redhenfarm

I was diagnosed to be diabetic last January. I did well with diet and exercise until April when I had my gall bladder removed. Sort of took the wind out of my sails. Now I'm getting it together again. I saw my doctor in January and she wrote a prescription for thyroid meds, diabetic test strips and Lotensin which is a blood pressure medicine (my bp is normal) but has been found to "protect the kidneys in diabetics". I have very mixed feelings about this. She first mentioned it a year ago but now wants me to start them. I think that's because I gained some weight back, but my blood glucose numbers have been okay (a1c was 6.5). I understand where she is coming from but I dread starting another med like this. Any input? Jan

Yes, I like candlemas day better, too. Jan

Well, this isn't candy but for those who are working at losing weight and don't mind processed food: Almond Rejoice Pie 1 (4 serving) pkg. Jello sugar-free chocolate pudding 2/3 cup Carnation nonfat dry milk powder 1-1/3 cups water 1-1/2 teaspoons coconut extract 1 cup Cool Whip Lite 1/4 cup (1 oz) chopped almonds 1 (6 oz) Keebler chocolate flavored pie crust 1 tablespoon (1/4 oz) miniature chocolate chips 2 tablespoons flaked coconut In a medium bowl, combine dry pudding mix & dry milk powder. Add water. Mix well, using a wire whisk. Blend in 1/2 tsp. coconut extract & 1/4 cup Cool Whip Lite. Add almonds. Mix well. Pour mixture into piecrust. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes. In a small bowl, combine remaining 3/4 cup Cool Whip Lite & remaining 1 tsp. coconut extract. Spread mixture evenly over filling. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips & coconut evenly over top. Refrigerate & serve. Each serving equals: 207 calories, 9 gm fat, 4 gm protein, 27 gm calcium, 294 mg sodium, 1 giber Diabetic: 2 St, 1 Fa or 5 Weight Watchers points.

Good morning all. I love turning the calendar over on a new month. This month is special because it's my "baby's" 31st birthday. He will be here next weekend to celebrate. The sun is out right now but the ground is wet from rain and things change fast here. We're off to church soon and then my husband's day will be watching the game. I don't have an athletic bone in my body so I couldn't even tell you who is playing today and if you told me I'd probably forget . I'm going to read Dr. Phil's book while he's watching the game and then I can see if there are any new Coca Cola polar bear commercials. Yesterday our farm and garden store had a sale on bird supplies. We got a new sunflower feeder and hummingbird feeder as well as seed and suet. I put a shepherds hook on the side of our driveway so I can see who visits the feeders from the family room window while I'm on the computer. If we plant sweet peas we need to do it this month. Jan

I don't think that groundhog has ever NOT seen his shadow. Granted we don't get as cold as some of you, but it seems cold to us. We drove to Cannon Beach (on the Pacific Ocean) yesterday and saw flooding in fields on the side of the road from the 5" of rain we had this week but on the way back we took a back road through the country and saw snow on mountain tops and a bit on the side of the road. I am so ready for spring! Jan

Snowmom, have you tried JoAnna Lund's Healthy Exchanges recipes? She has diabetic exchanges as well as other exchanges with recipes that might satisfy your sweet tooth without being as hard on the blood sugar. She has a website. Or if you want I can post a recipe. Jan

The echinacea are beautiful. I hope to add some to my garden this year. I love geraniums. They last so long and are so bright and cheery and grow easily here unless the deer get to them. Jan

I love Saturdays but I'm shocked we're on the last day in January already. It's wet out but not the heavy rains and winds we had earlier this week (there are times it's no use to use an umbrella because they just go inside out). First thing this morning I put on my old chenille robe and garden clogs (quite a sight) and trudged out to replenish the bird feeder and suet holder. A short while later a northern flicker was happily sampling the suet. There are also sparrows and juncoes as well as the stellar jays who seem to know the minute I put feed out and squawk to everyone else about it. I can't fathom the cold weather some of you have. It's a whole different winter experience. Jan

Happy birthday, Cat. It's a beautiful party! Enjoy your day and the beginning of a great year. Jan

Have a wonderful day, Happy Girl. Wow, Cat sure set a beautiful picture! I'll show up in my royal blue gown and I promise I won't sing to you (not the best any time but certainly not first thing in the morning). Jan

We're still 40ish but it's very rainy and blustery. I can hear the wind whooshing through the trees and slamming the house and the rain is that really wet kind. Wouldn't ya know today was the day they decided to replace the front doors at work. Not as bad as it could have been because there are two sets of double glass doors and it was the inner one they were working on. But all the students on campus who walked up the hill to our building for appointments had to then stop at the front door to see a sign telling them to walk around to the back of the building. We are understaffed and there was no way I could have called to forewarn people not to come to the front and get all my work done. But as a friend from Montana once said "You don't have to shovel rain". Jan

Someone once said "I know I am the queen .....my pantyhose say so". Jan

It's still dark here and I can hear the rain just pouring down outside. Wish I could just go back to bed but this is my busiest day at work - sort of a non-stop kind of day ending in a meeting that goes on for an hour or so and I "get" to take minutes (something I've never quite got the hang of). I hardly get to see the birds this time of year because it's barely light when I go to work and dark when I come home. I know they are there because the suet and seed dwindles. Of course we have visiting starlings who would just like to hog the whole thing and also a band of pigeons who march toward the feeder and then all swarm it. I love the northern flicker that visits. If there's no suet he/she tends to sit on the roof and give a call. We have stellar jays here and I love their flash of deep blue color. They have sharp calls though. Jan

Mommafitz, I hope this works out for you. We owned a house but moved away for a better job and had to rent and rent and rent while people rented and trashed our house. Very discouraging. The final outcome was my husband was downsized and we moved back to the home and smaller city we love. We are forty-ish (degrees) and in our rainy mode. Mostly not raining today which was nice as I did errands. Jan

Add me to the group please. Jan

Well, I'm reeeeally late getting to the party - out here in the northwest and all. I actually have a techno cd I like (one of my kids gave it to me several years ago) called Deep Forest. Starts out with this deep voice saying something like "Somewhere in the distance are the sounds of little men and little women - they may be your past and maybe, maybe they are your future" and then this music with sort of voices morphed in from the pygmy language I think. No, I'm not making this up. Anyway, if we're having a part this would be a good one to hop around to. Jan

I have fond memories of being in the first grade and making a "mailbox" out of heavy paper that I decorated with red construction paper hearts and who knows what else. Then came the time to deliver and receive all of those valentines. One year my husband and I were surprised to discover we gave each other the very same card. Another year I was surprised at work (psychologist's office) by four guys who came into the office in tuxedos and a rose for me then they sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart". I'm sort of quiet and shy so that was something! I like that Valentine's Day is all about love. Jan

If the pie is going to fly I'll take a soft one like chocolate cream pie. I'm in the Pacific Northwest so I'm probably on here after most of you have called it a day. Thank you for the welcomes. Jan

My name is Jan. I have been married for 34 years, have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law. I am working as a secretary - with private health insurance such as it is I will probably have to continue to work (can you tell how thrilled I am?). We are learning more each year about gardening. Love to watch the birds. Jan