WEDNESDAY MORNING

[Colliemom]

Good Morning everyone,

I want to extend Christimas Wishes to all of you for a Very Merry Christmas. I hope it is filled with Peace, Joy an Happiness no matter where you are.

Cloudy morning here. Temp around 20. Snow to our south. Might see a flurry or two around here.

As for me, I"m off to town to pick up a few things. Want to get a new set of speakers for my computer, as my old one don't seem to want to work with this one I have now and also would like to beef up the volume on the laptops too. Otherwise not much planned for the day.

Have a wonderful day

[avalen]

Good morning ladies,
coffee is brewed so grab a cup and enjoy. I'm suppose to go over to work at the school
district for a couple hours this morning, but think its more important for me to stay
home and sit with Gracie. She is just so weirded out it really bothers me. Ron had a
friend come in from Las Vegas and he's camped out on the floor in the livingroom.
Gracie has always been so happy go lucky thinking any time someone came to the house
it was especially for her enjoyment and I always worried she would lick them and pester
them to death. Not so this time, she growled and carried on so much halfway through
the night it was creeping me out. The guy is one of those classic car buffs, seems
very nice, clean cut, older gentlemen but sometimes dogs sense things we humans
don't. Guess he came into town for some car show thing and will be here a couple days.
I just heard on the news that the rains are so bad up in the St George UT area that
they are evacuating Zion Natl Park. Echo, how close are you to that?

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING SUE, AVA, AND EVERYONE!

Sue, I love your beautiful Christmas card! Wonderful photo, and great job making it into a card!

Ava, I am sorry to hear about Gracie's behavior, but, as you said, perhaps she either senses something about this man, or perhaps a man that he reminds her of abused her in past years. Either way, she is bound to feel animosity and fear because of him. You are a good mommy to stay near her and comfort her!

It's another bright, sunny day here in Central FL, and the temps are predicted to get into the mid 70s by this afternoon. I can take this! Yes, I do miss a white Christmas with snow and cold and skiing and open fires, but I think I could get used to being able to walk on green grass around open water, bicycling, swimming in a frigid pool, basking in a hot jacuzzi, and sitting on the screen porch watching the over-population of grey squirrels cavort around the yard and rooftops! And fresh orange juice squeezed from my own sun-warmed oranges is an extra special treat.

Coffee tastes extra good here this morning, for some reason, and I think I will actually make me some brunch of omelet with cheese and garden veggies and bacon.

As for remininiscing about Christmases past, I think it is a common phenomenon for us all. I am spending this year's Christmas Eve in the house where my father was found dead on the floor in 1984, and so, if there are any such things as spirits, I am sure he is right here somewhere, watching my every move! This is both comforting and a bit spooky. His last lucid moments were of the fan over him in this living room. And, yes-----I still hear his and my mother's voices in my head every day. What is really scary is that, when I go past a mirror now, I see my mother looking back at me!

Those rainstorms out on the other coast are downright scary...I am really hoping that people who are in the way of flooding and mudslides and whatever have moved to safer ground. I saw that a house in AZ was washed away, also. Our global climate is giving us quite the show this year, and I am afraid it's just a preview of years to follow.

Today I will go back to St. Cloud, visit with the kids tonight, check on the trailer, get some oranges I left there by accident, and any food that needs to be eaten, and then return here tomorrow for the weekend festivities. I am very glad the two places I live down here are not mre than about 40 minutes apart! (But, first, I will go to the clubhouse and try out the jacuzzin in the hot afternoon sun!)

I hope you all have a good day and you keep a wary eye to the sky as you go about your travels.

[dayspring39]

Good Morning Sue Ava and Soos and everyone else that is out there... very pretty card sue...
It will be in the mid 70s today... ah so good... last night Liz picked me up and we went to the live nativity... she helped other ladies set up and brought things to eat like sandwiches, cookies and hot chocolate... it was in the 40s but not as cold as last year... but there were not as many people... there was a camel I petted him he was so cute and a donkey... the older children from area churches are angels, mary, joseph, and shepherds... very nice...
They also have three smudge pots for heat around them were bails of hay to sit on...
I trust you are all having a good Christmas time...
Kathleen

[mtngal]

I'm thinking about Sharon, Pooker, Laura and Barbie in S CA. Hope you are all are home, warm, safe and dry. The worst of the storms seem to be south of my family in Central CA. My Dad and step Mom are driving 8 hours to Ferndale today. I think the rain will be well south of their route. And Ava, yes, I just read about S UT too!

