Author Topic: Holiday Memories Open House (Read 58350 times)

serenesheila · « **Reply #240 on:** December 20, 2010, 10:48:56 PM »

Holiday Memories - An Open House for All of US!

What's the best Christmas or Holiday you can remember from back in the Good Ole Days? We hope you will come right inside out of the cold and share those memories with us - beginning Dec.1 T'is the season to wax nostalgic about Christmas past - and all the holidays you celebrate this time of year..

Every party needs MUSIC! Let us know your Holiday favorites...we'll link them here for you. Remember this one?

"Blue Christmas" - Elvis

"O Holy Night" - The Priests

Surprise Hallelujah in a Food Court

"Hallelujah Chorus with the Wanamaker organ in Philly

"I wonder as I Wander" - Dulcimer & Guitar

"In the Bleak Midwinter" - Gloucester Cathedral Choir

Aberdeen Christmas Carol Concert - Rosemary's daughter, soloist

Our Favorite Holiday Recipes

What's a party without GOODIES? Let's fill this buffet table with your favorites! What's your best Holiday recipe ever and the story behind it? Do you still bake like you once did? Shall we have a contest for the OLDEST RECIPE?

And what's a gathering of BOOK LOVERS without Books? We all have our seasonal favorite STORIES and POEMS. What are yours? Each week in December we'll focus on two of your favorites. Do you remember these two?

A Child's Christmas in Wales - Dylan Thomas
Audio - Listen to Dylan Thomas read it to you himself!
The Gift of the Magi by O'Henry
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S Buck
The Poor Relation's Christmas by Charles Dickens

I am SO enjoying this discussion! What wonderful stories, and memories everyone is sharing. Thank you!

Today, my last gift was wrapped, and my cards are started. So, I am feeling more relaxed. My daughter, and I were invited to a homemade Tamale dinner on Christmas Eve. My ex husband's sister, whom I still consider my sister inlaw, will be supervising the preparation. My ex, and his sister are Hispanic. So, tamale prep at Christmas is a tradition. My ex's sister, and his nephews and their families are carrying on the tradition. Not too long after I divorced the ex, his family gave up on him, too. They kept me!

Babi, I use 4 paper towels, when I sit in my chair, watching TV, and eating. I fold them and put them under my neck. Like a bib. They last most of the week. My second husband was blind for 11 years, before he died. His daughter made him 3 large bibs. He was a lifelong horse man. So, she made the bibs in a western motif. He was proud of them, and never minded wearing them in public.

My daughter and I will spend a quiet day on the 25th. She just said she wants to fix steak and eggs for our breakfast. That was a tradition with my 2nd husband. We froze raspberries in late summer, and ate those, too. Dinner will be lasagne. From Trader Joe's.

As a child, My parents and I spent Christmas Eve with my maternal grandparents. We had a nice dinner, and opened To my great sir[rose., they had found a used bicycle, and had it updated, including new paint. That was the year that my mother made me a black velvet jumper, with a matching black velvet cape. presents. One of my best memories was 1942. So much was rationed. I desperatly wanted my first bicycle. Apparently, bicycles were not being manufa
These were my favorite grandparents. She was from Texas, and cooking was one of her strong suits. I still miss her "mess" of beans. There was nevr just one entree. I still enjouy drinking iced tea with my meals. She was a terrific baker, as well.

My favorite memory of my grandfather was standing on the top of his shoes, while he let me cook pancakes. We both loved doing that, together. Another favorite memory was helping my grandad work in his garden. He always had a large vegetable garden. We planted it, together, weeded and watered it , together, and picked the produe, together.

   thanks for these wonderfu memories.

