Happy New Year!

"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

Give me a light that I might tread safely into the unknown.

And he replied:

Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you

better than light, and

safer than a known way"

Minnie L. Haskins

Dear Lord, please give me…
A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;
A work to do which has real value,
without which the world would be the poorer;
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;
An understanding heart;
A sense of humor;
Time for quiet, silent meditation;
A feeling of the presence of God;
The patience to wait for the coming of these things,
With the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen.

Happy Engineers Week!!

...My Husband is an Engineer

As his wife, I apparently should have know this week was Engineer's week.

I did not. I might have been busy with other items on my plate this week, but I don’t think that gave me a reprieve from not knowing that this is

National Engineer's Week!!

The error of my ways was discovered yesterday when hubby mentioned having a cookout at work Friday. I asked what the occasion was . . . .

National Engineer's Week!!


Eeeegads! I did not know. And you should have seen the look of shock!

So, today, still being a part of

National Engineer's Week

….as it is, DH sends me an email.

The subject line reads:

“Obama knows, do you?”

In it a link, this link http://www.eweek.org/NewsStory.aspx?ContentID=167
A link to a letter from the White House signed by President Obama, warmly greeting Engineers for.

Engineer's Week.

I guess I dropped the ball, or gear, or something on this one, but, the week is not over. The day is not over. So to make up for this oversight (not that moving the contents out of room and down the stairs makes up for that – LOL {yes, he occasionally reads this blog!}) I would like to share:

I love my engineer!! I am impressed at the way he can do any kind of math, including fractions, without hyperventilating. I love the way he is my repairman at the house and at the shop and can wash dishes too! I love the way he can cook dinner and how he has to know the exact time the noodles started boiling or the bread baking (while I am always guessing)! There is much more, but the day is not long enough (that is why there is a week). :)

Happy Engineers Week !

So everyone, hug your Engineer and wish them a happy week! Don't have an engineer? Hug your computer, or microwave or your car, because without Engineers, we would not have them!

And, in honor of the week:

• Normal people ... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.

• An engineer was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess."He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket.The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week." The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket.The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want." Again the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket.Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, that I'll stay with you for a week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?" The engineer said, "Look I'm an engineer. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool."

And . . .

Why Engineers Don't Write Recipe Books

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ingredients:

1. 1. 532.35 cm3 Gluten
2. 4.9 cm3 HaGCO3
3. 4/9 cm3 refined halite
4. 236.6 cm3 partially hydrogenated tallow triglyceride
5. 177.45 cm3 crystalline C12H22011
6. 177.45 cm3 unrefined C12H22011
7. 4.9 cm3 methyl ether or protocatechuic aldehyde
8. Two calcium carbonate-encapsulated avian albumen-coated protein
9. 473.2 cm3 theobroma cacao
10. 236.6 cm3 de-encapsulated legume meats (sieve size #10)

To a 2-L jacketed round reactor vessel (reactor #1) with an overall heat transfer coefficient of about 100 Btu/F-ft2-hr, add ingredients one, two and three with constant agitation. In a second 2-L reactor vessel with a radial flow impeller operating at 100 rpm, add ingredients four, five, six, and seven until the mixture is homogenous. To reactor #2, add ingredient eight, followed by three equal volumes of the homogenous mixture in reactor #1. Additionally, add ingredient nine and ten slowly, with constant agitation. Care must be taken at this point in the reaction to control any temperature rise that may be the result of an exothermic reaction. Using a screw extrude attached to a #4 nodulizer, place the mixture piece-meal on a 316SS sheet (300 x 600 mm). Heat in a 460K oven for a period of time that is in agreement with Frank & Johnston's first order rate expression (see JACOS, 21, 55), or until golden brown. Once the reaction is complete, place the sheet on a 25C heat-transfer table, allowing the product to come to equilibrium.

Hmmm, Blueberry!

To pick up where I left off yesterday,

I married an Engineer.

My husband was quick to tell me early in our dating that he was never romantic enough. He had said that even though he had gone through counseling (to save his marriage which, as you correctly guessed, did not work), he still had not mastered the art of romance.

