I am with you on that soap box too Jane...only I go one further if they don't like it here go back to your country and try these shenanigans there!Ok Jane...I am off the soapbox now too.
Have a good night...

AMY, right on!  I'll add that to my spiel but I'm not getting off this soapbox.  I'm standing up for my opinion.  It's my right!

My two cents worth.  These folks knew we were Christians when they came here and if they don't like our belief/customs then they can, as Amy said, go back to their country where they are king of the hill.  I could care less how they live or the customs they observe. So they can butt out of our business and our cowardly merchants better wise up.

PC be hanged.

Jane, sorry to hear about Lew but when the person is ready to go it usually is a blessing for them.  Sincere sympathy for the family that will miss him. 

Mary Ann, I always secretly thought my husband married me because my sister would bake a
banana cake with 7 minute frosting for him all the time.  I did learn to bake it & make that frosting stand up & salute!  I don't think I even have a double boiler anymore.  I never had any doubt where my vote would go this time, I wasn't crazy about any or all of the people running from the beginning but from the start I liked the idea that "nobody" owned one person.

I started this when I woke up (today but seems like a week ago) but since I work my way from the last post of the day to "back where I've read before".... my thoughts are kind of scrambled.

Jane, love hearing about the good deeds in your line today.... I've gotten to where my heart just wells up when people (especially the young) show thoughtfulness & kindness, and, like you, I usually comment to let them know the act was appreciated. 

Don, I am so disgusted with being "politically correct" when it is one sided and our so called majority seems to be getting the short end every time.  When you tally up all the minorities it turns out we have become the minority.  I'm ready to quit shopping any place that can't give me (I'm about as middle of the road/country/race as one can be)... a fair shake. 

I'm with  you on that soapbox, Jane & Amy, let everyone go back to where they were born if they can't believe in the society that our long ago teachers called "the melting pot of the world".    We agreed on one language & respecting all religions, nobody was allowed to dominate or threaten a smaller group or community. 

Jackie, I am on no schedule at all these days.  If I wake up hungry at 2:00 am or 4:00 am I fix me something to eat.  I have been taking naps during the day to make up for lost sleep.  Not getting a lot done as far as shopping or daytime activities but it will work out eventually.  The cats are sleeping outside at night while it is still warm, they are missing my walks to the river with them lately....  I blame the unusual weather for the sleeping problem.  This is the first summer I can remember that I didn't open doors for fresh air at night.... had to keep the AC running day & night. 

We bought this house in 1988, I loved fresh air all my life so was shocked when we discovered only sliding doors open on the south side, no windows that open at all.  Have large windows and dark tinted storm windows over all, including the 5 sliding doors on the south, but the windows don't open. 

Gloria, when my mother baked pies (all the time) she would make the cinnamon & sugar crust with the "scraps".... sometimes she would put shredded cheese in the dough & cut into strips before baking.... that was SO good.   I liked that better than the pies.  I checked for apples when in MO last week but couldn't find any orchards or farmers markets.   

Joy, I like your idea of folding that extra dough back over the top of the pie.... I am going to watch for sales of Golden delicious, my favorite for apple pie.   I love hot apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.  My mother always put the top on a pie with special cut outs to let the steam out.... & would flute it perfectly after she sealed the top to the bottom with a pat of milk.  Her cream pies were a French recipe that I've only tasted one other time, at a French bakery.... sadly, her recipe is lost.... she tried to give it to me but something lacking as it didn't cook up the way hers did, nothing like it.  She used lots of egg yolks & cooked in a double boiler is all I remember.   She didn't use a recipe so by the time she tried to write it down.... it had been too many years & nobody left that knew how.

June, do hope you get over that cold/bug soon.  Awful early in the season for this! 

For all those doctor visits, God Bless & hope you are better for the treatments.  Hugs all around. 

Hal, I'll join you in that BUTT OUT of our way of life!  So many come to this country thinking it is that land of freebies....  and don't consider that we pay extra on our hospital & doctor bills to cover for those that don't pay, that we pay higher taxes to keep schools open so their kids can have teachers able to speak the different languages.... and our teachers can't even ask if a child is in this country legal, parents don't care if their children attend if they are old enough to get a job, so we have to "dummy down" the classes so the poor students don't feel bad.  I am very negative tonight, tired and seems a constant crisis of house problems lately.  Got to find a plumber that isn't learning on the job..... in case the dripping/running faucet has a pipe behind the tile wall that needs to be replaced.  Used to be companies had experienced people that worked for them.... now we get a young kid that doesn't know as much as I do & that is pathetic!!!

