New Years Eve

The end of 2014 is nearly here.  It saw the passing of DH's brother after a long illness, and other sad times as well.  Hoping that 2015 is an improvement, and  that all the surprises are good ones.

I wish all the visitors here would comment at least part of the time.  It would be nice to see what posts they liked, or what brought them to this site.  I know there are counters that tell who, where, how long, origin and destination, but I don't want to pay for a service like that for a 'hobby' blog.  I am not trying to set a record or post advertisements, but I am curious.  I don't follow many blogs, not like I did when blogging was new, but most bloggers have dropped off the 'net by now, although I think some just changed to Facebook.  I always seem to start something just as it is falling out of popularity!  This blog is 10 years old, who would have guessed that I would be able to write about almost nothing for 550+posts?

Bumper sticker for the day:  "I lost my mind and I'm pretty sure the kids took it."

Nearly the end of the year

I have been resting up these last couple of days, the knitted crib blanket is almost done (crochet edges).  I will take photo to post here when it is done.  There is an area to duplicate stitch a name/ date, etc. which will have to wait until I know who will receive it.  Meanwhile I am contemplating what project to do next that will use the yarn I got for Christmas.  It is cream colored and extra bulky, but there isn't enough to make a sweater.  Maybe a vest.  I'll think it over.

The weather here has been really strange, warm and rainy.  It feels like fall and not winter.  Not that I am complaining, I hasten to add.  We just feel like we are waiting for the other shoe to drop.  The forecasts have been all over the board so far, and none of them remotely accurate.  Clearly we didn't get a predicted white Christmas, which would have been nice.  Today and yesterday it was rainy, with a blue sky, so weird.

I still haven't made up my mind about what to get with my Amazon gift card.  I have a wish list, but I am changing my mind repeatably about what to get.  I don't think I have ever had a gift card before; so this is a novel thing to do.  I feel like I am going through a Sears Roebuck catalog - remember those? - where everything in the shining sun is offered.  I miss those catalogs, the ones I get in the mail are pale by comparison.  If they were honest they would state "made in China" on the front cover. And several  catalogs duplicate merchandise offered elsewhere using the same photos and price, making me think they are actually the same company under different names.

We still have candy, cookies and dried fruit left over from Christmas, I weighed myself this morning and it is exactly the same as before the holidays, which is good.  The weight loss will continue after New Years, sigh.

That's it for today, hope all of you had a great holiday and saw lots of friends and family.  It is a little melancholy for us, so many of the family, and friends too, have passed, taking a little bit of us with each one.  Now we are the 'older' generation, who used to be the one with babies.  My 'babies' are in their 30s now.  I am still waiting for grandkids.

Bumper sticker for the day:  "Cover me:  I'm changing lanes."

Dec. 26 th

Well we're all still er, well, bloated from Christmas food and not up to tasting any gifted candy, dried fruit, cookies, not even the enticing veggie tray with dip, not for a while.  But my new sheepskin slippers feel great, yarn (scads of it) to knit with, pottery mug (daughter and I swapped bowls), DVDs of Maleficent, Frozen and best of all, Vin Diesel in Riddick, all of these will keep me busy for a while.

We kept the neighbors' gold lab puppy for Christmas day, while they went to their parent's house for the day.  They had it fixed with the other neighbor, but they changed their minds on the day of.  We were glad to keep him, he was warm and cuddly and interested in getting everything in his mouth.  He settled down after about an hour, and never made a mess in his crate, and went as soon as we took him to the yard.  The garage cats (where the crate was) were not amused, but allowed as how he couldn't get to them, and they do have the kitty door to exit if necessary.  But listening to him HOWL aroooo for a solid hour reinforced my dictum, NO more pets of any kind.  If only they came with a volume control.

I've been wandering around Amazon to see what I could get with my gift card, decisions, decisions.  I'll post it here when I decide.  Maybe a fountain pen.  I collect Parker Vacumatic pens of a certain style, but the price of them have gotten totally absurd.  So I just get mine out, fill them with ink and write for a while.  Did you know, pens are one of the very few collectables still used for their original purpose?  And my entire collection could fit in a shoe box if necessary.

I guess I'm glad porcelain chamber pots aren't used for their original purpose.  I saw on Antiques Road show a silver ewer, bowl, etc,. and a silver chamber pot.  The owner had used it for a punch bowl several times...

