Dec 9 FRIDAY

[Mayebarnes]

A very chilly good morning ... 20 degrees... yikes .. sweater day for sure...
Don't plan on going outside today!!. I hope.

We went to our local little town ,Saxonburg, yesterday.. stop at bank, Spent some time in Dollar General store.. basically picking out the gift bags for the Grands all-the-same-thing present.... and ordered the fresh oyster at the groc store.. tradition to have oyster stew on Christmas eve.. ( i only eat the stew ,not the oysters..)... I also make another pot of some kind of soup/chowder. for the non-oyster folks.. and was so glad to get back home..

IN the evening I went with Daug Karen and hubby to hear Bethanys's Christmas Choral concert... Which was the very best I have ever heard from that school!... they finally got the Music ac compliment toned down and we could hear the children!..the director used a digital type piano. off to her side. with no Microphone. beside it. the selections were great.. good evening .David chose to stay home. and that was a wise choice ..we stood around before and after ,chatting .( waiting on Bethany). did have blowing snow on the drive down to school.. I was glad I was not driving....

so today is a "house" day.. lick an promise sort.. since we will be baking Sat. and making cookies Sunday.. not fussing with house this week.

JoG. hope you are feeling Great today
Bethina.. and may your workday go Great too.
Elaine. I see your temperature is down in 20s... wow.
Donna, will chat with you later
Jostoy ,, remember to slow down...
Sharon, a retired husband is a pain in the butt for the first few months.. will drive you crazy... btdt.
Hi Barb, Nalani, Pat. SassyGirl. Darla, JoS., Punkin.
Good to see Karlinann with us.
Hi Paula.
I love our big FAMILY.

hope to see you here soon, Justy, Kellie, Kim. and even Cynders

[boffler]

Good Morning, a very cold one here also. I didn't go out yesterday but I sure need to today...I did get a few gifts wrapped yesterday, not much else...the worry over my kitty is getting to me, my nerves are shot, seems both of them are meowing all the time at me, the one that had surgery is still struggling to go to the bathroom, of course trying to get him to drink water and now to even eat is a constant struggle...he will probably end up having to have an iv of fluids again...

I guess I did get a little bit of shopping done on line yesterday, need to get more done today...also need to make calendars for 2017, I make them to hang on fridge, one for me and one for both sons with birthdays and such added on...not in a 'talkative' mood this morning so will bid you all a good day..

[Paula A]

Sharon, I am praying for both cats today! And please, take some time and whatever helps to relax and let go of the stress and worry. We all worry about you.
I had been telling my son everything you said about your tree and they ordered theirs from Balsam Hill! So thanks for the review!

[cookielady]

Good Morning! We've got a dusting of snow & it's still coming down. Sunday we are suppose to get hit hard. Up around Erie, PA on the Ohio/PA border on Rt 90 there was a HUGE 70 some vehicle pile up. It was awful. Been praying for all those involved and their families.

Yesterday was good. I FINALLY got the almond creams and thumbprint cookies iced. Got laundry caught up again. Went to the school around noon and helped in the Christmas Shop. The kids would come in with envelopes with names & budgeted amounts and we would help them shop for everyone. It was fun. The one class was first graders and several of them ask if I was Blaise's grandma...they remembered me! Had a nice chat with one of the other moms & here they don't live far from us and her 1st grade son is an only child also, so we exchanged names & numbers and plan to get the boys together. The last class got rescheduled, so we got to leave earlier than planned, so I stopped at DG and picked up a few more items. Finally remembered Becca's graduation card. Pretty generic, but at least they had something. Less than a week & she'll be all done. Brought all the gifts out of hiding and sorted them, so now I know where I stand. Ordered a pair of jeans for Cork from Amazon....he's so picky about them. I would have ordered 2 pr, but I want to make sure he'll wear this pair first.

Today I'm debating whether to just do paperwork which needs done, or to mix up some more cookie dough...LOL!!!! Maybe I can do both. Need to finish cleaning up the kitchen because I've got a new customer coming to pick up her order later this morning. I've got 298 doz cookies ordered so far. I'm excited! This evening we are going up to see Becca's CapStone (Senior) project presentation. My Mom is coming with us. We'll then go out for dinner afterwards before heading back home. I've got Aunt Maye's granddaughter Bethany babysitting for us.

((Sharon)) don't want to see you get sick over all this. Pat...let's hear about this new car. Details. ((JoG)) hope you are feeling more chipper today.

Have a good one all!

[bethina]

Good morning work yesterday was ok....Today is going to be an awesome day for me...Merry Christmas to my loves at the volunteer site and me! I took the day off of work and will spend almost the whole day with them....we are going to watch a Christmas movie..I have Christmas pictures to color if they want....we are having pizza brought in for lunch..a donation from my other volunteer group...and then this afternoon playing bingo with Christmas thememed prizes.

I finalized plans to go home to mom and dad's next week end...Christmas with my granny and who ever else shows up from my mom side of my family.....then I get to give my bestie her Christmas gift after church on Sunday...I am so excited!!!