Five months of dating and Valentine’s Day came around. My expectations were not set too high, but I was curious to see how the day would end. To see what the inevitable card would say. There was anticipation, but it was controlled.

The day dawned and I was busy getting the boys ready for school and myself ready for work. The door bell rang. 6:45 in the morning? Hmmm

I headed to the door and there stood Will, proud as a peacock with a big Valentine’s balloon, card and something in tinfoil. Then the scent hits me. The smell of blueberry muffins. This supposed non-romantic had gotten up early and cooked blueberry muffins for his kids and for us for Valentine’s day. It was great! I still get a big grin thinking of that first Valentine’s day with this wonderful fella.

The following year he again showed up early in the morning with another batch of muffins, different flavor, two roses a card. I enjoyed the way he included the kids and made it a point to have something for his own every year.

As you already know, I did marry Will, and every year there is something thoughtful different that is shared on this very commercial day. It is not really necessary, because he is so good at showing love so often during the year. But in the spirit of the day we choose to have fun with it.

I can honestly say I do not despise Valentine’s Day anymore and guess maybe thorns do not just lead to roses but a blueberry or two too!

A Day

Today is a big day, so I am going to piece mill this post . . . in fact I am going to repost a post and mix some new with it. I like to mix things up once in awhile.

See, forty years ago today, Nixon was being inaugurated. Thirty-Two years ago, Jimmy Carter was being sworn in to the Presidency. 1981, we welcomed Ronald Reagan to lead this nation. The list, of course, goes on from there and had gone on before the mentioning of these leaders.

All this leads to the mix . . .

Birthdays . . . one of the ones I remember the most did not necessarily have a great ending . . . family did gather . . . crowds gathered, for that matter. . . I do not remember the gifts I received. . . But I do know there were speeches given . . . people cheered . . . there may have even been some tears.

My birthday is January 20th and the year was 1977.

The day started out wonderful. My grandmother was visiting from Nebraska (we lived in Colorado at the time, but did not get to see her very often). My mom had made my all time favorite breakfast – French toast. Now, I tended to like my French toast rather simple, butter was all I needed on top! But this being a special day, you know, my birthday and my grandmother was there. She talked me into venturing out a bit, and convinced me to try something new, maple syrup on my French toast! It was different, not necessarily bad, just new (hang with me, this is relevant).

So I gobble down my breakfast and then I was off to school.

A few hours later, I became sick. Sick to my stomach sick. My mom was called; I was picked and went home, thinking and believing, the maple syrup made me sick! And sad to say, I still, to this day, do not add maple syrup to my French toast, pancakes, nada! Nope, not going to happen . . .

But this is where the gathering begins . . .

We turned on the TV.

And we watched . . .

The countries 39th President – Jimmy Carter – be sworn in.

As I said, crowds were gathered, speeches were given, people cheered, and probably, some people shed some tears.

Four years later, we had moved to Georgia. On my birthday, I again, got out of school early. This time, not because I was sick, but to experience history taking place . . .

to see Jimmy Carter return to his hometown.

Well, and to hopefully see a cousin that was a pilot with the Air Force One Crew.

~ ~ ~ ~

I have recently found some really bad pictures from that day in 1981 . . .

It was rainy and cold, and as said above, I had been taken out of school early and we headed to Jimmy Carters hometown to see his return. We went to the feild where the helicopters were landing. My mom and brother are in the picture. We were hoping to see my cousin, who was one of the pilots during Carter's presidency. We did not - he stayed in Macon.

Aren't you glad there is a sign behind him to tell you he is president, umm, was?

We had managed to get to the front of the crowd, with just a rope separating us from the official party. I had had a great shot right before this one, but being 10, I was short. Being short meant that the lady behind me could easily bring her welcome home poster down in front of me right as there was a chance to get a picture of more than his arm!

So now here we are today. Another inauguration, and yes, for me another birthday. I did not get to ramble out to Texas to welcome President Bush home, instead, I will work and enjoy my family this evening. And even take in Deomolition D's B-Ball game.

