Coffee and... For Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005

Here's the last Daily continuance for 2005.
Yesterday's Daily can be found here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/565133/

STAY SAFE and SOBER! LOL
...Have a GOOD New Year's Eve!

~julie~
(Happy Birthday, Daddy)

I took Nyquil, and I'm afraid, wasn't too sober, lol. But I am nearly over my cold. This one cured up faster than the first one, I think because of the time-release Vitamin C I tried. However, I have to whine that I have had 2 colds taking up all of December. Blah.
Still putting finishing touches on the greenhouse. I am amazed how warm it stays. Instead of using the black barrels full of water to capture heat and release it overnight, my spousal unit did some research and found painting cement blocks black held the heat much longer. So my first bench out there to set plants on is made of cap blocks, mostly. Only 4 inches thick instead of the usual 8 inches, they can moved around into any configuration to suit my plants. I will take a pic as soon as we finish painting the blocks.

Wood- the greenhouse sounds great!! I have a teeny tiny one and can hardly wait to get stuff out in it. The earliest I can do it is in March and that is with a heater. I'm ready to start some seeds next week. Just gotta get some seed starting mix. I did put some daylily seeds in water/peroxide, but they are floating and I am not sure that is a good sign!

We did get snow last night, but not as much as they thought. It is supposed to rain on Monday - what a strange winter this has been! This is our 8th day with NO sun. I stand in front of my grow lights for hours!!

I still feel like I am getting something. Body aches and gooey throat . I'm trying to lay low and not get stressed! LOL fat chance of that!

I'm in a brain fog this morning - guess I'll sign off and tackle the Christmas tree. DH got the tub out for me to put the ornaments in, so there's no excuse!!

Good morning every one

We are suppose to get snow too, not much, probably just enough to make a mess.
Happy for you, Woods, to get your greenhouse established once more after that shock of seeing it blown away.

Sarv, just take it easy, relax, chores do not run away!

GG, men are so strange some times, some of them you can not please them no matter what you do.

Defoe, Samson gets so many huggs a day he likes especially the ones from you and other DG's, he said thank you

Meezer your kitty is soooo cute, wish I had one but allerigic to cats and besides Samson would think it is a toy, I hate to think what he would do to the poor little thing.

Wallaby, everything you had sounds just yummy, no wonder there was not a bit left over, lol

D.Cat, wonderful everything went great with MIL, but still it must take a while to know how everything will turn out,, the very best I hope.

Love to all the rest of you on this last day of 2005, does anyone have special plans for tonight?

Maria - DH and I are going to an early movie - it is always packed with a sea of 'oldsters'!! We don't plan any galas - been there done that and don't want it anymore. If we need to sit with DGS, we do that. But this year the other grandma gets to do it. Most years I am in bed when the ball comes down!! Am I a party dud or what? LOL

Snow continues to drift down - it's a heavy wet snow. But the cement areas are melting already, so it won't be here long.

Tree is still up and staring at me...

Maria, I thought last night was New Year's LOL so you can see what big plans we had....same as any other night.

First things first, getting myself a nice hunk of that orange cheesecake before it's all gone. I might have to make one, it sounds so good! I mentioned, the Christmas bakery was gone, but when I went in the freezer last night I found a half dozen almond biscotti that I tucked away for emergencies.....

Wallaby, we might need an English to English translater for your posts, I was chuckling at the turfed out and double legs comment , and wondered if someone was going to ask what that was!! My friend in the UK springs some odd phrases on me once in a while, but as with yours, the visual it presents makes the meaning clear. Double cream, sighhhh, I loved getting acquainted with Double cream when I was over there. The best desserts I ever had were in the UK.... that soup sounded wonderful. My sister and I had lunch in the basement of a Marks & Spenser's or maybe the other big department store (?) once, and had steak pie that was outstanding. We ate mostly where the locals ate, and I had no complaints about the food whatsoever. Fresh plaice (fish) everywhere, so delicious, right out of the North Sea.

