A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffee House 2463...Hello from me

OOps, we went over in the last one---but hey--here is another one all shiny & new :)

G'morning--I am off to ceramics...

Yep, I was posting and you locked it up. Funny stuff. But I saved my post.

Good morning. I am up for the second time this day. I think this one will stick. I dislike getting my sleep patterns skewed.
Yes, I live in a milder area, Carol. It is nice most of the time but comes with its own challenges too. I did live in Conn. and NY. for a few years. I do know winters. I choose to live here. I will say that I am not sure whether shoveling snow or mud is preferable over the other.

I only get up once a day unless I take a nap, which by the way, is such fun.

I live in the best place. Sometimes we have snow but rarely have mud. I don't think we've ever had mud.

I need to be doing something but I'm not and I think I won't worry about it.

I hear you about "needing to do something" Sheri, but hey I feel the same way....I really should get to putting up my tree. perhaps next week.

I red about Sheri needing to do something and went and took a nap.
I did get my ditches cleared out for the coming rain. I had some overflow from the last one.

well hey, sounds good....at least YOU got something done, Tina....you got a nap in

Poor Emily FORGOT she asked me to watch Micah tomorrow, so now I do not have to go. I may end up going later in the week some though.

A day off for yourself is a good thing, Carol.
I am counting the minutes until I can get Teddy to bed and go myself.

I didn't take a nap today. We had Christmas program practice at church and didn't get home til 10:20.

I hope you had fun at your Christmas program practice, Sheri.

I miss those days.

G'nite & sweet dreams everyone...

Good morning...I'm packing my bags and going to move in with Bestofour

We are getting almost 2 ft of snow today with heavy winds and then changing to freezing rain tonight..then apparently 3 days of rain. Mother Nature better make up her mind what season this is.

I have been having trouble with my sleeping lately as well...stress really does a number on me.

Good morning.

Yep, stress will do that...

Hopefully with the bad weather & you having to stay indoors, you can find some relaxing thing to do & reduce the stress.

Perhaps a relaxing bath in your lavender Epson salts ??? (yep, I remember you said that)

I could be sleeping. so why am I up......

I have been up since 5:30..oh well, it's after 9 and I just pulled my 5th pan of brownies out of the oven. Might as well make some good use out of the day while we still have power. Even Walmart is closed today...this storm is going to be a mess.

Planning on doing all of my Christmas baking today...then my freezer will be stocked and ready to go.

I ran out of bath salts last week and forgot to pick some up but a nice bubble bath later will be just as good. I have even started clenching my teeth....I haven't done that since I was a child. I'll have to arrange an appointment for a mouth guard.

I have been up since 6 am. it is 7:30-ish here. Oh well.

I think I will get my Christmas stuff upstairs & then perhaps do some cards today.

Stay safe today, Sunny. I am getting ready to get Ted to school. Taking a sit down after packing his lunch.
What do you have for alternative lights when the power goes out, Sunny?

5 pans of brownies! Chocolate attack for sure. I would become claustrophobic if I had to stay in because of weather. Even if I don't go outside just knowing that I can makes staying in ok. I couldn't even stand to look at the pictures on the news of Buffalo the other weak.

Right now I'm hiding from my Terminix man. Last couple of times I went into the yard with him he kept grabbing his crotch and it's just yucky. I'm sure it's just a habit but I've been hiding from him since.

I would hide too, Sheri. Today
I am cooking for the freezers. I have very well fed freezers and they share with us when we ask nicely.

it was so wonderful today. I went to my freezer to get some ground beef out,...and I found 2 extra pkgs. of ground beef & 3 other pkgs. of other meat...I was ever so happy...

Tina, I use crank style flashlights and candles. We have oil lamps but I can't stand the smell of them.

I'm wondering if Sheri's Terminix man has ants in his pants

Junie, Extra groceries are always a wonderful thing.

Well we got almost two ft of snow and now the freezing rain has begun...what a mess. The power has dimmed a few times but so far so good.

Grandgirl and I made chocolate, mint, peanut butter, nut and cheesecake brownies as well as coconut bars and caramel nut bites...we topped it off with 3 dozen mini cupcakes for her pre-school class tomorrow. Only a few more things to make and my Christmas baking will be done.

wow, If I tell Rod about all of your baking, he will soon be in the car headed for your neck of the woods..

