Sunday, November 30, 2008

Taking Turns

The cats sleep on my bed with me. Seneca got in the habit of sleeping on my pillow, above my head. I didn't like this arrangement as she'd often pull my hair while changing positions or try to take the whole pillow. I'd wake up with only an inch of pillow. No deal, cat! I got another human pillow and put that lengthwise next to my pillow. Generally, Aleister will sleep next to me on the left side and Seneca will sleep on the pillow on the right with Calumet at the foot of the bed. However, Seneca and Calumet seem to take turns with the pillow. Seneca slept there last night and Callie did the night before. Sometimes Aleister will sleep there too. Generally they are nice about sharing and taking turns. One night, however, Callie was on the pillow and Seneca came on the bed and looked at her, as if telling her, "get out of my spot". Callie got up and seemed like she was getting off, then got this look on her face like, "Wait a minute. Why should I?" and she reached out, smacked Seneca and lay back down. Seneca went to the foot of the bed.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Turkey Day

I just got back from Buffalo after spending the day celebrating Thanksgiving with my folks. Everyone who has worked in 24/7 occupations understands that the holiday doesn't necessarily occur on it's regular day-you make it the day you have off of work. For us, today was Turkey Day. We started with breakfast (blueberry and cherry blintzes), then snacks (potato chips with leek dip) and champagne while watching Disney Christmas cartoons and Christmas movies (Miracle on 34th Street-the original in B&W-no colorization nonsense here-and Christmas Vacation). Then on to dinner. The full blown Thanksgiving Meal-turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffed celery, cranberry sauce, jello mold, yams, and peas and carrots. I skipped the last 3 menu items. Then we had a pumpkin ice cream cake. Delicious. Now I'm back home in my pjs, wanting to take a nap, but it's too late for a nap and too early to go to bed! Another Thanksgiving over-Christmas less than a month away!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Photo Phriday - The Christmas Season Begins

And so it begins. Today is the official beginning of the Christmas Season. I turned the car radio on to Warm 101.3 where I will enjoy the "holiday gift of music" for the rest of the year. I put the Christmas light timers on "from dawn to dusk" and put out the lit Christmas present and large bulbs. I also changed the white mini lights in my lantern to multicolored. I'd better get in gear and start getting the inside of the house ready. Yea Christmastime!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!


Here's wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful for so much. Although this has been a difficult year, I really am so lucky to be able to live the life I lead. Thank you to my family and friends. Thanks to my animals: Barrett, Aleister, Seneca, Calumet, Palin, Leon, Josef, Snickers, Vito, Vinnie, Paulie, and Harley. I'm grateful that I have a job (even if I'm none too pleased with it) that allows me to care for all my kids and enjoy my hobbies. I'm so thankful for my wonderful house-even though the bathroom is too small, it doesn't have a dishwasher, and still needs lots of work-I love my home. Thanks too to all of my readers, those I know personally, those I know from this site and others, and those who merely take a glimpse.
Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I Love Lucy

I love Lucy. I do. I Love Lucy is one of my favorite TV shows. I always liked it, but I've recently become even more enamored of it. I'm intrigued by the behind the scene story. All the breakthrough tech things they brought to television. I love learning the trivia and more. I also don't really consider it dated. I think it bravely stands the test of time. I'm almost done reading Ball of Fire: The Tumultuous Life and Comic Art of Lucille Ball by Stefan Kanter. It's a wonderful biography that starts before Lucille is even born and takes us through her career driven life. I thought it so interesting that through the first part of the book, Lucille Ball was consistently called Lucille. Why not Lucy? That's what everyone calls her. That's what I thought. Actually everybody called her Lucille...until Desi. "I didn't like the name Lucille. That name had been used by other men. 'Lucy' was mine alone." I highly recommend the book. I also intend on reading her autobiography and I'll be on the lookout for Desi's as well. (His is entitled A Book, hers, Love, Lucy.) Next year I'm going to make it a point to take a trip to Jamestown, NY and visit their museum. In the meantime, I intend to watch I Love Lucy Tuesdays through Thursdays before I go to work. Lucy makes life a little brighter. I love Lucy.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Winter Driving

It was winter driving conditions coming home from work last night (11:30 PM). There was a mixture of rain and snow falling from the heavens and the ground was slush. The windshield wipers were going and the windows kept wanting to fog up-an stay that way. The roads were a combination slush and snow and were quite slick. Once I got off the highway I had to activate the 4 wheel drive, even then I hit part of an icy patch and felt it. I'm so glad I got my new tires...and new brakes..and I'm grateful that I have 4 wheel drive!

