What will the new year bring?

Trying to think of what I did right in the old year and will make better plans for the next year I hope..... I lost 30#s but I did it on a bad diet and it wasn't healthy. I used Suzanne Somers plan that is a lot like Atkins diet.... It was a big mistake for me as now I have this pancreatitis to deal with. I will follow my doctors advice and stay on a low fat diet and hope it clears up completly soon. Funny but I had gained about 6 #s after Thanksgiving and have lost that plus 3 more so I'm feeling positive about my eating habits for the new year.   Last year I planted a lot of flowers in my yard and kept it nearly weed free too. This year I think the plan for that is about the same. Every year I straighten up my house on the inside during the winter and every summer I let it go so now I have clutter the same as every year.... maybe I will try to cut down on the clutter and give more "stuff" away.... not promising mind you but going to try a little harder. ;)

I hope the New Year finds me healthy and Happy and able to share my happiness with others.   We shall see.... Can't wait for the fun to begin, LOL

Yesterday we went to the Target store and I was looking through the different pain pills and came accross a good one... Tylenol PM  took 2 before bed last night and slept great and then when I woke 4 or so hours later I took one more because I was in a lot of pain and Hip Hip Hooray I went back to sleep in only minutes and slept the night away.... even had a funny dream. That was the first night I didn't walk the floors for hours in pain. I hope I don't have to use them too often or may get used to them and then they won't work but it sure was nice getting that sleep last night  ;)

Just wanted to share

Isn't this a precious picture of my Grandaughter?  Well, I think it is anyway, hehe   They were in Florida today at Crabby Bills to get a bite to eat and some t shirts etc when they spotted this sign and being the ham she is had to get her picture taken and it turned out so good. Look at those big eyes.... Makes me miss them so much but am glad they are having such a good time. Don't you just love the computer and being able to share pictures like this so easy. I don't know how I ever lived without mine, lol

 

The Day After

I thought I would put in a couple of pictures and to let you all know I think I am starting to feel a little better. At least I didn't need a pain pill all day today so that is a huge improvement. I may have to take one tonight but I am waiting. Trying to toughen myself up a little.

It was a beautiful sunny day today but I stayed home and did a little laundry and putzing around... Tomorrow is supposed to be nice too I guess. Spring can come anytime now that Christmas is over, lol We have a long January to get over and I plan on finding some things to do to make it go faster... I think once January is over a person can get the seed catalogs out and really get serious. I got 3 in the mail so far.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Can You Believe Christmas is Here Already?

I hope everyone has a very happy and blessed Christmas! We had 3 of our children over tonight and a grandson and grandaughter and a daughter in law and we all had a very plesant time too. I am so happy it all went well and my pain didn't start up until everyone left.

                     In Bethlehem

Let us go now to Bethlehem

Upon this Christmas Day,

And there within a manger bed

Find strength we need alway.

A faith to conquer every doubt....

Love which is good and true.....

Hope that can banish all despair.....

Peace to bring joy anew.

And let us there accept the gift

God sent so long ago;

That in our heart on Christmas Day

Eternal hope can glow.

Winter is Here

Winter's Shadows

The sun climbs down the dark'ning sky

     And leaves a crimson afterglow,

With long, blue shadows here and there

     Across the frozen wastes of snow.

And ere 'tis gone the moon peeps up

    Beyond the rugged poplar's height,

To spread a pale gold setting for

    The twinkling diamonds of the night.

The weary seek the cheer of home,

    Where warmth and refuge are akin.

Tho frosty silence reigns without,

      Gay song and laughter sound within.

Gettin the Spirit back

My sisters have been showing me pictures of what they are doing for Christmas and I will do my best to make this a Merry Christmas too. No more feeling sorry for myself.... at least when the pain pills work. :) maybe this is a good time of the year for me to get these things as I can try harder to pull myself out of it... would be worse in the middle of January I think as its such a long cold month.

When will it end

I had to go to the hospital again tonight but got to  come home this time. Seems besides pancreatitis I also have Shingles.... sure hope it doesn't last too long. I am taking lots of pills now.................. I hate pills!  I should get better soon though and when I feel good I will try to spread a little Christmas cheer... :)  Just wanted to tell all so you understand if I am not in here too much.

Christmas is getting near

ALWAYS....A CHRISTMAS NIGHT

As long as there are pine trees

Growing on a hill,

As long as there are firesides

With a candle on the sill.....

As long as there are reindeer,

Snowflakes glistening white,

As long as there's a Santa Claus

There'll be a Christmas night.

As long as there are stockings

Hanging in a row,

As long as there is holly

And a sprig of mistletoe....

As long as there is tinsel

And wrappings gay and bright,

And chruch bells chime throughout the land,

There'll be a Christmas night.

As long as there are wise men

Who  choose to be star-led,

And loving hearts made ready

To crown the Christ Child head...

As long as happy children

Sing with pure delight

The age old song. "Good Will To Men,"

There'll be a Christmas night.

My hospital stay

I am back home but still in pain so came in to check things out while I am waiting to take a nice strong pain reliever and go to bed. I have Pancreatitis and its very  painful. funny but the doctor said it usually comes from drinking or smoking or gall stones and we have ruled out all three as they don't pertain to me so I figure its from a fatty diet ( I was on the Suzanne Somers diet) and lost 30#s but its not worth it if I got this pain. Hopefully it will leave soon and now I have to follow a low fat diet ( doctors orders) I will too because I don't want this back as I have been in so much pain for the last 6 days. Only at the hospital 4 of those though. Went when I couldn't stand the pain anymore. I still can't but now I have a diet to follow and pills to take until I get well.

It was nice to see a couple of comments in my last post and thanks for welcoming me home.

Sweet Charlie

Charlie seems obsessed with the tree doesn't he. I was sitting in the living room, just me and my camera when he came in and started looking at the tree. He knew I was there so didn't jump in but I knew he wanted to. I was up early and had the lights on the tree and was just sitting there reading when I decided I wanted to take a picture. It was then I noticed he had been in the tree again because a branch was squashed and an ornament was fallen. Must have happened while I was sleeping. He didn't climb up to the top like he did yesterday though. Maybe he figured if I came in he would have to jump too far .......I will decorate this tree for Christmas this year though even if its only for one or two days. Last year we didn't decorate our tree and it wasn't good.... He only has 10 more days to get over it.... or maybe I will keep him in the basement when I am not around for those 2 days. Citrus didn't do anything for Charlie, in fact he probably liked the smell. Sounded too easy for me anyway. ;-)

Snow and freezing cold

So cold and I am starting to get depressed. Gotta snap out of it after all Christmas will be here soon and I must get it all together for that.... Holidays get harder and harder for me these years.... I guess I want 'all" my kids around me and they just won't be anymore and I have to get used to it. Maybe a good nights sleep will snap me out of it.

Charlie was in the tree again today ;( Well I saw him just as he was trying to figure out a way to get out I think. He actually threw the 4 ornaments into the middle of the carpet in the living room. I looked at him looking at me and left the room to get the squirt bottle..... now I do know you aren't supposed to let them know how they are getting wet but I have had it with him and he now knows it,  I looked right at him  up close and told him he was not supposed to be in the tree and I squirted him right in the face. I know I am not nice.... he is not nice either and I am supposed to be the master of him, right? He didn't go very far but just sat there staring at me and licking his face off..... until I yelled at him some more and he left then for a while.... A couple of hours later he was outside freezing his feet and of coarse I carried him into the house. I hope now he knows I really really love him but he cannot go into the tree again. Oh boy, will I get it decorated this year I wonder.

Freezing cold today

It was a freezing cold day but at least the roads were clear of the ice and snow so we could go shopping. Lots of shopping had to be done yet so we did that today. Tomorrow we will have to go grocery shopping if we plan on eating I guess. Anyway I had to get cat food and also a Christmas toy. Then we went to a yarn store and 2 craft stores to get more yarn. I have been knitting pretty steadily, but I now wonder if I will get them finished before Christmas. My arm is already getting sore. Maybe I will knit one and then crochet the next and knit the next etc. Sounds like a good plan to me and will keep my arm guessing. I really should have started them earlier but was making something else before I decided to do scarfs. I only have a few more rows though and the purple one will be finished. Anyway who is to say I can't give them away after Christmas too. So now I only have time to read some journals and finish the scarf and hit the sack. LOL talk to you later, Goodnight.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I suppose I could go out and make a snowman but its kind of a wet snow today. Started as rain. Not my favorite kind of snow but its doing the trick and making everything white. I heard there are a lot of fender benders though and thats not too good, so I'm staying in today and doing my Christmas cards. I wrote out 40 today. I did have my list all updated and my stamps bought etc etc so it went pretty fast. I had a little poem to put in each and used a pretty gel pen.  Starting to get in the spirit I guess.

I  put 4 ornaments on my tree today ~ up high though. I'm getting brave, sort of. So far  Charlie hasn't gone in again but I know he wants too, even with the lemon smell. He went up to it and sniffed and another time my husband saw him on the arm of the sofa next to it, he thought he was ready to jump into the tree but he told him to get and he did. I think I will wait until next week to decorate it and by then I will know what I can put on the tree. Charlie threw up today and it could be because of the lemon I guess but I let him have some of the milk and cereal in my bowl too so I don't know what  caused it. I really don't want him to get sick over it though.

I am going to get my 6 year old grandaughter one of those musical mats I think. Does anyone know if they work good? She likes to keep active and I thought that would give her something to do for awhile. If I get the double one maybe my son can have fun too. Has anyone gotten them for a child?  How much fun did the kids have with it I wonder?

