What's on your Saturday menu?

This is for QJB!

Good mornin everyone. Hope that you're all ok.

I had a rough night and I'm feeling it this morning. Pain is just...well...a pain. I'm so over it. My coffee tastes really good this mornin though so I'm thankful for that.

I've got a lot to do today. We are having a birthday party over here tomorrow for my niece. I've got to make a cheesecake for her and a lemon chess pie for my brother whose B-Day 15th. I also need to make some cashew brittle and peanut Patties. Oh and clean...

I'm kind of feeling bitter at the moment. It's something I just need to get over. Within my family no one gives or puts much effort into what they do for me. Who makes my birthday dinner and dessert? Me. Just getting that out will help me move past it. It's small stuff but still hurtful. It won't change what I do for others though. I like doing for others and if I had billions like Bezos I'd be giving out money left and right. It's in my nature to help but sometimes it's hurtful to not have your family put thought into things for you. I have to say though I have a lot of good friends. I am very blessed with what I do have...the bad sometimes just feels heavier.

Food yesterday was fairly bad. I ate my feelings and that's never a good thing. Every day is a new day so I just keep trying.

QOTD: what's your favorite holiday song?

Mine would be hard to pick! For newer ones I like...my favorite time of year - the florin street band and above the northern lights by Mannheim steamroller...older would be we three kings...oh and the Wexford carol! Esp by Allison Kraus! So so pretty.

B: 4 tbs JUST egg, slice of Swiss and coffee

L: cauliflower & broccoli cream soup with ground pork

D: I have a frozen lean cuisine pizza that's GF

S: no idea.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Mornin' All!

I hope all of you who were in the tornado path are OK. Awful news this morning. We were north of it so we fortunately didn't get anything other than rain (which turned to snow sometime overnight as we have a dusting this morning).

DH wants to go to a coffee shop later on this morning and then to the gym, so I'll tag along. I was going to do a virtual Zumba class this morning but didn't get around to it, so going to the gym will make up for it. I'll do upper body weights and then get on the seated elliptical thing for 30-45 minutes, I think. Nothing else on the agenda for today.

Melody - we usually meet at restaurants for birthday dinners, but as far as holiday cooking, I do most if not all of that - which is just as well because my mother hates cooking, and my sister, who happens to enjoy cooking, isn't very good at it. I'd rather do it myself even though it's a pain! Although I get what you're saying...

QOTD: I hadn't thought of Allison Kraus' rendition of "Wexford Carol" until you mentioned it, but yes - I adore that one, too. I also used to always look forward to Emerson Lake & Palmer's "I Believe in Father Christmas" - haven't heard that one yet this year. I like a lot of the older ones - but I can't stand silly ones like "Rudolph" or "Frosty the Snowman". I prefer more traditional ones.

B: I was originally thinking of cheesecake-flavored yogurt pie, but I'm not hungry at all - so maybe just some plain Greek yogurt with 1/4 C of fruit compote. Coffee with half & half.

MS: iced latte with SF syrup at the coffee place (??)

L: either a miso-chickpea sandwich or a sandwich made with Kelly's egg salad

AS: protein muffin

D: whichever sandwich I don't have for lunch

have a great day, everyone!

Melody, give yourself credit for all of the wonderful things you do for other people. You create fun and happy times and memories for your family. What would their life be like if you were not around? What would your life be without them?

When I was your age, I organized the parties, did the cooking and cleaning, and invited everyone. If someone said they would not be there because they were mad at another person, I just said that we would miss them. Life changes. Those kids that I created fun dinners and parties for are now parents of their own. They have scattered around and I sometimes miss having a house full of people to feed and take care of.

When I look back, I know I am in a different stage of life. But I don't regret anything. Now I enjoy that I can clean and organize a drawer, closet, or room and it looks about the same a year later. The chaotic times are pretty much over.

Picture your life 35 years from now. It seems hard to believe but years go by so quickly. Having something to keep you busy and involved is a blessing. As I got older, I have to look for things to do. I would not want it now, but my happiest memories are of the times when I was constantly busy doing things for family. Enjoy every day with its good and bad things. Everything works out in the end,

Good morning ~ Great meme for QJB! I hope she is enjoying the crap out of today- the day after! Melody - I absolutely feel for you and your physical pain. I pray that your surgery improves your quality of life. As far as the heart pain - I know how you feel. I am the giver in my family, but honestly over time, I have chosen to give to myself enough not be hurt by that and appreciate the little gestures. I'm not going to change who I am, I can only control how I react. Anyway, I have all I need and give myself what I don't and that is what counts. Do you, be you, no matter what anyone else does.

Today we took all the dogs to the park - we have our Corgi, Lucy who has been living with our son. He asked if we would take her for the weekend to give him a break - she is blind, diabetic and just a lot to take care of. My husband misses her so much. Anyway it's nice having her. Today I have a lot house stuff to do and prep for next week. Kiddo is coming over tomorrow for a 'Holiday' day - trimming the tree, Xmas movies, pot roast dinner and gingerbread cookies. Can't wait!

B- coffee - not hungry - this NEVER happens, so I'm rolling.

l- homemade beef chili

d- more chili

s-low carb cheese crackers I found and smoked almonds, keto ice cream

QOTD- Nat King Cole The Christmas Song. I really am not much of a Christmas music fan, my Mom used to start playing them right after Thanksgiving. In Portland there is a station that on Nov 1 plays nothing but Christmas music...

Hearing about all of the storms and damage all over the county I really hope everyone is doing OK. From what I can see a lot of the debris here has been cleaned up. The road I walk to the beach is still closed but it was passable for me as a walker a little wet but otherwise OK. The beach is not in good shape there is about 20 feet of debris at the edge of it mostly wood and junk. Traffic is still not good, as I observed when walking. I know there is still some power outages and road closures, so I'll probably stick close to home today. I have to make up some work hours since I was having issues with the drawing program. I have a couple of jobs I'd like to get completed today.

Melody hearing you makes me want to give you a hug. Just know you are loved!

Have a great day everyone!

Thanks everyone. I paid dearly for all I did yesterday. A lot of pain. But I know I wouldn't do anything else differently. I am who I am. I will always be about helping others. It's why I took care of my grandparents and why I do most of what I do. I got a good reminder though that I am worthy of love yesterday. I'll post about it in todays post.