Better get that last load out of the dryer, feed the cats their last meal of the day & get myself to bed.   Love to all.... Shirley

Good Night Everyfriend!  I'm very tired tonigh so I think I'll sleep well.

Thank you, Shirley for the kind words about my day.  Sometimes you're just glad to be alive.  Today was that kind of day.

May God bless us, every one!

Good evening.  Just finished watching the Cub's win the World Series! Wow, miracles do happen! 

Thank you for the kind words for my dad.  He had a rough day with dizziness and did go to his PCP.  They ran several tests and he has a appointment with a cardiologist on Friday.  He is very sore from the fall he had.  The blood pool near his armpit is very large but they do not seem to be that concerned about it.  He is just keeping ice on it.  I have not made a decision yet, but feel like I should go down there and be with him. 

JUNE, I am sorry you are still feeling punk today....take care of yourself and rest as much as you can. 

LLOYD, I am glad the procedure went well and I hope and pray that the little marble is benign. Hope you will not be too uncomfortable tomorrow.

Good to see your post, SHIRLEY.  Are you back from your MO trip?

Oh my goodness.....I have done it again.....got side tracked and forgot to get this finishes.

Good morning, JACKIE! 

Pleasant dreams to all......
Jenny

Guess I got some sleep in through the night, early hours of the morning, even if it was interrupted two or three times through the night doing a walk around check-up...2am, then again 3am, then up and about at 5.30am...I did go to bed 8.30 or was it 9.30pm when I dropped off...

DON....
...How disgusted I am that we are made to pander to the foreigners ways of life, while living in our respective countries..... Christmas is for the likes of us, we people should come first, we, that were born and bred in our own country, we have a right to our traditions.....If we lived abroad we would have to abide by that countries customs and traditions, wouldn't we? why should it be any different in our homelands...... Same happens over here....

Don, I hope you find your next Santa job...dont give up, there is one out their just waiting with your name on it...

Don, edited to add another crazy.....Link....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37853386

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/fifa-poppy-ban-england-scotland-fa-players-will-wear-remembrance-day-a7393591.html


JANE S...
..I enjoyed your working day experience story....especially the 101 year old lady who's duty to stay alive is look out for her " little boy..." I laughed over this as I am assuming this little boy is now into his 70s or 80s....

JENNY...
....Do what you feel your father would want, and yes, I d know some fathers can say one thing yet mean the other but, if you can get back to see him, why not...

SHIRLEY....
...I am sure my sleeping pattern will get back to some form of normality, just not yet as things stand.....Our sleep patterns are just what we are used to, once an early riser, always an early rise, I sure take after my late father, and in more ways than one...

Good Thursday morning, Everyfriend.  There's Egg McMuffins to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!



Military Time

My wife never quite got the hang of the 24-hour military clock. One day she called the orderly room to speak with me. The person who answered told her to call me at the extension in the band rehearsal hall.

"He can be reached at 4700, Ma'am," the soldier advised.

With a sigh of exasperation, my wife responded, "And just what time is that?"



FORGIVEN FOREVER
(Author Unknown)

Lisa sat on the floor of her old room, staring at the box that lay in front of her. It was an old shoe box that she had decorated to become a memory box many years before. Stickers and penciled flowers covered the top and sides. Its edges were worn, the corners of the lid taped so as to keep their shape.

It had been three years since Lisa last opened the box. A sudden move to Boston had kept her from packing it. But now that she was back home, she took the time to look again at the memories.

Fingering the corners of the box and stroking its cover, Lisa pictured in her mind what was inside.

There was a photo of the family trip to the Grand Canyon, a note from her friend telling her that Nick Bicotti liked her, and the Indian arrowhead she had found while on her senior class trip. One by one, she remembered the items in the box, lingering over the sweetest, until she came to the last and only painful memory. She knew what it looked like--a single sheet of paper upon which lines had been drawn to form boxes, 490 of them to be exact. And each box contained a check mark, one for each time.

The story behind it..........

"How many times must I forgive my brother?" the disciple Peter had asked Jesus. "Seven times?" Lisa's Sunday school teacher had read Jesus' surprise answer to the class. "Seventy times seven."

