Murder! In the 3rd degree...
See? Haven't I TOLD you I am a plant killer? Do you think I do this ON PURPOSE? NO! I do not! Normally I don't even HAVE poinsettias IN my house! WHY? Not because I don't love them! I DO love them! (love doesn't cure everything you know...) For a long long time I have not had them because I believed they were poisonous to the pets. But my good friend Hootin' Anni facted me out on the truth of these plants, and they are perfectly harmless unless your gerbil eats about an acre of them... then he might get a belly ache. Soooooo when Mom WON this one at the Senior Center, I said "oh how lovely! Let's keep it and give it a good home!" And I spoke to it! And I put it next to the little Santa house that plays the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy. And I even watered it. Twice! And then... tonight it looked like this. Sad... lonely... dejected... abused... neglected... unloved... DEAD. And it's all my fault. Because this is what I do to plants. I walk right past them like they don't even exist. I only barely notice their beauty UNTIL it's not their. And then I panic. I grabbed it off the console and RAN it to the kitchen. I probably drowned it under the faucet. I "poor baby'd" it ... I artificially resucitated it! (don't ask me HOW I did that...) Do you think it will survive? And if it does, can I bet TRUSTED with it's life? (nooooo... I assure you I can not!) Is there a 12 Step program for plant killers? (I'm pretty sure THIS is why God gave ADAM the job of tending the Garden of Eden! NOT Eve!)
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I don't have any "stuff" today. Apparently I haven't done anything but try to kill a plant! Tonight I am going to Amanda's house for NYE... unLESS she calls and says she has Pink Eye! Luz is now getting over Pink Eye and Amanda said her eye felt weird yesterday. I do NOT wish to go into a Pink Eye house... So... I may or may NOT be here this evening! But I plan to be whooping it up with my kids... only Luz & I will toast in 2009 with WATER - like we did 2008! Or maybe grape juice. I think we both like water better though! LOL! I like that the kids are having this do at their house though - because they will ALL be drinking and this means they don't have to drive anywhere! They will all crash right there, and the ones that live HERE will come home tomorrow when they are once again sober. I on the other hand will be on the road with all the idiot drunks who DON'T stay where they should. So pray for me!
And when the ball drops...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2008 in Retrospect ... & Ruby Tuesday
This is that meme where you show the first few lines of your FIRST post of the month, for each of the past 12 months. I was reminded of it when I was visiting
Barbara H. who has already done it for this year also. I didn't exactly follow the rules --- sOme I did - but others I just told what they were about. So ... here we go... a look into my past 12 months.
January -
WW - Progression It was pictures of the puzzle that Dennis & Mom & I had just completed. (I guess it's time to break them out again... )
February -
Hm... February 1st... Go figure... - It's a gray gray day in the neighborhood. And wet too. And all I've got on my agenda today is yet another visit to the dentist. (things don't change much in a year...)
March - ONLY in Maryland ... Competitive Muskrat Skinning - Doesn't this headline REALLY speak for itself? Do I need to reiterate? If you're really desperate ... follow the link!
April - Singing and Tap Dancing! - Apparently I was having a moment of sweet bliss regarding Mom's adjustments... both medical and attitudinal!
May - Quilly's Alphabet Challenge - and Thursday Thirteen Whoo hoo! Worth repeating - right? It was letter "A" of the challenge -- and letter "N" for TT! (Ya know... I think I
feel another challenge coming on!)
June - Sunday 7... Proj. Blue... and The Turtle - The turtle is certainly worth a 2nd look!
July - Stuff-n-Such - but NOT the Beach - Just a normal crazy day in my life.
August - Skywatch Friday... Friday Fill-Ins... stuff... First day we had Vada for Mom... that means WOW - she's been with us 5 months now!
September - Opening Doors... The Beginning... Day 1 of the Door Photo challenge. Also, Mom's bruise... and life.
October - Campaign Procedures... Beach Soccer - My one and only political rant! And pictures from the beach.
November - Wordzzle... Oy! - A wee Wordzzle... that's all.
December - Busy... - A too busy to play day -- and pictures of my Pippi Longstocking!
Do you KNOW what I learned from doing this meme? I learned that y'all are NUTS and that I have one of the most BORING blogs on the planet! Well... at least the first of the month is always boring! Sheeeeesh! I just wanna go hang myself now.... I SO need to get a Life!!! Man... I gotta spruce up my 1sts! Next years retrospect needs to be EXCITING!
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RUBY Tuesday is hosted by Mary, The TeachIt plays every Tuesday! (duh!)If you want to play along, sign her linky!
What IS it about little girls and BOWS?
Luz models the bow that Santa left on her car!
NOBODY told Baby Girl to put that bow on
her head - she just DID it!
(oh... and by the way... she now tells me...
"I am NOT a BABY girl Nana!")
LOL!
I know... but I still WANT her to be! *snif*
Labels: Ruby Tuesday
Trips or Better to Win?
