Happy New Year 2009!

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Happy New Year 2009!

Isn't this picture just perfect? Yep, I thought so too!

Did you know? Did you know this song originated from the Scots!? No wonder I couldn't understand the lyrics as a child. But don't be left out of the fun, here are the words of The English Version

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne?
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CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for days of auld lang syne.
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And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
And surely I’ll buy mine! And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for days auld lang syne.
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CHORUS
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We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
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CHORUS
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We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
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CHORUS
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And there’s a hand my trusty friend! And give us a hand o’ thine! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.


~God Bless~

Best Blog Award!

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Cynthia at Muse Swings bestowed this fun and adorable award among 15 blog worthy places to visit and I'm honored to be among them. She is a gifted writer and her mind is so quick-witted that I think she would be a hoot to have over for Afternoon Tea if Jane Austen could be there too. I could sit and watch the two of them banter back and forth while writing down their quotes 90 mph!

I too am happy to bestow this award on 15 (16 for me) of my bloggy buddies and others whom don't know me but I frequent their blogs just the same for the simple reason that each of their blogs are a pure delight and I just keep going back for more!


An Evening At Almacks Reviews of Regency Era novels/ short story books
Austenprose All things Jane Austen
bloggedy blog blog A gifted Canadian who is generous in sharing her ideas for fun
Buttercream Cottage She has 2 blogs, yes TWO of them with the other full of recipes-love it
Friendship Tea The name says it all
Jane Austen Today Again, all things Jane Austen ~ very fun site
Jane Austen World Again, all things Jane Austen ~ more fun
Ladies Historical Tea Society I just love visiting here, I learn so much and she is delightful
My Thoughts Exactly This is my secret agent buddy
Nana is Living The Dream Lovely lady, seriously, she is so sweet she would give you a cavity!
Sassy Lass Long time friend who is new to the blog world, stop by and introduce yourself
Tea Time With Melody This is my sisters blog, she is even funnier than me!
Tea With Friends I love seeing what new thing she will feature each day
The Birdbath Chronicles Lady Lavinia~ she has the best pictures and a beautiful neighborhood
Voila! Vintage Postcards Again, the name says it all! Such a nice lady!
Warm Pie, Happy Home Sigh, I wish I had her log cabin home in Missouri

Congratulations to you all and again, it's been a pleasure visiting you this year!

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Time in a Box

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I was trying to think of what to do with the kids this New Years Eve and thought this would be fun! Have a Time Capsule Party! Grown-ups, this can be fun for us too. Gather your friends and family together and ask them to bring something to put in the box and open it at next years party or 5 years from now.

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YES, A TIME CAPSULE!

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I got a box that I wrote "To Be Opened in 2013". I'll have the kids decorate it and since they are young in age now, it will be even more fun in 5 years to see their facial expressions of their prior artwork! This year particularly, has a been the year of change so I've gathered different things to put in the box and asked the kids to search their bedrooms for fun things too.

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So far we've collected family pictures, small toys, I saved several Christmas shopping receipts that show the prices of things from the grocery store and toys purchased, my favorite magazine, a dollar bill (who knows what money will look like in 5 years with the ways things are going), recent school progress reports, a paperback book, my watch that I bought when my daughter was born and broke this year so it has sentimental value, recent world and home town events, I created a questionnaire where we'll all write down our favorite colors, TV shows, music, fashion stuff, favorite food and drink, what they like about school, their friends names, future predictions about what we think life will be like in 5 years and finally a short letter written to both my children from us.

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Then we'll seal it up and store it in a nearby closet so it isn't lost forever and when 2013 arrives, we'll have a opening ceremony party! Now won't that be fun for the blog! ha ha

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Dancing into the New Year

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Look what I got today for a steal at the grocery store! I had been wanting one of these but wasn't going to pay the big bucks for it. Dancing with the Stars is one of my favorite shows and this is a really great and fun way to exercise... dancing! And you know dancing is known for burning the calories! Bring it on baby!

