Gloria, the card ws beautiful, thank you!! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Jane, I went to feed the birds and did a dance for them! My gosh it is slippery out there. We also have high winds here and wondered about our power staying on. We do have generator back up if need be. Sandwiches and candle light sound unique!!

Back to work I go .....hi hoe hi hoe..

'Tis Christmas Eve so will be super busy getting everything done. I have this big bowl of gravy with little bite size roast chopped in so invited both sons & spouses that "if they didn't get a better offer"..... I will serve "open faced roast beef sandwiches" about noon on Christmas Day. Neither thought they had anything going on for Christmas so they will let me know.

We had a drugstore back in the old days, that had the food counter that served these open faced sandwiches... pile of mashed potatoes in the middle, slice of bread cut in triangle on either side & roast beef & gravy over all. My fav food of all time & back then I really didn't like any food but hamburgers from our hang out & that chocolate malt. Yum!
My mother was the best cook in the world (okay, I'm prejudice) but I hated to slow down to eat & thought on the go eating was best way to fuel up.

So now I need to put this computer off in a bedroom & put my Christmas tablecloth on & make ready for the kids to come home for Christmas. Our other party is on Monday.

Amy, I do have chicken wire to wrap around those trees, it worked when I planted the sycamore tree down there years ago. We had some young neighbors that bought at least half a dozen really nice (and expensive) trees from a nursery, planted up & down the hill & they were doing great until one morning they went out & discovered all but one had been cut down! Some were missing completely & others laying on the ground by their stump. At first the guy thought vandals but someone with "experience" pointed out the chips on the ground, typical beaver sign. Crazy that we can't find their den! That was at least 20 years ago so the beaver family has been around a long time. My grove of trees are nearer the water so much more convenient. I will try to get down today & wrap the ash trees, but did not need one more thing to do today!

Gloria, my body just crunched up thinking about your tooth ordeal. I can imagine the pain & shudder at how it must feel this morning. Sure is lousy timing with all that good food coming up! Nice your extra daughter thought of the soft foods to send you! Love the card, thank you.

The wind is not quite as bad so far but weather guesser says it will be back! Yuck!

Well, Jane, that is a good idea, I will put candles on the table & if cloudy like today, will light them. Hope you don't lose power. Any chance the battery cable is loose on the post? I noticed last night on my trip to the store that my gas gauge was low but was too cold & windy & even snowing so didn't fill up. Price jump for the holidays but I do have 80 cents a gallon off for this month & would rather have a tank full in case of getting caught & need to keep warm while waiting for a train to pass. We have a terrible time with trains in Wichita, sometimes holding up traffic more than 15 min.

Merry Day-Before-Christmas! 

As of yesterday I am officially half-way through my 8th decade.  Received a gorgeous flower arrangement from #1 son/family, had two lovely long phone conversations with out-of-state friends and phone calls from each of the 3 Grands.  'Twas a very nice day.

#2 son/dil/I had "star watched" as planned on Monday evening, picked up dinner to eat at their house and drove through some beautifully lighted neighborhoods on the way bringing me home.

Son/family with covid exposure are feeling okay; I suspect their "draggy" feelings are mostly due to the Kansas trip plus worrying about the virus.  They were able to get everyone a z-pack and are, of course, quarantining and distancing.  Fortunately, their house is big enough to do that easily.  They will be tested again this weekend. Miss Ellen has postponed her return trip to NYC.

Of course we are not getting together tomorrow.  #2 son/dil plan to come over before going to her family about an hour's drive from here.  I still have a microwave tray of Thanksgiving left-overs in the freezer so am planning to dine on that.

Weather is windy and cold but no nasty stuff in the forecast.

Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere a Blessed Day. 
 

SHIRLEY, it's not my car that's out of gas!  It's ME!  I was having trouble getting my internal motor going this morning.  I think I've been trying to do too much and missing my naps! 

However, I did manage to get going in slowmo and I got the house ready for company and Christmas in general!  Now I'm going to go take a shower so I don't turn away the company and then the cooking starts!

CALLIE, watch your step!

SHIRLEY, save me a sandwich!  That's the ONLY way I like gravy!

Our Christmas dinner has been ham as long as I can remember and I'm sure it is partly because one set of my grandparents had a farm and there was always a nice size Hog to be butchered in the Fall.  And we were one of the recipients of a nice country smoked ham.  The perfect Christmas dinner (in my opinion).  But, to each his own!

Callie    a belated one but wishing you all the joys that your birthday can bring.

Still raining here but at least the wind has died down.