Sheila

kiwilady · « **Reply #241 on:** December 21, 2010, 01:15:42 AM »

Sheila I had amazing grandparents too and my grandpa was a home gardener -organic too! He had a massive garden. I would help him and loved every minute of it. I loved him so much as he was a replacement dad to me. He was non judgemental and oh so very loving. I was 21 when he died and it broke my heart I almost had a breakdown I was so grief stricken. I am in my sixties now and still think of him. He and I had a very special relationship. He died the day after Boxing day. He told me on Christmas day when I left in the afternoon for my vacation he would not see me again. I thought he was kidding me. He pushed a big billfold of notes into my hand and told me to have a great vacation. On the day he died very early in the morning I became violently ill - nobody else was sick and there seemed no reason for it . Very early I got up and the phone rang in the old farmhouse where I was staying. Before it was answered I said "My grandpa is dead" It was the second time I had been violently ill and at the same time my grandpa was in trouble. It happened when he had his first heart attack but I also dreamt he had been run over by a train. He later told me it was exactly how his chest felt when he was having the attack. That time the phone rang and I said to my mum. Its grandpa something happened to him. We had a connection between us that was unexplainable. He knew too when I needed him. He came to help me out without knowing I needed it because he just felt it inside and arrived on my doorstep without me even making a call to him.

Steph · « **Reply #242 on:** December 21, 2010, 06:13:04 AM »

Oh , I am so glad I live in sunny Florida, We are having a lot of chilly nights, but no snow or ice.. Spent 10 years in New England and hated the ice and grey..

ALF43 · « **Reply #243 on:** December 21, 2010, 10:01:14 AM »

Barb- Bill and I just returned last week from our Ashville, Pigeon Forge Christmas trip. It was freezing.
They had record low temperatures and actually closed many roads on the Smokey Mtn. highways.
We were escorted OUT of Dollywood due to the freezing ice and rain and the slick roads. I bought a hat, scarf and mittens while we were there and when I got back to the hotel I was loaded with hives on my neck, forehead and cheeks. What a lovely sight to behold, was I. The Biltmore was beautiful with all of the Christmas pagentry.
Christmas lies within the heart and my heart is glad. Yesterday I made a ginger bread house with my 11 yr. old granddaughter. We had 3 entries, ours, my 14 yr. old granddaughter's creation and her boy friend's ginger bread creation. What fun!!! It's about 12 degrees todayand I must venture out to complete my shopping.

Stay warm. Yes, Steph, I look forward to coming home to sunny Florida next week.

Babi · « **Reply #244 on:** December 21, 2010, 03:48:51 PM »

KIWI, it's a wonderful thing to have that kind of bond with someone you love. It
does make it so much harder to lose them, though. Ny grandmother told me a story
of when one of her sons died. She had been going through the house tidying and
making beds. When she walked back through, eldest son's bed, which she had just
made, had an impression as though someone had laid down upon it. She said she knew
at once that he was gone. Such stories are eerie, but they do happen.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #245 on:** December 21, 2010, 05:52:03 PM »

How discouraging - Had this post completed and whatever I hit I lost not only the entire post but my connection to Senior Learn AND my connection to the internet - sheesh...

Please I am not going to try and resurrect all my thoughts - I had returned a word to everyone since my last post - just a few very shorties - I was delighted to see your heartwarming post Sheila - and thanks for the tips how to stay warm - problem I can manage to stay warm outside it is inside the house the drafts are cold - my solution - I tuck a tissue horizontally under the rim of my glasses that covers my nose and upper cheeks - works out - now I can see the benefit of the veils worn by Arab women. Babi is right - what a special gift to have that close a relationship with your grand Dad Kiwilady - Alf Saluda is south of Asheville and the snow on the side or the roads I bet is from the storm you experienced while visiting the area - I have never been but I hear Dollyworld is nice with many of seniors hired for many of the parks temporary jobs. Was the rash from the woolies you purchased to stay warm?

While I am here I am having a complete physical overhaul - tomorrow colostomy and some other stomach screening - today blood work - been having stomach problems for over a year and the Doctor here is someone I like and trust - I need to get off here and start my liquid and get my system ready for tomorrow - I Know - what a Christmas present - but it works - my daughter is here to bring me and pick me up and so it works - and we still have a few days to enjoy before Christmas morning.

And so no gingerbread scents or heating apple cider tonight - however we are going to settle in to watch TV of course near the facilities I will be needing - ah so ... I'll be out of pocket for a day or two...

serenesheila · « **Reply #246 on:** December 21, 2010, 06:17:09 PM »

KIWI, I am really happy to hear that you had such a special relationship with your wonderful grandfather. Those memories are such a blessing.

BARB, I understand about trying to keep warm, inside the house. For Christmas this year, I bought a Skanlet for my daughter, and myself. It is a fleece, large blanket, with sleeves. I think it will keep borh of us warm. Hopefully, it will also help keep my gas bill lower.

