Best/Worse/What did I learn today?chat with friends old&new

♪♪♪ Merry Christmas ♪♪♪ to all of you.
I keep up with you every day. Debbie so happy for you.
Betty be very careful. God bless all of you. Love and prayers to all.

Merry Christmas Liz.

COWABUNGA Debbie .. what a GREAT gift .. absolutely irreplaceible too .. hug him for a week!

Our stint at the Hospital is done, it was AMAZING!!! Loved every minute of it despite all the walking with the dang cane .. Murray looked awesome .. my segway to ... PICS ^_^

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone ..

HUGE HUGS

~M~

Love those pictures. Thanks for sharing your day.

The pictures are wonderful Thanks for sharing. So glad your day went well. hugs, katie

awwww what a wonderful Claus family.....!!
and did you adopt the elf? lol

Just got in, hope you are enjoying Christmas Eve

Exhausted, be back on Christmas Day

Ahhh but a few hours

Merry Christmas dear friends, both thos who chat and lurk

Iyouve all been so loving and supportive, no better gift santa couldmbring than your friendship!!

Merry Christmas Betty dear. Are you still up or back up? Been a busy day here today too.

Just restless Karen, nauseated, sure hooe it's just from nerves and not that I caught Melanie's flu bug..

What are you doing up so early or late. Lol. Bet you are enjoying your time with family!

Thinking of Sharon and how upset she was last night, not a gift for her family this morning!! She cried and cried as I left..managed to make her promise to change the name on the gift i brought for Nikki, a silver bracelet to her name..

Everything from the past 3 weeks got to her, then getting the update just before I arrived saying that hydro (power) likely wouldn't come on until the weekend was the icing on the cake.

So glad I cooked the Christmas meal and drove last night to drop it off.

Was a lovely surprise, when I got there having my brother Mike and his family visiting.

Sharon's neighbor Larry is certainly this Christmas' earthly angel..his friend just had his power restored so he picked up his generator and brought it to Sharon's so no sharing his..brought more wood so she has heat..with generator Jim had heat, was nice and toasty.

A friend had brought them a warm meal for lunch and as I left another friend was bringing a hand cranked radio and a 2 burner cooker..

She has set her alarm to ring every 1 1/2 hrs so not to let the fire go out

Says when all of this is behind her she will take a 2 week vacation and just bake in the sunshine.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Betty - glad that Sharon has that to look forward to....... ah vacations in hot spots..yeeeeeesssssss!!!
Earthly angels show up when you least expect them, and most need them :-)

This experience that you and your family are living right now is the true meaning of Christmas. You are seeing that neighbors really do care and that family will stick together for the good of all. God bless you all and Merry Christmas Betty.

And a most joyous and happy Christmas to all my friends - you are more like family than you know.....

wishing you all a very merry christmas

A very Merry Christmas all.

Betty also tell Sharon that a fan on low will help the fireplace heat disperse a bit more.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

My sleigh is packed and ready to go. Friend Barbara won't be an elf this year; she will be with a friend who lost her husband this year. However, friend Maria will be here about 9:30 and we will make the rounds

Betty, you, Sharon, Jim and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers during theses difficult times. How wonderful that friends and neighbors are helping. That's the best Christmas gift. Knowing what Christmas means to your family I can understand Sharon being so upset. Will is console her to know she can probably hit the post-Christmas sales and get bargains for next year? Probably not, but it's a thought. Might make her smile.

I need to wake up and then arrange stuffed animals and candy in the back of the sleigh.

Back later,.

hugs, katie

Thanks everyone..thoughts and prayers appreciated !

Brrr -29 right now, just turned up the heat

Was at Greg's for opening of gifts, talk about spoilt

Walked in and there sat a BIG electric recliner , said 'self, sure hope its Greg's Christmas pressie' but NOT.. Seems the boys think mom with her knees and hips need something more comfy

Have no idea where it will go .. Showed excitement as it was given to me with thoughts of my best interest..guess my wing chair can go in my bedroom

I best be grateful

Took photo's and will share

Enjoying listening to the chatter about your day

Waving to all

Kids must be sleeping in, no call to watch them open Santa's gifts yet! Can't you tell they are teens now, even Santa doesn't get them up and out of bed early!

