Momma's Corner

Saturday afternoon our friends Darlene and Michael arrived with a pan full of Seafood Enchiladas that Micheal had prepared.

We spent the evening catching up on things and watching movies on TV.  Of course we ate Micheal’s delicious offering and the apple gingerbread cobbler that I had made and went to bed stuffed. 

Sunday morning we sat down to pancakes and bacon that Jay prepared. 

Les, Anne, and Courtney came in the afternoon. 

So we socialized while poor Les fixed Jay’s goofed up computer. We tried playing a game Anne had brought up but it was a little too complicated for Dar and me.  So we ended up eating lasagna, garlic bread, and salad for our dinner with cheesecake for dessert. Les finished up with Jay’s computer and gave mine a quick look see to make sure it was all right then they left for home. 

Jay had made a rice and raisin pudding during the afternoon so Darlene, Michael, he, and I had a dish of it before they went home. 

It was a busy weekend and our Molly demonstrated it for us.

Sometimes the best place relax in the house is on a rug in front of a warm dishwasher!

I forgot to mention that with our company’s help the tree and ornaments got packed away so we are back to normal in record time.  Thank you friends!

Today Our baby is three years old. 

She was a real cutie when she came to live with us.  She was a birthday present from my son Wes, daughter-in-law Debra, and children Jasmine and Dakota.  She has been a delight and a constant, loving companion for the last almost three years. 

So even though she doesn’t understand it I’m wishing her a very Happy Birthday!

A very Happy New Year to all.  First my New Years resolutions! 
  1. I will not leave the house without lipstick and earrings (so people will not say what for you sir!)

  2. I will iron my husband’s shirts and keep them ironed (so that the people he encounters will not think he is a bachelor). 

  3. I will not piece between meals.  (This will be hard)

  4. I will try to make some interesting meals during 2009. ( I hate to cook)

  5. I will work diligently to complete all my craft projects.  (I keep buying more or changing the types of things I do)

  6. I will read the novels I have waiting for me in the bookcase (like a mother hen—books are eggs and I like to sit on them)

  7. I will try to be more cognizance   (of my surroundings, humans, pets, duties to correct a habit of tunnel vision).

  8. I will try to get out and meet more people (to improve my attitude and knowledge of life).

  9. I will try to improve my health, diet, and exercise.  (Another hard one—love to eat). 

10. I will try to think more pleasant things, smile every chance I get, and laugh out loud when the humor hits me. 

One of my gifts for Christmas was this charming tea light holder from Clayworks by Heather Goldminc.

A gift from Daughter-in-law Debra, it is a ceramic Fruit Cocktail can with a spoon holding a cherry on top.  I love it!

I caught a picture of a visit from one of my Red Bellied Woodpeckers this morning. 

With the trees that were cut down last year I was afraid we might loose this visitor but he is still around. 

Finally, after staying up to watch the ball drop last night I decided to start taking down the inside Christmas decorations this morning.  This is the dining room table as it looks at this moment.

I will start packing it up as soon as I get up from visiting your blogs this afternoon.  I will work on the buildings on the computer desk, the garland on the stairway, and the tree over the next few days.  Don’t like taking things down but once the doctor appointments start it is harder to accomplish. 

Have a great rest of the day and laugh at something for your lungs sake!!!!

Thanks to Skyline for this.
Subject: 2009 Contract

After serious & cautious consideration . . .

Your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2009!

It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up!!!

My Wish for You in 2009 May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words . . .

May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!

Well the snow came last night.  Big fluffy flakes fell so softly that unless you looked out you would never know.  I was up until after 1 am finishing The Graveyard Book.  The snow had already coated the deck and the truck.  This morning I was awakened first by a hand resting on my forehead.  When I moved it hubby sleepily said, “Oh is that you?”  I thought to myself who else would it be a redhead with a red ribbon around her waist..  A while later someone pulled the hair on my head and woke me again.  O K I thought enough of this and I crawled out of bed.  A glance at the clock on the dresser told me it was 7:30 am.  Oh boy I thought a whole six and a half hours, not counting the pee breaks and the forehead tap.  It is now 10:26 am and hubby is still sleeping, Brandy has been outside (now back in my bed), Molly has been fed and watered.  The dishwasher has been run, emptied, and contents now in the cupboard.  The laundry from last night has been folded and all but one pile put a way. I have had my bowl of Red Berry Special K and a couple of cups of coffee.  I have read two chapters in The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver and as I sit by the french doors typing a dove has been flying into them (not hard but getting my attention).

The Doctor’s appointment don’t start until next week so I am debating starting to pack Christmas away or just concentrating on a little vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping.  Hopefully friends Mike and Darlene will be up on the week end for a long overdue visit so I think the house work will win this debate.

I also need to start packing records for 2008 in a box and starting new envelops for 2009.  I will locate older boxes full of receipts and miscellaneous paper to shred and throw out.  It is like stocking the shelves in a store—Old items out and new in!  We think oh boy a new year is upon us.  We forget all the duties of the transition until a day or two before and then the weight of it all hit you in the back of the head.  Of course if your hubby is the records caretaker you are home free.  But that is not so in this household so I will dig in, grin and bear it until the mission has been accomplished. 

Again I am wishing my eldest son a very Happy Birthday and all of you a very Happy New Year!  May we all find 2009 starting to improve our lot in life!

