HIP HIP HOORAY!!

Man, my house smells so good right now with that Beouf Borguignon in the oven. WOW!!

Saute the beef just till brown

Take a little drinky

Brown the veggies in the same oil and butter.

Add the wine, sauteed bacon and rind and the veggies

Simmer for a few minutes, about 5

Toss in the oven for 3/4 hours

Take another drinky poo

In the meantime saute the little onions in butter and oil, add broth or wine and low heat for about 40/50 min.

Brown the mushrooms in butter and olive oil

Set onions and mushrooms aside until meat is cooked

Once meat is cooked, take out of the oven, set on stove, add mushrooms and little round onions and re-heat, althought it is pretty hot at this point.

Serve with a veggie if you like and some french bread and a good wine, Pinot Noir. (or other)
Thanks to Julia's cookbook, I've made this Beouf Borguignon  once again. It is a lot of work but worth it.

If I've said it once, I'll say it twice....or more.

HAPPY NEW YEARS TO EVERYONE AND MAY YOU HAVE A GREAT YEAR AHEAD!!

HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!!

THANKS FOR ALL THE KINDNESS AND THE FRIENDSHIP!

HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!

DON'T FORGET TO READ MY OTHER POST WHERE UNDER THIS ONE...FREE GIVEAWAY!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!

(I'M CRAZY) (OH, I DRANK SOME PINOT NOIR) JUST A LITTLE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND DON'T FORGET TO READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR A SURPRISE.

LAST POST OF THE YEAR, NOW ON TO 2010

So today is the big day that brings us a new DECADE and according to bob a "blue moon." Is that not cool! Be sure to look out your door/window this evening when the moon has risen. We'll all check it out. I know I will. Before I go any further, look what I found at the pharmacy. Cashmere Bouquet! That was my step-mom's favorite soap. I remember her saying, "Joe, Joe, get me some Cashmere Bouquet, I love it." My dad would stop at my grandfather's grocery story on his way home from work. GRANDPA'S  grocery store was called Louis Grocery and DAD woul pick up a couple of bars of soap with other goodies. The memories always linger.The soap smells divine. Happy New Years to all my family and those that are gone.

I plan on being nice to my husband and treating him with kindness and letting him know that I appreciate everything he does for me and love him very much.

I am starting this day with my tribute to Julia Child by cooking her famous stew Beouf Bourguignon. I did finish reading her memoirs about "My Life in France," and I would definitely say go out and get it. You will enjoy her travels and her curiousity about everything that pertained to cooking and the kitchen and life itself. Here is her cookbook that she and her other two cooking chums worked so hard to get published. Below is just a page on the recipe I am cooking. I wasn't sure if it was okay to copy it all. It's quite a long recipe and does take time, but hey...I got all day long. We are not going anywhere, we will be home.

From Julia Childs cookbook, Mastering The Art of French Cooking

So those are our plans. I cook, my husband chops branches outside and later we will eat, make a toast and write down our plans for this coming year. We just had an omelette with avacado on a tortilla with sauce and cheese sprinkled on top. Now he is back outside and I am getting ready to go in the kitchen, don the apron yaya gave me early this year and get started. One more thing....

FREE GIVEAWAY ON MY BANGLES SHOPPE!

As a new year's gift, I would like to give away a free bangle of your choice. In order to participate you have to go to my bangle shoppe, (link is at the top or on the sidebar) and leave a comment. The giveaway ends tomorrow at 5:00 pm. Your names will be printed out, put in one of my little painted boxes and my husband will pull out the name. Don't forget to leave me your email or link to your blog and I will notify you if you win. You can select anyone of the bangles on my bangle shoppe blog. If it has sold, you can select another choice. I will do a post on the winner tomorrow after 5pm.

FREE BANGLE FREE BANGLE FREE BANGLE FREE BANGLE

HAPPY NEW YEARS BLOGGER FRIENDS, AND MAY YOU BE HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND OH SO WISE. VIVA LA VIDA Y 2010!

