Bowie is a very good boy!!! Good for you, Maryott's will make anyone feel like it's Christmas. Ooooh! Look at the daffodils! You really got your money's worth there. I love looking at pictures with your lake. It is so pretty. What a view. Yes indeed, cats will most assuredly dig in your garden. I had totally solved it, but DH was insistent it was too dangerous. (a few small boards with screws through it, lay them with screw side up. I had to admit it would be me, not the grandkids who would go helter-skelter through the beds and step on them, but they surely did work well. Slate, huh? I'll try it, thanks. kay

Merry Christmas Everyone!! Suzanne, I am glad that you got a chance to spend some time with your sister on her birthday. I love sitting in the quiet by candlelight too. something almost magical.. I just got contacts too! Maddie, I laughed so hard re those cookies. Sounds like something that would happen to me! I like Bj's suggestion about making a layered dish with them and vanilla pudding. What a clever idea! Relax and enjoy the bourbon.LOL Bj, I am not sure that I would have had as much patience if I had all that extra work sprung on me at what is always a very busy time. I would have helped you too, if I were there. In fact we could all have had a party! DeeMarie, the Good Carb Cookbook you sent is WONDERFUL!! I will be using it to plan my meals starting Monday. Thank you so much! Your Christmas party sounds like a lot of fun. I am making a large seafood platter for tomorrow as well: Jumbo shrimp, King Crab legs, scallops, crab salad served in a huge clam shell with bruschetta on baguette. I hope all is well with your DH and his kidney stones. No counting calories till Monday so don't worry about your MD appointment. Marci, I have been licking my fingers for 2 days! LOL How many cookies do you think we consume just licking those fingers, hmm? Raeanne, I am making bread today too. My kids got me a bread maker for my birthday and I am eager to try it out. I'll be thinking about you. I hope your package comes today... Enjoy the time with your DDs. Lynn, I like your positive attitude about that job! Life IS too short to be miserable. Better things are ahead for you I am sure (especially w/ such a great attitude) Patti, I can't believe that family won't climb over hill and dale to spend the holidays with you and Dave! I wish you were here to spend the day with us. We are going to church this evening as well and then on to look at some lights. Big hugs to Dave! Well, I am finishing the baking ( bread and cheesecake )and the wrapping. Almost done! I got DS tickets to see a concert up in San Francisco this March. He's never been there and I look forward to showing him around.These were very hard to get tix and he has no idea! I told his friend and he said "You are the COOLEST Mom!" Ha HA! I feel vindicated! After 2 weeks w/ no prednisone and a 5 day juice fast, I checked in at the Doc and am down 7 lbs!! I feel better than I have in a year. Wishing all of you, my friends, a wonderful and memorable Christmas ! Tikanas

What a beautiful Christmas greeting Anne!!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!!!!! And yes,,,,Miss Scarlet Sky IS on my Wish List! Rosie

My brother and I used to call them pixies. One year my brother developed a rash, right around the time he was playing with one of the pixies my grandmother had. Naturally we assumed he was allergic to pixies and my mom threw out the ones she had-more likely it was from the spray snow on the tree -you know that kind of stuff was pretty noxious back in the 60's and 70's!