Coffee and... For Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005

Taking a break- not from working, but from doing the crossword in today's paper. DH is snoozing in the chair (a usual activity) I'm making salmon patties for dinner and some potatoes and a veggie. No dessert as I have eaten a ton of junk today!

IO1- sounds like you are having a ball scanning everything. Wish I was closer and see how the gadget works!

I sent my son an email and told him I would like a seed starting mat and thermometer for xmas if he needs an idea. I should have told him earlier, but I procrastinated. Sure hope he is able to get it!

DH still hasn't done any shopping. He usually goes the weekend before xmas- what a mistake!!! But he does it every year...I just shake my head.

I cannot get warm today unless I am sitting with my heating pad on - no wonder our elect. bill is outrageous!!

I need to go searching for a salmon patty recipe....I forgot to copy down the one off the pkg. GRRR

Hello again. Wow, what a busy couple of days, I've hardly had time to even visit the bathroom! Yesterday we got some Christmas shopping done, had to drive 40 miles to the next town to get to a Penney's store where they have something besides western style clothes, western as in country is all Baker has. The kids that are recieving those gifts are great kids who dress modestly and so we picked out v neck sweaters for them in a real rainbow of pretty colors. It was good to have their mom with me because now I know they will be happy with what we chose. So many of the clothes on the market today for teens are way too revealing and make all the girls look like hookers. After that we went to lunch and then did some other shopping, came home in time to do about half my animal feeding and ice chopping chores before it was totally dark, baked a whole chicken for dinner and stayed up way too late while working on other Christmas gifts. The hope chests their dad is building for them from old lumber from our old homestead house (1897 or older and old growth fir from trees that were probably 100's of years old when they were made into lumber), look beautiful and I wish I had been thinking and taken a picture. They took the chests home with them and will add the trim pieces and the last coat of varnish and paint the insides, then put on the handles that used to be my horse's shoes. My hubby made the handles, cleaning them up and making them shiny again, bending them into the right shapes, and making the nail holes larger for screws. Their mom was thinking of buying pretty colored sheets and using them as wrapping paper, a unique idea, and then the sheets could go in the hope chests! Last night I wrapped all the gifts we bought and the parents took them home with them this morning. The house seems very quiet now.

To give you newcomers some background on this family, we knew the father of the family when he was a teenager, he is about 10 years older than our kids. Over the years we have had a close association with them, lots of visits, etc, and have watched the kids come along and grow into beautiful young ladies. After both their grandfathers passed away when they were grade schoolers they wanted a grandpa and asked my hubby if he would be their grandfather, and he happily said yes. So, they are all more like family than like friends. The family went to Romania a few years ago as missionaries, have always homeschooled the kids, 3 of the girls are in college now (getting straight A's) and the 4th one is a senior in high school. The whole family spend their summers in Romania running groupcamps for teens and adults, teaching kids in a Gypsy village, teaching and administering a Bible College, helping the graduate students get their own churches started, playing various instruments and singing at church services, and about a hundred other things. During the school year they are home in Oregon with the parents doing administrative tasks, planning and writing teaching materials for next year, translating books from English to Romanian, and the girls study and get reconnected with their church youth group.

Now Fritz, the dog we keep for that family part of the year, is back with us for a few weeks. They have to make a trip to California soon for a family wedding and some missionary business meetings, so the dog will be ours for a while, then after they come back home to Oregon we will figure out how to get the dog and family back together again. He was sad when they were getting ready to leave this morning so I took him for a nice walk to distract him while they got into their pickup and drove away. I think that helped because he didn't see them leave. He loves the snow and always finds deer tracks or rabbit tracks or something interesting to power sniff, runs into snowbanks and is just nutty in the snow.

Maria, I'm sure Samson couldn't figure out why you weren't interested in playing ball with him this morning. I'm so glad you have that big happy guy, you have sounded 100% happier since he came to live with you. I'm going to be making my fruitcakes soon, much like yours with dried prunes, figs, apricots, nuts in my banana bread base. If I don't have enough bananas I can just make the same recipe with applesauce. We like that better with the real fruit than with the colored candied citrus peels that most people associate with fruitcake.

Janis, welcome to the koffee klatch. I haven't met you before but I see you already have friends here.

Back to reading about the past couple of days, then I will be back later to post more. Have a great day and don't let the pressure of the holiday season get to you. I have a lot to do but I refuse to get stressed out about a season that is supposed to be enjoyable. So what if people get my Christmas cards after the holidays, maybe they will have more time to read them then.

