Only 22 days away I know everyone is ready.....My children are but not my wallet.....What's is everyone wanting and what are everyones plans.....?

~Lady_Sic~

Well for me I can't ask for more than the one last chance I've got to be with my mother-in-law for Christmas, this will be her last before her cancer takes her from us so the family will all be together.

At least I have this one last chance to be with my friend for Christmas, I'll miss her loads when she's gone.

Being as I've just gotten a new 2002 mini van I guess that kinda covers my list...big cheezy grin.

The one and only ~Newf~

Hey You Newfie Friend!!!!!

(((((((((((( You ))))))))))))

How the hades are you????
It seems like it’s been forever since we’ve visited and I miss you!!!
I sincerely hope everything is well with you and yours gurlie.

Hmmmmm .... reading your post here .....
Wow!!
I don’t know what to say in response to the news you shared about your mother in law.
Except that I was awe struck that you seem to be so “in balance” with the whole thing.
I’ll keep you and yours in prayer and hope that your mother in laws journey to the other side is as peaceful as it can possibly be.

And you’re getting a new mini van???
LmaoOoOoooo ... Gooooooo You!!!
Good on ya gurlie!!!
~ whispers ~
how’s Santa going to get it down yur chimmney???

Best of holidays to you Newfie!!!
Wuv ya

Hiya Dove my friend, I'm doin good thank ya hun.
I'm thinkin forever doesn't quite tell how long it has been since we've last chatted/emailed <---pointing finger to you Dovie...slap your hand chickie.
So far all is well with everyone here, have some ups and downs here and there but all in all it's good.

I was awe struck that you seem to be so “in balance” with the whole thing.
I'M TRYING REALLY HARD TO STAY BALANCED BUT IT'S NOT EASY. THE FAMILY ISN'T TAKING IT IN STRIDE WITH HOW LIFE GOES ROUND.

I’ll keep you and yours in prayer and hope that your mother in laws journey to the other side is as peaceful as it can possibly be.
THANK YA DOVIE THAT MEANS LOTS TO ME, SHE'S A GOOD LADY AND HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD FRIEND TO ME OVER THE YEARS.

Me already gots the mini van...wink
It stays in the garage with the heat on...chuckle
Is sooooooo nice having things my way now...WEG

All the best for the holidays to you too my friend, remember not too much drinkin now eh...lol

Wuves ya too hun {{{{{hugs}}}}}


The one and only ~Newf~

Hmmmm.... Well, seeing as though I am single now there is one thing I would like: for example a fine young handsome male speciman who I can do to what I want... Get my meaning?

I hope it will be as quiet a Christmas as last years. There's no more Santa Clause in my house now as the three of us are all grown up. I have few presents to buy this year but I am still going to be sending out almost 50 cards, maybe more. And that doesn't include the e-cards I will be sending!



grey being

To just be with everyone I care about..and for them all to be healthy and happy ...sounds a bit mushy huh??

ok...I found this little poem and thought it fitting right in here!

****************************************************
T'was the night before Christmas,
I just couldn't sleep.
So I hopped out of bed
and downstairs I did creep.

I went to the kitchen
in search of a bite.
If I filled up my stomach,
perhaps I'd sleep tight.

The cupboard was empty
the fridge, it was bare.
I searched but I couldn't
find food anywhere.

I looked out the window:
Streets covered with snow;
at two in the morning--
just where could I go?

I spied my computer,
I'll just go boot-up that.
I'll take me online
for some Christmas Eve chat.

The modem connected
without a delay!
In the blink of an eye,
I'd be chatting away.

But-----no voice bid me "Welcome"
or said: "You've got mail."
And I thought now's a bad time
for my sound card to fail.

My buddy list opened
with not even one name.
Is everyone sleeping?
Well, I'll go play a game.

I couldn't get into
'Out Of Order' or 'Slingo'.
'Strike A Match' wouldn't work--and
neither did Bingo!!!!!!

The chat rooms were empty!
I thought: Wow--that's just great
AOL picked a fine time
for another update.

IM's weren't working.
My mail wouldn't send.
I felt so alone.
Couldn't find just one friend.

But wait! What's that sound?
Did I just hear a chime?
There's someone else out there.
Somebody's on-line!

With wonder---I read:
"Hey---it's 3:53.
Your friends are all sleeping;
that's where you should be".

"Turn off that 'puter.
Take your hand off that mouse.
I have a few things
to drop off at your house".

"You know I can't stop there
while you're still awake.
I have schedules to keep.
Come on----Give Me A Break!"

If you really are Santa
(that jolly, old elf)
there's only one present
I'd wish for myself.

The folks on my buddy list.
Those friends far and near.
You just gather them up
and bring them right here.

In just a few hours
I awoke with a start.
It was only a dream--I sighed
heavy of heart.

I walked down the stairs
and there 'round my tree,
were all of the people
I thought I'd never see.

We laughed and we {{{{{{{{{{hugged}}}}}}}}}}}
and we just had a ball.
Hmmmmmm--maybe that wasn't
a dream after all.

So listen up people
this secret I'll tell:
I've found the real Santa---


---he's on A O L!!!!