But as I look back, I realize, even though my parents did not vote for Jimmy Carter, we took in the excitement of the hope as change in our country was taking place. And I believe the same is true today. Great hope and heartfelt prayers for guidance for our great Nation. . . for all of our leaders.

And prayer for grace as I pass this milestone, the big 40 and may it be as fun as I have heard some say (If you know otherwise, you don't have to share - let me find out for myself - hehe).

Superstitions

I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but growing up, our family did not have tons of traditions. Everything was understated. When we moved to Georgia, it was just the four of us. Holidays were simple. New Year's Eve was simple but looked upon with cheer. New Year's Day is my Dad's birthday, but it, too, was usually simple, for the most part, another day.

As I grew up and then married, I learned there are a lot of traditions or superstitions that others observe. New Years is one of those holidays that makes me think of all the quirky little nuances that others might observe.

Got you confused yet? Well, this morning as I started the washing machine, I had my first chuckle regarding New Years. The first New Years spent with my ex husband's family was my induction to New Years in the South. Now some of this may be tradition every where, and I would just not know, but this was new too me. My, now ex, mother in law had called to see what we were doing and to make sure we were having black eyed peas, turnip greens and rice. We weren't.

On top of that, I was washing clothes. YOU DO NOT WASH CLOTHES ON NEW YEARS DAY!!

She was very upset. I am serious. Nothing playful about this, nor the lack of black eyed peas (for luck) or the turnip greens (yuck, for money) and the rice (I forget what that is/was). I stated we had dirty clothes, I was home, they needed to be washed. She then said "but if you wash them on New Years Day, you will be doing clothes all year!"

I held back my chuckle. I said I would be sure not to the following year, you know, just to test her intellegent deduction there. Right. Back to reality.

When it comes to superstitions, I tend to do the opposite. Step on a crack, break your mother's back. I step on the crack, not because I want to break my mother's back, just because it is a superstition. I bought my van on Friday the 13th . . . 6 years ago. I am so thankful for my van. My shop is in suite 13. Black cat in my path . . . I spook it! Turnip greens on New Years, yuck - not going to happen. As for washing? The wash is now in the dryer and another one will go in the washer.

My now inlaws celebrate New Year's in similar ways, at least with the menu and a few variations. There is not the do or die mentality associated with it. Just the fun of the traditions as opposed to the doom of superstition. So I will participate. The green does not have to be turnip greens. It can be broccoli or green beans. They do have black eyed peas and rice. They have one variation that makes it fun though. You know how many families have adopted the pickle in the Christmas tree tradition? Well, my mother in law (no, does not put a pickle in the food), adds a dime to the black eyed pea pot. Whoever finds the dime is supposed to have added wealth for the upcoming year. There really is no true emphasis put on that part, but the fun of finding the dime. The kids get excited to see who finds the dime. My husband added an extra dime a few years ago and did not tell anyone. That was funny when the second one was found.

What New Year's traditions do you hold dear or not so dear? Are you superstitious? Would you wash clothes on New Year's Day?

New Year: Solemn and then Lighthearted

A new year has dawned.

We are now in 2009! I wonder if it too, will pass as quickly as 2008 did?

I ususally do not make resolutions. Up until a few years ago, it was basically any other day. As I have grown older, or maybe it is as life has challenged me more, thrown down the gauntlet, if you will, I do see the new year as a fresh beginning. As a time of hope.



Resolutions can be trite. Lose weight. Exercise more. Save money. I guess that is why I say I do not make resolutions, but I do, daily. I guess because to me each day is a new start, and goals are made each day to be what God would want me to be. Determination to be the mom or wife or friend or Christian that maybe I felt short of being the day before.

I am watchful as this new year begins. This past year has opened and closed new doors politically and financially. What will these changes bring?


Will we see skepticism replaced with trust? Will we see American ingenuity open doors that were not as obvious the previous year? Now that the Christmas "season" is over, will we step back into our boxes or will we continue to reach out and support those that need it, those all around us?