But about the cup cakes. There will be school tomorrow ?? How will you get there ????

Ice on several feet of snow would be keeping me indoors for sure.

Yes, I already told Ted's teacher he would probably not be in school on Friday. The rains are supposed to be bad and our roads flood out. I cannot imagine being on icy. snowy roads.
It sounds delicious, Sunny.

G'nite everyone, sweet dreams

Good morning. Another day to work with. It is to be cooler today and wet tonight. I will set up my wood stove ready to light. I will buy things at the store that I forgot yesterday or they were out of on the shelves.

Good Morning.

I am off to Christmas shop.

Bless my sister....

Blessings on your sister, Carol.
I got Ted to school and stopped to shop on the way home. I finally found my ten pound bags of cane sugar so I picked up 2. Got home and put all I bought away and started chopping onions and vegetables. I have a large pan of a quiche type chicken dish in the oven. I can barely wait.

"It is to be cooler today and wet tonight. I will set up my wood stove ready to light."

Tina, you had a Dr. Seuss thing going on there for a while.

I ran a few errands today too and now I've got the laundry going. Thinking about a short nap.

I'm going to start a thread for what can I fix for Christmas dinner other than ham or turkey. I need ideas. Maybe together we can all think of something before the big day.

Good afternoon all, we had a storm from Hell.

Over two ft of snow then a good inch of freezing rain followed by hail...and it is still raining. And of course grandgirl had her Xmas concert today that they wouldn't cancel it . It took DH an hour to drive us to a usual 20 minute distance.

I am home and not going anywhere for the next 3 days of bad weather.

I want Tina to share her supper, Junie to go do my groceries and Sheri to come shovel my roof

Tina is eating her supper for lunch. It is still warm. I will probably be eating all of this alone because my kids have not been fans of it in the past. But I can dive right in.
I am glad you can hunker down out of the weather now, Sunny.

Stay safe Tina... that much rain is not a good thing if it falls to fast...we are going to get it as snow they say on Sunday... today it was 70 and we went shopping in shirt sleeves... weird weather for us for sure... Joe is bringing in wood for us tomorrow... for just in case...

Sunny I feel for you- glad you can stay home now... I am just making banana bread this year... maybe some fudge or brownies too... and sugar cookies ... can't do to much choc cause it's not fair to poor Nicoli.. it's one of his triggers...

I haven't thought of what to do for dinner today... will maybe do some fish... and some kind of rice dish-

We did what little Christmas shopping we are going to do today.. got the twins legos and power rangers... they like toys still.. other boys just want money... we did get Derek's birthday present too... he wants a bowling party.. so we are bowling on Sat.. well they are I don't bowl, hands are not strong enough...

Well I do have laundry to get done... and should run the vacuum around too... have a good evening all!
Nana

I cannot bowl anymore either, Nana. It is one thing I miss. But even with my league bowling in my 20's-30's, my fingers would be very swollen by the end of the games. All the older ladies I bowled with wondered how I managed. I don't manage any more.
I have not finished with my Christmas shopping. I still need to buy something for Ted and for my oldest daughter.

Good Evening !

Tina: when I said Bless my sister, you took it wrong & that is MY fault and I am sorry. What I meant was she was taking me shopping, and I was ever so grateful.

I now have the biggest majority of my extended family bought for.

My sister & I are going to exchange gifts & I do not have that bought yet.....and I have to get some perfume for my Mom & a few gift cards to go with the smaller gifts I have bought people, BUT mostly I just have my Husband & the girls & their spouses left to finish up on.

I will do the gift card buying tomorrow & perhaps make a Kohl's run too.
Val & I will do her shopping & possibly Brian's on Saturday.

then I only have next week to finish the rest.

Christmas is being celebrated early this year, to avoid my oldest making 2 trips home in one week.

Sunflowers you have a PM..(if you can see it)

We like to bowl. I'm not that good but Johnny is.

The only thing I'll be baking is brownies. I might make some cookies but I'm not sure about that. My family is into healthy eating and might eat 1 cookie or 1 brownie and Johnny is on a no sweets, no bacon, no snacks binge but he's started drinking Pepsi by the gallon. Who knows what he's thinking. Last time I made a banana bread I ate what I wanted and ended up throwing the rest out because no one would eat it. I don't want my family to have unhealthy eating habits but this gets boring after a while. One of my sisters will eat some junk food with me once in a while but her 3 children won't touch the stuff. No fun.

