Good morning girls. We are supposed to get rain for the next three days but some nice warm temps so I will take the rain. I hope it holds off long enough for the trash to be picked up so my trash can doesn't get full of water!

I got an email from Thomas from his new phone last night saying he has played the Rock Band 3 bundle we bought him everyday since he got it. I guess that means he likes it! It was the only thing he put on his Christmas list to me so we didn't have much choice. He gets so much he probably doesn't know what to ask for anymore. I think next Christmas may be an issue. I know he wants a new laptop because his is a mess I guess. It keeps crashing and stuff.

Susan: Ok, we are all worried about you now. I am going to give you a couple days then hunt up people on your facebook page and start trying to find out if you are ok. Seems like every year about this time you get sick and we are very worried.

Jean: Bet you had fun counting all the change! lol Some of the huge mega churches have those coin machines that do the counting for them. We desperately need to paint again, but we just have to wait until we get Jack back healthy. His knee is really getting bad, but we can't do a thing until he can get a consult from his gp and he can't get in to see her until February. He got up last night and sat back down and screamed in pain and grabbed the back of his knee. As a wife, you sure feel sorry for them when you can't do anything to help them.

Maggie: The new groomer did an ok job on Fortune. It will take him some time to get used to him and such. I don't think he is a trained groomer as he is a vet tech at the clinic, but they needed someone who could do it I guess. Fortune likes Wesley and that is a plus. He was really nice and wanted to please me so he took him back and did some more clipping in areas I wanted Fortune shorter like around his backside and such. I think he will be ok the more he does him and he charges the same.

Well, here is my sister's sock. I am putting the other one on the needles today. I wanted to have them both done this week to ship to her, but it isn't going to happen. Those couple days I had the stiff neck and shoulder it was hard to get comfortable enough to knit. It hasn't been washed and blocked yet so the stitches aren't too even, but I think it turned out nicely. I hope she likes my "strawberry" pattern.

I guess I should go and get some work done. I have a lot I would like to accomplish today. Have a good hump day and stay warm and dry if you can. Faye

Good afternoon, ladies. Its way up to 37 degrees today so the snow is melting. We had 11.5 inches and everything is a mess. I have a big branch from the pine tree in my yard. This was the third biggest snowfall since they started keeping records over 100 years ago.

My Christmas was the worst. Cupid died about noon. He hadn't been sick or anything, ate all his breakfast and came for his noon snack. He walked into the living room before I could get the food, coughed twice and fell over. Glory called about 5 minutes later and I was crying and hysterical and she said she was going to call Elaine and then call back. Elaine and her husband left their family to come get Cupid to take him to the vet to be cremated for me. Glory came and made me pack a bag and go stay with her over in Smithfield where she is dog sitting. Well, the snow started and we were way out in the country and couldn't get out until today. I was so glad to get home. I love Glory but I just wanted to be here by myself. My road is still a sheet of ice so I won't be going out until it melts some more.

Faye, Jack needs a doctor before February. It'll be even worse by then. You really have to be assertive and then they will get you in. I was always on them for Stan's care and it seemed they liked me better for it. Those are beautiful socks. Looks like strawberry sherbet.

Jean, you sent the snow my way but please keep those cold temperatures! I'm glad you are able to get out and about - it's cabin fever time here.

Maggie, Beanie is so cute! A regular little Napolean - is that what you are saying. I'm glad Ragg Mopp is adapting to having him around. You are going to love the new program.

Gloria, you had even more snow! I hope you have the equipment to clear roads up there. We don't. It was nice to hear from you.

Well, I need to get busy and put Cupid's things away, etc. I have floors to mop and vacuum and laundry so I'll be busy. I also need to get my menus together for next week.

Enjoy your evening!

Susan: I too am thrilled you are ok, but my heart breaks for you at the loss of your little Cupid. Please know all of us ladies feel for you as we all have pets we love too. We are here for you!

