Can you believe it's 48F here?And it's almost January? So odd,isn't it. Yesterday I was surveying what was happening in the gardens and whenever I smell that earth smell I just want to dig and plant! The weather feels like I should be taking the winter mulch off and start pruning back old growth-funny how these temps throw you off yet I know full well that frozen weather WILL come...it's just a matter of when. I'm so sorry for all of you who have lost pets suddenly. I don't do well when I lose a pet(childhood experiences)and I think that's why I don't have any-it hurts so much to say goodbye...this sounds terrible but the closest we have to a pet is AJ's new Robopet...it even pees with no residual fluid to clean up: ) Cynthia did Mikey actually have aquamarine eyes? In that pic they look very aqua-he was pretty. Chelone you don't think the kittys slipped Larry some of their stash,do you? Just kidding. Wow over 17 years seems to be unusual for a bird? I don't know the norms on birds. ((Jerri))-how rough things have been for you and now your Molly too! Remember we are here if you need us. Michelle & Eden-I just marvel at how grown up Kenzie and Bella are these days with their longer locks and sweet faces-hard to believe they aren't the tiny babies they were just a couple months ago-lol. Oh Norma-Wyatt did it too and looks much older: )I remember a chubby face and wisps of hair-what a handsome boy he is. T! That pic of the twins is adorable-I was wondering how many shots it took to get them to both look at the camera. I bet Jaimie had a great Christmas-he's at that perfect age for wonderment. Boy, I hope you(and all of us) can stay clear of the bug going around-that sounds horrible. This warm weather really seems to make stuff hang on. That laryngitis I had took forver to leave and I still cough up a lung or two in the mornings. The Dr. says these viral respiratory things are lasting up to three weeks long. Michelle & Prairie-I've waited 15yrs to get my Kitchenaid since we could never afford one. I've been using my mom's hand me down Sunbeam that at one time produced a puff of smoke and then went from a 12 speed to a 10 speed: ) I grew up with a KitchenAid and no other mixer worked as nicely. Prairie,at Christmas I like to make biscotti which I've been mixing by hand(that gets hard real quick when you double a large recipe). I also want to make bread-something I used to do before I had kids.(We'll all be getting fat here). I also like to make whipped potatoes with the mixer...and a zillion other things.COOKIES: ) Kathy-I loved hearing your story of your mantel mirror-that really is a special piece. How sad your DH was very young to have passed away when he did. It must have been so hard for you. Oh your roses are stunning! I always admire others who can grow roses-I have way too much shade. VERY nice pics here of all the pets, bday cards and celebrations. Norma tell me about the card you posted-that's Chihuly glass,right? I love that. Eileen-since I am short on time I will just link you to some info about Canaan firs. I will say that this tree isn't highly fragrant but for us that's good because AJ and I are especially allergic to a more fragrant tree-I don't know why the scent affects us but certain trees are worse than others. A fresh cut Canaan holds it's needles nicely and isn't painfully prickley(say that three times fast). I think you asked if Canaan was related to the Douglas-fir...I read somewhere that Douglas-fir isn't actually a fir at all but a false tsuga. Anyway our tree was just 30.00-much cheaper than a Douglas. If I didn't have deer here I would really like to grow a Canaan. 'Bug-good luck & have fun with your visitors-we'll wait for pics. Deanne-lol I must confess those are not my lisianthus. I think that lisianthus enjoy the cooler weather-hot sun might not be what they like-I did have some as annuals but they were planted late summer(did nothing)and looked their best in mid september. I do want to try them again. The flowers in Monique's card are from the Chicago Botanical garden during IU3! It was really cool-this weekend's newspaper included a shot of CBG's walled English garden-so neat that I can say I was there with my idyll friends. I have to seize the day~ ~Babs

Deb--I am so terribly sorry--I am having an awful time right now--might lose my job and my home--I asked my son in law to mail your pkg--he got home last night from a business trip and it is still in his back seat!!!! It will go out today-Thanks to all saying a prayer for me--I am taking a big chance being on this computer now--but felt I needed to let you know--my pkg from you did arrive and it is wonderful!!!Please post the pic for all to see--it was the only bright spot in my day-- Jeanette

Hi Faron, Today's story was on the front page of the paper as well as the front page of the sports section. All-American wide receiver Ryan Spadola has been suspended for forwarding a tweet from a high school friend that included a racial slur. Regarding the suspension for the tweet, Coach Andy Coen said in a statement: "When he re-used the words, he made them his." He was 98 yards away from setting the FCS single season record for receiving yards. He is thought to have the ability to make the NFL. He is also a regional academic honoree & a member of the Patriot League's All American team. The reporter writes that Spadola wouldn't survive on LU's racially-diverse squad if he was really a racist and that he got caught up in the pregame smack talk. Spadola's apology statement: "At the time I received and forwarded the tweet, I didn't stop to think about how this could be offensive." The articles point out it's a struggle to find the right balance between not restricting a player's freedom of speech while also enforcing a proper code of conduct. What a mess and what a painful learning experience for the whole team. He will not be flying out today with the rest of the team. Rest up today, after your leg surgery, so you're in good form for climbing the bleachers at tomorrow's game. Jean

I think I'm about baked out too for now. I had to get the box to New Orleans in the mail yesterday so during the week I made Ann T's Chocolate Chip Shortbreads, the four different times I baked them they all came out good. Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pudding cookies, one pan of those I overcooked and they're pretty stiff, but edible, saved those for us/me. Made the ricotta cookies by hand after my non stand mixer crapped out and they came out tough. I find I have to make at least a double batch of cookies to use my stand mixer. Last week I had made some oatmeal cookie dough so I baked some off for the kids[N.O.]. I made some of the dough for the cutouts/press cookies posted by Lori I believe it was.. mind is gone tonight. I was planning to use my cookie press and somehow both of the tubes were cracked and therefore the press was unusable. I didn't have the energy by then to cut out cookies so I made some into a linzer type cookie with raspberry jam. I just pushed the dough out of the tubes with the ratchet and the end off and cut off slices. One down on pan, then one I cut hole in with a decorating tip. Just liked you'd do for any linzer cookie. Worked out well and since I had both tubes filled, it was for sure the easiest fix. The crew in New Orleans also always gets a pecan pie which I forgot until about ten Thursday night, so, had to whip up some crust and get that baked off. I cook them pretty well done when I mail them but this got a little extra well done. I'm sure it will still taste good. Since I had enough crust for two pies I just put that crust into a foil pan and froze it. We also made fudge for the family down there. It's Christy's tradition and these days it's her that makes it. I did some of the heavy beating. Today I still had some doughs in the fridge for the Chocolate Chip Shortbreads and the sugar dough so I made those up to have around here. I froze the rest of the Pudding Chocolate Chip dough so we can have fresh cookies at Christmas. Froze some of the cutout dough too. Think I'll try some as Kolacky with it. Since I had that frozen pie crust in the freezer.... we had a couple of Jonagolds that needed to be used so I had the nerve to make a apple crumb pie. We were both so exhausted that we didn't even cut the pie tonight. LOL..