HAPPY NEW YEARS

Well this is definitely a beautiful day despite the fog and cold. I have to admit that I am looking forward to the new year. Despite some obstacles as we all have, the year is now heading to an end and a new day will dawn bringing us all a new year and high hopes of completing all our goals for the year. I' ve already posted what some of my plans are, but I did want to share what my/our accomplishments were for this year or at least a small portion. :

January: We completed working and remodeling our bedroom
One of my poems was published in the Song of San Joaquin (Alice and Betty)
February: Listed our home in San Jose for sale
March: Read Citizen Kane
April: Pantry room closet shelved and completed for goods
May: Celebrated my mom's 86th. birthday (a real accomplishment, long live mama)
June: All our check-ups were okay
July: Planted 10 fruit trees
August: Finally able to listen to music again
Clothes line area cemented and completed
September: I read Laurie Kings, To Play The Fool
Laid stepping stones in Chorizo's garden

October: Chorizo's sign picked up and hung outside
Celebrated Chorizo's life
November: Celebrated Dia de Los Muertos in honor of my loved ones that are gone.
Paid off all bills this month. Yahoo!!!!
December: Applied for graduation
Learned about Henry The 5th.
Got to celebrate another Christmas with my mother.

So much more we've done and let me not forget all the wonderful people I have met here on this island of bloggers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVERYONE
AND MAY YOUR DAYS AHEAD BE
FILLED WITH JOY AND
HAPPINESS.
VIVA LA VIDA

Welcoming The New Year With My 200th. Post and ALL the Wonderful Bloggers in Bloglandia.

Wahooooo, 200th post. I am looking forward to next year. Reflecting on 2008 and I find that I have grown, not only in spirit but in how I carry myself now. I'm surprised that I did last on this blog, because last time around, I just got bored and felt it took too much of my time. I do want to say thank you to everyone on bloglandia who was so kind and considerate to me. I truly appreciated all your comments, and really enjoyed visiting your blogs. May your year ahead be filled with health, wealth, happiness, and the spirit of living.

I don't want to spend the time carrying on about what I have done this past year, instead I want to plan for next year like I always do.

MAKING MY LIST.
It's definitely not a Christmas list since that is past, but a TO DO LIST that I carry out each year. I now have plenty of time to gab with my fingers like I am now. This is part of my to do list and there will be more as I go through the year I will add and subtract what is done.

1. Make Dr. Appts.
2. Dental Appts.
3. Exercise 5 days a week
4. Walk 3/4 times a week
5. Prepare healthy meals and eat in moderation
6. Save more
7. Get house in San Jose sold, even if I have to do it
8. Sky light needs replacing-(husband or professional to do it)
9. Have Tree cutters chop down front tree (too big, root problems)
10. Re-do bathroom (husband)
11. Start new herb garden
12. Put together little red wagon (plants will sit in it outside)
13. New shed to be installed in back (husband)
14. Organize Studio
15. Be kinder to all
16. Give to shelter's
17. Listen attentively
18. When I visit a blog, always leave a comment :) (see, I thought about you)

I am sure there will be more and I will add to my list as I go along the path of 2009.

OF ALL THE POSTS I DID THIS YEAR, THERE IS NO OTHER THAN THE ONE LISTED BELOW THAT TRULY MEANT THE WORLD TO ME.

DIA de BLOGLANDIA for my family


One of my personal goals for this year is to learn to use my new sewing machine and make aprons. I can hardly wait. Again HAPPY NEW YEARS AND BE WELL. Viva La Vida

The Latest Embedded Comments Section Isn't Working Properly

The new embedded comment form doesn't work for all blogs.
The help update on blogger says:
We think that the embedded comment form is a big improvement, so we’ve made it the default setting for all new blogs. Happy commenting!
Update, 10/23: We regret that this feature is being enabled for some existing blogs that didn’t specifically enable it. We are working to undo that, but in the meantime if you see this on your blog and don’t want it, go to Settings > Commenting and change Comment Form Placement to either “Full page” or “Pop-up window.”
posted by taj at 5:12 PM (END HELP UPDATE)

The unfortunate things with this embedding is that we can't leave post on other blogs that are using it. I tried it when it first came out, and tried commenting on my own blog to see if it worked and it didn't. So I went back to the POP-UP WINDOW. http://www.mexicobob.blogspot.com/ also tried using it and it didn't work for him as well. Now http://theresainmerida.blogspot.com/ is using it and I can't leave comments. There are a few others that have changed to the embedded form and the same applies to their blogs. I hope they let us know how we can fix this problem because I'm going to miss posting on some of the blogs I patronize.

