Well, BJ, is that your first Rabbit, Rabbit? WTG, you beat all the East Coasters including me! LOL

How's your week looking?

Happy Monday all,

It was great reading everyone's answers to Patti's questionnaire. Who knew Thanksgiving weekend would be so busy!

I had a good Thanksgiving at inlaws, stayed overnight and then went on annual shopping day with DFIL. Lunch at Four Seasons and shopping at Saks for an outfit! What a great FIL he is. This was our 8th annual trip.

Saturday and Sunday DH and I worked outside moving a fence line that should help us a more for moving snow in the event we get snowfall like last year (over 12 feet in all!!!) It was cold and miserable and yesterday we spent a good three hours working in the snow. The ground by the way has about 5" of frost so digging fence post holes was interesting at best. Sigh.....a much better job for September but had to be done. We were too tired last night to eat and my body aches all over from bulling in jamming! Good thing I can take it! LOL

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper ( I LOVE to wrap gifts) but I use gift bags if appropriate.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real

3. When do you put your tree up? About 2 weeks before Christmas

4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's weekend.

5. Do you like eggnog? Only homemade - I love it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I cannot remember a favorite gift.

7 Hardest person to buy for? DMIL and DFIL - what do you buy people who have everything and can buy anything they want? We gave up that idea long ago. All they want is for us to be around them!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My horse girlfriends. I know exactly what they want and need.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have a living breathing nativity scene right out in my paddock!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail to those I don't see often and email one to a friend that is funny.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't recall the worst gift. I have had some gifts that I did not care for but I would not call them worst gifts. How can you receive a worst gift?

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russel. "Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!"

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Now that Thanksgiving is behind me I can get in the mood.

14. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present? Yes but nothing that a friend or family member ever gave me.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? years ago? Shrimp. Every year my mother made lots of fresh shrimp right out of the gulf with homemade cocktail sauce. They were entirely different from the farm raised and imported version we get today!

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, I have beautiful Moravian star lights. They are white lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? John Lennon's "So this is Christmas" but I love all Christmas carols.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I love staying home but I have to go to inlaws!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen! Oh...and don't forget Rudolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Moravian Star

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? As a child we were always allowed to open one small gift on Christmas eve, now we always open on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The endless commercialism of the holiday itself and the materialism of the season. And yes, let's put the Christ back into Christmas!!!

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? All the ornaments that have been given to me by dear friends over the years. They are always so special to me.

24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Crown Roast of pork with cranberry stuffing.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want to be healthy and hope all my friends and family stay healthy and happy. All I want is the gift of time to spend with friends and family.

Thanks for posting this Patti!

Patti: It's not my first Rabbit Rabbit and it won't be my last! I have a time advantage here on the west coast, remember! lol. I just have to remember it's the first of the month and I can deliver!

Survey: FUN!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I like lots of ribbon and making presents look beautiful! ...If I have the time!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real-were ordering it this year from the little school here

3. When do you put your tree up? When everyone is home from college!

4. When do you take the tree down? Weekend after New YearÂs

5. Do you like eggnog? Yeah-light version heated with nutmeg

6. Favorite gift received as a child? "Life-sized" brand new plastic newborn doll, a little record player, a gold coin from my dad.

7 Hardest person to buy for? Me-I want EVERYTHING in every catalog. Lol. No, really, probably my family (MIL, FIL, Mom, Dad, sisters and brother, not MY kids), for various reasons...

8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. They write me lists and email them to me.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? My DD has one we use.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A kitchen appliance from DH. He's a last minute shopper and you can TELL...Sounds weird, but most times, I feel awkward when I open his presents.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Chevy Chase Christmas movie.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long

14. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present? Yes. It's called RECYCLING.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mint Frangos

16. Lights on the tree? Yes. LOTS.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Drummer Boy

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? One year here, one year at DHÂs parents, one year at my parentÂs, repeat.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Different every year. We vote on what's going up there.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? One on the eve, the rest on the day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Food prices on the rock! And internet ordering or going to the mainland to shop for everything. If I forget anything, IÂm screwed.

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? Dark blue!

