Christian Photographers Community

Now Sarah!  You can't just drop a bomb like that on us and not even tell us his NAME!!  Is he anyone I would know?  Have you been dating long?  (Inquiring minds want to know...)

Etta Sue, I am really sore from lifting all those tubs of dirty dishes in cold water last night.  Grrr.  Next time she wants me to "fill in" at the home, I'm thinking my answer will be NO.  Ouchie.

Pat, we cannot know if Kathy turned her heart to God before she died, but surely hope she did.  At least you and Paul know she had the information she needed, if she wanted to go to heaven.  Sorry this is so hard for you, that is only because you are such a kind, loving and tender-hearted person.  Love you!

I finally got a frame selected and ordered.  But I had to order stuff I don't need right now, just to get the minimum they demand and avoid extra charges.  They are making it hard to be a customer of theirs. 

Now I think it's time for a little rest for me, while looking at the mail.  Later I will watch the Christian programs I enjoy on TBN.

Pat, I just clicked on your link to read about Kathy, and find it interesting that she lived in Utica, New York.  That is where Beth's friend John lives!  He will be arriving here next Saturday.

Hi, friends,

We did have a lovely time at the senior bible study christmas dinner and party last night. I tried a new-to-me dish on them, and they loved it. It's so easy I'll just tell y'all about it now: go to the store and get a bag of italian seasoned meatballs (you'll need to use 2-3 lbs of them) and put into a crockpot. In a pan, melt together 1 can of jellied cranberry sauce and a jar of chili sauce. Pour over the meatballs and let cook on low for most of the day. Sure was easy and mighty good. I had tried the recipe on my son the day before and he loved them, too.

Yes, the bowls were a hit, and the person who got them was quite appreciative.

I was aching so much last night I took a pain pill, which actually kept me asleep (or extremely quiet) for most of today. Thankfully, it has greatly lessened the pain.

Y'all have a wonderful rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

CONGRTULATIONS SARAH!!!!  May our God bless you very, very much!

Sarah:  Best wishes to you and your bridegroom!  December of this year?  You will be busy!

Pat:  I see that Janet wrote what I was thinking about the loss of your dear friend, Kathy.  No one can know what was in her heart.  That is so young, so sad.  Hugs to you.

Larry:  Just received an email from SN and they ask all to be patient - still working on it.  So, I have hope - they are setting up a new program and intend to have more classes and learning than previously.  Send your cleaning lady here, I get tired of it especially when there is so much going on.  It was MINUS 8 degrees F. several mornings here & we aren't even in the mountains. 

Well, I stayed 4 days with granddaughter and had a lovely time.  Drove home on terrible ice and snow and did slide a little but was under control.  Today was nicer but frigid weather coming again.  We just got back from a concert - grandson playing trumpet in the Jazz Band.  Gave them presents as they go to Texas this Christmas. 

Today, I made Teriyaki Chicken and sewed two pillow cases with wolves in the fabric - a favorite of one DIL - for their cabin.  We bought some ice melt to throw out if needed - sure do need it this year. 

Janet:  How lovely that Beth's friend is coming for another visit. 

Ruth Ann:  I think it is really smart, and comforting for you and your son to be close.  This the entire reason we moved - we can walk to one son's home & another is ten minutes drive.  This way, we can help out with little things and they do so much for us as well.  I have made that recipe with Italian seasoned meatballs and it always goes over well too. 

Jane:  Hi - Glad that you are out and about!   

Good Morning I have been to Curves , now I am dressed and having my 2nd  and listening to the news on TV.  Last evening was the Curves Christmas Party, I ate chocolate candies, mmm good. I have a chiropractor appointment this afternoon. It is raining a little bit here at least it isn't as cold as it has been.

congratulations Sarah on your upcoming wedding. Mine is in March.

Sarah!!!  Congratulations!  This Dec 31?  That's fast planning!

The county east of me where Lapel is had a school bus accident on the icy roads yesterday morning.  There were Jr and Sr students on the bus.  A car and a bus were to stop at an intersection.  Neither could stop and they hit head on but both slid several feet.  They think the car flipped at least once and the bus landed on its side.  Twelve students and both drivers were sent to hospitals but, thank God, minor injuries for all.  The bus driver is also a policeman at the nearby town so he knew to get all the kids out of the bus.  Sure seemed unusual to see overhead viewing of a huge school bus on its side with the exit ports open on the top of the bus and the back of the bus. 

