Who's Done With Their Decorating?

You? And you, too? Damn. Bend over and let me give you a swift kick because I'm totally jealous.

This is the one night of the year that our neighborhood puts out the luminaries for all to see.

And, by the freaking by, the neighborhood committee would love it if you'd have your house and yard decorated as well. Grrrrr.

But it's really quite beautiful and festive and this year is the 30th anniversary of the lights which someone decided to call, ahem, "Lights For Jesus".

So I better get busy and slap some lights up outside and maybe decorate the front of my Christmas tree-- the side that's in the front window. ha!

UPDATE: 4:00 PM - luminaries in place. Waiting until 5:30 to go back out and light them en masse.

Merry Christmas!

At Christmas And Always, I Treasure The Friendship We Share

Popping in to say Merry Christmas to you all! And sending love to all of you dear friends that have seen me through the rough times and helped me celebrate the good times. I'd glad I can share this day with you.

It's a little early for me to hoist a celebratory toast but later on I'll go to the liquor cabinet. Should I have wine? A Mimosa? Moonshine? Ha! Just kidding, although there is a jar of it way back in the back of the cabinet that someone gave us ages ago.

Anyway, I'll be in and out all day. Hope to see you real soon.

**UPDATE: Anybody out there? I've been trying to see if I could find Sweeney Todd online. You would not believe how many people, globally, go out and film the new movies and then upload them to the internet. I've watched many movies where they spoke English and had Japanese subtitles.

Think I'll go make myself a White Russian with vanilla vodka. Doesn't that just sound de-lish?

Christmas Blogging

Jane and I were talking about being without our families on Christmas this year and I thought we could all try to meet up online on Christmas day sometime.

Her kids are way over on the west coast of Canada and she's in the east of Canada, hoping to move out west in the Spring. My daughter is working on Christmas Day, like she did last year. So we decided that if we were home, we'd say hello (comment) to one another.

So if you are around a computer on Christmas Day let's share a beverage of our choice and honor the friendship of our blog friends with comments and shared links.

See you tomorrow. Cheers!

Christmas Cookies for Breakfast

With sheet marks on my face and the "my family tries to hide it" black hat covering my nappy bedhead, I munched on sugar cookies with my coffee this morning.

I couldn't find ANY cookie cutters this year at the house and when I was ready to bake sugar cookies I just used a round biscuit cutter to make them. Not the most elegant batch of sugar cookies. Maybe I should eat 'em all up before anyone else sees them.

What are you eating too much of this holiday season?

Christmas Links

It's A Wonderful Internet! - via: zefrank (who still happens to have some of the best timewasters around)

Holiday-O-Matic - Create a delightfully random holiday greeting.

Breaktime!

I've been traveling today to NC and back. On the road from 7A til 11:30A then and went shopping a bit for more baking supplies. I just made cookie dough for a batch of sugar cookies and am waiting on it to chill.

Mother is making fudge right now. She's sure come a long way in the past two years since I've moved in with her. She was so fragile and sick then. At 85, it's been a hard climb, but she's in great health now; getting stronger every day. I can gauge her progress by the more she participates in daily life. Baking cookies and sending Christmas cards is indeed a good sign.

Here are some cell phone photos of my Christmas Tree. I still have many more ornaments to put on and will take another photo when I get the presents wrapped and finish decorating the tree. I know they're terrible quality, but it's all I have.

Good Morning!

Who's still got Christmas shopping to do?







...me







Don't you just love it when you order a gift and when it arrives they've sent you the wrong size?! It's clearly marked on the invoice what size I ordered, but the tag on the garment indicates a different size. Grrrrrrr. I can't tell you how many times I was on the other side of this conversation when I worked in JCrew customer service. Do they just send another size when they're out of the one you ordered? Or is the item placed in the wrong bin in distribution? Grrrrrrr #2

My Christmas Tree

Hey guys and gals, I'm not real sure how this thing works, but I think you pretend to buy me a gift and it will appear under the tree. Let's try it out!

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family. Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

There's that word, "cheesy" again. Snagged from the delightful Shirl!

Neighborhood Luminaries

Neighborhood Luminaries
Originally uploaded by sujaco.

As my note on Flickr says,

"...we set the bags out at (5P) and as soon as we got them lit the rains came. As I sit here indoors, the bags are now soggy and most all of the candles have been blown out by the wind." :(

But the neighborhood is still festive and has on it's party clothes.

