Thanks, guys, for checking in on me. I really wish I could post more. I'm on vacation next week, so hopefully that will change. That picture is pretty good, considering it's from my cell phone. Who knew? Thank you, Michael. An update: We continue with many milestones and they're all hard. Wednesday was Brian's 16th birthday. As soon as the paperwork comes in, I'll take him for his permit. As I'm sure all the other moms before me know, on one hand it will be nice to not have to play taxi for him, but on the other hand, I'll worry so much. I hated it when the older boys were going through it. It will help, though. Between work and the kids' activities, I put 288 miles on my car today. It's taking a beating. He has to have his permit for 6 months before he can get his license. On his birthday, the weather was crazy and for the first time in almost 20 years, we had a tornado touch down here, about 10 miles from my house. We just don't get them around here. The older boys came to dinner with us, and since the weather was so bad, we just went to a local chain with carpy food, but the company sure was good. When I got to work on thursday, a coworker had brought in a puppy that she bought from a local breeder and her other dog freaked, so she was getting rid of her. I told her I'd take her for the weekend and if it went well, I'd keep her. Well, long story short, you saw the picture. Mackenzie fell in love and I did what I said I'd never do. Considering I got her the day after the storm, Mackenzie came up with the PERFECT name: Toto! I was pretty impressed. I wanted to call her runner, but she's so small all she really does is hop. As soon as she said Toto, we all agreed. She's a lhasapoo (cross between a lhasa and toy poodle). She's 2.2 pounds and I'm told she will grow to about 5-7 lbs max (I hope). She's 11 weeks old. She's the perfect little companion for Mackenzie. I didn't want a big dog. Frankly, I'm afraid of them, and most dogs. Anybody who knows me can't believe I did this. Neither can I. I never would have thought I'd ever have a dog. I'm on vacation starting next week for three weeks and we have some minor trips planned, including camping at Lake George in NY for a few days, day trips here and there, and general house stuff. I appreciate the posts looking for updates. It felt good to talk to everybody again tonight. Lyra, thanks for the mail and posting the picture. More soon....

hello my name is mary. I only found out about the Annie's Attic doll patterns last week totally by accident when I found this website while I was looking for answers to ?s about the different doll Annies Attic doll collections. Any way I'm trying to find someone that would be willing to email me a copy of the ones they have of the ones that I need and trade with me some that I have that they don't have. To start with I'm looking for the rest of the Ladies of Fashion. There was a lovely lady on this website down loaded the ones she had for me and I'd like to find and get the rest to finish my collection and give her the ones back that she needs if at all possible. The following is a list of the ones in the Ladies of Fashion that I would like to find and get. I have the others and would be willing to share with others. 1. Dolly Madison. 2. Priscilla Hostess Gown, 3. Patricia of Nashville, 4. Renee of Baton Roque 5. Megan's Wedding Gown 6. Eliza Sunday Promenade 7. Rebecca's Party Frock 8. Cariss of Bainbridge 9. Deborah of St. Louis 10. Silva of Sacramento 11.Jasmine of Louisville Nanette of New York 13. Catherine of London 14. Nadine of Albany 15. Julia of Richmond 16. Susanna of Nacogdoches 17. Victoria of Rochester 18. Kimberly of San Francisco There is 27 more that I already have that I can share. Please if anyone can help I'd appreciate it very much. I am disabled and can't work outside the home because no one will hire me with my disability, so this is the only way that I can afford to give my 18month old granddaughter presents as she grows up and get into dolls and such. There are others in these collections that I'm looking to and planning to finish but this is a good place to start. Thank you to anyone out there that is willing to help. Mary.

Just me, one dog, and seven cats. The bird will be first done on a Weber grill. Charcoal with some hickory wood... indirect heat. Wings for snacks, breast meat for sandwiches, and the rest with carcass will be boiled for chili meat. Dolly dog gets all the skin unless I nibble some extra crispy parts. Cats get a bit of lean meat because they are household members. Boiled clean bones will go out to the garden where Mr. Possum will munch them down. Chili meat will be cut half and half with beef... round roast. Enough for about four pots of chili so most will get bagged and frozen for later. I have a 12 quart chili pot so it takes a couple pounds of meat for a batch. Work gives me this turkey every year. I like boiling the carcass because it uses the bird down to the last bit. My oldest sister is doing T-day and Grandma is doing T-day part two. Making chili out of most of my turkey is a fitting way to eat it up. : ) lyra

Yeah just got power...we got it full force and 100mph winds were on us for 10 hrs straight and didn't let up.Worse in some way's than Beaulah because she came and went this one stayed.anyway we were lucky 1/4 of my shingles are off but only 2 minor roof leaks in one room and 4 trees down in my yard....south of us people still have 3 ft of water inside their houses,trees down and no power all over town.But we are dry and safe and sound so thanks for all your prayers all we have is the inconvience of the clean up.We've been serving coffee etc to our neighbors who still don't have power.We're fine...couldn't wait to get back to you all...Annie