The Christmas Flowerpot Cafe ..... 17

Oh it warms my heart to be home and hear your wonderful holiday stories. Zany I saw so many families there with their children spending the day together and talking abou going on the canopy tour or fishing or just fun playin at the pool. Santa came to the pool on Christmas day and had candies for all the children. Steve and I were treated with towels made into swans full of rose petals for our annive on 12/24 in the room and some choc coverer strawberries, will post those later. But we are home safe and sound, stopped to see Ruth my MIL on our way from the airport this morn for a few hours and now just trying to catch up.
We were able to talk a few minutes to our children and grandbabies on Christmas morn. Too bad that Tim and Amy and Eva were stranded at home in Cleveland due to illness and could not go to Christmas at Amy's family in Florida as planned, but sure they will be able to visit them soon
Elle looks like you got quite a wonderful holiday your way well as everyone else.
I did get a note from karmaplace and she is doing okay and is thinking of everyone although it is a hard time for her.
So glad to be home and will tell you about all the table dancin plantgeek and terri soon as I rest up from all of it!
Meantime, spent a lotta time with parrots and iguana so be wary!

Candee, it sounds like you had a wonderful honeymoon trip. Swan towels, rose petals and chocholate strawberries... romance at it's best!

I am glad to hear that karmaplace is ok. I hope things get easier for her.

My brother came over and spent the evening with us working out the details of what he has arranged with my Mom for after he leaves next month and I reassured him that we will be here to help her with the everyday things like shopping and such just like we did before he came to help with my Dad. Bless his heart he is like a kid looking forward to retiring and becoming an expatriot in the Phillipines and like an old lady worrying about leaving us. LOL I just want him to go and enjoy himself. He did his share and has more than earned it.

hi we about to make it though the holday
i work today but the next 4 day are me
i get abot 3 to 5 edd a day
them chichern are greate
suppoes to be warmer
this week
elle

Greetings! Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas holidays and having a nice break.

Welcome back Candee, lovely to see you and Steve looking happy and relaxed like you had a good time. Father Christmas by the pool sounds great! Love what you did to the picture, very arty.
So happy you are back safe and sound!
Zany, How is Bob? has the swelling gone down on his toe yet? Glad your brother has decided to go back, good luck to him. My brother is looking for another job in the Bahamas, he loved it and wants to go back!! If he does, this time I will save up and go there on holiday for sure!!
You'll all have to come and meet up with me in Nassau!!
Dianne, hope the Christmas eve dinner went well, would love to see your tree and garlands when you get time!
elle, 3-5 eggs everyday is great!

I've eaten so much in the last couple of days, sure I've put on half a stone LOL
It's been really cold, but we haven't seen any snow this Christmas yet. Keep warm everyone!

Zany your brother must be so excited and timid at the same time. I am sure you can assure him that all will be fine. He shall go knowing that family is well taken care of and he should relax and enjoy himself! Hope you had a great Christmas and that Bob is doing better every day with your loving care.
Terri, I got an upgrade to PSP and it includes this fab painting techniques. As for Nassau, that is one place Steve and I plan to go and would love to know if you plan to go, you just never know about us LOL!
elle, it is about time you got some time off from work. Now don't spend all your time working make sure you have some time to just sit back and put your feet up.
It was actually 60 degrees here when we got home yesterday and again today. So believe it or not I started up the riding mower and cleaned up leaves and then cut back a few more things in the garden. Wish it would last, but least happy for a few more days of warmth!
Dianne, are you now busy planning for the New Year festivities at your home as well?

Plantgeek, hope you close by and getting ready for the new year. I may not make the party as Tasha and Abygail are coming for the weekend? I will try to pop in least for a drink or 2 and a table dance with somebody - Dianne do you do any table dancin??? Steve can still dj for us but he has been falling asleep a bit early these days so perhaps Steven can come over and take over for him if need be.

Terri, I finally go around to putting a few things in the vase that Tasha and Mike got for me. Some holly, pieris and Harry Lauder.

Here is the pieris a bit closer

i made deil egg to take to work
every sunday we all bring something to eat
we will have finger food today
elle

It is a lazy rainy day here today and I have vowed to remain in my house coat with my feet up. LOL... as soon as the breakfast dishes are clean, the floors mopped and the laundry done...

Bob's foot is healing nicely and the swelling has remained under control. He has to return to San Francisco Monday/tuesday for them to add another layer of skin to the bottom and have the stitches out of the top. I am gonna miss the stitches. They give him a cute little Frankenstien look. If everything continues to improve he should be back on his feet and out of that wheel chair in about 2 months or less. By then we should have a time frame for his return to work.


Candee, what version of PSP are you using? Tim has promised to get me the latest and greatest in a couple of months and I am pretty jazzed about that.

elle, simple finger food sounds perfect to me. enjoy your time off work!

Ohhh Nice fresh arrangement Candee, Thanks for making it!! The peiris flower stems go really well with the beautiful carved or inlayed? vase. Great present from Tasha and Mike, lucky you!
I like the painting technique with the photo's I'm sure you will have fun with that!
If Allan gets another job over there, dont worry I'll be letting you know LOL!
Hope you will be able to come to our new years party...... it was your idea darling!
Woodsy will be flat out taking coats and greeting everyone, does she even do coats???LOL

Pleased to hear you are chillaxing around the house today Zany, you deserve it!
So glad Bob is getting better now without any problems.

