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

Betty,,Yesterday I went to that Country Gardens Centre that you and I went to.
I bought a Christmas gift for one of my kids.

I here at my grandaughter's ....looking after her this week.

Have a good day all.

Good Morning all.....

Good Morning Everyone! We're having a Thanksgiving potluck today and tomorrow, hopefully tomorrow will be a short day, driving to Shreveport after work tomorrow!! Woo Hoooooooooooooooooooo

When my grandparents were alive (mom's parents) we would all go over there, probably about 10 to 15 of us, and Granny would cook the whole thing for all of us (she cooked for the Church too, so she didn't mind.) and we would pig out. Christmas's were the same way, except tons of gifts. After I grew up if I had a boyfriend we would spend every other year with his family, every other year with my family. I hardly ever spent time with my dad's mom and sister and her two daughters. After my grandparents passed and parents divorced I've pretty much been on my own, especially after mom and her new (at the time) husband moved to Oklahoma and me and dad, and Dave had introduced himself into my family by then, so we just spent it at a restaurant my dad frequented all the time. Now since Dad's moved to Joplin, Missouri and I've moved here to Arkansas we usually just go somewhere fun.

Greetings to all. Missed reading yesterday but enjoyed reading all of the holiday traditions also. Everyone used to congregate at my parents home on Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day. Both of my parents are gone now. We have an open invitation to a family that were good friends of my parent's and we go there for dinner some Christmas Eves and we stay home some too. John's parents moved in to a Retirement Home several years back, so the holidays are done at his brother's now. We are supposed to go there on Thanksgiving Day, but will call them today and ask if they want possibly contagious people with something that sounds almost like whooping cough. Whatever this virus is wiped me out last week, but I am doing much better since Sunday, thankfully.

Since Emily has shown up on the scene it looks like we will most likely stay home on Christmas Day rather than going to John's brother's for that tday too. I kind of like having the option of going there for holiday meals because instead of being responsible for a whole meal, I only have to do a dish or two.

Gilli, I am really glad you liked the Applesauce Cake. I love them too. I am going to try and post another recipe that belonged to my mother too and was always a hit wherever or whenever she made it. - Okay, just spent about ten minutes looking for it, so may as well post it now.

Ice Cream Dessert

2 stacks Ritz crackers
1 stick butter
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 container Cool Whip
2 boxes instant French vanilla pudding
1/2 cup milk

Crumble crackers and mix with butter. Pat in bottom of baking dish. Soften ice cream. Add pudding and milk, stir together and spread on crust. Spread Cool Whip over mix. Sprinkle cracker crumbs on top. Put in refrigerator until set, about one hour.

Enjoy!!!

Betty, do you know what your winter plans are yet, as far as travel goes? It would be a shame for you to travel in this direction and then not be able to see you. I have an open door policy as far as Dave's folks go.

Ladydragon, I have the same problem as yourself when it comes to buying for the men in my family. Tucker did take one item off my list for me as far as his gifts are concerned. He went out Sunday afternoon and bought a winter coat that he wanted and I will be reimbursing him for it. Works for me. ha-ha I am a lot like you too in that if I see something throughout the year, I buy it and save until Christmas.

Wow Betty, so on Thursday would have been Roger's birthday and your wedding anniversary? If so, yes, I agree with trying to occupy yourself that day for sure. Take care and know that you are loved!!!

You also asked Betty if Thanksgiving was a "bigger" holiday than Christmas. My answer to that would be no in terms of preparation and activities. What I have heard is that Thanksgiving is the holiday when the most traveling is done. The majority of people don't mind going somewhere for Thanksgiving, but tend to stay with home and hearth on Christmas Day.

Ladydragon, I loved hearing the story of your first Thanksgiving alone and your children doing a dinner for you. How very special that is.

Hello to everyone. Yep, sounds like we are thinking of the holidays, even if we haven't begun preparing per se.

Will check back in later. Hope that every one is having a good day.

Ruby

Cross posted with Crissy......your way, just going where there is fun sounds good to me too. ha-ha I hope that you have a great time.

