HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hope everyone has a very very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

It is a dreary day here but the snow has ended and it wasn't too bad. It is warm out so it was pretty heavy to shovel. Leo used the snow blower in front and I shoveled the patio in back for the dogs... Good exercise anyway. and then I finished my little puzzle I got from Shari for Christmas. It was nice of her to have it made for me wasn't it? I now can glue it together and hang it and use the tin for many things... Perfect.
   Now I am just going to finish my laundry and read awhile I think... Hope you are having a nice day too, Sandra

Snow on the way

We went shopping this morning because Leo said a snow storm is on the way and I don't like driving in a storm. I hope I got everything we need but its too bad if I didn't, then isn't it. I got a new Josh Groban cd and dvd in one. He sings some beautiful songs on this one. I was looking for the song that was sung at church on Christmas day and my sister Janice told me it was "The Prayer" according to only a few little phrases I had given her.... It was so beautiful at church. The man sang almost as well as Josh ( that is saying a lot) and the woman sang better ---- much better than the girl on the cd but I am so glad to have it because it is so beautiful and he also sings "O Holy Night" and that is a big favorite since I was a child and my Dad liked it so much too and the adult choir my Dad belonged to sang it for the firist time that Christmas.... so pretty. I'm happy with my new cd and dvd I got today. Haven't seen the dvd part yet but I know it will be beautiful. And on another note I also had to get Bette Midlers new cd ~dvd where she sings the Peggy Lee Songbook.
    We took my son to the doctor yesterday and he is getting medication now for Depression and anxiety..... I hope it works and he can be happy again. I have been so worried about him lately. He has gone to work every day through all his troubles though and didn't lose his job, so that is good. so far he has lost over 15lbs and that makes him weak. Sometimes too week to carry the heavy carpets he has to help carry into peoples houses and apts. We are hoping these medications he is taking help him now.
    So now I really should go and eat lunch and wash my bedding.... doesn't always stay clean or smelling pretty when we have the little dogs and sometimes cat sleeping on the bed, LOL
   Hope you are having a nice and a happy day, Sandra

Gee I almost forgot to tell you why I put the picture of the slippers up there again, lol  I have 2 requests for more slippers so I bought some yarn today too to make a pair for Tyler, my Grandson and Cindy, my daughter in law. It will keep me busy  for awhile .........

Icy roads today

I guess I wore myself out because now I have this bad cold.... NOT the flu though as I got the flu shot. Just a good old fashioned cold but Iam lucky because I can get plenty of rest now and drink lots of water and juice. So things aren't all bad... those roads out there are so slippery though it makes me afraid for all that have to drive on them today. The truck just went by and put salt on our street.... kinda late though as everyone is already gone to work by now I guess. better late than never though as it looks like a bad day of rain and freezing rain and snow today.
     Now I suppose I can do my laundry and odds and ends today. Hope your day is going good, Sandra

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas eve turned out very nice last night after all. supper went over big and everyone was happy.. after I took a tylenol I was happier and more relaxed too and had a nice time. Now I have to get ready for church. We are going to pick up Tyler before we go. His parents are in florida with Mike and Teri...

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, SANDRA

Busy Christmas Eve

I just wanted to add a bit of Christmas in my journal today before I start my work .... lots to do today getting supper ready for the kids and their families... Hope everything turns out good. I should have more faith in myself but I can never relax until it is all prepared and looking good.
  I hope you are having a nice day today .... I will come in later to let you know how it all went. Sandra

I finished .... but while waiting for them to come I am so tired I could cry.. how does everyone do it I wonder. Am I just a wimp or what. I really should be dressing up to look pretty but I don't even care. Tomorrow is Christmas and I will dress up for Christmas even if I don't see anyone but the people at church... all I can say is it must be nice to be a man and just let the little woman do all the work. bah humbug. I never did consider cooking to be any fun... just something I had to do day in and day out to feed my family of 9 and now I am so tired of it I could screem. Why does everyone always want to go to Mothers and Grandmothers don't they know How hard it can be.... Should I tell them or just keep them guessing. LOL  Merry Christmas anyway... tomorrow will be a GREAT day. :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Peaches and Twinkie...

Dog Groomers today

We took Peaches and Twinkie to the groomers this morning (7am) so they will be pretty for Christmas. :) We came home to eat breakfast and then to the grocery store to buy the food for over Christmas. and then the only thing left is pick up the dogs and wait for it to happen... 5 of our 7 will be here for Christmas eve and Shari and her family will be with Mike in Florida. Mike and Teri are so happy that they are coming so that makes me happy too. She is going to bring me another one of those nice wool blankets from the Mexico place because I had two but gave one to Rick because he needed a warm blanket and then I gave one to Gary the other day too because he just was shivering all the time..... Now I hope they still have those blankets there as they are so warm and pretty too.
   Yesterday was my friends funeral... It was a beautiful funeral and the church was full. She was a well loved person and will be missed by many many people including me.
  So now off I go to the store and to pay my bills.... it sure is a dark day this morning but is supposed to clear up and the sun will shine for a bit. Being the shortest day it probably won't be for long though. I'm just happy the days are going to start getting longer now.... We have something to look forward to finally don't we.
Hope you have a wonderful day, Sandra

Sunny and bitter cold

Just got back from church and boy is it cold out.... brrrrr. Leo heard it is supposed to warm up in a couple of days. Don't really know how it can get any colder but I guess it can and at least the sun is shinning today!
   I see where Carol Burnett is going to be on a new show tonight. I can hardly wait to watch it... I just bet it will be good.
    I finally got the tree decorated. I didn't put all the ornaments on I did last year but just enough to make it look decorated. I started to cry yesterday when decorating it so I got out of the room and this morning after I was ready for church I had some time to finish it up. So glad its finished and I have just enough ornaments and decorations up to make it look like  Christmas for the kids when and if they come over.... also have all the presents bought and wrapped.
   My very good friend died Friday. she got liver cancer and I only knew she was seeing the doctor for her liver since November and she is gone already. I saw her at church just 2 weeks ago and she never let on to me. she is the neighbor that just moved away after living next to us for over 20 years. She taught me a lot and now she is gone. I will miss her very much. Funny but I still pretend to myself she still lives next to me because its too hard to bear some days and now I will never see her again.... Life is hard sometimes isn't it.....
    I have been wanting to re learn how to play canasta and now I found a canasta game on aol and I am playing it all the time.... sure is fun and brings back the days when My mother and sisters and I used to play around our kitchen table.... you should try it..... you won't have my memories ( unless you are my sister) but it is a good card game and maybe you too have memories of playing it...
    Have a nice day and always keep a cheerful attitude if you possible can.... Sandra

little more snow

We  got a little more snow last night.... Now we are hoping for another nice day so the streets melt again. Yesterday I went to the drug store and the streets were all nice and cleared already... must have been the salt as it was only around 30 at the highest I guess. It was a nice day but I don't see any snowmen around here yet.   I wish someone around here besides me would try and make one... I love snowmen don't you? When the kids were all home we always had a snowman if the snow was packy... sure do miss those days.
   I finally got all my presents wrapped yesterday. Now I should put the ornaments on the tree this week end I suppose... I'm not going to go all out but I will get it done. I put everything in the same big box last year so that will be easy. Glad I did that. I have so many boxes of decorations I will not use this year.... I have enough for 3 houses I bet... One of these days I will go through them and see what I can give away... so many memories though that they are hard to part with.... Maybe I will keep just enough for 2 houses instead of 3...
  Hope everyone is having a nice day today and will have a great week end, Sandra

                            CHRISTMAS ANGEL

Half of me wants to throw away
This angel with damaged wings,
Stored in the attic at Yuletide's end
With leftover Christmas things.

Half of me sees that the gold on her robe
Is tarnished beyond repair,
And obviously the sheen is gone
From her halo-crowned, golden hair.

But half of me treasures the memories
That crowd as I hold her near,
Memories of all the joys she has seen
From her treetop year after year.

So I climb the ladder and put her there
In what is her rightful place,
Forgetting th einjuries the years
        have brought-----
She still has her angel face.

Though the glow she once had
 Through the years may depart,
She retains, as always,
Her hold on the heart.

             virginia blanck moore

Snow pictures

I just came in after shoveling some... sure is invigorating to shovel snow... it isn't all that cold out... probably around 25 yet. the plow just went through and now Leo is snow blowing. He came early but the snow isn't finished. Everyone is anxious to clear it because its the first major snow storm... its name is Amy. :)

Anyway I think I will go now as I just wanted to enter a few pictures of all the pretty snow.