14 MORE DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS EVE

After we spent the morning shopping and eating lunch out I came home and finished my scarf.... It went so fast. I just got the yarn Sunday afternoon but it was so much fun chrocheting with new yarn and it went so fast because it called for a "J" hook. It is very warm so I won't be at all cold when I wear it and I just love orange and the eyelash fun fur toned it down just enough..... next I will make a purple one with just the fun fur yarn.... after all I'm pretty old and that means I can wear purple ;) Maybe I should wear my red knit hat to go with it too..... how fun will that be. haha  I'm going to knit the purple one with big needles as I saw one a lady at the store made like that and it was very pretty.... How much fun to try something new. (new for me anyway) ;)

My Cat

I just have to write in black today  because I am really, really frustrated.Last year he was only a little kitten and this year he is a 17# cat....... and he climbed our new beautiful tree and I don't know now what we will do. I certainly won't be laughing and taking his picture.... Maybe I should not have done it last year either, but it was so cute.... now what to do?  Everything I think of will spoil it for us. I want to put my beautiful ornaments on the tree this year but was waiting. I really didn't think he would do it again. We have had many other cats and they were well behaved and didn't climb up the tree. Anyone have the problem and how did you solve it? I suppose that spray might work but it doesn't smell good does it...... darn darn darn !

Looks like we may get snow soon

It sure looks like it may snow soon.... its starting to get cloudy and its sort of humid too. You could almost say damp if it wasn't so cold. I do think it will have to cool off a bit though for the snow.... which it is starting to do also.

I'm starting to get in the mood to do my Christmas cards. It will be nice if it snows while I'm writing them out but  I don't have any  Christmas stamps ~` but its early yet  and I don't even have to mail the  out of state ones yet do I ?  I have my list all typed out and ready to go . I have 40 names on my  list this year . You know how some always have a letter telling of all the great things they  have done during the year  or how many illinesses they have?  Well I am going to put a typed poem in mine this year..... Just a small one about the Spirit of Christmas and how I treasure  everyone on my Christmas  card list.

Nice Day Today

We had a nice day so far ~ well the day is over I guess. ;) After church we went to get a few things at the store.... I picked another name on the Christmas tree.... I'm getting in the mood now and there is only one week left to buy gifts for those whose names are on the tree. This time I got a girls name and she would like Jeans in size 10 and some markers.... I had a good time shopping for her. I got a neat pair of jeans I hope she will like and 2 different kinds of markers. and I threw in a nice colorful tablet and a Dr Suess cane with candy in also... I'm sure she will like and I had a good time shopping. I would like to get her more but I have my grandchildren to shop for yet etc etc. I also went to the yarn store and got some pretty yarn to make myself a scarf and if it turns out I think I will make one of my great grandaughters one and maybe my grandaughters one also.... if I don't have time for Christmas I will just make them for a just because present. after we got home we watched a little of the Packer game and put up our tree. It was heavier than ones in the past and really really full with lots of lights..... We think it would have been just as easy or easier to get a real tree but then I would get my headaches etc ..... I will wait until I decorate it to put it in here in color.

I hope everyone is having a nice day too and the Christmas spirit is in your heart!  Its the 2nd Sunday of Advent already ~ only 2 more left. All the kids won't be home for Christmas so I think we should start a new plan like maybe go and look at Christmas lights when the kids that come have left to go to their own homes. I hear there are a lot of beautiful lights only blocks from us and our neighborhood is getting very pretty already too.

When we were in Florida we went for a walk to see the lights and that was a good thing to do as we walked their Dalmatiions, Lucky and Lady.  What are some of the things everyone does on Christmas eve and Christmas day if they aren't with a big family? We haven't had much practice and usually just listen to music or watch tv.   Of coarse we always go to mass but thats only an hour.   Maybe we will get some snow........

Finding a store

So far we have gone to a few different grocery stores looking for one that suits us and is close to home.... I will tell you we won't be finding just one I'm afraid but will have to go to several to find everything we want. Yesterday I went to another Jubilee store about 3 miles from here and it was nice in a way that it had the bakery items we like but the store is not the cleanest ~ same name and same baked goods but not nearly as nice and clean as we are used to and didn't have the items we wanted either so today I went to the giant one that is taking all the business away from the small stores.... took me four times as long as my store because its 4 times as big and That does not make me happy. There is another store in a different direction and about a mile and a half away but the prices are too high and they don't have everything either. I can't just run to the store anymore if you understand what I mean.  We were spoiled I guess but it sure would be nice if someone would take it over and begin again but I guess that s not going to happen any time soon and I have to drive and drive and drive to get just a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk etc. I'm just like a little kid aren't I ~~~ stamping my feet because there is no way I can have what I want.... So I will keep looking until I come upon a place I can call my own.... that is just down the block a way.... Lol

The Jessica Lynch Story

I just couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. I personally will always think of her as a Hero no matter what others may say. She is such a sweet girl and I only hope the future will bring her happiness. I couldn't imagine going through what she went through even in my worst nightmare.

