*peeps by behind Bella to wish the Square a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!* We're here in Missouri visiting family, and we plan to stay through Sunday. It's been wonderful so far.

*mouth waters at Bella's aforementioned dinner* We had a vegetarian table today, complete with mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner roast, cranberry jelly, several salads, numerous bowls of veggies, etc. I had to be rolled out the door.

I hope to post a catchup post soon! Hope you all are enjoying your holiday.

*slips out*

Wow, what a great weekend! Had Thanksgiving dinner with a family from my church, who heard that I didn't have anywhere to go. (It's hard living on one's own!) We played football, and music on piano, viola, and guitar.

Then Friday my buddy and I went hiking in a nearby state park. It was so pleasant out, and and we had a really great time. It was so peaceful out there. We found several interesting tree formations, and tried to deduce the events of fallen trees. We also discovered a cool hidden spot that I named "Wizard Point." It's a bit of land that just out about 20 feet above a roaring waterfall, with another part 40-50 feet above the next waterfall. It was breathtaking.

On Saturday, I helped some friends move. I took on the job of truck packing. When Dad was alive, that's what he used to do whenever we helped people move (which was usually 2 or 3 times a year). So I learned form him, and I it was a fun challenge to get everything packed in the truck nicely so that nothing would be damaged during transport. It was kind of funny - they didn't want to trust me, but I kept just telling them that I had it all under control, and voilà, it worked out very nicely.

Yesterday was my friend's 25th birthday, so our little gaming group went over and we played games and had cake. Lovely time.

One of these days I might get the hang of all the quotes and replies, but for now I'll just content myself with this.

TTYL

*arrives in a flurry of snow and Christmas spirit* Good mortereve, all! It's the second day of December already - can you believe it? This year has been a blur. The Christmas season and holidays are just around the corner!

And, since we can't leave the Square looking empty and neglected for the holidays.....

*begins to unload boxes of garlands and tinsel, lights and wreaths, holly and jingle bells, a mini tree and ornaments* Anyone up for decorating?

*sets out a platter of cookies and some hot cocoa, and turns up the stereo*

"The sound of Christmas is in the air
Everywhere I go, I hear the sound of Christmas
The joyous sound of a choir singing
The sacred sound of the church bells ringing
The happy sound of friendly footsteps
Crunching through the newly fallen snow
The sound of children giggling with delight
The sound of an organ, full and rich
Playing Joy to the World, the First Noel
And Silent Night

The sound of Christmas is all around
And each sound I hear fills my soul with a love that's growing
Growing more and more, 'til it's overflowing
Overflowing with peace and good cheer
I'm glad I'm here to hear the sound of Christmas
Once again"

*A lone figure enters the Square and sits by the Fountain. He picks up a microphone and taps the end.*

Hello, is this thing on?

It's been quiet in the Square as of late! I suppose people are getting ready for finals at school, not to mention the holidays. And some of us are finally dealing with the first snow of the season.

I enjoyed a fun Thanksgiving with my brother and his family in northeast Minnesota, not far from Lake Superior. There was hardly any snow there at all, and it melted on Thanksgiving Day, when it got close to 50F/10C. Pretty rare for this time of year.

We did get several inches last weekend, though some of that is melting too. If we're not careful we may not have a white Christmas this year. That's a far cry from last year, when we got about 30 inches in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

*Adds some decorations, scatters snow all about the Square, and grabs some chocolate on the way out. Adios for now!*

*In the air there's a feeling of Christmas!*

I hope everyone is having a very beautiful holiday season so far! My family and I have been enjoying this time of year very much. Last week we got a Christmas tree. It's nine feet tall, the biggest and most beautiful one we've ever had. I just put some pictures of our Thanksgiving, Christmas decorating fun on my blog.

Then last night we had our Christmas concert. My youngest siblings sing in a childrens' choir and my brothers and I are in the high school ensemble, but each choir is really just a branch of one director's choir with multiple associate directors.

I love singing Christmas carols! And we sang so beautifully last night, everyone did really! Our group is kind of a new more intense musically, if you will, kind of group and I can tell how we've improved since last year. Our first piece was from the Great Sacred Choruses. I think it was called "Gloria" or something like that by Haydyn. Our other songs were "Lullay my Liking", in which I had a solo! Eeep! "On This Good Christmas Morn" and "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming" and then we sang a couple of traditional carol medleys with the children.

