LOLOL! Thank you everybody. So very nice of you to think of me. : ) What a surprise to come here and find my post resurrected. I was just stoppin' in to see what Semper had to say about the big game. : ) I'd love to give you an update..... Well, first of all....it's a boy! Things are going pretty well with the pregnancy. I only have 3 more mos. to go! I see the doc today for a check up and will start to go every 2 weeks from now on. I'm bustin' at the seams, lol. Been driving DH crazy....the frigid temps. have had me on "pond watch" and I walk up to check on things several times a day. He always tells me to come right back in the house but I end up fiddling around with one of my de-icer contraptions or something and disappear for a while. He is now making me take the walkie talkie with me, lol. Guess he's afraid my large belly might throw me off balance and into the water. The new house is coming along but the bad weather and a death in the family has slowed us down. Our fingers are crossed that it will warm back up into the 20's or 30's this weekend so we can get back to work. Right now our biggest fear is the cold temps. causing the footers to heave and that would be BAD. DH is pretty much throwing up right now he's so worried. It's the coldest weather we've had in over 10 years. The deck (floor) is complete and we are currently in the middle of framing. We've built most of the walls but haven't stood them up yet. We decided to construct our 22' tall see-through fireplace first. Mainly because it is also structural and our ridge boards will run in to it. So basically we look like the crazy people with the smokestack on the hill. We are ready to start standing up walls and hopefully start on the roof trusses as soon as the weather allows. And as long as nothing heaved. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll post a pic of the giant smokestack as soon as I go over and take a new one. The pics I have now were taken in bad weather and you can't see real good. Poor DH keeps saying that this project is going to kill him. All the worrying is causing him a "slow death" he says. I'm trying to keep him positive. It's definitely an adventure and I have faith that someday we'll be happy we made this decision. Semper, yes, let's hope they are back in there next year. Really looking forward to seeing how things go with our new coach. I may have to go up to training camp and spy. Comet, no herons at the new place would be wonderful! I'm still trying to figure out how to heron-proof the new pond in an aesthetically pleasing kinda' way. ; ) Hope you are all doing well and getting through this cold weather with no troubles. Thanks again! I had a great day...what could be better than football and birthday cake? ~Dawn (mamabirrd)

Jeri, you were not late, just right on time. And besides, at my age late is fine. Thanks My dear Sue of the beautiful smile and bestest oodles thank you and I can't wait to see you in May. Krista, I worked yesterday, but I had a fabulous weekend filled with friends and wonderful food. Thanks. Florence, you are the best and we all appreciate you on this site. I love your pictures of the sprawling ramblers in your backyard. Carol, our memories are very special and can never be taken away. My time in SC is special to me, so back at you girl. Jackie, Miss Manners says that you need to visit me so that I can repay your hospitality. But, you know that I would love to see your garden in its glory and sip some wine by the lake. You are so dear to me. Geez Joe, I need to see your garden. Your pictures are breathtaking and I hear such good things. Thank you. Melissa, I hope to get to you one of these days when the dollar gets a bit stronger. My guess is that with young children, it will be a while before you make it across the states to beautiful (and not humid) California. Thanks Carol

Thank you all, my dear, dear friends. Yesterday we had one of those days here at our house -- no water for 36 hours, Freya sneaking a pizza off the kitchen counter, and the smell of fresh polyurethane pervading the cold, damp house.... On the other hand, I had the loving affection of Tom and my DS Jacob, calls and cards from family, and greetings from all of you. And tonight we're going out to dinner to try celebrate again. Carla, Luanne, Jon, Anita, Lori, Ingrid, Sue, Carolina, Pamela, and Carol -- each one of your messages brought smiles and memories to my mind. I just realized that with the exception of Ingrid, I know each one of you in the Real World (as opposed to online) -- Ingrid, we'll just have to correct that soon. The only birthday wish I have left (besides more rain) is to hope that I get to see you all again as frequently and as soon as may be. Rosefolly