Sandra

SNOW STORM

We are in the midst of a snow storm... about 2 inches so far and maybe up to 6 or 8 inches. We went to the store to get a few things we needed to tide us over. I don't like driving unless the roads are clean... not clean this morning but not too bad yet... we got home before 10 and the snow started at 8... soon the kids will be coming home from school I bet but they haven't been called off yet.  You would be surprised how many people had to go shopping this morning..... good ole wal mart. I can now get everything there on my list for a one stop shopping.
   Maybe I will get my camera out later and take some snow pictures.
So far it looks like the lawyer can't get any further with our problem than we got... I guess it takes time though doesn't it....
Hope you are enjoying the snow.... if you are getting it too. We are really going to have a white Christmas this year thats for sure.
Sandra

CLOUDY SNOWY DAY

There isn't too much I can write about today but I thought I would come in and let everyone who cares to know Im hanging in there.... wish our problem would get solved so we can get on with our lives.... I just can't figure out what to do and what to do to make it better.... I guess nothing and that is frustrating... I WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY... Darn it anyway but they sure can try a persons patience and the anxiety level is getting pretty high around here..

Leo went to the packer game last night.... Packers won but it was very very very cold sitting there I guess. they were all dressed very very warm with snowpants and snow boots and hats and scarfs and mittens etc... all the warm stuff so it wasn't too bad. I watched it at home and I guess it was a better game for me to watch than them .... you see the people in front of them kept standing up and waving their pom poms and Leo said he missed all the best plays of the game.... I guess those people just wanted to keep warm. Most people were dressed for it but some were not and they were really freezing I guess...
  We got the Christmas tree up stairs this week end and the lights are all working but I haven't started to decorate it yet... I started to wrap presents and then had to go to the store and get some things and now Im not in the mood any more... I made some telephone calls and sent some emails but I don't get any answers.... Frustrating. Telephone says leave a message and I will get back to you and then he says Merry Christmas... Ya right....I will try my best but if everyone is not happy I can't be happy either... say a little prayer please.... today is just a bad day and we started worrying again... must be the cloudy day.
I really and truly hope everything is going well for you today, Sandra

ps we got a lawyer tonight so hope that helps us a little.. it did a little already knowing someone who knows what to do is going to handle it for us.... we just don't know how by ourselves anymore and its been going on for way too long. Better days are around the corner, right? :)

Sunshine today

Today is another cold day---- nothing new about that now for a few months I guess. I mailed my cards today and did a little Christmas shopping.... for those odds and ends.... always odds and ends I guess.
My next door neighbor called me yesterday and wanted me to come over today to decorate her Christmas cookies with her.... you know I just laughed.... I am an awful neighbor but I don't even want to think of making Christmas cookies this year much less help her with hers. She has Grandchildren that live part time with her and also a son and his girlfriend.... My kids have used my recipe and make their own cookies now and since Leo can't eat any I am just going to pass on that this year... I guess after making thousands of those darn things I have had it... Instead I will make some good bars and fudge and have a nice supper for them all on Christmas eve. Last year 2 of my kids came over with some cookies they had made...The lady next door said to do it for penance..... I do plenty of that already. She is just wanting me to go over and visit her I think but I have so much on my mind I just can't right now.... I guess I just want to be left alone.... sad isn't it but thats how it is right now..... I will work on it.
So you have a nice day and take care, Sandra

Just another day

Not much going on around here lately.... I guess that could be a good thing though couldn't it.  I wrote out my Christmas cards yesterday and now have to buy more stamps etc before I mail them out.... got a lot of time yet though the way I figure it. Have to wrap the presents too so I can see if I got enough for everyone etc etc etc.... equal amounts for everyone and then get some money for the money cards... I wonder sometimes if the money is necessary but also wonder if the kids expect it or not.... never know just what to do. I will be glad when that part of the Christmas prep. is finished.
We have another cold day today and it looks now like we won't be getting that warm (35) weather this week end after all and will be getting more snow too. We have been below normal now for a long long time. This seems more like January weather to me.
it is already 9:30 and I am still in my nitegown... shame on me. I do have a load of wash in though so Iam doing something.... so gotta go but hope you are having a super dooper kinda day, Sandra

sunny day but freezing cold

Above is a picture of the slippers I made today for Carley. Rick asked me to make her a new pair for Christmas because hers were getting too small. he wanted me to make them out of something soft so I found some soft yarn but had to make 3 before I could get them both the same size... haha  This is not my favorite yarn but what Wal Mart had and I didn't want to go shopping. I think they will be just fine now.
  We went shopping today for Christmas odds and ends and get groceries. I dressed warm and it wasn't too bad. It was -2 today when we got up and by the time we came home it was 8 in the sun. It is very cold here and way below normal so maybe we will be getting some warmer weather soon. REally doesn't matter all that much anymore though because freezing cold it freezing cold. :)
I think I will go and read a little now until its time to make supper. Hope you are having a nice day today, Sandra

Freezing.............

Charlie was playing in the sink and running all over the house. I guess this cold weather suits him or else he is just trying to keep warm and get a little exercise at the same time....
  Today with the wind chill it was down to -8. Now that is downright cold isn't it. Maybe if we get this out of the way we will get a shorter winter this year... where is that global warming I wonder.  Iam trying to be more like Charlie and move around the house getting things done but it doesn't do much good when it gets this cold. I put some nice new flannel sheets on the bed today so it will be nice and cozy tonight. :) I remember complaining a lot this summer because it was too hot for me and now am I going to be complaining all winter because its too cold I wonder.... I will turn into a cronic complainer won't I? So I am going to make up my mind not to complain ....... besides its not even winter yet is it? Brrrrr tell me when its over. LOL
Those darn Packers lost again yesterday. Guess thats the end of it then. They are just too nice ..... guess they are supposed to be tougher.... like those Bears were yesterday. See that is why I don't like football because in order to win you have to be really mean. :>(
Can't wait for baseball and racing to start again.... maybe I will start to watch a little basketball. The Milwaukee Bucks didn't start off very well but they should get better. There are a lot of  Christmas movies on now too so I should have something to watch while Iam making Carley her Christmas slippers. I will keep busy and before I know it Christmas will be here and then I only have to get through the weeks of January before I can start looking at the seed catalogs again and dreaming of Spring. One day at a time....... slow and steady wins the race.... hahahahaha.
Bye for now.... hope the day is a good one for you, Sandra

Beautiful Sunny Day

I thought I would put an entry in as long as I'm watching the Packer - Bear game today.... the big game of the year I guess... unless you count when we play them in Green Bay.... close game anyway. The Packers are NOT having a good year to say the least.
    I thought you might like to see my snowmen and the cute decorations I saw when we went to Steins after church to get an Advent wreath. Since they didn't have any left I found a small wreath and some candles and made my own.... just as well I guess. It was fun and It looks just fine on my table.
   Oh boy, Leo is not happy. The Bears just intercepted the ball and went 95 yards for a touchdown...... I think Leo will probably go to fleet farm now as he will probably give up on the Packers. haha  All he has to do is look for some reason to go... He just finished making a new ice fishing rig. he sees somethiing at the store and then he makes it for half the price or so... His new one is really nice and he did a great job. would have cost him $45 and he had most of the things to make it. I bet it cost less than $5 for him to make it.....  Now if I could only think of something for him to make we would be in business. LOL
Hope you are all having a pretty and a nice sunny day too, Sandra

Freezing cold

Charlie is funny today. He has a lot of energy. First he jumps up on the tv so he can see better and then he comes in here by me and plays with my window shade... he wanted it up because I closed it 3/4 of the way because the sun was in my eyes and he likes the sun shinning on him... so he took the handle and it lowered even more so he must have gotten mad because he is outa here now... He is such a good kitty most of the time. lol 
It's so cold out today.... a day I don't feel like venturing outside if I can help it..... Now I have to think of something to do to make the day productive.  I will think of something........ at least I hope so. I know many would like to have this problem so I had better make use of this day.... Maybe something to do with fixing up the Christmas gifts or writing out the cards. Christmas seems so far away yet though....and maybe I am just not in the mood for some reason or other.... I will go through the motions and maybe I will get in the mood.... ya think? :)
Hope its warmer by you than me..... brrrrr
Sandra

                                  December Song
                                              Eileen Spinelli
Sing a song
     of snowy nights,
     of neighbors stringing
     twinkling lights,
     of sugar cookies
     shaped like stars,
     and trees tied
     to the roof of cars.

Sing a song
     of spangled kings
     and angels wearing
     wire wings,
     of paper boxes,
     silver bows,
     and gifts hid under
     attic clothes.

Sing of warm
     against the cold,
     of simple, peace-filled
     stories told,
     of drums that thump
     and bells that chime.
     Sing a song
     of Christmastime.

Snow Day

I wish I felt better today but am feeling anxious about something .... just wish it would all fix itself and we could get on with our happy kind of life again.... Funny but you don't realize how good you have it until something upsets the apple cart. It should turn out ok but in the meantime we are forced to wait and worry. I keep trying to tell myself it is all in Gods hands and to just know that it will be ok but its so hard. No one is sick and we are very very grateful for that but this new problem is just so worrisome...... if you can say a little prayer so it gets settled soon. Unless of coarse you have some more important things to pray for... maybe just a little one so we can stop being so darn anxious.... You see someone in my family ( one of my children) was falsely accused of something and it seems to be taking a lifetime for them to get it all straightened out.... I could cry a river over it but it wouldn't help so I just seem to live with an aching heart.....Sorry I can't say more but I probably said too much already....
Hope your day is going well, sandra

This is supposed to be a joke

Subject: heaven

       This says a lot, so I am forwarding it to my friends. This explains why we forward jokes.