What kind of egg is that elle? I dont know what you mean LOL! enjoy anyways!
Plantgeek, are you still eating chocolates?!!

I think elle is making deviled eggs and they are really good finger food.
I will be at my party just not likely as long as I thought now that we are having Abygail with us. I will try to coax Woodsy to do the coats for us LOL! She is a sport, but let me tell you she got nothing for the holiday and is not to charmed by me at the moment. Perhaps you can smooth talk her Terri.
So glad to hear you talk about Bob's return to work, then he is truly on the mend. Hope his work is not too tiring as you don't want a relapse for overdoing.
Plantgeek still eating chocolates??? Surely you haven't fallen and can't get up?.
Sue are you in the outback without any facilities or electric???
Steven, better get in here soon.
Hope everyone is just busy busy with the holidays but still around the cafe somewhere.
Hey Terri, that is the vase that Tasha and Mike brought me from Puerto Rico a couple months back, finally got around to putting somethin in it.

Zany, I plum forgot - another blonde moment - I had been using PSP IX and it is a very powerful photo editing program. I just upgraded to the PSP Photo X2 Ultimate and it is outta this world and not that expensive as that dreamworks which is off the charts. I think if you are just getting the program it is about $79 and if an upgrade about 59. But let me tell you just google it and you will be amazed and they do have a free trial.

Oh deviled eggs!! is that with curry in the centre?
I was thinking maybe Woodsy might need a bit of help, I have someone in mind who might show up on the night!
I was wondering about your vase from Puerto Rico, you did mention it, but this is the first time we are seeing it right? It looks beautifully hand crafted?
My girls gave me vases/containers. The one from Katie is a birdcage with tea and biscuits inside for our cafe she said Lol! The vase from Annie is a magic vase, it is flat until you fill up with water.
When my camera is charged I'll show you.
Have a good evening all!

And I am really looking forward to the magic vase, sounds very exotic. And a birdcage wit tea and biscuits, those gals are really ingenious, wonder where they get it from LOL!

Here is a friend I brought in the cafe, hope nobody minds a few reptiles running round. This is lee-anna the iquana, please make here feel at home!

Yikes!!!! Plantgeek get here quick, you are good with reptiles. lol I wonder if Sue will let them stay at Brom Palace, it's lovely and warm in there.
I prefer the good looking brave lady with the cute smile!

Here is hewanna the iguana a friend of Steve's. Now is that a great hat or what?

A Fabulous hat, the best I've seen ever! It looks heavy on Steve's head, lol . Great photo Candee!
I love the beach, it looks so inviting especially at this time of year. Thanks for these holiday pictures, looks like you had a great time.

Hewanna would make a great wood carving sculpture or painting!

It was a great time and so much to see and do! Glad you like the new hats and wrap, we actually had a phot with a seal, but not very good shot so got rid of it, but saw and handled a lot of critters while there!

Leeann and Hewanna are quite the handsome couple. I am sure they will be able to find a cozy spot in the cafe.

Nice to see so much activity at the cafe!!!

So, Candee, is PV Puerto Vallarta that you just got back from? Looks like you and Steve had a great time. Lovely vase and arrangement. Have not heard of pieris flowers before - it does make a nice addition to arrangements.

Terri - some deviled eggs may have curry, but typically you cut the hard-boiled eggs in half, take the yolks out, mash it up with mayonnaise, and other spices as you like, and then fill the hole back up with that fluffy mixture. Looking forward to seeing your new vases.

Elle - I did not expect the chickens to be giving any eggs in this cold weather. How wonderful that you have enough to feed a group with your deviled eggs.

Zany - what a great Christmas morning picture that you painted. A positive attitude makes all the difference in the world. Glad that Bob is recovering so well. Did you get your rabbit for Christmas dinner?

Terri - It is past Christmas and everyone is putting their stuff away, but since you asked about my tree...here are some photos. We used to buy live trees when the kids were little, but as they got older, and we start decorating for Christmas later and later, we decided to stop buying trees one year. Since I did not want to have to store an artificial tree, and I did want a tree of some kind to put presents under, I decided to make my own. Take one tomato cage, turned upside down and use a washer to "tie" the legs

Start filling in the tree with garland

continue until the tree is filled out

and decorate as normal. The tree is not your perfectly shaped tree, but it does give me a chance to "recycle" my tomato cage into something else useful.

and the kittens love to play in it!!!

soils, I like the tomato cage tree. We didn't get the rabbit :~{ but they did promise to have a couple for me in January.

Hi everyone!

Dianne, Love your tree, what a really good idea! you are full of surprises, it's great, Thank you!
We are keeping the cafe' decorations up until we move to our new cafe in the New Year. hohoho!

