LOL, I was thinking something similar to Ken's post... I think I'll stick to collecting UV rays in the summer, out in the garden. At least if I get skin cancer doing that I'll have been doing something useful

Happy that Tony found the box with my Santa suit. Beard and hat are still missing but we have a couple of days to keep looking.

I'm happy my cold is almost gone3 so I expect to be good for Christmas. Also happy we have bags and bags of toys and thirty pounds of hard candy.

Merry Christmas to all, a few days early.

katie

Katie...not being sarcastic...but how come beard and hat not with suit..like buttoned up in the chest area for safe keeping?? 😊

I don't know should be. Very frustrating. katie

It must have been too bulky, and had to be packed in 2 boxes. I think it's wonderful what you do, Katie. Big congratulations for being so active.

I think it's because I had pneumonia an went out anyway.

Thanks, Karen. It beats the heck out of getting drunk, feeling sorry for myself and ruining the holiday for as many other people as possible which, unfortunately, was the family tradition.

It's still difficult but worth it.

katie

I've been searching and found more toys and some children's books in Spanish. I'm getting excited. I get stage fright but once I'm behind the costume and beard I'm OK. katie

You have a good and kind heart, Katie.

Thank you, Ken.

It's very good that the stage fright leaves once you're in costume! This certainly does beat the old family tradition! It must be very rewarding to see all those happy kids.

I'm happy the back of my van is filled with stuffed animals. And candy. Ready for tomorrow. Neighbor Dana outdid herself with all the stuffed animals she collected over the summer. Dianna will be here about 9 to be an elf. I explained that Christmas Eve is the big event for many Mexican: Dinner around midnight and lots of drinking. A lot of my motivation for doing this is to let children know that there are other ways to celebrate Christmas. A lot of the children we find will be outside while their parents recuperate from Christmas Eve.

Wishing a very happy holiday for everyone.

hugs, katie

It's a really nice you are doing this Katie. I'm of 2 minds about your comment on xmas day though. It's not really a holiday here in the sense it is up north. It's a day for recovering from the real holiday which is xmas eve and a day for resting up. The next religious holiday is 3 Kings day, the 6th of Jan, when it is traditional for the kids to get their gifts. Giving gifts on xmas eve (or xmas day) is a leak over from the US and I am a bit sorry to see this happen. Whatever, it's a nice thing you are doing and I'm sure the kids appreciate it.

Forgot to say I'm also happy because I have little green tomatoes on two plants. k.

No presents until the 6th. How interesting. I dont put the wise men at the manger until the 6th. Didnt realize gifts were not opened places, until the 6th. Sure make sense. I dont think I could take another week of this tho.

I am happy it was a sunny extremely mild day to go for a long walk with friends. A day that I really wanted to stay outside!!

I'm happy that we had a day of sunshine after rain and clouds since Friday before Chirstmas.

Happy it's a beautiful day here. We've had cloudy, chilly and drizzly rainy weather since Christmas. But Christmas was fine and so is today. I've had a bug for most of the week so I've been in bed most of the time. Grateful for rain, which we can always use. And grateful I had a bug and not pneumonia which I had last year and which lasted into much of this year.

Happy I got my shopping done and found a few more children to gift with the stuffed animals and candy left over from
Christmas. Then drove to the beach (1/4 mi from my house) with Scout and Inky Dink and met a Mexican family with four children - more animals and candy for them. The children spotted the books I had for Casa Hogar (orphanage) and asked for some. I love Mexican children who like books so I shared with them. They gave me citrus fruit from their farm. Lupita (mother/wife) also gardens so we will trade plants down the line. Very nice people. Children all shook hands with me and thanked me.

Now I have lots of groceries to deal with. A box of chicken legs so the furbabies will have chicken and liver for New Years.

It's been a rough week until today. Today made up for all that proceeded.

hugs, Katie

P.S. Lupita has cardon like Ken wants for his plants!! I've not been out and about much so I've not found any myself. They are out where there's lots and are happy to share.

If I am that "Ken", Katie, you'll have to tell me what Lupita and cardon are.

Yes, you are that Ken. Lupita is the wife/mother I met at the beach. Cardon is a cactus which is prolific here. It's used for light building. I sent you some small pieces. Larger pieces are good for "pots" for air plants. katie

OK, I understand, Katie. So what you call "cardon" is what I thought to be "cholla" wood. These are two different cacti, so I don't quite know what I actually have. Cholla is what is sold for use in terrariums and I know that this appears to be the same wood as those pieces that you sent me.