We got just enough snow to make the roads all messy and to remind anyone who washed their car that it is pointless, in this season. Mine looks like a flocked tree. Which reminds me I should check the washer fluid, I use so much of it.

Dcat, so far so good with your MIL. That is very good news. I think the doctors now are all so aware of medical malpractice suits that they make sure they list all the possible complications, recovery hazards well in advance. The older you are the longer it takes to heal, so you'll be watching her for quite a while.

Gardengeek, your OC said, "Why don't you read something worthwhile?" LOL I would have thrown the book at him!! Like everything he watches or reads is "worthwhile" or sitting at the bar is "worthwhile" ....My ex was like that, what ever I was reading, watching,etc wasn't nearly as edifying as what he was ....uh huh. Three's Company is a great mind expander. And football, well there's something to stimulate your gray matter!! Ask the OC when he would like you to start evaluating how he spends his free time...LOL

Good thing DH does most of his tv watching in the den and leaves me with the big tv and the dvr in the living room!!

MaryE, glad your power came back quickly. When ours goes out it's usually just long enough to screw up all the digital clock devices on the range, tvs, vcrs, microwave etc. and then we have to run around and reset them all.

Mg, did Nathan's respite make an impression on him, other than it being not fair? Sometimes it takes a little while for it to sink in, that they have missed something fun because they indulged in temper, or stubborn behavior. It's a challenge, no doubt.

Sarv, what's for breakfast? It's always interesting to see what strikes your fancy ... I just ate one of the last biscotti. It felt like an emergency.

Hmmm, Elaine, grits, if I was making breakfast today which I am not, I would make grits. Fried sweet potatos sound delicious. I love them in any shape or form. Never met a potato I didn't like, sweet, idaho, or otherwise.

Sure was good to hear from everyone, Darius and Molly, Okus, Kooger, BetsyBug, Sarv, WS, MG, Hap, MaryE, Maria and Samson, Robert, (where's Ernie?) and the new kids, we are such a bunch of gabbers, if you miss a day you can hardly catch up!

I am hereby dedicating the last day of December sitting on my
couch/chair/computer chair and doing NO housework, and making just enough food to keep us from starvation. So there!

See ya later....

Sheila

Good Morning. Been up since 6, but having a hard time getting it in gear today.

Best friend ticked me off already this morning. I had asked her 2 weeks ago if they would like to come over tonight either for the new year or just for dinner. We had mentioned it a couple of times since, but she never really gave me an answer. This morning I called and she said she needed to check with DH. Well, hellooo! I think a 2 week lead time was plenty to ask don't you? They are always last minute planners and I am just the opposite. I need to get a couple things at the store if they are coming over. Oh well, vent over.

If I don't get back here today, Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year. Love all of ya!

Good morning,

Any of that orange cheesecake left? Cheesecake makes a GREAT breakfast.

What are you all doing for New Year's Eve? I think we'll just stay home and watch TV. We generally make ourselves available to babysit grandtwins if needed (it's a good reason not to attend the party that an associate of DH gives), but DD and SIL intend to stay home this year.

What are your most memorable New Year's eves? For me, it would have to be 1999 when the Ottawa Symphony got hired to play the NYE gala at the National Arts Centre. They let us dress is sparkly colors and invited us to the big party after. And on top of all that, we were well paid - better than the usual OSO rate.

There is a franchised "Salute to Vienna" organization that sends singers, dancers, and conductors out from Vienna to North American cities at this time of year. Members of the OSO have played this for the last few years when it gets to Ottawa. (Not all of us each year as it uses a smaller orchestra). Last year I got to play it and it was a lot of fun. This year, I'm not on the list, but a friend who rarely gets to play the extras is; so I hope that means they are rotating us a bit.

The outdoor freezer is working. Meatballs all nicely frozen this am. Now in real freezer in plastic bags as it is supposed to get warmer again. I've been making ice lanterns to line the driveway. DD gave us a mold for Christmas and bought one for herself too. She's lent it to me; so I can freeze two at a time. Have been stowing the finished ones in a freezer at the FC. (There are times that it's nice to have access to those freezers and fridges).

