Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

[dill]

Welcome to week 4!

You got to choose between tightening your belt or losing your pants.
Navjot Singh Sidhu

How's that for a quote that we can all relate to!:H

DIL stayed for the all day clinic and is to go back again today. I haven't heard from her as to whether she needs a ride but she may have asked her mother or may be walking. I just hope she goes. If she does she will likely start her Intensive Outpatient therapy today. It isn't really a matter of me being especially nice. I think any one of you would have done the same. For one thing, we know what it is like to battle an addiction or dependence. For another thing it is the Christian thing to do and most importantly, it may make the difference for my grandchildren having a mother in their lives instead of a gaping hole. I've said before, I don't particularly like my DIL (soon to be ex) but the kids didn't get to choose their Mother. And all children need their mothers (as long as the mother is not abusive, etc.)

Star, I'm still wondering if your work slow down is temporary or more long term?

Lav, how FUN to get to go to the zoo with the whole family!

Papmom, sorry you lost a long post, that drives me nuts when that happens!:nutso:

Cyn, are you at Land's End? I hope we get to hear from you soon about your adventure.

For the rest of us, we can imagine being there: BBC - Cornwall - In Pictures - Lands end photo gallery

Have a great AF Humpday!

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning all!

I'm up & need to be out by 7 again this morning but just for a few hours until my son returns from work, Yesterday's marathon 14 hr day with those two little boys almost did me in :H

Dill, thanks for the quote & I choose to keep my pants - thanks
I'll check in later - have a great day everyone!

Lav

[Stargazerlily]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning...

Dill, thanks for starting the new thread and love the pictures of Cornwall. I have always wanted to go there. I still say you are lovely and kind, you could have told your DIL to find her own ride. And yes, we DO know what it means to deal with addiction. It is horrible. So much better to just be AF. Still enjoying the Bubble Hour podcasts.

Hey Lav, Pap and Cyn, have a great day.

[dill]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning all,
Yes Star I'm still enjoying the Bubble Hour. I saw that Amy Hatvany is the guest in one of them. She wrote Best Kept Secrets which I read a couple of years ago and really liked, so I am looking forward to listening to that interview today.

Lav I hope you have time to take it easy today. You sound way too busy!

DIL claims she is taking her meds and going to groups. I have no way to verify until this coming Tuesday when she will have to take a drug test in order to get the medicine she needs for treatment. If she fails she will not get a script. It is so nerve-wracking! I feel so sorry for her Mother who scraped together the money to buy 4 doses (I bought 2). She hasn't got the resources to be throwing money away, so I hope DIL is being honest and really trying. The sad fact is, she could be selling the meds on the street to someone else who is desperate to quit. It actually costs more for a dose of the med on the street than it costs to buy heroine. I can only hope and pray that she doesn't decide to do that.

I have a nice day ahead. My cleaning lady is coming for one thing, and boy do I need her! For another, my son is going to look at apartments today!

Have a good AF Friday every one.

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning kids

I am kid-less today & that's OK - I need the rest! :H
I have to admit it's been a fun week & I am so grateful to be clear-headed & fit enough to be involved with the family.

Can't believe we are still getting frost warning every night but it's been around 36 degrees each morning, cold but not frosty. I have been protecting my newly planted herbs.

Nothing special going on today just a trip to Curves & straightening up around here. I'm going to put some red/pink beans & rice in the crockpot. It's kind of high carb but vegan & low sodium & perfect for a rainy Friday night.

Greetings to Star, Dill, Papmom & Cyn. I hope everyone has a terrific AF Friday!

Lav

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Cross post sister Dill
I hope your DIL is taking the wiser road & cleaning up for her sake.

[Stargazerlily]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning everyone...

I'm in a happy mood, despite the rain, because it is Friday and I don't have to work. Getting my hair done, shopping with my husband, watching the rest of a TV series we have been enjoying. I would not be waking up feeling so good if I was not AF.

Lav, you are right, never in a million years would you be able to deal with and enjoy little ones if you were hung over. Quality of life is so much better when we live it free from the agony of alcohol.

Dill, I am still listening to the same Bubble Hour, but really enjoying it. So glad you like it. There is no way to know if your daughter in law is doing what she is supposed to, only a drug screen. So, you did your part, let her do hers. Did your son find a job? Great to hear he is looking to move out, he is moving forward.

Hello to all, have a good Friday.

[hart]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Just posting to get annoying post off top. Everyone have a great Friday!

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

No worries hart - the spammer will be removed soon enough

Star, the rain is just starting here at 6 pm. We also been promised some thunder to go with it too!!!
Hope you enjoyed your day!

Dill, Thinking about you & your family. I sure hope everything works out OK!

I just had a serving of a new crockpot recipe & it was pretty good if anyone is interested. I was searching for a lower sodium red/pink beans & rice recipe & found this:
Slow Cooker Coconut Red Beans and Rice Recipe | Yummly
Odd to be looking for comfort foods this time of year but it is still chilly & a bit damp, right?

I have also been meaning to ask - does anyone else get into fermenting & culturing foods? I've been doing some of this for a few months now - interesting
Slow Cooker Coconut Red Beans and Rice Recipe | Yummly

Since I can't have dairy I have been fermenting water kefir. It's great flavored with lemon or ginger or even both!
My daughter has also starting fermenting kombucha & will be sharing her scoby with me since it's growing so well. When did I ever think I would get into all this? :H
I've always made yogurt at home but haven't found a good way to make it with non-dairy milk.

