Lol , that's really clever though... to throw at people with reflectors so you can have the crown. XD Something to extend the effect is a great idea! :o There are a couple different ones I like but I dunno if I have a favorite yet. Research time?!

That makes sense . I used to be just "ok" in crowds but at some point the trapped feeling became a bigger deal and now it seems I can't handle them so well. Thinking on it now, that might explain a lot of the issues I have been having the past few years. XD EPIPHANY TIME! I'll have to see what the doctor thinks next time I see her. Also, I'm sorry to hear you have a cold too! =( Tis that time of year, I suppose, but it sure doesn't make it any better! At least drinking something warm is a little more pleasant this time of year.

, that's the same for this part of TN! The eastern part with the mountains gets more snow but we don't get enough to have the equipment on hand all the time so it causes a big deal when we get it. XD Not as much as Houston though, I'm sure! :o We laughed when we first moved from Buffalo, since several feet could drop and we'd still go to school there. Sometimes just the threat of snow gets school closed down here, lol.

As far as I know I think this is the first year that the snowballs actually reflected back on to your HA. So I keep throwing the icy snowballs at people who have the shield. ;) Check this out https://www.subetalodge.org/page/name/luminaire_overlays

Lol yeah it's the same here too with things shutting down so quickly sometimes with even just a whisper that it might snow. But it makes sense when we really don't have the ability to handle it, and people down here aren't used to driving in it. If we got enough for it to stick for a whole day or more, people would lose their minds.

Hopefully the doc can help hugs Yeah it is very annoying. Especially having it over her bday weekend :(

In case anyone is interested the snowball reflecting shield is in the millionaire center in the winter section and would sell for 2.5 million once that shop shifts to winter, I think next week. If anybody gets/wears one let me know so I can toss snowballs at you to show up on my HA. ;)

I'm sure there are plenty to be found with a Google search. Verenika can be a little heavy if the dough isn't rolled out thin enough. I've got my great-grandmother's box of recipes, 3 boxes of my own and a bookshelf full of recipe books. I just need to start using them all. I had never heard of verenika before I met Chris. His mom grew up in a German Mennonite community and grew up eating it. I first had it at a fundraiser the Mennonites hold every year, then I found a recipe online. Chrs and I went to the fundraiser this year, and only bought apple butter and cherry moos. The verenika and German sausage was too expensive for us to buy more than 2 each.

I've gotten better about it, but it something has ingredients that I don't like (tomatoes, onions, etc), I won't try it. I've tried somethings that I though I would like and ended up hating it, but it was mostly due to the texture of the food or a mixture of textures and not the taste. I refused to eat deviled eggs for years because it had mayo in it, but I eat them now and love them.

Yeah, it would be nice to not have an injury for awhile. I'll be preg checking cows and heifers this coming weekend, so I'm hoping I don't injury my arm.

Her dog house is now complete and very well insulated. All we need to do now is add an extension by the door to help block any wind.

Sorry I haven't responded for awhile. Chris got fired on Wednesday because taking off 7 days of work in 3 months was too much (3 of those days were days he had drill, the other 4 were sick days from being exhausted after working 50 hours then being at drill for 20+ hours). Long story short, his ex-boss was looking for a reason to fire Chris so he didn't have to keep his position open when Chris deploys. I've logged on here enough to visit Melody's cottage and check my shop, but other that that, I've been a little stressed out.

I try to avoid doing that too. However last week, I did buy some really cheap items that were on my wishlist. I do however need to reorganise my wishlist and remove items that I no longer want. I was pretty lucky during Fireside this year, managed to get some plushies and beanbags from the fire that I've had on my wishlist for a while.

It would. I start prepping for the Charity achievement as soon as I've earned the latest tier, because I just assume that another one will be added next year. I've started buying up pumpkins so I can be better prepared for Fanitine next year. If I was to start working on the snowball achievement, I would be prepping for years. I might have a tier or two, but it isn't one that I've really worked on.

I'm fine running up and down stairs a few times, then I start wheezing. Same with running, I can run a certain distance just fine, then my lungs are one fire (and a knew feels like its turning to jelly). I enjoy riding my bike, but I know to avoid going up a hill, because that's when I have issues breathing.