My mother was our accompanist which made it all fun! Such a sweet family tradition! I'll be sad when I graduate from high school.

Before the curtain closes, I have one more performance! Our winter dance recital is looming near in the future and I'm starting to get really nervous about it. I hope this is a sign that the performance itself will turn out really well, but I can't be sure. This is Irish Step Dance, by the way, fantasia! I've actually never taken any other kind of dance, but I've taken Irish Step for six+ years now.

You know, after what you said fantasia, I couldn't resist going onto YouTube and looking up Hip-Hop turorials. It doesn't look too complicated. I wonder what it would be like to take an intense training class on it.

Speaking of dance, I got my first Irish Dance wig in the mail yesterday! I ordered it online and bought it myself. It's really nice, as nice as wig's get, that is. I think natural hair looks the best, but it's such a pain to try and curl it all before a performance. Just stress adding to the stress! I'll have to get used to dancing with it, because right now it's really distracting having that much extra hair on my head. For the entire performance, I'll be thinking "is this thing gonna fall off?"

Well, I'm going o rude and not try and catch up this time. I honestly did try to come and make some catch up posts on here several times, but this computer seems to be jinxed against me and every time I got this close to finishing, I clicked something by mistake or pressed the wrong keys and I'd be swept back to the previous page or last opened tab or whatnot. Sigh. But at least I tried, right? I get a badge for effort?

All right, I'm going to snuggle up with Austen's Persuasion in front of our lovely woodstove. Have a good day y'all. God bless!

Good mortereve everyone! I hope that ya'll are doing well this morning!

I must say, I'm really surprised that the Square has been silent for five days now. I hope that everyone is alright, and has been having a wonderful December so far.
How is everyone's Christmas break going? Everyone survive finals this semester?
Life in college has been interesting this year. Crazy stuff. Lots of God being awesome, and me being dumb, but that shows His amazing mercy even more.

Anyway. I hope that ya'll are doing well. Perhaps I'll return the the square again before another six months has gone by.
God Bless, and hasta luego.

*enters into a silent square... so silent in fact that he can hear the whispers of the mice family that has their dwelling under the blocks of the fountain*

HELLO! *listens and finds his echo bounces off everything around him, resounding and shattering the silence like the break of glass in an empty hall*

Well now that I got that "HELLO!" out of my system I can move on...

How are you all doing? Supposing of course that people actually do come back to the square to read this post
I myself am doing very well, for those of you were wondering (and those who were not, just forget I said anything and skip to the next paragraph ), God has been teaching me so much these past weeks! It is so amazing to look at the greatness of God and what He has created and how big He is and then to think that He actually loves us and even likes spending time with us. In fact He wanted to be in a relationship so much that Jesus came and died so that our sins would be washed away and that we could be made worthy by His blood to have a close and intimate relation ship with the Most High God, the one who created everything! It is just incredible how He showed love upon us! He is so full of love and He just wants to share that with us!
Then to think that we would have the spunk to deny His sacrifice and do our own things, instead of opening our hearts to Him so that we could have a relationship with Him, is just outrageous!
But the good news is that through all of our hardheartedness He still loves us and still is longing for that relationship with us! Answer His call and open your hearts to Him.
Well that is what God has been showing me lately and it is so great just to let go and trust Him! Let me tell you that THE MOST important thing to do is to build that relationship with our heavenly Father!

And this is the next paragraph for those who were not wondering
So Thanksgiving was a blast, our family got together and we had a mini talent show which everyone brought something unique to share with everyone. And then we had lunch together, which I must say sweet potatoes is still the best thing about thanksgiving ....... And then some of us hung out together while others went to other parties, altogether it was just fun

And now I'm going to head off to bed for I got work in the morning.
Good Mortereve all!

*waves to those who have been in the square, since he was last here, while he is departing ...*

--Benjamin

*runs back in real quick to drop off a song for the Onions who will be entering after him* This is a song by Jenn Johnson, and she is singing what God sings over us, amazing song!

