Happy New Year!

Wishing you a Blessed, Peaceful, and Happy 2020!

Stay safe and God Bless America!

Can It Be Spring????

Even though Mr. Gnome still has some snowflakes in his garden, it feels like Spring here.  72 right now with a warm breeze.  And you know the guys can't resist a day in the 70's so they are out on the golf course.

The un-decorating is all done and things are packed up and put away. Cleaning has been done and and things are "under control".  I moved on to cleaning out our files and have a bag of papers to shred.  And I've started on our end of year spreadsheets for tax purposes.

Jacquie's Christmas trip from he** has been awful for her.  All of them got sick.  Chris had back spasms and had to see a doctor.  I am sure everyone will be glad to get back home.

Pam says they are all good at the moment although some germs went around down there, too.  She plans to un-decorate and clean up today, too.

I made it to the Commissary this morning and everything is in and put away.  Had to get a few things for tomorrow evening.  We are staying in as usual and I will be making the annual egg salad dip. 

Even though the weather today is only a tease, when we get to January 1st, my mind always goes to warm weather and thoughts of our beach trip in May.  It's probably too soon to start packing, but I can think about it.

This past year has had lots of "issues" for us, with many extra doctor appointments, surgeries for both of us, PT sessions, plumbing issues and repairs, etc.  I am hoping that 2020 is quieter and calmer.  I wish you all a Happy New Year!  Stay safe and God Bless America!  Life is great!

Alright.....

Christmas is over now.  I hope everyone had a good one.  I decided I'd better check in.

This has been a tough one here.  I have not been feeling very good for a while and part of the issues is some erratic emotions, and also some major joint pains and tiredness.  As a result, I am not getting things done as I want to do them and it is frustrating me.  But all is well, life is great, I am coping.  I see the new doctor in a couple weeks.

It was a tougher year this year not having either of the girls here or the kids.  This happens and we understand.  We don't complain about it because they all have responsibilities with work and school, and their own lives to take care of.  Plus, Les and I rarely made it home for holidays over the years.

Pam says they are doing okay except Bloomer has been sick.

Jacquie says all three girls have had a virus or something and they have been sick.  They are supposed to be back home next week.  I feel bad that they are sick while at their other Grama's for a visit.

And Les has been sick all week, to the point that we had to cancel Christmas dinner with our friends, Lou and Gloria.  I had prepared and shopped and even done some food prep, when we finally realized we should not expose them to the germs here.  So I loaded up a bag and took the "fixins" to them so they would have a nice dinner.

Les is actually at our doctor's right now. He has been fighting a terrible cough and some congestion and just not feeling well.  At times he has practically no voice. This morning when he got up he thought maybe he was feeling worse than last night, so I called and got him the appointment.

Those of you who know me well know I like to do the un-decorating usually starting on the 26th.  That has been slow going, but it is happening.  When I finish this, I am going to pull all the containers out of the closet and start on the tree in the living room.  Years ago, this would all be done in one day.  Those days are over, and I am pacing myself.  😊

The elf on the porch has met an untimely end.  I went out one evening to plug in the lights and noticed a large wet spot on the porch floor.  As he filled with air and stood up, I was splashed.  It was about then I also noticed the stink.  Something - it had to be large - had peed all over the elf.  It was just downright nasty.  I had to clean my shoes and change my clothes.  Next day I had to put my shoes in the washer with some old towels and wash them again because they were offending our furry boys.  I also had to go clean the porch and spray it down.  With all the weights and electrical parts, I declared the elf  "deceased".  And he still STUNK!

But... life remains good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

This Is All There Is From Me Today

Don't ask.  Don't get me started.  But I will say this has sooooo many possibilities.  I love it!

Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful, Blessed day! 

Amazing!

https://biggeekdad.com/2016/12/hallelujah-killard-house-school-choir/


If you click on this you will get another link.  Please listen to this beautiful song.  This little girl does a wonderful job.  She is on the Autism spectrum and also has ADHD.

Have a blessed day!

What's Going On??

Evidently there was something pretty interesting going on in our backyard.  I have no idea what, but I think it might have been birds flying to our large azalea bush at the corner of the deck.  I couldn't see anything when I looked out, but I know sometimes there is a nest in there.

Cecil wanted to see what I was doing taking the picture, but then he was right back to looking out, too.

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

More Fun with Children!

