New Year's Eve 2009: once in a blue moon

New Year's Eve 2009: once in a blue moon: "While celebrating the approach of a new year, remember to glance upwardly and search for the moon. Take a good look because what you'll see won't reveal itself again until 2028.
What you'll be witnessing on the eve of 2010 will be a blue moon, a phenomenon that has nothing to do with the color of our closest celestial neighbor. It will simply be the second full moon of the month.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On the average, an extra full moon in a month — a blue moon — occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990.
The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa."

Decorations are captured in my freshly-painted living room (a gift from Beth and Joe)

Tidbits are everywhere of Christmases past, and my skinny LITTLE Christmas tree is adorned with ornaments collected over the years, many were gifts from family and friends, and some who no longer share space on earth - which make these little lovelies even more special

the snowman on the trunk is from my mother who left me with so many lovely things made with love

the end-of-the-year blues

It never fails. The end of each year makes me very melancholy.
I get all emotional, recapping the major events of my life each year.
It is exciting to look forward to the new year with hope and anticipation,
but to let go of what was, leaves me sad and in a reflective mode.

Like the years my parents died. My Mom in 1985 and my Dad in 1988.
At the end of each of those years found me very sad because the following year(s)
I would not see them and that was such a sad feeling for me.

Now I am at the end of 2009 - and for this year's thoughts, I have the happiness
of my grandson. And I am so blessed for him because just the thought of him makes me
happy inside and puts a smile on my face and my ♥ is all warm and cozy.

So as I reflect on what will be in my memories for 2009 - of losing a cousin (Joey),
extended family (Nel), a friend (Helen), a young mother losing her fight with cancer (Heather),
and some other sad things, I welcome what will be in the days that lie ahead. Hopefully
our world can experience more peace and less war, less people out of work, and for
families to share meals around their dinner tables, thanking God for their blessings.

Goodbye 2009

Happy New Year to one and all

Keegan and his mommie came for a visit today @ the hospital and got to see 'Uncle' Paul

Psalm 118:8

'It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man'

Christmas Eve is my celebration with my children and Danny and Barb. It is also a special time and last night was extra special because of my little grandson, Keegan.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours

In preparation of Christmas, all the busy-ness.........decorating, shopping, card making........and now the time is at hand. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. This is my time with my girls.....always our day of celebration......our special Christmas time of being together. And so tomorrow afternoon, my home will be a-flutter with the girls, the sons-in-law, grandson, brother Danny and his wife, Barb, and of course, four dogs and one cat.

Welcome first day of winter.

And a Happy Birthday to my Daddy who would have been 94 today.

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other"

- Burton Hills

10 Christmas Tips

10. CARROT STICKS
Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
9. EGGNOG
Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare ... you cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnogoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
8. GRAVY
If something comes with gravy, use it.. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
7. MASHED POTATOES
As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
6. PRE-EATING
Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
5. EXERCISE
Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Years. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a ten-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
4. SANTA COOKIES
If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
3. PIES
Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin, mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
2. FRUITCAKE
Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
1. MOTTO
One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:


Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOOHOO! What a ride!"

♥

Ricochet

Service Dog - turned Surfer Dog

Clink on link to view video - it's a 'feel good' video    ♥

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

I'm coming back to life and am so happy to have energy again
living room - the big clean-up after the painting is almost done
the house is returning to normal - temporary storage boxes empty   
new sconces (thanks Danny)
Christmas tree - up and decorated
more decorations in the works, but more than half done

happy happy happy

fa la la la la.....la la la la  

♪♪♪♪   ♪♪♪♪   ♪♪♪♪

last week:  sick
coughing, sneezing, nose blowing, no energy
dragged into work each day

this week:  antibiotics, some energy
cough remains (it must be fond of me, apparently)
I wish it would take a hike

status of Christmas preparations
1 - no decorations
2 - no shopping (hence, no wrapping)
3 - no Christmas cards
4 - no baking

I confess that I envy all of you peeps that have your shopping done, gifts wrapped, decorations done, Christmas cards written and mailed, and baking done.   blessings to all of you

I am soooooooo behind  :-(       
In spite of all this, I still have Christmas spirit   (does that count for something?)
♥

In some ways,
we never leave this world.

Like the imprint of a leaf

on a sidewalk in autumn,

Like bright streamers in the street

after the parade passes by—

We are still felt, known and remembered

long after we have made our final voyage.

We are a memory

that warms the hearts of those we love

like a cozy afghan on a chilly night.

We are the echoes of laughter

and the lyrics of a love song

still enjoyed in the afterglow of a party.

We are the silhouettes in the bleachers

that encourage our champions on to victory.

We are the light held close

so those who follow may find their way.

We are part of a continuing stream

that welcomes the new

and cherishes the old.

Every season has its beauty

for those who seek to see it.

There is no ending, just new beginnings.

The curtain falls just to change the scenery.

Yes, in some ways

we never leave this world.

We live on

in the lives of those who know us

and through them

touch lives we never knew.

Rik Cryderman

♥

:-)~

'I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers.  It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage.  Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at.'

by Maya Angelou