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Hi everyone,

Christmas is a beautiful time but I think many have lost the true spirit of the season. I think it has become way too commercialized. I love to be able to bake and share with friends and family. I know some of you online here are great cooks. Please share any special holiday recipes you may have.

HOORAY!!!! The first miner in Chile has reached the surface. I pray for them and their famlies that have endured these last few months.

I'm hearing this wonderful news yet feeling down for myself. I should be ashamed since I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and clothes to wear. Yet here I sit feeling so down. It may just be the aftermath of the migraine headache I have had all day.

Bobbie, I think KC and you are going to be best of buddies. My kitties Remus and Tuxedo bring so much love and laughter to my life.

Castoff and Miz, the only way I have managed to slow my fast eating habit is to eat with chopsticks. Of course that doesn't work with everything, but I do eat much slower when I use them.

Have a good night everyone. Rosella, I guess it is good morning where you are.

Diane
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Jen, at least you have some free hours for yourself... I hope you convince him to go there every day or so!
Deef, what a nice Christmas! I guess you often have snow there, which is the top, for Xmas. I think I had two or three white Christmas all my life! I hated the shop rush too; (when we made presents for everybody) but it was part of the game. I have started to do small food presents, too.
GP are you ready for the visit? Try not to get too much tired!
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Hey everybody! Hope eveybody is having a great evening!

Bobbie, Love that you have KC! What color is she?

miz, are you feeling better? Hope Sassy will be better soon!

Kathy, how about you? Feeling better?

Everybody else, hugs to you too! I'm just laying low & trying to get some junk done in preparation for the golden child to make her appearance this Sunday. They'll be here until Friday sometime & since she'll need the computer for work I may not be on much next week, but you'll all bein my thoughts & prayers! And I'll miss you!

Hope everybody has a great evening! Hugs to all...
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It depends how well it is drwn how topical and the characters I imagine...

When he gets home he is polite till strangers are gone then pissy as ever...

He is having issues i the bathroom here, I mean I see the fall coming where we can't get into him because he is up against the door bodily....
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Tell us more Jen!
What's he like when he comes back home?
Happy?

HA!
Share his grouses?
I'd still like to create a comic strip about Care Giving.
Cranshaft & Pickles are close to dealing with eldercare ... but would a syndicate pick up a comic about what we do?
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I almost got the tree out in July... I love Christmas too, though I understand the hassle. I love the music and what happy memories of it I have loved ones long gone and music and smells and food and gift giving...I listen to Christmas Music on youtube when I feel down and it always helps...Maybe I am too immature still to know ..no I DO KNOW rush rush and hassle in the form of everything I show my mom in a store as how about this one she rejects outright I stopped thinking "Oh we are gonna go Christmas Shopping this will be fun" ten years ago..to her everything is a chore and as serious as a heart attack...I kid you not...I try to remember she is determined to be pissed and fine some pleasure in picking out a nice something for someone.

I never remember soap either..I get out and get too into stuff and then blecka Borax o it is...

When CLEO does the fur thing I always call it puffed, mad puffed...

Hope everyone is doing good today...

Grandpa just back from center...last one on first one off..lucky me...the grousing starts the second he is at the steps..Oh Joy..Youtube......
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Rossella, I'm with you on X-mas! We love a snowy walk through the tree farm to find just the right tree, then cut it down and drag it out to the car. I have 8 1/2 foot ceilings, so the tree is usually 8 feet tall. I have been collecting silvered glass ornaments most of the past 40 years, as they are my favorite, so the entire tree is very colorful and shiny! I put on 10 or more sets of tiny white lights and a lighted star at the top.
We used to get big fat trees, but in recent years have put it in the dining room instead of the living room and now get them tall and slimmer.
I gripe and complain about decorating it every year, but love to look at it and hate to take it down! I use it in the yard for bird shelter the rest of winter. I don't buy too many gifts. The family is too large and no $. So I have been making gift baskets or bags for everyone for many years now. My father always said X-mas was a time to give, not to get! So when the sibs decided to draw names years ago, I still gave a basket to everyone that had something in it for all their family members. Homemade jam, tea bags, hot cocoa, chocolates and always a handmade ornament that I signed and dated. It's time consuming but not too expensive, and no one is left out!
I used to do a huge ham dinner for the family, about 15 to 20 people every year, but passed that job onto my youngest sister last year. Can't do all the work and watch Mom too.
Going to try to add a picture of my tree from last year!
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Rossella ~
Do they have Tofu Turkey there? It's pretty common is Seattle.
I think they call it Tofurkey.