 Bumper sticker for the day:  "Be sincere whether you mean it or not."

Christmas Day, 2014

The day has finally arrived and we had a marvelous time opening gifts, eating yummy treats, playing with our new stuff, and (for me) napping.

I know few readers will chance by here today, so I will go directly to today's card:

And here is my very best thought for such a wonderful day:

Three Wise Women would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stables, made a casserole, brought practical gifts... and there would be Peace on Earth!

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year !

Dec. 24th

I am beat.  I have spent the day so far doing laundry, tidying up, getting the living room, dining room and bedroom put back together and the Christmas stuff sorted and packed up (wrapping stuff mostly).  Once the holiday is over and the tree is down, we will (shudder) go into the attic to store it all.  In the attic is stink bug heaven, and the nasty things give me the major creeps.  One landed on me yesterday and I screamed. UGH!!  They are an import from (where else?) China and the infestation began in Philadelphia, and is spreading like wildfire.  All you people in the south, count your blessings (for now) that they are not there.  Yet. They prefer warm weather.

I've got Christmas music playing softly in the living room, trying to get into the mood.  I don't think we will be having a white Christmas, it is too warm and rain showers are what is predicted for tomorrow.  Still, it is nice to have everyone home and sharing a good time together.  I hope all my gifts please the recipient, I really racked my brain to come up with ideas for them. 

The card for the day: 

inside is:  "May beautiful moments and happy memories surround you with joy this Holiday Season"

And the thought for the day:  "I deserve a bonus for making it through the week without stabbing someone with a fork."

Dec. 23rd

Ah, it feels good to sit down for a while!  The farrier came this morning to trim the horses' feet, and they were both all fidgety and wouldn't stand without lipping, chewing on the rope, and licking my coat (ewww).  But it is done, good for 8 more weeks.  I am showered and non-horsey smelling too.  Once I am done here, I will wrap the last three gifts, the ones I thought were already done.  Next year (oh, right) I will get a big plastic tub and put everything in it as they accumulate, and not have to root in the closets, boxes and shelves to find everything.  Then afterwards I can store yarn in it!

DH is off to the store to pick up the few things we overlooked when we bought all the stuff for Christmas dinner.  That should set us for the rest of the year (doesn't that sound great?) as far as groceries, other than the odd gallon of milk.  The only thing that would improve things would be if the grocery store would deliver.  There was a small store in town that used to do that, a great boon for the more elderly residents, but of course they went out of business.  Out here we can't even get pizza delivered. 

Here is today's Christmas card:

Inside:  Sending you good wishes for the Holiday Season and the coming year

And the thought for the day:  "A real friend is one who overlooks your broken down gate, and admires the flowers in your garden"

Dec. 22

Here I was, merrily typing away, when the screen went blank and my entire post evaporated.  Even the "save" and "revert to draft" failed to bring it back.  Grrrr.

Thus this post is quite short, because if it happens again I will flip out.

Today's Christmas card:

Inside reads:  "Wishing you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year."

Bumper sticker:  "I can't clean because I get distracted by all the cool stuff I find."

Dec. 21st

Inside:  "Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a very happy new year."

Hope everyone here is feeling the holiday spirit and looking forward to the big day.  I have completed everything that needs to be done, except for the food, which we will get soon.  It feels really nice, to look at the gifts under the tree and know there is nothing left to prepare.  I love to give gifts!

Thought for the day:  "The meaning of life is to find your gift.  The purpose of life is to give it away."  _Joy Golliver

Dec. 20th

Whew!  The entire house smells like cinnamon spice, thanks to a candle downstairs.  It is a little strong, but not a bad scent.

I'm going to go to our Gabe's, a discount store that belongs to TJ Maxx.  I have a $5 coupon that is burning a hole in my pocket, and whatever I get will NOT be for a Christmas present.  Just to shop around, check out bargains, etc.  I am betting there will be crowds there, we will see.  They have revamped the store after its purchase by TJ Maxx, and one of the things they did was make the checkout area into a single line, and then each person goes to the next available checker, like the banks have always done.  It is much more efficient, and I love not getting stuck behind someone with dozens of items and waiting for a price check.  Completely ruins the shopping experience, I think.

