good morning.. crisp, bright sunny day here and Jim is telecommuting the rest of the week. Nice because I have muscle if I need it. I moved a lot of heavy tubs around yesterday (trying to find a place to put them until after the holidays) as well as boxes out of the family room. My purging and sorting has come to a halt for now. I just don't have time. Today it is back to the family room and hopefully all the stuff in there taken care of. This weekend we will be making another dump run as well as a drop at either SA or GW. Just want things out of here at this point.
Driveway got done while I ran an errand. This was just the sealer and went quickly, because the driveway is new. Neighbor is moved out. Not sure when closing is on the house, but the new owners are young with a 4yr old and a 2 week old.

Rhonda, I hope you are able to get some insight on some of the photos from your aunt. My Mom told me that she is sure she isn't going to recognize any of the people in the pictures she recently got, but I can always be hopeful. I need to get back to my research and not be messing with so much other stuff. And I need to get to CA.

Paula, I forget if Thur house is a big one. Anyway, hope it goes easy.

Hello to Lizzy, who should just be counting hours at this point, and Nancy, Carrie, Laurie. Hope everyone has a good day.

good afternoon.. taking a brief tea break to regroup. Working hard on the family room. And trying to get any last minute holiday items for the donation boxes. I should have started all this in the summer. But I am seeing improvement.
Carrie, yes I have lost weight with all this hauling/moving and trips up and down the stairs. I keep hiking up my sweat pants.
I sure hope you can get the fireplace insert taken care of. Oh and sorry about the added menu items. Smoked salmon is one of my favorites. My aunt used to smoke and can salmon. My uncle would catch it, so it was the freshest fish and soooooo good. Nice advantage of growing up in the Pacific NW.

Talked to my sister this morning for a bit. She said if I decide to fly out, she can pick me up at the airport and then drive me up to Mom's, saving a bunch of airfare and time. I would have to fly in on a Wed or Thur though. So I am trying to work the dates. Jim can't get away from work, so he won't be able to join me. I have not traveled alone in a long time.

Speaking of computer back up, I need to do that. I do it regularly, but can't remember when the last time was. I just put it on my list.

Well, tea is gone and it is time to get back to cleaning. Soon it will be time to figure out a dinner plan.

Paula, I saw either today or yesterday, that Nancy had been on Pinterest. I also saw her on the mb, but she might not have had time to post. I think if anything was wrong she woud have sent one of us at least an email.

I did get a FB message from Lizzy earlier and she is having trouble getting on the MB. She asked if there was anything wrong with it. I hope she can figure it out.

Well, I am almost done with the family room. I won't have time to purge everything in there before the 2nd when everyone will be here, so I just stacked it on one side of the storage closet and maybe I will get to it.

Not really sure about CA. It is a lot of $$ for a short visit. I might be better off waiting until January and be able to stay a little longer. I just hate traveling during the winter, especially by myself. We will have to see.

Well, I am calling it a night here also. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well Rhonda, Ft. Wayne isn't toooo far from me... :)
Doesn't sound like you have too much to do to prepare for your company. I thought you had some coming. Will they stay overnight? (I can't remember where they come from but I am thinking it is driveable). Will you be cooking?
I am so glad to have gotten to know our Challenged Friends too. I love that we have met and have that connection too. It's nice to have a friendly/helpful ear to go to.

Well, the food is cooking, the table is set, I am going to finish my napkin ring holders now. (Nancy would have done that two weeks ago. ) hehe
The boys went frolfing so they will probably slide in just before dinner.
Oh, I saw on a crock pot site that you can make the corn casserole and broccoli/rice/cheese bake in crock pots so I did that today, so far, so good.

Here are the napkin holders I made for today.
Hope everyone is having a nice day.

Good morning all...

Paula, loved the bday cake you had for Greg! And the napkin holders turned out very cute. Do you still have family visiting today?

Pat, I am looking forward to the info on Fort Wayne. I am finding quite a bit of family in that area, so I am spending a lot of research time there - at least for this branch of the family.

Lizzy, great plan to get school work finished first, then the rest of the break is for the fun things.

Hope everyone didn't eat too much yesterday.

My sister and BIL arrive later this afternoon, then the rest will come tomorrow. Looks like there will be about 20 of us here. I can't wait. I have all the house ready. My sis and I will start some of the prep work tonight, then finish in the morning with Cody's help.

But first I am heading out to hairapy!

Will check in later.

good evening.. I imagine that Rhonda is deep in prep work for her crowd tomorrow. Nice to have some help in the kitchen.

I mostly worked on laundry and finished up my cards. I went over to M's this morning to get their $1.99 wreaths for the cemetery. There was no line and I was in and out in minutes. Then we went to Staples (2 doors down) to get mailing labels. They had a desk chair reg $149 for $49. We needed a 2nd chair, so got it using a credit we had. We then went back after lunch and got another one for a Christmas gift for Stephanie & sil. There was no line at Staples either. I also picked up 2 GB houses for Kristen's boyfriend's 2 children who will be joining us for decorating.