"M" you can see from your photo's just how much you enjoyed hanging out with Santa..ust love the photo's, thanks for sharing.

Katie, how are you making out with gift deliveries in the new Santa mobile??

few photo's from last night to share..

1 One Christmas Dinner come up/light box for Larry
2 beautiful drive to Sharon's yesterday, frosty but clear, even a rainbow
3. brother Mike and nephew Andrew
4. God daughter Michelle and great nephew Ethan (playing shy)
5. Emotional time for Peter, Michelle's hubby, lost his dad and mom this year

there were placemat set for all

1. bag for Sharon, she kept eye'ing mom's and mine
2. mom loved her quilt, went straight to show Jimmy who was sleeping
3.reading the documents for Jim saying I had a star named in his honor and poem of course
that made us cry
4.Inuk must have know Sharon was down, never left her side
5. wanted a kiss before I left..never demonstrative but tonight he wanted and needed hugs
and kisses

1. Ned wouldn't leave grandma alone..poor Sophie was jealous
2. Noah was thrilled with his motion camera..able to take video's while driving his dirt
bike and snowmobiling
3. wanted to take Melanie's Christmas gift home..would fit in my hallway
actually made me feel good to see a lot of my painting and quilting set around the house
4 Kyle got Apple TV unit which turns everything on his computer to his big screen t.v.
5. You should have seen him smile when he got a copy of what his personalized car plate
will be..take 5 weeks to get so likely from the time Mel ordered it he'll have them next week

1. kisses and more kisses
2. Greg asking if his photo was going to be on DG..no don't think so..think he believed me?
3. tight fit but found a place for the high back chair for now
4. Suzanne and Lenny and the kids gave a this gorgeous birdhouse and cutting/ironing board for the office lol, doubt I will put the birdhouse out and Paul and Wilena sent me the light unit that fits around the neck

great items to add to my sewing box

5. and of course I admired the quilt that took me months to make, perhaps because I made 3
and can't quite understand why I didn't make a 4th, one for me lol

always I include a hand painted item..for Melanie the clay flower pot done in Christmas design, am doing the fall one for her birthday and the Victorian santa for Julie

don't mind giving these 2 as I have the same decorating my living room.

I wouldn't be Betty if I wasn't already planning and starting items for xmas 2014 lol

Hi all, and a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS ..
Wonderful pics Betty, so gald to see smiles from everyone even in the circumstances that surround you ..
The pic of you and Jim is a treasure !!!

Yesterday was just so heart wrenching .. but, I loved seeing the children and giving them their gifts .. unfortunately, as we walked the hall going back to the foyer, a friends hubby called to me, I think i may have mentioned my friend Jewl who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Sept ? We nursed together, and were friends, for years .. Ted told me she was very poor, and would love to see me ..so, I went and spent a good hour with her .. it was so hard to watch her suffer .. the drugs are not working, so, I spoke to one ot the nurses who I semi know from a course I took with her, and, mentioned Versed .. a drug that would lightly sedate Jewel .. the doc was there, and he assured me he would consider it .. I'm sure I looked quite something all dressed up as Mrs Claus in the nurses station sitting talking with an oncologist .. at any rate, Ted called last evening, the Versed was tried, lowest dose, and Jewl (bless her heart) was asleep .. i await a call with the news od her passing ..
She lived a good life, albeit a short one ..

Fam is coming over in a bit for traditional dinner .. turkey is on the cook, and the house is good to go ..

Take care everyone, will have some pics to post a bit later ..

~M~

Before things get RANGY TANGY here, I thought I'd post some pics ..

