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Project Discussions:  Learning Together: November-a quiet month  |
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debbieklann
True Blue Farmgirl
2706 Posts
Debbie
Madras
OR
USA
2706 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 11 2020 : 11:11:27 AM
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Those are beautiful, Denise!
Winnie, I hope it passes quickly for you. That does not sound fun. |
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
January 2020 FGOTM
"Well behaved women seldom make history"...
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2020 : 12:04:55 PM
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| Winnie, I sure hope you don't get anything back from that storm. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
3522 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
3522 Posts |
Posted - Nov 14 2020 : 06:15:30 AM
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We were lucky with Tropical storm ETa because right before landfall, drier air, behind the front, sheered off some of Eta’s power at the last minute. Areas south of us had some wind gusts up to 50 mph and more rain. We, however, had gusts up to 20 mph and only an inch of rain. There were the usual limbs and tre debris everywhere but no power outages or huge trees down. Whew!! The drier weather has been slowly drifting in and hopefully will clear up the constant cloudy and humid weather. Next week is supposed to have a cooler front and the sun should be out later today and tomorrow. Oh how we need to dry up for a few days. Last week was hot and humid everyday and lots of overcast showery moments 24/7. We are a soggy mess down here!
However, the storm’s passing has left the area very quiet. Schools closed Wed. And Thurs. so Friday was a return to business again. If the sun actually shows up, it could be a very nice weekend of dry weather and a chance to get outside again. We are at the month’s mid point and quietly, Christmas stuff is now full center in grocery stores, and I have even seen families in our neighborhood decorate their yards with Christmas lights everywhere. The local school has their annual Christmas tree lot up and ready for their arrival which usually happens a few days proper to Thanksgiving. The busy Christmas season is moving in down here while a tropical storm and hot weather the past two weeks has had everyone focused on keeping cool and making sure they had supplies for a potential storm hit. This month has been rather schizophrenic with a churning Gulf dragging all sorts of tropical weather over the state every day. Added to that has been increasing Covid cases in our state. So, we are sliding into what is going to be a very different Thanksgiving weekend. By choice, many of us are staying home and keeping safe. As a result , life will be much quieter for me and many others. We had a rough few months of sickness in this state this past Summer and now that numbers are shooting up, many of us older folk are home. I’ve been thinking about how this situation can be a good thing. If it stays cooler and drier, we have many small natural places around the county that have nice walking trails. The wild flowers are blooming right now on Paynes Prairie and the Sandhill Cranes are starting to show up for their winter stay. By Thanksgiving , if you drive north and NW in the state, there are more deciduous tree which will be in color. The Sweet Gum, Southern Red Maple, HIckory, Southern Red Oak and Shumard Oaks will show some pretty leaf changes as well as Bradford Pears and Dogwoods. We used to have Dogwoods in our yard and neighborhood when we moved here in 1984. The increasing heat and longer summers have pretty much killed all of those trees now. But they still exist closer to the Georgia border. They can have some gorgeous deep red leaves in the Fall.
We only have 15 more days until the end of the month and then it will be busy, busy, busy for the next 31 in most all of the country. Preparations for the holidays, in a year of the pandemic, will be different , but people love this season and love to enjoy so many old traditions and make memories. So, let us all gather our wits about us and take advantage of what November can offer us in quietness. It is a great time to enjoy a cup of hot tea, work on our journals, read a good book, and get outside where weather is still lovely. I don’t want to let this beautiful time slip by because of the frenzy of getting Christmas started. What do you plan to do this last half of the month? How will you enjoy November's gift? Let’s not let it be crowded out!
A view of my "LogCabin". I did that cross stitch on the mantle over 20 years ago and enjoy bringing it out every year.
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Winnie Nielsen #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Girl of the Year 2014-2015 |
Edited by - Red Tractor Girl on Nov 15 2020 09:28:28 AM |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 1:12:24 PM
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Winnie,
Your little cabin room is lovely. This is definitely a different year. I don't know what the second half will bring but I hope it is less than the first half. I am hoping for quieter.