[Carolinagal]

Good-morning ! Rainy here, just on and off, sprinkles, nothing to worry about. West coast, now that looks to be getting very serious out there, those who are out there I hope you will do whatever to stay safe. I'm to late for coffee here, had to get in and wash my hair and hope it does something for church tonight, like not stand right up, not my style

Sue, the card is really a pretty one. Thank you, Merry Christmas to you too !! Ava, if Gracie doesn't like this guy and she is usually friendly to everyone, be on your guard, she is telling you something. Maggie, did that only once and those of you who know Maggie, know she is the friendliest and just loves people. no matter their age. When she actually growled and when he put his hand out thought he was going to pet her, she bit at him. She has never done that and hasn't since, so until he is gone be careful ok? I will be so glad when you are able to get out of that situation. Kathleen, sounds like you had a lovely time last night, I am so glad for you. I always love things like that, especially when the whole community is involved, really makes it special.

I had a really busy day yesterday, and a real wake up call too, which made me sad but also very aware of how bad things really are for some. I have been cleaning and clearing as you all know, so took several bags to the crisis center here nearby. There were lines and lines of vehicles outside, and the place was packed, so many hoping for groceries, and some item for small children for Christmas. These people have just been out of jobs too long, this area doesn't have a lot of jobs and with some of the businesses having to close because of the economy . We all know things are bad, the news keeps saying it is, but until you really see envidence of it as I did yesterday, I don't think any of us, really comprehend, the really serious situation that some are dealing with now.

Yesterday evening made gobs of cookies, just because I wanted too, sure can't eat many of them. Plan to take some to church and pass them out to the families. They are pumpkin cookies and several years ago, when I made them and passed them out at church, the men didn't want to share to well I have pumpkin bread, banana bread and these cookies, which when I visit I am taking them out of this house., they are soooo good. I had a lovely evening last night, tree lit, kitchen smelled wonderful and a christmas program on. Life is Good, and I am sooooo Thankful !!! There are things, I might like to be different, but it can't be, so have finally accepted it and learning to appreciate what I do have and am at peace. !!! Thank God !!!!

Hope you all have a great day, if you're around this area, stop by I will brew a pot of Starbucks coffee(a gift) caffine or decaf and load you up with my caloried goodies
Take care and stay safe, those in the west and on the roads.
CArol

[Forestgal]

I'm thinking about Sharon, Pooker, Laura and Barbie in S CA. Hope you are all are home, warm, safe and dry. The worst of the storms seem to be south of my family in Central CA. My Dad and step Mom are driving 8 hours to Ferndale today. I think the rain will be well south of their route. And Ava, yes, I just read about S UT too!

Thanks so much. I'm fine, just a little stir-crazy. But I may go to a movie and then to dinner this afternoon with a friend, so it'll at least be a change of venue.

I just checked the weather station website for the big development around the corner from me, and we've gotten just over 11 INCHES of rain since Friday. Amazing ... Only just over an inch yesterday, but we're not done. The meterologists are saying that we've still got some really severe rain headed our way, and as I'm typing I'm hearing it come down in buckets once again.

I just hope it clears for New Year's. I've got company coming from out of state and want their visit to be sunny -- or at least dry.

Hope those of you in the snow belt are enjoying your winter white. Let's everyone be careful out there, okay?


Laura -- and Jed

[BarbaraRose]

Well, the river next to me is rising quickly! I went out this morning with my camera and took some photos and video. It came up about 10 feet overnight and only has about 10-15 feet to go before it goes over its banks and floods this area. There is only about an 8 foot clearance below the bridge that I drive over to get here. Hopefully, the homeless man who lives under the bridge found a safer place to go to. If we do get the additional 7 inches of rain today like predicted, it will flood for sure. I am leaving the cat with a ton of food and water and packing a little bag of clothes and my laptop, just in case I can't get back here after work tonight. You just never know... Those flood waters can come up awfully fast especially when it rains that much in a short period of time.

Sue, thanks for the beautiful card!

Will let you all know what happens tonight!