When I was a student at Ithaca College, I was active in the Cornell University Wesley Foundation which had a Sunday evening dinner meeting. By my second year in the group, I became the dinner chair which meant I was responsible for getting people to cook the dinner for about 100 people each Sunday (or do it myself). I guess the taste for cooking for large numbers has never left me as I like to do a massive party once a year. Of course, there's no better motivation to give the place a good cleaning and picking up than to have a party which takes over the whole house. LOL

Well, enough time at the computer for now. More later. Have a good day.

Ann

Ann, my most memorable New Years Eve was the first time the war was over in Europe when I saw "The Fledermaus" but even better was the next evening Jan. 1 to see see Beethovene's "Fidelio" , such gratitude and what seems like a for ever applause of the audiance I will never witness again

Well it is a good thing this is Cyber Space. Had it been real world all you ladies would be as wide as you are high from all the food. My friends gathered here last night till about 11 for a small get together. Tonight is the big deal though. Up to the Lodge for dinner then a dance till midnight ( the youngest in our group is me at 66)when we will have breakfast served. In the meantime I got a truck 1/2 loaded still with turkey dropping compost I need to unload and spread. Had part of it out yeasterday and I must say it did generate some converstation for our get together. We will not record the wifes comments here on Dave's since it is family orintated service. In spite of gardening herself she seems to think it was not appropriate with guest coming. Well I had to go get it,can't see what she has to complain about, and it was not easy. The scoop on the backhoe was to wide for my little ranger. I had to get under it with a shovel and direct the good old turkey squatings into the truck at the begining. It worked real good until he tilled the scoop a bit to much. I want to tell you, NEVER let Turkey dropping get on the inside of your clothes all the way down to your drawers if you got to drive 50 mile to home.

Ahhh haaa - I think some of you are turning into crazy breakfast eaters like I am!! Today I had a half a ham sandwich and a big glass of water, followed by only one molasses cookie. But if I'd had a piece of biscotti or cheese cake laying around, I'd have gobbled them down too!

My most memorial New Years eve was when we were invited out to DH hot shot bosses house for a gala. DH thought he knew where he lived (wayyy out in the boonies) We had a terrible, blowing snow storm, but DH thought we should make an appearance. We drove and drove and drove and never could find it (before cell phones) and of course he would NEVER stop and ask for directions (although there were few houses)

I got out to scrap the windows and climbed back in the truck and sat on the bread, cookie dish I was taking. I was so ticked about the whole situation that I opened the window and tossed the whole mess out in the snowbank and we went merrily home!! We still laugh about it. Boss turned out to be a real creep who years down the path fired DH...Whenever we see him, he is all phoney sweet - I hate his guts (excuse me, just brought back some bad memories! LOL)

TREE IS DOWN!! Yahoo, now all I have to do is vaccuum and put DH chair back where he wants it - all ready for the new year!! I love Christmas decorations, but love it when they all go away again!!

Oz, I'd love some turkey poo...lucky you... Your night sounds exciting. I can't dance a step worth a toot. I'd love to learn, but think my dancing days are numbered. I love watching others tho. PU - is that you who stinks??

suz - we're available to come if you need people!!

Good Morning All,

Just have a quick break in between customers.

wood,
glad to hear you are feeling better. Can't wait to see the pics of the Greenhouse. Now I'm itching to get mine up,,,but will have to wait. I Will be looking for a heater for it.

sarv,
Hope you start feeling better soon,,,,,good luck with the tree,,,,that's what I plan on doing today after work.

Well, done with customer so now I shall finish this post.

