Christmas Eve

I took this photo a couple of years ago on Christmas Eve. I was walking into my local grocery store and as always, I looked up - really, who could walk outside anywhere and miss this! - luckily, back then I had a camera that I carried with me all of the time.



I wish I'd had a camera for this past week, there have been many photo opportunities for me. The main ones have been the snowstorms, the 3 & 4 foot long icicles hanging from the awning over my back door, and best of all, the BEAUTIFUL snow angel my son made last Saturday. While I was busting my back shoveling and clearing off the cars. But it is really the perfect snow angel.



Today the sky looks nothing like this. It's raining. And over forty degrees. I'm afraid when we walk out the front door today, our shoes are going to plunk right into a huge bucket of slush. Got to get ready to go out soon - we just found out we are having an overnight guest and I want to put together a stocking for him! It's my oldest stepson, who we haven't seen for the last couple of Christmas seasons. He was off around the country being a 'backpacker', I guess you could say.



Merry Everything!! Everyone have fun the next few days!! XO

"I want a snowblower for Christmas..."

Ugh. Yuck. Blech!! Shoveling sucks! I can't even describe how much it sucks. Entirely. I shoveled a 3 foot wide path from my back door, across the deck, down the steps and onto the driveway. Had to come inside and change my fleece jacket because the buttons weren't staying buttoned. Blew my nose 3 times, because you know, the 20 degree temperature mixed with the whatever-mile-an-hour winds make the nose runny. Put on my pullover fleece with the hood, yeah, that's better...so I go back outside and start to shovel a path down the driveway toward the road. I think I got about, oh, maybe 15 feet? Back is killing me, so I yell to Beau (who started out the front door and went toward the street walk) "I gotta go in and rest a bit, back is hurting too much!" I went in the back door, he went in the front, then yells for me to please get him something to stand on so the rug won't get all wet. His jeans were wet and snowy up to his knees! My jeans were damp around the bottom inch maybe. Somebody was playing in the snow!

So this is rest time. We were lucky enough to have our neighbor next door snow-blow across the front street walk again for us. When I heard his blower starting up at 7:30 a.m. I rolled over in bed and thought 'EGAD, man! It's fargin' SATURDAY, where DO you have to be (and will you get me a vanilla chai if you're goin' out??!!)', but my next thought was, 'I will ignore the noise and forgive you the early hour if you remove the snow from in front of our house, thankyouverymuch.' And he did. He's kind of a grumpy looking old guy, when I see him and say hello, he sort of just nods his head at me. But he takes care of us when there's a heavy snow, so for that I'm very grateful.

Anyway. I guess it's time to get out there again and shovel some more, maybe get the cars cleaned off. I've got my car here and my mom's, because my car battery was dead for a while. Now lucky mom doesn't have to clean off her car! We got quite a bit of powdery snow, maybe 9-10 inches, but it's still heavy for me.

Another storm is heading our way tonight, I haven't heard the latest forecast, but it's definitely going to be enough to have to shovel again. How's the weather where you are? Martha, you can just nevermind answering this one, I'm sure you took your beach walk this morning!? Can I come live with you? :)

Here it comes...

Our first big snowstorm has started! This photo is from a few years ago, I don't remember how much accumulation that was covering my car.

Today's storm is fierce - tiny flakes that are falling at a fast and heavy rate. They say we are likely to get 1" - 2" per HOUR until after midnight tonight, so we're looking forward to at least 12 inches. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that!

But here we are, a snow day (there was no school) and Beau and I are snuggled in with everything we need, pretty much - however, I would pay someone dearly to go to Dunkin' Donuts right now and get me a Vanilla Chai!!! Quite sure that's not happening...

Will update later after my nap, LOL!

I Am Lumberjack.

I knocked down a tree Friday in my front yard. I am brawny lumberjack!

I put the battery charger on my car battery, then took it off again, and the car started.

I was home here with a slightly cranky 22 month old, and a sick-with-sore-throat 12 yr old for 24 hours, and managed to keep them both alive.

I took out all the trash and recycling, all by myself.

I did not make any Christmas cards, and I'm not even feeling bad about it!

I dragged the knocked down tree into my backyard today, because absolutely nobody offered to help me do something with it.

I made this cute little ATC with the yellow bird on it.

I Am Wonder Woman.

Hey, Lisa L.!!!

Lisa L., fellow David Cook lover, you commented on my last two entries here...your profile is set to private. I'm fairly certain that I know you...right? Did we meet up North at my favorite beach once? I'm thinking so...let me know?! And get in touch, would ya? Missed you!