Good Morning Everyone, Sorry I've been away so long - time for me to re-join the world. Again, I can't thank you all enough for the kindness and support that has come from this group. There was such an outpouring of love - you all are truly special! Shirley and Dawn, that is just too funny when you say that your Mom/Gram did all the talking for the men - it was just the same with my FIL and MIL - she definitely did all the planning for what they would do and also talked for him much of the time. He would just get that twinkle in his eye and smile. It must be such a common thing with couples that are together for so many years. We (the family) finally all got together yesterday and celebrated Christmas. Art was so sick and in the hospital much of December and into January that we just never did it. Yesterday was the first time we were all together since the funeral. We all had some good laughs and some good crys, but definitely felt his presence there with us. Carol, I am so sorry to hear of your granddaughter's miscarriage. I know that you were excited for the baby even though she was so young. We always have to try to believe that everything is for a reason to help us accept and get through it. Oh, it must have been so hard to let those last two sweet little pups go! Glad your planning for a vacation and something to look forward to. Dawn, crossing my fingers and saying a prayer that your footers stay put until the temps warm. Once it warms up are you guys ready to get the walls in place now? I'm looking forward to seeing pics when that happens and it really looks like a house. It will be so fun for you too when you are able to start doing some of the things inside. New belly pictures too please - I imagine you're quite a bit bigger since the last picture. It is such a cool feeling when the baby starts really moving around alot when they get bigger. I can remember actually seeing a knee or a foot pushing out from my belly sometimes. Oh yes, and the hiccups. These next couple of months are going to go so fast for you now. Now really is the time for you to try to get get lots of rest and also get anything done to prepare. Your life is about to change forever - very exciting but very physically and emotionally draining much of the time too. We just celebrated my firstborn's 14th birthday last week and I look back and wonder where the time has gone. Feeling a little anxiety already about how fast the next few years will go by and I have to let him go out into the world. Annie, I am also so sorry to hear about Kelly's miscarriage. I'm glad she is feeling better now though. Your family has certainly been through enough. You are such an amazing woman to always keep your chin up and stay so strong. Sharon, Nancy, Carol, Annie and Dawn - Just want to say thank you for being the "bones" of our group lately. We all have times that we all but disappear for awhile and there always seems to be a core group that steps up and keeps it going, keeps us all connected. Thank you for being that these past few weeks. And speaking of disappearances - Miss Cindy, I sure do miss you and could certainly use some pictures of some of your awesome daylilies right about now. Oh, and please drag that friend of yours Sherri on over here too. Miss you guys. Marea, love the canna in the living room pictures. It's so nice that your sun is strong enough to grow them indoors in the winter. What a nice thing to look at in February. Glad to hear you're still making progress towards your move. I'll bet you will be so happy when it's done. "Snazzy Memories' is just beautiful and will be so meaningful to Dawn and Jenna. Once again, I am so touched by your big heart. I hope that some day we are all lucky enough to have 'Snazzy Memories' in our gardens. I have a few hostas that were potted on the porch that I ended up bring in a few weeks ago. They have all sprouted and opened their leaves. Makes me want Spring even more. An early arrival would be just fine with me.It is so cold here too right now. Hope you're all remembering to keep those bird feeders full. I've been filling mine twice a day. The birds will just sit in the trees within 3' of me now waiting while I fill them. I barely turn my back to head for the house before they flock to the feeders and ground to eat. The poor babies are so cold and hungry right now. Barb, hope your "blueness" ends soon and things start looking up for you and hubby. Missing your posts. I'm going to try to get those DL seeds out to you soon. Debbie, MaryS, Gloria and Angie, it was so nice to see you all post. Please come around more often - miss you guys. Jo, I don't think I have ever seen you so quiet - miss you too but know how busy your life is these past few months. Please let us hear from you. Anita, so sorry about the tragedy at your house. Hope your hubby realizes that he did all he could for his friend and feels at peace with it. We sure would like to hear from you again soon too. Dawn, how are the fish? Well, enough rambling. Sorry if I missed anyone. Got to work later on today so I have some chores to do at home ofcourse. Hope you all have a great day. Any big Colts or Bears fans here? Hugs, MaryB