we have survived!

looking forward to another year here with these dorks...

we had a wonderful Christmas with the kids...

not many left overs left...

and the weather has warmed up...

gave my niece the run down of coming here and what to expect...

waiting on her final decision...

they don't have much time to make up their minds...

so, not sure what the days ahead will hold...

but we will be ok...

sleigh bells ring...

good morning and happy Friday!

been a busy month here and I think we are finally winding down a bit...

my "new" old moose!

found him on the last trip to goodwill...

love him...

getting things squared away for 2016...

and planning for the early part of 2017...

the snow is still on the ground...

we haven't gotten anymore...

it just won't leave...

its been bitter cold but should be warmer today...

and tomorrow looks really good before we dip again...

mother nature must have pms or something...

I stayed in all day yesterday...

I was stiff and sore anyway...

I am in hibernation mode...

my poor guys are working out in this stuff...

and DH is working overtime all week and tomorrow...

he is getting so tired...

keep them both in your prayers...

Craig is working all weekend, so nothing going to be happening around here...

no major projects or shopping trips planned...

have a good weekend!

we have s#$%...

this is what it did here this morning...

our first real stick to the ground and on things snow...

got major things happening here...

and we still have deliveries to do for the toy drive...

12 more kids...

a person here in town did a benefit to raise money for the toy drive...

and kept the funds...

"she earned them"

using our name...

the cops are involved and she will be prosecuted...

but what has come out of the woodwork would make  your skin crawl...

she has ripped off so many organizations here!

but no one had proof before...

and we do...

its going to stop...

now, in Feb...

our niece from Richmond, Va is coming to live with us for good...

her dad is failing...

he is in a hospital there...

will go to rehab and then a nursing home...

IF he works hard and they can get him semi mobile again...

a friend out there will get him on a straight flight through to here...

and we will put him in a nursing home here...

if that doesn't happen, he will stay there...

I want her to spend Christmas and her birthday with her dad...

Jackie has spina bifida...

and has never been on her own...

she will be getting my play room...

after Christmas, we will clean that room out...

sell off the extra stuff we won't have room for and dump the rest...

we need to get a bed in there for her and be ready for when she gets here...

I have most of the plans worked out and the rest we can just wing...

she is not total care and still semi mobile, but not sure just what she is able to do on her own...

I am going to teach her to cook, for sure...

so...

with all of this in mind...

I may not be posting very often until we get all these things done...

will be back here and there, but probably not full time until all the ducks are in a row...

Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy your time with your family...

its the most wonderful time of the year...

;o)

we got the Christmas stuff out yesterday...

the tree in the kitchen...

brown and red glass ornaments...

and 2 sock monkeys with candy canes...

the red one is Santa and the brown one is a reindeer...

on top of the kitchen cabinet...

desktop in the living room...

our family tree in the living room...

our angel on top of the tree has been with us since our first Christmas together...

and the mini nativity...

love this one...

4 days to go and counting...

donations are slow coming in this year...

and they are down...

so the next few days could get a bit exciting...

pray I can keep up or the right person steps up to help...

have a good week!

7 days...

in the next 7 days, this community will have this all filled up...

in 7 days, we start distributing toys to area families...

every child gets a coloring book and crayons...

every family gets a movie and a game for family nights...

we need so much more...

but we're getting there...

;0)

if I am scarce around here for the next week to 10 days...

just know I am trying out all the cool toys!

and mega shopping with the monetary donations...

;o)

pray that we are a blessing to those who come...

our little downtown!

it is so Christmassy...

I will  have to count the trees around the square the next time we are up there...

they surround the whole thing...

and some of the store fronts are awesome...

so just sit back and enjoy...

hope you enjoyed the trip around the square!

Christmas time in a little shop downtown...

this little shop isn't open yet...

but I cannot wait until it does...

the owners are busy working full time and they have other properties here that they are trying to get going...

they have a small cottage with 2 bedrooms that they rent out for folks needing a place to stay when they come to town...

and now they are working on what will be a bed and breakfast...

each place is on each side of their home...

so it will be easy for them to manage...

and since they live on Main Street, just a block or so away from this wonderful little shop...

it will be an easy walk to work...

for  when they retire from their real jobs...

don't you just love this silver and bright green color scheme?

with a touch of black...

awesome display and it just pops in this little bitty town!

and just a heads up out there!

I saw the four letter word in the forecast yesterday...

its a week or so away...

but its coming...

I don't think its flip flop weather anymore, Toto!

its been a whole week!

first off, last Tuesday, Craig was hurt at work...

and needed 3 staples...

he is fine and those are coming out today!

we started setting up for the toy drive...

so thankful for this community...

and the donations haven't even gotten started yet...

the downtown is so pretty!

I have more photos of that for later this week...

its so much fun to see everyone getting their Santa on!

I have but a few things out...

no time and we still have babies...

and in between all of this...

we had Thanksgiving...

adopted out a baby or 3...

down to 4 that are ready to go...

and one that needs to be checked by the vet...

might be cross eyed or have vision problems...

I think 99% of the leftovers are gone...

so I have to cook today...

been cleaning and getting ready for the tree to go up...

when the rest of the babies leave here...

my rescue contact has been with family in California for the last week..

the one left in charge has been no help at all...

and I have come to a decision...

a hard one at that...

this is the last litter...

I am not able to do it on my own...

and with both guys working days...

only off on the weekends...

its just not possible for me to keep doing this...

because I do have down days...

I haven't told the rescue yet...

its not going to go over well at all...

;(

but I have to do what's best for me...

and keep me going or I am no help to anyone at all...

hope your last week was a good one...

and you were stuffed with good food...

surrounded by good people...

and blessed with all you have...

we sure were...

;)

our town...

Christmas is starting to show around here...

its a start...

busy weekend here and 2 babies went to their forever home...

it looks more like Fallmas here...

still have the fall leaves that are almost all down...

the yard was mowed for the last time yesterday...

and the leaves mulched and thrown in the flower beds...

didn't get half the things done outside that I wanted to, but did get so much done inside...

and the summer clothes, 98% of them...

are put away and winter stuff pulled out...

drug out the mittens, hats and earmuffs...

cleaned and ate chili from the fire station...

fundraiser for the 4th fireworks...

just a good weekend to be home...

DH did the grocery run and brought me home a whopper...

Craig and I hung out here and worked from one project to the next...

getting ready for this next week...

got a turkey breast thawing in the fridge...

all the trimmings are bought...

gearing up for the toy drive set up and official kick off!

have good days...

I am napping today, that's for sure!

we have had several frosts in our area now...

but some things are still green...

I think we will finish dumping the pots outside this weekend...

the begonias turned black...

but the marigolds are still going...

had someone who was supposed to get the ferns...

posted them for free on facebook...

never have picked them up, and its too late now...

need to dump the pots and get them turned over for winter so they don't freeze and break...

had 4 babies spoken for, pm'd them and no one is getting back to me...

sooooooo...

going to post them all again...

6 are very ready right now...

slow day here...

not much going on...

I think I will head back to bed...

went to bed late and got up way too early...

;o)

have good days...