Monday, November 30, 2009

Ballet

I'm watching the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker on public television as I am typing. It's hard to even look down at the keyboard ocassionally to see if I have made any error while typing without looking. I will leave it as is and let you be the judfe. LOL (The photo is from their web site)

It's a dazzeling performance. I wish I could see it in person. By that I mean in San Francisco. Listening to Tchaikovsky always makes me feel as though Christmas is here. Last year it took me so long to get into the spirit but this year, I'm there already and it's not December until tomorrow. Wow, the costumes. Dancing on toes always amaizes me. LOVE the snow sceen.

Switching from public television to public radio - i just heard an announcement recently that the Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee live broadcast is about to start again. Dec 12th. My mom often comes over on Saturday afternoons early and we listen to it while we wait for Jerry to get off work so we can pick up Marge and the four of us go to dinner.

So, for anyone looking to make a donation this holiday season, I hope you will consider public broadcasting, either television or radio. They have wonderful programs and they are available to everyone.

I Got The Christmas Tree Up

Took a while but we got the tree up. It wanted to lean this year so it was a while, and a couple shims, before I felt comfortable putting my crystal ornaments on the tree.

View with the lights ons. Yes, I still have paint samples on the wall.

Little Miss Merry Christmas. She refused to pose for me. The last two Christmases we have great photos of her but this year may be different unless she changes her attitude.


A close up of the tree and one of my Savorski crystal snowflakes.


And a final close up - not sure why the crystal looks kinda white in the photo.



Sunday, November 29, 2009

Foxy Roxy Updates

Roxy has an adoption application pending! Possible adoptions are bittersweet - happy for the foster and his/her new family but there is a loss when they vacate your house and life. Hers is in the VERY early stages so it is yet to be determined if she is the right dog for this family.

Well, just in case, we had an early Christmas for Miss Roxy. She got a new Puppia & matching leash. Isn't she gorgeous in green?


Look at that body! No ribs or spine showing now. Her fur is so soft - you gotta feel it to believe it.

Chair thief!!!!! When you leave your chair or your spot on the sofa or bed, she's there. If you lean to far forward in your chair, she will fill the gap between your backside and the chair.


I tried to take Christmas photos of the dog with no luck. It turned out to be more of a chew-on-the-camera event :(


Eddie, Roxy, and Daisey. They are just now getting used to her because she's oly recently out of the cage.





Saturday, November 28, 2009

Genocide Feast

Thought I would share from photos from our Thanksgiving get together at my mom's house before talking about "genocide feast".

I got the hard job - whipping the cream for the pie! It was so tiring that my mom did ALL the rest of the cooking ;)

After a brief rest, from whipping the cream, I was able to cream the butter and the brown sugar together to make a topping for the sweet potatoes. Oh, and later I was enlisted to peel potatoes - what an exaughsting day.LOL

My mom had her Christmas decorates in place. Here's Jerry watching football and Eddie watching squirrels.

Then Eddie made his way to my MIL Marge for some pats & scaratches. Daisey was devistated that she was not "the chosen one" this year. We could hear her howling as we got inthe car to leave.

Eddie was so good while we ate. He laid under the table and didn't beg.

Jerry's coworker Joan and her husband Jerry joined us. You can see my mom at the head of the table and Herry's arm at the other end of the table. Let's see, we had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry-mandarin oragne relish, white beans, corn bread, chessy biscuits, orzo, brocolli, tomato & cucumber salad, a chinese salad (brought by Joan and very tasty), and corn we got from the farms last summer.

Eddie got the scraps from everyone's plate. That made him very happy and being the only dog inthe condo, he ate slowly and savored each bite.

When we got home we fed Daisey & Roxy a little leftovers and before long they were all down for a turkey nap!

Now, the genocide feast. On a rat terrier social networking group that I frequent someone used these words to quote what his son's friends call Thanksgiving. The words stuck with me all night after I read them. I am not so sure why this has impacted me but it has. I read an earlier blog post by a friend who was surprized when her preschooler came home with a constructon paper pilgram hat and her friend a paper indiana headdress. Her comment that she was surprized they still do the pilgrim thing in school probably started me thinking and then the genocide comment just added to it. Oh, and there was the PETA ad I heard on NPR about the cruel conditions inw hich turkeys are raised for food.

To be honest this did take a little shine off my Thanksgiving. I've always looked at the celebration as a celebration of friends, family, and the blessings in our lives whether they be good crops, riches, good health, etc. I've hadn't considered any colateral damage. For me, the images of pilgrims, Native Americans, cornucopias,etc. have been more visual representations (much like Santa is for Christmas) and not so much a part of my celebration. It's nice to have something to think about........ and now I have REALLY confused someone from Australia.

Friday, November 27, 2009

I Am Offically Crazy

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We certainly did and I have photos to prove it although I forgot and left my digicamera at my mom's house. I have LOTS more to say about Thanksgiving but I need a little time to formulate my thoughts before posting (you will learn what I mean very soon).

Today I did what I thought only a crazy person would do - I went shopping at 4am. Yup, I got out of bed at 3:20, brushed my teeth & hair, put on sweats, poured a cup coffee into a travel cup and out the door I went. The roads were delightful! There were just enough cars to feel safe in the dark and everyone was parking and walking to the store at about the same time so that felt safe as well.

I quickly discovered that I am an amatuer. The "others" had already figured out exactly what they were going to buy, knew where most of it was located in the store, and went right to the items. When I walked in the doors of the Kohl's store at 4:07, there were already people at the check out (with single, large purchases). Silly me - I hadn't even seen the ad! I believe I may have been the only person in the store browsing. The amaizing part is that at 4am the shoppers had busy cell phones. Who were there people calling & texting? Friends in Europe?!?!?