We understand what you write!
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Good Girl KC!!!
Keep that lady on her toes! Is she long or short haired? Can't wait for photos!
We've use the term POOFING!
My big fabulous long hair Siamese used to double in size when someone he didn't like showed up. Especially the Animal Control guy who captured the 'wild' guy ~

He was considered feral after roaming a neighborhood for 2 months. AC put out a trap & got him. Took him to the shelter where he became famous for being fierce. They wore welders gloves to feed him, he was that bad.

My rescue friend knew just where to take him. Had him neutered, slipped him in my door & he became the Master Cat at my shop. What a darling!
I named him Clipper b/c they clipped his ear to indicate he was a fixed feral. He'd ride around with the dogs & I to on-site jobs. Sat on the front seat like a king.

Several months after establishing himself at the shop the AC officer dropped in to visit & Clipper went nuts! Poofed almost triple in size ~ let out a howl heard around the building! Poor Stan!
Apparently he remembered him! Cats are amazing!
When the husband moved out Clipper moved to the house & took his place on the bed.
He passed away last Halloween. I'm guessing he was about 17.

Soap under the fingernails! Good trick, except I always forget ...

I'll take out the compost & spy a nasty, new weed in the garden. One weed leads to another ~ Before I know it I have dirt caked under every nail. It's not that I don't have a bar of soap & garden gloves at every door ... if I only I could resist the impulse the second I see those nasty Morning Glory invading & use those gloves ... instinct.
Attack before they grow another 10 inches a minute!

Miz, is Sassy eating? I love watching them do the paw dip thing. So cute ... How old is she? & Bobbie? Is KC an adult? Did she have a history from the shelter? There's a malt flavored nutrition goop that comes in a tube. Full of calories & vitamins. They usually like it. If not, smear it on her front paws so she'll have to lick it off.

One nice thing about a boat cat is they don't get fleas. This is a horrible year for them here.
If I were an investor I would have been smart to buy stock in Frontline or Advantage. That stuff is spendy, but works.

Pets are expensive but so worth it when they fit!
It takes time to heal after major surgery.
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... at least, not "at last". Sometimes I don't understand what I write....
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Dear Ladies, I'm sorry I am going to disappoint you once more. This year I am going to do like last year, that is I shall make the Christmas tree with lots of craps and lights on it, maybe I shall hang all my bras on it. I will put lights around the door frames and the staircase bannister (bannister?) (handrail?). I shall put on Christmas music, such as "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" which is my favorite one,.all day long, in the car and at home. I love that Christmas rubbish, even if we do not make presents anymore, apart the children...
This does not mean that I won't decorate a bottle of something alcoholic with my lips. You can do both!!! And lots of chocolate, of course. I won't eat the turkey because I am a veggie, but my sister in law cooks turkey like a real Yankee (with cranberry inside, of something else; she changes every year) and I like to smell it, at last. Sometimes I also taste a bite.
I'm a Xmas addict....
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Hey Miz,

a kitty popping a fat tail is hilarious to me but i won't do anything on purpose to scare the kitty even though the kitty is obviously not worried about scaring the crap out of me!

lovbob
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Austin, Sounds like you have a REALLY full plate today! Hub will be home soon with more compost for the garden so I better get myself in gear too. Mom has another doc appt. tomorrow so I have today to play in the dirt. I'm getting all my gardening done in the fall this year....didn't have the time or inkling earlier in the season, but we're rockin' it out now!
Maybe I'll try that soap under the fingernails thing today & hopefully not spend most of the night removing dirt from my nails. lol. I wear gloves, but full contact gardening can tear up my hands even with the gloves. Still love to play in the dirt after all these years.
Be blessed all!
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You have a good day too, Austin. Yep, hand washing is so important. I handle money at work and if I think about it it's really gross. I got some of that germ killer at my station. Don't want to use it too much cause it's very drying.
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Since it is nice today trying to get summer stuff put of course will not remember where I put it next spring I asked my son if he knew where my small snowblower was he said in the garage next spring will have to get a dumpster getting things done slowly got the window relaced and the appointment to have the furance cleaned and donating my old clunker now need to have the chimney cleaner so can start using the wood stove. Everyone remember to wash and wasn your hands then wash them again to advoid germs have a ggod day back to work.
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castoff, I think I wanted to get away from the supper table as soon as possible when I was a kid because there was some tension. And I think my whole family ate fast. Also, (this is funny) one time my dad took a pea off my plate and it made me so mad. I was little but I still remember it. He got a chuckle out of it...God love him. :) I also find that meals are a chore. I would rather clean up the kitchen than cook. Maybe I'll try that cocktail fork thing. Thanks!!
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Miz, I now eat with a cocktail fork. My hub laughs at me but it does slow me down some (smaller bites). I think my speed eating has to do with having been "in a hurry" for so very many years. Trying to squeeze to many chores into a small space. Meals also got to be a chore & I subconciously "get it over with". I also prefer my meal hot & don't want it to cool too much. If we examine our behavior we can often find the cause & correct it to a degree. Pshyc ourselves so to speek.
Hope we both overcome our speed eating disorders. lol
Bobbie, Gotta love those big poofy tough kitties. Works better on the long hair varieties. Still chuckling about the bag of knives.
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Bobbie, you mean a fattie when they get scared and try to make themselves look big?
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Ya know, castoff. You could be onto something. I inhale my food. I have always been a fast eater. My hubby can't believe how fast I can eat. It's like I'm scared someone will take it away. :) I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. It's so hard to change that.
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little brownish pink nose, pink toes and this morning she almost blew a fattie (tail) when she was looking out an open porthole (screened) and a big shrimping trawler passed close by.