(( Oh, and gratuitous photo of gorgeous people added - okay, dazzling, beautiful, stone-cold hunk of Cullen vampire - just because I want to! I cannot stop looking at that mesmerizing man! ))

photo from some Twilight movie website

David Cook ~ 'Hunger Strike' video

My Little Boy is Growing Up

I loved my son's toddler years so much and as he was growing, I was wishing so hard that time would slow down so we could enjoy those days together forever. I was a stay at home, full-time mommy, never hired a babysitter for him. Still haven't, actually.

Now he is 12-1/2 years old and in the 7th grade. Middle School, the years I kind of dreaded. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Beau.

Well, Beau is not anything like his 3 half brothers. He has never gotten a detention, and in fact yesterday, he was given a reward for getting no office referrals at all this year. He's half-way through middle school and so far, has a squeaky clean record.

He did very well academically on his report cards in 6th grade, honor roll twice and then the big finish - high honors to end the year! I was astounded and amazed. And beyond proud.

Pre-algebra was the recommendation for him for grade 7. The honors math that he was in for grades 5 & 6 were okay, but they wanted more of a challenge for Beau. He dreaded pre-algebra; thought the homework would be atrocious and his grades would slide. Well, he still doesn't love the class, but nothing about it is atrocious!

Last Friday, he came home with his first trimester report card. I wasn't even aware that it was due out already. I want to share with you my son's achievements:

Tech Ed 1 / A

Tech Ed 2 / A

P.E. / A-

Health / A+

Music / A+

Language Arts / A-

Reading / A-

Social Studies / A

Science / A-

Pre-Algebra / A-

The teacher comments are all 'Pleasant to have in class', 'Has positive attitude', 'Consistent effort', 'Valuable class member', and 'Highly motivated and enthusiastic'.

He received High Honors, with a GPA of 3.826

I am beyond happy for him, and sometimes I just can't believe he's MY KID!!!

The Colors of Fall

Hmm. Fall is about over here in New England. It feels more like Winter every day. The sky is bright some days, and on others it's a smoky white/grey.

It was nice enough yesterday to take a walk, although a chilly wind was blowing from time to time. With the way my hot flashes are behaving these days, it just cools me off!

Well, I just wanted to pop in and get that last post out of my sight. Don't really have the energy for a real update. Not much to say, anyway. Tired and busy these days. Quite busy.

"Colors of Fall" ATC made last month by little old me. I dig the owl!

Umbrella girl

It's been raining on and off here for 2 days. But it's not freezing, so it's okay. I can't blow my leaves to the curb for pickup, however. They are too soggy! And this year the leaves are EVERYWHERE! Bah.

I've been asked to have Brittany here overnight tonight. Her mother has to close at work, which I think is 2 a.m. I'm sure it will be fine. She's become very comfortable here with me and I enjoy her company. If I had a daughter, I would want her to be just like Britt.

"Umbrella Girl" ATC by Marsha of Stafford, TX. Sweet!

A quick hello

Sorry, I've been absent for most of the week. I got a bit busy, and more than a bit tired. Watching Brittany, and a doctor visit, where I told him how absolutely exhausted I am all the time...

He added yet another medication to my little pile to see if it helps me. Then soon I'll be going for a full physical, which I haven't had for a couple (several?) years now.

Brittany is coming today, from 9 AM to 7 PM! I need my stamina!

I really want to catch up here, I'll try harder. Here's another ATC for your viewing pleasure, LOL!

"The Colors of Fall" by Joanne, Middletown, CT. Look! Leaves to rake, hahahaha! Looks like my yard!! :)

Finally...

Go. Make a difference.

DC on SNL

Oh...be still my fluttering heart!!

My boyfriend was the musical guest last night on Saturday Night Live. With his newly formed band, he performed 2 new songs off his upcoming record. His self-titled - David Cook - debut album drops on November 18th.

I still swoon when I watch him and get goosebumps listening to him sing. It's perfectly fine if you don't get it. I get it, and that's what matters.

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEENIE!

Everyone have fun and stay safe. Haunted House & Toil & Trouble made by Kathleen in Center Moriches, NY. Spooky...Scary...BOO! made by Maureen in Annapolis, MD!!

Shoot for the moon

I am watching Brittany today, she'll be here from 8:30 to about 5:30 while her mother works. This is her mother's 2nd day at her new job since she came back from school in Rhode Island. Long day ahead of me. I think we will spend some time at the library and maybe visit my mom & dad for a while.

Speaking of Dad...we got good news this week from his most recent test results. He remains cancer-free from the neck down! The lungs are completely clear. The worry now, as it has been for the past 6 months, is the tumors in the brain. Testing in 2 weeks on his head, first tests since the Cyber-knife radiation treatments.