Would you belief Samson and I had a two hour nap? I don't but I did! I was so cold when coming back that I wrapped an afghan around me guess the warmth of it put me to sleep. Now I am having a cup of coffee to wake myself up. ;-) No dinner for me tonight, ate too much for lunch.
What a wonderful story about the two girls, Mary, and very interesting
plus all the work for the chests, they sound very nice.
Never liked fruitcake with the usual stuff, always better with simple dried fruit, sometimes I soak some of them in a bit of rum.
Yes Julie, Samson loves the snow, I think it is his first snow, he finally discovered his tennis balls are buried in it, now his nose is all over the place lookig for them, ;-)
Elaine, Samsom does lie in front of me all the time, but not to a prim and proper lady, I am far from that ha ha ha
Sarv, I still have to write X-mas cards.

Now Maria ... don't spoil that image! LOL :)

Mary, that really was a delightful story. I would have loved to have seen those beautiful chests. Those girls sound like they are very smart. I know you are proud of them.

Julie, sounds like you've been having fun. Wish I could do stuff with my hands ... no good at that. LOL

Sarv, I've been cold all day, also. That heating pad sounds like a good idea. I could sit on it while I scan! LOL

I've got to get my cards out also. Hey does anyone know if your addi is permanent when you add it in the address exchange or can it be deleted later?

Okay, the DH is home, so I'll go feed him.
... Elaine

IO1- don't know about the address thing - sorry.

Maria, I was listening to the radio today and a vet was on talking. She said she never lets her big dogs on her bed because she wants to remain the dominant in the family. She told that letting them on the bed with you could cause problems in that area. Hmmm never heard that before. You are doing good by Samson having his own bed!! My cards still aren't done either. I have a slew of them already, so I really do need to get my butt in gear.

Salmon patties were good tonight- I like them cold even better - guess what I will have for breakfast!! LOL

DH just gave me a small bowl of lime sherbert - our nightly snack...

DIL just called and asked if I could come to their house on Fri to wait until their repaired furniture would be delievered. I have a luncheon I am going to - I hate to diappoint them, but I've been to their house a number of times this fall already for one thing or another. So, I told them I couldn't help them out this time- now I feel guilty. Oh well, I'll get over it.

Mary , I just love things people make for me... I would rather have a homemade chest any day over a store bought one. Step dad made me a recipe box and a stool - I treasure them both.

Time for the jammies- sure hope I sleep better tonight!! I am bushed and didn't do much of anything today.

Hi everyone,

I've been too busy to post, but have been trying to at least read everything when I have a spare moment. I think I've finished my Xmas shopping today, but still have the bulk of the baking and wrapping to do.

Welcome Woofens/Janis. I think that I might have seen some of your posts in other forums, but have such a wonderful memory that I hesitate to say for sure. Anyhow, I think you'll enjoy this space--- lots of nice people here.

Sarv, hope you feel better tomorrow! Even the most extended shopping trip shouldn't leave you feeling THAT bad! Are your sinuses acting up again?

Hi Maria , Mary, and MG. Glad to hear from all of you.

M5, I haven't sent nearly all our snow your way. Wanna trade? We're supposed to be getting more on top of this in a couple of days. Actually, I'm hoping that it IS all snow. We tend to be right on the snow/freezing rain line and I'll take snow instead of ice any old time!

Julie, I'm glad to hear that if you don't post all that often it's because your very busy with your new toy instead of being too down or too ill to bother.

Hi Ann, I really do hope that you get more chances to relax once you retire and that you don't end up being bored once you don't have to be quite so busy.

I have a contribution to the goodie counter. I've been doing some of the Xmas baking and the spiced molasses cookies (one of my own favorites) are now up for grabs on the counter.

Oops! Forgot to say, 101, glad you're enjoying your early present!

Since people seemed to like the picture of the deerskin vest that I made for one of my SIL's , I thought I'd post a picture of the handcrafted part of our gift for my other SIL. Here it is. She had already picked out the carved moonstone and asked me to make a pendant that she intended to buy. This is what I came up with and decided to just give it to her along with a gift certificate to a sewing/craft supply place.

Elaine, u can edit ur address in the exchange. I forget where the link is, probably at the bottom.

Freezing rain and snow overnight but made it to work ok. They predicted 3-6 inches but I doubt we even got 3, all went east of us, over to mg and all u Wisconsinites. Oh, talked to my BIL in Oostburg last night, he was telling me about his neighbor, growing up, that drowned, along with his daugher in Cedar Grove. Happened about 2 weeks ago. Terribly sad!!! BIL sang a duet in church Sun. night with nephew and the last time he sang it was with his friend, who drowned so he said he didn t do a very good job.

