Boy, we're all pretty busy.
It has been fun getting ready this year. Just determined that I'm not going to do it all, so more relaxed about everything. Still haven't decided on the 'big' dessert yet though. Maybe I'll try cranberry pie. Sounds like something good and different. One year I tried something called a sunset pie (I think) and it involved making an orange flavoured cream custard for a fill, then covering the top with slices of orange and grapefruit - all of which had to have the membranes taken off. Just about drove me crazy!! It was delicious, but I never found a way of getting the membranes off the citrus sections properly without tearing most of the sections too.
The weather has held sort of, still rainy, a few flurries that melt right away - I hope it's white for Christmas - and then I hope spring comes by the end of January!
The hats are really great and the eyebrows are really well done. I've seen some that weren't nearly so well done so am glad to see yours looking good.
Just saw that this year's quilt auctioned by the Mennonites for their charitable work sold for $9,000.00. I'll never be able to afford one of their quilts, much as I'd like one. And at that price I expect you'd have to hang it on the wall under glass, not sleep under it.
The bell choir sounds so fun. I've never had any musical training and have regretted that lack in my life, since I love music so much. I've been looking around for marimba lessons and trying to figure out just where on earth I'd put a marimba to practise on should I actually find someone running classes.
Keep warm and dry everyone - and if you're somewhere where you don't have to worry about that - please, share!!
~marilyn
What's happening in your neck of the woods .. Xmas 2011
Marilyn, cranberry pie sounds delicious..Christmas wasn't Christmas unless grandma (who raised me) made cranberry pie ,raisin pie and fig pie....you just made me a little homesick..could you share your cranberry pie recipe. Not sure I'd undertake the sunset recipe although it does sound yummy!
Mild here today, on the way home had rain offhand on. I'm loving it but my boys and grandsons who snowmobile and skii are not pleased.
Omg wonder who bought that quilt?? Company sponsor perhaps buying in support of a good causal ways thought I'd live to learn piano..took a few lessons and couldn't concentrate enough to learn..then guitar, too hard on the fingers..
My dad was musically inclined..my son Jeff can play anything, self taught..musical talent skipped a generation, I lost out..Jeff's son is talented as well..I envy musically talented people.
"M" sorry to hear about Lorna's aunt, she sounds like quite a character. As for my arm it survived the quilts..so glad they are behind me..I should be sewing the last project, Cathy's rag quilt but too tired to think straight tonight, perhaps tomorrow am.
We get off Thursday at 1:00 so although I'm now well ahead of the game I'll have time to finish a few things. Are you getting these temps and snow?
Ann, I'm always in awe of your talent and organizational skills. You give so much to your community and church. Hope they know what a treasure you are..
For ALL of you .. from ME ^_^
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3169197735801&source=jl999
~M~
Bitter cold out there..wear your skivies today..no snow though..my boys were travelling Georgian bay last year by. Snowmobile at Christmas, sure will ale their season short!
Thanks for the card "M"
Thanks for the card. I've received it from a couple of people and I think you REALLY appreciate it if you are a handbell ringer. LOL
Here's my group playing last night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8aLkKSNOAI&feature=email
We played 4 solo pieces and played bells with 10 other Carols which were sung by the congregation - quite a large one at the Anglican church down the road from our church. It was a big undertaking for my group and a big learning experience too - on being flexible, mostly.
We fly tomorrow. Will return home next Wednesday, weather and airlines permitting.
Ann , wow you sure work hard for the group. Sounded very peaceful! I have a new appreciation for this sound, thanks for sharing!
Have fun with your grandbabies in Vancouver.
Alberta Ann
Ann the first line of that carol has been playing in my head ever since I watched the first video you posted - I don't know the song unfortunately- guess I better find the whole tune and the words- so it is just the first line over and over for days now! Driving me crazy!
Started second cycle of Chemo today. All blood work is good including the kidney issue. Hope it stays that way!