Little Boxes

I'm going slow and easy and just taking my time, almost as if in slow motion. The day is just about over and now it is time to kick back and do my relaxing. These are ordinary boxes that I am going to use to mail out bangles. I decided to paint them and kick them up a notch. Have a look see. In a little while I will go jump in my bed, grab my book and be back in France enjoying a super meal.
I don't have any plans on posting about any resolutions because I more than likely will not keep them. We'll make our list of things to do and post it in the side of the frig and check them off as we complete each one. I will continue to do what I 've been doing because I'm pretty happy and I couldn't ask for more. As far as weight is concerned, HooooHaaaaah! I will moderate and that will be the size of it. I'm just looking forward to a new year, health,  and happiness. I ask for no more, that's all I want. So I must leave now to check my email, answer mail, check other things on the internet, put these little boxes away, go take a shower, jump in bed and like I said, enjoy myself in France. Au Revoir,  À bientôt,  À demain and all that jazz. Viva La Vida!

Just testing. I seem to have lost my posts.

Reading and wishing I was there

The wall heater has been installed and now it is warm in this old time home. Now my husband wants to play with the thermostat to hear the heater go on and off. Well that's okay, he'll get over it. It's like a new toy for him and he is proud that he was the one who installed it. Properly so.

I started reading Julia Child's memoir's a couple of days ago and haven't had the time to read it faithfully. I'm only on page 88 and it's a 333 page book. So today I did pick it up for at least a half hour and I found myself in Paris with Julia at the Cordon Bleu and at the famous Marche' aux Puces, the famous flea market in Paris. I'm really starting to get into this book. Almost all the words in this book called "My Life in France" are Julia's words and her husband's Paul.

As I was reading I could hear my husband in the kitchen doing something, probably snacking I thought. All of a sudden I was hungry and here it was 9:15pm. I called to him, "Want some Cream of Wheat?" He ran over to me (I was in bed reading) and said, "Can you make some?" I quickly jumped out of bed and proceeded to heat the water, wait till the water boiled, added Cream of Wheat slowly and stirred all the while. As it thickened into creaminess, I thought of butter melting in that heat. So in went the butter and I stirred some more till it was done.

I looked for the large brown cups, ladled some of the creaminess into the cups, added a little sugar, just a little more butter, and some cream. I carried the cups carefully to the dining room table, handed him his cup, he smiled and thanked me as he walked back to watching wrestling and I sat at the table and opened my book and continued on page 88 in September of 1946 when Julia and Paul married. I washed the pot and cups, put the remaining Cream of Wheat in a container and now here it is 9:56 pm ,

I had to share this with you,  and now with a full and warm tummy, I return to my bed with my book to read a few more pages and then possibly I may dream that I am walking on the beautiful streets of Paris and dining in an elegant restaurant.

picture from CraigsList

A Little Run Down of this Year, Just a little.

January
Bought scroll saw for wood projects
New laptop for my b/day from esposo
knees acting up
Working on Little Ladies of The Kitchen
Watched inauguration
Thought of Dad on the 22nd.
Lots of orange marmalade
Mom's

February
Bought esposo camera
Chandelier in studio
Did our taxes
Send mom candy
Celebrated our 27 year anniversary
Installed new water heater at home in San Jose
Mom's

March
Thought of son Val, 5 years have gone by,  missing you.
Changed health insurance
Bought lots of plants for spring garden
Mailed out prints for blogger friends
Put in veggie plants
Lila Downs at the Gallo Center
Mom's

April
Received AA degree/English
Hubby, new tires
Hubbys b/day-gift card at the tool place Harbor Freight
Barbecue in San Jose
Hubby working on new arbor
Offer on house in San Jose, accepted
lots of garden work
Hubby license expires, renewed
Mom's

May
Mom's birthday celebrated and Mother's Day
Mailed out prints
David Austin roses planted in new garden area
Made a quilt for Chocolatte
Fenicing in new gated area completed
Mom's

June
Took lots of squash to seniors
Looked in to a pottery clay shop class
Medical appts.
Completed paintings
Mom's

July
Spirullina
Making skulls
Lit a candle for Michael Jackson and Farrah
Planted fruit trees
Front yard trees cut down
New air conditioner installed
Escrow closed
Mom's

August
Son Val's birthday/Happy Birthday dear son, I miss you.
Got rid of Saab
Virus on computer, lost a lot of pictures
Fencing completed around new gated area
Feeling sick this month, lasted a week or so
New grassy area
Roasted tons of chile's
Planted Crepe Myrtle at Mom's
Lots of marigolds

