Best/Worse &What did I learnt today/Chat with Friends #76

The feather tree given to us by my dad's girlfriend's daughter.

Our Christmas Tree, I'm going to take a picture of it tonight so the lights show up.

And lastly, for now, Christmas Kitty!

Morning all, getting ready for our Christmas at eleven this morning...it snowing, the roads are going to be bad and Laura and Sean are suppose to drive up to Port Angeles this afternoon... I really am not happy about it. It is suppose to start raining below 500 feet but they will have to go over Walker Mountain to get there.....everyone please pray for their safety if the decide to make this trip......Sean's stepfather is in very ill health. He probably will not be with us by next Christmas and really wants the kids to be there this year.....

Crissy sorry you and your DH aren't feeling well.....I got up yesterday with a bad sore throat and I'm trying to get a headace too. Not happy with this!

Will try and pop back in later today.

Hello all, so sorry to hear some are ill, some housebound because of the weather and others worried about family/friends travelling..

As I am typing I got a telephone call from Jeff, he's coming this evening, wants to be here to Christmas...I'm just so excited, thought I'd be in the house all on my own...
Aren't kids wonderful...he never really shows his emotions aloud but shows them in consideration..he knew deep down I was upset about being along and here he is, coming to visit tonight and tomorrow... tears falling here...

So best continue making arrangements..Mike dropped in on the way from work and picked up his and Darlene's and also one for Mae and Art....still about 3 more to make, will make the next and take a quick run into Midland and deliver it and try to make it back before the rain turns to freezing rain...

You'd think I had made enough messed for the past 2 months and here I go again..lol

I'll be back to keep those who are alone company..always/always time for that..

Betty, we would love to see some of your flower arrangements. Are they for Christmas gifts? You are making so many of them, maybe you should be in the floral business/craft/seamstress business???

So glad to hear that Jeff will be with you for Christmas. I know you wanted to go to Florida, but things always happen for a reason!

Stay warm.

LK

Thanks Linda Kay and for the floral arrangements over the past few weeks I would think I've made about 21..this is the last one, sitting on the floor waiting for a recipient..

My girlfriend Anne and her family were hoping to be at the cottage for Christmas..I'll call tonight when I get home from Darlene's and if they are up I will deliver this one..OMG it's huge...if they don't come up guess I'll enjoy..but I've about 8 in the house as it stands...

P.S. didn't go in the ditches for greenery..this was all the greenery from my last trip, this morning out on the property line here, waist deep for just a bit more....glad Christmas come but once a year (maybe 2 at this house) lol...or I'd have no greenery left on my trees...

Off I go to quickly change, the mess in the craft room can wait..I should be at Mike and Darlene's around 5:30 - will stay till about 7:30 -8:00 which should just about be the time Jeff arrives...

Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas Eve...

For those of you who are alone or without family, know you are loved....

Ooops forgot to say I went back out shopping..I just could not see Jeff being here without pressies under the tree....moms....

Beautiful arrangements Betty. Enjoy your Christmas with your son.

Linda

So glad you have Jeff coming for Christmas. I am sure Cedric would do his best to be good company, but it just isn't the same.

We had our Christmas with my side of the family this morning as Laura and Sean had to leave for Port Angeles around one thirty. It snowed last night and off and on all morning. It has warmed and everything melted down a bit. If it freezes tonight it is going to be horrible. This will be the first time in many years that we haven't gone to Christmas Eve Church Services but after a short trip down town we have decided it is just too dangerous to be out on the streets with all this slush beginning to freeze. I am still waiting to hear that Sean, Laura and Sage have arrive safely at their destination. I will rest much easier then.

I cannot remember the last time we had snow on the ground on Christmas Day here! It is so beautiful if only the roads weren't so horrid. We go to Bill's mother's for Christmas Dinner but, at least for Bill and I is not a problem....she only lives about six blocks from us so we can walk if necessary. It has been a very strange year weather wise. I just hope it melts slowly so we do not get the flooding we had last year.

I will be here off and on through the day....wishing all of you a very Warm, Safe and Happy Holiday! You all have come to mean a great deal to me....Merry Christmas!

Trisha as have you all..

Enjoyed my evening at Darlene and Mike's, not sure anyone noticed but one of the men kept mentioning Bill, called me by his ex-wife's name don't know how many times, talked about Roger etc. etc. - just what I didn't need..

Jeff is over at Greg's playing poker with the kids until I got home..headed over now..

I SO DO HOPE you all have a Merry Christmas....you mean the world to me, each and everyone of you...

Be back later...

Mike/Darlene and Cedric..

As my DH says some people have the sensitivity of a Rock. I am glad you otherwise enjoyed your evening.

