Sat, June 1st

Shel, I absolutely get that you don't want to be treated differently. Strong women don't like being coddled or looked at as fragile or temporary. DD and SIL were/are completely in that camp as well. With that said, I agree with Diane that DD needs to be in the loop. She will likely sense something and may feel hurt and upset more if she isn't told until later. My two cents from hearing this from my two remaining children who were 12 and 15 when their sister was first diagnosed.

Weight 135 - I'm not going to be as quick as Ann in dropping my weight. Last night DS got angry because I asked him not to be a slob while I am in Aruba and his uncle is here with DH. BIL has a bit of OCD, so DS's dumping of stuff everywhere drives him nuts. So sick of having to take care of a 66 year old with a 2 year old mind AND having to coddle everyone else. Now I am stressed over going away.

Have a stress-free Saturday (as much as possible)!

Hope the morning is greeting everyone with copious amounts of coffee and sunshine...

Thunderstorms! I forgot how soothing thunder and lightning and the patter of rain on the roof was. I'm sitting in MI staring out the window at the Weather and budding green trees. Weather around here often warrants a capital W. It's so visual! At home in CA, you see weather by looking up, as the houses and buildings are close together. We lack a lot in the suburbs in terms of sweeping vistas. But Michigan has sweeping vistas aplenty. Watching storms roll over Lake Michigan is a spectator sport. Last night, we got the roll cloud first (horizontal tube of a cloud that rolls toward you) backed by the blackest of skies. Then the wind and rain hit as you run around shutting windows and picking up whatever paper blew off the tables. Then lots of exclaiming when you see lightning bolts and everyone else is bummed they missed it even though there will be dozens more. The modern aspect is we all have multiple weather apps on our phones, so being able to watch on a screen is entertaining too. I'm part of a family of weather nuts. Love it. Here's a pic from two years ago to show what I mean. Those of you in other good weather vista spots probably see a lot of this, but it's a novelty to me!

Ferg was great on the plane. He was nervous before we took off (which made me nervous), but soon laid down and slept most of the way. It's crazy expensive and indulgent, but I'm so glad I can get Ferg here in 3.5 hours versus 3 days of driving. Funny that I would never do this just for me, but I would for my pooch.

There is literally no food in my house, so that's first on the agenda today. I want to use this as a fresh start to stop my unrestrained eating and get back into some smaller clothes in my closet and feel better about myself (which comes more from self-control than from what I look like).

Giant hugs to all who want or need one.

PS - We have two houses on the property. I commandeered the guest cottage. Ferg is a creature of habit. He sleeps in my house, eats breakfast, goes outside to rub his face in the lawn, tinkles, then wanders to my Dad's house, where after one polite woof at the door, he is admitted so he can sleep for several hours wedged in "his spot" between the sofa and the coffee table. Every. Day. No. Matter. What.

Cecily, Ferg's day and your place up there sound like bliss!

And I completely support your intention to eat well and feel healthier and more in control while you're up there in Summer Land.

And that photo ... WOOOOOW!

Oh, I so miss my Michigan! Lucky you- Enjoy.

141.4

'Afternoon, sweet Shel- and all.

Today is absolutely glorious, and I went out and about, walking hither thither and yonder for your pleasure. Much meditation and positive thoughts and good energy sent your way. Came home pretty dewy- shower, comfy clothes and anticipating a good read (translates and transforms into a nap, no doubt). Will cobble together a crustless quiche with farm fresh eggs garnered from very productive chickens that roam my neighbor's property. I have 3 dozen (she keeps them for the fun of it,- so lucky me) so am feeling pretty free with the use of them.

Rest well, take care, and dwell in peace.

Greetings Formidable Friends

156.5 today. Ok with that for the moment. I have become pretty complacent about weight - just can't get all worked up about my regain. I should do like Ann and get about 15 off. But I just can't seem to let go of nuts and cheese.

Shel I am glad you are feeling better and have what sounds like a good emotional strategy. I think DD should be in the info loop because she will figure stuff out. Keeping secrets never works anyway. And yay for you for getting coffee. Hope you treat yourself to the absolute best coffee any way you like it. And don't you hate it when DH gets angry and ends up making it all about him? I say this because my DH does it too and I hate the emission of negative energy. Glad you discussed it. And glad you see the PE as the main enemy. I know little except that they are treatable. (think Cecily!!!). And yeah, you are not your cancer. So there.

Got a carpenter lined up to fix the deck since painter guy things part of it is rotted.

Gallery yesterday was dull. One guy is quitting because he just hates sitting around there when business is slow. I bring toys and also go around and remove all the dead bug corpses that accumulate on the window sills. Exciting life I lead.

Cecily, love the storm clouds picture and am a fan of midwestern storms, though lately they have kind of over done it. We have fog banks that come in off the ocean but nothing as dramatic as your picture.

Bonnie150 how cool that you can get fresh eggs. I used to get them and loved that they were different colors and sizes. Lots of people have chickens around here so I could probably find a new source. Enjoy the quiche.

No much planned for today. Need to take stuff up to the fresh fudge gallery and pick up $ for deposit. Then get cash for the painter and for myself. Then some studio time and listen to the tales of my studio buddy who is extremely chatty but always entertaining. Then cook the bi-colored sweet corn that I got at the hippy dippy co-op. Not exactly on program but its summer. Today is Pony Express Days in our small town which means a lame parade, probably some music in the park and a chili cook off. We will skip it as its cold and overcast. Best to snuggle up to a warm kiln.

Wishing excellent coffee to all. Shel I might have to go to Cafe Brio in your honor. Diane S

Cecily, in what part of Michigan do you spend your summer? I have Finnish relatives in the U.P.,and my husband spent many years as a kid on Wurtsmith Air Base in Osgoda Michigan (on Huron side).

Shel, thinking of you at home, getting ready for what's next. I told my daughter about my concerns for my online friend (you), and she is praying too.

Today I bought some new leggings and matching tank tops, so now I have to start working out!

Leaving now to go have dinner with some friends and all of our adult children. Our children have been friends since our daughters were toddlers and my son was in utero. They are our chosen family. What a blessing!

We're in the "pinkie", so west coast on Lake Michigan, lower peninsula, 60 miles southwest of Traverse City. There are a lot of Scandinavian descendants here - Danes, Finns, Swedes, Norwegians... I bet they were the only early settlers who didn't run screaming from the cold weather!

Shel, I concur, include DD in heath care plans. They are tougher than we think.

The weather has been great today. Cool in the morning, sun shining and me working in the shade of a huge tree. Adalyn and DD came by so we went for a tractor ride to check the mail. She opens the mailbox door now. I am throwing together some makeshift covering for the sawmill. And plan to do the same for the mower. Covering them up with a tarp for now. DS has chickens. Fresh eggs. They had 2 roosters and 2 hens that were getting picked on. So we told them we would take one rooster and the 2 bald headed hens. The hens follow me around. Which is funny. The bad thing is the rooster views me as someone trying to date his hens. He has spurred me on 3 separate occasions. He is a beautiful Rhode Island Red. But I fear he will be in the insta-pot if his behavior continues. He sneaks up on me. One time he came across the yard to attack me. I catch him and carry him around under my arm. Hope this tames him.

More later, David