Posted on 12/06/2008 8:48:32 PM PST by WFTR
A few months ago, we decided to try to run a monthly thread, but as you can see, we haven't had much luck. Life has been busy for me and I know for at least one other host. We've had the misfortune of seeing the least qualified candidate ever nominated by either party elected to our nation's highest office, and that event has certainly hurt the morale of many of us. By this time next year, Pelosi, Reid, and SOBama may have shut down Free Republic by application of the so-called "fairness doctrine." They're doing their best to make Orwell's predictions come true. However, we still have our freedom and a real American as president for another six weeks, so we can be thankful for this time. None of us wanted to see the singles' thread eliminated completely, and I'd like to kick off a Christmas and holiday thread.
I would call the thread just a holiday thread because I want to be inclusive of Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. On the other hand, "Holiday Thread" sounds too much like something created by the idiots who want to expunge Christmas from our society in the name of diversity. I'm starting this thread, and I'm determined to put Christmas in the title. The "holiday" part is to keep us from feeling that we've jumped on the Christmas bandwagon too soon and in hopes of hearing about your Thanksgiving celebration and New Year's plans. (If snugs was planning something even better for Christmas, I apologize. We'll let her start a second thread for Christmas alone.)
With these thoughts in mind, please tell us about the fall you've had, the Thanksgiving you've celebrated, and your plans, memories, and thoughts about Christmas. As always, pictures of decorations, pets, your families, and yourselves are welcomed and desired.
I understand, it’s early in the morning and obviously you didn’t get enough sleep.
Good morning from the Frozen city of Pittsburgh
It was good reading everyones news &
None of the political forums have a singles thread that I am aware of so I think it is a good idea for various people to do just what you did, as the spirit moves & stir the pot here
I am including a few of my "Taken" /married friends for my update, as I dont do as much posting as in times past.
I was very active with the national election & as the rest of you am disappointed on the upcoming new residents in the Whitehouse,. I attended three of the Ohio rallies with the McCasins & Palins and of course took a boatload of pix at each
My life is about the same. Movies & Cinema still a prime interest/activity. I do a lot of photography & my pix are used in one of the local papers regularly. I am active at church & still facilitate the Man to Man Prostate cancer support group in a nearby community. . I participate in a Deep bible study weekly which I find rewarding
Some biking, cross country skiing & kayaking this year but mostly RIGOROUS hiking.
Still care giving my invalid mom. who fortunately has a great mind.but a myriad of medical concerns. Here is a pix of my bro from Oklahoma this summer with mom, and me. This was a few days after mom's 90th b'day & we had her in hospital & rehab to check things out
This past year I met with several FReeper friends at various places. Regretfully NOT ONE TRIP TO DC with my buds there.
Wheelbarrow & AFPhys joined me at my uncles home in Dunkirk NY for a couple days
Met with Lysie & Molly Pitcher for breakfast in Streetsboro
and with Mama Bear; JKPhoto, Dutchess & Mr. Dutchess in Columbus
My dogs & outdoor activities take a lot of my time & outdoor activities still.
My HS reunion was this Oct 24-26th. On October 23 I broke my wrist while out on a rigorous hike in National park. Slipped on either leaves or moss & flew into the river. A long couple mile back THROUGH the river, rapids, big rocks, & up rough Steep ravine to the van carrying my hand more or less was part of day.
I was with my friend John & he took care of my camera & helped me get my dogs in van. Here are a some piix that I took that day. The last pix is the last one I took before my oppsy. I took about 400 pix that day as the weather was delightful. A couple more weeks for cast to be on. So hard to do things with one hand!
A couple shots from my reunion weekend, which was enjoyable despite pain & fatigue
Hi, Dolly! Great pics! I hope your wrist is better. Happy Holidays to you and yours. Kiss Wheelbarrow for me, please. :-)
OH Dolly!! I love your pics of your hiking area. I’d hike too if I had that stream nearby. Thank you so much for the ping.
SCB
God bless you both snugs. Prayrs continue.
Christmas isnt the time of year when our thoughts naturally turn to the Last Supperor what the Jews called Passover. But that particular Passover is critical to Christmas. After breaking bread and giving it to His disciples, Jesus said, Take, eat; this is My body (Matt. 26:26). Breaking bread was a traditional part of Passover, but adding this is my body was a striking departure from the familiar liturgy. The disciples must have been bewildered.
Later the meaning became clear. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means house of Bread. He was laid in a mangera feeding trough. He once said, I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh (John 6:51).
The prophet Micah indicated that One born in Bethlehem would rule over Israel (5:2). But not until Jesus came did anyone realize the uniqueness of this Kingdom. Christs rule would not be imposed upon anyone; it would be imparted to those who accepted this new citizenship.
As we sing of Bethlehems manger, lets remember that the heaven-sent infant King came so that we might eat this bread and partake of His divine nature.
I am so VERY sorry about the loss of your mom...after that many year there is a big void. I have been living with my mom & caring for her since 1992. We drive each other crazy much of the time but she is such a huge part of my existence in so many ways that her death would be a profound loss.
LOL!
Merry Christmas Lazamataz!
Hey Dolly!
Great pics! Sorry about the arm—ouch.
Can I come play in your creek?! LOL
I live in the Pittsburgh area too.
Some winter, huh?
Gorgeous photos, Dolly, as usual! Gosh, girl, take care of that arm! and take care of that mom — she looks really great for 90, a beautiful smile. Have a blessed Christmas and fast recovery!
Awesome photos!
Beautiful pic, and one of my favorite signs of winter. We have lots of pairs of cardinals around here (Maryland) each winter, with the little brown female tagging with the scarlet male. I just got my birdseed out for the first light snowfall of the season. This year, my kitty is no longer here to wave her tail when the birds come up to the back step to peck the scattered seed. During her last year, I put a pillow on a chair for her so she could still watch them. We have gray doves, titmice, swallows, and lots of other kinds of birds, plus owls at night, and we are in a migration zone so that geese fly over spring and fall, and butterflies come in swarms in the summer.
That's awesome! Good luck with the next hunt.
God bless you and your dad, Snugs. I hope he feels much better soon!
Applesauce goes down easily and is healthy for the intestines. And of course, the old standby chicken broth -- excellent in a mug as well as a bowl. I would avoid bread or crackers, but put tiny pastina or orzo pasta in the soup. You can simmer broth with lots of veggies for the vitamins, and then strain them out so there will be no upsets from too much fiber during recovery; cook the pasta separately and add it after straining out the veggies.
Or, you can make "egg drop" soup by heating chicken broth to a boil and then gradually stream in an egg white while stirring. It breaks up into little flaky white bits. Good with some garlic, a tiny pinch of ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider or wine vinegar per quart, and some well-wilted parsley.
Mashed potatoes with lots butter might also be well tolerated, or meat paste -- even babyfood meats puréed finely. American hospitals use lots of fruit-flavored gelatins for recovering patients -- gelatin has protein but is mild -- I think it's referred to as "jelly" over there, and Rowntree's makes it. Also, "fruit cocktail" from a tin -- a variety of peach, pear, grapes, etc diced fine in light syrup.
LOL! Thanks. I do have a little catching up to do, as I’m older than Sarah and I’m just getting started with the hunting.
Thanks, Lady. How are you doing?
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