Happy Anniversary, Baby!

Betcha By Golly Wow!

There's a spark of magic in your eyes

Candyland appears each time you smile

Never thought that fairy tales came true

But they come true when I'm near you

You're a genie in disguise

Full of wonder and surprise

And betcha by golly, wow

You're the one that I've been waiting for forever

And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong

Keep growin' strong

If I could I'd catch a falling star

To shine on you so I'll know where you are

Order rainbows in your favorite shade

To show I love you, thinking of you

Write your name across the sky

Anything you ask I'll try, `cause

Betcha by golly, wow

You're the one that I've been waiting for forever

And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong

Keep growin' strong

Betcha by golly, wow

You're the one that I've been waiting for forever

And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong

Keep growin' strong

Betcha by golly, wow

You're the one that I've been waiting for forever

And ever will my love for you

(Thom Bell and Linda Creed)

 

Actually,

our anniversary is January 1st....

but I plan to be busy tomorrow,

so this is my opportunity to

let you know how

fortunate I find myself.

 

As some of you know...

my sweetie and I are

"re-treads"

meaning...

we have tried this marriage thing

a time or two...

and well....finally God intervened

and we found each other.

It has been five years.

Doesn't sound like a lot...

but in 50-something years, it is a lifetime.

 

I have never been happier,

and find myself

excited when ever he comes home from being away...

giddy even..

blessed (I know)...

smiles.

 

Listen here..

 

 

I am ready to take it all down...after one more look....

The stockings are tired....

They are just a bit droopy...

The gifts have all been delivered...

And I have only one more

holiday event to host...

tonight.

My book club ladies are coming.

Coffee, regular and decaf...

Christmas cookies..

Fruitcake...smiles.

and

celery and carrots....

(bigger smiles)

I dont' know about you but I am so

sick of the "sugar highs" that

permeate the holidays.

My head can't take it anymore.

And as much as I love me some coffee...

I might just have decaf...

well..

not really...

but I thought about it.

smiles.

God Bless Us.....Everyone....

Isn't it odd...

that no matter

 how hard we try

 to have lower expectations

 of the holidays...

There is so much room for

hurt...

dispair...

disappointment...

fear....

sadness...

judgement...

separation...

loneliness....

sorrow...

Sometimes...

even when you prepare yourself

for what you think might be the most

unexpected occurance....

you are caught off guard.

Even when you

resign yourself to the disappointment...

more comes your way.

Personally,

I am blessed.

My family and friends are

near, dear and wonderfully,

present.

However,

someone who I am very emotionally

attached to..... is sad.

Lack of common courtesy...

lack of respect...

lack of love..

How do we deal with lack of

love?

God blesses us...

sometimes we don't see our

blessings,

until it is too late and they are

taken away from us....

God,

please allow me to be

present.

Thank you to all of you who

visit my blog.

You have helped me this year more than you can

possibly know.

Please continue to let me know how,

and who you are...

thank you from deep inside....

smiles.

Home is where....

anywhere I find those....

whom I love...

who love me...

who desire my presence..

who enjoy the event as much as I do...

who will eat my food...

who will stay to watch bowl games...

who realize the value of family...

who are willing to share...

who understand that we all have weaknesses....

who desire a better world...

who are willing to work for it...

those who see the glass nearly full...

the many who accept me as I am...

who find that life really is

a bowl of cherries...

and that we are all a barrel of monkeys...

who will laugh at my jokes..

and not make me the butt of one...

Family can come in so many disguises....

it can be the lonely neighbor..

the couple that has no children and

actually enjoy the chaos that accompanies

young adults...

the single guy who has family very far away...

the single girl who has lost her dad this year...

the couple with a toddler, who need a break...

the also, young couple with two beautiful girls that light up the room...

the middle aged man who is beginning to learn to care for himself...

the new grandmother who is learning to set boundaries..

the couple who is so relived that he has a new job...

the man and wife who have lost everything this year and still smile....

the retiree that longs for the company of her children..

the independent woman, who has put everything into her work and her dogs...