I still haven't finished my Christmas cards. Sighhhh So, they will just be late this year.

Sheila

kiwilady · « **Reply #247 on:** December 21, 2010, 06:22:44 PM »

I am fuming about Avon. I ordered a group of stuff for my youngest daughters Christmas present. I put the order in 4 days before the deadline which was 8 December. Now they tell my Avon lady that they can't supply til mid Jan. They will supply at price when I ordered. My daughter will have to wait now as I can't afford to double up on the pressies.

Carolyn

CallieOK · « **Reply #248 on:** December 21, 2010, 07:58:43 PM »

Carolyn, could your Avon lady give you pictures of the items? If so, you could glue or tape them to index cards and put them in a gift box or sack with some kind of funny or cute or sweet comment about delivery being delayed by a slow-down in the Elf Supply Department.

kiwilady · « **Reply #249 on:** December 21, 2010, 11:17:27 PM »

Thats a great idea Callie! I am going to get her chocolate so she won't be entirely bereft of a gift from me on the day.

Carolyn

Steph · « **Reply #250 on:** December 22, 2010, 06:25:41 AM »

Everything is here, wrapped and ready. On Christmas eve, I will drive down to my older sons..like Santa.. Both dogs in their double crate and me doing the driving. My little Gracie would love to be the navigator, but she gets a bit too excited and tries to steer the car, so the crate works best. Dexter at 13 and a half simply sleeps away the two hours.
Got my audio cd s ready and today will have a buffet type dinner out with some of the widows club. We love to go out on Wednesdays and eat together.. Lets us keep humans in our lives.
I remember when the boys were small. This would have been a rushed week.. Trying to put things together was a nightmare.. Now I cant remember when I saw toys that need putting together. Looked at myself in the mirror and decided that January 1 needs to be a siren call to cut calories.

Babi · « **Reply #251 on:** December 22, 2010, 08:30:02 AM »

Oh, STEPH, the 1st of every month ought to wail like a siren. The weight just seems to
creep on when you're not looking.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #252 on:** December 22, 2010, 09:33:48 AM »

Steph - one of my Siamese is called Gracie (after Grace Kelly) - she is by far the more intelligent of the two, always into something, and would no doubt like to assist in car driving. The other one - Lizzie (Elizabeth Taylor) - is sweet but dim - though she has a great ability to get her own way, and is not averse to clocking Gracie one if she wants the warm chair/lap/toy.

I had never seen a dog in a crate till we lived in St John's - I saw a St Bernard in one at the airport, and it was only then that I realised that of course animals can travel long distances in N America. Until recently it was almost impossible to take a dog out of the UK unless you wanted it to face 6 months' quarantine (and the bills to match) on your return, although we now do have some sort of pet passport scheme.

To hell with the calories! It's too cold to worry about them. Have just had a treacle scone with butter and jam and do not care - feel like I burnt up a zillion calories just walking home at lunchtime, it's so cold here you feel like your skin is freezing when you open the front door.

Have a safe journey and a happy stay,

Rosemary

mabel1015j · « **Reply #253 on:** December 22, 2010, 01:03:57 PM »

Barb, i hope your "make-over" is not too much of an ordeal and it all goes smoothly........not a nice Christmas present, i hope you feel better by the new year......jean

serenesheila · « **Reply #254 on:** December 22, 2010, 08:42:14 PM »

BARB, I am holding you in my thoughts and prayers. By now your day of medical tests must be over. Please be extra kind, gentle and patient with yourself. I hope by Christmas Day you will be able to shake off the pains of today.

Sheila

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #255 on:** December 23, 2010, 04:20:51 AM »

Yes Barb, take care - or rather, let others take care of you (something that most of us are not very good at, I think - we are too used to being the care-givers) - and I hope you are feeling better soon.

Love from Rosemary

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #256 on:** December 23, 2010, 04:29:49 AM »

Forgot to say, my son has completed first part of his arduous journey home - across Rannoch Moor (one of the most beautiful, but also wildest, places in Scotland) in ancient VW with my husband - they are now in Edinburgh and hope to get up here to us tomorrow, fingers crossed. (He is spending today socialising with some of his many female friends in Edinburgh!)

