Christmas Greetings!

Thank you Karen! And a Merry Christmas too you, too! It's all over here in Oz and DH (bless his little soul) is doing the massive wash-up while I sit here at the computer. It was a very hot day and the kids spent most of it in the Ugly Sister's pool. I was very lucky this year and received a large jigsaw of Alphonse Maria Mucha's 'Four Seasons' and a lovely birdbath from Mum. Inside the pedestal of the birdbath was 'The Belt' as a special gift from the Ugly Sister.

NB. The Ugly Sister and I have a long green belt which we've been fobbing off on each other for several years now. Last Christmas, I gave it to her in the middle of a frozen cheesecake. Then she gave it to me buried in a tub of margarine. The onus is now on me to find a means of getting it to her in some ingenious fashion. Look out, Ugly Sister! You won't know what hit you! ;->

De-lurking to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year. All the best in 2009 from snowy Vancouver, B.C. where there's now 19.5 inches of snow in my yard.

Maureen

Merry Christmas to you, too. My sister and her kids (twin 33-year olds) are at Whistler for Christmas. They were 12 hours delayed getting out of Toronto (but at least they did get out). We are now wondering if they'll be delayed getting home next Sunday because of the conditions at Vancouver airport. If so we are going to have to delay the family get-together.

We've got a light dusting of snow this morning, after rain yesterday. I did mimosas and egg Benedict for breakfast. DH is doing the dishes right now, and the turkey will go in the oven about an hour. (We're only have breakfast and dinner today - otherwise we'll be groaning from too much food).

The DH gave me a beautiful pair of pearl earrings set in a curve of gold) (with tiny diamonds). These are to go with the pearl necklace he gave me for our 35th anniversary. He also gave me Gordon Ramsey's book, "Chef". I gave him a sweater, several motorcycle books and lots of goodies in his stocking (magazines, ginger chocs, Fladgate Port).

Hugs to everyone,

MargW

Green? Coil it around in a spiral-cone, put a star on top, and tell her it's a Christmas tree!

"Maureen Miller" wrote

Hey Maureen--that snow got me a Christmas dinner invitation, as several acquaintances cancelled flights rather than sit in Vancouver airport last night, and another acquaintance as a result put a couple of leaves in her dining table. I saw Vancouver on the news last night. Oh well, happy shovelling (maybe you should SOS Fred, who is probably more than experienced by this point in the year)

Dawne

The forecast is for more snow today, then changing to rain for the weekend. I did get some gorgeous snow pictures though that will make incredible stitch patterns for next year's Christmas cards. Work on this will start today by the way because I found I was so rushed for last minute details this year. Next year I'd like to be able to sit with my 'leisure' stitching & knitting by December 1st! And yes, I do say this every year! lol

Maureen

"Maureen Miller" wrote

I think there are bunches of us who make the annual vow/resolution to start earlier next year. Good luck! Loved the pictures on the news last night of people making snowdudes on the beach in Vancouver. Dawne

By contrast, it was so warm and sticky here that I finally had to give in and turn on the a/c last night!! Not so much for the heat (it was around 80F at the hottest) but because of the humidity. I wore a suit for church Christmas Eve, and poured sweat. Christmas Day (we were on usher duty both services, or I wouldn't have gone to both) I wore a rayon dress in darker colors. We have had the classic New Orleans thick fogs, which you read about in every novel set here, for the last week. Of course, sadly, there have also been a number of traffic accidents. Wouldn't you think people would KNOW to reduce their speed when you literally cannot see more than 20 yards ahead?

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans