Kartwheel, yoohoo!!!are you here? Are you stuck somewhere in that game? Linda

Thanks for the birthday wishes. DH wanted to take me out to dinner but since we have been eating out for a week due to our trip to take care of my Aunt I told him I just wanted to cook at home. Weird, I know but sometimes you just get tired of eating out. So, we are having shrimp and roasted veggies. (my choice). Linda

What lovely nostalgic stories! My memories of a cold winter morning were of the rattling coming up the big old round furnace pipes as Dad shook the ashes out of the grates and put some more wood blocks on the coals to start the fire going ... the heat came more quickly if he'd bought some coal in the fall and put some on the fire at night, for there'd be more coals left. We cut our own wood from trees that were dieing in our woodlot. Then Dad went to the barn to milk the cows and feed them - as we got older, we had to go out to help, mainly feeding the cattle. We fed the work horses and the beef cattle and pigs (we didn't call them "swine") in another barn after breakfast - but went to school on school days. Eight kids in one-room elementary school, separate doors for "Boys" and "Girls", with toilets over a tank in the separated basement. We'd line up by the "Boys" entrance door from cloakroom and march around to our desks as the teacher played, "English Country Gardens" on the piano. The big kids helped the littler ones with their work, part of the time. Once a bit of a distant neighbour came into the little general store in the village when I was there, about 4 years old, I think and Dad was in a side romm getting something, and when he saw me is reported to have said, "No need to ask who you are - Dick Baker will never be dead as long as you're around!". Dad died 23 years ago ... and there was 28 years difference in our ages. When he was in his 80s, he'd drive 2,000 miles alone every year from the Prairies down here to London to visit old friends ... in 3 days. We used to say that he was crazy ... but agreed that when they're 80 or so, you may as well save your breath to cool your porridge as tell them what they should do. Did I say that? Brother said that he was too tight to spring for more than two nights in a motel on the road ... and when I asked what was the difference - he'd spend about three weeks in a motel when he was down here, brother replied, "Oh, yeah - but he gets a weekly rate from them!". Did someone say something about apples not falling far from trees? Have yourselves a great spring weekend, everyone. ole joyful

Anele...with all you have going on I am so pleased you found this thread and sent your wishes. Thank you ! DH is a special guy. If it weren't for him I know I wouldn't be meditating and that has led to so much more as far as my piece of mind....which he then benefits from. A win/win situation for sure. I am so glad to hear from you and look forward to news of the new little girl when she arrives. c