I hope everyone's families have safe journeys over the next few days - our weather is still terrible, fresh snow last night and roads very icy. Off now to treat myself to coffee out (actually it's quite a regular treat

) before making assault on supermarket.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #257 on:** December 23, 2010, 06:05:24 AM »

Barb,, now you should feel just fine. I have to have a colonoscopy every five years because my Mother died of colon cancer. I hate it, but the run up is the worst part. The test, you are asleep and generally by late afternoon, I feel fine, hungry and ready to greet the world..So I do hope you can too.
I am organizing my bags of presents, both human and canine.. Just now, noone has a cat. I fixed my dog food and treat box.. After lunch today, I will pack the car except for the live cargo.
Crates for dogs in the U.S. are for many purposes. My dogs are always crate trained as a puppy or even an adult if a rescue. This is their safe place.. the place where you sleep as a puppy or if you are ill.. They are always filled with lovely blankets in cooler weather and some chewies and a favorite toy. When they travel in the car, they use them, since it is safer to have them contained. I bungee cord the crate down, so it does not slide. My dogs are older and do not need to be crated when I am not home, but my younger sons pug is 3 and loves to tear up paper, etc, so when they are not home, Riley is in the crate..

Babi · « **Reply #258 on:** December 23, 2010, 08:35:21 AM »

ROSEMARY, I've noticed how often the 'sweet but dim' females get their own way.

STEPH, what a great idea to train the puppies to see their crate as a 'safe place'.
Our cats hate the cat carriers; they mean a tip to the vet. I don't expect to ever try
to raise another dog, but I'll remember that idea to pass on to new puppy owners.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #259 on:** December 23, 2010, 01:37:26 PM »

Everything is just fine - hurray - tubes in just about every orifice of my body but they knock you out - today it is all the gas from one end and horse voice from the other - oh dear - but at least we know now it is diverticulitis only it is not the 'itis' it is chronic therefore called 'ous' not sure of the spelling. And so no more strawberries or other seeded fruits.

Things happen and yes, we all want to be sure it is not like Steph's mother's experience.

What a treat writing on the computer here at my daughter's she has these lovely sounding speakers attached to her computer with another somehow picking up the sound in the kitchen - then she puts Pandora internet radio on her computer and it is continuous music - she has it set with Christmas music and the loveliest - not supermarket or elevator music - a much nicer selection.

Can't fill in a full post - Grandboys waiting for me - we are off to Greenville SC to do last minute Christmas shopping -

Oh yes, Rosemary we will be joining you in spirit - we are another set of coffee drinker - Ty the oldest, now 20 has a special grinder and it all must be just so with fresh ground coffee using their well water - it is really a treat - so we will take our coffee in ceramic cups that look just like the paper cups for Starbucks -

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #260 on:** December 23, 2010, 02:09:49 PM »

Barb - that is great (though shame about the strawberries

). Enjoy your coffee, and have a wonderful time with your family,

Best wishes

Rosemary

mabel1015j · « **Reply #261 on:** December 23, 2010, 07:26:42 PM »

Great news Barb.

I love Pandora radio! The other one of my favorites is Accuradio. With Pandora, you build your own stations w/ whatever genres or artists or songs that you want on each station. Accuradio has dozens and dozens of stations w/ many substations that they have built. But wonderful music. When i am working on something and just want some quiet background music, i turn on Accuradio's Mozart station.

My Pandora stations that i have "built" are Blue Christmas - which is really all kinds of Christmas music and i listen to it all yr round, "Diane Krall" - which is all women of jazz, "The Temptations" - which is all 50's and 60's soul music, "Modern Jazz Quartet" - all jazz, "Shania Twain" - which is mostly female country, with some other country, etc etc including Elvis and James Taylor........and i love setting the "quick mix" and listening to all my favorites.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #262 on:** December 24, 2010, 12:19:59 AM »

Exhausted!!!! - We found for Ty a great looking black vest with spring weight pin striped pants and a gray dress shirt with a collar that reminds you of a Russian Peasant shirt - the gray is all outlined in black - smart and with a red tie when he wears one - on my - this will be perfect in Savannah with the warm winter there - he likes this dressed look and wears a coach hat which is like a top hat only shorter and a bit more squat - he has his study and driving look which is an old airplane pilots leather helmet and large dark goggles - these art geeks are so much fun as they outdo each other in hilarious outfits.

