Christmas cards

My weekend in a nutshell. I LOVE CHRISTMAS cards! I've done about 190. I am almost done, just the drebs, and the people I know have moved and I do not have their new address.

48 hours of Christmas music on the TV cable channel. Time for my own selection. I like my own Christmas music much better! Ever heard of the Roaches? They sing beautiful harmony and make Christmas songs rock.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Look for your card in the mail soon!

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Pilgrams and Candles.
Mom and Garry at a beautiful table.
The perfect "Norman Rockwell" Thanksgiving Turkey at Eileens.


Eileen and Joe put on the best Thanksgiving.

Wonderful meal, wonderful company.

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

I am thankful for (in NO particular order):

*my loving husband
*a mom who is active and vital at 86
*loving sisters who mean the world to me
*adoring nieces and nephews with a huge family that they welcome me into
*music, my ipod music is found! at least it is on the computer now!
*a new great nephew-Gideon.
*a car that is very comfy and makes me want to go places
*a relaxing home in Rehoboth beach
*many girlfriends who some of which i have a hard time remembering not knowing, I can count on them for anything any time
*a warm home with all I could ever want
*a good job
* the ability to life a good life
*the ability to type rather fast....usually!
*the gift of photography
*adopted family, everyone needs a home

that is all for now, I am sure I will add to this list often.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

Thanksgiving Eve

I love this time of year. Funny really as I have terrable allergies to all the mold and wet. I dread the days getting shorter, going and coming home in the dark from work. And yet, I love the food, the comradery, the time with family and friends.

I am thankful for all I have and lucky to be where I am in life.

My pies are made. Two pumpkin, one pecan and one key lime. I wasnted to make a pumpkin chiffon pie, but the grocery was out of pumpkin! Can you imagine!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all.

An early mini Thanksgiving

Tim and I always love to attend Thanksgiving at Eileens house. We just miss the left over Turkey for sammies after. SO. Today after Tim watched Dallas pull through with a win aganist the Redskins in Dallas....... we had a mini Thanksgiving dinner with Mom. Cooked up an 18 lb bird, mashed potatoes, a yummy yam/apple mashed dish (I must jot down the recipe as to how I did it, as I loved it, but Tim does not eat yams......) Tim had lima beans (his fave, not mine!), Mom made a trial run of her spaikopita for Eileens and an interesting cabbage cheese dish. And I made a gigundo batch of my cranberry sauce, Mom and Jasen at work (my 2 official tasters since Tim won't eat that either) both say it is great. So my Thanksgiving/Christmas presents for everyone at work are done. One less thing to stress over after Thanksgiving. All 10 of my employees will get a generous dish of yummy cranberry chutney/sauce for their Thanksgiving table.

That is it in a nutshell for today. No photos, but will on Thursday.

Friday was another story. Long story short, all is well. BUT. My sister Kate landed herself in the CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) She had an episode of high blood pressure. 220/110. NOT GOOD. Many tests later and a 24 hour monitor in the CICU where every one commented on the fact that she was so young and walking and able to care for herself. She drove herself home on Sat. and took it easy today. Needless to say there will be more to follow. But OY, she tests my strength. Once again I get to call Holly and tell her Kate is in the ER and we don't know what is wrong with her. I delivered the whole story to Mom in person. She took it well.

I hope all goes well with the rest of her tests. But please keep her near the top of your prayer lists!

And now it is back to work on Monday! But a short week for a real Thanksgiving at Eileens with 15 or so. A small group, but will be so very nice as usual.

Birthday weekends

I kindof liked the last one. And the other 2 are perfect photos!

What a wonderful week of birthday treats. Thursday night Tim took me to dinner at a favorite restaurant I had forgotten all about. A little Italian place in Wheaton: Christina's. We had a lovely dinner at an intimate table in the window where we watched the goings on of Wheaton.

Tim pampered me all weekend in Rehoboth Beach. Saturday breakfast in bed! Yummo. I ran errands all day at the outlets (I was a shopping fool at the outlets, unusual actually I am rarely at the outlets. The hardware store is more my speed). I found a perfect little giftie for all the west coast families, something for Tim, hostess gift for Eileen for hostessing Thanksgiving again, a present for Kate, Justin and Mom. My Christmas paper......I love doing Christmas cards. I could probably make money doing cards for people. I think I need to have my head examined.

Tim says I am not allowed to bring one more card in the house until I use up 90% of what I have. SO, hold on to your hats, all you birthday card recipients! They are about to get weird. Birthday post cards, hand made cards to birthday cards. Note cards to birthday cards. I mail over 80 birthday cards a year. And funny, this year got only 3 or 4. But had a wonderful birthday. Back to the birthday pampering weekend.

