Happy New Year!!!

Only Rachel's hubby is missing from this group shot, fortunately he was able to join us a little later. It was a great day to have all my children and grands together at the same time.

Christmas 2011

 Me and three of my four children on Christmas Eve. 

Some of my grandchildren plus my brother's two....it's not easy 

making a good picture with five wiggly bodies.

You can call me the Traveler this year. First it was over to my parent's home for our whole kit-n-caboodle family Christmas Eve. Then it was off to spend the night with my oldest son and his family in Huntsville. Two of the grands rode home with me...good thing too....we (2 of us...one couldn't make it and fell asleep) had to sing the whole way there to stay awake!  Christmas morning and Santa with them, then back in the car to travel home for a 30 minute nap and then over to my  sister's house where I visited some more with family. Monday morning I went over to Rachel's for some breakfast and a look at what Santa brought. Last night I left work and drove to my Texas DIL's parent's house for a celebration with them. This Friday I will get to stay home. All of my children will be coming here for a day of gingerbread house making and presents. 

Keeping the Happy in Holiday

If you are looking for one quick, light and fun read between now and Christmas, try Mary Kay Andrew's novella, Blue Christmas. Yes I know there are only 2 days left until the big day, but this little book won't take you long. Just to give you a tiny hint of the kind of read it is I'm quoting a couple of the author's holiday tips....(please don't turn me in to the copyright police!)

Mary Kay Andrew's Tips for Keeping the Happy in Holidays:

• At family gatherings, do try to find something nice to say about your brother-in-law's new girlfriend--even if it's only that all her tattoos are spelled correctly. 
• The holidays call for cheerful, uplifting conversation. So remember--Christmas dinner is probably not the optimum time to announce a divorce, pending indictment or gender change. 
• When hosting a large family get-together, tactfully suggest that your guests leave firearms at home.

More tips follow as well as recipes and holiday music suggestions, but you'll have to read the book to discover them. 

Like most of Andrew's books, the setting for this one is Savannah, GA. And like her other books it's filled with old South charm and Gothic quirkiness, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. So if you've got a few hours to fill between now and the big day, try this book. I bet you'll like it.

Craft Night

With a wire wreath, assorted Christmas ornaments, garland  and a hot glue gun, you can have fun with friends and come home with a cute candle ring or a wreath for your door.  I used some of my shabby old ornaments mixed with a few bedazzled ones and voila.....

If I had it to do over I would choose silver garland instead of white, otherwise I think I like it. If you want to give it a try here are the instructions:

Turn the wire wreath so that the wires form a depression or gully. Arrange your largest balls inside the wires. When you've got the color combinations the way you like them, begin gluing the ornaments to the wire. Be sure to put a bead of glue between each ornament as well. Gluing them to each other as well as the wire stabilizes the whole thing. Once you've finished gluing from the topside, turn the ring upside down and add more glue to each ornament and wire underneath. As soon as you are sure you've got everything stuck together securely, begin weaving the garland in and out of the wire on the outside of the wreath.  Do the same on the inside of the circle. Last, use smaller ornaments to fill in any gaps that may be left and you are finished!

The only thing left to do is enjoy!

Just Chillin at Home and at Work

If you hang onto something long enough it becomes new again.

 K'nex Big Ball Factory...Christmas present for an uncle....13+ years ago. Fun again for someone new.

 Time to redecorate the work cubicle. A few little things to get me in the mood for the season.

Tale Retold

Imagine if Shakespeare wrote the Three Little Pigs.  This might sound a bit like his.

Open House

 This weekend is "Christmas at Arlington."  Each room in the house is decorated for the holidays and there is entertainment and refreshments. It was a perfect day to take a tour. 

The Greek Revival style antebellum home, located in Birmingham, Alabama, was built between 1845 and 1850. The house was not damaged during the civil war because Gen. James H. Wilson established his headquarters there while he planned his raid on Selma, Alabama to destroy confederate factories and munitions located there.

Merrily, Merrily

I'm trying to get the lights on my Christmas tree.

I've been to the store twice.

Once to buy them.

And once to exchange the ones I bought with white electrical cords for the ones I need with green cords.

And this is after I spent three+ hours getting the old (non-working) lights off my pre-lit tree.

Next time I will buy a new pre-lit tree and be done with it!

Ah....the holiday season is upon us!  ; )

Decorated tree by Google Images

Mine is not yet fully assembled....

Update: The tree is up and the lights are on it!  Now onward to ornament placement. I will get this done!

Gratefulness

There is so much to be thankful for that my heart overflows with it all.  So, I'd like to share some of my blessings with you. May your Thanksgiving be filled with the laughter and love of family and friends.

Thank you Lord for all you have given us!

Random Family Photo Day

Oldest granddaughter with her Irish Step Dance troupe performing at the UAH International Festival.

Aubrey and Gramma

Rachel and Emma

Me and Aiden

My oldest son, Daniel

Avery in Halloween garb and make-up.

Getting a feel for being a leprechaun.

I don't think Emma is a fan.

Can you tell that this one is a mess? 

Ready to Trick or Treat.

Horror At Homecoming....Our 7th Annual Murder Mystery Night

Mayhem High, is in the middle of a winning football season, school pride is running rampant....GO TEAM! Not only is competition fierce on the football field,  but the students are battling it out for grades, popularity, class ranking as well as the coveted title of homecoming king and queen.

