Good morning all...

Lizzy, sorry about ruining a perfectly good whole wheat muffin, but so glad you had a back up! I so agree with your statement about putting up and taking down decorations. It is not as much fun as it was when the kids were home.

Pat, I loved the cemetery photos! Glad the NC trip went well.

Today I have made a list of this I want to get done:

Put up tree
Get cards signed and ready to mail on Monday
Pick up some Christmas gifts that I had ordered
Get groceries
Laundry

If I can get that done this weekend, I will be happy.

After the fist week of word, I think I will really like this job. It seems to get better each day. And I am truly thankful I was able to find such a good job so quickly in this economy!

OK, I am off to get to work on my list! Will check back in later.

Looks like I am all alone here... guess I will just keep rambling...

Lizzy, I am loving your posts, I really like you being around a lot and enjoy hearing what you are up to.
I am glad you are happy with your furniture and if you are anything like me, it will take some time to get it all together. (who am I kidding...I will probably never get to that point!)
Ok, that is weird, I just changed the font size somehow and it says it's still on the default size...hmmm...
Also, your wreath is lovely, you did well, waiting and finding something made that you could just dress up with the ribbon.
Did you move your bookshelves? It sounds like a good plan. Go ahead and let go of that piece you have in the hall that your not crazy about. I give you permission.
I got a chuckle from your Sing-Sing comment. Around here, the "Big House" refers to Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
I am glad you like the Scentsy scent, it was too sweet for me.
Good job getting the albums to the Make a Wish people, I am sure they will be much appreciated!

I am going to post this and see what's up with this font size and then continue....

Good Saturday, friends. I have been sick, sick, sick since yesterday. Now, I have rejoined the land of the living.

It started around noon yesterday with a bit of lower intestine problems and got progressively worse as the day went on. Of course, it nixed, completely, the movie that DH and I were planning to go to. I slept on and off, and didn't eat much of anything. What really surprised me was that I was running a fever, too. I slept some downstairs, but finally went to bed and actually ended up sleeping for about 15 hours. When I woke up, I had the most horrible headache I have ever had. It was all along the top half of my face. I dragged myself downstairs and took some ibuprofen and ate about a half piece of toast. Slowly, I am feeling better. I figure I'll be pretty OK by tomorrow. I had Terry get the tree out and if he can get it up for me, then I can decorate it next week while he is out of town.

I can't figure out where I got this virus: school on Wednesday? just being out a bit on Thursday? of course, Terry is mad at me that I didn't get a flu shot, but I don't think it's the flu although it is developing into a cough and some chest congestion. I certainly felt achy yesterday, but I told him that the flu is not a digestive issue.

Well, on to other things. Paula, I cannot believe how much wood you will have when you get finished with all this cutting and splitting. It's unbelievable! You are a real lumberjack!! Hey, depending on how you stack the wood, you can just decorate it!

Thanks for your permission, Paula, to get rid of that bookshelf thingy I don't like. I don't know how Terry will feel about it, but he usually goes along with me. If it works better, he'll be happy.

I'm so Tay's concert was enjoyable. And what a treat that his teacher was once an employee of yours at Pizza Hut! Small world, huh?

Well, I'm going to go....sorry this isn't as long as usual. Everyone take care.

THE WOOD IS SPLIT!!!! =D
We have a pile to stack or haul up the hill but all the rest is stacked. Now we just have to get the splitter back up the hill.

Lizzy, I am so sorry you have been sick. It does sound like the flu to me. I don't get the shot either but with you being exposed to all those germy kids, you should!

Tonight DH and I went to see the James Bond movie. I probably wouldn't have suggested it but I found some Miche bags for sale on the online garage sale and I had to go to Coloma for them. That just happens to be where there is a cheap movie theater. win -win :) I didn't expect to like the movie but it was good.

Good morning...

Lizzy,getting the flu!!! How awful. I hope you can make a speedy recovery. Sounds like you have been feeling awful. Do take care. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Maybe DH and go ahead and get the tree up AND move the furniture. Then you can decorate when you are feeling better. Do take care.

Paula,YEAH!!! the wood is all cut. Will you try to get the splitter up the hill today? Now you can really enjoy the fireplaces all winter! I would love to light one of my fireplaces but I have no idea how to set up a fire. Maybe someday I will learn. Glad you enjoyed the movie. Did you get a new bag?

Pat, hope today is not a 2 motrin day!

