Well, its 43 and sunny here in New Jersey and the little bit of white stuff that came down last night got washed away by the rain and now even the rain is drying up.

Stacie, can you take the girls to some McDonalds or Burger King indoor playground to burn off some energy - a Jr. Whopper and fries and some chicken nuggets with hot chocolate sounds good on a cold day doesn't it :)

I'm baking oatmeal cookies today which is Ken's favorite and that's the end of my plans for today and the whole weekend! I guess we're on the lazy track right now, Ken is recuperating from a nasty cold and we've been hanging low this week, but that's okay, sometimes I feel we're so busy that I really appreciate the down time. I did go up to check on my 87 y/o parents one day as I always do, they love it when I arrive loaded down with food for their freezer :) Always makes me remember the times over the years that I left my mom's house loaded with leftovers and now I'm doing the same for them.

I'll be clinking tonight to my forum buddies and TGIF everybody!

We dropped to -20 something during the night with today's high predicted at -10 to -5 below. Add a wind chill on top of that . . . brrrrrrr, it's a good "oven day" in northern MN today :)

Stacie, a pot of soup and crusty bread is on the menu here this weekend.

Woodie, oatmeal cookies sound really good this morning. I'd like onr right now.

The temps are already falling and they are predicting my area will get a foot of snow, mostly lake effect off Lake Michigan... It's a hunker down weekend here. I have movies to watch and a full pantry. I got new 'sweats' for Christmas but it's been too warm to wear them...until now.

TGIF!!! **Clink** around 5 tonight.

Nancy

Yep, Stacie, laps around the gym floor sounds like the perfect remedy for the kids. Winter stinks when they have to be cooped up. And it's only going to get worse...brrrr.

Woodie, I actually thought about making oatmeal cookies too! I didn't DO it, but I THOUGHT about it. LOL I'm letting the kids have some friends over for the PATRIOTS game Sunday. Maybe I'll make some then. Your parents must love when you arrive with all those goodies. They are lucky to have you. :)

Pixistix, those temps are criminal!

Looking forward to a three-day weekend here (maybe even four). Another basketball tourney and another track meet. The game will be Sunday and I'm excited for the kids to have their friends over and just be teenage boys (remind me I said that when I'm pulling my hair out Sunday! LOL)

We're about a day behind in the real cold weather. It's supposed to start here tomorrow night, through early next week. I so dislike winter, it's not even funny. Only 9 weeks until spring is officially here. It sounded better than it does actually seeing it in print.

TGIF and a clink around 10 tonight. Be safe.

Here is a link that might be useful: For all the Patriots fans :)

Well thank goodness you're around for "little brother" Stacie-- and heck don't complain about the state of the house, it's a Home & suppose to
be lived in-- just think how empty it would be if those 3 precious weren't messing it up !

Hope Ken feels better soon, Woodie.

That's what's predicted for us for the weekend Pixie--- at least with the white stuff on the ground it's pretty out there.

We've got absolutely no plans for the weekend but I'm trying to talk Hubby into cleaning out the back walk in closet--- old hunting clothes, a zillion novelty t-shirts and "baseball" hats,
sweatshirts-- sweaters etc we'll probably never wear again-- dresses & outfits I haven't worn in years. Yep-- definitely needs hoeing out & he goes back to work Monday so if he wants any say in what gets tossed he better help!

I'm sitting here with my green tea chai-- watching robins peck along under my bird feeders-- robins !! geeze strange weather.

Have a safe weekend everyone-- stay warm !

Diane

Hey all. Glad I'm not sitting in that cold weather -- yet. It's due to arrive here on Sunday but only for a couple days. Our weather is like Woodie's. We had snow and rain last night but today is bright and sunny.

The trip home from work was a nightmare last night. I left here at 4:45 and walked in the door at 7:05. Total gridlock due to the weather. Everyone in the office is telling their adventures getting home. Thank goodness I'd used the bathroom before I left!!

My plans for the weekend are to make some Creamy Chicken Rice soup for my son who has a sore throat. I was sick with a cold all week (better now)and I know it's nice to be babied. Those oatmeal cookies sound tempting, too.

I have to straighten out the Christmas decorations and put them back on the shelves. I just kind of threw it all in the basement.

