Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Shipping deadline - December 10th
Post your goodies
Enjoy each other!
Happy Holidays!!!
Blessings, Tina

Deb/IL.

Did everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving?
We went to my in-laws. As soon as we got home, I took a nap, LoL. A longgggggggggggggg nap.

We are getting rain. Where's the snow?????

Happy Holidays Ladies
Tina

Just bumping us up, don't want to get lost in the snow. LOL

Deb/IL.

hugs,
Dee

p.s. Santa is loading up his sleigh and taking off tomorrow for a special surprise taking flight to........a secret pal.......somewhere. ;)

Feel's like Christmas here also :)

*blinks* Santa says I can't open my package when it arrives but I HAVE to wait until X-Mas. This is going to be so hard but I AM a good girl *wink* and if I have to follow Santa's rules I will. *sighhhh* Thank you, Santa for writing to me! :)))

Dee aka FaintHeart who will wait until X-mas even though it is going to be sooooooooo hard to do

P.S. is it ok to shake my prezzie? pleaseeeeeeeeeee???

1Z 005 2VA 03 0568 981 0

P.S. I "think" I know why Rudolph has a red nose now.

FLY...I think Rudolph has been down to the whiskey trough in the corral with the other reindeer! Can you believe it? :/ Must be reallyyyyy cold and they have to keep warm ya know. I know it sure is cold and snowy here!!!

Anyone else get a package in the mail this week??? If not, I am going to have a talk with Santa. Sure hope he didn't take a side trip to the Bahamas to warm up, he has packages to deliver!!!

Dee aka Faint

PLEAsE email me :)))))

susie

I WAS abducted by an Evil Elf impersonator! He was disguised as this VERY NASTY VIRUS that wiped out our harddrive completely!!!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

First, I received a WONDERFUL package from my secret santa (Doris). It was packed with a bunch of wonderful gifts nicely wrapped in Christmas paper. I received some wonderfully scented body spray, a wooden Christmas decoration with Santa climbing up a ladder that says"Ho Ho Ho", some hand made decorations that I will cherish forever. They are proudly displayed on our Christmas Tree.
A snowman gift box with a holiday neckalce inside, and earrings decorating the front that are candy canes! I also received a beautiful picture metal frame, and a beautiful wooden Hallmark framed print with birds attatched to a feeder on the corner. This is on my desk :-). ALSO, smiles, I received a great! book on Roses, a note pad with a pencil, and last but not least, two garden stake ROOSTERS!!!!
Doris, you put so much thought into my box. I love EVERYTHING. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
(I hope it was ok to open this before Christmas?)

My package is going out Monday morning to my secret pal.
You may open your gift before Christmas ;-)

For those of you who have not gotten your packge out yet, please try and do so this week. E-mail me if you are having difficulties sending. We can work something out.

Merry Christmas Ladies.
Tina

Be good ladies!
Tina

Please don't encourage FLY!!! I know Santa is watching...Santa told me so! *looks both ways* I think EVIL ELF is just on Santa's payroll and trying for a bonus! ;)

Nothing in my mailbox yet, but I am keeping a lookout and the mailman is gettin' kinda creeped out at me peering over the drifts at him in my white camo outfit. *giggles*

I know "someone" had a delivery they haven't told us about yet. :)

Dee aka Faint *who is trying to be soooo good it almost hurts*

FLY did you find your package yet?

Deb/IL.

Faint (who is reallyyyyyy having a tough time waitin' here)

ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

*knows Santa is watching these big pouty brown eyes with a lil tear in the corner*

*SIGHHHHHHHHH*

Deb

sweetkitten51 put her gifts under the tree and is going to wait...BUT there were some unwrapped ones she got to see.... *SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*

Where are the rest of my girls at? We haven't heard from these gals very much, or at all
cassiet
rosebud2050
momcat
bojo96
amybabyboy3
Come out, come out where ever you are ladies.....yoo hoo!!!

gardeningmomof3, "Amy" really laid one on us, and seems to want to come back again for another big hit.
Everywhere I look, snow!!!!!! Kid's had a snow day today. They was out making HUGE snow balls big enough to be igloo's
by 8 am this morning, LoL.

