tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214453682024-03-23T12:25:55.826-06:00World in My EyeSurprise! It's a Blogger who Is NOT
Constipated,
Depressed
or
ThirtyMsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-22542387561120282072011-10-10T12:53:00.001-06:002011-10-10T12:53:40.999-06:00Today was a 20-fling boogy day; those of you who have ever read anything by Flylady may recognize the phrase. I went into the lower level armed with one bag - a TRASH bag. I had to be ruthless; if anything went into recycling or give-away bag, the boys would rifle through it and get the stuff back out. Some fairly new stuff went into that bag. There had been many warnings about taking apart a blongo ball ladder set up. The pipes were all over the house and lately they had been used as makeshift weapons during a play date. The entire set up, including balls, is now in the trash. Ditto for old hot cars tracks, nerf toys that just get banged about, old super soakers and water guns. The downstairs looked neater than it's looked in years after I filled a bag.
I swear the legos may be next. They are all over the house. Then I think of the $$$$$ invested in them and think "probably will not get tossed".
Fall is when my thoughts turn to deep cleaning. We are considering removing all carpet on stairs, halls and living room and replacing with hardwood flooring. I bet the cost would not be that much more than new, high-quality carpeting.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-75787804299540311262011-10-05T18:28:00.005-06:002011-10-05T18:28:58.323-06:00Our oldest son trotted off to a sleep-away camp today - 2 nights and 3 days. It's something all 5th graders in our school district attend. The house is really strangely quiet and empty. Ryan is missing his brother, and the dog is worried. I finally remembered the video camera so caught Parker's exit via bus with 90 of his peers, but dollars to donuts the scenes will be shot wonky - I do not have a very good attention span.
The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. I love this time of year. Halloween approaching, thinking about travel for the holidays, lots of good things and tasty eats on the horizon. MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-6102828367826452222011-09-28T22:03:00.003-06:002011-09-28T22:03:47.997-06:00We are looking forward to having a guest guinea pig in the house for a few days. This is truly an answer to my prayers; Parker desperately wants a guinea pig but suffers allergies. And I don't really want another being to nurture; you know how it is, the child says they will take care of the pet but don't so it usually falls to the mother. Parker and Ryan are also joining a lego robotics team. That should be great fun for them. We are a little overscheduled for now, but we'll figure it out...MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-66700324970401766862011-09-27T12:16:00.002-06:002011-09-27T12:16:52.912-06:00I Love Fall.
Fall is when thoughts of cosy sweaters (that hide my bulk), hot cocoa with plenty of whipped cream (that add to my bulk) and trips to Williams Sonoma to get enameled-coated pots (talk about Bulky!) start to creep into my head.
I do believe a trip to Costco to get the big tubs of fall mums in our school colors (purple/yellow/white) are in order. Or maybe brilliant deep red. Hmmmmmm.
Coming up are tales of RVing and UTVing in Colorado and Wyoming.
Packing lists for said RVing and UTVing.
That's all I got for today.
MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-11447773853360192292011-09-26T14:19:00.002-06:002011-09-26T14:19:45.998-06:00Hello again.
Today I kicked facebook to the curb. It took all morning to delete photos and links out of my account. And the thing is not dead yet and may never be. Insidious describes it best.
True to the last post many moons ago, we have been using the Toy Hauler, truck, Polaris RZR and other toys a lot. It has been heaven for us a family. I can state for a fact that going out in the RV is a lot of work for the parents. Apparently, we have no learning curve with packing as we forget something IMPORTANT every time. This time, it was comfort food items like barbeque sauce, Cholula and maple syrup. Other times it has been -- pillows. Or blankets. Underwear for various family members.
More to follow.
Back to scrubbing fb clean. MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-39974513862962687672011-02-17T16:19:00.002-07:002011-02-17T16:31:10.380-07:00YO! It's been a year since I've blogged!Well, nearly a year. But who's counting?<br />Influenza b has us in its grip, which is why I suddenly have 'time' to post. I cannot catch a full breath so can't get anything done. Convenient, no?<br />Facebook has taken the place of blogs. It's true. I check in daily to read The Pioneer Woman because she has a basset hound. Sad but true. Some days I <span style="font-style:italic;">like</span> my dog better than my children. Also sad but true. But not very often. <br />Big News - we bought a toy hauler/RV thingy! Photos to follow. In fact, this blog may morph into a White Trash on Wheels site! Join us as we tour the country, leaving behind disbelieving passersby, flashbulb-blinded wildlife but NO trash--hey, we are enlightened folk!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDbOxMyyOHCiB9PIuq2WYjJV7OZSZi1ybrgR0-dv_tvKT-RuLcZe00nBEDmBzSa-pv9KH86MGKh5yvUTb_KS3olWb_rjyJEyGksJVHJdoASzN0TK6JmD7cbGPc65g3DCmQ0XL/s1600/195.