It's New Year's Eve

December 31, 2010

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Good morning, and Happy last day of 2010. Folks, I hope 2011 is a much better year for everyone. This past year has had a lot of difficult moments for all of us. It's time for things to be looking up now. Even though times got rough now and then, I did get to meet new friends and learn new things. So that in itself is a positive note to end the year on.

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I am at work now, so this will be a short post. I thought today I would share a couple of photos that Audrey sent to me. Mac (her hubby/my son in law) had the honor of having one of his photos hung in a local museum in a nature photography display. Am I proud of him? You betcha!! This first photo shows Mac with his photo display, and next is a close up of his photo. Enjoy.

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Tonight is the big night. It's New Year's Eve, and folks all around the world will be celebrating. Whatever you do, if you are out do be careful. There will be lots of drunk drivers on the roads. Let's all be careful, and make it into the new year safely.

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Tootsie and I will have a nice quiet evening at home. We can watch the Ball drop, and see all the fireworks on TV. This is one night of the year that I prefer to stay at home if I don't have to work.

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Before I get back to work here, I just want to wish each and every one of you a safe and Happy New Year's Eve. Till 2011, Y'all stay warm and have a fantastic day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Time To Get Ready For Another New Year.

December 30. 2010

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Good morning. It's not 6 am yet, so it is still quite dark outside. It's been a very boring night on TV. I couldn't even find any good re-runs to watch. Sad!! So instead, I kept busy finishing up the January collab kit.

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I can't believe that the year is just about over. Just today and tomorrow, that's it! Most of it seemed to just fly right on by me. Amazing, it seems like while I'm waiting for Spring to get here, all the other seasons march right on by, leaving me holding a bag full of unfinished projects. Hmmmm!

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I did a bit of blog hopping this morning, and I'm glad to say that Kyra's boiler has stopped dripping for now. That is definitely good news. I know my oil tank has a tiny leak somewhere, and will have to be replaced when the good weather gets here. It's always something when you have a house.

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I had a chat with Tootsie's doctor, and they are stopping her chemo treatments and her new meds for now. The treatments have enabled her to walk and run and play, but they have wreaked havoc on her inside organs. She has an appointment Tuesday with another doctor so we can figure out what to do next.

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No snow photos today. I figure by now you are sick of looking at snow, so I'll share a layout that I made of Audrey's Christmas gathering. She and Mac are the two wearing the Santa hats. Thank you to Sophistiscraps, Far Far Hill, ApryD Scraps, Obsidian Dawn and BAZ for the resources that I used on the layout.

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Now it's time to check on the Mrs. again. Even with a bit of a cold, she has been sleeping soundly through the night. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

2010 Is Going Out Like A Lion!

December 29, 2010

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It's a lovely sunny morning here in New England. Even though it's still too cold for my taste, there is no white stuff falling from the skies so that makes it a great day. And tonight, it's back to work to make up for not going in last Sunday night.

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There are only two more days left in this year of 2010, and the "bad news grinch" seems to be busy at doling out all the bad luck he can before the year is over. My friend Kyra is being plagued by water drips, first from the toilet, then another one a few days ago, and now drips from the boiler. I hope the problem can be solved soon, and that we all can enjoy a trouble free year in 2011.

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Today, I thought I would share some photos that Audrey sent to show the snow they got in Virginia. This first photo is looking out over her back yard. As you know, she lives out in the middle of farm fields, so she is surrounded by open fields of white, white and more white. I think this particular scene is quite lovely.

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The roads going to the different sections of the fields, and the one leading to Audrey's house have very deep ditches on either side of them. One must be very careful in bad weather, not to drive off the road. Of course, when there is a foot of snow covering the road, this is difficult.

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This next photo shows what happened to a friend who was coming to visit. See the yellow arrow that I put on the photo? That's his truck after it slid off the road and fell into the ditch. This happened just as Audrey had gone out to take photos of the snow. The friend had his granddaughter with him, but Mac and Audrey were quick to the rescue, and no one got hurt.

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On a happier note, I thought I would share of photo of Audrey's two gorgeous furry kids, Charlee and Moon. After playing hard out in the snow, they curled up on the sofa, snug as bugs under a warm blanket, to enjoy a well earned nap.

