Lucy!! I hope you and your Grands have the time of your life!!! I will try to stay away form CC till you return..LMAO!!! If not I will take pic's.. BOB of the back of my head!!!!LOLOLOL.. ;0) Blessings My Friend Have a Safe and Wonderful Trip! Kylie

Well, well, well...I came on here to check in and see how things are going, and here you are! How nice to 'see' you again! We all went thru so much this past year, haven't we...and some of us still do..;-) My Mother has adjusted very, very well into her nursing home, and is thriving. She's the type that the gals there just can't seem to stop spoiling, and she loves it! Jokes with them, uses her wit to tease them, and they think it's the cutest thing. LOL! She still knows who I am, and mentions my brother (who can't be bothered to email me and ask how she's doing but that's a whole other story!) and our DD. But she gets so quiet sometimes, and has her melancholy moments and gets tearful, but all in all, enjoys our visits. She said she's "going downhill" and it's so sad to hear.....I know I'm not supposed to say, Ah, Buckup! You'll be fine! because she won't be, and it just makes it more difficult for them to find peace. She turned 92 in September. We hope we can give her a Merry Christmas day! Not much else, really....I'm knitting FunFur scarves for each of the full-time care-workers in her wing (about 6 done, maybe one more to go), as well as purple mittens for her former care-worker at our home to match the purple scarf (her fav colour) I knit her last year! LOL! As well as my first attempt at a "lacey" cap for our DD and matching mittens out of "Dream"...feels kitten soft and about as much fun to knit with...so slippery! ;-D Sorry to hear about the little lump in your breast; I always keep care-givers in my prayers, and hope it helps you through your excision/surgery. I feel confident it's not cancer, as she's removing the entire lump....seems more like an encapsulated cyst or some such....."Let Go and Let God", Gabby. To all care-workers, their family and friends, I do sincerely wish you all a very peaceful, holiday season. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all! ....Lynn

I can't help you with the quilting shops but am here to tell you you're in for a REAL treat. Santa Fe is absolutely fabulous....the old town is laid out around a square, and the shops that line the four sides of the square have a large overhanging roof, over the sidewalk. Every morning native American craftsmen and women throw out a blanket and sell their wares...wonderful silver and turquoise, pottery, etc. It's a fabulous experience! Santa Fe is a town of little shops and galleries, FILLED with terrific stuff, so bring a big bag of money and your walking shoes! It's a great town to just wander around in...something neat around every corner! (my husband first took me for my 50th birthday gift...I was thrilled!!!)

I lived in Portland for 21 years. A wonderful place, very laid back. I would surely drive up the coast as the others mentioned. It is a very calm and fun drive. I always enjoyed the Pittock Mansion in Portland. Mostly because, if you put your car in neutral in front of the mansion, your car will mysteriously go uphill backwards by itself. It is one of those weird things. Never was sure why that happens. A bit creepy, but really fun! A must do in Portland. Also the Saturday market is wonderful, I think it is still held under the Burnside Bridge. Lots and lots of fun to hang out in downtown. Mt. Hood is beautiful and only 1 hours drive from Portland. Tons of little towns and pubs along the way too. Timberline lodge on the Hood is a nice place to have lunch. Multnomah Falls is also really beautiful, another close drive. A must see. Tillamook Cheese? Yum. I am so thankful Sams carries it here in Texas. No other is better. Give it a try too. I grew up there and will always have my heart in Portland. Have a wonderful time, I am envious!!! Trin