Happy Holidays

I had fun today giving my puppies treats so I could take pictures.... these are the ones that turned out the best..... they are so sweet I could have taken them for hours but didn't think that would be nice. Peaches is the oldest at 1 & 1/2 and Twinkie is her brother and he is just 7 months old now.... they are good pals and my wonderful companions along with my Kitty Charlie! I am so lucky to have such great pets this year after having such a sad year last year when i lost 2 precious cats and our 2 wonderful dogs...... Smokie and Grizabella my kitty kats and Peppi my little tiny chihuahua and Loopi our beautiful Westie...... I will never ever forget  those precious pets of ours.   So I can't believe how I can love my new pets so much already while still missing my old friends...... funny isn't it.  Oh, in case you were wondering Peaches and Twinkie are long haired Chihuahua's and they are the offspring of the same parents. Very sweet, loving, dogs I may add.

I'm practicing what John said we could do with the pictures,,,, So far I think I have it sort of figured out. Now how do I get a picture in the space on the side or a pic of me I wonder.... same way?   The above pic is of me and my friends when we were in 7th or 8th grade. Just happened to be in my hometown so I used it. I'm the one in the middle, lol

The Spirit of Christmas

I have a list of people I know

All written in a book

And every year at Christmastime

I go and take a look

And that is when I realise

That those names are a part

Not of the book they're written in

But of my very heart

For each name stands for someone

Who has crossed my path some time

And in that meeting they've become

A treasured friend of mine

And once you've met some people

The years can not erase

The memory of a pleasant word

Or a friendly face

So when I send a Christmas card

That is addressed to you

It's because you're on that list

Of folk I'm indebted to

And you are one of many folk who

In times past I've met

And happen to be one of those

I don't want to forget

And whether I have known you for

Many years or few

In some way you have a part in

Shaping things I do

This, the spirit of Christmas, that

Forever and ever endures

May it leave its richest blessing

In the hearts of you and yours.

grocery store closing

Sorry to say this chair is not as comfortable as the blue one was but it fits in the room nicer and is very easy to get in and out of~~for me but not my pets. Maybe when I get this room in order there will be space for another chair and I can put this in the family room. It was such a good buy. Maybe I can get one of those pet beds that are raised off the floor ~~ maybe a doll bed would work. they all like to be higher than the floor. Oh well, I meant well and Leo already took the chair to St Vincent DePaul.... Maybe someone elses pets will enjoy it as much as mine did.... I will get another one someday, I promise.

Now for the closing of our corner grocery store after 30 years. I must have been one of the first customers and now am one of the last.... Its so sad. I could walk to the store or ride my bike with the basket I used just for that reason. Foolish people for not using that store more often. We waited for a store to come in the neighborhood and when we finally got one we were all so happy but then the shopping malls etc came and bigger stores with them and everyone seemed to just stop going to the neighborhood store.  Except for a bottle of milk or a loaf of bread etc.... now the gas stations all seem to have that and they are just around the corner too. I guess that store was there just for people like me and there aren't many of us left anymore..... times change and I must change too but you know I like to be able to walk to the store and pick up a few things now and again. It was in a little mall with a barber shop and a gift store and a music store etc. What will become of those now I wonder..... I bet the owners of those stores wonder too. I got a big cart of groceries today and they were all 30% off. The cashier said there are people coming from all over to get the bargains. Not much left now though..... makes one want to weep.

I got my chair !

I got my new little chair today and also a few other things. One is Finding Nemo the Disney video.... I was going to get it so my grandaughter could watch it here or bring it home but she already has it at her mothers house so I didn't get it until today. I already watched it and its so cute and beautiful at the same time. Im glad I got it! You can even use it for your very own beautiful fish bowl on your tv screen. After we got home my husband didn't want to put the chair together and he didn't want me to either.... he had planned to put the snowflakes on the front porch and put the little deer out in front with the red nose. Now all he has left in the front is the nativity set and I hope he waits a little to put that out as its really early yet isn't it? I have to put some garland in the back on the trellis yet too but we are doing good I think. I'm not baking yet as I am still trying to lose what I gained onThanksgiving. Anyone else have my problem? I will put the picture of the chair in as soon as it gets put together. Guess when you only pay $50 for a chair the least you can do is put it together, lol

Shopping day

I am going shopping today with my husband.... not for Christmas presents as I have most of that taken care of but for a new little chair for my computer room. It seems my puppies have learned to stop chewing on chairs now if Iam around so I can buy a new little one they have on sale this week at Shopko. I hope it fits me or I will have to find another one..... so Iam hopeful I will have a new chair today. You might say its a Christmas present from me to me. Others sit here with me from time to time and they might enjoy it also. I'm hoping. Its just one of those little glider chairs with  a green back and cushion. My neighbor has one she got several years ago and hers is comfortable, hope this one is almost as good as hers. :) Big day in the mall today for Senior's and you only have to be 55 at Shopko to be considered a senior..... and they have special places near the store to park also.... I will come back soon and finish this entry.