Apparently I missed the boat on this early shopping in other ways as well. Seems many of the people were talking about having started their adventure at Ellenton (a discount mall about 30 miles away) at midnight, when they opened, and then made their way back in time for the 4am & 5am openings locally. Respecting their experience & shopping wisdom......

I made my couple of small purchases (but all really good deals of course) and drove across the road to the mall where the stores were opening at 5am. I got there before 5am hoping to sip the remainder of my coffee but JC Penny's was already open so I kept moving while I had the shopping momentum going. Next, I went to Macy's which I was looking forward to and had scanned their ad but bought nothing. Then to Game Stop for an advertised items, and finally the Pièce de résistance, Target, where I bought nothing. They had some excellent values but the one thing I wanted from the ad was already sold out.

I decided to call it a morning, went thrugh McD's for an Egg McMuffin, and was back in the house at 6:23am. On a normal day, I couldn't travel between those stores that quickly simply due to traffic on the road, much less the volume of people. All in all, I would say it was a good experience and I would do it again just for the peace, quiet, and good parking spots! (Note to self: really study those ads and get organized next time :)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Dad's Out of Hospital

Thanks to everyone who kept him in their thoughts and prayers. He's had another stroke, poor guy. I can hardly wait for 2010 because 2009 hasn't been so hot for my dad.

Since Eddie & my dad are bonded, I will share new photos of Eddie and the giant BoBo I bought for him at Walgreens. I believe it lasted about 30 minutes, LOL.








Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Quick Supper a.k.a. Move Over Rachel Ray!

Thought I would post this Sloppy Joe tutorial because it's an easy, quick, and tasty dinner after a long work day. Also, nice and hearty for a winter meal. I often forget about this meal when I am trying to come up with something that I can make quickly.

I'm using ground turkey, tomato paste, and chopped onions, bell peppers, and celery that you can buy already chopped up because I've misplaced my snorkel mask. Plus, it makes it faster for a work night. Oh, and I also bought the sloppy joe spices in a package in the spice aisle. All very convenient and inexpensive.

I like to sweat the veggies to get some of the moisture out and to make them more mellow in the sandwiches. Then I let them sit while I do everything else.

Brown the turkey and add water (as per the spice package instructions) which helps to keep from sticking since I don't use any cooking oils in my non-stick Calphelon.

Here's everything before the final mixup and simmer. I believe it's supposed to cook for 15 - 20 minutes. The aroma is divine.

Dinner is served! Change out of your white blouse or wear a bib because they are messy but yummy;) Oh, and let me know if this post motivates you to make Sloppy Joes this week, LOL.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Home Show

Last weekend Jerry & I attended a home show held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The "trop" is home to the Tampa Bay Rays that went to the world series last year (but lost to Philadelphia :).

I thought these Christmas-themed balloons decorations were really cool and creative. First was a GIANT wreath.

Then there were two balloon toy soldiers flanking the entrance to the field where the vendors set up.


Sunday, November 15, 2009

Green Thumb Sunday

I haven't worked in my yard much lately and frankly, it is out of control. Everyone calls it my "jungle". Hopefully I will spend the day working on my backyard. I did meander to the screenporch the other day to water orchids and took some cutting.


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day

Ny veteran & I are taking it easy today, napping & snacking. We can both use the down time. The TV has been on all day as we doze in and out. He's watching the movie Patton right now, fitting. Jerry did put the flags out this morning when he picked up the paper. Many people don't realize he served in the Army in Vietnam. My Dad is Korea veteran. Thank you both!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Sleepy Saturday

There is much that I wanted to do today but I am pooped. I would take a nap but I don't want to miss my radio show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" on NPR at 11:00. I miss it far too often because I seem to be busy at 11am on a typical Saturday ;) The reason I am so tired - a midnight possom "event".

I didn't have an opportunity to take photos to share but here is what happened:
  • Awakened about midnight by Daisey's alarm bark which goes something like this: woo woo woo woo woo
  • As I made my way to the glass door to see into the backyard, I could hear much commotion in the foliage, turned on the outside light, and saw something on the patio with the rat terriers jumping around and at it
  • Went flying out in fear that it was a possom and it might bite them
  • The animal ran back into the foliage followed by two rat terriers
  • Eddie brings it back out and Daisey stops it from running away as Eddie noses or bites it
  • Grabbed flashlight and saw that it was a possom, now playing dead, but it had some serious gashes on it
  • We finally got the dogs in the house
  • Looked out a few mintues later and it was gone somewhere
  • Went back to bed with the dog door closed
  • Eddie sits on end of bed on alert while Daisey paces back and forth between dog door and bedroom
  • Fall asleep but many, many times during the night hear the rats at the dog door trying to get out and they jumped on and off the bed all night long
  • Ratties are napping and I am tired this morning but need to get things done today

Friday, November 6, 2009

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

My Dad's Birthday



Dad with his birthday loot

Blowing out the candles

Jerry helping dad

He liked the tower of sweets

My step sister Samantha on the left and my nephew Andrew and his girlfriend on the right

Can you guess how old he is? LOL

Jerry on the left, stepbrother Terrell in the middle, and stepsister Samantha on the right. Dad in the forground wearing his Korea veteran hat that I bought him in Branson.

A terrible photo of Terrell's wife Phyllis but it is the only photo I got of her. We graduated high school together. She was sick that day but came for Dad.

My stepsister Reba

Dad loves his Razorbacks!



Yummy..........

Me after a very long day of traveling to Arkansas and shopping.