Thinking of all of you and hoping your day is SPLENDIFEROUS !!!

Ho Ho Ho

~M~

Dogs and cats and .. PEOPLE !!

That is not good news "M" ,like Jim pray that if days on earth as painful ones may the Lord bring the home.

Waiting for family as well..

Yikes, chilled to the bone, waiting forfamily to arrive as well..

Storming here, not the best for Jeff and family to be travelling in.

Oh "M"' thanks for posting the photo's and allowing us to be part of you Christmas..Grand you are feeling well enough to cook the Christmas meal. Wish Lorna Merry Christmas for me please.

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas.

Have read and posted a nice long post from my new to me iPhone!! Lol I am with the times now! Its very much like my tabby...only I can ringle jingle too!! And I hit some wrong thing and poof post gone big big bummer...

I have really smiled and weeped and and smiles some more at reading this morning sharing your wonderful day.

God bless you all.

Betty, you are one incredible woman. It sounds like you are making everyone's Christmas wonderful day. I just love the photos especially you and Jim.

Sure hope you do not get that fly bug...

Barbara I am so glad you were able to go visit with family! Very happy you checked with your doc...

Debbie! Was doing the happy tears this morning. What a Merry Christmas Mama! Enjoy every minute . your kids sure know how to surprise you, just love it.

Awe Katie, yeppers I was sure just a smiling away with your Christmas! I bet the kids were so excited to see Santa mobile cant wait to hear all about you day!!

M...so very wonderful. Loved the pics...I'm sure it was an amazing time.

Another amazing story from Marion!! Brought tears to my eyes... What a live your granddaughter is. It always blows me away at how children can hit the heart strings at the right moment.

We had our family gathering yesterday and it was just lovely .. I must have been a good girl this year...remember my kids took Petrie shopping, well they did more than shop!! Just look at my Christmas present, been asking for years, not this year and you bet I exploded in tears!! Its a canvas print!! Hung it up immediately.

Lets, see lol so i just found out the people at verison screwed things up! So a few people received a Christmas greeting from an unknown number its me!! Just temporary probably till riday. Meantime, im starving, Steve too...we are having a test tomorrow so have to fast today!

Anyway back to my portrait..they have several poses and had the family choose lol i swiped a wallet size too, grin. Hopefully youcan see the tabby photo better!

I sure hope you are alll enjoying the day. Please be safe in any travelingyou are doing

Linda kay, sending prayers for your family, i was so sorry to hear of the loss your Dil has had.
How was your gathering..bet Dylan is getting big!

Should have said yesterday, Happy Birthday Dianne..hope you are doing ok. Sending armwraps to you.

Well Ive got a call to make be back a little later.

Merry Christmas to everyone. My daughter, Kim, and I just returned from spending the day with her brother and family. Wonderful, wonderful day as I am sure all of you were/are having. My sister had Christmas with our Aunt who is the last sibling of the 11. I am so thankful she was with someone today....and seemed to really enjoy it.

Our weather has turned cold and I am so loving every second of it!!!!

Love all your photos's Betty! Your going to love that chair if you take long enough to sit in it!
Judy, I love that family photo!

Dylan is getting so big, and was such a joy to watch the kids open gift this morning. They are in the way back home.

Elf Maria and I were out for a little oover two hours. Incredible natural high. Maria completely understands why I say I do it for me and wants to go every year. Came home ehausted, slept for four hours and got up to feed the dogs - liver for Christmas!!! - and to report another wonderful Christmas.

We talked about the families whose children have grown up and now have children of their own. We met a lot of new people. Had lots of pictures taken.

Gave away three big bags full of stuffed animals and about forty pounds of hard candy. There are a few things left in the sleigh but not much.

Our last visit was to the home of Tony's in-laws. Tony had gone to visit his parents and Antonio (2nd son) was sleeping but there were lots of people there and they were all delighted to see us. The in-laws have a home business making bricks which they "cook" in a home-made oven. We were given a tour of the "factory." They live in an area not far from Tony's house but quite isolated and beautiful. They have a lot of land with horses and chickens.