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Now I need to do some laundry, and start tonight's supper. Janet is coming later, and I want to enjoy my visit with her before I have to leave for work. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm, and have a marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

BOOM! CRASH!

December 28, 2010

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Br-r-r-r! It's 5 am, and it's frigid cold!! The weatherman on TV says it is 17 degrees F and windy. I believe him. Outside my window, everything is white and frozen. As if this storm wasn't bad enough, the weatherman is now talking about another storm for New Year's weekend. I will have to keep watching to see what that is all about.

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Yesterday, we finally got plowed about 4 pm. Whew! I'm so glad the plow guy could make it because there was a ton of snow in my yard. Just as he got here, I heard a loud crash to the side of my part of the house. Oh Oh! I am surrounded by large trees, so any loud crash really concerns me.

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I got dressed warm and went trekking outside and around the back of my house. I noticed at least one big tree down in the back yard, and as I went around to the other side, I found the culprit. Another big tree had come down, hitting my roof and the side of the house. I can't see any damage to the roof or the house yet, but that is because I can't really get too close because of all the snow. I'm keeping my toes and fingers crossed.

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I have a few photos that I took of the gentle giants that surround my house. The photos seem to come out as black and white, but that is because it was still snowing. The snow didn't stop until last night.

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Here's a close up of the snow and ice laden branches. The weight of the snow and ice is why the other two trees came down.

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This next photo is to show how tall these gentle giants really are. Do you see that little whitish blob in the lower left corner? That's the top of my red Japanese Maple tree. The cable running across the photo is the phone and internet cable that runs through the tree tops to the top of the electric poles on the sidewalk. .

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We were lucky and did not lose our electricity, but we did lose our cable TV for about six hours. Considering how the wind was blowing things around, it could have been much worse. I am waiting for photos from Audrey, showing the snow that they got in Virginia, and will share them with you.

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The weatherman is saying that sunrise will be at 7:12 this morning. I always thought that sunrise and daybreak were the same, but I guess I have been wrong. It will be daylight before 7 am. So if sunrise is at 7:12, I wonder what the difference is? (Besides 20 minutes!!!)

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Well, my cup of coffee is quite cold now, so I think I will have to make another one. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm, and have a fantastic day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

My Yard Is A Winter Wonderland

December 27, 2010

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Ye gads! The world outside my door is WHITE, WHITE, WHITE!!! It's been snowing since 8 am yesterday morning. And it is still snowing, though lightly. Joe shovelled right up until 11 pm last night, and this morning we had another foot of the stuff.

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Yes, it is very beautiful. But now it needs to go away. I got my photos, and now I just want it to disappear. When I opened my door this morning, it made snow angels in the snow on my steps. Yup, it's up over my door jamb. Sometime before this day and night is over, my plow guy will be here to move the bulk of it somewhere. The guys have been shovelling out their cars, and around the doors to the house, but there is an awful lot of the stuff out there!!

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A lot of folks have lost their power, but so far we still have ours. We have lost the cable to the TV, but we still have electricity, phone and internet. We are very lucky so far. The city plows have been busy since yesterday, and have managed to block the entrance to my yard quite nicely. We are not going anywhere too soon.

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Here are some photos that I took this morning. This first photo is my red Japanese Maple tree. I have to admit, it really is beautiful.

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And here is a close up of that big branch that is hanging the snow. The tips of the branches are buried.

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This next shot is a lovely shrub that grows along the side of the entrance to my yard. This morning it looks like a fairy bush.

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I took a photo of the street so that you could see how deep the snow is at the entrance to my yard. There's at least three feet of snow there. Makes you want to run right out and shovel!!! I don't think so!!!

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The last photo for today shows what it looks like right outside my door, after Joe shovelled off the steps of course.

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Okay, that's it for photos this morning. I want to finish up this post while we still have internet access. God willing, I'll be back tomorrow. Till then, Y'all stay warm and have a marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Ye Gads, Boatloads Of Snow Coming!!!

December 26, 2010

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Good morning. It's only 5:15 am, and still quite dark outside. Tootsie and I are at work, and will be going home in a couple of hours. Today, we have tons and tons of snow coming!!! And it is supposed to keep right on coming all through the night and tomorrow. Oh bless me, I am so excited I could barf!!!