Satcey, I remember being housebound with two little boys in bad weather. They were like indoor tornadoes. I would finally just toss them out. I could put up with most anything except when they would fight with each other. Grrr.

Pixi -- my TiVo is set for Saturday afternoon to tape the Challenge, so I am still looking forward to seeing you.

Nancy, enjoy cuddling up in those sweats.

Lori -- what do you think about that girl being booed by the Colts fans? How mean was that? I saw her on the news and she seemed fine with it -- she was funny. So she gets to participate in the coin flip at the Pats Game now? I'll watch for her. Happy to see you here and glad to know you be enjoying a bit of the normal chaos this weekend. Sounds good.

Diane -- those dumb robins. Don't they know they can fly south? I do think we are seeing global warming. Worries me, for future generations.

I'll be checking on my 90 y.o. mom, as always. Half the time when I go over there she is out doing something else.

Have a good one, everyone.

Pam

Not too cold here YET! 42 this morning! Woodie, I wish we would get some snow already and not all the rain.

Stacy, the gym sounds like a good idea. If the sun is shining and it is not below freezing - I bundle the kids up and take them out - as much for me as them. We do the McDonald's playdates, too. I am starting Andrew in gymnastics this week.

Woodie - I love it when we have no plans!
Pixi - no way can I complain about temps here after visiting MN one year in winter!
Nancy - I haven't seen a GOOD movie in a while.
Lori - Go Pats! ...but gotta root for my Giants, too! I went to a Patriots game years ago! Boy, did I get lost - there are two foxboros/foxboroughs ya know! LOL - or not like I said I was lost! Froze my tush off and had a great time! You have a busy weekend.

Tomorrow blind shopping for my bedroom - have no clue what I want. I like silhouettes and the shangri la ones but with that type your blinds are either open or closed. I like being able to just let some light in...I have wood in other rooms of the house but wanted something softer for my room - don't know...

Sunday, my sister is having a dinner for my niece's 16th b'day. Can't believe it! ...we will also be watching the Giant's game.

Maggie, I hate dressing windows. I never seem to get it right. And it's always so expensive it seems.

Pam. that's so nice that your mom does so well - wow 90!!!

Diane, we barely have a dusting - but the wind is blowing fiercely while the sun shines brightly.

Lori - you and Will - both have spring fever. He said this morning that he wants to ride his bike...hope your weekend is good.

Nancy, sounds like a nice cozy weekend.

Pixi - holy cow - that's COLD!!!

yeah Woodie - oatmeal cookies do sound good - I hope Ken can taste em...

Stacie, your brother is lucky to have you. Good to know that Aiden is doing well.

Will has a b'day party Sunday - but not too much on the agenda!

We'll go visit my mom after school today - haven't been too much as I did something nasty to my ankle painting Will's bedroom 2 weeks ago...still hurts to do much walking - and you have to park like a mile away to get into the nursing home...

I'm looking forward to having my buddy home Monday - the two of us have plans to play video games all day. Watch, he'll get a better invitation and I'll get dumped.

We may drive over to State Park to check the cabin out that we rented for the summer. We drove over last weekend and picked one out but it wasn't available when we went to book online - not sure what this one is like.

When we went, we stopped and saw a huge bald eagle sitting in a tree - it was gorgeous. And I didn't have my camera.

Have a good one everyone.

Stacy

I'm working again. After the stress of this week the weekend has got to be good... famous last words perhaps. Been stressful enough that I've sat here between sentences long enough for my coffee to go cold. Just stress mostly... nothing horrible. I'll deal with it and get paid for doing so.

Looking for seven degree tomorrow. It will be about 75 inside the shop.

Alas... gotta be in early so I'm running late already. Hope the Pats win one for Lori!

: )
lyra

Hi all! Hey Lori, you playing hooky today? I hope you are!

Lyra, I hope you are able to retire from that stressful job soon. Maybe you need to play some hooky too.

Nyah-nyah - I'm in Florida soaking up 83 degrees of beautiful weather. Visiting the in-laws. They got a new computer and new high-speed internet hookup, whoo-hoo! I'll be heading out to Publix in a few minutes with MIL to pick up stuff for tonight's dinner.