I got an especially nice hug from Pepe who is married to the sister of Tony's wife, Fely. He's the man I call our "human back hoe." He's big and strong and drop-dead gorgeous. When I see size4X t-shirts on sale in the US I buy them for him. I am careful to bring his wife presents also so she will not think I have designs on him. He gave "Santa" a huge hug and huge smile and Santa almost swooned. One the way home I mentioned him to Maria. She immediately knew who I meant; she had noticed him. "He's gorgeous," she said. He is also very gentle and seems quite unaware of how attractive he is. Which, of course, makes him even more attractive.

Another wonderful year full of surprises and many, many people, adults and children alike, who were happy to see Santa.

Like Betty, I now start to prepare for next year.

hugs, katie

Evening all,


LindaKay, love the photo, Lordy those two young ones have sure grown..
And Judy,move your family photo..imagine taking Petrie for a familie photo.hard to believe they are so grown up.

Katie, now I want to see your 'hunk'. Maybe someone who took photo's will share one with you so we can see it.....you have a santa outfit? Sooo glad you enjoyed your day..

Quite the day, day filled with sadness and much joy..roller coaster kind of day
Lots of talk about Christmas's past, I've certainly been blessed

Called Sharon, hard day for her, like I she was heading to bed..

Will share photo's tomorrow

Happy happy belated irthday Dianne..sure wish you could post, starting to fret

Still snowing heavily

Kids all said it was hard to beat last year and the year before but said I managed to do it.

Happy BDay to Dianne (belatedly) and Linda (MG99) in British Columbia today ^_^

Love the pics Lindak and Judy, would love to see some of Katies exciting day with her bears .. I bet is was just amazing.

Full on Christmas dinner here , all cleaned up now, dishwasher is humming away, and I am going to bed, as much as I loved the preparations and being with family, my hip has had it, and I am TOAST.

I sure hope Lorna doesn't want to do the gym thing tomorrow! I just want to RELAX !!

Take care all

~M~

Merry Christmas to all....

HUGS BETTY!

I have my SANTA WARREN BOX ! Hoping you all don't mind if I open tomorrow or perhaps this weekend.

Love
Mary

PS: What a wonderful Christmas present Debbie ! Happy for you..... :o)

And, POOF, it's over!
The 26th is always such an anticlimactic day, I try not to think back at all the shattered nerves etc from rushing around making preparations .. yesterday was a wonderful day, and, I'm sure today will be as well ..
Not sure what the day will bring, but, I'm ready for it ..

Enjoy your days everyone

Toodles

~M~

My day to unwind, getting house back in order

Christmas tree is down, have decorations all but coralled, now to make a few treks in hip high snow to get the totes..made mental note to self " put totes one inside the other and store on back deck" life would be so much easier today!

Will not go to Sharon's likely until Saturday.

Got invited to Jeff's for New Years ..Greg and Melanie will be in Detroit for 3 days for the outdoor hockey game..it's one day at a time here, decisions are made on a as per need kind of planning.

Still no power for Sharon's area, she will have pneumonia when this is all over

Thrilled your Christmas was the Christmas you wanted and got to enjoy

Got craft room goodies, once I have Christmas put away I will go through and ohh and ahh

Good Morning.

Ah yes a day to relax...that was our day yesterday.
today we have a procedure. Icky...Lol we are planning a nice steak dinner.
For now its drinking cleansing liquid, very icky.

Wow Betty, lol you dont waste any time...lol we actually just finished decorating...will take everything down Jan 2.

I really enjoyed reading/seeing about everyones day(s).

So Katie, I was wondering if people know its you or do you keep that part a secret?

Well I got to fimd something to read while I wait my turn...Steve goes first,snicker,snicker.

Enjoy the day of relaxation.

