Hi everyone, it seems like I haven't had much chance to up-date everyone, between being busy and the server troubles. We have been on our normal non-stop schedule.

Over the week-end there was a lot of home-work for the kids, as usual! We got up early to watch the meteor shower Sunday. Then Sunday afternoon my Mom and Grandmother brought over dinner and a cake for my birthday (celebrated early). They brought chicken, cole-slaw, macaroni salad, bread and cheese, fresh vegetables and dip, and a chocolate and white layer cake. It was very good and nice not to have to cook!!

Later Cale went horse-back riding and the kids and I went shopping. I picked up a few things I needed, and they each got a new pair of shoes. I found nice winter hats at Gabriels for 50 cents each, so I bought 10. It is nice to have extra ones, so when they get wet, you can just switch.

On Monday, I decorated at the Elementary School for the Thanksgiving Program. I am in charge of decorating for each music program.

I have some work to do at our library, someone donated 15 big boxes of children's books. Lindsey was amazed and had a great time sitting on the floor and digging through all those books!! She found 5 "horse" books she just had to bring home right then!! Our 4-H club is going to put cards in the books over Christmas break for a community service project. We will spend a day there and have lunch and sort books.

Kadia was chosen as the National Honor Societies student of the month!! I was happy for her. She struggles with self-esteem which I guess is normal for girls her age, but hard to deal with. I talk and talk to her about how great I think she is, and I hope she is hearing me!!!

Today I am staying home!! How nice that is!! I really enjoy all the activities I am involved in, but sometimes it is nice to just stay home. I am going to bake pumpkin bread, try that fudge recipe and make some chocolate mousse (all for Thanksgiving) My mom and her husband will eat with us for dinner. Then, our custom is for all the other relatives to visit throughout the afternoon for dessert and maybe play games, look at fabic and quilt projects, take a walk and just talk. The men will usually shoot their guns, and grouse hunt.. We all eat our main meal at home usually.

I have a bunch of laundry to do, and a little house-cleaning. Some friends of Brady's are coming over this evening while their parents attend a funeral, and the girls have piano lessons tonight. Cale is still in pursuit of a big rack... I tease him and tell him I think he just sits in his tree and sleeps for 2 hours!

The weather here took a turn, it is cold here now after several weeks of warmer than usual weather. It really helped our wood pile!! We haven't had to use much wood yet.

That is about all from here, just the normal chores and everything. Have a good day everyone!!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 20, 2001

Answers

It was just a beautiful weekend and the kids were away so I planned to get so many things done. But as Mr. Murphy would have it, I had the flu and spent half ot the weekend in bed! Finally we have some rain--we have been under strict no-burn law. But it makes me mad that I smell burning at night. People do it so they won't get caught. How important can that be that you can't wait a little longer for rain?

Finished making the costumes for school play. Originally I thought I'd have help, but none materialized so I ended up making almost 70 items myself. A few offered to help but no one knows how to sew. Also made a turkey for a class dinner because of the five mothers involved, no one knew how to cook a turkey because they had always spent it with their mothers who did the turkey. Memo to self: make sure kids all know how to sew AND make a turkey. Actually I think they could. I think turkey has to be one of the EASIEST things to cook.

House is in pretty good shape for the guests. I love thanksgiving and have so much to be thankful for this year.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), November 20, 2001.

The kids and I have been non-stop busy. Saturday we met with a group and made picture frames and the kids got to decorate them. Later that afternoon, We had Thanksgiving with the boys and girl scouts. Sunday we had friendship Sunday at church. Last night we went to Conseco Fieldhouse for The annual Jalen Rose Thanksgiving Dinner which was an awesome experience. The food was delicious they gave t- shirts and gift bags to everyone. Tonight we are going to a church Thanksgiving dinner and then getting our family portrait done. Thursday we will put up our tree and I am fixing dinner.

Friday, Santa arrives by helicopter at the museum and the whole museum Christmas exhibit opens, then at 6 my friend, Jonathan, will be the head entertainment at the circle of lights fest. On Sunday at church we will be having a still Thankful Thanksgiving Dinner. I have never been so busy in my life. But I am having so much fun.

-- mindy (speciallady@countrylife.net), November 20, 2001.

Happy birthday Melissa!!!!!-God Bless

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), November 20, 2001.

Ditto on the happy birthday for Melissa. Ann, I thought that's why we had cookbooks, for people who didn't know how to cook turkeys!

Around here lately: Vicki doing a series of tests with homeopathic doctor, gynecologist, and cardiologist to check out her blood pressure. First doc says it's stress and she agrees. She swims thrice weekly, but runs around with errands a lot. We ate lunch together today at the veg restaurant, before she took off to the doc. Boys are gearing up for an internal tournament at the sports club starting Friday. I go Saturday to the Big City of Sao Paulo for two meetings: on for the youth camp, another for a children's day school type of program for needy kids. Odds'n'ends of life.

-- Randal (randal@rhyme.cjb.net), November 20, 2001.

Hi Melissa, Happy Birthday!!!! We've all been busy here preparing for a move on Satrday. Hopefully this will be the lst one for a long time. (BTW Joanne, I did get the job - did you get my email?). The last one was in June and was a nightmare! This one is being a lot easier. One of the nicest things about this new place/job is that I get to bring the horse. No more boarding. And I can get dairy goats. Does anyone on the eastern shore of Maryland have a milker for sale? Since it's on a chicken farm the layers and ducks had to go :(. Its ok thugh,I'm sure I'll have plenty of chickens to watch. We'll be off line for a few days come Thurs or Friday but will look forward to getting back here to see whats new Happy Thanksgiving all! Gloria

-- gloria in Maryland (mullinaxclan@webtv.net), November 20, 2001.