September
Eye Doctor
Flu shots for me and hubby
More David Austin roses
oil cloth
New eye glasses
Husband needs glasses too
Mom's

October
Hubby's class
Chimney sweep
Aunt Josie passed away
Lots of rain/storm
Chorizo gone two years
Mom's

November
Dia De Los Mueros
This Is It at movies
Piping in bathroom being replaced
Renovating bathroom
Mom's
Started Bangle Shoppe

December
Mailed prints
Bathroom completed
Wall Heater installed
Mailing out bangles
Cello bags
Looking into my R/E license renewal
Mom's

and of course there was a lot more done but this is just a little bit of each month. Did I forget to mention that on each of these months I also spent time with my wonderful blogger friends and thanks to you all I am a better person with a lot more incentive. Thank you all very much. Happy New Years!

Saturday Tidbits

First of all and of course, I hope everyone had a very joyous Christmas and is well and happy. This will be a short post because my studio is total disaster and I've been in an out of there trying to pick up and get it in order.

The heater installation is underway and it will more than likely take up all my husbands vacation time. We don't really take "vacations" and merely stick close to home. He likes to spend time working on the house when he is off work. He says he wants everything completed before he retires, that way he can spend time on his hobbies and not have to fix up this oldie of a house or really "our home."

As I said in a earlier post, I am making  Boeuf Bourguignon for New Years Eve, so on Wednesday we are headed to Raley's to pick up the ingredients. I've bought a bottle of sparkly and cleaned up the champagne glasses and they are ready for the bubbly stuff. It's the first time I've made Boeuf Bourguignon for New Years, it's usually menudo. As far as the food is concerned, we are breaking the tradition for New Years. The tradition that will continue is the eating, sharing in our accomplishments, and the planning for next year. It's a tradition for us and most times all things are accomplished, but there are times that some things don't get done. At a later time they do, though.

Our Christmas was very nice, quiet and lots of conversation. My mom getting on in age but still able to do her thing was happy and for that I am happy too. We talk, joke, and laugh a lot and then we eat and we clean up the kitchen and then we sit and share either gift cards and/or presents. I slept really good last night because we were tired of the drive by the time we got home. My husband said he had to shake me a little because I was so deep in sleep.

So now we prepare ourselves for 2010. Can you believe that? 2010. It's like a decade has gone by since we reached 2000. Unbelievable, but true. Do you think we can possibly go on blogging and then in 2020 we will hopefully all still be here? It's like our lives are mingled in air, transported here, there and everywhere. Mind boggling. Again, I hope your Christmas was joyful and that you are ready for the new year with lots of plans.
Right now I am looking forward to having that heater and not having to go around with a sweater and double socks. I'm getting too old for that, I have to take care of myself.:D

Okay, see you soon. Take care and enjoy the rest of the holidays. I'll be back before New Years Eve, if not later tonight.

:DDDDDD smile, it increases your face value. Viva La Vida!! Also, before I leave...I want to say thank you to Serena who sent me a box of goodies that I really loved and am enjoying reading. She has a great shop at Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/dreamwiththefishes and if you get a chance stop by, she has lots of great items for you.Thank you very much Serena for thinking of me, you are a treasure and I loved everything you sent. ::hugs::

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY....

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

A

HAPPY NEW YEAR

TO ALL!!

HO HO HO AND AWAY

I

GO!!!!!! (TO EAT TAMALES)

2010 IS ALMOST HERE...

I'm not sure if I will be doing any posting after this one, at least until after the new year. I have too may things going on and find it hard to post daily right now. But believe me after the holidays I will be hip hip hooray.  Perhaps I will check in from time to time and drop a note or two. I know that this past year has been one of friendship, learning and sharing that I have captured here and taken with me where ever I am. Thank you so much for your kindness and  friendliness. I've enjoyed sharing thoughts, laughter, silliness, and even sadness with you. For now though I wanted to wish each and every one of my BLOGGER friends and others a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

NO EXERCISE FOR A WHILE

I've decided to take some time off from exercise, at least until January 2, 2010. My husband will be home on vacation starting tomorrow until the 1st of January. I know that I will be doing some nice eating and hopefully will remember to TRY to moderate, so I just don't feel like going to exercise. I'll weigh in when I go back and really moderate then. For now it is all about enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. I've got a little time so I thought I would stop in for a few minutes to wave to you ::waving:: :)