24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Watching the tree blink whilst drinking tea.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To lose 50 pounds.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Everyone

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? MIAs and LURKERS.

Rabbit, Rabbit!!! And a good Monday afternoon to y'all!

It's 56 F., sunny and very windy here today. Feels like Fall for sure now.

I spent a very interesting and fun 4 hours at our town's thrift center today, sorting through donations, pricing, and displaying. This place is called Churches United in Caring, CUIC, and it's sponsored and run by volunteers from 8 area churches. One of my friends suggested I give it a try to earn service hours for ESA, so I did, and I'll definitely be returning later this week. What a nice group of women, and such a worthwhile cause. Thursday, I'm assisting in interviewing people for Christmas food boxes and Christmas packages for young children. It's supposed to be a very difficult job because the people's stories can really get to you.

I missed my official workout today, but I'm aching in many places from all the bending and stretching, hauling and sweating I did, so maybe that will count for something.

Since I've got Bible study this evening, dinner will be leftover turkey pot pie and salad. I have to say that the pot pie turned out very yummy, and it's a great way to finish off the turkey, veggies, potatoes, and gravy.

I want for Christmas what BJ wants - to lose 50 lbs! I've been very good, Santa.

Have a great evening!

I've been good too Santa. I want what BJ and Milkdud asked for!

I've been good too Santa, please bring me the same as BJ, Besh and Milkdud!

I have enjoyed reading everyone's responses. Great questions Patti :-)

Milkdud, what a great and worthwhile thing you are doing with your time. Good luck with those interviews. I can only imagine how those stories can get to you, especially this year with so many not normally in the position of asking for assistance.

Suzanne, I'm glad you enjoyed your annual shopping trip. What a nice tradition your DFIL started. You got quite a workout this weekend - ugh. But it's worth it isn't it? The pictures I have seen of your property are gorgeous.

Did anyone venture out on Black Friday? I didn't.

I'm off today - one because I have to take time or lose it and I won't do that and the other is my Mom fell Friday night and hurt her right hand and wrist. She thought it was OK just icing it Friday night but called me Saturday morning and off to the ER we went. They took films and put a cast type material on her but the doc said while he saw no obvious breaks or fractures she should follow up with an ortho surgeon this week to be sure - that's where we are off to this afternoon...after we stop at the bank and put the power of attorney in effect so I can sign checks for her (she is, of course, right handed).

Got to run and hop in the shower. Have a great day - will check in later!

Donna

Good Tuesday!

That's what I want for Christmas too!! Maybe collectively we can reach that goal by Christmas? It's not impossible if we don't eat between now and then. LOL

Count me in, Santa!!!

[[[[[[[[Donna's mom]]]]]]]]] Hope she feels better soon.

Gotta run...........another project and a 15-minute, chair massage break. Ahhhh, I love Tuesdays in the office. I will be walking on air by Noon! haha

Will check in later
Dee

[[[[ Donna's Mom ]]]]

Dee~I want that chair massage along with my 50 lb weight loss! Are you listening Santa? LOL

We had to run to therapist today. I have a full day tomorrow & then we will be gone until sometime on Sunday. I'm having problems with my printer. Ugh.

I hope to check in with you tomorrow. Patti :-)

Me too, me too!!!

Donna - (((HUGS))) to your mom. I went out on Black Friday but not until the afternoon. DD was home and wanted to take advantage of 50% off of everything at our Banana Republic outlet. She got slacks, top, sweater that will be perfect for work or afterwork for about $100. Worth the trip and it wasn't too crowded.

Milkdud - that kind of volunteer work is very rewarding. You are quite an asset to your community.

I am organizing a Holiday Art Show this weekend and need to get myself organized LOL, so I better run.

Enjoy!

Hi and Happy Hump Day Wednesday!

Update on my Mom: Doc agreed with ER doc and said no fractures or breaks - thank goodness. He took the cast thing off of her and boy, has she got some bruising! It's also very, very sore. He said it's possible there is a crack that could account for the bruising but wouldn't be visible on an xray. He gave her a short thumb spike brace which gives her lots more mobility and she can remove for showering and to soak her hand and arm. He wants her to exercise her hand in water squeezing a sponge and wants us back 12/16 for follow up and more xrays. Thanks for the hugs for her - she felt them and they worked!