Krysti & Keegan
Who says 3 can't get along? ??? Life did indeed get interesting when Adam arrived to stay for the next two weeks -- and Krysti & Keegan met him at the bus depot! (personally, I think there was a bit of tension... I felt it... so I'm pretty sure they did!) BUT... I will hand it to all 3 of them! They did a great job of getting through it. They actually did a better than great job! They actually all COOKED together this evening! The original plan had been that Krysti & Keegan were going to cook lasagne on Saturday night -- but that didn't work out because Adam's bus sort of came in right smack dab in the middle of what would be dinner time. So the three of them cooked it up tonight! And they had fun!
Krysti goes for the layered look...
Pan 1 done... On to pan 2...
The boys got the team work going on...
It's like Tag Team Cooking! Yea!
Can we eat YET?
Nooooo... not YET Keegan!
Keegan has gone home for a few days now... he will be back for New Year's Eve. But I think Adam probably is glad to have some time to just visit with Krysti and reacquaint without her new fella around! I'm sure it's hard enough for him to be in a strange house with truly strange parents, a strange bed and strange noises -- without having the new chap around! But what a good SPORT he is!!!
Nuttin' Honey....
Not much goin' on today.... a trip to Walmart, a few games of Blokus, a few computer games, and Dennis is makin' omelettes and home fries for dinner! I LOVE my LIFE!!! LOL! I took a couple of reallllllly bad pictures of Krysti & Keegan today. I'm not sharing them. They have gone to pick up her EX-fella from the bus station. ADAM is coming to stay with us for a few weeks. He's doing an internship at the Sheriff's Office with Krysti. Dennis and I are wondering how interesting life is fixin' to get. But Krysti is secure and says everything will be fine!!! LOL! I'll let ya know....
T'was a Holly Jolly Christmas!
Our Christmas was one of the most relaxing Christmases I ever remember! We didn't wake up until after 9:00. Krysti dragged Derek out of bed around 10:00 so we could open our stockings. I think everyone's favorite gifts this year were the lottery scratch-offs they got! HOPE truly does spring eternal!!! I think everyone won at least $2 dollars. I won $12 on the ones Santa left in MY stocking! Whooooo hooo!
Of course, Santa came out on the short end of that stick! But that's the way lottery tickets work! I don't mind. I only buy them once a year... and that's only been the last 2 years... so I don't think I'll lose the house playing! The kids REALLY have fun with them! You just never know if that next scratch might win you ... a LOT of money! *smile*
After we opened the stockings I got the crab soup started, and one of the desserts I was making. Mathew & Carol showed up around noon, and Amanda, Hector & Luz got here around 1:30 or so. It was SO funny! We saw them come down the driveway - so we're all finding the best spot in the livingroom to SEE Luz's face when she comes in and see's her car --- and she came in the door and didn't even NOTICE that big ol' hot pink Barbie car sittin' there! She noticed CAROL - and ran to her for a HUG! LOL! Then she ran PAST the Barbie car to Uncle Mathew to get a hug! While sitting on Uncle Mathew's lap, he pointed out the Barbie car... and she was kind of shy of it! She didn't want to get IN it right away. (this was the
same way Mathew acted the year he was almost 3 and got his Big Foot truck!) For some reason I think that gift is just a weeeeeee bit overwhelming to these little people! Anyway -- she opened her stocking AND all of her presents before she warmed up to that car! I think Amanda was worried that my feelings were hurt -- but they weren't at all! I knew she'd warm up to it eventually. I'm one that doesn't believe in MAKING them open more presents than they want to or play with anything but the box if that's what they want! Christmas DAY is sO busy and sO overwhelming. I really do think we could stretch it out for a week -- play it like Hannukah! Why not?
Obviously she DID eventually warm up to it!
And once she did - she LOVED it!
If you'd like to see a bit of her reaction go
here.
(it's only 1 minute long...)
We had a delicious dinner that started with cream of crab soup, then Dennis cooked steaks on the grill, and we had baked potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. We still all over ate and skipped dessert until MUCH later in the evening! As a matter of fact -- the kids went home and took dessert with them! Dennis & Mom & I watched the new movie Santa put in his stocking -- Get Smart! Funny, funny movie! I always liked that show with Don Adams... and the movie was just as good!
Today has been kind of quiet and layed back too... Vada came and took Mom out. Dennis and Krysti and I have just kind of lounged around most of the day -- played a few games of the new triangular Blokus. What a fun game! We got the square verson at the beach this summer and loved it so much that when I saw the triangular one the other day, I knew we had to have it for Christmas! I highly recommend it for ANY family! It's positively addictive!
Keegan came over on Tuesday and stayed over until Wednesday -- and he's coming back tonight for the weekend. We like him a lot. Krysti picks nice guys! I don't like to get too attached though... she's still young and libel to be shopping for awhile! ;)
Happy Birthday!!!
But the angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
O Come Let Us Adore Him....
Happy Christmas Eve! I'm having a fairly relaxing one today -- so unless something comes up, I will probably be around to visit. I have a cake to bake - but that's about it for pre-preparations. The rest will be done tomorrow. For the most part today will be a little cleaning, a little cooking, and mostly resting for tonight! I will be up at church from 8:00 pm until after midnight tonight... we'll have the cantata again, and then from 9:00-11:00 we have a little Christmas party down in the basement. Snacky foods and caroling! I can't wait! And then of course, the late service starts at 11:00 and ends just after midnight - which gets us IN to Christmas! ( I think it's a cheat ... but Pastor swears it works!) LOL! If I don't get to you, please know that I wish for you a blessed day tomorrow.