So today I went to the post office and if you so desire you can click on the link and this particular post shows the post office. (who really cares what the post office looks like, huh?)

http://glorv1.blogspot.com/2008/07/hump-day-wednesday.html

So I  had a package of my bangles ready to mail out  and was the 3rd. person there, so I got in line, as we waited for the the door to be unlocked by one of the workers. The outside door is always open but the door that leads to the postal clerks is kept locked till 8:30, it was about 8:25. You could see the interior because of the glass doors and the postal clerks were there turning on their computers and getting situated. As I waited I noticed  how silent it was. Now there were about 6 of us waiting. I was glad I got there early because of course later on it was going to be packed.

It was quiet with only the sounds from the light fixtures making their cracking noise. I could see the cars from the reflection on the windows and I turned my head to the right where the light was shining on the wall and saw this woman's shadow. The painting instinct kicked in and I wanted to run to that wall and paint in her shadow. Wouldn't that be something. hehehe. In any event, it was just too quiet and everyone just looked like they were strangers, which they were. I am the type that just speaks up and I did. "Pretty quiet huh?" I giggled and this lady laughed and said, "yes it is." She then turned away. That shut me up. I looked around and no one had paid attention or wasn't interested. Oh well I thought, be a humbug!

Finally the doors opened and I seen Steve the postal clerk and said, "I'm back again!" He smiled and said, "you're back huh, good girl." Well at least he wasn't a humbug. So I took care of my business and wished him a Merry Christmas although I had wished him a Merry Christmas yesterday and headed out the door, got in my car and came home and here I sit telling you what I did. Are you going to be a humbug too? :)

So that is it for now, I am going to check on something I have cooking, go finish painting some more bangles, get something to eat, and then balance out the account and clean house. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday and has completed all their shopping. I'm going now....bye.

VIVA LA VIDA-MERRY CHRISTMAS

REAL QUICK LIKE.

JUST A QUICK HELLO AND I'M BACK TO MAKING TAMALES. I MADE CHICKEN TAMALES AND NOW I'M MAKING PORK TAMALES. I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVE A GREAT START OF THE WEEK. I SHALL RETURN. VIVA LA TAMALE!!

I ACTUALLY AM LOVING THIS HUGE SCREEN. I'M GOING TO WATCH JULIA AND JULIE AGAIN ON ON THIS BIG SCREEN. OH THE DOGGIES OUTSIDE ARE BARKING AND THAT MEANS THEY WANT TO EAT, SO I BETTER GO. TAKE CARE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YAYA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMIGA YAYA!!

LET'S HEAR IT FOR MY BEST AMIGA YAYA WHO IS HAVING HER BIRTHDAY TODAY.

I have know Yaya almost since I  have been blogging which will be 3 years in June and she has become a great friend. If you stop by, please wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. SHE IS THE BEST!!

YOU GO GIRL!! VIVA YAYA AND  VIVA LA VIDA!!

ALSO, IF YOU HAVE THE TIME, I'VE ADDED NEW BANGLES AT MY BANGLE SHOP, JUST CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE TOP OR ON MY SIDEBAR,  AND IT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE LAND OF BANGLES. BUY ONE AT REGULAR PRICE, GET ONE  HALF PRICE AND FREE SHIPPNG. SALE ENDS DECEMBER 26, 2009.

Well It's A Good Day For Singing A Song....

COURTESY OF YOU TUBE VIDEO

This morning when I woke up, I started singing the song, "For It's A Good Day." It's been a long time since I have woke up and started singing. It's been years actually. In the old days I was the type that would wake up singing everything song I could think of and start cooking and singing and cleaning and singing. I don't have a voice but somewhere along the way, I lost that feeling. But this morning was different and no it wasn't because I got the Dell Monitor or the unpainted bangles I ordered for myself, these material things had nothing to do with it. I woke up happy because I watched the Julia/Julie movie and for some reason that movie just renovated me so to speak.
Of course all this is for another post I plan on doing and I do want to say, I am lucky to have her first cookbook, "Mastering The Art of French Cooking," and I have used it in the past. After watching the movie, I was so motivated that I brought out the book and found a recipe that I had made before, Boeuf Bourguignon. In any event, I am going to be making that for New Years Eve. That movie revitalized me and I'm all set to go. I even found Julie's blog who was so inspired by Julia.  Another thing that made me perfectly happy was receiving email from my friend bob and his wife Gina letting me know that they were happy on what they received and that made my day.

