Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today #68 visit with friends...

I don't have anyone here, either, but I have my little tree and other decorations, just for me and my neighbors! Love Christmas! I know you do, too!

I took Claritin last year, but it made me so tired that I would almost fall asleep on my way to work, so this year I went med free trying to deal with it in other ways-all I have in my nose spray...yes I did come home a couple hrs early and had some eggs and toast and took a nice long nap-about to go back to bed....

Crissy, I suffer from something similar myself; so you have my sympathy.

I basically have a hangover with coughing fits today, no fun involved in getting the hangover either. We have mold and mushrooms all over outside still and it’s cold, so my allergies are inflamed pretty much like what Crissy was talking about though I don’t think I’ll have to hit the inhaler today, the storm system is passing so we have a massive pressure change, so I have a headache that the meds I have won’t take care of, my stomach is grumbly and I’m tried far out of proportion to the amount of sleep I’ve had. I swear the worst “hangovers” I have are on days when I haven’t partaken at all the night before. Oh well, as least it will pass as soon as the pressure system does. I think it’s already easing, the clouds are coming back in; so that’s a good sign.

Judy, Benadryl is pretty good. It’s the best anti-histamine I’ve found, it also what I take as a sleep aid when I’m not quite having an insomnia episode, but still need a push, or if I want to take a nap during the day.

Betty, I’ve wanted to make one of those as a “Texas Snowman” since I did the repurposed jar swap.

Sage made this earlier this year and I thought it was so cute.

I do saline wash and nasal spray on top of anti-histamine.

Evening all..just got in..made for a long day but oh what a day..so enjoyed..

Gita, so nice to see you posting, had a few d-mails asking if you were ok or had been offended..not you I say, busy girl these days with wedding/work and entertaining...glad you are back..truly am...I can understand why you don't decorate but I love doing it not for others but for me..the bags upstairs will vouch for that..do you have photo's of the wedding? did you take time off work this week to rest and/or entertain? Thanksgiving sounds as though it will be fun..so close to Christmas! Will post the Newlywed ornaments and their history tomorrow...would be a great gift to shop for each item and keep it should you be invited to a bridal shower...I often give Christmas boxes at a shower, which new bride/groom have tree and house decorations..always well received...

I would decorate even if I lived by myself; I even did a "Christmas book case", a book case decorated like a tree, one year when I couldn't afford a tree. i don't put up decorations before December 11th, mom's birthday, unlike mom or Grandam who put theirs up the day after Thanksgiving, but it puts me in the Christmas spirit.

I don't have anyone here except for Dave, unless I want to drive 6 to 7 hours, which at this time of year and in winter it doesn't do anything for me and I only get to see one parent (dad's north, mom's west.) Dave has a hard time celebrating anything, but he's getting better over the years. He just told me a few minutes ago that we are going to Shreveport/New Orleans for Thanksgiving!! Woo Hoo Party Time!!! That means he won't have to cook yay! I'll get hold of my next door neighbor again to take care of Tiga.

I'm going to do the gathering on the Santa dress here in a minute, or attempt to anyway LOL

This message was edited Nov 13, 2008 7:44 PM

Dh is watching football. So I can pretty much do what I want.

Work was very busy today. Manager had an insulin reaction. So I kept an eye on her. She works so hard and that doesn't help her stress level. The 2 Asst. managers could work harder. More stress for her. I tell her she just has to accept the fact they won't change much. got home and was tired. Woke up to my hands hurting this morning. The right one still hurts and the wrist also. Could be the tendons acting up.

We had to mark a bunch of stuff down. Fall flowers, halloween stuff. I think that was it. There is Xmas decorating to finish. I think they will do that tonight. I go into work tomorrow afternoon. Then have the weekend off.

I don't have allergies. Just sinus or migraine headaches. Have had poison ivy real bad. Does that compare to the itching?

Betty so glad you finally got meds for your ear. Hope to be hearing soon how much better you feel.

Wonder down under. Glad you have been diagnosed. Take your meds and you will be feeling better also. I have an exfriend with that problem.She abused her drugs and others. LAst I had heard she had left her kids. I know this isn't you.This is just the experience I have had with it.

Gita I understand how hard it is to celebrate when you work Holidays. I am in the same place. But I did volunteer to work Thanksgiving to get another day off and so the young moms would have the day off. Besides I figure I can prep everything and DH can cook it while I am at work!

Betty so good to hear everyones sister or family member is doing good or okay. I think it will be a long haul for all of them. But improvement is nice.

