Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today #71 visit with friends...

Time to move us over...

Thanksgiving Weekend coming for all of you..I keep thinking it's a bigger celebration than is Christmas in the USA..am I right??? families getting together with all the food and trimmings... and Black Friday, is that this Friday?

I understand the USA is the place to be re purchasing at a big discount..should cross over for the weekend..lol

Big travel day since a lot of people will be visiting relatives. I have always loved this holiday but lately I have heard about families that are bickering among themselves; little nit picky stuff but it puts a damper on the day. My folks may not have liked my DFIL (he was a bigit!) but when Thanksgiving came my folks invited them or if it was their turn, they invited my folks and all were nice and found some common ground to share on that one day.
The first year I was divorced, lived alone and had to work on Thanksgiving, my kids got into my apartment and cooked dinner so we could all be together. Those are the best Thanksgiving times!

Betty, imo Thanksgiving is equally important as Christmas because of the memories I have.

To me, thanksgiving signals the start of the holiday season: the music, the spirit, etc. For Thxgvg, we are with my family one year and DH's the next. Thxgvg with my family brings back such fond memories from my younger years. Our family used to own a house out in the country (my DGF was born there) and every year, we would meet up there for Thxgvg and it was just a casual time. We'd go hiking in the woods looking for mistletoe and just enjoying the fresh air. After my grand parents passed away, my DM and DF owned the house and it really became a handfull. So since the house would have gone to my sister and I we all decided that we would sell it - but to a dear family friend who lived across the street from the house. The house was very old and was heated by a furnace; no air conditioning, no insulation. So keeping it would have cost us a bundle!! Anyway, we do miss the family get-togethers there but this year will be the first time since it was sold that we will all be back together. So to me, Thxgvg just means family and yes, being being very thankful for what we have.

Black Friday - I shudder at the mention of this. For years I worked in retail and HAD to work very long hours that day. Also, from Thxgvg to Xmas, I didn't get any days off so the holiday season was not as enjoyable as it is today. You could not pay me to hit the stores on Friday. Having worked in retail, I know that the price you get on Friday will be there again before Xmas, so no need to break your neck to be there when the doors open at 5am!! My neighbor goes every year and gets good deals, but to me, it's not worth it!

Christmas this year will be at our house with DH's family coming on Christmas Day. We will go to my parent's house Christmas Eve. I enjoy Christmas Eve more then Christmas day because of the memories I have. My DF is Italian and we always did Xmas Eve at his parents house. Well, it was a big Italian feast with pasta and seafood. Then we got presents. My DGF played "Santa" and the tradition was that he opened the gift and held it up for everyone to see. As a little child, I didn't really like this cause I wanted to open my own gift, but as I grew up, I grew to love it. There were TONS of presents and the little kids played the elves and passed the gifts to Santa. Of course, we always passed ours first! While this was going on, there were maybe 15 family embers sitting all around talking and laughing and ALWAYS passing a box of Whitman's chocolates. Funny, everyone always bit the corners of the candy and put it back till they found one they liked. When my DGF got too old to be Santa, my DD played him. So since my grandparents have been gone, we now have Christmas Eve at our house. It's only my sister and me and our families but we still do the same food and open some gifts.

After Xmas Eve, we will drive back to Richmond and my parents will follow us, spend the night and be with us in the morning to open the rest of the gifts. They then head out around lunch time and then go to my sister's for that night. Once they leave, it's time to get ready for the next crew - DH's family.

So this year, I am taking Wed off from work and we're heading down to OBX (Outer Banks). I will be making my grandfather's clam chowder and a sweet potato casserole. I think it will be too cold for too much outdoors stuff but hopfully we can walk on the beach and look for shells at least once while there.

Well, back to work. I will chat with y'all later..

J

Hello, Good Morning to all.

Well a nice short week for me.
We are having a small thanksgiving dinner. We normally would be up north with my family, but since things are a bit out of sorts...We are staying home.
But we are Going to the cottege on Friday!! My brothers might try and come down for the day on Saturday, so that will be very cool.