My parents really got out a lot this fall, they went on THREE foliage rides! One was on Dad's birthday, October 8th, my sister took them all the way to Vermont! That's always been mom & dad's special place, so I'm sure it was a wonderful day for them. They drove up through northwest CT on 2 other days, and said the foliage was just beautiful. I wish I could have gone.

The trees have changed here now, beautiful colors, every color of Autumn you could imagine. Some days the sky is the most brilliant blue imaginable. Some days the sun is so bright it hurts my head. We had a big rain Saturday night, so many of the leaves are on the ground. Last night when I went outside it definitely felt like Winter was in the air! It snowed in the NW hills of CT the other night. Only a matter of time before it's here. Halloween tomorrow, still undecided about handing out candy, or just sitting in the dark with the porch light off.

Beautiful "Serendipity" cards made by Tess in Edmunton, Alberta, Canada. The little door opens to a quote inside! "Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." ~John Barrymore

Nothin' goin' on here...

Completely lazy this week. Last week was busy, setting up & decorating for the Harvest Party at church. The party was Saturday, and it went well. It looked like the kids had fun. The pinatas worked out alright.

Beau got to see Ben, his friend he doesn't often have the chance to see, that was nice. My mother came to the party because she wanted to see all the decorations that I'd told her looked so great. My niece Autumn came, too. I think she had a good time. Her costume was so cute! She dressed as a Southern Belle, complete with hoop skirt and giant hat held on with a wide ribbon. On Saturday night, Beau slept over Alex's house, and I picked them up, took them to Youth Center, and then back to Alex's at 9 PM. It was pouring & extremely windy.

Sunday, we went to the Corn Maze at Lyman Orchards. It wasn't as fun as I expected a corn maze to be. It was my first time, though, so it was interesting to see. It was a beautiful, bright sunny day and the place was packed. They have fruit picking there and a pretty good sized store, too. They also have a large pond full of ducks & geese.

I went to the library last night and have to go to the post office today. The price of regular gas is down to $2.55. I checked that out on the way by. Could my life BE any more fulfilling?!? I haven't watched the baby this week. Haven't really done much of anything. Swept my basement floor today and did laundry, woo-hoo!

"Smile" and "Moments" ATCs made by me, for Serendipity swap. October 2008.

A Merry Halloween!

Surprise artist trading cards!

I listed 'Halloween ATCs' on my October "Wishlist" on Swap-bot & I got these!

They were made by Tammy (tropicalart77) in Ocala, Florida.

(she's) Always Busy...

"Eternal Embrace" ATC from Agonysdecay, (yes, Jenny! Jenny!) in Fresno, CA. Creepy-cool!!

I watched Brittany yesterday from 10 to 5:30. She wasn't having anything to do with napping, so I took her on a little 'field trip' to the public library! Our library is very new and really nice, and the children's room has toys & a train set to play with.

What else...well, I've been helping with preparations for the children's Harvest Party at church. It's an alternative Halloween party, nothing spooky ~ there's a pumpkin theme. Last night we were trying to set up the room, and let me tell you, I'm a bit concerned...about the pinata. Kids are going to be all spread out, doing crafts, games, pumpkin carving, cupcake decorating, etc. and when someone pops that pinata open, don't they think kids are going to rush from wherever they are ...? I do. I don't want to be stationed anywhere near there. :Shaking head: Yeah.

Thanks to Robbie, I think the code she gave me for breaking paragraphs is totally working?!!! We'll see when I click 'publish'!

My boyfriend David Cook has made a video for his new single, "Light On". I saw a teensy snippet of the making of it. I know you don't care, LOL, but I'm excited. I find my little joys where I can. What else, what else...I dunno. Got to go shower now, get ready for a busy day. More party decorating, some shopping *I think I got roped into going to BJ's with someone to buy food for the Harvest Party* oh boy, and Brittany will be along, so wow, looking forward to that...I need to go to Target...if we don't stop there today, I will have to go tonight or tomorrow. I NEED to go to Walgreen's and get my prescription and a few items, and HAVE to get some ground beef, 'cause dummy me bought everything for tacos the other day, thinking I had frozen hamburg here, turns out I did not. Grrr. And OH! I have things to MAIL!!! I MUST find 5 minutes to go inside the post office, some things need to be hand cancelled and another must be weighed for postage. Busy, busy, always busy!!!

