Christmas Countdown - 2013

[Ryan]

I do not like the new Google maps! Used to be when you were going somewhere you could add in all the places you wanted to stop at , now you can only do the start and finish. Does me no good when we are planing to stop at 3 places in the Toronto area and only one of them can be entered into the map. Apparently lots of people are having a problem with this. Now I have to find a map where I can do that because I am so directionally impared! Anyone know of a good map I can do that with?

http://www.mapquest.com/

Map Quest allows multiple stops. Hope this helps!

 

[Holiday]

I wish I could stay away from all that stuff. I like dark meat, and love burgers although I'm trying to cut back. I love BBQ (hot links, chopped or sliced brisket, ribs, etc.). And I love ham, especially with glaze!

One thing I don't like that everyone thinks I'm crazy for is mashed potatoes and gravy! Just don't like them, and my wife thinks I'm insane. I don't know if its the consistency or what, but I can't eat mashed potatoes.

I agree with your wife!!!! LOL!!!!! I eat so much mashed potatoes that it's amazing that I haven't turned into a potato!!!


Starches are my weakness. Potatoes, breads, rice, and pasta. I'll take them over sweets any day!!!

I'm with you on the bread and pasta. And I enjoy a baked potato every now and then, but not mashed. I actually don't eat much French fries, either, so I must just not be a huge potato fan. I mean, I like fries sometimes...especially thin, crispy ones, but don't like the big, thick steak fries.

Now, I do like sweet potatoes! My sister-in-law makes them on Thanksgiving (the kind with marshmallows and all that) and they are so good. Not sure what the difference between sweet potatoes and candied yams are, but she makes one of those. cheesy

And now I am HUNGRY!!!! cheesy

 

[Holiday]

http://www.mapquest.com/

Map Quest allows multiple stops. Hope this helps!

That's what I ususally use is Mapquest!

 

[xmas365]

http://www.abcdistributing.com

It's ABC Distributing's Christmas magazine preview!

Awesome!!!!

 

[xmas365]

Good evening. I am having issues with my Internet today and its making it very difficult to catch up with all of the posts. I got to read a few though and I will be sending up prayers for all that need them, my thoughts are with all of you.
Thank you for my daughters get well wishes too. Unfortunately she is worse tonight so it doesn't look like she will make it to the beach house this week. She saw the doctor today and we are waiting for a couple of test results but the doctor went ahead and started her on antibiotics.
And speaking of antibiotics, Maggie will take her last dose tomorrow. The poor thing is still coughing so I need to call the veterinarian to see what the next step is.
I took this of my puppies today while they were keeping cool in my daughters room

I'm going to turn in soon, I had a super busy day. I hope everyone has a good night and sweet dreams xo




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will keep Maggie in my thoughts, and I hope your daughter is feeling better.

 

[MerryCarey]

I eat chicken but I prefer white meat, same thing is true with turkey. I'll eat the dark meat if it's pulled off the bone and used to make something else, just not straight.

You and Mr.! He's strictly white meat when it comes to chicken, turkey ... AND canned tuna. No "chunk light" for him.

 

[Ryan]

You and Mr.! He's strictly white meat when it comes to chicken, turkey ... AND canned tuna. No "chunk light" for him.

I know a lot of folks who only eat white meat, but I don't mind dark at all. I recently had duck (all dark) and really liked it!

 

[xmas365]

Watching a commercial. Woman has low calcium.. Sugar is to blame

:lol:

 

[MerryCarey]

One thing I don't like that everyone thinks I'm crazy for is mashed potatoes and gravy! Just don't like them, and my wife thinks I'm insane. I don't know if its the consistency or what, but I can't eat mashed potatoes.

I'll take your share. With the gravy. Boy, do I miss the mashed potatoes my grandmother used to make for holiday dinners---heavenly. My mom's were good, but my grandmother's were divine.

One disadvantage of outliving my family is thinking about all the lovely flavors that are gone for good: my grandmother's mashed potatoes, and her caramel frosting; my grandfather's sugar-cured aged country hams; green beans cooked in the broth from those sugar-cured aged country hams; homemade applesauce ...

 

[Ryan]

I'll take your share. With the gravy. Boy, do I miss the mashed potatoes my grandmother used to make for holiday dinners---heavenly. My mom's were good, but my grandmother's were divine.

One disadvantage of outliving my family is thinking about all the lovely flavors that are gone for good: my grandmother's mashed potatoes, and her caramel frosting; my grandfather's sugar-cured aged country hams; green beans cooked in the broth from those sugar-cured aged country hams; homemade applesauce ...

The ham and green beans sound great!!! I love sugar-cured country hams!

That's it...again...I'm officially hungry!

 

[xmas365]

My wife laughed when I showed her the video, but I did get the standard, "How old are you?!" comment because I was laughing so hard.

Old enough to know better, but it's instinct. cheesy

 

[xmas365]

The ham and green beans sound great!!! I love sugar-cured country hams!

That's it...again...I'm officially hungry!

After reading all of the food on here, I am now hungry also. cheesy

 

[xmas365]

Good morning,

Just did a pop in before going to the place that shall not be named.

I have a feeling it is going to be a long night, I have no energy today.


I hope you all have a great Pines Day!!!


Talk to you all tonight.


