OK, I'm on a roll this morning. So far, I bought a Kodak 850 zoom digital camera. (Dell has a good sale on it.) Get ready for good photos of roses, gardens, terraces, bald eagles, and all my other garden stuff. After that, I made my first order for new roses: Firefighter (I think one of our posters north of Allentown grows them), S. Big Purple, Julia Child, and Amber Queen. Gotta go! I'm in a buying frenzy. Isn't online buying great?

I love your new stove - thanks for sharing the picture! I share a bit of Ann's concern, however, and recommend that you replace the curtains with a Roman shade. They are very easy to make, but you do have to cut wood to fit the width of your window. How difficult is it to open that window? What kind of view does it have? I think I see a building (or at least a gable) on the other side of it? Which direction does it face? Do you use the window as a vent instead of a hood? My stove in Austin had a hole in the wall behind it with a fan that would blow air to the outside. Your photo reminds me that I need to do a good cleaning to my own stainless steel stove, but it will nevery look as nice as yours! Lars

Like the other Donna above, NONE! Okay, now if this gets too sappy, just back out now. Fact is, we have decided that our love is our gift to each other, and we celebrate that. That is, after all, what Christmas IS all about, isn't it? The ultimate Christmas gift - God's love for us! So, we have a huge family get together, with maybe a cookie exchange - now face it, bringing that all together is enough stress, isn't it? I do give a few Christmas gifts, but who wants the added stress of having to complete everything by a particular date? So, instead, I just keep those hooks and needles moving all year, and when I'm done with a project it is given to the intended recipient at that time. I recently finished a few things that haven't gone to their new homes yet: socks for my SIL, a ponchette for my daughter. And there are some members of the family who aren't financially able to give to everyone, (even though that wouldn't bother any possible recipient, it would still bother me if everyone else gave to all, and I couldn't do the same) and this way the emphasis is not on what people give, but the enjoyment everyone gets from being in the company of the people they love and call family. Having said all that, I love to give, give, give! And I have several projects going at the moment, I just finished a white crocheted round ripple baby afghan for a mother-to-be at church, started a knit round ripple baby afghan for another mother-to-be at church, fingerless gloves (for myself!), knit potholders for a friend I haven't met in Ohio, a crocheted giant panda for another friend I haven't met in Ohio (both of these were "met" on one or another forum and recommended this one to me), and several scarves.

I have one that is more strange than funny, but appropriate for a decorating forum. Many years ago, just before Christmas, my BIL and his wife remodeled their kitchen, using apples as a theme--dark red and forest green colors. My MIL called and told me that for Christmas she and FIL were buying BIL/SIL new dishes, to match their new kitchen. She described the dishes as having apples painted on them, with a dark green edge band. Then she said, "And we'd like to get you new dishes, too." I was thrilled, because I'd been thinking of buying a new set of dishes to replace our old odds-and-ends, but hadn't wanted to spend the money. I told my MIL this, and thanked her, and mentioned that either a cream color, or a light sage green would look good in my kitchen. MIL: "No, we're getting you the same dishes, with apples on them, because that's what FIL likes." Me: "But, we don't have anything with apples on it in our kitchen, and really, nothing red or forest green." (The kitchen had no theme--it was neutral with cream and tan, and some light blue-green vintage pottery.) MIL: "Well, that's what we're getting you, and I'm sure they'll be just fine." Me: "Um, OK, thank you. That's really nice of you." On Christmas I opened the package, thanked the in-laws again, then used the hated apple dishes for about a year and a half. One day when the in-laws showed up for family dinner, I put out my brand new cream and sage dishes, that I'd finally bought for myself, without saying a word. Neither of them ever mentioned my new dishes. I love my FIL and my late MIL, and that was so out of character for them, it still puzzles me. BTW, I packed away the apple dishes, until just recently, when my DD needed dishes for her new place. She was happy to see the familiar pattern, especially since the dishes came from her grandparents. :)