She got half a fattie when I ground the coffee beans.

Where's Tennessee?? girl how are you doing with the farm?
how's Tenny Jr?

I still have business and paperwork today and thanks for the angels ladies!!!

lovbob
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Miz, I don't chew my food as well as I should. Hope that isn't the case with you. It's harder to digest if we "swallow it whole". Often when I'm done with a meal, hub will ask me if I tasted it. lol. Some of us have to watch the spices & preparation of foods also. There are some things I don't dare eat anymore without reprocussions.
Eraser noses. LOL
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Bobbie, is her nose pink? I call them little eraser noses. :)
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castoff, thank you. I AM feeling better today. Sometimes I get like intestinal infections and I wonder if that might be the case now. I had a doctor that told me I had odd intestines. Lots of kinks and stuff. Aren't men silly about going to the doc and getting shots and stuff? I think women are the strong ones. I think kitty cat's are a blessing. I think they have souls. They are so soft and cuddly and can be very loving.
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October is toooooooo soon to worry about Christmas!!!
One day at a time ladies!
Just because they brought the decor into the stores doesn't mean we have to succomb to the hype. Just say no!
I'm still buying stuff for the garden....and at great prices I might add. 50% or more off! If the retail stores want to rush the seasons and discount what is still in season...go for it.
I for one will not be herded like cattle by the retailers! There are certain things I do have control over and I will maintain control of those things! Vent. vent.
Bobbie, Glad you & KC are having fun. My first roommate had a siamese that would lay in wait for me on top of the frig & smack me as I entered the kitchen each morning. It was amusing for both of us. Little pink pads are nice.
Miz, Hope you feel better soon. Sassy is probably still tender from the surgery. You can be thankful she isn't overextending herself now. She sounds like a smart kitty.

Got my first flu shot this year. Got the flu for the first time last year when hub was real sick from it. It combines three different vaccines in one including H1N1 & swine types. I felt a little woozy & slept that afternoon but OK afterwards. Glad I got it & trying to talk hub into getting it....you know how men can be. I continue to remind him how very bad it was for him last year...I may have to drag his butt to the pharmacy myself. Silly man!

Have a good day all & be blessed!
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Maybe it hurts to lean over and drink outta the bowl?

She's drinking!! that's what's important!

Don't feel bad about Christmas, Miz. Last Christmas we were in LA and we put the tree up with all the stuff and this year I'm going to decorate a bottle of beer with my lips.

There comes a point where you realize that you are responding to other people's urgencies and commercial interests and in all actuality it all has nothing to do with you. I understand that you want to put up a tree for your mom but don't hammer yourself. Be kind to yourself!

Remember what Rodney dangerfield said:
We were so poor that at Christmas we decorated a stump.

Miz, you're doing everything right and you're ok. You're just responding like a tired human with you mom, husband and healing kitty.
now you quit beating yourself up! and know that you're a hero!

lovbob
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Kinda strange. Sassy's drinking by putting her paw in the water and licking it off of her paw. First time I've ever seen her do that.
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Linda, I'm afraid I'm with you on Christmas. Lots of work and depressing. After Dad died I had to force myself to put up a tree for Mom. No family ever comes anymore. Would just like to skip it. Isn't that awful?
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Linda, no flu shot yet but hubby and I can get one for free at my work later this month. I think they're combining the flu and H1N1 this year.
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rossella, yes I do trust my vet. Hubby will take her there if he thinks she needs to go. I'm thinkin' he should.

rip, a life jacket is a good idea.
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Miz, do you trust your vet? If you do, I would take Sassy there for a control visit. If you do not trust him a hundred per cent, I would go see another one...Maybe he can give you an advice on how to make her feel better.
Bye everybody...
My mother is behaving so-so. She is not happy because it rains often and she cannot go out as usual. She does not like to stay home. Some of our relatives are coming to Rome in a few days; I hope they'll show their face!
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