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

Thought I'd move us over, busy week coming up..imagine by this time next week we will all be exhausted and it will all but be over, Santa on his way back to North Pole

We moved from here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1382615/

Christmas tunes are playing while the anticipation of getting our Santa Warren pressies.

Santa Warren Christmas Exchange

Mail out was December 1st as to miss the Christmas rush. If for any reason you are unable to post please let me know


PARTICIPANTS

Dianne.
Betty
LindaKay
Thunder. Received
Barb. Received
Liz
Susan (101). Received from Betty
Judy. Received from Susan (101)
Debbie. Received from Lindakay

Katie/Susan
Marion



Must go back and mark in who has received Santa Warren box and from who??


Waiting for Rita and Janice to come, both want help with their projects.

In the meantime I'm looking in all these gifts for gifts that go to Linda and her family so in the morning I can take a run to Barrie and have a visit with her..finally feeling well enough that I won't worry about giving her anything.,might look for a hospital mask, what she doesn't need is getting what I and Ann have/had
That would be another good job done

Think I'll call mom and let Sharon and Bernie know I will visit Tuesday, will look at weather first though



This message was edited Dec 18, 2014 5:51 PM

This message was edited Dec 19, 2014 8:44 AM

This message was edited Dec 19, 2014 8:45 AM

Three more treatments to go. I've started to pack. Getting my usual pre-yravel jitters.

Got gas for $2.39 a gallon at Costco this morning. Dropping gas prices are a pleasant surprise.

I will miss my room here but am looking forward to getting home.

The border guards don't ususally bother me. One reason I take the extra time and go to Tecate to cross, avoiding Tijuinua (sp?). The people at TJ can be really obnoxious and I've been held up there for several hours at times. I've been checked at Tecate but if I'm taking anything of value I report it. Otherwise, if I'm pulled over I show them my second-hand toys, books and thrift shop clothing and they let me go. One of the guards there has remembered me - and vice versa - so there is a certain level of trust.

Time for Ellen and the twelve days of Christmas.

hugs, katie

Sounds pretty promising that you will be home for Christmas Katie, that is wonderful!
Now when will you meet with the doctor to know wether or not more treatment is required.

I so remember crossing over into Matamores walking, put dime in turntable, coming out no questions asked, but then that is 25 years ago..big changes.

Out gas has dropped as well, unbelievable..increase of 2 cents tonight, sure hooe it stays as is, makes it more economical for those who want to travel during Christmas.

Best I make a hot chocolate before the girls arrive

I am SO smiling a mile here :-)

At 4pm I was putzing about making supper, the dogs were outside with Gord, and they started to bark !! The 'MOMMA SOMEONE IS HERE' bark.
The big white Purolator van was coming up the driveway.
Gordon signed for a package and brought it in ..
OHMIGOSH. LindaKay, you have MADE my Christmas ...
Gord is a real train fan and is quite taken with the wee train that travels around Frosty's feet ..
The handmade festive ornamental balls are just plain GORGEOUS .. love the Wedgewood blue one ..
The Mice are adorable, AND, the fabulous handmade Christmas tree with the wee Golden angel is beautiful ..
Of course, I have pics :-)

Thank you for your kindness ,, you made our day ...

~M~

Pics are kinda blurry, from my cell .. I took some with my digital, just have to download'em :-)

Hope you have no problems at the border Katie .. best of luck ..

Betty, I keep hearing about 'bad weather' coming your way, perhaps Karen and Dianne as well .. you had best check for sure ..


~M~

So far our forecast isn't too bad, hoping it doesn't change for the worse.

OMG, LindaKay is a most generous and thoughtful lady !