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I don't mind a few sprinkles of the white stuff, but c'mon now! A foot or more is just not fun at all. My yard is huge and shoveling is a daunting job. This time, I will have to wait till the snow plow has time to come and plow the whole yard. He will have to plow 2 or 3 times over the course of the snow storm.

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Did you all have a wonderful Christmas? Gosh, Tootsie and I had a fantastic day!! I got lots of nice presents, and Miss Tootsie made out like a bandit. She got all sorts of treats, a new mat for her food dish, toys and a new sweater. Ever heard of "Bow Wow Beanies"? They are beanie babies made especially for doggies. Santa brought two of these for Tootsie. Woodstock and Snoopy (I think that's his name).

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Before I took these next two photos, the container of gourmet cookies and the toys were all in the center of her new mat, and Snoopy was over to the right of the mat. By the time I got the camera out, Tootsie had moved everything over closer to her bed. That way, she could just sit in her bed and be able to reach out and touch everything. Smart doggie!!

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In this photo, you can see how she even got Snoopy, and moved him right over next to her cookies. This makes it easier for her to keep an eye on him!

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After all our presents were opened, Tootsie and I went back to bed for a little nap. Then I cooked Christmas dinner for us and three of the dwarfs. My daughter Dee Dee had already cooked the meat and the gravy for me, so the rest of the meal was a breeze. And oh so YUMMY! Roast pork, gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, corn, cranberry sauce, corn bread, and cookies, cookies, cookies!!

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Now it's time to start the treasure hunt all over again for next Christmas. I will start now looking for special goodies for everyone. And not to forget, I need to get out and take new photos for the 2012 calendar.

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I think I'll make me a cup of coffee now, and check on the weather station again for an update on the storm. Y'all stay warm, and have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2010

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Merry Christmas everybody. I hope your day is filled with love, laughter and peace. Miss Tootsie and I stayed up till midnight because one of the gifts under our tree had me quite intrigued, and I wanted to open it to see what it was. I know, I know. I'm just as bad as the rest of the little kids at Christmas time.

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Well, I tore open the box, and my oh my, there was a gorgeous, oh-so-soft and cuddly, plush moo cow. Mary Ann and Gene, thank you from the bottom of my heart. After hugging the little guy to bits, I set him in amongst the gifts under the tree.

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Next, it was Tootsie's turn to open a present or two. Of course, the first one she opened was one from Kyra. Such a happy little camper my Tootsie is now. There is a whole bag of goodies inside the package, and she immediately pulled out a couple of pieces and ate them.

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The next present she chose to open was a beautiful new red sweater. Thank you Auntie Audrey and Uncle Mac. You know, I think Tootsie is the best dressed little girl in town!

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While Tootsie was having her fun, I was busy opening one tiny little package that Kyra had sent to me. The note on the front of the package said that this had come from her own garden. Oh my, dare I hope? Could there be pink poppies inside? Rip! Rip! I tore into this package and yup yup! Oh Kyra, thank you so much. Now I can't wait for Spring so I can plant all these wonderful flower seeds. (And yes! There were pink poppy seeds included!)

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Tootsie and I still have lots of presents to open, and I know you do too. So I will leave you with today's Christmas gift, and wish you a wonderful Christmas Day.

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"EB - QP 053"

Here is your download link for "QP 053"

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Have a wonderful Christmas everybody. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SU

December 24, 2010

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The Christmas spirit is catching. Just hours to go, and we can all go to bed with a smile on our face and dream of toys and candy and all sorts of goodies. I'm thinking that Tootsie will be dreaming about a huge bag of chicken treats, or maybe a pound or two of roast beef and roasted chicken!! She has good taste, that little girl of mine.

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Later today and early this evening, my daughter Dee Dee and her family will be coming by, and Janet and Scott will be here too. The rest of my family is a distance away, but I will chat with them by phone. Amazing how a little thing like a phone can bring friends and family, who are far away, right up close to you.

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As I am typing here, I am seeing a fly buzzing around near my window. Now I don't know where the little bugger came from, but I do know that once I go and get my fly swatter, this is one critter who will not be here when Santa comes to visit. No sirree, I'm going to bash his little head in with the fly swatter!!