A vase of Holly and Ivy for the cafe....

yep
the deviled egg went well
i love the xmas tree
glady bob doing well
i am helping dave get everything back to
were they suppose to be
i love the idea my chichern are lying
please forgive my spelling
elle

Dianne what a unique idea for a tree. Now we have lots of tomato cages and lots of pine, so why didn't I think of that LOL! Because I can't think that is why. I was actually going on about the New Year and Tasha coming and then today went to the bank and realized that New Years eve is Wednesday, not Thursday. I was all prepared to celebrate here on thursday evening and then thought I must bow out cause of Tasha and Aby coming and now realize Steve and I are home alone!!! Well least until we come to the cafe with all of you.
elle, really don't give a second thought to your spelling, we can read every word. I too am surprised tha the hens are laying this cold time of year, why is that do you think?
Terri, you always have a new one for me, so your ivy is looking good.
I am still off work through the new year and perhaps amidst shampooing carpets tomorrow I can get outside and get some more decor for the holiday. It was sunny and 50 today, not sure what is in store.

Elle, I wasn't saying anything about your spelling, I just wondered what kind of eggs you were making ok. lol.
Candee, glad you got your days sorted out! Will you be making some cocktails with the best crystal glasses for us?
What were the flowers and plants like on holiday? Exotic tropicals? palm trees?.
It was -2 here today with a bitterly cold wind, I thought it best to stay indoors!
Annies Birthday on Wednesday, my first born will be19, where do all the years go? LOL!






Plantgeek's still scoffin' chocolates! and Sue's gone walk about!

Oh Terri, I feel for you 19 already, Tasha is our youngest at 33 in January, Tim will be 34 on 1/4/09 and Jen and Ben are just 35 and 32. Enjoy now and enjoy later as well.!

Blue agave to use to make the tequila! Exotic plants??? Well, there were pansies LOL! Pitcher plant in the room in bloom with the pitchers and this one, not sure what it is?
There was a lot of lantana and bouganvillia as well.

I am not sure if I have anything for cocktails may have to give the supermarket a few $ just to do something special! We shall see.

This message was edited Dec 29, 2008 8:13 PM

Gosh candee, you were busy, 32,33,34,&35 LoL!! I guess it was pretty hectic with all those children.
That garden reminds me of Sue's! it's beautiful, I'm feeling the heat on those stones.
Dont you go worrin' about making a special trip to the supermarket for the cocktails, they could always be REAL lol!

Wow Candee - you were one busy mom....Mines are now 21, 23 and 25. I thought I was busy, but you probably think three is a piece of cake LoL. And Candee - you have thought up a bunch of great things from what I can see in the short time that I have joined this forum.....

If I understand correctly, Terri, Annie's birthday is on Wednesday, so she was born New Year's eve? What a great way to ring in the new year. Could you have held off and made her a New Year's baby??? though I imagine that was the last thing on your mind at that moment.LoL Is that -2 degrees in Celsius? Anything below 40 degrees F is cold to me, but with a bitterly cold wind, yes, staying indoors is the thing to do. Stay warm!!

Candee, you probably think 2 is a biscuit LoL!

Hi Dianne, Yes, I remember it well!!!! It was New year's eve morning about 7.30am when we phoned the Ambulance, guess what? there was an ambulance strike LOL! turns out they were still working for maternity, thank goodness.
Annie was born at 10.20am, so it was quite quick really! In those days you had to stay in hospital for 10 days . Dads were allowed to stay until 10pm. The hospital St Thomas' is opposite Big Ben, I remember the chimes at midnight and counting the New Year in with Annie!
By the time I had my second daughter 5 years later, they sent you home after 6 hours!

oh -2 celsius 28 degrees F pretty chilly! Will have to brave it tomorrow shopping for a Birthday cake!

Slurp, slurp, mmmph...I am not gorging on chocolates. Not since five seconds ago. hehehe

Candee! Welcome back. Wow, what a great trip you had, warm sunny skies, beautiful flora, great food and fun and someone special to share it all with.
Thanks for the great pics. Our own virtual vacation. And what's this scuttling around the cafe? Ooowee, an iguana! Come here baby, I've got a nice bit of kale. How beautiful you are! Thanks for bringing this back with you Candee. I guess we have a mascott now. Does it have a name?

Cake, who said cake? Happy birthday to Annie. May 19 be a great send off from the teenage years into the next phase. Cheers.

It seems that I'm the only one here with no kiddos- which suits me fine- I'm quite happy being an aunt. Load 'em up with gummy worms and glow-in-the-dark eyeballs and sit back to watch the fun. lol But, hats off to anyone that can raise a child successfully, let alone several.

Hello Plantgeeeeeeeky! missed you, hope you had a lovely time with your Sweetie at Christmas!
Next time Katie has attitude, I'll be sending her over to Ant tee ( thats how we pronounce it Liverpool)
Plantgeek in America lol!
Change of plan..... Annie would rather have Cheesecake! Wish you were here to whip up one of your special cheesecakes Candee!

Have a good day everyone, keep warm.
Have a Hot Chocolate today!

hi all
it ok about my spelling
i just wanted every one to know what i am trying to say
it is ok to ? what i say
then i will said it differed
love this group
dave said we feed them well {the chickern }
happy brithday all
elle

p.s.
i have three kids
40,44,45
and they are still call kids by me lol
elle