comes through for her and at 30 she really needs to get over expecting her Mom to make up for all the neglect. When she lost her job and ran out of resources Mom wouldn't take her in because she's on welfare and also too busy with her girlfriend. Oh, groan. Jan

Good afternoon everyone. I'm rolling in late. I have been laying low today. I have a swollen gland on the left side of my jaw and feel like I'm trying to come down with something so I'd better be done with it this weekend. Oh and it's nice out! I would like to be out in the garden. Thank you to whoever added these. Back to my chair! Jan

It was really foggy here this morning but that burned off to sunshine. Unfortunately I woke up with a headache and nausea - I think it was the stress of this week. I had to go in to work to get the bare minimum done and couldn't get out of there until 11. One of the last things I did was work on my evaluation for this year and my mind was so fuzzy. These things are ridibulous. Golly my last boss used to walk out of his office and hand me a post it that said "give yourself a dollar raise". Here we get something like a 2 per cent raise if we're lucky and we have to go to all kinds of training and write out these elaborate goals. Every time I see it I just want to say "forget it. don't give me a 2 per cent raise". The good part is I came home and dozed in my chair most of the day. I also read for stress - has to be "light" things nowadays. I'm reading an Agatha Raisin story - there's a whole series of them. Mammafitz: I hope you find a craft you'll enjoy doing and that sells well. We have Sunday markets here from about May to October - lots of produce, knitted things, handmade rugs, some baked goods, pottery, jewelry, soap, colored bottles (cobalt looks like it used to be vicks vapor rub or Milk of Magnesia) with that bendable wire around the top with a pretty filigree so you can hang them-she has a demo of a window with panes and has hooks with these pretty colored bottles hanging). Snowmom: I've been seeing the deer more at work the last couple of days. Also saw a raccoon run across the street today but I see those in my back yard all the time - they are such clowns. Dee: Tell us how you like the movie. Theyd: I wonder if we'll have fog this evening like you did. I can hear the fog horns out on the river at night. I'm so glad the week is done. Jan

I'm going to have to ask my Mom about this. I just vaguely remember her saying they didn't have it too bad because they lived on a small farm with their own cows and garden. I do know Grandpa had to travel to find jobs in various mills and was gone at times while the family stayed on their land. I do remember Dad saying he hated some of the potato soup his Mom made because it was so watery and maybe it was because they didn't have milk and butter in the city like Mom's family had out in the country. Jan

Isn't it hard when your (grown up) kids make mistakes. Couple of things with my oldest son and his new wife. The least is her decision to buy an older car that is the kind that would mean expensive parts and it isn't even running now. She went through this with her family a couple of years ago and never did get her license and never did get the car running right. So here we go again. The worst is they argue and he told DH about a bad one awhile back. Now I'm remembering he had a big bruise under his eye about then. I thought it was odd at the time but now I really wonder. He's a big old, guy - husky 6 footer. I just had to groan and pray about this on my way home from work for lunch today. I always hope for the best for my kids and it's so hard when stuff like this is going on. Jan

It will be 46 here and raining. Good morning. This is my busiest day (Wednesdays). Sort of not-stop and ends in a meeting where I take minutes. Snowmom, your visitors will be fun to watch. I hope they stay safe. Theyd, you are the early bird.

You folks are so funny. It was my neighbor looking for his kid's bunny. If we were still in the big city I'd be truly alarmed but we're pretty safe here. Jan

How fun to see the deer. We have some roam across our front yard (and they've jumped the back fence-ate up all my roses and petunias last year and everytime they'd start to grow again they'd show up again!) but I hate to see them that close to fast moving cars on the street. Last night at the end of chat I saw a man walking around the front of my car which is right by the window my computer is at. At first I thought it was my husband getting something from the car, but then realized it wasn't. The car was locked and all was okay but I couldn't figure out why he'd be right by my car/window. Well, this morning when I went to go to work there in front of my car was a brown bunny. Must have escaped from the neighbors. DH went over to tell them about it (still don't know why they didn't ring the bell and tell us what they were doing). Feel good that mystery is solved. Lunch is over, back to work. Jan

I'm sorta embarrassed to say 2 miles. Snowmom, you are doing so good! Jan

It's 48 here this morning and I can hear the rain. My feet are cold because I didn't find my slippers this morning. Looking forward to chat tonight. Jan