I took my first walk down this driveway in regular shoes since August.  Two hundred feet down and back and the results was a slight headache.  I wanted to do this before the snow hit tonight.  After that happens I will be back to limited walking and then it is baby steps to keep my balance.  It is funny how important it is to get that first shower after a cast comes off.  Or that first long walk when it is clear enough to get around.  I certainly have learned a lot about mobility this last year.  I’m not quite over the healing yet but it is a far cry from Thanksgiving a year ago.  Two ankles have been corrected I hope for a long time to come. 

I have just finished Beedle The Bard by J. K, Rowling. I had bought three copies so the grand daughters could have one too.  I am now in the middle of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book . Les had a chapter of it on SEB and after listening to it I had to have it so I bought two copies so Les has one too.  Both are a light fantasy to escape with.  Next I’ll go back to a Deaver novel I started quite a while before Christmas.  Then there are several others, purchased over the last few years that just got shoved away when a craft had to be done.  I even have Stephen King’s new one, a gift from Mike and Dar to read. 

But I must confess the the fingers are itching to work on the tiny X’s again and my book on Punch Needle( also from Mike and Dar last year) hasn’t been tried out yet.  But at least I have a whole year now to complete some of these things I had bought for Christmas gifts!!!

The only thing that bothers me is that with all these projects to do I don’t dare order anything else ( even if it is on sale) until I make a dent in the stash I have!

Tomorrow is my eldest son Wes’ birthday.  Sad as it seems, I not sure, but I believe he is going to be 47.  I have trouble with this because that means I’m old as dirt!!!  As in the past few New Years Eves we will not be there to celebrate with him.  That is the bad part about getting old, traveling even a short distance in winter, and a birthday on a holiday.  But we wish him a very Happy Birthday along with a Happy New Years Eve

Since Saturday night late until about a half an hour ago we have been off line.  Our cable people had trouble with the high winds for a couple of days but we are up and perkin’  now. 

First the other half of our family came up Saturday for Christmas dinner sans the grand-kids.  This gave us a chance to play a game of pinochle.  Jay and Richard (our old friend/ my pseudo son) against my son Wes and I.  Jay and Richard won 537 to 518.  But I thought that it wasn’t too shabby a score!

Dinner picture are as follows.

Jay and I, Wes and Debra, and Jay and Richard completed our seating at the dinner table.

It was really quite pleasant and relaxing.  I would have love to have seen the Gran-kids but as with all families they had prior commitments with friends for Saturday. 

On to other things:

We canned 12 and a half pints of bean soup with the honey baked ham bone and still had enough meat to feed us on Saturday.  Yesterday we took all the equipment and canned goods back down to the food room and generally got the kitchen back in order. 

Today we took advantage of the weather and removed all the outside decorations before the snow moved back in again. 

A question for you!

Look closely at this picture and tell me would you honestly let this person drive your $20,000. pickup down an icy driveway?  I felt like a kindergartner trying to get ready, without the teacher help, to go home after school.

Yes indeed they took a picture or two of me this time.

I really don’t think I look brain dead—do you?

Well I’m Back !  I had heard that the weather on Christmas Eve would prevent company so I was sitting, fat, dumb, and happy (though a little disappointed) thinking I had nothing to do.  Wrongo!! Cindy called to ask what time is dinner.  A little while later Les called and said he and Courtney would be up also. Oh boy I had potatoes to peel, cook, and mash or candy.  The table needed to be extended and the holiday table cloth put on it. The cookies and candy had to be put in dishes.  The cheese and crackers would go out when help came to set them up.  Also the dishes and silverware had to be set out.  But most importantly I needed to take a bath.

Wes called me from work and said he didn’t think he could get out in time to be able to spend any time with us before the ice storm hit.  He said that he and the family would be up on Saturday instead.  That was fine because our friends Jeanie and also Richard will be up then. 

So the Eve dinner had these sweet people at it. 

I think you know all of them so I’ll start with the meal Mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, Caesar salad, Honey Baked Ham. deviled eggs, and canned corn.  Also home canned pickled beet, bread & butter pickles, and dill pickles.  For dessert it was pumpkin pie and assorted slices of cheese cake.  There were truffles and homemade cookies also.  No one went hungry. 

I took the ham bone and made bean soup with it today after setting aside ham slices for dinner tomorrow.  Again we will go with the two potato dishes, a lettuce & tomato salad, the ham, the home canned extras,  two different kinds of cheesecake, and ice cream.  I also made a dish for more company on either Sunday or Monday.  While I was messing around in the kitchen today I made Lasagna for supper tonight.  The bean soup is out in the cold so we can skim the fat off it.  Tomorrow morning we will heat it then pressure can it for meals later on. 

I think I’ll make some more truffles for tomorrow.  The cookies seem to be holding up well enough to come out of the fridge and onto a plate in the morning.

I had some problems this morning getting out of bed at 5 am.  The covers seemed to be twisted and very heavy.  By the light of the bathroom I saw the problem and grabbed the camera to take this picture in the dark.

Now tell me isn’t a little crowded with one full grown man, myself, a 10 pound dog. and a 12 lb cat fighting over who gets what covers in a 65 degree bedroom.  I’m used to Brandy but Molly coming in to share a space is new.  My knees couldn’t get warm!