[bluepinecones]

Good Morning all
Just enough time for a quick check in this morning, will have to do my catching up later.
Thank you Sue for the lovely post card; to you too Soos, love your tree.
Oh Carol, would love some of that pumpkin bread! Know from experience how good it is.
Christmas plans up in the air here as most of family sick this week. Looks like we will have to do our Christmas a bit later. Forecast is for cold and snow flurries on Christmas day - nothing serious but might be pretty to watch falling snow flakes when you know they are not threatening.
I've got a couple of unexpected medical tests this afternoon. Recall on mammogram and a CT because doctor didn't like something on my EKG Monday.
Lizzie came back to visit Nicky for the holidays as of last Friday. The dogs have done a good job of entertaining me chasing each other around and up and down the stairs. Wish I could move like that.
Hope all those out west are staying inside and dry. What a mess.

[Liz]

I've got a couple of unexpected medical tests this afternoon. Recall on mammogram and a CT because doctor didn't like something on my EKG Monday.

Let us know how you make out on those tests, Sarah. Often those recalls are routine, but sometimes not. I'll be thinking about you.

Not much happening here today. I cleaned out a cupboard that was cluttered. Need to do that with a lot of them. 1 a day seems about right.

I was supposed to go to a neighbor's for dinner tonight, but that got canceled...so guess I'll have to cook for myself. Starting with a bowl of popcorn...

Hope the weather clears up soon for you left coast people.

Love the snow scene!

[Echo]

HELLO SISTAHS!!!

Guess what? It's still raining. AAAARRRRGGGHHH! Altho when I took Shade out to P it wasn't raining at all at that point. We were outside for maybe 10 minutes and as we were in the doorway it started to rain again. Sky is a mottled gray with dang few light gray areas. I am sooooo looking forward to Friday when it is suppose to clear up and be sunny. If it doesn't? Ya'll will hear me screaming and crying. ~sigh~

I feel so badly for this whole area, we've got flooded roads, washed out roads, mud slides, a 300' section of SR9 in Zion Park has been completely washed away. The Park Service keeping a real close eye on the Virgin River. We are about 42mls from Zion Park. Water levels have went down a little and even with the additional rain that is forecast they say that the water levels wont rise back up to what they were. The Kaibab Plateau is under a winter weather advisory. They said above 7000' they can expect up to 17" or more. The Lodge is at 8870ft I think? So the bosses and family will have a white Christmas for sure!!! I just want DRY weather!

Kelly has found another leak. We think it's coming in from the very top of the front window. I don't even want to think about how wet it is in the ceiling of this TT. Nor how long it's gonna take for it to dry out. It really upsets me to no end about all the leaks. The only leak the guy who lived in here over the summer warned us about was in the bedroom. He never ever said anything about any other leaks... Had we known how badly this thing leaked we bought a gallon can of that goop and had the weather, temps and time to do the roof and windows twice over. I am aggravated to the point of angry tears but am trying to keep it at a whimper only. Tell all what! When this rain stops and the temp is warm enough to use the goop? It's getting done I don't care if I have to crawl up onto the roof and lay on my belly!! Might just put the whole freaking gallon on here, coat after coat until it's all gone!!!

Haven't done anything with the truck. No sense in monkey farting around with it while it's still raining. Not going much of any place anyway. Altho I might ask Jodi if she would take me to the store. ~sigh~

OK, I'm done bellyaching. Gonna go check to see what ya'll have been up to. Hope everyone is SAFE if not dry. And I'm hoping that everyone has a good day!

Love to all

[Acadianmom]

Well it's way past morning here. Hope our West Coast friends will get a break in the rain but looks like there is a lot to come on shore.

My DH and I had to go to Lafayette today and I'm glad we only had one stop to make. The traffic is crazy. I know it's going to be bad when people are parking in the grass on the outer side of the mall loop. I went to the only K-Mart we have left near here yesterday and their prices have gone way up. They haven't marked down any of the Christmas stuff yet and most stores are half off by now.

Ava, do you have a kennel that you could leave open for Gracie to get in if she wants. It sounds like she is trying to find a place to hide when she is getting behind the toilet. Maybe put it in an out of the way place so she would feel safe. I don't know much about dogs since we haven't had a house dog in many years. I know three of our house cats disappear when some one strange comes in. Sometimes they will come out and check them out but sometimes I don't see them until the person is gone.

Martha