Ruby

When my son married his third wife, not all at the same time, LOL! She's full blooded Dutch. Her parents were 3 and 4 when they came to America. She had never had a Christmas stocking, or presents under the tree! She really enjoyed Christmas at my house, it was just like a little kid to watch her!
Then when my oldest daughter married, HE had never had a tree or stocking. His mother was a witch, so she believed, and I do to, now! He didn't know what Christmas was all about.He enjoyed it so much, he nade a big thing out of Christmas every year for his kids, and was like a little boy again when he got a gift! It was amazing to watch these two very different people learn about Christmas, and giving! He was delighted to get just a pair of those cheap "house socks" with the tread on the soles! He would immediately put them on!

Another thought! One year I was making angel dolls, and my sil saw them and asked for one just for him, and wanted me to sign it! Of course, I made him one, signed it and gave it to him. I have no idea if he still has it, as they're divorced now. He's an alcholic. He's had a rough time with that problem, and it ruined their marriage, and harmed the kids, too. She's better off without him!

Morning..

Carol, would imagine that they have lovely decorating things for sell and greenery right? I'm going to try and drop in over the weekend to Bradford Galleries & Greenhouse to pick up a few things as well..planning a trip to city if DIL Melanie wants to come...what did you pick up? They are so lucky Carol to have you nearby....

Hello Jeannine...photo's of Sailor please?

Darlene called me this morning and Audrey it is a ginger root...when I asked what to do with it Darlene said Lydia said to slice a piece and take it..also said that does wonders for unsettled tummy so I will try to take a piece each day for awhile and see if it helps...

Today we are multi tasking..Suzanne will drop me off at Ganz at lunch hour, I'll pick up what I need then she'll head out to the post office to post some things for herself and some for mine...

That way we can accomplish much more on a 1 hr. lunch break seeing we'll only have 2 more here in the city ..lol

My husband was raised Jahovah Witness so he never celebrated anything. Even when I met him at 42 years old and once divorced he still had a hard time "remembering" to celebrate it. I'm slowly breaking that habit, but it's taken 5 years of being with him, not necessarily married to him. This was the first year he acknowledged my birthday, but he has never had a problem cooking for Thanksgiving.

I'm glad you've been able to "bring him around"!! He's missed so much of the real meaning of Christmas, and the great feeling you get from giving a gift in any circumstance!

How wonderful Crissy, must make you feel good that he's taking an interest in Christmas...work slow for you today?

I've not had a chance to take out my crafts..been very busy..we hired 2 men who will operate from the Toronto office and their mandate is to contact Mortgage providers and when they cannot be of any help to them they are forwarded to us and we often can get rid of their debt and they keep their homes..last resort really..so had 6 this morning to contact...I just LOVE it! busy/busy

Good Morning.

Speaking of gifts, I gave my friend and co-worker her Santa, snow scene this morning.

She loved it. Cried...LOL, I forgot the the letter I wrote, so just told her it was for her birthday and all the gratitude, for the years of support she has given me.

We embraced in a giant hug, was so worth making it especially for Susan.

Anyway, I come from a large family...Over the years, we have practiced gift giving, but the biggest gift we give eachother is ourselves personally. It can come in the form of a phone call, a hug, sharing the joy of laughter and just wishing the best for the coming year. And for my brothers and sisters, nephews and niece...the greatest gift is the ringle jingle of the telephone, and the excitment of their voice is pure delight.

...This is what I have taught my kids too. The very thought of you in whatever manner is a gift, cherish that and the person.

LOL, if you think I get excited over a a phone call, you should see me in real life to see someone!

...What can I say, I was born a sentimental fool, and I am proud of it.


Betty, a big giant hug to you.
and to you all!(((((((HUGS)))))))

This turned into a full length novel, sorry.

We’ve always done Thanksgiving, but we didn’t come “home” for Thanksgiving when we lived elsewhere. Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, 4th of July, are probably the top 5 for us in order. DH and I do New Years Eve and St. Patrick’s Day, but that mainly involves hanging out with friends and drinking too much. Birthdays and Anniversaries are usually a big deal, more so than probably any other holiday besides Christmas and Halloween.

When I was growing up we would come up here most years for Christmas. For years we would do dinner at Dad’s parents Christmas Eve, I’d get token presents form his siblings, a present from my grandparents and a token present from my parents, but it was more or less dinner. Then Christmas morning we’d do breakfast, Santa and presents with mom’s parents. That was always “Christmas” for me.