All of these people

are my family..

and yet,

I am actually related by blood

to none of them...

I am so grateful to see the miracles that are happening all around me.

My wish is that everyone sees a miracle before year's end...

Go out and look for it...

It is there, I promise...

Really...

smiles.

BA love...

Funny.

I can't remember what I did yesterday,

but I remember a time when I wore

two of these uniforms...

the striped one...

and the beautiful one after it...

I loved every minute.

smiles.

Out of the fog...

My life is so good...

sometimes, when I am very still...

quiet to the point of hearing my breath...

and feeling my heartbeat...

I simply cannot fathom

the immense goodness found in this world.

I know this is not necessarily a popular point of view...

it seems that pessism is a much more accepted outlook.

But

in my life...

I feel so blessed.

As with most impressions,

details are not particularly important.

But, let's just say that

the last couple of days have bought

a revelation...

a release...

and finally,

a renewal.

My experience has been that sometimes

we don't even know how bogged down we are until

we stick our heads out the window and

check out the scenery.

Once we know that there is a

different, freer, more beautiful option...

well,

taying "mucked up" in the

well.....

muck

is just not an option any longer.

So...

like the feeling you have when

 you are on board an aircraft...

ready for takeoff....

waiting for the fog to lift...

just a bit..

and then it happens...

you are speeding down the runway

faster and faster until

the nose of the aircraft lifts...

and soon you are up...

and momentarily...

you break the cloud layer.

Breaking out of the cloud layer

that's it.

That is what has happened to me.

New challenges..

New outlook...

New purpose...

New freedom...

Blessed...

that's what I am.

smiles.

Observations....

So many bloggers inspire me...

So....

when the whole weekend turned into "pea-soup"

Fog like we have not seen around here for some time.....

I decided to embrace it.

I took a clue from the week of lovely photos from

Mary's blog In a Soft Light

She has been embracing the fog for sometime...

I suspect.

So...

as much as I tend to be claustrophobic,

and want to pout on foggy days...

I headed out, into the cold,

and shot lots of images.

It is good for the soul.

On another note...

while I was out,

I happened to notice

this...

He or she was taking a nap on the "electrical box"

way out at the back of the property....

Must have been warm..

humming away...

or maybe

it sounded like a

mother's purr.....

smiles.

I'm in!....or game....or trying......anyway....smiles.

Well,

here's the thing....

I am taking the easy way out today....

I am letting someone else come up with the

"thoughts for the day"

Mandy at Good Cook

came up with the idea,

and I found it

on Nancy's Life in the Second half

(great name!)

Questions to let you know more than you could possibly want to know

about me.

So here goes;

Here are the instructions:

If you're reading this post, then you must:

(a) leave a comment and answer the below 25 questions that Mandy made up,

(b) write the answers to the questions below in your own blog post, if you have a blog, that is.

or (c) call yourself a scrooge in the comment below and refuse to answer them.

I hope you choose (A) or (B) but if you choose (C) then I'll just let the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future deal with you. If you do decide to write your own blog post about it, please mention Mandy since she is the author of these important questions. (Writers credit and all that jazz - thanks!)

(1) What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I would agree with Nancy on Love Actually....it's sweet.

(2) What is your LEAST favorite Christmas movie?

The Simpsons Christmas specials...

(3) What is your favorite Christmas song?

We Three Kings (traditional)

and

Blue Christmas (R&R)

and

Grandma got runover by a reindeer (because I never grew up)

(4) What Christmas song(s) drives you crazy?

White Christmas (can't get it out of my head)

(5) What is your favorite Christmas drink? (i.e. egg nog, hot chocolate)

Hot Mulled Cider

(6) What is your favorite Christmas memory?

When my son's father dressed up like Santa....and fooled all the kids..