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDbOxMyyOHCiB9PIuq2WYjJV7OZSZi1ybrgR0-dv_tvKT-RuLcZe00nBEDmBzSa-pv9KH86MGKh5yvUTb_KS3olWb_rjyJEyGksJVHJdoASzN0TK6JmD7cbGPc65g3DCmQ0XL/s400/195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574804907911045410" /></a><br /><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR! More to come, I think. Well I know, but I mean HERE.<br />Here we are at ChristmasMsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-41672989760409810512010-02-19T11:52:00.005-07:002010-02-19T12:30:46.783-07:00Shopping for boys' clothing is No Fun.These boys of ours have gotten suddenly picky! Who knew 8 and 9 years olds cared about their clothing? Besides comfort, of course; suddenly I'm hearing "That's awful!" and "Only a DINK would wear that!" and this gem, said with a sneer "Yeah, right - maybe when I was FIVE, Mom!" <br />Bright colors? NOT allowed any more.<br />Stripes? AM I DAFT?! "Those look like pj's for gosh sake!"<br />The hated stripes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UIZsge88-Omph0GPROJRQCvz6jI8TdGURAJTymiHuJjSja_Q7xMrwaKv0dSsPmL750o4VdmhB1zMFqW7xyKbTfL_ORmO9j7Ptp16sUtanmAooVUu8Pp200kchzU3_r5FUrXC/s1600-h/Early+2010+021.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UIZsge88-Omph0GPROJRQCvz6jI8TdGURAJTymiHuJjSja_Q7xMrwaKv0dSsPmL750o4VdmhB1zMFqW7xyKbTfL_ORmO9j7Ptp16sUtanmAooVUu8Pp200kchzU3_r5FUrXC/s400/Early+2010+021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440037316549445794" /></a><br /> <br />And - horrors of all horrors - I caught Parker trying to shimmy down his pants waistband so that his undies were hanging out on top like a 15 year old skater! <br />Then I heard him comment to his brother: "You undo those buttons and make the waist big. That way they come down and rest right above The Johnson. It's cool!" <br />Ryan's reply? "That looks stupid and what is Johnson?" <br />"Your WEINER, YOU IDIOT! Don't you learn <span style="font-style:italic;">anything</span> in 2nd grade any more?!"<br />The sneaky britches, elastic now sewn at near-waist size.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj58UDFkeyUzpNB9mp_rgCuF_6MBJyOfm7Jwb6VyKrI-cq7y5jxZWswwBxVaZqHuzBQJFrBaI1Gs9OQLzGDL2W2whzpyCegf4gPNddEb-X11sTm4Au9TN5caXDznppwcKywgm/s1600-h/Early+2010+023.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj58UDFkeyUzpNB9mp_rgCuF_6MBJyOfm7Jwb6VyKrI-cq7y5jxZWswwBxVaZqHuzBQJFrBaI1Gs9OQLzGDL2W2whzpyCegf4gPNddEb-X11sTm4Au9TN5caXDznppwcKywgm/s400/Early+2010+023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440037328847110370" /></a><br />I have gone back to supervising clothing selection in the mornings.<br />Ryan's Closet- still some red but going beige/navy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteqHJ_yqkzNWavWGE9Bby7CDniSd7CXYi6BeRctylRaFS13xwIga4bZMjwBgBGhOFX6MOy2thLWclBicIyHg28HqSQv0eYEn83T43h4UppMZSseydv_UHXIfEcUapT2uz76jX/s1600-h/Early+2010+025.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteqHJ_yqkzNWavWGE9Bby7CDniSd7CXYi6BeRctylRaFS13xwIga4bZMjwBgBGhOFX6MOy2thLWclBicIyHg28HqSQv0eYEn83T43h4UppMZSseydv_UHXIfEcUapT2uz76jX/s400/Early+2010+025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440037348850385346" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_40JRna-V3ZMfHV-Di3V5rqxbhIdBW4FHfdehZkJFuSrT72I6knzwR-tW_7tEBNHnmgfhulMLu2nsV-Tli1vziSURc0LftyYg0Rxqd5Iu7GU23-sVQ42eFXdiMQDRo1Mmm30/s1600-h/Early+2010+024.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_40JRna-V3ZMfHV-Di3V5rqxbhIdBW4FHfdehZkJFuSrT72I6knzwR-tW_7tEBNHnmgfhulMLu2nsV-Tli1vziSURc0LftyYg0Rxqd5Iu7GU23-sVQ42eFXdiMQDRo1Mmm30/s400/Early+2010+024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440037336638176514" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Parker's Closet - Only bright is orange oldies *sigh*MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-63964973662980209952010-02-08T17:05:00.002-07:002010-02-08T17:08:48.577-07:00Repaired computer arriving 2/11The entire laptop had to be sent back to it's Maker. Kind of like a round trip to God. The old Dell laptop I've been using does not have virus protection at this time, due to some snafu with Comcast (we have a lot of computers in this house, and taking the time to figure it out - well, it's not worth if for this one). So, I've only been able to check email and a couple of other sites, you know the safe ones. No clicking on links. <br />The kindle and I have been spending quality time together. <br />This winter has been a bitch.<br />I'm in a crappy mood today. <br />Further Affiant sayeth Not.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-83642309234305715292010-01-13T10:29:00.000-07:002010-01-13T10:30:12.072-07:00New Laptop is Thumpers Up.Well, Crap.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-28419401712164287322010-01-04T18:38:00.003-07:002010-01-04T18:50:04.594-07:00This I Love:This time in the tub:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7OfMNAejXfVEmmfFAWehV_-uWmrIoNZSzTkoD1d8LE-SehLZpLpOKvI6bf0K1ze1nGt25RUrRzhFLQUu2RI16a1v8eKkfAODaZd8LTSmHdY-kR68u0q-GdEmxwQKW3gLGN59/s1600-h/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+024.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7OfMNAejXfVEmmfFAWehV_-uWmrIoNZSzTkoD1d8LE-SehLZpLpOKvI6bf0K1ze1nGt25RUrRzhFLQUu2RI16a1v8eKkfAODaZd8LTSmHdY-kR68u0q-GdEmxwQKW3gLGN59/s400/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423065514265219090" /></a><br />This body soap:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhlecpMTB81E7fYZ-zeoLZEB-BmigYQXWqnZNqS2Safw3g7YNwtekR0TGoa9eqQo5KgjPM9ITGDeg6ryAByyqx42xCfX2miQCYcMS0MACjOy8jk3ncywe2c17-vG8lvInA8Uq/s1600-h/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+033.