We’ve done Christmas morning at my house, with both grandmothers, the last couple years, due to the fact we are the only ones with a kid. It’s easier to do Santa at home and trying to get a kid ready to go somewhere else first thing Christmas morning is not something I would look forward to.

My DH’s step father, Ron, was just diagnosed with stage 3 kidney failure last week; he had a lot of health issues before this as well. DH’s side of the family hasn’t done the “Christmas” thing in the time I’ve known him, but Ron wants to do Christmas day this year, and it’s likely it will be his last chance. So, we’ll be doing Christmas with my family Christmas Eve morning and then driving up to Port Angles, up on the far Northern tip of the Olympic peninsula, about 120 mile drive. We’ll do Christmas day there and probably come back the 26th.

All I would need for Christmas is a decorated tree, biscuits and cream of bacon gravy, and family, but presents are important to me. It’s not so much that I’m greedy, but I love to shop for other people and I love to get presents that show the person really thought about what they were giving me; I don’t care if the present cost the person nothing or $200, if it’s store bought or hand made, it’s the fact that they put thought into something I wanted, needed or that they thought I should have. I’m not fond of gift certificates for that reason, even when they are to book stores; that’s what I got from my DBIL and DH last year, and I used it well, but it’s not the same. I’d prefer to get a bunch of books they picked out for me, or better yet were on my want list, than a gift certificate that allows me to choose.

My birthday is Jan. 6th, so other than direct family I’ve never really gotten birthday presents. I actually gave up when I was about 19 and did the “Hobbit birthday”, I started giving out my Christmas presents to my friends on my birthday. But, I far prefer that to getting presents that were obviously an after thought or something they came up with because they felt they needed to give me something.

Betty, I’m really into tradition. It bothered me a lot when we stopped going to Dad’s mom on Christmas Eve, even though we still did Christmas with my grandmother, it just seemed like the end of an era. This year is bothering me a bit. The first year DH and I were together we went up to Port Angles on the 23rd and came back Christmas Eve, that was actually the first time I met Sage, but that didn’t bother me, because it just replaced going to Dad’s mom’s, that’s what I wanted to do, but Ron specifically wants to do Christmas day, so this year is throwing everything off kilter. It’s for a good cause though.

Gita, that’s one of the things I love about my DSD; she may be greedy, but she loves giving and seeing what everyone else gets as much as seeing what she gets. Since we broke her of being the “monster child” she came to me as, no real issues at family gatherings have come back to me, and I’m pretty sure they would have. I’m actually going to miss her at Thanksgiving; she’s spending it with her mom and mom’s parents. I was taught to know who gave me what gift and even if I didn’t like it to say “thank you” and not show it.

Our culture puts a lot of weight on Christmas, but it’s really the everyday that matters. In a lot of ways the “just because” gifts make me happier than the gifts I get on Holidays. I’m sure when you do have the chance to spend time with your family that it’s important to you, and that’s more important in my opinion than going through the motions of celebrating Christmas.

Awww Judy..........so glad your friend Susan loved your gift.

You are so sweet...really lovely post..

I'm off to get ready for Square dancing.

Byeeeee

We started doing Christmas morning at my house two years ago. My dad's mom started joining us on Christmas morning that year too. We always do stocking and especially since we have Sage, 5 at the time, we made a fairly big deal out of it. Grandma's reaction to getting handed a Christmas stocking was probably the high point for me that year. I can't remember how long she said it had been since she had a Christmas stocking, but she'd never even considered we'd make one up for her. I'd never really thought of the fact that you could do Christmas without stockings; you just had to have them even if they were only filled with fruit and nuts.

Laura, we celegrated the same holidays, except not Halloween, but Mother's Day, and Father's Day. We nearly always had family "company" in the Fourth of July. My grandmother would make a huge plum pudding, from plums we had picked on the banks of Black River, in Ark. We lived about a mile from the river, and we'd pick wild plums and HUGE blackberries! Of course, we had blackberry cobbler, too! Yum, yum!

Sorry want to respond and will after lunch busy morning and then I was trying to finish painting a few santa faces for shipping...Audrey and Trisha they are on their way...