Off to food shop tonight. Raeanne, I thought that was a local thing here cause some transplants look at me funny when I say it. Glad to know others in the northeast say this too.

Got to run and wake up my little old lady Lacey to go out. She will be 15 on 12/19, I can't believe that!

Have a good evening and stay warm!!

Donna

We had the main water line break for the apartments that we are in & can't use the water so we were leaving tomorrow for the scrapbook expo anyway. Dave suggested that we go ahead & leave tonight since we cannot shower or anything. So we are off. I'll catch up on Sunday if I can. Wish me good thoughts that things will go well. I'm looking forward to having a good time & learning new things. Not nearly as nervous as last time. Thanks. Patti :-)

Donna~Glad your Mom is all right.

Donna, glad your Mom got good news. My mom broke her wrist this past spring and it has been a long recovery...it is still not right, but much, much better. The therapy I think was the hardest. I am sure your mom will do well.

Patti, have fun scrapbooking!

Yesterday was my and DH's 30th anniversary! Went out to dinner and a movie. Saw the new James Bond...blah...I would not recommend it...We went because our very first date was to go see James Bond's The Spy Who Love Me, so we thought it was appropriate to go last night. Hoping to celebrate later next year with a trip, but the economy has to turn around a bit before that can happen.

Raeanne, the art show sounds fun...are you exhibiting anything?

I'm asking Santa for the chair massage too! Got to run..I really want to watch Rudolph at 8. DH won't watch it and DS is not home, so I will sit by myself and watch and wish my kids were little again! How pathetic am I????

Have a great night!

ox Besh

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been MIA. Insanely decorating businesses trees, offices and if I see one more ball bouncing across the floor or have to fluff one more artificial tree it will be way too soon for me. I am beyond exhausted.

My great aunt passed away last night and as of today I've been running around getting clothing for her, visiting the funeral home with my favorite sister and starting the WHOLE executor process all over again with my favorite sister for my great aunt. We are still working on my Mom's estate. And to keep me laughing she pre-arranged her funeral so she is viewed one night here and then 1 night in her old town (3 hour drive from here) the next night with the church service and grave in that town with her family. She was 93 and I've been scrambling to find family to call on short notice. I will continue to be MIA for the next while until I can recover.

Between the work and now this I am shell shocked tired. On a happy note I have a hospital appointment on Wed next week for my mental health. Thank G0d!

LOL to all my pals. I've been missing all of you.
Peggy

Hi Peggy,

So sorry about your aunt. I have never heard of having a wake in two different locations. That will keep you hopping. Stay strong, you have been dealing with alot lately.

oxBesh

Good evening!

Peggy, my sympathies on the loss of your aunt. She sounds like she was a fun person!

Hi, Besh! It's good to see you posting. And this week, you've outposted me!

I had a long post typed out last night, but I forgot to hit "submit", so it didn't make it. Trust me - it was of epic proportions, but most likely very boring!

I went to my new dentist today, and I have to say that I'm most pleased. He and his staff were very up-to-date and professional, but also a lot of fun. Good thing I liked them because I have to go back soon and have to fillings removed and replaced. Oh, well!

Today I joined the Friends of the Library because: 1. I love books, 2. I get service hours helping out with the book sales, and 3. I get early pickings!!! I'm always on the lookout for fun ways to give of my time.

It's so cold here today, 51 F. right now, but feels like 39 F. It's actually supposed to get down to 36 during the night. Brrr!

Got to eat dinner, so I'll wish everyone well!

Good morning everyone!

Patti, I got your email and will write you.

Yes, Aunt "Honey" was one of my favorite aunts. She was stubborn, very active, would fuss over anyone who went to visit her. Loved her garden, made preserves and shared them, fantastic cook, quilter (made everyone quilts) and loved to have visitors. Yep, she was a sweet ol' gal who grew up in a rural Quebec log cabin and eventually married at 45 and lived most of her life in a small town. Now she is with her husband and family. The last of 7 children. I will miss her but it is her time to go. May God bless her.

I'm doing fine otherwise. The xmas decorating is finished and I will be catching up on things next week.