Sunny winter day

Jimmy Buffetts Christmas Island reminds me of one of our vacations to Florida at Christmas time. We had a very very  nice Christmas that year with one of our sons and his wife and our daughter and husband and 2 children. We could be going again this year and I will miss it but its nice to stay home too. Wish the whole family could be together anywhere for a vacation this year..... dreaming agin. :)

The pictures above are pictures of my yard in previous years. pictures we could not take if we were in Florida. When it snows everything looks so beautiful and clean. Just like a fairy land. I would not give up living in Wisconsin for anything. Can't figure out why our son & wife want to live in Florida either. He used to love snowmobiling etc in winter but guess he likes warm weather better. He probably likes his job at Sea World better too and she likes hers at the Disney resort.  And we all have a nice place to visit when we decide to head in their direction.

More Christmas decorations

We added the wreath on the front window today and when I was out taking pictures tonight I noticed 3 more neighbors have added pretty Christmas lights on their houses.... we have all white in the front yard so far... in a couple of weeks we will add the nativity set by the front porch to remind us all what Christmas is all about.

Starting to Decorate for Christmas

It seems I'm doing something wrong tonight because I can't get another picture in ~ oh well then one must be enough for tonight. Shari and her family are going to Florida to visit one of our Sons and Daughter in law for Christmas again this year so she found this grinch and a lit palm tree to use in the house for a Christmas tree. I hope we can all get together next Christmas as I miss the kids so much. They have been there about 5 years now and we visited 3 times. Morgan is my other Daughters Grandchild and she just baby sits one day a week along with the other children she takes care of. That way Morgan can get to play with some children and we can get to see Morgan.

My husband put lights on a tree in the back yard today and it really looks pretty back there now. All the decorations look better after a snowfall and we did get that but it must have only been an inch and not enough yet but we can wait a few more weeks.

Shopping day

I guess this was a big day for getting bargains. I didn't get any. I stayed home most of the day and then went to the book store to look for books for Christmas gifts but didn't find any of the kind I was looking for. The last couple of years I have gotten books to give to the kids along with a little gift and money but this year I struck out and now I have to rethink it. I guess I should go to a couple of other book stores first before I give up. It might do to get a new card at Sams because they always have good deals on books etc. If I can't get a book maybe a desk calendar or a boxed one according to the likes of the different ones. Its always such a dilemma.

We had some pretty snow flakes today and it won't be long before we can make a snowman. I have some plastic ones lit up in the back yard but I like the  real ones better. I am glad the snow was just pretty and didn't stay on the road though. The first snow always seems slipperier than the rest because we have to learn how to drive all over again.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Now that the pies are baked I can relax and play on my computer.

I will be able to watch the parade tomorrow morning and then the Packer game and just relax and eat and eat and eat. I plan on going off my diet for a day and will probably take me a week to get back on track but it should be a fun day. Much better than I thought anyway.

  I wish Everyone a Happy Happy Day and hope the sun shines on all of us~~~ wouldn't that be nice!

Baking Pies

I had to make pecan and pumpkin this year and really every year. I would like a different kind once in awhile but my kids want this kind so I please them. I like chocolate pecan but they just want the plain for Thanksgiving and I really can't eat a whole pie so thats what I do and of coarse you also have to have pumpkin pie with whipped cream . They all look like they turned out ~ I can't wait to have a taste. No dieting tomorrow :-) I made extra so we would have pie at home too. Just watch me put on 5 #'s from eating these pies. I hope someone comes over to help us eat them or I will share them with my daughter and her family. I'm only going to bring 2 to my sons house because there will only be 8 of us there and my husband doesn't eat sweets but he may try a small piece of pumpkin.

I can't believe I did it this time

My sister held my hand through getting this image in here.... trying all day it seems and I finally did it. I now have to remember how , LOL

Little Boys

                                           His Pal

A puppy need not be a thing

Of beauty and of grace

To put a light in some lads eyes,

A smile upon his face.

 

His coat may be a muddy hue

And rough as uncombed wig;

His legs may be a lot too short,

His padding feet too big.

 

But of this seeming ugliness

A small boy's unaware,

And any puppy seems to him

An answer to his prayer.

 

For boys' hearts have an emptiness

From the moment they begin,

Just waiting, warm and welcoming,

For a pup to amble in.

                                                                                          virginia blanck moore

BRRRRRRR

Brrrrrrrrrr isn't the word for it today, it's downrigt freezin...... the wind is blowing and the snow is snowin and I can't weather the storm. haha  Was so cold it was only 32 in the attached garage and thats cold. It doesn't usually get much colder than that in there all winter. I guess its time to shut the door and keep it shut now. I think it was the wind today that made it seem like a January day. We had to do a little shopping. I had to get the ingredients for Pecan and Pumpkin pie and a few other things so we braved the weather. You can never tell what tomorrow will bring and I didn't want to take a chance. I would like to make other pies but these were strongly requested so I will make 2 of each.... can leave one home then I'm hoping.

   My daughter came over with the two little boys she was baby sitting and I don't know who had more fun the kids or the dogs. Shari and I enjoyed their playing around too. Nothing better than boys and puppies I say. They were so sweet. Now someday I will have to get another Grandson as mine are way too old already, 27,25 and 19. My Grandaughters are 17, and 6 and Greatgrandaughters 2 and new born. I do have some step grandchildren too but don't see them much and they were already teens when they became stepgrandchildren but they still count I guess. I will see them Thursday. So they are 18, 16, and 14 already. so see I need a little boy again in the family. I have 5 boys of my own and we had some fun times together when they were home. Good memories!!!!!!!