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord
Ruby Tuesday....
RUBY Tuesday is hosted by Mary, The TeachIt plays every Tuesday! (duh!)If you want to play along, sign her linky!
Amanda & Luz came down last night so that we could go out driving around to see Christmas lights. We were TRYING to go down to Annmarie Gardens to see IT all lit up -- but couldn't believe when we got down there, that they have closed the exhibit now until AFTER Christmas! OY! Soooooo... we just did some neighborhood drive throughs. We found this one house, not far from mine, but down a street I don't normally have any reason to go down and it was just GORGEOUS! I got this picture....
... which is pretty darned GOOD for me! Trying to get lights is soooooo tricky! And we were just driving around -- I didn't bring my tripod! It doesn't do the scene justice -- but it does give you an idea of how much effort these people have put into decorating for the holiday! We ooooh'd and ahhhhh'd over this one for quite awhile! As a matter of fact... after this I didn't even BOTHER to take any pictures of others -- nothing could compare! I did crop it to get rid of a lot of excess black background... but other than that it's straight out of the camera. I was sO happy it turned out! :)
This is the same house, looking in through their driveway entrance.MERRY CHRISTMAS Ruby Tuesdayers!!!Labels: Ruby Tuesday
Macro Monday
Once again I forgot all about Macro Monday UNTIL I visited
Jientje's blog this morning. So I quickly looked around and since "heat" was the primary focus of MY attention this morning, I also made it the primary focus of my photos this morning! It is currently 21 degrees where I live... and my downstairs heat pump has sort of forgotten how to keep up when the temps drop that low! Thus I was scrambling to get a fire in the fireplace this morning! My living room has now warmed up to a toasty 65 on the outer edges! (of course it's about 135 right next to the fireplace!) LOL!
If you "big" these it really is amazing some of the detail that is captured in that fire!
A Great Day!
As Sunday's go, today was better than most! And most are gOOd! Today was AWESOME! Started out with regular service at church this morning. Pastor's message was very good - but it almost always is - so no surprises there. Then I came home and Krysti wanted to go to Panera's for broccoli cheddar soup. I'm always up for broccoli cheddar - so we did that. Then she wanted to head up to Paint & Pottery to make a Christmas present for her "new fella's" mom! Oh yea... Krysti has a new fella! Keegan is his name! I haven't met him yet - but I've heard WONDERFUL things about him! I will meet him this Friday! Krysti met HIS mom this weekend and they hit it off immediately. When Krysti left, his mom told him "I like this girl -- don't do anything to mess it up!" ROFL!!! Keegan said he thinks his mom likes Krysti better than she likes him! Hehehehe.... This is gOOd! But I'm off track! After Paint & Pottery I stopped and got stuff to make spaghetti and we had that for dinner.
THEN I went back up to church for our first showing of our Christmas Cantata! It was AWESOME! I missed our cantata last year, and I was sad, because I later heard how good it was... and so I was determined that I was going to see this years! It was sooooooooo good! It was entitled
Journey To The Manger and was actually somewhat of a Christian spin on A Christmas Carol. Sort of. Of course, it started with the orchestra, and then went into the choir and they sang some beautiful songs that I did NOT know -- but also many of the good old fashioned Christmas hymns! And in between, our First Place actors were putting on the story. It was about an artist who runs a shop and has a hand carved nativity for sale. The Pastor (played by Pastor) of this little church comes in and he's looking for a new nativity to replace one that had been on loan to them - but then the family moved away. So the artist tells him he could let him have it for 3.... Pastor thinks $300... he only has a very very small parish - but they could probably scrounge that much up... but then the artist says $3000.00. WHOA. The artists wife thinks he should have let the Pastor have it - in the spirit of Christmas. They argue... she leaves... and HE is visited by (no... NOT the ghost of Christmas past...) (NO! Not even the Holy Ghost!) ... he is visited by MARY - Mother of God. She takes him back through the depression and Victorian days teaching him about how Christmas's were celebrated even without much money or not even the custom of giving gifts... Then Joseph comes to visit and he actually takes him back to the manger. Tells him about the night of Christ's birth and... low and behold, he comes out a believer and when his wife comes back to the shop to wake him up, they run up the road to the church to give the Pastor the nativity.... and they all live happily ever after! It was a GREAT story! Surrounded by GREAT music and GREAT voices singing GREAT songs! And we, the congregation, got to sing along on the last 4 songs! Which were Joy To The World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard on High, and O Come, Let Us Adore Him... and I was HHAAPPPPYY!!!! Especially during the GLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORIA in excelsis Deo.... I LOVE that part! And I especially LOVE when the choir is miked and singing loud enough that I can sing sing sing and NOBODY can HEAR me!!! It was great. I can't wait to see it again all over on Christmas eve!!!