Paul's appt. is running late, his next appt. is getting antzy so he's been gabbing to me for the last hour as I continued to paint..he knows my youngest Jeff and almost son Oliver so lots to discuss

Oh yum!!! We're getting ready to have lunch for pizza, LOL I mean pizza for lunch!! A couple of us brought deserts and breakfast stuff, so we've been eating all day. Only the bosses seem to be working LOL! Tomorrow's going to be even slower unless I get some work to do in the mail today.
Pizza's here Woo Hoo!!

How nice Crissy!!
You've been quiet for a bit now huh? Is this normal for your business?

We are having a pot luck on the 5th of dec.
I am thinking to make Ruby's Applesauce cake, and also I am going to attempt homemade cornbread.

Betty, Just love the photo of Riley and his friend!
Hiya Carol, hope the Square dancing is oodles of fun.

Gillibean, Was such a nice post the other night.
Gita, I think it's wonderful that you go to family. My favorite is the decorations and music too. Just love to see al the lights on the way home from work.

Hey LIZ...Hello what are ya doing? Are you making cookies with sister this year...LOL looking forward to the flour fight! giggling here, here's a splat of flour for ya. LOL, gotta tell ya a story about cooking...you know what a great cook I am NOT.
So anyway Breenie had to make some dish to take to Biology class. Of course it was last minute. So here we had all kinds of ingredients on counter for this and that. LOL, you know what we ended up making was Oatmeal cookies! But she and i had loads of fun... heheh, got a [picture of her somewhere will have to search at home for it, think you would love it.

Wonderhug...Waving hello to you. Was glad to see you. i hope that all is going well. Is your weather warming up? Have you been able to get in the gardens yet?

You all have some wonderful memories of Christmas and Gift exchange. Nice to share.

I remember one Christmas with my Grandma, I was 8 maybe...She made us all a croched poncho. And my mumma always made a huge breakfast, pancakes from scratch...

I can prioritize my work pretty good here. I have 4 bank statements that need adjustments sitting on my desk. The gal I work with that does the (sort of) same job as me is out all week and I have 2 bank statements that I need help with, so that has to wait until she comes back. The other 2 I have I need to call the hot check coordinators and walk them through fixing it themselves, but their on vacation this week. If I get one, or some, I'm waiting for 6, and there's a problem with one or some I'll have work tomorrow finding the problems, if they don't have any problems, which is what I hope, then there's nothing to fix. It all depends.

I'm thinking about trying that ice cream dessert. I love cobbler too, pretty much any kind of cobbler will do!

I love hearing all the Holiday stories. When I was little we lived in Oklahoma near all of our families. Thanksgiving we always went to my Aunt and Uncles just across the border in Denison Texas. Lots of Aunts and Uncles and tons of cousins….we always had a wonderful time!

Some Christmases we would go to may Aunt and Uncles in Oklahoma City……the city always had a contest and a tour of outdoor home decorations. We would all load into the cars to drive around and look at the lights…….someone would always forget their keys, or their purse or something and go back in to look for it…….how strange that when we returned home Santa had been there!!!!

Other Christmases we go to my Aunt and Uncles in Texas for Christmas. They kept me when I was a baby while my parents finished college and were always second parents to me, they never had children…..My most memorable Christmas gift was from this uncle. I had a HUGE package under the tree and couldn’t wait to open it. Finally I get the box open….inside is another wrapped box…..and another…and another …until I finally get to the end and there is a small metal Asprin Tin…….I opened it and nestled on a soft bed of cotton was…..one of my baby teeth!!!! I had lost a tooth during the summer and my uncle had kept it all that time just for this Christmas Joke!!! He loved to do things like that!!

When my kids were small we always went to my in-laws for Christmas Eve then to late Church Service, and to My parents on Christmas Day. It was always stressful going to the in-laws. We never had any money and at that time my depression had not been diagnosed so getting ready for the holidays was very difficult for me…as I love to give things. Once we arrived it was usually a lot of fun until the younger of my SIL’s had children. They came into a good sized inheritance from her MIL when my first niece was small and they spoiled the child rotten….how many 4 year olds do you know who get diamond necklaces for Christmas??? Until she reached college she was one of those me, me, me, kids…..and made pretense of liking anything we got her, it wasn’t expensive enough. When my father in law passed away my MIL quit having Christmas Eve and the gift exchange stopped except for the token cookies or candy. We get together for Christmas Dinner and that is about the only time we see the family unless we run into them at the market…it is rather sad as they live six blocks from us…..2 miles from my MIL and she only saw them 4 times last year. I will say that my niece went into therapy, went away to college and got a dose of real life and has turned into a fairly nice young lady…..SIL hasn’t changed much……..I do miss a lot about the earlier days….just not the stress.

