Happpy New Year's Eve!

We will be spending a quiet evening at home as usual on this crazy holiday.  R. went to a liquor store yesterday to get some prosecco and they had never heard of it!  I will be going out this morning to get some wine for my pork and sauerkraut tomorrow and I'll also pick up prosecco.  I have always gotten it at this particular store.  Other than that we'll just be here reading, etc.  I'll make cheese fondue later this evening and will have that with our prosecco...later...

Relaxing Holiday

This has been the absolutely BEST holiday in a long time!  Being with family for Christmas was perfect and since coming home we have just been hanging out, reading, drinking eggnog, watching tv, going to the movie, etc.  Today R. is going to Walmart for a few things and I'm going to vacuum, set a fire for this evening and then read some more of my new book.  Last night we went to Linda and Vic's for a delicious dinner.  She had ham, potatoes lionaise, and a carrot souffle which was really good.  Vic showed us the bar he is building in his basement.  We hope to christen it by May.  Again, another relaxing evening with friends.  I think this evening we'll have brie with bread and fruit and maybe watch a movie.  I'm hoping to see some football but don't know when or who is playing.  ....later...

Holiday Times

Yesterday we went to Knoxville to see The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo.  It did not disappoint.  We really liked it.  Mara Rooney is amazing!  It was pretty graphic..the rape scene was hard to watch..much harder than reading about it.  I saw 2 women walk out during that.  After the movies we had a late lunch at Olive Garden and then stopped at The Fresh Market on our way home.  Today we're pretty much just hanging out.  I had R. make eggnog one more time and we had a bit last night and just had one this morning while watching Semi-Homemade on tv and doing a puzzle.  R. is now going to throw wood up and I'm going to cut up a chicken for chicken salad and do some vacuuming.  We're going to Linda and Vic's for dinner tonight.  I am really enjoing this holiday..hanging out, etc.  Yesterday I got some new books at the library and finished the one I was reading that I really liked.  I found the new J.D. Robb books..New York to Dallas.  I started it this morning, but haven't gotten far at all.  I'll put on a few more Christmas pictures..The whole family at Jim and Becky's and just some family pictures...later...

Holiday Pictures..2011

Here are just a few..I'll send more.  Me with Eva and J.J.,  J.J. in his tie, Eva by herself
and Susan and Muir  with J.J. , the 4 grandkids and my 4 kids.  More later...                                                                                                                                                                                             

Superb Christmas!!!

We just had the best Christmas ever!  We left for Cincinnati on Thursday and stayed with Muir and Jim.  On Thursday we just hung out.  Friday I helped Muir get things ready for the big Christmas Eve at her house with the whole family.  Friday evening Jim and Muir, Richard and I and Maggie, Charlie and Eva went to Anne's house for Brunswick Stew...Yummy!  Saturday morning we took Jim and Muir and Anne to breakfast and then went back to Muir's to finish all of the preparations for dinner.  She made a delicious lasagna as well as tons of great appetizers and lots of sweets for dessert.  I took a lot of pictures, but R. hasn't put them on the computer yet.  When we got home yesterday he discovered he had a virus on his computer downstairs and spent all evening even into the night on the phone dealing with that.  To get back to Christmas..I got a lot of nice gifts!  I now have a new camera and a new phone as well as other sweet things.  Anne made me a book with the grandkids and kids in it.  I love that!  ON Christmas morning we opened gifts and had a breakfast casserole and then went to Raeburn(where the kids' father lives) and had a wonderful time there as well.  The roast beef was over the top!  We got home and stayed in front of the fire, but I went to bed pretty early.  Yesterday we got up and packed and then took Anne and the kids to Skyline before heading down the road to home.  Today I am doing laundry, unpacking and getting things together.  I'm hoping to see some movies this week.  There are several I want to see!  I hope to put pictures on tomorrow...later...

Out and About

I have an appointment this morning and then need to get gas and go to Walmart for a few things.  When I get home I'll be icing cooking and then preparing for our trip to cincinnati tomorrow.  I have a dental appointment at 8:30 and R. will pack the car while I'm there and then we'll head north.  Last evening we went to Texas Road house for dinner and shared a strip steak meal..very tasty.  When we got home we watched two shows on PBS.  The St. Olaf concert was excellent!  Today we may have rain on and off with more of the same tomorrow.  I hope it isn't too bad travelling.  ....later...

Fun Skyping

Yesterday we skyped with Maggie, Muir and Eva!  Eva didn't have a lot to say.  I just watch a video they sent of Eva eating peas for the first time.  She really seemed to like them.  Yesterday was a day of just relaxing and doing a few chores around here.  Today I need to put all of the dishes I used for the party away.  I've already done the ones that stay up here, but have the basement ones to deal with.  We may pick up the van(I'd rather be ditching it) and going to eat at Texas Road House.  Tomorrow I'll get a hair cut and do a few last minute things and then come home and get ready to leave for Cincy on Thursday.  Rain expected today on and off, but pretty mild temperatures.  I just hope it stays that way until we return.  It can get colder, just no snow, please...later...

