What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[Muddy Cyclist]

good evening all

4.4 today

we were up fairly early this morning because the previously cancelled smart meter installation was scheduled for this morning.

All done and neatly installed now but it apparently isn't so smart because, despite the info. the engineer was given, it won't connect to the radio network. Could be the thick stone walls
It's been put on the naughty list for IBM to sort

A very chilly day here with a cold wind rushing over the village so any visitors are going about wrapped up in big coats and scarves, proper Bank Holiday weather

Hope your day is treating you well

@gennepher - I like your painting today very much, such a rich texture. Your deflating moon makes for an effective painting and I like the way you have handled the colour

@dunelm - I do like that gold flecked paper and your sketch has captured the moment very well

@Muddy Cyclist - I don't count mr gee's tee shirts not to say I haven't dropped tactful hints about the ratty ones
A lovely start to your next Cader Idris painting with a smashing moody sky
I haven't been to that area for years now though we spent time all around there when I was a youngster, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, etc. we also rode most of the narrow gauge railways and went down the slate mine

art bit - still on my original paper so there are some of the minor flaws in the sizing, not too noticeable I hope

View attachment 49223

Thank you. Yes that part of Wales is magical, running water, light, mountains and sea. I know so many old ancient byways to explore away from the maddening crowd.

I did a recount of my shirts and T shirts and found Mrs Mc missed a few, I have 123 but I guess I only wear a handful.

You are joining the bird painters and in such an accomplished manner. Excellent desolate landscape and majestic swans to give depth and height. More Prussian Blue?

 

[Krystyna23040]

good evening all

4.4 today

we were up fairly early this morning because the previously cancelled smart meter installation was scheduled for this morning.

All done and neatly installed now but it apparently isn't so smart because, despite the info. the engineer was given, it won't connect to the radio network. Could be the thick stone walls
It's been put on the naughty list for IBM to sort

A very chilly day here with a cold wind rushing over the village so any visitors are going about wrapped up in big coats and scarves, proper Bank Holiday weather

Hope your day is treating you well

@gennepher - I like your painting today very much, such a rich texture. Your deflating moon makes for an effective painting and I like the way you have handled the colour

@dunelm - I do like that gold flecked paper and your sketch has captured the moment very well

@Muddy Cyclist - I don't count mr gee's tee shirts not to say I haven't dropped tactful hints about the ratty ones
A lovely start to your next Cader Idris painting with a smashing moody sky
I haven't been to that area for years now though we spent time all around there when I was a youngster, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, etc. we also rode most of the narrow gauge railways and went down the slate mine

art bit - still on my original paper so there are some of the minor flaws in the sizing, not too noticeable I hope

View attachment 49223

Brilliant painting.

 

[Krystyna23040]

Really good news tonight. My sister is having her 2nd Jab on the 10th and two weeks after that she is coming back to work in the office. Yipee. I am so happy. She is really struggling working remotely on her home computer because for some reason (known only to itself) it is not very compatible with my files on One Drive. Also she cannot access the database which is vital.

I am struggling here also and was feeling that I was sinking under the weight of the extra admin I had to do. How can one small business have so much admin. It is definitely worse since the pandemic. Have had to send everyone new Covid 19 forms because, apparently, the ones they filled in last year cannot be used this year.

 

[ianpspurs]

May the 4th be with you. Windy and damp here so goodness knows what it will be like when I get out of bed. Great family ramble in the woods yesterday then it turned cold, wet and windy. So bad I ate lc cottage pie - celeriac topping, obs- which was as meh as it sounds but we froze two portions for those times when I'm feeling particularly smug that I'm eating well or tempted to feel marginally sanguine.. Watched the Dr D Layman talk on protein. Leucine seems to be magic oofal dust and protein shakey wakey woos with whey PP, kefir, G Yog and berries for brekkiepoos performed well in his research. Another blind alley or my biases all neatly packaged with a bow? Stay anchored to Terry Firma today he needs your help. Don't relax your guard there's still that Warren The Woke.

 

[Krystyna23040]

5.2 this morning. Appointment with nurse to check my head. Mr K has photographed it when he changed the dressing and it is definitely healing.

Weather has been atrocious so it looks like it will be a rather muddy walk with the dogs shortly.

