Happy Sunday Morning

Good morning. This morning I put the dowels in the Advent wreaths which my Sunday School made over the past few weeks. They will be taking them home to use as decorations. That is about the only crafting I have done this week. Next week, I will be getting ready for Christmas. Wish me luck with that, as my house is a disaster still. Sigh! Have a great Sunday, everyone.

Higs, Kather> Hope everyone is having a good day so far. I have been up since the

Not to worry, Diane! Next week will be here, and gone, before you know it. Whenever I would say "I wish it were Christmas" or "I wish it was summer" (or whatever) my Mom would say "Don't wish your time away... time is too short as it is. Before you know it, it will be here and gone." Man... when she was right, she was right! I look at Matthew (or even in a mirror at myself) and think, {where did all that time go?}. I guess that's why I like my memories so much... it makes time stand still for a few minutes anyway. :o)

Gem

Happy Sunday morning to everyone!

I started some baking last night and made spritz cookies. I did not make them last year -- probably because I could remember from the year before that how contrary the cookie press (gun) is to use. By the time I finished last night I was ready to throw the thing away.

Today I will make pecan tassies (they look like tiny pecan pies) and probably something chocolate or maybe pumpkin bread in my shaped bread tubes.

DH's mother usually does lots and lots of baking but she has been down in her back. Also, DH's dad has been in the hospital since Friday here in San Angelo (they live in a small town about two hours away). It is really a combination of a bad reaction to medication, body chemistry being really off and severe anemia. They've given him a couple of pints of blood and altered a heart medication he takes and now he is doing a lot better. They are going to run some more tests tomorrow to see why he is anemic and then he will probably be released Tuesday. DH has gone up to the hospital now to take him some bath soap as he did not have any yesterday for his shower.

I also have one or two more gifts to take care of and then need to wrap, wrap, wrap.

Well, I'm supposed to be starting breakfast while DH is gone so I better get to it!

Oh, and I do hope to get in some knitting and embroidery this week.

Hugs to you all! BonnieBlue

Good Sunday Morning everyone

Well today is baking day here at our house as i would love some shortbread cookies for Christmas. Considering I still can't do a lot due to the surgery on the thumb my DH is going to make the cookies with me supervising.

I have been knitting bits during the last week and now have three scarves completed since Tuesday. Now to see what project I can start which is a little bigger.

I understand the craft withdrawl as i really missed all my crafts during the two weeks of not being able to do them.

Have a great day

Darlene in Toronto

Good afternoon everyone,

It's a lovely mild day here in upstate NY, now if the sun would only melt the layer of ice on the steps and patio it would be nicer.

I've been crocheting in the evenings, only 26 rows and afghan no. 52 will be done and I bought yarn yesterday for no. 53.

We were out yesterday and went by a sign for some kind of warehouse store so am going to go there to see what's there, then on to an early dinner.

All of you baking, enjoy the lovely aroma and no fair eating too many cookies before next week.

Hugs,

Nora

It's very cold here on the prairies in Manitoba. It's breezy and -22°C..... brrrrrr. I'm going to run outside to make sure the wild birdies have some fresh seeds and that the birdbath heater is working. The birds need water too.

We got up very late today, had a nice brunch and I'm trying to convince myself to get dressed and outside. I used the snowblower yesterday afternoon for 1 1/2 hours just to clear our driveway and parking. It's a big monster and I'm always stiff and sore after using it. I couldn't even get it started and had to wait til DH got home. He ended up thawing the engine and carbuerator (sp?) with a hair dryer and finally got it going. It was new last year too. We really need a garden shed to keep it out of the elements - just like a car. I'm glad it's done as I've been trapped at home for 2 days - no going into town to the post office or coffee at the local shop to mingle with human beings. I love country living most of the time, but sometimes think I'm getting too old for this.

I'm working on a pair of gloves for me out of self patterning sock yarn, and have got 85 rows done on the Peacock Feathers shawl. The shawl can be frustrating sometimes, since I seem to get out of pattern by one stitch here and there. Sometimes I tink back to find it, sometimes I fudge a stitch here and there.... and I've only just started the thing. However, I think I'm going to love it when it's done, as it's as light as a feather.