Be strong Faint, Christmas is almost here.
Nanna nanna boo boo FLY, you don't know what you're getting!!!! heehee! First time for everything.....right?

Big hug's to you all. I am so happy to see you gal's having fun and enjoying yourselves here. I chuckle every single time I get an e-mail from one of you posting :-)

Be good,
Tina

"Santa ain't watching you."....from she who is trying to make me into a brat too? *rollin' eyes at FLY*

Looks like I am just gonna go hide that box myself cuz Santa IS watching....got another email saying so!!!

...signed Faint *who is wishin' someone would take Santa's pc away till Christmas so Santa won't know if I open it but now I gotta wait 10 MORE DAYS*

Thank you so much for the lovely gifts.

vicki in phoenix

I received my pkg last week from WYNative, you out did yourself. Thanks so much for brightening my Christmas. Merrry Christmas to everyone. Hope you have a great one.

Sorry again Debby that your pkg is late. I feel bad.

What wonderful boxes everyone is getting! I agree it IS fun to see what everyone ELSE is finding in their boxes...if I KNEW what was in MINE I would tell ya'll right away! ANYBODY REALLY WANT TO KNOW??? c'mon ladies, HELP ME out here...this waitin' is getting to me!!!

Doris, can you explain what applets and cottlets are? I am curious too! (Maybeeeeeee I should open mine and see if I have some in there too then I will know for sure?!?) *EG* Vicki...those placemats and table runner sound beautiful!!! Garden_Fever_Girl...what a fun box you received too! Ummmm...do you think maybe there is a candle in mine?? It's snowing here again! and if the electricity goes out...I "might" need a candle and a fire to keep warm!

snboyken...I think DebbyA will be ok with it...she is going to wait to open hers with me!!! Right, Deb??? *VBG*

Trish...I was thinkin' about that! There "might" be something in there that really shouldn't wait! But ya know what? My secret santa saw what ya said and sent another mail saying "NOOOOOOOOO, don't listen to those girls. Don't open it cuz everything is just fine. HO HO HO" Any pretzels left, Trish? *WOE IS ME for havin' a secret santa watchin' so close....SIGH*

Shirley/rosebud_2050, sweetkitten51, DebbyA....HELPPPPPPPPPPPP me please cuz this waitin' is gonna get me a date with the fellas in white jackets soon!!!

...signed FAINT (who is now appreciating going to work each day so she can't be starin' at that BOX which is just WAITING TO BE OPENED)

Have a wonderful Christmas,
Marie

I'm soooo bad! And proud of it, LOL! ;)

Deb/IL.

You all be GOOD now!
Tina

A release of information has given authorization and request by Ms. Faint to inform you that she has been assigned to "retreat" for the next EIGHT days. Her condition is unstable at present and prognosis looks to be markedly improved in EIGHT days. Any attempted contact with the patient, strike that, the guest at our facility will be prohibited from delivery to assure her mental stability until projected release date.

Cassie

Whitecoat Pros, please keep out dear FAINT comfortable. She has had a hard month and persistant taunting to open a box. She has heard voices, had hallucinations.... Santa has been badgering her (LoL), and her "support group" hasn't been very SUPPORTIVE!
Send her our love and let her know that she has nothing to be embarrassed about. We all understand her agony.
8 more days and the insanity will be all over with.
Tell her not to think about that BIG BOX CALLING HER NAME, BEGGING TO BE OPENED!!!!

FLY and I should be ashamed of ourselves, yes, but what can ya do...ya know?????

*Visions of EVIL ELVES dance in FAINTS head*

hahahahahahahahahahah
(giggling an evil sound)
Tina

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBYA!!! Hope your day was filled with many joys and lots of prezzies YOU could open! ;)

Faint,
Thanks so much for the Birthday wishes! I had a great day! My Family purchased a Roomba for me, and I LOVE it! I don't have to vacuum anymore, just press the button and the Roomba does the work!

Open that box, Faint!