 The cast of characters include students and faculty. Principal Simpson, Vice-Principal Patterson, Teach Tanner, Coach Walters and Dr. Talk, the school counselor make up the faculty.

Students attending the dance include Peter Prez, Sarah Social, the organizer of tonight's soiree, Debbie Taunte, Clerical Katie, Bobby Backer, Sally Spirit, Cindy Sensational, Kevin Kicker, Gabby Backer, Larry Lineman, J.J. Smart, Dolly Dancer, Ryan Rival, and Roy Rivers, an alumnus who just can't stay away from the young chicks.

The faculty makes sure Dolly Dancer's attire meets the school dress code. 

Dr. Talk cuts a rug with Dolly. 

Bobby Backer is thrilled to be chosen Homecoming King.

The seniors at Mayhem High think their future is bright....until the unthinkable happens...the homecoming king has been murdered!  Who could have done it?

 

Is there a doctor in the gym?  Does anyone know CPR?  

But sadly, it's too late for Bobby... Why would anyone murder Bobby?  Who could have done it? 

Once again, a good time was had by all while we tried to uncover the murderer.

Seasonal Change is Afoot

My work window on the world needed a change. 

Designed for those moments when it's a good thing to take a mini mental vacation. 

 I'm feeling fall-ish.

Damocles Sword no longer hangs over my bedroom.  

If you enlarge the photo you will see a guy working his way up into the leaves to tie a rope off near the top. 

The tree is on the ground today. but a hawk and numerous squirrels don't have homes in the sky anymore.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Why don't people read things?
Why don't service people return phone calls?
Why do people think they can get away with lying?
I was in a very bad mood today.
I said a few curse words, but thought even more.
Maybe tomorrow will be better.


ps.  this is me trying to be optimistic...

Turn Turn Turn

Autumn isn't here yet, but it is on the way!  I realized last week that one of the trees that fell had the prettiest yellow leaves each Fall. It's sad to think it won't be there this year.

Remembering

 This is a drawing I made shortly after 9-11 inspired by the images I'd seen on TV and in the newspapers.

Today is the anniversary of 9-11, the first attack on US soil in my living memory. It was a sad sad day. I'm remembering the victims and their families today. 

May God bless them all. 

The GIft I Wish I Could Refuse

Lee left me with a little reminder that a tropical depression can pack quite a punch.

It's 2 trees down, not one. I didn't know that until I was able to walk out into the yard after work last night. The one on the ground is from the neighbor's yard behind me. It probably pushed my tree over. The tree behind the bedroom is holding it up, but it is bending this way.

I talked to the tree service I used the last time a tree fell, but I'm not sure when the they can get out here. People with trees on the roof come first. I hope I don't have a tree on my roof by that time!

I've moved into Rachel's room until the leaning tree is no longer looming over the house.

To Austin and Back

I returned home last night from a week in Texas where Rachel, her kids and I visited with "my cousins" as Elijah happily called them. A happy time was had by all! 

We had no idea about the wildfires burning around Austin until we arrived home last night. The fires have been sparked by the horrible drought conditions in Texas this summer and high winds which were a result of tropical depression Lee in the Gulf of Mexico. The temperature, when we arrived there Sunday before last, was 112 F. It felt like you opened the door on a hot oven outside. We drove home yesterday along the upper edge of Lee. I think we made it through Jackson MS just before their deluge of rain began. The rain reached us here in mid Alabama overnight and it has been raining continuously all day. Too bad this storm didn't head toward south Texas. They would welcome all the rain with open arms.

Here are a few of the things Rachel and I saw the afternoon we drove around downtown Austin site-seeing.

Looking up Congress Ave. towards the state capitol. 

 

 You can tell how old this area is by the size of the trees. Most trees don't seem to grow this tall there.

 Also, the area right around town is hilly. Most of the rest of the city is flat by this Alabamian's standards. 

 I wish I could give you the history behind these beautiful houses, but I can't. Sorry.

These painted cows were placed all around town. Each must have been done by a different artist.

One of the highlights of our trip was the night we went to a production of the Wizard of Oz in Georgetown in an old art deco style movie theater. The acting and costumes were great. Both the children and the adults loved it!

As fun as it is to get away and visit with family, I have to say like Dorothy....There's no place like home!

Mom, I'm Working on My 5 a Day

Zucchini Ravioli Lasagna

I recently read a recipe for this somewhere. I didn't save it, so I made it up this past week. It turned out to be very good. I've had a slice every night. (I don't cook very often)  There is one for supper tonight and I frozen more for later. I've never been able to un-learn how to cook for a crowd...thus the super sized casserole.

Here's how you can make it if you wish to try it or better yet...if you like to hide your vegetables under something delicious...like me.

2 jars ready to use spaghetti sauce
1 lb of hamburger browned
Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese
1 family size pkg of 3 cheese ravioli
2 large zucchini
celery seed, basil, parsley, red pepper flakes and seasoning to taste.

Brown meat. Add seasonings and cover the bottom of a large casserole dish with meat sauce. Then mix the spaghetti sauce and cooked ravioli. Place a layer of meat and ravioli sauce in the dish and top with thin sliced zucchini. Put cheeses on top of this. Then add another layer of all ingredients ending with meat sauce only. Top with cheese and bake for about 30 minutes at 350.  The zucchini will be slightly al dente.

Bon appetit!