It is funny how one appointment change can screw up the whole day.  At around 8:52 am the phone rang.  It was someone from Davita asking Jay to come in today instead of tomorrow to dialyze.  So I got him down to the end of the driveway to meet the Your Ride vehicle then went back up to the dome to get ready to go pick up the Honey Baked Ham.  That was on the list for today but I thought he was going with me.  My list of 19 things to do is shorter by eight items but after the drive to Flint I was ready to relax not work.  So that was all that got done today. 

A call from my eldest saying he had to work Christmas Eve so if the rain forecasted for that day starts to freeze his family won’t be here.  Les’ wife and daughter, I think,  are working too so if the weather is bad I want him to cancel too.  As I told Wes I love the tradition of family getting together but I I love my families alive and safe more.  I will call Cindy tomorrow and tell her the same thing.  We can get together on a better day if need be.

As you can see the snowmen are done but delivery will depend on the weather also.  It could turn out to be a quiet day here at the old homestead but knowing that everyone is safe is a great comfort. 

Yesterday was a very busy day for us.  The deck needed to have a path shoveled so I could get to the seed box.  I had gone into town and bought both Thistle and Jolly brand seed for the outdoor feeders.  Now I needed to put both seeds into containers to fit in the seed box on the deck.  I started with setting up the mud room to work there.  In the process I cut and packed the cardboard boxes that were on the floor for recycling so I could move around.  Then proceeded to sweep up spilled seed from past fillings and throw it out on the snow.  With room to work I filled plastic coffee cans with outside bird seed and gallon milk jugs with thistle. 

With that accomplished I readied them for transporting up to the main floor on the back of the pickup.  In the meantime Jay had moved the chili, chutney,  canning pots, and utensils from the kitchen to the back of the pick up for taking them to the basement food room through the garage down below.

Jay took the broken screen off the french door and I shoveled the area from the door to the feeders.  I moved the blue seed box closer to the door after shoveling out a spot for it.

We exchanged the items on the back of the truck with Jay placing the canning items in the food room while I loaded the seed containers on the truck.  Then he drove the seed containers up to the kitchen door and unloaded them in the kitchen.  I took them from the kitchen out to the deck and place them in the seed box. 

Now this is four days before Christmas Eve dinner.  No snow men stuffed with cotton yet, the selection of homemade canned goods still to be determined, and the wrapping not quite done.  Still lists and plans of what to accomplish to be thought out.  Sure don’t look too promising.

However this morning I took a deep breath and started my list of chores to be accomplished over the next three days.  I also checked supplies and started a shopping list for the grocery store.  I am not going to panic.  I can accomplish it all if I stay calm and spread the on my feet time over the remaining time.  The object is not to try to clean, bake, or work on these projects all in the same day or two or I will be limping around on Christmas Eve and that would spoil the day. 

So how are you doing with accomplishing your projects.  I hope all is going well for you.  OK time I got started!!!

The truck was cleaned off before 10 am this morning so I could drive Jay down to the end of the driveway to meet the Your Ride vehicle.  It started snowing sometime around 4:30 am and hasn’t let up yet. 

Jay was out at 8:30 am with the tractor. 

With it snowing the whole time he looked like a snow man driving through a white blizzard.  I am counting my blessings that we had enough brains to do the shopping yesterday afternoon.  I’m timing the first batch of Maple-Cranberry Chutney in the canner and have at least one more batch waiting to go in.  I bought six pounds of fresh cranberries yesterday .  One package went into the pot for four batches of chutney and the second one went into the freezer. 

After a break to attend to my chutney I have to tell you there is a total of 15—8 oz. and 3—4 oz jars of what I call my liquid gold (chutney) because of the ingredients.  I also have about 3 oz so Jay can taste test it when he gets home. 

It is still snowing with about a foot of it on the top of the outside bird feed box.  I’m trying to get up enough courage to go out on the deck, clear away the snow from the box, and feed those little critters.  I also have to call Your Ride to get some Idea what time I should clear the truck and meet Jay at the foot of the driveway.  He has fallen three times in the last week so walking up is out of the question. 

Guess what I still don’t have those snowmen stuffed yet.  I keep finding other things to do. 

A glance out the french doors show that it is starting to slack off on the snow fall so I guess I’ll get the boots on and wade the deck. 

Take care, stay warm—-and you guys in Florida and California you can quit smiling ( I know you are doing it!)

“Jay when you go down to the basement please bring up some chili from the freeze for supper”, I said.  A few moments later a voice replied, “We have no more chili”.

No more chili, I couldn’t believe it.  My mouth was all set for chili and there is none.  I went into the utility room, pulled a big box from under the desk containing all kinds of cans,  and told Jay to read up on the new pressure cooker instructions because tomorrow we will can chili.  I found all the ingredients after pulling hamburger from the freezer and hunting down a new bottle of ketchup from the pantry. 

Thus the adventure began.  The mixing, the stirring, and the tasting with Jay helping with the bottling and setting up the pressure cooker.  I bowed out at that point because when I was a kid my mom had an unpleasant experience with a pressure cooker. 

All progress slowly but went very well and results were 15 pints of chili to go on the shelf in the food room and no freezer space taken up.  But this momma is still cooker shy.  Many a few more projects with it and I’ll turn pro using it. 