 

[karen8967]

5.4 for me have a good day everyone

 

[Krystyna23040]

May the 4th be with you. Windy and damp here so goodness knows what it will be like when I get out of bed. Great family ramble in the woods yesterday then it turned cold, wet and windy. So bad I ate lc cottage pie - celeriac topping, obs- which was as meh as it sounds but we froze two portions for those times when I'm feeling particularly smug that I'm eating well or tempted to feel marginally sanguine.. Watched the Dr D Layman talk on protein. Leucine seems to be magic oofal dust and protein shakey wakey woos with whey PP, kefir, G Yog and berries for brekkiepoos performed well in his research. Another blind alley or my biases all neatly packaged with a bow? Stay anchored to Terry Firma today he needs your help. Don't relax your guard there's still that Warren The Woke.

That's good to know, especially as my breakfasts always include kefir, yoghurt and berries and of course whey pp now. Am pleased to report almost 2 inch lost from waist and 3 1/2lbs lost since starting this. So very happy with the way things are going.

 

[dunelm]

good evening all

4.4 today

we were up fairly early this morning because the previously cancelled smart meter installation was scheduled for this morning.

All done and neatly installed now but it apparently isn't so smart because, despite the info. the engineer was given, it won't connect to the radio network. Could be the thick stone walls
It's been put on the naughty list for IBM to sort

A very chilly day here with a cold wind rushing over the village so any visitors are going about wrapped up in big coats and scarves, proper Bank Holiday weather

Hope your day is treating you well

@gennepher - I like your painting today very much, such a rich texture. Your deflating moon makes for an effective painting and I like the way you have handled the colour

@dunelm - I do like that gold flecked paper and your sketch has captured the moment very well

@Muddy Cyclist - I don't count mr gee's tee shirts not to say I haven't dropped tactful hints about the ratty ones
A lovely start to your next Cader Idris painting with a smashing moody sky
I haven't been to that area for years now though we spent time all around there when I was a youngster, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, etc. we also rode most of the narrow gauge railways and went down the slate mine

art bit - still on my original paper so there are some of the minor flaws in the sizing, not too noticeable I hope

View attachment 49223

Thank you @geefull. Wonderful majestic swans flying over a gloomy landscape - smashing

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Good Morning and 6 for me today. Yesterday's. Lunch of cheese salad. Evening meal of Stirfried Diced Pork in a yogurt, white wine and rosemary sauce served with broccoli, mange touts and courgette should have given me lower fasting numbers in my book. I did try the small handful of nuts before bed to see if it helped lower them.

Wet and windy so no idea where time will take me today, I shall just follow the path it chooses.

Keep safe and hold on to your hats.

 

[gennepher]

The weather turned bleak and I fell out of Spring Mode. I have spent many a wet day like today on Welsh Mountains and so back to Cader Idris but from across Mawdach Estuary. We know a small difficult to get to camping ground up a slate rock track, no caravans or large vehicles, tight even for Wilfrid, room for maybe four vans and a few tents, no electric plugins and quiet with stunning views of the mountains and sea.

This is from a sketchbook pencil drawing I did on my last visit, early morning before the sun gets above the mountain.

A4 watercolour, lots still to do.....

View attachment 49218

This looks very promising @Muddy Cyclist
No spring here either...

 

[dunelm]

Good morning from a decideldy damp and windy start here in the dark and dangerous north
The wonder wheel of home made burgers topped with duck eggs and a few pickled veg came in at 4.4 this am

Accorning to the Pastifarian Holy-day callender it is Star Wars Day so colinders on heads and grab your wookey by the hand for the ho-down auditions and the chance for a part in the Death Star canteen sketch remake by Eddie Izzard.
I think, no - I know, that it will be staycation day today unless the weather does a U-turn. Should be fun then digging about in the freezer to see what tasty leftovers are lurking in dark corners and whispering to the frozen cauliflower.
The blossom is falling and the garden now has a green carpet flecked with pink. I took photos and also the blossom in the park so I may turn my brushes towards that topic soon.

For now though - things with boats - after the early 20thC artist Fu Baoshi. Hope everyone is keeping warm and dry. I am staying at home and drinking koffy.

 

[gennepher]

good evening all

4.4 today

we were up fairly early this morning because the previously cancelled smart meter installation was scheduled for this morning.