                                  

Snow?

Packers won today!  That helps raise our spirits on a cold, rainy, and windy day. I guess we are lucky we aren't shoveling it though as I know some are. We will be soon though I'm sure. You heard of the calm before the storm. The game was in town today and its good that it held off because of all the traffic and we aren't used to the snow this year yet so I guess some fenders are being saved tonight,

I didn't do much today. Got some more pictures sorted and then my Grandaughter and son came over for awhile. She is getting too smart for us I think. She remembers everything and  seems to understand more than a 6 year old should.

 

I went to the pet store this morning to get some dog food and found a few Christmas toys for Peaches, Twinkie, and Charlie. I could have gotten a lot more but  think I will wait and see - I also got a desk calendar for next year with Chihuahua's on it , all such cute ones too. I need one with Cats now for the wall maybe. I like to be well rounded..... more ways than one too, hehe

Deer hunting

Well my husband and sons went deer hunting today but I don't have pictures.... don't really want any either. My son and his friend each got their big bucks I guess and my husband came home..... so it was a good day. I don't know if he will go again or not but it is a long season and I suppose he will. Why they go into the woods and sit even when its raining is beyond me but its a male thing I guess so I don't say anything and let them get it out of their system. What else can I do. So I went shopping today and bought a new cd and a yard designer for my computer, now I have to figure out how to use it I guess, It looks nice but I have homework to do now. oh boy but I wish they would make these things easier. :)

Its late and Church comes early tomorrow so I better get some sleep. I was playing around with my pictures most of the night and getting them all in order on cds... I think I have that figured out  now. So all in all it was a pretty good day. Hope tomorrow brings sunshine etc etc.... Goodnight and Sweet Dreams!

 

"Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You--- Ask What You Can Do For Your Country."     January 20,1961       JFK  after being elected president at the age of forth-three!

Christmas lights

We started to put out some of the Christmas lights as the weathr is so nice and is going to get very cold soon I'm sure. We put the lights on for a little while but will wait now until the rest of  our neighbors start putting theirs on ~~ after Thanksgiving I guess sometime.

I have been doing a few crafts for Christmas gifts and reading some books I had stached away until the weather was too cold to do yard work. I have all the work finished now and only will have to shovel some snow when it arrives. We are having a nice fall this year so winter won't seem as long as it does some years but we will get our share and it will probably last into spring, but I hope not. I love spring and usually start the yard clean up as soon as enough of the snow melts.... not all mind you but just enough and the temp is just about right for me to want to get out of the house.

A thought

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live

That day. 

                                      E. D.

Reading and Straightening up

I read into the morning last night and today and yesterday I spent time getting all the names and addresses, birthdays, anniversaries etc on the computer and on paper so I can do Christmas cards. Also putting all the email and web addresses on my new computer and putting them in order in a recipe file  box.  It feels good to be organized and not have things on scraps of paper anymore. I just hope I can keep it so organized

I also went to get something for my puppies to wear for a Christmas photo to put in the paper. I found something and took a pretty good picture but will wait closer to Christmas to put it in here. Not even Thanksgiving yet. I can't wait for Thanksgiving now and am thinking of what kind of pie I will make besides pumpkin. Always have to have pumpkin with whipped cream for my son..... me too. I guess the diet will not be followed that day :)  Daughter in law wants me to make my pecan pie also. I wanted to get a chocolate cream that looks so good ~~~ will we have 3 pies I wonder----------

Another lazy Monday

I too looked around the yard today when my son was over and we saw a pretty hardy pansy, thinking it was still summer. How does it last so long and stay so pretty I wonder. It was one of several  plants but the only one still blooming, but still so beautiful its hard to believe after the freezing days etc. I have also noticed the bunnies were eating all the blossoms too. This one bloomed after though and got bigger. They are the Pansys that come back next spring and stay all summer too

  Our son also invited us over for Tnanksgiving and all I have to do it make the pies, my favorite things to make too. I didn't even have to hint or bring up the subject either. What a guy.  Other son wants to stay home and me cook but he was invited too so he has a choice to make of coming along or eating pizza I guess.

Visiting Brenna Marie

It sure was a nice day today. So nice to hold a little baby and she is so sweet isn't she. We went to the Hospital for a short visit and also saw Morgan. My but she is getting big already, she will be 2 just after Christmas, I brought her a really soft teddy bear so she has something to hug. She likes the little Winnie the pooh I gave her when she was born but is getting bigger so I figured another soft teddy for her to hug but bigger this time as she is growing.

So that was my favorite part of my day today and won't even write about anything else. Its another happy time for the family.

Brenna Marie

I'm a Great Grandmother again!!!!!  I can hardly wait to hold her. Probably tomorrow because Leo is fishing and will also want to go. She was just born this morning at 7:50 and they sent me a picture already. Wasn't that nice!