Lisa had leaned over to her brother Brent as the teacher continued reading. "How many times is that?" she whispered. Brent, though two years younger, was smarter than she was.

"Four hundred and ninety," Brent wrote on the corner of his Sunday school paper. Lisa saw the message, nodded, and sat back in her chair. She watched her brother as the lesson continued. He was small for his age, with narrow shoulders and short arms. His glasses were too large for his face, and his hair always matted in swirls. He bordered on being a nerd, but his incredible skills at everything, especially music, made him popular with his classmates.

Brent had learned to play the piano at age four, the clarinet at age seven, and had just begun to play oboe. His music teachers said he'd be a famous musician someday. There was only one thing at which Lisa was better than Brent--basketball. They played it almost every afternoon after school.

Brent could have refused to play, but he knew that it was Lisa's only joy in the midst of her struggles to get C's and D's at school.

Lisa's attention came back to her Sunday school teacher as the woman finished the lesson and closed with prayer. That same Sunday afternoon found brother and sister playing basketball in the driveway. It was then that the counting had begun. Brent was guarding Lisa as she dribbled toward the basket. He had tried to bat the ball away, got his face near her elbow, and took a shot on the chin. "Ow!", he cried out and turned away.

Lisa saw her opening and drove to the basket, making an easy lay-up. She gloated over her success but stopped when she saw Brent. "You okay?",she asked. Brent shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry," Lisa said. "Really. It was a cheap shot."

"It's all right. I forgive you," he said. A thin smile then formed on his face. "Just 489 more times though."

"Whaddaya mean?" Lisa asked.

"You know...what we learned in Sunday school today. You're supposed to forgive someone 490 times. I just forgave you, so now you have 489 left," he kidded. The two of them laughed at the thought of keeping track of every time Lisa had done something to Brent. They were sure she had gone past 490 long ago.

The rain interrupted their game, and the two moved indoors. "Wanna play Battleship?" Lisa asked. Brent agreed, and they were soon on the floor of the living room with their game boards in front of them. Each took turns calling out a letter and number combination, hoping to hit each other's ships.

Lisa knew she was in trouble as the game went on. Brent had only lost one ship out of five. Lisa had lost three. Desperate to win, she found herself leaning over the edge of Brent's barrier ever so slightly. She was thus able to see where Brent had placed two of his ships. She quickly evened the score.

Pleased, Lisa searched once more for the location of the last two ships. She peered over the barrier again, but this time Brent caught her in the act. "Hey, you're cheating!" He stared at her in disbelief.

Lisa's face turned red. Her lips quivered. "I'm sorry," she said, staring at the carpet. There was not much Brent could say. He knew Lisa sometimes did things like this. He felt sorry that Lisa found so few things she could do well. It was wrong for her to cheat, but he knew the temptation was hard for her.

"Okay, I forgive you," Brent said. Then he added with a small laugh, "I guess it's down to 488 now, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so." She returned his kindness with a weak smile and added, "Thanks for being my brother, Brent."

Brent's forgiving spirit gripped Lisa, and she wanted him to know how sorry she was. It was that evening that she had made the chart with the 490 boxes. She showed it to him before he went to bed.

"We can keep track of every time I mess up and you forgive me," she said. "See, I'll put a check in each box--like this." She placed two marks in the upper left-hand boxes.

"These are for today." Brent raised his hands to protest. "You don't need to keep--"

"Yes I do!" Lisa interrupted. "You're always forgiving me, and I want to keep track. Just let me do this!" She went back to her room and tacked the chart to her bulletin board.

There were many opportunities to fill in the chart in the years that followed. She once told the kids at school that Brent talked in his sleep and called out Rhonda Hill's name, even though it wasn't true. The teasing caused Brent days and days of misery. When she realized how cruel she had been, Lisa apologized sincerely. That night she marked box number 96. Forgiveness number 211 came in the tenth grade when Lisa failed to bring home his English book. Brent had stayed home sick that day and had asked her to bring it so he could study for a quiz. She forgot and he got a C.

Number 393 was for lost keys...418 for the extra bleach she put in the washer, which ruined his favorite polo shirt...449, the dent she had put in his car when she had borrowed it.

There was a small ceremony when Lisa checked number 490. She used a gold pen for the check mark, had Brent sign the chart, and then placed it in her memory box.

"I guess that's the end," Lisa said. "No more screw-ups from me anymore!"