Les and I were asked by Jacquie to attend Little Miss E's class party.  It was a fun time.  The class was in the gym when we arrived and when they all came back to the classroom she was very excited to see us.  So excited that when the teacher was squirting the hand sanitizer in her hand it went on the floor!  (She got squirted again)

A couple of the mothers had a craft project set up for each child and a plate of "goodies".  Craft was done first and I got to help with that. Little Miss E sampled her treats and then was up and taking Papa all around the room to show him things.

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Ah, the Joys of Children's Christmas Programs!

Last evening was Little Miss E's pre-school Christmas program.  She looked adorable and so sweet!  She did very well in the procession into the sanctuary carrying her gift for the children's hospital. Unfortunately, the rush of people taking photos when the principal said parents had one minute to take pictures scared her.  She started to cry and covered her face.  She came and sat with us very nicely during the program.  And Jacquie said she sang in the car all the way home.

Les and I have been invited to join Little Miss E tomorrow for her class party.  I'll let you know how that goes.

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Early Christmas!

We had our early Christmas with Jacquie, Chris and the girls last evening.  I think everyone had a good time.  Cutie Girl seemed thrilled with her Godzilla puppet!  And Little Miss E had a great time helping Papa distribute gifts from under the tree.  And by helping I mean he would pick one up and set it by a person and she would grab it and put it back under the tree!  But it was all eventually straightened out.

Jacquie and Pam gave Les and me a Skylight picture frame.  I have been having fun loading pictures to it.  Pam had it all set up and they had already loaded some.  And all we have to do is email pictures as attachments to it!  Thanks, girls!

So, today is just a quiet day.  As usual, I cooked Sunday morning breakfast, we watched another Christmas movie - "Diehard #2" today.  (sorry, folks, there is no question these are Christmas movies)  😊 I've done a little cleaning and like I said, been looking at pictures!

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Hey!

I hope everyone is well and happy!

It's rather dark, cloudy, damp, and cool here.  Les is out on the golf course though.  Tomorrow is supposed to be rain all day.

I've been trying to get a picture of Finnigan under the Christmas tree but he doesn't stay there long enough, so here he is sitting on our new kitchen chair seat pads.  He evidently likes them, because he is there often.

Tomorrow evening we are having "early Christmas" with Jacquie, Chris and the girls.  I asked Jacquie what they would like for dinner and she said "burritos", so that is fairly easy. 

Les and I saw "Knives Out" yesterday and it was great!  Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and some other big names are in it.  And Daniel Craig has a Southern drawl!  Kudos to his dialect coach!

And while Cecil is being extra sociable, I have to post another picture of him.  BTW, he sat on my lap for most of the evening last night!  And snuggled up during the night!  We think he wants something special for Christmas.  😊

The Amazon Prime "guy" was just here so I have to go wrap some things.

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Just Some Updates

My doctor's appointment went okay.  I was the very last one of the day and he was running late, but he spent time with me discussing my "issues".  And his very nice nurse showed me on the computer the proof that I did, indeed, NOT cancel my morning appointment.  She also said if the receptionist had been doing her job she would have looked at that and gone right away to talk with her and the doctor and they would have gotten me in.  It was a computer system error.  And then yesterday morning I went for all the lab work.  Results are pending.

Yesterday was an usually warm day of mid-70's.  It rained during the night and today is in mid-40's, but it's been sunny.  It was too wet for golf so Les and I went out for breakfast and then did a couple errands and went to the Commissary.  We just returned home from the "Y".  Laundry is running now and I need to go to the kitchen to start dinner.

Cutie Girl is feeling better.  Little Miss E is busy as ever.  Jordan's exams are going well.  Boxer and Bloomer are busy with school and doing well. 

Here's another Christmasy picture to end the post.  Stay safe and God Bless America!  Life is great!

Thanks again, Pam!

A Fitting Postscript

Thanks to the friend who recently posted this.  I do not know the original creator, but thanks to them, too.

But life remains great!  Keep smiling!

Harrumph! And BAH! HUMBUG!

I have had an appointment scheduled with our family doctor for this morning that I made five or six months ago.  I need to talk with him and get fasting lab work done.  There was a new woman at the check-in desk and she said I had cancelled my appointment.  I told her she should look again because there was no way I would have cancelled it.  The end result of my insistence that I be seen today, and her pi**y attitude, is that I  have to go back to see the doctor this afternoon and then go back for the lab work in the morning.

So I got some coffee on the way home and finally got some breakfast, settled in to watch the Third Hour of Today and it was preempted yet again by political proceedings.