Got a call from Laura around six thirty to say they had arrived safely. So I can breathe easy and go to work on finishing my last Santa needed for tomorrow. So happy the hair from Twice as Nice arrived in tonight's post....maybe there is a reason I have been putting off finishing my mother in laws Santa until now....this hair really is Twice as Nice!

Will be around off and on tomorrow.....don't have a lot to do except make BJ's Jiffy Corn Casserole to take to dinner tomorrow night and get the Santa wrapped once it is finished. I just hope my son and his fiance make it. She wasn't able to come to our get together today due to weather....they live on the top of a very steep hill and road conditions are not good....Lisa has a weight problem and very weak ankles, in addition to Agraphobia and some other emotional issues, if the car were to get stuck she would not be able to walk back up the hill to their apartment. As a result of these issues she often misses family affairs. They are seeing a good therapist we know here and are making some progress but is slow going. She is a sweet girl when not suffering from various issues. My mother does not understand these things at all and is convinced Lisa just doesn't want to visit at her house....I spend a lot of time trying to explain Lisa's illness but I don't think it sinks in. So I just deal with each of them as best I can.

I guess I should get Santa finished up....enjoy your day and
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas,

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing okay. Actually I'm doing a little better than okay. Today I got a package from Santeelady and it had some decorations for a tree. Well, since I am alone, I was not going to get a tree. I figured why bother when I'm the only one that will ever see it. But when I got the little ornaments, I felt really inspired to get a tree. So at 7 pm I walked over to CVS, which is the only store within walking distance. So I got a little 2' tree and a few little ornaments. I also bought myself a little $10 present, something I have been wanting for a while. Then I came back home and put the little tree up and decorated it. And it really has made such a difference in my apartment. I put it in my bedroom since that is the room that I am in most of the time. So now I have it sitting there all lit up and it makes it feel so much homier and happier here. I know that others of you have sent me ornaments for a tree and so I added them to the tree as well. So thanks to all of you that have helped make my Christmas so much better. I do not feel as alone now that I have the little tree in here. And my Christmas is much better now.
For those of you that have sickness in your family, I will be sure to pray for healing for all of you. And I send Christmas prayers and blessings to all of you.

{Hugs}
Jesse

Jesse just dropped in before heading to bed. So glad you got a tree! Lissa is treasure....I just got a birthday package from her....I was having a very stressful day yesterday and her package cheered me up a great deal. This is the first time my daughter will not be here for Christmas, she is at her in laws this year. There are several of us who will be here off and on in spite of the Holiday. Wishing you a Blessed Christmas Day....talk to you tomorrow.

(((Hugs)))
Trisha

merry christmas to all

MERRY XMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Joyeaux Noel, Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Merry Xmas All !!!!!! Bev

Good morning, Merry Christmas to all!!

Love you all!!

For Liz and everyone with out snow!!

From My heart to yours.

Betty and friends, Thank you for being a part of my life.
May you find peace and Love this glorious Day.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

I am off for two weeks...See you then,

Happy New Year to all of you!!
Love and Peace in the New Year!!

Merry Christmas to you all as well...

Jesse so glad that you have a tree/present underneath and in good spirits...you've come so far these past few months, hasn't been a bed of roses but you've been dealing with it..prayers and soft hugs coming your way!

Trisha know you are sad that your daughter can't make it this year..perhaps you'll get to talk with her today at some point...

Your DH is so right, some people just DON'T think..no harm was intended that I know, just not very sensitivie...oh well...

Did get home last night and Jeff arrived from Greg's shortly after, they were having a family poker game with the kids to try and calm them all down...

When he arrived we sat and talked, stayed up until midnight and opened gifts...he was surprised santa had come the 2nd time for him...lol..loved his gifts..told him he best not tell his brother of all these extra's knowing full well he would..said 'mom, what is the point of getting more than him if I can't tell him about it..' standard joke through each and every Christmas they've ever had, same gifts, different color..Greg used to keep his gifts unwrapped and would watch Jeff, he knew what was in each of his..lol

Must have been 12:30am by the time I settled in, Jeff read he said till 2:30a.m. - call came in at 6:00 a.m. to say that Greg & family were ready to open their gifts and were waiting...so coffee in hand off we went...

You had to be extremely careful because everything is solid ice..

By the time the gifts were opened it was snowing...

Jeff just left as they are calling for a storm and he still has wrapping/organizing for the boys to arrive in the morning..says he wants a few hours to unwind..I completely understood, it was nice for him to drive up so I wouldn't be alone Christmas night...

Telephone just rang and he said thank God he did leave as he's 1/2 hr. from here and can't see 1" in front of him, major blizzard...told him to call me as soon as he arrives home...a worry now...