The whole procedure brought something else to mind though.  While the supplies still last I’m off to the grocery store for more fresh cranberries because the the Maple-Cranberry Chutney is disappearing fast from our shelf.  I think there are three jars left.  Fresh cranberries (like rhubarb in the spring) is hard to find out of season so it is make hay (chutney) while the sun shines or something like that.  That project is water bath canning and won’t take a whole lot of time to do. 

I also want to make some more truffles and Magic Bars when the Eve is closer. I bought those ingredients the other day.

So how you plans progressing?  Very well I hope. 

Oh yeah I had to say something about the lack of snow didn’t I!  Couldn’t just leave it alone!  Now there is snow on top the ice in the driveway.  Such fun going down hill I don’t need!  It hit last night after dark.  I guess it didn’t want to see me standing in the driveway screaming, ” All right all ready enough—stop!”  Ai least all of my packages have been delivered so I don’t have to worry about a Fed-X or UPS person breaking a leg walking up to the dome. 

Remember yesterday I said I was going to stuff some knitted snowman—didn’t get done.  I also was starting the ‘to do’ and ‘shopping lists’—ain’t done either.  Procrastination seems to be my middle name.  I have six days before Christmas Eve dinner here and you would think I had months yet.  Now I know what I’m serving and what has to be shopped for yet.  I know what baking and cooking I need to do yet.  I know what cleaning has to be done.  (I got the rake and the coal shovel sitting by the kitchen door—kidding). I know what has to be wrapped yet.  Yes I know all this.  So why am I sitting on my butt pecking at a key board, or doing a FILL IT IN puzzle, or playing Free Cell!  My answer is the same as it was when my mom asked me why I ate the last of the cookies without sharing.
QUOTE:  I Don’t Know Mom!!!! 

I guess it is just more fun to increase the TO DO YET pressure.  I always did work better under pressure! 

The mail lady brought a package today.  It came all the way from California.  Upon opening I found two new critters to join the clowns, birds, home made things, and old ornaments from several years of my life.  I had not bought any thing new to hang on the tree to mark this year passing.  So these two additions will fill the bill completely.  I can hear the puppy howling carols if I listen real close!  My thanks to Maria and Bob for the thoughtful gifts.

A duty that has been delayed but it is time to complete it now. 

The Butterfly award from Paula at Momma’s Place At home.

The other award from Grammie Pammie.  Both were awards for my blog so now it is time to name my choices.

These blogs give me a kind of feeling of friendship and caring that brings happiness into an other limited circle of friends.

I give both these awards to the following blogs.

  1. Silverfox Whispers

  2.Pammies Place

  3.Mrs Dof

  4. Momma’s Place At Home

  5.Junie’s Place

  6. I Live On A Farm

  7.SEB

  A big thank you to all of you for making my visits fun!

Last night was one of those!  We have all had them sometime.  It seemed like every two hours I was up.  My mind kept saying you have to pee ( excuse the description).  So out I would crawl and off to the john.  On trip number four it was around 5 am and I decided that I would empty the dishwasher, gather up the dirty clothes to go in the washer, and take advantage of my hubby handiwork.  He had set out dishes, ingredients, and the recipe for the Apple Gingerbread Cobbler the night before but I didn’t feel up to making it then.  Well 5:30 in the morning seemed like a great time to get it done.  After getting it into the oven I sat and work three Fill It In puzzles with a cup of coffee.  During that time the cobbler came out and the Tylenol I had taken earlier kicked in so my headache was almost gone.  I sure do miss my Excedrin with it’s “instant gone factor” but if you take Motrin you can’t take it.  Any way this is the results of my early morning baking.

It is divided into two pans because the original recipe make 8 servings and I wanted to freeze one.  How does it taste? Don’t know yet.  Somehow making it in the morning doesn’t dictate eating at the same time of day. 

A look outside confirmed that this is indeed Michigan.  The big thermometer on the wall outside read 22 degrees and a wind seemed to be gathering steam. 

It was snow up to the wazoo around Thanksgiving right up through a week ago then it started to melt.  It seems like every year Mother Nature tries to scare us with bare ground about a week before Christmas.  We wonder if any kids still get sleds and do they get to use them. 

I finally went back to bed around 7:30 am for another couple of hours of sleep because it is much warmer under those covers than sitting up in a shrug and slippers. 

Yesterday while I worked some more on my lap robe (do you believe I still don’t have even a quarter of it done). 

When I think that I have more of these to do in different patterns I wonder if they will ever be finished.  Maybe next Christmas I’ll have them ready.  Darn old pesky Xs. 

Brandy, on the other hand, gave up trying to get my attention and curled up on the couch to take a little snooze.

I’m always amazed how she can be so comfortable all twisted up like that.

This afternoon I’m going to stuff and sew a couple of knitted snowmen I made last year to use as gifts.  I still have several things to construct, create, or finish that will be keeping me busy all of 2009.  But hey I’m too old to walk the streets!

Stay warm, keep healthy, and for the sake of your lungs and your attitude Laugh!

It seemed like I was chained to the kitchen stove all day yesterday.  The results were some good looking candy and sad looking cookies.  The saving grace was that everything tastes good.  The truffles are the candy recipe on the Eagle Brand Milk container.  Easy to make and yummy to eat. 

