Good day! 12

Sorry to hear that, Cathy.  Keep your chin up, girl.  If there's something I notice that's different about you nowadays, it's that you still say, "But we'll be okay," a lot easier than you used to.  That's good, Cathy, I think you're getting stronger all the time.

I've been thinking of you too, Cathy.  You and Elsie are in my daily prayers.  Hope you get a good rest tonight.  Take care.

I hope things work out for you too Cathy - you have been very brave.

Hello to Elizabeth - haven't met you before. You are absolutely correct Elizabeth - things need to change in our country - think nincampoop is a much better word though Shirley!

I have been awake since 5am - the rain is beating on the window & my mind is buzzing away!

G'day all!

Cathy, I am sorry you're having such a hard time of it. My prayers and good wishes are with you.

I think the "F" word is better for people want an "Christmas baby" myself, but I know its pretty common these days. I was walking around like an "drunk" the last couple of days, Elk finally asked me how my "blood sugar" was, as low blood sugar from not eating lightly throughout the day can do this..reminds me of Eilene Barns...we use to have to give her "orange juice" on hot days when she sweat to much. this is usually an earthquake symptom for me...100 to 150 miles around Portland, though we don't need one right now, as we have this severe cold snap moved in on us...and it will be here the next three days. Eastern Oregon won't see above freezing temps for the next 3 days and here we hover around the 30's for the highs.

I finished off the Christmas Village yesterday, started putting the empty boxes in the camper to hold them so we don't have to climb the attic until we put them back for the season. Ok, besides place setting for two, on the table, is my LeMax huge old church with it's lighted window of Jesus holding the baby lamb, just like the first page in my bible some 50 years old, the gift shop, the bakery shop (kids looking inside it)  and people outside the church singing and people shopping and Santa under an midlle-of-the-table Candelabra, with children on his lap and wating in line.. and there's the grandparents sitting by the stores watching it all. Then on my makeshift coffee table is the mountain cabin home, with skiers, and kids camping beside the house out back with an roaring fire, people making an snowman, an father and son feeding an baby lamb some milk, and mother wavying to her daughter coming home with an snowman in the back of her sled, and an older brother helping an younger one on an horse and there's an pond with ducks and one goose following a little boy with his sled, and deer peeking out amoung the many snoq laden trees, one is laying down as her mate looks over her, and an young deer near by and am mound of fluffy fake cotton snow in the other corner with three kids in disk sled barreling down the hill side and in the other corner an huge antique old time Santa cookie tray wating to be filled...with an huge "Merry Christmas" on th ebottom of it.. all this sits with the woodstove in front of it, and the air mattress on the floor on th eother side.. facing the TV set for movies. I put an red flurry blanket and pillows on it to look like of like an lay back sitting area. I still have the dishes in the bar/sink area to do..not many, and tweek things up with the vacuum cleaner a bit and I think we are ready. I am planning on the side table between the sleigh bed(red velvet and gold) appetizer area...an cheese ball, crackers, dish of hard candy and fresh green and purple grapes. Rest of the side table is green plants built up to hide the bed from the table area..which I already described, the place settings are simple, classic white with an martini glass with white ball candle in it, and an wine glass adjacent...this entire village scene lights up with small trees that twinkle all around it. It has an community tree also that is an tiny fiber optic one...people walking with decorated packages. I have my rocker recliner and regular tree from the table downaward and this computer beside it with an hallway between them.anyway, as you can see with the three decorated "gold" glittering pillows on the long sofa, I'm ready for Christmas. It's just on the other side of the woodstove and the "Cabin" coffee table. Music is supplied in the room also...if you get tired ot the TV set. In front of the village will be trays of pizza or some kind of nibbles, (I even have an few of those mince pies also) ,I have potato chips and drinks at the bar area, and "tea" store there..with my santa cups and tea pot near by it. The cut-crystal lazy susan always hold the fresh veggies and dip..then there's that huge cookie/goodie tray also. Candles setting about strategically for any power outtages. I held my breathe one year.closed my eyes and bought this expenisve LeMax stage coach that's up near the tv set, I don't use it much as it takes 20 AA batteries, but when it's operating it sounds like an crowd of people "partying" as they sing Christmas Carols going through the street or down an county road, you can hear the ladies and gentlemen laughing as they sing and go merrily down the way...guaranteed to put you in the festive mood.   Above my desk, and fancy wicker vase, with burgany and gold threaded silk scarf bow, and in it cranberries with an spray of gold ones and next to it an brass wine goblet with an cande, and then the baby Jesus being held by Mary and then Joeseph holding his hands on her shoulders (gold interleaf) and another brass wine goblet with an candle in it and there will be an angel there holding an burgandy candle here soon also in brass. So there, you have come to visit me in my room for Christmas. Below the TV set I have an full Yamaha "keyboard" if anyone knows how to play it..we can have some live music also.  I can take up to four people in this room for overnight...an 5th if you use the recliner also. My kitty gets the top of the recliner. He will grab you as you go by with his paws and make you stop while he gives you kitty kisses, so be prepared. 12;02 am, it's getting warmer..its now 33 degrees outside...partly cloudy sky. 

