i have perogies for everybody!!!

Perfect Sighsnootles.  MMM they smell delicious.  How are things going in your life these days.  I remember the excitement that last Christmas brought for your family.  How is everyone now?

I love these threads Busymom. Hi Sighs. How is Winnipeg?

I would like to offer a camera and then we can take pictures of the wide variety of folk who come to the cafe each day.Some to talk, some to listen and others who come just to be among friends.

Thanks for this thread, Busymom.

Can your camera be set on a timer Crazyheart?  I'd love to have a photo taken with you in it. 

Here, squeeze on in and stand still.  Crazyheart stand still.  You keep looking around to see who else might be coming in.  Hopefully more will be here for the photoshoot soon.

Yes Crazyheart, the roofer may be here as well.

What's that?  You wonder if he'll be dressed up as Santa?  A shirtless Santa wearing suspenders?  CRAZYHEART!!!

Look at the camera, smile.....Cheese!

You know what CH?

I just had an idea.  Let's put your camera in a photo booth like other train stations have.  This one has no coin slot....it's free.  Anyone who enters this room may have a photo taken but I'd really like them to tell us what their photo is about.  Is that OK with you Crazyheart?

I'll get busy building the booth.  Extra cushions on the seat!

love it or hate it, i'm bringing....... fruitcake.

I LOVE momsfruitcake!!!!

Good to see you.  Thanks for coming.

Well, I just finished making a chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting for a friend.  I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I snuck a few pieces out for my WC friends.

So many mixed feelings today.  On a sad note, I broke the bowl to my mom's mixer.  It triggered very sad feelings for me.  Also I recently turned down the offer of a Kitchen Aid mixer from a friend.  Sad and kicking myself.  On the bright side, I'm going to my work Christmas party with my two best friends tonight and I'm patiently waiting for one of them to come and share her cake with me.

If santa can join the party without a shirt - so can the roofer

The photo booth is looking good., busymom

Image Credit:   Dennis Cox | ClipartOf.com | #6502

Price includes: Clipart + Royalty Free License High Resolution Digital Files   Small .jpg

Seems like Santa found the keys to the wondertinis. Is this allowed in the station?

 That  comfy chair by the fireplace looks pretty inviting and I am rather weary.

Rather quiet around here. I must have dozed off. Oh! that's you Santa. Yes, I would like a WonderTini.

 Sorry you have to go to another party so soon Somegirl. Thanks for the chocolate cake.

 Cat got your tongue?  CrazyHeart?

 Mom should be here soon with her fruitcake.

I guess I will have another perogie while I am waiting. I wonder what has become of Busymom. 

 I'll be back in half an hour. Someone left their cross country skis at the door and I just happen to be wearing my ski boots.

Tomorrow a number of us from our congregation are invited to a 90th Birthday Party for a lovely lady who is one of the longest serving members of our congregation. 

Her husband died as a result of cancer 3 years ago.  While it will be a day of joyful celebration it will also be a day to remember him.

Here are some decorations for the station.

 Back inside, rather out of breath. I was practicing in anticipation of two days at the Fairmont Lake Louise with the grandchildren, Just before Christmas. Except I will not actually be skiing with them. At least not unless they decide that skiing on the level around the lake is their style. 

 Gecko, Thanks for decorating the tree while I was gone. More people should be arriving soon.

That's a beautiful tree, gecko!

Hope you don't have frostbitten toes and nose, naman.

I'm supposed to be working on Christmas projects and related chores, but I am here playing on Wondercafe instead!

What a great room Busymom!

I have brought enough of these for everyone:

I have also brought some Christmas music:

Is Santa the only other man here? 

Good to see everyone.  Beautiful Christmas tree Gecko.  I just love trees - trees in the forest, trees decordated in the front yard, trees in the stores and in the houses.  I don't think that I've ever seen a Christmas tree I didn't like. 

But I also love my little Jesse tree.  I've brought it along - its over there in that quiet corner.  See the flicker - that's the burning bush I added today. 

I talked to Seelergirl today.  She is getting what rest she can (besides driving one kid to dance and the other to swimming lessons.  Travelling for radiation is wearing her out - but it will be over before Christmas. 