I'm trying to get Boxing Day off (the 26th to u Yanks, LOL) -- it's the day I officially enter the GOB society!! Cuz of that storm part day I left early, I don't have enough vacation pay to take it off so I may take penalty attendance points for it - oh well, I WILL have that day off, penalty of not! ha ha! A friend offered to work the 4 hrs I don't have covered and that's sweet of her but there's a long list of folks who want that day off and I'm not very high in seniority so, we shall see....

Did I miss a post somewhere? did darius check in Elaine? I'm concerned... LMK please!

Mary, loved ur story, wish I had something my dad made. My older sister got a jewelry box he made and he planned to make one for me and then the two youngest girls too but I guess life intruded, along with 9 kids ... he only made the one. He made a coffee table with my bro but since the bro helped, we decided that was his now.

McCool, that is absolutely beautiful! Did u make the whole thing? I'm sure she'll love it! Tell us about it pls?

I've got butter and cream cheese warming up for pecan tassies and working on some tatting for MIL's Christmas present so gotta run!

Have a good evening all and a good sleep! Truste!!

Just a quicky to let you know I'm putting up the DAILY now. Be back with the link in a minute.
~julie~

Edited to add:
Tomorrow's Daily is UP in the Parking Lot.
Here's a link if you need one: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/562624/

~julie~ (A second time. :-))

This message was edited Dec 14, 2005 10:47 PM

Well have been gone all day, as it was grocery day. Ugh.

Maria, hope you are feeling better,guess you are as lunch sounded good.

Joyous, you have my ear anytime, gripe all you want!!

Morning Gayle, what a spooky thing to happen. One morning several years ago, I woke to the sound of water running, and since we hadn't been in this house long, was trying to remember where the main shut off valve was. Went out to discover neighbors dog had scratched his back on the outside water spigot and turned the water on. Spooky feeling though.

Woofens, Welcome, sorry you are not feeling well. But grab a cuppa and some treats, then you will feel better.

Sarv, hope you feel better. Meant to ask, how's the arm? Don't worry about falling off the wagon, you deserve a treat. Black flared pants, trying to get a new DH?

tgif, a wet cat. Ugh. Miss Boots will come in wet, and want to wind her body around my legs. She hates it when I grab a towel to dry her off.

Hap you outing with DG friends sounds good.

Meezer a new keyboard,and you have to learn how to type all over again, I couldn't tell from your post!! LOL I figured it out though.

Okus, Mince pies, oh, so long since I had them. Yum.

101, you murdered the Pillsbury Doughboy, shhhh, don't tell anyone. And BTW, you are not boring anyone with your postings about your toy. We would never get tired of you.

Julie, please don't abandon us, but if you must work on this new project, please post pics.

Mary, the girls sound so nice. Always glad to hear that teen/young adults are trying to better themselves.

Well, got some bad news today. DMIL went to heart specialist today, and she has a leaking valve, which has her gasping for breath. She will see a surgeon tomorrow, and it looks like open heart surgery immediately. She is 87, and it seems she has no choice about surgery, if she is to survive. To make matters worse, her lungs are so fluid filled, that it is risky to say the least. I don't think this will wait until after the holidays, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Well tomorrow is a day that is not marked on my calendar for something to do. So will take advantage of that time to wrap presents and to bake.

Hope you all have a good peaceful night, and rest well.

To any I did not address, don't mean to slight you, just time for me to move toward the bedroom.

Anyone heard from Darius?

Where's Bal and Ernie?

Good night all.

Hi Defoe
Darius called last night around 8:00. She was at Molly's and said she'd be going to her sister's probably late today or Thursday.
Sorry to hear the bad news about your DMIL. Will be praying for all y'all. Hugs, and have a good night.

Oh Elaine...it's not "hand work" at all...hehehe...I gave up on embroidery 'by hand' years ago. My eyes couldn't take the strain and my hand/eye coordination was terrible. LOL My embroidery is done on my home sewing / embroidery machine. Thank goodness IT has a needle threader. LOL Otherwise, I couldn't do *that* either.

McC...this time of year has always been notorious for making me fight for my sanity. I laugh but "sanity" is the right word. I tend to find myself sliding into that Black Hole way too often during the preps for Christmas. Too many memories of the way "it used to be" I guess. So for me, getting that email this morning that led me on a new excursion for the embroidery designs was a *good* thing. :-) At least it keeps my mind occupied.

Now...has anyone heard anything from Darius? I know I skipped through the postings way too quickly, but I noticed that I wasn't the only one looking for some news.

Sarv...I doubt if your heating pad is a major contributing factor in your elec bill. Over here in our area we have a "Purchase power Adjustment" (a floating surcharge). My actual elec usage cost me $67.00 for last month...but with the PPA and public benefits (for those who *don't* pay their own bill) my total bill came to $96.36! :-O

See y'all tomorrow!
~julie~

Thanks for the news on Darius, Elaine.
~julie~