The Happiest of New Years To You!!!!

To one and all-- I hope your New Year is full of blessing & brightness.






Resolutions? Moi? No way!!! I'm finished with the custom of resolutions. I just end up disappointing myself when they are all left undone! Perhaps each new morning I'll just remind myself of my blessings, and that it's up to me to make the most of those blessings. Each morning offers a new day to be one's best; to make the most of the next few hours; to smile more, complain less, help others, do my finest labor. So I'll just do the "resolution" thing daily.





What are you most proud of looking back over the past 365 days? Hmmmmm--in trying to accomplish less pride in life, it's hard to say. Maybe jumping out and purchasing the kitchen--especially in the economic realm facing us. Maybe how I cleaned up and prepared the job I left for the next person to take the reigns (and may I say she is doing a marvelous job). Maybe of how passionately I loved my family. Pride comes hard for me.






What do you want to accomplish in 2009? PAYING OFF THE NOTE ON THE KITCHEN!!!!! Now that most likely won't happen this year, but I'm sure going to work on it. The sooner it's paid off, the less worry I have and the more time I can give back to ---- me!---- And, I want to spend more time with Hank. It's difficult as he lives an hour away, and his mom works and doesn't want to share him (yeah, yeah, I totally understand that).









I found a greeting card that showed a "retro" lady sleeping; inside it said "I dreamed my house was clean". I think that is great----I have those dreams. Then I wake up and it hasn't happened!!! Where are those darned elfs????









Well, I'm off to put away the multitudes of boxes containing Christmas decor and to cook for a New Year's Eve party I'm catering. And--Hank is coming to spend the night! Whoopee!!! So I'll close for now.







Sweet Dreams & Sweeter Days!

Oh Yes, We DID!!!

Supplies for the food: $25.00, Party favors: $25.00, Breakfast w/the Ya Yas: PRICELESS!!!!!

Yes, we had our annual "come as you are" Christmas breakfast. We've been doing this for, hmmmm, what do you think gals??? Between 7 & 10 years???? It's such a fun, relaxing time to reconnect with our soul sistas. Due to the icy weather last year, we didn't get to have the breakfast and I think it affected me all year long. I'm certain I was a bit grumpier, a bit less thankful, more crochety---all because I didn't get my "ya ya therapy" to end the year. So, by gosh and by golly, I offered to host the breakfast just so we'd all get together. Ah, the laughter, the food, the mimosas!!! We sat and sat and sat and before we knew it, 2 1/2 hours had passed. and we STILL didn't get all the gabbing in. But we had to stop--committments, schedules, work, all of those voices calling us away.

Now, as you can see, we take this "come as you are" theme SERIOUSLY---not one of us is worried about make up, hair, or even what we slept in!! We just jump and run at the chance to have breakfast with one another. And when it's over the hugs and kisses are flowing---as if it would be another year before we're together again (which isn't so), but it's such a special time for us.

And I hope each one of you know, Barbs, Penny, Dalene, Carol Ann, Jennifer, how very, very, very dear to my heart you are. Each of you complete one facet of my exciting life!!! I don't ever want to imagine life without ya!!~

Love and hugs to all!!!

Wheeeee!!!! We Made It Through Christmas!!!

We had a GREAT Christmas week. Yes, WEEK!!! We began with Christmas with my hubby's family last Sunday, Christmas Eve attending services & chili at our house, Christmas breakfast at our house, and Christmas evening dinner at my sister's house. We are nothing if not a bunch of piggies!!! My niece & nephew got a Wii and a Rock Star Band for Christmas. Did we ever have us some FUN!!! The picture above is my son and my nephew boxing on the Wii. It was soooo funny---they kept getting closer and closer to the TV; as if they were actually going to jump in the screen and box!

This is our annual family photo. Of course, Hank is the star of the pic! His mom is holding him, and his dad is behind him. That's my son (the 30 year old one!!!) standing next to Hank & his mom. And, of course hubby and me rounding out the pic. And I do mean "rounding" ha ha ha

This is the Rock Star portion of our entertainment. We all took turns--when one could pry the instruments and mic out of the other's hand!!! In this pic my sister is the lead singer--my son is on guitar---and daughter is on drums. When I tried the guitar we got booed off stage!!! Even the dog, Petey, wants in on the action. Actually, he was jealous of the attention the TV was getting. He kept finding his toys, jumping on the footstool and dropping the toys, as if to say "Hey this looks fun, right?"