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I also want to wish my friend Su (actually I'm a day late, my bad!) a MAGNIFICENT and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Stop by her blog if you'd like to leave her some Birthday Wishes. She is really a very special lady. Tootsie sends big licks to you Su. Slu-r-r-r-p!!!!!!

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Now on to today's Christmas present for you. And don't forget, when you have a moment, there will be another gift for you to download tomorrow morning. Not to worry, the links will be up for a while. Enjoy.

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"EB - QP 052"

Here is your download link for "QP 052"

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It's time now for me to get dressed and do a few last minute things around here. Tootsie and I want to wish all of you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a wonderful day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Tomorrow Night's The BIG NIGHT!

December 23, 2010

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Oh boy, oh boy! Tomorrow night's the big night. Santa Claus will be making his rounds once we all get to sleep. Are we all getting excited yet? I'm beginning to think that Tootsie could care less. She's not the least big nosey about what's under the tree. Do you suppose that maybe it's because the tree is up on a card table? Hmmmm.

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Well we definitely have a bit of news here. MORE SNOW!!! Yup, it snowed flurries all day yesterday, and all evening. This morning our little part of the world is once again covered in the white stuff. Oh joy!

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I was able to find a bureau the other day for one of the rooms here, and it was just in time. A new dwarf moved in last night. A bit different from all the others though. This one is a lady dwarf. So I shall cross all my fingers and toes that this works out okay.

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Today I have the first of three new Christmas presents for you. I will post one today, another tomorrow, and the last on Christmas morning. I hope you can use them. Here is the first one.

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"EB - QP 051"

Here is your download link for "QP - 051"

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Today is also Day #976 of my blog posts. Imagine that! In 24 more days, I will have written my 1000th post. I never in my wildest dreams thought that this would be so. Hmmm, now I will think of something really nice to celebrate that BIG day.

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Time for me to be off now. I want to check and see if our newest household member had a good night. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm, and have a magnificent day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Playing With Snow Today

December 22, 2010

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Good morning. Brr-r-r-r-r!! My, it's cold! I see a bit of a breeze outside my window this morning, and the yard looks a bit icy. Yesterday, several of the dwarfs went out and shoveled up the snow and cleared of my car too. Thank you, thank you guys. I really do appreciate that.

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I have a couple of photos that I took yesterday through the window, of the snow on the hedge just outside. It's a good thing I took the photos because this morning there is hardly any snow left on the hedge.

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My friend Su introduced me to a wonderfully creative group, Digital Whispers. The folks there are so creative, and everyday is a learning day. Today's challenge was to create snowflakes, either by drawing with a line tool, or by using your initial. I chose to use the letter "E." (That's because I couldn't find the line tool!) For a background, I used a photo that I had taken of the night moon recently. Then I placed my "snowflakes" all over the background. Because you cannot see the pattern in the little flakes, I placed one very large snowflake on top of everything and muted it a bit. Yes'm, I did have fun!

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That's about as close to the snow as I want to get when I am playing with it. But I do love the challenge of learning new things, and this group offers so many opportunities for that.

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Starting tomorrow, I have some Christmas gifts for you that I will post here. One each day, till Christmas morning. All together, there are three. With all that has happened this year, I am very grateful for all of you. Coming here every day to chat has helped me tremendously. Even though the Grinch has done his best to put a damper on Christmas, Tootsie and I will stil have a joyous day. And we wish the same for all of you.

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Now it's time for me to get dressed, and maybe have another cup of coffee before it's time to start my day. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a simply marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Everything Is Covered In White

December 22, 2010

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Good afternoon, everyone. This will be a short post. Today just got ahead of me, and I'm just now taking a break to post here. Yesterday's "flurries" left us with about 5 or 6 inches of snow covering everything in sight. I'm sure not looking forward to anymore "flurries."

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However, even though I am not crazy for snow, I do see the beauty that it presents. Yesterday I took a few photos of what I thought represented some of that beauty. I hope you like these.

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I have more photos, but I'll save them for tomorrow. Right now, I have to get back to my (UGH!) housework. I think whoever invented dust has a wicked bad sense of humor! I can handle the laundry and the dirty dishes. But the rest? Ugh, Ugh, Ugh!!! With that, I'll leave you till tomorrow. Y'all stay warm and have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Last Parts to "Visions Of Sugar Plums"

December 20, 2010

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Good morning. Well, it's officially Winter now, at least according to the calendar. Funny, we've all known right along that it's Winter time. I'm home now, and I have a busy day coming up. I have to go out and buy a bureau today and I have someone coming to see about a room. This is a weird week to have to be moving.