I truly believe this is a dawning of a new era. I am working hard at replacing worry with excitement for what is new around the corner . . . for what we cannot yet see. I believe it is there. I believe we will come together and build each other up with prayers and support. I believe it will be a good year.

...

Ok. That is enough seriousness. Now I resolve to be lighthearted. I resolved to make a few resolutions.






1. I resolve to lose my keys no more than 56 times in 2009 as opposed to the 273 times in 2008.

In actuality my husband made this resolution AND remedy for this situation. The last time I was unsure of where my keys were, he located them and then this is how I found them:

wait, where are my keys. . . where did I take that photo . . .

2. I resolve not to start any home rennovation projects after September 1st of the coming year.

I would not want to repeat this years fiasco with the turned over and stacked furniture and torn out walls up to the week before Christmas. Nope. Not going to happen.
Will post some almost finished pics when the human paper weights leave re-enter the portal to the non internet world.

3. I resolve to start homemade Christmas crafts and goodies much sooner.

Homemade Vanilla and Homemade lemon vanilla sugar needs to be started in May. Draft Bloggyland Tour post sooner than the day of. Pizzelles finished in October and frozen. I started these charms for my mom before Thanksgiving, but we did not finish them until the day before Christmas. Nothing like the 11th hour.

Did I show you? Naw, I could not get a real good pic but I do have these:

4. I resolve to ride the wonderful bike my sweet hubby bought me, for Mother's Day.

I will try to get the rides in before June and July this year!

5. I resolve to include my face in the next "I See What You're Saying" !! Tha Linda at 2nd Cup

I did include my feet. That should not be considered cheating, I was there!

6. I resolve to take Chunky Soup to Church on Souper Bowl Sunday.

And not leave them at home like I did last year!

I really think that is all I can come up with!

Happy New Year!!



Oh . . . and I had 30 comments on Monday's Post - A first! Yay!!

I'm Late, I'm Late For A Very Important Date . . . Bloggyland Christmas

So today is a wonderful tour through the land of Christmas by a gracious host - Muse-Swings, and I feel like a horses, well

{backside} Thanks, muse-swings for the pic ;)

. . . because I just did not get it done. See, my home is in disarray. I have chairs on their sides, furniture pulled from the walls, furniture stacked in spare rooms - you know, the redoing of room. You get the picture, well maybe not, with the broken battery housing on camera and such.

Soooo, I can't leave you pictures of my beautiful gingerbread house (well, I couldn't anyway, I can't make pretty ones). Or of our tall, elegant Christmas tree (we, have the Charlie Brown one this year); Or a snow covered beauty of a yard or a blazing fire place (it is high 70's today).

BUT, I can leave you this wonderful Christmas video and wish every single one of you, moments of calm and joy and laughter this beautiful season. (and eggnog, and cake, and cookies, and dip and chips, and casseroles)

Wordless Wednesday - Light It Up!

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Thanksgiving Recapped

Thanksgiving Day was beautiful. A little warm, but at least the rain held off til Friday morning.

The 4 Flying Dutchmen arrived in the dark on Wednesday evening, they awoke to a bright morning and more space than they realized.

(The view from the door of the rooms they stayed in)

(checking out their surroundings)

Will and Pappie got started early with the fried turkey! Dutchy called it the "Magic Broom" as the bird was lowered into the hot oil.

When Will learned Wednesday evening that they were all computer geeks, he happily wore the shirt his math teacher sister, A, gave him last year for Christmas:

Will and those four visitors discussing binary and how to count in it was a hoot . . .only geeks! Gotta love mine (even though I completely zone out after my eye roll when counting and explaining begins)

As we were working away in the kitchen, we noticed out the window, our Dutch friends getting their supplies out of the cooler in the car. It was fun watching these guys discuss, with animation, their plan of attack for the dish they were about to prepare.

Here were two of them working away on the preparation for a . . . .

Dish of Sauerkraut, potatoes, cheese, white wine, bacon and sausage.

Then all the goodies were brought out, the serving tables laden with food.

And we all stuffed ourselves way too much!

See that piano in the background. I do not know the technical name for it, but it is a self playing piano. A will load the punched music sheets in it,turns it on and off it goes, much to the kids delight.