Cathy...you have to "Make it" this year for Christmas you know... some people are calling it an KISS..ing year..Keep It Simple Stupid...for the celebrating. I find the "magic" of Christmas in my village scene myself. I can look at it and feel as if I were there..Oh, did I tell you all my neighbor is home this year and she decorated her corner yard with her deck in red lights and white lights enmass, and we did our house in the blue assorted LED lights this year. Between us we are Red, White an Blue coming and going around the corner...left and right..east and west? .I have my "Santa chocolate shoppe" done in just the right time. I bascially have the upstairs tree and the cooking...and I'm done pretty much...then comes the celebrating I guess. Hubby's birthday in Dec. 30th you all know, besides New Year's Eve....then my oldest grandson's birthday in Jan and then my sister's birthday, then Valentine's Day. I'm hoping ot slip in an birthday dinner treat for my sister in-law this year as her birthday is in January also. This is her first season without her hubby as he passed the year before around this time...I feel she needs some TLC to get through things...I know she' sget through Christmas, but I think this birthday "thought" would mean something to her at the right time.  Angels abound this season I'm finding out also...they bring such good protective good cheer to us all. I better get back at it, as time goes so quick these days.  I can not make my apple receipes, and I got an sack of them needs worked with right now...without cornstarch(arrowroot)... and I forgot it the other day...so much to remember, I better start making out the lists of what I need instead of trying to rember it all...just mostly little "odds and ends"...but necessary ones.

So I catch you later on...remember to find the beautiful in life, one must look from inward to "outward". Don't watch to much of the Hallmark Christmas specials, I find them "touching" to the point I cry now and then with emotion...and then I end up fatigued and depressed...keep the viewing "balanced" with happy stuff as well, not rediculous dumb stuff constantly, but happy enjoyable stuff...musicals perhaps. I dragged out my "Kids" Christmas album that has an medley on it just perfect for excerises to Christmas music...and singing along.... it says..Come kids, let's get in the groove,  it's Christmas...now get in the mood!..sing along with us!  Very "up-beat" rythum...Short session also...different.....so...catch you all later on!  I got things to do!...places to go!..smiles*  

Hi Shirley. Regarding your post and 'Wonder where my avatar went?.....if your post takes more than an hour to put together it will timeout and you will not then see your avatar, although Chris and Sarah know who posted. It just means they have another job to add to the 'things to do' list. So the answer is watch the clock and don't type beyond an hour! Hope that helps.

As for changing the avatar, this is something that you can do for yourself anytime you want to. For us to do it this end we have to have a picture, or knowledge of what you actually want.

Another great post above Shirley but be careful what you wish for. Lol >>>>>>>So there, you have come to visit me in my room for Christmas. Below the TV set I have an full Yamaha "keyboard" if anyone knows how to play it..we can have some live music also.  I can take up to four people in this room for overnight...an 5th if you use the recliner also.