Weather has been weird here lately. Its been freezing cold in the mornings but warm in the afternoons. This is the type of weather that makes me get sick, so I really wish it would just go back to the freezing cold weather and give us some snow. We had snow on Halloween and haven't had any since. I forgot to layer up this morning and soon wished that I had.

Yeah, I gave my parents a wishlist that had some variety on it in the hopes that they would pick and choose what they would get. One thing I don't like about wishlists, is that they take the surprise out of opening gifts. Yeah, Chris bought the fleece either last year or the year before because I thought I had the space to set up a sewing machine and put the blanket together. Ended up not having the space and I didn't feel like carefully moving everything all the time. Chris hasn't been very patient about the blanket.

My dad's birthday is early in December, but I normally just get him a card. My nephew's birthday is soon after the new year, so he gets quite a few gifts.

I've got 2 bags full of wrapping paper, so I don't need to buy any more for now. I still need to wrap gifts and Chris and I still need to finish gift shopping. Its just rather difficult since Chris is now looking for a job again.

So the recipe said it only made 12 mini cheesecakes. I ended up with 24 mini cheesecakes and a pie. Haven't tried them yet, because I managed to forget them in the fridge when Chris and I left for his aunt's house yesterday.

Yes, she's already wandered too far once because she followed kittens, but then she couldn't find her way back. My other issue is our closet neighbors have two dogs that wander and I don't know if they are fixed or not.

I've got a wide range of sizes when it comes to dolls. I've got a box full of barbie dolls and a smaller box full of clothes for them. Then I've got dolls that are bigger. That sounds like a great idea. I wish thrift shops here had clothing for that cheap. The cheapest Goodwill sells shirts for is $1.99, which can add up quickly.

I made the fudge Friday night. I forgot how much powdered sugar the recipe calls for, so the fudge bits are definitely more of a snack and not desert. They are way too sweet. For some reason, they don't seem to be coming out the same as the first time I made them.

So this was discussed yesterday. Chris's aunt is more than happy to host again next year, but wants the family in Texas to have the choice if they host if they want to. Chris said that if it was in Texas next year, I wouldn't go, but his mom said that they could pick me up and take me along. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Chris also made it known that we can host the Christmas at our place after next year.

I've gotten a few ornaments on the tree, but still have three boxes to go through. Slowly getting other decorations up. I'm thinking that I may leave the tree up for the whole year and just swap out ornaments. It will make it easier for next year when Chris is gone. Still debating if I want to find somewhere to put my other tree up.

So the long shelves were taken, but the shelves in the smaller closet stayed. I spent a few hours putting boxes of fabric back on those shelves and figuring out what else can go on the shelves. With Chris out of a job, I know that it will be a while before we can get the wood needed for new shelves. I think I may just end up with stuff stashed on the floor of the large closet in a semi organized manner.

Craft items are sometimes cheap, but fabric is never cheap at the thrifts here. I've always paid over $4 for fabric, even if its less than half a yard. It depends on the household items. If its small appliances, the price depends on the brand, but dishes and other things are always cheap. I was quite happy to find the jeans as they are a brand that I like. They are a little loose but that's better than being too tight.

We have to buy an antenna first, and I'm not sure where we would start looking for one. An antenna hasn't been at the top of our priority list for a while, though I did want to have one hooked up before December.

They are and they really suck., especially the weather change ones because those are always bad in the mornings and then better or gone by noon. They happen frequently in the spring and fall. The doctors never figured out any triggers and honestly, I don't think they every really figured anything out at all. They just told me off for taking malt-away headache tabs (I have issues swallowing pills) and tried giving me a prescription for migraine meds. I've had to figure out what my triggers are myself. So far I know that weather, loud noises and strong smells are a few of my triggers.

I've got my to 'most wanted' wishlists first and second. I ended up numbering some of them to make it easier to move items. I've got my plushies wishlists divided down to cheap and expensive, but I never manage to keep it up to date. I need to spend a few hours focused on my wishlists, because there are items I added when I joined that I may not want anymore. And I need to make a wishlist for items that I want only for the achievements they are tied to. I still have the flowers for those bouquets sitting in my vault. I thought they were going to bring back the bouquet creation after the wedding. I realized last week that we haven't gotten any updates on the project that got the most donations, either.