Deb/IL

Me
Garden fever girl
Rosebud2050
dancingmoons
flyonawall
faintheart
sweetkitten51
snboyken
momcat
gardenhits
djm906

Here is my list of those who HAVEN'T received as of 12/19/05:

cassiet
gardeningmomof3 (package mailed 12/17/05)
wynative
debbya (package mailed 12/15/05)
bojo96
amybabyboy3

If I have made a mistake here, please let me know.
ALso, please post if you do not receive by 12/21/05 Wed.

If anyone is having difficulties sending, please send me an e-mail to let me know when you think you will be able to send, so I can pass the info along to your SECRET pal.

NURSE RATCHETT is just down right NAUGHTY!!!! Shame, shame, shame on you!!!!!Poor Faint has had to resort to restraints in order to honor Santa's wishes.
Faint, maybe I should take a road trip and open that box for you seeings a you are so close and all. Then I could tell you what you got, and YOU wouldn't be breaking Santa's request. One thing I know for sure, is you will have something to rid this bad Santa when you DO finally get to open that BIG BOX!!!!!
You also tell hubby to pick up the pace. No minimal gifts at Christmas. Doesn't he remember those vows? LoL

Alrightyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy then. I have to go finish baking some yummies as I have Mellen and her DH arriving on the 21st (to personally deliver me some coal don'tcha know:-))
We are going to be celebrating Solstice. WSing for the first time. Ya'll keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't kill off all my wittle seeds, k?

Sending big warm hug's to each of you.
Tina

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas's and the very best of New Years!
Marie

First of all, thank you soooooo much Sharon!
I LOVED everything in the box!

I received-- a 16 month calendar (Bouquets of flowers) gorgeous!
Snowman embroidered hand towel
Royal purple, oh soooo soft scarf!
With matching (2 pairs of gloves) and a headband.
2 candles, and the bases (containers) remind me of a fiber soil, really different! Will go well in my florida room, in the room I have tons of plants/wicker.

Mango body lotion/spray--smells yummy!
JOY candle, gold/white.
Peppermint simmering liquid, perfect for a little crockpot that I have that simmers potpourri.
Old world Santa earrings, snowman pin!
Pretty gold/crystal spun glass ornament snowflake shape.
2-flower soaps/decals embedded in the two soaps, really pretty! And last, but not least...bulbs! 8- Narcissus
15- Puschkinia! WOW, what a box! I LOVE EVERYTHING you sent!

Hugs,
Deb/IL.

Deb/IL.

Still 4 more shipping days left. Hopefully your packages will arrive in time for Christmas.

I've mailed the girls just to check. WIll update again later this evening.

Saty warm ladies,
Tina

Happy Holidays everyone,

Suzanne

Forget the bulldog. Don't make me bring out the "Evil Elf"!!!

I know this is a very busy time of year. Please e-mail me a small and quick e-mail updating me if you have not sent your box out yet.

Don't make me have to let "Evil Elf" out of his cell, LoL.

T'was four nights before Christmas, when all through the crazy house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a crazy mouse;

The boxes were taped and packaged with care,

In hopes that FLYONAWALL soon would be there;

The patients were nestled all snug in their cells,

While visions of priority boxes danced in their only brain cell;

And FAINTHEART in her 'STRAIGHTJACKET', and FLYONAWALL,

Had just settled down for their last nightly call,

When out in the hallway there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the red padded cell I flew like mad,

Slammed open the padded door but I knew I'd been had.

The disco blinking lights on the padded chair

Gave the image of FAINT in a psychotic stare,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a unwrapped FLYswatter, and Randle in gear,

With the swatter in one hand, ready to smear,

I knew in a moment it must be FLYONAWALL.

More rapid than FLYs,"DIAL 911" I call

And I whistled, and shouted, and called her by name;

"Now, FAINT! now, FAINT! now, FAINT OH FAINT!

oh, FAINT! oh FAINT! oh, FAINT and FAAAAIIIIIINNNTTTTT!

To the top of the hallway! to the top of the wall!

Oh come back, please come back, FAINT off the wagon you'll fall

TO BE CONTINUED.............

(whose losing their mind?)