I know I have told you about the cookie making Saturday we have each December. We've been doing this for the past 5 or 6 years, and intend to continue the tradition. This year, as I was out shopping, I found these aprons at Hallmark marked 40% off. And, I couldn't resist. So I got one for each of us (now why didn't I have mine on and get in the pic????). I even got an extra, you know, just in case!!! So, next year we have "official" aprons to wear!!! They had some for kids that said "Cookie Taster" and I may go back and get some of those. I'm sure we'll add little ones through the years---Hank was with us this year but he had NO interest in cooking!!!

It was a blessed and happy Christmas for all of us. I hope you found the same joy. And that you kept the meaning of Christmas in your hearts as you celebrated.

Happy Holidays!

Pressure Cooked!!!!

Hello there friends & foes!! This is what I have been looking at for the past four days, round the clock!! Well, not actually--I have been home at 10:00 each night, and back at it early the next morning, at least by 6:00 a.m. I know why people lived above their shops in days of yore.

Anyway, I am sooooooo glad that this is Wednesday evening. I have been fully, and I mean FULLY, booked through this evening. Why just today: 225 meals @ Saint Francis Labs by 11:00 a.m., lunch at church to oversee, 70 more meals at the Labs by 5:00 p.m. and then dinner service for 25 in Broken Arrow. At a home that was 12,ooo--that's taaaawelve thousand---square feet large. We only stayed in the two adjoining kitchens and served to the three dining rooms!!!!! It was ostentatious, arrogant, flamboyant, gaudy, --- could I think of more adjectives??? Probably. And to top it off, they had all of these oil pictures (is there a fancier name??) with scripture on them. And they were the coldest, most demanding bunch! Just what I feel Jesus himself would NOT have been!!! Now, if you read my blog, you know I'm a practicing Christian, but come on---if you're going to hang it on your wall, please, PLEASE, wear it on your sleeve!!!

Tomorrow I have a breakfast for 75, and two lunches---one for 10, and one for 45. Then a lunch for 40 to be picked up at 8:00 a.m. Friday, a lunch for 15 to deliver, then a dinner for 15 to deliver at 5:30. Whew!! I'll be glad when it's tomorrow night! Saturday is family cookie day, and I WILL NOT reschedule that! Even if I do have a lunch to deliver at 11:30 Saturday--it's here in town, so shouldn't be a problem. Monday a lunch in Sapulpa, Tuesday a lunch in Sand Springs and one in Tulsa, and then----MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! It's over for the year!!! I think I'm going to take off til January 15.

Well, friends--I may not be commenting on your blogs right now, but I'm reading you!!! And enjoying each word.

I'm just living in a pressure cooker!!!

Right??? Left??? Pause???

Decisions, decisions--I want to sit here and blog; no wait, I want to go to bed; no, no I want to look at magazines. What's a gal to do??? It's 9:00 p.m., I just finished a long day at both the kitchen and at church (cooking the evening meal), and I have to get up early tomorrow cause I have 3 large events tomorrow, 3 larger events Friday, and 3 more large ones on Saturday. Chase those with 2 large events on Sunday and you have my cocktail!!! Ha ha. But there is sooooo much I want to do!!



So, is everyone finished with shopping for the season???? Please, PLEASE say no. Please let me believe I am not in the minority!! I have a few things. We are really cutting back this year. Not for the reasons most -- we do have jobs. But it's just time dang it! Why does Christmas get bigger and bigger. And why do we feel the need to spend more and more??? I'm freakin tired of it---the rat race to buy the love and adoration of those we shouldn't have to; the need to have our gifts out do our friends; so the truck stops here! It's time to go with fewer "things" and spend more quality time. And save more for the future.





Speaking of spending----I was at a women's event last week, shopping in the temporary bookstore (that was set up just so women would spend even more~~~arg), and did find a stocking stuffer I wanted. So---I ambled over to the check out area which consisted of two lines. Wasn't that neat? Two lines instead of one so that we could get out faster. The lines, of course, were still 10-15 women deep. Picked me a line and, as I became the 3rd person in line instead of #15, a cashier looked at me (sweetly, of course, this WAS a Christian event) and said "I see you're paying with debit card--this is the cash & check line". I laughed and then realized she was serious! So, being the obedient gal I am, I slunk over to the next line and became, once more, #16! Now I made it all the way to being second in line when the cashier said to her co-worker "Oh my goodness, our credit card swipe machine has just overloaded!" Then she looked at the line and asked if they wanted to "trust" them with their numbers and they would process payment the next day. No, I said, I'll just write a check. Can you guess what she replied??? Can you??? Yep! She said, "Well the check line is over there" CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? She actually thought I would step out of my position of #2 and go back to being a "16" for the third time!!! I looked at her, ever so demurely, and said "I'm not getting out of this line!". I guess she saw the determination (read fire) in my eyes, cause she said "Ok honey I'll take your check here, but the rest of you--if you want to pay with cash or check, will have to go to the next line" I think it was a glimpse of shopping to come, and let me tell you, I am terrified!