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It's a long way from the old Jane Fonda video's of the 80's, even though her's still do the trick. The quality of the DVD is very good, like I'm watching digital HD or better and the music is fun. It teaches the steps for the Cha-Cha ( you KNOW I love that ), the Samba, the Paso Doble and the Jive. You DON'T need a partner either as all the steps are meant to be done by yourself. There is a warm-up and a cool down session as well. And..... once you learn the steps there is the option to play the dance segments with or without the instructions.

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This all might come in handy too when my niece Jackie, gets married in October. I'll be trim and slim & hopefully my arms will be toned too so they won't be doing the Cha-Cha by themselves! ha ha

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Christmas Spirit Award!

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The Top 5 Reasons I Love Christmas!

My sister Melody gave me this super award! The Christmas Spirit Award. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Melody and I enjoy Afternoon and High Tea experiences, and I do mean experiences, so if you've never met my sister, I invite you to go on over and enjoy her blog... she is a funny gal!

So, 5 things I love about Christmas...

1. Each year I spend an entire day in the kitchen, emerging with 4th day hair after baking cookies, candy & other treats as these are the most requested items I'm asked to bring to parties and family gatherings. And seriously, I had the baking anointing this year!

2. Learning about a new Christmas themed devotional and when it involves candy, I love it even more. This was this years devotional... here.

3. I love the music and movies~ so many things to say but I'll just leave it at that!

4. I love to go light-looking at houses! This year we went about 15 different times and got our route picked out for the evenings just before Christmas. We search the newspapers and Internet to learn of new places to go! Beginning at Starbucks for the $1 kids cocoa and then our drive through the magical transformation that takes place in our town.

5. I love receiving the annual Christmas cards/letters! I love the photos of family/friends and how they share their page long stories of their lives this past year. I am terrible at sending out cards myself so that's probably why I appreciate receiving them because I know how much time and money these days is spent on postage to send them.

****And now to keep with the theme of 5, I pass on this award to the following blogs:

1. A Year Of CrockPotting

2. Warm Pie, Happy Home

3. My Thoughts Exactly

4. Muse-Swings

5. Friendship Tea

I hope you all had a wonderful week! What greater cause for celebration could we have?

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Christmas Reflections

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I want to wish you all Merry Christmas, and also to report that I may have to spend the rest of my life on my couch. I have eaten approximately 50 pounds of food in the last four days, and I've warned my hubby that he may just have to roll me to places for the rest of my life.

Although I do think parents should get a pass for eating the Santa cookies on Christmas Eve. I did NOT eat them because they were delicious and chocolatey and soft, I ate them because my children expected it. It was good parenting, purely--one of many, many sacrifices a mother must make. It is not a sacrifice for a father to make because this mother got to the cookies first. hee hee


It's Christmas again and we stop to remember and reflect on the purpose behind today — that God came to earth as an infant child to save us all from our imminent destruction. It's a day of rejoicing for us, but I wonder what our Creator was going through. He gave up His throne in all its splendor glory to come down to this wretched sinful place as a helpless baby, born among the animals. He KNEW that after 33 years of hard labour and persecution that He would be nailed to a cross by the very people He came to save, and yet, He came anyway. Isn't that amazing?! Isn't that the ultimate show of love and grace?! Regardless of how others may deny Christ and the true meaning of the day, it does not change the fact of His existence and His abundant love and mercy for us. Let's put aside our presents and selfish pleasures and bow before the throne of the Almighty, giving Him the best gift we can give — our lives.

In need of Elf help!

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As soon as Thanksgiving is over, women begin their Christmas traditions don't they? Thanksgiving is a meal done for 1 day. Christmas on the other hand is a season... a month long season. Would you agree that if it wasn't for the ladies, 90% of holidays wouldn't happen? Yep, me too.