Yes, the roads were very slick yesterday here.  About a quarter of an inch of frozen ice/sleet.  All the pavements were slicker than snot!!!  The grass wasn't too bad.  Jane picked up Ivalou and I for Euchre and we had about a mile and a half to go and Jane never got over 20mph all the way.  There was a 4-way stop and she couldn't even get stopped!  Very dangerous out there.

But Euchre was wonderful and all the great food.  We each brought something and it was great!  Then last evening, I just watched TV.

Today I am driving and Kitty and I are going out to eat for our Christmas to each other.  I need to get cat food and she wants to go to a book store and then come back and see her new bathroom that she is having remodeled.

Oh, yeah!  Ivalou has a new g-granddaughter.  Cailin Elizabeth McKenna born 1:17pm, Dec 17, 2008, 7lbs 11oz, 20 1/2 inches, and already
sprouting what appears to be more red hair.  Her big brother, Connall, has Irish red hair!! 

Then we are to get freezing rain tonight from 7pm to 9am tomorrow.  20% chance so maybe it won't happen.

Hi everyone.  It is mid-afternoon and I am just getting to the message boards.  Right after coffee this morning I took my Hyundai to the dealer for an oil change.  Then I went to MicroCenter to look for a new headset.  My good one had a broken wire and my friend, Rod, tried to see if he could fix it but the wire is thread thin and we decided it wasn't worth the effort.  I was going to get the same headset I bought for our daughter some weeks ago.  They were out of them.  So I stopped at Best Buy and made the mistake of listening to a demo of the Bose headphones.  They are very expensive but the sound is wonderful so think that is what I will get and ask that it be for my birthday next year as well as Christmas.  I do use headphones a lot to listen to music so know I will really enjoy them if I get them.

Sarah, congratulations on your upcoming marriage.  Hope your planning goes well.

Etta Sue, it sounds like the roads were next to impassable yesterday.  Sure glad you all didn't meet another car at the crossroads.  Hope you don't get anymore ice.  I was sort of mean to my sister, who lives in Estherville, Iowa.  I noticed it was -5 degrees there and it was 64 here so I made a graphic of the web table I was looking at and sent the graphic to her asking if they didn't want to come down.  She wrote back that I was mean.  

Marilyn, doesn't chocolate and Curves sort of not go together?    Glad you enjoyed the party.

Carol, SN has made a lot of classes available at a fee for sometime and I would expect that is what they have in mind.  I have difficulty believing all I am reading from them as to the reasons for the delays.  Glad to see you are safely home again.

Ruth Ann, sounds like you partied too much.  Glad you had such a nice time and the meatball recipe sounds good.

Janet, isn't it frustrating that companies package things in odd quantities or demand you buy more than what you need.  Hope you are feeling better today from your work exertion.

Pat, I did read the page you created for Kathy.  It is so sad to lose someone so young.

This was in an email that II received this afternoon:


From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were
not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone
during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning
plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each
element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.


-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.


-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching,  Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,  Faithfulness,

Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening, and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas, Everyone!

Good evening. 

Ruth Ann, thanks for the easy recipe--what is it called?

I had to be at work at 6 this morning, off at 2:00.  Fairly easy day.  Then came home for a while, back to town with a roll of garbage bags (I didn't have any boxes) to go through Beth's clothes.  They are preparing for the big move to the new facility.  That will be on Feb. 11, but they are asking all of the residents to have a family member come and go through their things, taking the excess home or wherever.  I hauled five big bags of clothes home!  Probably four of them will not be going back; the other is mostly short-sleeved tee shirts which she will need back next summer.  On the 30th at 11:00, I will go and help her pick out her room in the new home.  They decided the only fair way to do that is to give the ones who have lived in the home the longest first choice, then on down the line.  I think that's a good way to do it.

Anyway, now I am tired and my eyes are wanting to close, so it's off to the shower, then to bed.  When will I have time to get ready for Christmas? 

Sweet dreams, everyone!

P.S.  It was 48 degrees when I came home a while ago!  I was amazed!!

 [/color]

Here is another little quiz for you all, Christmas version this time.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do and try not to be a SCROOGE!!!  Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail thatyou can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!     


