T-Day with Family and Friends.....

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! And that stuffiness has disapated. :- D

It's wonderful reason to gather with family and dear friends to share time, good food and share memories and chat about the future.

We began our day by going out to 'Hometown Buffet' for an early dinner with friends. Margie and Jim had their daughter, son-in-law and five year old son with them. Sylvia and Jim were there as well as Elaine and Chuck. The restaurant was crowded and the carving station, turkey-ham-beef, was totally overwhelmed!!! But the food is ALWAYS delicious!!!! And the foods selection is a pleasant change. Yum!!!!!!!

After dinner, and chat time, John and I came home for a grand total of maybe 20 minutes. John threw more wood on the fire of the beast (our wood fired boiler). We check on all the critters...gathered up the filled crepe's that I'd made the night before and hit the road again.

This time we landed at my Mother's place. My entire family was there, except one. My youngest niece who lives in Texas. She still trys to stay in touch during these family gatherings by calling to talk to everyone. It's ALWAYS WONDERFUL to hear from her! She's just had her second child, a little girl, after a difficult pregnancy. We're so grateful they both doing well now. Wonderful job Kelly!!!!

It's still tough for me to wrap my mind around the fact Kelly's old enough to have a family of her own. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO???????????

After the second dinner at Mom's conversaton was livelly. John and I continued to visit with my Mom LONG after the rest of the family had left. John and my Mom so enjoys their great theological conversations!!! Keeps my Mom's mind active and engaged. ;- D

The hour was late by the time we got home. John, sweet-heart that he is!!!, went out to make sure the bunz were settled in for the night. This allowed me time to spend with Jinn-Jinn. Sad to say Jinn-Jinns trip to the rabbit show, last month, proved hazardous for him. Not sure what bug he picked up but my sweet lover boy has been quite ill. He went off feed, developed diarrhea and stills has little interested in food. :- { I've been force feeding him Oxbow Critical Care, with Probios, vitamins, electrolytes, and neomycin. Last night was the first time in several days his poop has been even close to 'normal'. He has me soooooooooooooooooooooo worried!!!! Some times I hate it!!!! These angora rabbits are so darn endearing it difficult to deal with health issues! :- ( Keep your fingers crossed for us!!! And pray he pulls through this ordeal. I feel horrible for having taken him out...away from home. :- { Makes it a hard choice to take them back to the show tables.

But on the lighter side.... A good friend sent me a really cool video link about a fellow that rescued a young hummingbird. It's amazing to watch! If you've not seen it? Then here's the video.... http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/

To kick off the holiday season, tomorrow evening, Margie, Sylvia, Larry and Myself will perform for our local Holiday Lighting Ceremony Community Walk....with Mountain Dulcimer Christmas Music. This is away a treat! We get a chance to greet large numbers of walkers out welcoming the season.

I hope your black Friday shopping day was fruitful!!!!JINGLE BELLS... JINGLE BELLS

JINGLE ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :- D

Another sad farewell.......

My good friend Margie lost her mother, Norma Lou, last Thursday. Life has been so tough for her these past three years. She looses her Dad, then her husband goes into the hospital (nearly loosing him), he recovered late last year and now her Mother passes away. Just seems as though life's trying to beat her up.

Margie's been a dear friend over the years and to see a friend go through such trauma doesn't seem fair!!!

Thanksgiving Day, this year, will be a tougher year for all of us. As a group, Margie's family and others have taken T-day dinner out with us. It'll NOT be the same without Norma Lou's ever pleasant smiling face across the dinner table. :- {

This morning, Ruth-another dulcimer friend, and I played our dulcimers for Norma's farewell wake. She's now with her beloved husband again.

A bittersweet farewell to a lovely woman!!!!!!

The Master of Disaster....at Kent Stage

Friday evening we went to a concert at the Kent Stage (Kent, OH). Our FAVORITE singer/songwriter, James Keelaghan was in concert. The man NEVER FAILS TO DELIVER!!! An awesome performer--even with a numb left hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was suffering from the collapse of two vertebrae in his neck.

For an excellent example of his latest work check out his web site:

http://web.me.com/jameskeelo/Keeloweb/KEELOWEB.html. Click on the 'House of Cards' image in the lower right corner of the screen. -- ENJOY!!!!

This year we've been privileged as James has been in Ohio TWICE!!!! We had the greatest time at the Central Ohio Folk Festival (a three day festival in Columbus, OH at the Metro park Battelle Darby Creek). It would have even been a little more enjoyable "IF" I'd remember to take my jacket with me!!! I mean--HOW!!! Can you forget something as important as a coat when you know the weather's going to be COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even the Canadian was freezing, but he had a good excuss...he'd just gotten off the plane from his Melbourn, AUS tour. (In the picture I was wearing MULTIPLE layers!!! How many shirts can you fit under one large sweat-shirt......FIVE!!! ;- D

Go check out James's website!