Happy New Year Dave, and I REALLY HOPE you are joking about the new baby vs the tractor cable!! Can't think of any words that could help you in that situation...LOL! Bill in CO

I missed out, to wish every one a Merry Christmas, due to the 5 day power outage. I 'd like to take this opportunity to wish all rose growers, photographers and enablers a Healthy, Happy New Year! and thank you for the joy you have given me, to view your lovely blooms. Ingrida (Inga007)

I come from a large family and Christmas has always been a struggle. I love the season but hate the gift giving. I think part of it was because my parents only gave gifts to the children - I never learned how to graciously receive a gift, how to just say thank you and smile. Someone gives me a home made nik-nak and I rush out and buy them a new car (just kidding). Anyway, the holidays are over, I made it out alive without spending a fortune. The coolest idea for celebrating the holidays was by a friend of mine years ago. He had recently moved to my state, all his family lived far away. He loved his new city and had no intentions of going anywhere for the holidays so he planned a huge dinner party. He cooked all the food, made all the decorations even made up simple invites and mailed them out a month in advance. His deal was - the party was his gift to his friends and family. If you can't make it for whatever reason, he understood but had no plans to do anything other than throw the party. I imagine he spent some money on the food and stuff but in the end he solved a lot of problems. It didn't come off as a "take it or leave it" kinda deal, more like a "I can't make everybody happy, so this is what I plan to do". I loved it.

Mine too, SILVA - just "me and my dawg"!!!!!!!!! It's a cold, dreary, rainy day here. Working on Jeannie's Crazy Quilt cloth inspired me to finish a Crazy Quilt vest I made three years ago and never finished. Hope to get it done today/tomorrow - there's still time to wear it this winter. Have a Merry Christas, what's left of it, and a great New Year, y'all.