(7) What is the best toy/gift you've received on Christmas?

Barbie, three wigs, carrying case and clothes...a big time!

(8) What is the worst toy/gift you've received on Christmas?

A grill from my son's father.

(9) What do you LOVE about the holidays?

Songs, tree decorating, and food.

(10) What annoys you about the holidays?

The mall.

(11) Do you prefer star or angel on top of a Christmas tree? Or something else?

Star.

(12) What is your family favorite recipe at Christmas?

Dates, stuffed with pecans, rolled in sugar. Simple, and Dad loves them.

(13) Are you a Grinch or a Who at Christmastime?

Cindy lou Who to be precise.....smiles.

(14) Christmas light displays - Love them or Hate them?

When they are on someone elses' home-LOVE THEM!

(15) Santas at the mall - Fun times or Creepy?

I don't mind them, but the children I have taken to the mall...scream in terror...sorry Santa.

(16) Christmas cards - do you send them, yes or no?

Yes, I like to put my favorite photo from the preceding year on them.

(17) What is the best thing about Christmas, in your opinion?

Family.

(18) What is the worst thing about Christmas?

Fear.

(19) When do you put the tree up and take it down?

UP on Friday after Thanksgiving, Down on 26th of Dec., usually.

(20) Out of the 12 days of Christmas, which day and item would you want your true love to give to you?

Twelve Pipers piping.....Love those kilts!

(21) Why do you think that Grandma got run over by a reindeer?

I am so sorry....but I laugh everytime I hear it.....it is so redneck, it makes me cringe and then smile.

(I swear I didn't read ahead...really.)

(22) Who is your favorite reindeer?

Rudy is the best!

(23) Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Yep, know him well....smiles.

(24) What is your favorite smell at Christmastime?

The Tree.

(25) What would make you happy at Christmas this year?

To wake up being me....my life is so good..

Thank you and pass it on!

Ironic....me thinks....

See how lovely this looks?

How quiet....serene....calm...?

Ironic.

The sweetie and I spent last evening looking quite a bit like the

Keystone Kops....

(not a look I would advocate)

You see...

as I checked on the laundry yesterday afternoon...

I discovered that the load, which had been

tumbling

for

hours.....

was wet.

The dryer passed away from exhaustion.

And

the washer

has been complaining,

for months....

that she is

carrying the load....

(sorry!)

Yes..

the washer, bless her heart,

has been struggling along on one cycle

for over a year.

She's over it.

Well,

after a trip to the local Lowe's,

to make arrangements for a new duo...

we started to think about the

configuration of the laundry room,

and the fact that we had just commited to

a new set,

that was considerably larger

than the funerary couple.

HOLY COW!

when we arrived home and started to

measure (that's what engineers do)

and visualize (that's what photographers do)

we realized that

we were cornered.

Literally.

We had to find a new place for the

refrigerator, left over from our

kitchen redo.

and

that meant

taking off it's doors,

and taking out all the contents...

and moving it down the hall to a

storage closet filled with chairs.

Oh, did I mention that I had

wet laundry sitting around waiting for

it's turn in the tumbler?

After a break

to dry laundry at the parents,

(who served us tuna casserole, how lucky are we!)

we came home...

to still another

storage problem...

what to do with the

eight dining room chairs

that had previously been stored in the

closet where the fridge now hummed contentedly....

and

make the guest room beds that were waiting for the

newly dried sheets....

and

 find a place for the microwave, whose only use is to

pop popcorn during football games....

Yes...

it was like dominoes.

move one..

and

well...

you know.

smiles.

I simply cannot express....

how blessed I feel....

My sweetie

(and I mean sweet)

brought me roses

today

for no apparent reason.

Now,

 before you roll those eyes

and think....

Yeah, right.....

no apparent reason...

wonder what he is up to....

smirk..

I would think the same thing,

if

I was younger.....

less aware.....

naive...

or

stupid....