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?    I use both

2. Real tree or Artificial?   I love the smell of a real tree, but use artificial ones now.
 
3. When do you put up the tree?    As soon after Dec. first as I get around to doing it!
 
4. When do you take the tree down?   Around New Year's Day, usually

5. Do you like eggnog?  Yes, but I don't like the calories in it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  A rocking chair with a red velvet seat that my aunt in California sent me when I was about five years old. 

7. Hardest person to buy for?   My husband.  When he thinks of something he wants, the next time he goes to town, he buys it! 

8. Easiest person to buy for?   Beth--she always has a list as long as her arm.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?   Yes, several of them

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?    I like to mail...but I like to use my own painting or a photo, and haven't gotten them done yet.  Might not get any sent this year. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?   A half-burned and broken candle.
      (I should add this was NOT from a child.)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life; Christmas Story.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?     It varies every year. Sometimes I buy gifts early, put them away and don't find them for a year or more. 

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?   Food!  All the special treats of the season

16. Lights on the tree?   Lights EVERYWHERE!
 
17. Favorite Christmas song?  All of the traditional carols, plus Mary, Did You Know?  Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...oh! All of them!!!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?   This year we are staying home, or close
 
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?   Of course! 

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?   I think I have an angel now
 
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?    Usually Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?  People saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.  It is CHRIST MASS, not Winter Break!
 
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?    I still like the traditional colors of red and green

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?   The usual turkey, mashed potatoes w/gravy, sweet potatoes, or brisket, or ham, or whatever--especially if someone else is doing most of the cooking!    (Am I showing my age here?)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?   To spend quality time with my family, play games, relax, enjoy.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?    I hope all of you!

27. Who is least likely to respond to this?    It doesn't really matter 

GOD BLESS YOU!! And Merry Christmas.

Goodness! Such busy folks! I think my get up has already gotten up and gone -- far, far away...

Shopping will be completed with a visit to the bank. That way I KNOW it fits and the recipient will like the gift! 

As far as some of the questions, I too enjoy all the christmas carols, Mary Did You Know, and especially Handel's Messiah. Especially the Messiah (beginning to end).

As for a tree, I'm not decorating at all this year. The old decorations need to be refreshed after the move, and we're leaving Christmas Eve and will return that weekend. So, I'm sparing myself the effort to decorate and take it all down for the "elves" looking in from outside.

Foods will include ham and turkey, dressing, my potato salad (my daughter in law won't hear of a get together without it), green beans, cornbread dressing, jalapeno cornbread (a family favorite made by my daughter), and lotsa other goodies that I can't remember right now.

Y'all have a wonderful rest of the day. Congrats, Sarah! What an exciting Christmastime this is for you and your fiance.

Ruth Ann

Well Good Morning.  This has been a busy week with the staff Christmas party last night.  Only one person was not able to attend, even so we had a great time.  It was a pot luck, and as such there was a variety of different foods.

Unfortunately one of our customers passed away rather suddenly on Monday.  She had cancer, but we were unaware how far along it had progressed.

John's tests turned out well.  He will be around to harrass us for many more years.  I thank God for that.

Something interesting happened yesterday as we left the driveway.  I saw a little mouse running up the drive toward the garage.  Looks like it was staying away from the frigid temperatures by staying in the engine compartment of the van.  Silly mouse, he could have been trapped in the van and when shook loose he could have become the breakfast of some other bird or animal.

I have red all the posts.  I won't comment, except to say I am praying for each need.

Need to run God bless everyone today
JudyB

I hate to be a killjoy, I have done that quiz a couple of times already in my email so i won't do it this time.


Ruth Ann you favorite is the same as mine " Mary did you know?"

Ben to curves, time to get dressed and get a few things done before I go to my Tai Chi Class.

Hi everyone.  Just back from Friday men's coffee at the Senior Center.  We decided not to meet there for the next two weeks because of the holidays but will go to McDonalds for all that care to attend.

Following coffee my neighbor and I went to the church the walked a mile.  The mile goes quickly when you have someone to talk with while walking.

Don't have anything else on the schedule today except getting the final Christmas checks ready to mail off tomorrow to our son, DIL and granddaughter.  Yesterday evening I bought my Christmas and Birthday present present in a new set of fairly expensive headphones.  The good set I had developed a broken wire that really wasn't fixable as it was so thin.  These have pieces that can be replaced and apparently are used by a lot of professional musicians for their quality of sound and durability.  They are Sennheiser *HD280* HD-280 Stereo Headphone and I found a good buy on them on eBay.  I doubt that they will get here before Christmas but certainly before my birthday.  These fit over the ears rather than on the ears or in the ears and are light weight. 