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhlecpMTB81E7fYZ-zeoLZEB-BmigYQXWqnZNqS2Safw3g7YNwtekR0TGoa9eqQo5KgjPM9ITGDeg6ryAByyqx42xCfX2miQCYcMS0MACjOy8jk3ncywe2c17-vG8lvInA8Uq/s400/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423065507589521490" /></a><br />These boys:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7zzSL5mLsNqAMe3VKHBX-V1yoD1Fg59elZhf_OwKjthj79bKVN8LJ7REpgY0S0M6909MJa5vat6DlAk5-GAkXtsCvkylr3nQD1qzqEcz5tQoOFMIipkeyaq9KYLBCoXLb7mw/s1600-h/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+032.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7zzSL5mLsNqAMe3VKHBX-V1yoD1Fg59elZhf_OwKjthj79bKVN8LJ7REpgY0S0M6909MJa5vat6DlAk5-GAkXtsCvkylr3nQD1qzqEcz5tQoOFMIipkeyaq9KYLBCoXLb7mw/s400/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423065501555161410" /></a><br />This DogBert:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VP08SQCvH-3KIhDCKEuXRjPHj0K3LEeLgnLC0W416rMLJSbiNhUfRJzrMxG7fw59rVdpVnLRdwHkCp3A8fgqC7_6QwfpIhT-TFFqBds5Qds6UK1OUbvjuVJO7XZGHondbJIr/s1600-h/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+035.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VP08SQCvH-3KIhDCKEuXRjPHj0K3LEeLgnLC0W416rMLJSbiNhUfRJzrMxG7fw59rVdpVnLRdwHkCp3A8fgqC7_6QwfpIhT-TFFqBds5Qds6UK1OUbvjuVJO7XZGHondbJIr/s400/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423065498628263810" /></a><br />This Man:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2I-hudQLAVO_W4-axHpRvBovC753B5Xb0Hu7BEojW3r0uJ2TUfM8HZxpXH3GzQgwMUJgiP774fSF8wyQFdnZWzkHGBinrbord8Q-TtypvgjPxAuAk9oplKsNcSoXEYPqxSgq/s1600-h/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+036.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2I-hudQLAVO_W4-axHpRvBovC753B5Xb0Hu7BEojW3r0uJ2TUfM8HZxpXH3GzQgwMUJgiP774fSF8wyQFdnZWzkHGBinrbord8Q-TtypvgjPxAuAk9oplKsNcSoXEYPqxSgq/s400/Christmas+Boxing+Day+2009+036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423065489999755266" /></a>MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-1791032492109349542010-01-03T18:35:00.002-07:002010-01-03T18:43:33.036-07:00Disengaging the Holiday DecorIt's a sad thing, this taking down of all the holiday cheer.<br />Ours is down today, well at least the outdoor lights and wreaths. A record of some sort for us. The rest of the cul de sac is still happily holiday. Us? Quite honestly, I am ready for Spring. <br />The trees are still up in the house. I love the light from them and will miss it when it's gone. It creates such a warmth, and it's been a very cold, snowy winter here.<br /><br />I also had a flirtation with the treadmill today. I went downstairs with a latte, but luckily the phone rang. The pilates bench is also calling, but I've given that beast a deaf ear for years. <br /><br />New Year's Resolutions? None<br />Cookies eaten? Sadly, many. We got a box of home-made cookies from Chicago and that did me in. <br />Mornings spent lying in bed with 2 little boys? Every one of them. I put network cartoons on to extend their time so I can read, and let them eat cereal in bed. With the dog.<br />Games played during vacation? Dozens<br />Books read during holiday? FIFTEEN and that is not a typo.<br />Relaxation Experienced? Oh, yes.<br />Agony of Shingles? Apparently, gone as of yesterday. But I'm touching wood!<br /><br />It's been such a great vacation. I still miss my dad terribly, of course.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-88118169764822804092009-12-31T12:22:00.001-07:002009-12-31T12:24:04.512-07:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who visit here.<br />I personally hope nobody I love dies in 2010. <br />I pray for better understanding, aid and tolerance among nations.<br />I hope for some prosperity and good health for my family and for yours, too!MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-4740819199607198362009-12-27T09:09:00.002-07:002009-12-27T09:11:24.373-07:00Out of the Mouths of Babes:Subject: Why we love kids<br />1) NUDITY<br />I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'<br />2) OPINIONS<br />On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'<br />3) KETCHUP<br />A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'<br />4) MORE NUDITY<br />A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'<br />5) POLICE # 1<br />While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report.. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'<br />6) POLICE # 2<br />It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.<br />'It sure is,' I replied.<br />Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'<br />7) ELDERLY<br />While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by t he various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'<br />8) DRESS-UP<br />A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.'<br />'And why not, darling?'<br />'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'<br />9) DEATH<br />While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.<br />The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)<br />10) SCHOOL<br />A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'<br />11) BIBLE<br />A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.<br />'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.<br />'What have you got there, dear?'