I got all my shopping done and now I am wondering if I got enough for certain people.. This is something I do when I get through a week or so before christmas. I think I have to buy more. I am soooo bad. They are all piled in a stack waiting for me to wrap. I better get busy with something...
Nice you are setteled Happy.. Hello to Memi,Ally and Meme..
Joanne

I saw a truck of Christmas trees
And each one had a tale,
The driver stood them in a row
And put them up for sale.

He strung some twinkly lights
And hung a sign up with a nail;
"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES"
It said in red
"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES FOR SALE."


He poured himself hot cocoa
In a steaming thermos cup,
And snowflakes started falling
As a family car pulled up.


A mom, a dad, and one small boy
Who looked no more than three
Jumped out and started searching
For the perfect Christmas tree.


The boy marched up and down the rows,
His nose high in the air;
"It smells like Christmas, mom!
"It smells like Christmas everywhere!"


"Let's get the biggest tree we can!
"A tree that's ten miles high!
"A tree to go right through our roof!
"A tree to touch the sky!"


"A tree SO big
"That Santa Claus
"Will stop and stare and say,
"'Now, THAT'S the finest Christmas tree
"'I've seen this Christmas Day!'"


It seemed they looked at every tree
At least three million times;
Dad shook them, pinched them, turned them 'round
To find the perfect pine.


"I've found it, mom!
"The Christmas tree I like the best of all!
"It's got a little bare spot,
"But we'll turn that to the wall!"


"We'll put great-grandma's angel
"On top the highest bough!
"Oh, can we buy it?
"Please, mom, PLEASE?!
"Oh, can we buy it NOW?"


"How 'bout some nice hot cocoa?"
Asked the man who owned the lot.
He twisted off the thermos top,
"Now, THIS will hit the spot!"


He poured the steaming chocolate
In three tiny paper cups.
They toasted,
"Here's to Christmas!"
And they drank the cocoa up.


"Is this your choice?"
The tree man asked,
"This pine's the best one here!"
The boy seemed sad---
"My daddy says
"The price is just too dear."


"Then, Merry Christmas!"
Said the man, who wrapped the tree in twine,
"It's yours for just one promise
"You must keep at Christmas time!"


"On Christmas Eve at bedtime
"As you fold your hands to pray,
"Promise in your heart
"To keep the joy of Christmas Day!"


"Now hurry home!
This freezy wind
"Is turning your cheeks pink!
"And ask your dad
"To trim that trunk and give that tree a drink!"


And so it went on
All that blustery eve
As the tree man gave
Tree upon tree upon tree


To every last person
Who came to the lot---
Who toasted with cocoa
In small paper cups,


Who promised the promise
Of joy in their hearts---
And singing out carols,
Drove off in the dark.


And when it was over
One tree stood alone;
But no one was left there
To give it a home.


The tree man put on his
Red parka and hood
And dragged the last Christmas tree
Out to the woods.


He left the pine right by a stream
In the cold,
So the wood's homeless creatures
Could make it their home.


He smiled as he brushed off
Some snow from his beard,
When out of the thicket
A reindeer appeared.


He scratched that huge reindeer
On top his huge head---
"It looks like we've
"Started up Christmas again!"


"There are miles more to travel,
"And much more to do!
"Let's go home, my friend,
"And get started anew!"


He looked to the sky
And heard jingle bells sound---
And then,
In a twinkling,
That tree man was gone!

That was beautiful Happy. Just got home from church and am packing and off again. Post more from Northampton. Have a great day all!! MIMa

Hey Guys....I got ultra busy for this past week...trying to get to my shopping, wrapping and decorating. Nothing like waiting til the last minute.
I have been sneaking carbs here and there too. I have not gotten on the scale but bet a zillion bucks I have gained a few pounds.
Happy...the hats are for 4 of my friends and I will make them all wear them at the same time and take their pictures.
I still have one more to finish. One friend stopped over last nite as I was knitting and never asked what I was making. Ha. She'll find out.
Men. Mima? How's yours? Mine is in a quandry. Wants me, but thinks he will probably have to go home for the sake of the kids. I told him to do it. Just do it. I give it a month. The good thing about it is that I don't have to buy him a Christmas present

