Happy New Year!!!

Wishing a blessed, happy, and healthy New Year to all! Ours was a bit quiet, actually toyed with the crazy idea of going to Times Square, but quickly changed our minds after seeing the huge crowd on TV. Maybe we'll feel more adventurous next year.

Don't really have any resolutions, I pretty much have the same ones every year-eat less, exercise more, take better care of myself and Carlos, stick to our budget, and organize, organize, organize! Next year at this time I will probably be writing the same things! We'll see about that.

Hope you all have a wonderful 2008!

What Are You Doing New Years?

For us, it's going to be a Chinese take-out and jammie night. We're both working tomorrow, for me it's 5am to 3:15 pm, so if I'm going to ring 2008, I'm going to need a nap! Anyway, here is one place where I will NOT be tomorrow night:


Times Square

Almost did go there today, since we never did get around to checking out the tree in Rockefeller Center this year. But the weather got a little yucky, so our plans changed. Oh well, there's always next year.

So we'll be on our couch tomorrow night, watching all the crazy people who will be in Times Square to ring in the New Year. We're well stocked here with drinks, munchies, and of course, noisemakers. And if I actually do make it to midnight, I'll be on our front porch with a boombox playing this most awful recording of cats meowing (singing?) "Auld Lang Syne". I do this every year.

Be thankful that you do not live on my street!

Have a happy and blessed New Year!

Well another Christmas has come and gone. We had a nice one. Spent Christmas Eve at my Dad's home and Christmas Day at ours. Did a little baking during the day on Christmas Eve. Made this gingerbread tree and some Italian anise cookies:



And also M&M cookies and some gingerbread men and trees:



Now I'm just trying to get caught up on things like laundry, cleaning, and other fun activities. Seems I get this "urge to purge" every year around this time and I just start tossing lots of stuff. I spent a good part of yesteday sorting through papers and clothing and I barely made a dent in the clutter. I really need to keep on top of it better. I guess it's time to pay Fly Lady a visit.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas week with family and friends.

Christmas Craziness

What a crazy week it's been! I've been working every day since Tuesday, running around trying to get that last minute shopping done, plus doctor's appointments and other fun stuff. Still have a little baking and wrapping to do. I just finished baking a batch of M&M cookies and I made some gingerbread dough. I'll bake and decorate the gingerbread men tomorrow, for I know if I make them tonight they will end up with mean little faces, complete with fangs.

Yes, once again I find myself trying to achieve that perfect Norman Rockwell kind of Christmas, but I find myself turning into Norman Bates. I should know better, for it's not the perfect Christmases I remember, but the funny, not-so perfect ones. Like how every year my Father would bring home the most sorry looking Christmas tree he could find, you know the kind with no branches in the middle or in the back. The kind of tree that makes Charlie Brown's look like the one in Rockefeller Center. My Mother would get so mad, but somehow she managed to turn those trees into works of art. Now that's a Christmas miracle!

Then I remember the first Christmas with Carlos in our home and we finally had enough space for a large tree. I had decorated it so beautifully with all these delicate glass ornaments and I was so proud of that tree. Then I came home from work on Christmas Eve to find my pretty tree face down on the living room floor with several of the ornaments broken. Seems my beloved Sheltie, who is now in doggie heaven, managed to get caught in it and caused it to topple over. (I know this because I found a large clump of his fur in the tree.) I laugh about it now, and Archie even has a special place on our tree, featuring his collars and some of the ornaments he broke:



Then there are the little things that make me smile, like that house I drive by every day with all the decorations. The guy looks like he's hosting a winter carnival on his front lawn-he even has a small ferris wheel! Well Friday afternoon, him and his wife were outside dressed like Mr. and Mrs. Claus and waving to everyone. And their children were dressed like Santa's reindeer, in furry brown suits and antlers, and they were on all fours, lined up on the front steps. I wish I had my camera with me.

And then there are moments like these, in your own home:



My sweet dog Raven, had a seizure today, right in front of the Christmas tree. She seems okay now, but she is going to see the vet later this week, so we'll see. She is twelve, but I hope it's nothing serious.

So enjoy your Christmas, hope its a wonderful one that you'll always cherish.

Show And Tell

Kelli at There is No Place Like Home is the hostess of Show And Tell Friday. If you would like to join the fun and check out other great show and tells, please visit Kelli's blog.

My show and tell this week is my Nativity. It once belonged to my Grandmother, then my Mother, and it was passed on to me when I moved into my own apartment. I'm not sure how old it is, but I know it's over 50 years old. It's a bit chipped and worn because many little hands (and paws) have played with it through the years. My Mother always displayed it beneath our Christmas tree along with our gifts. I also do the same for He is the most special gift anyone can receive.



And here is our tree. These lights twinkle, so the photo looks a little blurry. Notice that black silhouette in the bottom left near the center? Yes, that's our kitty-he is so fascinated with that tree!