Anyone else having this problem? I'll stick to my pop-up until the problem is fixed.

Oh well, it could be worse.

PS: I left myself some comments with the embedded comments section and it didn't work. Only the comments with the pop-up worked.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be An Old Woman

My friend Carmen over at http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/2008/12/thrive.html
had this on her blog and I just had to post it because I love this commercial. I love the lady who is dancing on the football field. She is so full of energy and life. We women have to want to grow old and be the women of a lifetime. How energizing this makes me feel.
So I'm going around singing, "When I grow up I want to be an old woman." I then realize that I am an old woman. But I still feel good about this. I don't feel it, I don't look it, and I don't think it. Please paste this video on your blogs ladies and lets remind each other to get our yearly check-up, MAMMOGRAM. So all you women bloggers and maybe even men, get out there this coming year and make that appointment for the yearly machine to squash those boobs. No offense now.:) I had mine done this past May and I will make the appointment in April for the May appt. check-up.
I'm looking forward to the new year with an increased appetite for life. I think it is because I've shared so much this past year. I started blogging back in 2006, stopped for some time, came back and blogged a little, then deleted my blog and then came back again and I'm here to stay. I really enjoy this kind of refreshing let it all hang out kind of thing and I am a better person for it.

So please join me in making our yearly appointments this coming new year.
On another note: I just ate some of my bread pudding and it was simply magnifico. I am almost at my 200Th post. Yahoo!!! Be back later.
Viva La Vida.

Nice Day Today

I just wanted to say hi and tell you that we had a great Christmas at my mom's. If there is one thing I am thankful for is that I still have her. We don't do the stores the day after Xmas because of the crowds, so we are spending time at home. My husband is building a workbench for his area and cutting up some board for me.

I just made bread pudding and it came out delish. We had lots of breads left over and hey, why not. I did Giada's recipe. We have a lot of ham, tamales, prime rib and there is no way it can sit in the frig for long period of time, so I am freezing most of it in baggies.

I'm cooking beans with the ham bone and I tossed in the long green chili's, anaheim I believe.

Well we are starting out the new year without bills and I want to keep it that way. There are things we want to buy this year, but it will be in cash. It feels good to know we have no bills other than the usual. Yay!!

Short post because I have some syrup cooking on the stove to spoon over the bread pudding. Its brown sugar with a little molasses and water.

Be back later and I hope that everyone in bloggerland had a wonderful Christmas.

YOUR MY KIND OF PEOPLE.

viva la vida.

Christmas Eve and we just got home

Well we had a great time visiting friends today. We came home early because we're up and adam first thing in the morning to leave for San Jose. I meant to take my camera and I plum forgot about it. That happens when you're in a hurry.

It was a small group of us who usually hang together, so to speak. We just ate and gabbed and talked about next year. Someone opened a bubbly and I drank two and I mean two glasses of Spumante. I think that's how it's spelled. So we ate taco's, a piece of ham and she just made too much stuff. The usual rice and salads, even those egg things...I can't think of their name, because I rarely make them. Oh yeah, deviled eggs. They were good. I was looking at a small table with all kinds of sweets and brother I was hoping I wouldn't get to those, but I did. This year we all promised we wouldn't exchange gifts. What we did was buy different canned items and made a food basket. We filled it to the brim with lots of stuff and someone is going to be very happy.

I've gotten things ready to take with us tomorrow and of course I have to get Chocolatte's stuff ready. I usually pack her little bag with a few snacks, wipes for her face, her blanket and one of her babies. I always take her bowl and a bottle of water in case she gets thirsty. Notice how I refer to Chocolatte as a child and actually, she is still a baby, and she is our family. I think that one has to be a dog lover in order to understand that. She is our baby. So it's down for the count and Santa will be here at midnight. I plan on being snug in bed when that time approaches.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas. Ta Ta
Viva La Vida

Outside and Working

Front side filled with leaves

same only closer to the front

Leaves all over the front yard. We have a huge tree that provides lots of shade in summer.

but as you can see, lots of leaves to rake up when fall rolls aroung. We use the leaves for mulch.

Well we got all the leaves off the grass or whats left of the grass. The frost has been mean.

My banana tree got it, but it will be back come spring. They are hardy trees.

Looks a lot better and those leaves will go into the compost pile and be ready for use in spring.

So....it's not Christmas yet so there is work to be done outside. I'm leaving my linen closet till after the new year. It's Tuesday, my husband is on vacation, and he's is outside getting ready to rake the piles of leaves we have accumulated out in front and in back. Oh he is not doing it by himself, I will be there along side him to help.