Oh, gosh...I never shop on Black Friday, yikes the crowds, people rushing about...toting tired and winey kids. YUCKKK, makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
LOL, I take a list of names...And I shop for everything all in one day...Then we all take turns, Hiding in the basement wrapping our gifts...My favorite is shopping for stocking stuffers! But the one thing wee always do is bring home a Christmas tree for Wisconsin Thanksgiving weekend. We go as family LOL, usually dad and kids do all the choosing, I just go to watch their excitment.

I usually do my shopping after Julia's Birthday. Actually thats when we officially start the holiday...Been tradition since she was born. So, we shall continue with that.

Janice what a special, sweet thing your kids did!!

LOL, hows the card making going?

Well best get to work here...Cards are waiting, LOL wish they were christmas cards!

Hello all. Trying to get this house in shape for Thurs. I think the faster I go the behinder I get LOL. Hope you all have a good Turkey day!! HUGS BEV

LOL, thats funny Bev. Love your photo!!

Thanks Judy ! It is the truth. Don't know if I am comeing or going DUH!!

Okay, I will have to post now instead of lurking. Who came in my house and stole my kitty?

I am working every day after thanksgiving, but am doing a 1/2 day the day after and mom and I are going to a couple places-NOT black friday places, other out of the way places...

We have our family coming over to our house as DH LOVES to host;) But truly a big reason is that we both have to get up at 4am the next morning so travel would be out of the ?? for us....

Found Powder up atree before she was even weaned and she is now 5 months old. What is yours abbi? Pic please. BEV

Well! When I was little, we always had a big dinner on ALL the holidays, year round! Thanksgiving and Christmas were special, though! For Christmas my DGM always made 5 cakes, and most of the time, 21 pies. These would last till New Years. There wasn't much money for presents, but Santa always brought something1 One year, he left a bushel of apples, and a bushel of oranges! He always left candy and nuts. Especially hard candy. One year we had a goose for dinner. I didn't like the goose, it was to greasy! There were 6 of us at our house, DM and DD, DGM, my sister and me, and Leonard, my daddy's cousin who lived with uo and was daddy's age but mentally he was my age. The only "brother" I ever had!
I have fond memories of those years, and seems like I've forgotten the ones when my daddy had to much "holiday spirit", and got mean. He never harmed us kids, though, just got loud and ugly and scarey. He loved us to pieces, however, and would do anything he could for us. My DGM kinda kept him under control!
Well, I didn't mean to write a book, just to share some of the good memories. Y'all have a good Thanksgiving, and a Merry Christmas!

I will have to locate pictures Bev, but mine is an Egyptian Mau looks a lot like yours. Found ours at a shelter of all places. That picture could have been taken of my--her name is Mau. Clever wouldn't you say since it means Cat! Late hubby named.
Marion

We are lucky in that my kids, my mom and mother in law all live within 3 miles of each other....this year Mom decided she will cook Turkey, stuffing and the giblet gravy......the rest is pot luck so we can all get together and see what each one wants to bring.....haven't decided what else but BJ's corn casserole is definitely on the menu!

You couldn't get me anywhere near a store on Friday!!!

Trisha, that make 2 of us. No way will I go anywhere near a store on Friday. I may be stupid but I ain't dumb!!!

Hello, back was to computer as I'm making Christmas cards..life at work truly is hard..lol..Paul said to me this morning after seeing the cart on wheels I brought in, said 'aren't we suppose to be packing and taking things home?" lol...

Traditions..aren't they grand..

Back from lunch..sky is getting darker, calling for combination of snow and rain..let's hope the temps don't drop even more..not nice driving on icy roads...3 more driving days girls..

Jeannine, that was different the santa opening gifts rather than the children..guess if it was a tradition then likely you wouldn't have known the difference...

As you know my grandmother raised me and lived to be 99..never missed a Christmas Eve at my grandparents house...there were 7 kids in dads' family and all came with their respective families, large numbers...