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With that said, it's time for the annual Christmas cookie baking marathon! Each year, I like to rotate in a new cookie or two, so this year's collection will have 8 varities. If your not doing anything else today and can get out in our wonderful winter weather, I could use some Elf help in the kitchen as my current team only seem to be available for quality control when each new batch comes hot out of the oven.

* And so the cookie marathon begins... *

Magic Bars (aka... 7 Layer Bars) Updated* This one is done and is Ooo so yummy! Sister came by and did quality control on these and said they were a keeper!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Kisses Updated* These came out great, look just like the photo

Russuan Tea Horns (aka... Rugelach)
I add LOTS of powdered sugar on top of mine though
Updated* These are done and....Aaaaaah so heavenly


Chocolate Chocolate Chip Updated* These are now done and taste like brownies - Mmmmm




Butterscotch and Chocolate Chip Updated * Did some crunchy & some soft to please everybody



Iced Sugar Cookies Updated* These are now done and the kids (adults in the house) are eating them up



Egg Nog Cookies Updated* These bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes, they are very light and fluffy, almost flatten out. Hmmm, note to self to add a bit more flour next time.


Snow Balls (aka... Mexican Wedding Cookies) Updated* Done at last and worth the wait... but now I'm whooped tired!




... and if there is time, I'll be making Chocolate Almond Toffee. Updated* Yep, I made this delicious candy too plus Chocolate covered Pretzel Rods and a Classic Cheesecake!

Betty Crocker has left the building and collapsed in bed!


Well like most of us ladies, we'll all be baking and cooking for days. I pray that our backs don't get too sore and that we stop for a spell to enjoy some quiet time putting together a holiday puzzle with our family ~ I haven't met a person who can't resist joining the table for a puzzle ~ and enjoy a pot of tea with your cookies!



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Visiting...

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Well, we are off today to visit relatives! Have a great Monday!

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Glam'Eyes

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The kids and I went to Tarjay Boutique yesterday, seriously WHAT was I thinking? Seriously, I was thinking I NEEDED some mascara. Oh my stars, the parking lot was full and the people rude. Hmmm ~ note to self for future referrence not to shop 5 days before Christmas. The kids take my mind off the rude manners of the people though because they see things I don't. For example, while grocery shopping I see products on shelves; my kids see ALL the toys and knick-knacks that are on the hooks extending from the shelves. Their eye sight is superior to nothing Google Earth has because from ACROSS the 3 mile long store, they can eye spy an microscopic item. Yes, I have gifted children thus why I take them shopping with me every chance I get. (sigh)

I told the kids we needed to look for inexpensive mascara for Mommy. My darling girl found me the perfect item! It's Rimmel brand, called Glam'Eyes Mascara. The eye spy item was the on the black and pink packaging, it has a tiny crown on it. Crowns are big here because we know we are children of the Most High King ~ Jesus, thus we are Princess' and Princes'. (By the way, our Christmas tree topper is a Crown!)

My boy who loves to be praised for his reading skills asked if he could read the packaging; Seductive Volume. It really says Seductive but I don't want him saying that so I interrupt - that's SELECTIVE honey, okay keep going.

Turn heads. Son looks up and turns his head - can ya 'all just fall on the floor laughing right now!

New VolumFlex Brush styles lashes for sensational volume and instant separation. Ultra supple elasto-bristles groom each lash, lacquering them from root to tip for a spectacular 7 x more lash intensity. At this point there is much more to read but my Boy said instead, "Mommy, it's going to do things I can't read."

Round of applause for the Boy! Yea, I'll take it. And ya know, I have to say that I am pleased with the results. It's oily so it goes on easily and doesn't clump right away after sweeping several coats on. My eyes are popping! Ladies, I invite you all to try this inexpensive item in a pinch!

**(Sorry, darling boy isn't included with the packing)

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Oy Vey to $50!

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Why the Oy Vey?