We got our first (and maybe only) Christmas card, from my sister in law.  The card was one from Natl. Wildlife Federation and the reason I know that is that I have the same cards.  I nearly sent the same one to her, but in the end I sent one of the ones (see Dec. 14th) that has Santa, since she has a 3 year old great-grandson she is raising.  He is a handful, I think, and I bet there is much Christmas mayhem at her house on the big day.

We are predicted to have a white Christmas this year, for the first time in a lot of years.  It does make the Christmas lights look particularly festive.  For us, who stay home, the travel is not a consideration, we can just enjoy it without worrying about the roads.

Here is today's card:

Inside it says:  "Wishing you happiness for Christmas and all the year."

And today's bumper sticker:  "It's OK if you disagree with me.  I can't force you to be right."

Dec. 19th

I got the Christmas cards mailed out (all 5 of them), after I wrote notes in all of them.  Then I wrapped all of DD and DS gifts, leaving only the ones for DH to still be wrapped.  I had a second thought about one of the gifts I was giving my husband, and re-directed it to our son.  So husband is going to come up one gift short, which he said is fine with him.

We had dinner out today, and it was disappointing.  We went to Applebees, and it was crammed.  We got seated quickly, and then waited and waited for the server, and then for the food.  I saw two diners send their food back.  I had fried shrimp; there isn't a lot you can do to ruin fried shrimp.  The cole slaw was dry and tasteless, and the french fries were cold.  We didn't linger, with all the people waiting for a table.  We won't be going back to Applebees for a while.

We went to the mall afterwards, my one and only trip this season.  The parking lot was crammed, but there weren't that many in the stores, a puzzle.  We also went to WallyWorld (Walmart) and it was crammed, but at least for a change there were enough checkout lines.  We needed milk and ribbons, nice to get them at the same place.  I noticed there were a lot of dead people singing Christmas carols, broadcast over the speakers, ding dong ding dong, Christmas bells are ringing.  At least they let the Sally Army guy sit inside to ring his bell for kettle donations.  It was 30 outside.  Here is today's Christmas card: 

Inside it says "Warmest greetings and good wishes at Christmastime"
Doesn't that look cozy? 

And today's bumper sticker:  "I'm not always sarcastic.  Sometimes I'm asleep."

And asleep is where I am headed for now...

Dec. 18th

Inside it says:  "May your holidays be merry and bright!"

I have noticed that many of the most recent visitors to this site are from Moscow (or maybe one visitor coming multiple times) and I wonder if it is a custom there as well, to send holiday cards.  If not, then this must be a strange bunch of posts to them.

Bumper sticker for the day:  "What I lack in sleep I make up for in blank stares."

Dec. 17

We got a lot done today.  Foremost, we got the lawn tractor to the shop for repairs, and brought the power wagon home after its repair.  The power wagon is vital for cleaning the barn, the alternative is to use a wheelbarrow, and that is a real chore.  The horses have been in the barn for most of the last 2 weeks, because the footing in the turn-out area has been so muddy and slick; the last thing I need is one of these geriatric horses to be injured.  But that means the stalls have to be picked out every day or two, and again we need the power wagon.

Horses are a lot of work.

We also did trips to the pharmacy, and to the grocery store.  I was determined to work on the knitting project and at least get it closer to finished, but with the other errands it didn't happen.  Thursday for sure.  I will post a photo when the crib blanket is finished, I am very pleased with it.  I have read that parents these days don't use blankets in the crib; instead they put the baby in a "cocoon" to sleep, a sort of sack gathered on the foot end.  I guess the change is to keep the infant from getting tangled up in a blanket, but that seems a little far-fetched to me.  Oh well, if the blanket isn't used in the crib, it can go on the floor when the baby is in the exploring stage, to keep it cleaner than crawling on the floor.

Here is a picture of a cocoon:

OK, so here is today's Christmas card:

Inside it says:  "To wish you a joyous Christmas and happiness throughout the coming year."

And today's bumper sticker:  "Easily distracted by shiny objects."

Dec. 16th

Today was a dull visit to the doctor to go over my meds.  Afterwards I felt like I did when school was out, happy!! Yeah!!

Here is the card for today:

Inside it says :  "Thinking of you in this season of joy and wishing you every happiness in the coming new year."

Today's bumper sticker:  "Temporarily out of my mind.  Please leave a message."