Oh Lordy "M" I can feel your excitement from here, how wonderful

Just love the hand made gifts, so very very special

Thunder, which way is your box travelling lol

had some smiles and tears here as well

gave Rita her xmas gift and she was beside herself..started to cry

they just left, worked hard

Janice got her runner and a xmas stocking done

Rita got a pair of fleece pants and a xmas stocking done

very productive night I'd say

Busy little elves at your place Betty.

yes, good things come to those who wait, definitely
and, if it's my box - don't worry about it coming before Christmas, Thunder - it would just extend it lol

Katie - glad to hear you're looking forward to being home for Christmas! Your gas is cheaper than ours!
Marilyn - wonderful, thoughtful gifts Handmade is the best!
Betty - how wonderful! Wish I were in YOUR "neck of the woods"....... I'd be over every day!

wow o wow I mailed a birthday present yesterday, for my daughter in law, Emily - from Calgary to Winnipeg - she got it today!!

Morning everyone.

Gas is $2.25 here in Texas.

Betty, I posted with pictures that I had received my box from Dianne on Dec 14th. Can you mark it at the top please.

Also, Thunder posted she received her box from me on Dec 11.....

This message was edited Dec 19, 2014 8:34 AM

LK. Wonderful gifts you sent to Marilyn :)
Thank you for being so thoughtful.
You are most definitely an earth angel !!
I put up a tree in my sewing room. I was in need of some cheer.

Hugs to Y'all♡♡♡♡♡

Thanks Barb, by the way, how did the workmen do yesterday?

Thnder, now look how creative you are, both tree and boxed snowman is adorable!

Filled the car with pressies, will get some Christmas shopping done, visit with Linda and maybe one more stop at the fabric shp

Love the tree Thunder - how clever!!!!

The workmen finally showed up at noon. Didn't take them 20 minutes to do the four windows here. But the adhesive smell was horrible. After they left, I opened all the windows for an hour just to get rid of the odor.... All is well now and the windows lock properly so I guess I'll just get busy putting everything back where it belongs......

Thanks friends for letting me rant. (Landlord was here while the workmen worked and made a big deal out of our cat Callie. Guess he heard how to get on my good side!!)

Nice tree, Thunder!
Last night Bob put up our tree (pre-lit) and today I will decorate the tree & the house.
I know, it's really close to Christmas........ but I have been busy with all the knitting lol
I think the losing of my church, and the remembrance of my Dad's passing on Dec 12th (I know it's been 29 years, but I don't think there's a moratorium on grief...... losing my church brought it all back...
BUT, it's almost Christmas, Emily has her b-day present and loves it! My mom has her Christmas present, and Bob & I have a financially better Christmas than we might have if it weren't for Bob's bosses being so good to him & I ($600 extra from them!)
Add to that, all the good people here, and I'm a happy camper.

Glad to read that Susan. Hope your Christmas is wonderful for both of you.....

Oh Barb I would hardly call that a rant. lol Isn't great we have a place to come when we need to get something off of our chest?

Betty sounds like we are getting either lots of snow or rain for Christmas. How about you M? Weather Liars say the front is still too far away for them to be sure. The WLs are calling it a Santa Weather Bomb. Beautiful sunny day here. I'll take it! Cold though .... I can't get over how much colder it is on my side of the lake than in the village. Of course it works to my advantage on those hot, hot days of summer.

Love the tree Thunder.

Susan(IO1) do you have Christmas Eve services that you attend? When I was a kid going to church Christmas Eve meant Christmas was really here. One year by then DBF and I took my DB's car to midnight services and then visited a friend before we went home. This was back in pre cell phone days. My Db's trunk was full of toys and such to be assembled for his 2 boys. Ooops. My DB, DSIL and DBF and I didn't get any sleep that night but boy seeing those kids' faces was sure worth it.

Hurrah for Canada Post Susan.They seem much more on the ball this year compared to past ones. Perhaps the idea of their jobs being cut has something to do with it.

Diesel and Duke did their best to help me bring wood in this morning. More bending for me but sure made me smile.

When do you get your vehicle back Jean?

Dianne

Oh Lordy Dianne, say it isn't so..ground here is white but just barely, was -5 today, temps dropping, just put fireplace on. How long will the wood you've brought in last? I remember those assemble days,took forever then once assembled roger would insist on testing them..many a Christmas morning I'd have to tell him to give the boy their toys. Lol

Speaking of cars, Karen did they ever figure out what was wrong with yours?

