Coffee and...For Monday, Nov. 28, 2005

Hi Mary....

You said you thought it was funny about Christmas lights being antiques....I find it funny, sorta, that anything I used as now being antique....I guess I'm getting older...lol

The reason that vegies are mush in the cooker is that you are cooking them tooooooo long. Two minutes and that's it for broccoli or cauliflower. Those are maily my vegies and what I put in the cooker. Oh yeh, green beans....also 2 MIN......

M5, you weren't thinking of going to the Chelsea Flower Show in May were you......????? HEHHEHEHE wanna think about it?

The Bahamas......I'm in.......1 hr away...... Also, Lisa, I'm sure would give us the cooks tour.....I'll have to find her screen name and get back to you.

Hap

Guys, It's Ipakosh that lives in the Bahamas, in Freeport. I met her one day when she was over here and she is delightul.

I will not have a tree either, just a wreath on the door and an arrangement of flowers on the table, other then that I do not know what I am going to do since I shall be alone without my children.

In Austria our Christmas is celebratd a little bit different then here.
ST. Nicholas does not come on Christmas day but on his birthday on December 6, he walks down the street with his staff and 'Krampus" by his side, a figure all in black with a tall fork and dressed in black to suggest he is the devil. Coming home from school I would meet them and was asked if I was a good girl, if I was he will ask my parents to give me candy, if not I was to get coals, lol, to tell you the truth I was always surprised not to get coals as I was told many times what a noughty child I am!
Before the war, my mother would roast a goose on Christmas day, I don't remember what went with it but she also made pate from the liver, it was deliscious. She started to bake cookies as soon as it became December, they were put away and eaten between Cristmas Day and Epiphany , January 6. when the tree was removed, Many cookies were hung on the Christmas tree including apples, ornanges and walnuts. We saved the foil papers from chocolate bars all year, smoothed them carefully and finally use them to wrap them tightly around a walnut, then applied a toothpick and loop a piece of thread so it can be hung on the tree. Real candles were used and only lit when we were around the tree, my father would even put sparklers on it and light them one at a time. My sister and I were not allowed to open presents till we sang songs of Christmas, my favorite was and still is 'Silent night' written be Austrians.
When we were much small and still belived in the coming of the christ child to our house, we were shipped to my great grandfather's home for the 24th day, that is when my parents decorated the tree and put presents under it.
I remember coming home and I would try to look under the door to see whose shadow it was that moved back and forth, lol. At 12 oclock we went to midnight mass to sing more songs.
Once my father had to go to war we never celebrated Christmas the same way, only went to midnight mass, The first tree I had was after we were married, saying to my husband, our tree was much bigger it went all the way to the ceiling, he looked at me with such astonishment saying, your ceilings were not much higher then this one, I started to laugh remembering how little I was then.

You wouldn't believe my rotten luck. Those lights that quit were ON the tree. I wound them around years ago. Well, DH and I took them off and I got two new sets today. Plugged the first set in and they worked so I wound them all around again - plugged them in and NOTHING!!! So cursing, I unwound them, plugged them in and they worked. SO AGAIN I wound them around the tree, and NOTHING> I about *&^* my pants (excuse me...) Took the stinkin things off again and they are in a mess on the floor. Tried the second bunch and they did work. But, man is it worth all that~~ Now I need to return the first set....Merry Christmas!!

Took MIL for her blood work - she was fine - just couldn't hear a thing I said. I repeated myself over and over and decided just NOT to talk...easier that way! She didn't want to stop anywhere on the way home, so I just went to Sam's and got gas. She said "oh I remember once you took me to Sam's and I got some lawn chairs- they were junk" I wanted to tell her about some of the JUNK she gave to us for gifts!! LOL, but I didn't

Darius- I fondly remember those bubble lights. We would go to my aunts (huge family) and they always had a monster tree with those lights on it. I was fascinated by them and could spend hours just watching them. I remember getting piles of gifts at their house- ahhh fond memories... My MIL did give me three ornaments that I have been admiring for years. They remind me a carousel with a metal spinner inside like a windmill. The heat of the lights spin it. I found some 'new' ones and bought them and they don't spin a bit- major disappointment!! I could have a whole tree of them!!

I use a steamer only for my veggies- just love it. I have had the problem of running out of water tho - now I put extra in for insurance.

My neighbor is going to the Philadelphia Flower show in the spring- I am so envious...Her husband is going with her - I told mine about it and he said there was NO way he would ever go there.

Julie- I can pack oreos in my suitcase.....but I'd be hard pressed to live without a Wendy's!!

My MIL has a whole bag of those old hot lights and she keeps asking me if I want them..my poor fake tree would go up in smoke if I used them.

Maria, as usual, a lovely story/description of earlier Christmases!

Sarv, did you buy cheap lights or good ones?