After the cantata, I gave Pastor all the gifts for "the family" and he will deliver them to them soon. Then a group of us went up to the Mexico restaurant and some had dinner -- I just had a drink because I'd already eaten. But the choir people were hungry. They've had long hours of practicing for this event... it really amazes me the WORK that they put into this -- and then they only get to perform it TWO times! (last year they only performed it ONCE!) That is real devotion, I tell ya! And I soooooo envy them! Because if I had a voice, I'd be right there with 'em!!!
A New Tradition is Born -The Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I used to be the most fabulousist (MY word!) wrapper in all the world! My packages had to be picture perfect complete with real bow and some kind of cute little ornamental topper! That was at 25! At 50 it's lucky if it gets wrapped! LOL! No... it still gets wrapped - always. But I do use gift bags from time to time... and sometimes usually no bow at all anymore. I've gotten soooooo lazy in my old age...
2. Real tree or artificial?
*holding my head* I CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIIIIIIIND! Oy! I LOVE the smell of a real pine tree -- I DO! But I got so tired of having pine needles jabbing my toes in June -- they HIDE! They dig deep down in the carpet and WAIT for barefeet to come along! So a few years ago we went back to an artificial tree. It's BEAUTIFUL... people say so all the time. But it doesn't SMELL the same. And it's a nuisance to put together... and take apart... But then, so is a real tree a nuisance to go and get... and then dispose of... and then those pine needles... I dunno. For THIS year it's the artificial one. Who knows what will win next year???
3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the day after Thanksgiving -- or at least that weekend -- IF it's the artificial one. IF we get a real one, then it goes up two weeks before Christmas.
4. Wreath on your door?
Or something! THIS year it is a wreath.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I do! But not spiked! I just like plain ol' egg nog. My favorite would be HOMEMADE egg nog! It's sO much better than store bought!
6. Favourite Xmas gift received as a child?
I only remember ONE and I mention it every time this question comes up. Can I make up a new one? No? Well then... it's still that goofy little silver flyin' saucer thing that had lights all the way around it. I always think of it when I hear that song about the magical little toy -- you know -- it went zzzzzzip went it moved and BOP when it stopped and whhirrrrrr when it stood still... only I KNEW what it was! It was a flyin' saucer!
7. Easiest person to buy for?
Luz. If it's pink and pretty and girly she will like it! And if it's a car or a helicopter or a train - she will STILL like it! A child is always going to be the easiest to buy for! But my adult kids are pretty easy too.
8. Least easiest?
Is this like HARDEST? Can't we just call a spade a spade? I guess it would be Dennis - but mainly because we just "get things" that we want WHEN we want them!
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
I have several of them! I haven't even gotten out the bone china one the last few years. I don't have a good SAFE place to set it up. Jewl keeps breaking my tree ornaments just wagging her tail -- I'm not willing to let her destroy my GORGEOUS nativity. And it's BIG. But I have 3 out on display this year. And more tucked away. I think I'm going to have to start "theme-ing" my Christmases. You know like the Chinese New Years? I'll have a year of the Snowmen, a year of the Santas, a year of the angels, a year of nativities, a year of the reindeer, a year of the gingerbread... because I have collected waaaaaaaay TOO much Christmas stuff!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I gotta tell ya -- I do NOT like e-cards! Not that I haven't sent a few in my day.... cuz I have... but I really do NOT like to! I am a snail mail card sender! If you are important enough to me that I think you deserve a card then I really WANT to spend 42 cents on a stamp for you! I DO!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I don't believe I have EVER received a BAD Christmas gift.
12. Favourite Christmas Movie?
A Miracle On 34th Street -- the original. (again... aren't we tired of answering this question yet?)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually around the middle of November. I'm not one to start shopping in January. If I shop in January it's for someone's BIRTHDAY! Why buy someone something in January that if they really WANT they will probably GET long before December!? Makes no sense to me...
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Only ONE time -- I did it intentionally - sort of to make a point. I gave my twin sisters identical Christmas decorations one year -- I honestly thought they would both like this decoration. (and they LOVED the whole TWIN thing!) The next year -- one of them gave it BACK to me! (she didn't remember that I was the one that gave it to her!) So the following year, I gave it back to her AGAIN! LOL!
15. Open presents on Christmas eve or morning?
ONE on Christmas eve -- only because I started it and the kids never let me out of it. BUT this year I AM out of it - because there are NO gifts!!! The rest are opened on Christmas morning.
16. Lights on the tree?
YES! I LOVE lights on my tree!
17. Favourite Christmas song?
I just answered this 4 or 5 days ago.... do you remember? I bet you DON'T! See? THAT's why we can get away with doing these bloomin' meme's year after year after year! Because even though I remember saying the same thing over and over and over again... you probably don't! LOL! ... Away In A Manger! (now do you remember?)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
When raising my kids I would NOT travel... period. We stayed home and if people wanted to see us they had to come to us. I just wasn't takin' my kids away from THEIR Christmas. (see? I'm selfish like that!) But now? I would LOVE to travel for Christmas! I love to travel for ANYthing!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Didn't HE already do that? I don't think he wants me messin' with his reindeer names! That might confuse them!!!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Neither. BEAR. (remember?)
21. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Walnuts. (I'm just makin' that up - but I'm tired of this question too... and do you really care what I eat?)
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People who forget that this season is about the birth of Christ - our Savior! But they still want to celebrate with a tree and Santa Claus, etc... only they wanna call it Winter Holiday. Or Happy Holiday. Or something that is NOT Christmas. They want the BENEFITS of Christmas without having to believe in anything. But if you are NOT celebrating the birth of Christ -- then REALLY you should be celebrating Hannukah. The Jews celebrate GOD... and the miracle of the lights. They don't believe Christ is our Savior -- so they don't celebrate Him. I can understand that. CHRISTmas is for CHRISTIANS who celebrate the birth of CHRIST! And if you don't even believe in God ... them maybe Kwaanza fits you! (I don't know because I don't really know what Kwaanza celebrates) Or maybe you should just go to WORK that day -- because really... what ARE you celebrating??? At least Jews and Christians KNOW what we're celebrating. We may not agree -- but we're square in our OWN heads what it's all about!
23. Favourite Tree ornament, theme or colour?
I don't have a favorite ornament -- unless maybe it IS the Bear topper. Yea... that would be my favorite. My tree doesn't have a theme - it's a magical mix of ornaments old and new collected through the generations and years. And it is multicolored!
24. Favourite for Christmas dinner?
No favorites. Cream of Crab soup for the starter!
25. Brussels Sprouts -
THIS question was WHY I stole this meme from Jientje! (as opposed to all the others who have done a similar one) WHO put this question here? WHAT is it's relevance to Christmas??? I have never heard of Brussel Sprouts being associated with Christmas before! Have YOU??? I LOVE them -- but we've probably only had them with our Christmas meal once - maybe twice in all the years I've been cooking! Even my adult kids wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole! Dennis and I do like them though. I just don't know HOW this question got IN here! IF you know - please share!
26. Favourite accompaniment to the Christmas Pudding?
You know, I've never HAD Christmas pudding... I've read a few (quite a few) recipes for it and I can't imagine liking it even a little bit. However... if it were put in front of me, I would TRY it... but I have NO idea what I would want to go with it! Maybe some milk to wash it down!
27. Favourite Christmas Carol?
What is the difference between THIS and the Christmas SONG mentioned in question 17? I think my answer is still the same 10 questions later!
28. Your very Favourite Christmas Thing?
Thing 1? Or Thing 2? Is this a Grinchy question? 1 or 2? Hmmmm.... ADVENT is my favorite Christmas thing! The looking forward... the anticipation... the Christmas SPIRIT!
29. A Christmas wish!
May the JOY, peace, Love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ be with you all this season, and through the year to come!
30. Tag six people?
No. Most people have already done some variation of this meme... but if you haven't - feel free to tag yourself!
Wordzzle... and nothing else.
The Wordzzle Challenge is hosted each week by Raven
Look at that snow comin' down! I swear! I don't think it's snowed like that since the winter of '65! My cold shoulder tells me it's not gonna quit for awhile either. That was one of the best snow storms I can remember. The kids were 6 and 8 years old, and that was the storm they built that grand snow fort. The first evening they had it, we fit the whole family inside and told stories by moonlight! Sean got a charley horse gettin' up, and we all laughed so hard! We shouldn't have - I know! They're so darned painful... but he was limpin' around like an OLD man, and it was just funny! My I'd like to see him limp around like that again... these days laughter like that is such a novelty. When we got too cold, we all came back in the house and had supper. Beef barley soup with homemade cheese bread and butter! Nothin' ever tasted so good! Just the thing for a snowy day like that. Sean built a fire and we sat around the kitchen table playing games. Tower of Babel was the kids favorite, but Sean and I always liked that word game, When Pigs Have Wings. Bradley hated that game - but he always won! That child was a mystery to me. Of course, we had to play a round of Capture the Butterfly for Suzanne... bored the rest of us to tears... but it was her favorite, and we always let her win. I'll never forget it that night though, because she had no sooner won the game than the power went out! We stumbled around looking for some candles, and then set up camp on the floor with the sleeping bags and lanterns -- right in front of the fire. Yep... those were some good times. I hope the kids stop by today. Maybe they'll get snowed in... Mini Challenge: Software, Lottery, Newspaper, Mailman, Ringo Starr’s drumAhhh... my coffee's ready. Let's see what the newspaper has to say this morning. Oh... look at that... Ringo Starr's drum sold at Sotheby's for ... 2 million dollars?! That can't be right. People are crazy. Hmmmm... Mailman Bit By Mail Order Python... Is this MY newspaper? Sounds more like the National Inquirer. Oh here's something new! Microsoft is having problems with their new software program! Haha... the more things change, the more they stay the same! Let me take a look at the lottery numbers. ... oh... would ya look at that... I bet the kids will want to get snowed in with me now! hehehe... I'll save THIS news 'til they get here.
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Now I have a cold.
I'm not complaining...
I'm just sayin'...
I am Gifted... and Stuff.