Thank you for stopping by and looking at my Show and Tell, and thank you Kelli, for hosting.

My "Festive" Holiday Table...

I just want to let Diana at Sunshine On My Shoulders know that she is not the only one with a messy table. In fact, both my dining room and master bedroom have been declared major disaster areas! Can you believe that I actually wrote out my Christmas cards on this very table last night?

Now to answer her question-"Where do you eat?" Well tonight we dined on snack tables in the living room. Who knows-we just may be eating Christmas dinner alfresco (outdoors) if I don't clean this mess up soon!

Carlos insisted I put that empty wine bottle on the table when I told him why I was taking this picture, but all that other stuff, including Santa, was just as you see it. I hope we don't get any surprise visitors.

Only One More Week!!

Just finished scribbling writing our Christmas cards, hopefully they will all reach their destinations on time. Finally got the tree up and decorated, will take some photos before the kitty cat has his way with it.

Well I officially joined the 50 and over club yesterday-in other words, I had a colonoscopy. Yikes!!! Actually the procedure itself is nothing-but the preparation the day before-well I'll spare you the details. I think you know what I mean.

Still have a little shopping to do and some wrapping and baking. And cleaning!!! So it will probably be just a few quickie posts for the next few days. Hope you're all enjoying the season.

Christmas Meme

Saw this Christmas Meme on Diana's blog and it sounded like a lot of fun, so here's mine:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
It depends on the gift. Anything "boxy" gets wrapped. Large or odd-shaped gifts get bagged.

2. Real tree or artificial?
I love real trees, but I've been using an artificial tree for some time now, because the real ones dry out so quickly in our home. I usually hang some kind of pine wreath, so we can still have that real Christmas tree smell.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Our giant cat toy Christmas tree is going up this weekend. I will be housebound because we are expecting a nor'easter Saturday night and Sunday.

4. When do you take the tree down?
After January 6-Most people in my neighborhood celebrate the Epiphany.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I love it!! On Christmas morning, Carlos and I open our gifts to each other while having a cup of eggnog with a little Kahlua and some nutmeg sprinkled on top. (did I just hear someone say "Yuk!!"?)

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A puppet theater, I think I was 9 or 10 years old. Our family kitty liked it too, for he often slept inside. He also starred in a few of our "productions".

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, a very old one from Italy which once belonged to my Grandmother. It's chipped and worn, but I treasure it. I display it beneath our Christmas tree, just like my Grandmother and Mother once did.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Carlos!!!!!

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My dog, Raven. (Hey, she's a fur-person!)

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
My high school sweetheart once gave me a sweater with two large circles in the front placed exactly you-know-where, along with a pair of spoon and fork earrings. Thank the Lord we broke up right before the following Christmas!

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Snail mail.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
It's A Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually in December, but sometimes I do a little before that.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I have donated a few to charity.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My family is Italian and on Christmas Eve we have the Feast of the Seven Fishes. There is plenty of shrimp, scallops, mussels marinara, calamari, linguine and clam sauce, flounder, and other seafood dishes. And of course, I love to eat all those yummy Christmas cookies.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
I've used colored ones for a long time, but this year I'm going to use clear ones that twinkle.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
O Come All Ye Faithful by anyone (even Twisted Sister!) I also love Christmas Canon by the Transiberian Orchestra.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Christmas Eve I spend with family (it's maybe 10 miles from here). Christmas Day I usually spend at home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Comet and Blitzen. Donner, Cupid, Prancer, Vixen, and Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Usually a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas Eve I exchange gifts with my family. Christmas morning, Carlos and I open our gifts to each other.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
I really don't like those gigantic air blown Christmas decorations a lot of people have on their front lawns. Especially during the day when they are deflated. Does anyone else feel this way?

23. What I love most about Christmas?
The true Christmas spirit. It is such a magical time.

If you read this-you're tagged!! Let me know-I'd love to see your answers.

Meowy Christmas!

Ever try wrapping Christmas gifts with your kitty?



He probably thinks they're all for him!

Ever Hear Of This Tradition?

As long as I can remember, relatives on my mother's side of the family hung a Christmas card with a picture of the Three Wise Men above the front door. My Mom would usually send us one while she was alive, and sometimes my Dad still does. One year when I was feeling really ambitious, I cross-stitched Three Wise Men Christmas cards for my entire family. Boy, my fingertips and eyesight paid dearly for that! But everyone liked them, so it was worth it.

I spotted the above box of Three Wise Men cards while shopping at Barnes and Noble and thought I would send these this year instead of my usual kitty and puppy Christmas cards. I could almost hear Mom's voice telling me to buy them: "Don't you think it's time you sent a grown-up Christmas card instead of those cutesy ones? Aren't you like 51 now?"