This morning he had to rush back to work because he forgot to sign out his time card in order to be paid for the holidays and vacation time. While he went, I cooked breakfast because I know that work awaits us outside. I have to admit, one of my knees feels like a ton of bricks and it aches, but being the good esposa that I am, I will of my time help thy esposo.

You ought to see the leaves, in fact....I'm back....Well it's 1:21 pm and I've been outside raking and shoveling leaves and taking pictures to share with you. I came back in because my knees were about to give out on me. I pretty much helped with everything. All we need to do is water it down. I think I will rest now because I am tired. So there you go, work never stops, even on the Christmas Holidays. I'll be back later, I didn't get a chance to go around to all my favorite blogs and do the wish things. Viva La Vida

Chocolatte' all of ONE YEAR/ ONE MONTH

Chocolatte' howling. She hears me make howling sounds and she does the same.

She's pretending to ignore me when all the while she knows I want to take a picture of her.

She looks at me and semi-closes her eyes to avoid the flash. She's pretty smart.

She's waiting for her daddy to come home from work. She always has a sad look on her face. When she looks like that it reminds me of Chorizo, my other baby.

She went to the groomer's today but pulled the little ribbons off her ears. She smells extraordinaire. She got a new sweater to wear to her Grandmother's (my mom) for Christmas.

She really looks a lot bigger than she is since she only weighs about 10 pounds or so. She is a small breed of Chihuahua/Poodle-ChiPoo as they are known. She's very easy to care for and she is fully grown now so I will always be able to hold her in my arms. Chorizo got so big I could not pick her up and I sure did miss that closeness with her. But we made up for it, because Chorizo would always snuggle next to me on the couch. I'm still having a hard time with her loss, but this little critter has already worked her way into my heart as well. They say chihuahua's have tempers and I am beginning to see that side of her now. She learns fast but she will only do what she has to do when she wants.

Last minute stuff

Well I'm done with the baking and any and all other things I was supposed to do to take that 1 1/2 hour drive on Thursday. We were planning on leaving on Wednesday but we've got some friends that are having a get together on Christmas Eve and we decided to that and leave early Thursday morning.

I hope it isn't raining because I get really nervous in the rain. I spent this morning doing last minute things. I'm doing a food basket for a relative and I stocked up the basket with different canned meats like spam, corned beef, stew, potted meat, rice, beans, tomato sauce, and a lot of other things that make up a food basket. I think in these time we are all grateful for the littler things. I would love to get a food basket. That would be neat.

I took Chocolatte' and dropped her off about 10 am to get groomed, she's going with us to San Jose and needs to be spotless in my mom's home. My mom keeps a verrrrrrry clean house. My dogs are the only ones she has ever let in her home. When Chorizo was alive, she always went with us to my mom's. Chorizo behaved so well and just took her usual place when she got there, in front of the fireplace. Mom always had water and food for her. She does the same for Chocolatte', but Chocolatte' is just getting to know her and doesn't completely trust her as of yet.

There are no pix today because I'm too lazy to take them of the nice clean chocolatte,' but I guarantee you that she looks picture perfect with her two little bows in place. After I dropped her off, I went to Kohl's and got my mom a gift card and a couple of little things. She is going to be angry because she distinctly said there were to be no presents this year. She says that every year though, and then always has something under the tree.

Today is my esposo's last day of work. He's off until Jan 2, 2009. The day after New Years, he goes back to work. We then start off our year, each of us with hopes and dreams of doing new things and completing old things, like selling the house in San Jose. It's been on the market for 1 year already and

Later this evening I am going to make my rounds to all the blogs I visit and wish everyone happy holidays. I know I won't be posting anything after tomorrow morning. So I just want to be sure they hear it from the blogger's mouth, me. :)) Be happy and Viva La Vida.

Happy Holidays Everyone

Yesterday I started to do a post on my linen closet and then after seeing how my linen closet looked on the blog, I quickly deleted it. I changed my mind about that mess being on my blog. No thank you, I thought. How embarrassing. So I decided to just take everything out of the linen closet and put back nicely. When I am done, I will upload pix for those who saw how messy my linen closet was. It won't be till after the holidays because I've still got cookies to bake and other things to do.

We will be gone for the holiday and will be back in a couple of days. Our families are in San Jose, so that's where we are headed this week. I guess everyone does their own thing and I do hope everyone has a great time .

