2010 is Melting Away

Poor Bob! He had a good run. Maybe since he was made with Christmas snow, he will be back again next year. I hope so!


Susie II is still hanging in there but she will be gone by the end of today.


And like my snowpeeps, 2010 is melting away. Well, the good news is that all 38 of the windows are in. The bad news: the house is a wreck. Construction guys plus melting snow plus power saws equals mud and muck in the house. So, the process of cleaning and putting it all back together begins.

Sunday was a fun trip to my home away from home: Lowes. Cletus finds it a challenge to drive in the snow. It was not bad. Just a little slippery in parking lots. We get snow so seldom, that it was cool to be in your own little snowglobe.

Anyway, the curtain rods they had up before for the double and triple windows were awful. Every time you tried to open up the curtain the rod would fall out and the curtain would end up on the floor. Cletus has had enough of that! Fortunately, before becoming completely overwhelmed with choices, we found several rods and curtains, on clearance! The single windows rods and curtains are ok (with a little Rit dye help).

It is such a big job...but one room at a time, right after I have a cup of coffee and think it over...

The Promise of Spring

My favorite thing to do...

...as Sherry is so fond of saying: "it is hard to be random". Too true!

Best Christmas Ever

What a wonderful sight...a truly white Christmas. It was good snow too...good for snowmen and snowball fights...and almost all of the new windows were in.


Tdawg started to build his first snowman, Bob. He even used stick for abs! HaHa!!


So I decided to come outside and help. We made Susie I. Named in honor of my sister. We were wishing for an epic snowball fight with her. She looks pretty good. Thanks to Velda for the hat, scarf and mittens. Who knew I would be using them so soon!!


Tdawg called it the best Christmas ever...


Ah, so happy!


Tdawg rolled the remnants of Susie I to the front yard and we made Susie II.

2011 'Round the Corner

Oh my...Christmas is days away and 2011 is just 'round the corner. I seriously need about another month in 2010 to stuff done and feel good about it. Well, as we know it does not work that way.

It is now looking like most of the 38 windows, we are having to replace in the house, are going in tomorrow and finishing up on Friday (Christmas Eve)...MAYBE. Since we were told they were installing Monday and Tuesday, all of the curtain rods and curtains in the house are down and all of the furniture is pushed two feet or more away from the windows. Last night, sitting on the couch, I felt like I was in a fish bowl! I am starting to think that boxing everything up and moving would be easier than this. I'm an orderly person and I am not liking the current chaos in the house.

I have not really felt all that joyful this season. I have greatly enjoyed parts of it. But I wanted that mountain-top experience that lasts throughout the month. That is not very realistic. So, I become regularly disappointed by my own expectations. I understand very well why this season is so difficult for so many. I know I dearly miss loved ones that have passed. I still long for one more family get together.

In my head, I realize that I am blessed beyond measure. And I have more than I could ever really need (to be honest, I have too much). My joy does not come from my circumstances. My joy does not come from my feelings (which regularly lie to me). But sometimes I still can't seem to help feeling like Charlie Brown in the Christmas Special.

Living Christmas Tree

Last night, we thoroughly enjoyed First Baptist's "The Living Christmas Tree". There are more than 150 talented singers and a full orchestra. It was beautiful!

I told Cletus that I wish I sing that well. He said he wished that I could sing that well too!

Buddy really liked that the Christmas tree lights were programmed to twinkle and change colors to match the music. Most of the time, the choir members were not lit, so all you could see was the tree.

It is one of my favorite holiday traditions!

Thoughts for Today

It has been quite cold here lately. Some days it has been colder here in Colorado! So I got to thinking about those who are cold and less fortunate. Those without homes. So when my Sunday School teacher asked each of us for a suggestion for a winter mission project. I told them that it would be so easy to donate to the homeless. The ladies' responded in abundance and filled up my trunk.

So today at lunch, I dropped off blankets, coats and gloves for the homeless. I had a nice visit with Lineise, the Homeless Coalition Director. She told me that the donations are going to a local church. The church's congregation is 95% homeless! Wow! That just stunned me. How awesome to have a church that is meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of this mostly-ignored segment of society. What a blessing these workers are!

Most of us have more than we need. We can't even fit it all in a house, and a garage, and a detached garage and a storage building. Not just now, but all throughout the year, consider donating time, talents and material possessions to those less fortunate than yourself. He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree!

For a Crowd

We are having a wedding shower at work. I never know what to bring...then I remembered. My friend’s husband made these…Yummo! Now it is my favorite!

2 small bags of little cocktail smokies
1 large jar (about 32 oz) Grape Jelly
1 small jar (about 10oz) Mustard

Place the smokies in the crock pot.