Carol - good luck with the next round of chemo.
That song is also know as "Now the Greenblade Rises" (for Easter) and is included in the "Voices United" hymnal under that name. Remind me next week and I'll scan it for you as I have a hymnal at home.
You'll find lyrics to the Christmas version at: http://www.metrolyrics.com/sing-we-now-of-christmas-lyrics-michael-w-smith.html
Should have mentioned. I was told after the fact the the Governor General was in the congregation last night. Wow!
Wonderful video ViAnn .. and a GREAT audience as well ^_^
Good to hear your lab results are staying 'even keel' Carol .. finger crossed they remain that way.
Off to the Hospital with the dogs today for a 'friendly visit' .. then on to the Senior's Residence where my Hospice client is for another visit.
Love the smiles these pups bring to faces :-) Just kind of worry about Piper as he's never done this before .. Lilly is an old hand at it ..
Hopefully everyones 'stress level' is minimal .. I just have WRAPPING left to do !!
Enjoy your day
~M~
Morning, can't believe the weather, certainly not the normal for 1st day of winter but I'm ok with it just don't tell my boys as they aren't at all pleased..wanted to get some serious snowmobliling in..not going to happen.
Spend the evening last night with the grandsons doing craft project for the mom, bio grandparents and adoptive grandparents..they are thrilled with the outcome..will pick up their projects tonight. I wonder if they will give them to mom before Christmas Day for her to enjoy..will tell them it would be ok to do so.
Ann, thank goodness you didn't know who was in the audience, might have made you all nervous.
Carol, so glad some of the results came back in your favor, now you can enjoy the Christmas holidays..know you still long way to go before an all's clear but you soon will get that news.
"M" nice feeling isn't it to get everything done and have a few days of rest...am sure Piper will take Lilly's lead and all will enjoy their visit.
Off at noon today, still not sure if I'll head south Boxing Day..got to think that one out, might though..I seem to make travel plans at the drop of a hat..remember last Boxing Day??? headed to Barrie for Boxing Day shopping, got the urge to travel and by 3 in the afternoon I was on my way.
Someone else has posted a 12 minute sampler of music from the Carol Sing the other night. If you are up for it, you'll find it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_YieD5d1Pk&feature=related
Just love it, what a trendous amount od concentration is needed! I've never been anywhere that play bells, wish our churches did.
Sounds like everyone is getting things under control for Christmas.
Carol hope the Chemo went well for you.
Here is a photo of a house in our neighbourhood that is over the top.
Merry Christmas All
Alberta Ann
Carol - wow on the Makeover, and the new eyebrows! You look fantastic!!!!! Glad you're having a good Christmas planned, with friends. oh, and Yaaaaaaaaaay on your results!
ViolaAnn - loved both videos of the campanologists - makes me want to ring bells again...... should I EVER get a windfall lottery, that's what I will buy our church.
AlbertaAnn - I actually think that "over the top" house looks quite ugly.......
WHOA re the 'OVER the top deco home' .. lots of hours involved in that !!
Do they leave the lights ON all night .. would be difficult to sleep !!
Into town for blood work for Lorna .. her chest sounds a tiny bit better .. the antibiotics are really knocking her out though.
Snowing today ^_^ looks so nice ....
Take care everyone
2 more sleeps
Travel safe ViAnn and anyone else who is going to another destination other than 'Home for the Holidays' :-)
~M~
M that house is off at 930 every night and comes on about 6pm. They invite you into their yard to see a part of it that has music softly playing and the lights in that area are patterned to go to the music. I enjoy the bright cheeful lights and also watching the children who walk around with their parents marveling at each new scene they discover.
We are almost brown here not much snow at all. Hope we get a bit to cover my plants or they will have trouble this winter.
Extra health to all of you!
Alberta Ann
Ann - do they have a manger scene? I didn't see one.
It's great that the children are enjoying it - after all, isn't that what Christmas is about? children are wonderful!