Brent just laughed. "Yeah, right."

Number 491 was just another one of Lisa's careless mistakes, but its hurt lasted a lifetime. Brent had become all that his music teachers said he would. Few could play the oboe better than he. In his fourth year at the best music school in the United States, he received the opportunity of a lifetime--a chance to try out for New York City's great orchestra.

The tryout would be held sometime during the following two weeks. It would be the fulfillment of his young dreams. But he never got the chance. Brent had been out when the call about the tryout came to the house. Lisa was the only one home and on her way out the door, eager to get to work on time.

"Two-thirty on the tenth," the secretary said on the phone. Lisa did not have a pen, but she told herself that she could remember it.

"Got it. Thanks." I can remember that, she thought. But she did not. It was a week later around the dinner table that Lisa realized her mistake.

"So, Brent," his mom asked him, "When do you try out?"

"Don't know yet. They're supposed to call." Lisa froze in her seat.

"Oh, no!" she blurted out loud. "What's today's date? Quick!"

"It's the twelfth," her dad answered. "Why?"

A terrible pain ripped through Lisa's heart. She buried her face in her hands, crying. "Lisa, what's the matter?" her mother asked.

Through sobs Lisa explained what had happened. "It was two days ago...the tryout...two-thirty...the call came...last week." Brent sat back in his chair, not believing Lisa.

"Is this one of your jokes, sis?" he asked, though he could tell her misery was real. She shook her head, still unable to look at him.

"Then I really missed it?" She nodded.

Brent ran out of the kitchen without a word. He did not come out of his room the rest of the evening. Lisa tried once to knock on the door, but she could not face him. She went to her room where she cried bitterly.

Suddenly she knew that she had to do. She had ruined Brent's life. He could never forgive her for that. She had failed her family, and there was nothing to do but to leave home. Lisa packed her pickup truck in the middle of the night and left a note behind, telling her folks she'd be all right. She began writing a note to Brent, but her words sounded empty to her. Nothing I say could make a difference anyway, she thought.

Two days later she got a job as a waitress in Boston. She found an apartment not too far from the restaurant. Her parents tried many times to reach her, but Lisa ignored their letters.

"It's too late," she wrote them once. "I've ruined Brent's life, and I'm not coming back."

Lisa did not think she would ever see home again. But one day in the restaurant where she worked she saw a face she knew. "Lisa!" said Mrs. Nelson, looking up from her plate. "What a surprise."

The woman was a friend of Lisa's family from back home. "I was so sorry to hear about your brother," Mrs. Nelson said softly. "Such a terrible accident. But we can be thankful that he died quickly. He didn't suffer."

Lisa stared at the woman in shock.

"Wh-hat," she finally stammered.

It couldn't be! Her brother? Dead? The woman quickly saw that Lisa did not know about the accident. She told the girl the sad story of the speeding car, the rush to the hospital, the doctors working over Brent. But all they could do was not enough to save him.

Lisa returned home that afternoon.

Now she found herself in her room thinking about her brother as she held the small box that held some of her memories of him. Sadly, she opened the box and peered inside. It was as she remembered, except for one item--Brent's chart. It was not there. In its place, at the bottom of the box, was an envelope. Her hands shook as she tore it open and removed a letter.

The first page read:

Dear Lisa,

It was you who kept count, not me. But if you're stubborn enough to keep count, use the new chart I've made for you.

Love,

Brent

Lisa turned to the second page where she found a chart just like the one she had made as a child, but on this one the lines were drawn in perfect precision. And unlike the chart she had kept, there was but one check mark in the upper left- hand corner. Written in red felt tip pen over the entire page were the words:

"Number 491. Forgiven, forever."


To forgive and forget is better than to resent and remember.

--Author Unknown

Good Morning everyone! Have a great day. I spent a very restless night,i think I was afraid of breaking the incision open. I  think they put strictures inside the incision but glued the skin to gather. they said not to rub or wash for a day or two. I used not to worrier but Nancy's attitude is rubbing off on Me.
Have a great day.
Bis I liked your thought for the day.
To forgive and forget is better than to resent and remember.

Lloyd

If you haven't already seen this, you really must watch it.......such an inspirational lady....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkLkdNZr4io

Good morning everyone
Woke to an orchestra of rain drops.love listening to the rain.