Blue Monday

Can I moan for just one minute? For an entire week now I've been wrestling with a cold that is still in its final stages. If that weren't enough to make me grumpy, I've had a terrible stabbing migraine accompanied by severe neck pain since yesterday morning! No remedy I've tried is making it go away. Awful! I'll say again, as I've said before ~ if I did have a full-time job, how would I be able to go to work today? Last night we had some fun at our house! Beau and I had company, my niece and her friend/boy came over for a few hours. I made brownies, we played Rock Band, we cooked fried dough!! It was fun having more people and a bit of noise in the house again. It's usually soooo quiet here with just the 2 of us. That's not bad, mind you. Just sometimes too...quiet! I have been posting about the gas prices, and I think the last time I mentioned I had gotten some at $3.13/gallon. Well, the last time that I passed the station, which I think was Wednesday or Thursday last week, the price was down to $2.89! I haven't been out in a few days now, I can't wait to get over there and check it out. Probably tomorrow, it's library day. I hope it's lower still. Have the prices dropped more in your neighborhood this past week?? Do you think the government has purposely engineered this drop in prices to gloss over the fact that we are in a recession, and that this will be enough of a distraction to keep us happy? I don't think so ~ just one grocery shopping trip is enough to make my stomach queasy and keep the issues with the economy right up front in my mind!! I cringe inside with every other item I place in my shopping cart, all the while keeping a running tally in my head. And that's not easy! On another note altogether, does anyone know how to make paragraph breaks in this format? I hit enter several times, and it shows separate paragraphs while I'm composing, but after I save & view my entry, it's all one big block! I guess I need to go play around with my formatting?!?


ATC received in a swap: The card I have officially dubbed "Dunce Cat" made by Marie L. ~ Barnhart, Missouri in August 2006.

Mary Kay Giveaway @ A Giveaway A Day!

This is a good one, folks!!

Everything you need to pamper your tootsies!! Enter before noon Monday for a chance to win.


Photo from agiveawayaday.blogspot.com

Giveaway at A Cowboy's Wife!

I just found a wonderful giveaway contest via Loving This Mom Stuff! It's at a cool blog called A Cowboy's Wife and the post is entitled "Staying Warm With Style"! I entered, go ahead and check it out yourself! GREAT prize ~ a Land's End Women's Half-zip Pullover Jacket, your choice of ThermaCheck 100 or Sherpa Fleece! SO many colors to choose from, too!! Photo from Land's End.com

Kindness creates good karma.

Oh, I loved these little cards! I just came across them in my old journal. They were made by me in the fall of '06. Sometimes I make a card or an ATC that I like so much I just keep it. Did it again a week ago, teehee. For days now I've been going through my AOL journals and saving what I need to. There are hundreds of photos on there that were lost off my hard drive when it crashed last Easter. I am saving them over again before the journals are deleted. I think I may be almost halfway done there. I've been sick this entire week, finally starting to feel a bit better today. I'm so very tired. And bored! I am going to go watch Saturday Night Live in a few minutes, I know Sarah Palin is expected to make an appearance. Do you think that's a good thing? Ack!! She frightens me so.

A Giveaway A Day

I've come across this cute little blog called "A Giveaway A Day" where this nice lady named Liz offers a giveaway each day 'just because' she wants to! All you have to do to enter - and possibly win! - is leave her a comment. She offers something funky & far~out each day...one day it's a battery powered toothbrush, another day it's a month long subscription to Rhapsody.com, and still another it's a Polly Pocket toy! Check it out!



bird graphic property of agiveawayaday.blogspot.com

"Second Spring"

I woke up with a sore throat today. I guess it's time for my annual 'second spring cold', which I usually get in September. Beau already had his back-to-school cold, and he didn't share that one with me. Not so lucky this time.

I watched with great anticipation last night the series premiere of Christian Slater's new show "My Own Worst Enemy". I was disappointed. Have always loved him, all the way back to "Heathers" and "Untamed Heart".

I love this new Gavin Rossdale song, never really paid him any attention before. This song in particular- I think it's called 'Love Remains the Same' - is getting heavy radio play here. Yesterday was the first day that David Cook's new single 'Light On' was added to radio playlists, so I tuned my radio to a top 40 station (uuuugghhh...) and managed to miss it all day. I don't believe they'll play it on the alternative station that I listen to. My niece pre-ordered his album for me back in June for my birthday, so when the November 18th release date gets near, the CD will be shipped to me. Yay.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

"Autumn Faery" & "Second Spring" ~ Artist Trading Cards by Helen Campbell of Bellingham, WA. I received these in November, 2006.

Success!