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In just five days, it will be Christmas. It's sad to think that there are folks who have to be finding a place to live with such a joyful holiday upon us. I know I complain when it is cold, but at least I know where I am sleeping at night, and for that I am thankful.

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My son in law will be here shortly to take me shopping, and one of the dwarfs will stay with Tootsie while I am out. I am so grateful for these guys. They have been a big help to me while I adjust to my new situation.

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Today, I will post the last two parts of "Visions Of Sugar Plums." I hope you have been able to use this fun holiday kit.

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My Preview "Visions Of Sugar Plums" Elements

My Preview "Visions Of Sugar Plums" Papers

And here are the last two links for my Parts 5 & 6 "Visions Of Sugar Plums."

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When you are finished downloading, don't forget to hop over to Su's blog and pick up her Parts 5 & 6 too. Take a moment to say thank you. A lot of love went into this kit.

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Now it's time for me to get ready to go shopping. Eddie will be here soon and I don't want to be out all day. Miss Tootsie and I need our "beauty" nap this afternoon. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm, and have a marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

A Very Pretty Morning

December 19, 2010

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Well, it's a good morning so far. (No snow!! Yet!!) Yes, it's cold, but the dreaded snow storm is not coming. Now they say we will have snow on Tuesday and Wednesday, but hopefully it won't be tons of snow. I really don't care about a white Christmas. A balmy breeze and temps around 78 F would do me just fine. Yeah, I know. I'm a spoilsport.

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This morning, my car was covered in frost. And, the sky was not looking so great. Lots of dark clouds instead of a peachy golden glow. Thank goodness I took a couple of photos, because in just fifteen minutes we had a whole new sky. Here are a few of what I took this morning on the way home from work.

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This first photo was taken just before I left work. (10 minutes after I started the engine to melt the frost.) The clouds had gone from dark gray to a dark navy-gray.

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About ten minutes later when I got to the pharmacy, there were some holes in the clouds with specks of pink surprises starting to peek through.

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When I came out of the store, there was a beautiful blue sky with fluffy white clouds chasing away all the dark gray clouds.

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And, as I was leaving the parking lot, I just had to stop and take one more photo. Just ahead of me there was a tree silhouetted against a very pretty fluffy sky. Such a beauty! I just have to share it with you.

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Considering how dark the sky was when I first came out this morning to start my car, this last photo was an absolute delight. Especially with the tree's feathery form. Yup, it's a good morning here in my little part of New England.

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On this note, I will leave you and go make myself a cup of coffee. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Yeah!! No Snow Storm!!!

December 18, 2010

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Good morning. The sun is shining, but don't let that fool you. It's still COLD!!! Time to turn on the weather channel and see what's happening with that storm that is heading this way. If I get my druthers, it will go out to sea. I can dream, can't I?

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There's not much news here on the homefront. Tootsie and I went to bed early last night and watched a bit of TV. I did have projects on my laptop to work on but my priority last night was to cuddle with Tootsie and rest.

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Oh Gosh, I'm looking at the new weather map that has just been put up on the TV, and it looks like NO SNOW until at least Tuesday or Wednesday. Gee, I hope they are not just teasing me. I really wasn't looking forward to driving back and forth from work in snow and ice.

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I was reading my friend Nani's blog a bit earlier, and she was telling about some good news in her family. A very special young lady has been battling with cancer for about 12 years and is now in remission. Nani calls this a "damn disease." I call it dreadful, hateful, and merciless.

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It doesn't care who you are, how old you are or how fragile you are. Sometimes it takes it's victims in a very short time, and sometimes it has them lingering on for many many years. The battle to fight this disease is long and scary. Dare we dream that a cure will be found in the near future? What a glorious time that would be!