Cade is only 16 and still very casual - the torn jeans and khaki cargo pants look - no khaki or tan pants left in any store so he found an old tattered pair of jeans that years ago we would have deemed good enough to carry a block of ice or throw in the rag bag heap - kids are funny aren't they - he found a good looking western cut plaid shirt with pearl buttons - he looked like he just stepped off a plane from Lubbock - that was fine with him - he adores his three cousins who are all in college in Lubbock - and then he also found a stripped Tshirt weight long sleeved hoody - they are wearing them under flannel plaid shirts - couldn't find a flannel shirt in a small so he will wear one from his closet -

We were pooped - back and forth across that mall and then leaving we did not remember what store we entered from the parking garage - after trying a few doors that did not open to the great parking spot we found we asked two separate shop keepers - each offered different directions so that we breathed a sigh of relief when we saw the police office - officer on duty helped us with a map to figure out where in the world we left the car -

We had parked at 4: and left 10 minutes to 9: - the herb and special grocery we planned on shopping in closed at 9: so a job for the morning - did a quick stop in Barnes and Noble - then the long moonlit drive on the dark mountain roads - we pass a lake and the moonlight on the lake was a sight - tired we pulled in here at 10:15

For the life of us we could not remember the lines about the moon on the new fallen snow - we tried to say the entire poem but got mixed up after 'down the chimney' that we kept wanting to follow with a little old driver so lively and quick. And so both Cade and I are determined to review and learn the poem tomorrow. With days so packed we have decided to have our taffy pull on Sunday - we will report back how it goes.

OH yes, the link for Pandora Radio - http://www.pandora.com/#/
Mabel I am not familiar with the station you are recommending - sounds good - would you share a link please?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #263 on:** December 24, 2010, 03:09:41 AM »

Barb - you must have been exhausted! But what a wonderful post - your arty grandson sounds like a real character, and your younger one sounds just like mine (though mine is now 18). Please tell us, where is Lubbock and what is its significance?

The picture you paint of the moonlight on the lake and mountains is quite wonderful. The only lines I can think of are Robert Frost's, but that was all about woods I think - he is a great favourite of my daughter's.

I hope you can summon up the energy to go back to the grocery store - I have decided that what I couldn't get yesterday we will go without. All we need now is for husband and son to make it safely home - our weather is still horrible, my daughter keeps coming up with gloomy pronouncements about Global Warming (now you can see why she likes Robert Frost - one of the stocking presents I have bought her is a book called "The 20 most depressing teenage songs" (or something like that) - I read a bit of it and it is hilarious, esp about songs that were Very Meaningful to me in my youth, such as Janis Ian's "Seventeen").

My cats have even stopped looking out of the window. They are waiting in their beds for summer.

As for losing the car - I have done that so many times - I always think it has been stolen, though why anyone would steal the oldest car in the car park is a question I should surely be asking myself.

Have a lovely Christmas,

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #264 on:** December 24, 2010, 05:57:41 AM »

Oh thank heaven for car losers.. MDH always knew where he parked the car and it has been a trial to me for the past year to figure out what I did with it.. I am getting marginally better..
No last minute for me. I hate the crowds. Off this am to drive the two hours to my sons.. Have an old Elizabeth Peters audio book to play in the car.. Pandora?? Hmmm. will have to look that one up.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #265 on:** December 24, 2010, 06:39:21 AM »

Steph - have you read any of Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street books? In one of them, (Espresso Tales), a whole plot strand revolves around a car being "mislaid" - this leads to the involvement of the wonderfully named Glaswegian hood, Lard O'Connor.

Have a safe trip,

Rosemary

JoanP · « **Reply #266 on:** December 24, 2010, 08:48:22 AM »

Oh dear, this always happens...the last day and the clock seems to be spinning faster with so much still undone and family arriving. Time to start skipping some things on the list and move to the essentials. I never begin to prioritize until the last minute.

I've really enjoyed this discussion and your posts - until this past week when - when the tsunami called "Christma"s washed over me. Hopefully in a few days I can come back and read everything - when calm.

