Here you go, my Sweet Violets! Another new home for our daily musings....

"Thus nature has no love for solitude, and always leans, as it were, on some support; and the sweetest support is found in the most intimate friendship."

- Cicero

Good morning, Violets..

We are off to Great Wolf Lodge with 2 kids, their spouses and 5 grandchildren. I'm hauling the big Stephen King book with me. I started it yesterday and it's really good. Course I love all his books.

Janie.. I've never worked with chunks before. Maybe Michelle would know how to cook those. I would assume in a saucepan with a little water, boil till soft and then mash with butter, salt and pepper.

Everyone have a great day. I need to go finish packing for the big adventure. Will be taking the camera and the Flip.

Michelle.. we posted at the same time! lol This will be day 8 for me of following the bandster rules for eating and exercise. I weighed and had gained a pound this morning...sighhhhh. I can't eat any less, but I guess I could exercise more, but I'm not going to let it get me down. That's what happens when I weigh every day. The chances for disappointment are compounded.

I'll be in the pool today and tomorrow so I should be able to get a bit more exercise in. I just have to be careful with the eating, since I will be eating out. I CAN do this!!

Yes you CAN, Judy!

We love the GWL! Haven't been in about 4 years, though. What fun! I love to float on the lazy river. Watch out for kids like my ds who's fav activity there is squirting unsuspecting adults who meander by the tree fort w/their latte & newspaper -- soooooo funny to watch that! Uh, hello? You're inside a water park, what do you expect??

I rarely as in never cook butternut squash, but you're making it sound good, Judy! I'd imagine that cooking it how you said in the pot would work well.

So here's Puppy (Which is snapping your fingers then patting your leg.. he doesn't pat his leg in his lil chair, but he did the finger snap part)

And here is his latest and greatest trick hah.. he started doing this last night!

Great job with the signing, Laura! I always taught my Kindergarten students sign language and when they got me a scrapbook when I retired, there were so many comments in it about remembering learning the signs. It is something he can use for the rest of his life. btw... the sign for dog is patting the lap first and then the finger snap. :smile2: I showed Ethan because he had learned that sign too and he wanted me to play it over and over again.

And Grady does the no headshake all the time. Can't get him to shake yes yet..

Soooooooooo cute!!! I love Carson's smile. What a cutie patootie!

Pamela, loved the walmart joke!! Or maybe it wasn't a joke?!

I am going to see what the internet says about butternut squash. Cut up in chunks it looks like cantaloupe. Guess I have never spelled cantaloupe before, saw it was wrong, but didn't know why? I didn't know it was a oupe.

Laura, Laura, Laura, Carson is getting cuter and cuter!!!!!!! Oh my gosh that dog one is precious!!!

Jane, butternut squash is pretty versatile. I would also just cook it with a little Water, salt and pepper and maybe some no cal butter. It is really tasty like that.

Pamela, Congratulations on the house. In another month or so you should be chillaxing with the majority of everything behind you so that you can just enjoy your palace. It is such a beautiful place and you deserve it.

Michelle, hopefully you can fit in a little "me" time in today.

Laura, Carson's videos are sooo cute. I have not been working on signing with Ayla . . . perhaps it is time.

Judy, I have always loved Stephen King anything. I am going to have to get a copy of that new book.

Actually Jane, if you sprinkle a few chopped walnuts on top of the squash it is even better even if it sounds a little weird. It goes together really well and is healthy.

I know the puppy sign is backward, but sometimes he only does one or the other, or does it in reverse order. I don't try to correct him, I'm just happy he can tell us something!

HE JUST BIT ME!!! I posted a pic on FB. It now takes two--TWO hours of fighting to get him to nap from the time he acts tired to actually sleeps. So 1.5 hours in he's banging his head on my shoulder and whining, and he does 'kisses' sometimes.. I should have known he wasn't in a kissing mood, but he put his mouth on my cheek like he was doing kisses.. then BIT DOWN! It left a welt. I jerked him away from me and yelled "SHIT!" and he just burst into tears. Then I had to comfort him.. but luckily he finally fell asleep shortly after.

I am going to try cooking some butternut squash tonight. I am allergic to nuts, so no walnuts or anything like that!!

I am going to go cook, let you guys know soon!

So here's Puppy (Which is snapping your fingers then patting your leg.. he doesn't pat his leg in his lil chair, but he did the finger snap part)

And here is his latest and greatest trick hah.. he started doing this last night!

Laura, I LOVE the vids...keep 'em coming. It is so cool that we can see him all the time. Hope the welt goes down soon!

Actually Jane, if you sprinkle a few chopped walnuts on top of the squash it is even better even if it sounds a little weird. It goes together really well and is healthy.

Heather, I just LOVE that pic of Ayla...she is sooo cute and has a great smile. My mom went to High School in Ankra and loved her time in Turkey. My grandfather was a diplomat for the US...so they had it pretty good there.

We are home from the trip. It was 6 hours of travel for a 2.5 hour tour. It was really beautiful day. Can't wait to debrief w/ the kids tomorrow!!!

I am pooped...hope you had a great day Judy! Michelle, what was your decision or is it still cooking. Janie, I need to make butter nut squash very soon! Haydee...whats happening sister!

xoxoox

Okay, I am alive and the squash wasn't bad. I boiled a few chunks, then sprayed fake butter, and sprinkled with salt and pepper. I am also drinking with my meals. It is the only way I can eat that much food!! Gonna get an unfill soon I think.........I am also supposed to drink 110 ounces of water a day!! Holy cow, I am a big water drinker, but that is something else!! He also told me no coffee! I said what???? He said okay you can have coffee, but for every cup of coffee you have, you have to drink that much more water.

I applied today for a part time job at Sally's. I just can't make it without more money. My health insurance is costing me more than my house payment! Then I look at what people are paying for their haircuts and such and think I am way too cheap. I am going up next month, but I can never catch up, plus I can't charge that price working where I am. The place is really in disrepair.

Okay for most people tomorrow is the end of the week! Make it a good one!

Second time's the charm, right? Just as I started to type last time, my whole Internet connection went Kablooey! A cosmic hint, maybe? :eek:

Yay it's Friday! I hope the day goes by quickly & before we know it -- voila! -- it's the weekend!

Enjoy!

Good morning!!

Pam are you packing?????????

Haydee you only a have week or so before that WONDERFUL looking vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY!!

Yay for friday, and let's keep up the good eating!!

we can do it!!!!!!