Cheers Al

Verena

I recieved a new keyboard - wireless - which i haven't set up yet, some spiral thingies for vines to climb, and some butterfly and dragonfly solar lights. Dh gave me a nice big gift card to Canadian Tire, so lets hope there are LOTS of nice plants there in the spring! :)

Glen

While there, we went to visit DH dad in the new care home he has moved in to. That was a real sad visit; he’s not doing so good, going downhill very fast. I don’t know if you recall that I told you he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about a year ago. It's real hard on the mom, especially at this time of the year.

Anyways, I got a couple of nice big down filled pillows, pillowcases and a chenille housecoat and a perfume bathset as gifts. As well, you know about the $50 worth of seeds I ordered from Stokes, which I received already.

Gotta unpack, take a bath and relax now ;)

Best wishes to you all in 2007!
Sharon

I'm wishing you all a very happy Christmas. My parents are here so i won't be on much at all. We do the Christmas thing tomorrow evening, so preparations are about to begin. My presents are wrapped and the stockings are filled, but now Santa has to start getting dinner ready! LOL

Talk to you all again later this week!

And to all of you with new little ones in the house this year, enjoy them immensely. I never thought that I would say this, but I'm starting - just starting, mind you - of having pangs of "grandmotheritis". But, I think it's only the time of year. I'll bounce back into my own sanity when the season is over. lol

My Christmas is going to be a bit on the quiet side for the first time in about 30 years. We're going to our niece's on Christmas Eve for dinner and then just having BIL and my best friend (the one that gave me the 50 roses for my b'day) over for the day. Our two teenage boys will have their noses glued to the XBox with new games and older son is spending the day with his girlfriend's family. I think we'll just be sitting around playing Risk and cards. Our traditional barbecue steak dinner has been pushed back to Boxing Day.

Enjoy the time with family and friends and stuff yourselves silly. We can always diet after the holidays so that we're able to get on our hands and knees to play in the dirt come spring.

Love to you all
Shauna

It's going to be quiet around here too, it's my year to work.

We had a potluck Christmas party last Thursday and I'm still stuffed from all the wonderful foods that were served.

I have New's Year off, still undecided what to do, just stay home and order Chinese or go out.

Hugs,
Sharon

We had one gathering yesterday here in our home. My DH's family were over and there were 15 of us for supper. A real surprise, last night, was when one of our neighbors and their two kids showed up Christmas carolling. I used to babysit the kids up to the gr. 1 and 4 age... now they are in gr 8 and 11. I made them come in and got a family picture of them. They still remember coming over here everyday, but I stopped babysitting for them when their mom got a teaching job at the same school they attended and was then able to take them to and from school on her own.

With our 3 young adult-aged kids they are off to their inlaws, future inlaws, and possibly future inlaws this Christmas season. They were all here yesterday but even on Christmas Day someone will be missing due to a gathering on the 'other side'. Because of this, I am not even sure of what to serve tomorrow night. I have a ham in the freezer but we may head into town today and brave the shoppers in the grocery store and get some seafood instead...that would be a meal that the kids who are here would all like.

We have another large gathering on my side of the family on Boxing Day. There should be about 35 of us there. That is always fun. We will have a large turkey dinner and then exchange gifts. As far as gift giving... My sisters and sister-in-law and I exchange names (4 of us are into gardening so we are easy to buy for). Our husbands and my brother exchange names (probably for the last time this year...the guys aren't really into it). And, all the grandchildren including the 2 great grandchildren exchange names. Of course, everyone gives something to my mom and dad. Then we go around the room after and say who had our name this year and what they gave us. Then, out come the dainties, nuts, oranges and games. Then we visit until late in the evening. Sisters who still have young kids or those who work the next day leave earlier than others who are on holidays this week.

This time of year is always a great time of getting together with friends and family. I hope that all of you in the FN family have a great Christmas and happy new year. Hope everyone will get some great gardening gifts that you can use in next summer's garden!

Brenda

And thanks for the endless hours of relaxation and knowledge gained while reading all of the posts.

Shelley