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