Happy- Very Good-- As my hubby would sau A+.. I like your laugh too.
Ally - Don't believe him... I bet he is going home for the sake of himself. Get on with your life and be happy. I never really learned to knit... I can do most anything else I set my mind to, so I guess I could learn. I found some needles in my supplies so I must have had it in my mind at one time.
Memi- I see you are off and running... Working or having fun?
Hello - Meme.. Candice.
I wish it would rain.. Maybe my knee wouldn't Hurt so much.
Bye All, Joanne

Yes . I'm working. And I am in LOVE! Ally-there's a better one out there but you have to let go of this one. Even if he comes back-you won't know. It's too soon for him. He needs to grieve this relationship but I know the lonliness you must feel. I went out with Brad 3 years ago but he wasn't ready-had a crazy relationship that didn't work out. Actually, they're still friends -I could do without that. But ......we talk about everything, both very Christian.AND laugh,laugh, laugh! He's just so accepting that I feel so comfortable.I am meeting his family on the 26th and he's meeting mine on Christmas. His mother is 83 and he said for me not to ask how she feels cuz she will tell you. Well, this is not a love advice column!!!Hope you guys are well-Happy-I have no idea what the post was-it was blank. I'm going downstairs to swim, eat, call Brad, and watch tv to prepare for tomorrow. We are having an ice storm-lucky you Joanne!!!Bye Mima

Mima, I am so happy that you are happy, and in love. That is so wonderful. Meeting the families eh! hmmmmm, MUST be serious. I wish you the best.

Joanne I do hope you will be back to walking soon. It is so hard when you can't and you want to.

Meme - where in the world are you?

Candice - same question? Are you ok. Did your boys get home on the weekend? Hope you had a wonderful time.

Ally - STOP eating those carbs! To bad picking at meat isn't as good, isn't it? I know how you feel about those carbs - BOY, do I know.

Today I am so tired I hardly know my name. I am just now starting to get a little energy and it is 4:00 p.m. I have been needing carbs for energy today. We went out for dinner last night - but we drove for 100 miles each way to do it! Had a wonderful dinner at the Danish Canadian Club in Calgary, with great friends (that always makes everything better) - however it is a 2 hr. drive each way, plus all the sitting while I was there. We went early and visited. Today, I pay the price, but hopefully by tonight I will be back to normal.

Haven't been doing to badly with picking at stuff at all. Even lost a few pounds (or at least inches), so all is not lost. I must move every so often - it helps control weight gain



I am making Nuts and Bolts today. That is part of Christmas and the ones you buy just taste right. My son would be very disappointed if he didn't get these (as well as hubby).

Tomorrow, must go get my hair cut and colored. Boy does it ever need both. Hope I have more energy by then.

Hope you all have a great evening.

Oh Happy, I love Nuts and Bolts but would eat the whole batch. First I fish out all the peanuts then hit the cereal, then leave the pretzels last. No low fat pretzels for me. Give me some with BUTTER baked in.
OK guys, you warned me. He is back with his wife and kids. AND he didn't tell me, I guessed and made him fess up. Told him that he can't have his cake and eat it too. Stay away from me. Not fair to me to be left hanging. So, he leaves my office and I burst into tears. Thought it would be good for a ten pound weight loss, and whatya know? I came home and ate half a rotiserie chicken.
This love stuff does not get easier as you get older, that's for sure. I think the timing was not right here either. But quite honestly, my dignity is being attacked right now. I would like to think that tall dark and handsome is going to sweep me off my feet and when his marriage fails, I will be happily ever after somewhere else. I guess deep deep down inside, I wanted him to choose me.
Oh well. I have to remember that being alone has its perks!!!!

Ally, I am so sorry that things didn't work out. I think this kind of things happens more than you realize. It happened to a woman I worked with as well. The wife didn't want him until someone else did, and she made him feel really guilty about the kids. He went back, but that wife was a phyco. Just be careful. Love
WILL come again Ally, but sometimes it takes a long time. Never settle for less.

Meme...great job on the loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am hurting big time...been eating too many cookies and sugar does that too me but I am sitll op!!!!!!!!!! That means I need to start eating better so I can fell better too! Just too much stress this time of year............We will be going away this year to my family in Southern Mo. That fall a few weeks ago didn't help any either! I will try to check in again before we leave but not sure if I will have the time!

Ally...does knitting hurt your hands??? Your my kind of friend!

Happy..sounds like a nice place! Take a breath and relax you are tiring me out! I'll have to check my mixer.......