In a sauce pan slowly warm up the grape jelly until it is liquefied.
Stir in the mustard
Pour over the smokies.

Cook on medium until heated and bubbly
then turn down to warm

Never a Dull Moment

Some old same old here, which is to say: life is never a dull moment.

One of the best things about Christmas time is the music. Last Monday night, we went to the Heritage Bell Ringers concert. It was wonderful! I was thinking that maybe I could be a bell ringer, but those people have to be able to read music and keep up with the different bells and not drop them. That leaves me out! Oh well, I guess I’ll stick to playing the triangle and the air guitar (LOL!).


Despite my best efforts to keep this year stress free…Wednesday, I got a call from Cletus early in the morning. He woke up at 4a not feeling well. So, of course, he got up and went to work. By the time he called me the pain behind his left shoulder blade was really bad and the pain was radiating down his arm. Oh my!! With his family history and risk factors, I raced to pick him up and drove him to the emergency room.

Thankfully, he was just inconvenienced; instead of being a tragedy. The old ticker checked out fine. But they kept him trapped for about six hours. At noon, they definitively said that it was not his heart and he could go as soon as they finished the paperwork. Long-suffering is not one of Cletus virtues. At 1:30p, with NO paperwork in hand, Cletus walked out. He was still in significant pain, but the ER folks really did not care and were not going to do anything else for him. Nice.

Cletus is following up with Dr. Eddie. We are pretty sure that it is not his gall bladder, which means it is probably a pinched nerve. He is improving with otc pain reliever, heating pad and laying down flat.

Weekend Recap

Another weekend of not getting enough done… - well, I might get most of my projects done by Christmas. Otherwise, my friends will just have to overlook my shortcomings and be happy with January fool presents.

I was so hoping for a relaxing weekend. Saturday, I got some extra sleep but woke up with a splitting headache that would not go away. I think due to the change in weather, my sinuses went crazy. I have talked to several people who also had a headache all day on Saturday. After the Auburn game (War Eagle Baby) I took some meds and a hot shower and started to shake it.

I was headed upstairs to bed when Cletus said “do you hear that?” Ugh!! NO! I’m tired, I don’t want to hear anything! But yes, I heard it: another water leak. This time it was the hot water supply to the washing machine. So, between 10:30p and almost midnight, the plumber cut through the drywall and soldered copper pipes. Ugh! Thankfully, it had not been leaking for long. Could have been a whole lot worst!!

Sunday was much better. Our church had their Christmas Choir program. It was beautiful. I’m quite envious of the singing talent. Sure wish I could sing like that...well, some of us just have to make a joyful noise!

I spent the rest of the afternoon with my buddy, Mitzi. She said that if you don’t feel well on your birthday, that it shouldn’t count. So, we decided that she could “red shirted” this year. And thus be eligible for a younger birthday next year. Don’t ya just love creative math?!? She gave me a card that says: ”Good friends make each other laugh; Really good friends go for the snort!“ …and we did plenty of snorting! :-D

Friday Night with the Grills

I was so glad that last week was over! Just having to work 40 hours was bad enough. Then I had goof ups, miscues and crap to deal with. Ugh! So it was good to unwind on Friday night and craft. Mrs. Goofy fed and led us to create

Maybe one of these days it will say…1 Day Until I find my sanity! I enjoyed the fellowship as much as I enjoyed the crafting. Sometimes I just need an extra dose of estrogen. Living with three boys puts me in the 24/7 testosterone zone!

Santa's Village

We have a neat thing called Santa's Village. You can go see Santa's reindeers. Decorate cookies with Mrs. Clause. Make an ornament with the elves. See a snow storm (of bubbles). Get lost in the icicle maze. Sit in a real sleigh. There are lots of photo opportunities. And of course, the all important visit with Santa.

This year we took my nephew J.J. He loved the snow storm. And was really excited to see The Big Guy in the red suit...until his mean aunt asked him if he had been good. He said "Yes Ma'am". Hmm, I said...ALL year long. Poor kid. I nearly made him cry. "Noooooo (sniff sniff)"

Well, maybe Santa grades on a curve. He told me that I'm off the naughty list. Whoo hoo! Several of my co-workers later said that he either didn't have his glasses on or he must have been looking at the wrong list! Oh well, on the "naughty" list and proud of it!

J.J. and the Reindeer


J.J.the Snowman


Buddy the Snowman


J.J. and the fake snow


J.J. the elf


J.J. and Santa (hoping to be on the "nice" list)


Buddy and Santa (too big to sit on Santa's knee)


Buddy as one of the Santa's helpers

Overnight Party

SF, PG and I spent every Thursday night decorating the fieldhouse before football games. We decided after the season was over to treat ourselves to a girls night in. We had the best time at PG's house. She lives out in the country. Her husband hunts, so I spent Friday night sleeping underneath a mounted deer head. She told me that she loves animals and has animals. Well, I was thinking dogs and cats. So imagine my surprise when I woke up Saturday morning, look out the window and there is a sheep in her backyard! Animals: horses, sheep, pigs, goats and more!