As for my list:

Put up tree
Get cards signed and ready to mail on Monday
Pick up some Christmas gifts that I had ordered
Get groceries
Laundry

So I need to get busy on the L today. I am also going to try a craft project I saw on line. If it works, I will give it to my friend for Christmas.

I am almost finished with my holiday shopping. Still need to get Wade a gift certificate and get Amber's birthday gift - she turns 16 just before Christmas. I couldn't find what I wanted here so hopefully I will find it next weekend on the "Girls Annual December" trip to Kansas City!

So now I am off to get busy and try to get something done.

Good afternoon...

Carrie, you are making great progress on your to do lists! Hope you get the wrapping done so you can just concentrate on relaxing after your surgery. Thanks for the tips on making a fire. I need to look into getting some firewood! Hope DD's move goes smoothly. I got a chuckle about your friends comment about Topeka and Kansas. I hope it doesn't seem as bad as he makes it out to be!

I have finished my list for this weekend! Laundry is completed. And I finished the craft project I wanted to try. Not sure if I want to add more to it or not, but at least I gave it a try! Here is it. Let me know what you think - should I add something to it???

Good morning ladies!

Yesterday was busy! We went to early church to hear DS play music. Him and two trumpet players were in a balcony over the gathering area and played before the service.
Then he had a concert with the SW MI Concert Band. From there we ran to the high school where DH dropped me off so I could catch the end of the Teen Blossomtime Pagaent that my friend's daughter was in. She made top five, which I think is really good, she was one of the youngest in the group, her first time there.
After that we grabbed a bite to eat. DH was then off to the church musical program. I was going to go but didn't want to go out again in the cold and rain. Then DH had hockey but I didn't go to that either.

Rhonda, that project looks like a lot of scoring and folding!!! I agree with Pat, I tried to think of what you could add and came up with nothing. I think her idea of glitter mist would add a nice touch.
Just follow the tips Carrie gave you for a fire and you will not have a problem. It's easy, really. (if all else fails...add more paper!!)
Are you getting excited for the weekend?? :)

Pat, I hope you have a great time today crafting with friends!
How nice that you will be having your family in for Christmas. Finger foods sound like a good plan.
We actually have enough wood for ten years!! I am sure we will be sharing. Some of it (the tree that fell and crushed the bridge) is willow, the stuff we have been working so hard on is oak from a huge tree that fell in our neighbor's yard last year. She had a tree crew come and finish cutting it up and they hauled around ten feet lengths of it to our back yard and made a pile with a fork lift thing. The oak is so heaven and dense the splitter has been just the ticket!

Lizzy, I hope you are feeling better today. Bummer to get sidetracked with that!

Carrie, great job on getting the decorating and shopping done!!!! Hope you made some progress on the wrapping. Is Jen getting moved in?

Nancy, how are things for you? How is Riley doing?

I am going to work around here a bit today. Do a load of L and maybe dig out some decorations. Tonight DS, my sister and I are driving almost three hours to see my nephew direct his first concert. My sister wasn't going to go but DS really wanted to go because it is really a big deal to DN. So, they planned to go and I am tagging along. Normally my sister and BIL don't miss anything their kids do but they already had a party booked when he told them the date. It's small enough that BIL can do it himself so off we go. They are predicting snow today but if it comes it will be a small amount. It's hard to believe we don't have snow yet.

So now we are back to the security image. Grrrrr.....it took me twice!

Hi friends...today I went out and bought some OTC cough medicine and OTC nasal spray and salt water spray. I know the nasal spray is to be used sparingly, so I will be careful with it. The cough medicine has been wonderful because the coughing was about to kill me. Now, I'm not coughing so much which is a blessing in and of itself. I was about to cough up one of my lungs. I've still got a fever, though. No telling when that will end. But, generally, without the terrible coughing, I'm feeling better. Bit by bit.

Maybe tomorrow, I can do a bit of purging in the bonus room again. No telling.

I overdosed on HGTV today. I got so annoyed with a woman on a show I could have reached through the screen and smacked her. She was an environmentalist and didn't like anything like marble or granite in the house...on the counters. She wanted her kitchen remodeled, but the remodeler had to REUSE her cabinets instead of throwing them out and getting her new ones. Of course, she DIDN'T TELL the person that until AFTER they had started the work. Can you tell I've been watching TOO much TV?

Well, I'm going to sign off here. I just thought I'd let you know I hadn't faded away!

Good morning ladies!!

Hey! There are three of us signed in at one time!