I have spent the day otherwise working on the ornaments. Tomorrow, I am going to finish the living room and have Jim put up the tree. I think I have a plan for the furniture. I will continue working on the ornaments tomorrow as well. The other room I want to finish up this weekend is the dining room. I would like to move the furniture in there, but there won't be time. So I am going to just skip it I think.

Paula, sounds like fun times at your house and shopping. I am waiting on lists from my grands to shop. Sarah is the only one so far who has given me one. Youngest dgs is a Lego and Star Wars fan, so he will be easy to shop for. Youngest dgd is a hard one, as is her brother who has asked for an iPad an iPhone or a laptop. NOT happening. Anyway, I would like to get started on my shopping quickly.

I have a cookie exchange on the 3rd. I am making chocolate caramel thumbprints. Never made them before, so I hope they turn out.

Well, need to get back to the ornaments. I am using the cuttlebug to cut the parts and I am going to have a hurting shoulder. Probably going to be a 2 motrin night.

good morning.. it is chilly and breezy this morning. Also very dreary.
Lizzy, a lazy, easy going day is a good way to get your break going. Jim & I rarely go to movies. I think I would like to see Lincoln and I also told him I would like to go to go to Les Miserables.

Shortly, I am going to start on the living room. There are some things in there that need to go in the JEEP, to be hauled to the dump. There is another box upstairs that needs to be donated also. We will be making both those trips tomorrow I think.
I worked until very late last night on the ornaments. I have all the cuts ready to assemble for I think 6. Very time consuming project. I need to come up with the decorative cwnter, but I am sure I have something in my crafty supplies.

Going to get busy now and take advantage of Jim to move some things for me.

Good morning all...

Laurie, glad you and DH had a good visit with your family. Love your new TV. I still do not have any of the flat screen TV's. And since all of my TV's are working good, I don't see one in the near future. Sorry about the coffee keeping you up all night. I'm sure it will be a nap day :)

Lizzy, The Story of Pi sounds like a good movie. I am wanting to see that one and Lincoln. Pi is in our theaters now, but not Lincoln. Will have to see if it is coming or if I will have to go elsewhere to see it. Did your teams win? Football food sounds fun. And then games, sounds like a great day to me.

Paula,glad your shopping trip was a success and that you didn't have to brave the crush of the crowds.

Friday was a little sad for me - DH and I would have celebrated our 39th anniversary that day. Cody did come over late in the afternoon and he made his homemade bread. Then I showed him how to make stuffing and a couple of salads. He also helped me put together a breakfast casserole in the crock pot. Then my sis and BIL arrived and we went out to eat then took Cody home.

Saturday was a bundle of activity from start to finish. Got the turkey in early. We had some of the breakfast casserole (YUMMO!) I went to pick up Amber and BIL went to pick up Cody. Then the rush was one. Cody helped with more prep work and people started arriving. Ended up with 18 people so not too bad and wasn't crowded at all. Lots of food and visiting and pictures. I made a salad my grandmother always made for family get togethers. I was searching for a bowl to put it in and had Cody open the high up shelf doors to look and he pulled down one of my grandmother's bowls! So grandma's salad in her bowl. Loved it. We also served the turkey on the platter my mother always used. So lots of memories. Amber loved the story about grandma's bowl and her salad.

Once everyone was traveling home and I got Cody and Amber home, and got the kitchen all cleaned and back in order, I was exhausted. It was an early night for me.

I think I will work on my Christmas cards today. What is everyone else up to?

good Sunday Morning all..
Rhonda, sounds like your holiday was perfect. Lots of memories remembered and being made, along with conversation and good food.
I have a file of FW info I am going to send you, along with some of my own thoughts.
Laurie, I saw your new TV. Very nice. Your Thanksgiving also sounds like it was good. Too funny about Sadie being confused for the car ride.
Paula, nice of your sister to stay and help get the house back to order.
Yesterday, I spent most of the day working on the cabinets that flank the fireplace. They have my Dickens Village in them year around and needed cleaning up and bulbs replaced. There are about 3 doz bldgs plus the people, trees and other extras, so this is no easy job. But I got one cabinet completed and will do the other today. I did the one closest to where the tree will sit, so Jim can get it up.
I need to finish up the envelopes for my holiday cards as well as continue working on the SU ornaments. They are going slower than I had anticipated, but I think if I could just concentrate on them and not be interrupted, they would go quicker. I forgot about the Rosette in the center and need to cut and fold those strips. They will get done by the coming weekend.
So with that all said, I am going to get off the computer and get busy on the 2nd cabinet.
Have a great day everyone.

Hi friends...today, we went out for brunch down at Laguna Beach, then did our normal routine: walk along the boardwalk, cross the street to Starbucks, walk back along the boardwalk, stop and sit for awhile, then go back to the car, and finally drive back home. It's so funny how we always do the same thing! After we got home, we watched more football, then the kids left to go home. They both have to work today, so they wanted to make it a relatively early evening. I have just been hanging out, watching a bit of TV myself. I actually have a bit of a headache...so I've been taking it easy. Not sure why I have a headache.