       A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside Him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.  After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At
the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
       When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.  He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
       When he was close enough, he called out,  "Excuse me, where are we?"
       "This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
       "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
       "Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."
       The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
       "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.
       "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
       The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
       After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.
       As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
       "Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"
       "Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there,  come on in."
       "How about my friend here?" the traveler  gestured to the dog.
       "There should be a bowl by the pump."
       They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.  The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.  When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
       "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
       "This is Heaven," he answered.
       "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
       "Oh, you mean the place with the gold  street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."
       "Doesn't it make you mad for them to use  your name like that?"
       "No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."
       Soooo.
       Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word.
       Maybe this will explain.
       When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes.
       When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes.
       When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.
       Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get?
       A forwarded joke.
       So, next time if you get a joke, don't  think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but  that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.
       You are all welcome @ my water bowl anytime
My son Toms friend sent this to him today not knowing his dog had died... itsn't that amazing. Tom said he gets jokes from this man from time to time and it just happened he sent one today and it was about his dog.... He sent it to me then in amazement.
Sandra

Grocery shopping

I thought I was just going to the store for a few things but got lucky and got groceries for the week.... now it can snow, lol I don't like to drive in the snow. At least not the first snow falls because there are always so many little accidents until people learn how to drive again in the winter time. I will give them one less reason to get into a fender bender if I possible can.
   My son just called me again today.... he is having such a hard time because his big golden lab died last night and he just can't bear it that he isn't by his side today. I am helping answer his questions the best I can and telling him what helped for us but isn't it a tough thing to lose you pal. I just feel so sad too. My big tough son crying and missing his buddy. Its a sad day and I hope the sun will shine for him again real soon.
  So now I have to go and hug my furry friends and be happy for as long as I can that I have them. Hope your having a good day and if you have furry friends give them a big extra hug today and maybe an extra treat.... say its from Duke. 
Sandra
   

afternoon

Leo and I cleaned the house this morning ( he vacuumed and I dusted etc) and then we went to Krolls for lunch and to Target to get a sympathy card. Garys bosses mother in law died. She was a wonderful lady and she lived with Rick and Patti for many years so we all knew her well.
On the way home I took pictures like my sister Janice does and this is what I took today. Now you can see where some of the places are that I visit from time to time. :)
The lady from next door just came over with a loaf of homemade bread for us... She wanted my telephone number because she said Iam younger than her and next time I can go over there and get it, lol  She said she made some good soup the other day but she didn't know my phone number and her legs were too sore to bring it over. She got in her car today and drove over. poor thing but she does go in her car a lot even so. She said her legs don't bother her when driving. She told me today she had many different hobbies but now her hobby is cooking and she wonders what her next hobby will be.... I wonder too..... I wonder what I will bring her one of these days.... its gotta be something I suppose but don't really know what. Iam sure it will come to me eventually though. :)
Sandra

Another rainy day

The snow is melted and the rain is hanging on at least for one more day. It warmed up nice but it would really be nicer if the sun was shinning. This makes for a lazy day Im afraid. So far I did make the bed and do the dishes though so I have a start. Leo ate breakfast and is still in his sleeping clothes and is watching an old movie. I told him he had to get dressed and he said he doesn't have to do anything.... I suppose he doesn't but then that makes for a long day. I hear him getting dressed now so maybe he figured out that was a good idea... oh boy.... it is going to be a long winter I think.  :)
   I think I will get the Christmas presents in order and figure it all out. Its too early to wrap them because they will look old and dusty by Christmas won't they.... I guess I should wait a couple of weeks and just write everything down so I give the right person the right gift.... 24 is a lot of people to buy for isn't it.......
    We didn't do much this week end..... went to church and shopping after for a few Christmas gifts and some groceries... I relaxed after Thanksgiving and didn't go shopping on Friday or Saturday. My daughter did though and she got into a minor accident.... Her bumper is broken but the other car is fine. The policeman didn't think it was anything to give a ticket for but the accident was Shari's fault he said because she was the driver that hit the other one in the back. It was a busy area and they were trying to go up on the highway and the car in front of her stopped suddenly and bang. Now she knows she can't take other drivers for granted but at the same spot the same thing happened to one of my sons a few years ago only the car hit him from behind. The policeman said there are a  lot of those accidents at that spot. I don't go that way but Leo ususally does. The area is growing so fast here that I guess the streets can't keep up. Iam just happy that no one got hurt.
  Hope everyone has a happy and safe day today, Sandra
   I just added the picture of Twinkie and Peaches I took with my new camera. Leo got me my Christmas present early. I wanted a smaller camera to put in my purse like my sister, Janice does. Mine is too big to cart around all the time and it seemed like such a good idea. I got another fugi camera and its only 2 1/2   by 3  1/2 inches so it fits nice in my purse. I bet it would fit in those cell phone slots they are putting in purses these days. It seems to be taking nice pictures and I use the same program that I used with my other camera. It came with the program  and the same size card so everything fits. It even came with the cord and the case and a battery charger and both kinds of batteries. I think Christmas time is a wonderful time to get a new camera. I will still be using my old one but just not every day. this one takes close ups but not the same as my other one.

Snow

                                       WHITE

White... is not a mere absence of color;
it is a shining and affirmative thing,
as fierce as red, as definite as black....
God paints in many colors;
but He never paints so gorgeously,
I had almost said so gaudily,
as when He paints in white

G. K. Chesterton

We had a little snow again last night.... everything looks so pretty and clean.

             THE PRESENCE OF SNOW

in the presence of snow,
       weeds
become flowers,
       fields
     become
laughing feather beds.
In the presence of snow,
      overcoats
 fall to wings,
    strangers
become angels.
     Peace
becomes a familiar song,
in the presence of snow.
                                                          Eileen Spinelli
It was a quiet day today... I did not go out of the house but I did get the house straightened and the laundry done etc.... The lights can be seen sparkling on the blue spruce outside my window... Iam glad Leo got them on early.... I enjoy the pretty colored lights. Just plain white on the house but the tree should be pretty....... I think. :)
     Maybe I will go and check on the last load of laundry that is in the dryer.... hope it doesn't have to be fluffed up but it should be fine.
Hope you have a nice evening and enjoy tomorrow too, Sandra

Nice Thanksgiving

My son Rick and his Carley just left..... we had a nice day together. It was a good Thanksgiving even if it was small this year. Rick and Carley brought over the movie "Polar Express" and that was a good thing too. It was nice because Carley enjoyed eating as much as we did.... that girl is not a picky eater and was happy with everything I made.... everyone was and told me so over and over again.... I am happy tonight.
   My daughter sent me a Thanksgiving card today and I didn't get it... we couldn't figure out why and then thought maybe it was something to do with not allowing pop ups...she is going to send me another when she has time and we shall see.
anyway I hope eveyone had a nice day too. can't wait to read the journals ... Sandra

Thanksgiving day

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

 

I have the turkey in the oven and am just sitting around for a little while watching the parade. I was so busy I forgot I was going to go to church this morning.... some year I will make it I hope... It's always me that has to cook the dinner...
We are having a very cold and windy day... gusts up to 50 mph and with that it feels like it is 0 degree outside.... burrrrrrrr. I had a hard time sleeping last night because of the wind and the neighbors light going on and off all night into our bedroom window. I guess they have one with a sensor on it and something to do with the wind was making it go on....
Hope you are all having a nice day today ------- don't eat to much.
Sandra

We Had Snow Today

         Winter Trees

In winter, trees wear diamonds
And powder puffs of snow:
They sunbathe in the beauty
Of snowfall's radiant glow.
Treetops don their cotton caps
After the storm takes flight;
The moon and the stars shine brightly
Upon the pristine night.
Each spring trees burst out in green,
While russet trees fall brings;
But the trees that I love best
God sends on silvery wings.

nora m. bozeman

Hi

Hi everyone,

     I must say it is nice to finally be able to put in an entry but now I don't have time to write much.... Just know Iam finally back and all is well here.... I downloaded the new 9.0 security  edition and it works again... don't know if that is what did it or if Aol fixed something but I can get back in again.
Hope your day is going good now too and everything is working for you like it should. :) I noticed spell check is even on the top there too.... I don't mind the ads on top at all.... why should that bother me? When I go into my free fantasy site they are there too and I just ignore so I do the same now..... I don't understand why they want them there if no one uses them or buys anything from them..... :)

Sandra

trying again

did it work?