<br />With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-57760583861893206202009-12-22T12:14:00.006-07:002009-12-23T12:47:15.291-07:00Fully in the Christmas Spirit!For some reason, and I don't know why and will not question it; I am completely and absolutely enamored of this Christmas season.<br />Not feeling jaded; no not me.<br />Not blinking and bewildered, nope.<br />Feeling fulfilled, unhurried and at peace.<br /><br />We did visit my dad's grave for the first time yesterday. Parker, Ryan and I drove down to Nana's, picked up her and the wreath and then drove out to Ft. Logan Military Cemetery. Lots of the graves had holiday sentiments, presents, fresh flowers and wreaths on them. It was actually rather lovely.<br /><br />Ryan had a hard time with it. He clung to his PopPop's grave marker and looked very sad. His eyes welled up twice. My mother and I were crying off and on. Parker, Mom and I visited other graves, noting that some of the military deceased were VERY old (100! Lots over 90!) and some were very, very young. <br /><br />As usual, there was a good mood-breaking bit of mirth: I had Mom and the boys pose at the grave, centering the wreath. Finally, Parker quipped, after much posing and shooting; "You DO know this is not PopPop's grave, Right?..." to which Mom and I burst out laughing and then shuffled them forward, to my dad's grave to do it All Again. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmGBeQdwveDBIxNxw3bUiQ-rb_exyo87PDGn7vjgO-JezF4pDMYG-JAsgsMoRo9Nwk-16IG0Cv7h6Bu1k0Z_ekRr3-DIX2Ye1hqGgO60A1-dRikKNhlwO7KhenALtXVDOl_XQ/s1600-h/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+018.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmGBeQdwveDBIxNxw3bUiQ-rb_exyo87PDGn7vjgO-JezF4pDMYG-JAsgsMoRo9Nwk-16IG0Cv7h6Bu1k0Z_ekRr3-DIX2Ye1hqGgO60A1-dRikKNhlwO7KhenALtXVDOl_XQ/s400/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418146095107246194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dD1nwkQSr8iue_SrEJWCmOfkgYdNc-grquk6rnhiKCfpR8QZiRhtxtCauXonUAGCB9dVfnKFXv0cXWGoFSyCo5RKZg5cGfkppz82N3MjM7Ddn_VwCOFCelfbAEwyBqS_SygW/s1600-h/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+016.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dD1nwkQSr8iue_SrEJWCmOfkgYdNc-grquk6rnhiKCfpR8QZiRhtxtCauXonUAGCB9dVfnKFXv0cXWGoFSyCo5RKZg5cGfkppz82N3MjM7Ddn_VwCOFCelfbAEwyBqS_SygW/s400/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418146087377902994" /></a><br />Also, I'm tossing in this photo of a padded floor quilt I made for a dear teacher at school who's just had her second. The play blankie is bigger as there will be two chilluns reclining on this most of the time. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yGfEiBe21GGJhfE02kWw50YYtBlRVQmQtQWrOqmR-VjSmgiuerpkWr_ur5iysFZ9EV_VAFSrj1WVXrS7CuH4WBbJBdwOxdZwcAcAqtMJJWw7jV_fP33dRUPJAkstVP1VDRoz/s1600-h/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+002.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yGfEiBe21GGJhfE02kWw50YYtBlRVQmQtQWrOqmR-VjSmgiuerpkWr_ur5iysFZ9EV_VAFSrj1WVXrS7CuH4WBbJBdwOxdZwcAcAqtMJJWw7jV_fP33dRUPJAkstVP1VDRoz/s400/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418147780068029890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURI7j2p8_jYYBWKMSHTVxcXWTzYgLt6Zk0zOQ_W3cMO8AYHSFRJ5PdEMOhHs3nf0cAzYlpRSAggy2KFx7rVDcDPKiZcUuIQ2z8F5h95eEWo_SDhg94QKm5gSNWGnONN-3q-uR/s1600-h/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+001.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURI7j2p8_jYYBWKMSHTVxcXWTzYgLt6Zk0zOQ_W3cMO8AYHSFRJ5PdEMOhHs3nf0cAzYlpRSAggy2KFx7rVDcDPKiZcUuIQ2z8F5h95eEWo_SDhg94QKm5gSNWGnONN-3q-uR/s400/Blankies+and+PopPop%27s+grave+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418147771689588386" /></a>MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-3963277813538022762009-12-20T17:03:00.003-07:002009-12-20T17:10:15.583-07:00Menus for the Eve, the Day and Boxing Day:Christmas Eve: Ryan and I (I KNOW!!!) are making turkey with sausage, onion and pecan stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, condiment trays (his words; I have no idea yet what 'condiment trays' mean to him - I suspect raw carrots), cranberry/horseradish relish and tinned cranberry jelly, pumpkin pie and whipped cream.<br />Christmas Morning Brunch: Parker and I are making spiral cut ham, brie en croute stuffed with cherries and almonds, potato salad; green beans broiled with coarse salt, pepper and olive oil; others are bringing home-made rolls, deviled eggs and desserts.<br />Boxing Day: Standing prime rib roast coated with horseradish sauce and baked to rare perfection, baked sputs, corn on the cob (?) and a big beautiful salad. Choco cake for dessert.<br />Photos may follow.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-51118488705303346032009-12-15T14:34:00.001-07:002009-12-15T14:36:31.523-07:00Santa arrived early!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVhss_vN5IHEN6gEUnV5abOXIdMsF616lqw1Me5o65qgwKSdfRO5n1JRcFAQvGpk0Vneyt4q_42Kz9VOZ3flLa_K7Q0iT8S36Fp3xIH3-u6XsHLIjj_oaIpSVdX_vPdbTIIbM/s1600-h/New+kindle+040.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVhss_vN5IHEN6gEUnV5abOXIdMsF616lqw1Me5o65qgwKSdfRO5n1JRcFAQvGpk0Vneyt4q_42Kz9VOZ3flLa_K7Q0iT8S36Fp3xIH3-u6XsHLIjj_oaIpSVdX_vPdbTIIbM/s400/New+kindle+040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415580008430534258" /></a><br />And to think; I asked for a serger, but Ken wanted to get me something to help me relax. What a great man!MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-65293136119434030992009-12-10T11:07:00.001-07:002009-12-10T11:09:01.033-07:00Mister Stinky Toes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuzGnIU9wvHg1jNLdH7CuV3KDxSyJA7LyWVvC2NiygEIukwbIjNVmjy-924xDSpOqRAwTHqngz7M1FeF5jFVw7bJ93I35nkix2hRsz6YokZ6nmxWo-3VG2AELGdmKamZHkWMr/s1600-h/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+028.