I know I shared with you all the my best friend Andrea passed away, well, her mom passed away 16 days after her. Now her sister is alone with just nieces and nephews nearby. She has Alzheimer's and I think they will be trying to find some one to stay with her. It will be a change and I'm sure all of this is such a major adjustment for her. I'm hoping whoever it is she will feel comfortable with them.
We finally finished up a couple home projects and I am working on getting
the rooms back to normal today. We will be getting together with my daughter and her family for thanksgiving. Not sure if we will see my son or not. Haven't seen him since February. Not sure what Christmas will be like either.
We had a stormy night last night. A lot of wind and a bit of rain. Has taken most of the leaves down now. This week is supposed to be sunny but our highs will only be in the 50s. Still if the wind doesn't blow it will be nice to get outdoors and do some things.
The rest of this month I will spend getting gifts ready for Christmas. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
1275 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
1275 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 2:24:45 PM
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| Winnie -- That looks so warm and cozy. I would like to settle in there with a mug of hot chocolate, a good book, and a cat on my lap. |
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade
FGOTM 6/21, 6/24 |
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quiltee
True Blue Farmgirl
4742 Posts
Linda
Terrell
TX
USA
4742 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 4:35:07 PM
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That is a cute setting, Winnie - warm and cozy.
We are not going to Ed's son's house for Thanksgiving, even though it will be a small group. Most of the family has been working from home, except for our co-FIL (Ed's son's FIL - LOL - they are friends of ours and we call them our co-in-laws) who is a truck driver. He is not good about keeping distances at family gatherings, and since he works outside the home we just think it is best. We hate not to go, but want to stay safe.
Ed used to volunteer with an organization who provided surgical care to a remote area of Honduras, and we have been praying that everyone in Honduras and Nicaragua and other Central American countries stays safe from Hurricane Iota. So many areas were hit just 2 weeks ago and this hurricane is even stronger. Prayers for everyone in Iota's path. |
Linda B
quiltee
Farmgirl #1919
FGOTM for August, 2015 and April, 2017
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
859 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
859 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 6:21:24 PM
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grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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quiltee
True Blue Farmgirl
4742 Posts
Linda
Terrell
TX
USA
4742 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 7:39:55 PM
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Well, this may be an even quieter November if we get locked down again.
Ed just saw something on FB - "Lockdown can only go 4 ways. You'll come out a Monk, a Hunk, a Chunk, or a Drunk. Choose wisely." LOL! |
Linda B
quiltee
Farmgirl #1919
FGOTM for August, 2015 and April, 2017
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
1275 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
1275 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 8:40:40 PM
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| I think we will come out of it as conjugal monks. We've made the decision to stay home alone on Thanksgiving and Christmas. My kids and grandkids are doing the same. We will all stay safe and stand a good chance of being around to be together for the holidays next year. |
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade
FGOTM 6/21, 6/24 |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
5777 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
5777 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2020 : 9:32:37 PM
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| When the lock down first began no one enforced it. Then they did it again. The restaurants and bars had to get creative! Seems like every time it gets opened up again...quickly it goes right back to drive thru only! But those bars...they are so busy on Friday and Saturday nights. And they seem to have huge crowds! I stay home! Driving around on a Friday night is how I know about the bars. Those folks are crazy and young. |
Texasgran |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
3522 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
3522 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2020 : 05:56:24 AM
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Bonnie, I love that poem as it reflects the November of my imagination. I remember as a child that I always wanted it to snow on Thanksgiving. Why? Not sure. Maybe just because it seemed so cozy? If we all sat in a circle and said what Thanksgiving meant to us, there would be similarities mixed with different specific traditions. I think That has been the beauty of this holiday. It was set us as a national day of thanks where business was closed(not anymore) and everyone could gather and have a day of gathering together and celebrating according to their wishes. Over the decades it has morphed into a Christmas holiday kickoff with a huge commercial take over on bargain shopping. We are now into Pre-Black Friday sales by the middle of November. This season has become such an important business sales period for many retail stores. The emphasis on lots of shopping requires sales and competitive pricing against competitors. People love to shop and they love a bargain, so they gladly line up to shop when the doors open with hopes of those top line products that are usually out of reach. All of this excitement for bargains has pushed back the idea of just gathering and enjoying a meal and a day together.