I'm fixing to get some beach time in while I'm here. Florida beaches are much nicer than our Cali beaches, with softer, whiter, cleaner sand and warmer, cleaner water. I picked up some cute flip flops for $6 at CVS and I'm planning on wearing them the whole time.
Ahhhh!!!

TGIF and clinking to everyone soon!

Hi guys , I'm on dial up and it ties up the phone l;ine here at the cottage so just a quick note to say Happy Weekend.

We have a ton of snow falling and I am expecting weekend guests....sure hope thye have all whell drive! Better call them and warn them!

Lori, OK, I 'll cheer for the damn Pats......LOL

I'm about to grab my water bottle, bundle up and head into Denver for the rest of the day at my biz. It's cold here too.

Lori, it's nice to see you here again. Take the kids and run around the gym WITH them. Hot cookies and the game sound like a perfect combo.

Pam, boy do I know what it's like to drive in bad weather - stay safe and warm and don't get sick again.

Michael/Lyra sounds like you need a break.

Chase, have a wonderful time with your guests - sounds like a cozy, nice weekend.

GINA, don't you know it's really cheating to go from CA to FL in January AND remember that new flip flops and a beach vacation require posting a foot shot on the forum.

Everyone else, have a great weekend, I'll be clinking with you tonight.

Lee

BBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..... (+2F, with windchill feels like -16F) 'nuff said!

I have a bridal shower to go to on Saturday, and I think my kid needs help moving a couch on Sunday. Other than that, the only plan is to keep the fire burning and staying as warm as possible. Looks like this deep freeze is gonna be here a while!

Happy weekend, I think some wine will warm me up nicely!

Linda

Well, it's not SO cold here, about 18F, a high of 12F for tomorrow and Sunday, lows below zero. Snow today, tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, LOL, welcome to Michigan! Good thing I love it. (grin)

Woodie, I might bake some oatmeal cookies myself and take some to Dad. Yes, I take leftovers to Amanda and to Dad, LOL.

Stacie, hug that new baby for me. At least your brother can call you!

Pixiestix, you're colder than we are. Better bake something. Work on your next contest, or something....

Nancy, put on those sweats. Mine are Carhartts, nice and warm. Fashionable for Michigan too, LOL.

Lori, I'll cheer for the Patriots, just for you. So, how much stuff do you have to cook to feed all those boys?

Michael, you need a break, you're starting to sound a bit strained. Take care of yourself, will you?

Diane, robins? Maybe they can wear some of those old sweaters. (grin)

Pam, let's not talk about Christmas decorations, OK? I finally got the lights off the front porch and just realized this morning that I still have a Santa doormat in front of the door. Sigh. I'll be finding stuff until Easter.

Maggie, better you than me on those blinds. I completely lack the decorator gene, I just paint everything white!

Stacy, that's a good idea, check out camping cabins and think about summer. I love seeing those eagles, we have a pair that nest near the farm but they're elusive.

Gina, Florida has better beaches? So I don't need to bring a swimsuit when I come to California?

chase, I hope you only get snowed in with people you'd like to be snowed in with!

Lee, you're right. Gina needs to post a foot shot...

Linda, pile on the wood, it's going to be cold for a while. A bridal shower? You're getting married again? LOL

I'm intending to use tomorrow as a cooking day. I want to make some meatballs for Amanda's freezer. (ground beef out of my freezer and into hers, and voila!! I might have some freezer space again) Orange marmalade is on the agenda too, peaches are 99 cents a pound at the grocery store, if they taste good, maybe some sugar free peach syrup for Dad's pancakes.

Sunday is the farm and it'll be cold, so nothing will have been done. I'll need to bundle up to fill tanks and hay feeders, feed chickens, fill bird feeders.

Monday I'm off work, it's one of those "government holidays". Amanda has Old Navy gift cards and there are 75% off sales right now, so I'm taking her shopping, then hitting Marshall's for dish shopping (like I need any) and then Chuck E. Cheese for lunch.

Tuesday I'm still off work. Dad's having surgery on his "good leg", they're going to try to open up some veins to improve his circulation. He's got some diabetic ulcers that won't heal and he's having problems with the artificial knee in that leg. Sigh. He has to be in Grand Rapids at 5:30 a.m. and wants me to drive him, so I have to be at his house at 4 a.m. elery is taking a vacation day from work to come along and keep me company (and keep my sister and stepmom from driving me insane, LOL).