We are thankful that Seelergirl is with us to spend Christmas and we look forward to many, many more as she goes into recovery (keep up the prayers, please.)   Seelerboy is getting away from Korea for a week and spending Christmas laying on the beach in the Philipines.  We miss him, but enjoyed his company in the summer.    I've sent his gifts by Amazon.  A book for his birthday next Sunday, another for Christmas. 

Naman - I hope that you enjoyed your skiing.  Were conditions good.  Did the skis slide along, but not slip backwards as you climbed any slopes?   Not enough snow in this part of Canada for cross country skiing yet.

Oh . . . Happy Birthday wishes to Seelerboy on Sunday . . .

May you have a joyous Christmas, Seeler, especially with Seelergirl's radiation treatments done by then . . . is that the last for treatments with what is known at this time?

Hi Beloved.  Come and sit by me for a spell.   Yes, treatments will be over on December 21st - unless she decides to have the other breast removed as a precautionary measure.  She will be on medication and monitored for the next five years, I believe.  Life will gradually get back to normal.  

What is going on in your life right now?

What a nice restful place to drop in for awhile. Tree, (Thanks Gecko) music and candy canes( Thanks somegal) good company ( naman,seeler and beloved). what more could anyone ask for. Oh yeah......BusyMom where is she hiding?

Wow, you and your family have been through a long stretch, seeler. 

What a lovely place to be. Thanks busymom. I've brought egg nog and hot chocolate, although for myself a mug of herbal tea sounds good (I've had enough sugar today - for now anyway). I'm lighting candles for those who just need some gentle care right now.

I'm bringing a lot more candles for Myst to light (great thought, Myst!  Thanks!)  I'm thinking of a goodly number of people I know who could use some gentle care, and I'm sure there are more I'm not aware of. 

Thanks, Busymom, for providing the room!

 Unlike the grandchildren, I stay away from the slopes when I am skiing.

Hi everyone!   Mmmm ... nice to wander in here for a moment's rest.  I've been baking all day - so I've brought along a big platter of goodies for everyone to nibble.   The tree is up & the house decorated too.  Sipping on a steaming mug of Sleepytime tea ... so I may not be around for too long!   And now I'm contemplating how to wrap two viking helmets!!  Father & son set ... can't wait for the laughter when they're opened. 

Sighsnootles - come chat in a quiet corner with me ... I've been thinking about you because I just caught up with a friend who went to Phoenix in November & had the 'liberation' treatment, with great results so far.  I'm so thrilled for her. 

Momsfruitcake ..... yum ....

 Hi folks, wow, what a wonder-place to be.  thanks for this busymom.  I am thinking of all the folks who have lost someone this year, and all those who have someone who is in  longterm care or fighting  an illness...and the next year is unpredictable.

in particular, tonight, i am thinking of young ones who are ill....who face scary times ahead, and are sick of being sick.  I'm wishing we had our Secret Santa visitor at our church ...like we did a few years back, as I think this family could use one...and I'm wondering if there is a way to find one that would pop in....thinking hat is on tonight....for the joy of a totally surprising visit, when even the parents aren't in on it, is pretty awesome..

anyhow, may everyone find the spot in the room, i love that image busymom, that they need....and for those who go outside, there is wonderful hot chocolate awaiting, and I have brought some of my very dark fruitcake with old cheese on the side.

Thanks for starting this thread, busymom.  I'm in need of a place to be still right now.  While I ponder my advent, I'd love to share some treats and tea.

*quietly returns and sits in the rocker with her littlest monkey*  nursing a fever, thought i would stop in here for a few minutes before the next fever check.  baby's asleep so i won't do much talking, but is free to rock a while and listen, obviously my thoughts are with you all this evening.

I'm feeling kind of quiet and sad.  This is not my favourite time of the year.  But I've baked some cookies for the wondercafe crowd and am dropping them off.  I made them with my special Christmas cookie cutters and they have lots of brightly coloured sprinkles on them.

Sending kind and gentle good wishes to everyone.