Here are the finished bracelets. Pushing the limits and Afrique. They have been coated and are ready.

Yes, here is that monitor my husband ordered for me. I haven't opened it yet. I will give him the honors. For now I better get back to doing my duties and cooking the chicken and other good things.

I bid ye farewell and hope that thy day is showered upon with health, wealth, and well being. Ta Ta!

Viva La Vida!

Home Grown Oregano

This lady obviously grows her own and so do I. It does save money, plus you get it fresh. When I need some, I just go snip a little, rinse off and add to what I'm cooking. Be back later, I have chicken cooking.

I deleted my last post

Hi .....I deleted my last post. Why? Because I thought it was too silly. If you didn't read it, you didn't miss out. So I better go for now, but remember....I really am enjoying my day and I hope you are too. I'll be back.

Disposing of computers and other stuff.

Hello there world of people. It's a great day even though there has been rain on and off and will continue to be so, but it is still a wonderful day. I look at my lit tree and think of the twinkles on those lights. Twinkles that are in all your eyes too. I'm ready for the new year. I haven't made any plans or thought about what will be on the agenda for next year. But believe me, there will be plans. This morning on my way to Curves, I stopped at the recycle place to drop off a monitor, hard drive and a keyboard. While I was there I saw them smashing up the hard drive and tossing the parts into a huge truck. The monitor has to be taken apart because as he said there is lead in the monitor so it has to be disposed of properly. One down and another to go, the computer in the cabinets in my studio has to go too. I did get 2.75 cents. hehehe.

I'm just about finished with a special order on my bangles, it's called Afrique. I called it that because the customer requested the bracelet be painted a beige color with brown spots like a giraffe. I hope it is to her liking. It's not quite complete and needs at least 3 coats of sealing. I'm also working on another special order for one of the bangles that either sold or was given as a gift. The customer wants one like it.it's called "Pushing The Limits." No two are alike as each is individually painted, but I can try to make a look alike. I should be posting this on my Bangles blog and I might just copy this part and paste it there. hehehe.

HERE ARE "AFRIQUE" AND "PUSHING THE LIMITS #11-2. THEY ARE NOT COMPLETED AND STILL NEED TO BE SEALED.

Tonight I just have to have macaroni. I am a big fan of homemade macaroni and cheese and that will be on the dinner table tonight. Tomorrow is a stay at home all day thing. I am going to enjoy not having to go out the door. I love being home. To me that is where my heart is, in my home. Husband is coming home early today like in a few minutes or so which means I better get to cooking. I'll  post pictures of the pre-ordered bangles and maybe even my macaroni and cheese. Take care and enjoy tomorrow. I will be back later.

IT'S LATER NOW AND HERE IS MY MACARONI WITH HAMBURGER MEAT AND VEGGIES. SIMPLE MEAL ON A GREAT TREASURE FIND AT AN ESTATE SALE. I LOVE THESE DISHES. IT'S A HUGE SET WITH LOTS OF BOWLS, GLASSES, CUPS AND SAUCERS, YOU KNOW THE WHOLE SET. AS I ATE ON THEM TONIGHT, I WONDERED WHO HAD EATEN ON THEM BEFORE. AWESOME!

Just a little tidbit or two...

First of all I want to say hello all and hope you are well and happy.

I visited a friends blog today and she had a great post that really made me think about what goes on in BLOGLAND. A lot of times I visit blogs that have great things to share and sometimes it's so inspiring that I want to do the same. Most of the time if I am going to be doing something similar, I try to credit the person that inspired me by mentioning or inserting their link. I want everyone to know that I would never ever steal anything from anyones blog and give myself the credit for it. I don't do those things. If I have at times not mentioned someone or linked back to you for something or other, I do apoligize. I don't think I have done that though. So that's all I wanted to say and let it be known (as they used to say) that I respect each and every one of my blogger friends blogs.

okay, bye now....but hey...I will be back.