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuzGnIU9wvHg1jNLdH7CuV3KDxSyJA7LyWVvC2NiygEIukwbIjNVmjy-924xDSpOqRAwTHqngz7M1FeF5jFVw7bJ93I35nkix2hRsz6YokZ6nmxWo-3VG2AELGdmKamZHkWMr/s400/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413671116222824258" /></a><br />I love these paws, these frito-smelling, multi-colored tender toes of Cody.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-17866081098935707352009-12-09T17:37:00.003-07:002009-12-09T17:51:44.363-07:002nd TreeKen came home to find us all decorating a second tree. He groaned and exclaimed "Ack - conspicuous consumerism..." but decided in the end it was a great idea.<br /><br />This tree is in the family room and is visible from the areas we live in, as well as from the 2nd-story bridge. It's a cheerful sight to view all during the day. The big tree in the living room is our Christmas Day tree - it's a large enough area for six or more of us to sit and shred presents. Well, there's that pesky consumerism, again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhyGpehyphenhyphenNABpPKQCazpnfo47-2jntaGyJebkxsPfj1NP6mmPs4RLXpe1dVQZA6kz0jJD8ejdQmz5EAc1uk6Q5TTWINjFZD9_DgF-nOe2nzKKU4HrcRhb57xO_MXBV0sj5EPNd/s1600-h/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+018.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhyGpehyphenhyphenNABpPKQCazpnfo47-2jntaGyJebkxsPfj1NP6mmPs4RLXpe1dVQZA6kz0jJD8ejdQmz5EAc1uk6Q5TTWINjFZD9_DgF-nOe2nzKKU4HrcRhb57xO_MXBV0sj5EPNd/s400/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413401971526085522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSmR72948tQErOgF6s7J1RFD9-LsYbSdXQWnlhuE5isVb5lUkbxwiB4lLblEBZUVuUJ27VRlvbkx5BQVoE2YOGFVIhXIQbAANvG67Jniu1HVHSxdKl49MHHw4cNpfoLskjEhJ/s1600-h/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+020.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSmR72948tQErOgF6s7J1RFD9-LsYbSdXQWnlhuE5isVb5lUkbxwiB4lLblEBZUVuUJ27VRlvbkx5BQVoE2YOGFVIhXIQbAANvG67Jniu1HVHSxdKl49MHHw4cNpfoLskjEhJ/s400/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413401967712943138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7MWAiiX6360DkJ6cJNnXDrGFW6vYigbEpBdQlkk5p62uTDs9pJeZJtxJ76HSkd4z9_4iHOVrcYJ8tLLFsePFCn-l7iSi-T9-ioE9dhSEcg_4lY5T4BE15i1Xhj7tlYZIXD7x/s1600-h/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+003.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7MWAiiX6360DkJ6cJNnXDrGFW6vYigbEpBdQlkk5p62uTDs9pJeZJtxJ76HSkd4z9_4iHOVrcYJ8tLLFsePFCn-l7iSi-T9-ioE9dhSEcg_4lY5T4BE15i1Xhj7tlYZIXD7x/s400/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413401957831213874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EX4KJ9xpyo4gyJi_XZ89cDWLGZdIrdpDI-ItkUcEMhCpPYqO2t9uoWUJX7O3jLZAa0ZdBrPK_0O4j5dXgzPYYo_ChJFVlC9KFol728nhmbxB0kCkljfPtGNM7u3PiJYBy9nq/s1600-h/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+023.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EX4KJ9xpyo4gyJi_XZ89cDWLGZdIrdpDI-ItkUcEMhCpPYqO2t9uoWUJX7O3jLZAa0ZdBrPK_0O4j5dXgzPYYo_ChJFVlC9KFol728nhmbxB0kCkljfPtGNM7u3PiJYBy9nq/s400/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413401949090671586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2-yk5InVIGclcyCEVmtyqO1GMpE9VeWeqpTSMV-t0uDmqhg3CqqTNvG9aRU0q4tzDfWwpdCGIMSjih8Gpi3GgHDQIELEIVvYXE6jyPa3uaoRKUpv4TyeAmTZ6NqU_6j0A5TO/s1600-h/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+016.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2-yk5InVIGclcyCEVmtyqO1GMpE9VeWeqpTSMV-t0uDmqhg3CqqTNvG9aRU0q4tzDfWwpdCGIMSjih8Gpi3GgHDQIELEIVvYXE6jyPa3uaoRKUpv4TyeAmTZ6NqU_6j0A5TO/s400/Tree+2,+Christmas+2009+016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413401946663138290" /></a>MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-81722760920898682382009-12-07T21:34:00.003-07:002009-12-07T21:45:15.396-07:00Christmas Tree-Close upsClick on any image to enlarge.<br />My favorite is the porcelain fairy, with mohair hair. Look at her tiny, painted toenails!<br />My sisters, my grandma, my mom, my nieces and my children have made many of these ornaments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul0ZN5gcCvC3ft4eOq1pnJD3LUpiOes7E0B22I0RLO9EO70BrYYcneOjTOcvqj7CiNRax-Og4C_vFkILL9hVILeThRqCtvTaAzHt8uELv3WZvW1gVc_gDpS0bdVpcrhV0wSxp/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+022.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul0ZN5gcCvC3ft4eOq1pnJD3LUpiOes7E0B22I0RLO9EO70BrYYcneOjTOcvqj7CiNRax-Og4C_vFkILL9hVILeThRqCtvTaAzHt8uELv3WZvW1gVc_gDpS0bdVpcrhV0wSxp/s400/Christmas+2009+022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412720664294317922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUsSb18MgEBIW8eX1-UqvbRnt-oyuYykeYf46t3AUrRFb2hjfuYT6iiyGT9H2h-EKA3fw1DL6rb2MoH8tfJpLLQ624j7bfe89OjekWvJuPX-AtrX5pUvdtnzYG24w-ynmkXh2/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+024.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUsSb18MgEBIW8eX1-UqvbRnt-oyuYykeYf46t3AUrRFb2hjfuYT6iiyGT9H2h-EKA3fw1DL6rb2MoH8tfJpLLQ624j7bfe89OjekWvJuPX-AtrX5pUvdtnzYG24w-ynmkXh2/s400/Christmas+2009+024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412720662989492914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSkZYNRh1lbTA-zTuWgw38JRS-vGRA1YfllSpyo8ij9NfzB8_Y0Ars6svrYs1D4btXbqpAA3djt2MbV0orLFPtzBxNJOEObVFu2mg7OfFiCtcJHBawKYVj-LLBRDGDJnwkWAe/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+027.