Good morning! It's overcast and 64 here this morning. Today's the day I treat the granite, so the kitchen windows will be open while I go grocery-shopping. The stuff stinks to high heavens! Raeanne, my oldest Dson and DDIL are coming in very late tonight. They'll be driving down from Dallas, and she can't get off early. I'll probably take a nap this evening while waiting up for them! Youngest Dson and his family are coming over tomorrow to spend the long weekend with all of us. His new job now gives him weekends and holidays off! Two full days with my kids: I'm so excited! QOD: I'll be hanging out with my sons and their families, doing whatever we find to do. It only matters that we're together, for me. I know that we'll eat out some, a challenge I'll be prepared for with my WW "dining-out" book, and my kids love my kitchen and are all such good cooks, so they want to get in there and cook some, too. I'll get lots of time with the granddaughters, too. Dee, I hope the biopsy goes well. It's awful having things hang over you like that. Jen, holidays make some of the seasons, so I don't blame you for posting your favorites! Patti, I was so tired from my unsuccessful shopping yesterday that I didn't mind not going out to dinner last night. We don't have but 4 little restaurants around here, and they'd all have been crowded. I'm going to clean house today and have H take me out for dinner tonight instead. Suzanne, stay warm! I'd gladly split the difference in our temperatures with you right now! Got to get busy with my counter treatment then shopping. I hope everyone has a good day! I'll probably peek in this weekend to get my SS-board fix. LOL

Good afternoon, almost evening! It was a little cool and windy here today, with rain early this morning. Everything is glistening and green. So pretty. I had my first official workout today. I managed to do all the machines twice and lightly jogged in place after every 2 machines. I have to admit that I had to pop some tylenol and take a nap late this afternoon because I did feel the burn and was achy and tired. But, it was fun, and I'll definitely return tomorrow for a light workout. Hubby has a sleep study tonight way over in Houston, so I'll be on my own here tonight. I haven't spent many nights here alone, and it's been since Thanksgiving so I'm a little nervous. These lovely woods start feeling very dark and lonely when it's just Lucky pup and me. QOD: I think I'd like to return as Sweetpea because that little one leads a beautiful life on Suzanne's farm! Jen, so glad to see you posting and that y'all were safe even though you were frightened. BJ, reading about your windows getting washed made me look hard at mine, and I know that I'll be getting around to them sometime very soon. I hadn't realized how rain-spotted they'd gotten until I really looked. McPeg, that washstand has such good bare bones. Can't wait to see the finished product! I'm happy for you to be getting new furniture! This weekend, we're getting a new propane tank for our grill, and I'm thawing out chicken and steaks to rub down and grill for next week's meals. There's just nothing better than grilled meat - and I love the smell of it cooking on the grill. Hope everyone has a restful weekend!

Glad to hear you got the new stove! Two ovens--that's great--and just in time for Thanksgiving dinner too! ;o) I bet you will be thinking up all kinds of things to bake now. ;o) Anj, you just remember that it is YOUR home and you can decorate it any way you want to. I know you've had lots of compliments on how comfortable and homey it feels. If you have too many goodies waiting for projects, just box up a few and label the box--or put pics of the items on it-and stash it in that big attic of yours or in the garage. You'll get to it all eventually. Besides, going to the TS to hunt for treasures for painting or gifting to others is your "therapy and relaxation". You are always doing things for everyone else, you deserve to be nice to yourself too. Yes, the same friend. The strong winds tore shingles off the corner of her roof. It will need to be fixed before the winter rains come. She gets so nervous about paperwork and expenses. I helped her fill out the papers and get them in the mail, and then I treated her to lunch. She's going to be 76 in February, but in many ways she seems much older. Her daughter called me wanting me to encourage her to sell her mobile home so she can move to Oregon with them. Wouldn't you know, prices are really down now so not the best time to sell. I asked her if she didn't think it would be nice to not have to worry about leaking roofs, insurance, and trying to get places without a car. She said yes, but it's cold up there and she would miss being in her own place with all her things. I think her daughter should come down to help get her going on it all. Of course, her daughter has only been to see her once in ten years! I'm glad you've got your painting groove on again! ;o) Did you decide if you are doing the twelve days gifts this year? If so, I know you will be busy getting things ready for that. I've still got one design I'd like to paint for Halloween, but haven't picked a surface for it yet. Maybe I'll work on it a bit after I get back from lunch/shopping with my neighbor ladies tomorrow. Guess what I did today? I sewed three little outfits for GD's barbie type dolls! Haven't sewed in a long time, in fact the last time I tried, I had to take the machine in for cleaning and adjustments. These turned out okay, I used velcro for the fasteners, so that worked out really well. Not worth the time though--I'm such an amatuer that it took me about four hours! ;o( Hope she will like them, however she even liked the ones I just tied on them for her. She wants long dresses and does not like their hair tied back--isn't that too funny? Such an opinionated little gal. LOL Okay, I'm off to read the holiday forum. TTYL Luvs

Annie I received your e-mail. Glad you received the prizes and valentine gift. Love all the fairy packages. Rita I received your box today and loved it all. The post office is so rough on packages the cute little fairy arrived broken along with the heart box. Rita you sent so much, two boxes of candy (Yum), valentine card, two precious bear valentine figurines, angel figurine, valentine pencil-pencil sharpener-eraser and note pad. Thank you so much. Sheri-Sorry to read your Birthday gift was missing from the card...I found some black sharpie retractable markers and included one for plant labeling. If I find them again I will send you another. Melinda did receive hers so that one was still intact. Here is the message I received from Melinda via facebook. Dear Shirley, Thank you so much for the beautiful card and new marker pen! So needed that! I am trying to get on the new GW and have tried for days! Don't know if it is my computer or what, but can't sign it, can't connect with FB or anything. I may have to make a new Yahoo account and everything to make a new sign in, not sure. But it is extremely frustrating! Could you please say Thank you to all the ladies