**UPDATED Sunday: We still had a nice crowd of visitors driving around looking at lights. Some people really have nice, elaborate decorations. I have a large wreath, garland with white lights and burgundy bows. And a big old Snowman on the front door that Robin made long ago out of that puffy white quilt filling. Looks pretty good if I say so myself. Going over the mountain later today to spend the night with hubby and see my grandbaby.

This Christmas Tree IS Robin.

Today would have been my sister Robin's 53rd birthday and I've been singing HB to her all day long! She loved for everyone to make a fuss over her on her special day.

It was also the date that she liked to have her Christmas tree up. Now that all of her ornaments and tree have been handed down to me I try to have it up by Dec 13th, but I rarely make it in time.

This year I made it in time.

So the tree is assembled, and I've hung all the lights and put the tree skirt around it and now I have to hang the ornaments she loved so much and took so much care to collect.

This Christmas tree IS Robin.

After a fire in the family home in 1989, along with the insurance settlement to replace the items that were stored in the attic, Robin bought all new Christmas ornaments and became an avid collector of specialty ornaments. Primarily Barbie items. She had oodles of other Barbie items she'd collected and saved from her childhood.

The tree lights are all on those little timers that made them fade in and out, or you can light them up one color at a time, adjust the speed and other fun things. I honestly don't think I've ever seen her as happy as when we were all gathered around the Christmas tree that she so lovingly decorated.

Two months after she passed I was putting up her tree for the first time and I was going through the ornaments and opened one up to find a surprise note from Robin expressing her love to us all. She may as well have been saying "I'm still here. Please don't forget about me!"

I feel extremely close to her this time of year. As soon as the tree comes out of storage I start smiling and don't stop until, well, I always smile each time I think of Robin. "I know you are still here with me and I'll never ever forget about you."

Being Silly, aka Avoiding Work

Okay, okay, that's IT! I've got to get my bottom up from here and finish decorating the Christmas tree.

Light Up This Saturday

Do you have a neighborhood in your area that does the lighting of the luminaries? You know, the votive candles set in sand inside a white bag that line the streets?

Our neighborhood (in Elizabethton, TN) does that every year. Someone collects the money for the candles and bags and delivers them to your door and you put them out on a certain date. You pick up enough sand to use that's in a central neighborhood location. (gotta go do that today!)

This Saturday at 5P, December 15, 2007, until 11P is the day to 'light up'. Cars come from all over the place and drive with their parking lights on only. It's bumper to bumper and the cops come out to direct the traffic. It's really quite a sight. They usually get an aerial photo which is astounding so I hope to find one to post.

With all the Christmas vs Holiday controversy, and with people of all faiths that also live here in our 'hood, I'm a little surprised they named the event "Lights For Jesus" but no one's said anything about it.

Who Wants Eggnog?

When I was a child, I thought that eggnog was the most foul tasting drink around. But I got a little older. And I learned that it wasn't so much the eggnog as it was what you added TO the eggnog.

I picked some up the other day for holiday cheer but what tastes best in the eggnog? Or is it better just like it is?

Eggnog is one thing I never did serve as a bartender, but I believe it goes best with Bourbon in it. But some people I know like to put in Rum. {{{shudder}}}

Ah, "Alcohol and Christmas trees." I could mention that to Robin and she would rattle off a litany of tales involving the both of us and then we'd laugh for hours about it. When Daddy was still living, the Christmas tree always had dozens of gift bottles around it from their friends and fellow workers. There was other gifts, too, they weren't lushes or anything! We though that they wouldn't miss a couple of bottles from all the others, would they? And still later, if we'd snag even more bottles from under the tree before Christmas, we'd refill the bottles of the white liquors back with water. The Rum, Gin, and Vodka.

Of course they found out. That was so long ago and it seems like it's almost another lifetime. From where I was at one point in my live to now being almost a tee-totaler? A little worse for wear, I still thank my lucky stars I survived it all.
Now, who wants eggnog?

**UPDATE** (Dec 12) found some good recipes on Wired.com

Crappy Gift

You Are a Losing Lottery Ticket!

Full of hope and promise. But in the end, a cheap letdown.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

via: Shirl

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Music :: life
2. Insanity :: insane
3. Curtain :: window
4. Nickname :: Sudie
5. Container :: box
6. Roast :: bake
7. Thong :: lingerie
8. Purple :: Haze
9. Holidays :: family
10. Christmas tree :: presents

I drew blanks on some of these and had to think harder to get that first reaction... more caffeine, perhaps?

Tuesday Blogging

My fever has broken this morning. Thank goodness. But I'm still feeling puny. Skyler and the baby are staying thru Thanksgiving. Skyler also has a cold. The baby miraculously doesn't have one. Nor does Mother. Hubby is coming over tomorrow night bringing dessert for the turkey dinner.