Rhonda, you had a house full of guests and a pretty nice time with everyone there. I'm so glad you got to use the bowl and platter from your mother and grandmother! Such sweet memories. I know you dearly miss your husband and those are bittersweet memories...I'm sure he is missing you, too, but is happy to see you busy with your family and friends. I'm so glad Cody and you are sharing your cooking times and that both he and Amber were able to be there.

Pat, I am smiling about you getting your Dickens Village up and operational! I'm sure it is taking some doing getting it dusted off and the lights replaced!

Laurie, the Best Buy routine is definitely the way to go. I think you also avoid the nagging from them about purchasing their extended warranty. Sears will likely be calling me pretty soon to see if I want to purchase it...what a pain! Laurie, did you take a nap? I napped on and off on Saturday...but not today. I slept later today. Hmmm....

Paula, there is no doubt...your sister is a gem to stay around and help get the house tidied up with you! She's a total keeper!!

Well, tomorrow, Terry has me running a few errands for him, but I am going to start my purging of the bonus room. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by it, but I will persevere. I want to empty the bookshelves behind my scrapping table so that I can totally use them for my scrapping stuff. I'd also like to move another bookshelf across the room and perhaps move my desk where the bookshelf now is. I might even be able to get rid of some of the other smaller bookshelves, or reconfigure them. It all remains to be seen...I guess it will depend on how it all works out. I am just eager to see how much I can empty out of that room! I will have to buy some boxes for all the books that are the girls'. But some of the stuff, I will be pitching or giving away, so I won't need boxes for that.

I also want to spend some time scrapping tomorrow, so I will probably allocate some time for purging and some time for scrapping and some time for school stuff. My goal is to have my school stuff done by the end of the week.

Well, I've chatted on long enough...everyone take care. I'll check in tomorrow.

Good morning.

Sorry I have been AWOL all weekend. I have a mountain to climb before I leave Wednesday morning. So I will return in a week or so when I get home.

I skimmed a bit of the action and am so glad you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I am out the door to take my car in for service.

Happy Cyber Monday! Have a super terrific day!

Good morning...so far, I've not done much of anything except watch TV and drink coffee. Hmmm....I don't want this to become too much of a habit.

I am itching to get upstairs and either scrap or purge. Or, I could stay down here and do schoolwork. Hmmm...decisions, decisions!

Not much else going on.

Rhonda, I hope your work at the office goes fast and you get home quickly to do what you want to do. Same for you, Pat.

Where are you off to, Carrie? Florida?

Paula, what's on your agenda? How about you, Laurie? Nancy? I hope all of you are doing well.

Everyone take care. Bye for now.

Good afternoon… busy day here, but the living room is done. Hope to get Jim to put the tree up and I can decorate it this week.
But first I went to M’s and got the village cord. They were 50% off, so a decent deal. I also picked up red embossing powder to make cards to go with the ornaments and flat pearls to finish the ornaments. Now I just need to wrap that project up. Maybe this evening. I did get the living room done and Jim can put the tree up now. Have a pork tenderloin in the slow cooker. It smells good, but that is probably because I am hungry. Not sure what we will have to go with it.
Paula, you were busy today. So these are one time cleanings you are adding to your regular ones??
Lizzy, I hope you came to a decision about what to do. Even if you just got the school work started that would be good. The bonus room sounds like a bigger job. I would first get the girl’s books packed up and out of your way. And any of the obvious stuff that you will be getting rid of. I found the less I had/have in my way, the better I did. Like when the various boxes got picked up or hauled away, it made me feel good and like I had progress. I am in no way done with all the purging/sorting/donating, but there is a huge difference in the various rooms.
Rhonda, I hope you made progress on your cards. I just need to put stamps on mine and they are ready to go.
Jim is home, so we are going to eat and have that out of the way.

UGH!!! I had a long post all typed and hit POST only to get "server application error" and lost the entire post. So will try this again!

Paula, monster house should go very quickly with T there to help you. Have fun baking cookies tonight. Can't wait to see your creations after your class. As for the breakfast casserole, we did use the sun dried tomatoes, but we decided we probably would not use them next time. They didn't really add much to the dish, except color. It is even good warmed up the next day!

Lizzy, coffee and tv sounds like a great way to start your vacation. Did you ever make it upstairs to your craft room?

Pat, I know you are probably knee deep in your room de-cluttering process. Was Jim able to get the tree up last night. Hope the villages are all lit and casting their warm glow on the room. I would love to see a pic of them. I love those villages, wish I had a space to display them. And it is great that you can leave them up year round. That would be a huge process to have to get them out and put away every year.

Carrie, safe travels. Hope there are not too many lines. Were you able to finish your baby album?

Nancy, hope everything is OK with you and you are just busy with the holidays.

Laurie, what have you been up to? Hope you are not lost in TV land in the new TV

Last night, the Lady Hornets won their game - yeah! This morning woke up to 15* outside. Hope it warms up a bit as tonight is the Christmas parade down main street. Amber is marching with her school band in the parade, so I will be down there cheering them on.

My Christmas cards are all ready for assembly. Then need to create and print mailing labels. Will be glad to have them finished. I have a few gifts I am going to try to make.

Have a great day.