Lol, was wondering where you were. Hoped your seeds would get there in time to be a present. Let me know when they come. Love ya.

I guess I'll go shopping again today. I have to get gifts for my Mom, sister, nephew and BIL. I hate going shopping on the weekend. I gave Madi another iTouch and told her if she loses this one that's it! Jake picked out a bunch of stuff at the swim meet and I picked up a couple video games for him. I'll probably just give him money and pick up the some of the other things that Madi wants. She gave me a list of a dozen fairly expensive items that she wanted, Jake couldn't think of anything. Boys are so much easier! Kyle got a bunch of toys and I'll pick up some more during the week. DH has his eye on another TV. Whichever he decideds on will be from the kids and I. We need another TV like a hole in the head. I think I've bought him a TV or some type of audio/visual thing every year for the past 6 years, real imaginitive. lol At least the holiday lasts for 8 days so I don't have to have everything ready at once. DH surprised me with a beautiful cashmere coat that I showed him a while back. I'm surprised that he remembered. I have the Kate Spade bag that I bought myself and said it was from the kids. That lets them off the hook.

It snowed last night so everything is a blanket of white for Christmas day. I feel a little guilty, but I don't think it is too deep so I'm not going out with the snowblower til tomorrow. I'm the caregiver for my Mom, and it is just the two of us this year. We open presents on Christmas Eve, so we had a lovely night with the house decorated, the fireplace going and the tree all decorated and lit. Then about 11:00 pm as I was settling into bed but not asleep yet, I heard this funny thump and a tinkling. Uh oh, that can't be what it sounded like! Sure enough, go out to the living room and the tree had fallen over. Didn't fall out of it's stand, just tipped the stand and flopped over! Luckily only one ornament broken. Unfortunately, it was one of my favorites, my duck bell. If you are now scratching your head and going, "Duck bell???", it has a bell for a body with a duck neck and head on top and duck feet for the clappers. Very cute. Fortunately I think I can glue it back together. And I was very relieved that none of the older (my grandmother's and mother's) ornaments were hurt. Anyway, just stood the tree up again, filled up the water and everything seems back to normal today. We just had a simple dinner (lunch?) today, turkey and cranberries, asparagus, rolls and peppermint ice cream. And just for snacks, of course, we have 3 lbs. of See's candy and assorted cookies, fudge and other goodies in the house. Should be enough to last for awhile! Forgot to mention the wine we had with lunch, which will make Mom nice and sleepy. So I figure she will plop herself down in front of the football game and promptly fall asleep, thus giving me a restful Christmas afternoon to read or shop on the computer - my sister-in-law gave me an Amazon gift certificate. Which reminds me, Mom gave me a moth orchid for Christmas. First orchid I've tried, so anybody who has any tips, send them along. Also growing paperwhites this year (usually do amarylis). They are just starting to bloom. Look lovely. However, they are supposed to have a wonderful fragrance and while they do have quite a strong smell, I'm not so sure yet that it's wonderful. Maybe it will improve as they open more, or maybe I will get used to it. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all of you and yours.

A very Happy Hanukkah from me too... Ellen, can you eat sweet potatoes(yams) instead of potato? I hear those make great latkes... Maybe I'll make Latkes...never made them or eaten them...but depending on which day I decide to serve Christmas dinner..I need another "dinner" for the other day..LOL