Hi Everyone! This has been my first chance to log on since that day. Thank you all for your kind words..it really does help. Here is the update on the naughty tree. That night my DH and I went to Lowes and bought a second stand, this one doesn't pivot so you have to be pretty darn good at getting it straight the first time BUT it came with 8 screw "thingees"...bi leveling so if the trunk is crooked the 8 will get it at both levels. It seems to be working. I got up at 4am on Thurs to re-decorate with the remaining ornaments and I have to say it looks better the second time around! Funny thing it took me another 4 hours to redo it. As for hubby and I going to store for app's for the party, that didn't transpire since he worked right up til the start of the party on Friday evening. So on Thurs am I went to the grocery store for the fixings and of course there was a HUGE storm coming early that afternoon and that is also the day grocery stores change sales...so it was crowded with people buying food as thought we would be socked in for years by snow and the thursday die hard shoppers..what a mess! To top it off I had a ladies luncheon to attend late morning to early afternoon. That part was fun! Friday was utter chaos. NO help from DH, kids were in school, so no help there. When the final hours came around, stuff was shoved here there and everywhere, but the house "looked" clean and the food was good. Some people didn't show so we had lots of leftovers. The rest of the weekend was dedicated to cleaning up. My feet were killing me and I am so happy to be back at work sitting on my tush for 8 hours. Tonight I have to find some stuff that I stuffed who knows where. Thank you again for your support. Happy Holidays to all. Heidi

Jasdip mine is probably from the 60's I think. My sister bought it at a thrift store, but it didn't have a power cord with it. If you remember a couple of months ago I asked if anyone on here could tell me where to get one. The company was out of business. When I was in Michigan I always looked in the thrift stores to see if I could find one. One day I found one for a dollar and I thought even if it doesn't work I am only out of a dollar. When I came home I tried it and it works. We really like to use it.

Susan, any time I make burgers and add lentils or black beans to them, they don't hold together well. I Iike to add a bit of legumes for more fiber. We love chipotle and adobo. I should look that recipe up, just for the flavour. Raven, you've been feeling crappy for a few days, I sure hope you get back on your feet and feeling chipper again. Shirley soup and sandwich always goes down good at our house. Angela, you've been holding true with getting more vegetables into your husband's diet. Your dinner sounds good, as all stir-fries do. Prairie_rose....what, feeding the calves and doing chores isn't enough exercise for you?? I like making baked ziti instead of lasagna, the flavour is there, but it's easier to make. :-) Rhizo, pulled chicken sandwiches sound good!

Your dinners all sound great (well, except for Kathsgrdn!). Angela, it's too bad you don't like leftovers, it sure saves a lot of time and energy in making meals. Bob your meatballs sound good, as does Raven's sub, and Jim and Susan's burrito and chili dinners. Shirley, I was thinking that we should have had a roll with our pasta, but as usual the pasta grew and it would have been too much.