Barb, hoping the fumes are no longer..likely you will be warmer this winter..have you been there a year now, 2nd winter?

Suzanne dropped in with her two grandaughters, the eldest 6 asked if she could visit and if I could teach her how to knit..good winter project.

Tired, bathed and ready for bed..barrie and playing Santa plum tuckered me out.lovely visit with Linda, she is doing great

We haven't heard anything yet on Jim's car., Dianne. It is an '04 Mitsubishi Gallant and the Insurance Co may very well decide it will cost more to fix than the Blue Book value...Then it is a total loss. We just have to wait and see.It may take a while due to the holidays.

Well we paid more and the car is running OK now so I hope that's it for a while.

Made this table runner to take to my daughter. It's not exactly like the pattern but I like it. I don't know why part of the poinsettia looks orange, it's red & white.


This message was edited Dec 19, 2014 7:47 PM

Finished my Thai Massage course. I m tired.
i will catch up soon.
love and hugs to you all
sending you healing energy and prayers

Jean, are you 'carless in Prairieville'?
Kind of amazing how they can devalue and write a vehicle off ..

Dianne, love the story about Christmas Eve and the toys, that is what IT is all abut :-)

Betty seems you had a busy but nice day .. good luck with the knitting lessons !!!

Canada Post has certainly pulled up its socks .. I guess all the Purolator, FedEx, UPS trucks got them to thinking they had best get it RIGHT!!

HOPEFULLY 'gotter done' today .. good old Lorna stayed home and wrapped, she LOVES doing it, I do NOT ..
Gord had a full 'skeletal scan' this morning .. 24 xrays from the top of his head, to the tips of his toes .. .. he called after as he felt he would be OK on his own, but, admitted it had tuckered him out, but not enogh to miss 'cronie coffee' :-)

Tomorrow is a busy one .. laundry bathrooms, wrapping and decorating .. family get together here on the 23rd, then DS, Murray and I do the Mrs Clause and Santa thing at the hospital .. it's earlier this year ..1030 til ?

Think I'll go horizontal ..

Barb, phew on those fumes !!!!


~M~

well, I thought the border of the shawl would be easy-peasy..... it's not. 16 pattern rows, on 15 to 30 stitches per row - causes me to go bleary-eyed with all the changes in pattern......
PLUS, it's 160" to do...... I've done 15"......... That's 13feet, 4 inches, in case you thought that it was a typo.....
To go all the way around a 38" per side baby shawl.... I see about 2 to 3 weeks just for the border........
I had to restart the border yesterday. stitches fell off the needle and there was No Way I could figure it out, to correct after putting stitches back on........

ready to head to bed....

Love the runner Karen, for you or a gift? Always nice to have a project to keep yourself out of mischief

Glad Gord got to have coffee with his cronies, man talk, expressing his concerns, sharing the joy of his latest news might be just what he needs. Enjoy the day, I can see smiles and laughter

Oh Susan,not the greatest about losing stitches..they will understand it's being late but know how disappointed you must be.

Sue, sleep in this morning, you deserve the rest. Let the kids bring you breakfast in bed..so much on your plate.

Was going to head into town early this morning but decided to do so tomorrow seeing family will be here mid morning so I'll head downstairs seeing I'm up so early and paint some more on Paul's sign and put the last Christmas quilt on the frame.

Good morning Betty.
Karen, runner is very pretty. Pattern looks familiar. Where is it from?
Got to get ready for work, Y'all have a great day :) ♡♡♡♡♡ Many HUGS.

26F here this morning .. shirtsleeve weather for us !!
May be able to hang some shirts on the line .. love the smell !!

Karen, the runner is so very pretty ..

Susan, my dental hygienist is an avid knitter, her nickname in the office is'' Miss Clickety click' simply because of the sound from her needles clicking away.

Zoey decided to head UNDER the covers to sleep around 4am, right up against me .. so, I've been up awhile.