I didn't do well on my weight in this morning as have gained a pound.  I guess the special dinner for our departing Interim Associate Pastor plus the big plate of spaghetti and Italian Sausage that we had for dinner last night plus a couple of small Christmas goodies did me in.  This is really a hard time of the year to be careful but will keep trying.

Janet, I am sure it will be a lift for the folks in the home where Beth lives to move into a new facility.  I agree the way they are assigning the rooms seems fair.  Glad your day at work wasn't too difficult.

Marilyn, interesting bit of history on the background of the Twelve Day of Christmas.  Symbols can have deeper meanings.

Judy, how many do you have on the staff of the store where you work?  Sounds like a nice luncheon.

Ruth Ann, I don't know that we are doing any decorating this year either unless it occurs after our daughter gets out here on the 23rd. 

Our daughter spent the entire day sitting in her powerchair yesterday as had a doctor's appointment early at the hospital and got her medicines refilled.  Then she went to the unemployment office to try to straighten out a matter.  It was after 5:30 last evening before she got home and said her sitter was numb and was still complaining about it this morning, although she said she was so tired that she slept like a baby last night. 

Larry there were 12, that includes teachers and the 2 ladies in charge of Victoria's Quilts.    I had real plats and cutlery for the dinner, it was much nicer that way as I really don't like the paper/plastic.

Victoria's Quilts is an organization that creates quilts for people with cancer.  They are donated and there is no charge to the recipient.  A quilt was given to our brother.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?    both

2. Real tree or Artificial?   artificial it is over 45 years old

3. When do you put up the tree?    Usually day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down?   Sometimes Christmas night

5. Do you like eggnog?  Yes!  Doesn't everyone?

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  A talking doll...she had a tiny record in her tummy that you wound up

7. Hardest person to buy for?   Any man

8. Easiest person to buy for?   Anyone that will take money or gift cars

9. Do you have a nativity scene?   Yes, several of them..kind of collect them

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?    Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?   Can't think of one right now

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  The Santa Clause

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?     I watch all year and listen all year for THE gift for some people

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?   I always buy myself a box of Chocolates

16. Lights on the tree?   Absolutely!

17. Favorite Christmas song?  None are favorites but 'Mary Did You Know' is becoming a favorite.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?   Used to travel...now go 70 steps east

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?   Of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?   Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?    Christmas Day now

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?  Buying gifts for the cost instead of the contents.  $10 gifts, etc. 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?    Fire Engine Red and Kelly Green

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?   The usual turkey, mashed potatoes w/gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, salad and lots of desserts

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?   Not expecting anything in particular.  The best gift is spending time with family.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Huh   I hope all of you!

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Huh   It doesn't really matter

GOD BLESS YOU!! And Merry Christmas.

I had a post all ready and closed it out by mistake...

Kitty and I had a great time yesterday.  Kitty was impressed with the restaurant and thinks the Fun Bunch, her classmates, would like to go there sometime.  We went to the book store and then to Bed, Bath and Beyond.  After that we went to Kitty's and opened our gifts to each other while drinking a mug of tea!  She showed me Katie's pictures in the basement of Katie in Disney World getting her hair done, make up, a princess dress, shoes and gloves.  She was Belle.  She will be three in March and wanted to know where Beast was!  So cute. 

It was dark when I came home and my drive was slick as could be.  So I turned the car around and stopped by the stepping stones where I put down salt and left the car out all night.  At 1:30am I looked out.  Everything was covered with ice.  I couldn't tell where my windshield and my hood stopped and started.  But at 8:30am when I got up it was 35 degrees and melted.  I went to Dollar General awhile ago and it was actually warm.  It is now 42 degrees. 

The other night I watched Christmas in Washinton 2008 on TNT.  'Straight No Chaser' was on there.  These are 10 men from Indiana University that were in college in 1996.  Here is a You Tube of how they got started again.  Straight No Chaser Reunited.  They sang '12 Days of Christmas' on C in W 2008.  They have their own website here.

Then I sent an email to my DIL about the guys and she sent it to her twin daughters.  She then found out that two of the guys (Mike Luginbill & Ryan Ahlwardt) went to high school with the girls and they sang in the choir with one of the girls.  Audrey even dated Mike!!!  So that meant that my g-niece sang with those two also.  Small world.  Really....I do want you to click on those links and listen to these men!  Now I have to find their Christmas Album!!! 

I got home around 5:30 yest. and what a trip it was!  I spent Tues., Wed., and Thurs. morning in Parksville visiting my friends.  There was quite a lot of snow in both places, Wendy wanted me to stay home, B. wanted me to come.....I didn't want to disappoint B. & C. so took the train.  Which was okay, SIL drove me to the train stop at 9 A.M. and arrived about 11.30 A.M.  B & I went on the Bethlehem walk, despite the cold and it was interesting and the church (Baptist) lovely.

The next morning it started snowing again and the temps. dropped even more.  We were supposed to attend a Choir concert at their clubhouse....snow stopped everything.  It was as if the sky opened and a year plus of snow, dropped on us.  They spent hours on Wed. clearing out the driveway to keep it open, also so their little dog could go outside.  Temp. kept dropping, snow kept falling.  We played Monopoly as lost cable, then power.  The next morning power finally came on again.  Fortunately they also have gas heat and stove.  Temps. were around -15 Cel. and around 16cm plus of snow.  some say almost 2 ft......officially 16 cm.  Around 1 ft. or more.

The road to the train was not plowed, so I wouldn't let them try driving me to another town, took the bus.  Had to forfeit the train fare, but rather that than have Charles get injured.  He is 80 and she is 75.  The bus was only 45 min. late...the train 1 1/2 hrs. late.  The Victoria bus waited for us in Nanaimo and that sure was a relief.  Got to Mill Bay and phoned for a cab.  Only had to wait about 20 min. and that was okay.  Wendy said I am not going anywhere until the weather is better....

It was lovely visiting with them and so nice to catch up on everyone we knew when young.  Loved hearing Charles's Texas drawl again and nice sense of humor.  Boy, we sure did need a sense of humor to cope with this weather, as it is not normally this way in the winter. I had some trouble with my old body, but went with pills, etc.  So things worked out okay.

This morning it read -18 Cel. on my therm. and with the wind, much colder.  Even Misty won't stay outside and is content to sleep in her chair.  She was miffed at me for being away, as have never left her since she came here.  Has once again decided to be nice.

Congratulations, Sarah.  Hope you keep us
updated about your wedding, etc.  Don't get too busy to visit the site, okay?

I will check out Etta Sue's links later.  Also try to answer all those questions.  Have just finished thawing and rewrapping the bunnie's waterbottles for Wendy.  They were frozen solid.  Ralph put lights on the trees in the garden so it would look lovely for her friends last night.  Glad I got home before they came and she was not all stressed.  Sure  looks like Christmas around here now....

I read all the posts and glad Beth is having some happy moments.  Prayed for everyone and glad that Judy B.'s John is okay.  Hope we all stay well this season and do love all the great graphics.  What country is Pat in at the moment??


Little blurb I read this morning:

Life is mostly froth and bubble;
Two things stand like stone:
KINDNESS in another's trouble,
COURAGE in your own.
–Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833–70)

                       

God Bless,

Liz

   I have been here doing the reading but not posting so perhaps I have become unknown.   Life in our home has been and is very interesting and all of this started around March so on goes the story.   

Sarah:  Congratulations goes for your up coming wedding. 

Janet:  I am sure that Beth is so looking forward to her new home as well as the visit when John arrives. 
   
            Does your mom live in the same home and will she also have the opportunity of selecting her new room.

             About the angel tree topper  our son had an issue at his place of work saying that being raised a Baptist  etc etc that it was the star that did the guiding and that an angel should not be placed at the top --- those that know our son can fill in a lot of blanks.  By the way the angel was not replaced with a star.

Now for my news - it was Dec. 12 2008 after driving School Bus for 38 1/2  that I decided it was time to retire.
On my last day of work the Tim Horton group had the usual before Christmas breakfast  and yes a big surprise my last 3 employers from Langdons came to bid me well.   

Now I have a all the time I need to get my work done      Ruth

Great Links Etta sue thanks for posting them. I enjoyed listening to the guys.

Ruth:  Bless your heart & soul for driving a school bus and now retiring!  What an achievement. 

Liz:  Nice that you felt good enough to get out - keep on making yourself go as I feel it is the best way to get through the bad days. 

