Thanks - I hope others post pics of their Christmas cheer so we can all smile :>) Mehitabel the only smell from Percy smells like parafin to my husband and me. Not offensive but it doesn't have the beautiful smell of the Bob Betts or Chia Lin. I hope everyone gets an orchid gift and not a lump of coal in their stocking. Brooke

Merry Christmas to all of you! Thanks for a wonderful year of sharing. I look forward to a new year of new bfs and wonderful experiences and sharing times. Sandy

After reading all of your posts here tonight, I wish I had more time to spend with all of you on here. I loved reading each post and loved seeing the picture of DD with DDad and DIL, Karen. Your all so Special and it's hard knowing your going through tough times. I will head to bed with all of you in my heart and keep all of you in my prayers. Here's a poem for all of you. Why GOD Gave Us Friends GOD knew that everyone needs Companionship and cheer, He knew that people need someone Whose thoughts are always near. He knew they need someone kind To lend a helping hand. Someone to gladly take the time To care and understand. GOD knew that we all need someone To share each happy day, To be a source of courage When troubles come our way. Someone to be true to us, Whether near or far apart. Someone whose love we'll always Hold and treasure in our hearts. That's Why GOD Gave Us Friends! Take Care My Dear Friends, Punk

Belated Merry Christmas to all. Especially to Triciae, who was on my mind a lot this holiday and will be during future holidays. Dear Wonder Woman, I hope you are doing well, where ever you are. Thank you for showing me what courage and strength and kindness are. We drove down to the Bay Area for the holidays. Christmas Eve we had dinner with our good friends in Berkeley, raw oysters with mignonette, cracked crab, and the traditional Buche de Noel. Last night we had dinner with other good friends in Richmond, tenderloin, mashed potatoes and a warm cauliflower-brussel sprout salad. I made half of the tenderloin, cut pieces 1" thick and tied them into rounds, pan cooked, with a sauce of reduced white balsamic vinegar, Muscat wine, shallots and garlic, butter, sauteed mushroom stems, blended smooth, then simmered over whole mushroom caps. No recipe, just made it up. Our hostess roasted the rest of the tenderloin with a red wine and shallot reduction. We were supervised by a friend who is a head chef at a large hotel and, for the first time in many years, didn't have to work on Christmas day, but was nonetheless pressed into service which he did with good humour. I've been negotiating a stressful matter at work for the past few weeks. As of Dec 24, we were uncertain whether our little business unit would be shut down and I had prepared myself to be jobless come Jan 1st. That all got resolved satisfactorily at noon on Christmas Eve, final document review pending, so for the first time in a month, I was able to relax and unclench. It was nice.