Well on Monday when I started the Christmas Tour my video monitor went completely blank!

Can we say P-A-N-I-C?

Well long story short... I paid $50.00 to Tech Support to learn that my monitor cable was loose and when I snug it in all cozy like, the monitor came back to life. Ya' all this burns my biscuits! Oh Vey! I tell you I tried everything to figure out what the problem was! Didn't even occur to me to check the cables.... I mean the computer has been in the same spot for 6 years probably. That cable isn't moving anywhere~ right? Well then I forgot about gravity! Yeah, good old gravity does pull on things. For example, the bags under my eyes this morning are pulling! Oh well, at least that is all it was right?

I finally finished the tour though, took me nearly 4 days but I got through all the blogs. That was so much fun, I enjoy meeting all the new people! Big thank you to Cynthia at Muse Swings who hosted superbly!

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Christmas in Bloggyland Tour

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Knock, Knock!

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Hello my dear friends, do come in! Please, let me take your coat.

Wow, there are so many of us today on the tour! Isn't it amazing how a little fun can grow into yet another FUN adventure and along the way you meet new friends! A loud applause goes to Cynthia at Muse Swings for her continued leadership in hosting.

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I decided to do something a little different today so that we can get through all these posts before o'dark-thirty tonight. I will keep this short and simple...

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Take a seat next to the fire here and enjoy with me

my FAVORITE scene from the movie "ELF"

I hear sounds of laughter! It's been a good day! I encourage you to make your way through the tour today and share your comments abundantly!

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Do you know your Christmas Carols?

Looking at the pictures below, name the Christmas Carols represented in the illustrations:

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE FOR EASY VIEWING

Now don't cheat just yet...

Scroll down for the correct answers

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Answers
1. Jingle Bells

2. Walking in a Winter Wonderland

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

4. Joy to the World

5. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

6. O' Come All Ye Faithful

7. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

8. Oh, Christmas Tree

9. What Child is This?

10. We Three Kings

11. Deck the Halls

12. I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In

13. O' Holy Night

14. Noel

15. Away In a Manger

16. The Twelve Days of Christmas

17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

18. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

19. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

20. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

21. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

22. Silent Night

23. O' Little Town of Bethlehem

24. Silver Bells

Christmas Questionnaire

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Christmas Questionnaire:


1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Fresh! Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh pine?

2. Favorite Ornament- A GINORMUS bling of a diamond ring! (plastic of course- ha ha)

3. Favorite Christmas Song- Hands down, All I Want For Christmas is You, by Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas Album is seriously musically the best rockin' holiday CD of my time. And how cute was she in that little Santa outfit on the cover? When I hear it while I'm shopping I'm instantly singing along.

4. Favorite Tradition- Hands down, starting my own traditions! Now don't get me wrong people, but when some traditions become obligations, they ain't traditions anymore. No fun, no fun at all. Oh yes, I was happier than a bee in a hive when I turned 18, moved out on my own and financially supported myself to say... No Thank You; Nope - don't want to; it will start when I get there and end when I leave; etc!

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- The gift I remember being most excited about was a set of metal kitchen appliances - a stove and refrigerator filled with accessories!

6. Favorite Christmas Meal- The typical meal. Turkey/Ham, Stuffing/Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce (the fake kind from the can NOT real cranberry), Sweet Potatoes and wait for it.... JELLO SALAD MOLD - ya know the one with the walnuts and cranberries and whipped cream in it. Then wait a few hours and do it all over again.

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- My very own recipe for sugar cookies with icing. I'll be famous one day - you could say you knew me when I was just your blog friend, then I'll be your famous-blog-cookie-friend.

8. Favorite Place to be- With my family, extended family, friends.

9. Favorite Memory- First Christmas spent with my precious baby girl because it wasn't about me anymore.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie- White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Danny Kay, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen.

I'd love to see your answers too so please accept this open invitation to play along on your blog and tell me that you did so I can visit ya!