Yes, Marie, such as wonderful story. It so interesting to learn how other countries celebrate the different holidays. Thanks..

Darius.....shame oh shame......She have bought the lesser priced ones, but never the sheeep one.....hehehe

I know I am not going any where, can you imagine traveling with this big rascal named Samson ? No, thank you
Poor, Ernie, he can't take up my invitation, what a shame, he just could not get things organised, Samson now will forever squat, ;-)))

Glad you enjoyed Christmas in Austria

Maria, you are invited to fly down to Orlando for Christmas with me. Samson can be kennelled.

Maria,

I didn't think Archibald, (not that he is "fixed" we call him Archi-Balless) would ever lift his leg. But after quite a while he did, except, HE WOULD LIFT THE WRONG ONE!!!! If he would siddle up to a tree with the tree on his left side, he would life his RIGHT leg. He will be 5 next week and he still does it on ocassion. What a scream. I laugh every time he does it. Then he looks at me so pleased, saying, "See Ma, I did it!" Such a good, but confused little man.

Oh, and I've been meaning to post about the price you paid for the fence. I think that you got a bargin. They wanted about 1300 dollars for my city type yard, a far cry from an acre....you did good girl.....

Hap

what a beautifull day it turned out to be. Got up to about 65. Didn't really put me in the mood to x-mas shop tho. Glad I waited until after the holiday weekend to go out. Maybe I missed some good deals, but there were no crowds. I went to some of the outlets in Flemington. Sometimes you get good deals, sometimes not.

Darius, I LOVE bubble lights!

Hap, your description of your dog lifting the wrong leg is hysterical.

Sarv, I live about an hour from Philadelphia and have been to the flower show twice. VERY crowded. I've been told that the best time to go is in the evening, after the busses leave. It's amazing the landscapes they can do indoors. Last year I took my Sis for her birthday. When we left, it was snowing and took us about 3 hrs to get home.

Maria, You lucky duck! I never win anything. About once a year DH and I go to Atlantic City. If I can come home with close to what I left with, it's a good day! LOL If I do get ahead, DH has to cash it in for me or I'll just keep going till it's gone.

Well, got to check on dinner, have a roast beef in the oven. Be back later.

Hot doggies ! The stock is made. Tossed the turkey carcass and spent veggies out leaving a nice rich stock. Leaving it in the garage overnight to gel, tomorrow it gets "cleansed" of fat and sediment and made into soup. Love this bird. Last night we had a nasty freeze. Hailed yesterday and all that froze, and there was a 30 car pileup on the freeway just north of us a couple miles. The Echiums are looking terrible, hope they pull through. The imitation tree is still in the shed. DW will probably want it out next week. She does such a beautiful job of decorating it that I don't like to interfere. My Plant World catalog just crept out from under a pile of stuff. Devon England is a long way to order seeds, but they have an amazing selection. Between them and the N. American Rock Garden seed list I'm going to need to start planting the parking strips or something. Cut back ? Now what gardner would even consider something like that ? Rearrange, plant closer and use more containers !

Never used a pressure cooker. Years ago Mom made applesauce in one and ended up with applesauce walls and ceiling. Bamboo steamers on the Wok and the rice cooker work for us. Those pots with the thick bottoms look like they would be really good. All ours are the Le Cruset kind and are still in good shape after 20 years of use, or more.

Ernie, that breakfast sure sounds good. I wonder if the Tulalip Casino has something like that ? Your 'games of chance' comment was right on. Someone said those Casinos weren't built by winning patrons.
Wish I had as much luck as you on those scratch tickets. Maybe buying more than 2 or 3 a year might improve my odds.

Thank you, Darius, that is a wonderful invitation but I truly do not want to put Samson in a kannel yet, I woud worry no end about him

I think this is so funny about Archie, Happy, he does not know yet who he realy is lol, I think Samson will never know !

Julie, am so sorry too about the trip being canceled, darn Ernie it is all his fault, ;-))

We are in our first blizzard of the year. Actually has been a few years since we have had a real blizzard. The NWS has these ratings, just like for tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. So much snow, plus so much cold, plus so much wind and u have a blizzard. It was only raining, just turning to snow when I left at 6:15 am and went downhill quickly.

DH was sweet and got a ride to town and waited till 1:30 when I decided to call it a day (was scheduled til 5:30) and drove us home. Thank u, dear! I guess that cancels the last 2x4 episode! lol

Took us close to an hour to go 30 miles. Yucky! Glad tmr is an off day!

Meant to tell you I finally got to my chiropractor today, he said one of my hip is about an inch out of line, I wonder if I did that when Samson pulled me over the stone wall ? he did not make me feel much better but have another appointment Thursday
After,had to get prescription filled for more ibuprofen and went grocery shopping, my daughters are coming for dinner tomorrow night, am making a vegetable lasagna, with crusty bread and salad........and I know you probably will not belief me, I won an other $100.00, lol, usually do not by tickets there.