As to the cookies I started on the Oatmeal cookies on Thursday.  It was Jay’s mom’s recipe.  Fairly simple to assemble but they have a tendency to crumble.  I also made the Date Filled Sugar Cookies, another of Reita’s recipes.  Not pretty but very tasty.  Yesterday I used the sugar cookie recipe to make the Almond Slivered, the apricot filled, and the cookie dipped in white sugar.  With all that and making a meatloaf for supper my oven was on for most of the day.  Today I have a headache and very angry feet and legs but I have enough sweet things to make a fairly decent gift when a jar of homemade jam or chutney is added.  At least for now my work here is done ! 

Today I’m taking a page from Molly’s book—laying low, feet up, and napping in the sun.

Holiday Cookies—-Bah Humbug!  I spent most of yesterday trying to make cookies to give, with jam. to my delivery ladies.  What a farce!  I started with the Magic Bars.  Taste great even with a few substitutions—I added butterscotch morsels to the chocolate to make 12 ozs.  The problem came when I tried to get them out of the pan.  I have what looks more like miniature popcorn balls rather than bars.  Well I guess they are for private consumption not gifts. 

Next I tried Date filled Oatmeal cookies.  The date filling is great but the cookie part is a disaster.  First I couldn’t get the dough to stick together.  Little bits of oatmeal kept falling out.  The recipe said add two to four tablespoons of water to the dough and then refrigerate for 15 minutes to make rolling it out easier.  I got news even a cup of water wouldn’t have helped it.  I finally managed to get it rolled out but getting it an eighth of an inch thick proved to be more of a task than I thought.  The recipe also said to cut in two inch circles, two for each cookie, fill one side, place other one on top and press edges firmly.  When I finished with that step I still had almost a cup of filling left and my sealing job was not very effective.  Results were cookie too thick, filling too little, and Momma too sad. Sweet hubby said, “too doughy throw them out”.  My reply was that If I had to eat each one myself I was going to salvage my work.  I always thought that old grandmas could naturally make great cookies but I guess I was wrong. 

So as you can see everything is still out on the counter waiting this morning and Jay has two of his Mom’s recipes ready to help me make.  Hopefully working together we can create something good enough to give away. 

On the plus side I got my last to decoration projects done.

The snowman, the little house, and mice on the shelf by the kitchen door.  Also the Nativity scene on the buffet where it usually sets during the holiday. 

More snow outside not a large amount but enough for Jay to get the tractor out and start plowing.  Yes it came back yesterday and it works like a charm. 

Hope all is going well for you and I get some cookies for giving not eating!!

Good Morning!  It is 20 freakin’ degrees out there and even Molly didn’t stay out long after meowing to go outside.  Brandy and Jay are still tucked warmly in bed.  I haven’t kicked the thermostat up yet so it is shrug wearing time at my computer. 

Well it stopped snowing yesterday and with Jay’s help I stumbled over the ruts hidden under the snow to set up good old Doe and Buck. 

I didn’t hear any comments from them about how long they sat on the porch.  Usually Doe has some snide remark to make.  I guess she is too pissed off to talk to me.  Anyhow I waited until dark to take their picture and they did me proud.

My other dilemma yesterday was where to put my lighted buildings.

All but three ended up on top of Jay’s computer desk.  Two more are in the bay window and the third one is on my desk.  Only the two in the window and the one on my desk are plugged in however because of the mare’s nest of wires from the computer equipment behind Jay’s desk.  I really don’t relish resetting a circuit breaker every time the computer is turned on. 

20 degrees or not we have a trip to the grocery store to make today.  The larder is running low bread and eggs.  Also the milk is threatening to turn now that it is down to the last 1/8th cup full.  Jay had baked a loaf of onion bread night before last but we have pretty well devoured that.  I also need to get some ingredients to make some cookies to go with jam to give to my mail and paper ladies.  I should have some left over for munching before our dinner on the Eve. 

My other project today is to place the Nativity scene that Jimmy Murphy painted for me roughly 26 years ago on the buffet.  You know a tree filled with ornaments older than my youngest child, the buildings that the middle child bought me, the church that the youngest so carefully painted and put glitter on,  and a string of small beads with a bell on the end that my oldest sent me when he lived in California a few years ago bring back so many memories.  But I’m sure you have Holiday reminders like that also. 

Take care, keep warm, develop those holiday plans and above all remember to laugh out loud (them lungs you know).

A date which will live in infamy!

Yesterday from daylight until after dark looking out the window all you could see was a fine snow blowing diagonally across the area like a desert sand storm.  The street out front was only four stripes.  No salt, no melting, just the signs that Mother Nature gives telling you if you don’t have to go out then don’t.  Believe me I didn’t.  But this morning I awoke to beautiful sunshine.  Not warm enough yet to melt anything but still a welcome sign that urges you to do something..

The last week has flown by but my feet have been dragging badly with the decorating.  I don’t know if it is age or my trying to heal.  A little of both I think.

Three of my seven buildings are sitting on the buffet.  I decided that putting them around the tree was not a good idea for safety sake and my knees that don’t like kneeling.  Placing three of them on the buffet soon became apparently the wrong decision due to the lack of room.  Besides I usually set the Nativity scene up there.  What to do with them is the question. With a little over two weeks do I want to put them any where?  I have decided against the lights in the upstairs windows because climbing the stairs to turn them off every night is difficult.  The lights on the eaves are out again this year because the ladder climbing is out.  Over half of my decorations are still in the boxes.  Even my Christmas cactus isn’t ready to bloom yet.