Judy glad you have your job. But to bad you are still waiting for an outcome. But hang onto it as long as you can. In our area there aren't many jobs.

You guys have been so chatty and that is good to see. I have been reading and trying to keep up. I have other threads to answer so will not try to reply to all. You all have a good night! Oh yest we did have snow on the ground yesterday! But it was all melted by late afternoon!

Oh shoot, that means I've got to put my bulbs in the ground this weekend. Yikes!!

Crissy, please please could I come..New Orleans is my most favorite place...now will you drive..must be quite the drive? Good luck with the gathering ..

Laura, Christmas is what you make it right? decorate anything you can...and I am like you, even if I were alone my home would be decorated to the hilt..soooo love Christmas..Adorable, wish I had a little one to play crafts with..instead I just have to keep myself occupied with all of you...I'll convert you non-crafters eventually..I'm on that road already..lol ... mold, not good for ones health is it..

Crissy sounds as though you've mega things to do...are you what one would call 'organized' or are you 'un-organized'????

Trying to con Janice into crossing that border one weekend soon to do some shopping.. so here goes..

The $2.50 glass 12" circle cardinal piece

Laura, you gave me an idea! I bought 2 9 ft. lighted garlands last year after Christmas, really cheap. My friend had made a wall tree at the end of her hallway with some, but I donm't have an empty wall! I DO have a large bookcase, however! Thanks, you solved my problem!

Oh, how pretty! Wish I could find things like that so cheap!!

Little box of goodies for spa or table top.. $3.50...now where can you purchase a little something just to have incase a friend (sometimes even strangers..lol) drops by at Christmas time..

I cheat..I wrap them, put name tags on the gifts .. tree with presents is in the basement so here and there downstairs I go, pen in hand to write their name on a ...miraculously before they leave I remember there is a gift under the tree for them..is that cheating or bad??? hope not.. so for these type of gifts I try to keep under $5.00

Girl, you did good!

Vicki, glad you dropped in..must almost be bedtime for you as well..sorry the boss wasn't well..hard when you are just a few who work together and some don't pull their load...I feel bad doing crafts all day while everyone else works..NOT...I do my job which creates work for them it's just that I only have to spend 1/2 hr. or so here and there and it could mean days of work for them..we each have responsibilities, neither can help each other, just the way it is..boss paid me today with a smile as I was crafting so I must be doing ok..lol Vicki our snow is gone as well, rained most of the day..ok by me...so, a weekend off after having what 8 days off? Now what do you have planned?

thanks Audrey...well Janice do you have the keys in the ignition yet? remember those are Canadian $$$, cheaper for you ....

needed a few ornaments to decorate some santa's at the workshop so picked up a few more..little girl/boy angel is for a dg member...the rest well I'm sure with what I purchased last week and this there will be a war..they didn't have enough of one thing which I normally always try to get when doing workshops so no one thinks the other got more than them...was not to be this year though..so let's hope all participants don't fight over specific ones..

Now for my pressies...

Aren't these stone snowmen adorable...large one which is about 14" high was $6. the two smaller ones $2.00 each...where I'll put them who knows but they were a must have for $10.00 total

What else was for ME/ME/ME...hmm

oh the soup, sandwich plate and mug...

Thought it was adorable as well..$4.00 for the set

forgot the photo..

Janice/Stacey, the Bradford Garden Gallery is about the size of the back room where all the trees are decorated in Bonners..only 5 minutes off the highway..10 minutes from where we'll be working in Barrie..cannot get over Suzanne NOT ever being there...omg I could have gone crazy..much I'd like, so another day I'll visit again..need all my greenery shortly for floral arrangement..

Must return 2 ornaments for my tree..guess the lighting in the gallery was different, I truly believed they were silver but when I got them home they reflect gold..maybe it's my lighting..also got a beautiful 'sister' angel ornament..specialty item..Suzanne got one for her sister as well...

That time of night everyone...
off to bed

Nice spending the day with you all!

Lord willing we'll talk tomorrow...

Betty I stay up very late. If I go to bed at a normal time I am awake in 5 hours! I average 5 hours of sleep a night. Maybe 6. I don't like waking up at 3 or 4. I want to sleep. I think I sit in a stupor part of the day. everybodys jobs have different requirements. You are just one of the lucky ones.

Betty--

WHY would anyone think I was offended?????? Must be Judy (??)...WHY?????
NOT ME!!!!! I just roll with the punches--and I do not spend time with idle chatting.