M5,
He thinks the Enquirer is a good read,,,,LOL He's not a big reader at all,,,so anything I read he thinks is a waste of time,,,LOL I have told him that it's better than sitting on a bar stool,,,,he doesn't go out too much, but at least once a week,,,And, thanks I will ask him that the next time the subject comes up,,,,LOL He does tell me he thinks it's great that I read so much and what I read and he does tell his friends how much I read,,,LOL Go Figure. He's just giving me a hard time,,,,,it's the way his mind works,,,LOL I don't pay much attention when he gives me a hard time,,,he's just looking for a reaction and usually I Won't give him one,,,,that gets him,,,,LOL
Hope you have a nice relaxing day of doing nothing but sitting in front of TV, Computer,,,LOL I was wanting to get the tree down and the rest of the decorations,,,,maybe that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Maria,
He just likes to get me going,,,LOL Usually I don't let it bother me,,,Always tell him I could turn into a bar fly,,,,,,LOL OOOOO, that does sound like a wonderful New Year's Eve.

suzie,
ggggrrrrr,,,I Hate when people do that! Good Luck and have a nice evening either way.

Ann,
Good for you,,,most people would go nuts at the thought of having an open house for 100 people. Sounds like you have had some very nice New Year's Eve's.

In past years we have gone out with friends and celebrated at the bar,,,,,then it changed to house parties,,,either here or at a friends house,,,nice dinner, drinks and games,,,,lots of fun. The past couple of years we have been home by ourselves. I still make a nice dinner and then Bill is usually in bed by 9:00 and I am on the puter,,,,prolly what we'll do this year,,,I hope.

check back later.

Kelly

I agree with you Ozarkian, if you can go it get it she should be thankful for it. That isn't exactly a clean job on either end. As a gardener she should be very happy you did this for her.

No big plans here. Just another date on the calender for us. We never were big fans of parties, etc. We went to a few Christian sponsored ones many years ago when the children were small. That more or less cured us. And Jack isn't a night owl anyway so staying up till midnight was not his idea of fun.

It is almost sweatshirt weather here again today. I may get some work done on the front porch this afternoon if it stays this warm. I would love to get that project finished.

Around here breakfast is liable to be anything I can get my hands on. Warmed up fried chicken, cereals of all kinds, toast with p.butter & sf fruit spread, warmed pizza, etc. Anything seems to go nowadays. I haven't always been that lenient.

GOD bless and keep each of you..

ozarkian,
LOL,,,,I bet that is Not fun,,,riding home with Turkey poop in your drawers,,,,LOL And as far as DW is concerned,,,she should be glad you're willing to go get it and have that wonderful stuff so the gardens do better. It's a lot of hard work and if you showered before the company arrived,,,,it's all good,,,,,LOL Hope you have fun at the Lodge tonight,,,,any more skits for all you guys??????LOL

sarv,
Yep, that would definitely be a memorable one,,,,LOL

Kelly

forgot to add,,,,,my breakfast was 2 slices of American Cheese!

This message was edited Dec 31, 2005 10:48 AM

Maria, What a wonderful experience it must have been to see Fidelio. It is perhaps my very favorite opera. Of course Wagner's Ring cycle is right up there too.

I've been really bad. Terry had to remove a photo I put in the Photo forum. One of the pictures from Korea was of a naked little boy. Seemed like a good pic esthetically, but I hadn't thought about the wide variety in our viewing audience and the present increase of perversion. It's good to know that DG reviews posts to make sure they aren't offensive to some of us.

Boy am I chomping at the bit. New Years Eve. Wow, it only comes once a year! There's part of a bag of Frito Corn Chips, a bit of cream cheese and maybe a bottle of beer left from last summer. I can probably scarf all that up, say 'whoopie' and be in bed by 10:00. What a party animal!

Glad to hear of the successful surgery. Older isn't necessarily better when it comes to open heart operations.

GG, Read something worthwhile??? Now that's a stupid thing to say. What is this, censorship? The mere act of reading is 'worthwhile' regardless of what the subject is. Glad you are so tolerant.

Sarv, I'll echo Meezer's question, what's for breakfast?? Hope you aren't coming down with anything. Stay healthy.

Ann, cooking for such a large crowd is mind boggling. I suppose it would take a well equipped kitchen and LOTS of pre-planning and prep. Those 'ice lanterns' sound interesting. Can you post a picture of one?

Having a break in the rain so today might be the day to take down the outdoor lights.No tree to bother with this year. Everyone please have a wonderful, safe and sound New Years Eve.


edited: my goodness, 5 posts while I was typing. How ever can a person keep up on this thread?

