Happy new week and happy solstice!
Last week's Chat Thread is here.
For most of us, today is the Winter Solstice. Welcome back to the Sun! With the return of the light, I'd like to wish all of my dear friends on this thread a happy holiday season and a new year blessed with joy, abundance, good health, serenity, and love!
The solstice occurs on 21 December at:
2303 GMT11:03 p.m. in the U.K.6:03 p.m. in the eastern U.S.3:03 p.m. in CaliforniaAnd for AQ: Happy Summer Solstice on 22 December at 9:33 a.m.This solstice is special because it happens within 2 and a half hours of the New Moon. I'm seeing this cosmic event as a fresh start and a new beginning. Woo hoo!The photo is of the Sun in the midst of a powerful and spreading coronal mass ejection. The photo was taken by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, a partnership of the European Space Agency and NASA. The image is free for non-commercial use. SOHO (ESA & NASA)
Good morning and a very Happy Christmas to Everyone!
It is a year today since I first posted on this thread although I had been a Lurker for a long while and had watched the Ospreys for some years. I would like to say how nice it has been to chat to so many nice people, especially welcome as I live on my own.
AQ - Loved the poem - so true, brings back many memories!
Annette - so glad you are not going to use the sand-paper like toilet paper ! Bit of a disappointment though!
Clare - Sorry to hear you have a sniffly household! Hope you will all be better for tomorrow.
Heather - what a huge party for Boxing Day, hope you get some help getting it ready and with the washing up !
Ambers very own Christmas Tree ornament
My own special Christmas Tree ornament, my son bought it for me in Arizona , he knew I would like the cactus !
Hi Rita! Must say, its been a pleasure getting to know you! Glad you finally came onto the threads after lurking for so long! (others, please take note - we don't bite LOL!)
What a beautiful Christmas Card - Thank You! And I just love your special tree ornaments, especially the cactus one, no-one else in UK will have that unique one!!
I've been enjoying "pottering" without any interruptions. The garden birds are very evident today, gathering around my feeders in great numbers, and must be glad that its much milder at the moment.
"Is it Christmas Yet??"
"Not Yet!!"
"Nearly!!"
Good morning all. After rain overnight it is now very bright and sunny. OH was up at 5am this morning as he had to drive over to a smallholding just outside Salisbury to collect our Turkey crown and a pieceb of cooked gammon before he cme back to work. He is going to be very tired as he has had another busy week at work, so busy he still has to wrap presents this evening. I am hoping he will relax for a few days but he is not one that sits around for at the best of times. He has said that he will be leaving work early today and I hope he will as he has put in a lot of extra hours. This Christmas I have managed to do a bit more in the way of preparation. Cooked sausage rolls and some cocktail sausages to have as snacks amongst other things and prepared vegetables that I can today. My sister is calling in this afternoon so we can exchange presents. She is feeling a lot better thankfully, the steroids helper her a lot. Unfortunately our shower pump is in the process of giving up on us so have been ring round to get it replaced but will have to wait until the New Year. We can still shower albeit the flow is not good. Little things are sent to try us as they say.
Thanks to diane, Lindybird, Brenda, rita and ALAN for the beautiful cards.
AQ thanks for the final "season to be merry" writings have enjoyed them all. Hope you are all prepared now and the day is enjoyed even with the heat.
Lindybird thanks for all the cute animal pics. Hope you weather like we have as it will be a lovely for playing golf. Enjoy your pottering in peace and then relax.
OG sounds as though you are completely prepared for Christmas after what seems to have been a very busy time in the lead up. Sorry EE has caught a cold. Hope you and J do not catch it.
Lynette lovely capture of Harriet and Ozzie, I hope she will get over the balance problem
Annette sorry about Lightening's little accident. Maybe she is uneasy having a dog around. Fortunately Billie always uses her litter tray, the only thing we do get are for balls, usually presents them in the middle of the night bless her. I did smile about the Christmas toilet roll being like sandpaper.
diane hope you are stocked up with all you need. Are you going to have any visitors over Christmas or are you just alone with your wildlife.
rita good to know your family arrived safely. I know how you worried abiout getting everything done but you got there and can enjoy yourselves. Just love Amber's and your Christmas baubles, very pretty. I totally agree with you that there are some very caring people on this thread.
Heather enjoy the calm tomorrow but I know you do enjoy having family around you.
Clare, Limpy and Helen so sorry you have all gone down with the colds. Get well soon.
Finally just want to say a big thanks to you all for being there for me, it always helps to know so many people are thinking of me. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Margo x
Thanks Margo!! Sorry that your OH has to work so hard,right up to Christmas. And what an early time to rise, today! Beats even my OH, who often rises before 7.00am, due to habit. Give an extra special hug and stroke to little Billie for me (I do really miss having a cat - boo!) Do have a wonderful time over the next few days.
I'd better put my Christmas Wishes on here now, for Everyone, as I know some of you are already up to your knees in relatives and baubles.....
HAVE A REALLY GOOD CHRISTMAS, ALL, HOPE ALL OF YOU FEEL BETTER WHO ARE UNWELL AT THIS TIME, AND BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE FOR THE FESTIVITIES. HOWEVER YOU SPEND IT, I HOPE THAT CHRISTMAS BRINGS ALL THE THINGS YOU ENJOY MOST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPANY THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, ITS BEEN FUN.
(Our Dear EJ & Odin, last May!)
Just had to come in to wish everyone a Happy Christmas.I know I have been lurking for a while but I have been keeping up to date and have enjoyed all the pictures cards and verses that have been keeping me amused
I finished all my shopping yesterday and today have been working out a timetable for cooking the C/dinner. I have also laid the table and shut the dining room door so that Diesel can't get in as all the presents are in there as well.
On Sunday met with relations to change presents at Loch Leven Larder and we had our lunch there as well. It was a horrible day and for those of you who know the area you could not see the top of the hills because of the mist.
On closing I would just like to thank everyone on this site site for the support I have had during the past year and hope everyone enjoys the festive season.
george g
HALLO ALL: Am going to add my sincerest wishes for a lovely Christmas and thanks to everyone for their good wishes, pretty cards, and funny photos and verses. AQ: Been there, done that. :-)
Will catch up in a day or so.
BIG HUGS TO ALL