I just am not in the daily chit-chat mode most of the people here seem to enjoy. TOOO much idle talk for me!

I do not decorate for Christmas as I have not had anyone to do it for for many, many years---and I have never done anything much just to please ME! I just find it too much work and too depressing to do it all and then come home and stare at it all by myself. I would just cry and cry when i come home. I have always lived to do for others.....

I do not, really, attach any significant, religious aspect to Christmas--so that is also missing. I think all of this just got lost, somewhere, in my childhood as a refugee, my "dry" existence while I was married, and NOT having anything in my growing-up past to reference to.

To this day--I cannot sing certain Christmas carols (like "Silent Night" and "Oh, Holly Night") without crying. Something must be "in there" that got taken away from me.....all my feelings and emotions got "boxed up" and "stuffed away"--but I just feel it the same, no less....just cannot, openly, express it.
I am just an old, sentimental fool.....a "Tootsy Pop". Have you ever heard that comparison? Hard on the outside--but soft inside.

I am glad I have you all to celebrate with--no matter what the Holiday.

Gita

Betty New Orleans is 8 hours from us, Shreveport is 3 hours. Get your tail down here and go with us I'm driving!
I gathered!!!! It was so easy!! I made a big fuss over this??? Good Grief. Tomorrow it's time to hem the dress and sew the sleeves! How wide is the top part of the dress supposed to be after it's gathered?



This message was edited Nov 13, 2008 9:24 PM

I am delightfully unorganized. My boss says I'm unorganized but I know where everything is at! LOL I'm one of those who can't start a bunch of projects at once cause I'll drop them all. It's one thing at a time for me, I'm scatterbrained more than anything. All of that stuff you do and keep it all together, there's no way I could do all of that.

hheehehe...Crissy, you are so cute!! I am with you on the clutter...love lots to do at a time myself.

Now Gita, I say this very nicely. ...Not me.
Besides, you should know me by now, if i am going to be offened by you I am going to tell you. Hands on hip and all !!
We have had our debates....LOL are ya trying to say it's time for another? Debate I mean, little giggling there.

I understand people "Don't" Do Christmas. Everyone has their reasons...just have to give a different kind of gift, BECAUSE I, we
Want to...

Now gimme a Hug, because
WE (you & me) Have no reason to offened

So, Get working on your Santa
and show Betty your Pictures already!!

Giant smile & a wink to you!
Your Brat: Judy

Hey, I am not even sure what that was all about! But
Gita, I am not sure why you think i am offended...
I Know you read and only say hi so you know I know...lol that your reading.

...And you know I will ask a garden Question when I think of it, untill then I'm just saying hi!
If you read my posts. Then you already know this.

OK shaking hands here...
Good night/morning!

So laughing..nope Gita, just people who care about you, miss your informative posts, no one meant any harm especially those who asked about your well being..so, with no capital letters lol...glad you are posting...hope things settle down for you so that you CAN start your Santa and we'll all know at christmas time when viewing them we'll feel the warmth they've brought us all...now that is hoping they ALL turn out!!! no question about that, am sure they will...

Judy you are just too funny...I love the friendly bond you and Gita have..able to discuss and debate....

Did sleep well..and Vicki yes that's about the amount of hours I need as well to function, any more than 5 or 6 at the most I barely can accomplish anything..

Crissy it's called organized kaoss (?)

Short day today at work, but Suzanne and I are heading to the toy factory distributor..know I NEED NOTHING except a gift for a little boy/girl but I can imagine what treasures I'll find there...

Must get ready, we're leaving just a tad earlier..Suzanne has early appt...

We'll gab when I get to that crafting room..lol

Good morning. I will post the recipe for The Applesauce Cake here. Skip over if not interested. I hope that you will enjoy it Doe and Betty. I especially love it because it tastes the very same as the one that my mother made during the years when I was growing up.

This is a very heavy cake and if being given as a gift, even a half of the cake would probably be enough for a single person or two. John and one of his ex co-workers used to love when I was doing a lot of baking. They really loved this one.

I started with this thread today so that I wouldn't skip it and get way behind again. So good to see everyone. Gita, I must confess that it was I who dmailed and asked about you. I saw Betty make two references to you and July also commented on your absence, so I inquired about you. I am glad that you checked in and that is well. Great news about your daughter's marriage.

