Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018

This past year has been a typical roller-coaster of a year...some good, some not-so-good.  But we finish it up in fairly good health, happiness and joy that our family and friends are well, and the hope for an even better 2018 to come.  

Blessings to you all...see you next year!

Week 52 and a bit - In Between

Wishing you a most awesome holiday.

Merry Christmas from John. Sally, Bette, Brscoe, and Gilligan.

Not a bad haul for 3 folks!

Santa thought we'd all been pretty good this year!

Kitty is exhausted - perhaps from exercising?

Week 52 - A Final Week to the Year

Can you believe it?  This is the final week of 2017.  I know we all say this but this year went so fast!  I can't believe how fast time seems to be flying as I get older.  Scary, really. 

This past week saw last minute wrapping of presents, prepping for a minor storm (just in case of snow and/or ice) and delivery of neighbor gifts.  We are now all snug in the warm house (temps are supposed to be below 30 degrees all day and the winds have picked up so that means even colder temps.) Defrosting some red beans for cajun red beans and rice dinner to be followed by our traditional White Christmas film viewing.  And, of course, awaiting the arrival of the Big Guy!  

Yesterday I looked out the window and saw this:

Deer grazing along the fence line and wild turkeys in the field.  Add to this the chickens (which you can't see) and the squirrel family who live in the barn, and you have a true country Christmas!  

Wishing you and yours a truly Merry Christmas.  Hoping Santa brings you everything you want and does not leave any coal in your stocking.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Week 51 - A Short Break

Yes, I totally forgot to write a blog post this past weekend and yes, I am regretful of that.  I will post this weekend, for sure...or maybe wait till after Monday so we have pictures of Christmas.  

Check back next week.

Sorry.

Week 50 - The Reason for the Season

I know, it's a cliche....but it's always true in my book.

Mom and I played hooky on Friday and went to the movies.  We saw The Star.

It's the story of Christ's birth, but told from the animals' perspective.  A delightful rendering of the Christmas story that brought us to happy tears.  I highly recommend it.  Once it comes out on DVD, it will join our favorite holiday movies!

On another note, our Elf on the Shelf showed up - late.  Bernard arrived today, a full 12 days later than the other elves have shown at other homes.  I guess, since we have no children in the household, he didn't feel the need to hurry.  

He landed in the bookshelves - seems he's also a reader, like me and mom! 

My local yarn shop, commonly known to knitters as LYS, got a new line of yarns in that just make me giggle. Mom likes them, too.  ASS yarns.  Rather irreverent but still make me smile.  

Here you see from left to right:

Jack ASS, Scary ASS, Cute ASS, and Not Gettin' Any ASS!  Those were my absolute favorites in the entire line. Will try to remember to show you the socks that come from them.  

It is getting colder here, just about every other day.  Warm, cold, warm, cold, etc.  And no rain in sight.  The last time we had significant rain was back in August...we really need some precipitation, and soon!  But, as far as I'm concerned, the snow can hold off indefinitely!

Thanks for stopping by...

Week 49- Decorating

We normally don't decorate for the holiday season until the weekend of John's birthday.  That would be next weekend.  However, this year I'm hosting a Bunco Group reunion game night tomorrow nite and I wanted to have the house decorated for that.  So, Mr. Wonderful dragged the boxes down from the Christmas Attic and I set out to decorate.  

 Some of my treasured nativities, along with our stockings that I made for us.And let's not forget my reindeer and his trusty Elf rider.

 On the right at the bottom is my frog that croaks out Jingle Bells - quite annoying but endearing anyway.

And finally, some of our Father Christmases and the tree...

We are ready for tomorrow nite!  

We got a package in the mail from Utah yesterday.  It contained school pictures for the 3 middle ones (youngest doesn't get her school pictures till the spring and the oldest is still deciding on her Senior Pictures)...also included was a beautiful picture of the entire family taken in the rotunda of the Utah Capitol Building...and several other groupings of the family. I cried, of course...but what made me start to gutweep was the following:

I think if you click on it, it will embiggen...and you can read it.  That little girl is precious, just like her siblings.  Made me cry big fat tears!

Hoping you all have a wonderful week.  Thanks for stopping by.