I am off to my girlfriend Ann's at the cottage for an hour..have the flower arrangement I made for them to deliver and if I soon don't deliver it, it will be too late to enjoy...

Will be back to gab later...

Have some photo's of this mornings event...if any are interested I can post Noah/Kyle being as excited as can be....

How inviting is that Judy..you enjoy your trip south..be safe travelling, no trying to get through bad weather...enjoy meeting DG friends...keep a journal..we want to hear all about it..

Hugs and best wishes to you, Steve and family...

awwwww, thanks judy safe travels to you and family

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if it is okay for me to ask for prayer here. I would not ask here if it were not something that is sort of urgent. But I feel since it is sort of urgent that maybe it will be okay. I don't want to put it on the prayer forum because most of you know how bad I have been so attacked there. Anyway, here goes. Could you please pray for me because right now my Blood Pressure is really high and it is causing me to feel so bad. My head hurts so bad yet nothing that I take for it helps. And my ears feel so full of pressure and they feel so full because of my blood pressure being so high. And my neck feels so tight and I can hardly stand this pain. So until I can get to a doctor, I need prayer desperately to help keep my blood pressure down. I can hardly even think well enough to write this. And I'm so afraid that something bad is going to happen to me such as a stroke or something with my heart since it is so high. Thanks so much for praying for me. I really am afraid.

{Hugs to all}
Jesse

This message was edited Dec 25, 2008 11:53 AM

I am praying for you Jesse right now dear am holding your hand sweety. You can ask anytime. LOVE &HUGS BEV

Jesse praying for good health for not only today but each and every day...if you are concerned Jesse do call 911 and have them come, blood pressure other than normal can be dangerous...a must, now off you go to make the call...please continue to provide updates so that we do not worry...

Bev those photo's are spectacular...what is planned today for you? waving Liz and all others...Liz...you going to in-laws for Christmas dinner?

I'm just about Christmas'd out..very tired, been going/going/going and now that it's almost over I'm tired..

Went to my girlfriend Ann's for brunch, brought her the floral arrangement I did yesterday for her..she loved it..didn't stay long because it was just she/DH and the girls but did make it to the cottage, roads are so icy...

Back home and tidying up, Suzanne and Lenny just called to remind me supper is at 6pm..said I might pass because of being so tired...told me no go, must come even if I just come eat and leave...so will leave here at 5:30, hoping to be back by 7:00...lol..want my bed....

Hope you are all enjoying the day with family and friends, for those who are alone today, you really aren't, we're all here with good tidings wishing you the best..know you are all loved...

Jesse I agree completely with Betty....I have several friends who are Fire and EMT personnel and they say they would much rather you call and they find it is nothing to worry about than for you to "not want to bother them" and too late discover it is something serious that could have been prevented with a simple phone call... Please take care of yourself and check in here regularly so we do not worry about you. (((((((((((hugs and prayers)))))))

Betty, have a nice dinner then get some well deserved rest!!! Love and hugs....will post today's Santa hopefully in the next hour!!

Trisha, have you given any away as yet and what was the response..posted a few ideas on the santa thread for you and anyone interested...so love the collage..

Have been enjoying my stay at home alone day here. talked to the kids by phone and Santa was good to all. I have a small ham and sweet potatoe in the oven for my own dinner and the fire going. I have been watching Christmas movies and just "being". Santa brought me a gift and two gift certificates to JoAnn's to get some of the things I wanted for my quilting so I am a happy camper. glad I don't have to worry about any of this bad weather; I aint going anywhere!
Merry Christmas to all of you. Enjoy the day whether with family or alone.

We are ok. Scotty and I both trying to get over the flu so had the day alone. Talked to the boys and will get together another day. Going to take a snozze so talk tomorrow. LOVE ALL BEV

Yes Betty, Gave Little Mr. and Mrs. to Mum and she loved them (they are small and easy to store), Laura got the Blue and Silver Bamboo Brocade.....her Dh said it was great they could replace the Christmas decor with a staff and Display him the rest of the year as a Wizard!!! They are very into Fantasy Games), My Nephew just bought a house this year and no Christmas Decor, mum gave him ornaments, a wreath and lights, and he got the Embossed Leather Look Santa....he is single and loved it cause it looks more like a Guy Thing ! My Brother and Sister in Law got the Green with the Gold Trees, and My Sister and Brother in law got the Green Velvet (at least I hope they did, haven't talked with either yet today and with the weather and long delivery times we have been having they may well get them as New Year Gifts) But so far everyone who has received theirs have been quite thrilled.....Thank You for making all of Their Christmases a good one!

afternoon all,

betty, love that tree on other thread did you drill holes to fit lights in?
no inlaws changed mind so we decided to have a nice quiet day..

jesse, take care, will be thinking of you sending aa prayer to you..

ok been sewing and yapping at our dear judy there about to arrive in kentucky so im glad there all safe she is so excited its 30 outside told her thats still freezing for us in california
lol..

hello to everyone hope your all enjoying your holliday

Merry Christmas Liz...
Take care Jesse, hope you are feeling better....

talk to you all when we get back...