No, I was reading it correctly. I understood and was truly blessing your sister for spending that time with you.
I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

well then Bless YOU my dear. I had a really nice day, I just hope I did not wear her out.
I thanked her about 3 times.
I hope that You and your family have a wonderful Christmas too, Tina. and thanks for the well wishes

Good morning all...Nana must have sent us her mild weather. The storms have been cancelled and we are melting fast.

Grandgirl has no pre-school for a month...I am going to enjoy that break very much.

More baking today...I do bake a lot but it is also divided up in platters to give out to a few single male family members so that they have some Christmas baking over the holidays.

Mild weather--we are too (well for now)

Can I send you MY baking list requests, Sunny ??

I am going now to watch Micah---everyone have a great day !!

Good morning. I am glad you have milder weather, sunny.
It is wet here. but the worst of it is staying west of me in Los Angeles proper right now. Still so grateful that I don't have to go out anywhere again.

It's chilly here but I think the wind has died down enough to fix the outside lights. I can take the cold if it's not windy.

I'm going to wrap a few presents today. I've decided to use an ITunes gift card on Darbi's, Colby's, and Aubry's gift instead of a bow. I'll have to find something special to put on one of Colt's presents.

I used matchbox cars or small vehicles instead of bows for my young boys. My almost 40 year old misses them.

I know---
I was talking to my sister yesterday. I complained about not knowing what to buy for my CSIL's stockings--well, Tara (my sister) said, I stopped ,making my kids stockings, they didn't like them..

Well, I am here to say that I make the stocking for ME. Giving people gifts & surprises is MY Christmas. I am still going to now.

A few years ago I asked the girls if they would rather just have 1 nicer gift than all the smaller things that I buy. They just looked at me & would not answer. So, I figure that is my answer...and so I continue...

I love the stocking idea...I did it for a few years as well. I should start it again and make one for myself as well

We are getting pouring rain and after getting over 5 ft of snow in the past month...roofs are starting to take the brunt of it. I don't understand people, this happens every year...in this area you must shovel your roof or hire it out.

About the roof....some people never learn I guess....

I am off to go see Valarie. WE will also get to do some Christmas shopping.

Good morning. Have fun with your shopping today, Carol. I am going to shop as well. I think in dollar stores at this time to fill in some small stuff for Ted. I have not done stockings for the last few years. I have bought small stuffers but put them into bags For everyone now. The family stockings are tucked lovingly away into a drawer.

Sweet dreams all. I hope everyone's day went well.

Good morning. This will be a mostly normal day here. Getting ready for school. Even though there are only 3 days until school is out for winter vacation. Weather is chilly but it will be cozy indoors for baths and such.

Good morning. Happy birthday Tina

Not much planned today either...some laundry and chores.

Thank you, Sunny.
I meant to say that I am enjoying the snow on the screen here. I would not be enjoying it so much out my window though.

Hello everyone !!!

I had a wonderful weekend !! It was perfect all except for the part where I had to come home...


I see James made it snow !! YAY for virtual snow !!!
It is now my favorite kind !!! VERY nice James !!!

Welcome home, Carol. For some reason I had thought you were just going to spend a few hours shopping with Valarie. I am glad you are back home now. I missed you.

Yay for weekends away Junie...next time take me with you

Did your family gather for your birthday Tina?

Today I have errands to run...and grandbaby needs her booster immunization. I know it's needed but it breaks my heart.

Good morning. Yes, Sunny, all of my local children were here. It was a nice day.
And this should be a nice week with some rain. Off to get ready for the day.

Yes thanks for the screen snow James... we however had some of the outside variety yesterday... it's mostly melted now which is nice for us... mtns got a lot more and they can keep it .. makes the skiers and snowboarders happy ....LOL!


I am heading to school in a few ... have a live lesson for Derek ,, then we can come here and I will work with Nicoli... and during breaks get something done- we had fun at the bowling with Derek's birthday... found out it's really cheap to go there on Tues so we may start doing that as part of the PE requierment for the boys... they really enjoyed it and so did hubby... though he was beat in the first game by the 4 yr old!

Well I am heading to eat and then shower to go play teacher... tomorow will finish up shopping and then wrap stuff.. my grandson should be here on leave too from basic... he will graduate and then be sent to Louisiana for more training in January... have to get him a gift card so he can get what he needs..... has to be portable and thats about as portable as you can get...