[karlinann]

Good morning busy bees. It is that time of year. Chilly here too. I guess my blood has finally thinned out. It only took 3 yrs.

DH is volunteering for the 1st time today at the hospital. We have 2 area hospitals, but this one is closer to us. They will love him. I'm doing laundry and working intermittently on the 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle. Yes, we are addicted puzzle doers. A couple of months ago we did a 2000 piece. It was beautiful with antique toys. Loved it. This one is brand new and made in Germany. We get them at our library.

I just hate doing housework anymore. Wish I could wave a wand. Have a great day all.

[Paula A]

I didn't know some puzzles were from other countries! That is interesting!

[ladyebug]

Good Morning.

Yes, we finally hit below freezing. Fortunately, no precip, so the roads are OK. Nephew's helper came and removed all the hoses and winterized the outdoor faucets and also insulated a new water pipe in the attic.

We are sticking close to home. Waiting for our car to be repaired. They said 3 days. Today will be 5. Don't really need it, but want to get it over with.

Finally got the old computer moved to the bedroom, new one into the office, and that leaves me with some means of communicating in most of the rooms. LOL

Well, hope everyone has a good day. Sharon, hoping Rufus is on the mend soon.

[Paula A]

Thanks for the reminder, Elaine! Our temperatures are way down and I need to take care of the hoses. Of course, the pool guys use the one in the back yard sometimes.
I have been wondering how to protect the big pots of geraniums out front and the one with my begonias. Someone said a sheet over them? Maye, what do you think?
Today is the shelter meal. I cooked one ham yesterday and got it all sliced. the hams are all spiral cut already, but it makes things easier for the shelter volunteers who serve. I also made a Texas sheet cake and boy, did my house smell great last night! I will cook the second ham today and slice it just before I take it over...daycare willing! Yesterday two parents were much later than their normal pick up but that worked out ok, because neither child noticed since they were together and we were talking about their Christmas trees. One parent is a deputy and the other is a social worker and their work does run over once in awhile.
I better get going.
I hope you all stay warm and dry and out of harm's way when out and about. Becky is going to the doctor this morning. She has a spot that started as a bug bite (?) and is not looking good..one thing or another, right? And down to the wire on the last week of school and finals next week. Stress doesn't help anything heal!
Bless you all!

[karlinann]

Paula, when we have a frost here the whole neighborhood looks like a sheet factory. Yes, you can cover them with sheets. I use the big plastic sheets that you get free from Lowe's when you purchase plants. They are so you won't get your vehicle dirty.

[maxie]

Wind chill of 10 this morning...burr! But it is bright and sunny out. I stayed home yesterday and did some cleaning. Met the bus and took Andrew to Fazzoli's then home. Hockey game was early last night so snuggled in early. Jon came home in time to do Social Studies...wow. remember when 'because I said so' ended the conversation? No in this house! So they had a 'discussion' on studying for this test. That kid does nothing without a discussion! Do have some running today but only because I want to. Meat is ready for pickup but that will not be my job. The train is still not set up since they need yet another piece of track. How come the train ran fine with enough track last year but suddenly we need more now? I cannot set gifts under the tree until I know what room I will have and It is looking like not much. Next year I will be charge of setting up trains! 10 year old's and their fathers have to much imagination for simple track design! Nothing planned for today except whatever running I want to do but not until it warms a bit. Hope the kitty is better soon, Beth have a fun day, JoG praying for a fast recovery. Did I hear Pat got a new car? and Elaine a new computer? Early Christmases? Good morning to everyone..have a great one!! Need to dig out my WINTER STINKS porch mat since it looks like winter is here. How many days until Spring?

[sassygirl01]

Good afternoon..

What day..Did some shopping..Before it get cold tomorrow..It will be 19' with snow..

The people were out...

I thought was so neat..And easy to make...

[JoGee]

Good afternoon, people.
I'm slower at typing right now, so beware.
I've been so tired here in the hospital. So I'm getting blood infusions now. Couldn't believe the Doctor rd at a nconsology won't let the surgery doc's use it. We finally got progress....in an hour I'm getting injections in the port. They really ran out the it of room on my arms for needles & tubes.

Lots of interruptions all day long.
But I'm mostly just worn out now.
I'll try to post tomorrow.

[Lovey1]

JoGee - since I am new here I don't know what your health issues are, but it doesn't sound like any fun. It's never good to be in the hospital close to Christmas. I am feeling bad that I have been feeling sorry for myself because I am battling a bad upper respiratory (creeping crud) thing. I am so very tired of coughing and coughing, but at least I don't have your problems. I started on antibiotics, so hopeful that I'll be over this before Christmas. There's so many 'bugs' going around. In S E Illinois there's also a lot of stomach flu. Our whole family is going on vacation starting Christmas Day...wonder what the odds are that everyone will be healthy! Wishing everyone reading this good health. We never appreciate our health until we don't have it. Boff... I sure hope your cats get better. Doesn't sound like much fun at your house at the moment! BTW... 101 days until Spring!! Too many days for me, I always look forward to Spring sometime in October! LOL