*****************************************************

Very cool Char... I really liked that poem! I can see where you got the idea to combine Christmas with 'puters, Santa, the Net and friends... It's a lovely sentiment! Well written, or found... LOL

Have a great Christmas Char... and all who read this!

grey being

~ looking at LadySic ~

Ready for Christmas????
Have you gone mad woman????

I for one have never in my life .... EVER .... been ready for Christmas!!!
And in fact ... I do my very best to hide out .. and thus ... AVOID any and ALL of that holiday mish-mash!!!

Well ... except for eggnog that is ...
Other then that ....

Bahhhhhhhh feck’n humbug!!!

Well .... actually .... I do really enjoy watching my little great nieces and nephews “do” Christmas .... ~ thinking about it ~
And the holiday feast is always pretty good ...
LmfaoOoOoooo .... come to think of it .... it’s about the one and only time of the year ... that all the relatives can get together with out a major disagreement.

Soooooooo .......
~ looking @ calander and watch ~
Guess I better get my self in gear and go shopping!!!

LOL ... thanks Susan ..
And even though you say you don‘t like them ....
Here‘s a really big sincere ---> ((((((((((((((LadySic ))))))))))))) for you!!!
A Very Very Merry Christmas ...
And a wonderful New Year to you and yours!!!

Thanks very much for being here with all of us in the Faery Garden!!
For all your posts and responses ... for sharing so much of your self!!
~ wink ~ ... you’re a doll!!!
And I for one appreciate you bunches!!!

Hey everyone .......

The Christmas tree is one of the most popular and cherished Christmas customs.

Did you know that each year, 35-40 million “live” trees are purchased and decorated in the United States alone???
That doesn’t begin to count the artificial trees which are lovingly put together, and then taken down, to be stored away for yet another year.
But When ...
Where ....
And how did this “Christmas Tree” custom begin?
What is the origin of the Christmas tree?
What does it really mean?
Anyone out there know????

T/Y

Ohhh My Gawwwwd!!!!

No one in the Faery Garden knows anything about Christmas trees??

~muttering colourful things as she goes off to research the subject ~

I found this little Christmas fact...but it didn't go into detail..now it has me curious..so, I shall have to do a bit of research myself!

Christmas Fact:

Most "Christmas" traditions are of Pagan origin. ie: "Christmas" trees, holly, mistletoe, the Yule log, wrapped gifts, wreaths, etc.

I did some more digging and here's what I came up with:

Many Pagan cultures used to cut down evergreen trees in December, moved them into the home or temple and decorated them. Modern-day Pagans still do. This was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year. This occurs annually sometime between DEC-20 to 23. They noticed that the days were gradually getting shorter; many feared that the sun would eventually disappear forever, and everyone would freeze. But, even though deciduous trees, bushes, and crops died or hibernated for the winter, the evergreen trees remained green. They seemed to have magical powers that enabled them to withstand the rigors of winter.

The ancient Pagan Romans decorated their "trees with bits of metal and replicas of their god, Bacchus [a fertility god]. They also placed 12 candles on the tree in honor of their sun god". Their mid-winter festival of Saturnalia started on DEC-17 and often lasted until a few days after the Solstice.

The mistletoe were used at the festival of the winter solstice by ancient pagans because it was considered sacred to the sun. The mistletoe supposedly had miraculous healing powers, probably due to the fact that not only the plant remained green throughout winter but it actually bore fruit during this time, a type for fertility spirits!! This led to the tradition of "kissing under the mistletoe" - occuring early in the night of revelry and drunken debauchery, celebrating the death of the "old sun" and birth of the "new sun" at the solstice.

Holly berries were also considered sacred to the sun-god. Holly was revered along with the mistletoe, with decorations in those greeneries prominent in buildings and places of worship during the winter festival - leading to the holly wreath that we have today.

The burning of the Yule Log originated with the Druids and their ritual burning of a carefully chosen log during the winter. The word "yule" is derived from the old Anglo-Saxon word "hweol" which means "wheel" - a pagan symbol of the sun. Indeed the "Yule Log" is in fact the "Sun Log"!!

************************************************

So...there we have it, If you enjoy the pretty decorated trees, holly and mistletoe, and brightly wrapped presents,THANK A PAGAN!

I received this email from RoadRunner's mother, I don't know if it's true or not but you can deside for youself.


A long time ago in Germany,
a mother was busily cleaning for Christmas.
The spiders fled upstairs to the attic
to escape the broom.
When the house became quiet,
the spiders slowly crept downstairs for a peek.
Oh, what a beautiful tree!

In their excitement, they scurried up the trunk and out along each branch.
They were filled with happiness
as they climbed amongst the glittering beauty.

Alas!
By the time they were through climbing, the tree was completely shrouded in their dusty gray spider web.

When Santa Claus came with the gifts for the children
and saw the tree covered with spider webs, he smiled as he saw how happy the spiders were, yet knew how heartbroken the mother would be if she saw the tree covered with the dusty webs.

So he turned to webs into silver and gold.
The tree sparked and shimmered and was even more beautiful than before.

That's why we have tinsel on our tree and every tree should have a Christmas spider in its branches.

The one and only ~Newf~

Ohhh! Very cool story Newfie!! Thanks for sharing that with us!! And thanks RR for sending it!

I'd like to hear about any other Christmas traditions or even origins if anyone knows any more...

So, if you have them to share..please do!!

yes