I think that once the 31st rolls around, I am going to sit at my table and write down all the things I will do this coming 2009. As I do them, I will check them off. That's the only way I can do things, is if I write them down. Take care this holiday season and be well. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Free Giveaway From Danita

Danita of: http://blog.danitaart.com/

is having a free giveaway. Danita is going to be featured in an upcoming issue of STUFFED. If you get a chance, stop by her blog before December 31st. and enter her contest. The special edition in the magazine is out on January 1st. She is so excited about being selected that she is giving an original doll as a giveaway.

Stop by her blog and enter before December 31st. and you might get lucky.

Show and Tell Friday posted on Saturday

Stop by http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/ for other Show and Tell's.
Just click on the link above and there you go.


Yes, I forgot about Show and Tell Friday but sometimes I do it on off days as well. So I've been in my studio on and off since class let out and this is my latest. I found this unfinished painting at the back of some of my other canvases and took a picture of it. I had started on this canvas a while back and just let it sit for I don't know how long, so it needs a lot of TLC and more depth. I have a problem with depth, though. Since I have never had an art class, I could use some lessons on depth. What is good about the Internet is that all these hints and ideas can be gotten from here. Oh, the teapot you see next to the painting is what I make and sell during spring and summer months. It has pegs to hang your kitchen towels. I've bought the wood to start making the teapots as well as Christmas ornaments for next year. Sorry about the reflections on the painting. I'm going to work on it today and try to fill in the background. I haven't titled it yet.


I hope you all are enjoying your Christmas holidays. I'm going to stay at home today and enjoy my studio. I have to put the heater on in there because it's an icebox without heat. Maybe I'll get a little two burner electric one that they sell in hardware stores. I thought I saw one on sale not too long ago and if I'm not mistaken, it was at Walmart. I have a small frig, coffee pot, kitchen sink, cupboards, and all that stuff. If I ever get angry at esposo I can go and lock myself in there and I'll have food, cafecito's, water....but no bathroom. Oh well, guess I can't get angry. I think we had our disagreement for the year already. We rarely have disagreements. We're the perfect couple......(hmm):))

I've still got oranges so I am going to zest some peel and make some cookies with orange and lemon zest later this afternoon. I wish I had a little stove in the studio. Be back later alligator.

Viva La Vida

Staying in bed till noon or so

And that's just what I did. I just went back to bed after making my husband's lunch and cafecito. I grabbed a cafecito after he left, and took it back to bed with me. For some reason I apologized to my esposo saying, I'm sorry but I'm going back to bed. I don't know why, but I almost felt guilty about going back to bed. He was sweet about it and said to take chocolatte with me, (my doggie) and I did.

I didn't think I was going to fall asleep, but I did. I drank my coffee, watched a little news, cuddled up with chocolatte' and fell asleep. When I woke I was just even more tired. I have never slept so late. In fact I have never slept that late in all my years. I don't ever remember getting out of bed at noon. Wow. That's a new one for me and now that I know I can do that, I'll do it more often:))

Being as I don't normally sleep late, my mind just went into fantasy land, and I found myself as Sleeping Beauty. Of course when I woke it wasn't the prince, it was chocolatte' licking me on my cheek to let me know it was time to get up. Oh well so much for dancing in the forest, birds flying overhead, and being in a castle sleeping soundly. And if you believe that....................:):) Oh well it's fun dreaming. Viva La Sleep.

It Is Almost Time To Say 2009

Today is Thursday, December 18, 2008 and these are my thoughts.

Who would ever believe that this coming year would be here. I can remember 1999, but I couldn't even think of the year 2000, because it seemed unreal, and yet here we are living in this day and age. Despite all that has gone on, is going on, will go on, we are definitely lucky to be living in this time, but what will 2009 bring us? None of us will be here when the year 3000 comes around, and we can't even begin to see what it will be like then. Can you imagine the year 2999. Oh my word. We will be long gone as well as millions of others we will never know. It is just mind boggling. People, people, people.

Is that not surreal? Thinking about what it will be like then, and how "they," the people then will look at us and how we were. I would be afraid to see what is going on in this world then. I wonder if this world will exist by then. So many question, no answers. Maybe we will annihilate ourselves like they did in that movie with Charlton Heston, Planet of the apes. I think about this from time to time. Who knows what the world holds for us....................................................