Trying to be quiet ..

Have a super day

~M~

Love the runner Karen. The simplicity of it appeals to me...

Susan, does your border have a repeating pattern? If so, maybe you can make it a narrow one instead of so wide. Those dimensions sound really big for a baby blanket.....

Norm is off to have his PET scan. I did not go this time as it is here in town and not an hours ride away. Besides, the temp is only 21* right now and I'm not supposed to go out. So I'll stay tucked in my blanket, nice and warm....

Morning all, tis cold out there but then it's the season right?

I would have picked up the stitches then maybe as you say Barb, try and fudge it lol

hope Norm's tests come back clear

"M" you deserve to stay in bed a little later

I keep looking at the clock, grin, morning seems so long but that's what happens when you get up at 5am

I managed to get the last quilt top on the frame, telling myself I don't need it for this year but seeing as it was made last year and not completed I feel I should at least work on it..know myself, once I start I don't know when to stop..did get it on the frame

put little bricks, mortar on Paul's sign..lordy, I am working on it but you don't see any progress, so tedious

Yesterday when I was in town and in the fabric shop I walked mostly with eyes shut and hand on my hips so not much would come home with me..that being say, saw a $2 panel of a snowman Christmas stocking, he's so cute that I thought I put together scrap 5" blocks, wouldn't he look darling if I cut him out and applique'd him to the block throw..

finish is on the cookbooks, will let them dry a tad more then this evening I can put the recipe's in them and they will be ready for tomorrow

Now feeling pretty good about my year in Santa's workshop I just couldn't come home without fabric to do a project in the new year...not colors I normally use but the white on white tone and all the bright colors (taking after Thunder) will make a lovely quilt if not for me then someone else.

coffee and cereal are calling my name, hungry, body thinks its noon but the clock says 8:30

waiting till just after 8:30 and will call Ann and ask if she's going into town would she drop in, would like to give her the gift I made for her..can't move in living room for gifts and am having kids over tomorrow so the more santa can deliver or have picked up the better

enjoy your day and stay warm

Looking good Betty. I love how Paul's sign is coming along. You are so talented....
Easy day here. My brother and his wife are supposed to come by around 2pm. It is really cold and he is as bad as I with his breathing. Wouldn't surprise me if they cancel.....Sure do understand....

Barb, we will be praying for good pet scan results as well.

Barb, the runner pattern is from all people quilt site.

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/table-runners/pop-poinsettia

Betty, you need to take a break. You have no room left, and your still making gifts.

This message was edited Dec 20, 2014 7:53 AM

Topper was a free pattern from www.allpeoplequilt.com. I'm giving it to younger DD as she hosts Christmas every year. LOL Linda we cross posted on the addy.

All sewing done for now. Went yesterday and got the stuff to make Scramble. I'll be giving away about 14 good sized containers so it will take the better part of today to make it. Older daughter makes caramel corn and younger makes cookies and candy, DDIL changes her recipes every year always a yummy surprise, we all get plenty of goodies.

This message was edited Dec 20, 2014 8:54 AM

Thanks ladies. I went to the site, signed up, and now it is downloaded here too!!!

mouth watering Karen..Mel and Julie bake, always get a nice plate from them..yummmmy!

A very pretty piece indeed, think we'll all be making that runner.. all the same yet different right?

Barb did you decide what you would do with your floormats?

I'm antsy when I'm just sitting especially just waiting for Santa to arrive

ohh forgot to say I got a pressie from Linda yesterday, $100 gift card from Joann's..guess if I don't go to Florida I'll go to Buffalo for a day or so

If I don't go to Florida I'm going in search of a new living room outfit and will paint, give me a new outlook, make it a little more modern than country..oops, that would mean changing every room, perhaps I'd best not.

called Mom, no answer, perhaps she is still sleeping

called Ann and asked her to drop in when next in town

going to call Bernie and see if he would like to take a run to the city Monday and have lunch with mom

Sharon called to yak..yakked too long, started to cough

I have so much reading to get caught up, Susan, congrats on the beautiful new grandson!!!

