http://www.asilentnightmovie.com/ Oh dear - I gave you something that was not the link! Sorry about that - tis late but enjoy anyhow! Happy New Year everyone! Rita in Michigan

What a beautiful picture Julia. Hope you have a great holiday season, too.Mine is off to a bad start already. One of my daughters sent me to the eye Doctor to have my eyes checked and fitted for new glasses for Christmas, I have been wearing these I have for at least 10 yrs, and have got to where I cant read the paper with them, so she was going to get me some new ones for Christmas. Well, the eye doctor wouldn't prescribe new glasses. Said I have Cataracts on both eyes,and right one being the worse,and wanted to schedule me to go have them removed right away, I told him not so fast dr,I never rush into anything without thinking it over awhile. He asked me 3 times if I have had a stroke and 3 times I told him no I have not..I guess because I was walking with a cane. don't know, but he sure was fixed on the stroke idea.he has sure scared me to death with this surgery idea. and especially when he says they don't put you to sleep for it,as it only takes about 15 minutes.My daughter was in there listening to him and said later he acts mighty queer to her, like he might be on some thing. I have no idea, but, I want to ask questions about any surgery on my eyes before anything is done.he did tell me I could go blind if its not done,and that scares me even more,as all I think about now is spring and seeing my daylily blooms again and being on the forum to see every one elses, too. Have a very merry Christmas Julia and a happy new year. Jean

It snowed last night so everything is a blanket of white for Christmas day. I feel a little guilty, but I don't think it is too deep so I'm not going out with the snowblower til tomorrow. I'm the caregiver for my Mom, and it is just the two of us this year. We open presents on Christmas Eve, so we had a lovely night with the house decorated, the fireplace going and the tree all decorated and lit. Then about 11:00 pm as I was settling into bed but not asleep yet, I heard this funny thump and a tinkling. Uh oh, that can't be what it sounded like! Sure enough, go out to the living room and the tree had fallen over. Didn't fall out of it's stand, just tipped the stand and flopped over! Luckily only one ornament broken. Unfortunately, it was one of my favorites, my duck bell. If you are now scratching your head and going, "Duck bell???", it has a bell for a body with a duck neck and head on top and duck feet for the clappers. Very cute. Fortunately I think I can glue it back together. And I was very relieved that none of the older (my grandmother's and mother's) ornaments were hurt. Anyway, just stood the tree up again, filled up the water and everything seems back to normal today. We just had a simple dinner (lunch?) today, turkey and cranberries, asparagus, rolls and peppermint ice cream. And just for snacks, of course, we have 3 lbs. of See's candy and assorted cookies, fudge and other goodies in the house. Should be enough to last for awhile! Forgot to mention the wine we had with lunch, which will make Mom nice and sleepy. So I figure she will plop herself down in front of the football game and promptly fall asleep, thus giving me a restful Christmas afternoon to read or shop on the computer - my sister-in-law gave me an Amazon gift certificate. Which reminds me, Mom gave me a moth orchid for Christmas. First orchid I've tried, so anybody who has any tips, send them along. Also growing paperwhites this year (usually do amarylis). They are just starting to bloom. Look lovely. However, they are supposed to have a wonderful fragrance and while they do have quite a strong smell, I'm not so sure yet that it's wonderful. Maybe it will improve as they open more, or maybe I will get used to it. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all of you and yours.

Bettye, you have been missed! I hope you are doing better, so you can spend more time with us. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and wishing you a blessed 2014.