Good morning to you ladies. It is going to be really warm for the last of December today, upper 50's and is supposed to be near 70 here tomorrow and hopefully not too much rain.

Susan: Hope you are digging out from that mess that came your way. Again, I am so sorry about little Cupid. I can hardly look at a Friskies commercial because the cat looks just like Butterscotch and he died several years ago now. The problem exists with the practice and I have had no luck strong arming it at all. On top of that, because we are Tricare, there are few practices available to us here and this is the best of a poor bunch. Jack's doctor happens to be staff and not a resident and as such is busy, but he really likes her and doesn't want to change. They didn't say, but I am wondering if she is on some kind of sabbatical or vacation or something. On top of that, he has already seen one of the other physicians there a couple months agon when he couldn't get in to see his doctor and this jerk blew him off basically and chastised him for reading up on the condition saying basically patients didn't know what they were talking about and should just listen to their doctor! I have to tell you my husband came away from that appt, major angry. He told the doctor off in no uncertain terms, but it still hasn't helped with the knee. So he is biding his time until he can get in to see his doctor and get an authorization to his orthopedist (which the first doctor refused to give him, btw!)

Jean: I bought these nylon soft sided containers, one is for the long wrapping paper rolls and the other is round and holds everything else. It is nice to have everything in just the two so I always know where my wrapping paper and such is. Hopefully you have gotten a bit more sun over the last day or so. I have often wondered how many times these guys who ice fish have catastrophes getting their "houses" out on the ice and such and from your story I see they can have some pretty bad results!

Nothing much going on here. I need to get cracking on that other sock, but have the blahs the last couple days! Hopefully, I can get out tomorrow and get some sun and such.

You all have a great day today! Faye

Good Morning, Flowers! It is very foggy and 43 degrees already this morning! I could do without the fog but the temperature is wonderful. Snow is melting and the streets are sloppy. We saw the pickup removal pictures on tv this morning; the DNR used two huge pontoon floats with a winch on metal braces in the middle to get the pickup out of the lake. I suppose if the ice broke the pontoons would float so they could get to shore without sinking. Bob says that will cost the pickup owner big bucks for "messing" with the lake. I'm still sorting and pitching catalogs and magazines this morning and want to make a library run before the freezing drizzle begins this afternoon. I keep thinking WW will be cancelled since the leader lives out in the country quite a ways away and several members drive in from surrounding towns. Our stupid radio station only has local news at 7 and noon; meeting starts at 12:15.

"Gma" -- Enjoy your WARM weather! There have been warnings both on the radio and in the paper not to drive on the lake because there is still open water out in the middle. We haven't had the very continuous cold weather needed to make the ice vehicle safe. When I was pregnant with Beth we walked out on the lake and hit a mushy spot where the wind had shifted the ice. I still can't believe we did that! I know where my wrapping paper, etc., is, but it's just not organized like it should be.

Maggie -- Where have you been?

Susan -- Thinking of you! I'm sure your house must seem pretty quiet without Cupid.

I need to get dressed and get moving. I hope the sun is shining on you today! Have a nice day!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Good morning, ladies. It's warming up some and it might be 60 on Saturday with rain on Sunday. What weather!

I'm alternating an hour computer/quilting with an hour of housework today. I get more done in the long run when I do that. Tomorrow is English Paper Piecing Bee and I'm going to my WW meeting first. I'll be glad to get back to my regular Saturday meeting. The leader on Friday is a little too perky for me.

Jean, the house seems very empty without Cupid. He was always near me or on my lap. I saw some kids ice skating on the creek behind my house. I hope it is frozen solid enough. I never saw the fun in sitting on the frozen lake in an ice house. I like to be warm and cozy.

Faye, I see the problem with the doctor now. Poor Jack! I hate that commercial that is on about the abused animals. As soon as it starts, I turn the station. It is so sad!

Hi, Maggie!

Have a great day!