Beautiful Fall day

I love this picture of Twinkie.... he is a sweet sweet dog.... I had stamps made with this picture. I got that flyer from the post office in the mail and went to the web page and saw where you can have your own stamps made.... much too expensive I know but I wanted to try just once anyway and see how they turn out. Wouldn't this be nice to put on a baby announcement or Wedding shower etc. but I just have my pets and had just taken this pic an thought I would give it a try... just something to take my mind off problems and into fun places for awhile. :)
Iam in this room now and have to stay here for awhile because I decided to clean my oven.... the kind that cleans itself with a high heat I guess.... It is enough to make your eyes water too... the dogs are here with me and the cat and Leo are in the basement. I still have an hour to go.... if I can stand it that is... I have a fan on and windows open but that doesn't do it.... no wonder this is the first time I have done it this way....... wow.
Now what mischeif can I get into while on the computer today I wonder.... Qvc is selling christmas decorations but thank goodness Iam not in the mood for that....I can go shopping for decorations in my basement storage area for that. and I have a couple of books on order and some stamps so I guess I will just go and play some games for awhile.... Anyone clean their oven this way?  what do you do because of the odor or whatever that is that is driving me crazy.... My other oven was a continous cleaning one and that was good but it was a gas oven and this is electric. I don't use the oven that much but Gary makes a lot of pizza and I suppose there is cheese on the bottom... I washed it out with just a rag and water first so it wouldn't smoke and its not but the smell is so strong.... I guess its the high heat.
So Off I go to play tri peaks solitare... hehe.
Hope you are having a nice day, Sandra
So I lied... I did play solitare for awhile but qvc was on and I decided to buy something... they were selling baking pans but I didn't buy the ones they were selling... I needed a regular cake pan so I looked on the web site and they had a group of 3 with covers too... all sizes. so I bought that and then they were selling a hand mixer on easy pay and I couldn't get it last time because they sold out of yellow and I wanted yellow... I ordered that too....I also ordered a cookie cook book... can hardly wait to start baking.... someone better come and help me eat it though. the pans can also be used for baking dinners too so that will be nice and then I can just put the cover on if there are left overs... I cleaned out the cupboards last year when I was doing that fly lady cleaning stuff and now I have to get new.... my pans were probably 40 years old though so thats ok I guess... :)  all this and a clean oven too. Now I'm making supper and it should be ready by 5:30.... I think leo is making me my window boxes. He said he didn't know I wanted them for winter too... I like putting greens in there for Christmas and decorating them... Its a good day today, huh?

Hi

Hi,

We got the patio furniture put away today... I am so cold I can't warm up and I have a headache that won't quit but other than that everything is wonderful.
I dusted off all the dolls on my shelf in the computer room and took all the things off my computer desk and dusted them today and put away everything I had moved because that cable guy was here and I have so much stuff in here... Its all  back in place now though because I like my stuff and where it is.... I also took the phone off the wall ( It didn't have caller id) I bought a new one Sunday and its sitting on my desk now all charged up just waiting for someone to call... LOL Noone could call before when I was on the computer and they complained so now Iam waiting for a call... the guy was here to change it over last Wednesday and so far I have only gotten ! call while on the computer.... but Iam ready............  :) :) :)
Today I had to find a box in the basement to send back my pretty and warm robe because it had a flaw... I found an old Christmas wreath box down there and used that.... and I got gas for my car  and milk at the station for supper ... and we called about the Medicare insurance for our prescription drugs... I think that is what gave me the headache... Its hell to be the oldest and not have anyone to compare insurances with.... I like things to stay the same but since Leo's work dropped our insurance for drugs because of Medicare we have to figure out on our own what to do.... I can't stand it but Leo is being good and he even called someone today and he always leaves that to me.... I sure hope he is doing the right thing. They told us the cost per month and the cost of the drugs so it sounds ok but you never know...until you get in the grove of actually doing it... we probably were paying the same before but it was coming off the check and we didn't have to pay every month... same with paying for this computer and cable.... just what we needed  a bigger cable bill but we were paying it the same before only on the credit card..... I guess things never will stay the same for long will they... someone always has to figure out a different and "better" way.  So we must follow the leader I guess.... It sure does give me a huge migraine though.....
SO My happy day journal is not very happy today but tomorrow is another day. I did get a lot finished today and made a nice supper so all is not lost.
Hope you had a good one and a nice one tomorrow too, Sandra

another cloudy day

Its another cloudy day today but I should have a good one... we didn't plan on yard work as it is supposed to rain but so far it isn't. I did some work in the yard though yesterday afternoon late and Leo did some too so I think we are finished if we just get the patio furniture all put away and some dirt on the roses. Leo will get some buckets at the recycle place and that will be it.... then for fun stuff like decorating for Christmas but that is awhile yet so things are looking good....
I must take a picture of my roses today.... it is a pretty red one in back with 7 flowers on it and I have some in front yet too.... this is November and I have roses in bloom.... Nice.
I'm going to a craft show soon with my daughter so I had better get ready because I never know when she will call. my grandaughter is home from school and wants to come too... we shall see. She was with her boyfriend last night and it was probably late.He drove in from Purdue after school and didn't get here until around 11. Oh to be so young and not in bed by 11, lol.....  If we wait for her the thing will be over I think... Then she wants to go to the playoff football game there too at 4. I think she will make the game but not the craft fair.... I will let you know. :)
Bye for now, Sandra

I came back in after I got ready to go and my daughter said she would be a little late... I went out and took some pictures then and put them in without even making them smaller~ I can't believe this computer is so much faster now and I only have the basic broadband ... fun!

Cloudy day

I am doing laundry today and so far that will be it unless my hand gets better. It didn't bother me yesterday but I woke up this morning with a pain in my hand when I try to do certain things... Like brushing my teeth and stuff like that... I probably strained it when I was working in the yard yesterday so I will not be doing yard work again today.... Good excuse anyway and Iam sticking to it... It is a cloudy and dreary morning and I have no desire to go and work in the yard today.... Maybe Leo will take the chairs etc and cover the table and put the umbrella etc away and we can call it finished....
Yesterday I was having trouble getting into aol with the new set up with the cable so I called and a woman took me step by step thought a maze and it got to be working again.... well today I couldn't get into aol again so I unpluged the modem thingy that is sitting next to the computer and pluged it in again and it worked .... so far I have had to do that 3 times and Gary and Leo say I should get the repair man out again and I say I don't want to.... I get so frustrated and nervous because I can't remember all they tell me and it takes hours for me to get over it all.... so I will be unpluging and pluging in for the rest of my life I guess. Maybe when my grandson comes over he will know a secret and fix it for me.... Leo, Gary and I sure don't have a clue... When the guy was here I was watching what he was doing with the computer but when somethng went wrong he fixed it so fast I couldn't keep up..... must be nice to be so computer savvy... it all makes me nervous and I just want it to go smoothly all the time.... It is nice though and does go faster so Iam not complaining .... I just told Gary what to do if he couldn't get in and he said get it fixed.... easy for him to say... :(
I guess this just isn't my day so I probably should just sit around waiting for the laundry to get done and read a book.... I put my new robe on today like every morning for the last 3 weeks and it felt like I was sitting on something cold... ya it was the leather chair.... my robe split all the way up the back. Now it is not too tight so it wasn't my fault...looks like a flaw in the material and I will be getting my money back and all but now I have to find a box and send it all back..... they wanted to know if I want another one and no I have plenty of robes... maybe its a punishment for getting too many ? ya think? Leo recycled the box I was going to use so now I have to go and find one in the basement with stuff in it I suppose.... So see what a fun day Iam having..... and yes I know it could be much worse but Im not taking any chances and am going to just relax today and do my laundry...... "
thats all folks"
Hope you are having a good day and your sun is shinning nice and bright, Sandra   :>)

A Nice Day???? I hope

I hope it turns out to be a nice day and I get my yard work finished. If I do then I can concentrate on things to do inside.... hobbies have been neglected most of the summer and Iam anxious to get to them again without a guilty conscious....I really should be finished today because I have been cleaning up little by little.I did take a break while Mike was home but didn't feel quilty about that at all... It was so nice to have him here.... Miss him already.
I got a cable connection for my computer and it is so nice not to have to worry about the telephone calls knocking me off and it is so much faster too.... only 8 times faster she said and the faster road runner is supposed to be 100 times faster... I don't know if my mind is ready for that .... this is just fine and so much faster so Iam happy. Same price too, unbelieveable isn't it? probably because of aol and rr mearging.... that was probably the telephone trouble, aol must want us all to use the cable connection now.... we even changed phone companies to try and get rid of the problem..... so if you can't fix it join it I say.
gotta go but hope you are having a good day, Sandra

I just read something interesting about the caterpillers but I haven't seen any at all this fall....... have you? Here is what I read:
If wooly bear caterpillers are mostly brown, winter should be mild. If they are mostly black, winter could be severe.
It also said children in Maryland went out to look for them and when they brought them back they were mostly brown so they are predicting a mild wither for the central Atlantic states..... Would someone please find some for Wisconsin.... I prefer the brown only. :)