I agree with Judy, Betty you sure don't waste any time. After mine and Kim's fiasco trying to get an artificial tree this year (due to new kitten) we ended up using a small tree I had purchased for mom's room during her time at the nursing home. Glad we used it as it brought a very special feeling for the day. It will stay up with other decorations until the 6th of January.

On the chilly wet side today which makes it perfect for staying inside and relaxing. Just what we are doing. As my DIL prepared a wonderful Christmas day lunch for us, we postponed our standing rib roast until today. We were really to stuffed to enjoy it last night.

Hope all are doing well today.

Just want to take down Christmas..should something happen to Jim don't want to have to see Christmas..did that when Roger passed on, took me years to get back into my love of the festive season.

Had a bit of a nap, now ready to get back into getting totes packed..sat and looked at my pressies..someone sure wanted to organize me, just wished they had put two storage cupboards with drawers to put under the sewing ables together, not fond of following instructions but I will try this evening.

Judy, you will be glad to have these tests behind you

Marion, much more enjoyable when you can enjoy someone else's cooking

Took a quick run down to Foodland and would you believe I picked up turkey,turnip and fixing for dressing..I did the turkey for Sharon, didn't eat any, send my turkey/ham to Melanie's, forgot to ask for left overs when I left last night and am craving turnip sooo will cook a meal for me, shaking my head

Called Sharon's a few times, no answer

Hmm maybe phone is out
Going to try again

Drats, dropped my phone in dishwater..watch mine not work now. Lol

Having a lazy day here. It was quite chilly this morning. Tony came in all bundled up. Said he had a nice peaceful yesterday with his parents; was glad to miss the big family gathering.

I'm still wiped out. went back to sleep after Tony got here and I have no idea what he did. However, he always finds work to do without my help.

A lot of the people know it's me under the beard. We have a lot of visitors here this time of year and they don't know. Most locals do. The littlest kids are kept in the dark but if the are scared I will pull the beard down to show them I'm just me. That doesn't always work. The best has to be when a child of two or three "sees the real Santa" and just stares, ignoring the presents and candy. They are, after all, seeing Santa - how could anything else be of interest.

Betty, I made the costume myself. Had trouble with the beard until I was walking through the hardware store and spotted a cotton mop refill which works perfectly, in a Mexican way. I wear red sweat pants with the home made top and hat. I need to make a pair of pants some day but keep putting it off. No one complains.

My neice wrote me a nice email about the service she and her husband are doing for friends and neighbors who are having a hard time right now. She expressed happiness that we are both able to help others and to feel good ourselves during what used to be a miserable time.

I'm still feeling kind of groggy but will try to stay up so I can sleep tonight.

Playing poker (not for $$) and cleaning/organizing the kitchen. Both good lazy day projects.

hugs all around, katie

Spoke with Sharon,

She went through everything with Jim and Mom this morning, had to be so hard for her
Said it soon would be time for hospice. NOT because of the hydro, NOT because they were a bother but that it's getting time that he needs more care than she is able to..mom told her she, meaning Sharon is a strong person and kows she can do it..Sharon said no she wasn't and because of her back, some days not being able to walk and need to be in bed some days herself isn't able to wash him, lift him for meds etc. She promised Jim she would be at the hospital everyday, that he wouldn't be alone..I will start making more trips to the city as well..just couldn't take the cold with my kidneys

Hydro, well forget that, likely won't be on until after the weekend..one of the compressor's went out, thankfully it's only 15 and not -29 like last several days.

She figures if she can keep him with her over the weekend it will be about it..although he said he understood I'm sure it is heavy on his mind

Hmmm Katie, going to look and see it I kept the beard I replaced just before Roger passed on, if I did I will send it to you next time I'm across the border..feels nice making others happy doesn't it even though it is exhausting..now you must rest

Starting to ache, brought filled totes out this a.m. about 18 totes to go to the back shed now and about 8 or so more to bring in to fill but know body is saying enough so might call it quits