Beautiful day for yard work

I had fun working in the yard today. It was a sweater kind of day with the sun shinning. I found the burlap to cover my roses etc and then I found a few other things to do for an hour or two and it was still nice so I decided to look at the Christmas tree I bought for the yard the other day to see if I could put it together without any help..... I did it but I have an extra piece it said nothing about in the directions and can't for the life of me figure out where it goes. Don't you just hate that. I wonder if they do that on purpose or something? Anyway you can see it turned out just fine so I'm happy but a little frustrated. Leo put the icicle lights on the house today too and a neighbor came by and asked him if it wasn't just a  little early....... but you never know what the weather is going to be like and its better to do on a warm sunny day. He is still going to put lights on the 2 evergreens in the front. We won't be turning them on yet but you know what? A neighbor through the back has her tree up and she is keeping the lights lit too. She is always the first ~ she just loves Christmas and then after they leave for warmer weather in the south for awhile.

So I guess I have to think about Thanksgiving soon. I have always been the one to make a big meal and it got to be for 22 or 23 and last year I just didn't feel up to it and noone invited us so I don't think I will do it for everyone anymore. I'm getting too old for that and I get so tired and such a backache that I certainly don't enjoy the day  so maybe we will go to a nice restaurant this year.... what do you think?  Its a hard decision and it was always so nice when we all got together, I really miss that but aparantly the kids don't so I will let it be. Leo can't eat sweets and certain other food so it may be best to go out and he can choose what he wants and we won't have left overs to throw in the garbage. I hope all your familys still get together and have a happy time, just remember to help out the person who is cooking it all.... at least bring something and help clear off the table.  :)

Just another day

Gary didn't have the best birthday because he worked until 6 and didn't even get to play golf this year. He did watch his movie though and enjoyed it so thats something. I can't believe my youngest is 38 already..... makes me really old doesn't it?

It was a cold windy day again today but at least the sun was shinning all day. I put some dirt over my little rose bushes to help them survive the winter. Also over my butterfly bush. I think I should do more though. last year I used leaves too and burlap and they all survived. Maybe if it isn't too cold tomorrow I can go and see if I still have some of that burlap left in the shed. I didn't do much else today but straighten the kitchen etc etc and read a little and played with my computer. Lucky me but I need more exercise I think.   I really don't care for these cold days with the heat on.... so dry but I will have to get used to it because I guess its still 17 more weeks til Spring. :)

Charlie

I figured it was time to add a picture of Charlie my year old kitty. A friend of the family found this cat and when she heard we wanted a new kitty she brought him and his brother over to meet us. My grandaugher handed me Charlie because she knew I wanted a kitten with lots of white fur and she begged her Mom and Dad for the other one. They couldn't say no to her after a lot of begging. They too had just lost their cat and wanted another but weren't sure what kind. They are happy with Milo and he is a smart cat. He drinks out of the water jug.... pulls the handle down so water goes into the little tray at the bottom. My Charlie is a great big lovable guy too. He is here with me now looking for birds. He is so beautiful. He loves to go down the basement with my husband and watch him get his fishing poles ready. Thinks he is playing with him I guess but my husband and he are great pals...... and he said he would never like cats. Last Year we couldn't decorate the Christmas tree because Charlie thougt it was his and kept climbing up and sitting in it. I'm going to let him know this year its not for sitting in. Hope he doesn't break my good ornaments.

    I got 35 pictures on my cd today..... should I try for more tomorrow? Someone please tell me how many to put on a cd....... I don't know what 700 MB means. does each picture have 1 0r 2 Mb's I guess I have homework to do.... did I tell you Rick is sending me e-mails now? i'm so proud of him fixing up that computer all by himself and getting on line. And Gary said to throw it in the junk.... silly Gary. i told Rick maybe he should go into computer bussiness of somekind. He has so much patience and I think thats a lot of what it takes. :)  Must take after me, lol

Twinkie

Twinkie got neutered today and had 2 baby teeth pulled. Poor little guy came home this afternoon and didn't know what happened. He is such a sweetheart and we wonder was it all so necessary for such a little guy. Vet seems to think so but I wonder..... but its done now so we live with it.He only weighs 4.4#s for goodness sake.

Its son Gary's birthday tomorrow and I didn't get him anything yet as was so concerned with the little puppy. All he wants is a cake and said I could pick him up a movie---Terminator 3...... ugh but what he likes so I guess thats what I will do. He usually buys anything he needs or wants so not much to get him. hope he has a nice day and the snow holds off.

I learned how to copy pictures to a cd with my computer today. I put 14 pictures on a cd but bet it holds more..... just don't realize how many yet. maybe I will practice again tomorrow. I love fooling aroung with my pictures.

My hand is very sore and am wearing a brace.... figure its arthritis so take an advil and not much else I can do. I'm crocheting  a few Christmas gifts so I will stop for a day or two and see if it gets better. Didn't feel too good shaking the vets hand today and he wanted to shake twice....What a limp handshake I must have given him. Don't you hate that?I hope to make up for that the next time because in 10 days Twinkie has to get 2 stitches taken out.   