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSkZYNRh1lbTA-zTuWgw38JRS-vGRA1YfllSpyo8ij9NfzB8_Y0Ars6svrYs1D4btXbqpAA3djt2MbV0orLFPtzBxNJOEObVFu2mg7OfFiCtcJHBawKYVj-LLBRDGDJnwkWAe/s400/Christmas+2009+027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412720652679886322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ghcdY7EFoqY0osqJEkn6tMv_R29z9w_T8hxrTi51IzqqW2oAZ95zpBXMXeSHGtzVW65XVUl6AQ_eWhZbBKeeE2vPRzvfceruZezzOg6HhRJ0Br_qd4pbS80rH1cblCRDszF1/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+031.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ghcdY7EFoqY0osqJEkn6tMv_R29z9w_T8hxrTi51IzqqW2oAZ95zpBXMXeSHGtzVW65XVUl6AQ_eWhZbBKeeE2vPRzvfceruZezzOg6HhRJ0Br_qd4pbS80rH1cblCRDszF1/s400/Christmas+2009+031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412720640915260066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO61WHlNnKi3m0WiC2eZqHX-aKllF_2SOp-dtvll0hBM9xtCoe4nwnSe16MahFNu_U9kbARDVfEwqvAqbc9odQbfbIDxdiHc8teDAJUFo2OZ52_BWfbJJ8gxmCYG38Q6u20taM/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+017.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO61WHlNnKi3m0WiC2eZqHX-aKllF_2SOp-dtvll0hBM9xtCoe4nwnSe16MahFNu_U9kbARDVfEwqvAqbc9odQbfbIDxdiHc8teDAJUFo2OZ52_BWfbJJ8gxmCYG38Q6u20taM/s400/Christmas+2009+017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412720629547617890" /></a>MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-77334021233543684962009-12-06T19:49:00.004-07:002009-12-06T20:04:57.932-07:00Getting the Christmas OnOur babysitter (well, she's much more than that, but it's a one-word descriptor) Anne-Marie really got Christmas going for us this year. She rigged up the system to get the tree assembled<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeiojkJs8GLqfENwnhTlwaAG6hddvEvKo4jc-6jFQ9L6eW5AP4vuo_HtCmhjpVnD36E-AXNK5SAA7LmyFxB4H81Y73ZE8EjVkAqFmTyZXkA0Ttw3nvqBLYCYb7k7gpc1Mf9gi/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+005.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeiojkJs8GLqfENwnhTlwaAG6hddvEvKo4jc-6jFQ9L6eW5AP4vuo_HtCmhjpVnD36E-AXNK5SAA7LmyFxB4H81Y73ZE8EjVkAqFmTyZXkA0Ttw3nvqBLYCYb7k7gpc1Mf9gi/s400/Christmas+2009+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412322228916465218" /></a><br /><br />Anne-Marie and the boys decorated the tree. They are getting quite picky about this task.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bSbktIZ5vRRXNldCfTehC5BHE8PGNVLhOQq5oABusdyXAHuzFxymrUM9IUv5RCxpAymTaOMhC0TPC8u9SLDhL5FOmb8_-fG2Pv1elKSFmXMRZnWKz5KWCTGuDHe06mEerJd5/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+010.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bSbktIZ5vRRXNldCfTehC5BHE8PGNVLhOQq5oABusdyXAHuzFxymrUM9IUv5RCxpAymTaOMhC0TPC8u9SLDhL5FOmb8_-fG2Pv1elKSFmXMRZnWKz5KWCTGuDHe06mEerJd5/s400/Christmas+2009+010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412322240829007330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I decorated 2 table tops, well 3 counting the one visible to the left of the tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhTWo3kJIYLh34ufCX6g-QjYjl8wY42V4MoQhYsChvNccoTWAS7NNKOw35BJEeP8yUwN1Em56AFZTbFE5TKSg0Rsc1y7w6PksyDyu3IZnqF1QPFFz9hxy1uzkHY2VM6veQqOv/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+014.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhTWo3kJIYLh34ufCX6g-QjYjl8wY42V4MoQhYsChvNccoTWAS7NNKOw35BJEeP8yUwN1Em56AFZTbFE5TKSg0Rsc1y7w6PksyDyu3IZnqF1QPFFz9hxy1uzkHY2VM6veQqOv/s400/Christmas+2009+014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412322252523526098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFErdU6oFz00H4jBtGo9AIpKQyDjoqwa4sJGAXneoK6mzpsWufaZBszR_AI_9RuY8OVrOux_1QujvTUmN1xMv83gXGTzXeH9FPmsEnnZ7RrDWEer4T9YXZ_kL_Rzn9X0uiPjX/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+011.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFErdU6oFz00H4jBtGo9AIpKQyDjoqwa4sJGAXneoK6mzpsWufaZBszR_AI_9RuY8OVrOux_1QujvTUmN1xMv83gXGTzXeH9FPmsEnnZ7RrDWEer4T9YXZ_kL_Rzn9X0uiPjX/s400/Christmas+2009+011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412322240896998546" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I may try to add photos of individual ornaments later. We are all bushed. We did get out to Macy's to drop the letters in Santa's mailbox. Even though the boys are getting sceptical about Santa, they are still hedging their bets.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-34785118102132480292009-12-01T21:20:00.002-07:002009-12-01T21:24:03.463-07:00My last photo of Robert<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBZWf6m78FnxsfSnTmr1y144yDBKfCR8e2-Enm3NSYU3IIwtOCs4JonyT77yNXyr_2QUStXCzzB5iqKRJTPTsc6UACoZ-WcyCF2Gc3Onpen6o2yvQ9-ef3nlZvt4cKRghtB1q/s1600-h/November+2009+415.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBZWf6m78FnxsfSnTmr1y144yDBKfCR8e2-Enm3NSYU3IIwtOCs4JonyT77yNXyr_2QUStXCzzB5iqKRJTPTsc6UACoZ-WcyCF2Gc3Onpen6o2yvQ9-ef3nlZvt4cKRghtB1q/s400/November+2009+415.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410489344554775026" /></a><br /><br />This will be my last photo forever of Robert, myself, some of our kids and Stephen.<br /><br />It breaks my heart to look at this photo. He looks happy; we all were so happy that August day.<br /><br />I still can't quite say goodbye to my gentle, caring friend.