Okay Mom, I heard you. I bought the cards.

But it also got me wondering-what is the meaning behind all this? Just why do people hang Three Wise Men Christmas cards above the front door? So I turned to that wealth of information, the internet, for answers.

First I read how in Europe, people write the initials of the Three Wise Men along with the year, in chalk blessed with holy water, on the main door to the house to bless their homes for the new year. Then I came across this interesting site, full of Irish folklore and traditions, which says it is done to bring health and harmony to one's home. But my mother was Italian, not Irish, so it still left me wondering. I guess I need to do a little more searching.

Has anyone else heard of this tradition? Perhaps there is a Three Wise Men Christmas card hanging above your front door, too.

Favorite Christmas Movies

I love to watch Christmas movies, but I do have a few favorites. One is A Christmas Carol, the REALLY old one made in 1938 with Reginald Owen. I remember the grammar school I attended would show this one every year right before Christmas. Usually the one shown on television is the the 1951 version with Alastair Sim, which I also like.

I also love It's A Wonderful Life, probably my all time favorite movie. My hubby doesn't share my love for these old movies (sniff), in fact he doesn't like to watch anything in black and white unless it features Moe, Larry, and Curly-nyuk nyuk!

And here's a newer one, made this century, that I absolutely love:



It's a sad but inspiring story about a young boy who wants to buy a special Christmas gift for his dying mother. And it's also the story of an attorney who's been focusing more on his job than his family. Fate brings these two together on Christmas Eve at a local department store and what happens next still makes me cry no matter how many times I watch this movie. Lifetime is showing The Christmas Shoes tomorrow (Dec 9) at 7pm est, if you're interested. And if you do plan on watching, keep a box of tissues nearby.

I also love A Charlie Brown Christmas. I guess that one's not really a movie, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas until I see it.

And I confess, I still try to catch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Maybe it's because I can really relate to that "Misfit" song.

What is your favorite Christmas movie or Christmas special?

I Need Some Christmas Spirit!

Santa with Angel

I'm really trying to get into the Christmas spirit, but it just doesn't seem to be happening yet. I've been listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, doing a little decorating and shopping, but I'm just not feeling that joy inside. I did get some disturbing news from my doctor a few days ago that I'm going to need some minor surgery soon. Seems I've been playing host to this large gall stone for some time and it really should come out before there are serious complications. I've been doing a lot of research on this the past few days and it's not really bothering me that much yet and my blood work is okay, so I guess Mr. Gall Stone will be spending the holidays with me. My real concern is that both Carlos and I may be losing our jobs soon (we work together) and if that happens, then I also lose my health coverage.

So I'm paranoid that I will eat or do something that might set this little time bomb off. I know I'm being silly; it's such a minor thing that's completely treatable and the news could have been much worse. I guess I should feel blessed that it wasn't something more serious.

Christmas Lights

Here's how our Christmas lights look so far. These are colored icicle lights, it's hard to see the colors in the photo. We still have a little bit more to do, like put some lights on the arborvitae bush (tree!) that's in front. It was snowing a little when I took these pictures. Looks like our garbage can managed to sneak into the photo in the bottom center.



Carlos is kind of obsessed with these lights and is constantly checking to see if any have gone out. What is it with these men and their Christmas lights?



This is the Nativity scene in the front window. I still have to put the angels up when I find some more of those suction cup hook thingies. If you look through the blinds, you can see the inside of our messy house.



Thank you for looking at our Christmas light photos.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to wish all the wonderful friends I met in blogland a Happy Thanksgiving. You will never know how much I am inspired and encouraged by your posts and comments. I am thankful for each and every one of you.

I just finished baking two pies which I will be bringing over the river and through the woods to my sister's home in the northwestern part of New Jersey tomorrow. I just have to throw together one of those famous green bean casseroles in the morning and I'm good to go.

Enjoy your day tomorrow and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Giving Thanks

Today is the last day of Kelli's Giving Thanks posts. There's still a little time left, so if you have a Thanksgiving related post to share, please visit Kelli's blog for all the details.

Here is a recipe for pumpkin muffins which I clipped from my local newspaper about 20 years ago. The recipe is from the Publick House in Sturbridge, Mass. I'm thinking of making a batch tomorrow, for we may get a little bit of snow and that always gets me in the mood to bake something.

Pumpkin Muffins

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Mix sugar, oil, eggs, and pumpkin. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Quickly stir together both mixtures. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full and bake 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from oven and let muffins cool a few moments in the pan before removing. Serve warm with butter or honey butter.

Here's a couple of my Thanksgiving decorations:

A Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 75th Anniversary Snowglobe:


They have a different one every year, but so far this is the only one I have.

This turkey hangs on our front door (gotta love those craft fairs!):



Thank you for visiting my Giving Thanks post and thank you, Kelli for hosting.