I really like Robert Downey Jr. and home made tortillas

BEST DEAL IN TOWN! STOP BY MY BANGLES BLOG, BUY ONE, GET ONE HALF PRICE AND FREE SHIPPING. IT'S MY WAY OF SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS!

http://glorv1spaintedwoodenbracelets.blogspot.com/

Hope everyone is having a great Monday. I am all done with xmas shopping, mailing cards, etc. Now it's time to kick back and enjoy the rest of the season. I've been working on bangles and completed 3 more. I'll post them on the bangle shoppe later today. We are having albondigas for dinner and of course home made torts. I did find this flour that is specifically for flour tortillas and all you do is add water. It's works the same and does save a lot of time.

I really like Robert Downey Jr. He has some songs out and this one is just one of them. It's not a bad song, but I like the other one he does, I wish I had a river. I believe that is the name of the song. I actually have it on my blog on my music. I have to clean this house because I won't be doing much of anything else for the rest of the week. I plan on just painting, doodling, and maybe journaling. Have a great day and I shall return.

I don't MONITOR you, why do you MONITOR me?

So I said to him last year
Do not and I mean do not buy me any more electronic thingamajigs.
Please, I am begging you not to do that next year. That was last year for Christmas. I also said if you want to buy me something, let it be paints or pastels or canvas or all 3 of those, but not electronic things, please I said.
The year is here, again I have begged, do not buy me any more electronic thingamajigs.
In the studio under the cabinets lives an old computer, monitor, printer.
In the garage, another computer, another monitor, another printer.
In the house, computer, monitor, printer and still an old Commodore 64 exists that I personally purchased when it first came out in the middle 80's or so. It introduced me to the world in another galaxy. There was Quantum Link, the world of cyber rooms where people congregated. At first it was fun and exciting and then people got weird, the fun turned to not so much fun.
Now after having all these computers of which I personally have two THAT I USE, not counting all the old and  unused ones, I'm getting a: 


 Dell SP2309W 23 inch Flat Panel Monitor, Customer Install


Why? All I said was that my monitor has been acting up. When I go to log off, instead of shutting down the screen starts to change colors, blue, red, yellow, green, you name it. But I'm okay with that I just turn off the monitor after windows closes down. But no, again this year he did it again. I mean don't get me wrong, I appreciatae the entire gesture, but darn I don't need the monitor. He went and spent  his money on a monitor for me. How do I know this? Because Dell sent me the confirmation because they only have my email address, my husband doesn't want an email address therefore he uses mine. When the email came, I practically fell off my seat. I don't know, I just don't know.

I've got equipment running out of my ears. So what am I getting him, exactly what he wants, TOOLS for his shop. He told me what he wants and I will buy that for him, why can't he just buy me the simple stuff. I'm a simple person with simple likes and dislikes. Oyeeeeeeeeeee! I could cry, but I won't. I will be strong and accept the 23 inch Flat Panel Monitor. It's not like I'll be able to see anybody on the screen, what the heck do I need such a big screen for? Does anyone know? Oh brother. What do I do with this monitor now? I hope I can donate all the old stuff to the Salvation Army or a goodwill store. They probably wouldn't even take the old stuff.

I better get over this............LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ELECTRICITY IT IS GOING TO USE. OH MY WORD. I'LL USE MY LAPTOP THAT WAY I DON'T WASTE SO MUCH ELECTRICITY. DON'T TELL MY ESPOSO. IT'S TOO BIG. MY TEARS IF THEY WERE TOO FALL WOULD ALSO BE BIG TEARS. COULD IT BE TEARS OF JOY?? NO NO NO, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS NO NEED FOR THIS NO NEED FOR THIS TAKE ME HOME TAKE ME HOME ....I THINK I'M GOING CRAZY.  HAHAHAhahahaaha

GONE FOR A SHOPPING TRIP

I WILL BE GONE FOR A FEW HOURS. MICHAELS, BED, BATH AND BEYOND, AND OF COURSE WALMART MY STOMPING GROUNDS. I WILL CHECK IN LATER. I DIDN'T EXERCISE TODAY BECAUSE I'M ON A LAZY DAY AND JUST WANT TO GO SEE WHATS IN THE SHOPS. HO, HO, HO...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HO, HO, AND ANOTHER HO.....HMMMM THAT SOUNDS KINDA WEIRD. LOL

My Mother, the busy woman

Today I called this woman as I do every day unless I'm there. She always lets me know when she will be gone, where she is going and when or about when she will be back. There was no answer so I figured she went to the senior center. I checked my calendar and there was nothing on it about her going to Black Oak Casino with the other seniors on the bus. I thought she had told me she would be going on the 15th. In any event, when this kind of thing happens, I start to worry.

