Can you believe it?

How...in the world...can it nearly be 2011? I keep writing October, 1998, on my checks. Why is that? Denial, or just really, really hate change? Yep, 'fraid so.

I plan to do more and do less in the coming year.
I plan to pray more, move more, and try to understand my spouse more.
I plan to eat less, be crabby less, and require less to be happy.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

How do you gals feel about the ending of a year, and entering another? Does it make you sad, or invigorate you to new meet new challenges and goals?
We're another year older, another year wiser...surely that counts for something!?
Best wishes to all as we enter 2011.

Blessings and Hugs....

Wishin'...

Jim and I haven't exchanged gifts for years, we just find a few things to drop into our stockings. We speak on the phone each evening while he's on the road. Last night, I asked him NOT to get the annual Skor bar for mine, as I want to begin Diet #4002 the day after Christmas. "So, what do you want? You have to give me some ideas," he said. I couldn't come up with a thing...which got me thinking at midnight, then again at 6 a.m. What, is my true, heart of hearts Christmas list? Well, there are two lists.

The Unselfish List:
1) Peace~worldwide and "inner" for all.
2) A blanket of kindness across the land that touches everyone.
3) Good health, joy, contentment for all family and friends, and everyone else.
4) America, back on track.
5) A full time job with benefits for anyone who wants it.

The Selfish List:
1) A day at the Ocean; from sunrise to sunset. An entire day to soak up the sand, surf, smells and sounds of the beach.
2) A day of Romance. From the butterflies in the belly, to the hand holding, eye gazing, feeling that sense of new excitement...and oh, yeah...a good necking session!
3) To be rid of my turkey neck.
4) A canister of guilt-free Almond Roca!
5) A longer lifespan for the corgi kids.
6) A winning lotto ticket for just enough, not millions, so Jim could quit driving truck and have time (for that necking session!).

Give yourself a little gift of nostalgia, frivolity, and nonsense. Dream up your own Christmas wish list. Just for shits and giggles if not for anything else.

Birthday Princess...

Addie was born on Christmas Eve. She'll be nine. She and Jake attended her birthday party. Since next Friday will be a tad busy in the kitchen, we celebrated today. They share a plain McDouble on their birthdays and get a nice run behind the high school on the prairie. I want to come back as a pampered corgi.....wouldn't you?
They ran amok in the field sniffing rabbit tracks while I gathered fresh pine boughs loaded with pine cones to decorate the bird feeders. Even the birds like a little holiday in their domain. Peace on Earth!

If only I had a brain...

Yesterday, Josh and I had our annual cookie baking day. In the background, we had National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation playing on the small kitchen tv. It's the classic movie for the quirky population. Some warm moments, but mostly wacko, out there scenes that each and every family can relate to.

We yukked it up, while both of us pre-quoted many of the nutty lines as we created Christmas shaped sugar cookies, using the famous family recipe. The corgi kids were underfoot, sniffing the butter scented air. They are "dog-logs" and truly can be hazardous, lying in wait, making moving about in the kitchen...dangerous!

Did I catch any of the decorating efforts of Josh's as he created a holly decked stocking cookie for his lady love on film? Nooooo....duh! It just never occurred to me to do so...being so distracted by the homemade pizza lunch...then the rolling, the baking, the laughing over the "shitter was full" line....sheesh!

Josh also had his Christmas date with Jenny at Applebee's last night.
We meet in a town 26 miles away for them both...meeting in the middle, in a town with several chain restaurants, about once a month, long enough for them to share a meal together. It's so sweet...we've talked about this before.
This year, he did a phone interview, asking her what her favorite color was, favorite candy, hobbies, etc. He wrote each answer down. Then, he filled a plush red stocking full of the answers. This guy is so romantic and sweet, it really does bring a tear to the eye.
Here's an old pic, since brain farts are happening left and right, and taking a picture of current events just ain't happenin' around here!

Pat it, and roll it, and put it in a pan!

We are so nuts. We thought that we followed the recipe, but nope..we doubled everything but the flour. That's what happens when you get three gals in the kitchen, yukking it up and trying to keep eyes and hands on the butter-sugar-egg concoction being flung out of the bowl by Emmy left and right. Sheesh! Let us just say, that stirring, is not her forte'! So...we had to knead more flour in before we could roll it out and cut out from a mega pile of cookie cutters.


That little Emmy had flour from her nose to her waist! She really enjoyed the whole process and need I say...clean up took a while!





April has a nice little baby bump, and that bump gave a terrific kick, startling us all!
She's a tired, but very patient mommie to her little kitchen helper.


It was a fun few days in North Carolina. The kids had a lovely, fragrant, Frasier fir tree this year. I haven't been near a real tree since the nineties! Also, I was surprised how cold it was there! The kids had a movie night out, while Em and I had a jammie/popcorn/Bernstein bears moviethon of our own. We saw the Disney Toy Story 3 ice show which was very entertaining for all.
The planes were all on time, and not as scary as feared. A good trip. It's always good to be back home, but the missing begins at the airport....sigh.
Jim picked me up and we hit a Cracker Barrel on the way home which took longer than the flights! Went back to work today. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the season in your own way.

All ready...

Snowman apron...packed.
Santa turtlenecks....packed.
Cookie cutters and mini wooden rolling pin...mailed and delivered.
Yep...tomorrow, is the long awaited day.
Flying out of Indy, a three hour trip from our NE Indiana home tomorrow.
Hubby dropping me off at the door, and scooting home before the snow hits.
Will return Tuesday with a boatload of memories I hope.
Going to NC to bake cookies with my girl and grand girl.
And check out the new baby bump.
Oh, and to see a Toy Story Ice Show in Raleigh on Sunday.
Oh boy, oh boy!

...willing to share this~

"Lord, I love you
and I need you,
Come into my heart,
and bless me,
My
family, my home, my
finances,
And all of my
friends,
In
Jesus' name.
Amen."


Sometimes we just need to say a prayer...and this is a good one. Short and Sweet, and covers all bases. I need it today....do you?