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-5972944667003945542009-11-30T14:43:00.002-07:002009-11-30T14:58:56.271-07:00The Pantry Purge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLFh12H_07wpp-7Qsc2hDw_9ukSbMDrbS3gTXsf0HJXFWK4AuZXjeUqKWw5IfAT1URbyBshCNQq417DzuChNxa_7l7yChciv2I-Dx85UeykZCyaqt56aBmooywwpwYXD03edr/s1600/November+2009+544.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLFh12H_07wpp-7Qsc2hDw_9ukSbMDrbS3gTXsf0HJXFWK4AuZXjeUqKWw5IfAT1URbyBshCNQq417DzuChNxa_7l7yChciv2I-Dx85UeykZCyaqt56aBmooywwpwYXD03edr/s400/November+2009+544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410019344886043346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL_jeU-kUHQRmM-sH0iZCIq9Z-zgMO-eh4o-LlAYvr8qTfuf37IwZXHtBUZWNv9VUX6CcPxgnESRDLnJX8wDwJydeP-YLyJnLEJ-uKuHPcMf30FxSYyL39SQ4-gjHjoAbQp0U/s1600/November+2009+543.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL_jeU-kUHQRmM-sH0iZCIq9Z-zgMO-eh4o-LlAYvr8qTfuf37IwZXHtBUZWNv9VUX6CcPxgnESRDLnJX8wDwJydeP-YLyJnLEJ-uKuHPcMf30FxSYyL39SQ4-gjHjoAbQp0U/s400/November+2009+543.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410019342049828098" /></a><br />It's fitting that this post would be the end of nablopomo for me.<br /><br />Yesterday I spent 4 hours purging our pantry. At the end, there were three tall kitchen trash bags full of waste. And that's after pulling out everything that could be recycled. If the contents were oil, I did not try to recycle the container, however, and we had LOTS of 'designer oils' going rancid in there. Ugh.<br /><br />I wish I would've thought to take a before photo. We had just gone through that pantry and pulled outdated stuff out a few months back, but I found <span style="font-style:italic;">plenty</span> of stuff dated 2006 and 2007! I knew we were in deep doo-doo when I thought "Oh, this macadamia oil is from when those neighbors moved..." well, that was over 4 years ago. <br /><br />I cannot tell you how excited I am. Of course, the only reason I could do this is because Ken is out of town. He called right as I was finishing, and I could hear the panic in his voice "Hey! You didn't throw out those 4 boxes of Ritz's, did you?!" Geesh.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-29849371641957021652009-11-29T19:32:00.002-07:002009-11-29T20:17:58.135-07:00Sunday GamesSundays are all about creativity in our home; there are no video games, no screen time, no tv except maybe a movie if I have a deadline for something.<br /><br />The boys get up, we snuggle for a few minutes and start playing. It's usually a gentle game with Cody that morphs into something that involves racing around and around the house rather quickly. Finally, somebody gets it in the tenders (usually the dog jumping on a napping daddy) and that signals 'It's Time To Make WAFFLES'. We have waffles every single Sunday wherever we are, even if they are Eggo. Well, I have Vans since I am the no-wheatie girl these days.<br /><br />Our daddy left early this morning on his every-other-week business trip. Parker and Ryan got busy with legos. The stuff they build always amazes me. I used to get kind of mad that they were breaking apart the models they built right after they built them, but then thought; isn't imaginative use better than a dust collector? So, now I move dozens of different creations carefully, knowing if I knock something off, it will be noticed. <br /><br />But the best game they played today was "The Chase Is On". They got out their old play food, and Cody would grab a piece and run away with it. The boys would chase him, yelling "Drop that Pizza!" or "Drop that Sushi!" and the dog would zig and zag, in heaven with them chasing him. He never broke out of a slow trot, of course. They were running full out. Cody is an Aussie, a herding dog. That beast has moves 'til June. Sometimes he does a 360 in mid air, just because he can. He frequently jumps over both Ken and I in bed - from the floor. We have a king-size bed, a high one. Today during the game, he would beat the boys back to their 'picnic' area, drop the current piece, and snag a new one; pausing to let the boys see the evidence in his chops. They'd scream anew, and The Chase would be on, again. This game lasted an hour. <br /><br />I got my pantry cleaned out. FOUR kitchen trash bags, after recycling any parts that could be, made it out to the trash. You do notice the man-outta-town-woman-tossing-crappe theme here, don't you? After reading The Unhealthy Truth, I am again on a mission to feed us properly. Ken called from Maryland, and reported that he had found a health food store and shopped for good stuff for him too.<br /><br />Now I'm whupped. But it's a good Whupped.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-37006089471409618322009-11-28T18:47:00.002-07:002009-11-28T22:09:42.770-07:00Why my austistic kid may be better than your autistic kid.We all think our kids are better in some ways than other people's kids.<br />But mine truly may be.<br />Back in the Dark Ages, oh around 1983, my best friend Sherry went to the Dark Side -- yes, she went MACROBIOTIC *gasp*!<br />Talk about culture clash - I was still smoking at least a pack a day. I woke up, lit up and tossed down a full glass of cool aid with a hand full of cheap vitamins for breakfast. After all, I was a health nut - I worked out at a downtown gym in my shiny lycra tights, leotard and leg warmers every day! I ate vegetables -- if they came with my Chinese take out or happened to sneak on to my sausage pizza. <br />Sherry came over one day and cleaned out my pantry. And I mean, Cleaned. Out.