Hi all
After you all talking about beans I'm making Burro Beans for dinner which are dressed up pinto beans with a cole slaw.
I have been working on a new fall table topper and just need to quilt and bind and it's done. hope it will only take a day or two more because I have other things to get done for the holidays. just never seems to be enough time for all I want to do.
Stay with the program we are heading for the home stretch .
Hugs to all
Gail

Congrats to SewNSo! Sorry Cindy, I've been swamped at work and haven't been on for about a month. Can you take another fat quarter out of my june winnings for the sept winner?

I think I need to "gift" the applesauce I made last week. Just cooked the apples with the pealings, but then I added some cinnamon heart candies to give it a "pop" of color and taste. Have eaten my share of it, that's for sure.

Finished another Xmas gift. This one will be a gift to SIL and BIL. So love the spicy swirl pattern. Has anyone used batik fabrics for one. I have some with blue/green/pink in it. I'm not even going to cut the strips just use the ruler and cut out the wedges. Will have to see how it works.

Anyway eating has been okay. Am I loosing weight = not really. I'm trying to get those beans in more every day. Easier when DH is out of town and I can plan meals that might not appeal to him.

Remember - be good to you!!!

Christmas Spicy Swirl
 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]372231[/ATTACH]Hit the wrong button before I posted picture.

Enjoy.

Di, the Christmas SS is very pretty. I made a big mistake in the one I started this week. I cut the first strip at 3 1/2" instead of 3", so all the colors on the other end will be short. I'm going to go ahead and sew it together to see if I can save it. Right now I have its machine torn apart because I don't like the sound and the my go to piecer is set up FMQ so it will be tomorrow before I try it.

Eating okay, weight loss, not. One of these days I will wake up to a big surprise. Right now I am in one of those up and down periods. Who knows why.

Yes I have received you FQ. Keep up your hard work. Good Luck.

I love the Spicy Spiral. I have made several out of batiks. I have one made of all black and white half way put together somewhere in my sewing room. I will have to hunt it down. The spirals are fairly easy and impressive looking. Here is one that I made. I can't find the other pictures.

Another very pretty one. Green and purple are such naturals together.

Just wanted to toss in a quick reminder. Change up your cardio every few weeks (if you can). It helps keep your body from falling into a groove, and keeps you from being bored. Also.. don't do weights and cardio in the same workout, you will make one or the other less effective.

I applied for a job at my old company under my old manager today. Here's to hoping I get it. The last time I worked there was when I was going to the gym every night after work. I love their cafeteria and they do have a gym on site, pay is good and benes are great, plus bonuses, And it's work I can do, and I'm pretty sure they will be flexible enough for me to find a way to work my school classes in with them. So.. cross fingers for me.

Everose - love the Spicy Swirl!!!! Great design and colors on both!!!! I'm trying to get myself back into my sewing room to work on my retreat project. Really want to see it done soon!! But I also want my house clean and since I'm playing "vacation" from work I'm trying to get caught up on things I've let go for tooo long. Hope to spend the next 3 days quilting once I get this done. Then it's back to work again....<sigh>

Oh, got my tests done for my gallbladder. Looks like my next stop is a consult with the surgeon to see when it will be coming out. Oh yeah. Really not a fan of anything surgery related, just gets me a little (lot) nervous. But, I don't like having to watch everything I eat, not that fish and chicken are bad. But I really would have liked to splurge a little while on retreat. Hopefully I get this thing out, get over it and be ready for the retreat in May. Then I can enjoy myself really good...LOL.

Alright ladies....back to that thing I hate most.....cleaning. Have an AWESOME day!!!! Drink lots of water!!!! And love yourself!!

I had my gallbladder out years ago. The surgery wasn't bad at all. Although all surgery is a little scary. The worst part was getting comfortable to sleep for a few days. I slept on the couch kinda half on my side half on my back.
Anastasia it should be easy for me to change up my exercise routine this week. Since it is really easy to change nothing. I haven't been to the gym or walking for over 2 weeks. There is no excuse the weather here has been beautiful. It is 80 degrees today. Unusual for this time of year here. It is going to get colder tomorrow. I need to get off my ass and get to the gymGood luck with your job search. I almost hate looking for a job more than I hate being unemployed

I had my gall bladder out a couple years ago as well. It was an emergency. My brother was a limo driver at the time so he brought me to the hospital in a limo.. wooo arriving with style. it was the first surgery I ever had and I was scared out of my whits and cried. Woke up to dry heaves. Me and anesthesia don't get along at all. But man, the medication they give you after that surgery.. BEST SLEEP EVER! No dreams, no moving, just pure passed out for like 8-12 hours. aaaah. Taking a bath/shower was a fun challenge. and getting up and down from furniture. but I think like.. a week after I did a 5k aids walk, so it's really not so bad.

