Thursday 13

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Here we are, the end of another year. This one seemed to race by, although I am noticing that the older I get the faster they go by! Today’s Thursday 13 are my end of the year thoughts.

1.  Life is good.

2.  Mostly people are also good.

3.  Dogs are great! (Cats too!)

4.  I love traveling.

5.  I love Christmas lights & decorations.

6.  Seeing people happy always makes me feel good!

7.  I can’t wait to see what 2011 will be like!

8.  I’m hoping it will be full of many happy and wonderful things!

9.  I need to start planning my 2011 vegetable garden.

10. This year I would like to try and grow European cucumbers.

11. I would like to learn to cook low-fat, lo-cal gourmet!

12. I’m looking forward to learning the new WW plan.

13. I would like to get back to my goal weight and also in shape by this summer.

After a ‘Good’ Storm

Tuesday found Hubby continuing to dig us out, after our snow fall on Sunday. He’d really wanted to go skiing today, but when we woke we found that the 50 mile an hour wind gusts had taken all the snow from our front yard and moved it onto the porch behind our house. No kidding, 20 inches just sitting there! The dackels looked Hubby in the eye and demanded a pathway!

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Looking out my back door at Arnie.

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This is the patio that got all the blowing snow!

While the coffee brewed and I made breakfast, Hubby shoveled a path for the dogs. Then he came in, ate a great breakfast, and off he went to use the snow blower to clear the driveway (again!).

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He was pretty much done by lunch time, and came in for a bit, but then went back out to clear the steepest part of the drive, right down to the tar, so he can get out tomorrow to go and ski. As you can see, our driveway is long, about 500 feet. It is also all down hill, because….we like a challenge! lol!

At least we finally have some beautiful, wonderful, white, fluffy snow! It’s about time!

Snow, Snow, Snow

We woke to the Blizzard of 2010. It arrived just a few days before the end of the year, so technically made it in under the wire. We had 48 mile an hour winds and about a foot of snow! The wind was so fierce that the dackels did not want to go outside. At one point, I simply picked them up, one by one and tossed them into the snow. They quickly did their business, and ran back in the house.

Snow in December from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

.After I took the video, I took some still pictures, and then linked them together in a short montage. Fritz shows up so much better in still pictures. He almost disappears in the video, above.

Dogs in the Snow from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Hubby then began his serious work, plowing the 500 + foot driveway. I’m thinking he will have to do it again tomorrow because the 48 mile an hour winds, have blown the snow back across the driveway and the patio. However, Hubby says no matter what, he is going to go skiing today! All this snow is more than he can stand to ignore.

My plans include starting to go through my Christmas boxes and decide what I can get rid of and what I want to keep. Trust me when I say that over the years, if you are at all like me, you’ve collected a lot of useless holiday crap. My goal is to sort through and determine what is useful or useless.

It’s pretty and once the wind dies down it will be even better. Then I can go out with the doggies and play in the snow with them.

But….at least we finally have some!

What Did I Do This Past Weekend

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Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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This past weekend was Christmas! The day that the world seems to stop and celebrate the love we have for our families and friends.

On Friday Hubby and I went out to get the last few things we might need for the big day. We picked up our mail, and then came home.

Later in the afternoon I prepared a few appetizers and we sat talking about Christmases past. We eventually ate the Fondue, which was fun and watched “It’s A Wonderful Life”, as is my usual Christmas Eve ritual.

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful and after sipping coffee and starting breakfast, I turned on the TV and put on “A Christmas Story” to watch while we ate and afterward, when we were lounging in our pajamas. (Well, Hubby had gotten dressed, but I was still in my jammies!)

About 11 AM I showered and dressed and started getting the house ready for Mandy and Matt’s arrival. It’s amazing how, in between doing the housework stuff, I also managed to surf the NET, and you know what I found? I was about the only one crazy enough to be online.

I seriously need to get a life!

Mandy and Matt arrived about 2:15 and our celebration began. I described it in yesterday’s post, so I won’t bore you with it again, but we did have a great time, and when they left to go home I felt quite emotional. I love my daughter so much, I really hope in the year ahead, we get to see each other more.

Sunday was a quiet day for me. I needed a day to recover, but Hubby went skiing. We had our roast beef dinner again for lunch (LOVE LEFTOVERS) and Sunday night will be a pick up meal. Anything that we can pick up!

Meanwhile a Blizzard is bearing down on us, and I will report in on Tuesday the total snowfall in my back yard!

Lastly, somehow, dear Readers, I managed to get the Surround Sound going on the new TV/Speakers! Call this a Christmas Miracle!!!

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Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 found us waking to a bright sunshine filled day. We munched on a lovely breakfast of bacon, scrambles eggs, German Stollen bread, coffee juice and grapefruit. It was yummy!

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We had a chance to lounge around after breakfast and sip our coffee, and watch “A Christmas Story” once again. Boy, I just never get tired of watching Ralphi lust after that ‘Red Rider BB Gun’!

Mandy and Matt arrived about 2:30 and our Christmas celebrations began. I had a bunch of appetizers ready to go, and we stood around the kitchen sipping champagne and munching cheese, crackers, chips and dips.

We settled in taking a few pictures and talking while the roasts cooked.

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It was fun to fool around and be a little silly too. I think we all need to be able to do that in our lives. Take a vacation from being overly serious, just to feel the happiness all around us.