These changes have all taken place in my life and for me I feel a bit disillusioned by it all. However, I realize that I am in a huge minority of people today. I continue to resist mixing Thanksgiving and Christmas together. In my mind, when we water down Thanksgiving’s importance with focusing on the kickoff of Christmas , we end up losing this November holiday’s special quality. Once it is gone, it won’t come back. Is there still room in our life circles for standing up for Thanksgiving? Will our younger family members be open to a different way of looking at Thanksgiving? Maybe. Maybe not. Christmas commercialism is a big competitor for interests in different ways of living. We have to really work to not be gobbled up by it the day after Halloween. Children are especially vulnerable to the dangling of all that possibility of lots of presents.
I have no solutions to the ever lessening of just a Thanksgiving celebration before we turn our focus on the big Christmas ahead. Holidays are individual experiences and everyone and every family have their own favorite ways. That is as it should be. For me, I will continue to choose just giving November full respect and allowance to close out the harvest season, the changing of the landscape, and the opportunity to indulge in it’s quietness and natural beauty . It won’t come again for another year, so I wish to bask in it’s gifts and not lose one beautiful moment. Hmmm, I must be getting old!! LOL!! Do any of my thoughts resonate with you ? Or have you created new Thanksgiving/Christmas opening traditions that your family prefers and makes the Thanksgiving holiday fun and special for you? Let’s share more about how we are different in our older years and love those changes that are different. |
Winnie Nielsen #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Girl of the Year 2014-2015 |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2020 : 11:21:00 AM
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Winnie,
Growing up in NY we had Thanksgiving with snow, we did not mix the holidays though. December was the start of Christmas season. It seems Christmas shopping and getting that perfect gift have taken over the family togetherness of the holiday. Of course, living far away from family always caused shopping to start early enough to get it in the mail. I miss the holidays of my childhood. Now it just doesn't seem there are things that separate them enough to make each one special. I love Christmas but I also enjoy thanksgiving too. I don't remember Christmas taking such a long time to get ready for either. We never even saw the tree until Christmas morning. My mother would just about make it to bed and in a few hours my dad was waking us to start the day. Now I can't imagine doing all she did in just that one night but we also didn't have all the other decorating, just the tree. Now it seems there is so much decorating that everyone has to get started weeks ahead. I am really open this year to doing just the tree without all the rest.
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Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
1275 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
1275 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2020 : 8:04:26 PM
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Denise -- I miss the Christmases of my childhood, too. My mother made Christmas magical. Our tree went up the week before Christmas and was taken down on Twelfth night. The little Christmas village was on the mantlepiece above where the stockings were hung. Dad hung the lights on the front of the house and put a wreath on the front door. I did away with the tree when I no longer had Christmas at my house -- My kids have that honor now. About the only thing I miss is my little village. It's up in the garage somewhere. I just don't have the energy to climb the ladder and find it.
Our Thanksgivings were food-filled fun affairs not only for family; friends came too. One year my sister even picked up two hitch hikers and brought them. The women would gather in the kitchen after dinner and wash massive amounts of dishes and fix goodie bags of leftovers for people to bring home; the men would be snoozing in the living room. Kids were everywhere. Then the adults would break out the Monopoly game and play till the wee small hours of the night. That's one tradition I'm keeping -- I told DH that there may only be the two of us but we will be playing Monopoly after dinner this year. |
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade
FGOTM 6/21, 6/24 |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
859 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
859 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2020 : 9:14:40 PM
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| We usually have snow for Thanksgiving. I grew up as an only child and there was just my mother, father and I. But usually we had a spinster aunt visit. Those days are special to me. |
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2020 : 05:00:09 AM
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Don't you just cherish childhood memories! I tried to make memories for my children. To have special times to remember when they grew up.
Thanksgiving we could usually count on some of my dad's sisters or brothers coming by. We all lived close except two of the aunts. They were a 45 minute drive but it was a beautiful drive. If it snowed we wouldn't see them because it was a drive down mountain roads.