So what did they do after overloading on so much food? It wasn't walking. . . but Will and Ocho brought around the buggy for a ride around the farm - no crops, just woods and ponds and paths.

Then followed by skeet shooting. A couple of the guest tried it. I did ask about hunting in the Netherlands, since gun ownership is not allowed. There are hunting clubs that you can join, and with the proper registeration, own a gun for hunting. There is limited land for hunting so hunting is limited, but some game still needs to be controlled (sounded mainly like wild boars).

The negotiations made on Wednesday evening worked out ok. No beer or wine was brought out at Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving evening, the group huddled outside with their wine and drinks and I guess you could say the day was "toasted." A (sister in law) was disappointed that they stayed outside, but since the majority of the group are chain smokers, sipping wine and having to go back outside every few minutes might not have made for great game time.

By then, I believe, Traveler had started to relax and stopped trying to be so hard on the Dutchmen. She seemed to underestimate all of our ability to be accepting and inviting as well as the sense of humor her family does have. Sometimes, I think it is easy for young adults to believe differing values equates to judgement and coldness and closure. I think "not traveling the world" to them, means closeness of mind and inability to connect. I hope she is seeing otherwise now. We really enjoyed her company and they seemed to be comfortable quite quikly!

Friday came the rain. We needed it, but it did change a the pace of the day some. They guys did get in some target practice.

I loved looking out seeing most of them plugging their ears. (heare no evil!!)

Will got the mini-bike running and in no time The Man was flying along the lane, in the rain. Dutchy became quite alive too when heard it zipping by outside the door. I love that the rain did not deter the fellas.

Demolition D and Will still went to the deer stands in hopes of getting a buck . . .

Every time out, Demolition saw the same young buck - knuckle heads. The mature ones must have been smarter - they stayed out of the rain!

Our visitors headed back to Atlanta on Saturday and will be heading to warmer waters soon.

Cancun.

They will have definitely had an eventful holiday.

We arrived home late Saturday evening. Sunday morning as we headed out for church, I was amazed! Our neighborhood was peppered with these beautiful colors on the Bradford Pears.

The pictures do not give the color justice. Much more vibrant in person!

It is amazing how quickly the trees can turn. They are a little late, but with the grass already being brown and grayness of the rainy day, the color was shocking and uplifting.

So our holiday was full of color and flair with all the newness the holiday brought.

I hope yours was just as wonderful and fullfilling!

"So live that your memories will be part of your happiness"

Some Added Spice This Year

So tomorrow marks the beginning of the gathering for Thanksgiving.

Every year there are a couple new faces or at least faces we have not seen in a long time. It is a very nomadic group. For example, my parents will not be there this year, they are joining my brother and his wife and her family. Next year they will be back.

This year there are two cousins that will be joining us Wednesday-Friday. One of those life interrupts and people lose touch situations, now contact has been re-established and they were invited by my husbands other sister – Cindy.

And then we have Traveler. . . {{this makes me chuckle}}

Traveler met a Dutch man (he’s 28), a year and a half ago, interning here in the States. A couple months into dating, Traveler decided that the degree an career she was pursuing will most likely not be lucrative enough for her spending habits. So the answer is to finish the chosen degree and then shoot for gaining a law degree. International. From Amsterdam. Which was great, this wisdom had been handed to Traveler 3 or 4 years earlier, and to see her thinking line up with the wise counsel offered was interesting. {ok, I know it had nothing to do with the wise counsel offered by her dad (hubby) and her mom – I know it is the late 20-ish heartthrob having the great influence and provides the true agenda for jaunt to the Netherlands.}

So Traveler spent January until August in the Netherlands trying out some criminal justice classes and learning Dutch. She has since decided not to be a lawyer but maybe pursue some kind of international public relations something. But that was a few weeks ago, might be back to the lawyer degree.

Anyway, I digress . . .

Traveler returned to the States in August to finish her current degree. Dutchy had been invited for Thanksgiving and the plans were on for him to join us. About three or four weeks ago Dutchy informs Traveler that he needs “space.”

hmmmm . . . space you say?? You are in the Netherlands??