Nana

Good Morning

My Nephew graduates on the 18th from the Army it seems. he will spend from the 19th to the 24 with his Momma who lives in Missouri, then be home the 24th. He will miss our family party but oh well, As he will be home until January also, we will all get to see him too. Sadly he is now considered an adult as he has graduated college, so he is not in the children category, so he will not get a gift from extraneous family members. I have no idea where he is going next, but he has extra work to do as he is in the IT area. His major is in languages, and it is all tied in somehow...

I was going shopping today to try to get it done...but it is wet, cold & rainy. Si IF I go out today it will be to a small town close to here..but I can do some there..

That is a good plan, Carol. Keep safe in nasty weather.
It is supposed to rain sometime after midnight here and through Wednesday. I will attempt getting through it to get Ted to school for is last couple of days. Our local access road is still closed from flooding. Getting around it it a tricky bit maneuvering going south to one freeway heading north to a second one heading south. I get off those Fwys as soon as possible and get back on surface roads to complete my trip. I really dislike getting stuck on slow freeways. And then need to do it all in reverse to get home.
It was a busy morning already. Ted to school, shopped, office to sign papers, more shop then home. I put two potroasts in the crock with onions, carrots and celery. So other than cooking up some taters later, Dinner is done. When I leave the house in about an hour, I need to stop at the bank, pick Ted up from school and drive a town over to drop some things and pick up other's at my oldest daughter's.
I picked up a couple boxes of rice krispies to take to Ted's school. They are going to make krispie treats in class on Wed.

OK so this afternoon, I only went to the grocery...the very one I said I was not going to this payday... I wish people did not have to eat...

I did bookwork tonight...tomorrow after noon I will go & get my tree things---(I guess just the small one as it is so late)
Rod said he would help me, so he will bring them up, and he said he would vacuum for me too. YAY for help !!!

It makes me happy to come in here and see the snow falling...

I hope you have fun with your little tree, Carol. And glad Rod is going to help.
I ended up making a couple extra runs for my older son this afternoon. Put my timing back a bit.
But the day is done and I'm tired. I am going to try to get Teddy to go to bed early.
Sweet dreams all.

Tina, I hope that your early to bed plan works out and Ted agrees with it.

I have had this tree since the first Christmas that Rod moved out of his house into an apartment when we were dating.

It is about 3 ft. tall. I put it on a table. It might be best to do it this way anyway, what with a 2 yr. old & 2 babies on the floor.


I am off to pay some bills & then perhaps I will also head to bed. G'nite everyone--Sweet Dreams

Good morning. I am hoping Sunny is having decent weather. Rain is not yet falling here yet. I will take Teddy to school as planned. If it begins to get heavy, I may pick him up early. No big plans for today though. A little shopping to do but we are good here for the most part.

Good Morning !!

It is very windy here. Temps are 38. I think it will also get colder...I hope it does not snow or get icy....

It's Tuesday. !!

Yay! Tuesday, ceramics!

YAY indeed !!!

and now I just am about done decorating my small (3 ft) Christmas tree. Then tomorrow I will go Christmas shopping & hopefully finish up & then I will have 2 days to grocery shop and then wrap gifts--YAY.

bad news is my Niece wants me to watch her sick little girl so she had her hubby can go to work tomorrow---
well 1 she is sick or I could take her shopping with me. and I do not need to be sick on Christmas or when I am going to be around MY little ones (I am this weekend) Oh well
I guess this makes me a bad person/Aunt.

No it makes you a smart person to avoid spreading illness.... I watch the boys all the time- but if one is sick I stay away ... my weak immune system is just to vulnerable and can't handle it... I took care of my own kids when they were sick- didn't expect anyone else to do it... but guess I am a bad Nana sometimes too... OH well!

We did the rest of our shopping today- and grocery shopped and now I am paying for it... it's cold so I am hurting too.. our little bit of snow didn't melt away yet,roads are okay but the yards are still mostly white.. more is on it's way too... I don't mind a white Christmas but it needs to be just at Christmas and gone the next day...LOL!