Waving to all....a quick update...and big apology. I was doing well getting back and posting and then life exploded. Still not done any Christmas shopping.

Has NOT been a good week here. My trip to Cleveland was thankfully good, and
mostly uneventful. My back/spine/nerves are improving. I opted for "more time" over
surgery.

Then we came home and BOOM. DH had a follow up for his eye, and low and behold
he had a retina tear. Doc saw a small one but said it needed immediate attention.
I happened to be in Rochester for my counseling, so shot straight over to the eye doc to
meet Paul. That doc/specialist said...yes, needs attention now, can't wait til after holidays.
Sent us to surgical center. This was 11:00 a.m. They would fit him in somewhere.

Well, at 7:00 p.m. they FINALLY wheeled him into surgery. And out at 8:15. And thank God he had the surgery as the doctor got in there, and there was yet another tear the first doc didn't see. Off to the side and long. We didn't get home til 10:00.

Yesterday, back up to Rochester first thing for a re-check. His eye pressure is very high, another eye drop added. And, of all things, will be out of work 3 to 8 weeks...depending.

On way home, his boss called him, mandatory meeting at the shop Monday morning and will find out if he has a job or not.

Poor DD called, she didn't pass her test (3rd time) for the insurance job. She has worked and studied so so hard, but has to be licensed by NY State to get this job. Starting over job search.

Thank God for Shane. He bought us dinner last night, fish fries to the house and came and helped me with a few things. Kyle came home for the holidays also.

Merry Christmas Bahh Humbug. BUT I am trying.

What a nice gift from Linda!

Oh Debbie, sorry to hear so much is going on! I pray he does not lose his job!

Sending prayers for all!

Debbie, you and I can both wheel out the GRINCH CHAIRS and plop into them until Jan.2
So sorry to hear about your DH, a retinal tear is an ASAP typa deal, and, it seems it was handled as such ..
Hoping your DD can find some kind of position .. has she thought of Real Estate ?
Nice your sons are home :-)
Hang tough young lady .. it'll be a bumpy ride, but we'll make it through ..

Have 1/2 my 'to do list' for the house done ..
Laundry is done (not put away), one bathroom is cleaned, and, I changed the tablecloth on the kitchen table, now, you may not think that's a BIG deal, but .. the kitchen table is the landing place for ALL sorts of stuff that should NOT be there .. so, cleaning it off and putting the 'stuff' in other places (where they should be) takes a bit of time .. and, doubtless, we'll not be able to find some things for a bit LoL.

Anyway .. I best get back into gear ..

HUGS

~M~

"M" I think we all have that landing table!

Debbie......so much going on in your life - retina tear!! Glad they caught it and looked after it right away!! Your daughter will get a job and one she likes......!!! I will pray for them both.

Thanks for the congrats re: Marshall :-) They're giving him snuggles for us..........
As for the border - it's zipping along now that I'm doing it better.........

Just in from town,

Big hugs Debbie, the biggest sigh here, just can't imagine how you handle all of this overload.
Glad Shane is home to help you through it..he must see just how much he's needed. Wonderful that you got better news than you thought you might in Ohio but not so good news coming home to find Paul needed surgery..am pleased though he'll be by your side and until the New Year..you need someone to take care of, I know you, you shine when you can help...
hugs dear friend.

Susan you were probably really tired and working to get it done..be done before you know it I'm sure.

"M" mine is a junk drawer, regardless how many times I clean it out it fills itself up again.

I've been following an organization plan and so far working A+

every time I leave a room I look to see what I might have set down that doesn't belong there and go put it where it belongs.

Did stop at Ann's, second friend I made cry
she was just shaking, said she so admired the Tranquility/Serenity quilt

got everything I wanted done, so tempted to buy gifts for the grandsons seeing as they got an envelop with $$$ and a quilt (too young to appreciate) but you would be proud of me, came out without anything extra

but

they won't be here till early afternoon so there still is tomorrow morning