We will be spending Christmas day at the in-laws and having a potluck dinner. They are supplying the turkey, gravy and libations. DH & I are bringing the ham, buns and cranberry sauce. His brother and SO are bringing a roaster full of cabbage rolls, and fruitcake. His sister is bringing roast potatoes, stuffing and another dessert. We will be SO stuffed, I'm sure I'm going to need a nap afterwards (joking). DH gets a turkey from the company he works for, so we usually save that for New Years day. Then we have lots for meals later. I freeze half of everything for a big dinner later, and we have lots from the othe half for leftovers and sandwiches. I LOVE turkey sandwiches with stuffing in them.... YUM. We are all cutting back on gifts this year since there are no small children, and really, who needs more things - I don't. That said, of course I'm spoiling my 3 grandchildren who sadly live 2 provinces away. Oh well, plans are already afoot for us to spend Christmas with them next year.

Time to get the winter duds on and get out there to fix up the birds (smile). See you all later!

Shelagh

It must have gotten a little mild here today... while the sun was shining anyway... because the snow and ice in the parking lot outside the computer room window is almost gone. However, Matthew was out about a half hour ago and shovelled out most of the laneway (left the very end where it is thick from the plow pushing it in as it goes by), and it has gotten quite nippy out there again and the sun has disappeared behind cloud coverage. He is going back out in a few minutes to finish up the end of the laneway... had to take a break because the snow was so heavy making his back hurt, and he was breathing in very cold air which never feels too nice.

Just before he went out though (and I'm glad you mentioned the birds Shelagh, because I was going to tell you all about this a few minutes ago but got thinking about other things instead) he was standing in the kitchen doorway and said "Come here, quick!" I got up and went to the door... there on the branches of the lilac bush just outside the kitchen window was a bright beautiful cardinal. He stayed there for the longest time too... until Matthew went out to shovel the top of the dog shed that the previous owners had attached to the house just under the window, so that I could put some food out for the cardinal and the other birds. The cardinal didn't go far though... by the time I finished breaking up the bread, adding some bird seed, and some finely cut up apple into a popcorn pail, and taking it outside... the cardinal was in one of the other bushes beside the fence between our property and the parking lot. Hopefully he came back to eat when I came inside. :o)

I don't have a birdbath, with or without a heater. I wish I did.... I know that the birds need water, but you can't just put a bowl out for them or it will freeze. Poor babies are out there eating snow... I just saw them. :o/

Wow... sounds like you have a big feast for Christmas! I just gained 5 lbs just reading about it! LOL

WARNING.... I MAY HAVE ALREADY TOLD THIS PART - Okay... I can't remember if I told you the other day or not... but Matthew stayed in the city for a couple of nights due to the weather, and there had been talk of the weather lasting through to Wednesday so I wasn't sure when to expect him home. So, on Thursday I went to the place in town that sells Christmas trees to find there were only three left. The regular price had been $28 (but the ones in the city were averaging at $45), so I went inside to ask about the trees and if anyone was around to sell them. The Kiwanis who had been selling them packed up and left a couple of days before, and since there were only three left, the guy in the garage said he would sell me a tree for $15. Well, I couldn't beat that price... so I went to look at the trees. One was very tall with very few branches on it. The other two were about 6'.... and one of them had about three or four tops to it... the other one was almost perfect, so I paid him his $15 and another man who was there put the tree in the hatch of my van.

Then I went to the grocery store to look at turkeys... I got a good size one for $40. Yeah I know... but I saved on the tree, so I made up for it on the price of the turkey. Also, while there... I walked by a cooler bin that had hams in it. I picked up a Schneider's ham that was priced at $10.98, and in the same bin I found a Maple Leaf ham about the same size for $5.98. Gee... guess which one I bought? So that is in the freezer for New Years dinner... and I got some beans yesterday to make baked beans like my Moms to go with the ham... we also have scalloped potatoes with it too. ARGH... I

*just* this second thought of what is missing... the pineapple rings to bake with/on the ham. *making a note and putting it on the fridge now* DONE! ;o) So aside for the pineapple rings we have the fixings for Christmas dinner *and* New Year's dinner all waiting to be cooked up.

All that's really left is to get off here and get things cleaned up to finish the rest of the decorating... and over the next couple of days make some treats, and hide them so they don't disappear before Christmas. ;o)

Gem

Oh Shelagh... I meant to ask you...

You mentioned that you love turkey sandwiches with stuffing in them, do you also put cranberry sauce in them too? We use jellied cranberry sauce, and I slice some of that to put between the turkey and stuffing in the sandwiches. SOOOOO good!! ;o)

Gem

I *DO* enjoy your mails Gem:))

I also like cranberry, turkey and cream cheese sandwiches when there is no stuffing leftover. (My Matthew usually finishes any stuffing we have.)

