Afternoon sisters.  I have 3 grandkids coming to spend the weekend with us so I am gathering my supplies and ideas for "Grammy Camp" this weekend.  I have several crafts planned along with a tea party and some reading and a movie night with popcorn, of course! :)  I have made them each a tote bag to keep their crafted items in to take home and will be going to the dollar store tomorrow to get some crayons, coloring books and a few other little goodies into it.  Will help them keep their stuff in order while they are here too. :)

Been sewing and trying to get those projects done too as I won't be getting any sewing done while they are here that is a given.  now I need to plan the meals for while they are here.  Easy and kid friendly sounds  like the best fare.  

Seatte had a police officer killed on Halloween evening about 10 pm.  They were just sitting in their patrol car and someone came up along side and started shooting.  Crazy crazy crazy world.... I don't understand it.... sad... very sad...

Ok... well, I am off to decorate the kitchen nook table for the kids in an autumn theme.  I purchased some plastic turkey placemats and a few other goodies at Joanns for 70% off to make it look festive.   adding some of this WONDERFUL potpourri that Joanns had to scatter on the tray.  Then off to the sewing room.  I am trying to complete a new pattern for purse organizers that I want to try out.   Have a great afternoon!  

Hi to all SS,

    I wanted to let my SS know that I posted ideas for her for Christmas. I am doing the Bag ladies swap (under Swap Spot Groups) and put some ideas on there and just filled out the post that Katie had put up on here. Hopefully, that will give you some ideas. I will be happy no matter what you send. You have been great to me these past few months already.................

    Been quiet around here last 4 days.........had a few days off and didn't do a darn thing. I thought about it and then decided no just stay home and save money:) So I did. Thinking of going to see my sister, niece and nephew in Dec for 5 days. They live in NY. Only thing is she has to travel to pick me up and it woudl be her and the kids. Her husband is still in Iraq:(  So will see have a little time to decide yet.

    I'm just love Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year that I get to give. I am a giver more than a reciever.....was always raised that way. Hard for me to give ideas to others, so took alot for me to think of somethings that I posted on the boards. I'm just happy to have friends on here. Some of my friends I have here have back stabbed me one to many times lately. Guess I am to nice and have let it go over and over, but really tired of the bullcrap and treatment I get lately from them. Oh well, I guess if the good Lord didn't want me here he wouldn't of put me here on this earth, so I must not be too bad:)

   Well working on my SS package slowly. I want it to be nice for her. She I hope loves it. I'm being crafty:)  So look out my SS...........hehe

Mollie

Monday, Monday . . .   (are you all singing with me yet?)

Woke up with scratchy throat and sniffles.  Where's my Day-Quil?  Day Quil and Ni Quil . . . are my GOOD friends when I have a cold!!

LOL - went to sew with my neighbor.  Seemed the morning went WAY to fast.  I packed up around 11:30, because I needed to get home and get a bite to eat before I headed out to (Volunteer) teach JA.  SO, I got home, took a 10 minute snooze, started fixing lunch and though "Man, I gotta hurry, I need to get going!"  It was then that I looked at my clocks . . . and it was only 11:00am.  It seems that though I set MY clocks back . . . my neighbor hadn't.  No wonder why the morning seemed to fly by so quickly!!

And JA?  Well, it was SUPPOSE to be an easy lesson!  We were voting for a mayor.  Each mayor had an idea for the new business in town, and we were basing off that.  Try to get second graders to think of Pros and Cons (which I had to explain what Pros and Cons were!!) for a Pet Store, a Toy Store, and a Book Store.  Hmmmm - 'what if somebody stole all the toys,' 'what if the dogs peed on your shoes - that'd be gross!!,' 'what if somebody knocked over the bookshelves!!  Oh well, we survived . . . the kids said they love when I come in . . . I told them I only had one more week . . . they were sad.  (At least they like me!!)

I had planned on getting some painting done (it's refreshing type painting . . . you know - repainting the old to make it look new and refreshed).  Spend quite some time looking for my brushes.  Finally gave up and used an old one - probably not a good decision.  I painted the white on the back side of the snowmen (they're about 3 ft tall) . . . I'll probably work on the fronts tomorrow . . . the white.  THEN, I'll go to the smaller detail stuff.

Both kids will have late nights this week.  DS is working for grain elevator, and it looks like it's finally going to stop raining long enough for farmers to start harvesting their crops.  He started at 7:30am this morning and just called and said he'd probably be working until 7pm tonight.  Long day!  DD started school at 7am (she has early bird) and this is 'tech week' for the high school play - she's on props and crew (and something else).  She just texted and said she'll probably be there until 8pm.  Long day for her too . . . hope she doesn't have too much homework!!