Brrrrrrrrr...29 degrees

It's bone chilling outside and my bones are going to be hurting when I step outside to take care of business. I wasn't planning on going anywhere but there's mail to be mailed, groceries to be shopped, and oranges to be dropped off. I hope everyone is staying warm. I found some old thermals and they are snug up against me. Of course I'm not going outside in thermals alone. I wish I had wool pants or something different than jeans and stuff. I'll find something. I still have to warm up my car and it will be a lot warmer in my car than in my home. Remember my heater don't work and we use an electrical heater and brother is the bill going to be high next time around. Standing rib roasts are on sale right now at the grocer's so I am getting a couple. One for Christmas and one for later on. Hey I hope all is well with everyone. I'm all ready for Christmas and hope you are too. I'll be back later to catch up on post's and stuff. Drink a nice hot cup of chocolate for me please or a "cafecito." (coffee) That word cafecito has become my favorite word for 2008. I love it because it is so endearing. Un cafecito.



Hey check out pictures of Doris Day and Bing Crosby. It's nice to see them again.
Viva La Vida

Santa Scares Them

All these children are crying when they sit on Santa's lap. It's so funny.

THE TAMALE LIVES

So I took pictures but unfortunately they are not in order. I don't think you'll be able to click on them to get a large image because I moved them from their original position. Sorry.

Masa at the top, spread on the husk, cooked meat spooned on, and the husks were tied with strips of husk. Sometimes I use those tie things. They work pretty good. So for the tamales that are getting frozen, I wrapped them in wax paper and then aluminum foil and when I was done making about 4 dozen, I wrapped the chicken in more foil and the pork in more foil and then in large baggies and stuck them all in the freezer for cooking on Christmas Eve. I kept about a dozen and cooked them for dinner. As you can see, I couldn't wait, I had to break into one of those and they were delish. I liked the chicken better than the pork. Yes, I had two....Bite me!

What I didn't like about the tamales is that they did not have a very hot taste. I normally like to make the meat with habanero, but everyone in the family is chicken of habanero. Me and my esposo love it. That's okay, there's always another time. They were delish!! Oh it's almost dinner....hehehehe. So there's the picture of my day.

I shall return.

Viva La Tamale!

P.S. I checked the pix and you can click on them to make them larger if you so desire. I moved them around so I was under the assumption they wouldn't enlarge, now who told me that? I forgot. :)

Time For A Break

Can you believe I've been working all night....No, not really. But I have been all morning and just got done about an hour or so ago and now I'm cooking dinner. Does it ever stop?? No, we do what we have to do.



That's okay though, because I am steaming some of the tamales I made earlier and the rest are in the freezer (uncooked) till Christmas Eve. I kept a dozen or so and like I said they are steaming. I'll make some rice of course and maybe just a salad. I don't feel like beans.



It's been a tiring day, but I still have other things to do, like make the bed. It's still unmade?? Huh? I never do that, I always make the bed early. I guess I got carried away with the spreading of the masa on the husks. "Embrarrando," as it's called. Hah, I got it right this time. I will be back later with some pix of the job well done and over with. I didn't take too many, just enough to make you want to make some tamales.

It's very cold and I have had my stove on all day. My windows are steamed from the tamales I'm steaming for dinner and the oven has been on to keep warm. Our heater don't work right and this is an older home, so you know how that goes. Take care people.

Viva La vida

A Little At A Time Gets The Job Done

The chicken and the pork are cooked and settled in their individual containers. I have all the chili's soaking and will let them soak overnight. What I have found with husks and it may be weird to some people, but I have taken my husks, tossed them into hot boiling water and let them get soft on simmer. I then take them off the stove, use my tongs to pull them out and take the hair out of them and give them a rinse with the same water they simmered in.

I know its strange to do it that way, but to me it is easier than putting them in a pot with hot water in the sink and putting a plate over them to hold them down. Its faster for me doing it in the above mentioned way. Lets just say, tricks of the trade:)

I could have just bought the masa but I rather make it myself....I think I said that already.

Anyways, my work is done for today and it is a cold 30 or so degrees and I am going to jump into bed, because this computer room is so cold in here. I've a few things to do online before I hit the rack like they say. It's so chili today, hot tamale...as BobMrotek says.

I didn't do much in the studio today because I was out and about buying what I needed and then once home I got stuck inside doing work, not fun work, but work.
Tomorrow my friend will come over and we'll have coffee, finish off the chocolate cake I made, and then start "embarando." I think that's the way its spelled. Well it means to spread the masa on the husks. I don't like the way it sounds.

Hasta La Vista, I'll Be Back----viva la vida

Good Hot Tamales

The video is a little different than mine, but it's still making tamales time.
It's really cold right now, but I've taken care of all duties outside of home, so I can concentrate on my baking and other things. I've got a few chickens, a couple of pork roasts on the stove right now. I'm making the meat ahead of time so that I won't be rushing next week.