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How about some photos? Yesterday on my way home from work, there was a huge beautiful moon right up over the tree tops ahead of me. Oh my gosh, it was a beauty!! This was shortly after 3pm, and it was mid-afternoon daylight. Well, you know I had to get out my camera. These photos are handheld, and shot through the car window, but they are still pretty good. This first photo is to show how close the moon seems to be over the tree tops, and the second is a bit closer shot with my zoom lens.

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I did go out last night after dark to get a few more shots, but it did not work out so good. The moon was very bright, and I did not have my tripod with me so the photos did not come out so good. I will try again another night with my tripod.

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Now it's time for me to get busy here. Soon it will be lunch time, and I need to rustle up something good for Tootsie and me. Till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Lot's Of Snow On It's Way Here

December 17, 2010

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Good morning everybody on this rather cold Friday morning. My car was covered in a layer of frost this morning so I had to let the motor run for a while before I could see out the windows and leave for work.

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Remember yesterday when I said how cold it was? That even my coffee wouldn't stay warm for very long? Well, as the day went on, and all my toes and fingers were about froze to popsicles, my son in law came over to have a look. For goodness sakes!!! We had run out of fuel oil, and therefore had no heat. Seven hundred dollars later after a full tank of fuel oil, the house started warming up.

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There are so many things that I have to start doing for myself that I never had to worry about before. My hubby and my brother always took care of looking after the fuel gauge, and checking to make sure we had a plow guy in the winter. They always checked to make sure there was no water in the basement after a rain storm. And lots more things that I will now have to learn to do all over again for myself.

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When I was younger and my children were small, I was very independent, and took care of things myself. Then later I found that it was quite nice to have someone else to do a lot of things for me. My Michael and my brother spoiled me quite a lot, I must say. And it is times like this, when we are alone, that we realize how blessed we really were.

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Okay, on to funner stuff. I don't have any new photos, so I reached into my stash of photos from earlier this year. (I have tons of stash!!) I dug out two nice photos of a starling at the bird bath. This particular day, Mom had a young one with her, and was trying to get a moment to herself to enjoy a refreshing sip of water.

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I've been listening to the weatherman and he says that we have a nasty snow storm coming in this weekend. It is supposed to get here Sunday afternoon just in time to make it difficult for me to get out to go to work. Then it is supposed to snow all through the night into Monday. Naturally! That will make it very difficult for me to get home on Monday morning, and to get into my own yard. The town plows come by and leave a few feet of snow piled up in front of my driveway. Not just my driveway, everyone's driveway. I guess that's just to make life a bit more interesting. (No, I'm not laughing!)

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I'm at work and it's 8 am, and the Mrs. is beginning to stir. So it is time for me to get busy and start her breakfast tray. Till tomorrow, stay warm and Y'all have a wonderful day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

It's C-C-C-Cold!!!

December 16, 2010

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Brrrrrrrr! It is so-o-o-o cold this morning!!! Gosh, I just do not like the cold. I have been debating whether or not I will make it to Florida this winter, but that sun sure looks good to me. No matter how cool it is there when I go for my vacation, it is always much warmer than it is back here. You know I don't like to wish away time, but the end of February can't get here soon enough. Florida is looking awfully good to me right now.

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Well, yesterday the cable man got here. And lo and behold it was a different man this time, and he actually found the problem and told me what it was. There was a problem with the software in the cable box, and it was causing my cable and TV to shut down and then try to re-boot itself when it came back on. Phew!! I knew it wasn't because I did not know how to press the on/off button correctly like the last repair guy suggested.

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I took a few photos yesterday after the snow started falling and covering everything with a blanket of white. It wasn't a lot of snow, but it was enough to cover the ground and my car. Some of my little birds are ground feeders so they were scratching around looking for their food.

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Across the yard, there was a little gray squirrel scurrying around trying to gather up all his goodies that he had hidden under the leaves.

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I think I have to make another cup of coffee. It's so cold that if you don't drink it up right away, the coffee gets cold. Today I even have my little electric fireplaces on, but the cold seems to be coming in right through the walls. Oh gosh, still 95 days to go till Spring and the warmer temps!!

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Now I off to make the coffee, and maybe something to eat. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day and stay warm.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Here We Go Again With The Cable Man

December 15, 2010

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Oh gosh! Do you realize that in ten days, it will be Christmas? Just ten little tiny days!!!!! You know the old saying "So much to do, So little time"? Yup, that's me. But I have to admit it's my own fault. I'm a procrastinator. As I got older, I took up an "If you can put it off till tomorrow, do it!" attitude.

