GrandmaBarb, Just loved the pretty little birdhouse and the fantastic garden pointer. How clever you are!! Barb sent me a sign that she had made from an old piece of weathered board on which she had painted the prettiest yellow flowers on the left of the board. On the right of the board she had glued little tiny pointed pinecones in the shape of an arrow with blue jewels along the sides showing the way to the garden. On both the birdhouse and garden sign she had painted Ellens Joy. I am so happy that you were my Secret Santa as you nailed my personality to a tee. Thanks for the time you spent on my gift during this busy time of year. I love it. Ellen

Margo it arrived yesterday.....I found it on the front porch this morning tucked away behind a pot...intact!! I had to leave this morning thus I just opened it over a Margarita. Margo, as usual you send me way to much! I love it all...as usual! Miss Margo sent me....... *a very nice note! *a snowman ornament...cute! *a gingerbread sticky note pad and pen...cute! *a little cookbook with Chocolate recipes! *a red scour pad! My husband thought it was for my face! I hope he was not right...LOL! *Two red and white kitchen towels...love...love...love! I am big on red towels in my kitchen....perfect...perfect...perfect! *Two colorful insulated hot pads...not potholders...these are for hot pots/dishes on the counter. Love these! *Made by Margo...a red (my favorite color) and white beaded necklace....the little white beads remind me of dice....yes, I like to gamble. I am headed this coming week to my favorite Indian casino for a few days...this I will be wearing! This is wonderful!! Thanks Margo for your generosity.....what a wonderful Christmas in July!!! Annie

What a neat Christmas tree. Love all the beads you strung on it and that tree skirt is wonderful. This reminds me of decorating the tree when I was growing up. I can remember stringing popcorn for ours too. Such a pretty setting. That little 4 year old sounds like a kick in the pants! So special to have memories like this. His little rocks in front of Karens village piece was so cute too. Punk

I have only had two Christmas trees, both real trees that I chopped down in the forest (with a permit). My brother does this every year and I chopped down trees for myself twice before deciding it was just too much hassle (and a bit sad). Both times I severely underestimated the size of the tree when it was standing in the forest. Once we got them home we realized they were too tall even for our vaulted ceilings and had to lop off some of the bottom and they were still the biggest Christmas trees I'd ever seen in a house. Not to mention the effort it takes to drag a huge tree through the snowy forest to get it back to the truck. I have to say the experience of "Christmas tree hunting" as I call it is far more fun for me than actually having the live tree. So now I just opt to join my brother when I can to help him "hunt" for and chop down his Christmas tree. My house has no tree (and no children to be disappointed about that).