If it were left to me for big family gatherings we would get together for a visit and a good meal, only home made gifts would be allowed…..or donations to those who actually Need Things. I would be so much happier with that.

At any rate I wish all of you the Happiest of Holidays where ever and however you celebrate!!

Isn't it nice Judy to go back in time and remember all the good family times...warms the heart and spirit doesn't it...best make Breenie a cook then you or Steve won't have to....

My goal tonight IMAGINE will be to cut a few pieces of wood for tomorrow's class BUT because I got an e-mail from LeeAnn telling about the dangers of having expired pkgs. of food in the cupboard, I'll go through all of it tonight and dump it out..major garbage day in the a.m. so tonights the night..how much do you want to bet that I'll be like old mother hubbard, cupboards will be bare..hey why not empty the fridge and upper freezer as well..may as well start fresh...

Going to plan a couple of cooking days next week while at home...
need to make tortierres (meat pies)
stuffed peppers
stuffed cabbage rolls
cookies
apple/blueberry pies
raisin butter tarts

must make my list of required supplies..might as well get ahead of the game, all can be frozen..less to do later in the month..

Imagine, Dec. 1st on Monday...this year certainly has passed quickly..

Suzanne went to post office, lordy mailing things is expensive..mailed 3 pkgs and it was $45.82..yuk..while she did the mailing I shopped at Ganz..needed something for a swap we're doing on-line on Sunday..you can bet I purchased something that is lightweight although Christmas so as not to pay more for shipping than the articles are worth..then I bought Melanie a nice tray with 3 compartments - snowman design...probably for candy or nuts or maybe different dips..a few embelishments for the victorian santa's we'll do Monday..then went on a search but really not enough time for christmas ornaments in shape of doggies/cats for friends..trying to match their animals..got a few, missing a few...must be something I bought for me, always a must...oh got 2 more beautiful candles .. outer shell is filled with fruit/tree leaves, potpourie etc. and then inside you put a tea light..anyway they will be for gifts...surely somewhere there was something in the bag for ME/ME/ME! can't recall..what they did not have was the glass wreath with red cardinal..at a place like ganz when you see something you must purchase it immediately as likely it won't be there the next time you go..I'll miss it with moving to Barrie...oh, one more thing I picked up, a teddy holding a blankie..not for me..lol..but for some small child..

Looking at my hamburger here, didn't have time at lunch to 'eat' so brought it back with me, now I'm not so sure I'm hungry..

Crissy, hope everything balances out so you won't have as much to do..can't believe that the day has passed so quickly, guess that's what happens when you truly work..pot luck..oh they'll just love the applesauce cake...which day are you leaving? are you packed or are you one of those gals that in 10 minutes bags are at the door...that's what I'm like...

Trisha I agree with Christmas from the heart and only homemade gifts...wonderful story about your uncle saving your tooth in order to give it to you at Christmas...were you disappointed?

How do you think it would go with children of today asking for that type of Christmas...think we could get away with it? In asking my grandchildren what they wanted not one could come up with something, oh they did after trying for 10 minutes but only as a 'must find something' exercise...that truly is terrible to me..shows they've much to much and yes, I'll be the first to spoil them even more..but, would like to see it change..should research what was done a century ago for christmas and see if I couldn't talk family next year into celebrating same..maybe even wear same garb as they did..I'd find that fascinating...not so sure they would though...

I'll pack tomorrow while I'm getting ready for work lol, Dave will pack once he wakes up tomorrow afternoon and have everything ready to go when I get home. Hopefully I'll be able to go home early. It's only one night, so it'll be easy packin'!

Cross posted with Betty - I think that would be kind of neat.

Actually I got a great laugh out of it......it is one of the few gifts as a child that I actually remember other than my first doll house (which I hid behind a chair and watched Santa assemble, complete with colorful language) and a large walking Doll which I still have.

Don't know about the kids, but I think it is a wonderful idea......an Old Fashioned Christmas without commercialization!!!