It is cloudy and dark.  Rained last night and might rain more later.

Jacquie texted that she was on the way to pick up meds for Cutie Girl.  She hasn't been feeling well and now has a major ear infection.  She has also had a sore throat and lost a front tooth.  She is not a happy little girl right now.  I hope she feels better soon.

In light of my emotional well being, here are a couple Christmas pictures.  Life is still great, it just gets a bit out of whack sometimes.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Cecil relaxing under the dining room tree.  In case you are wondering about the chair....it is there so the furry boys can sit and look out the window.  They are too big to sit on our narrow windowsills.

Angus enjoying Santa Shark

Flowers I splurged on at the A.C. Moore "going out of business sale".

P.S.

Our new ornament this year!  Star Trek Discovery 😊

Life is great!

Scenes of Christmas

It's been a busy week ever since we got home last Sunday.  But all is well!  The decorating is done and I thought I'd just post a few pictures from around the house.

Dining room tree

Our Hummel Nativity set

Living room tree

Had to show these little guys.  They've been around since our girls were small.

And now I am off to bake some cookies.  Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

A Birthday Hint :)

When we went to pick up our TLX after service at Acura, our MDX needed the "special" air put in the tires.  So while I was waiting for that to be done I took the opportunity to look around.  We have had multiple Acura cars and I have liked and enjoyed them all, and given them names.

But I have to tell you that this one called to me! Actually shouted!  I told Les I'm putting it on my wish list.  The girls might have to chip in with him or someone start a "Go Fund Me", but wow!

It's a 2020 RDX and beautiful!

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

P.S.  And it is just too bad we are not in the market for a new car right now!

Creepy

I mentioned in an earlier post about how we split our trip home after going to Pam's for Thanksgiving.  We stayed Saturday night in Lexington, NC.  It was dark, cold, and rainy.  This was the view from our room's window.

I didn't think too much about it until after I shared the view with Jacquie and Pam and they thought the long pile of rocks looked like a grave.  ??  I have no idea what it actually is.

But this was right down the hall from our room:

Hmmmmm.  Stay safe, people!  Life is great, even if it is creepy at times.  And God Bless America!

Thank You, Garrett!

First some background info.

When Les and I were first married, his Mom tried to teach me to make over easy eggs.  Her method involved the small cast iron skillet, using a lid over them, and somehow magically knowing when to take the lid off and stop cooking them!  I never got it right.  So for most of the first fifty years of our marriage, Les' over easy eggs happened when we went out to breakfast.  After our 50th anniversary a couple years ago, I thought I would tackle this again.  I thought they looked pretty good.

However......... after two years, just a couple months ago, Les told me I still wasn't getting them right. He didn't want to hurt my feelings by telling me.  So, I am still trying.

We went to Pam's for Thanksgiving, and on Friday morning Garrett was cooking breakfast and a discussion of egg cooking happened.  He says, "it's easy" and proceeded to show me how he cooks them.  His method involves no lid, and a lifting, flipping pan motion to flip the eggs over. Then take them off the heat and onto the plate.  Looked easy enough, so I said I'd try his way.

Today is Thursday.  According to our "routine", this is an egg day for us.  So I took a deep breath and went at it.  First try did not go so well.

My gripping, flipping, and catching needs some work!

So I cleaned that up and tried again.  The second time I used my largest spatula to flip the eggs over.  Les says they were pretty good.  Progress!

Stay safe, people!  Life is great!  And God Bless America!

p.s.  And never stop learning!

Yes, I Am Still Here!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with Pam and family.  She did a beautiful job on dinner.  Her friend, Lynn, also prepared food and there were lots of leftovers!  Here is a picture of one of the desserts, Pam's Turtle Cheesecake!  Yummmmm!  She also made her Oreo cheesecake!

Traffic was hideous getting to Pam's but the trip back home wasn't bad.  Of course, we split the trip up and were up early and on the road by 5:30 Sunday morning.  Ever since getting home we've been catching up on things.  There was a mountain of laundry to be done, cleaning, tree decorating, grocery shopping, errands, etc.  And of course, yard work!  That was delayed by rain for a couple days, but it is getting done.

We drove our TLX and on the trip the Navigation and GPS system stopped working several times.  Jadzia has been to see Acura service and she is supposedly all fixed now by them doing a hard reboot of the system.  But they said to come right back in if it happens again.  You can bet on that!

I just wanted to let you all know we are home, we had a good time at Pam's, and life remains great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!