I can remember how much work my mother did for Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the baking too. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
3522 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
3522 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2020 : 09:25:53 AM
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I am enjoying all of these memories shared and they remind me of many of mine as well. I agree that I too miss the ways life was organized around holiday celebrations in my childhood. Much has changed in my life time and I find that my my own children are not interested in many of their experiences that I tried to give around Big holidays. Thanksgiving especially is different and has been for decades. Christmas is really down to a morning gathering and meal . It has been really small and limited since they were in college. One is married and splits time between two households, but the youngest is not married and just comes here for about 3 days at Christmas. So, without grand kids, Christmas with just adults isn’t a big deal at all. Being raised in a big family meant that holidays were a lot of hustle and bustle which added to the festivities. It has been a huge adjustment for me in my empty nest years! LOL!!
From the comments here, I think we can say that our generation had very different experiences on Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Those experiences created the types of traditions we gave our kids. It also allowed us to relive some of those childhood memories with our children. I am always amazed that so many of things we did are not a part of my children’s interests to keep them going in their adult lives. I wonder if the children today, that are 12 and under, will grow up and want to preserve what their moms and grandparents added to holidays like. Thanksgiving and Christmas? |
Winnie Nielsen #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Girl of the Year 2014-2015 |
Edited by - Red Tractor Girl on Nov 21 2020 05:40:01 AM |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2020 : 10:45:28 AM
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I hope so Winnie. I am so happy when I hear or see my children doing things we did as a family when they were young. That way I know what meant the most to them.
Just found out our son will be working lots of hours so won't make Thanksgiving but is working towards Christmas. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
1275 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
1275 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2020 : 1:58:04 PM
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| Youngest daughter called and said grandson is now out of work and depressed so she called a store near him and ordered a Thanksgiving meal.He lives about 30 miles from us so we will pick up the meal from the store and I'm going to make him a pumpkin pie, rolls, and some cookies to go with the meal, along with some green veggies. We're going to ring the doorbell and run, and wave and blow kisses from the sidewalk. So I get to cook for family after all :-) |
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade
FGOTM 6/21, 6/24 |
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mbenton16
True Blue Farmgirl
190 Posts
Maryellen
Denver
North Carolina
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - Nov 24 2020 : 2:54:36 PM
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| Ladies I love the heart warming stories. You farmgirls have a beautiful knack for writing. I can actually place myself in these scenarios. We are social distancing this year but trying to focus on our blessings! Maryellen |
Maryellen Benton |
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levisgrammy
Scattered Prairie Hen Honcho
9531 Posts
Denise
Ohio
USA
9531 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2020 : 04:49:58 AM
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| Judith, I'm glad you can do something to cheer your grandson and also yourself. We women do love to be needed don't we? It's the way we are made. I'm never happier than when I am doing something to serve others or help to put a smile on their face. |
Denise~~
Sister #43
"I am a bookaholic with no desire to be cured."
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105
www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
Edited by - levisgrammy on Nov 25 2020 04:50:47 AM |
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mbenton16
True Blue Farmgirl
190 Posts
Maryellen
Denver
North Carolina
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2020 : 11:13:24 AM
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| Denise, I totally agree! I always feel better making someone else happy! Maryellen |
Maryellen Benton |
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quiltee
True Blue Farmgirl
4742 Posts
Linda
Terrell
TX
USA
4742 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2020 : 11:59:53 AM
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That's so nice, Judith. So glad you get to help him out.
Yes, Thanksgiving Memories are precious. We will be eating just the two of us - Ed doesn't like turkey or chicken, so will probably have stuffing and soup. LOL! Easy to clean up but filling end enjoyable together. |
Linda B
quiltee
Farmgirl #1919
FGOTM for August, 2015 and April, 2017
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
1275 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
1275 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2020 : 12:30:02 PM
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| We delivered the Thanksgiving meal and other assorted goodies to Nick this morning and had a wonderful over-the-fence visit with masks on. It was so nice to actually have a real visit with someone; I hadn't seen any family since Easter so it was a win-win for both of us. |
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade
FGOTM 6/21, 6/24 |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
859 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
859 Posts |
Posted - Nov 25 2020 : 5:17:18 PM
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| I am glad for you Judith. It's really hard to be upbeat when you can't see family. |
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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Project Discussions: Learning Together: November-a quiet month |
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Learning Together: November-a quiet month