Off I Go!!!

 

[MerryCarey]

I know a lot of folks who only eat white meat, but I don't mind dark at all. I recently had duck (all dark) and really liked it!

I tend to go for dark meat, especially when eating out, because white meat cooked too dry is awful.

The ham and green beans sound great!!! I love sugar-cured country hams!

I come from a town renowned for its country hams (alas, the shop went out of business long ago), but my grandfather's were even better. Mellower and much less salty. I was told he devised his own sugar-cure recipe. He had a little shed outside where he could hang the hams while they cured---sometimes more than a year. Then they were cooked and the broth saved and frozen. Then the ham was always chilled and sliced for sandwiches or as a side dish. There was always a plate of sliced country ham next to the turkey platter at family birthday and holiday dinners. My dad liked to make a mini-sandwich to go with his dinner by putting a slice or two inside a split dinner roll. Mmmmmm-mmm.

 

[Bradmac]

Good Wednesday morning, my Christmas friends!

We finally got home at 11:00 last night. All week, Elizabeth has intensive ballet "camp" starting at 9:00 am till 3:00 pm, then play practice that lasted till 10:30 last night. Bless her heart, I think she asked for more than she needed to do. She's so tired.

I woke up this morning around 6:30, and the house was warm. The A/C was off. Oh nonononono. After crawling around in the attic, I found that the emergency drain pan under the A/C was full of water. It's drain was stopped up, and it has a float switch that turns off the A/C if it gets full, to keep you from ruining your ceiling. So, I got the drain opened and the A/C started working again.

Then it was time to go to work. Ugh! We're back at dance and play practice this afternoon.

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

 

[JayIsh]

Magnificent Mid-Week Greetings, My Merry Merry Amigos.

Wow, the crest of the weekly hill and 'Pines Day already back again.
My, My.
What will that crazy camel have in store for us this evening?
(I understand he was glued to the TV during the QVC Christmas madness sale the whole way through. No telling WHAT he got for the lodge!)

But regardless, onward with the count:
Days to the Season: 112
Days to Christmas Day: 154
Well, say hey.
In less than half a week we will be down to single digits to the 100-day Season Milestone!
(How did we get to this point so fast??)

The heat and humidity is starting to return but the weather service says that by Friday, it will be cooler and with a reversal in the humidity trend. That will be a refreshing change!
(Think I'll hold off mowing the lawn until then.)
Currently we stand at 73 degrees here.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday, Folks.
Seriously, See you Soon Socially at the Shispering P!

:???:

I SO look forward to reading these updates Crown...Thanks for your diligence, dedication and love for us all! So almost double digits till you can break out the Percy Faith and Glenn Miller!!! I'll be playing some of that this weekend and while I know you have a strict "no Christmas music till the season" rule, we will be playing those artists in your honor! Have a great day!!!

Jay

 

[Ryan]

My wife and I finally made it to a Hallmark store last night, and I saw some ornaments I would love to have. First of all, this bad boy jumped out at me:


There was also a Father Christmas one that I loved but did not get a picture of. But then, I saw this:



Is it a Halloween themed ornament for a Christmas tree, or an ornament for a Halloween tree? Either way, I like it...but not sure if I could get away with it on the Christmas tree. What do y'all think?

 

[Ryan]

Good Wednesday morning, my Christmas friends!

We finally got home at 11:00 last night. All week, Elizabeth has intensive ballet "camp" starting at 9:00 am till 3:00 pm, then play practice that lasted till 10:30 last night. Bless her heart, I think she asked for more than she needed to do. She's so tired.

I woke up this morning around 6:30, and the house was warm. The A/C was off. Oh nonononono. After crawling around in the attic, I found that the emergency drain pan under the A/C was full of water. It's drain was stopped up, and it has a float switch that turns off the A/C if it gets full, to keep you from ruining your ceiling. So, I got the drain opened and the A/C started working again.

Then it was time to go to work. Ugh! We're back at dance and play practice this afternoon.

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

Have a good, but busy, day!

 

[Crown 84]

I'll be playing some of that this weekend and while I know you have a strict "no Christmas music till the season" rule, we will be playing those artists in your honor! Have a great day!!!

Jay

Well........
Maybe not tooooooo strict.
There are times -- rare times -- when......well......

 

[mgramsey]

My wife and I finally made it to a Hallmark store last night, and I saw some ornaments I would love to have. First of all, this bad boy jumped out at me:


There was also a Father Christmas one that I loved but did not get a picture of. But then, I saw this:



Is it a Halloween themed ornament for a Christmas tree, or an ornament for a Halloween tree? Either way, I like it...but not sure if I could get away with it on the Christmas tree. What do y'all think?

I'll have to get the John Wayne ornament. I see it is from the movie "The Searchers." That is my favorite movie of all time. Our son, Ethan, is named after the character Wayne plays in the move, "Ethan Edwards". I saw a PBS special a few years ago where Steven Spielberg said "The Searchers" was one of the best American movies ever filmed. Wayne is amazing in the movie.

When I was a child, showing my age here, lots of western movies were being made. During the summer we went to a drive-in movie most Saturday nights. My parents had an agreement that we saw every new western released for Dad and every Elvis movie for Mom. I still have a love of westerns but not so much the Elvis movies.