Shirley, it always amazes me how industrious the beavers are. We have lots in the area and the road crew will unplug a culvert that the beaver has dammed up and the next day it is plugged up again.


Made stuffed mushrooms to go along with our lunch ,haven't made them in a long time and Kyle said that they can be made again.

Better clean up the kitchen..

Callie, I'm sorry I missed your birthday! So, here is a little belated birthday wish for you!

https://www.jacquielawson.com/ecard/pickup/r0b117c370eb041d7944a35145421e3a5?source=jl999&utm_medium=pickup&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=receivercontent

[/sizeHi everyone..I don't usually post on this forum..but do stop by and read sometimes...Shirley you seem to have a lot of knowledge of feral cats..I have a cat that's coming in my yard...and staying...of course I fed him....I'm wondering if he's a feral cat..he eats the food I put out..but will not let me touch him or pet him..not sure if he's feral or someone has treated him bad....do you think he will stay that way....Merry Christmas and healthy new year..I to will be staying home....CC]

CC, Patricia  has a feral cat.Farrah. She may be able to help you also..

CC, I've been a permanent foster for Pet Pride, a cat rescue, for the past nineteen years. I usually have abused or feral cats for their lifetime. My email is in my profile or Bubble, or Amy can send it to you, or yours to me. I'd love to help.

How many times have we read this to our children.
Sorry, Patricia told me the url didn't  work. It was the poem the Night Before Christmas.

Callie, so sorry we missed your birthday! Does this mean you are officially MY age (85) & that I will be a year older than you in less than a month?  Having that Jan birthday always put me the oldest in the class. We won't count this year with all the covid crap (can I say that?) going on. Happy UN-birthday, anyway!:hb3: 

Candy, I'm sure Patricia has much more experience with ferals than I do. Mine were so anti social from the start, they would never have even come out in daylight except that Cas sat out in a lawn chair all summer & sweet talked Mama Callie. She never got closer than probably 30' until she showed up with the 3 babies. She eventually weaned them in the back yard and we didn't see her again until Tom & Tiger were a couple years old at least.

The people moved that fed her so she came back across the street but Cas had died by then. I'd guess that if you offer food and kindness that cat will eventually trust you. My son was here the other day & she rubbed up against his leg... she let him bend down & pet her until he put the other hand down & something in her cautioned that he could grab her with BOTH hands so she backed away. I'd guess she was mistreated along the way and she taught her babies how to survive in the wild because they still won't be out front where people walk by, and hide when the door bell rings. 

Time to get moving, been doing laundry & working at cleaning, must vac the floors & get the table ready. I'm going to go to church in the morning & will stay if not too crowded. They do keep every other pew empty & try hard to limit the risk, have planned to use the church as well as auditorium to have enough distance for all that want to come on Christmas Day... also have several Masses scheduled for Christmas Eve. Going to be busy with 4 people coming to lunch at 11:30, but I don't drive at night.

In case I don't get back, MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL! 

CC, after reading what Shirley and Patricia wrote I would say it all boils down to  love and kindness which you are  showing  the cat.Maybe in time he or she will trust you. For now you will just have to enjoy his stomach love.😚

By four weeks of age, a kitten is feral and won't ever behave as a regular domesticated cat. My cat Farrah was so abused that she was an unsocialized spitting wild animal when I got her at four years.

She spent the first six months hiding under my bed and a couple of months after that maintaining five or more feet between us. Even now, four years later, she's very alert to her surroundings and people. It's an uphill battle, but then she was obviously abused. I suggest going at the cat's pace, Offer food, and soothing conversation to make friends with the cat. Do not attempt to grab the cat or attempt to pick it up.

Let the cat see you are offering food and perhaps shelter. Give the cat space, and she will come to trust you. Also, there are cat associations and rescues in every state and area. You can call them for suggestions in your local area and see what they advise.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

https://tinyurl.com/y8vddryr

Thank you for the nice birthday wishes.  Although my parents, grandmother and 2 aunts always did what they could to make my birthday special, I never had a typical birthday party when I was a child because my parents didn't think it was right to ask people to buy an extra gift so close to Christmas.

Shirley,  yes, I've caught up with you.  I still keep up with friends who started First Grade together and became "The Super Six" by the time we were in high school.   I was the only one with a December birthday so they began passing me very soon after I caught up with them.
Sometime they would tease me about being the "last one"....to get my driver's license, to become of "legal age", etc.
 However, you can be sure they got paid back when we all began to turn those ages that brand us as "old". and I still sign their birthday cards with "The Youngest Amongest Us".
 

