Plumie, Just wanted to let you know, I recently talked to Bill and he's unable to focus on this group right now due to some issues he's going through.. He's ok, but is not able to check into this group on a regular basis..Just wanted to let you know, so that you didn't think he was ignoring you or anything..Hope you get your post answered! Mike has a great knowledge of plumies too (as well as Dave) so hopefully they'll be able to help you out. Actually, Wanda is very knowledgeable too, but I'm not sure how often she comes into this forum anymore...Good Luck! Joanna

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

Happy Friday to you too Susie! Sounds like a great start to the weekend - friends, happy hour and shopping - that is a trifecta if I've ever heard of one. Good luck chari shopping there is a lot of carp out there in the stores. We have a comparatively quiet weekend. We are getting together with a couple of friends for a pot luck happy hour - everyone brings an app and a bottle of wine and we all share. The kids all get along really well so they will probably be shooting baskets, playing football or generally running amuck. Add in the 2 Labs that belong to one of the guys and it becomes quite the crowd. Tomorrow I am going to do a little garden cleanup. Not a lot to do, but I want to bring in a few sedum and hydrangea flower heads for fall/winter arrangements. I think the menfolk will be splitting and stacking some firewood. We only got 1 cord this year since we had a bit leftover from last year. Sunday I may try mixing up some cookie dough for the freezer and finally make a fruit cake. I can't believe I haven't gotten to that yet. We have settled on a cherry pecan bourbon deal that is just fantastic. Have a happy and safe weekend... clinking with a cup of coffee for now and something much more interesting later! Alexa

Congrats indeed Diane! I think I have gained 7 of the lbs you lost :-( Definitely time for me to get back into a walking/running routine. This darn work thing keeps getting in the way of doing important stuff. Linda, good for you for having all the gardens tucked in for the winter... I still need to do a lot of clean-up, maybe tomorrow. Annie - sending Happy Birthday wishes to all - sounds like a lot of fun celebrating this weekend! John - good luck with the sushi lessons! It is Breeder's Cup weekend, and I think younger son and I will go to the track to watch a couple of live races and a few simulcast ones on Saturday. Sunday a local celeb/jazz guitarist is back from his long summer tour so we may go listen to some kicking jazz/blues at a local restaurant/pub. Or we may just stay home and watch football - I am fine with either! Not a lot planned in the way of cooking this weekend, I have some apples that need to be used, thinking of trying my hand at pie.... again. Other than that - figuring out what to do with 20+lbs of Halloween Candy. The kids are off school on Monday and Tuesday so it is truly a long weekend for the boys. Alexa