WillThink4Wine... big, red, Tuscan wines

Dislike

2010-12-04T00:01:00.014-05:00

Yesterday I spent a fair amount of time Un-Liking and Un-Friending on Facebook, as well as hiding most of my photo albums from everyone but myself. I had almost 300 friends and almost 400 Likes, which meant that every time I go on Facebook I see a bazillion commercials and lots of stuff I don't want or need to see.... and I was missing half of the updates from my SisterDears. What's wrong with

First Friday

2010-12-03T00:01:00.008-05:00

This Friday night is First Friday downtown... and I'm actually going with some friends. Hooray for getting out of the house for a change! And this Saturday is the Downtown Holiday Open House & Festival. I would love to attend, especially to have breakfast with Santa, but I'll be helping some friends. Why do they have it the day after First Friday night? Because except for the lighting of the

Marry Christmas Tree

2010-12-02T00:01:00.028-05:00

So. Yesterday morning was the parent's annual stringing of the Christmas Tree lights... meaning MotherDear asked Dad to put their little tree up for her to decorate with all of their sentimental, handmade ornaments from the kids and grandkids. The actual decorating process will be approximately one week-long. Ya got 'ta get the ornaments "just so", ya know. And so it has begun. I believe in

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2010-12-01T00:01:00.007-05:00

Hypothetically speaking, of course. I just love me a little Clyde McPhatter, don't you? I'm desperately seeking Christmas Tree real estate. It's looking bleak. There's just nowhere here at the Swamp that my tree will fit... unless I remove furniture. And then where would I put the furniture? Or sit to enjoy the tree? Maybe I need to get a small and tall - like an Alpine Tree. I know one

La Befana

2010-11-30T00:01:00.005-05:00

You know how much I want to see Italy, right? Well, Christmas in Italy sounds divine, doesn't it? I've just discovered an Italian Christmas Legend/Tradition: According to the legend, the night before the Wise Men arrived at the manger they stopped at the shack of an old woman to ask directions. They invited her to come along but she replied that she was too busy. Then a shepherd asked her to

Of Christmas Lights and Trees... the musical edition

2010-11-29T14:52:00.001-05:00

Don't I feel silly just putting out my white icicles... Boy, that really is amazing. And I'm really glad I don't live in that neighborhood. Just saying. And for those of you who are afraid to just let loose and sing-along... All you have to do is pretend you're Jim Carrey while you're doing it and it'll be great! And for Linda... ...just so you'll know what to expect with Tesla's first

Stop. Stop. That's not Roll It, Dude

2010-11-29T00:01:00.005-05:00

Yay for Monday! Because I felt SO much better yesterday compared to Friday, but Saturday was the worst. I majorly vegged Saturday. I stayed in my jammies and watched at least 5 FaLaLaLa Lifetime Christmas movies in bed Saturday. Maybe even 6. I was totally washed out. Thank goodness I was back to feeling more like myself again yesterday. These large gatherings use to be no problem at all for me

One woman's Trash

2010-11-28T06:04:00.000-05:00

...is one raccoon family's Treasure. I opened my carport door this morning to toss some trash into the trash barrel. The raccoons discovered that the trash barrel runneth over this week. Of course, this means the lid wasn't sealed as well as it normally would be, making it possible for them to get to the promised land. Which means that Thanksgiving is now scattered all over the carport.

Jingle Bell Rock

2010-11-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

I love Jingle Bell Rock! Well, I love mostly all Christmas songs, but this song always takes me back to one particular date with Mr. Ex when I was 16 or 17. There was really nothing special about the date at all. It was just another Friday night at Pizza Hut... Snow was falling, Christmas lights were up everywhere and there in Pizza Hut a juke box was playing Jingle Bell Rock. It's 40 years

Ying and Yang

2010-11-27T05:05:00.000-05:00

Whoa! Between all the cooking, eating and cleaning up the kitchen, plus staying up until nearly midnight on Thanksgiving, I had all I could do to keep my eyes open until 5pm yesterday. I decided I'd better take a nap before supper... I woke up at 11pm, fed my poor kitties, had a cuppa coffee and went back to bed. I woke up a little while ago feeling SO much better than yesterday. I may be

It's all in the details

2010-11-27T00:01:00.026-05:00

(Dad channel surfing)... Mom: What show was that? Dad: Fat people having sex. Mom: What makes that any different than us? Dad: They're HAVING sex. Hat Tip: Crazy Things Parents Say Go out and put some YAY! in your day! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Putting the "No" in Noel

2010-11-26T00:01:00.005-05:00

Looks like Santa needs a hot toddy. And this year's Christmas Craziness is just beginning. Have you seen the Sketchy Santa web sight? Too Funny. I'm imagining every funny annual picture ever taken with Santa will soon be posted to it. Actually, this is one of the better store Santas. SisterDear Lynda always took her boys to a really great Santa, known to us as "the best Santa". A few years ago