Monday Monday

Today's efforts were knee-directed so that I can actually move around for the holidays.  At least the treatment seems to have worked, as far as I can tell.  The only drawback, and it isn't much of one, is that I had to get up at 6:15 am to be on time.  I don't know what it is about surgeons, they want to see all their patients, like on hospital rounds, before 8 am.  To clear the rest of the day for what?  Golf?  It's a puzzle.

Here is today's card:

Inside it says :  "Wishing you a Joyous Holiday and a New Year filled with Peace and Happiness"

And today's thought for the day:  "I go the extra mile.  (Usually because I'm lost.)

Sunday the 14th

THE date is drawing closer, and I haven't gotten anything wrapped yet.  Even more than that task, I haven't gotten the crib blanket finished.  It needs to be pressed/steamed and then crocheted around the outside to help it lie flat.  This is a more worrisome job, since I don't know how to crochet.  But there is always YouTube for a close-up on how to do this.

The weather here has been gloomy today, and I have slept half the day away.  Even then I wanted to sleep more, but eventually I sleep around the clock to wake up at bedtime and get sleepy in the morning, no good.  There isn't anything on TV but football games, as far as I can tell, and there is just so much football I can take at one go.  The Steelers won against the Falcons, after that it is all a blur.  Go team.

Here is today's card:

Inside it reads:  "Hope your Christmas is full of nice surprises!"

Ah coookies, yum.  We went shopping yesterday for groceries and I bought treats that I only get at Christmas time, like pinwheel cookies, and pizzelles, and mixed nuts.  And let's not forget about the cheesecake.  I think my weight loss will continue, but after the holidays.

Bumper sticker for the day:  "I put the PRO in procrastinate."

12-13-14

Today is that never-to-be-repeated date sequence, 12-13-14.  Somehow I am less than thrilled, but still, interesting.

Today's card:

Inside it says:  "A friendly hello to wish you a happy holiday season!"

Have you noticed, all the greetings (most, anyway) end with an exclamation point !!
It's a little annoying!

Thought for the day:  "Logic- the art of being wrong with confidence."

Dec. 12th

I almost missed getting this one posted today, as it is 10 minutes until midnight here.  But never fear, this intrepid blogger will post, no matter the time, the weather (it is cold and clear here), the sleepiness (yawn) or any other impedimenta.  Unless I find something else to do.

Today's card:

Inside:  "May your every holiday wish come true"

Bumper sticker for the day:  "Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts."

Dec. 11th

Here is the card for today.  Today's big excitement was going to the grocery store, where among other things I bought fruit cake.  I don't know why it has such a bad reputation, it tastes fine to me, and every year I have to search to find some (other than Claxton).  My dad was the one who hated Claxton fruitcake.  Many many years ago we were on our way to WV when Dad got caught in a speed trap (For those who don't know, a speed trap is when the local police get set to catch anyone going 1 mph or more over the limit in some little road that locals didn't use.)  They charged him an inordinate amount of "bail" so we could continue our trip.  We barely had enough cash for gas to make it to WV (no credit cards in those days) and then Mom had to borrow $ from Grandad to get home.  All of this occurred in Claxton Georgia and Dad never forgot.  Thus, no Claxton fruit cake!

Inside it says "Thinking of you at Christmas and always."

Bumper sticker for the day:  "Stop kicking yourself.  Let me do that."

Dec. 10

I can't believe Christmas is  just two (+1 day) weeks away.  Everything I ordered has arrived, and the things that were wrong have been returned.  The tree is up and (rather half-heartedly) decorated.  Just the wrapping and the food needs to be done.  The food is no problem, after the big production of Thanksgiving, the meal for Christmas is steak and baked potato. No leftovers, no hours spent in the kitchen trying to get everything ready at the same time.  This gives us time to play with our gifts, too.  In my case, it will be (hopefully) yarn.  The crib blanket will be done (I hope, it nearly is now) and ready to send once the baby is born (so I can be certain of the name).  I do wish I would get an email or two from friends, but they will eventually send one.  Meanwhile, I will keep busy with these cards :

Inside it says:  "Happy Holidays!"

This is what I call an inoffensive card, because the tree and the gifts are the only Christmas signs, and happy holiday could mean Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc., or nothing at all religious.  And the cute dog, who can resist?

Bumper sticker for the day:  "The older I get the better I was."

Dec. 9th

I found my stash of Christmas cards from early years, so I have more to choose from for here.  Today's card

Inside it reads:  "May Christmas joys warm all your days in jolly, merry, happy ways!"