Mima..how wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

Joanne...Hope your knee gets better...I hate pain!!!!!!

Meme..So what did ya do with hubby when his pants fell down!

I told him to go buy some smaller pants and get out of my face!

I'm so tired...Happy, you and I need to form a club..."The Too Tired Two!" I haven't stopped in weeks! And have another full 8 days before I can rest!!! I had to go to PT today and then finish up my Christmas shopping...got home at 2 and had to go back and get Ross at 3 and then back home, made dinner then cooked a huge pot of cabbage beef soup and a big banana pudding for hubby to take to work tomorrow. They take it day about taking in lunch the week before Chrismas and tomorrow is his day...Ahmmm...MY day! I didn't get through in the kitchen until nearly 11 tonight. Tomorrow I have to take my mom to the Dr. at 9 then I teach piano from 1-3 and then go get Ross. Go to the Nursery for our mom's poinsettias for Christmas, then run back home, fix something to eat, and start back teaching at 5 and teach until 8 tomorrow night. Then Wednesday, I have to pick Ross and Garrett up at school at 10 a.m. then have Ross to the Dr. at 10:30. Then bring both of them home with me and keep them the rest of the day. Thursday and Friday I'll have Ross and Jenna all day and all they do is fight! They are 5 and 2 and don't get along too well!!! I have play practice (final rehearsal) Wednesday night then the play is Thursday night. I don't know when in the world I'm going to get my house cleaned, my cake and pies made and my laundry done plus I still have all my packages to wrap...16 of them! I'm having 11 people for Christmas dinner...we may have to eat sandwiches!!!!!!!

We were going to go to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg after Christmas but I've decided not to go. We were going to go with another couple and go to the Dixie Stampede to see the Christmas Pageant...it is supposed to be spectacular! But I told hubby and our friends that I'm just too tired. By the time Christmas is over I'm going to bottom out and need to crash! (If I make it that long!) Sometimes I think I would fare better if I had a full time job AWAY from home so people would respect the idea that I WORK!!! and leave me the heck alone!!! My whole family thinks because I work at home that I can work my schedule around what they need done!!! I even had to cancel my PT appointment Wednesday because the boys will be out of school at 10 and their moms work...if I worked OUT they wouldn't have asked me to go get them!!!

Candice...sorry you're not feeling well...hope you have a good time Christmas!!! And feel better!

Mima...YOU GO GIRL! After 35 years...I've forgotten the "magic"! Hubby and I had a rough time last Christmas but this year it is better. We actually went on a "date" ... out to eat and to a movie ... last Friday night...it was nice.

Ally...sorry the relationship didn't work out for you. Sounds like he has a lot on his plate right now but that was a rotten thing to do at Christmas time! I guess it's safer to ask to see the divorce papers before you go out with a man, huh? But even then most men who have young children still have to have some kind of relationship with their X, especially on holidays! Guess the idea thing would be to find a Widower! (a rich one!)

Joanne...I hate to knit! I tried but was always dropping stitches!

Ally- Scratch it off as a lost cause... He wasn't worth it. Some of these men inflate their ego this way.. I bet he stands in front of the mirrow a lot!You are hurting right now, but soon you may even laugh at the whole thing...I hope so. Find a new one.
Mima- The weather down here has been humid and warm.. Shorts every day. We need some cool weather and rain. It sure doesn't feel like Christmas. Are you going to leave your sweety or bring him south with you?
Happy... What is nuts and bolts? I am so far behind with my "Things to do before Christmas. " It is not getting funny.
Hello Candice, Meme.. You guys must be really busy..
Bye for now...Joanne

OK, forgive me. The Sound of Music was just on......"when God closes a door, he opens a window".....an old boyfriend sent me a Christmas card. Maybe this is something to pursue. Or not. I haven't decided. It was what I needed tho. It was hard to know that this guy was going back to a relationship and I was going home alone. I think I have the better deal. His wife is wacko too.
Candice....ya know what? My muscles in my hands hurt hurt hurt after an hour of knitting so that is as much as I do. The hats aren't really all that bad and I bought pretty mulit colored yarn, but the photo of them all wearing them will be priceless. It is about the only crafty kind of thing I do...other than cook and eat. I made a wonderful artichoke dip for our work party tomorrow. Oh, I won't pig out girls, trust me. HE will be there.

Looks just like me!

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/files/include...1219/025213e5e