Yes I am! I am also remiss in properly thanking folks for their gifts! (hangs head in shame... I am soooo bad...)
The first one I received I think 4 days ago --- it was from Mary, The Teach... she had honored me with the above award for my blog - and with it came these lovely bookmarks. I knooow - you guys know I don't DO awards... but I did this one -- it wasn't a "pass this on" thing -- it was simply a "Melli, I love your Christmas look" thing! How can one NOT accept that? Thank you SO much Mary! For the award...
and for the card and the lovely bookmarks!
(Mary didn't know I collect book marks!)
How cool is THAT?!
The other gift I received this week (2 or 3 days ago) was from that Laziest Daisy of them all... My darlin' Daisy sends, each year, an advent calendar of sorts. The past two years she sent a long decorative ribbon with candies and gum individually wrapped and glued to the ribbon. Inside each weeee little package would be the treat - and also a special message of love, thanks, or encouragement. It is a dear, dear idea and only my Daisy would think of it. I would LOVE to steal it from her, but I would be sending it to some of the same people she does... and that would just be wrong! SOMEday I'll come up with my own really nifty idea! But anyway... THIS year she changed it up and made a special little Tea Time Tribute... She has promised to stop each day at 4:00 pm and have a cup of tea and pray for her friends. I know - it's a hard thing - but somebody has to do it! *smile* So this year's calendar that she sent is a mug -- NOT just any mug -- but a special mug, straight from her kitchen cabinet! And it is filled with individually wrapped tea bags. Glued to each tea bag is a note of love, thanks, encouragement ... or possibly some sage advice! I absolutely ADORE this gift! I soooooo wish I had thought of THIS idea! That Daisy... she is just sooooooo clever!!! And such a sweet friend to go to all this trouble for so many of her friends! Of which I am proud to be one...
Thank you sooooooo much Daisy!I love you!!!********************************Soooooo... some of you wanted to know if the SOUP survived my fall Wednesday night... I am sorry to say that no, it did not. However, Jewl was standing by outside to receive the fruits of her labor. As my crock pot went flying in 3 different directions (lid, crock and heater), Jewl was standing ready and willing to lick up the mess! Even off the muddy ground! Oh yea -- did I forget to mention it had been raining and my yard was a mud hole? When you're done laughing you can feel sorry for me again! The knee is not AS bad as I originally thought. I THOUGHT it was going to be even worse than Knee 1... but it turns out it's not. I don't think it's quite as bad as Knee 1 was. The biggest problem though is that Knee 1 is not entirely healed itself yet, and is by no means in a position to COMPENSATE for Knee 2! There's the rub. If Knee 1 was in perfect order this wouldn't be nearly the nuisance that it is! LOL! I strongly feel that God is trying to tell me something... (but if it has to do with exercise then He should stop lettin' me get hurt, don'tcha think? Maybe my guardian angel is on hiatus!)
A Good and Bad Day...
Yesterday was ONE of
those days. It was great having Luzi Goose here with me! She crawled into bed with me during the night, so waking up with her all snuggley was a treat! And I didn't even worry when she said "I changed my mind Nana. I'm not gonna stay with you today. I miss my mom." ... cuz I knew as soon as we got busy with our day, she would stay! But I told her that was fine and that we would just let Mommy sleep in "a little" and call her after breakfast. Of course, during breakfast we decided to do some painting... and that began right after breakfast. And then I remembered that it was Wednesday and OHMYGOSHINEEDTOMAKESOUP... so we went to the grocery store and got stuff for me to make corn chowder. And stuff for us to make cookies.
Luz LOVES the pat pat pat it part...
And surely she loves the ROLL it part!
Mostly she just loved getting covered with flour! :)
The eating them part was okay - but really
she's not a gingerbread fan!
Oooops!
Amanda came and got her before the church supper -- much to her dismay! She really wanted to go have supper at church! Dennis got home late last night and opted out on the church supper too - so I went by myself this week - soup in tow! All that went great -- I was SO amazed to find out someone ELSE had made corn chowder too -- WHAT are the chances??? Hers had ham in it though - and was really more potatoes than corn. Mine was vegetarian and was way more corn than potatoes! Both were very good though. Service was great -- Pastor's message was fabulous! He spoke oncelebrating the ordinary, and forgiveness and letting every year be a Year of Jubilee! LOL! Ya had to BE there!
So... the BAD part of my day? Yea... that happened when I got home. When I got the big pot of soup out of the trunk and was carrying into the house... and tripped over the LOG that Jewl left in the pitch black yard... and fell face first... onto my knees... and now my OTHER knee is in even worse shape than my FIRST knee. And suddenly Christmas is coming waaaaay to fast... because I'm moving waaaaaaaaay too slow!
Ho Ho Ho !!! A Wordy Wednesday!