Lots of beautiful green branches but no buds to announce the coming blooms.  It kind of makes you sad when things don’t go the way you want them to.

In the bedroom closet are several projects I had planned to complete for Christmas but my mind or my body just didn’t cooperate.  I guess I’ll have plenty to do for the coming year and I won’t have to worry about buying them because they are paid for already.  At this moment I am ready to throw all plans up in the air and sit and read books.  (Yes actually read some eight or nine books that are waiting on the shelf for me).

Then yesterday evening in the blowing snow my neighbor, Phyllis, appeared at my door with this lovly plant to help decorate the house.  It is almost a salmon color and goes well with the room color.  You gotta love someone who makes an effort to cheer you up—even if they are unaware that you are down.

Well I do have one thing to accomplish.  The menu for Christmas eve dinner. I am going to enlist the aid of my hubby and kids and prepare most of it.  I am sitting here now, mouth watering and mind racing over what dessert will grace our table.  Boy that improves the attitude quickly don’t it!  How are you doing with your plans?

Just call me Goody Two Shoes my friend.  It is true after three and a half months I am actually in both shoes.  I don’t know how long it will last today but at least it is progress.  Am I pleased—you betcha. 

I got outside yesterday to fill the thistle so as promised…

..the feeding station that is up, thanks to David and Cindy, got it’s picture taken .  It is right outside the french doors so expect lots of pics of birds filling their tummies.  There are six finches on the thistle feeder right now and two chickadees on the main feeder. 

At 8:30 this morning a big red pickup with a plow on the front showed up to rescue us.  Both Jay and I have torn up the lower end of the front yard after backing off the driveway and getting stuck. Of course I did more damaged then him because a woman takes longer to get unstuck. The UPS and FedEx men have been walking the two hundred feet up my driveway to deliver packages.  A jar of jam just doesn’t seem enough reward for their efforts.  The snowplow was arranged yesterday when Keene Small Engine called to say they needed to order a part for the tractor.  That it may be Monday before it is delivered.  I told Jay that I was all done worrying and we called the Mobil station in town last night because the manager’s hubby plows.  Gotta love a small town where you can get help quickly.

Poor Buck and Doe have been sitting on the front porch since Sunday.  Doe just gave up, sat down, and shook her head in disgust so hard that she lost her ears.  I promised them I would get them set up tomorrow if it isn’t snowing too hard.  I’ll get picture of them and my giant Christmas bulbs on the front on the dome then.

But today I must turn my attention to what is on my dining room table. 

Yes it is the lap robe and Christmas cards.  Obviously the cards are top priority.  So please excuse me while I take pen in hand and get on the ball!!!

...me seem to end up thumb tacked to my wall in what is now Momma’s Corner.  This way I can sit, enjoy a glance, and smile every once in a while.  Examples are a saying about friends that Pammie sent me from Sally, my two signs on old age, and most recently a picture of Lu Anne and Lucky that Maria sent me. 

Then outside the French doors I can watch the birds again this year.  Yes I forgot to mention that David and Cindy set up the feeding station on the deck for me last Sunday.  They hauled the the blue bin, with the seed in it, from the porch to the deck and moved the thistle feeder from the tree to add to the large feeder.  I will get a picture of it when I refill it because walking is a little difficult right now.

Well, like most of you, our family has cut back on gifts this year so the village is taking the place of them under the tree.  I sure wish i could hit the lottery or that a rich uncle’s will would turn up about now.  Of course that isn’t likely because all my uncles have been dead for years and none of them were rich.  But we all have our dreams to think about! 

After decorating their house on Friday Cindy and David came up here to help me pull out the decorations and put up my tree.  The furniture was rearranged and the rocker moved to the bedroom to make room for the tree.

Cindy and David set it up with David working on the top branches, Cindy and I working the lower area, and eventually me unwrapping ornaments while sitting because my feet started complaining. 

While we worked on the tree David took over the garland project.  He placed it around the French doors and developed an unusual pattern for the pass through.  He then wrapped the railings from the loft down to the main floor in lighted garland and added ribbons to the the railing. 

It was a good start with still around three or four plastic boxes to go through.  But the tree is done except for placing the village around the base of it .

I must find a place for the nativity scene, several wreaths, (indoors and out), other treasures still packed away. 

But the bird and the clown on the tree are two of many items demonstrating my interests and the candle on the coffee table is a reminder that Buck and Doe are out on the porch waiting for the snow to stop so they can go out in the yard.

Need I say more?  Well maybe that I guess/imate it to be another at least 3 1/2” if not 4”.  I think I’m ahead Mrs. Dof.  Unfortunately we still haven’t gotten any one over to take the tractor in to be converted to a snow plow yet.  I have to get someone here soon or they won’t be able to get up here to get it. 

Company yesterday—I’ll post that later today.

I’m thankful for the help, love and attentions shown by my son, daughter-in-law, and daughter in getting this Thanksgiving dinner ready, served, and cleared away yesterday.  (Please forgive some of the fuzzy pictures my physical state was not up to snuff.)

Wes, my eldest, took on the duties of cooking the sauce and basting it to candy the sweet potatoes.
He carved the turkey the best I have seen in a long time.  It seems he either read or saw how it was to be done turning out a large pile for the platter and a very empty carcass when he finished.  He helped set up the serving table.