And today's thought:  "It's OK.  I've brought the duct tape."

Dec. 8th

Hello S and happy birthday!  I will try to call again later today.

Today's Christmas card:

Inside it says " Wishing you holiday happiness and cheer Wishing you good and happy things all through the coming year!"

I'm getting these cards mixed up, so if I post one two times, just chalk it up to old age...

Four more gifts arrived in today's UPS delivery, I am almost done, cross my fingers.  If something doesn't come, I'll just cut out a picture of it and wrap that (kind of an IOU).

Bumper sticker for the day:  "Sometimes I amaze myself and other times I can't remember what day it is."

Christmas in Gassaway

Well, a trip down to Gassaway to visit family.  I never mind being there but getting there is a royal pain.  It is about 60 miles from here, all interstate, so it should not bug me that way.  But the beautiful hills of WV tend to be less lovely when you are constantly searching out the deer on both sides.  Hitting one at 70 MPH is no picnic, and has been the cause of many accidents.  The entire state has been trying innovative methods of controlling them.  Hunting within the city limits (with a bow) is now possible but has had little overall effect.  Making deer season longer has not had much impact.  In fact, hunters in the woods push the deer out of their usual areas and into places where they risk being hit by cars.

However, trips to and from were accomplished with no encounters.  Knock on wood.

We put poinsettias on the graves this time, but the lilacs we removed still look fine and can be used again in the spring.  All of the graves look nice, mowed and spruced up, and many were decorated.  We do the same for the four graves (mom, dad, sister of mom, daughter of mom and dad).  and my uncle takes care of his and his wife's relatives up above.  What will happen once my aunt and uncle pass I don't know.  We mainly do it to save them $$ for decorating so many graves.  I've never had the feeling that there is anyone there.

My Christmas shopping is done, all without leaving the house.  I did get some duds, but back they went for (mostly) a full refund.  Still have 5 things to come, which I hope for this week.  I don't do well in crowds, so this let me be here, with endless choices to be made.  It is amazing the unusual things one can find online.  There is nothing too exotic, no one has any real needs, as we all buy pretty much what we want when we want it.  But I had some ideas.

We have the Christmas tree up and decorated, it looks pretty nice.  No icicles, because the cats (blech) eat them.  We still have the outside lights to put up, but the weather is being uncooperative and we have had rain for days, and still more rain to come.  DS got the barn cleaned, but it was a chore with the Power'wagon refusing to start, and forcing him to use a wheelbarrow. The wagon needs to go to the shop pronto.  The wheelbarrow method is fairly OK for one stall, but there are three.

Time for today's Christmas card:

The inside says:  "Warmest greetings and good wishes for the holiday season."


And todays bumper sticker:  "I love to give homemade gifts... which one of my kids would you like?"

Merry Christmas (again)

This is the card I send to my "doggone" friends, and the vet.  It looks just like Raven, one of my two Newfoundlands.  Such a sweety.

Thought for the day:  "An apple will keep anyone away if thrown hard enough."

Today's card

Inside it says : "Warm holiday greetings and wishes for a New Year that's full of joy!"

I'm still getting gifts shipped in to complete my list.  Then will come the dreaded task of wrapping.  There have been years when I was wrapping in the small hours of Christmas day, I put it off so long.  I'm tempted to get one of those big plastic bags with decorations and just load them full of the unwrapped presents...

Bumper sticker for the day:  "If Dorothy can click her heels and be back in Kansas, why can't I click my flipflops and be at the beach?"

Christmas Cards

Hardly anyone sends Christmas cards these days.  In fact, you are lucky if you get an email card.  Partly because we have all  gotten out of the habit of writing anything by hand.  But that alone isn't enough to understand this change, because I have noticed the trend for years, long before PCs became commonplace.  Yes, I am that old.  And it is funny, at the stores that sell cards, if you shop for a new box, they have been picked over pretty thoroughly for something that few people need.  Anyway, I will send off my usual 5 or 6,and maybe get 3 or 4 in return.  But all of them will be from people I love, and who love me back.  Richer than gold.

So since I have all these cards accumulated over the years, I am going to "give" (post) one for my loyal readers each day until Christmas.  I kinda like the idea.

The inside reads:  "May the gifts of the season fill your heart with joy."


And now the thought for the day:  "Life is all about how you handle plan B."