 I hope everyone has a plesant day tomorrow! Goodnight

Flu Shot sort of day

I finally got my flu shot today. Nothing to it, didn't feel a thing but was so tired today I fell asleep in my recliner and slept and slept.... at least 2 hours. I NEVER  do that. Finally a nieghbor called and wanted to give me some seeds from her garden so I went outside and the fresh air woke me. What a day. Good thing I got my house work finished before I went to get the shot. Now I will be in good health this winter hopefully. My husband didn't get one because he remembered when he got them at work or in the Navy he would get sick and didn't want to get sick. He took me though and I came out with the information for him that its not a live virus anymore so he won't get sick. He still didn't go in because he said he had the wrong kind of shirt on but he would go ~~~ I guess I will have to remind him again and again. He really should get one though so I will do the wifly nagging I guess, even though I hate to.

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."

                                                                                     Vince Lombardi

17 & 1/2 weeks til spring

The picture is one of 7 pages of Disney pins I have. My son Tom and his wife Cindy are going to Orlando tonight to visit his brother Mike and wife Teri. They will probably bring me back another pin or two. Mike and Teri have been living there for 4 years now ~ he works for Sea World and she works for Disney. They love it there but we miss them a lot. We have been to visit them 4 times so far and they wanted us again to go with Tom and Cindy but my puppy needs to get neutered and I hate to leave them all so we passed this time. We could go again for Christmas with Shari and Dan and Mindy but I want to stay home. I like it home!!!!!!

I gave my old computer to my son Rick and he stayed up late last night and got it working again..... as good as new except for the modem which we replaced so he will have to get a network card etc to get it going again. I hope he can because my husband threw the old modem away..... I don't know much about computers but always thought it could be fixed ~ its only 3 years old. I hope it has a lot left in it yet as Rick was the only one in the family without a computer. So its having a happy ending ~ me with a brand new computer and Rick with his first computer!!!!! Makes me very happy.

A Beautiful November day

My daughter,Shari and I went to a few craft shows today. We had a good time. Notre Dame Acadamy had some nice things and we also took home some delicious chile. Leo loved it, too bad I can't get more as its now up to me to try and make some like it. We saw a few people we knew and stopped to talk a few times on our way around the many isles of hand made items. I got a pair of hand made wool socks. I never tried to make them on my own although I do knit and crochet ( Mom always told me how hard it was ) Anyway I had a nice talk with the woman who made them and I may try to make a pair.She said she gets a lot of her yarn on the internet. She said there was a nice shop in algoma too but I forgot the name. Maybe my sister can help me with that, I also got a church cook book. really nice loose leaf type and came home and read some of the recipes and it looks like I will be trying some..... nice book! I also got some little snowflake ornaments, the lady there was telling us how she invented the pattern and she dares anyone to figure it out, lol  Ok with me because she only charged 25cents a piece for the pearl snowflakes for my little tree I have in here. Then I bought some plastic canvas cross stitch things.... a few magnets and a towel holder for christmas.... all in the  gingerbread theme. I even found some little peanut butter flavored bones for the puppies. Oh and another nylon net scrunchie.... I'm obsessed with those things. Every time I see one I have to get it..... everyone makes them different. I tried and couldn't make them like the picture so I gave up, These were little balls the lady made.... her own pattern. I have flat ones, little and big and half round ones and now little balls to fit nice in my hand, they may even work to strengthen my arthritic hands. I guess there are a lot of variations to the pattern.

So I had a nice day and got home and Leo had the yard work all finished and looking really good.

Still learning the new computer

I couldn't get into my computer earlier to add her picture so I decided better late than never!

I'm still learning my new computer. Didn't have the XP windows before and it is a big change for me. Its not as hard as learning it for the first time though and I will make mistakes and then try to fix them ~ takes up a lot of time and gives me a headach from looking at the screen so long at a time. I must remember to take breaks.

Not much else going on around here. We got our Christmas tree in the mail today and its too heavy to bring downstairs and then back up again so we found a corner to put it until we are ready to put it up. Won't be long until Thanksgiving so I guess we will be putting it up kinda early this year. I can't believe the days are going so fast but I guess it shouldn't surprise me much.

Starting over

I thought I would start with a picture of my sweet little chihuahuas. Peaches and Twinkie. Peaches is 1 & 1/2 and Twinkie is only 6months. I don't know what I would do with out this sweet pair. Peaches is Twinkies big sister and Twinkie is a little boy from the same parents. They are a lot of fun and stay close to me usually. They also love to play outside and get lots of exercise. Peaches usually goes for a short walk with me every day but Twinkie doesn't want to go. I think next summer I will try to get him to go. Peaches was 1 before she wanted to go for a walk and now she just loves to go and is ready every morning.

  Its getting late so I will finish this tomorrow. It sure is nice to get back in here with my new computer but I had to change my e-mail address and start over again. I hope to get back into the swing again though.  Goodnight.