I am up early this Monday morning. We had both kids and families over the weekend. By the time they leave, I am pooped and go to bed very early....as a result, wake very early. We had a wonderful time and the kids love the farm. Our son drove the four grandkids all over on the ATV for two plus hours at a time. They consider it quite an adventure! We had early Thanksgiving dinner Saturday since our son will be at home for his in-laws on the actual holiday. Our pastures have greened up considerably since our rain and I think pasture will carry the cows for a couple of more months without much hay. However, one pond went completely dry so I need to see about getting a dozer in soon to clean it out before (hopefully) we get spring rains. The trees aren't showing quite as much color as last year, but it was a glorious weekend, light jackets in the shady areas and a good breeze. I took a long walk (following the ATV) with our daughter and SIL. I am ready to varnish the desk and chair I am refinishing. I think it is going to look nice. It orginally belonged to my paternal grandmother. EP, I still can like my mother taught me. I also do garlic and dill pickles, lime pickles, and home-made catsup. My favorite thing, though, is jellies and jams. This year I did strawberry jam, peach, apricot and apple jelly. I just gave our oldest gd 4 jars of apricot and peach. She won't eat it from the stores now....just gramma's. They know how to get to us, don't they? I have a few gardening chores to complete. I have a basket of lamiums I want to plant around some hostas and hydrangeas as groundcover. I also need to pot up the seedling daylilies before they get too crowded. We got a very light shower Sat. evening, maybe 1/8 inch. I haven't watched the weather so don't know what is coming this week. BTW, EP, my dear husband was ready for some quiet and tranquility after the visit! Our house is so quiet with just the two of us, that we really notice it when the kids all come! Hope you all had a great weekend. gld

Hey, Great news, the last package is on the way....that means everyone is still in the game. That is really wonderful! Try not to be procrastinators next month...hint. Put that reminder on your calendar right NOW!!!!! As my dad always used to tell me "If you do it now you won't have to WORRY about doing it later" OK, so my January was really fantastic, I'm feeling energetic (which is not real common with me) and I have been super busy with work, which is great for this time of year....expecially since my husband started his own business Jan 1 and his weekly paycheck is no more. I have been freezing in my house, so yesterday I got a heater for right next to my desk, so my office can be warm, even if the rest of the house is cold (bad insulation in this house) and we splurged at Walmart and I got a great new electric skillet, big enough for cooking lots of bacon, without it hanging over the edge of the pan, he he. My garden plans are also keeping me busy. Last year I focused on getting the hardscape in, but this year.....finally, I can concentrate on PLANTS!!!!! I have mostly been looking at my vegetable garden plans, since I will start some indoors, but next on the agenda is to order some perennials for my hill garden, now if I can only narrow down what I want, ha. Keep well, be peaceful. See you on the February Post. YaYa

Hi Guys! Well, after the light dusting of snow that we had yesterday. It snowed last night and it's sticking now. The little ones bundled up in snow pants and the rest and headed out. They got their fill of snow, had hot choc and brownies and are vegging out now. On Friday, we hosted the neighborhood teens for a couple of movies, pizza, dino-nuggets and chat about whatever teens like to talk about. Then we built a fire and roasted a few marshmallows. After driving everyone home, we enjoyed the fire until it burned out. Tikanas: How's the vegan meal planning coming along with DS? I have to check out the cooking forum, I guess. Saturday, I spent fixing up a leg-o-lamb for company. I served it with roasted peppers and onions, with a big greek salad on the side. Appetizers were yellow and orange peppers wrapped in prosciutto and Soppressata salami and Asiago cheese bundles. It was all yummers and then we had a few pistachios and tiny, tiny brownies for dessert, along with some homemade hot buttered rums-----HEY!- it IS winter time here! I have been good with my diet and exercise all week and am down a pound. I decided to have fun one day a week and not beat myself up about it. From the beginning of the year, I just made myself a deal that, during 6 days of the week, I'll pose the question, "Is this GOOD for my body?" before I eat anything. The 7th day, I don't have to ask the question or go traveling on a guilt trip. I am tired of spending the last 8 years on a diet and am seeing how this works for me. The winter snow brightness has brought DH's mood back out of the depressions he faces in the winter overcast here, so things around the house are cheerier for now. Besh -as Jimmy Buffet would say, "I WANNA GO WHERE IT'S WARM!" lol. Just some constant sunlight would be great! Raeanne~ I have to thank you for the card, you sweet thing. You always brighten my day. You are such a thoughtful gal. ((((((((((Love ya)))))))))) Thanks so much. I am here today; I have at least 12 loads of laundry to do. Our family company left and there are sheets, towels, bedding, etc, etc, etc. I wish I had a BIG table to fold on! Why are laundry rooms so durned small? Marci~ I am supposed to read some specific books for the Expressions in Writing class I'm taking. I'll pass them on to you if they're good. One I read this summer was Knight in Rusty Armor. It'd be good for lots of guys I know to read! It's very easy to read and cute and reflective. In other news, my ex has decided to marry the girl he left his most recent wife for. They keep getting younger. (((SIGH))) Anyway, almost exactly 1 year after he divorced the last one, he's marrying again. I fear he'll never settle down, but he is super committed to our 2 girls, and they to him, so that's the best I can hope for. Neither DD is big on marriage, though, and I can see why! NHSuzanne~ Sister Gift with Words - You paint a calm picture. Thank you for the vision. My thought on the birthday exchange is that it should be easy. We're all busy chicks and we want to stay connected with ease. But I'd love to have a b-day pal and then ANOTHER pal that I could send cards and trinkets to on and off over the year. Fun mail is FUN mail! I'll go with the flow as long as I don't have to organize it! ------- ((((THANKS MARCI and MADDIE for all you do!)))))) Joanne and Gretchen! LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Thanks for checking in! Well, I better get something done around here! PS: John, we miss you -- still.

trying, You sure your sellers aren't related to the ones we're buying from? :) Our sellers wanted a fast close too and we were maybe the 4th offer on their place. We couldn't close in the timeframe they wanted, so they wouldn't agree to the sale - even though we spend a week and half haggling over the price and finally agreed to something which was above we wanted and below what they wanted with both realtors also giving up some of their commission. In the end, we walked, thinking they would come back. They didn't. And this was for a difference of one mortgage payment! (around $2K) Your seller doesn't sound like he will budge - as he has already had several offers, he thinks that he can get his price. That's what our sellers thought. A lot depends on your real estate market too... Where we are in Northern VA, it seems like the market rebounded big time in Feb... stuff on the market in our price range is going in only 3 - 7 days this month compared to 70+ DOMP only a month or so earlier! Our place had been on for 130+ days! In the end, we finally caved and went back to the sellers and agreed to close later, but give them a bit more money. Still, it was $1500, not $12K!! Best of luck to you and let us know how it turns out.