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Yeah, I know, this is not a good way to go, but somehow when I slowed down, my priorities got a bit mixed up too. Since reaching that "senior" level in time, I've learned about picking my battles. It's a good way to keep one's blood pressure down.

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Of course, today's battle is one that needs to be addressed. The dratted cable repairman is coming back out again to fix what he could not fix the last time he was here. His last visit, he couldn't find the problem, so he wrote on his work slip "equipment working fine, customer just does not know how to use it." Of all the nerve!!!!!!! And to make matters worse, because he said there was nothing wrong, I got billed $30 for the visit!!!

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I don't think I need to tell you about my excited phone call yesterday to the cable company when I received my bill. I went round and round with the customer service, then finally asked for a supervisor. She finally agreed to take the charge off my bill, but I'll bet she puts it right back on after today's visit. They don't like it when they are wrong.

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Yesterday, Tootsie and I stopped by the post office and mailed out the last of my holiday boxes and packages. Now I just have to wrap a couple of gifts, shop for the dwarfs, and make a fruit basket. Then I have to write a letter to my neighbor. He insists on piling junk on my property against my fence, and I do not appreciate it. I took photos of it and I shall include one in his letter asking him to remove the stuff. I know it won't do me much good, but I will try.

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Today's photo is one I took of Tootsie. She is watching me set up the tree and making sure that I don't cover up all her goodies that she has hidden here and there.

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Now, I have to go. The cable guy is at my door. Here's hoping he fixes the problem. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a great day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Another Busy Day For Toosie & Me

December 14, 2010

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It's looking a bit breezy and cold outside my window this morning. Yesterday was actually a fairly warm day, but today is back to wintry cold. Brrrrr! This will be a short post because I have lots to do today.

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Miss Tootsie has a doctor appointment this afternoon for another blood test, and then I need to stop by the post office to mail the last couple of boxes. Gosh, one of them still needs to be taped up and addressed!

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Eddie will be coming by to do a couple of things in the house for me, and then I still have a bit of houseworky stuff to do. Not my most fun stuff! I would love to know how to wiggle my nose and have it all done. Presto!! Alas, I have not learned that secret yet.

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For a photo today, I thought I would share a fun one that I took of my little tree. It's just a small table tree and it has fiber optic lights on the branch tips. When I took the photo, I must have moved a bit because all the little fiber optic lights showed up as colorful squiggles. I thought it was rather fun and interesting looking.

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Now I really must get busy here. it will be afternoon before I know it. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a magnificent day, and stay warm.

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Hugs, Edna B.

"Visions Of Sugar Plums" Parts 3 & 4

December 13, 2010

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I'm yawning a bit while I sit here writing. It's not quite 3:30 am, and still hours away from daybreak. Sad to say, there isn't even anything good to watch on TV. I did watch a bit of the weather channel though. There is a lot of really bad weather going right across the whole country. Rain, snow and ice.

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Yesterday morning the roads here were covered with ice. Going home, I had to drive very slowly, and even then I had three mishaps on the ice. My car was just slipping and sliding all over the road. My angels were watching over me though, because I did not get in any accidents. Other folks were not so lucky. I passed several accidents along the way. During the day, the rain started up, and rained all day and all night. At the moment, it appears to have stopped, but we shall see.

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I'm almost finished with my gift wrapping. The last two boxes should be ready for mailing today or tomorrow at the latest. Phew! I think I made it!! Now I just have to help Santa find something for the dwarfs, and I can sit back and enjoy the season.

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Today, I have Part 3 & 4 of "Visions Of Sugar Plums" for you. I hope you're enjoying this kit. Su and I had a grand time working on it.

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Here are your links for Part 3 & 4 of "Visions Of Sugar Plums."

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When you finish downloading here, don't forget to visit Su's blog for her Parts 3 & 4. Here is her preview.

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Now I think I'll go see if there is anything on TV to watch for a while. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day, and stay safe.

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Hugs, Edna B.

December 12, 2010
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It's 5:50 am, very dark outside, and I'm still at work. The Mrs. has been sleeping soundly, and I've been catching up a bit on some of my emails. My shopping rush has finally quieted, and I'm down to one family and some Santa things to put under the tree for the dwarfs.