Yea! What happened to those days?

LOL Trisha...I remember getting a 'chatty cathy' remember her..one of the first dolls that said a few words....I also got a dollhouse..think it was made of metal..you'd assemble folding the tabs I believe and then got a bag full of furnitures and accessories...think the toy I most remember that I like and found fascinating was the 'slinky toy' wonder if you can still get them???? should check it out and get them for the boys...

Part of a special Christmas, come on everyone help me plan next years' special christmas... what were some of the toys you got that most impressed you..tops????

LOL, David Cassidy color forms! Thought is wwas pretty cool to stick them.
Also, spiral sets.

Trisha, thats a pretty neat thing! do you still have your tooth?

Betty that was the same Doll House I had!! My sis got the Chatty Cathy....I loved the Tops, and the Jack in the Box...then there was the Etch a Sketch.......I wish I still had the little Moss Rose Tea Set.....and my original Barbie....
Somewhere in our various moves from OK to Alaska, to Texas, to Washington the poor little tooth disappeared...I wish I did still have it....

Color forms??? what were they Judy? Loved spiral sets as well..we should all make a list, keep it and draw names then draw a slip giving an old time pressie for that person to buy..now why didn't we think of this before..it could have been this year???

Etch a sketch, not long ago bought one for grandchildren..well maybe it was more than a few years ago..probably I played it more than the children..just loved it...

I do remember my grandfather making me 'stilts'...nicely painted in bright colors...remember them? I was fantastic at it as was I with the hoola hoop

Have you seen the new Etch a Sketches??

When I was little we would have dinner on Christmas Eve, usually soup, and then go to church. We lived about 1/2 hr or more away from church and I would come home with my Grandma and Uncle or Mom and Dad. When we got home, Santa would have been there with presents under the tree and we would take turns opening, so each could see what Santa brought. Even after I didn't believe in Santa anymore I still couldn't figure out HOW those presents got under the tree! It was MAGIC, and the magic was more important that what presents I got. When I was an adult I asked my Mom and she said that whoever had me in the car would take the long way home so the other could get there first, put out presents, go out the back door and come around the side of the house like they just arrived! I must have been very naive, and this wouldn't fool any of the kids today who are sharp as tacks, but it sure fooled me. But to me, it was (and is) still MAGIC!

My Mom always saved one special present for Christmas morning. That and stockings. One year I got up around 4 am, found my present (a book), carefully opened it, read the book, and repackaged it and put it under the tree for when my parents got up. That was the worst Christmas morning ever; having to pretend I was surprised. I NEVER did THAT again!

The girls across the street had Pogo Sticks, couldn't use those things, I'd loose it every time.

I just bought a Slinky for a "Make a Wish" kid. Oh, yes, Virginia, they still have those and Etch A Sketch, too. Several years ago I found a MR. Machine, that was a robot that had plastic pieces you could take apart and he walked. My oldest son loved that toy when he was 7 and I gave him another when he was 45. He loved it just as much!

This message was edited Nov 25, 2008 4:14 PM

Crissy Noah wanted a pogo stick so last year one of his gifts from me was a pogo stick..I thought it would not be used much but he loves it and uses it even in the winter..cement flooring in their garage...the 'stilts' I guess were the primitive pogo sticks right..I could walk for ages on them..you know, I just might make a set for the 4 grandchildren..always make them something..last year was a checkerboard and checkers make out of wooden little tires-they loved it...don't you think they'd love 'stilts'...I'm just so excited..will make them this weekend....lol....let the ideas of days gone by keep rolling in..maybe part of this Christmas could be themed 'old fashion christmas'

LOL Janice, did that once as well, while everyone was out went in search of christmas treasures, found some-unwrapped them, re-wrapped them and yes, that Christmas wasn't much fun...

OMG now that's an idea..know my children loved to play 'Battleship' game...but had to fight Roger and I..probably the game I played most..loved it...bought an electronic one as years went by..not sure what happened to it?

The etch a sketch Crissy..doesn't it have different shapes which are magnetic that you just touch the screen and they show up then you can design around them...

You just watch, we'll all be on the lookout for old toys...

Y'all know that Slinkys are just like men, don't ya? Not good for anything, but lots of fun when you kick them downstairs!