Got my ornaments for the ornament swap . . . need to find a safe box to mail them in.  Picked up something for the Brown Bag Holiday Swap . . . don't know who my partner is, but I hope she likes this (I certainly would!!).  Speaking of that . . . yeah Linda - I must have missed out on the rules, the container, etc.  I'll be watching closely.  Guess I better get over there and start pestering for my partner's name!!

Oh DD tried to make a 'pumpkin' cake for the youth group cake auction, but she had problems.  She was quite disappointed in herself and didn't know what to do with the frosted cake (that she couldn't let anybody see).  I suggested she make the cake balls that were shared on here last year . . . and she LOVED the idea!  SO, if you ask me . . . that was her intention all along . . . she didn't mess up!!  Right?  So we'll have orange insides (white cake with orange colored frosting) and I think she's going to dip them in chocolate almond bark . . . sounds perfectly fall looking to me!! 

Prayers please for a couple of young ladies.  Hannah (in DD's graduating class) had a cold, came down with a fever, turned into a bacterial phenomia (and testing for H1N1) is currently in a medically induced paralizing coma and on life support systems.  Brittney (young lady from our church, 1 or 2 years older than DD (so about 19 yrs), and who seemed very strong in her faith) has run away from home.  I know she's old enough to move out, but nobody knows where she is, she's packed up her stuff, shut off her cell phone, etc.  Please pray for both of them (and their families!)

YIKES - It's November 1st.  I'm hoping to be easing into making wreaths by this weekend, and making wreaths in full force next week.  Anybody with new Christmas music . . . send it my way . . . that's all we listen to in the barn while we're making wreaths!!  Oh, but wait, before I can make wreaths, I have to get my boys (DH and DS) to get their stuff (tools, junk, junk, and more junk) cleaned up and out of my wreath room!!!  (That could take a small miracle!!  LOL)

Hi to all my sisters, past, present, and just plain BB sisters!! 

Susie-Pumpkin

Hi Everyone!

I've been sick all weekend.  Still feeling bad today but I'm up at school.  Two and a half hours till my night class starts.

Hope you're all having a great day,

china

China, great seeing you!!!!!!! Hope you feel better soon.

China   So glad to see you on!  Sorry you've been sick, there is just too much of that going on these days.  Makes studying harder, doesn't it?  Hope you can get out of class early and climb into bed.

nancy

 ReDawna ~ you are the gingerbread lady, right?

I don't take Country Woman but did get one in the mail yesterday and the ginger bread houses were something else -- DGS loved them so much he wanted to make one. LOL Ahem - I don't think so since everything here is upside down and not looking good to get it fixed and in order before Thanksgiving -- I'm pushing the men as hard as I can but we WILL see. Thought you might like to check those houses out.

Mary ~ hope your mother had a great birthday and is feeling strong!

Prayers being said for those in need.

Guess I'd better get moving as I have an appointment to get my 3 hairs fixed and a Doctor's appointment this afternoon **waving from a VERY warm Oklahoma**

Well Linda-C . . . you COULD always get one of those gingerbread house kits and (listen carefully, cuz I have to WHISPER the next suggestion!!) your hot glue gun to make a quick gingerbread house for the DGS to decorate!!

Okay - now I'm running and hiding, because last time I mentioned that hot thing, I heard about it!!  LOL

Susie-Pumpkin

hi ladies

im back not shure if anyone will remember me. its jane the aussie.

ive been missing from here all year. sorry i missed u all. i have been ill most of the year so i havnt been able to come online and chat with you all. weve also had a busy year lots of visitors staying with us some for a long time it was good though most of the time.

weve had bush fires here recently and we were evacuated wich was kinda a lil scary. but were ok and so is our home. we stayed with friends for 2days. it freeked my husband out more than i. we live next to the bush land. the cool thing has been that weve had kangaroos in our front yard cause there hungry and my husband hasnt mowed lately. so its a lil longer than normal. theres a mumma and baby that come down from the bush next to us to eat everyday.

 ill be praying for u all that are sick and hope that u get better soon.

hugs from me.

jane

ps:have an awesome day. im off to bed. its 12.53 here.

Hi Sisters!  Quick stop by  to say thanks for the prayers!  My hemoglobin is a little better, and I'll be having surgery in December.  So for now, it's just take it easy and get healthy!

Good morning, Sisters!

 Betty, I am sure to hold you in prayer. I am sorry this is happening to you!

Hi Jane~long time since we have talked to you. I am sorry you have had such ill health and then fires?! I am so glad you were safe but I bet the kangaroos were a fun site to see. Do they do damage like deer do here? You do what you have to get get your young-self well!

Linda, I think you and the DGS would have some fun with the gbread house! You tell him his Auntie Linda wants him to MAKE Bammo do a house-don't make me come there and show you both how!