Veteran's Day

A hand reaches out to touch a name on the Vietnam Wall

To honor everyone, everywhere, past and present, who served during wartime:


IN MEMORY OF DEPARTED COMRADES

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;

I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there; I did not die in vain as
long as my sacrifice is not forgotten.

(Author Unknown)


My Dad served during the Korean War. His 75th birthday was a few days ago. Tonight my entire family will be celebrating with him.

Hope everyone has a blessed Veteran's Day

Happy Birthday America!

4th JULY QUOTES

"We hold these truths to be self evident,
that all men are created equal."
~Thomas Jefferson~

"I know not what course others may take,
but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death."
~Patrick Henry~

"Our flag is red, white and blue,
but our nation is a rainbow -
red, yellow, brown, black and white -
and we're all precious in God's sight."
~Jesse Jackson~

"Our flag is our national ensign,
pure and simple,
behold it! Listen to it!
Every star has a tongue,
every stripe is articulate."
~Robert C. Winthrop (1809-1894),
Senator from Massachusetts~

"You can't appreciate home
till you've left it,
money till it's spent,
your wife until she's joined a woman's club,
nor Old Glory till you see it hanging
on a broomstick on a shanty
of a consul in a foreign town."
~O. Henry (1862-1919)~

Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th.

Happy Father's Day Dad

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there in blogland. Here's a few pictures of mine. The first one was taken at Callies Pretzels in the Poconos, PA. We make frequent trips there and I hope to live there someday (the Poconos that is, although I wouldn't mind living at Callies!)

This next picture is my father and his dog "Murray". They are best friends, my father brings Murray everywhere with him.

WHAT MAKES A DAD

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

~Author Unknown~


Also a Happy Father's Day to my hubby Carlos, "Daddy" to Raven and Jeter.

Flag Day

American Flag, Star Spangled Banner

I am the Flag

By Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America.

My name is Old Glory.I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.

I stand watch in America's halls of justice.I fly majestically over institutions of learning.

I stand guard with power in the world.

Look up ... and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.

I stand for freedom.I am confident.I am arrogant.I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,my head is a little higher,my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!

I am recognized all over the world.

I am worshipped -- I am saluted.I am loved -- I am revered.I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.

I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.

I was there at San Juan Hill,the trenches of France,in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, and the beaches of Normandy. Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon,

Vietnam knows me.I was there.

I led my troops.I was dirty, battleworn and tired,but my soldiers cheered me

And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free.

It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, tornand trampled on the streets of my country.

And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.

But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.

I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.

But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,

When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,

Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parentat the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud.

My name is 'Old Glory'!

Long may I waveo'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

My Dirty Weekend

Well, here's what I've been up to the past few days: planting and more planting. Flowers, veggies and herbs. My yard is not very big, so I put some things like peppers and herbs in containers. I also planted tomatoes, green beans, Japanese eggplants, cucumbers, and zucchini squash.That's a dwarf apple tree in the planter on the right.




Here's Raven wondering how she's going to get past that fence surrounding the veggie garden:

Here's a little gardening tip I learned from my Dad: punch a hole in those little plastic markers that usually come with young plants and tie them to the tomato cages or stakes if you use them. So if you discover that you love (or hate) a particular variety, this will help to identify it easily.
This is a Rutgers tomato-their sports teams did well this year so I'm hoping their tomato will also have a good season as well!

Sorry these photos are kind of blurry-it's a little breezy here today.

So, why did I spend this long weekend getting dirty when I could have gone to the beach or a barbecue? Why it's a family tradition!
You see when I was a child, Memorial Day Weekend was when we would put our pool up. My father would carve out this huge circle which was the diameter of the pool in our backyard, and my brother, sisters, and I would spend the entire weekend "preparing the soil". We would dig up the whole area within that circle about 3 inches deep and sift every bit of it until there were no stones or grass or anything else left in it. Just good old dirt. We would have a pretty big hill of it by the time we were finished. My father would then spread this sifted dirt out into the circle. He would put a post in the ground at the exact center and using this as his guide, go around the circle with a large piece of wood until the entire area was level. Then we would put up the actual pool and fill it. If all had gone well, it would ready for our Memorial Day cookout.
On Labor Day Weekend, the pool would come down and we would repeat the entire process again the following year.

And as I recall, it was a fairly large pool.
I can still see my brother, shirtless and brown, covered with dirt, as he sifted the hours away. I think he rather enjoyed it.
A co-worker of mine thinks this story is hilarious and makes me repeat it to him every year for Memorial Day.
Fortunately, he was on vacation last week, but I'm sure I'll have to tell it to him tomorrow. Or maybe I'll just direct him to my blog.

Anyway, I have dirt up my nose and just about everywhere else on my person that isn't covered. I even taste dirt! It's time for me to hit the shower.

Gee, if I only had a pool.