Category: My Life

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 Saturday was my birthday, so all weekend was spent either preparing for the event, enjoying the event, and then cleaning up after the event! And every single second, of every minute, of every hour, was absolutely splendid!

I spent the day on Friday doing all sorts of prep work. Baking my cake and pre-frosting it, I baked a Carrot Casserole , and set about getting the dishware, silverware and punch bowl out and ready.

On Saturday I went about like a crazy person touching up the house one last time, and then I jumped into the shower and made it out a mere 10 minutes before my guests arrived.

I had a blast! I did not sit around like a grand Queen. That is just not my style. I served people, and made sure they had drinks, did introductions and stood back and smiled an awful lot of the time! There we all were, my daughter and my granddaughter, my cousin Janet and Dave, and my closest friends! Mandy and Matt gifted me with a wonderful collage of Savannah and me and Mandy! Wonderful! Janet and Dave made the most delicious Seafood Lasagna in a bechemel sauce! Here is a little collage from my day yesterday!

The Seafood Lasagna was to die for! In fact I just finished the last piece, and it was even better the next day! I got flowers and Prosecco. Friends brought appetizers and yummies and I think I smiled all day long! The work involved, didn’t seem like work at all.

Lastly, I got a special card made for me by Dave.

Dave is not only a talented cook, but he is a gifted artist as well! Thank you so much for all you did yesterday to make my day so happy, and for all you do each and every day to bring joy and sunshine into my cousin’s life!

Sunday I got up, and went to the kitchen to turn on the coffee. Then I got my coat on, my gloves and my hat. But oddly, I did not hear the coffee maker whooshing and gurgling. Hmmmm! I went over and I thought I’d forgotten to turn it on. I flipped the switch, and NOTHING!!! I flipped it again! Nothing! Shoot! So I got out the old, smaller pot, that Hubby had in his commuter apartment in New York some 15 years ago, out and fixed the coffee in that. Once I got that going, I walked the dogs!

Now I knew that we would need another pot. A big twelve cup pot, because both Hubby and I are big coffee drinkers. I checked out the prices at the department stores locally and bristled when I saw they wanted close to $90.00 for our coffee make! Then I looked into Amazon.com and found our coffee pot. There it was for $69.00 no shipping!

Now I will tell you that I am an Amazon Prime member. for $79.00 a year I get free shipping on my purchases. However, I also get free videos, both old TV shows and movies. For us, it is a great benefit. I would recommend it for anyone who likes to save money!

I have not been paid for this totally unsolicited opinion of Amazon.com.

Well, once the coffee finally got brewed and I had ordered the new coffee maker, which should be here by Wednesday, I set about doing the last dishes and once Hubby and I finished breakfast, we treated Greta’s leg once again and wrapped it up.

Two days ago we noticed that she had an infected cut on her leg. How she did this we do not know, but the cut is about an inch long. We have been cleaning it twice a day with peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment. Then we wrap it up. Thankfully, she leaves it alone!

Sunday mid-day I got out two of the party plates. I filled one with cake and cookies from the party. The other I filled with meat and cheese and carrot casserole. And I tucked in some nice rolls too. Then off I went to see our neighbor, Frank. Frank will be 95 on December 7th. He served in the military during WW II and was a Prisoner of War. He is such a good man!  Now he is shut-in most of the time and I just wanted to share my happiness with him. All I can say is…I am so glad I did!

Sometimes the best parts of our lives are the parts we share with others.

Happy Monday!!!

Saturday we celebrated my 54th birthday. I had planned a smallish group of those nearest and dearest to me, and we had a blast! There was plenty of food, plenty of great stories and Miss Savannah Rose!

I’m made my cake and it came out okay, but it’s funny, after so long not eating super sweet things, I found the triple chocolate cake and icing, almost too sweet. I cannot believe I just typed that!

Janet and Dave made the worlds most delicious Seafood Lasagna with Bechemel Sauce. Oh my, it was wonderful!

Mandy and Matt brought rolls and meats and cheeses, and it was wonderful! In fact later in the evening when I needed a little snack, I make myself a mini sandwich.

Others brought banana bread, shrimp cocktail and we also had chips and dips and ice cold punch. A new recipe, that came out really well!

I think the best part was just having everyone here with me. That was just the best!

Today I am 54! I’ve never been one of those women who refuses to tell her age. It is, what it is. Actually, considering the rather strange life I have led, the fact that I still roam the earth is a miracle in itself!

This past year I welcomed my first granddaughter! Sweet Savannah Rose! A little Angel!

Despite the bad weather, we did have a crop of peaches, and I made some peach jam. I also made grape jelly, and my first batch ever of Dill Pickles!

Hubby and I are both in fairly good health and enjoying our home and our pets. All four dogs, Fritz, Greta, Arnie and Anneliese continue to give us far more love and comfort, then we could ever give to them!

Yes, turning 54 is not such a bad thing! Now please, sit back and enjoy this short montage of me and my loved ones from birth until now!

1. If you sit back and just enjoy the beauty of the life all around you, you will find that happiness is bound to follow!

2. I used to go around singing la la la

3. I have to ask you why is it that some people really freak out admitting to their age? Tomorrow I will be 54.

4. I got rid of one of my worst vices; smoking, as well as biting my nails which was a bad habit.

5. I didn’t have time to enjoy life when I was young. I am so happy that I have discovered happiness in my middle years, and taken the time to enjoy it!

6. Savannah Rose is something I love beyond all reason.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing the final decorating for my birthday party on Saturday, tomorrow my plans include yay! It’s my birthday and I get to eat cake and Sunday, I want to finish cleaning up after the party and plan for act 2…Thanksgiving!