SF told of how she used to ride goats and pigs as a little kid. And thought since I grew up out west that I did too. Um, Not so much! Horses: yes. Goats and pigs: no. I'm a city girl!

There is a name for it!

Hi! My name is Gracie Lucy and I am an extreme multi-tasker. (everyone say Hi). It has been seven seconds since I started yet another project ...and several years since I've actually succeeded in finishing a project. (mumuring of sympathy).

Burning the candle at both ends has rarely bothered me but lately I feel like I cut it into a couple dozen segments, arranged them all together and lit both sides a blaze. Keeping track of it all is difficult, and often a task nearly as demanding as anything else I'm working on. There are those who prefer to work on one thing and one thing only until completion. Others prefer to juggle. Cletus say that I have moved beyond that into the "Oh Lord" number of projects in various stages of completion. I also apparently have a skewed vision of time. In my perfect little world, I think I can finish this project in an insanely short amount of time. However, as full-time working mom of two (or three if you count Cletus), my perfect timing never works out quite like it "should".

And I have done it all to myself! Welp, best get busy...but wait just second, there is just the cutest little project on the internet that I need to check out...

We have a Winner!

Shout out to Glenda for suggesting that we eat at Jason's last Friday. I was standing there and happened to have a business card in my pocket. Who would have ever guessed that I would win the free lunch. Whoo hoo!

So, my friend, Jenni was standing in line and saw the display. "Oh my gosh", she shouts: "I know her!" And proceeds to take the picture. What a nut! So she emailed the picture with the caption "GIRL you are famous!!!!!" (it is tough being a celebrity - LOL!)

Why I Can't seem to get anything done...

This is how it manifests:
* I decide to water my garden.
* As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.
* As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier.
* I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
* I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
* So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.
*But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
*I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left.
* My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk, where I find the can of soda that I had been drinking.
* I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the soda aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I realize the soda is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
*As I head toward the kitchen with the soda, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.
* I set the soda down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
* I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
* I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water,and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.
* I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
* I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
*So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
* Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

* the driveway is flooded,
* the car isn't washed,
* the bills aren't paid,
* there is a warm can of soda sitting on the counter,
* there is still only one check in my check book,
* I can't find the remote,
* I can't find my glasses,
* and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled, because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. As my friend, Glenda, would say: I had visions of grand manure. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail and see what is new on Facebook...

Just for Today

Outside my window... a cold and rainy day. It was hailing earlier…hope we don’t get any of Chicago’s tornadoes!

I am thinking ... about stuff I need to do at the house.

I am thankful for... time to spend with friends and family!

I am wearing... black pants with a black and white shirt, clog and wild socks that have “peace” printed on the bottom them.

I am remembering... Nothing. My memory span rivals that of a goldfish!

I am going... to paint tonight.

I am reading... my to do lists.

From the learning rooms ... follow-ship

I am hoping... to have a quiet and relaxing long weekend.

On my mind ...love how I can find things on the internet that are not available in town!

Noticing that... sometimes more is just more.

Pondering these words...my cup overfloweth!

From the kitchen...I have been put in charge of making a lemon pound cake, apple tarts and split open eggs for Thanksgiving.
Around the house... it is dirty and disorganized. Hopefully the windows will go in next week and I can get the place spruced up and decorated!

One of my favorite things…finding a new craft challenge! Too bad I’m not as excited about finishing them.

From my photo memories ... sure would like to be right here:

Thanksgiving Blunders

I was reading an article on Thanksgiving blunders…it was interesting. But the real-life snafoos are much more humorous! Theses all happened at dinners I attended...for some of them, I was the chef. So in no particular order...
1. An unthawed turkey on Thanksgiving morning
2. Malfunctioning oven, only the broiler element was heating (same year as #1)
3. Forgetting about the green beans in the microwave and trying to serve them after dessert and coffee
4. Forgetting to remove the paper towel from the bottom of the salad serving bowl (extra fiber anyone?)
5. Eggshells (need I say more?)
6. Discussion of politics at the dinner table
7. Parents hearing your cousin tell your that her boyfriend has a tatoos and piercings.
8. Not realizing my dinner guest is a strict vegetarian
9. Having a cleaning fit because company is coming; must wipe down the baseboards and make the house so clean that it doesn’t look like we live here
10. And the biggest blunder of all: Trying to please everyone

Oh yeah, there is more but you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Hope everyone has a joyous thanksgiving!!