Well, there are only about 4,398 miles and ocean and at least a 9 hour air flight. (But that is a nice let her down easy approach, we will see how many circles this approach will take)

But Traveler said it was not a break up even though she was quite devastated.

That put the visit on hold.

Two Fridays ago Traveler called and said Dutchy is in fact joining us. He has purchased his flight and is coming to America.

And . . .

Bringing three friends with him!

Now, we are not sure if this will be the 4 Flying Dutchman joining us: Dutchy, Hans, Dirk and Christian. (made up names)

Or if these 3 are crony’s of his are from the Atlanta area: Jim, Tom, John and Frank. (made up names)

But it is cracking me up thinking about these fellas coming to the woods in South Georgia, especially if ALL are from the Netherlands.

Why? Well, It has been interesting hearing about his and his families’ views.

• We had a video visit with Traveler at their home, they were BIG into American Politics – and very, very liberal.
• Before Dutchy returned from his intern, he came to meet us and visit. Traveler warned him that we would have a separate room for him. He asked why and she explained the “we are not married and at Dad’s house we will not sleep together.” He said in the Netherlands, parents start expecting overnight visits from girlfriends/boyfriends around the age 16. hmph!
• Every picture we have seen from her visit, the table does not just have beer or wine glasses, the center is covered with the hard stuff! And I don’t mean one or two bottles –rather quite an assortment. They are also very use to their after dinner coffee laced with their favorite “flavor.” (My Brother-In-Law is a tea totaler, so it is an alcohol free spot, unless you head over to his son’s house)
  
  

So I am cracking up thinking about the what if they are all Dutch? The differences and the "spice" to be added to Thanksgiving when the poor live as you like, drink as you want, shack with whom you will, anti gun liberals coming to the tea-totaling, gun totin, Bible thumping, no shacking republican minded South.

I hope they leave, though, having had a great time and having experienced true Southern hospitality and will want to come back!

Deer, And Turkey And Pecan Pie, Oh My!

Excitement is setting in.

Thanksgiving use to be just a ho!hum! kinda holiday.

Then I met Will.

Back in the mid 90’s, Sister-In-Law (A) and Brother-In-Law (Pappie) bought what had been at one time a commercial hunting plantation. This wonderful land of field and wood and pond has become affectionately called “The Farm.”

There is a lodge. It has a fireplace with a mill stone hearth, a room with a pool table. Plenty of space for gathering and eating. There are two rooms for those staying overnight. There are two little “motels” – a quadplex, if you will, of rustic rooms, each with their own bath. Deer feet hang on the wall as jacket holders, and antlers as hat holders. There is skeet shooting and hunting for those hunters in the group. There are two ponds for those who wish to fish and plenty of walking area for those who are just getting away.

Will and Traveler and Ocho were invited that first Thanksgiving after the Farm was purchased, to come out and stay. The Farm is only about 25 miles out of town, but it is far enough away from stores, you pack what you need before heading out. It is as if you are much further away from home than you really are.

So until 2001, just A, Pappie and their crew, Will and his, would travel out to the Farm. Then Will and I started dating, the boys and I were invited out that first Thanksgiving, 2001. The three of us had a cozy room and had a great time with the crowd that gathered on Thanksgiving Day.

And again another tradition began.

We have spent Thanksgiving out there since. We head out on Wednesday evening, loaded with chili or hamburgers and then all the grub for the rest of the week. It is a laid back break from the hectic everyday pace. There is a phone, but you don’t think about. There is satellite (gotta watch the parade and the great Christmas movies that start), but there is no internet (I will survive!). Unless you are a hunter, whose day then begins before the sun comes up, you sleep as late as you want and stay in your P.J.’s.

Well, at least until 11 or 11:30. Only on Thanksgiving Day. That is when the rest of the family, Mother In Laws, cousins, friends etc. start showing up. The covered dishes come in and are laid in buffet style. I love it, because I take this holiday off from cooking – there is always to much food, I opt for paper goods! There is always a fried Turkey, roasted turkey and ham.