It was a happy halloween

It was a happy halloween and was even pretty warm for this time of year.... the kids didn't have to wear their winter coats and we got to see them in all their finery.... It was fun... but now we have all kinds of candy in the house.... Leo gave it out....he should have given out 2 each I think....darn. Guess who will probably eat all that candy. I have a stomach ache already thinking abut it. I bought 2 more bags yesterday not knowing Leo also got 2 more big big bags of candy bars.... ugh.
Today I should go and pull out the annuals.... and get that finished once and for all.
Tomorrow we are going to get a cable hook up to the computer. We got a letter in the mail yesterday sayingwe can upgrade our aol to aol hig speed free so we are doing it to free up the phone.... I have been having trouble lately with getting knocked off the computer when the phone rings.... I suspect it is a thing aol is doing to get us to go to cable now that they are partners with road runner but since I can't fight it I will join and maybe someday go to the real rr but I think I will get this first as its the same price as what Iam paying now....the girl told me it would be 8 times faster too ..... she also said road runner is 100 times faster so I will take it in baby steps and once I get the cable connection it will be easier to go all the way ....
Looks like it s going to be a nice day and I will enjoy it. I heard that Sunday it will only be a high of 45 so it seems winter is right on schedule again this year. We always take the screen out of the door on Halloween night to give treats to the kids and put the storm window in and its always necessary... it maybe a few days early this year but its in..... Hope everyone is having a nice sunny warm day today, Sandra

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween and not too many tricks are played on you and you get lots of treats!
I have to go to the store and get another bag of candy because I got hungry for a snack last night... darn.
I have to go anyway because I ordered some digital pictures from Walgreens and have to pick them up this morning... they should still have some treats left I imagine. :) Other than that all I have to do today is carve a few pumpkins and make supper. Should be a good day. Hope you have a good one too, Sandra

beautiful fall day

we all had a fun time playing with the sponge ball last week end and I even got to watch the race... it was a great day for a family get together....
We had a beautiful fall day with sun and temps in the 60's so I did a little fall clean up in the yard... still have lots to go but it looks like I might be lucky and get some more nice weather this coming week...
I even carved one of the pumpkins and put a candle in it tonight... I will try my hand at a few more before halloween I hope... I like seeing pumpkins carved and I am the one that does it I guess. I won't get fancy but just carve them the easy way and the old way...Anyone else like carved pumpkins? then I will put them in the back on the patio and light them every night for my pleasure.. :)
If I don't get to say it later, hope you have a happy halloween, Sandra

Friday already

Where do the days go????? to fast I think. Mike left Wednesday and is back home doing his yard work already. He has a few more days off before he has to go back to work.... We miss him already but what can we do...... I guess just enjoy the time we can have together and leave it at that.... We can't change his mind about living in Florida so we have to live with it don't we. Kids :)I should be happy I still have 6 more in Green Bay but it seems we all get along better when Mike is home.... he is a peace maker and maybe that is why he wants to live away, who knows. He did get to relax and do some fun things while he was home and I cooked and cooked and cooked for him too... It was good.
Now it is back to other reality and Leo and Gary like me making meals for them and I will as long as they eat what I make for them... Its nice to sit down together again. we will see how long it lasts. I have to think of something to make everyday and that is hard with Leo having his eating problem etc but so far its working out but Iam kinda getting sick of eating at the same time everynight too. It will  be interesting to see how long it lasts.
Last night there was frost on the impatients so I will have yard work to do... Maybe tomorrow as its supposed to be in the 60's and sunny. today I have to finish the laundry and go grocery shopping.... :(  Maybe I will go to a different store and see if they have any good ideas for tonight and the week end. yesterday I washed Mikes bedding and put it all in a space bag and put it away probably for another year and the 2 rooms are back in order... that is good but it was better having Mike home...
Hope you are all having a nice day today, Sandra

Wilma is almost over

Mike and Leo decided to go fishing this morning... just a few minutes ago as Teri assures us that things will be ok with her there in Florida. She said it is only 63 now and the cold air has gone through or is going through so she figures there will not be a tornado by her. She had to bundle up good though to get the dog out as she had to go with her...It' sraining very hard right now, but they made it through the night and she even managed to get 3 or 4 hours of sleep.... I think I got 6... I was tired and she was going to call if she wanted to talk with us during the storm but didn't call until 6.... she is a brave soul. Iam so glad the waiting is over and the storm on the way out. I guess by noon it will be gone but they will be cold tonight. Mike said when he goes back it should be 70 and that is fine with him because he is just so darn cold here in Wisconsin that he can't warm up. He can't remember the last time he had to wear so many clothes he said.
He changed his plane tickets from Sunday to Wednesday because that is what they said people should do. I think he is anxious to get home now as he has had enough rest and enough of our cold weather. I think I will make a nice roast and mashed potatoes and gravy etc for supper tonight.... comfort food for some I guess. :)
We are supposed to get more rain sometime today and I will be happy to see the sun again. I hope it is soon.
We went to our daughter Julie's house yesterday to have a little party and watch the packer game  ( I watched the race on one of their large screen tv's and Jeff Gordon won... yipee. My favorite or all and then the White Sox won another game too so even if the Packers lost it was a good day for me. I got to take a lot of pictures of my Grandaughter and Great Grandaughters and watched them play and even joined in with a game of catch with 8 of us and a soft ball... It was so nice to see everyone laughing and having so much fun! Julie finally had to go and get some fresh air ( think she was having a hot flash or something,LOL) Anyway it was nice for us all to get together. Seems we always do when Mike is home....
So I had better hurry and get some work done and get to the store.... again. I want to get everything done and supper started at least by the time they get home from fishing. I like to be alone when I work :)
have a wonderful day, Sandra

Wilma

So Mike is home and Teri is down in Florida with Wilma on the way... hope it gets broken up or takes a different path. Looks like Sunday is the day .... that means maybe Mike will be staying an extra day. I wonder because his flight is supposed to land Sunday night in Florida.... Last time he was home there was a storm too and he had to stay an extra day..this could get to be habit forming. Last time it was September though. What is it with these late October storms. I sure hope it calms down and this is the end of it now.
I went with Mike today to get tickets for the Milwaukee Bucks basketball game. 5 of them are going to that tonight. Should be nice as its in the new Rusch center and that and a professional game should make their day. He has to go to the hospital this afternoon to visit Teri's mother. and then out to eat with friends and then to the game.... He is keeping busy so far.... tonight I don't "have" to make supper... that is good I guess. back to our ole routine for one night. So I only have to make 3 more suppers... LOL Pork chops one night and chili another and maybe I will go and get some chicken another.... that should do it... Now I wonder if Leo and Gary are already spoiled and I will have to start cooking again???? hahahaha  It would be nice though and I would have something to do every day.... well maybe every other day or something like that.
The leaves have started to fall last night and we have leaves all over the yard.... I mean we had them. Leo is out there on his mower picking them up and Mike raked around the edges. Now Mike is going for a bike ride... Its a nice cool sunny day and so pretty with the leaves all turning. I should go and take some pictures soon .... wonder if they will wait until next week.
Hope you are having a nice day too, Sandra

Hi everyone

It's been awhile hasn't it??? I have been so busy and then I got this nasty cold so just didn't feel like writing anything... I'm feeling a little better today though so thought I would write just a little. I started to twice before at least but always got called away or the phone rang and knocked me off... wonder why that started happening as it never did that before. I should find out from aol I guess or my phone company. its rather frustrating when that happens because if I am in the middle of something I lose it and have to start over and don't always have the time or inclination to do that. It's early now so no one should be calling anyway... I should have gone back to bed but have too much to do today.... Iam not used to making meals anymore as we all seem to eat what we want but Iam finding a lot of things we all can eat... funny but Leo can eat more than he has let on before. Maybe its just because Mike is home. Tonight I will have chicken stew... should be good. Last time he was home he got invited out more.... I still expect someone will ask him over again before he leaves but everyone is working during the week. He is fishing again today with Leo. Looks like they will have a nice day. He seems happy to be home and just relaxing for a change. Hope it does him good.
Thats all for today... Have a nice day, Sandra

My new clock

This is more fun than that camcorder I sent back, LOL I managed to get this for myself and most of my Christmast shopping finished with the money from the camcorder... good choices I think... I was always fascinated with cockoo clock ever since I saw one at my Grandmothers house. Leo always said they didn't work though so I waited.... I figured this one should work though since it came from Germany. The man from the factory in Germany was on QVC and he had his wooden hand made clocks with him. He comes once a year in October so I waited and he came just at the right time.... my camcorder was sent back and credited to my account... LOL so now was my chance and it came today. I very carefully put the pieces together and Leo found the stud in the wall and we hung it and it works just fine so far... Yah. The little bird comes out and the birds on the bottom fly back and forth ( well sort of) and the pendelum swings and those weights move..... oh so slowly. Now Iam just hoping Charlie leaves it alone..... Maybe I should get some double faced tape to make it more secure???? wondering.
Today I just went grocery shopping because my bones ache from the yard work yesterday. Now the weather has changed and its supposed to rain the next couple of days so it won't be finished when Mike gets here..... darn darn darn.  Maybe I will get the front finished though as I have until Friday night....praying for more Sun around Thursday, LOL
  The "darn" Yankee's lost last night.... makes me mad but I will get over it. The Chicago White Sox will be playing tonight and that is a good thing too. Hope they win.
Hope you had some fun today too, Sandra