This message was edited Dec 31, 2005 8:58 AM

Hi to All HAPPY NEW YEAR HOPE EACH ONE OF YOU A HEATHY NEW YEAR AND YES I"M AT WORK!!!...SHARON

Here's a link to Lee Valley tools site where the Ice Lantern mold is sold. Those of you who don't know Lee Valley might like to peruse their web site. Their head office is actually here in Ottawa, but they now have stores across Canada and mail order in the US as well. A fascinating company.

Here's the link -
http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=1&p=52307&cat=4,104,53218

Ann

bal,

You party animal you,,,LOL,,,that's about the way it is here,,,LOL

I also think Anything a person reads is worthwhile,,,he just likes to see if he can get a reaction out of me,,,LOL And yes, God has blessed me with patience,,,,even more when I take my Xanex,,,,ROFLOL

Kelly

Morning all,
Happy New Year to you all.
I didn't get to stop and chat yesterday, though I did keep up with the conversation. I was busy "playing" with my new games. M5 the one DS gave me is Zoo Tycoon 2, you get to design build and run a zoo, have to keep it solvent - sort of business and animals but no violence, unless you count scooping poop!! LOL
The other two are detective type games - Sherlock Holmes and the Silver Earing I bought myself for $4.40 - new- on Amazon and the other is Agatha Christie - And Then There Were None - which was in my Christmas Stocking so I assume Santa Claus brought it!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
My DH doesn't think any of the stuff I do is important either, books I read are "trashy" and as for the pc, particularly games................ - if he wants something he thinks I will drop what I'm doing and jump right now. You would think after 41 years he would have learnt that he's wasting his breath wouldn't you! This year I got cross for the first time and explained what he was doing - and then did it to him for a few days - boy did that make him sore!! He has been miles better since though, I should have done it sooner! He's never liked games if he has to play, board, pc field whatever so he doesn't see what the attraction is.
We all have our faults and he is mainly very sweet so I don't often complain.
((( GOBs and ettes))) Off to go shopping for food now.


Carol
The Odd One

Ann,
My those are pretty,,,one of my friends uses a 5 gal bucket filled with water and then puts another bucket of a smaller size in for the hollow part where the candle goes.

These are Much nicer,,,,,will look great when they are all going,,,,we will need a pic!

Kelly

Well, Robert, 10 o'clock in Washington State is Midnight in NYC so you still get to watch the ball drop in Times Square. But the party fare sounds somewhat familiar.

Sneaked in for a peek...I'm thinking that one liter soda bottle I threw in the trash this morning with a soda can inside it would make a pretty good mold.............except the town has now furnished us with huge trash cans with lids that stand about 4 feet high for automated pick up...can you say dumpster diving???

Great turkey poo story, wish Santa would bring me poo. That's like gold! You did shower didn't you, Oz ?

I'll have to check out those detective games on Ebay, Okus, probably find some cheapos which will suit my wallet.

Memorable New Year's? Can't think of one, which is why we'll be home and not out on the roads. Pretty much just another day.

Back to the couch.

woodspirit~ congratulations on coming in to the home stretch with your greenhouse. Are we all invited to the housewarming party?

sarv~ no sun here either and it's 14 degrees. Real cheerful Yesterday it rained all day so you can imagine what the ground is like, just treacherous.I agree, the weather's been really weird.

m5 Lol about the car looking like a flocked tree! Never thought of it that way. I just have a hard time finding mine in a parking lot because they're all the same color!!

suzie~ I'd be ticked too, hope you get it resolved

ann~ New Year's 1999 sounds spectacular! And I admire your ability to cook for hundreds. Anything over 5 I'm in a tizzy and need a caterer!!

Maria~I can just imagine your New year's eve when the war was over!!

oz~ some of us have manure envy!!

bal~ I guess your party planning is more like my own!!

Kelly~Isn't Xanax the greek word for blessing??

okus~ My kids used to love zoo tycoon. wouldn't it be great if you could scoop the poop into your gardens?? That woul get me playing!!