********ATTENTION! ATTENTION! FAINT HAS DISAPPEARED AND SHE HAS TAKEN "THE BOX" IF YOU SEE HER CALL THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES DO NOT TRY TO TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS SHE COULD BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS ATTENTION ATTENTION********

Should the personnel here at the "retreat" see news reports of winter solstice sowing party gone wild in central Iowa...the staff will making further accomodations for additional "guests"!!!

Remain calm...there is a fine line between sanity and insanity!!!!! ;)

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas around here!
I still have a few things left to put up, but I am FINALLY getting to them.

Nurse Ratchett please keep us posted as to the whereabouts of our dearly beloved FAINT.
It does look as if FLY is missing as well!
Hmmm..............

Cassie

*sighhhhhhhhhhhhh*

it's not easy bein'

poor poor where is your Christmas spirit? huh?

there COULD be a in there! THEN you will be GLAD YOU ARE WAITING with me and the rest of the angels!

Did they tell you?...when we open them, we have to take turns...one gift...then the other person opens a gift. You WAIT till it's your turn again! ;)))

TWO MORE DAYS!

Merry Christmas to all and a most properous New Year!!!

WHO MADE UP THAT STUPID RULE? errrrrrr...ummmmmm....Santa did!! or it was TINA! yeahhh...that's the ticket...IT WAS TINA!!!

Merry Christmas to All

Trish....I thank you from the bottom of my heart...I absolutely LOVE everything in my package and it was definitely worth the CRAZY wait (course I hated waiting for it) but it's made me a better person cuz now I know I CAN wait and not open stuff.. COURSE I DON'T LIKE TO DO THAT....but it was fun!!! I love everything. Oh....and I also got a Coffee warmer muggy thing that I'll be taking to work!!!
Once again...Trish...DANCING MOONS...THANK YOU. I LOVE EVERYTHING!!!! You really mad the wait worth the "AGONY"
HAHAHAHA to FAINT....I OPENED MINE FIRST!!!!!!!

Thank you THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH to my secret santa!!! Per Santa's secret emails...last night at midnite I opened the BIG box and got to open one prezzie...which was 120! purple crocus bulbs. I LOVE THEM!!! The weather has warmed a bit here and the ground is not yet frozen so I will be planting those out tomorrow. :) It is gonna be sooooo nice to see such pretty purple blooms first thing in the spring!

This morning I got to open the rest of the gifts but NOT until DH and DD were up...ohhhhhh it was HORRIBLE TO WAIT and I sent DD's dog up to her room to wake her. *giggles*
I received such wonderful and thoughtful gifts!!! One gift was to be opened last cuz SANTA SAID SO. *sighhhhh* There are some moisturizing hand gloves that you put the green tea herbal lotion that came with them on and then the gloves overnight and have soft and silky hands in the morning! I will use these after I get all the bulbs planted tomorrow. The winter air has already been doing a number on my hands. I have a package of dissolvable rose petals (I have never seen anything like them before) and they smell wonderful!!! I am gonna put some in a pretty dish in my bathroom! There is a bottle of moonlight path body lotion too which smells soooo good. DH said you aren't gonna give wrinkles a chance after all that! *giggles* I also received two beautiful red mitten shaped serving dishes which are just perfect for use all winter long. I LOVE them. :) There is a bag full of gingerbread and macadamia biscotti along with some tropical punch green tea (which DD and I are enjoying now)! Yummy!!! AND a bag filled with ghirardelli chocolate bars! *wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I sooooo love chocolate* But there is MORE CHOCOLATE...a container of four different chocolate crunch accents (choc. & coconut, choc. & mint, choc. & peanut, AND chocolate sprinkles) to be put on desserts, icecream, cookies, etc. and some mulling spices for cider/wine. I am going to use this on New Year's eve! :)))

I LOVE angels and secret santa sent a really pretty paper angel mobile which I will hang by my computer. That's not all...I got an beautiful sparkly gold angel ornament and also the cutest fairy ornament too! They are sooooo pretty with porcelain-like face and hands. They are gonna be out year-round....*sighhhhh*....AND a "willow tree" angel of the garden! She is so adorable!!