I'm making chicken tamales and pork tamales. I normally make my tamales HOT, because that's the way my esposo and I like them, but since there will be other's eating them, I have to cut back on the chili. Darn!! I'll make my masa tonight and refrigerate it. Once the meat is done I will let it cool off. In the meantime I've gotten my California chili's and Pasilla's softened and what I do is grind them all in my blender. I have a large pot with some oil in it and then I run the chili through a sieve into the hot oil. I add chicken broth and some water, salt, pepper,garlic, cumin, and other herbs and just let it simmer slowly.

Once the chicken is cooled, I shred it and the pork. I split the sauce in two pans and add the chicken to one and the pork to the other. I just lower the heat and let it simmer to get the chili taste.Once the meat has the chili taste, I store in refrigerator. That's it for now. I've gone ahead and taken the masa out of the refrig to get at room temperature and if it needs some chicken broth to soften it up a bit, I add just enough for it to be spreadable. My good friend is coming over tomorrow morning and we will spread the masa on the husks, add the meats, olives, fold the husks over and stored in aluminum foil and bagged in baggies. They won't be cooked until Christmas Eve. For now they go in the freezer uncooked. I do stress uncooked.

On Christmas Eve I take the tamales out of the freezer early morning and get my steamer's out. They'll cook, and I can transport them the next day to my mom's in San Jose. We'll just re-warm them. We do this about every other year. Next year, it's someone else's turn. I'll still make tamales but not so many. Hey, have a good one, I'm off to have a glass of wine and bake some potatoes to go with the small culotte steaks we are having for dinner. Take care, be back later.

Feelings From The Past Ignited

Me peeking at you and look at my white hair. I haven't colored it.

So anyway, I was in the studio for a few hours today. I went over some of my past paintings and drawings and then worked on one that I am having problems with. I looked over my old drawings in my book and wanted to share some of my other "past" drawings. I feel as if that were someone else who drew the drawings. I seem to have walked out of that person who once was.

I have to believe that it has to do with the losses of my loved ones. I want to get that person back but I don't think I'll be able to get that particular "Gloria" back, but I'm okay with the me that I am right now. I can't say that it could be a lot worse, because I think I went through the worse that any mother can go through, but I'm still alive and I have hope. It's getting better because at least I am now able to start slowly doing the things I love to do.

On another note, look at my white hair up there. Can you believe that? I have not put color on my hair for about 6 month and I think I will let it go a little longer to see what it looks like.

Time For Creativity

I've replied to my comments section, but I haven't had time to read any new posts. I will do that this afternoon. Right now I have picked up the house a l ittle and am getting ready to head outside to the studio.

I went ahead and turned on the heater out there in that cold and dampy studio, so it will be warm when I make my way over there. Hopefully I will complete something out there.

I'll be back later. Have a great Sunday!

Easy Dinner Again, Getting Lazy

Hamburger meat with potatoes and string beans.
I've been cooking lazy lately.
A piece of chocolate cake. That was dinner.
Hmmmmm. Doesn't sound appetizing.
I just haven't felt like cooking because
I end up eating and I don't need to eat, too much that is.
I've got to lose some pounds and I think
I better hurry and go back to Curves.

I put my time on hold because I don't plan on going
back till January 2, 2009, but I'm beginning to wonder
if I should just go back now. If I do though, I won't be
able to get a lot of things done. I'll ponder this.
I went out to the studio after dinner and it was so cold
in that studio and I don't want to turn on that electric
heater because our bill will skyrocket, so I high-tailed
it out of there after paint spraying a gift I am working on.

Tomorrow is another day. The sun will rise and a
new day will dawn. How beautiful is that.
We can always look to another day.
May I be blessed tomorrow with energy. The
more I type on my blog, the more I think of it
as my journal in a roundabout way. I wonder if
other blogger's look at it that way. Do you?

I will go now and it is still early so I may be back
May the heavenly spirits be with you.
I now go to make myself some chocolate.
The Mexican type with cinnamon. Buenas noches.
When I think and type like this, I label
it "Nada Stuff." I'm actually just trying
to keep up with my posts of 1 or 2 a day
to make that 200 mark by Dec. 31. So much
ado about nothing.

Saturday In The Park

I like Chicago and this song especially. It is Saturday after all. I did go to the art store and picked up a few paints, metallics, brushes and hope to start utilizing them very soon. Have a great Sunday, before I forget. It was a long Saturday actually, my esposo worked. Soon he will have another 8 or so days off. I pretty much shopped, cleaned house, watched cooking shows, painted a little and I do mean little and other odds and ends. My girlfriend came down for a few. Had coffee and some cookies I had baked. Tonight I made a chocolate cake, I just have to frost it. Be back later.