Debra, his better half came in time to put the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy into the appropriate containers for reheating, She then took over the warming duties of each dish.  She put the home canned pickles, chutney, pickled beets, cole slaw, cottage cheese into serving dishes.  She set out the plates and silver ware for me. 

Where was I?  Walking in pain around the kitchen watching things get done.  Earlier I had drove to Davison to pick up the dinner thinking I had it made in the shade until I opened the box and read the instructions for preparation. Two years ago I picked up a ready made dinner and everything was complete.  Just keep it warm or cold depending on the item.  This time the turkey called for 2 1/2 hours for reheating and all the side dishes had to be warmed too. As extra I had already peeled and steamed the sweet potatoes, made the crab dip, try to roll it into a log with no success, and turned it over to Debra to do. I was trying to peel boiled eggs that I had cooked from the night before but the membrane wouldn’t separate and they were falling apart,  No deviled eggs for the family this year.

  Jay was in bed still not feeling well from the minor surgery the day before and Richard, our long time friend, who was the first to arrive was wandering around drinking coffee.  When Wes wasn’t busy he kept Richard company.  My grandson Dakota wisely stayed out of the way.

He found something to keep himself busy as he waited.

Next Cindy, with friend Lewis had arrived. ( My picture of them didn’t turn out.)  Cindy pitched in to help with the set up.  By this time my legs and feet ached so bad I couldn’t think.  Nothing was working under my hands and I realized that my children were saving the day.

At last everyone was seated and the chowing began.

.

Richard started as Jay, after waking up, taking his medications, and filling his plate he followed suit.

After dinner the same crew that helped me get things ready started clearing, transferring left over to smaller bowls or to containers to take home with them, and loading the dishwasher.  The dirty dishes or pots that didn’t fit Debra washed by hand.  All three of them had me sit in a chair in the kitchen and supervise the proceedings.  I love them dearly and don’t know what I would have done without them. 

A special request for a picture was filled as son and grandson posed in the kitchen.

So despite my problems together we pulled the dinner off.

It is unnerving to realize that age and infirmities are finally effecting the way one can perform a task that used to be work but could be done comfortably .      What am I thankful for, besides all the help—why that the whole thing is over with. 

We here at Momma’s Corner urge you to count your blessings today.  Be they many or few they belong to you.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Just a few weeks ago Mrs. Dof had a picture of the leaves on her porch steps. Early this morning this is what greeted me on my porch.

Hubby said that we have at least four inches of snow out there and it is still falling sparsely.

I was very happy that we had taken time to fill the bird feeders yesterday because wading out to them today just ain’t my cup of tea!

Yep somewhere out there is my driveway.  Even the Thanksgiving flag can’t hide what Mother Nature handed us today.  I can’t blame it on Old Man Winter because he hasn’t arrived yet!

Unfortunately we didn’t call Keane’s to come and pickup the tractor and change the mower deck to the snow plow until yesterday.  They are to pick it up today but in the meantime if you don’t have four wheel drive you are ‘s.o.l.’ getting up to our house.  The Your Ride driver is down on the road right now honking his horn so Jay will walk down to meet him.  Dialysis goes on snow or not and having someone else drive him in is a great relief to me.  My challenge comes tomorrow when I drive 133.6 miles round trip to the hospital for Jay’s appointment with Dr. Webb.  When I was younger this was a no nothing task but as I age I grow more cautious about snow and ice.  But this is my job, to take care of him, and I try to do it well. 

When I looked out at the thermometer is was around 30 degrees, Molly is sleeping in OUR chair, Brandy is curled up on the afghan on the couch, and yes I have my shrug on.  I gave up working on the lap robe in the recliner and moved to the dining room table. 

Yes the light is not as good and as you can see it is slow going but I just keep plodding along. 

Well it is back to the needles and thread for a little longer.  Stay warm, keep well, and remember to laugh.

In by five and out ready to deliver the next day!     

Yep!  Pammie brought them to me on Saturday and last night I finished the last one .  As you can see I love edging for her.  I also wore my shrug all last night and have it on again this morning .  So warm and comforting for these old bones of mine. She made me a very good thing!

Jay and I packed the jam boxes yesterday afternoon and they will be at the post office this morning.  It is a little later than I wanted but that won’t effect the taste. 

I have to sit down today, make a ‘last minute list’ for Tuesday through Thursday morning so that I have all my ‘ducks in a row’, (make that turkey and fixings)
so I can finish up the meal with no hitches.  Of course Kroger is doing the serious cooking and I’m just playing with candied sweet potatoes and crab dip. 

I’ll know Thursday if I need to construct some costumes for the Lake Orion parade.  That will only give me about two weeks to get them done but that isn’t impossible.  We will see if the kids decided to march or not. 

A sample of my work here.

Take care, stay warm, (I sure am)  and keep laughing (your lungs need the exercise!)

Twice in one day—can you stand it?

I had to tell you that my dear friend Pammie, hubby Earl, and son Eric came up this afternoon.  She brought me four more afghans to edge and this:

Isn’t lovely?  Just what any Doctor would order.  It is soft, warm, and Pammie made it—three important things to treasure .  I have had it on ever since she gave it to me this afternoon.  No headache or sore shoulders from hunching over to stay warm.  When I finally take it off it will go on the back of my computer chair until I need it again.  I plan to wear it every waking hour until Spring comes because she assured me that it is sturdy. 