Too bad we can't hear the music here lol
We're kinda brown here too, and the next few days are going to be +7c or higher, so I suspect it will be a brown Christmas, but that's ok - Christmas is what Christmas is lol
Susan
They don't have a Manger Scene but they do have Angles.
We will get to share your brownness as we are coming to Calgary for a couple of days.
Carol how is the second treatment?
M is Lorna getting better?
Betty how is the head?
Ann I think you are in Vancouver with your Family.
Cyber spring at the end of January, I think you are dreaming.
Joy has left some good photos of the Heritage House that she was just at on the last thread , just in case you missed it.
See you all after Christmas.
Alberta Ann
awww Angels....... how lovely - I couldn't see them in the picture, but I'm sure there are many sides to it :-)
When are you going to be in Calgary?
Hi Alberta Anne I found the thread.Thanks.Have a happy Christmas and we will talk when you get home.We had some snow so it looks more like Christmas.My back yard. JOY
how peaceful, Joy! I love it!
My DS finally put up the outside lights.He threw most of them out when he cleaned out the basement. I don't go down to the basement anymore.He gets rather ruthless when he finally cleans it!!.Our lights aren't over the top!!I do like the way they wrapped the lights around the tree trunks though.Here is our effort.JOY
oh, what a pretty tree! and the wrapping of the deck fencing is so right!
Just to let you know that we are safely in Vancouver and being kept very busy. Not likely to have much time to write while we are here. Tuesday we fly to Portland, OR and back together with DH's cousin to visit a 95 yr-old aunt who, for the first time decided not to come to Vancouver for Christmas. It's down and back the same day and then on Wednesday we return home.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
Morning all, safe travels for those of you travelling and safe travels for family members who may be travelling to be with you.
Loved the photo's on both threads..
Been up most of the night taking gravel, tinge of something..went and got remaining veggies and fruit needed for tomorrow, was there at 5am, hardly a soul shopping, bet it won't be same in a few hours..
Going to clean craft room then might have a lay down
Be back in a bit, in the meantime enjoy your day..hope Santa brings you all something special tonight!
AKKKKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk it's HERE .. Christmas EVE Day !!! Someone let it sneak up on me ^_^
Have decided, what's done is done, what's not we'll live with .. no one will go hungry or go without gifts, and, for that I am happy and thankful.
Merriest of Chritmases to all of you ....
~M~
Smart thinking "M"..
Laying on the chesterfield, sunshine beaming in.
Wasn't feeling the best last night, felt better this am..decided to keep my hair appointment..
Guess I shouldn't have,,passed out, they me in chair, had another spell so they called Greg..bad part about living in small town, everybody knows everyone..
Got the riot act given to me by Greg, he has my car and says I'll not get it back for a bit!
This message was edited Dec 24, 2011 2:14 PM
Warming up here although I still have a fair bit of snow in the yard.
Went out yesterday - I think I had 6 places to go to get six items and that was the end of sopping- now Im home for at least the next two days not even going out for Xmas dinner.
I still have not done any Xmas cards or letters - apart from being a pretty good procrastinator I guess part of it is it was not a good year and ending even worse than last year so not a lot of good news to tell friends and family. Maybe that is what I should do on Xmas day.
I'm slowly working on dog beds that need to be done by Jan14 for a rescue fund raiser. Another volunteer and I cut out about 20 beds last month ( we have lots of small and medium and needed big ones)and now I have half of them layered ( ran out of polyfill!) and have started trimming and pinning them. Once that is done I will put an extra leaf in the kitchen table and bring up the sewing machine and finish them off. Works better for me to do sort of a production line. The polyfill will go on sale Jan 1 for a day so I may have to get out and shop! Otherwise it is pretty expensive.
Sorry that pic is pretty small!