Larry:  How do you like your Hyundai?  We have a Honda now and a Nissan - the one Nissan I had for 12 years so it has been good.  Now I feel bad about the auto companies but at the time they were not making dependable cars when we bought these.  I thought you were going to get Bose head phones?  Hi to Pat!  I hope she isn't doing too much.  I am going to make Hot Fudge Sauce for gifts and fudge too (will scrape & lick that pan).

JudyB:  Wonderful news about John's checkup. 

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?    both

2. Real tree or Artificial?   artificial it is about 15 years old

3. When do you put up the tree?    Usually day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down?   New Year's Day

5. Do you like eggnog?  A little. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child? 

7. Hardest person to buy for?   Don -

8. Easiest person to buy for?  Anyone who has very little.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?   Yes, I found it on sale at Sear's store before Christmas years ago.  The first one has been broken in a move.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?    Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?   The year my mother forgot my children - she was beginning to slide into dementia. 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  The Christmas Story;

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?     I watch all year and listen all year for THE gift for some people and I ask the parents for a list of what the grands would like for their presents.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?   Anything chocolate, peanut brittle but I am not making it this year - too much sugar & we can't stop eating it.

16. Lights on the tree?   Yes, multi-colored and all my ornaments are mainly made by the children and very old.

17. Favorite Christmas song?  Away in a Manger, Silent Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?  We will drive about 5 minutes to church service on Christmas Eve and have a lot of food and visiting with most of the family at one son's home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?  Dasher, Prance, Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid and Rudolph. (I had an uncle named Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?   Angel with a candle in her hand lighting the way.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?    Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?  People with phones in their ears not paying attention when they drive or walk & when they hog the aisle 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?   I like my little Swedish ones that I bought in Sweden, of course but my favorites are the ones made by the children.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?   Swedish meatballs and turkey.  This year, some of the girls decided we were spending too much time on food so they only want appetizers.  I can get used to anything.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?    The best gift is spending time with family. So true - I just get weepy thinking about it.

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Well, that is the end of those answers.  Not too  original from me - I have been cutting out Christmas themed fabric for a table runner that will match the tree skirt I made but since we are not going to be here, I will just bring that along when we go to Arizona to have something else to do. 

Here is a question for anyone who knits.  I need a simple pattern for a prayer shawl or do they use stoles as well?  Simple as I have started knitting again and could make some for a church that keeps a supply even though we don't go there.  It is a wonderful idea. 

We are not snowed in but there is snow & temp is dropping below zero again for several days. 

Pat:  Hello - are you snowed in?  I saw your note in SN & friends that you are back in CA. 

Carol, I just sent you a pattern by email.  Hope it is suitable.

Sorry I get here so seldom.  I just can't seem to get much accomplished anymore.  It is getting late and I am tired so I won't take the time to comment to posts right now.  Will say to Sarah, best wishes on your upcoming wedding and marriage.  Wish you much happiness!  Our gr-dtr Sara may be getting engaged Christmas, just a hunch.....

Etta Sue, I owe you some email replies!  Love the ones you send me.

Hello and greetings to all here.  Stay warm, OK?
~Janice

You guessed it.  Look at the time I posted this.  Woke up!  Couldn't go back to sleep! 

Thanks, Marilyn, for listening to the links I posted.  I think their music is so uplifting and the harmonies are outstanding.  Well, I have the 'Straight No Chaser' CD of 'Christmas Spirit'.  I probably listened to 4 hours of You Tubes of them and had to get to the store and get their CD. 

The Neighborhood Get Together was great.  About half the people were there and it was still a house full of people.  We each were to bring a snack or dessert so there was plenty to eat.  I have known the new neighbors that moved in across the road since '65 but haven't talked to them much since me moving back here or them moving to across the road.  It was nice talking to both of them.  They remodeled an old house that I used to practically live in when I was little.  When I got bored at  home, I went over there and visited with Ed and Lee and their old maid daughter, Frances.  My, that was 55 years ago!  Bet the house is a lot different now! 

Well, in a few hours, Ivalou and I are to be at church and our Sunday School class will be sorting all the Christmas Cards.  Then we will come back home and then go to our niece's home, Robin, for Kaye Don and Barb's kids Christmas.  This is where I will be taking the afghan that I started a couple of months ago for a Ladies Christmas gift. 

Then I am done until Christmas Day!

Good Morning. My goodness Etta Sue you were up early.  Almost 2AM my time.. I was awake about that time and couldn't get back to sleep but I didn't get out of bed, I wanted to stay where it was nice and cozy.