Yesterday was a dull day here. Today I had a 7:30 am appointment for the baby horse, Tully, at the vet almost 2 hrs away. Everything is a sheet of ice and it was dark while we were loading. At one point the truck in 4L with the trailer started sliding backwards down the hill (no horse loaded yet). It stopped before jackknifing or hitting any trees, but it's scary.

Tully loaded like a little pro,thank you God! (she's only 9 months old). We've practiced trailer loading, but in a stock trailer. She's never backed out of my 2 horse, so at the vets she had NO CLUE - we had to take the divider out and lead her out frontways LOL you forget what they don't know!! She's taught to stand patiently, and by golly she will until we lead her out the RIGHT way!!

She got her trachea scoped (she's had a persisitent cold that's not responding to antibiotics) and the good news is her lungs and trachea are fine, I actually got to look in the scope at the infection in her "guttural" something or other. Those gadgets are amazing. But we should be able to get the infection cleared up now, and no major problems...it's scary with horses, their illnesses seem to turn very expensive or fatal quickly!!

Now I get to take a nap. couldn't sleep last night and it's too cold to care to go out...Oh I did place my big seed order yesterday!! YAY~

dmc,

LOL,,,,it is for me!!!!

Went to the grocery store and to the pet food store. still no call from friend. So now my plan is to make dinner, )homemade fried shrimp, pierogies and stir fried snow peas with garlic & butter), then go next door to my sisters and spend the new year with them. They are having friends over and our kids will be there. Should be fun.

The best new years I think was about 2 years ago. We went to a party at a local firehouse with a bunch of friends. The party was great, but at the very end I was standing near the doorway when I heard someone say her name. It turned out to be a girl I hadn't seen since grammar school. It was nice to see her, but we still didn't keep in touch. From what I've heard since, she goes from man to man and doesn't stay anywhere too long.

Time to go fold some laundry from yesterday. See ya!

Good afternoon all. Ozarkian, I have been sitting here about an hour reading posts, checking out VAnns, link, and all the while smelling something. Now I know who/what it is. Better do that shower again!! Oh, I wish I had some. I do have the horse variety from the stalls, but I have to go fork it, put it in a pile outside and wait for it to cure.

Well had a couple of errands to do this moring, and was gone for awhile. I have a pork loin in the oven for tomorrow's dinner. DH and I are going out to eat tonight with neighbors, so that is the sum total of our new years celebration. Since the 2nd is our anniversary, we are going to a really nice restaurant and combining the two celebrations. We used to go to a dance or party, ut haven't done that for several years.

Well I will check back in before we head out tonight.
Have been interrupted about 5 times writing this. People calling about DMIL. Appreciate the concern, but am turning over the phone to DH. That's why I haven't addressed anyone individually.

bbl

Shower??? Why would I shower it was only Friday.

Kelly: No skits tonight. I get to be my normal self.

Sarv: I dance the slow ones. That is no problem. Have not heard the music though are anyhting else since about 1966.

Leaflady: You are not that far from that Turkey poo. The place is north of Versailles near the town of High Point. Send one of the younbguns down there.

Was not really complaining about the wife not helping. God knows I am not much help either. I am very good at skating. I can always say "huh" are "I did not hear you", And then there is "I never knew you told me" when it is a week late getting done. Sometimes I feel like I got a unfair advantage.

Lurking and checking in and catching up wow busy group!!

Happy New year to all I am packing my bags I hear Maria is having a Pajama party and SNOW! on my way over!!!!


Anne

Hey Magoo, pick me up on your way north!

Happy New Year!
My, y'all have all certainly been chatty today. LOL There's no way to catch up, so I'll just say hi to everyone and try not to rub it in that it's 75.3 here. The DH has my butt on the smoker (the pork butt that is) :) and I have my roast cooking for the brunswick stew. I cooked the chicken yesterday and have already chopped up about 3 lb. onions to go in it.