<br />She tossed all 'White Death': White flour, sugar, rice, bread, Crisco, salt. She pitched all the rancid oils in my house, from salad dressings to cooking oil to olive oil. All pre-made and boxed foods went sailing into the trash. The freezer wasn't left unmolested, either. Almost everything in there was freezer burned and old. Out it went.<br />Sherry changed a bunch of people's lives, mine included. I learned that nothing is more important than pure salts, fats and water. Organic meant quality food, with no hormones or antibiotics. Whole grains were the staff of life. Meat was okay as a treat, just like ice cream. And to pay attention to what you put ON your body as well as IN it. Like pure soaps, body oils and shampoo. Simple tooth powder, a crystal salt rock for deoderant. Every day and every thing mattered.<br />When we got our sons, this became even more important for us. I took the boys to a naturopath doctor, who used homeopathy. She stressed that Ryan could not tolerate dairy, and to be suspect of soy too; to try a product new out from Odwalla - Odwalla milk. It was WONDERFUL - Ryan was by then 8 months old, and we were having such a time with ear infections, diahrrea and vomiting. The Odwalla milk did have soy, but it also had rice and oat milks and fruit. I added flax seed oil to every bottle, and other good things too, like bifidophilus or other remedies prescribed by his naturopath. He thrived. When we moved on to solid foods, I made all his food by pureeing steamed organic veggies, grains and fruit. Our meat has almost always been organic, free range when available.<br />Then, well, he wasn't meeting progress markers by his 18 month appointment, and we noticed personality changes as well. We started in with intervention when he was 20 months old. He stopped eating anything except yoghurt and crunchy carbohydrates -- but at least we made sure they were organic and whole grain.<br />I did this because I have known for years that you are what you eat. I knew it was essential to eat good food to have a more disease-free life.<br />But what I had no idea was that I may have also helped Ryan in his struggle with autism. An author read at a fund raiser that Barnes & Noble hosted for our school. Her book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0767930711/?tag=yahhyd-20&hvadid=55622411511&ref=pd_sl_8dau8tctj_e">The Unhealthy Truth</a> and it will open your eyes about the connection between food and allergies, asthma, autism and ADHD in our children.<br />Tears of anger are squirting out of my eyes reading this book. Even with as informed as I was compared to my peer group, I made some huge mistakes in my children's diets. I can't go back, but I can do better in their lives ahead. And my husband and I will profit from eating better, too.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21445368.post-57000887954174191392009-11-27T15:33:00.003-07:002009-11-27T15:58:58.096-07:00Thing I would Die For or Murder ForIn No Particular Order:<br /><br />1. I would die for my sons. From 10 minutes after I held them to 1 millisecond ago; I would take bullets for these two. On second thought, I'd catch those bullets in my teeth and then,<br /><br />2. I would MURDER the worthless human being who would take a shot at them.<br /><br />ah, we're back to...<br /><br />1. I would die to find a person who could cut my flat as pancakes front/wavy in back thick, yet skinny, hair. I've not had a good hair cut in over 10 years, since my guy moved to Atlanta (Jon Bryant, if you're out there, get your knees fixed and keep cutting hair, okay?), and come to think of it...<br /><br />2. I'd like to murder the next stylist who gives me a Jennifer-fucking-Anniston-do -- you know, the long bob with the layers beneath it? Yeah, that shitty hairdo that I. Keep. Getting. From. Every. Stylist. Even when I say, Do not give me that tired old bob with layers! They cut, snip, razor finish, twirl me around and voila! I sigh, get up, pay w/tip and go home and know that I will never be able to make it look decent again. Then I grow it out, try another stylist who suggests "Let's take off alot of this weight!" and bang! It's the Jennifer-crappy-do again.<br /><br />Hmmm, seems a pattern is developing here.<br /><br />1. I would die to have a really great ethnic restaurant around these here parts. You know, the kind you find in New York, San Francisco, Chicago or even Seattle, for cripes sakes. I know where I live is essentially a suburb of the Mid-West, but gees; do we all have to eat meh all the time? Everything here is 'for the American palatte'. And come to think of it...<br /><br />2. I'd going to murder the next mediocre Chinese or Mexican food restaurant owner who opens up in a formerly not-bad restaurant that couldn't keep going in this economy. I <span style="font-style:italic;">know</span> it's hard right now folks; that's why every restaurant has raised their prices a handy 20% over the last few months. I get it. But why landlords feel the need to say "Hey! Let's rent it out cheap to the 22nd Mexi-Chinese place in a 4-block radius! What a great idea!" is beyond me. <br /><br />I had a really great point to this when I started. But my mind is mush. Travel and meds have taken their hefty toll.<br /><br />As You Were.MsCellaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05399187248681818440noreply@blogger.com0