*runs back in a second time* Oh yeah and I forgot to say that I'll be going to the Passion conference up in Atlanta, GA and that I'm really excited about what God has for those going. It is going to be an amazing time!

*now leaves for the last time...*

Well, Hullo!

I haven't been in here for quite a while, but I must say, you all look fabulous, as usual. The reason I am stopping by is purely for advertising purposes, but I'm sure that won't be too much of a problem. You see, I would like to invite you all to a party. It is the official Ditto Town Christmas Party (and we're putting the new year in there, too!), so come on over and join us for a cup of cocoa!

It is a little different from the Town Square, in that you are "roleplaying" but, many people will be playing themselves. As you know, nothing is too wacky for Ditto Town. There's no plot to worry about, just fun and games. So feel free to make up a name and join right in!

I hope to see you there!

--Bob

Thanks for the note, Bob! I've already managed to get some of my characters over there (as to how they know each other, being from very different worlds, I'm not telling...I don't even know! )

It was mighty warm here today - we tied the record high, 45F. Yikes! No white Christmas for us at this rate. And there's precious little white stuff in the forecast. But it does make getting around easier. Last year by now we were dodging big piles of snow.

I better get busy with the Christmas shopping! One week to go and I still have some left to do.

Nice to see some familiar faces return to the Square. *waves to Benjamin, RubyGamgee, and Kingskid*

I've missed this place, and wish for more time to drop in. Anyway, this weekend cannot be passed by without coming in to the Town Square to wish all you SquareOnions a wonderful Christmas.

So good to look back through the (few) pages since I last posted and see many familiar faces. *gives an especial shout-out to Kingskid, who we sorely miss in here*

No snow for us this Christmas—'tis very sad. Hopefully the next few months will make up for this brown-ness. Well, I should clarify, there are to be flurries tonight, but little, if any, accumulation. Still, at least they're white.

*helps finishing decorating the Square Christmas tree, and leaves a scrumptious plate of Christmas goodies by the Fountain (in hopes that Vern won't be the first one by ).

*pops in*

I just thought I'd drop by and wish everyone a very merry Christmas eve

may God bless us, every one

*Joins in the 'Merry Christmas to all' wishes*

"I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas
Just like the ones we rarely get..."

Hmmm, I don't think that version will be winning any awards. But it's a warm, brown Christmas here this year.

Yet tonight promises a clear sky, and I'll enjoy a Christmas Eve stargazing session out under the starry sky.

Thanks fo the cookies, jo!

Mortereve, all!!

I hope you're all having a Merry Christmas. LOL, stargazer, I can relate to your brown Christmas jingle. The almost alarming thing, though, is that the grass is an almost saturated color of green, though it appears rather weather-beaten. So...it's almost a green Christmas. O.o Like you said, though, the sky is really clear and the air outside is so crisp and fresh that Christmas is still in the air.

Though, oddly, I can't reconcile myself with the fact that this year has gone by so fast. I remember last Christmas Eve as if it was last month.

Ben, thank-you for sharing that post on your worship of God. Your enthusiasm blessed me.

Merry Christmas to you, Wrose, and Narnian_Archer and De_De, and the rest of your family!!!

*snags one of Jo's delicious-looking cookies and sits by a fire*

"I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas
Just like the ones we rarely get..."

Hmmm, I don't think that version will be winning any awards. But it's a warm, brown Christmas here this year.

Ugh, no I don't think it will get any rewards. Where is all the snow? Last year we had more than we needed. (I love snow and all but not when it makes me have to postpone a Lion Party ). I seem to have missed the only good clear moonlit night with snow. Maybe we will have a white New Year's Eve, or Valentine's Day, or St. Patrick's Day, or Easter.

Merry Christmas Everyone

*snatches a cookie and departs* Thanks jo.

A white Easter, Twigs? Perhaps. By the way, it falls on my birthday in 2012, for the second time in 5 years.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were clear and warm here, and I was treated to Iridium flares each evening. The nights have been cloudy since then, however, and I may not get another stargazing opportunity until next year.

(Our last brown Christmas was 2006, and we got pounded, snow-wise, just a few days later, on New Year's Eve).