Oh but there is also.

Hashbrown Casserole

Dressing

Mac and Cheese

Pineapple Casserole

Some Salads.

And

DESSERT!


After lunch, Pappie will bring out the wagon, hooked to a jeep and take those who would like, for a ride around the property.

You know, I cannot remember ever a yucky Thanksgiving Day at the Farm. I remember cold, but never rainy. Never unbearable. Always beautiful.

Can you see the deer?

Celebration . . .C’mon and Celebrate

Wondering what to celebrate? Well can I help you out!
I came across one of those calendars that list all the “National {fill in the blank} Month”

Wow is October busy (oh, Happy Pumpkin Cheesecake Day). I was amazed at all the celebrations (Happy National Pasta Week). I have not looked to see if Hallmark has any of these somewhat obscure holidays (Happy Clock Month) covered with cards or if they leave them totally up to us to be creative (Happy Respect Life Week).

So I, out of the many options (Happy Cookbook Month), have decided to honor two off the list:

Happy Pretzel Month and Happy Pet Peeve Week !

Pretzel Facts:
For New Years, children in Germany wear pretzels around their neck for good luck.

A salt-less pretzel is called a “baldie”

Can be used as Christmas Tree toppers. . . well sometimes . . .well, in Austria

The Mid-Atlantic states are sometimes referred to as the “Pretzel Belt of America”

And

Choking on a pretzel caused President George Bush to briefly lose consciousness.


Happy Pet Peeve Week!

Pet Peeves huh? A whole week to think about and celebrate having them? Hummm . . .

Well here are a few of mine:

Toilet paper upside down on the holder
Bag less trash cans
Salt less pretzels
Misusing the words was and were
Ending words with an “r” that is not there {potato”r”; idea”r”)
Calling the police the “popo” – uggggg
The term “my bad”

So, what about you, what pet peeve do you wish to “celebrate” this week?
Go ahead, unleash them . . .

Birthdays Remembered

I am new at blogging and what is interesting - I hated writing assignments in school and college! BUT, blogging is fun! Then I saw on Becky's site her post in response to a "writing assignment" at Momma's Losin It.

So, I am going to give it a try.

There are four prompts to choose from:
1. Write about a heart that wouldn’t quit.
2. Describe a childhood birthday.
3. Do you have reoccurring dreams? What are they about?or
4. Close your eyes, open a dictionary, and point to a word. Does your word mean anything special to you?
I have picked the childhood birthday, mainly because I did not like the random word that I randomly picked from the dictionary and the other two did not spark anything either.
I debated about this because one of the ones I remember the most did not necessarily have a great ending . . . family did gather . . . crowds gathered, for that matter. . . I do not remember the gifts I received. . . But I do know there were speeches given . . . people cheered . . . there may have even been some tears.

My birthday is January 20th and the year was 1977.

The day started out wonderful. My grandmother was visiting from Nebraska (we lived in Colorado at the time, but did not get to see her very often). My mom had made my all time favorite breakfast – French toast. Now, I tended to like my French toast rather simple, butter was all I needed on top! But this being a special day, you know, my birthday and my grandmother was there. She talked me into venturing out a bit, and convinced me to try something new, maple syrup on my French toast! It was different, not necessarily bad, just new (hang with me, this is relevant).

So I gobble down my breakfast and then I was off to school.

A few hours later, I became sick. Sick to my stomach sick. My mom was called; I was picked and went home, thinking and believing, the maple syrup made me sick! And sad to say, I still, to this day, do not add maple syrup to my French toast, pancakes, nada! Nope, not going to happen . . .

But this is where the gathering begins . . .

We turned on the TV.

And we watched . . .

The countries 39th President – Jimmy Carter – be sworn in.

As I said, crowds were gathered, speeches were given, people cheered, and probably, some people shed some tears.

Four years later, we had moved to Georgia. On my birthday, I again, got out of school early. This time, not because I was sick, but to experience history taking place . . .

to see Jimmy Carter return to his hometown.

Well, and to hopefully see a cousin that was a pilot with the Air Force One Crew.