1. In two more days it will be my birthday. # 54!
2. I’m planning a low key family and friends party.
3. The menu includes a little of this and a little of that!
4. One of the nice treats is Hubby’s clam dip!
5. Another is Janet & Dave’s Seafood Lasagna!
6. I am making my own birthday cake.
7. All I want is double chocolate cake with butter cream frosting!
8. I found a great punch recipe made with orange juice, orange sherbet and sprite!
9. I think I will make an ice ring with lime and orange slices and maraschino cherries.
10. My sweet Savannah will be coming up with her mommy!
11. A year from now, when I turn 55, Savannah will actually be able to eat cake and ice cream!
12. I’ve got a great new shirt to wear! It’s a wild red pattern.
13. I love parties!

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 a catch up weekend for me. I did tons of laundry, cleaned out the fridge, and went to a Christmas festival, at a local church. Usually I love these fairs because they are full of things the church women have made. This year they had baked goods, but the rest were “professional artisans” who had rented tables, and were selling their work.

Now I love the artisans, really. In the summer when we have our fairs then I have no problem buying from them, but somehow the sanctity of the church felt rather odd.

I did go around and buy Christmas cookies to bring to an elderly shut in neighbor of ours, and then drop them at his home on my way back.

I am still watching a lot of movies. Especially movies I know. This way I can do my work, and listen to the words.

The coming week finds we sprucing up the house for my birthday party on Saturday! I also need to make my cake! Double Chocolate Cake with Butter Creme Frosting!

Have a great week Everyone!

Saturday I woke to my laptop not connecting into my wireless system. Why was this? Seemed to me I recall that Microsoft has automatically updated me before, and kicked off something that shut off my wireless connection.

I worked on it for two hours before Hubby got up and wanted breakfast. So I stopped, cooked the meal, and all the while I was going over the connections in my head. Which, if you know me and how scatterbrained I am, is a real challenge!

We ate breakfast, and I was looking and looking at all the settings, and just as I finished my meal, I had a thought. Hmm.

So I put the laptop on my knees and went into my Network Connections and saw that a box was not checked. That box allowed me to select the wireless system to use!

Click! Yay!

And it worked! Hubby quickly told me to write down what I had done, so next time I will know. After all, this is one of those little glitches that Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 has and since I don’t see myself getting a new computer for some time (knock on wood), I need to be able to take care of these little problems myself!

Then my daughter sent me a text that she was still not able to use my pictures in a project she was working on. So I went online and I was finally able to unlock them for her.

Click! Yay!

So, I am feeling like a computer wanna be nerd. At least I was able to get these things done. I just keep telling myself that I can do it!

I know what it is…it’s watching all those episodes of “The Big Bang Theory”. The show about 4 geniuses! It’s rubbing off on me!

LOL!

I was up at 6:30 AM on Tuesday. I jumped into my clothes, layering up fairly well, and drove quickly to our local Polling place. I got there, and the line went out the door and around the parking lot, with not one free space for a car! So, I drove a block away and parked my car there and walked back to the Community Center, clutching my coffee.

When I got back, the line had moved right along, and I was able to go right in, but not with my coffee cup! So I set it down out of sight (outside), and went in and voted! Yay, me!

I came out to find that in 23 degree (F) weather, coffee gets cold very fast! I was stuck with cold coffee.

I had volunteered to stand at the Polls and hold a sign in support for my friend, Jeanie. I was so cold, mostly my hands, despite the fact that I had two pairs of gloves on.

I will say that there were others present supporting their candidate, that tried to cause problems with my small support group. I simply referred them to the police and the County Commissioner. They had been the ones who gave us our spot. After her huffing and puffing, the police and Commissioner finally got her quieted down.

Then, my back up arrived! After taking a look at these two beauties, I think you will agree, that no one would think about bugging me! (lol!)

These two, were both sweet Great Danes!

And yes, that is me in my disguise! Big warm hat and sunglasses

They stayed by my side, all morning, despite the fact that it was so cold. Needless to say, anyone who knows me, knows I am a real dog lady!

I’ve been planning a party to celebrate the day of my birth. I have a menu, will do most of the cooking the day before, and all I really need to do is clean house (why is it that houses get messy so easily?), and set everything up for a relaxed Buffet. I have a week to do this, and for once I’m not stressed about it at all!

You know why? Because only my nearest and dearest are coming. These are the people who love me, warts and all!

Savannah will coming up to the party. It’s the first time she will have come to the house. I sure hope the dackels will behave! If not, they go right into the laundry room!

The menu consists of many of my favorite things, but no turkey! Thanksgiving is le3ss than a week from my birthday, and it seems silly to cook one on Saturday and then another one on the following Thursday.

For now we are well stocked, and when I go to Mandy’s house on Friday, we will shop for the party plates, napkins, etc.

Remember, all my fellow Americans. Get out and vote today! I will be manning the Polls in my town, doing my civic duty. Join me, by doing yours!

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 found me trying desperately to catch up on the lost hour. Now why is this a lost hour, when we have actually turned our clocks back an hour? Well, unlike most people who gained an hour, I, by virtue of having dogs that cannot tell time, woke me up at their usual 8 AM, but which is now, in fact 7 AM!

I even kept the dogs up late last night, walked them late, all in hopes that I could reset their inner clocks. But I simply give up! It happens every year and there isn’t much I can do about it.

Laundry was done, our kitchen and bathrooms were washed, and I even had a chance to read the Sunday paper. Something that I seldom get to do.

I’m also reading a book on my Kindle. The Descendents. What a well written book, and a compelling story. I think as one grows older our experiences grow (hopefully) and so we can relate to books and stories in new ways!

The week ahead is a busy one, but at the end is a visit with Mandy and Savannah! Yay!!!