Thanks, everyone! Our Thanksgiving was wonderful! Gladys' pies were wonderful - an apple made with Northern Spys and a pecan. She makes the best flaky tender crust!
Thanksgiving day weather was in the low 50s until evening, when it started to get wet and chilly. We had a few moments of snow/hail yesterday, but the forecast I heard calls for mid 50s again later this week.
I have been taking pictures, but will have to wait until we get internet at home to load them here. We will have Embarq here for phone and internet. Blah! Windstream does not handle the town we are in. They had landline phone and dsl service for under $30 month. I hated Embarq at the mobile home and am semi-upset that I have to use them here. The cheapest phone/internet they have quoted me is $55/month. Our other option would be Time Warner (show me the money) Cable. They do have a bundle for $30 a month, phone, dsl and tv. But since we haven't had tv for 7 years, I just don't see the point in getting it. (TR would disagree strongly, I am sure.

One of his friends offered us a small big screen tv for free.

) Of course, if you don't take the tv option in the bundle, then the cost is more than the $30 a month. Our landlady, B, told me they pay $150/month for Time Warner bundle (internet, phone, tv) with some options.
Thanks, sylvie for the tip on NCW. I will check them out.
Even though we live in the township, we have found we are just 1.6 miles from the village center. So everything is really convenient.
TR and I went to Chagrin Falls on Sunday to see it all decorated for Christmas and get our annual pictures of the village center. We went in the afternoon, and so by the time we got there (1.5 hours away, I think) a number of places were closed. We noticed Gorant's chocolate, cards and gifts shop is now Chagrin Cards and Gifts. VERY UPSCALED even from what it was before. The Chagrin Falls sweatshirts were $40 and the CF baseball caps were $20. Many of the items they used to carry, they no longer have; including the ribbon candy and some of the chocolates. Dink's Restaurant is now New Beginnings Diner. They are only open from 7 to 2, so we haven't been there yet. The Popcorn Shop has water globes for sale now - with a miniature popcorn shop inside the globe. They were about 2 1/2 inches high and cost .... $20! Needless to say, we did not buy one. As always, Fireside Book Shop was a treat - lots of good books (new and used). But we didn't buy anything. The funniest part of our trip was that it was close to 60!! We did not even need to wear our coats near the falls! That is the first time ever for that!

We didn't see Duffy's Carriage giving rides, so not sure if we just missed them or if they aren't doing that this year. The Chagrin Falls Hardware store was closed (we just missed that), and so we missed a chance to see what new old stuff they have. We were hoping to stop at Parkside Church for their 7 pm service, but that had been cancelled due to the Thanksgiving holiday. By the time we headed for home, the weather was getting wet and cold. By the time we got home, we had a steady amount of rain. But it was a wonderful day.
Yesterday my friend Melissa and I went to visit Pat at home. She had surgery last Tuesday for arthritis on both her feet. So she won't be at work (she is the church admin) for the next 5 weeks. We had a wonderful visit sitting in her family room by the wood stove, drinking herbal tea and munching on apples, cheese and pom seeds. She had her first doctor's visit yesterday afternoon and he is really happy with how she is mending.

It does seem strange not to see her at church, and have someone else lead our women's Sunday class. We have 3 weeks to go on the Leslie Parrott
You Matter More Than You Think study.
Today is Christian Cafe - mac and cheese and sloppy joe's. TR is off work at the hospital, so he is helping Don today with his landscaping business. I have a census workers test this afternoon. So it looks like neither of us will work CC today. The next CC (third Tuesday of Dec) will be the Turkey Dinner for Christmas (they did a ham dinner the week before Thanksgving).
This Sunday is the United Methodist Women's Christmas Tea. Last year was a wonderful event, so my sister C is planning on attending with me this year. This year's program is
The Quiltmaker's Gift by Marianne Wise. I heard from Eileen (UMW president) that there are 75 women signed up for this tea. The Angel's Wing at church will be very full!
My sis-in-law in NY has been told that she has cancer, so will be having a complete hysterectomy on January 5. The doctor and nutritionalist have already changed her diet to eliminate much of the processed stuff many of us already are avoiding.
And can you believe that it is December already?!