Texas Girl, you're doing a fantastic job!! Welcome and Way to go!!

Diana, Purdy, Karen and Fleur, you're all doing great too!! Purdy, sorry that your brother threw his fit.

I'm debating on taking down the Christmas stuff. Part of me wants to get things back in order, especially since DD#2'S bday party is just around the corner. (She'll be turning 10 on the 9th, and we just decided to have her bday party on the 7th)

I so love the lights, though. It's really tempting to leave them up, inside and out, and put everything else away. That way my house get back to "normal", yet we can enjoy the lights a bit more.

Girls are back to schooling today. We're going to be more disciplined about it so we can finish on time to have a nice long summer vacation! (At least that's the plan so far! The nice thing about homeschooling is that if our plans change, we change with them!)

Have a great day everyone!
Cya!

I feel like you do Wendy. Love the lights, and by putting the linens and dishes away, I am feeling less anxious. Once that was done, and laundry completed, I felt a little better.

Also brought and divided embellishments for the cardmaking. Still more to do but have them in categories in separate boxes.
They were in a file box, which I could never carry upstairs, so this is much easier and quicker to grab what I need when I am making cards.

Our day did take a different turn. The food co-op lady called to say our order was in. We had to grab our schooling and head out the door! On the way back, we grabbed lunch and finished listening to an Adventures in Odyssey cd that had to be turned in. Stopped at the library for a short time, then headed home and finished schooling.

DH came home and I helped him with cutting wood. He fell another tree and I helped clear the brush. Also set up the logs so he can split them tomorrow. It was so nice working together!

Simple supper tonight, can soup, now DD#2 and I are going to clean up the kitchen, including washing the dishes. We so need to get into the habit! DD#1 has been doing the laundry, with a little of mom's help.

Having an insurance guy come over tomorrow, so I think the decoration-take-down will wait until Thursday. No sense having a mess for him to see!

Cya later!

Yest. was pretty lazy...didn't make it out of the house until 4:30. Ppl napping off and on so couldn't coordinate anything. We had a fun time at dinner and the art museum.

Somehow managed to lose a bag of remaining xmas cards to send out and pics of DS, as well as piece of equipment I need to download pics. Hope they show up. Was able to order some pics online for a few more xmas cards and will need to pick up and send out in the next few. Have to work on calendar for my parents bc the code expires today, and order wedding presents that I was supposed to do yest. Want to get the house in order for the new year...have 4 more days off until back to work!

Not sure what the day holds...tough trying to coordinate with family when everyone has different schedules. SIl has migraines so she was feeling under the weather.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts.


Today I got some dailies done, then tackled a little in the bedroom.

I recieved the huge tote box so put all my pots and pans in that and then into the cupboard. Iv also done the cupboard under the sink, although this box didnt have a lid so I will have to work out a way to fit one on somehow.

Cooked gammon for lunch, which was very scrummy and watched Firehouse dog which my dog thoroughly enjoyed - he sat with the his head on a cushion and watched it all the way through. LOL!

Problem: 6 pastel colored hand towels that no longer looked 'clean' at the edges after a regular towel wash.

OOPS: I read that soaking with a sprinkle of dishwasher powder and very hot water rids difficult stains that resist other methods. What was omitted was that every spot the powder granules hit would lose color.

Result: Pastel hand towels with spotty color. These towels were originally guest towels and have been in regular, main bathroom rotation for several years. [Well used by scads of teens who ignore soap and merely swipe water over hands and dry]. Replacements on list for January White Sale.

I'm back home. Got in around 5 pm yesterday.

I had a wonderful Christmas. Friday DSIL picked me up and on the way to her house we stopped at the cemetery to visit Mom. DSIL brought a wreath, and I decorated it with some of the balls off my tree to share my Christmas with her.

I helped DSIL finish decorating her house. We had a lot of fun. Saturday I went had had my hair cut in the morning, came out great! Then we went shopping for last minute things, to the bakery, the meat market, etc. My brother needed me to help him pick up 2 kayaks at the sporting goods store, so we ran and did that, then hid them at his neighbors house. Had dinner and finished wrapping for him, arranged all the gifts under the tree and went to bed.

Christmas day we opened presents later in the morning, my brother and his wife were very generous to me (as always). Lots of happiness tears were shed amongst us, his son wrote some beautiful words in his cards to us. Lots of love in the room, just what Christmas is all about. My brother's friend joined us for dinner later.

And the best, greatest thing that happened was my DD came on Monday with her boyfriend, and announced their engagement! More tears of happiness flowing all afternoon! My son came and spent the day with us also.

We all left yesterday, tired and exhausted. Finn had a good time, even after being caught stealing and opening presents from under the tree! LOL.

He is really not well this morning. He kept going out all night and hasn't eaten or drank anything since we got home. I can't coax him to even lick water off my fingers. I am watching him very carefully. I know he didn't get into any chocolate or bones while we were away. I'll wait a few hours and then probably have to call the vet.

Fleur, hope you get everything done!

Purdy, your dog sounds cute!

Oh Cyd, sorry about your towels! Hope you find some good deals!

Waterlady, I'm so glad you had a great time with your family! What a precious nephew! Hope Finn is better soon!

Schedule changed again today. Insurance dude is not coming out. He office assistant called to say that they still can't insure our house because of the furnace. GGRR. One company won't insure the house, the other company won't insure the sportsbike that DH has. Can't win for nothing! Oh well. I am glad we have coverage of some sort!

Girls are doing great with their schooling and chores. Am praying this continues!

Working on updating the new calendar, filling in bdays, anniversaries and such. Need to finish the others that are intended for Christmas presents. (Yep, I'm late for the out of town family! One of these days I will get have it ALL DONE before Christmas!!)

Cya later!

Today was fairly productive. Slept in this morning then met a very good friend for lunch. I washed several loads of laundry including most of the bedding. I started on the entry hall closet. It needs to be painted, but I am just washing the walls and trim with a bleach solution, vacuuming, and will end up putting most of the stuff back in. The coats are all getting washed or sent to the cleaners as appropriate. I need to find another place to store some of the items in that closet.

I cooked up some chicken and jalapenos that needed to be used. The rest was leftovers. After cleaning out the pantry, DH and I agreed to use something from the pantry and something from the fridge/freezer each day until we get the stock down to a manageable level.

My biggest distraction is the internet. I keep logging in to my email accounts, checking Craiglist (wanted items) and the GON forum. I need to figure out a way to limit the time.

Waterlady, what wonderful news of your DD's engagement! Congrats.

Texasgirl, I also have issues with internet time...its so easy to browse away when there are better things to do with the time.

Today was a big shopping day....hit two huge thrift stores with 2 SIL's and my MIL. We all scored alot of stuff and these ladies can outshop me (which is not an easy feat). Went out to eat at a new lunch place which was really good. Left completely exhausted and had to spend an hr on the couch just to recoop. DS came down with a fever, but otherwise seemed to be feeling good. He got some medicine and came with us to the outlet mall. We took a lap around (about a mile) and everyone got a few more items. I only bought two greeting cards- one for friend's mother with recent health challenges and wedding card.

DH was a McGyver of sorts today...my BIL's car was parking in our driveway and wouldn't start. After several hours and a few trips to the auto store/Radioshack, he fixed the problem.

Got a few grocery rebates in the mail and now have to find my receipts and submit them in the next week or two. Still need to order wedding present and find/return a library music CD that is almost a week overdue. Tmorrow want to spend some time outside as it is supposed to be beautiful!