Flowers arrived Saturday. Photo to attach soon! I promise. I am getting better at this stuff.

Dinner was turkey breast (who says you have to wait for Thanksgiving!), mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Sunday we drove home and listened to the Redskins actually win a game! Sunny is so funny on the radio. I had to concentrate to visualize the game. Actually quite scary I could do that, but I did! I even made some comments before Sunny!

We arrived home in time for Tim to watch Dallas, but he quit watching at half time and fixed my computer. I had major problems. So, my computer is now fixed!
I'm back to blogging!

Veteran's Day 2009

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served our wonderful country.
My Dad, my husband and my brother and his wife have all served in the military. My brother-in-law and his two grandsons are Navy men as well. I really knew very little about any branches of the military until I married Tim. He and his family are all military. His Dad, Brother, Sister, brother-in-law, nephews are all in the military. His Grandmother is buried at Arlington Cemetery. She was a military nurse and his Grandfather Larcombe served as well. My dad is buried in Gettysburg and my brother rests in the most beautiful spot in the pacific north west.

My hat goes off to all listed above. If I were ultra uber organized I'd scan and post all the photos I have of the above listed family members in their uniform, but I am not. And I am at work, so cannot look for the photos. But the intention is there. Don't be surprised if I do that next year! When I will have my whole house organized cause I am doing each task as a little project!

Today I get to celebrate an early birthday with Mom and Kate, we are going to a Polish Pottery place and I get to pick a serving dish I need and then we are going to dinner at Clyde's in Columbia. A fun birthday celebration with the local women. Tomorrow Tim and I are going to dinner...my choice!

Annie Burkholder at work brought me yummy apple scrapple bread from Great Harvest today. And an oatmeal raisin cookie. Two of my favorites. She is my fellow Scorpio November birthday.

Mom has made my birthday cranberry muffins with butter sauce. I can hardly wait to have them tonight!

Angela it is, the new renter for MOM.

I stopped by Mom's tonight to give her a hair cut. She was in the midst of making my all time favorite casserole. Georgia Jackson Casserole, named after the woman at NIH who made up the dish; your basic noodles (skinny little egg ones), hamburger spices topped with cream cheese and sour cream with chives and just in case there were not enough calories a little cheddar on top to melt.....YUMO. I'll share the recipe with anyone who is interested....does anyone read this?
So we made dinner, I loaded photos from the trip into her computer, showed her how to send photos......another 100 times and she might have it, at least she is willing to try and learn! I gave her a hair cut. We found some lost items in her microsoft IN box, hidden in those pesky little files that close themselves!

And then a miracle happened. When you don't worry about something some times it just takes care of itself. Our housekeeper Silva's neighbor is selling her house. She needs a place to stay. She is a lovely woman who wants to stay in Kensington. Yippie! She called my cell phone, came over and saw the apt., and it is a good fit.

I think she moves in on November 24, 2009. Wahooo.

Rappahanock county studio tour

A fun day with Pat to visit in the car and see beautiful rolling hills of Rappahonock County Virginia. Saw some wonderful art in the county and mostly had a relaxing day.

Found a 5th anniversary present for Tim. Did not snap a shot, but ran out of room on Mom's card, will remedy that tomorrow. I just might be getting this photo thing.......

If I had unlimited funds I would have bought this stained glass for $750.00. But Mom could make it for much less and it would mean so much more!
The other art just caught my eye and probably will last longer in a photo than if I had spent all that money!

A very nice relaxing day!

bathroom unclutter

Bethany had posted a blog spot to inspire you to clean your house for the holidays.
I am starting small (I thought) with just cleaning under the bathroom sink in the hall bath that Tim and I both use. Which prompted a quick response from Tim that we could also fix the little plugum thing that has been broken for years....add one hour......Tim trying and getting frustrated with my "help", so he told me to try and I fixed it! Viola! I am so proud of myself! I fit in there under the sink with half my body under there and my arms in the air to tighten a mini screw to make the plug go up and down! Shew.
Then on to the toilet paper holder which keeps spewing the holder at me instead of holding the paper. One mini screw driver later and the whole thing is in much better shape. Also tightened the flusher handier while I was in the bathroom with a screw driver.....now I think the toilet has a slow leak, since I've just spent an hour on the floor going through the drawers under the sink.
Which is what this "little get ready for the holiday project started as".


How many lotions does one person need? I am going to donate those 30 mini lotions to a homeless shelter. Smelling good in a time of crisis must be a good thing.
And I am giving all my bubble bath stuff to Pat, who takes a bath far more often than I do. I don't think I can tell you the last time I had a bath, shower yesterday!

