Hey all,
Successfully got myself out of bed this am to exercise (will start in 10 mins.) Since my eating is really all over the place with all the holiday temptations, I set a goal for myself that I would exercise for at least 30 minutes each day until New Years when I intend to do Phase 1 again (for the third year in a row starting the first day day back to work after the holidays). I'm doing a Leslie Sansone WATP video with ankle and hand weights and my own music (cannot STAND her music). That, and drinking my water are the two things I'm concentrating on until New Years.

Still on a high from my bargains yesterday! I love a good bargain and I was very disciplined about my spending too, only buying things I really needed. I took a day off work next week and am going to do a clothes purge for myself and my son and take all the stuff to the thrift store (tax write off). Love it.

On tap for today: work, then just a quiet evening at home. Time to start doing the year end filing so I can take stuff to the office to shred before we go on Christmas holidays.

Hope everyone has a great day....

Good morning, Mathilda. You sound pumped from your shopping "spree". Thanks for the reminder re the tax write-off - I must keep that in mind next time I purge my closet. (Actually I should check out the party clothes today as I suspect some may be rents and I do have a couple of dressy events coming up.)

Well, we were fogged in most of the day yesterday so I did not get to town. I did get the doggie treat mix done though - and managed to scorch a really good pot by forgetting I was boiling down stock. A new stock pot is on my shopping list now!

It's really pouring rain right now and it's trash day. As soon as we get a glimmer of light out there, I'll put on the raincoat and boots and lug it all out to the road. I was smart enough to get it all organized last night, including antique meat from the freezer. I draw the line at chickens from 2008 that have been hiding in the depths. At least there was nothing left from the Ice Storm of 1998! Now I have room to freeze the "ice" ring for the Christmas punch bowl.

First another coffee and a snoop through the boards. I hope your day is merry and bright.

Your post is so positive and perky this morning, Matilda, and makes a wonderful start to the day. Thanks!

I did not want to get out of bed this morning! Thank goodness it's my Friday, and I'm seriously thinking of taking a day of rest tomorrow, or at least until noon, anyway. I'll have to check my calendar.

There will be a flurry of activity at the farm today. The caterers are due early this afternoon, and I'll have to show them and the bartender where to set up, and the party rental people will be setting up tables. The dogs are going to be going crazy with all the people around, and I just may lock them into one of stalls in the barn to keep them out of the way.

I think I need more coffee.

Good Morning,

Mathilda, Oh, I need to purge my closet. The bar is going to break someday...

Ruth, My in-law's freezer went out, so they brought all their frozen stuff to my freezer. After theirs was fixed, they had a nice clean freezer, and I had lots of unidentifiable stuff. After about a year, I tossed it all.

Cottage, When you talk about the farm, I have visions of the Kennedy Compound.

I had homemade apple cake and homemade cheese straws yesterday. I'm going to have to work hard for that not to be the beginning of an eating frenzy till after Christmas. I need to cook a pot of soup for leftovers. I need to visit Ruth's freezer.

Good morning It's rainy and gray here but much better than the sleet and freezing rain originally forecast. I'm traveling over the holiday weekend so I hope any snow is very gentle. The drive between here and my parents can be very dicey in bad weather. Heading back up to spend the day with Julie. We expect her to get out tomorrow afternoon. I've back-burnered all my holiday stuff again, so next week will be a flurry of cards and gifts and cooking I'm sure it will be fun.

Matilda- Wow, love those deals. I am a thrift store junkie but have really had to learn to resist impulse purchases just because things are cheap.

Ruth - I have a small chest freezer and try to clean it every spring. There's always a few surprises in the bottom.

Cottage - Hope all goes well today.

Okay, time to get moving.

Good morning!

Today I have to go exchange an item I bought a few days ago. Got home and found someone had opened the package and taken out part! Also, grocery shopping and hair cut/color. Such an exciting life I lead DH and I are taking a young man we haven't met out to dinner. He graduated last year from DS1's college and is in town for work training. We'll do something "local" which probably means BBQ. Holiday cards are all sent! Packages are trickling in each day; love online shopping.

My MIL is very sick. She was admitted to the hospital for a high fever and very low white blood cell count. Jeff is at the hospital with her. Please keep her in your thoughts.

Chelby, prayers are going up for her this very minute. Be strong, and please keep us posted.