And hopefully once things settle down I can return to focusing on my goal of losing some more weight. It's still on my radar! LOL

Hugs to all my friends. I'm also doing xmas cards next week to mail out, hopefully they will get there in time!

Cheers,
Peggy

Good Friday all,

Peggy, sorry to hear about your aunt. Sounds like she had a great life. I have never heard of a wake in two locations either. Different. Good luck.

Donna, glad your mother is doing well. Broken bones are no fun!

Raeanne, hope your art show goes well!

Milkdud, you are one busy lady! Glad that you are settling into your new community so well! I am impressed.

QOD: What are you all doing this weekend? I am going to try to get a few Christmas decorations up - like the candles in the windows, etc. Maybe a wreath if I can get out into the woods for the greenery. I am still not ready for Christmas to be in three weeks! YIKES where did this year go.

Good morning, everyone and especially Peggy and Suzanne! So nice to come here and find your posts.

QOD: Tonight is hubby's company Christmas party. Tomorrow, I'll work the book sale for a couple of hours, then in the evening, we'll have dinner out with 2 other couples, then come back here to play Canasta. I think it will just be 6 of us playing that evening, so it will be an early one. Sunday is Sunday school and church, then nothing planned as of right now. I do want to tweak the Christmas decorating somewhat because I really just let everyone else do it last week, but I've thought of a few things I'd like to add.

I'm like Peggy in needing to get back to thinking about eating healthy. A few pounds have crept back on, and I don't like that. I'm going to go work out in a few minutes, and that helps so much, but it's not enough.

Hope everyone's speeding through today and has a wonderful weekend ahead of them!

Peg - so sorry about the loss of your aunt. She certainly was a special person. I'm glad you have such wonderful memories.

Milkdud - when I moved the 2 hardest people to replace in my life were my hairdresser and my dentist. I would drive 3.5 hours to go to the dentist LOL. I was lucky to find a great dentist 15 minutes from my house.

Suzanne - DH asked me last night when I was putting the candles in the window. I said as soon as I had time, so he said he would do it! I not only had to tell him where they were, I had to go to the basement and dig them out and ended up putting them up LOL. In his defense he was helping with something for my art show, but I would've put the candles off for a few more days. I also only have a wreath up because the guy that owns the perennial farm gifted me with one the other day.

I have gotten a lot of shopping done on the internet. I think the online deals are better than the stores and I don't have to deal with crowds. I have reduced my list greatly and plan to keep it that way. (Unless I ever get grandkids LOL)

QOD - Tonight is dinner with good friends. I will be doing the art show Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is also the tree lighting in town and my gym is having their annual Christmas party that evening. I will be exhausted from the show - they really wear me out, mostly because I am very uncomfortable most of the time. I do not like to promote myself.

Enjoy your day.

Hi Everyone!

It is Friday! Raeanne and Milkdud, as you know my DS and DIL live in Virginia...they wait and get haircuts when they come up here for a visit as they have not yet found a good hairdresser. She is my hairdresser too and is always bragging to customers that she has people come as far away as VA for her services. LOL

This weekend will be quiet. Both DH and I have been fighting a nasty cold so I think tomorrow night we will rent a video and light a fire (in the fireplace I mean!). Tonight I am going to my book group, even though I didn't read the book...I couldn't even tell you what the book is. I am going for the wine! And ofcourse Sunday is the Patriots...and there is always laundry.

Raeanne, good luck with your art show..I am sure it is uncomfortable to promote yourself, but your work is beautiful and you should be proud of it. :)

You know Suzanne, you can buy the greens already made into a wreath! It is a real time saver! LOL

Enjoy the weekend.

oxBesh

QOD:
Friday: A date with DH! We haven't had a date in 10 months, but finally found a lady who is fingerprinted and back-ground checked who can watch Baby V once a month. Besh, maybe we'll light a fire later...right. One DD has a slumber party and one DD has a dance, so we are going to dinner on the waterfront!
Saturday: Book fair at 9. Pick up pre-ordered tree at 10. Community Santa party at 4 to get Baby's pic with Santa,-if he will tolerate it! (Baby, not Santa...) Maybe a visit with prospective adoptive parents.
Sunday: Off the rock to choose light fixtures for the new place. Maybe another visit with adoptive parents. Then DH leaves to go to the city for 2 nights and I have big plans to organize THE WORLD--(insert evil laugh here.)