Joe cooked dinner tonit so I could take a hot epsom salt/lavender oil bath...it helped some- he bbq'd steak and baked taters for us- turned my tater into soup and just ate a bite of steak... sauted some mushrooms too... was really good...I got a bag of shrimp for our Christmas Eve dinner.. it's our tradition since we got married... will bake it with Italian dressing and butter... makes it so good!

Well I better go and get ready for bed, have boys tomorrow... think we will make peanut butter cookies ... one of their favorites and one Nicoli can still have....

Have a good evening all... heading for my pillows....

Nana

OH MY !! We are having a virtual snow storm on the forum here...Looks so pretty !!!! And it makes me SO happy !!!


Thanks for making me feel better, Nana.

I too watched MY kids when they were sick, and I watch my grandsons when they are sick, but I do not think I need to be watching my great nieces when they are sick.

I bought 2 dozen "Lofthouse" Christmas cookies this year.
Then I bought 2 bags of mix for peanut butter cookies.

I have my grandmother's really good recipe for them that I make the blossoms out of but IF I get time for these peanut butter cookies that will be enough to my notion.
Esp. since I cannot eat them anyway.

I hope to get to the last of MY Christmas shopping tomorrow.
That will give me 2 days to wrap...

Your Christmas is zooming up, Carol. I hope you don't overdo it.
Sweet dreams all. I am heading to bed. I'm thinking it will be too wet and crazy out there to take Ted to school in the morning. I'm guessing he will miss the last day before winter break. I told his teachers that today.

Thanks Tina, but I think I always overdo it....

See what is going on is Valarie & her family have a 3 hour drive one way to see us. Now, with the baby & all she does not want to drive down here for the family party & then drive home & turn around & come back 4 days later...so they will come for the "Dudley Christmas" on Saturday, stay the night, & we will celebrate with our little family on Sunday. So, in essence I have 1 less week in which to prepare.

I think next year I am going to put my tree up the weekend before Thanksgiving and then I am going to wrap gifts as I buy them...

* now someone is going to have to "remind me" that I said all of this, and please do so in October...

going to watch my story & then go to bed--night night...

I wish that I had of slept about 1 more hour. I went to bed at 1:30 and I got up at 8 am. Oh well...
Today I am off to finish up my shopping.

Good morning. Yes, Carol. I would not want to make continuous 3 hour drives with a baby either. I just meant for you to remember to take care of yourself amongst all of your celebrations. Like not exposing yourself to sick grand nieces.
It is still raining here and I slept well to the sounds of it. What a blessing is rain. Ted and I will stay home from school today. So no last day of school for him before the long winter break. But I warned his teachers ahead of time.
So it is time to clean some house and wrap some gifts here.

Thanks Tina. I appreciate your backing me too. You guys are the best....
About Ted staying home today. And extra day of vacation is always a good thing. And wise on your part I think.

Coffee, I need Coffee....

Good morning...we had no internet for most of the day yesterday. They are working on a new set up for fibre-op(which most people are complaining about already).

I see everyone has been busy. I had to go to SIL's last night to put up her tree for my niece. Seems like people here have gone into an early "Winter Blue's mood"...but I put my foot down and that is all that I am doing. I got my prep done early so I can rest...not deal with everyone elses Christmas problems.

Junie, I agree with Nana...stick to your decision of keeping yourself healthy. Now I use the "I'm busy on that day" excuse to keep me from taking on too much.

Thanks, Sunny...

You guys are THE best....It is so nice to have the support. I truly appreciate it.

(If Cindy sneaks in, send a happy birthday to your dad.)
I have not yet gotten much done today. Well, the fire is warming the house and Teddy and I have had breakfast. I moved some furniture around. Does that count?
Time to get kicking.

Yep, Happy Birthday to Cindy's Dad...
It is MY Mom's birthday too.

Yes Tina, moving furniture counts !! (big time actually)

walking out the door now......

Happy birthday to your mom, too, Carol.
I'm actually considering a nap.

Today is Aubry's birthday too. She's 7. Can't believe it.

Happy birthday, Aubry. Our babies sure do grow.

Sweet dreams all. I am heading off to my pillows very soon.

Aubry is already 7 ?? WOW how time does fly.

Happy Birthday to her as well.

I am soon off to bed as well. G'nite to you all.

There seems to be a lot of birthdays in December...quite a few in our family as well.

We are having a snow storm at the moment...10 to 12 inches forecast. Thinking I'll just hunker down and make bread today.