This message was edited Dec 24, 2011 10:39 AM
finished the 50 Christmas cards for friends in our church - I had originally made bookmarks for everyone, then realized I put ChriTSmas (all lower case, just showing you my spelling mistake lol) so had to reprint the 3/4 of them I'd done - each card hard 1, 2, or 3 bookmarks........ yikes! I'll give some to the Christmas Eve party at a friends, some tonight at Christmas Eve Service, and the balance tomorrow morning at the Christmas morning service.
Our choir sings Christmas Eve & morning - we're in the congregation on the Eve, but will sing an anthem at the piano.
Tomorrow we have our Christmas dinner with 4 friends, and then on Boxing Day we're invited to a friend's that cannot make it for Christmas Day - I'm to bring dessert...... Bread pudding I offered, and she said she had never heard of it, but she'd "try" it.siiiiiiiiiigh
If you're going to ask someone to bring dessert, you shouldn't be so negative about what they bring. 'sides, she's having roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, so I figure bread pudding is English enough to "fit in"
Merry Christmas everyone
Hope Santa made his yearly visit and found you to be just about perfect all year round and thus he left gift that will awe you!
Very quiet here, entire street still sleeping, I'm sitting enjoying a coffee, pies in the oven, all the trays made up..thought if I started early enough and did a bit at a time I'll feel ok today.
Green Christmas and mild..great for those travelling though..
Enjoy your day...may it be special
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours as well Betty !!!
Just the furries and myself are up, but, I do see that Santa did visit ^_^
Enjoy your day ... we have a white Xmas but, if you can believe it .. are expecting temps in the +10 range (and higher) over the next 2 weeks!!
HO HO HO!!
~M~
Merry Christmas all!
Merry Christmas carol and "M"' just doesn't feel like Christmas going outside without a jacket does it.
Quiet day so far, haven't even opened a gift, family will arrive in a few hours and will open when they open theirs.
Sure smells nice..
2 turkeys cooking, cabbage rolls, tortierre's, ham..veggies ready
Have craft room tables set up so all 14 of us can eat at same table
Head still not the best so once the turkey's come out and the rest is cooking on low I can have a short nap without burning anything!
Merry Christmas everyone. I've read through the posts and caught up on the news. All wishes for better health and safe travels. It's 10*, raining and windy here.The family will be together for dinner today. first time in years, Life is alright. Blessings to you.
AND, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Linda ..
Hard to believe TBay will have those temps in a couple of days!
ENJOY your get together ^_^
~M~
Happy birthday Linda
Actually had a few flurries, then turned into a light rain, close to freezing rain
Time to relax now
Sister is coming to spend the day with me tomorrow..kids will be here Neil lunch then heading home...
Soooo hoping to be sleeping in beyond the 4:30 mark
Sure hope you've all enjoyed your christmas
Well .. I/WE made it to Boxing day ^_^
ONE 'even' in the Christmas Day had us a bit gloomy.
I rec'd an electric turkey roaster as a gift. Of course I wanted to USE it ..
Put the turkey in at 2pm (15lb turkey) and, it was to be done before 6 .. the roaster cooks the turkey at 375F .. opened the roater at 5:30 .. made a 'check cut' .. PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!
So .. I left it in there til almost 7pm .. and it turned out very welll .. phew !!
Today will be 'set up day' .. new printers, eReaders, phones .. ought to be fun (I hope)
HAPPY BOXING DAY !!!
~M~
Merry Christmas everyone. I have the big family dinner today, so got to keep going. Just taking 10 minutes out to eat and relax.
Betty, the cranberry pie recipe was in one of the recent DG weekly emails - I'll send you the recipe when I have more time if you can't find it.
The filling was cooked in the microwave in this recipe, and I don't like it really. What I'll do is do it on the stove next time so I have more control.
Does anyone know if cranberries have to be cooked in a glass or enamel pot like rhubarb, or can they be cooked in a metal pot?
Keep well, and I hope Santa was good to you all, an that you had time with family and friends.
~m