Told ya'll it was a BIG box and I do believe it kept growing while I WAITED to open it. I am not done yet! I now have a sweet little snowman (who is holding a cardinal) ornament on my tree! There is a little notebook with a flower on it to keep notes on my brand new flower gardens this coming year. :) There are hyacinth bean vine seeds...I googled them and they are gonna be beautiful if I can keep them growing! A birdhouse that is sooooo pretty with tulips and a butterfly on it that is going to stay in my living room on a shelf with the gardening angel! Three more...a sweet little teddy bear holding a daff...so so cute!!! I collect teddy bears and he is just precious!!! The sweetest little birdie with flowers rain gauge which I LOVE too!!! There is not ONE thing that I have except for the gift to be opened last.......

Ya'll wanna know what it is, right?

It's a .............well...........it's something ya use to KILL lil insects with.............like a...............

FLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! You are such an EvIl EVIL ELF! eViL EvIl EVILLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! *giggles* I can't believe I didn't figure out you were my secret santa after all the INSANITY you put me through!

THANK YOU SO VERYYYYYYYYY MUCH!!! You have made this Christmas one of the most memorable for sure! (((((((((((((FLY da BRAT))))))))))))))

I had SO MUCH FUN with this robin...not just in getting such a wonderful secret santa to laugh and joke with but also in hearing of everyone else's special gifts too. (Hope I didn't drive ya'll crazy like me!) I had such a blast choosing special things to send my secret pal. I know that she also waited until today to open them and I hope she enjoys each gift as much as I had in choosing and sending them to her.

THANK YOU ALL....and the most wonderful and blessed of New Year's to ALL OF YOU!

Merry Christmas!!! hugsssssssssssss,
Dee aka Faint

Hugs,
Deb/IL.

Cassie

Sure hope those who haven't received yet get their suprises very soon...keep us posted girls. You will not be forgotten by Santa! ;)

On 12/21/05 I recieved a response to my e-mail concerneing Cassiet's package. gardenfevergirl is Cassie's "Secret Santa". She said she was mailing that day, but also said she would post the conf. #. gardenfevergirl DID receive a package as I was her "Secret Santa".

I have received several e-mails from REALLY GREAT SECRET SANTAS who would like to send to our gals who didn't receive anything. I would really like to wait until this Friday to see if these gals receive a belated Christmas present.
Please accept my sincerest apologies amybabyboy3 and cassiet?....
You WILL NOT be forotten.
I'm sorry it took a couple of days for me to post. Things are pretty hectic yet, but you all ARE on my list of priorities.

Hope you all had a great Christmas! Be safe and have a wonderful New Year.
Tina

Thank you all for such a WONDERFUL robin. This is the best and funnest robin I have ever hosted!!!!!

Tina

bojo96, thank you so much posting and explaining. You have a very good reputation, and I was informed of how great! you are, so I knew there was come honest confusion somewhere.
I am sending you a private e-mail :-)

Garden Fever Girl, I'm sure the package will show up sooner or later. With the holidays, I'm sure the PO is backed up.
Thank you for posting the conf.#.

A BIG THANK YOU to those of you who have offered to send to those who have not yet received! We'll see where everything is Friday.

Tina

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe New Year
Tina

Cassie

Hug's, Tina

Amy, checking in to see if your package arrived yet?

May the New Year be filled with many blooms, sprouts, love and happiness.
Hug's, Tina

Thank you very much, though!

Marie

WYnative, when you get everything straightened out, please let us know who you got your secret package from!!!

I want to thank all you lovely ladies for joining in on my Secret Santa RR. This is by far the FUNNEST swap I have ever been in, and it is all because of you all. FLY and Faint are hilarious! You all are caring, wonderful women and I am very proud to have met all of you and had you in my swap. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Big Hug's to each of you
Tina

sweetkitten51, I do hope you enjoy your gifts and had a most wonderful Christmas!

To all: please keep FLY and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she has been called away from home to be with a family member. FLY, if you see this...know that I have you and your family in my prayers!

Blessings to all in the New Year!!!

Faint *who is borrowing Deb's roomba to clean up the snippets of paper left all around this thread* ;)