Suzie, I have some friends just like that. We don't get with them as much as we use to because they can never give you an answer about anything. When I invite someone over to eat, I want an answer ... not a "maybe, we'll see". They're just too exhausting to be around.
;)

ozarkian, that's priceless! I just tell my DH "outta sight ... outta mind." when he asks me to do something and I've forgotten. LOL

I found out today that a friend of ours passed away from Esophageal cancer. Her parents go to the same church we do, and my DH went to school with her. She was only 50. I'm glad she's not having to suffer anymore, but hurt for her parents.

As for our plans ... our church is having a candle light service tonight to bring in the new year. We would like to go but haven't decided if we want to be on the road at that time of night with all the partiers.

Well, better go check on things in the kitchen. Hope everyone has a wonderful day and a very happy new year. Forgive me for not addressing individual posts, but I've read them all and smiled. :)
Hugs all way round ... Elaine

Elaine so sorry about your friend that is very sad news!

Suzie get ready I will pick you up on the way!!!!!

Anne

Just back in the house from settng the remaining posts (Molly's shed) in concrete. Cannot do much more until tomorrow when the the concrete hardens. Molly got a wonderful 15 lite thermopane steel exterior door today, plus deadbolt and lever handles. Got a Pella thermopane window yesterday at a closeout price! (Plus got more concrete blocks, and a gazillion more studs today). I think we have enough materials to do all the walls but I haven't even planned the rafters yet.

The siding will be Hardiplank fiber cement board with a cedar pattern cast in the face. Molly hasn't decided on a color yet (depends on roofing). It has a lifetime guarantee. Roofing will be metal. Gonna be a FINE pump house and storage shed, 12.5 feet by 10.5 feet.

Wishing Everyone a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve, and Blessings for the New Year!

Happy New Year to you and Molly, Darius. Sounds like y'all have your work cut out for you. LOL
Mags, thanks. She didn't live here, but we're close to her parents. That's always sad for parents, I think.

Okay, off to Sam's. Wasn't going to pay the grocery price for catsup when I can get the big bottles from Sam's. LOL I told the DH to put that back! Just call me cheap! ;)

Elaine, sorry to hear about your friend's passing.She was way too young.

Re the lanterns, you could try freezing in a large icecream tub with a smaller tub stuck inside. And try to put something in that will make a hole in the bottm so that melt water can drain out. Otherwise you can drown the candle. But the start shape is really nice.

We are going to take in a 5 pm showing of King Kong. Apparently some viola friends of mine are in the scene which was shot in the Civic Theatre in Auckland. Gee, maybe I know somebody in a movie!

Have to stop by a grocery store on the way there for flour and brown sugar. I've got lots of BREAD flour - high gluten, but have run out of all purpose which I don't use much except at Christmas. Have done the shortbread base for two types of squares for the party but have others to do.

Also picked up some Christmas fabric. I have IKEA chairs in my kitchen with WHITE fabric seats.
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15564&catalogId=10103&storeId=3&productId=11272&langId=-15&parentCats=15564*15652*15656
(the picture shows a dark color, but mine are white)
They are supposed to be easy to take off and clean - NOT! So, I'm going to try making a slip cover that will sit of the chair seat and hang down on the front three sides. I'll tie it in the back of the chair. Got some red-green-gold paisley for Christmas time and a brown striped velveteen for the rest of the year. Shouldn't be too difficult to do and when the grandkids come over, I can just wash the cover if they get them dirty.

Happy New Year everyone.

Ann

Okarkian, thanks for the tip on the location of the turkey farm. What do they charge for it? We have Tyson chicken barns all around here but all of them I have talked to use it themselves on their own land as fertilizer. Maybe I just haven't found the right one. Several of them are run by the Amish. As for our younguns, the youngest one closeby is nearly 40 and would not be able to go get it for me. He works long hours and is exhausted and in much pain when he gets home to his wife and little boy in the evening. Works most weekends too. But we put a trailer hitch on this van and we have a 4' X 8' trailer that will carry about 1000# that I could go get some myself. Is the stuff aged at all or do I need to let it set for a season? I don't want to burn any plants. However it would probably be great for helping to rot down wood chips we have a large pile of.