Amanda texted yesterday morning to find out if I wanted to go along when she took Luz to see Santa Claus.... of course I had NO interest at all in going along for that trip! RIGHT! I hustled Mom into the shower and then myself and we met them at their house -- and then headed out for lunch first! Well yeaaaaaa... first things first! We went to T.G.I.Fridays -- I had soup and salad - it was yummier than it oughta be! Then we headed over to the mall ... AGAIN. Man I've been to the mall too many times in the last not enough days! LOL! But we got pretty lucky! There were only about 5 families ahead of us in line! I call that blessed! Amanda wasn't interested in having pictures taken with Santa -- she just wanted ME to take some -- I LOVE that the malls are okay with that! It's nice that they offer the service for those that want it -- but we really would just as soon take our own. I took 4 shots of Luz alone with him - and then this one of both my girls with him! I love it! I wish Krysti had been with us!
This really is the BEST Santa!
(his whiskers are his own!)
Same one Mom snuggled up to LAST
Christmas! She just had to get in
there for one more Santa hug!
After seeing Santa we did a little TINY bit more shopping and then headed home. Luz asked if she could come spend the night with me... of course, I said no! RIGHT! She is here -- and I am busy! I'll be around later - after the wee one goes home! (tonight)
Just Stuff.... Oh! And Ruby Tuesday!
First... Is ANYBODY else having MAJOR problems with Firefox? I use it as my primary explorer -- but lately it has been for THE BIRDS! Well, actually -- ever since I downloaded the most recent edition - which was about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Since then it crashes about 400 times a day! And as of today it won't open for me at all -- or ONLY to my homepage and as soon as I try to go ANYwhere, it crashes! I'm so fed up! I uninstalled it one day last week and then re-installed in hopes that that would fix it -- but nope. It didn't. BUT... it doesn't do it except VERY rarely on my laptop. Now, my laptop uses Vista... and I'm wondering if Mozilla is planning to leave XP in the dark... Grrrrrrrr....
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So in church Sunday our Sunday School kids put on their Christmas service! It was so stinkin' cute I couldn't stand it! Not one of those children is related to me - but I was almost in tears I was so proud of 'em! Oh yea... I was takin' pictures just like every mother there! Only I had to get 'em ALL! LOL! So... yea... I'm gonna share!
First, the older kids put on a little skit called "Sign of the Times"... in which they were looking for "signs" that lead the way to our new born Savior.
Of course, the first sign was NO VACANCY!
(poor Mary & Joseph...)
Another one was "Angels Ahead"...
Thankful were those shepheards
And of course the 3 Kings followed the star -- it was another sign! And then the last sign was, of course, The Baby Himself, lying in the manger... And the older kids all sang
This Will Be A Sign ... and it was beauuuuuuutiful! (this, by the way, is our youth players - they are called First Act)
THEN came the Littles!
*3 & 4 year olds*
Here they are actually "supposed" to be singing along
with the older kids on a song!
The one little angel up front IS singing!
This is what was going on while Sign Of The Times
was taking place! LOL!
*notice the one has her shoes kicked off!*
But HERE they have it ALL together! And they sang
Rockabye, Jesus and
Away In A Mangerabsolutely PERFECTLY!
Ohhhh they were so cute!
It was just a great service! Not the kind I want to have EVERY week -
but certainly worth having once or twice a year!
AND we sang O Come, All Ye Faithful and Go Tell It On The Mountain!
It was just great! I LOVE a good church day!
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RUBY Tuesday is hosted by Mary, The TeachIt plays every Tuesday! (duh!)If you want to play along, sign her linky!
Amanda reading a verrrrrry favorite Christmas story
to Luz. (and Raggedy Andy!) Have I mentioned how
much I love watching my daughter be a mother?
Labels: Ruby Tuesday
Busy BUSY Weekend....
This weekend was busy like CRAZY! But sooooooo much fun! Saturday "we girls" went out shopping (ugh-- the crowds are WACKO - but we survived!) and got almost everything we need for our "special family"! We shopped for SEVEN hours!!! Now I just have to wrap everything up... but first... I forgot to buy scotch tape! YEP! Gooooooo ME! So I have to run out today for that!
When we got home from shopping Krysti decided to make her gingerbread house. I helped by keeping her company. Until I went to bed. She did great -- with and without me! See?
Isn't it cuuuuute?
She still wants to put more decorations on the walls...
she will do that when she builds her gingerbread train!
Then Sunday, after church, (which will be a whole post of it's own maybe tomorrow) we did indeed go to see the Santa parade. Luz was a little confused by the whole thing. She kept asking when the parade was going to start! (even after it had!) LOL! Of course... I freely admit that our hometown parade is about the most rinky dink parade in America -- so I can almost understand where here confusion came from! But I think the only other parade she's ever been privvy to was the Geoffrey parade at Toys R Us for Halloween --- and she got to march in that with her costume -- so that might have been what she was expecting this time too.
She really DID enjoy collecting a "goody pocket" full of
candy from the paraders... and of course, Santa rode in
to town on a firetruck! That was pretty exciting!
Then we came back to the house and visited for the afternoon. Luz and I got into making a star for the top of her Christmas tree, and she and Aunti Krysti got into some face painting!
First Krysti painted Luz's face -- Snowman on one cheek -
a STAR on the other. Then Luz painted Krysti's face!
Ta-DAAAAAAA~
fun fun fun!