Hi Gem - I'm not a cranberry sauce person - prefer the sandwiches with mayonnaise or poppyseed salad dressing (bad bad girl). DH loves the cranberry sauce and he piles it on. (grin)

Shelagh

Oooooh - love that about the cardinal. We don't see them out here. If there are any, they don't come to my yard. I saw one a couple of years ago in my sister's yard - but she lived in Oakville and I was visiting. Some years we get the Common Redpoll, and they are just darling. They are a finch type bird with a little red cap on their heads. The males also have a bright red breast. If you go to my Yahoo album, I have a couple of pics of them... go here:

I don't have a birdbath, with or without a heater. I wish I did.... I know> that the birds need water, but you can't just put a bowl out for them or it> will freeze. Poor babies are out there eating snow... I just saw them. :o/ I managed to burn out my last heater - it lasted around 5 years, but we have hard well water and it just ate it through. So, I got DH to buy me a new one for my birthday. They aren't cheap.... with taxes around $92 !!!!

I just realized - we still need the vegetables or salad - so will have to discuss with his family about that.

I liked your story about the tree, and glad to hear you have all that great food for the holidays! I told you it would all work out, and it has (big, big grin). When I used to buy a Christmas tree, we always bought it from the Kiwanis lot. There is just no room in a mobile home for one, so I have a very TINY ceramic tree that sits on top of the TV. Not what I really want, but that's life. I'm thinking I'll make some shortbread cookies to take to the dinner. I make great shortbread cookies (laugh)!

Shelagh

oh I love turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwiches.

Darlene in Toronto

:o) Thank you, Ophelia!

Some people think I rattle on too much! I have a friend in London, England who says "Jeesh woman, you write a friggin NOVEL when you send an email." LOL

Gem

LOL My Matthew would too... but I remind him to leave it be or there won't be enough for sandwiches... and he loves it in the sandwiches. Besides... I usually make a double batch of stuffing. He likes StoveTop Stuffing, and we like one package of the chicken kind and one package of the turkey kind mixed together. ;o)

Gem

hehehe Once in a while when I don't feel like having a sandwich, but I

*do* feel like having some left-over turkey... I will put a few pieces on a small plate (makes me feel like I'm not eating too much when I use a small plate. LOL) and a tablespoonful of Miracle Whip beside it for dipping. bad, bad, bad But it's good! Good thing we don't have turkey too often. ;o)

Gem

Hmmm.... I'll be passing on one of those... at least for this year.

:o) I know you said things would work out. We are far from being out of the woods, but we do need to eat (hence the two holiday meals... and leftovers) and $15 for a 6' tree couldn't be passed up. ;o)

We have a ceramic tree that my Mom did for therapy after her first stroke. When Matthew took it out of the box where it is carefully stored each year surrounded by shredded paper, the little plastic star was broken off. The stem was still inside the hole where it is glued tightly in, but the star itself was just laying there. It's a clean break, so I bought a tube of plastic glue (about $3) from Home Hardward to try to fix it. I am going to have to hold the star in place while it dries. Anyway, we set that tree up every year in the other front window (in the study). :o)

Sure... tell us that, and don't share! LOL Somehow a box of crumbs doesn't sound very appetizing... which is what it would be upon arrival the way the Post Office throws boxes around. I got a box the other day that looked like someone drop-kicked it from one end of an airport terminal to the other.... the one corner was buckled in. :o/

Gem

Good stuff! :o)

Shortly before my Dad passed away he was in the hospital on Thanksgiving. The dietician ordered mushed up food for him "because he doesn't have any teeth to chew with and he could choke" (nevermind that he had been able to chew food most of his adult life without teeth). The mush they were putting in front of him was unappetizing and he was not eating it. I asked our doctor if I could bring him something else and he said "Bring him anything at all that HE wants and will eat. He's been through enough already and shouldn't be unhappy about what food is in front of him." So, I brought my Dad one of my turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwiches... and he almost inhaled it. I asked if he'd like another the next night and he said yes... so he got it.... and again, until it was gone. Then he also got hamburgers from restaurants along with milkshakes and fries... and he loved it all and didn't waste any of it.

Gem

I am compiling a website with memories from childhood. I would love to have yours. I would love to have those of anyone who would like to share theirs too:)))

Any subject under the sun of course but just now those from Christmas are seasonal.

ob yarn. I am ashamed to say I haven't got started again yet:( I have loads of lovely wool and a grandson to knit for too:(