Just a little something to spark discussion :H

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Hello, hello friends!

I'm heading out early so I'll check in again tonight. Have a great AF Saturday everyone

Lav

[dill]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Huh? What "annoying post" and what "spammer'?

Hey Lav thanks for the links. I will probably give the red beans and rice a try. But why did you post the same link twice? Was the second link supposed to be to something else? Yes I have tried fermented foods and did kefir for a short time but not my cup of tea. Used to make tempe (fermented soy beans) but haven't done that in years. I did love it tho. I have been making crock pot recipes lately and I too have wondered about my need for comfort foods at this time of year. But as you say, it has been cool and damp which may be the reason. Plus, kids seem to like comfort foods year round! And they move around enough to burn it off.

Going to be a nice day today so I hope to get outside and do some gardening. Have a wonderful AF Saturday everyone!

[Stargazerlily]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning...

Today the weather is supposed to be 50s and sunny, tomorrow too, however, five days of rain after that. Yuck. That's spring though.

We are thinking of moving, it is overwhelming. I will need to be at the top of my game if this does happen. Out of the area, new jobs, a fresh start. We have lived here about 10 years and the stuff has accumulated, like it always does. I think that I am going to develop a plan to clean out all areas with stuff I do not use. It is so hard to get rid of things, even if you do not use them. And I have closets, drawers, kitchen cabinets filled with things I never use. But have. I have been contemplating simplifying my life, and I guess now is the time.

Lav, the recipe sounds good. I have not explored fermented foods. Any good websites explaining what they are and how to ferment? Thanks. You are always such a great source of information.

Hi Dill, hope your day is fun, being outside and in the dirt. It always makes me feel good.

To all, have a great day.

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Hi all!

Sorry about the mess up with links last night!
I wanted to show you one blog I subscribe to re fermented foods:
Fermented Food Recipes — Nourished Kitchen

Weather was nice here too Dill & Star. The YB & I have gotten some work done outside including planting a new dogwood tree & also trimming some old limbs from a big old maple so I can better sun for the 5 new blueberry bushes

Star, which way are you thinking about moving? East, west?? That is very exciting & also a bit frightening at the same time. Keep the one day at a time method in mind so you don't overwhelm yourself :l

Papmom is busy on Facebook & Google+ - maybe she'll check in here too

[papmom3]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Hi Everyone,
Not feeling all that much better but I do now realize that with careful planning I will be able to pay off the vet, then start paying off my credit cards and then my family and still have money left over for food, gas etc. Just not any extras. It will be a long long road and I'm still pursuing other paying opps.
Girl Kitty is still not doing well. Had to take her in for another antibiotic shot on Thursday. I'm now doing fluids every day in hopes her appetite will return. I got some non kidney food today and she scarfed it up so maybe there is hope.
Mickey got his stitches out but still has to wear the cone for a few more days as he managed to irritate the incision before the appointment. Sigh.
Had a really fun demo today. New store, new state and very busy. There was a kitten adoption event at the same time and it was so heartwarming to see all the kittens going home. They all got samples of my food to start their new lives off right! In the same plaza was a Wild Birds Unlimited store. I used to work at one, for 7 years. he went bankrupt and had to close. There are no other stores near me so it's the first time I've been in one since then. It was like going home. I miss that store and job so much. I swear I would almost move down there just for the chance to work there!! The owners and workers knew my former boss and we had a great conversation. I didn't buy anything although the urge was strong LOL!

Dill-So your DIL has committed to treatment and is motivated this time? I hope so. Your perspective was right on. You love your grandkids and if having their mom in their lives, even just a little bit is best for them, then of course you have to do what you can to make sure that happens. Here's praying the tox screen comes back negative. Thanks for the Cornwall link-the pics were gorgeous!

Star-Moving? Wow!!!! It is very scary to think about for sure. What brought this on? Where are you thinking of going? I can't even begin to think about decluttering my attic. The rest of the house is pretty good but could always use more.

Lav-glad you were able to get some "me" time. I'm sure the kids will be back soon enough LOL! Interesting about the kefir and fermenting. I might check it out. That slow cooker recipe too.

Another busy day tomorrow and then a full week of work. Ick. It's 9:17 and I'd like to be in bed with my tea by 10 so got to get going with the kids' dinners.

Oh, weight loss total is 32 today!!

Have a good day everyone!

[Lavande]

Abundant April AF ~ Week 4

Good morning friends,

Up at 6 am again - thanks Matilda :H
I think I should install black out shades & trick the little devil into sleeping in a little - at least on weekends

Papmom, sticking to a budget & saying NO to those buying urges is something we all have to do so you're not alone.
I hope your crew are all feeling better very soon. Congrats on the 32 pound weight loss - nice!!!

I need to get myself together to go to the supermarket & find something to keep me fed for a few days. It's still kind of chilly so I think I'll get a chicken to roast. I do want to finish prepping the area for the new blueberry bushes & get them planted this afternoon. I just love edible landscaping

Greetings to Star, Dill & anyone stopping by today. When does Cyn return??
Have a great AF Sunday everyone!

Lav