Not sure what is on the agenda today, have laundry that needs folding/ironing and cleaning done. We did enjoy our gallivant yesterday, it was a beautiful country drive.Twice I could have had partridge for supper, one fella just took his sweet time walking in front of me (so cute to see) and the other did a fly by!!


Better get a move on here...slept in a bit and now need to put an egg in my boot and beat it.

Joan thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning, Lloyd.  Sorry you didn't sleep well.  Glad you liked the "Thought for Today".

Vanilla-Jackie--Good morning.  Thanks for the link.  I had seen that before but enjoyed seeing it again.

Good morning, Amy.  I wish we'd get rain so I could hear that orchestra.   Great that you had a good day out yesterday.  Sounds to me like you are going to do w--- today.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I also slept in and like Amy, I'll have to "put and egg in my boot and beat it"!  Or, as my school friend used to say, "I better get a wiggle on!"

I'm off to feed the doggies and then get myself dressed for a 9 o'clock appt.  After the appt. I'll be picking up TLH for the day.  Make it a good one Everyfriend!

Good morning, Janie.  After you "get a wiggle on" and go to your appointment enjoy the rest of the day with TLH.

Joan thank you for comenting on it, even though you have seen it before...it was new to me...

Good Morning Everyone!

Just checking in before I leave for Thursday bible study.  Everyone have a great day. 

Vanilla-Jackie--You're welcome.

Good morning halkel.  See you later.

I meant to have asked....is anyone, or are all of you aware and familiar with a company called " Willow Tree " who do figurine collections...the artists name is Susan Lordi....I have only recently found them and have a couple of pieces ordered and on there way......Links....


https://www.willowtree.com/

http://www.theukgiftcompany.co.uk/willow_tree/figurine_collection/13778_0c.html

Good morning everyone, a week ago it was freezing here and the geemogotchees were needed, yesterday we were in the low 70's. Sure not not normal weather for here. On Halloween the kids needed their warm jackets on.

LARRY  it does get tiresome when we do not get away from home for a few hours of a different view.

JOY  I never made only 1 pie, I would make at least 2 and at times 4. My family liked pies and I would rater make a pie than a cake. I made pies with a lot of different fillings.

MARY ANN  I forget how many servings in the coconut shrimp but I do know there are a lot more for me to enjoy. The Schwans pot pie came 4 to the box and they are the size of the pot pies you get in the markets. They have 11 1 serve meals and I did enjoy the turkey/mixed vegetables. Was more than enough for 1 meal for me, I could not finish it.

JOAN  glad you enjoyed getting out yesterday. Getting away from the computer for several hours is good for you.

JANE  very thoughtful of you to go back to WM with a gift for you friend as she retires.

JEANNE LEE  I did see the new graphic on the home page and thought it a wonderful one. Been a long time since we saw Ginny Ann in the PSP forum.

LLOYD it is weird when someone is cutting into you and you can hear every thing they say. Now for the healing and the prayers that it is not cancerous.

JUNE  do you have some honey? Take a spoonful of it and let it just dissolve in your mouth slowly. It really soothes a throat.

SANDY  it is fun to see a baby eating all food in reach. My daughter was like that.

JANE  does the heart good to see a stranger help someone.

DON  so sad that traditions five way to immigrants. They come into out countries and want what they left in their countries here. Those who have lived here for generations don't seem to count anymore. We once had a governor who refereed to the Christmas tree as holiday tree and at first did not want one in the capital  building but finally gave into the uproar and had the tree put up but would nt attend the lighting of it. He only served that 1 term.

JANE  I am on that soapbox with you. Used to be when one moved here they learned the language and a new way of living. Sad.

AMY  my thoughts, too. If you like your way of life so much go back where you came from.

HAL  that PC had caused more problems than it has helped.

SHIRLEY  last placed I worked we Americans were the minority. Must say though that the Latinos and Asians did speak our language and tried hard to get the words right. I have enjoyed orchard fresh apples since I moved her 66+ years ago. Some of the orchards have since closed and others like my son's have gone into business. Such a difference in flavor from what you get in markets. My Mom never had a recipe either, and didn't measure, a handful or pinch of what ever and she was a great baker and cook. Of course in those days she used lard for piecrust and it was tasty and flaky.

JACKIE  hope you get back to sleeping better.

JOAN  an Egg McMuffin would be great for a change. Forgiven Forever brought tears to my eyes. Terrible what being thoughtless can do. Thank you for all today's goodies.

