Hi, Lovely ladies--I must admit I am guilty of just reading the posts & not posting. Will try to do better. Maybe I can make that one of my New Years resolutions. I do have a list of goals for the new year that I try to keep every year. One emotional, physical, mental & spiritual. Also a Bible verse that I believe I need to memorize. I try to keep them in mind but so many times I fail. Maybe we can share some of them in the New Year! Wendy-I am getting your box ready today & will mail Monday. Sure hope things are going better for you, that your guy is better & will continue in good health. Nothing touches a mothers heart like a sick child, does it? How about all those boxes being unpacked. That is a chore & moving can be so stressful. Pixie--I read your GW page & love the quote you have on it. I am so thankful you are back to gardening & all. I know Cole Matthew wants you to enjoy this season & pray others who are grieving realize that also. Bless you, dear one for keeping the faith. Vic--I do so enjoy reading your posts & wondering how Zack is doing. Please put his picture in the cookbook coming out. It is just darling. The night with great-grandbabies was wonderful. I am hoping to post some pictures if I ever learn how! I ordered a new camera for my Christmas present but have some that my Grand daughters took of them & will get their help, I hope to post. Susie--What a brave soul you are. I would never try to cut anyone's hair as I know I would get sued by them. Love the pictures of your ducks! Theresa--So glad the MRI's were ok & pray you all have a wonderful time going north. No more stress now for a while, at least. Seems there are always these bumps in the road (sometimes they are boulders we must endure as mentioned by us all here) Galium-Hope you are feeling better & that your daughter's business is going better. I looked at the pictures you posted & they are beautiful. Do you have talent as she does? Isn't it great to have those family traditions that we establish? Enjoy that great breakfast! Fran--I would like to know what classes you are signing up for, too. There are several I would like to take, mostly like learning to use my new camera, Italian cooking & other fun things. Annie--So good to read your posts. You seem to lead a very interesting life with all that goes on. I am sorry about your client, too. We do get attached to those we come to know. Just like this group. Seems one of you are always coming to my mind & heart. If I have missed anyone, please forgive me. If I posted oftener I wouldn't do that & my posts wouldn't be this long, either. Have a wonderful weekend & slow down, all & enjoy this wonderful season. Blessings, Margaret

I like thick crust... Sicilian Pizza? Reminds me of a fishing/party boat I went out on one day.. sort of rough seas that day. The guy that arranged the party/charter had kegs of beer and lots and lots of sort of plain Sicilian Pizza's. I was an avid boater, and another distant friend was there ..he was a boater. We always said hi on the boat radio's and compared notes.. what we were catching and where. Rough seas on that party boat, Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing...a whole lot of people paid a little bit of money each for this 'party'. It was very rough water, boat rolling not only side to side but climbing and crashing waves too while just trying to be stationary... My friend and I were the only two fishing, and the only two that were not leaning over the rails being sick :) Wow we had lots of pizza available.. everybody on that boat was sick but us two and the crew. It was kind of funny to us. People sort of crowding the restroom area, trying to wobble and stumble into the 'head' then you got to watch them fly out when the boat rolled the other way :) That was the best Sicilian Pizza I ever have had, just plain thick with sauce.

I too haven't been far. I pass through and read and have good intentions of posting, but the evening goes so quickly that before I know it, it's time for bed. I made some chili yesterday to cook in the crockpot today, so I have some extra time now to just sit and relax. Thanksgiving was great. Both kids came home, and we went somewhere every single day. I had to go back to work just to get some rest! LOL (Suzanne) So sorry to hear about Sweet Pea. I know when she is hurting, you are hurting just as much. I remember the pictures of your barn decorated last year. It looked like a Norman Rockwell Christmas card. Your gift from Maddie sounds fantastic. Kudos to Maddie for finding the perfect gift. (Carolyn) - you sound like you are in a good place right now. I am glad you are looking forward and are anxious to start your single life in Dallas. Have a safe trip. Maddie - I was reading an article a few years ago about teenage drivers and they featured stories of 3 different teenagers who had been killed in accidents because of excessive speed. The one boy had my son's name. Even down to the middle name. It freaked me out at the time, so I know what you felt when you saw and heard "your" name in conjunction with a death. Patti - Sorry to hear that your Mom isn't doing well. Are you going to be in Texas for Christmas? You will have to email me the address where you want me to send your exchange package. Raeanne - I have been seeing your artwork on FB. You do beautiful work! DeeMarie - I had to laugh at your description of the tech. Hopefully you will get good news on the 14th. Donna - There was a mother cat and 2 kittens lurking right outside the preschool. We were worried when the weather turned cold, so one of the church members made them beds out of boxes, straw and blankets. I was feeding them each morning when I got to school. They found someone to adopt the two kittens, but the mother is still available. She is a beautiful calico and was obviously someone's pet at one time. But she wasn't chipped, and there are no signs posted looking for a lost cat. We have a lead on someone taking the mother, but I think she really wanted one of the kittens. I always think of you and your rescue dogs when I see an animal in need. Hugs to anyone who needs them and have a great weekend. I have errands to run and a family Christmas party tomorrow night. Marci

Donna - DeeMarie forgot to tell you that she is our resident motivator, butt kicker and cheerleader! I am one of the priviliged that got to not only meet her once, but twice and she has a beautiful smile and sparkle in her eyes that warms your heart immediately. Just some more insight to some of the people here, we have busy busy Jen who made us all aunts and uncle with 2 precious girls since we have known her, Tikanis although relatively new in comparison, fit in all too quickly - she is adventurous and has a warped sense of humor (that's why I like her), I don't think you met Patti yet, no matter what she is facing she remembers each and everyone of us (WHERE are you Patti & Dave?), there is also Gretchen from the windy city and she blows in just long enough to catch up and then disappears (very busy at work, etc.) but we miss her. Which reminds me Lynn hasn't been around in quite a while, I hope all is okay with her. I haven't kept track of who was mentioned, but I am sure there are others I haven't mentioned - but everyone here has something unique to offer and that's why this place is so special. I am getting sappy in my old age. Jen - I was the one to leave all my friends behind and I never thought they could be replaced - well they can't - but fortunately you find new friends and still have your old ones. I stay in touch with my closest old friends, but not on a regular basis (as they are ALL computer illiterate LOL), but when we do talk or get together, it is like we haven't missed a day. It does get better. Tikanis - Someone asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I couldn't think of anything - I said I felt I had all I needed and didn't want anything. I felt just like you said, thankful and grateful for what I do have. I love the gingerbread house making party with DD - those are the things I like to do. You found yourself a great place to work. Menu: B - Smoothy S - 3 bagel chips (I had an uneasy stomach from the night before) L - 2 eggs Christmas Realtors Party: S - Appetizers before dinner, shrimp & scallops wrapped in bacon, vegie skewer, deviled egg D - 2 Beef fajitas with no tortilla NO alcoholic beverages, plenty of water The night before, I thought I had 3 glasses of wine, which was bad enough, but my DH said that the waiter and a friend filled my glass at dinner more than once - so who knows how many I had and we ate very late, so we had drinks on an empty stomach. I paid dearly for it yesterday, bad headache, uneasy stomach and exhausted. I wasn't a whole lot of fun last night - but boy you should've seen me the night before. The next day a casual acquaintance, kept telling DH that he had no idea how funny I was - I don't have a clue what he's talking about - but I sort of remember it had something to do with an air guitar. Too Much Information!