Greetings to all other posters. I so enjoy reading about everyone's daily lives. Betty, you now have me considering taking pictures of some of the goodies that I have been buying for gifts. Miss Emily's bag is the largest. ha-ha I too am guilty of buying things for myself also when out and about. This past Tuesday I bought two night gowns and several women's long johns to sleep in. While I am thinking about it, I realize that I bought both Ben and Tucker as well as DIL Nikki and myself night clothes.

Okay, here goes........

Applesauce Cake

1/2 cup of butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
2 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter and sugar until light. Add eggs beating well after each one. Sift dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture, alternating with applesauce. Turn batter into greased lightly floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Cool in pan.


Enjoy. I will see all you good folks later on.

Ruby

Betty-so this place is by you then right?? I am ready to come whenever Mom is!!LOL You said something about one of these awesome places you go to being closed after 12/5??

Ruby, thanks sweetie for the recipe..will try it out Sunday (my almost day of rest)..it's the day I believe a lot of DG members who are in the Victorian Santa Workshop will get to sit together gabbing and working away so might have to make it early enough so they can enjoy a piece (at least a photo piece)

Yes you will have to post photo's..it gives us ideas as to possibilities when not knowing what to get someone..I'm just so lucky to have a few discount stores around..

When we were at the Garden Gallery (which isn't discount) they had the glass blown ball that you add oils to and when the sun hits them it smells so nice in the room well at Ganz I paid $6.00 and at the Gallery last night they were $29.99 big savings right...

Stacey..Ganz is a block away from the office here, the toy warehouse is about 1/2 hr. from here..chocolate Factory 10 minutes from the office, Garden Gallery is in Barrie 1/2 hr. from my house..so yes lots of choices...Ganz only opens from the 1st of November to I believe around Dec. 5th..will have to check the date for you..if it weren't for the pine tree outside my window I could read the sign....

Ruby/Ruby, wasn't going to say who was worried about Gita...mum was the word..lol..nice isn't it when someone goes missing there is always someone in search of why..worried about them...some family members don't even worry ...so this Best/worse/what did I learn thread has amazing friends on it...

Well, that sucks-I don't see us being able to make it in the next couple weeks with American Thanksgiving coming and all:(

Boy, Betty, you are so tempting. The cardinal thing was beautiful and only $2.50? I could drop a lot of cash at that place.
And, yes, Tinky-Poo would be right behind me pushing....
I have so much on my plate this year that I just don't see it, but you can better believe that will be on my list for a road trip next year around this time. You forget we still have Thanksgiving to go through and you are all done!
Victorian Santa was on the list for today but if you are holding a class on Sunday I may just wait and jump into that. When I read my directions today they stop at a crucial point and I have to go back to that thread and get the rest.
Jumping there now...

I printed out Betty's Santa instructions or else I would have had to cut and make my santa in my sunroom. There's not enough room in there!

Gita, I like that expression, "Tootie Pop" My son uses a very similar analogy to describe his baseball players in a different context when he has a problem with them giving 100% of their effort and talents. He uses are you a marshmellow, a jelly bean or a rock? Some of his rocks don't give their full effort while some jelly beans with less talent than a rock give their all and will succeed. Some times he'll even tell a rock, that his nick name will be marshmellow for the remainder of the season if he sees them slacking off from their potential to advance to the next level. They don't want the coach to call them a marshmellow and all of them try their best to have the coach nick name them 'the rock'.

I want to plant bulbs on Sunday, it's going to be our only half way decent day, but if there's a workshop the bulbs can wait! I'm so far behind on my Santa I don't think a Sunday workshop is going to do me any good, except I can watch LOL! I still have to hem the dress, sew the sleeves and shawl, and everything else that comes after that!

Won't take you long Crissy if you get at it..Sunday there will not be visual unless it's me taking close-up photo to answer someones question.. will be fun..I've a few to make as gifts so think it will be a good time to get it done along with you all...

Have to do a Group Blast, should stop painting these santa faces and get it done..geezzze, lots of faces I've painted, should have kept track..still need about 15..so must get pouring more..thank goodness I've lots of time on my hands at work..lol..

Yep both you Janice and Stacey will have to drive up for a weekend...Debbie is not that far either...she'll have to hitch a ride..lol...best plan it for the 1st week of Nov. as all these stores open for Christmas season here...

OMG

STOP THE PRINTER!!!!

Thought I'd print Ruby's recipe for both Suzanne and I, back to printer ..can hear print/print/print...turn around and it's printing 2 copies of this entire thread..oh/oh..

Will try again..lol

Got it, one must press 'print selected text'..lol