I really appreciate reading the posts in this thread; they give me a lot of hope and I find myself imagining these wonderful steps forward that people are taking in their lives every day.

I also greatly appreciate the encouragement I'm getting here--thank you sundog and sunsetsunrise specifically, but also everyone who participates and reads, too. I am happy about your new camera, sundog, and I am sure you will have an excellent time snapping photos. sunsetsunrise, food and walking are passions of mine, so I tend to agree. I have learned to cook from scratch over the last few years, which I love, and before then (and now) I have considered myself quite the gourmand (without the gluttonous aspect--I believe in moderation).

On that note, I'm still on my food kick here. A lovely plate of homemade leftovers: mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, stuffed mushrooms, sauteed mushrooms, and cucumber salad. More veggies would have been welcome, but this was what was available in the larder.