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T00:01:00.029-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! We'll be listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas this morning as MotherDear and I have our coffee, stuff the the turkey, tuck him into the oven and put all the veggies on the stove! Charlie Brown and Snoopy always seem to usher in the holidays in our family! Today my home will welcome about 20 guests to enjoy another of MotherDear's wonderful Thanksgiving dinners! Although I

T minus 1 day to T-day

2010-11-24T04:23:00.002-05:00

These are a few screenshots from our old childhood 8mm home movies that I've been working on. My two childhood hometowns were both mighty big on parades. The Orbiteers... a few of my sisterdears and brothers marched/played. Janice is at top, playing cymbals. Or not playing, as the case may be. So! It's the day before Thanksgiving! At last! This is my official kick-off of the Holidays! Some

T minus 2 days to T-day

2010-11-23T00:01:00.004-05:00

Priorities. They have them. So it's T minus 2 days to T-day. We'll be chopping up all the veggies tomorrow so we'll just need to toss 'em on the stove and go. Easy Peasy. Miss Bee posted a Random act of culture yesterday. If you didn't see it yet, I encourage you to do so immediately! Wasn't that just the most awesome thing? 650 choristers! Glorious! I did not know this pipe organ existed.

Manday, Monday

2010-11-22T00:01:00.007-05:00

Dude. Pull yourself together. It's Monday... at least I think it is... so we get a chance to do it all over again. Kinda like that mannequin dresser. Oops. I actually kinda sorta know how the mannequin feels as I've got really long arms and legs, but at least they match. And what's up with his Frankenstein feet? I couldn't make my Pumpkin Cranberry bread yesterday. I took the cranberries out

Inspired by Duchess Linda...

2010-11-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

I uploaded some of the screenshots of our family home movies that I've been working on. I just love them! These are from the skating rink my Dad made us every year in our yard! Gift Tag Story Christmas 5x7 folded cardMake a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.View the entire collection of cards.

Did I mention the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies?

2010-11-21T00:01:00.014-05:00

So... yesterday I made a double batch of Toll House Cookies. mmmm... I had several volunteers for Quality Control duty! And since I was on a cookie roll, I just went ahead and made a double batch of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. It's good to have a plan, but I'm always prepared to change it. So I'll make the Pumpkin Cranberry Breads and the Banana Breads today. It's all fine and dandy. I finally got

Note to self: no chocolate cupcakes with blue frosting

2010-11-20T20:02:00.000-05:00

These little guys are come on a my house for Thanksgiving Dinner. T's 3rd Birthday and R's 1st Birthday at Chuck E Cheese Oh, my! What? You knew that was going to happen! Fortunately, there will be no sticky, blue food on the menu! The End. Go out and put some YAY! in your day! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Heavenly

2010-11-20T00:01:00.005-05:00

Why Greece is also on my "I'd love to visit there one day" list. Oia Santorini, Greece But I don't want to visit here, no matter how Heavenly it looks. Buddhist Monastery, Himalayas -National Geographic's Photography Contest on The Big Picture Today's plan? Baking. I'm making some Pumpkin Cranberry Breads and some Banana Breads. And possibly some Toll House Cookies. We're having so much

I'm not kidding

2010-11-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

I saw this post in my reader and laughed and laughed. Because it's me... Draw the dog ...only instead of me being surrounded by stuffed bears and a dog it's 4 bed-hogging cats. srsly.

The Holiday Taste of Sam's Club

2010-11-19T00:01:00.032-05:00

It begins today! Friday is the start of a three day food feast known as The Holiday Taste of Sam’s Club. Friday, Nov. 19 - Sunday, Nov. 21, 11 am - 6 pm Enjoy these great samples at this year’s event: Friday, November 19: Harvest Orchard Pie Member’s Mark® Turtle Cheesecake Member’s Mark® Boneless Spiral Ham Member’s Mark® Parmesan Garlic-Marinated Pork Loin Bacon Cheddar Dip Member’s Mark®

The gift of nothing is the biggest gift of all

2010-11-18T00:01:00.021-05:00

There was a humor/opinion piece printed in the side column of yesterday's edition of our little newspaper which my Dad had clipped out. He wanted to make sure I would see it. And I would have missed it because I peruse the online version of the paper and apparently our little newspaper is SO little that they don't bother to publish their syndicated columns on their web site. So I googled it for

Clean, rearrange and de-clutter the office. Check.

2010-11-17T00:01:00.048-05:00

That's mostly what I did yesterday morning. Business was slow and it was a dreary, rainy day and the mood just struck me and I went with it. Office before (the entrance is the lower door - closet door is on the right, directly behind my chair) I moved my desk towards the window and put the chairs on the other side of my desk so when someone comes into my office, they can actually sit at my

Spirit

2010-11-16T00:01:00.011-05:00

I read a comment on Lois' Memory post yesterday, which touched me. Zane D. Clark said... The spirit that gives your first breath receives your last sigh. Resting in the arms of God. z So I googled it... because that's what I do! :] What I found was as beautiful as it is interesting. Chief Seattle's LETTER TO ALL Chief Seattle Chief Seattle (more correctly known as Seathl) was a