Safe home to all the travelers. We're leaving for NJ on Sunday morning - fingers crossed the snow will amount to nothing there...

One of the things I really want to do today is wish you all a wonderful, happy Christmas. If not "merry", peaceful . (I'll take peaceful over merry and joyful any day!)

Babi · « **Reply #267 on:** December 24, 2010, 09:45:21 AM »

ROSEMARY, I'm sure Barb will have more to say, but for a short view...
Lubbock is probably the largest city in the Texas panhandle, so it is
definitely 'Western'. Winters are cold in Lubbock, from what I understand.
There is a saying in Texas, "There's nothing between Lubbock and the
North Pole but a barbed wire fence." That's actually not far off. The country is pretty much flat plains from
the Texas panhandle all the way through the USA and Canada.

ginny · « **Reply #268 on:** December 24, 2010, 09:49:05 AM »

Barbara I am so glad your tests came out so well, sounds like something you can definitely manage. Something to celebrate. Had to laugh at you at the Mall in Greenville.. Heywood? If I had a dollar for every time I've lost my car there I'd be rich. hahahaa It's actually embarrassing, the doggone Belks entrance is on the 2nd floor, can never remember that or find the exit.

I appreciate everybody's ideas for the "cup of fat" recipe and I think you are right. Of course the strudel has more ingredients but the cup of fat stopped me cold, thank you all. I think it will be fun to try the recipes in this book 97 Orchard. I hope we of SeniorLearn can do at least a mini trip to NYC in the new year because in addition to this book on the often mentioned but never seen Tenement House (which just hosted free Pete Hammill (sp)) they've just announced the Discovery Expo in Times Square, currently showing Tut, will host the newest Pompeii exhibit to the US starting in March, seems perfect for us!

I have LOVED your posts. Carolyn that one post about your grandmother was lyric, you really should write.

Well I guess I can't put it off any longer, right? I must wrap the presents, right? I must start. If I put it off one more day it will be too late. WHY do I put it off? This is IT this is IT!

The tree has lots of presents under it, but they are from the children, already. Granddaddy has assembled the tractor which runs on batteries, it's taken two days and I can't say he's particularly in the ho ho mood, hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Seems parts are missing or not functioning, snarl. Snap. Scrooge did not have to assemble riding tractors. hahahaa

It may snow here, for the first time in 47 years on Christmas Day, in which case Granddaddy and I can ride the tractor around the living room, and eat VERY well, as nobody can get here, but today it's beautiful, so fingers crossed.

Have burned one pecan pie (who turned the oven on to 500?) and made another. Also mince tarts. Do you know the Cross and Blackwell people have changed the composition of their mincemeat (which is delicious) which they've bottled for what...100 years....to American tastes? It's now only Pippin apples and raisins but with the same spices, tastes exactly the same, but no suet etc. It tastes a lot like what the British call "pickle." It's good luck, a bite a day during the 12 Days of Christmas and fortune and good luck will follow. Be sure to eat herring in sour cream with onions New Years Eve and Day and you should be OK! hahahaha

I do wish each of you a wonderful holiday, no matter how or with whom you celebrate it. Peace and joy. Lift a cup of cider or whatever to the holiday, the New Year and to us. Have a piece of fudge to go with it just this once. We're so glad you found us!

Happy Holidays!

nlhome · « **Reply #269 on:** December 24, 2010, 09:57:31 AM »

What lovely stories we are reading.

We have more snow to add to our already white Christmas here in Wisconsin - no wind so it's just settling softly, but the roads will need to be cleared for all the travelers. Our family is doing their traveling tomorrow and Sunday, so we should be ok. We've had enough snow now that drivers are used to it - always takes a couple of snowfalls before people realize they need to go slower and allow more time to stop or turn.

I hope eveyone enjoys their holiday weekend.

CallieOK · « **Reply #270 on:** December 24, 2010, 10:30:31 AM »

Babi, since you mentioned Lubbock first

, may I put my 2 cents worth in?
You wrote There is a saying in Texas, "There's nothing between Lubbock and the
North Pole but a barbed wire fence." I lived in Amarillo (north of Lubbock) for several years and we always added - "...and it runs north and south". Not much out in that area to block a cold north wind or snow.

Texas Tech University is in Lubbock. It's a large school with a very good football team that is a big rival of my Oklahoma University Sooners.