Pay It Forward
I found this meme/give-away over at
Jientje's blog. It seems like a fun idea for crafty type people -- of which I happen to be one! I am going to be the proud recipient of some lacy little something (don't think like that!) that Jientje is going to make for me. And I would like to make something for 3 of you too! (not lacy... I don't do lace!) I do many other things though. I haven't decided precisely what yet - but it will be something utterly FABULOUS, I'm sure!
The Rules, such as they are, are quite simple:
1. Be one of the first three bloggers to leave a comment on this post, where the first word in the comment is "Yes". By saying "Yes" as the first word, you signify you want to participate in this give away. Being one of the first three to say "Yes" will then entitle you to a handmade item from me. I will create a little piece of modern lace art, something that can be worn as a jewel, or put in a small frame, according to the wishes of the winner!
2. Winners must post this challenge on their blog, meaning that they then must Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers who say "Yes" in a comment on THEIR post.
3. The gift that you send to your three friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the spirit and the thought that count!
4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!
5. If you are not one of the top three commentors on today’s post, you’re still a winner in this Time of Grace and Giving. Please take this symbol of the seasonal spirit and post it on your blog; start your own Pay It Forward Chain, and encourage your bloggy friends to do the same!
Raindrops On Roses & Whiskers On Kittens...
I got this meme from Pat over at Here, There, and Everywhere... the other day. It's a good one.
A Few of My Favorite Christmas Things
*Favorite Christmas Song*
Probably Away in a Manger... I love so many Christmas songs -- but I have loved THAT one since I was just a little girl.
*Favorite Christmas Movie*
While I truly do love It's a Wonderful Life - that is not my favorite. Of course, I really don't watch any anymore... but up until I did quit watching tv, it just wasn't Christmas if I didn't see the ORIGINAL version of Miracle on 34th Street. That movie is permanently imbedded in my head!*Favorite Christmas Gift to Give*What kind of question is this??? I don't have a favorite gift to give! I want to give whatever I think the giftee will love! And there is nothing I dislike mOre than buying something just to buy something for someone! I've DONE it -- I guess we all have -- but I really dislike doing it! I would RATHER give nothing than to give something "just to give a gift". And I'm becoming far more likely to DO that in my old age! In addition... I like to buy totally goof ball gifts for someone IF I think it's something they will love!
*Favorite Christmas Gift to Get*
Again... If I've already gotten something, then I probably am not really going to want to get it again. Or at least not for a few years maybe... you know what?... I'm really not as much of a getter as I am of a giver. I honestly don't appreciate gifts the way that I should... I'm never as excited as people think I should be... I don't hang on to things forever and ever just because someone special gave it to me... most of the time I don't even remember what "who" gave me last year or two years ago. I remember "certain" gifts that "so and so" gave me somewhere along the line. I don't always remember the occasion that it was given for. I'm a BAD receiver! (I wanna play quarterback!)
*Favorite Christmas Cookie*
Hmmm... well... Chocolate chip is good any time! When the kids were small and I was into tradition, I always always always made chocolate chip, peanutbutter, oatmeal annnnnnnnd chewy ginger snaps! (all cookies should be chewy - never crunchy!) In recent years no one eats them anymore and so if I make any it's just a couple dozen slice and bake chocolate chips. BUT... I have discovered shortbread in the last few years... and while I've never MADE them, I sure do like to eat them! I never buy any though. I just know that's what I seem drawn to at Christmas festivities!
*Favorite Christmas Candy*
Boy! When I was a kid I loved those candy ribbons... but I don't do hard candy hardly EVER anymore. I don't think I ever really loved them for their flavor anyway! I think I just thought they were sO pretty I just wanted to love them! I have made homemade toffee a few times for Christmas -- chocolate covered. I like that! My teeth don't. (the few I have left would probably HATE it...)
*Favorite Christmas Color*
Just one? It would have to be redandgreen. To me those ARE the Christmas colors -- but neither one is by itself! You can't just have all green or all red! You need them both.
*Favorite Christmas Tradition*
Probably the fact that I still decorate in red and green. I've pretty much done away with all other traditions! I still like my traditional Christmas songs too... not that some of the new fangled ones aren't good - I've heard a few that I like... but mostly I just like to listen to the old ones. And I dO especially like the ones that are actually about Christ's birth. But I also like the Holly Jolly Fa La La La La ones too!
Fish ... and Friday Fill-Ins
Remember when Dennis caught the fish? THIS is Fish!He (Dennis - not Fish) says he wasn't grinning becauseFish was still quite alive at this point - and wiggly! And HEAVY! Dennis had a death grip on Fish's mouth andwas dearly wishing the photographer would hurry up!
1. Friends are one of life's most important necessities.
2. Value health; it's a gift.
3. I'm ready for Summer!
4. Polo is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.
5. The oldest ornament I have is the antique glass one I displayed on Ruby Tuesday. It hung on our family tree loooong before I was born!
6. Take some soap & water, mix it all together and you have bubbles!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Krysti coming home, tomorrow my plans include shopping for our "special family" and Sunday, I want to NOT miss church - and go to the make-up parade!
