Friday--the shortest

[carolb]

Good morning all! Winter Solstice, & from here on owt, days will be getting longer!!! That is, if we have any more days ahead??? The Mayan calendar thing??? Well, first order of bzness--Soos, how great that yew DO NOT have to wait any longer to start getting those "killers" owt of yew!!! Prayers, 10 a.m., & we'll all be waiting to hear the owtcome of the first treatment.. Prayers for Sharon still. Thanks for the -pdate, Red. High winds everywhere & now here this a.m. I haven't seen news in several days--not even for local weather, so I'm not certain what's been happening. Hope all are safe with no damage (bt someone lost a tree or two??)...Miss those smiles this morning, Lori & Spinner!!!! ..Irmi, getting the howse in order jst in time to leave Bless yew for taking care of yore parents. Come to think of it, that seems to be another trait of RVers--love of the 3 f's ("fir," feather, fins) & care-giving to family. Dawn with yore mom--hope her sis is doing well so mom doesn't have to fly to VT this time of year....SORRY, too talkative this a.m., & I know y'all are too bz to listen to me babble on! Everyone have a great start to the weekend of Cmas! The next 4 days will certainly be bz for so many. Traveling ones, be safe as always! Blessings to all of yew & enjoy yore family & loved ones! Oh, Lo-ise, thanks for explaining Sis#2! Hope yore enjoying time with her!!! Kathleen, sorry to hear abot yore dawghter's extreme pain!...now I'm starting to remember things, when I was going to sign off!!!! Soo (colliemom), glad to see yew back!!! ...BJ, that scary dream!!! YIKES!....hmmm,what else???....Okay, stop stop!!! Happy Friday everyone!

[Irmi]

Good morning Carolb & everyone!

Carolb, so you're getting the strong winds too? I saw on the weather map last night that NYC was supposed to get very windy today and lots of other areas in the country are experiencing the same winds with lots of very strong gusts. I hope no one has any damage from all this wintery weather. There was a 25 vehicle pile up in Indiana, I think, from white out conditions. Please be careful out there everyone.

It sounds gusty out this morning, but the winds we're having here are nothing compared to what so much of the rest of the country is getting. We're starting off in the 50's this morning and the day will settle in at the 50 degree mark and the sun is supposed to peek out from time to time. Sunshine is nice and so are the longer days!

I'll be heading back to the house later today after my parents have their breakfast. They have lots of containers in the freezer with leftovers from last nights dinner that just need to be re-heated. Yesterdays dinner was the first decent meal Mom had eaten since she's had the stomach virus, so that's a good sign that she's on the mend. The utility room at the house is done! I am so excited and am looking forward to putting things back in place and have promised myself it won't become a junk room again. Have a good day everyone and please be safe.

[grammynmaggie]

Good morning all...Glad that the days will now be getting longer!
Getting ready for dd and sil coming for Christmas...glad to have
family around even if it is only for a few days...did bedding and
got guest room ready yesterday...got Christmas dinner shopping
done...dd wants beef and noodles ...not your normal Christmas
dinner...We might be taking a short trip in MySweetDream...not
sure but I hope so....maybe over nite maybe not....I blogged yesterday
about taking rig to garage...you can take a look if you want...not sure
what work I will get done today...all for now
http://grammyandthepapillonprinces.blogspot.com/

[rvgrammy1953]

Good morning, Carolb, Irmi and those who follow....

Not very smiley this morning....the wind had Spinner in a "I'm scared of all the stuff falling on the 5er from the trees and the rocking of said 5er" all night....took him out twice for a quick "potty " last night and he wanted to dig a hole in the bushes to hide every time....and then there's the pacing of the camper....back and forth....front to back...back to front. ...Panting....poor, puppy dog, just didn't like that rain and wind storm.....usually, he sleeps on his pillow on the couch, but he spent the night in bed with us, under the covers, with a paw on me most of the night.....This is the first time he's done this... Needless to say, it was a fitful night of sleep for The Sultan and me, but the wind, hence the pooch, settled down about 2AM...