The Yard work

We worked in the yard today... I really don't want to freeze my fingers doing the yard work so we started early... well not early but things are still blooming and looking pretty nice but I cut a lot back and Leo asked me what I wanted him to do and I wanted him to take the vines off the fence as they are starting to look shabby... he did and he brought 5 baskets of things to the recycle center... that is him coming home from there in the last picture... It all looks so pretty and neat now... the roses are blooming and with all the other stuff away and cut back I can finally appriciate them more... So all the hard work was so worth it. Mike is coming home for a visit this coming week end for 9 days and I won't be wanting to do yard work when he is home so we are trying to get it finished now... You know though it never really gets finished does it? You just stop when it is freezing out and you call it the end for the season. I don't like to do a lot in the spring so I like to have it all  cleaned up in the fall. Even if I cut everything way back I still have too much the next year.. Only the things I really really like are the things that freeze out it seems. :)
Now Iam going to find something to eat and sit down and read a magazine and watch a little tv.... I have earned it tonight.
Hope you had a nice day today too, Sandra

Another warm day

Here are some flowers that are still in bloom in my front yard... The roses are really doing well this year a those marigolds have been blooming like that all summer... I didn't even pick the dead ones off as I usually do and it seems they did just as well anyway...
Today I will do some laundry and then go shopping... I saw a few things in the paper last night I want to go and check. Leo said he heard its supposed to get really cold tonight.... wonder if it will and how long it will last. It seems now like summer is just going to keep on all year. :)
The Yankee's won their first play off game last night and that makes me happy. Maybe one of these years the Brewers will get into the playoffs too.. They seem to be doing better with their new owner... Promising anyway. Thats a good thing, as I like baseball better than football and it seems all we hear 12 months a year is something about the Packers.... we could use a little diversion.
so off I go to start another new day... hope it is a good one for all of us, Sandra

 

Sending Camcorder back

I am sending my new camcorder back... so happy qvc gives me 30 days to try and figure it out..... Iam relieved . Funny but I don't like the pictures it takes... you are supposed to be able to take still photos along with the movies but the stills are a step backward from my camera I have... so I wouldn't use it for that.... (extra money too) and then I finally figured out how to take the movies and get them to my dvd player etc but I can take small movies with my camera too. So I am sending it back anyway and now I don't have to worry about what size cds it takes and batterys etc etc etc.... I am relieved ~ very relieved. Sometimes a good thing isn't so good. LOL I am going to get an extra card for my camera and extra batteries and that should serve me very well and be a lot cheaper too.... Whew..... I guess I learned a lesson but at least it didn't take me too long to figure it out. I can now say I had one but it didn't work out for me.... and I have money again. :)
We had a nice rain today... where was it this summer anyway. You should see how pretty my roses are... I will have to take some pictures, lol  with my good camera. I took some with that darn camcorder and they didn't turn out near as well. It is warm again today ~ in the 80's but we are expecting cold before the end of the week.... this has been a nice lonnnnng summer this year. Would be nice to have a nice lonnnng fall and a short winter haha... of coarse it would.
I took Peaches and Twinkie to the vet today, they were supposed to get their yearly shots but when I got there they just got a checkup and she said they won't be giving shots every year anymore.... every 3 now...I was charged almost as much as before though..... All I found out is the dogs are getting tarter buildup on their teeth and they need a cleaning for $130 each.... and they are too fat and need a special kind of diet food they just happen to be selling.... so far Twinkie threw it up.... If he can't keep it down I will be bringing it back. Maybe it was just the stress of going to the vet that did it. He seemed calm about it but Peaches was breathing real hard the whole way there and was nervous so that probably bothered Twinkie.... Poor things. Now they must go on a diet along with me.... should be fun, (not)
Now the sun is shinning again ~ I think I will go and read on the porch for awhile and relax.... was afrustrating kind of day. Hope your day is good and sunny too, Sandra

Just another day.......

I thought I would add a picture I took last year.... it's enough to make anyone smile isn't it?
Not much has changed since yesterday because it's humid outside... I don't tolerate humid days very well anymore I guess.... I swell ...... :(
I shut the doors and windows and turned the air on and I feel a little better now. I will be happy when we get those nice cool days back with the low humidity again I guess... would like warm and low but I guess that is asking way too much.
  I was watching a cooking show a little while ago and the Italian lady was making spagetti and meat balls... boy was that making me hungry. First she makes the sauce using up to 5 different kinds of canned tomatoes which she simmers for a couple of hours... she makes the meatballs out of beef and pork and bread crumbs, eggs, par. cheese and spices. She said she can't give that away ... but the thing is she does something next I have never heard of or thought to do..... she throws the meat balls right into the sauce and she cooks it for another hour... she said it flavors it nicely..... (she doesn't see a need to fry or bake the meat balls first) Have you ever tried it that way ????? I think I may give it a try...... they really looked delicious.
   Hope your day is a good one so far, Sandra

Sunday

I'm hopeful ~ hopeful that tomorrow is a happier day than it was today. Seems like there wasn't anything happening to my liking today... Can't always have things go my way but when most things that make my day don't its not a good day... I suppose when I really think about it though it was a good day, not just a great day. Things will get better I bet but not today. Maybe its the weather.... can always blame the weather I guess but it is hard because the day was pretty nice... kinda humid now but warm and nice all day...Did you ever have a day like this??? I feel like sleeping or crying only Iam not tired nor do I have anything to cry about... go figure.
If I had a nice big piece of chocolate I would eat it but I don't have any in the house to tempt me..... Maybe I am feeling sorry for myself... not good. I will go and read awhile and snap out of it.... thats what you are supposed to do right? snap out of it.... LOL
Hope your day went much better than mine, Sandra

new camera

Today I went to Fleet Farm and got 2 more solar lights for the front yard.... I got 2 because that was all that was left and I suppose they will come out with some different ones next season... They are puter and metal ones. Now we have 5 .... guess thats enough anyway... gotta go and check to see if they are all lit.... hope so because I don't feel like taking any back.... THEY ALL ARE AND LOOKING BETTER THAN I EXPECTED thats good.
   I played around with my new camera again today and got it to do more things and even put the dvd on the tv... all by myself. Last night Gary told me a couple of things and made it a little easier.... now I have to figure out how to delete pictures and finish off a tape to play it on the dvd player.... I also have to learn a few things about taking videos because I got dizzy watching part of the picture.... not the cameras fault as it was much steadier than I ever imagined... I just was moving it up and down and around and around..... I will get better.
Our son called today and said he will be coming home in 2 weeks... that will be so nice! He will be going fishing with Leo and also golfing with him and some of his brothers I suspect.... I will have a reason to do a little cooking too... It will be nice to have him here again. We sure do miss him. He just got a new job at Sea World and is now supervisor in the Bud store.... they test beer there and sell all kinds of Bud articles. I was there when we were in Florida and its such a nice neat and clean place.... Mike likes that and will take pride in keeping it that way. Thats why he got that job, because they know he likes things neat and clean and is a good worker... We brought him up good. Just wish he was living here in Green Bay..... but thats not to be so it will be nice having him home for awhile. 10 days I guess.
  Tomorrow is supposed to be another nice day... I should go out and spread the mulch I got a long time ago and maybe do something fun.... don't know what yet though.
Hope you have a nice week end, Sandra

Cool weather makes me sleepy

I didn't do much but a lot of small stuff today and I am so ooooo sleepy tonight. Guess its the weather. We have gotten some really cool days but starting tomorrow it will get into the 70's again and by next week maybe even 80 or so he says... I turned the heat on yesterday to take the dampness and chill out of the house. I can hardly believe it.
Today we went shopping for juice glasses. I finally found a set at K Mart ( Martha Stewart) Good ole Martha. We have been using our 4 little juice glasses a lot lately... They measure juice and milk etc without getting out a measuring cup. I need to measure as I am watchin what I eat lately. So far its working, not fast but its coming off. We found a few other odds and ends while there... you know a watch battery and other batteries as they were there in the aisle and we needed some  for a pumpkin light I just had to have.  :) The other day I found a battery operated pumpkin carver I had to have too... gotta put some fun in it I say.
After shopping we stopped at Krolls for a hamburger and some iced tea and Leo had chili and coffee.... it was very good!  then I took the dog for a walk and stopped and talked to a neighbor for awhile and when I came home my new video camera came so I have been trying to figure that one out.... I don't like the first days of new things but I think I will really really like this little digital one... has a wonderful zoom too... now I have to go somewhere I guess don't I.... I will start with the holidays and just take regular videos... it also takes regular digital but don't really know yet how that works....Its a nice small one that fits just right in my hand... I sure hope I learn it all. Has a great big book with it and if I get through all of that and remember it I will consider myself a genius, LOL Wish me luck.
So thats about it for today. I just figured I should write something so you know I am still alive and kicking, Sandra

