T7 yea,I still have it-on the porch right now,you just reminded me I want ot sink it like I did last year(-: Greg My Brugs fragrance at night last year were heavenly,these have not bloomed yet,they just grow,grow,grow right now! Hey thanks Ken I thought I would give up last winter/spring when I saw the damage but what else would you do but expand! Enjoyed your yard shots too,new palm looks beautiful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NHSuzanne! YAY! It's your birthday! I hope that your family finds a way to make it very, very special for you! We love you here and are glad to hear your stories, detailing your outings on your baby, Sweet Pea. Hope you have some time today to spend doing something for YOURSELF, since your recent time has been so devoted to your DH. Cheers to you, sis! Have a great b-day! It's been quite a year! Marci~ Thanks for the cool picture! Very appropriate! Brekky: 1/2 bagel (but I'm going hunting for Marci's brand Monday!) 16 oz latte, n/f milk, s/f vanilla Snack:: Bag of pretzels: 220 cals Coffee w/ cream Late lunch at 3:30 (service went long): Lots of roasted veggies and a tiny piece of roast pork left over from the other night Dinner: (went to a housewarming party) About 6 rice crackers with homemade hummus - delish! Small square of phyllo-covered spinach something 3 sausages (small cocktail type - "Danger!") Lots of cucumber slices Dessert: The icing off of a 2" serving of chocolate cake Some red grapes Water, water, water, water! (Lots of wine flowing at this party, but I did not go there-stuck with spending my calories on food instead of wine and this morning, I'm glad I did that!) Going out to brekky with my family, then I hope to finish laundry and scoop my house into order! Also, my teen kids babysat twin boys all night for the house-warming couple and I hear them stirring, so before brekky, I have to return the boys to their parents! So fun having boys in the house tho'! Maddie~ (((((LOVE AND HUGS!))))))) Special thoughts going out to you and your kitty today---and every day. And tell Rog to GO SUCK A LEMON! Raeanne: I resorted to printing a cute photo I had of the housewarming couple and framing it, then wrapped it in a ribbon and DH brought along a bottle of Berritage wine for them. I love your idea of a Feng Shui basket, but you're right, it takes a certain kind of person! That would be a great idea for the holiday exchange HERE though---something with a Feng Shui twist! DeeMarie~ Miss you, love you, can't wait till you're back! And I'm never giving up---! Tikanas~Hope your finger is healing nicely. Be careful out there! Everyone have a RELAXING Sunday! Mind your menus!

NHSuzanne - Those pictures are postcard perfect. What a beautiful sky. I may make those mugs for my college age nieces. Thanks for posting. Raeanne and Patti - The 3 of us should just exchange among ourselves. Patti, I don't have an ornament from you, so maybe you could send to me. I'll send to Raeanne an Raeanne can send to you. How does that sound? My job is sucking the life right out of me, but I have managed to get in the Christmas spirit this week. I am working on Holiday recipe boxes for all the cooks in my family. I found a great site called Shabby Princess with a free download for Christmas recipe cards. I spent most of yesterday (after attending a beautiful Christmas wedding) typing the recipes. Now I need to upload the recipes to Costco, print out the Recipe boxes and put them all together. I posted a link below for anyone who is interested. My house is decorated and most of my shopping is done. I just have some on-line shopping to do for my DS and figure out what DH wants. I bought myself my Christmas present yesterday......a Kitchen Aid mixer. I was using my parent's old mixer, which was a wedding present, 61 years ago. Let's just say it was time to upgrade. LOL I also bought a new lens for my Nikon SLR. DH will be retiring next summer and who knows what the money situation will be, so I treated myself while I still could. I will try to post more often. I have been going into work early, working thru lunch, staying late and bringing work home. Like I said, it is sucking the life out of me. I already wrote my letter of resignation and will turn it in in February. I am ready to quit today, but I know that isn't the right thing for the kids, so I will tough it out until May. Then I can decide what I want to do for the next 2 years until I can retire for good. Who knows, maybe I will find a job that I love and I won't want to retire at all! LOL Later, Marci Here is a link that might be useful: Holiday Recipe Cards

Thanks for the hugs - I feel them and truly appreciate them. Suzanne, you are so right about a whole year of firsts. Raeanne, I appreciate all of the leaning you have let me do so far -- ((many many hugs)) to all of you my sisters. Patti - holding good thoughts for your DMIL. Besh - WTG on that 2nd interview - keeping fingers crossed. They would be very lucky to get you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY -- celebrate and enjoy to the fullest! ((Milkdud)) glad your NY is shaping up better than your Christmas. BJ - I know nothing about a juicer, sorry...like Raeanne I only get juiced (I like that one Raeanne)! Hello, hugs and thanks to all I missed - has anyone heard anything about Maddie's mom? I've been thinking about her. Working 1/2 day tomorrow - office is officially closed but like you guys I love it when I'm alone (or just a couple of us there) and I can really get stuff done without constant interruption. Finally - Whencit - welcome! I am 50 years old, single and live in NJ (near Atlantic City) with 2 very spoiled dogs. I am fortunate to have great friends (many of them right here). Most of my family lives close by. I love warm weather but enjoy the beach any time of the year. I enjoy traveling, cooking, reading and, hope to enjoy exercising in the very near future (that one might take some work but I will persevere). I hope you stick around and join us - we would love to get to know you! My NY resolution - I never make them cause I never keep them but the emotional roller coaster 2007 was for me showed me I need to prioritize and set personal goals -- they are to get back in shape, travel more often and just enjoy life..anything else good that comes along after that is just icing on the cake. I will seriously try not to sweat the small stuff (or at least not as much as I do now)! I didn't notice the date on the thread either :-) Take care - be good and will talk later.... Donna