We'd meet at grandma & grandpa's house about 8pm, she'd have meat pies and basically a whole Christmas meal, she'd have been baking for weeks..special goodies for all...then at 11:30 we'd go to midnight mass and return home for what one would call their 'Christmas Dinner'...while everyone was getting the foods together my dad would take out the guitar and we'd have a sing along..santa would always drop in with a bag full of gifts for each..by early morning we'd all either be spending the night or those who lived locally would go home...all would drop in throughout the day but "OUR" family time was Christmas Eve...

After I married and had children it would always be 'we've got to go to grandma's, this might be her last year!' and year after year it would be the same ' must go, might be her last year!' boys would always say I know, I know, but the last year never comes.....she died when my boys were in their early 30's...

Now with my own children it's not as organized..with Greg in same town as I and Jeff in Toronto, with in-laws to visit etc/etc/it's hard to get all together...don't think the kids today keep to tradition as we did and do...

Lives are much too busy I guess...can't say they weren't taught because they sure were...

Bev...omg he's just so adorable...

Waving Judy as I sit here typing, Suzanne has Christmas music on and I'm almost nodding off...just might put my hea back...

My grandmother helped my parents raise me, too! My daddy and I played fiddle and guitar, and my sis and I sang. Sometimes Daddy would join in. My grandmother taught me to sing harmony.
Thanks for the memories!
I put my tree up this morning, didn't take long, just take it out of the box and spread the limbs! One gift under it, found another I'll wrap. Two angels I bought after Christmas last year on sale, along with various gnomes and the Santa around the tree! I'll finish and mail the Santa next week.

Who is the lucky recipient Audrey...your tree sounds lovely..was thinking this morning as I put another ornament on the cafe room tree, smaller of the 3, why not just get a big box, lift it up and next year I'll not have to decorate it..getting lazy in my old age...lol

My best friend in Ala. is getting this Santa! I hope to make my purple one next month, if I can get the stuff to make it with!

Sending you some faces/hair..hoping to get to the post office tomorrow..with me not driving it makes it hard..Suzanne mentioned posting a parcel so let's hope..that way you'd get it most likely toward the end of next week...

Won't your girlfriend be thrilled...does she appreciate hand made gifts? Almost all my friends do but have had relatives that aren't and now they get store bought things...

Sure would be nice if I could stop yawning..nieces just left for the day..just Suzanne and I in..would be nice for BIL Paul (boss) to call and tellus to leave a little earlier due to weather conditions but he's at the other end of the city so perhaps it's not storming there..

She LOVES hand made things! She's made several Santas herself, but nothing like this!
I'll send you the money for the things as soon as I get my check! Thank you!

Audrey what time does your mail come??

So nice to read all about your Thanksgiving and Christmas tradtions.

Looks like freezing rain here now..be careful going home Betty

hellooooo

had no pc and then lost you all....


how is everyone!!???

Hi Laura. I was just about to asked everyone where you were. Glad to have you back girl!!!! HUGS BEV

My mail comes any time between 12 and 5! Depends on how many girlfriends he stops to see!

Trisha! He just brought me your package! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I needed all of it! The cards are beautiful! It took a lot of time to do those!
The Santa parts are great! I've been worrying where I was gonna get the rounds and posts! What a great BD present!
Betty's gonna send me some stuff, too, so I should be in business pretty quick! I already have the purple cut out!
O happy day!!
I also got a BD pressy from Faye Bruce! A Ruby Egg candy dish on a pedestal!
A nice card from Maxine, with more hand made cards!
Couldn't get any better!!
Thanks girls!

Audrey, you CANNOT pay Santa for gifts he drops off...he'd be offended, then you'd be off of his list...let's just say he always has elves and elfettes (? lol) ..all part of Christmas...have to go back to the santa photo's to see what you are sending..so many posted hard to keep track of who made what????

