Very nice to see a quickie post from our very own daredevil, Brenda. You're going to feel much better once you've tamed the wilds of your home in preparation for a pleasant visit with your brother. Soak up all the moments! I have to say that when this group is "on" the reading is really one laugh right after another for me. Here I am, all alone on the Compound, chortling away over the silliest little things. Being easily amused is a very good thing! Saucy, have you considered making 'tufa big enough for Les to get inside? (we know he will). How much Hoppin' John did you get down Sarah's throat (if any)? lol about her lack of concern for luck and money. Very cool to hear about "your" hawk, too. How much snow did you guys get? we received between 4-5" and amounts dropped off very quickly just north of here. Also very nice to hear from newly recovered Norma. Drag to be sick for the holidays, huh? it's a horrible time to have your energy sucked out by a cold. I like that you played Auld Lang Syne on the mandolin. So cool that you're picking it up and giving it go. It was fun to see the shots of your pets on Woody's thread. I am sorry to learn of Marty's back woes, Denise. He must be terribly uncomfortable and I don't think there's much worse than watching someone you love endure discomfort. Donning the Nurse Ratchett uniform is part of the agreement when you gaze adoringly at each other and pledge your troth. I figured the Martin Denny crack was good for laughs and sure enough you "delivered the goods". What a tripped out scene those recording sessions must have been! Since we've not seen anything from Deanne today I am wondering if our child bride did in fact overdo with the firewater... . I sure hope she hasn't succumbed out in the blind! We watched a Bluejay feeding in the snow the other day. He had a nice little depression in the snow and he was pecking away at the seeds that were on the ground under it. As soon as he flew off a bunch of Juncos moved right in and picked up feeding where the 'jay left off. It's absolutely amazing to me that they are so pefectly equipped to survive in such tough weather. Thanks for the compliments on the stove, you guys. I'm glad it's finished, feels as though I've been working on it for ever. Cindy, I KNEW you would get the whole feel I'm looking for with respect to window treatments! though I think the shades I have in mind would rightly be from the Georgian period, but maybe not (have to check that!). I'm going to do shades because there really isn't much wallspace in the Salon. The shades will "stack" vertically when I want the windows exposed and will neatly cover the glass when I want some privacy from the road. I'm opting for a nice, full treatment and want to try one of the more challenging headings well suited to stationary treatments (meaning you don't have to draw them along the rod like drapery panels). And I've got my eye on a lovely moire taffeta (a favorite) that isn't very much money, at least in the realm of drapery fabrics. And since it's a pretty commonly available fabric I'm hoping I'll be able to shave a shekel/two off the yard price by shopping on-line. I can buy the lining and fittings through a wholesale supplier I use. The comforting beige stripe you saw, Cynthia, will not be long for this world once I recover from the drapery sticker shock, lol. It's on a loveseat that the helpmeet triumphantly brought home to me that I've decided is going to be a slipcover guinea pig, along with its equally uninspiring companion chair. The shapes of the pieces are quite similar and I think they could be recovered to fit nicely into the look of an English manor house sitting room of the 20s/30s. I presently envision them in a pretty pattern, floral or toile? Again, the object is to brush up on pattern matching skills and provide a risk-free opportunity to put a watch to the project and check my pricing. Again, another sample of my work to show to people. Mary must be having a wonderful time with her Mum. I can't wait to hear how the portameal went. And I'm thinking of Sue (who was "robbed" at the awards, lol) and wondering about her new fireplace. Well, tomorrow's Friday (right?), so she'll poke her head in. If Wendy rolls through I've no doubt she'll have some laughs about the awards, too. I know I've missed people, but sometimes that's how it goes. G'night!

I always make 12 collages from our year's photos and take them to Kinko's to be made into a calendar. It is an annual gift to DH, the family photograher and is a great way to save the best pictures, so they are easy to find! We hang it on the refrigerator with magnet clips, so we can enjoy the pictures on a daily basis. So much fun. Wish I had started the tradition when we first were married. I do try to get the animal calendars to distribute to my students-they love the World Wildlife and SPCA ones.

It is going to be a cold weekend, so if you decide to stay inside rather than in the garden Saturday, February 11, bring a covered dish to the luncheon at the Will Roger's Garden Center, and join us for a slide presentation of Florida Mecca from last year. 12-3 p.m. That ought to warm you up!

Casey, when I opened your link and the bird sounded, my dog came running over to me to see!! LOL Really nice site.