Shopping for me tomorrow

Tomorrow I plan on going to art supply stores. I ran across this video that was using a mist called Memories Mist Paint and I just have to find it. It's just a spray with color and it is so easy to use. The artist using it was spraying labels, sort of packing labels and they came out really colorful. I have to try that. Looks like fun and the labels can be given away as presents.

So I'm headed to Michael's, Artel, and a few other art stores. I know they don't have that at Walmart....but you never know, so I will stop there first. Also Aaron's, they really have a big supply of artist supplies. I also need a very fine brush for eye/lips work and some metallic spray. Oh my, I am loving this. Get to plan for myself. Haven't been able to do this in a loooooong time.

So for now I will go put my pj's on and turn on the heat for a little while. Nothing good on tv so I just might come back here or maybe just doodle in my journal. It's too cold to go out to the garage and into the studio, although there is a heater in there. I'll wait till tomorrow. Now I feel better, having read my thoughts and by the way, we can now download our blogs into a back-up disk of which I just bought for pictures. I am going to back my blog up every so often because after all it is like a journal, don't you think?

Viva La Vida!

Looks okay, so far.

So I spent an hour or so in the studio working on a small painting. It's starting to look a little better. I made the mistake of putting glitter on it and ruined it. So it looks like I may have to scrape it off somehow and repaint. My first real day without having to read or study and it feels good.

I have a lot of oranges I am taking to a senior center that is down the street. I usually take oranges to them. When I go drop off oranges, they call me the "orange lady." When I drop off tomatoes, they call me the "tomato lady." It's weird because when I go take goodies to them and put them on the table at the front, they all get up slowly and walk towards what I brought to them. Sometimes when I see them walking like that, I feel strange. I wonder how long it will be before I am like that.

Probably not too long, since I have problems with my knees.

So there is what I am working on right now. It's not shabby for not having painted for a few years. So for now I will leave it at that. Tonight is easy night....tomato soup and grilled cheese. That's pretty much it. Be back later and have a good Friday evening.

TIME FROM THE PAST, SHOW AND TELL 9

I haven't been able to really think on what I wanted to show for Show and Tell and actually this will probably be my last show and tell. From time to time I may post some things for show and tell, but I now have to devote my time to baking, cooking, and painting. Oh I will still post at least twice a day because it's fun. The pictures of these watches are not very good, sorry. One is a Mickey Mouse watch that I have had for many moons. It's isn't really worth much because I have changed the wrist band and it isn't working, although it can be fixed. The other is a watch that my Grandmother had from the 50's, it too doesn't run, but can be fixed. I somehow ended up with it and I'm happy about that. Hope everyone has a great Friday and weekend. I shall return.

Viva La Vida!

Saturday Night Fever

Now this was a winner back in the late 70's or so and really started things moving. It really was a time full of energy. I guess it is every 10 years or so that we have something that really sets the stage. In the 50's it was rock and roll and Elvis Presley, in the 60's it was the Beatles, in the 70's it was the Fever, in the 80's ...hmmmm I forgot what it was in the 80's. In any event it's about every decade we get something that takes us for a ride. I wonder what comes next. So ladies and gentlemen... if you wish, kick back and watch John move that move.

Yay, it's over!!

Last day of class and I'm ready for it. After that my time is my own. I can breathe again. I'm leaving in a few to tackle what I am supposed to have learned this past semester.
I'm just glad it is over. Be back later. Sorry about that video with the loud music underneath this post. :( Have a great day.

Christmas Lights To Sound

We have a couple of house like this here in town, how can they afford the cost?

What Christmas Is All About

Even Linus knows what Christmas is all about.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

NICE VIDEO

Ricky Nelson....So Long Ago

Once upon a time Rickey was here. I find it so unusual to see videos in b/w. It actually takes me back to my days.

Mermaids for the world and for Carmen

This video is dedicated to Carmen at http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/ She so picked me up this morning with her post. If you get a chance, head over there and read her latest post of young children singing. It made my day and just perked me up. You go Carmen, Miss Mermaid Musings. Viva La Vida and the Mermaids too.

I Am Your Strawberry

In a bowl with milk and sugar is where you'll find me at Gloria's house. Her father planted row after row of strawberries and everyone waited for them, especially Gloria. She couldn't wait to help pick them, sort them, and then wash them in the kitchen sink with her mouth watering. She wouldn't eat one until they were in that bowl with milk and sugar. Her daddy would drop the strawberries in a huge bowl, add the sugar, and pour in the milk. It was a slow motion process watching those strawberries hit the bowl and the milk splashing against the bowl. Gloria lived happily thereafter with her strawberries and milk and the memories of her father Joseph.