I'm glad I picked up the turkey Sunday when I was in town. Mother asked if I wanted to postpone our Thanksgiving dinner until the weekend, but I think I'll feel well enough early Thursday morning to cook. Mother wanted me to have them cut it in half and use the other half at Christmas time but I'd rather have too much turkey than not enough turkey so I brought home all 14 lbs of him in one piece.

Did you know that the Monday after Thanksgiving is Cyber Monday? It's when everyone is back at work after Thanksgiving and they're shopping online. Retailers are promoting sales with free s/h Monday, November 26 so if you're a big online shopper like I am, you'll want to have your shopping list ready.

To Sir, With Love... ? No, wrong Lulu

Lulu is a site I've seen around for years now. Lulu.com lets you publish and sell and print on demand books, e-books, online music, images, custom calendars, and more.

Just upload your manuscript, your photos or your digital files, use their formatting tools to get everything set up just the way you want, from size to binding to cover art, and... well, that's it. You're the proud parent of a brand new digital creation, ready to publish and cherish.

You set your own price, they print and ship each item as it's ordered, and you collect 80% of the creator revenue on every sale. To sell or give as gifts.

So many of you are very talented photographers. Either pros or just as a hobby. On Lulu you can print an nice photo album up for your family (for Christmas gifts?).

What To Do In Asheville

I've been tagged

Rules: answer the questions, tag 5 people and then go off on your travels to their hometowns.

ASHEVILLE, NC

Best place to eat: Tupelo Honey Cafe especially for breakfast, try the sweet potato pancakes with peach butter and pecans --"The whole town loves this spot." --Southern Living; The New York Times describes the interior as "an old fashioned tea room."

Best shopping mall: Downtown on Lex:
Minx Boutique - 64 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-5680,
68 Lexi - 68 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 251-1170;
Hip Replacements - 72 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 255-7573;
Liquid Dragon Art Studio - 66 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 251-2518.
ALSO the best record/cd/vinyl store: Static Age Records 82 N. Lexington Ave. A, Asheville, 254-3232

Famous landmark: The Blue Ridge Parkway meanders 469 miles in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.

Best tourism attraction: Biltmore Estate - Historic landmark built by George Vanderbilt. The estate winery produces red, white, rose and sparkling wines from European grape varieties. Also horseback riding.

Best place for kids: Asheville's Fun Depot - Asheville's only family entertainment center featuring: indoor mini golf, multi-level laser tag, batting cages, climbing wall, soft play area, indoor and outdoor go-carts, bumper cars, the Depot Diner and more.

Popular outdoor activity: Whitewater Rafting at Nantahala Rafting Center. 37 years experience; family, group,& high adventure trips; team building; 5 SE rivers; offering the best whitewater fun in the Asheville area with unparalleled attention to detail on & off the water.

Breathtaking view: Chimney Rock Park - An elevator inside the mountain or a network of trails leads to 75-mile views of the Blue Ridge, 404-foot waterfall and fun animal sculptures. Family and pet friendly. Rock climbing, special events, group activities, dining.

Only found here: Grove Park Inn
It's a majestic stone palace with horse drawn carriages that take your from your car to the front. It has a great spa, world-renowned restaurants (7), bars, golf course. Two fireplaces in the lobby are so large that you can stand up inside of them. My kids have always loved this place especially during Christmas when they have a Gingerbread Baking Contest (2007 competition and displays begin Nov 12).

I should tag 5 people now but since this has been around a bit, I'll leave it open to whoever wants to do it. Just leave me a comment if you also have a list about your hometown.

Boat Dreams

Is everyone back in the groove yet from the weekend? I was especially happy to have spent time with my favorite cousins and it just meant the world to me to see the two of them. We reminisced about childhood memories that usually involved tricking our parents somehow. We spoke of those family members that have passed on, the trials of those still with us, and children and grandchildren and pets and laughed mostly.

We grew up together from the time we were born until I was about 10. There were two houses on the same piece of property that both our families lived on. We later moved, and still visited each Christmas and took trips together and we stayed at Boone Lake on our boathouse.

That boathouse sure was some great fun. I recall when that big old monstrosity was built on our property and thinking how tall it looked, not realizing there's a lot of it that goes under water. If I ever get the chance to buy a houseboat I just may do it and live out my days on some beautiful lake. Watauga Lake in East Tennessee is downright magical.

Do you have a dream scenario on how to live out your days? Hubby would like to sail around the world so we both have "boat" dreams.

Separate dreams. Separate lives.