Donna- Hugs for your mom. Wow! That sounds painful!

I slammed my right-hand pointer finger in my glovebox last Friday and took off the top of it. It's been pretty enlightening, learning how much I use that pointer! It's getting better after getting worse!

Patti-Enjoy the scrapbooking. Dave has the right idea, for sure. Have fun with water!

Peg: Your aunt is trying to keep you busy so you don't get into trouble! Everything happens for a reason! She sounded like she loved life and has everything planned out for leaving it. I love pre-plans in the funeral biz. It makes decision making much easier. I saw so many families aginize over the deceased and their funerals. PLAN AHEAD!

Besh: I never miss "The Year There Was No Santa Claus" Heat Miser and Cold Miser are the bomb!

Milkdud: The Friends of the Library here does SO MUCH! They also have a book sale in teh spring at the elementary school that earns a ton of money. People donate books all year and the "Friends" organize them on the risers at the school and sell them for a dollar an inch.

NHSuzanne: you and your "Where did the year go?" lol. It was you who, a few months ago, couldn't wait to get through 2008! I remember because I felt SO STRONGLY the same way! Now we have almost made it.

Raeanne and Milkdud: I still take the ferry and drive to my old town for dentist--an 8 hour drive plus the time in the chair. I take my kids there too. I can't bear to part with my dentist. I have found a new hairdresser but it's a ferry ride away and a short drive. I sent my kids as guinea pigs for the first visit, but I will go myself this month!

Raeanne- PROMOTE YOURSELF. Your work is amazing. But the "shy" you would be fascinating to witness, I'm sure....lol.

Have a geat weekend, everyone!

Spellcheck:
Agonize
The
Whatever Else

Sheesh! I was typing way To, Two, Too Fast!

BJ, LOL, yu crack me up, yew!

Good Saturday all,

Besh, YOU crack me up! When did they start selling wreaths already made??? WOW! ROTFLMAO

BJ, you are right! I am only speaking in terms of the Christmas rush to get things done for the day! I really am looking forward to putting this year behind me. I figure with a brand new year nothing has happend to screw it up yet!!

It was 12 degrees here when I went to do barn chores this morning! It has warmed up to 20 and hopefully it will be warm enough to get out and finish some odds and ends chores to get the barn and paddock buttoned up for winter. Brrrr

Then I will go into the woods and pick greenery!

DH was home for the night and is leaving for Chicago this evening! At least it will be a fairly short trip - he should be home next weekend.

Have a great weekend all.

12 degrees? NhSuzanne? Sheesh! And to think I wanted to move to THAT coast! :-)

Hey, call me crazy, but let me know what you think of this idea:

We all go gung-ho on our diet and exercise starting in the NEW YEAR and at this time next year, Raeanne can paint portraits of us with bikinis on to sell for charity!

We'll have a BIG art show and I'm sure the calendars will sell like hotcakes! Please start submitting your favorite charity now...

BJ, I was born too large for a bikini, but you knock yourself out with that one! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Raeanne too much to subject her to me in a bikini...ever!!
ROTFLMAO!!!

QOD: My house looks so pretty; the decorations are perfect to my eye. I made like 2 gallons of sausage, meatballs, and red "gravy" today; and 4 large containers are now in the freezer. Tomorrow I have about 8 pounds of chicken cutlets to make into lemon chicken for the freezer. By the afternoon, I hope to make one or two cookie dough batches for the freezer and perhaps run out to get some odd gifts. Wanted to bake some homemade french garlic loaves to freeze for upcoming entertaining, but I've run out of room in the freezer!

[[[[[[[[Peggy]]]]]] hope by now you've had a bit of relaxation time for yourself. Will pray for the soul of your aunt and for you. Good luck with your appointment...we are all cheering you on!

Need to go and get into my bubble bath. I deserve it!

TAKE CARE, EAT HEALTHFULLY (right!), and NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
DeeMarie