Monday, November 24, 2008

So Annoying

Work is so annoying. I was scheduled to go to a class Monday morning, so I'd be off Monday evening. I get to work Sunday and discover I haven't been taken off the schedule, someone else called in, so I can't go to class and need to go to work. That, of course, throws off all my plans. Then everyone was bickering. Just so annoying, I can barely stand it.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Some Things Accomplished

It's almost time to get ready for work. I'm trying a new recipe now (Mediterranean style chicken), then it'll be time to get dressed. I did accomplish quite a bit last night. I finished (almost) my ATCs. I say almost as I have to print the labels and put them on the back-but the cards themselves are done. I also wrapped a bunch of presents. Now I need to find appropriate sized boxes and I'll be another stop closer. I want to mail as many of them as I can around the first of December, which, frighteningly, isn't that far away! The weather, however, has been more like January than November around here. I don't think we got out of the 20s yesterday and around 11PM they said it was 16!!! It's a little warmer today. Well, lunch is at the stage I need to watch carefully-so I'm off.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Almost Over

Today is the last day of my little vacation. I hardly got anything that I had planned to do done. I was going to wrap the Christmas gifts I have to ship and box them all up. Not one present wrapped. I was going to decorate the house for Christmas since I had the time. I took down most of the fall (some I was planning to leave until after Thanksgiving) but no Christmas indoor decorations are up. I did put up the outside lights. I just have to add a few things after Turkey Day. I was going to finish my ATCs for the month and get at least one recipe page done for the swap. I should finish the ATCs tonight, I have some fussy cutting to do and then attach all the pieces. Not even a hint of the recipe swap page done. I was going to start rat introductions. I held Leon while the others sniffed him. No formal introductions started. I haven't even cleaned Josef and Snicker's cage yet. Didn't wash the kitchen floor or do any cleaning for that matter. I did do some laundry. And I mailed all my Thanksgiving cards. In just under 23 hours I'll be back at work, so I have some time left...actually, I just want to take a nap!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Photo Phriday - Sylvester the Salescat

I had to go to my rat's vet today to pick up prescriptions for both Palin and Leon. When I went in I glanced at the handmade cat comforters they had for sale and saw Sylvester, one of the office cats, inside. Apparently, the basket was empty the other day and he made himself at home. When they refilled the basket he just smooshed down the products and made himself comfortable! The people there tell him that those aren't for him, that they're for sale. You can see how that impresses him. I say he gives them a good review!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Snow Globe

I feel as if I'm in a snow globe. The snow is lightly falling outside. So far I'm staying in. I need to put the rest of the Christmas lights on outside. I should go ride Harley...or at least get groceries. I did a little work on an altered book project...and I need to make a decision about my ATC design. First, however, I'm going to fix lunch and watch I Love Lucy. I love being on vacation!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Christmas Light Conspiracy

It's a conspiracy. A Christmas light conspiracy. I swear they make it so the lights only last one season, then you have to buy all new! I bought new lights last year-only two strands now work. Two other strands have only half the lights working. I only buy 100 light strands too. So frustrating! I'm off to buy even more lights, the 7 packs my mom and I bought weren't enough! Grrrr.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Winter

Winter has arrived! I woke up this morning to snow...lots of snow...including snow covered streets. Fortunately, the roads cleared by the time I left for my lesson and they remained clear while I ran errands. Works for me, as long as the roads are fine it can snow all it wants! I had a great lesson. I thought Harley would really be up (horses tend to get quite frisky in brisk weather) but I could barely get him going. I even had to use the crop! I heard he and his buddies were running around the pasture like maniacs yesterday. I guess he's still tuckered out! But he was listening and I did pretty well. We cantered some very nice circles. I forgot to bring the carrots I got for him, but he got some of the butterscotch treats I keep there. The folks are planning on coming up tomorrow-as long as the roads are fine. I'll wait til the morning, but I guess I'll have to shovel the walk. Yes, winter is here.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Mini Vacation