All done and neatly installed now but it apparently isn't so smart because, despite the info. the engineer was given, it won't connect to the radio network. Could be the thick stone walls
It's been put on the naughty list for IBM to sort

A very chilly day here with a cold wind rushing over the village so any visitors are going about wrapped up in big coats and scarves, proper Bank Holiday weather

Hope your day is treating you well

@gennepher - I like your painting today very much, such a rich texture. Your deflating moon makes for an effective painting and I like the way you have handled the colour

@dunelm - I do like that gold flecked paper and your sketch has captured the moment very well

@Muddy Cyclist - I don't count mr gee's tee shirts not to say I haven't dropped tactful hints about the ratty ones
A lovely start to your next Cader Idris painting with a smashing moody sky
I haven't been to that area for years now though we spent time all around there when I was a youngster, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, etc. we also rode most of the narrow gauge railways and went down the slate mine

art bit - still on my original paper so there are some of the minor flaws in the sizing, not too noticeable I hope

View attachment 49223

So the smart meter is not so smart after all...I think it will need an antennae to the roof...
Thank you for the painting compliments @geefull
Your swan painting is absolutely amazing...

 

[gennepher]

Good morning from a decideldy damp and windy start here in the dark and dangerous north
The wonder wheel of home made burgers topped with duck eggs and a few pickled veg came in at 4.4 this am

Accorning to the Pastifarian Holy-day callender it is Star Wars Day so colinders on heads and grab your wookey by the hand for the ho-down auditions and the chance for a part in the Death Star canteen sketch remake by Eddie Izzard.
I think, no - I know, that it will be staycation day today unless the weather does a U-turn. Should be fun then digging about in the freezer to see what tasty leftovers are lurking in dark corners and whispering to the frozen cauliflower.
The blossom is falling and the garden now has a green carpet flecked with pink. I took photos and also the blossom in the park so I may turn my brushes towards that topic soon.

For now though - things with boats - after the early 20thC artist Fu Baoshi. Hope everyone is keeping warm and dry. I am staying at home and drinking koffy.

View attachment 49230

I like this painting @dunelm
I will have to look up your artist...

 

[ianpspurs]

That's good to know, especially as my breakfasts always include kefir, yoghurt and berries and of course whey pp now. Am pleased to report almost 2 inch lost from waist and 3 1/2lbs lost since starting this. So very happy with the way things are going.

That sounds good. Did you actually need to lose weight and inches? In my mind's eye you are a svelte, elegant lady of impeccable taste so I now envisage Mr K needing x-ray specs to find ya once the dressing on your head goes. Maybe add some leucine powder to your breakfast and you will become well buff, innit. No, I don't work for Bulk Powders - I pay out of my own pocket. Even for childcare of 35 year olds.

 

[ianpspurs]

The image below is from Layman's talk on protein. Basically he argues that the RDA is a minimum and most adults, especially us "Seniors," need way more due to Sarcopenia. We could go as far as 200 gms protein a day safely. Not sure most of us could a) eat that much and b) afford it. His idea is to "build" meals around protein and target leucine. 30 gms protein per meal is his starting point. Looking at his image on the left, if he follows his own advice, seems to work better than a few of the experts I've seen who don't look especially trim. The implication is high quality, lean protein. Which is expensive, hence "Seniors" being deficient IMHO.

 

[dunelm]

I like this painting @dunelm
I will have to look up your artist...

Thank you @gennepher he was leader of the New Chinese Painting Movement in the 1940’s who reformed traditional Chinese painting. I like his looser style and brushwork.

 

[gennepher]

Fbg 6.5

Windy, rainy, and stormy all night. But the sky was surprisingly light. It didn't feel like night.

I have to rescue a Eucalyptus tree which broke free from its supports in the night and is danger of being snapped into 2 with this vicious wind. I could see birds (eg blackbird sized) flying to and fro in the night, which seems strange to me. The night is normally devoid of birds.

Also the two blackbirds who were nesting in my clematis, and I assumed had laid eggs, abandoned that nest, and the male and female blackbirds were tearing up the thatch from my thatched swing, and building a nest in the cherry tree in my front garden. Now, that one appears to have been abandoned.

