Happy New Years - 2011!!

Wow! It's almost here! I am so close to sleep that it's not even funny! But since I wake up in a new world everyday...a new year is a breeze!!

I'm planning on this being my best year ever....lots of most's.

Most Happy - Most Profitable - Most Healthy - Most Funny - Most Exciting - Most Creative - Most Festive - Most Imaginative - Most Dreamy - Most Dedicated - Mostest of the Most.

I love you...Happy new year!

b

O Chickadee, O Chickadee, how funky are your feathers...

I don't know...what do you think?? Should I write songs...that make the whole world sing?? No?? OK.

Holy crap it was windy today! I feel like I have a head full of dirt! It's better than mousse! I can make my hair stand straight out on my head. The winds seem to have let up this evening. The poor birds were hooking their little feet around the stick things on the feeder in order to stay on...and the feeder was swinging back and forth in the wind seriously trying to sling them off...it was pretty funny, actually!

I am not complaining. Our weather is calm compared to everything else going on around the country.

I am relaxing. My feet and legs ache. I got my 'insole-serts' today and they have found their new home(s). I have only walked on them for maybe an hour, so tomorrow will be the test! I'm thinking good thoughts.

I made a necklace but I'm not sure if I like it yet. Then again, it's not for me so somebody else may love it. Usually the things that I make and I like aren't great sellers...but the ones that I think...mmmm, I don't know....sell first. There's no accounting for taste!

It's almost 2011!! The suspense is killing me.

It is so dark outside. And it's only 7. It makes me sleepy. 

Well this is interesting. The governor of New Mexico, on his last day in office tomorrow, will announce if he will pardon Billy the Kid. Why not! Too bad Billy will never know. Or maybe he will?

I'm going to take a shower, clog the drain with dirt and read for a while. Have a nice evening.

b

The long and winding road....leads in a circle.

It was awful today. 'Nough said. 

And my feet hurt. Insole-serts will be here tomorrow. My legs hurt, also. I had a cup of Stash Peach tea with a handful of Tylenol when I got home. Then some cheese and an orange. Then some green beans. And a few carrots. I am cleaning out the refrigerator a container at a time. Maybe some nachos later. Diabetic nachos. Which means only a few.

I'm too pooped to craft anything. I thought...get that?...only thought...about making some necklaces tonight. I have some great beads and I felt like making something earlier...as in before I went to work this morning. I am not even going to attempt anything tonight cuz I think I'd mess it up. Too tired. Next week is another extremely slow week here and I plan on spending a few days working on my own stuff. I am cutting antlers...without fail. I had a request for a replacement piece...and I also need to send out a few samples to entice some buyers and solicit some orders.

I finally found a book on Amazon with super cute crocheted baby hats! They are adorable! I'd like to make up some for the photographer I met at the Christmas craft show. I also think I will plan on making some camo hats for boys next year. I pretty much had all ladies hats, if you take the colors into consideration, and maybe a couple that were unisex....but I hadn't concentrated on kids stuff. Camo...and even pink camo would be pretty good sellers. But first...baby hats.

Husband got some snacks today for New Year's Eve. Tasty!! I'll be asleep before the crack of 11...so we'll eat early!

Either my glasses or too tight...or my head is getting fat. I hate to stretch them...I'm a chronic 'breaker'. Not a good thing. Oh...and I forgot to tell you, my vision is enormously improved!! I am ecstatic! Only need glass to read now. Yippee!!

Practical Magic is on. It's a cute movie.

I think I'll make a fruit salad. That sounds good.

I suppose I'll close and watch the movie. Husband is catching a few ZZZZ's or we would be watching some stupid shooting show on The Outdoor Channel. He can see the reruns later this evening. They are all reruns anyway....but I'll take advantage of my movie time! Have a great evening!

b

Medical update!

Well guess what! I got a telephone call from my personal physician, Dr. Livingston. And I don't presume...I know! He expressed immense concern over my dibilitating foot condition. Realizing the extreme urgency he gave me, at a premium price I might add, professional advice. Rather than turn me over to his now retired predecessor, Dr. Feelgood, which may have been interesting, he decided to handle my sit-che-a-shun personally.Heeding his advice, I, without hesitation, went directly to the Amazongeemyf**kingfootiskilligme.com site and ordered some Dr. Scholl's inserts. Dr. Scholl's Tri-Comfort Orthotics Inserts to be exact. I will let you know how they work. Dr. L did say that he generally bought his shoes 1/2 size larger to accommodate the insert...but It's a little late for me for that, so I may have to put them in and dremel away anything that just don't fit! I can also remove the inner sole that is already there (in the shoe...not on my actual foot!) Further, I was pleased to hear that likes New Balance shoes as well! Great minds think alike...........

Periodically, the owners here at the Lodge will swap out a room in exchange for services or products. Today the 'products' was fruit. An enormous box of fruit - oranges, pears, apples, tangerines, pineapple - and I brought some home. The oranges are amazing! These folks have brought fruit before that wasn't so great, but this time it is exceptional. Yummy!!