I'm on a mini vacation! I was denied yesterday off work, but I'm off for the rest of the week. Yea! Today is my lazy day. My lesson had to be rescheduled for tomorrow so I got to sleep in as late as I wanted with no alarm. Barrett let me sleep in too! I plan on staying in my PJ's all day and goofing around the house. It's snowing, and sticking, so it's a nice day to stay in. I've got a Holiday Sage Yankee Candle burning and I plan to catch up on the TV shows I taped last week, do some crafting, check the outside Christmas lights, clean the rat cages and relax and have fun. Three cheers for vacation time!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Must Have More!

Do you know why stampers have a million stamps and yet always want more? It's because we get these scathingly brilliant ideas, yet, as we go through our multitude of stamps we just can't find what we need! I'm in that state now, I'm trying to design my two pages for my first two recipes (as well as my divider for the section) for the recipe swap. I'm flummoxed. The category is appetizers. My first recipe is a ham roll up with cream cheese and pickle and my second (I think) is a bacon quiche cup. Now I know I won't find a ham roll up or a quiche cup rubber stamp. Maybe some pigs and a pickle? Actually, I just thought of a concept for the roll ups. It's kind of a pinwheel, so circles might work. Hmmmm. The design doesn't have to be food related, but I'd kind of like it to be. Maybe a pinwheel or circle paper with pickle brads? Do they make pickle brads? As for the bacon quiche perhaps a pig in a beret? I have a top hat stamp, but I don't have a beret...I don't think, I do have some unmounted ladies hats, I'll have to check. I do have lots of fruit stamps, tons of beverages, some veggies and herbs. Hmmm, my stamp collection may have to inspire my recipes and not vice versa.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Recipe Swap

I joined a Recipe Swap group at my local paper crafting store and we had our first meeting yesterday. We meet once a month for 7 months and we create a recipe book. Yesterday we personalized our album and put together a recipe page the leader designed. Each month we decide on a recipe based on the month's topic (our first is appetizers). Then we design a recipe page and make one for everyone in the group. Since our group was small (4 plus the leader, but one woman is making 2 books) we decided to share 2 recipes a month. So, we need to make 12 pages a month! Then we can bring in some of our goodies, distribute the pages, and make another page designed by the leader the following month. It's nice to get out of the house and the place is only about 10 minutes away, so it's very convenient. It's going to be fun and a lot of work. I'll definitely need to set aside crafting time!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Photo Phriday - Frederick Douglas

This statue of the great orator Frederick Douglas is located in Highland Park in Rochester, NY. I passed by it on the way home from my doctor's office and thought I'd stop to take a picture.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Too Early

On the way home from work last night I saw two places with Christmas lights on! Not just up, illuminated. I fully believe in putting the lights up early-while the weather's decent-but I don't turn them on until the day after Thanksgiving. We're two weeks until Thanksgiving! Maybe the house considered them Thanksgiving lights. They had the bushes adorned in red and white lights. However, the business had snowflakes! Perhaps they just were testing them and didn't realize they'd be on for good. I love Christmas, but let's get to Thanksgiving first!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Bags!

I've always tried to be environmentally conscious. Years ago I bought those cloth fabric "earth friendly" bags with which to carry my groceries. I remember them costing about $7 over 15 years ago. Not too many places had them, and gradually they fell out of use. Now more and more stores are promoting fabric bags-and this time the price is right! Most places offer the bags for only $1! And almost everyplace sells them! Of course, this makes a collector's eyes glow! I love these bags and I buy them from everyplace I go! I have some from grocery stores:Wegmans(the sturdiest in my opinion), Tops, and IGA, big stores:Target and Walmart (2 different styles), even a fabric store:JoAnns! My most unique, however, is from a winery. From Heritage Wine Cellars I have a bag that holds 3 wine bottles. They also had ones that carry 2 and 6 bottles. So, if you're looking for an inexpensive gift for me-send me a bag from a store that's local to you! Now...if I can just remember to put the bags in my car and then take them into the stores with me!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Days

How can days get to be so confusing? All day Monday I was thinking it was Tuesday. I don't know why. I went to the barn, as I do on Mondays. I wasn't on vacation. But then on Sunday I was thinking I had worked the night before, which I hadn't. This weekend went by so fast for me-maybe that's what screwed me up. Hopefully, my days will return to normal soon!