TL

I'm hear to listen to anyone who wants to chat - about anything.

Pinga - is that the fruitcake you (and young son) made this year?   It does taste good.

Tiger Lily - could we share a hug before you go?

((((((((((  Tiger Lily ))))))))))  

TigerLily, come and sit by me for a minute. Lets have a quiet chat and a few giggles.

momsfruitcake . . . hope baby is feeling better!

I'll scramble up some eggs and put on the coffee and tea . . . and warm up some egg before I head off to get ready for church.  Something tells me that I would grow, learn, and be spiritually enriched just as much here in this room as I would at the church service . . . but I've made commitments to be there.

((((Tiger Lily)))) - may you receive enough grace to carry you through this time that is hard for you.

Samuel 4

⁵And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

 ⁶And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

 ⁷And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

 ⁸Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

 ⁹Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

 ¹⁰And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

 ¹¹And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

... just kidding!!

qwerty - you devil!   Shame on you.     This is a place where all are welcome.   Come over and have a glass of warm eggnog and a chat.  Did I mention - I've brought my famous warm mincemeat tarts made with venison. 

qwerty, sit awhile. I know you must be a little anxious about surgery. We will all support you through this time.

Hello, hello, hello!

How awesome this room is looking!  So many of my favourite people have wandered in and look there's still lots of room for more!

A Christmas tree.....music.....goodies to snack on......a Jesse tree......a shirtless Santa passing out wondetinis.......cross country skis....a baby....egg nog & hot chocolate.....fire buring in the fireplace and the gentle glow of candles.   Best of all wonderful people spread out throughout the room.

Sorry that I had to step out for a while but i sure appreciate that you've all continued to open the door and welcome others in.  Looking around the room I see faces of friends who are struggling a bit.....missing family members, concerned for loved ones who are ill, pondering this Advent season and feeling lonely.  I'm glad that you found this space and look forward to sitting with you a while.  Lots of hugs are coming your way.

I also sense some light-heartedness in some of the conversation and that balances this room beautifully.  Thanks for that.  Ahhhh, it's so good to see all of you.  I've missed you.  You really mean a lot to me. Did you know that? 

When I stepped out for a bit last night, I went into London to see a Christmas play.  It was a fun evening and the play was presented really well.....the actors knew their parts, the choir was beautiful, the praise band was awesome, the costumes and setting were elaborate.  Small children were dancing and singing while their parents snapped photos.  The nativity scene was awesome highlighted by a newborn Jesus who was placed gently in the manger and kicked and squirmed to everyone's delight.  It was lovely. 

What made this evening really special  for me was the fact that the play they used was one that I wrote for our congregation a few years ago.  Two years ago the Roman Catholic school in our town used this play for their Christmas concert.  A woman in the audience that night who was from London called me in October and asked for permission to use this play.  How cool is that?  So, last evening I went to a large Roman Catholic church in the city to see a play that was originally written for a tiny rural United Church.  *sigh*

It felt like a gift to see the characters of this play brought to life again.   The director of the play kept thanking me for letting them use the play, and I kept thanking them for doing it.  It certainly is a bright-spot during this season of Advent that has had a few dark moments.  Leaving the church last night, a woman who was unaware of my connection to the play said "Wasn't that great?  I haven't been feeling very Christmassy and this has put me in a much better mood."  "Merry Christmas" I replied.  That exchange with a stranger in London made me feel more Christmassy and put me in a better mood.  It was a good night!

Now, I think I'll snack on some of the goodies spread around this room and cozy in for some chatting.  Scootch on over and let's enjoy each other's company.  Did I mention that I'm really glad you're here.  It's so good to see you.

 Thanks for putting a smile on my face busymom!

Hey chemgal. I haven't seen you in while.  How have you been?

sounds soooo good. the baby is napping, her fever now under control and the kids are watching the little drummer boy.  i'll take a little break after a long night and enjoy a tart and tea.  is the recipe a secret one or would you be willing to share it?  i would love to make these for my in-laws.

Glad to hear that the baby is feeling a bit better.  Extra great that you're having a quiet moment.  Relax and enjoy.