Maria, I get my hips out of line often. My chiro measures that by the length of my legs, lying down on the table. Whatever manipulation he does, it evens out immediately. They are out of line now, but no chiro near here. I can really feel it when I walk, somewhat painful.

Don't know if my guy can see me Wednesday when I drive to Asheville, but I will call in the morning.

Thait is exactly what he did, Darius

One thing I do NOT believe in is chiros. At least the ones around here have a vested interest in having you come and pay them big fees forever. Physiotherapists, OTOH, that's different. My physio sometimes does things that are distinctly similar to what a chiro does, but she want to get me outta there ASAP. And even better than physio is massage thereapy.

YMMV, but that's where I stand.

Ann

PS Holy Cow, Maria. How do you do it with the littery tickets?

This message was edited Nov 28, 2005 10:34 PM

Ann, I guess I'm the same way. I went to one once and swore never to darken their door again. But pain is a huge motivator and I may one day have to try again if I find myself in that situation. And I do know a lot of people who have been helped by them so I'm trying to keep an open mind and meanwhile being thankful I don't have any condition that drs. aren't helping. Kinda like throwing the baby out with the bathwater... they can't be all bad! lol

I think you are right, Ann, but so far all other dr, have not helped me with the problem have.
Just sheer luck, Ann, nothing more, lol

Oh Maria- I am so jealous of you winning all the time!! You are soooo lucky!!

I am upset at myself. I bought another memory stick for my digital camera and think I threw it out in the trash!! It was a small little package and I told myself to be careful with it, but I bought so much that day that when I was unloading all the other pkgs and packings, I think it got tossed. It only cost 20bucks, but because I can't find it - it seems like a million. drat....

Tree is all decorated. I couldn't use icicles this year as our cat ate them last year and I found one hanging out from his bum (gross - I had to pull it the rest of the way out!!) I put on the garland instead and I like it! Looks much better at night with the lights on than in the day tho!

Kooger- keep that weather out west will ya!! We had downpours of rain today - 63 deg - unheard of!! Temps are going down to the 20's tomorrow tho.

I'm still looking for a seed starting mat. Any of you have one that you love- or is it a waste of $$

About chiropractors: I must add that there are 2 kinds. One is the kind who merely adjust the spine for everything (and I detest those) and the second kind who practise Applied Kinesiology which I adore.

lol, Sarv, about your cat eating an icicles is just too much !!!!!!!!!!!!!

as usual tooo busy for me to catch up trying to check threads and you guys are too busy!!! Wishing you all a wonderful evening and lots of good health and happiness for tomorrow!!!

XXXOOOO Samson- Jenny!!!!! you two cutie pie furbabies!!!!

LOL I am sorry not to catch up enough but I am thinking of you all!!!

Waving to MG!!! LOL

Anne

I'll try to keep the snow this a-way but that old wind just keeps a-blowing! :) We had 51º yesterday and 2 in. of rain.

Just 80 miles NW of us, Mitchell SD area is a disaster - civil disaster declared. And about 10 other smaller towns - all the rain turned to ice and all the power lines and trees are down. Two shelters opened in town but u have to call to be picked up, emer personnel cleared some streets to get to them. I heard some power lines have up to 3" thick ice on them!! What a huge mess, and if the power stays off too long, water lines will start freezing inside houses and u get more mess! Almost all the interstates are closed too.

Eeeeeeeeeeeew! on the icicles! reminds me of the blue poo from our first dog - he ate the training pads! Strange beasts... good thing these two didn't live in the same house.... be a rather colourful floor!

darius - good to know about the chiros - have u ever heard of the Ortman Clinic in Canistota, SD. It's a little hick town out west about an hr from Sioux Falls, and they come from all over the world to go to that clinic. There's 9 docs and they're all trained in the Ortman way, (or whatever they call it - I hear the ads on the radio and forget what it is called). Don't have a clue what the difference is tho. Thinking of ya, waiting for the scan results.

Hi folks,

Just a quick check in. I can't possibly remember what everyone's been talking about; however, Maria, how the heck do you manage that winning streak all the time? I'm real good at losing! (Of course, I only buy a ticket once or twice a year, so that might have something to do with it.)

We used to LOVE to put "icicles" or "tinsel", whatever you want to call them, on the tree, but the vets kept saying it was a very bad idea with cats in the house. We caught one of them browsing under the tree one year, but hadn't seen her going for them the following year. Of course, just as I was commenting to my mother that "Tangerine doesn't seem to be eating the icicles this year", said beast wandered by and showed us her festive backside! That did it! We've had about 10 unopened boxes of the things stowed in the attic crawl space for the past several years. I hate to throw them out, but I'd hate not having cats around a whole lot more.