I got off the couch today! I was going to go to the post office but my truck is dead :( and it was raining fat snow with fat raindrops.. so I wasn't going to ride my bike there. But I did walk up to the store nearby, forgot my CC, so RAN back home and RAN back there... then walked back. soo about 2 miles of exercise today :D yay me. But I'm not eating good. *scowl* need someone to come stock my pantry.

Started the new job today. I enjoyed it very much, it is nice to be appreciated and wanted.

Keep up all your hard work ladies.

Love the SS quilts you have been sharing.

Hope every day is fun for you to go to work Cindy. I've had jobs that were just that - jobs. Glad you have one you can really enjoy. Went to Cracker Barrel for lunch - had the chicken salad salad, but they mix cranberries in the salad and serve apple slices with it, so really didn't follow the diet premise - don't eat fruits WITH your meal - either 1/2 hour before or 1 hour after. Oh, well, sometimes you can and sometimes you can't.

Cindy glad to hear you like your new job. It really helps when you do like your job. I was hoping to finish piecing my 50 paper pieced stars last night and start putting it together. NOT! My Dh called me yesterday at 3:00 and told me he forgot to tell me about a Halloween party that is Saturday night and we need costumes. Grr! I am going as a zebra and he is going as a witch. I also found out yesterday what the theme is for the teachers Halloween costumes at school. We are supposed to be farm animals as the principals last name is Farmer. A zebra is close enough. I got zebra stripped PJ's at Target (last pair they had and it was my size) added a tail and made a hat. I went to JoAnns for fabric. Man have they changed company policy. I finished the 2 bolts of fabric (same fabric) and not only didn't I get a discount for finishing the bolt like someone said on here but one of the pieces was a yard and 1 inch and she charged me for the inch.I should have had her cut it off. The 2 fabrics were the same and she wouldn't make them on one ticket so I could use a coupon. I had to argue with the manager for that. WOW whatever happened to JO Anns?

My JoAnn's hasn't got that memo yet. I took a batik to the counter and asked for a yard. There was a about a yard and a half on the bolt. The cutter charged me for 1/2 yard and took 50% off the last yard. She shouldn't have, but I didn't argue. I saw the other cutter offering the discount, too. I've heard a rumor that we are getting our JoAnn's back. It would be nice not to have travel 50 miles just to go there. Charging for an inch is ridiculous unless the customer asked for an inch of fabric. An inch for color matching was free when I was working at JoAnn's, but I didn't let my cutters cut less than 2" for an order. We were willing to cut whatever was needed. The only aggravation was the customer who came to the cutting table at 8:55 with 20 bolts of fabric and wanted 1/4 yard of each. That is so rude, IMO.

I ran the roads yesterday and then cooked a big dinner for my grandsons. I didn't stay within my calorie limit, so today is a light day. I have enough work to keep me out of the kitchen. Back to FMQ, then I have a big bag of cleaned jewelry to price for the bazaar, after I vacuum and sweep. It amazing how much size 12 tennis shoes can track in. I picked up a skirt at a resale store that has to be 300 inches around the bottom. How long will it take to press it?

Off to get started. I'll check in later. I am losing weight and getting healthier.
Judy

Bummer about the Joanne's. I don't get out to mine too often cause it's the farthest away of those bigger quilty stores. Last time I was there they did give me 50% off the already 50% off red tag sticker for taking the rest of the bolt over what I originally asked for IF it was 1 yard or less. Shoot I kinda regularly get a spare inch when I get fabric at most places cause they line it up so they can count from a straight piece. I think if I worked there I wouldn't want to bother to put 16 cents onto a sales slip for 1 inch. haha I totally would have out of principle after seeing it on the slip, give it back and ask her to cut it off and give you a new sales slip. But only if I was in a bad mood. I talk a big game but I usually can't be bothered to go out of my way to make a point.

It's a wee bit early, but here's your Taboo Tuesday - another one of those find the one that best fits you. Today it's titled "Is it worth it" Here's what a munchie really costs you - and how you fix it ...
Cheese-flavored crackers (180 calories per 1.25 oz bag) = 26 minutes of leisurely bicycling
Gummy fruit snacks (260 calories per 2.25 oz bag) = 25 minutes of stair climbing
Peanut butter sandwich crackers (220 calories per 6 pack) = 76 minutes of yoga
Chocolate and nut trail mix (160 calories per 1 oz bag) = 17 minutes of jumping jacks
Animal cracker cookies (120 calories per 2.12 oz bag) = 35 minutes of surfing
Coated chocolate candies (240 calories per 1.69 oz bag) = 60 minutes of walking
Honey roasted peanuts (250 calories per 1.38 oz bag) = 31 minutes of jogging
Corn chips (160 calories per 1 oz bag) = 20 minutes of swimming
Milk chocolage (210 calories per 1.5 oz bar) = 28 minutes of hip-hop dancing
Sour cream and onion chips (160 calories per 1 oz bag) = 46 minutes of strength training
Pick your poison and do your penance.