Never fails, if there is a new and confused checker, I have a radar for them. If they are in training, or don't speak my language, or don't like their job, I can find them in a heartbeat!!! So you see--I am sooooo looking forward to shopping!!!




Well, hubby just stopped by to say "GO TO BED", so I'd better sign off for now.





Have a restful evening!

Hooray for Friday!!!

This is one Friday I am going to ENJOY!!! Beginning next Tuesday, I am booked each and every day and weekend!!! So, today is the day to finish cleaning & decorating around the house---that plus I have a family dinner here on Sunday afternoon. And, since I am away from the house so much anymore, cleaning & decorating are actually enjoyable-how sad is that?????

Last evening was the Christmas Gathering that many of my friends and churchmates attended. It was simply wonderful, just as anticipated!!! The workshops this year included decorating tabletops & doors, new goodies for stocking stuffing, women's health, and ---drumroll please---cooking!!! It was fun and refreshing. AND--we got lots of good food to eat & the recipes too! It was ended with a devotional which reminded all of us to put an internal emphasis on the blessings we have. What a fun night! I took my camera and fully intended to share pics, but after I dropped the camera in my purse, I promptly forgot about it!!!

Hey I have an idea--wouldn't it be neat to spread all the holiday options over 12 months? There are home tours, dinners, special events, all that I won't be able to attend. Just can't fit it all in 4 weeks; but if it were spread over 12 months---wow---I could do it all. And we could do away with the presents all on one night--maybe one a month. I think the pocketbook would appreciate that too! Well, it was a good idea--- Wait! That's what the birth of Christ does for all of us. The blessings He brought and the promises He gave last each and every month! We have churches to go into and celebrate each Sunday, we have His presence (presents) in our lives each and every day, and His blessings are multiplied as we give more and more of ourselves to Him!!! Ok--there you go---Christmas all year long!!!

Well, it's time---the boxes of ornaments and decor call to me---the dust and piles of "things" are begging to be put away, so I must go quickly to the "Grime Scene" and answer the "Call of the Soiled"!!!

All of you have a great day--enjoy the blessings of the season, and each day.

December Days

Happy December 1~~~

I love this time of year, and yet, it can be the most stressful time of all! Do you feel it whirling towards you? All of the shopping, cooking, cleaning, planning, card signing, event attending, etc., etc., coming faster and faster????????

Well, take a deep breath and repeat "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will be rejoice and be glad in it" I will, I WILL!!!!! These are the days we look back to as the "good ole days" and wish we had taken them with more care!

Yesterday, hubby and I forsook all responsibilities and (after church of course!), went to eat at a neat little restaurant, The Palace Cafe in the Cherry St district. Then we went to the Festival of Trees at Philbrook Museum. And then, my favorite of all!, we went to Utica Square and shopped at Williams Sonoma and Margo's. Two really big faves on my list! And we topped it off with a visit to Target---back to reality shopping--ha ha ha. It felt sooooo good to have no plan, just take our time and eat, browse and welcome the season. We haven't done that in such a LONG time. And may not for another long while, but it made me feel so settled. So ready.

I have a couple of things scheduled for this week and then---BAM! Next week it becomes marathon cooking once again!

My son turns 30! Yes, 30!!! His birthday is Saturday, and we'll have lunch for him on Sunday. Boy! That sounds like he has an old mother---NOT! It's all a state of mind as long as one doesn't look in the mirror or shop in the Jr Dept!! I think I'm pretty agile & hip for the mom of a 30 year old. I must say---I have enjoyed nothing more than being the mom of my two children. They have brought such joy and fulfillment to my life. I just wish I saw them more these days. You know--they think they have to have these separate lives!!

Went to visit my daughter, son in law and Hank on Saturday. My mom had not seen her new home, so my niece and I took her. Then we had lunch together. I am so proud for them. They have worked hard to get to this stage of life---his two terms in Iraq, moving multiple times over 5 years, living in a little shoebox for nearly a year, his staff infection (which is fine!), her pregnancy with him overseas until the last 5 days. Well, I know there are many, MANY others with like and more dire conditions, but I'm still happy and proud for them!

Now, it's off to clean the house before I go and do major cleaning at the catering kitchen. Getting ready for that whirlwind to hit you know! Enjoy the holidays!