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Yesterday morning I made it to the post office with my arms bulging with boxes to mail. Actually, they were all in three large plastic bags and I was trying to carry all the bags at the same time. It got a bit awkward when I had to stop to open doors (3 of them to get inside), but then a nice gentleman opened the doors for me. Sometimes it pays to be old!!

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I was doing pretty good until the clerk said "That will be $-----"!!!!! I almost croaked, but there was a long line in back of me and it would have been very embarrassing. So I smiled and said "No problem" and handed over my money. He said "Thank you, and you have a nice day." I said "Oh I will, and I'll be back in a couple of days with more boxes."

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I just have two boxes left to mail, and the rest I can deliver or put under the tree. I declare, next year I will have to get better organized. This last minute rush is not for me. When I was younger, I would be done with all my shopping, wrapping and packing a couple months early. But now I seem to be doing well to finish up before Santa gets here.

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The highlight of my gifts is my new calendar for 2011. I am very pleased with how it came out. So I think next year, I will set up a separate folder for calendar photos. I can add photos to it all during the year, and hopefully, have my next calendar made up a couple of months before the holidays. That would be nice.

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Today, I pulled out a couple of fun photos from this past summer. Even though I love watching all the birds, I must admit that some of them can be quite intimidating to the smaller birds. I know it's not nice to bully anyone (or thing) smaller than us, but I thought these photos were quite comical.

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Now it's time for me to finish up a few things here before I start getting ready to go home. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

A Christmas Gift For You

December 11, 2010

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Good morning. I can see sunshine outside my window, so I'm hoping that the temperature is a bit warmer too. The weatherman promised us a warm weekend with temps in the mid 40's. That would be nice because I have to go out this morning to mail most of my packages. I just need one more arm in order to carry them all.

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Folks, my little Tootsie is beginning to slow down a bit. The doctors tried switching to new meds, but that did not help. They even cancelled the fourth treatment of her last chemo sessions. Next Tuesday, she will have more blood work to see where we are at. At that time, I will have to ask what we will be doing about her chemo treatments.

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One thing I will not be doing is putting her through a lot more tests. I want to give her as much quality time as I can without putting her through more discomfort. I know the doctors don't understand this, but it's something I have to decide. Through it all, she still has a wonderful sunny disposition.

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On a design note, it's time for me to get back into working mode. I have been slacking off these past few days while I've been concentrating on shopping and such, but now it is time to catch up on unfinished projects.

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I have finished a few Christmas presents for you though, and I will post the first one today. This is a CU Pack of papers and overlays that I made from a photo of my Christmas tree. I hope you can use them.

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"EB - CU Christmas Paper & Overlays

And here is your download link for "CU Christmas Paper & Overlays"

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Now I think I will finish my coffee and get dressed. Those packages won't get mailed unless I get a move on. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

What A Difference 30 Minutes Makes!

December 10, 2010

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Even though it's very cold out. the skies are quite pretty this morning. It always amazes me how quickly the colors and patterns in the sky change. At 7 am this morning, the sky was an array of pinks and corals over a blue-violet background. By 7:30 am, it had changed to a magnificent blue filled with fluffy white clouds. Only one person can paint like this, and I thank Him.

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7:00 am

7:30 am

I'm at work, and the Mrs. is still asleep so I have a few minutes to post. I've already filled out the declaration slips for my packages going out in the mail. Now I just have to finish taping up the boxes, attached the labels, and get them to the post office. I know I'm a bit late, but I hope everything gets where it's supposed to go before the Holidays.

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How are your letters for Santa going? I'm still working on mine. I have to keep changing it a bit so he won't think I'm greedy. But I do impress upon him that I have been a very good girl, and it would be really nice if he could bring me the toys that I asked for. Up to now, he has never disappointed me. Is it any wonder that I love this guy?

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If you're looking for some really great Christmas goodies, then you must visit Minky's new Christmas section. She and Kyra have been very busy creating all sorts of wonderful things . There are books, coloring pages, puzzles, etc. Take your coffee with you because there is quite a lot to see there.

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I think I hear the Mrs. stirring, so it's time for me to get busy here. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

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Hugs, Edna B.