This last week the same pair have been collecting nesting materials and building a nest at the bottom of my garden among the honeysuckle. But it was a very exposed and windy position.

This morning the same female blackbird is frantically collecting MORE nesting materials, and building yet another nest in the crab apple tree. She is ripping the thatch off my thatched swing as though there is no time to lose in this nest building process. The male blackbird in the meantime is rolling his eyes and having a good old morning bath in the disused cat tray which had collected a surfeit of water...until Mrs Blackbird dive bombs him into nest building action...

The only thing I can think of is in the original clematis where Mrs Blackbird built a nest, Jenny Wren built a nest within a metre of her in the same clematis. All seemed well for a few weeks initially. Then. Jenny Wren started making a heck of a racket each time I went in the garden. (I had to use a bird song app to identify the bird, and it said it was the alarm call of a wren) I can vouch it is deafening, because when I walk past Jenny Wren's nest on the way to my garage, my cochlear speech processor on my left ear is within two hand widths of her nest, and the noise Jenny Wren yelled into it was like my brain had blown up...

I can only assume Mrs Blackbird didn't like such horrendously noisy neighbours...and wanted to move house. I fully empathise with Mrs Blackbird...

Where is Jeremy (I cannot call him Jenny Wren) Wren in all this? I only ever see one wren at a time, and Jenny Wren seemed friendly enough earlier in the year and flew near me. But I assume she has babies now...

I'll go and check on how Mrs B is when this rainstorm abates. She is still friendly to me, comes straight up to my feet when I am in the garden, and doesn't regard me as a threat. Her feathers are all spiky with the rain. I don't know how she can fly when she is this waterlogged.

But first I need to do some more googling. It is going to cost me a fortune to replace this thatch on my swing

My digital painting in Procreate this morning. It was meant to be a quickie, but literally 4 hours later, and I was learning a lot of new stuff with it. Can you tell it took 4 hours? Nope, I didn't think you would!

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Good morning from a decideldy damp and windy start here in the dark and dangerous north
The wonder wheel of home made burgers topped with duck eggs and a few pickled veg came in at 4.4 this am

Accorning to the Pastifarian Holy-day callender it is Star Wars Day so colinders on heads and grab your wookey by the hand for the ho-down auditions and the chance for a part in the Death Star canteen sketch remake by Eddie Izzard.
I think, no - I know, that it will be staycation day today unless the weather does a U-turn. Should be fun then digging about in the freezer to see what tasty leftovers are lurking in dark corners and whispering to the frozen cauliflower.
The blossom is falling and the garden now has a green carpet flecked with pink. I took photos and also the blossom in the park so I may turn my brushes towards that topic soon.

For now though - things with boats - after the early 20thC artist Fu Baoshi. Hope everyone is keeping warm and dry. I am staying at home and drinking koffy.

View attachment 49230

Nice piece from you, I like the scale the boat gives the tree and the reflections in the water, good colour also. I can see what you mean by the Looser Style of brushwork, look forward to more and also some fallen blossom art.

 

[dunelm]

Fbg 6.5

Windy, rainy, and stormy all night. But the sky was surprisingly light. It didn't feel like night.

I have to rescue a Eucalyptus tree which broke free from its supports in the night and is danger of being snapped into 2 with this vicious wind. I could see birds (eg blackbird sized) flying to and fro in the night, which seems strange to me. The night is normally devoid of birds.

Also the two blackbirds who were nesting in my clematis, and I assumed had laid eggs, abandoned that nest, and the male and female blackbirds were tearing up the thatch from my thatched swing, and building a nest in the cherry tree in my front garden. Now, that one appears to have been abandoned.

This last week the same pair have been collecting nesting materials and building a nest at the bottom of my garden among the honeysuckle. But it was a very exposed and windy position.

This morning the same female blackbird is frantically collecting MORE nesting materials, and building yet another nest in the crab apple tree. She is ripping the thatch off my thatched swing as though there is no time to lose in this nest building process. The male blackbird in the meantime is rolling his eyes and having a good old morning bath in the disused cat tray which had collected a surfeit of water...until Mrs Blackbird dive bombs him into nest building action...