Monday, November 10, 2008

House History

Yesterday afternoon there was a knock at my front door. Oftentimes I'll ignore it, but I decided to answer it. Am I glad I did! There were two guys who said they were in from out of state. It turns out that their grandfather built my house! It was great talking with them. Their grandfather built this place from a catalog in, they think, 1921. It was always a 4 bedroom home (my mom always thought the master bedroom was the whole side of the house and later divided into 2) and the toilet room (which I figured was once a pantry) was always a toilet room. Pretty impressive for 1921, although, having the milk box in the toilet was a bit odd! The space under the sun room was a cistern and they had planned to knock the wall down too-but didn't. They said they saw how the previous owner had let things get rundown and were pleased I was making it so nice. I'm going to send them pictures and they'll do the same. It's so wonderful to discover the history of my house.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Fat Free

Some things that are reduced fat and even fat free are good and tasty. Pringles Light fat free sour cream and onion chips are not.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Catalogs

It's that time of year. More and more catalogs are delivered to my mailbox. Not that I'm complaining. I LOVE looking through catalogs. Oftentimes I order from them too, but even if I don't, I enjoy seeing what's out there. Believe me, I get some unique ones-I got one about mushrooms!

One of my favorite catalogs came today, What On Earth. They have neat international things as well as classic stuff. I saw a whole page of goodies from the Christmas special, The Year Without A Santa Claus. You know, the one with Snow Miser and Heat Miser. I love those guys. Of course, the tune is now running through my head. In addition to bobble heads and t-shirts of the stepbrothers they had some figure sets. Looking at the picture there were 6 main characters, plus heat and snow minions and other extras. Cute, until I saw the price $59.95. Ouch. Then I saw "per set". Sure enough the group was actually divided in half-so if you wanted everyone (and of course, you need everyone) it would be $120!!! When did toys get so expensive...I guess when they became collectibles!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Flu Shot

I did it. I got the flu shot yesterday. This is the first year I've gotten one. I've always been kind of against it, but I've been so sick this year. Combine that with working where I do, the fact that I could get it for free while on duty. So I went with a coworker and did it. It didn't hurt. My coworker has a sore arm and I'm a bit dizzy, but who knows if it's all psychosomatic. At any rate, I'd better not get sick any more this year!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A New President!

It's a historic day in the United States as we congratulate our first black president. I hope that Barack Obama is able to help guide our country on a better path. I hope we're finally able to make inroads to help the environment, instead of destroying it. I'm also curious to read more details about the election and see how different states voted, but for now, I'm going to bed. I know these things take time and I must be patient. I just hope Bush doesn't destroy more wildlife before Obama gets sworn in!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Vote!

Go, get out to your polling place and vote! It's not that difficult and it means the world...literally. I cast my vote-go cast yours!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Sunday, November 2, 2008

All Souls Day

On All Souls Day, I like to take time to remember those who have passed on. To all my animals, friends, and family, you remain in my heart. I'm especially thinking of the recent losses-Gilliam, Flurry, Slipper, and Gus. Also Brioche who died a year ago this summer and Aunt Bert who died on this day. Remember the good times, they support us in the bad.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

All Saints Day

I am tired this All Saints Day. I woke up early to go to a garage sale at my local paper crafting store. These women can be vicious. It was a grab and run and slither in between trying to get the best deals on things people didn't want anymore. I got some great rubber stamps and embellishments. I haven't had time to sort through my loot yet. The folks were already at my house when I returned home. We did a lot of "finish up yard work", prepping for winter. They helped me put up the storm windows. Dad mowed for the last time this year. Mom and I did some raking and pruning. Then Mom and I drove Barrett to a park for a nice walk. Barrett even managed a large obstacle-which I'll write about later. After warming back up a bit at home, we went for lunch. Now I'm just checking things out online and then time for a nap. I'm practically falling asleep as it is. (Thus the delay in writing about Barrett's walk.) I'll choose a saint to think about for this holiday. Do you have a favorite saint?