Yesterday was a lazy day because it was my birthday. My family took me to dinner in a neat area of Oklahoma City called "Bricktown". We had planned to take the boat ride along the canal that goes through Bricktown but it was too cold and drizzly for that. Instead, we drove through some of the spectacular Christmas light displays in downtown OKC and at a big business complex farther out. It was a lovely evening.

They will all be here tomorrow afternoon so today will be spent mostly in the kitchen.

Merry Christmas

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #271 on:** December 24, 2010, 12:10:26 PM »

Christmas is starting - the excitement is in the air around here - yes, packages are being wrapped and special foods are organized - tables are set with Christmas cloths - tree almost finished - and we still have a big branch of holly we need to cut and tie a red ribbon on it to hang near the tree where a painting usually hangs that is just too out of character with a large pine -

My daughter's living room is one of these tall probably 20 foot high ceilings with wood paneling on the ceiling that about matches the wood flooring - a real mountain lodge type room so the pine is more than 12 feet - it 'announces' Christmas.

Ginny yes, Haywood - oh dear - and of course it did not dawn on me to remember the store we used - the crowds were thick and of course the vehicles inching - we really lucked out with a spot - I told Cade to watch the shoppers leaving and follow them then stop the car with enough room for them to back out - well the first shoppers leaving were two women whose vehicle was parked at the very edge not 25 feet from what turned out to be Penny's - it was so cold when we left that it was a relief not to have to brave a walk in that parking garage.

I am still envious of the Barnes and Noble you have on is it Haywood road? We have several in Austin and the one near me is a big two story barn of a building but it still does not seem to have the assortment much less the cozy feel of that one near the Mall.

Oh Steph a quick back to the parking garage - Cade even used the trick of sounding off your alarm and lights to see if he could see the car - it has become a favorite way for me to find my vehicle - some use pom poms on their antenna but most vehicles the antenna retracts these days. What is it you do to help you ID your vehicle?

Everyone has stopped by here today - it was lovely reading all the posts - and yes, Rosemary both Babi and Callie have painted a good picture of Lubbock - it is in the middle of the part of Texas that most in the world associate with Texas -

Flat, flat, nothing but miles of cotton, cows, oil rigs and now wind farms although most of them are down closer to Abilene. It is a town with one shopping mall. The Friday night entertainment for teenage boys is to go cow tipping - it takes just a poke with your index finger and a cow tips over - it is where Buddy Holly was from. The area is not only featured by many a country western singer, fiddle or guitar player who grew up in Lubbock and those who write and sing songs about the area. Getting dressed up often means a western cut suit and for kids a western cut shirt with pearl buttons that are now pearl snaps. Hats are either a 'gimme cap' [a baseball cap that gas stations used to give away free] - or the typical western hat. Summer western hats are made of straw. The sun is brutal - you NEED a hat.

I know how braggie it sounds but this state is so darn big - from most locations it takes a day to drive out of it going 80 to 90 miles an hour - so that each area of the state has a different identity - and Lubbock is just one of those towns we say with a crooked smile and affection to define a wide windswept spot under a huge sky with its oh so western culture.

We haven't heard of anymore weather related accidents in Wisconsin nlhome - hope it stays that way even if there is fresh snow for Christmas.

Joan it sounds like you need a giant timepiece that will come alive and help you with some of your Christmas prep...either that or a magic wand. It will be wonderful though won't it - we always come through don't we...

Just had a call from my next door neighbor in Austin asking if he could hide a ping pong table in my garage - he tells me it is raining there now - while here I may be freezing the sun is bright with bare upright tree branches separating into spaces a blue sky.