Just popping in to say Merry Christmas to all my DG friends!!

Hugs from Jeannine

Hello there Jeannine, been missing you...you got to spend Christmas at home with your family this year correct? Did Santa have quilt kits for you this year???lol


Jesse, please let us know how you are doing..Trisha love the red santa...

Just got back from Suzanne's..must say I'm so very tired...off to bed after I post a few photo's on Cedric's visit thread...

Night / night

Morning all, just heading into town, guess sleeping until 5:00 is about as late as I can..body wound up not willing to play 'holidays' as yet...

Knowing that Walmart is open and that Canadian Tire will open at 8:00 a.m. I've decided to take a quick run into town...

Jesse, see you haven't posted, could you do so please so we don't fret...I am hoping you took our advice and called 911...

Judy and family are on their way south, exciting time for them all, hope weather is co-operating..if I wasn't such a chicken I'd have left today and got at least 10 days in but I understand weather is still unstable..

Gita, tell us about your Christmas...

Waving to our wonder Laura, how are you doing today, you've been in my thoughts these past few days....

Well, best be moving if I want to find some 'sales' lol

Well......Today is a resting day between 2 long trips. Gonna go check out some sales....

On the morning of 12/24 I left for NJ, as I do every year, to spend time with my sister and all her married daughters, their husbands and 11 grandchildren.
I am much a spectator in this scenario, where all the "madness" is taking place. The ages of the children are from 15mos-16yrs. The older ones coddle the little ones and "play Mommy"....it helps...

I only bring small gifts to the children and something to my sister. Mostly I give them age-appropriate books to read. Many of them are avid readers.
The older daughter's family (2 kids--a 12, going on 25 daughter and an overly indulged son--age 7) are hard to get something for, as they have everything and appreciate nothing.

I got the boy a trivia game on a CD to do with history and past presidents and it also had 100 clips on it showing a lot of stuff. Obviously, it wasn't something he wanted.....
When everyone was gone and we were cleaning up the LR, he had tossed the box under the sofa. I HATE ungrateful kids.....and it is the overly indulging parents that have molded them that way.
***Note to self----NO gift for him next year!

Spent one night at my sis's and drove home yesterday afternoon/evening. Logged a total of 370 miles...No jams...No problems...three hours each way--doing 75mph all the way on I95 and the NJ Turnpike.

Tomorrow, My daughter, Aina and her Mark and I will head down to Warrenton, VA for another, similar get-together with all the cousin's side of the Family. Same thing--lots of kids and food, This is a 2hr. drive each way. I still have to go to Map Quest and get detailed directions--as I am driving....again...
The fun thing they do is the Chinese Gift Exchange (limit $15)--where you can take gifts from one another till everyone is happy, or stuck, with what they got. The young kids do not take part in this. Just the "big kids" and us "oldies".....:o)

After all this, life will resume in a more relaxed way. No plans for going out for New Years. Aina and Mark and i will get together at their apartment (it's decorated...) exchange our X-Mas gifts and eat all kinds of goodies and drink wine and Champagne. NOT waiting up till midnight!
Next morning will be a new year----and, again, I will feel--like--"Where did this year go so fast???? Wasn't it just Summer and me planting my Garden...mowing my lawn every week????" What's that old saying?...."Time and the Tides wait for no man!"

Wishing you all the best in 2009!

Gita
edited to say--this is NOT from my yard. Have saved this for a long time...someone sent it years ago....



This message was edited Dec 26, 2008 9:40 AM

I must say I enjoyed sitting with candles lit and the fire going last night. It was a lovely way to end the day. I really enjoyed being home; talked to all the kids and my Dad by phone, made my own Christmas dinner by the fire and just relaxed.
DS & wife coming today, Stacey sometime tomorrow so the Holidays just goes on and on.
Betty, you take some time to relax and recharge. You have been go, go, go in a frantic pace and it is time to make your body calm down. Here, how about a hot chocolate with Godiva white chocolate liquor when you get back from shopping? Warm you all the way down to your toes and sit back and breath a big sigh!

Just hopped over to the "Daves garden" Forum....

If any of you are still using Internet Explorer--you need to go to this Post and read up on why you should not be! There are some links Dave provided for more details.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/932984/

Gita