The Mums are blooming

The mums are in bloom and summer is winding down. I think I could have used some more lazy days but I'm ready. Fall is a beautiful time of the year and I can wear extra clothes to hide the pounds I gained this summer... lol I gained 10 pounds because it was too hot to do much of anything. I have lost 6 so far though and am on a roll..... haha  I hope I can lose more than the 10 though, always good for me to lose a little more as I have a lot extra from other years. We shall see and I will keep you informed Iam sure as its always on my mind.... thats a song title isn't it? :) I am in a silly mood today......
   We are having a beautiful day today, high of 73 with the sun shinning. Nice day to pick out a pumpkin or decorate the yard or something like that. So far I had a good breakfast and did a load of laundry that was left over from yesterday... towels. Tomorrow is suppose to be a rainy type of a day and 10 degreees cooler I guess, so I think I will enjoy this one more. If I do any decorating for fall I will take some pictures. Leo went fishing already and is home eating his breakfast.... I was looking at those big blow up halloween decorations and am thinking about getting one. Do you think someone will steal it like they did last year when they took my Christmas one? Maybe if I put it closer to the porch? We do have the sensor light on the porch now so maybe that will help.... I wonder?????  I really think it would be fun to have one for Halloween. I sure liked that snowman waving to the cars that went by. I guess someone else really liked it too. Maybe if they didn't sell out so fast at the store there would be more to go around and people wouldn't go around steeling them... I will think about it some before I get one.... what do you think?????
Hope you are having a nice fall day, Sandra

First Day of FAll

HAPPY  FALL

Hope we all have a wonderful fall this year! I think I will no matter what...... no matter what!

The tree still smells bad................. :) don't know what to do anymore. All I can say its a good thing I don't have to smell it all day and night as its in the living room and I don't have to go there if I choose not to ...... I CHOOSE NOT TOO. It's close to the front door so as soon as Leo finishes that door I will leave it open and maybe the fresh air will change something..... otherwise I will just have to wait untill the some leaves fall and it grows new ones.... or that stuff wears off. Wonder how long that will be. Anyone have any ideas for me?

I have a cousin Joe who lives in Houston with his family and my Aunt Jean.  Don't know his address so all we can do is pray that all is well with them... it wouldn't be fun for them to leave the city in that terrible traffic. I don't understand it.... why aren't there other ways out of a city like that? or are all the roads that crowded????? My stinkie little tree doesn't matter at all compared to their plight does it.

Hope you are having a nice day.... its a rainy sort of day here but tomorrow it is supposed to be cool and sunny.... I LOVE IT. Sandra

Tree

Well the tree is in the house again. I hope it stays this time. Don't know though as I still smell something but not sure if its the dish soap or what. It is a scented soap with the sent of wildflowers and after I brought it in the cat smelled it for awhile.... wonder why? I sprayed the soap and water all over the tree and soil and then waited for awhile and then took the hose and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed again and then I kept running water through the soil. I took the stones out of the top and washed them all one by one and soaked the soil again. It must have run through at least 5 times. then I waited til it ran out and brought it in.... Leo says its ok and he can't smell anything and I said I will bring it in as its my thing to stink if it does because they both smoke... Leo outside and Gary in his room.... and you all know how smoke stinks, LOL I wonder though how long it will be before I forget about it. The weird thing is that they both smelled something last night and so did I .... we had to keep the doors shut as we figured it was coming from outside... not the porch as those windows were shut etc... Leo said it was coming from a neighbor cutting down a tree and he was using an old type of chain saw or something that must have used kerosene or something like that... I hope that is the last of that now. I thought maybe our new neighbors were burning something stinking in their wood burner stove in the basement... didn't check to see the chimney though as I didn't feel like moving anymore... was too tired. :)
Today it will be really warm--- I think the last one of the year as tomorrow its going to be 68 and that is the average for this time of year. I think I will sit on the porch this afternoon and finish reading my little book. Seems I can read better there as I don't get disturbed by the tv etc... seems at least one tv is always on around here. For sure when Leo and Gary are home. Pretty soon I will have quiet again.... when Leo is finished painting the fron door and starts to go fishing again. I'm ready  :)  Hope you are having a nice day too, Sandra

my house tree

What a day. I decided to bring in my tree from the front porch today... I brought it out on the front lawn with the rain coming down. Got it washed and watered. Then I sprayed it and kept it in the shade for an hour or so and brought it in. I sprayed it with my good organic spray that is good for everything and good for environment etc. Well after Gary came home from work he wanted to know what the odd smell was----- I thought he was talking about the candle I had burning.. but was not the case. Darn Darn Darn. It was the spray on that tree. So back out on the porch it went. Now tomorrow I will spray it with soapy water and then spray it down with the hose.... The soap should work I hope to take the spray off. The tree looks beautiful and I want it to come back into the house. I will let you know if it works... what do you think?????
  So that is what I did today besides laundry. I also let the cat out and forgot about it because I got sidetracked.... oh boy I have never done that before. I did not think he would stay out as it was raining but I was wrong. I let the dog out and he wanted to go out too even if it was raining. I also went out because the cushions on the patio chairs were getting wet and I wanted to bring them to the front porch so they wouldn't get any wetter.... did that and let the dog back in and then sat down to finally have a cup of coffee... just sat down and heard a noise outside..... it was Charlie jumping into a bush to get the birds... So out I went and got him and brought him in all dirty and wet.... I made him go down the basement and clean himself off.... he did not get a bird by the way. Then a few minutes later he came back up and ate... guess it all made him hungry.
So that was my day almost... did you have a nice day? I hope so, Sandra

Picture of the house

Finally a picture.... the sun is a little bright today but I couldn't wait. How do you like it??????? Lots of shadows today but I will be taking more pictures of my flowers and you will be seeing lots of the house then too. We Love it... the front door is not painted yet but when it is and the flowers are not hiding it any more I will take a full picture of the house.... Leo is a slow painter that is why we had someone paint the rest of the house.... I will be happy when it is all finished. So will Leo because he went fishing early this morning and caught his first Walleye of the season and he was sooooo happy.
Hope you are all having a nice Saturday, Sandra

what my birthdate means

Your birth on the 2nd day of the month adds a degree of emotion, sensitivity, and intuition to your life.
The 2 is a very social number allowing you to make friends easily and quickly.
Yet you are apt to have a rather nervous air in the company of a large group.

You have a warmhearted nature and emotional understanding that constantly seeks affection.
You are more prone than most to become depressed and moody, as emotions can turn inward and cause anxiety and mental turmoil.
It can be hard for you to bounce back to reality when depression sets in
Carlene at Horshoebend has a journal with this info in it.... don't know if I like the part of bouncing back when a depression sets in but it is true. darn. the rest is also true I think so it all evens out doesn't it? I hope.
Yesterday the painting went well and now both sides are finished and they look good. the trouble is it didn't look good with the color we wanted for the front.... looked good on paper but not the house so I decided it would be better if we painted the wood in front the same color as the sides and back. Makes sense right? well it caused a big fight ..... Leo took the paint back to have it tinted because it was just one shade different on the color swatch... they told him it couldn't be done... so he had them make it close.... well guess what, close is not good enough for me... I am sorry to say I could not be happy at all if it wasn't all the same... front sides "and" back.... Leo was not happy but he went and got 2 gallons of the right color and now Iam happy. so far, but you never know. Leo is painting the front today and he also painted the garage window and door. My neighbor came over and thought it was just beautiful, she was smiling and so happy for me she said. She knew for a few "years" now I was not happy with that ugly green. Now I hope everyone likes the burnt orange shutters, lol. I love them but our painter suggested a cocoa brown and he is probably right but its my house and I want to try that carmel orange color.... Pictures will be coming in a few days I hope. If not it all goes back to white shutters and white door.... I DON'T want brown and either does Leo. He likes the color I picked as it matches one of the bricks... :) The painter laughed and said he will never tell anyone he was the painter.... thats ok by me.
Hope everything is going your way too, Sandra