Tom is driving me nuts. He wants something and I don't know what it is. I know what it isn't. An orange. He showed no interest in it. So he can sit here and look at me till he falls over. I am very comfortable and ain't moving.

No, I didn't go to old lady day at Beall's today. It was too busy here. And tomorrow is miserable. I'll wait until next week. It's not an urgent thing anyway.

Husband is making menudo. He has to go cut up pig's feet in a minute. No, we don't eat soup like normal people. We eat guts and feet with hominy. Yu-u-u-u-m-m-m-m-y! I actually like it. Let me put it to you this way...I like the way Husband makes it. I would never order it anywhere.

One of the guests here is a rock hunter and has a million buckets in his/her room for specimens. They go out everyday to hunt and haul back tons, literally, of agate. Well, they have a scale in their room and I couldn't resist stepping on it today. I lost a pound. That's not good. I think I need a couple of sandwiches. I did eat one for lunch. Cheese. Very tasty. I felt funky and really needed it. I worked too hard....not too hard., I think, as much as too fast. I just wanted to get out of here. I got pretty shaky and ate some candy while I made the sandwich. It took about 20 minutes to calm myself down. I won't do that again. And I didn't feel it coming on. Scary.

We are patiently waiting to see if they find the lost 'AX Man" We never watch this show...but the suspense is killing us. But first...they have to blow up a giant log. Now it's bubblin'! Hot diggity dang dog...this is truly excitin'!! Oh-oh...now it's back to finding missing logger, Van Hoffman. They have lost his trail and are screaming out 'Van'. Makes sense....if they screamed out 'Bob' it just wouldn't make sense, now would it! Maybe Van would scream back..."I ain't Bob! I'm Van! Is Bob missin' too??'

Now they think he might have a broken leg...or had a heart attack...maybe he's walking home cuz he's sick of everybody's shit? I would be. He's been missing 38 hours...and there are 2 minutes left of this show...crap! The plot thickens. Son of a Bitch!!! The search contnues...NEXT WEEK!!!

Now Modern Marvels is on. It's all about aluminum. I need to read. Oh wait! Beer cans!! Cool....

OK...now I must read. I am full of fruit and I'm sure my blood sugar is soaring as we speak. Calm down...I checked it first! It was OK for me to eat grapefruit segments. Maybe not as many as I did...but I am happy now.

I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well!

b 

I need some arch supports

I really hate to wear my new shoes out. I have some perfectly good (new) tennis shoes in the closet but they hurt my feet. Brilliant idea - arch supports! But there are so many! I am leaning towards the Dr. Scholl's Gel Inserts. I want exactly what is in the New Balance shoes I got. They are extremely comfortable.

It was a frightful day today. Busy and I hated it. Not so bad tomorrow. I want to be done early. I have important things to do.

I decided to read last night. That 'Knitting Club' book.

I am drinking some Chai Tea tonight. It's very good. One of our friends sent us some pistachio, pine nut biscotti cookies with dark chocolate on top. I am going to have a bite tonight. I am not a pine nut person, but I do love pistachios. I used to make biscotti a lot. A chocolate macadamia nut with white chocolate chips was a favorite. It's a little time consuming, but worth the effort. I used to bake a lot.

Can you believe how fast this year has gone? I am humbled.

Tom and Husband are eating celery and pimento cheese. They love it. I prefer Maine Potato Candy. I like cabbage rolls. I think Husband should make some. 

I got a $10 in store check from Beall's today. Tomorrow is old lady day and there are additional coupons on line. I should make a plan. 

We are watching Band of Brothers. I like this series. I only dislike the episode with the POW camp. It is painful to watch.

I s'pose I'll go read a bit. And warm up my tea. I had a little nap earlier...not much of one, but I am not bobble headed drowsy yet. Once I start reading I will be. See you tomorrow!

b

Happy Kwanza!! And Boxing Day in Canada!!

Oh my God...another holiday! Can you believe it!! And I am the consummate celebrate-or! Break out the booze...and have a ball...is that all...there is................................................yep!

Didn't feel so good this afternoon. I thought I might be catching Husband germs...but I took a nap fortified with Tylenol Night Time Severe Cough Due to Cold Congestion Headache Runny Nose Pain Relief Blue Striped Capsules and I feel much better. I am drinking hot Stash Peach tea which is quite tasty and relaxing. The sad part? I didn't exert myself at all today!

I ate leftovers for supper minus the cake. It's not that I don't want any...cuz I DO...but I will not press my luck. I may have some popcorn later. Or not. It depends on my blood sugar.

After my Tylenol induced nap I cleaned a couple of craft drawers. Lots of stuff that I didn't need went in the trash and made room for more highly desirable items of interest and functionality. Yeah, right.