Carol, when the girls were doing their workshop on Friday one of them who we've been painting with for at least 15yrs. says they will be selling their home in the spring and purchasing a place in Newcastle so they can spend the summers closer to their son and his family..was telling her of my visit and the nursery and of course BRAGGING about my friend Carol's gardens...lol..

Afternoon Laura, guess it's early morning for you..will have to send you the link when we move rooms...how is it going? missed you....
can't believe the mailing system when it comes to Australia..what was it 5 months of travelling time for the soldering iron to get there?

5 more minutes and homeward bound..am counting those few days left...managed to get 3 cards done today...not many is it? must have been working slow motion...

Bev...Smokey is just toooo adorable..

Judy, you are quiet today???? hope all is well..

I am so sorry Audrey, after I mailed the package and started work on my next Santa I discovered I forgot to include the nail....I hope you can work out that part......but I am glad you like it all, Happy Birthday a few days early, but I didn't know if you would be gone after Thanksgiving or not.....((((((((HUGS)))))))))

I will be gone for a few days. I didn't even miss the nails! My Sweetie can get me some where he works and mail them to me! I'm so tickled!Thank you Trisha!
OK, Betty, I wont worry about it! Bless Santa's little helpers hearts!

Oh! Betty you are as bad as I am. It is a her and her name is Powder but Smokey would have been cute. HUGS BEV

LOL Bev...so thinking that she looked like smokey, Mom's cat and just decided to call her 'smokey' but 'Powder' suits to a 't'...I'll have to dig up a photo of 'Smokey' so I can show you the resemblance...have you been talking with DS this week, is there any chance he will make it for Thanksgiving?

Did I tell you Bev (&others) that when visiting my brother Bernie on Sat. morning at his shop, there was the cutest kittie I had ever seen, not really the beauty, the markings look like a lion but some of the markings going from one complete direction to another..oh how I wanted her...imagine, what would I have done with another kittie...but I was tempted to steal her...very tiny, they found her in a dump so I'm sure now they've bottle fed her they'll keep her...

Just this minute walked in, decided to come downstairs, feel all the critters then head to bed..tiring ride home, stormy as can be...calling for more this evening..know it won't be a snow day tomorrow but I can dream can't I?

Audrey, aren't birthdays just about as good as Christmas...sometimes better...

A parcel from Trisha as well as gifts/cards...exciting for you..just incase you leave before your birthday...'Happy Birthday to you...' singing, off key....

Best call it a day...

Just on my way upstairs, had to take a photo...

"Everybody needs a friend!!!"

Just thought I'd share...

Ooops pressed send, wanted to click on browse...


"Everybody needs a friend!"

OK! I better chime in on how I spend my Christmas Holidays.

I have not "done" Christmas in my own house for almost 8-9 years. As I live alone--there is really NO incentive to do anything. There are NO young children in my life--so that takes a lot away from it. PLEASE---No sympathy here!

Christmas means Family and kids and all that......so, every year, I drive 3 hrs. north to NJ to spend the Holidays with my older sister's clan. She has 4 daughters-all married and with kids--living all scattered over NJ--and a bachelor son from CA who makes the trip East every year--so he can frolic and connect with all his young nieces and nephews. They all just LOVE him to death--as he throws them up in the air and frolics all along with them.

I have 2 daughters--one here and one on the West Coast (Seattle). It is hard to do anything important over the Holidays, as the one here also works in retail--as do I, and the one West I see about once every 3 years.
I am PT--though, being an oldie. The one here is not. It is hart to find a day off between us to celebrate the Holidays. We are all torn and separated at any and all Holidays because retail has NO mercy.

At my Sister's in NJ--we all get together at one of the daughter's homes and eat and drink and make merry--exchange gifts and all that. I LOVE this part of it!!!! I also hate it--because the children havr NO respect and all thjay want is...MORE....More.....More....

There are a total of 11 grandchildren--ages 1+-14. It is a night of insanity---as they all tear into the gifts. I hate the greed......I hate the indifference for who gave what to whom. Being the "distant Aunt"-----I just sit and eat and drink wine and tolerate it.......BUT--I do not like it!