The sun is shining brightly. I'll see if I can see on the front porch to get some work done out there.

We went to town this morning and got much needed laying mash for the poultry and then went to the grocery store. Wood's had a sale on split chicken breasts for $.69 a pound. Limit 2 pkg per person so Jack and I each got 2 pkg and each pkg. has 4 pieces. I weighed some of them when repackaging them for the freezer and many weigh about 12 oz. each. Almost no fat on them either and some don't have the skin either. The bones don't weigh that much so most of that is lean meat weight. One will easily do Jack and I for a meal. Chicken is so versatile.

Off to try to get some work done. GOD bless each and all of you.

This message was edited Dec 31, 2005 3:24 PM

Hello everyone.

Oz, loved the turkey poo story. Things should grow in self defense with that good stuff urging them on.

Darius and Molly, you've got a great start on that building and some good materials to work with. Taking any pictures?

VAnn, the ice lanterns will be great for welcoming your guests. I wouldn't attempt to entertain that many people!

This evening we will have a nice quiet dinner (steak) and after reading and playing with the kitten, will make a toast with Grand Marnier and go to bed whenever we get sleepy. When Hubby was on the police department he had far too much to do with parties so we stay off the roads on holidays and that is just fine with me.

Our kitten's eye is getting better all the time. When we started treating it I couldn't see the iris or the pupil but she did seem to be able to see through all that cloudy haze. Now we can easily see both the iris and pupil, and about 1/3 of her eye has no cloudyness on it at all. The rest of the cloud looks more transparent, and I'm sure her little world is looking brighter all the time. Last evening she discovered our pet mouse cage, oh my, what an exciting time she had trying to get to them! They have no fear, they have been in there safe from everything for as long as a mouse can remember, so they stand up with their front feet against the glass and look right at the cats. Drives 'em nuts!

We are between storms, didn't loose power for long but lost it 3 times before it was all over. Daisyruffles (Carol, the even one) lives where the storm was stronger so she may have lost power. Hope she checks in soon. Her area gets a lot of trees and limbs across lines and they had heavy rain so there is flooding in the Willamette Valley where she lives.

The Christmas decorations are coming down today, time for me to get busy. Hmmm, hubby is looking in the referigerator, hope he doesn't find some forgotten science projects in there.

I do not think it will burn becuase it is composted. I spread in now because if because it will be ready for the plants and hosta come spring. A load weighs about 1200lb a cubic yard. It would be hard to carry on a low suded trailor. would fall off. I put a cover on my truck to haul it. Cost is $30 a cubic yard. The name of the bussiness in Earlybird compost they have a web site. I will pick up another load next week and that should do it for me. I think this place is at least part owned by amish are else minnoite breathen. The whole Co Op is twelve families. Would not surprise me if they are not selling some of their barn scrapings to this place.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all!

Turkey is in the oven ........ kids will be here soon ..... taking a coffee break before the mad rush ...... of course they all wanted 'Christmas' dinner early so they could go elsewhere!! ha ha! DH and I and Barney and Oscar will ring in the new year together! :) .....here's a shot of them both in warmer days - Oscar chases birds so Barney thinks he has to chase birds too! Silly boy!!

Well I am heading to the shower to get ready to go out to eat. Every body has some sort of plans, even if they stay home and watch tv. Believe me, many years ago, we would have been out until 3-4 am, and would love it. However, each year reduces the time we like to spend out on this special day. We will be home early and I will check in and comment then.

Happy New Year to One and All.

Kooger, that's a great picture. I had a blonde cocker named Apricot. My first *child* was a blonde cocker names Peach. LOL Fruity bunch.

I managed to accomplish a few things today. Four loads of laundry and a little bit of dusting. I don't know why I dust, really, because it will just need it again tomorrow.

We are going out to eat, as we usually do on Saturday evening and try to see if we can get into Narnia this time. Last time it was sold out. I really want to see it.

I wish everyone here and all the furrkids and featherkids and fishkids and any other animalkids a very very Happy New Year!

Have fun Oz!!

Susan
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