The only thing I can think of is in the original clematis where Mrs Blackbird built a nest, Jenny Wren built a nest within a metre of her in the same clematis. All seemed well for a few weeks initially. Then. Jenny Wren started making a heck of a racket each time I went in the garden. (I had to use a bird song app to identify the bird, and it said it was the alarm call of a wren) I can vouch it is deafening, because when I walk past Jenny Wren's nest on the way to my garage, my cochlear speech processor on my left ear is within two hand widths of her nest, and the noise Jenny Wren yelled into it was like my brain had blown up...

I can only assume Mrs Blackbird didn't like such horrendously noisy neighbours...and wanted to move house. I fully empathise with Mrs Blackbird...

Where is Jeremy (I cannot call him Jenny Wren) Wren in all this? I only ever see one wren at a time, and Jenny Wren seemed friendly enough earlier in the year and flew near me. But I assume she has babies now...

I'll go and check on how Mrs B is when this rainstorm abates. Her feathers are all spiky with the rain. I don't know how she can fly when she is this waterlogged.

But first I need to do some more googling. It is going to cost me a fortune to replace this thatch on my swing

My digital painting in Procreate this morning. It was meant to be a quickie, but literally 4 hours later, and I was learning a lot of new stuff with it. Can you tell it took 4 hours? Nope, I didn't think you would!

View attachment 49232

Sounds like your garden is the set for the bird version of “Into The Storm”. I hope that the cast have not missed out on this years nesting season. I love this painting theme that you are on with. Lovely greens here in this bursting light - I thought at first that it was at the bottom of the sea and the light was from Captain Nemo.

 

[Muddy Cyclist]

Fbg 6.5

Windy, rainy, and stormy all night. But the sky was surprisingly light. It didn't feel like night.

I have to rescue a Eucalyptus tree which broke free from its supports in the night and is danger of being snapped into 2 with this vicious wind. I could see birds (eg blackbird sized) flying to and fro in the night, which seems strange to me. The night is normally devoid of birds.

Also the two blackbirds who were nesting in my clematis, and I assumed had laid eggs, abandoned that nest, and the male and female blackbirds were tearing up the thatch from my thatched swing, and building a nest in the cherry tree in my front garden. Now, that one appears to have been abandoned.

This last week the same pair have been collecting nesting materials and building a nest at the bottom of my garden among the honeysuckle. But it was a very exposed and windy position.

This morning the same female blackbird is frantically collecting MORE nesting materials, and building yet another nest in the crab apple tree. She is ripping the thatch off my thatched swing as though there is no time to lose in this nest building process. The male blackbird in the meantime is rolling his eyes and having a good old morning bath in the disused cat tray which had collected a surfeit of water...until Mrs Blackbird dive bombs him into nest building action...

The only thing I can think of is in the original clematis where Mrs Blackbird built a nest, Jenny Wren built a nest within a metre of her in the same clematis. All seemed well for a few weeks initially. Then. Jenny Wren started making a heck of a racket each time I went in the garden. (I had to use a bird song app to identify the bird, and it said it was the alarm call of a wren) I can vouch it is deafening, because when I walk past Jenny Wren's nest on the way to my garage, my cochlear speech processor on my left ear is within two hand widths of her nest, and the noise Jenny Wren yelled into it was like my brain had blown up...

I can only assume Mrs Blackbird didn't like such horrendously noisy neighbours...and wanted to move house. I fully empathise with Mrs Blackbird...

Where is Jeremy (I cannot call him Jenny Wren) Wren in all this? I only ever see one wren at a time, and Jenny Wren seemed friendly enough earlier in the year and flew near me. But I assume she has babies now...

I'll go and check on how Mrs B is when this rainstorm abates. Her feathers are all spiky with the rain. I don't know how she can fly when she is this waterlogged.

But first I need to do some more googling. It is going to cost me a fortune to replace this thatch on my swing

My digital painting in Procreate this morning. It was meant to be a quickie, but literally 4 hours later, and I was learning a lot of new stuff with it. Can you tell it took 4 hours? Nope, I didn't think you would!

View attachment 49232

Winner for the impressionist art, very effective and a good learning curve by the sound of it.

Hugs for thatch depletion. I'm sure @lindisfel knows better than I but I think Male Wrens play around and have multiple female partners installed in many nests so that maybe why you only see one at a time, he's so busy keeping them all happy. Well that's what my old mum told me, she may have got it wrong.