AMY  glad you had an enjoyable drive yesterday.

Hi everyone on this Thursday morning.  It is to be another nice day here getting up into the low 80's this afternoon. 

We had a nice dinner at church last evening, one which Scott thought was among the best he had eaten there.  Then he came to the house and we had a very nice visit.  He seemed to be over the down mode he had been in on Monday. 

I seemed to stay very busy yesterday.  Today will be no exception as need to stop at Walmart for a prescription on my way to pick up my friend for coffee, will bring him home and then go back to the church for the Wisdom Class, which doesn't end until 12:30.  Then Pat has an appointment at 4 pm with the Chiropractor.  I am going to suggest that if she is up to it we go out for our evening meal.  I did watch most of the World Series game last evening but fell asleep and missed the 10th inning and had to check the news this morning to learn that Chicago won.

Joy, let us know about the pumpkin pie.  It sounds like it will be long gone before Thanksgiving. 

JaneS, those are nice retirement gifts as they were prepared or made by your hands.  There are a lot of wonderful, caring people in this world and you certainly encountered a couple of them yesterday. 

Don, "political correctness" is going to be the undoing of all.  We see a lot of that occurring here in the USA as well although the last couple of years there doesn't seem to be as much evidence (at least that I see) surrounding the Christmas holidays.  I just can't understand why people coming to our countries seem to think we need to change our long followed traditions just to please them.  I agree with Jane's  and others comments. 

Lloyd, those shots, like at the dentist, are usually the worst part while they are working and that is only momentary discomfort. Glad that is over for you. 

June, do hope today finds you feeling better. 

Hope everyone has a good day today. 

Vanilla-Jackie--I am very familiar with Willow Tree.  In the past several years I have given (and received) many of her pieces.  I now have about 30 of them.

Good morning, Gloria.  The weather seems to be fickle in many places.  I thoroughly enjoy the times I can get out with my friends.

Larry--Good morning.  You certainly have had a couple busy days.  That baseball games last night was a nail biter.

I'm awake... nobody fed yet but I wanted to see how much sleep I got so check Fitbit first. 

Jackie, I enjoyed all 3 links & had not seen the 105 year old before (my hero!) and had not ever seen the Willow sculptures.  I did similar type figures for a Nativity Scene.... animals & all.... long ago.  An American artist in Arizona did colorful creations that inspired me & right now my brain went blank, but I'll remember later & put in a link for you to see. 

SHIRLEY....
...It is always worthwhile posting a link because there will always be someone who has not seen it before, glad I am not the only one, and you enjoyed both links...both the " Willow Tree " pieces and the 2013, 105 year old youtube sensation....or 108 assuming she is still alive today...

JOAN....
...Two pieces caught my eye, just perfect for what I need....I will soon tell you which two pieces they are, just not at the moment....just getting them in readiness...

Joan, I meant to have commented on your " Forgiven Forever " story....and yes, I read every bit of it.....

 

Good Morning Everyone,
from the cool and rainy,  rocky coast of
Maine.      After that nice day that
we had yesterday,  we are in for
a few wet days.   

But the good news is,  come Sunday
thru long after the Election,  the
weather here is going to be very
pleasant  and dry ...  so it will
be easy for anyone choosing to vote
to get out to the polls.   

Hopefully we won't have to blame the
weather for the way things turn out.   

I went out and bought some pretty
blue lights to put in  the windows of
my corner apartment ...   Along with 
a white Christmas Tree...       I do
love blue and white for the holidays ...

Soon we will be getting a gigantic
Tree put up in Monument Square.   

People celebrate their holidays any
way they want to around here.   And
pride ourselves on allowing every one
to celebrate their seasonal holidays, 
they way that they want.     

Always have and hopefully always will.

'Tis the seasons to be jolly and joyful.
And allow others to do the same.   

(I ain't so happy about Winter, 
but  I have learned to live and make the
best of it...  giggle ... !)


Have a great day everyone.
Sandy

Good Morning Shirley.  I have Willow's complete Nativity set.  I'm sure the ones you made are beautiful.

Vanilla-Jackie--I'll be anxious to find out what Willow pieces you chose.

Good morning, Sandy.  I sure will be glad when this election is over.  You are very organized--getting things for Christmas already.

Good Thursday morning,  Joan and all this morning's friends.   I have been up for a while, but haven't got around to breakfast yet, so the Egg McMuffin will taste very good. I love them, but don't get to have them very often.  A nice change from my normal breakfast.

