Awwww, Mr. Gary, how very nice to have such lavender pearls for all the ladies. Don't worry about it, WW, there is lots of time before dawn. I just was told hosta obtained thru charitable means do not count...Bev said it and she ought to know. So I can whip out the ole (short) Wish List and feel perfectly entitled--ENABLED is the word I need--to find the dream hosta....(if he had not approved of more hosta, wouldn't he have given me something besides MONEY....something such as an electric screw driver?) so he knows......he is ONE OF YOU -- AN ENABLER TOO. .... My my my-my-my MY, isn't this a happy birthday for sure. G'night Ludi... hello to the AFTER MIDNIGHT crowd.... welcome through Stargate to another world in the Back40. I recommend that you open the below linked Clapton number in another window and then read the forum posts for a better sense of being CONNECTED to one another. Not just our eyes, but our ears are sharing. Our thoughts lifted beyond the garden fence to times this music brings to mind. It is my way of saying thank you for sharing your warmth as well as your wisdom. I have a greeting card I never can bring myself to give away because of its message. Never mistake information for true wisdom. Here is a link that might be useful: Clapton...

Raeanne~LOL Another OC! Dave told his DM about me & she just looked at me like I had 3 heads. tee hee It was kinda funny really. Marci~Glad that you took time to post. We have such a small apartment that we put out a 24" or 36" tree. I had put that Dave was planning to put it up but I looked & he has already done that little job. It already has lights on it~the fiber optic kind. We have it on an end table & put any gifts, if we have any, on the floor. Lynn~Good for DH! I'm sure that you feel so good with the satisfaction of knowing that your tree is different this year. Tikanis~I wish that you lived closer & you could cook for us! I think that we would both, Dave & me, be healthier if you were cooking for us. You always have the best sounding menus when you post them. I hope & know that DS appreciated what you gave him. I remember us doing that for both of our DSs too. We furnished both of them with a house full of stuff. I have a proud feeling when I go there & see them displaying some of the things that we gave them. Even DS#1 & DDIL have a towel with his last initial of "H" displayed & a cross that we gave them & a cross-stitch thing that I did for their wedding. Then there is crazy blanket that I gave DS#1 when he moved out that he uses in the guest room. I guess that I really ought to buy him another one but it won't be this year b/c we already have something bought. NH Suzanne~We are on a guest list from Dillard's every year so we go & look at what they have. They have punch & goodies & Dave has asked to take me out first before we go so we'll be going to that tomorrow night. It is usually pretty crowded but we normally have a very good time. This year we will just be looking mainly b/c we have all the gifts done. I will probably look for a thing or two for Dave. But we are going in together this year to buy a bigger gift for each other. We had been going all week so I took today off to do nothing & I mean that literally. LOL Maddie~The "Lion King" is playing here now. I would love to go. The 23rd is all right with me. I don't hear from Happyto but I think that it is mainly b/c we have both changed E-mail addys & just lost touch that way. Bummer!! She was such a nice lady. Milkdud~I'm going to check on you & see if you are lurking! How is your grandbaby? I may have to put you in the spot of checking up on mine until she can talk on the phone to me. LOL She does at least coo. It makes me feel so good. Well, BJ, I hope that you are having better weather & that you will be able to join us soon. Your sisters will be here for you when you are ready. Dee~You package was sent in the mail yesterday so let me know when you get it & if it gets there in one piece. Love to all~Patti :)

Me, me, me!!!! I made 3 batches of cookies today, wrapped all the presents that I have bought so far, mailed my Christmas cards, and finished the laundry. So I am gonna settle in for the whole 3 hours and not feel one bit guilty. I didn't clean my house at all this weekend. But in my opinion, something's gotta give at the holidays, and I vote for housework. If someone comes and complains, I'll just shove a cookie in their mouth and distract them! LOL I volunteered for a very difficult and dangerous job this weekend...............I had to bring home 2 bags of Holiday M&Ms and wrap them in individual sevings for a class project. (Parents were supposed to send in individually wrapped candy, like Hershey's Kisses or Mini Reeses PB Cups.) I took it upon myself to do the job, since someone had to do it. Now, I have to tell you that there were defective M&Ms in both bags; and I, as quality control inspector, couldn't let them pass. I had to eat them in order to spare the poor unsuspecting souls who are supposed to receive the candy. It wasn't pleasant, but it had to be done!!! That is my story and I am sticking to it! (I still haven't eaten the M&Ms that I brought home and hid. And I only ate one cookie from each batch today - a record for me! LOL) Now I have to finish cleaning the kitchen and pack my lunch for tomorrow, then I can finally sit down and relax. Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Marci

I hope your day has been stupendous!! Happy Birthday Shirley