China, bless your heart! I sure hope you feel better. Isn't now when you start teaching or student teaching...OMG, my brain this morning! ugh  You do what it takes to feel better. Children's germs are like germ warfare...did you get a flu shot?

SusieP, you are approaching your busy season~how exciting! Have you and your helpers begun the wreaths, etc?  I THINK I am going to be brave and try the mailbox thing again this year...It just looked so festive, even though I am not a pro like you! May you have a prosperous season!

Hi Mollie~good to see you here!

Well, I need to get the hiney around for work. Hopefully in the next month, my schedule will change. It means winter mode for retail, but at least I shouldn't be working the six-day thing. I have had too many and they just wear me out.

It will be grandkids and gingerbread for the next couple weeks...so much creativeness in their little minds!

Everyone have a great and safe week~

Sister HUGS, Linda

 Good morning!

Another crazy week here in my part of the world.  Did I tell you all I was taking Spanish at the local college, two nights a week.  Tonight I have a Girl Scout leaders' meeting.  Friday I'm working at the Family Movie Night at the school.  Saturday evening is Genesy's baptism.  I had thought to bake a cake to serve afterwards but now I'm thinking I'll just order one from the bakery.   

I'm really struggling with my weight.  I have gained 10 pounds since July.  This makes me so mad at myself.  I picked up a magazine the other day and read an article about Metabolism B.  It so describes me.  So Sunday I'm starting the Metabolism Miracle diet.  Actually, I've lost two pounds since Monday just avoiding nasty sugars and carbs.  I'll keep you posted.

I hope everyone is doing great!!!  Redawna, how is the business going?  I need to go check out your site and see what's going on there. 

Any ideas for great gifts for the holidays WITHOUT baking!?!?!

Hi again to all my SS....

Boy this crazy weather.  I am in 90 deg weather one day and then a couple days latr it is in the low 40s.  Glad for heat in the RV and car.  This old body just was not made for this cold weather.

We have gotten set up here and on Friday we will be having hiring interviews all day.  We have 2 people coming back that worked for the company last year.  I think i will hire about 3 or 4 more.

Really exciting here - finding all kinda new resturants.  I really just eat to live but Rich lives to eat.  He loves finding new resturants - and they MUST have the good food too.  He has talked about writing a book about the different resturants we have found on our travels, but I dojn't think that will ever happen.  I know where most of the work would fall - And that is not on him.  Being the editor of the Cookbook was enought work for me.

Being we go out to eat every day - We love to find where we can get the good deals.  If you like to save money when you go out and get even free dinners - Try going onto your favorite resturants web site and see if they have an eclub.  They usually give you something free for signing up and also on your birthday and anniversary.  This year I had so many that I could not even use them all.  We find MANY MANY ways to save money on eating out.

Yesterday we went out and we each used a free coupon.  The waiter said maybe he could get the manager to comp our drinks and then we could just sit there and eat and wouldn't even have to worry about paying.  LOL   

It is really a challange and also FUN seeing how we can get the best deals on coupons.  In our development they call us the King and Queen of coupons.  How about sharing some of your ideas that you use - We always like to find me ideas.

I can see by reading the posts that so many have so many challanges - I know that this is really a trying time of year and believe me my prayers have been going up for all of you.

Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day

Marian

Afternoon Sisters,

Just got back from the city, I made a few promotional baskets for the bank! Tomorrow I think I will hit my favorite radio station! Everyone enjoys candy right!  I don't think I can got wrong there!

Here are a few shots of what I dropped off.

Hugs and prayers for those who need them.

 I hope everyone is having a good day!

Hi Everyone!

Happy November! :)
I'm sorry that I"ve been absent this last week or so--I'm trying to finish up a 6-week course online--it's a graduate level class that is required of all adjunct faculty.  I'll be teaching for the university in January so had to get this class out of the way.  Last week we had 5 research assignments due!  FIVE!  :)  It was crazy.  Luckily I got them all in and am sitting at a 99.29% in the class! :)  Feels good.  This is our last week, a couple of mandatory assignments but no point values.  I think I can push on until our last day--Saturday!

How did everyone's Halloween go?  Our's was good.  We went to SeaWorld on Friday and saw Shamu and all of the fun Halloween decor.  Went trick or treating Saturday night.  My 4 year old was a knight, my almost 2 year old was a scarecrow, I was Dorothy and my husband was a pirate--although adults thought he was Paul Revere!  Thankfully kids knew he was a pirate or he wouldn't have been too happy!  I figure I'll dress up with my boys while they're young--I know there will be a time when they won't want me anywhere near them in costume! :)

Well, hoping all of you are doing well & staying healthy!  Can't believe THanksgiving is almost here!  The weeks just fly!

Take care everyone!

kim :)