We got home around 11 last night. Didn't hit bad roads until about twenty minutes from home and they weren't too bad. We did see one car sideways on the highway. My sister drove there, DS drove home, I sat in the back and watched movies. I am really glad we went. DN was so excited and pleased to be doing this concert. He is really loving teaching which is great. (he is in a long term sub job which should end this month) The concert was in the HS and it was huge!! The auditorium had two layers of balconies! He had the 5th - 8th grad kids, with all of them being on the stage for the final song. Almost 200 kids!!! He did great and the choirs were really good.

So...Lizzy, sorry you are still feeling so crummy! I am glad the cough medicine is helping. Keep drinking lots of water!

Today is monster house. We decided to go in a bit later today. She is gone most of the day on Tuesday and doing it with DS we can go in late and still get done much earlier than I would.

I think DS and I are baking cookies with Cathy tonight. (tonight or tomorrow)

Hope everyone has a good day!!

Edited by user Tuesday, December 11, 2012 7:19:34 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi friends...I'm feeling better today. No fever but my cough is still here. The cold has settled in my chest, which is usual for me. Assuming tomorrow I feel even better, I imagine all I'll have to deal with is the cough and make sure it doesn't hang on too long before I drag my carcass to the doctor.

Of course, I didn't do much of anything today except watch TV and read. I finished one book but didn't start the next one. I watched some DVD's that I've been intending to watch for a long time. So, I got those watched. I'm kinda waiting now for Parenthood to come on...I know it's going to be emotional tonight.

Good luck tomorrow, Carrie...we'll all be thinking about you. Will you come home by the early evening? I know you said the surgery was scheduled for 12:12 pm on 12/12/12!

I am hoping that tomorrow I can contact my neighborhood fellow who went away to college and see if he is home for the holidays and if he would be willing/interested in coming over and earning some extra money by doing some moving/hauling for me. If so, I may have him come over and move/haul books/trash/desk/file cabinet from the bonus room downstairs sometime in the next several days. That would be fabulous.

Well, I'm going to go take come cough medicine, scrounge around for a popsicle, get some water to drink, and generally stretch my legs. Everyone take care.

Good morning ladies!

Carrie, thinking of you today. Hope all goes well and your on your way to recovery and healing. You have worked hard to be ready so now just relax and let your body do it's amazing work.

Lizzy, glad you are feeling a bit better. I do hope that cough lets up. Sounds like you are resting. Great idea to get the neighbor kid over there. My decorator friend does that a lot. It's a win-win situation!!

Rhonda, hope your work day goes well! :)

Pat, you must be busy getting ready for company.

Today is craft day. I wanted to have a card plan and purchased paper by now but I didn't. I can't remember how Deb and I left it for today...hmmm... I did tell monster house I would do extra cleaning next week on Wed. (basement and way upstairs) so this will be our last day for awhile. (we usually break during school break)
So I should pick up a bit and get dressed.

Yes, we did bake cookies last night...lots of cookies. It was fun!

By the way Pat, we did make Russian Tea Cookies last night.
And I received your Christmas card, very nice! :) Thanks!

good evening all.. I am not sure where today went, but it did it without me. I got very little done.
Lizzy, it sounded like you were doing a bit better (no fever), but apparently not enough to be out and about. Do take it easy.
Russian tea cakes are also called Mexican wedding cookies. They are the little round balls coated in powdered sugar. Sometimes they have nuts and sometimes not. I always call them my Mom's cookies because she always made them. I think I might have done that recipe in our challenge cookbook page swap. If we have no other cookies for Christmas, we have to have them. The grands call them Great-grandma's cookies. And now you know.

We are having our family get together on the 24th. We will do finger type foods and very casual. I bought Christmas Scrabble last year and we are also going to play Christmas Bingo. Maybe the weather will be nice enough that we can walk around the development and see the decorations. Not likely, but one never knows and we can hope.

Well, I had turned on my hot glue gun and forgot. I was going to finish up the last ornament, which is for my cousin. But I want to go to bed early tonight. I guess I will pull the plug and finish it tomorrow.
Hope everyone had a good day.

Good morning...

Looks like everyone is very busy this time of year.

Pat, I have had those cookies before and they are YUMMY! Hope you can get some time to rest before your family get together on the 24th. You have been so busy.

Paula, you have been busy as well. Hope DS enjoyed his late night showing.

Lizzy, I hope you get to feeling better real soon. You have really been fighting this. Glad you were able to make it home safely. Have you been able to call you neighbor to get the items out of your way?