Let me join y'all adding my Very Merry Christmas -

mabel1015j · « **Reply #272 on:** December 24, 2010, 12:53:06 PM »

You can link to accuradio here

http://www.accuradio.com/

Enjoy- it's free and you will love the varity of genres you have to choose from

All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree, except for my husband's, his is in a neighbor's garage. He was so envious of a friends' snow blower w/ more power than the one my DH has, especially last year when we had so much snow, that the family bought him a new bigger one. Doesn't fit under the tree:)

Our whole family will be at Christmas eve service, a tradition for 40 years. Both son and dgt
are living near by this year w/ the two grandsons. My DH has a good baritone/bass voice ans has sung in the choir for those 40 years, the grandsons listen to hear poppop basing. We then come to our house and eat finger foods - shrimp, veggies and dip, cheeses and this year my dgt is making meatballs for sandwiches and our son had a turkey given to him at Thanksgiving that we didn't eat then, so i'm cooking it for sandwiches also. While noshing we open presents. That was a tradition i started when our dgt was little, so i didn't have to crawl out of bed at an ungodly hour on Christmas morning......Santa comes while we're at church. It works great now bcs our DIL's family is in PA, so they have Christmas eve w/ us and go to her family for Christmas and our dgt who is a social butterfly - where did that term come from - can go visiting all day on Christmas.

Janice · « **Reply #273 on:** December 24, 2010, 02:29:42 PM »

My cats have even stopped looking out of the window. They are waiting in their beds for summer.This made me laugh...my cats too.
Barb I have known that poem since second grade when we had to memorize it for a school pageant.
Merry Christmas everybody.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #274 on:** December 24, 2010, 03:09:27 PM »

Callie missed it in your post that yesterday was your Birthday - Happy Birthday

Thanks for the link Mabel

Closing down - just answered my last email as we go from busy hectic Santa's workshop and Mrs. Santa's Kitchen to Silent Night, Holy Night with Midnight Mass from Rome...and a long winter's nap.

Mippy · « **Reply #275 on:** December 25, 2010, 07:09:54 AM »

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

ANNIE · « **Reply #276 on:** December 25, 2010, 11:53:24 AM »

Merry Christmas to everyone. We are all ready to open packages but must await the gifted ones who will be here at 4pm. May God bless us all on this most important day

And a belated Happy Birthday to Callie!

Has anyone seen this precious link? Its from another Austin friend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA

CallieOK · « **Reply #277 on:** December 25, 2010, 12:36:40 PM »

Many thanks to those of you who wished me a Happy Birthday. It was!

I made one Christmas present this morning - homemade French salad dressing for each son's family. I couldn't do it earlier because #2 son/dil were in and out the past few days - usually with something to put in or get out of the fridge. There was no way to hide two tall decorative bottles - and I'm not sure I had room for them, anyway. They'll be fine in "bottle bags" under the tree today.

My family will arrive mid afternoon and all the pre-preparation things are done. Everyone likes to be an Assistant - and I gratefully accept the offers. So I'm off to put my feet up while I happily anticipate the Fun and Festivities later today.

I hope it's a Great Day wherever you are.

serenesheila · « **Reply #278 on:** December 25, 2010, 08:24:25 PM »

I hope that each of you is having a Blessed Christmas. My daughter and I have had a good one. She and I went to a party at the home of my ex husband's nephew. I have stayed close with them. My ex sister in law, and I went to high school together, and we spent the night laughing and reminiscing. His family has given up on my ex, but they kept me.

Today, I slept late, then opened gifts with my daughter. We watched a movie, "Mary, Queen of Scots", and both enjoyed it. We have had a quiet, kick back day. That is exactly what we wanted for Christmas Day.

Sheila

kiwilady · « **Reply #279 on:** December 25, 2010, 10:29:07 PM »

Had a great day yesterday. Too much food and I really gorged on Pavlova, English Trifle and triple chocolate icecream! Yikes!

The kids got a ride in

Yes a fire engine. Neighbours husband is a Watch Captain and every year his wife cooks dinner for the whole watch. They arrive when it is ready - dressed to go to any emergency and with radios in pockets and then go back to the station after eating. The neighbour called out to Brooke and Grace and their two boy cousins to come and have a ride. Oh what excitement!.

Today I went to the Boxing Day Sales Eeeeeeek!. Yes it was as bad as expected. However I got an MP3 player that will download books as well as music. My old MP3 had given up the ghost a week or so ago. It did not have the book download software. I got the MP3 half price as a new model has just hit the shelves. There were kids galore getting IPods with their Christmas money.

Hope you all had as good a day as I did. I was really spoiled. Money and more money, perfume, skin care set ( all natural with olive leaf and olive oil base), Chocolates. Still have one more gift from absent son who is coming to take me to coffee tomorrow with his two boys.

Carolyn

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