You see

me and my sweetie...

well,

we weren't born

yesterday...

in fact

we have driven

 around this block

many times before....

He has been

single....

married....

widowed...

married a bit more

and

divorced...

and 

then

he

was

found....

by

me.

That's it.

And

me...

well

let's just say

my story is not that different

from his.

We

have experienced

a lot of heartache...

caused a bit...

and

are healing.

together.

So you see

these roses

are not

to make up...

ward off anger...

soothe feelings....

or even

divert attention...

Nope,

they are from one old soul

to another.

smiles.

Fushia Flower Power....

I know...

it's a little out of season...

but I love the color.

Thanksgiving was a blast.

I enjoyed the conversations...

the food...

the colors...

the lights....

the parades...

the football even...

But I need just a breath of spring...

I am full bore...

working all day each day on

Christmas Gifts.

I love to do it.

Most years I simply do not have the time.

This year,

I have much more time than money....

so when I thought of writing today..

all I could think about was

SUNSHINE

and

LOLLIPOPS

and

RAINBOWS

(is that Dobie Gillis?)

So this is the image for me today...

Hmmmm.

I think I'll sing just a bit now...

smiles.

Opps....
I'm sorry...

I didn't mean to leave you out....

"Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,



Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,


Brighter than a lucky penny,


When you're near the rain cloud disappears, dear,.....

And I feel so fine just to know that you are mine.

Safe and protected....

that's how I feel when I look at this shot of the

Live Oaks at Brookgreen gardens.

Their long limbs reaching out to enclose

and enfold...

protective...

nurturing

safe,

familiar,

maternal,

Mother Earth..

good.

Where did Samantha find the time?

Good Golly Miss Molly....

Do you remember how cool Samantha Stephens was....

Man.....that girl could cook,

clean,

organize,

re-arrange furniture,

garden,

drive,

care for Tabitha,

and handle

that crazy husband of her's, Darin,

all with a twitch of her nose....

GIRL!

that is what I want to be able to do!

Conjure up a fabulous

house,

dinner,

outfit,

well....

life!

With just a twitch.....

And then I too

would have the time to play

"Solitaire"....

Yeah right!

Nope not me...

if I could do all that...

Darin would have been history...

and the Fab Four,

the Monkees,

AND

the Beach Boys

would be living

at my house.

Who needs a twitch?

All I need is my imagination.

smiles.

This is what I am so grateful for....

My sweet son...

No.....

 this is not a current photo.

This little boy is now 21 yrs old.

He is visiting a hospital bound uncle today.

So... I do not get the pleasure of feeding him way too much food.

But

I am blessed.

He is a good man.

He is actually one of the most caring

and interesting people I know.

(of course my opinion only matters to me)

I am fortunate to have been

assisted in raising him

by his wonderful dad,

my patient parents,

and

dozens of fabulous teachers

who have over the years

encouraged him

and

me.

While...

his dad and I are not married now,

and haven't been for over 16 years,

we have tried to bring him up

without seeing our disagreements.

(his father is actually better at this than me, my guess)

We have been blessed in return

by having a son that is

better than either of us

deserve or could wish for...

I know that this may sound like

I believe I played a major role.

not true.

I know that

the most I can take credit for is

having made dinner,

cleaned clothes,

had a few parties,

and

basically tried to act like an adult.

(sometimes worked, and others....well)

This is what I am grateful for today.

How about you?

What are you grateful for?

I would love to hear from you...

smiles.

Happy Day.

Tastes from the past....

enjoyed today....

This morning brought a breakfast flooded with memories..

It all started with a visit.

Several days ago,

a sweet lady named Anne

came to see me...

she had a photographic need..

that I am in the process of filling.

But what she brought for me

is pertinent here.

She brought eggs.

Eggs from her farm,

her chickens,

her effort,

her loving care.

These eggs were purposely saved for Sunday morning.

