The Year Swirls To Its Ending

:)

Thanks! I love finding these things out! :-)))

(I hope the smiles end up connected to the nose and eyes this time!).

The best explanation I can find is here:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/up-to-snuff.html

Sounds better than back to chaw, or pipe tobacco, though...! You're right--I'll have to google it--what can it possibly mean? :-)))))

Sorry to hear your cold has worsened to bronchitis. Your regulars all knew you weren't feeling well, so late comments shouldn't bother anybody. Just take care of yourself and you can 'chat' with everyone when you're back up to snuff. (Now there's another strange expression.)

Thanks so much, siouxzn, jillyjig, and whatnauts! I hope you have settled back on terra firma now! And yes, I have bronchitis, so I spent most of the day sleeping (when I wasn't coughing) and went to the doctor. But at least I have meds now, so I hope to be on the mend. I'm going around my puzzles now, apologizing to everyone for taking so long to reply, and warning that it might happen again--I'm so grateful for all the comments people post, and I don't want anyone to think I'm ignoring them--ever!

This was super PD. I notice you are MIA tonight. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Another great puzzle! Thank you so much!

Thanks pd, that was fun. Apparently, I was caught up in the funnel, "1:17:49", my time indicates that I went around several times. :-)