I just successfully imported all 3 of my aol journals over to blogger. Hooray! It was simple and from what I see, they are all intact, including comments. Most of the photos came with, but those that didn't I'm not mourning. My "Always Busy..." main writing journal that was private will remain so for now. My photo journal, "Paragon" (dormant since Dec '06) is still public. The other little private journal was Beau's - he took some pictures a few years ago and wrote a little bit.


I am still working on saving photos off those journals onto my computer. That's taking some time. I'm glad to have the opportunity, though, because back in March when my computer crashed, I lost thousands of photos. This is a way to get some of those back.

Bette Davis

Here's a scan of the black & white ATC I made. It was sent to my friend Liz, who hosted the swap over at Swap-bot. She's the creator of the group North East Creative Swappers. Black & white cards are somewhat of a challenge for me, but once I sit down and start playing, I come up with something!

Movie ATC Swap

Made by one of my fave swappers, Jenny Boothe (agonysdecay) of Fresno, CA ~ this Labyrinth movie themed ATC & the Beetlejuice card are just perfect!



In keeping with the movie theme - the "B Movie" theme - Rita (bastcrystal) in Hayward, CA made these 2 spooky-themed cards. Dracula, yikes!!

Just in time for Halloween!!!

Got some gas last night...

and the price per gallon was $3.13 !

I am so curious - will it keep dropping? Will it go under $3.00/gal??

Never thought I'd be so excited over gas prices. What is this world coming to....?

On magic...and the price of gas

Magic.

Sometimes I wish terribly that magic was real.

Other times, I do believe it is.

I made this card for a swap and completely forgot where I sent it. That's okay, typical. I'm used to my forgetfulness.

I wanted to mention something amazing that happened right here in my little town.

I frequently drive by this little Valero gas station that's in our town's center. It's on my way to church & diagonally across the street from the public library (my 2nd home) so I look at the gas prices. Always checking.

Sunday, I noted that the price of gas was down to $3.49, which is much cheaper than it was a month ago. My car was down to almost 1/4 tank but I thought "Hmmm, let's see where this price goes after the weekend!" On Tuesday, I went to the library. The posted gas price was $3.39! My eyes widened, I wanted to turn in and pump some gas at this new, super low price...but it was dark out, and my kid hates the dark, so I thought I'd wait until the next day. I never go anywhere, so what do I need gas for? Yes, I am that little old lady who only drives the car to church & the grocery store. Okay, and the library. And Dunkin' Donuts...you would too, if you had my car.

So yesterday morning, before Brittany is due to be dropped off (I babysit a little girl), I find we are out of catfood so I run to the grocery store. $63 later, I have 4 bags of food, etc., and on the way home, I figure I'll run by the back door of the library to return a DVD that's due today. Drop it in the slot, and off I go - out the parking lot driveway, where the Valero gas station is across the street. Automatically look up at the prices on the sign and I see the regular gas price is down AGAIN ~ and this is the AMAZING part ~ to $3.24 a gallon! Holy crap! Did it really drop $.15 in one day?!?

Now you know what I was thinking...if it dropped fifteen cents from one day to the next, how much will it be tomorrow? Should I get my gas now? Should I come by tomorrow and see if it's lower? OMG, what if it goes right back up? What if it is even lower by Friday? Or maybe, because the weekend is coming the price will go right back up...? What to do? What to do?

I didn't stop. I'm going to chance it and take a gamble that the cost will be at least $3.24 or less the next time I go by there. Hoping for a little magic here. How much are you paying for gas this week?

Pumpkins, moons & witches!

I originally made these 3 for a swap in September. But guess what happened...I loved them so much, I couldn't bear to part with them! They're mine now, on display in the dining room on my hutch.

Trees

I joined a swap called "Trees ATC" then mulled over what to do, what to do?? for a while. I considered using one of my tree rubber stamps, then thought "Eh." Finally, I just sat down and found some paper I liked for a background, and took out a brown marker & began to draw. There they are! I really like them, and the recipients REALLY liked them, too!

September Sender's Choice ATCs

I made these last week & sent them out. Not my favorites, but there are certain things I like about each one. On one, it's the background paper. On another, the ribbon - and the 3rd, the colors. Ok, and the ribbon on that one, too. :)

We interrupt the artwork...

For a quick visit from my boyfriend. He hasn't been here yet. Hello, handsome.

Loads of Purpley-purple!

All the way from Adelaide, Australia, this beaded & buttoned beauty (teehee) was painstakingly created by Rachel!! She made the fairy with the pansies below, too.

Really, who wouldn't? Ok, maybe you. Still...
I made the 'fall in chocolate' ATC and this nutty little dragonfly, too. For a swap a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I'm quite behind!