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Just before dinner we started to open presents. Amanda needed a little help, and so Greta was right by her side. Greta is like that! Helpful! LOL

Christmas 2010 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

We had our dinner and dessert and truly, we were all stuffed! After a bit Mandy and Matt left for home and we finished washing up the dishes.

The dogs are in bed now, and I am right behind them. Goodnight all!

Friday Fill-Ins

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1. These are a few moments in time I will always cherish!.

2. I’m cooking a hopefully delicious holiday dinner.

3. What’s that I hear the sound of church bells ringing.

4. The peace of the season makes me feel grounded in the quiet, quiet.

5. Some of my favorite holiday memories include time spent with my Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Janet in particular. We always were together. Like Frick and Frack. Lucky me.

6. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sipping champagne, tomorrow my plans include enjoying the peace of the day with Hubby, Mandy and M. and Sunday, I want to enjoy some time with Janet and Dave!

I Skied

On Thursday Hubby and I got up early and headed to the County Ski Area. I’d never been to this one before, but I had decided that this year I would buy my season pass there, as we are County Residents, and get a break with the cost. I’ve also heard that this area has some nice, easy, skiing and beautiful views. Today I discovered this Mountain, so very close to my home.

It was cold and snowing when we arrived, but it didn’t last too long. About half an hour after we started  to ski, the sun broke out and we were able to get these pictures.

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Hubby took this on the lift up to the mid way point. The top of the mountain is still not open due to the fact that this is all man made snow!

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In the back ground is Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s New Hampshire’s grand lake. It is starting to freeze over now. In February, they will have the Annual Fishing Derby out there!

I did pretty well with my return to skiing. I was doing so well on my last run down when I caught an edge on my ski and went down, face first, into the snow! All my dignity was lost!

I am feeling a tad sore tonight (Thursday), but not too bad. It’s really just a matter of slowly getting myself back into the skiing habit and back into shape!

Thursday Thirteen

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The Skiing Edition

1.  I have not been skiing in two years. Today I go for the first time. Call me nervous!

2.  I decided that this year I would get a season ticket at our county ski area.

3.  It’s known for the most beautiful views in the area.

4.  It also has lovely Intermediate trails. Just my speed, next to the Bunny slopes!

5.  My skis are quite old. 9 or 10 years. I never worry that anyone will steal them.

6.  My ski poles are 24 years old! Ha! No one will take those either.

7.  I have a fabulously beautiful ski parka that I bought about three years ago. It’s a soft lilac color and I feel very pretty in it.

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8.  I have conned Hubby into taking me out for lunch after, as we have grocery shopping to do in the afternoon.

9.  I love my boots. I got them at a ski swap and they were all broken in. Perfect for me!

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10. I was so reluctant to go skiing again, but Hubby would not let me say no.

11. I had a ski accident 4 years ago and hurt myself. That really scared me.

12. I hope to overcome my fears this year.

13. Wish me luck!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

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1. Share your Christmas Eve traditions.

We don’t really have any. This year we are doing Fondue, just Hubby and me. I have gotten some bubbly, and plan to make my favorite pie (pumpkin) for dessert. Since we have no snow, I cannot go out and play with the dogs in it, but I think I will still have a warm fire in the hearth!

2. What was the best book you read in 2010? (we’re not going to include The Bible here)

I think it was “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger. I have had trouble reading with my less than perfect eyes, but getting large print books works. My biggest problem now is that there aren’t a lot of best sellers available in large print. In fact there is one I want so much, and it hasn’t come out in large print! Grrrrrrr!

3. Do you have pets and if so do you allow them on the furniture?

I have four dogs. There is just Hubby and me and they outnumber us. So yes, they do. Just the dackels, not Fritz. He has his own bed on the floor.

4. What event from 2010 are you most thankful for?

That my retinal surgery was successful and I can see. After having both of my eyes damaged by detached retinas, I am thankful each and every day that I can see at all!

That my cousin Janet completed her cancer treatments successfully,beat an serious infection and surgery, and found the most wonderful man in the world, Dave!

5. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before.

I made Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon and I also made Julia’s Roasted Chicken! I think I made myself slow down with my cooking and enjoy the experience more. I’ve never done that before!

6. Brussel sprouts…friend or foe?

Oh, definitely friend. I love them just steamed, or cut them in half, steam them briefly, and then saute some bacon until it is done, remove the bacon from the pan. Add a little olive oil and saute some chopped onions, until the onions are done. Add sprouts to the saute pan. Toss in the bacon fat, onions and olive oil until done. Crumple up the bacon over the whole thing, toss and serve!

7. Who would you nominate for man/woman of the year?

Besides my husband? (Who puts up with me, each and every day of the year!) I don’t think any one person can be called “a person of the year”. I like to believe that it takes many  people to make this world work.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It seems I recall all those beloved people in my life, past and present, during the Christmas season. I recall those precious moments spent with them, the laughter, the smiles, the brightness in their faces, and the warmth in my heart, and theirs.

I see all those Christmas trees, and dinners and presents opened. I hear the jokes and the laughter and can almost smell the cookies as they bake in the oven.

I can hear the choirs I’ve listen to and sung in, and hear the services I’ve attended all around me.

Ah yes, Christmas is such a multifaceted holiday, isn’t it? I can feel and see and hear it all around me.