Now the sun is coming up over the marshes and promises to be a bright day, but the wind is to stay with us for most of it.....We're driving up to Ft. Stewart for their Christmas GTG today....probably won't stay for dinner itself as driving after dark isn't something we both like to do anymore...it will be nice to see and visit with the gang there.....

Okay, I need more coffee and to catch up with the reading here....

Have a great day, all...

[Dawn309]

Morning all!

Lori, got tickled about the description of Spinner and the storm last night. Belle gets upset and barks. She will usually settle down when I talk to her and tell her all is OK. The boys, just snuggle up tighter to me during storms. I normally cannot even turn over if there is a storm during the night because all the dogs are hugged tight to me.

We have a very busy day today. My brother has us scheduled everyday starting today and through next week. He is taking a week off work to show us the area. He even plans on driving us to Natchez so we can see it. My SIL is laughing because he has a spreadsheet with times, places and days listed. I need to get him to forward it to me so I can put it all in my calendar. I am too much like that too. I like to be able to look at my calendar and see what is scheduled. Chuck always said I "had to have all my ducks in a row". Mom and Paul tell me I am just a little (they emphasize little) on the anal side. Guess youngest DB is like that too.

Hope everyone in the Midwest is OK. Have been seeing all the snow you are getting. Everyone in the NYC Tri-State area, be careful with all the rain and street flooding.

Everyone have a great day and if you are traveling, stay safe.

[carold]

A little bit of rain brought cool but still sunny weather to Sarasota. My techie gs had me load Facebook while visiting during Thanksgiving. I wasn't that keen to do it, but he wanted an easy way to share pics and I couldn't think of a good reason to say no. So I've been trying to find my way around it and posted a few pics. Still not sure I'm a big fan. Surprised about how many people I know are on it. Will see if I continue. tGM was on and hated it, so he pulled out. Hope everyone's health and weather stays on the good side. Looking forward to the FL gtg. By the way, we have an ice maker in the fridge to add to the bucket. carold

[Colliemom]

Good Morning everyone,

Wind seems to be the main topic of the morning today. Yes, this storm is quite a wind maker along with other things. Up here in Michigan's U.P. and the northern lower, we are going to be digging out from under almost a foot of snow and now it's being driven by high winds as well. Going to be a good day to be inside and to tell the truth, I am not going to miss having to get out there and tend to it. Randy 9owner) will be out with his plow truck come daylight, working to get the resort and the road to it, plowed out. I might grab a shovel though and help with some of the clearing away maybe. It's heavy snow due to it being more mild than normal for this time of year, but has gotten colder since. Right now as I look out my front window, I see this big square marshmellow that has a Ford Flex under it someplace Will get some pictures later on after it gets more daylight.

And while we in the north and midwest are digging out from under a mess of snow, others are picking up the pieces of what used to be their homes. I think I would rather do the snow, at least I have a nice warm house to go back into. And many loved ones are going to experience travel difficulties for a while here as well, but I think it will all get sorted out by Christmas. The schools are all closed, so there's an extra day of Christmas vacation tacked on, compliments of mom nature and a mess of fresh snow to pay in right off the bat. Downside is, a mess of power outages down in my area and I think my house lost power for awhile yesterday too. Oh well, nothing hurting anyway.

Hope our AL sisters are all okay and no storm damage. Also any who might be in AL right now as well as along the eastern seaboard in the front of this storm.

And yes, this is the Winter Solstice, also the end of the Mayan Calendar, we are all still here yet.

Soos, glad to hear that you took a plan of action and got radiation scheduled. Please let us know how it turned out. I'm sure all will go well.