First,  Jackie,  I am very familiar with the Willow Tree figurines.  I have several of them, plus, I have the whole Nativity Set along with the "stable".  Over a period of several years, my daughter-in-law would give me the different pieces as gifts..... Christmas, birthday, etc.  It makes a lovely display for Christmas.   I love all their pieces.

Also, Jackie, I had seen the video of the lady who was 105,  and also watched another one when she was on the Ellen show.  Comments on that page mentioned that she had died at 107.  For some reason,  I had followed the website for the Direct Relief charity that she had volunteered at and had remembered that I thought I had read that she had passed away.  She was still driving at 105.  She was an amazing lady and certainly lived a remarkable life. 

Larry, the pumpkin pie from Schwans is very good.  Since I didn't have a lot of extra room in my freezer, I baked it as soon as it came. It took a little over an hour to bake, and then, I was so hard waiting for several hours for it to be cool enough to eat.  I was able to have some for my dessert after dinner.  It is probably one of the best non-homemade pies I have ever had.  The filling is delicious and the crust was nice and flaky.  The only thing missing was the whipped cream.  The price was $6.49, which I think was reasonable.  I had another piece before I went to bed, also.  Since it is a seasonal item, I will get another one to save for the holidays.  By that time,  I should have a little more room in the freezer.  I had read the reviews on their website, and most of the ones who commented felt that it was a very good pie.

Gloria,  I usually keep pie dough in the freezer.  I never could make good pie dough until I got my food processor years ago.  Now, I follow the recipe that came with that.  In addition to shortening,  it calls for several tsps. of frozen butter.  I will make up 1 or 2 batches at a time.  It freezes very well.

I will have to try those coconut shrimp.  I have never gotten any of the whole meal selections.  I do buy ice cream sometimes.  When they first started coming to my place, there were quite a few residents who would buy from them.  Now, yesterday, I was the only one who had ordered anything.  Several people sitting outside yesterday mentioned that they stopped because so many of the items are so high in salt.  I don't have a problem about watching my salt intake.  I never add extra salt to anything, except what I use when I am cooking. And, I don't over salt what I make. 

I hope everyone has a good day. 

Joy

Joan,  you sneaked in while I was typing my message.

I see that you also have the Willow Tree Nativity set.  It really does make up a beautiful Christmas scene.   I used to have an entertainment center where I would put it at Christmas, but when I got the flat screen TV, I had to get rid of my entertainment center.  So, now, I don't really have a good place for it, unless I undo a book case  shelf for it.  I didn't even put it out last year.  There is a nice sitting area right outside my apartment that I and another lady decorate for the holidays.  There is a perfect table out there that it would look so nice on, but , of course,  we are not allowed to display anything religious outside of our own apartment.  Plus, there have been several times that little items have "walked" away. So, I guess, maybe there would be parts of the nativity set would might disappear at some point, also.  We have a nice fall display out there now,  with several nice bird houses sitting around.  Last week, one of those went missing.  So sad that those kind of things go on. 

The smaller Willow Tree angels I have stay out all the time.  Our local hospital shop has a wonderful variety of them.  I really think they are very unusual and I love the ones I have.

Joy

Creamer's field, a 2,200-acre wildlife, and avian sanctuary in Fairbanks.

http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=11.msg58510#msg58510

Joy--I love my Willow Nativity and have the perfect place for it.  I also have my family--parents (us) children and grandchildren figurines.  Then I have several lovely angels--and I love them all.

angelface--Thanks for the link.  Nice pictures of the Avian Sanctuary.

Good morning!

I have seen the Willow Tree items for sale in stores where I worked and they are really nice.I used to have a number of Hummels and gave those away a few years back to my younger sister.

We have had that problem here with things vanishing off walls, tables, and hallways. Even whole plants ripped out of planters! The upshot is the cameras in public areas and a note on the first-floor common room's bulletin board  soon appears. It will say something about the cameras, mention it is known what happened and by whom, and gives a time period for the item's return before the name is made public and action taken.The item miraculously returns in place soon afterward.

There is one man who is well known for "borrowing" things and we tend to be aware of others here although I can't think of anyone publicly outed by the office as the threat seems to work.

Thanks Joan, when I lived close to the public areas, it was a great place to walk in the afternoon and evenings.