So, clink to everyone here, and think some good thoughts for Dad, if you will be so kind.

Annie

It's 83 in Florida today?! It is 28 with a wind chill of -2 here right now. And it is going to get as low as -24 with the wind chill before Sunday. At least it was sunny enough today to melt the ice from yesterdays ice/snow storm off the pavements with a little help from some Driveway Heat. Unfortunately I have a bunch of errands to run this weekend so I can't just stay inside.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay warm, or for those of you in nicer climates right now, enjoy your nice weather!

It's 6 degrees here and was a bit colder this morning!

We keep robins all year and have for years now. I was out in our far west pasture last week checking the fence and I saw some activity near one of my Bluebird houses....you guessed it, BLUEBIRDS!!! Last year I saw them in Feb and that was early but Jan...geesh!

Michelle

Ken was feeling a little bit more human today so we went out to see "Atonement" this afternoon - good film but difficult to watch. Didn't get to those cookies but I will right now! Will certainly keep your Dad in my thoughts, Annie, can't have anything but good news for him :)

Gina, you had better stay in Florida all next week, as it is going to be extremely cold here on Monday and Tuesday, with highs in the upper 50s! It was in the 70s this week, but today it was only in the mid 60s, and the mornings are always very cold. It's been in the low 50s in the early mornings when I had to go to work, but fortunately I have a lined leather jacket and nice wool gloves to wear. Tuesday I am going to need to wear a cap or something to cover my ears.

I just started a permanent part time job working Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it might turn into something more. It's with the company that I used to work for, and they want to revive a bunch of the designs that I did for them before I left. I met with some people from House Beautiful on Thursday (yesterday), and they were very impressed with the last table that I worked on. It has a central column of crystal rods that catch the light in interesting ways. I don't like working in an office, but two days a week won't be too bad.

Lars

Lars, good luck on that job, I hope you love it this time around!

Cold? Hmmmm.....could you warm it up a little before I get there? (grin) I'll have a coat and gloves because I'm leaving Michigan for California, but it looks like maybe I need to take a sweatshirt.

Annie

Lars, I hope you really enjoy your days at the office. How great that they want to bring back your work. Keep us posted.

LOL Annie, you do mean a sweatshirt instead of a coat, not under it, right???

It's 16 now and snowing, parts of I70 are closed - definitely coat and glove weather here. I don't think we're going to get too much snow, but the cold is going to hang around. Max has been driving home from the South metro area for a little over an hour now, just called and said the expressway traffic is going less than 30mph and he will be at least another 40 minutes. It should be about a 50 minute drive total from SW Denver - even less than that this late at night.

I think tomorrow will be a quiet day at home. Sunday evening we are taking DMIL to the dinner theater.

Lee, clinking with a little Lillet Blanc.

Freakin' freezin here...temp at zero and the wind making it feel colder!
I couldn't face going out to "girl's night out"...so I invited the girls here....POOFed 2 kinds of soup, whipped up a quick foccacia, threw together a saldd....opened a couple of bottles of wine....and we had dinner.....AND I didn't have to go out!!
Supposed to be colder tomorrow....
AACK! When's spring!!
Linda C

Of course I meant instead of a coat, Lee, the windchill here is 15 below. Heck, that 50F is the tropics for me, I'll probably wear shorts and tshirts! (grin)

Annie

Annie, chances are it will be in the mid 60s to low 70s when you get here in February - the average high is 68° in January, and it's extremely rare that the high is ever below 60°, although there can be a couple of days with highs around 58°. Anything colder than that would likely break a record, although last winter we did have record-breaking cold. The cold days we do have, however, are often damp or wet, and my friend Michelle (from Mexico City) thought it was terribly cold when she was here once in February because it was around 62° and raining. February is part of the dry season in Mexico City. However, I have not noticed a whole lot of difference between our weather and that of Mexico City, except that it gets a bit colder (but dry) there in the winter with the daytime being a tiny bit warmer. Go ahead and pack a bathing suit - I always do, since they don't take up much space. I only go in the ocean here with a wetsuit, except for a few days in August. Laguna Beach, even in February, will definitely look like the tropics to you, coming from Michigan. Unless, of course, we have another record-breaking cold winter.

Lars