This woman is a healthy and well balanced 87 years of age. She is still going very strong. Drives herself to the senior center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, outings on the bus trips once and sometimes twice a month, still cooks a little but mostly buys foods that are precooked so that it's not too much work, balances out her account accurately, washes her own clothes and even hangs them when it isn't raining, and this is the way she wants it. She will not allow me to go over there on a daily basis to help out, nor will she allow me to hire someone for at least 3 times a week. She says when she is ready, she will let me know.

So this is why I always say to her, "mom, always let me know where you are going to be at, so that I do not worry." "please turn on your cell phone when you go someplace." I am an hour and a half aways from her home so I worry about that too. She will not move in with us, nor will she live out in back if we build a small house. "No, no, no" she says. She insists on doing things her way and I have to do what she wants, because she is my mother and mother's know best. I am also her poa and in charge in case something should come up where I think she can't handle things, but I am happy to say, I don't foresee that in the very near future.

She has also bought and paid for her burial plot, updates her trust when she needs too, and wants no services, but direct cremation. I have to also do this because she has asked me to do it this way, so I will. So today was one of those days when I worried about her and in my mind I thought, she will call me when she gets home. During the day I did call the charter service to see if a bus or buses had left for the Black Casino and yes two had left early morning. That's part of the reason I was not too concerned but still concerned because either I had forgotten she had told me she was going today or I just misunderstood her. In any event, she calls me after 6:30 pm to let me know that she had won a couple of hundred and that she had a great time, there was so much beautiful snow and she was happy she went after all. Now how could I say anything but, "Thats good mom, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." She then said, "Well it's better than staying home and doing nothing, at least I'm out with friends and we eat and gamble a little and talk on the bus."

Mamasita dear, I couldn't be happier for you, I love you and will try not to worry too much.

Brrrrrrrr.............It is cold

Well I'm not going outside anytime soon. I'm staying home. I mean it is freezing. I'm sure it is colder in other locations, but for us in the valley, this  is cold. Everything froze. If the sun comes out I am taking a walk out to the back and I know what I will see, all our plants gone, wilted, bent over and gone. My cactus garden that I love so much will be fallen over as well. I hope my nopalito plants come back. As I type my fingers are freezing because it's cold in here too, despite the little heat I have going. So the name of the game for today is stay indoors, do indoor stuff, and stay warm. I shall return when it's warmer.  hehehehe.:D Signing off now, well not really...I have to go check a few things online. I'm waiting on a delivery from Omaha Steaks so it's a good thing I will be home. I need to check where the package is at. Have a great day. That's my news of the day.

I just had to post this before I call it a night

It is going to frost here and get pretty cold so we had to pick most of the oranges and tangerines whether ripe or not. I've tasted  them and they have sweetness, but could be better. We had no choice or we'll end up without the fruit. I plan on taking some to Curves for the ladies tomorrow. There is still a lot more on the trees and we couldn't pick them all because it is too cold outside right now. The lemons should be okay, I hope. The tree is packed with lemons but they normally survive the frost. Oh my poor dear  hard working husband just volunteered to go pick some of the lemons. He said they might crack. Poor guy. I was going to pick them earlier but we didn't find out till this evening that it was going to frost big time. I'll have to buy him a very nice Christmas present. Tools, that's all he wants. Tools, tools, tools for his shop. Buenas noches.

One project down, One more to go before the year is out.

We are done with the little b/room and next it will be the wall heater.

BEFORE

AFTER

All I need to do now is sew a valance for the top of the window and that will be soon. I like it. It'll work for  years to come. I can use different colors with the black. I'm going to try goldish brown towel, shower curtains, etc. Also burgundy would be nice. It's workable. Take care and enjoy Tuesday.