So, we also have a new fridge. Frozen tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce are not a pretty thing! Now we have replaced the stove, dishwasher and fridge since Tim has arrived........which is getting to be quite a while at this point! Time for new counters and a sink, but that always gets the back burner as it is quite expensive.

Tim only wants current photos on the fridge, so time to take Bethany and Andy's wedding announcement photo down, Karen and Suzie at Todd and Andreas wedding.....and too many others.....perhaps I'll start a bulletin board in my office.........when I get that organized! That would not be today!

I was so tired of being a pretzel on the floor, I just had to quit mid sort and get out and blog! Actually I had to urinate and could not get to the toilet with all my sorting on it....so out to the other bathroom........shew peaked under it's sink and there is only TP from our last Costco shop.

Now the medicine cabinets in both bathrooms just might get a cleaning today too! I love to be organized! Thanks Bethany!

Funerals

Odd topic I know. But have been to 2 recently and do not want mine like those. Don't have to worry really they were Catholic. And one thing I am not is Catholic. Too many idol worshiping things going on there. And how can you reproduce when the leaders of the church don't do it? How can you make more little Catholic? But I digress.
The 2 funerals were very similar. Very ritualistic. Stand up sit down, recite things back. Stop in the middle of the lords prayer with a mini prayer in it. Smelled good to me, the incense was relaxing. And the songs were OK. I really like their on Eagles wings. Each had a priest speak, related their lives to the bible. Really most folks don't live like that any more. One a son spoke, with great difficulty and the other a family friend spoke. Each represented only small parts of the persons life. We all have so many facets to our lives, I'd think each would need to be represented.
I'd like my funeral to be more like a Quaker one. Almost like a fast and testimony meeting like the Mormons do, only about me! Everyone can say their peace and feel better that I've been around.
Hopefully this will not happen for a long time and I'll go to more funerals that are more personal.........or not so ritualistic.
I think I am burring the rice and fish.......must zoom

Not one Trick-or-treater!

Cest la vie. We live in far apart houses and mostly full of retired old folks. I guess I should have known we would not get any when our neighbors with 3 children across the street piled in their car and zoomed out of the neighborhood at 1830!

I am almost sick of Reeses! (NOT!)

Had a wonderful day watching football with my husband. OUR only prenup was that I learn to know and love football. (I should have added we would always have a cat, but at the time I thought Kelly and Allis would live forever) He has created a monster!

My Dad must not have been into football, and if he was I do not recall in my tender years of growing up with him. He was gone when I was 10, and the 18 months or so before he died he was so busy trying to live, I don't think he watched much TV, except Mash and Star Trek! I do remember him watching those! But as usual, I digress.

Today I gloated over Dallas beating Seattle. Two of my favorite team outfits (but I am not allowed to comment on such girlie thoughts anymore! Although I used to be far more interested in their backsides. But having my own manly backside to look at all the time, the uniforms seem to be of more interest.) But did love Romo doing his quarterback thing and sad to say I was glad Seattle lost, only because my home team known as the dead skins are so pathetic this year, and I know most of my west coast relatives are die hard Seattle fans. (Love the accent color on the uniforms)

This year I bought Tim 4 tickets to four home Redskins game for his birthday. I had no idea what generous gift this was until the bill came! (we actually split the 8 home games with a surgeon at work)....but, again, I digress. He has gone to 2 of the home games. One being the day I came home from Portland/Seattle and the other last Monday when I was still under the weather with my cold/H1N1 episode. The Redskins lost both. Making Tim happy as he is a Dallas fan from when he was a boy and followed the Navy guy......whose name escapes me at this minute.......I'd be getting demerits in the Prenup venue here. But Tim does not read this So I am safe! STAUBACK!!!!!!!!!!! She is redeemed!

Then I watched my Bret Favre beat Green Bay. Just desserts for Green Bay....not taking him back and having to watch him play for their rival. Oh what a day of football. And then my 2 favorite shows. Extreme home makeover and Desperate Housewife's. I am getting pretty far on my knitting......that baby is due Nov. 19. I don't think I'll make the C-section date, but will be very close! If I were as good as Bethany I could snap a photo and zip it would be in here!
Cest la vie!

Anyone volunteer? I think I should take something up. I want to do an animal shelter, but fear I will then be begging to bring every animal home they are putting down the next day.........and Tim will give me a resounding NO.

So, perhaps habitat for humanity. Help the homeless in the area.

Time to brush my teeth and get rid of the last mini Reeses I just inhaled!