Peeks out of reefs. I'm doing better... well at least trying.

We're supposed to have a snow storm today & tomorrow. We'll see... right now it's light snow, which is manageable. When it gets to be a foot or more then it's tougher to get around (especially someone like me with balance probs). It can take a few days for the city to clear sidewalks, especially if it's a heavy downfall... not the lack of equipment but rather commitment to keeping the streets clean.

There will be plenty of icy snowballs flying once I'm back in the spirit he he he :K

It's unfortunate some bosses are not understanding for the military, downright disrespectful. On the other hand, maybe he's better off not being in that type of negative environment. Hopefully, he'll find a place where he's valued.

Careful driving (or others driving) in snow, not same techniques & can get dangerous. Sometimes pet coats can help keep your loved one warm. Gismo tolerates sweaters... although much prefers hiding in blankets. Snugglesafe Heat Pad is great too. I put it in the microwave & Gismo lies on it for hours, giving my legs a break. When he doesn't use it... it's great to warm up my back mmm.

Cool. I keep throwing them at Amber so they show on my HA. Just wish they were there more than a minute. Know it will take years to get that stupid achievement. 13123/50K.

Well, you're much more ahead than me... must stockpile more ;)

I have the snowball shop open in another tab and click to buy or refresh in between doing other stuff. Plus I have some in my vault from last year. Just no time to throw 50K.

Thanks for coming right back i guess? xD

She loved ya so much she didn't want to go ;)

comes out from hiding Hey sharkies! :D How's it going? How is everyone's December going?

! WEEEEEEEEEE!!! hugs I love your HP HA so much! <3

LOL she liked you better than the cold!

Great job so far on that achievement ! Holy cow! :o I should put some effort into that one. x_x

It is unfortunate, especially right before the holidays (we had to scrap a few gift ideas). I came home that evening and Chris said 'do you want the sort of good news first or the bad news first', and I knew he had been fired before he said anything. That night I did some reading online and it is a form of discrimination, however Chris's ex-boss never specifically stated that drill dates were included in the days he took off work. But Chris knew the guy wasn't happy that Chris was deploying next early next year and would be gone for about a year. Chris feels like the guy was just looking for a reason to fire him. And we don't have the money to go after the company legally for discrimination. Even if we did, Chris assumes the boss would weasel his way of being to blame.

Chris loved the job when he first started because he was getting experience in another area of the electrical field. He was supposed to take over for a guy who was leaving the company, but then someone else was hired for that spot after Chris gave his boss his updated drill schedule that included his deployment dates. After that Chris sometimes got to do the job he was hired for, otherwise he was running for tools and parts for the new guy or mopping the floor of the new maintenance bay. The bad thing about a small town is that businesses here don't have much experience with employees being in the military. I'm glad that Chris is no longer working at that company though because he wasn't getting paid what he should have been (no one is there), and the boss is very stuck up and snobby.

xD i guess! IT SURE IS COLD BRRR but i'd rather be cold. You can always pile on another blankie~ When it's too hot you can only take so much off.

Not really, most of that was from the snowball fight we had in the past, I've only been able to get a short amount since then since I don't have time to be on buying/throwing snowballs 24/7. It will take years to get that achievement.

- thanks! I love yours too ^_^ pats your duckies and your kitty I want to change it but ah, I don't know if I can bring myself to, lol.

I say the same thing when people complain about winter! Only so much can come off in the summer, lol. Plus when it is cold I can wear a snuggly sweatshirt to work and be comfortable!

Speaking of the cold... BRRRR!!! I was just out watching the meteor shower for a little over an hour. It was pretty freakin good! BUT MY TOES... XD I need new sneakers. I would have stayed out even longer but I have some horrible cold or sinus infection or something. It's been around for a solid week now so I didn't want to tempt it too much. Lol.

Hey, if you're still looking for people with the reflector shields, I just put mine on under my backdrop so hopefully it works.

Just letting you know ~