Well we only got about four inches yesterday...I'm surprised because it was falling hard all day and I thought sure we'd have a foot by the end of the day. Now they say it all depends on how the front gets to us whether we'll have just 4-7 inches or 18-24 inches. Tiffy, I'm with you. I'm so glad to see snow and I wouldn't mind at all if it stayed until March. I finally realized how good it is for plants here to have that snow cover/insulation-- and I didn't get to mulch this year either. There's a lot of people on wells around here (and a lot of farmers). Season-long snow is good prep for the growing season and full wells. (Plus...the temps are always relatively warmer when we have snow...to have it dry means the temps are really really cold!!) --And after last February, none of this weather we're getting in my area seems like much at all. Linda

Cena, Jasmine was a real beauty! I'm sorry to hear you've lost her. They become such a huge part of our lives. My sister, whose also a cat lover, has had a hard time with getting cats who end up with feline leukemia, which means she's ended up losing a few at a pretty young age. I get so attached so fast, it would just break my heart. At least when they're older, you know they had a long, good life... Not that it really makes it easier. I lost my two before Samantha at 17, so about the time she turned 15 or 16, I started to prepare myself mentally for "the dreaded day." Well, I was lucky to have her a few more years, and one day, she woke up from a nap, acted weird for a few minutes and I realized she was suddenly blind. I'm sure she'd had a stroke as she couldn't walk quite right and was running into things. Of course, when I took her to the vet, I knew what had to be done, and he just HAD to suggest some tests. I told him, "You know, it seems obvious to me that I shouldn't put my very dear and very OLD friend through a battery of tests when I know in my heart that it's the end of her life..." I know they probably have to suggest it, but wouldn't you think that they'd have a little more compassion for putting the equivilent of a 96-year-old human through invasive tests... As for the reference to "cow kitties," that's how a lot of people refer to white cats with black spots. The lady who has the momma kitty to mine called them "cow kitties", but in my book, they aren't as "cow" as my male cat, Baby, who I had from 1977 to 1994. His spots were more random and roundish, dark black. I'll have to dig out an old photo and scan it to post a pic. He was the most photogenic cat I think I've ever seen! To me, he was a REAL cow kitty! Denise in Omaha

Luvs, thank you! I like the little leprechauns too. When you push on their bellies, "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" plays. Where are the pics of the "few things" you have set out? Would love to see them! Jamie, thanks! Yes, the edible decorations are a hit especially when I do a version of this table at work in the staff room. Prosperity, thanks for your comments. Everyone can play at being Irish today - just wear something green and get in the spirit of it. Do you have "green" beer over there on this day? Mo, I appreciate your compliments. It is fun to do some St. Pat's Day decorating but it is true, the items are not so easy to find as for other holidays. Jane, thank you. Doing a vignette on the coffee table is a simple way to add a little bit of the holiday to the room and I'm all for "simple"! DD

In my family, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States the Thanksgiving meal always included: A big plate of crudites with onion dip. a crystal platter with black olives, enough for every child to slide a big black olive over each of her fingers. a big roast Turkey, when Grandma was alive it would be a 24 pound bird. with stuffing made with toasted bread cubes, onions, celery and sage and other herbs and chicken broth. gravy made with giblets. Mashed white potatoes made with butter and cream. Sweet potato sliced and baked with lots of butter and with small marshmallows baked on top. Cranberry sauce. One puts this on the turkey. I saw a movie set in England where someone very kindly tried to reproduce a Thanksgiving meal for his American wife and he served raspberry jam with the turkey. a heartfelt sentiment which is more important than food. If I were in England and couldn't find cranberries I'd look for lingonbery jam, for they are a bit closer to cranberries in taste, though the berries are smaller. Brussels Sprouts Rolls or biscuits and butter. and for dessert pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. Now that I've lived in California for 30 years I've seen many Thanksgivings that had all of the above foods but also had in addition to pumpkin pie, a very rich pie made of pecans. Most of , no- all of the African Americans I've known always have sweet potato pie in lieu of pumpkin pie and in my opinion it is a far superior pie. Nowadays we usually start with a big salad often a Caesar salad as it is simple and the rest of the food is so rich. I love Thanksgiving, it is such a heartwarming holiday with none of the commercial stress of Christmas when one is rushing around trying to find a parking space and then the right gift for every one. Although it takes a large effort to cook a large Thanksgiving meal. I often feel closer to God on Thanksgiving for God is Love, and love is a familiar feeling on that day along with gratitude. Most Thanksgivings I've been at have always had one or two persons who were invited at the last minute when someone found out they had no family locally to go to . I have been that person myself several times when new to an area. Thanks for asking, Lux.