Almost depressing isn't it. But we all know how bad all this stuff is. Hopefully reading this will make me less likely to eat them. I will need to look up the stats on Halloween candy before Wednesday. I usually sit in the driveway and pass out candy. We have a lot of trick or treaters. Last year about 250. I don't expect that many this year with the weather being bad. It is supposed to be windy and snow flurries. I think we will have less this year. That means there will be more for me to eat.

I bought my candy tonight. I dislike the ones I chose, so I'm okay. I will give the non chocolate leftovers to the church youth to add to their Christmas boxes for Africa. I'm sure the KitKat bars will disappear even if we don't have a lot of T or Ters. I bought for 225. N Michiganders are a tough lot. I know my children went out in some nasty weather.

My thoughts are with the people on the East Coast. We are 500 miles away and getting 33 MPH winds. My son's job in Pittsburgh is under water so he left early this morning, thank goodness. We'll see about NJ/NY next week.

Love your list, Vanogay. So I have take up HipHop dancing to burn off my chocolates???? Hmm.

Another day working outside. That should burn some calories, in addition to trying to stay upright walking the dogs this evening.

Eating okay, exercise okay, water whoops. I am losing weight and getting healthier.

I am down this month. SewNSo, how about you. Keep eating healthy everyone, drink lotsa water and do something producting in the exercise department - even hip hopping. With my broken arm, it's been hard to do any strenous exercise, but I have been moving the arm about so that I can regain my mobility - talk about hurt!!!!! Start PT Wednesday and figure more hurt there, but I'll have to tell myself, if I don't I won't be able to sew. That'll be my mantra.

When I get home from work tonight, I will post the new thread for November. I can't believe that October is almost over.

Since we are having the bad storms across the North East we will give some lea way on signing up. It will be on an indivdual basis.

I have only lost 2 lbs this month.

I finally posted the new thread. Here is the link

http://www.quiltingboard.com/general...ml#post5624660

vanogay, yes i'm down, but just 3 lbs. do i owe you F.Q's. will be glad to mail them to you. s
take it easy with your arm. mine never healed right. and artht set in. i think i did too much too quick. and when the dr. said 'it's healed'. i just went back to lifting the GDS, vacuuming, etc. do your PT. but take it easy otherwise for a while. please.
also, when i went to joanne's last week. they were good to me. i had them cut me 1/4 yrd pieces for my next dear jane. she didn't mind a bit. some of the other pieces, i got my yardage, but then, said, 'i'll take the rest'. on the bolt and she gave me the odd partial yard's at 1/2 off.
cindy, did you get my FQ's in the mail from last month? hope so, i'm wanting xmas early. xo sunny

SewNso, looks like we're even. I forgot to weigh this morning, but it had been at 3 # for me as well. I am trying to do lots with my arm. Start PT this af ternoon. Can't really lift too much - the strength is not there, but I want to make sure I work it as I'm having trouble using my rotary. I can manage to get the arm to move forward in a cutting motion, but I don't have any strength to press on the rotary - can't even cut through one layer. Ditto the pressure on the ruler if I change hands and try to cut right handed. Really need to be able to 1) put my bra on my normal way and 2) use my rotary cutter properly - those are my goals to get this arm back to normal - whatever that is!!!!!!! I'll PM Cindy tomorrow about my weight loss(still have today to lose 1/2# right?)

I finally have my weight headed downward after the steroid weight gain so I hope next month will be better for me.

There is nothing "just" about three pounds. Remember the visual of three pounds of butter or lard. Congratulations on staying the course for the month to everyone.

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement on the gall bladder surgery. Had a spell last night and a hard time getting to sleep. Tuesday is the doc appt, and we'll see what he has to say.

Congrats to Cindy for her new job and liking it!!!! Hope you continue to like it and hopefully all lifes pieces will fall into place for you now.

We weathered "Sandy" ok. No trees in the house, which is good since we live in the woods. We did lose about 5 around us though. But, we got water in the basement (where I sew). Thankfully all my quilting stuff is up off the floor or in plastic containers and was spared, but alot of things in our storage area weren't. We've spent yesterday mopping and drying out the main area and today we hit the storage room. It was bitter sweet. I'm getting my husband to trash a lot of things that should have been dumped years ago, and label things "yard sale". On the sad side we have found some things that got wet that we can't replace, including DH's Mom's family bible, family pictures, and a couple other things. But we're looking on the bright side and letting these issues go. It could have been worse and next time we'll be even more prepared. We had a generator but a friend wired our garage years ago. Apparently he didn't know what he was doing and the power didn't back feed into the house like it was suppose to, thus the sub pump didn't work. Live and learn. We now have another friend who is a true electrician wiring it for us and when I can afford it there will be a whole house generator installed. DH and I are just happy to not have trees sticking in our roof or a swimming pool in our basement.

Glad to hear you are OK. Yes things are sometimes irreplaceable. Sorry to hear about your trouble.

October's winner is CountryHouseQuilter with 6 lbs lost.

Congrats