Made two kinds of cookie dough today and will probably be making 4 more kinds over the next couple of weeks. I thought about actually baking them and then freezing them instead of just freezing the dough, but then you have to re-bake the crisp ones to make them crisp again and it gets into even more time and work. We now have family in England waiting for their "Care Packages". Guess we really shouldn't have started that particular tradition as it costs a fortune to send them airmail, but it didn't seem right somehow to provide cookies to all of my family and not send any to DH's family. His Mom is gone now, but we still send some to his brother and family and have now started sending some to his elder daughter and her husband. Nobody even talks to DH's sister and that's a whole other long story!

That reminds me --- someone kindly asked after DH. He's feeling much, much better (which is a very good thing indeed, as he had another job interview in Boston today). The poor guy keeps getting interviews but no actual job offers. He's been told he came in second a couple of times. He told me that he'd almost rather not even be in the running than to miss it by that little. We both think it has a lot to do with his age. I don't know how he's managing with all that rejection. I know that I absolutely loathed "pounding the pavement" looking for a job. That's likely one of the reasons that I decided to go into business for myself. At least I'm not likely to fire myself! Now, if I could just make enough for us to get by on, we'd be all set.

Looks like I'm in danger of writing another whole "chapter" (and without even responding to most of you) if I'm not careful. On that note, Darius and M5, hope the yucky tests show good results. Everyone else with health issues, hope they all clear up very soon. Likewise the rotten weather people have been reporting! Happy decorating to all of you who put yours up early. (We don't usually decorate the tree until
Xmas Eve, but leave it up for at least a couple of weeks after that.) Bye for now.

Just popped in to say Goodnight. See ya all tomorrow. Sweet Dreams!

Hi All,
Just popping in quick before I go to bed with my new CPAP machine and sleep like a baby,,,,I Hope,,, How pathetic,,,,I'm excited over a machine,,,I know,,,Geek,,,LOL

LOL @ all the tinsel butts

Nitey Nite,

Kelly

GG, best of luck with the cpap. I know you are excited. Let us know in the morning...

Casey,

Thanks, I definitely will.

Kelly

Holy Cow, I didn't think I had been gone long, but took me almost an hour to just read. Had made notes to comment, but it would be a chapter in itself. Except to say, Darius, stay on the uphill side of the rock. And Sarv, about rear ends decorated, a dog I had once ate the outer edge of a piece of balogna, and had to remove that. UGGH. Meezer, Darius Rocks. LOL. I can pack in 15 seconds. If I don't take it I can buy it!! And the comments on the bubble lights. I remember them as a kid, and I was fascinated by them. Have a steamer for veggies, and a pressure cooker that I use for meats. To all those that are having bad weather, so sorry. Today was warm enough for shorts here. Tomorrow is another story, temps falling tonight. Real windy here with some rain, but no tornados. Had watches all day. Happy, I laughed about your confused dog. He does hike, just doesn't know which leg. Julie sewing machines/embroidery machines $8,000. You could probably buy the item and the store for that much. Mary, where's the horse pics? I finally figured out how to post pics. I posted one on my home page today. A picture taken of me on Mother's day. Who else has posted one? I have a pic of my christmas tree, that I will try to post here maybe tomorrow. Garden Geek, a CPAP, DH has one and says he cannot use it as it drys out his nose and mouth. Paying rent and sitting unused.

Well off to bed, since I slept well last night, try to do a repeat.

Where in the world is 101? We miss you.

Good night all.

defoe,

Does his have a humidifier in it? I am worried about that also. When I got it today, it has a humidifier on it. I can use the humidifier with or without heat. I am hoping that will help.

O.K. I looked at all the threads I am watching and I Am going to bed now,,,LOL

Kelly

Here's the new daily for Tues. Nov. 29, 2005. At one time Julie had asked mg or me to post new thread if she didn't and it is getting pretty late, so, here it is.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/559453/
Kelly

My nephew became a chiro but he quit of the mindset of chiros making people come back forever. He now constructs satellite towers and makes huge $$$$.
My neighbor's Doberman ate a plastic bag and it woldn't come out but he was too squeamish to help the poor thing, so I did. He said I deserved the "good neighbor" award.

String, tinsel, twine, plastic often don't pass entirely through an animals intestine. Since the innards work sort of like an accordian to move food through the digestive tract, sometimes the end result is the bunching up of the string or whatever, until it becomes a plug and will not pass through to be eliminated. It is very dangerous, and the animal will often die, because it isn't obvious what the problem is,and it can't be seen on an Xray. When my DD was vet tech'ing, they saw this happen at Holiday time every year, turkey string, tinsel, ribbon, etc.

It's a good thing for all of us to keep in mind where our pets are concerned.