Very rare to domesticate a feral cat.
Will come for food but the instinct of being vicious remains ,will hang around at a distance.
And to get to a vet to properly give shots is almost impossible, vets do not like to deal with them
Do not get bit by one and or allow them around children.

I've been doing it through Pet Pride for nineteen years and my vet has six of his own.

Patricia sent me the url to use. So here goes

https://tinyurl.com/y8x2csas

Merry Christmas everyone..

Thank you, Amy! That narrator's voice was so familar.

well I late again, is getting to be a bad habit, we went to a good friend's place of business today which is a jewelry store. we had some redeem color purls of course he also had lot's more. he added some more to what we had and made two neckless for our two grand daughter's that live with us. being kin to the kin I am sure did not hurt, but we got a almost give away price. and the lite up shining eyes were priceless. wish you everyone a happy Christmas. good night and sweet dreams.

Lloyd

Merry Christmas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVaL41Bj_x4

Merry Christmas! everyone, it is 9º and clear here. we are going to the daughters house for chirstmas dinner. I think I will go out open the garage door and start the car and let it run and warm up before leaving. this old man can't take it any more. Hope you all have a good safe chirstmas day. see you all later.

Lloyd and Nancy

Merry Christmas!! 

I'm up but my daughter and her husband are still sleeping.  We planned breakfast for later so I'm taking the time to send wishes to all my friends on S&F.  I hope your day turns out to be everything good it can possibly be in this time of trouble. 

I'm looking forward to this day with my family!  I wish you all well and happy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE !!!

Hope everyone will have a nice day, even though it will be a very different kind of Christmas for us all. 

Enjoy whatever your day involves.

Joy

Merry Christmas from Kansas!  Weather Bug says it's 23° but feels like 19°.

I feel awful, didn't get any presents for the cats. I haven't browsed the stores for so long I forgot what it's like! I'll open them a can of salmon for lunch. They get Chicken of the Sea tuna for breakfast every morning but don't see canned salmon on sale anymore. They don't like my fresh salmon, picky-picky.

Gosh, y'all keep popping in & I'm waving a big HI but the post won't fly.........

Hope this is a happy day for everyone, maybe the best day of 2020???       

Merry Christmas from rainy Canada!!

We are so blessed today enjoying each others company!  
 
Shirley, we had to help the dogs unwrap their gifts but now they are chewing like mad on them (rawhide bones )

Wishing my friends a wonderful day no matter what you do. We are on our own instead of a huge family gathering.

Take care and stay safe!

We just about washed away yesterday and if that didn't happen we blew away.   It was a really unpleasant day.  But, it is much better today as long as we stay warm.

Happy late birthday, Callie.  My husband's birthday was on Dec. 23rd and he rather forlornly said that growing up his birthday present was always under the Christmas tree.  After we married I tried to make his birthday separate and special and then when our second son was born on Dec. 24th it became an additional challenge.  To make it even more challenging, our wedding anniversary was Christmas Day and our first son was born on Epiphany, Jan. 6th.  We got all the celebrations over and done with in a short period of time.   

Enjoy your day, Everyone, and if you are with family, enjoy them, too.

Thanks everyone on suggestions about the cat...I kinda think he was mistreated...somehow...he's at my door morning and eve for food...looking at my door till I feed him...not aggressive at all...more like frightened....will carefully see how it plays out

Why Is "Christmas" Abbreviated As "Xmas"?

The history of the word Xmas is actually more respectable—and fascinating—than you might suspect.
First of all, the abbreviation predates (by centuries) its use in gaudy advertisements. It was first used in the mid-1500s. X represents the Greek letter chi, the initial letter in the word Χριστός (Chrīstos).
And what does Χριστός mean? "(Jesus) Christ." X has been an acceptable representation of the word Christ for hundreds of years. (And why would people need to abbreviate Christ? Well, the word is very widely written.)

Other abbreviations for Christ include Xt and Xp, the P here representing the Greek letter rho, source of our letter R. A stylized version of the Greek chi (X) and rho (P) is ☧, a symbol of Christ called a Christogram.

In the same vein, the dignified terms Xpian and Xtian have been used in place of the word Christian.

Where does the –mas in Christmas come from?

The –mas in Xmas comes from the Old English word for mass, as in a church service, especially one in the Roman Catholic Church including a celebration of the Eucharist.
That word, mæsse, is believed to have been derived from Church Latin missa, ultimately from Latin mittere which means "to send (away)."
It was perhaps derived from the concluding formula in the Latin mass, Ite, missa est, meaning "Go, it is the dismissal!" That is, the service is over.