Saturday Roadtrip

Saturday, the Grills and I headed north in the fun car! We walked through a high school packed with crafts. There was everything there. There were not too many that I have not already attempted. Most of those involved either carving or welding. I did not buy any but got a lot of good ideas. I sure would love to retire from accounting and make crafts and sell them at craft shows.

Then we went to Los Trojas for lunch. My first time there...but definitely not the last. It was delicious! We went downtown to the "Ghost of Christmas Past". It was a gorgeous day to be out with the leaves in full color. The ride in the amish school bus carriage was cool. And what could be better than ending the day with ice cream and chillin' in the park!

V told me how to collage in Picasa...and I love it! Thanks bunchies!!

Costume Contest

We had Silly Hat Day instead of a costume contest at work. But a former co-worker of mine works at Ctel and got to dress up. I thought she did a good jobof "going rogue"...She should run for office! :-)

Road Trip

Saturday was road trip time. Hard to believe that Tdawg is already a junior and thinking about college! He is really interested in the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB).

It is an awesome place if you are interested in the medical field (orthopedic surgeon in Tdawg's case). Quite a few professional athletes have received care at UAB Hospital. Donovan McNabb had surgery there a couple years ago and Brett Favre was down there a couple months ago! So we went down to tour and see if it would be a good fit. The campus, facilities and professors were really nice. We talked to the associate dean at the health sciences college for about twenty minutes. She was very helpful making Tdawg aware of the options open to him.

Of course, we were both on information overload! I'm sure it will take awhile to digest all of the information. And then it is off to check out a few other campuses. It will give Tdawg something to work towards. I'm just impressed that he has a good idea of what he wants to do. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!!

Last Week

My most favorite (oh yeah, and only) sister, Trunie, recently moved to Lana-Jawjuh (all one word). For you non-southerners, that would be Atlanta, Georgia. She traveled north to Bammer last week for work. So, we took full advantage of the situation and went out to dinner three nights in a row; what fun! Tdawg said that it was the best week of his life. That's an always hungry teenage boy for ya! We had a blast laughing and edgy-cating Tdawg on our lives as kids. We talked so late one night that we shut down the Bobby-Q place. We have such tales that I don't think that Tdawg actually believed us!

It was quite the treat. Trunie and I have not lived in close proximity since 1980! I was in Denver when she joined the Navy and moved to Maryland. I moved to Greeley for college and she got stationed in Illinois. I moved to Alaska and she moved to California. I moved to Alabama and she moved to Michigan and then Minnesota. So we have lots of dinners to make up.

Sure glad to have her closer!

Mom

I still miss her every single day! Sure could use some advice on rearing (see I was listening) teenagers.

College Football

While Buddy and I were pickin pumpkins...Cletus and Tdawg went to Mississippi. Tdawg has done so well in school that we decided to treat him to the Auburn vs Ole Miss football game in Oxford. He also had a chance to look around the campus. I think it is good for him to see a world away from his own. It also gives him something to think about when he does college comparisons. They got to watch a really exciting game. Tdawg loved the game but said the there is "nothing!" in Mississippi. Too funny! I guess my husbands "shortcuts" weren't very scenic. Ha ha! Cletus was not lost...just temporarily bewildered!

Fall Fest Fun

It has become tradition to go to Tate farm on Saturday before Halloween.


Buddy is not little anymore...but enjoys it just as much as little kids do.

There are plenty of photo opportunities and Buddy was happy to smile for all of them.

I love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Everybody loves Sylvester and Tweety Bird!

Too cute...that is a big piggie!

Buddy loves Horton!

The Cat in the Hat with Thing 1 and Thing 2. I like the Cat in the Hat because he always picks up all of his playthings...even though he let Thing 1 and Thing 2 out of the box!

Buddy is still taller than the pumpkin!

Buddy and the House of Pumpkins!

Buddy loves Sprite...he should do commercials for them!

Buddy is not only taller than the hay maze...he remembers it from last year and walked right through!

We went on the hay ride and had to find just the right size pumpkin...

Buddy insisted that I had to pose with the selected pumpkin too. I like the green ones but Buddy would not have anything to do with the green ones.

Once we got home, Buddy wanted me to paint a spider web on it.

Too bad I had flash blur. Buddy loved the corn crib. It must be comfortable to lay on.

The corn cob ride was the most fun! I rode too!

There was a train of corn cobs pulled by a tractor. It was a lot of fun!!


Buddy's favorite part was petting the rabbits! Amazing since he does not like animals that much. But he walked right over and picked one up and held it to his cheek. So precious!!