Much ado about nothing except people shopping like crazy.

So here I was driving to do a small amount of shopping, not for presents as we don't do that. We decided last year to give gift cards for a convenient grocery store. Our family is down in size, and I do mean down, so we have but a few gift cards to give. They can be counted on one hand. Food is a good thing to give and with a gift card for groceries, you can't go wrong.

Any way I didn't get to leave as early as I wanted, so by the time I got on the road, it was already 10:00 am or so and don't usually shop these hours. My grocery shopping is done about 8 a.m. or so to avoid crowds and the pushing. So anyway, we're supposed to be in hard times and boy was I wrong. Traffic was congested trying to get to Walmart and once there, parking was nowhere to be found. I finally parked and went inside after viewing people coming out with baskets full of stuff.

I thought we were poor? What happened to the recession? People had tons of toys in baskets, others had TV's, and still others had sweaters, coats, you name it and they had it. Where do they get the money? I only went there for a few supplies that we needed. The gift cards are being bought at Save Mart Grocers, so I just had regular stuff to get. Was I surprised to see all the hustle and bustle and no real smile. Everyone had a long face and a full shopping cart. Can you beat that?

I said to myself, "SELF, get outta here, before you get trampled." People are like that, they push you out of the way when they want to be first. Know what I did? This person behind had about 3 or 4 items in hand and I said, "you go first." She said, "well, ah, well, ah, you sure?" I looked at her and said, "be my guest." And then would you believe that besides having items to buy, she had a complaint and wanted to see the manager. So there I stood, watching everyone go by and giving me a smirk.

I tell you this world is coming to an end. :) Not really, I didn't mind. While waiting, I kind of calculated in my mind what I was going to be paying because I usually come pretty close. I thought it might about $48 dollars or so, but it turned out to be $52.96. Pretty close. Well................

I've got a simple tuna casserole in the oven for my esposo and me. I will be back later to see whats going on.

Oh yeah I forgot. I also stopped at Home Depot to pick up a plank of wood for crafts. Like I said before, I am going to make some Xmas decorations out of wood for next year. Oh well, you have a good one.

Things To Do

Short post because I am out the door to take care of errands, although it is quite cold and foggy. I have to go to:



Home Depot- find wood for projects

Walmart- pick up a couple of extra decorations

Dollar store - check out their decorations, do this before going to Walmart. It might be cheaper

WinCo grocer - Pick up prime rib and other ingredients for our Christmas Eve dinner.



We usually get with family on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve my husband and I stay at home and do our thing. This year we a doing a prime rib dinner with the fixings. A cauliflower casserole with lots of cheese. Oh I am making the traditional TAMALES, gotta do that.



Have a final on Thursday, so I will need to study for that. I'm sure there is no class tomorrow because it is finals week, so I have time.



So that it is for now and I shall return.

CHRISTMAS TREE SET-UP, WHERE'S MY PRESENTS?

Starting at the top. We always use the same decorations, including the little angel. This spring I am going to make one for next year out of wood.

Like I said in my other post, these little round faces are just from wood that I cut out last year, and the ribbon bow was my Chorizito's. Her very first bow when she was a mere pup.:( I miss her.)

I printed out pictures of our dogs and cut them in circles, punched a hole and addend ribbon and hung up. Hey I like that touch this year.

So that's all she rode. We are simple people with simple ideas. I like the tree this way because I don't have all that glitter hanging and falling on the floor. I do like those glittery things though.

Well this isn't the tree, but Chocolatte' wanted to get into the scene. She loves to have her sweater on and it does keep her warm. Well, I done what I did and did what I done, an elephant faithful, one hundred percent. I'll be back later, I'm going outside to the garage and visit my studio in the back of the garage, well attached to it.

Afterthough: If the music is too loud, you can scan down to the bottom and turn it off or it can be lowered. Just scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the playlist.

It Looks Like It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

These are wooden decorations I made a few years ago to put on the tree. They work out okay.

I put ribbon through the little hole at the top and hang them on the tree.

I love my snow balls or whatever they are called. These are just a few. I have a lot of them.

Our tree, and has been for the past 5 years. It works out great and has it's own lights.

My decorations consist of small or even mini little santa's or angels, candy canes, etc. I'll show you once we decorate the tree. Each year I buy a couple of new ones to add to the tree, but I always keep it simple.

The decorations are in the cans you see above. Well it is about that time so I will be back later with pictures of the tree. Hip Hip and awayyyyyyy!! (am I losing it or what?)