Well, the worker guys here, got their trucks all uncovered and are off to work. They will be heading home for the holidays after work today, so I won't see them anymore. Now with all the snow, I have a feeling that the place will be a bit busy, as the snowmobilers will be coming probably. Be kind of fun this upcoming week to watch the action around up here, if there is any. But also looking forward to getting some nice winter shots with the camera too. Haven't really taken any to post since I've been here. Do havea few, but the connection is sometimes so slow, that it migh take me from now till I leave to get them onto this page

Well, i'm off to get ready for the day and see what the world looks like out there. Have a wonderful day if you are where the weather is nice, keep safe and keep a safe eye out, if you are in the path of the storm yet everyone.

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING ALL!

Temperature when I went to bed was about 73 degrees F., and I hated to shut my slide windows (the ones that allow rain and wind to wreck things inside here-----the stupid ones to have in any rig) but I saw rings around the moon. That sign has always been a portent of a stormy night, and a stormy night it surely was! The thermometer outside is at 45 degrees F. now, the wind is wild, it poured buckets during the night! At least the sun is out again, as, without it, I would need to look up some of my "northern" clothes!

I will be leaving here to get zapped in about a half hour, so this will be short and sweet. I hope I learn how this attack will work, what to expect as I get all the zaps, and how those killer cells will die. I will leave the pups here and return for one more night as the kids will leave tomorrow for Melissa'a house for Christmas. I have decided to stay at my Orlando house and make the most of it-----turn on my stereo and listen to Christmas music, maybe play some Christmas songs on my fiddle as my mother and I used to do for years gone by. I will also call the kids on Christmas Eve.

I hope that storm front did not wreck any of you too terribly, and this, the shortest day of the year, will be a sweet one compared to yesterday! Happy Winter Solstice!

[Redwahine]

It is December 21st and we are still here!! Yeah !!! And it is the winter solstice today!! The shortest day and longest night of this year. Actually Christmas was originally on the winter solstice. Back around 300 AD when they were trying to figure out when would be a good time to celebrate the birth of Christ they decided to choose December 25, which at that time was the winter solstice and they wanted to replace the raucous celebrations of the solstice for the sun god. Because earth's year long trip around the sun changes a little bit each year, after 2,000 years our solstice is now on the 21st or 22nd of December denpending if it is leap year.

Do you know what some college geeks do at Christmas?? After the last Christmas Star Show and the "sky tonight" presentation at the planetarium, a few of us decided it out be fun to run the star projector's computerized program of the stars back to the time when "they" established a date for Christmas. To see if it was true that the solstice was on the 25th. So we sat there with loaded egg nog and celebrated the beginning of our Christmas break at the museum and planetarium and watched time travel back to 330 AD (in fast reverse). Like being in a time machine And yep, there we were, under the night sky exactly as it was on December 25, 330 AD and YUP, it was the winter solstice.

Everyone have a wonderful Christmas weekend. Stay safe and stay warm. Aloha, y'all

[dayspring39]

Good Morning everyone... wow the closer it gets to Christmas the more people are up early... I would have stayed in bed but Shadow kept bugging me... I did not hook him up to his lead as the snow had covered it and froze it to itself... he did his business and rushed back to the door!

I believe I am going to say good-bye to the lady that cleans for me... the only one of you ladies that has been to my house is Beth but she can tell you I am not a 'pig'... the lady took 3 1/2 hours to clean my small bathroom and hall yesterday... the lady that came from PATH a few weeks ago said I could get free cleaning as I am in a low income bracket... so I will look into that after Christmas... another downer about the lady is that she has between 20 & 30 cats in a very small mobile home so she reeks of cat... sorry to be so negative...

Soos have prayed for you and hope you will be more at peace now that the treatments have begun... sure is a scary thing... Irmi glad you had the time to spend with your mom and dad... they will miss you this winter... Sue sounds like a great vacation you are having in the UP... we did not get nearly as much snow as you did... Carol thanks for thinking of Margie... she is a joy to me... Dawn enjoy your time with your brother... Oh Lori our fury friends sure get anxious with weather change...