I hope something is on TV later. Something that I haven't seen in the past 10 days. I finished my book but am reluctant to start another. I need to do other things. But I'll cave. I have no will power. I do have a book that I started several months ago, The Friday Night Knitting Club, that I could finish. I even remember what was going on when I stopped reading it. That's a good idea. I should finish that one.

Did I ever tell you what Tom got for Christmas? It's a pad       
to sleep on...that works with his own body heat...to generate
heat! He absolutely loves it! I am so glad. His old bones
have to hurt and he will lay where Husband has his heating
pad for his back and sleep for hours. I didn't think it was a
smart idea to get something that plugged it (!) and then I
found this one. It's the best gift  ever got him. He told me
so. Nothing better than a happy 19-1/2 year old cat.

I'll try to post both photos of Tom. The above was after a            
little too much celebrating. And the one next to this writing is
him on his mat. He was sleeping earlier, but this is the photo
that I got...he is obviously disgusted that I disturbed him. Tough.

Oh Joy. Independence Day is on. Again and again and again.

I have to stop for a while. Tom doesn't have diabetes so he still eats a little yogurt at night. I am a good mama. And I think he is about to pass out from hunger...so I must do my motherly duty.

Have a wonderful evening...

b

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

Husband, Tom and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the best year ever to come!

Remember when we all wondered about moving into the year 2000?? Would all of the computers on the planet freeze...should we run to the bank and take all of our money out...in case? I remember that I found, in a pawn shop, on December 31, 1999...Prince's cassette tape...Tonight We're Gonna Party Like It's 1999. Who'd a thought. So now we're gonna party like it 2011.

I had a wonderful Christmas. Husband cooked like a champ (as always) Prime Rib with his famous horseradish sauce, fresh green beans with ham and red onions, carrots with maple syrup (decadent), sausage cornbread dressing, roasted garlic potatoes, garlic bread...superb. Our friends, Mary Ann and Paul brought an Italian Cream Cake. Holy Moses and Mary...it was sinful! And I ate some! I told BFFMS earlier that I should be in a coma!

BFFMS made me something extremely thoughtful...her homemade Maine Potato Candy! It is melt in your mouth...Here's the funny part...she's my biggest supporter and encourager of staying on a healthy eating plan!!! MAINE POTATO CANDY!!! She loves me!! I love the irony!!!
Today...she is my enabler....don't worry!! I'll dole it out (to me) in healthy portions! Dark chocolate is good for me.

The weather was cool and crisp and wonderfully sunny. There was definitely frost on the pumpkin this morning. My family has mucho inches of snow on their pumpkins! And more to come I fear. Tonight will be a 'mdnight clear'. Some folks who are staying here with their children were putting a telescope together this morning. They should have a blast tonight.

Here's a Christmas story. When I was 14, I got a Bulova wristwatch for Christmas. I knew I was getting it...because I found it in the hamper where my grandmother hid it. I found it around Thanksgiving by sheer accident...honest! It was her fault because she told me to get some embroidered pillowcases out of hamper! My heart skipped a beat. It was beautiful and I had wanted a watch forever. And no...we didn't use the hamper as a real hamper, like ordinary folks...it was where she stored some sheet and pillowcases.

I didn't tell her I saw it, of course...but I did keep checking every day to make sure it was still there. And it was. Right up until 2 days before Christmas. I figured she must have decided it had been expertly secreted away all that time, and finally took it out and wrapped it. I never looked again. Why bother!

Christmas morning came and we opened gifts...all of them. But no watch. I was puzzled. In more ways than on. Let's see...how do I say...'Where's the beautiful watch that I have wanted forever that has been hidden in the hamper since Thanksgiving?' without sounding like a selfish asshole?? I kept looking under the tree...in the tree...behind the tree...in the hamper (what did I have to loose!) Nothing! I was freaked. And frustrated.

We went on with our day. Off to Aunt Elsie's, Aunt Rosetta's, Aunt Betty's, Cousin Jean's, Cousin Nancy's...we made the rounds. Our family tradition was to go to everyone's homes and look at all of their gifts. That's what we did. It was a wonderful day...of course! But I still couldn't figure that watch sit-che-a-shun out.

After a long and happy day, we got home and reflected on how lucky we were. I truly have an amazing family and when I think about my childhood...I smile and laugh out loud. What more could anyone ask for.

It was late and time to go to bed. I went into my room and there on my pillow was a beautifully wrapped package. Big enough to hold a Bulova watch that would thrill any young girl who had wanted one forever.

The card attached said...

'I knew when you found this a month ago that you couldn't stop looking at it but It was worth watching you all day today wondering where it was! With all my love, Mama'

She was a sly one, she was. It makes me cry right this very minute.

Star Wars is on. Oh happy day. I must finish my book tonight. I only have maybe 10 pages left, but I couldn't keep my eyes open last night. I've only been reading this one for 2 months!

Good night. I'll be back tomorrow.

b