Then--about a week or so later--we have a second Family get-together. We call it the Cousin's Get-together. I have one cousin here and one in VA. They both alternate in holding this alternate celebration. Usually, my sister, and sometimes one of her daughters and children, will make the trek South to attend this. It is a sacrifice--as it is, usually, a one day trip--3-5 hours one way.
My sister in NJ is the "Matriarch" type---doing what has to be done to keep all the Family stuff going....

It is hard, and almost secondary, to find a day/night that my daughter here (the one who just got married) can find a day--sometimes---that we can get together to exchange gifts......

By now--honestly--the Holidays do not really mean diddly to me! Sorry! There is no one to really spend them with. Nothing much to celebrate. It is just another Ho-Hum day.....

I realize how "cold" this may seem to you all that do Christmas to the hilt! It is just that I do not "FEEL" anything special this time of year.
OH--I love the songs and the carols.....I LOVE all the decorations.....It is just that there is something in me that feels nothing.......no matter what the Holiday is.

I have done this routine every year for many, many moons! If I did not--I would not have a Christmas at all.....I really work at it so I do.

Same goes for New Years!

Gita

Gita, that's your perogative! I hate it when kids don't appreciate their gifts, especially when we take such car in finding just the right thing! I taught my kids respect, you would never know if they didn't like a gift! My daughter did the same! Of course, we tried to make sure we got things they liked!
If I was you, I might not go to the family gettogether, if they act like that! I don't blame you for not liking it! They're being rude to YOU, by behaving in this way!
JMO!! Christmas is love, Christ was the ultimate gift, we should all be aware of the reason we celebrate His Birthday!

Betty, we never made to much of a big thing out of birthdays, no gifts, etc. Maybe a cake. But I love it! I do so enjoy getting the surprises! Such fun!

Gita Ican understand how you feel about Christmas....guess it has a lot to do also with the 'traditions' we are brought up with...

Roger had 11 in his family and I along with Aunts/Uncles/brothers/sisters was about the same, then add their mates, grandma's aunts and uncles it was always a big family thing with most living in the same town so not hard to get together at a drop of the hat...then, retail wasn't open on Sundays, Christmas, Boxing Day so it was easy for all to attend...

Guess it always takes one to be the Matriache..guess I would be the one..

Nice that you enjoy the decorations/music and the generosity shown by people...and yes, I have been to homes where the kids are not satisfied with what they've receive..thank goodness not my own ...

I would say Audrey that my birthday is more important to me than Christmas...

I've but 2 more travel days after today..am sooo looking forward to it...

Last night in the storm coming home when we got to the cut-off for our new office location we timed it..although we were travelling at almost 1/2 the speed we still made it home in 50 minutes..me a little longer..so goes to show you that within 45 minutes I'd be home to enjoy the evening...rambled about that subject for far too long but as you can tell, excitement is looming...

Best get a move on..Suzanne will be calling and I'll be driving to Hillsdale to meet her this morning...that's about 1/2 hr. away from here..by rights I should meet her in Barrie and that way I could do a bit of shopping....

So off I go...
talk when I get to the office..

Just went back into the far table in the craft room...
There are such caring people in this world..makes you want to cry at times, becomes overwhelming at thinking of how generous people are...

Aline was in Florida and brought me back 2 pkgs. of excedrine migraine as she knows I get migraines from time to time, also is a box of girlguide cookies for a treat, I would guess also from Aline, then a root with a note from Lydia who does medicines saying it would get rid of headaches quickly..guess I have to boil the root ..will call her..she's in her early 80's and always if someone mentions an ailment, she has medicine at your doorstep...
How very kind of them .... needed a pick me up today and that just did it...

Mornin' Betty! How nice of your friends! The root looks like ginger, doesn't it! My grandmother used to give it to my sister for cramps. She made a tea with the powder.
Hope you have a safe drive in, I know you'll be glad when the long drives are over! Have a great day!