I trust everyone will have a great Friday and so glad we didn't fall off the face of the earth...
Kathleen

[JudyJB]

I am happy in my new campsite with quieter neighbors and more space! That cold front went through here last night about 1:00 am with rain and winds, but I had nothing out, so nothing to worry about. I learned the hard way to make sure I had no awnings up or stuff laying around when I went in for the night.

I am off to get some propane, a haircut, and a few groceries this morning. Heard from Carolb and might meet up with her over the next few days.

There seem to be a lot of us in Florida, and more coming.

[Readytogo]

Good morning friends! So many up and about today. Was going to go run up all my credit cards to the limit, since the world is ending! Jkding!!!! Then for sure it will not happen! Soos, glad you're getting started getting your mind put at ease. Like I said before, i know many people who have had that and it will be fine. usually they get them cut out though. Sue, the bad storms in Ala were mostly south, around Mobile, Didnt get much here except colder. Sarah is north of me and usually its colder up there. Today I willl go out and do my last shoppping run, just some gift cards and something for gsons gf who will be coming too. She has a little boy, 2 oe 3. I already got him something. Last summer he wanted to fish, so I got him a fishing rod. Another cup of coffee and watch the rest of the news before a shower and head out. Everyone have a good a FUN and a SAFE day!! Wendy (Pepper and Fluffy)

[havingfunnow]

What a neat thing to do at solstice, Red! That must have been so much fun!

I'd like to be in Ireland for solstice some day -- specifically, at Newgrange, having won the lottery to stand in the underground chamber and watch the solstice sunrise align. I really like Newgrange anyway, but that would just be an amazing experience. I think it's the oldest solar calendar still in existence -- certainly older than the Giza pyramids and Stonehenge.

[cnq50b]

Good morning all!
We're all still here so guess we'd finish getting ready for Christmas.
Kids got in last night - glad they were coming in rather than us going out of KC - airport is a mess with people trying to get out after flights being cancelled yesterday. We started out with a good old fashioned thunderstorm Wed evening with heavy rain & fierce wind, then the rain stopped, temps dropped & snow moved in right before rush hour. Took 4 times as long to get to work - some folks turned around after trying for a couple of hours & went back home. By afternoon main streets & highways were clear but this morning side streets & parking lots are ice. I'm sure this will convince the California kids not to move to the midwest.
Soos, glad treatments are started. I enjoyed your narrative on your weather - I was right there with you imagining 73 degrees, windows open - so lovely - I didn't want to come back to my reality - glad you closed everything up before this storm got to you though. Carolb & Judy, glad you 2 will be having a gtg - what fun! And of course, folks are headed to Florida - its warm & has beaches! Someday, I'll be one of them...
Red, that sounded like a fun way to celebrate the solstice!
Oops - no more time to chat, kids are getting up... better start the pot of coffee...
Hope everyone stays warm & safe...

[Redetotry]

Good late Morning. The sun is out and the fierce winds of yesterday have stopped! My little ones aren't afraid of the wind noises, but Toby barks at it. Thunder is a different matter, then they all want to sit in Mom's lap. Hope you get a better rest tonight Lori and Dawn.

Kathleen ACK I would say it is definitely time tell the slow cleaning person goodbye. If she has that many cats and she smells of them, no telling what diseases she might track in not to mention fleas.

Soos, I'm hoping all went well for you this morning, I've never heard of using radiation for moles instead of surgically removing them. There must be a shortage of dermatologists every where, that and podiatrists.

My friend who likes to bake is coming by soon with Christmas cookies. Yum! I'm trying to keep the leaves the dogs bring in swept up but as often as Toby especially, wants to go out I'm loosing the battle. He has to go patrol the yard and make sure those pesky squirrels and deer are not getting in his space.We have the leaves mulched as DH says that is good for the lawn, but next year I think I'll have them sucked up, or hand him the dust mop!

Safe journeys all on the road and everyone, enjoy the day.