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99 Life Experiences

I saw this on Karla's blog, and thought it would be fun to do too. The bolded items are things I've done. You're invited to copy this to your own blog and bold your experiences. Let me know if you do! I'd love to see your list!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band (does a school band count?)

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain (Lake Tahoe)

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo (Karaoke)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check (Unfortunately... unintentionally... *sigh*)

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Not bad, not bad... I think looking over the list! How about you?

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GPS + Jesus = Saved

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Ha Ha - I absolutely love this! Pranksters and Criminals don't have a chance in this era of technology! Read about it here and here!

Have a great day!

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Award by Proxi!

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Thank you! Thank you! Taking a bow.... thanks to a generous friend, Nana Trish, at Nana's Living the Dream. If you don't know Nana Trish already, I invite you to stop by and introduce yourself to this lovely lady! She could use your prayers too because she has a broken foot! OUCH! No fun, I broke a toe once and I thought that was bad ~ can't imagine a foot! Lift her up would you please? Nana Trish and I, well we've been on a couple of blogging adventures together thanks to mutual blogging friends who come up with fun escapes to spend the day. It's a riot! Who knew spending 10 hours blogging could be so much fun! ha ha


This is the special "Proximidade" award. This award is a fine one because it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world (kind of a Six Degrees of Separation sort of thing).

"Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. T hey are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!


Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."


I TOO am proud to pass this award to:


1) Melody at Tea Time with Melody
2) Lavinia at Bird Bath Chronicles
3) Cynthia at Muse Swings

4) Sparky at My Thoughts Exactly
5) Rebecca at Ladies Historical Tea Society
6) Karen at Sassy Lass
7) Gill at That British Woman
8) Petra Michelle at PetraMichelle/Whose Roll Is It Anyway

Thanks again Nana Trish! Have a great day!

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Sunday things....

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How I spent my Sunday!

Woke up to discover the coffee pot didn't get washed out from the day before. So while it was drying I looked DEEP into the cupboard and found....

Espresso coffee! Yahoo! I just happened to have some Egg Nog on hand, so we diluted it with milk and added the espresso and voila ~ Egg Nog Latte! Delicious!

Then we went to church and heard a great message...

In Matthew chapter 2, King Herod was like the Grinch who stole Christmas because King Herod wanted to kill the newborn KING, Jesus. It was very relate able and easy to understand! Loved it!

Then we stopped at the Hair-Cut Store, as the kids like to call it... to get some trim work done.

After that we stopped at a new market and perused the aisles! We are definitely going back because we loaded up on fruit, veggies and a treat for $11.00! My heart sang when I saw Artichokes for .69 cents a piece! We haven't had those in over a year! Christmas came early to our house! Then we saw Fuji apples for .79 cents a pound - loaded up on those! They had everything, grapes, oranges, 5 different types of bananas, every kind of lettuce available probably.

Then came home to defrost ourselves because the market was SO COLD! I put on a pot of tea and we enjoyed that with our treat!

Then My Man finished putting up the last string of lights on the house!

Free time! Let's play some games like Slap - Jack!

B-I-N-G-O !!

Then it was time for dinner! Hmmm, what to make? Hamburger Helper with my extraordinary purchase of the day.... (wait for it..)

ARTICHOKES!!!!!

Finally, I talked on the phone to my Mother-in-Law and caught each other up on the family!



I hope you all had a lovely weekend too!

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Thankful still...

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Thankful still...

... to be employed!

I returned from the Thanksgiving Holiday vacation to learn that we're experiencing BIG TIME reductions in staff at my job and for many, their last day is Dec 31. It's hard to see your co-workers be given notice. You spend so much time together, your work environment is like your second family. Sad times around here... as a result I haven't been on the blog nor been able to visit my blogging friends for awhile, so I'll be catching up on all my visits this weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing what is new with you all! See you soon!

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