Thank you my friend it is just what I needed.

As promised my two scruffs turned into clean cut pictures of joy!

Well plans are progressing well towards Thanksgiving except for a few hitches.  I didn’t get the priority mailing boxes picked up until yesterday afternoon so I may not get them to their recipients before Thanksgiving.  But I’ll have them at the post office on Monday morning I promise! 

We have our dinner ordered for Thursday morning which is good because we received word yesterday that Jay has to see Dr. Webb on Wednesday.  But what we had planned to make at home can be handled easily.  Things have a way of popping up unexpectedly then you find out that previous plans were the best choice after all. 

Hope all is progressing well with your plans and that it will be a pleasant day for you. 

Well I have company coming for a short visit today so it is time for me to hit the shower so they don’t want to leave early.  (That is a stinky joke that is supposed to make you smile—did it work?)

Good Morning!  Well I’ve been up since 8 am and everything with a beating heart is still tucked in and sleeping.  The dilemma I faced last Monday was solved Tuesday morning when a man showed up with a steam cleaner and straightened out my dirty carpet.  I had called Monday and got the last appointment he had before Thanksgiving.  Dumb luck but worth it if you could see the floor.  I called my daughter-in-law, Debra, thanked her for her help. and told her she was free to work on her own house instead of running up here to clean mine.

Wednesday the chairs and the bird totem came off the deck and are now safely put away in the basement thanks to Jay.  I left the umbrella stand on the deck because I’m still debating setting up the birds feeders in front of the French doors (outside) so I can watch the birds during the Winter. 

The picture shows the hiding place for my construction paper turkey that grandson Dakota made several years ago.  One of these days I will have to retire it from duty but not yet. 

Today I take Jay down to Clarkston for his haircut at 3 pm.  Daughter Cindy works just a few blocks from there and will met us for a well deserved hug before she starts.  On the way home we will stop at Sam’s Club for a few items because it is on the way. 

Tomorrow Brandy goes to Doggy Depot for her bath and trim.  She and Jay usually need a haircut about the same time so it is easy to remember.  I’ll do some before and after shots so you can see the improvement. 

Pammie called me to say she and Earl would be up Saturday to bring me my finished shrug so I should hold on to those six afghans until then.  So I have them ready to go for her.  Maybe she will have some more for me to do. 

I have three boxes to get ready for shipping to my friends in California, Illinois, and my brother in Florida.  So I will get them on there way before the week end.  I want to get the Maple/Cranberry chutney to them in time for Thanksgiving.  A little bit of jam for them won’t hurt either. 

Well everyone is awake now.  Jay is fixing breakfast. The cat is wandering around and I have uncovered the birds.  The exception is Brandy who has been up, outside, and now asleep on the couch.

Next week may be busy because Debra had mentioned the grand kids might want to do the Lake Orion Lighted parade again this year.  That means that I will need to sew a few more costumes because every one is out-growing the ones we have.  I think I’ll go with bag costumes that way they can be a little larger and will last a couple of years. 

Well Jay just said Breakfast is ready So I’m Gone!

...because of this my daughter-in-law Debra came up to ‘help me’ clean house.

Yes it is swollen. 
Yes it hurts.
Yes I feel like finding a cheap chain-saw.

But Debra started up stairs and made everything clean and shiny without me.  The problem came later in the day when she tried to use my old Themax to shampoo the carpet in the living/dining room area.  It sprayed the carpet very well but it wouldn’t extract the water.  She had worked so hard all day that I let her go home.  I told her I would rent a cleaner for next Saturday and she said she would be back up to finish the job.

So for right now it looks like this in the living/dining area.  Every thing that can be moved has been pulled out from the walls.  Things have been picked up off the floor including Brandy’s toy box.  She is a little miffed with that.  It will stay this way until the carpet is done.

Now this is around an 80 or 90 mile round trip for Debra.  She has her own house to clean and doesn’t need to be cleaning mine.  But I didn’t move anything back in hopes of being able to clean it myself.  I think I have a solution and all will be better tomorrow.

Sunday night brought this into our life.

But it didn’t stay long and then the green of the grass came back.  Oh well it is Michigan, November, and anything can happen. 

Hope all is going well with you and the holiday plans are being formulated.  Let me know how you are doing and what your Thanksgiving is looking like.

The last two afghan are now edged and ready to be returned to Pammie.  My daughter-in-law Deb is coming up tomorrow to help me get a start on house cleaning for Thanksgiving.  My mobility has not been up to snuff and she has graciously agreed to help me.  I will send the afghans home with her and Pammie can pick them up at her house. 

We are waiting now to hear the results of Jay’s latest test but it will take a few days. 

A trip to the Doggie Depot is on tap for Brandy and Jay has to see Shawn soon for a hair cut. 

I’m hoping the foot and leg will improve a little more before Thanksgiving Day because I sure need a lift!

Went to the hospital for Jay’s test today and still completed afghan number four.  Only two left so I’d say I’m moving right along!

Foot is still swollen and hurts like you know what most of the time but hey we are making it!

What else are furries do to in the afternoon when they live with two old people.

Well number three was completed tonight which means I am half way done. 

Of the two test Jay has to take the first shows everything is ok.  We go to the hospital for the second one tomorrow.  So I’ll close early!