House painting

Terry came yesterday to start painting the house... It's starting to look good but now he won't be back until Wed... he said he has to finish by Sunday because he will be going out of town for a week... He is using a sprayer and its going very fast. I will put in some pictures as soon as he is finished and everything is back to normal... not sure if I want the shutters painted a different color but Leo said give it a shot and we shall see what it looks like. they will match the door I do want painted. Its a color to match some of the bricks but its not white LOL all the nieghbors seem to be painting their doors and shutters a darker color so I will too. They were black when we moved in so this will be much lighter I guess. Just wait.... you will see what Iam talking about... I think its sort of a burnt orange.... 
Saturday  I wasn't feeling well so I started a diet yesterday... I know if I lose some pounds I will feel much much much better so here I go again.... this time I want to keep it off as I am so darned tired of dieting and writing down what I eat etc... when on earth will I ever learn. Soon I hope............
Hope everyone is having a nice start to the new week. We are having warm weather for one more day and then for as far ahead as I can see it will be sunny and low 70's ~ Makes me very very happy.
Sandra

My Daughter Shari

My daughter Shari walked over today with the little one she is taking care of... She has taken care of children in her home for over 15 years now and is doing a wonderful job. She only had this little one today so she could walk over. It was nice to see them. Everyone that works and needs a sitter should have someone as nice as Shari... ya ya I'm her Mother but its the truth.
We went shopping today for a little while and then I got a money order to send to someone on Ebay because I bought a Bible story book I had when I was a child.... It was only $2 but she wanted a money order only... :) Gave me something to do today. I went to Kohls and found a little Christmas present besides a new nightgown. We had gone Sunday and I got a $10 certificate so I had to go back and spend it, LOL
My son came over today and his wife has a pretty pink shirt with a tiny tiny hole and I am supposed to work my miracle and fix it, haha... I will go to JoAnns tomorrow and get some of that fabric glue and try a dot of that on the tiny hole... actually it is a few droped stitches I believe by the button placket.... Give me an excuse to go back to JoAnns though won't it. :) I forgot to go there today.
Now I have to go into fantasy football and see if we can still change our players for the week. Gary said he has to change a player.
Hope you had a nice day, Sandra

Cleome or Spider Plant

I am now gathering seeds from the Spider plants... These are the ones that came up from last summer. They came up in the strangest places but I kept them here and it turned out just fine until they got so big they covered my other flowers ( like my new rose tree) so I cut most of them back. It seems they get taller if they come up from last year or if you plant them from small greenhouse plants. I planted a bunch from seed and they didn't get as tall but they are short and sweet and I kinda like them better .... I did plant them rather close together so that may be why too. 
 I watered my flowers in front this morning and we had the most wonderful rain than later this afternoon...a good thing because the lawn still needs it and so did the plants in back... my rain guage said we got 3 inches. They said on the news we only got an inch and a half so maybe my rain guage is wrong... don't know.
So.... now its bed time and I am tired so Goodnight, Sandra

House Painting Project

So far the house isn't getting painted.... not yet. We are just waiting for the colors we picked out to see that they are the right ones. In the meantime though Leo pressure washed the house and caulked the windows in the back and filled holes ( the ones were the screws were to hold the window box and hose winder etc. We no longer have that hose winder and the window box is worn out mostly so we will get a new one. He also had to get rid of wasps and a small nest that they started. I took all the plants away or cut back the ones that were touching the house. It is a little bigger job than I figured when I asked Terry to paint our house. I figured it would be started by now... Gary seems to think he won't be over until the weekend or if he has a day off.... time will tell won't it. At least the house is clean now and so is the patio as Leo pressure washed that too while he was at it. I guess I wrote about all this before though didn't I? Well I will probably keep it up until more gets done... Leo just caulked etc yesterday though. Oh I have to put a picture up of his new squirrel feeder too. I think it will drive the squirrel crazy. he has a little chair like our other one but this one has a sort of wheel that spins and an ear of corn fits on each spoke... 4 in all. I have to get my camera out today I guess.
So today I have to find something to do.... suppose I have lots to do if you count the everyday stuff but I want to get some project done or started today. I suppose after I have a cup of coffee etc then I will be able to get going....If the painting was done I would start on the windows but I think if I do now I would probably have to do over and once is enough, LOL 
 Hope you all have a nice day, Sandra

September already

Things are finally starting to move in New Orleans and Mississippi for all those poor people.... this should have happened a lot sooner but I think it's because we were all so stunned and its just so darned big...... isn't it a huge thing that happened... It's all so sad but there will be nice stories coming from it too.... I just feel so sorry for so many of these people.... especially the old people that didn't get any help and the people in the hospitals.... Makes you want to sob and not quit. People are starting to help now but probably just didn't know how to begin.... how on earth can one person begin to help when so many are so hurt. God help us to help all that are left.
We finally got a caravan of buses headed down there to bring some people back here .... we don't know how or what they will need but the word is out that they will need a temporary shelter and some temporary jobs are available if they can work. One man had a hundred dollars and gave it to them for a little start... everyone is helping and Iam sure this is going on in many many cities around the country.... I wonder if any will want to come to Green Bay.... just for awhile .... it does get really cold here so they won't want to stay long I bet as they like hot probably and hot you don't get here but you don't get hurricanes either. I hope we can make some happy for awhile until they can go back and start life again.... I hope they will have help when they get back then too.... it will be a long time won't it? We have Wis. national guard down there now too. Eventually we will need to get some lumber and carpenters etc down there too I think. When Mike's roof blew off his house it was at least 6 month before they could get any kind of roofer there to do the job..... and then the air vents were covered etc.... but he has a roof now.
Can't think of much else to write about because it all seems so small now.... I know it will change and I will be able to soon as people will start to get happy again and help will be given to ALL the people that have survived this terrible time, till then I hope you are safe and smiling, Sandra

Hi

It has been so nice out lately! We are truley blessed. I have been working in the yard and reading along with the house work etc. Not much going on around here lately I guess. Finally getting to know our neighbors a little more.... they are the exact opposite as Terese and Jim were~ Probably in every way possible. Today I learned they have two cats along with their Bull dog and of coarse Jim and Terese never had a pet. I guess they let the cats roam the neighborhood too.... I saw the grey one the other day and she said she had a grey one and a black persian or something like that.... too bad she lets them out in the neighborhood though. Oh and Jim always took such pride in the lawn... and this guy finally cut his today but it looks worse now... He cut it so short I wonder if he is trying to kill it or something and of coars all the clumps of grass are still there. he didn't finish so the mower is sitting where he left it this afternoon, he was on the cell phone while cutting. hehe  Leo thought he would help him last time he cut because we heard he has a bad back .... well guess what, he cut ours on the side like Leo did for him.... nice guy but Leo is not happy because he cut it way tooooo short and of coarse he left the grass lay. :) Interesting things happen when you get to learn the new neighbors habits. I told Leo to let it alone but he really thought he was helping and was going to cut his whole lawn until I told him not too.... good thing as he would have cut ours then and boy Leo would have had a fit then...:) I told him to just take care of ours and leave the neighbors alone.... now he knows why at least. They seem like very nice people though what we know of them. I was talking to her today and she said when she worked she was a dog and cat groomer. She wanted to know what kind of dogs we had though as she never saw long haired chihuahuas before. She probably didn't believe me. :) She was telling me how bad her back was because she is still emptying boxes etc... I wish those kids and that girlfriend would help her but it seems she is doing a lot for them. I guess its her job to take the garbage and recyles out to the curb and back as she has done it now for the last 3 weeks. If you saw how bent over she was you would feel sorry for her. I was coming out to take ours back in and noticed the garbage truck driver got out and helped her bring hers to the house... what a nice guy! She has a little cement dog on the porch so she can get up that step and into the house.I told her she should get someone to put a little railing there for her. I was telling her I was making that afghan and she said she couldn't do that anymore as she can't look down. I have to count my many blessings don't I? Leo can't look up either but I was talking to the neighbor accross the street that is a nurse at the cancer center in ST V's and she said he should go and get a soft neck brace to give him some relief for his neck. She also said he should go to his doctor and see if he would recommend him to go to a rehab center to learn some exercises for his neck...He said he is going to do both but so far he hasn't done anything about it. If it were me I would have done both a long time ago...He is always in pain and its hard for him to sleep. Doctor gave him pain pills but that is as far as that went. I think if Leo goes just for the neck he will get better results.
I really have to stop feeling so sorry for everyone all day or I won't ever be happy again I'm afraid.... I will keep smiling and I bet that will help won't it.... Dad says :) and I think he is right about that.
We are supposed to be getting our house painted but I don't really know when. Garys friend said he would do it as he has some time off. He also said he was going to come over with some samples of paint colors too. I don't know if I should stay home every day until he comes over or what. I don't want to pester him as he said he would do it in his spare time and get the paint at a 50% discount. Maybe it will be next year though if the weather doesn't stay warm... It's perfect to paint now but I suppose he is busy. He is looking for a house to buy and that takes up a lot of spare time too. I will let you know what happens or what doesn't happen. It's not a matter of life or death but it would be nice to have it painted as I really don't like the color it is now.... an ugly ugly green. I want it painted a pretty soft color to match the bricks in front.
So thats what I'm up to.... not much. Hope your days are more interesting, Sandra