This morning at 9 Happy goes to the vet to see what can be done about the growth on the bottom of his foot. I think I will let Bebe ride along and while I am out I wills top at Safeway for some yogurt and K-mart for some coffee creamer. All our stores are on  a 2 mile strip called Central Avenue, makes it easy to go from store to store.

I also have to  clean house today, put things away off the kitchen table to make room for Keith and I to eat. He is coming down to spend Christmas with us.  His sons will be staying in Portland as their mother and grandpa are going there to have Christmas with them. The weather in Portland is so bad that the police will not let anyone drive without having chains on  the car. He will be bringing the cat with him again so I have the big dog crate still in the living room to put the litter box in and the cat when we go someplace.

Gilbert called me last night, we talked for an hour, which is unusual because he doesn't like to talk on the phone much. Savannah , my grand daughter, is 12½ now so she is going through the stage where her parents aren't very cool. Gilbert and Sarah went to her school to take some food for her class party and Savannah just cringed and  wanted them to chill out and leave. I remember those days when my parents weren't "cool" either.

My next door neighbor brought over a big candy cane for the dogs that has liver treats for them. She always has a Christmas gift for them.

Wow I haven't had this much to say in a long time.

Hi everyone.  Still overcast here but warm.  A couple of the guys at coffee this morning didn't even wear a jacket but I thought that was pushing things.  We have a meeting this morning and may go out to lunch with a group if anyone else is interested.  Then I have a quiet afternoon planned.

Carol, I had mentioned getting the Bose headphones but after doing some research I came upon the ones I ordered.  They are used by a lot of professional musicians and can easily have the cord replaced or the padded ear covers and the reviews on the sound quality were outstanding.  They were also about $50 less expensive than the Bose.  I had notice yesterday that they will be delivered by UPS on Tuesday so will have them before Christmas. 

Carol, I really like my Hyundai.  It is the Accent, which is the least expensive model but have had no problems whatsoever with it and it now has 44,000 plus.  I noticed they are now selling models with a 20 year, 200,000 warranty.  With this economy I would be concerned as to whether the warranty company will exist for 20 years.  I have a10 year extended warranty on the Accent.

Marilyn, it is great that you had such a long talk with your son. 

Etta Sue, I will have to check out the links you mentioned.  It sounds like you were wise to leave your car out so you didn't risk falling.  Glad things have melted.

Janice, nice to see you posting.

Ruth, congratulations on your retirement and I hope you enjoy every minute of it.  Isn't it nice to be able to do things when you are ready to do it and not be controlled by the clock so much.  I always want something to do but find I shorten up my day a bit by starting later and perhaps starting the evening a little earlier. 

Liz, it sounds like you had quite an adventure.  I am certainly glad that you didn't have to cancel your trip but understand your daughter worrying about you.  Hope your weather improves soon.

Judy, thanks for the information on the party. 

Well Guess what!!!!  I have my own computer.  AT HOME!!!!!

I have my grandson here, and it is nice to hear his 11yo chatter. 

We are attempting to get a deep clean done while we are all home.  I have sewing to get done, but the only place housework comes before sewing is in the dictionary, and my house today.  Did you know ihat if you have a wood burning stove, wheather an area heater or a furnace you build up creosote.  To combat that you throw in potato peels and cffee grounds!  That was news to me.

Well I will be back, I have 350 emails to download, and that is so slow.  So I am getting off here to give the net a chance to work without me slowing it down further. 

I have been scanning the photo links, and we are in need of more pictures to admire.  Anyone out there have any?  Perhaps of Christmas preparations? 

Have a good day folks
JudyB 

 

After the big storm of yesterday we went out today and finished the Christmas shopping no more stress and now I have the remaining time to get the final baking done, not very much really. Although the family will be spending Christmas Day here.

Tomorrow is the first day of winter and this evening another snow fall is on its way.   
Blessings Ruth

Hi Ruth...

Happy Retirement!  So, who came?  Did Gary, Geoff and Al?  How are they?

It's so nice to read all of your posts.

Doesn't seem like Christmas this year to me.  Life has been so hectic.  I have no decorations up except some lights on one tree outside by the garage.  And I don't think I'll bother.  I love Christmas and always look forward to decorating the house.

Sarah, congratulations!  Hope you let us know all about your wedding and show us some photos!

Talk to you all later,

Love

Pat