As they are special.

And

when I took my first bite....

I remembered....

being a child,

waking up to the smell of bacon...

toast,

grits,

fried green tomatoes,

biscuits,

honey,

oh my!

These were REAL eggs.

I had forgotten what a real egg

tastes like.

How sad....

I didn't even know,

really...

that I had fallen into the same trap

 that we all have fallen into,

at one time or another.

The trap of convenience.

The neighborhood chain store,

that brings us everything we need.....

or does it?

Maybe not.

As these eggs reminded me,

Eggs have a taste.

They are not bland.

Not real eggs.

I think I will ask for the photographic bill

to be paid in eggs...

smiles.

Brilliant.....

Fall colors...

Don't they simply blow your mind?

Maybe they are trying to keep us warm even as the weather

turns cool...

Maybe it's their last "hurah"...

Maybe it is the glow of trees' spirits...

Or

maybe it is just

 the way the light

reflects off the old

 worn out leaves....

I don't think so...

smiles...

Happy Friday!

I heart me some...

magazines.....

I always have...

ever since my mother,

in an effort to have

 one minute of peace in her life....

handed me a magazine

 and some "kiddie scissors"..

and said I could cut out

 all the pictures I wanted to...

Well....

that way just the beginning.

I have an obsession...

Yes, I think that word is not too strong to describe

the feelings toward periodicals....

I currently receive 4,

maybe 5 different ones each month...

but that is only because I am trying to be

economically responsible,

ecologically sound,

and

less mentally un-balanced....

(smiles)

But you should see my closet....

Here,

let me take you there,

(pretend we are walking to my bedroom)

now in here (closet)

I keep my stash...

Looky here

(shelves)

I have Martha's rag dating back to the 90's...

House Beautiful...ah... she gets her own spot too..

and Architectural Digest, he's such a snob...I put him off on his own to

think about just how important is a "label"...

Now...sadly

there are those that tug at my heart strings...

Met Home, Cottage Living,

and of course,

Domino

(sniff)

well, what can I say?

I actually get an endorphin rush

when my husband (sweetie) comes in from the

mailbox and announces that there are several magazines for me.....

Is that so wrong?

Well, I am trying to

bring a new light to this problem.

Really.

I want to be healthy in my attitudes...

So,

I have been making regular attempts to

give

Lonny Magazine

a legitimate

chance

Here is the thing.

They produce a fabulous display.

great images...

very good info...

current trends....

interesting articles...

all good.

But

in reality...

they just don't

"crinkle"

or

fold back on themselves,

or sit on the floor next to my bed,

or

wait for me on my favorite chair....

or allow me to get out the

"kiddie scissors"....

smiles.

A Loud and Raucous Crowd....

my mind was filled with details from a long morning's work...

I could tell that any further accomplishments would be

"if-y"

So, being the responsible person that I am...

I decided to take a break...

My office is located in an upstairs bedroom...

across that hallway from the master bdrm.

There is a small balcony off of it,

that gets way too little attention.

Ah....the perfect place.

So, I get a magazine...

my reading glasses...

a cup o' joe...

my slippers...

and off to the late afternoon sunshine

I go...

There...

quiet...

warm....

comfortable...

and just about the

time I opened the magazine...

it started.

First it was the neighborhood

family of crows...

Caw...Caw...Caw...

oh yeah,

and

CAW!

Then just about the time I thought I should go inside...

quiet....

Then the family of squirrels woke up...

awrip....awrip...awrip...

(always ending on a high note)

they had to add their 2 cents to the

cacophony

(how often do you use that word?)

This went on for another few minutes,

and when it sounded like they were getting

just a bit tired.....

You guessed it..

Chickadees....two of them,

give'n it all they got, Cap'n!

Have you ever heard these little loud mouths?

They gave the crows a run for their money...

I gave up,

came in

and got a

'nother

cup

o'

joe....

smiles