Fun Party

We had a great time..Jim and Tommie and Linda and Vic met for the first time.  I guess everyone was hungry because I made tons of food and thought I would have a lot left over, but i didn't.  Of course the shrimp was gone as well as the ham and cheese that we cut for sandwiches.  Much of the spinach/artichoke dip was gone and most of the franks and a good bit of the cheese/crab dip as well.  I had a large plate of assorted cookies and just a few of those were left.  Of course R's eggnog was liked by Tommie and Vic.  Linda and Jim stuck to the nonalcoholic punch.  Today is to be spent in a most leisurly manner.  I have most of the dishes for last night washed, but not put away.  I mentioned going to a movie, but we decided we just want to hang out.  I can't wait for The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo to open.  Ronney Mara is the granddaughter of the owners of the Giants and Steelers.  She talked about all she had to do for this role..she had multiple piercings, learned to ride a motorcycle and had to smoke as well as a long committment for further movies..wow!  I just watched the cutest video of Eva!  Thank you....later..

A Quick Blog

Just a quick one on this chilly Sunday morning.  I'm starting to get things together for the party tonight.  I just cleaned my bathroom and am working on the food.  I know all will be done in a few hours and I can relax and work on the NYTimes puzzle and read.  I'm reading Sue Grafton's latest which I put on my Kindle.  I'm anxious to see how my 3 crock pot deal works out.  I'm putting crab/cheese dip in one, artichoke spinach dip in another and little hot dogs in a sweet/sour in the last.  R. cut the ham and I have coctail sauce to make for the shrimp.  What happened to our date to Skype yesterday?  I don't really have time today...later...

Christmas Movies

Last night we watched my favorite Christmas movie...The Bishop's Wife with Loretta Young, Cary Grant and David Niven.  I'm not one for watching movies over and over, but I do love this movie.  I don't like It's a Wonderful Life..some the the funny ones are okay, but this is classic!  We also watched Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwick and Dennis Morgan.  I had never seen that and it was cute.  This morning I have been baking.  I made my chocolate/cappacinno crumbles and my pecan/blue cheese savory cookies.  I also baked crostini and made my artichoke dip for tomorrow.  Ken is coming shortly with a load of wood and I need to clean up my kitchen mess..oh yes, I also baked buttered and salted pecans....later...

Shopping Early

Went to Kroger's this morning at 7 under dark and rainy skies.  I finished getting everything for the party.  R. wanted me to make sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies because they are his favorite and "he never gets them."  I told him I didn't have time, but then felt guilty, so got the dough already made at the store and feel guilty about doing that instead of going to the trouble of making them from scratch..  Guilt is a terrible thing...who invented it and are women the only ones who feel it?  Anyway, tomorrow will be a baking day and we are supposed to get out last rick of wood delivered.  It's supposed to be nice and sunny.  We will probably go to the gym this afternoon, but I hate to go out again in this sloppy mess.  Last year at this time we had an ice storm..happy we just have rain today..later..

Spring Weather

Yesterday it was 68!  Linda and I walked the Greenway and it was lovely.  It's about the same today, but rain is coming in later.  Richard and I watched the whole Nutcracker on PBS last night.  I was surprised he lasted through it, but he really liked it..Balanchine was the best!  I remember when I took the kids to the Cincinnati Ballet to see it.  The girls liked it, but Trip put his coat over his head for the whole second act.  We also watched Barbara Walters 10 most interesting people last night.  I disagree with her choices as did many, according to what she said on The View yesterday.  Not much to do today..gym this afternoon.  It won't be nearly as much fun as walking outside was yesterday.  Tomorrow I'll go to Kroger's and get the rest of what I need for the party on Sunday.  Saturday and Sunday will be cleaning and getting food prepared...Can't get enough of those Eva pictures..keep them coming..later...

Effin, Ireland!

There is a woman on Facebook from Effin(I guess this is the right spelling), Ireland.  Anyway she i talking about all of the other"Effin people around the world who are from there, etc, etc.  Today I will finally get around to my basket of ironing and clean my kitchen cupboards.  It is supposed to be very nice this afternoon, so I'm going to call Linda and see if she is up for a walk.  Tonight the Nutcracker is on PBS and I'll try to cajole R. into watching it.  Nothing else of note...later...

Baking...

I have one bar recipe in the oven and I have another cracker recipe to put together but am not baking those today.  It is for a blue cheese/pecan savory cracker that I will bake for our party on Sunday and then take the other half of that recipe for Christmas Eve at Muir's.  R. has gone to the dentist to have his new crown put in and then he's off to Walmart.  When he gets home I'll be making a white bean and pasta soup for dinner.  A warm day here..up to 58 with the 60s coming in the next few days.  I hope this weather holds through next week.  Had a wonderful night of uninterrupted sleep last night..Didn't wake up until after 6 and then slept until 7:30!!...later...

The Help Weekend

I saw The Help at the theater, but R. had not seen it.  We watched in on demand Friday evening.  Yesterday Richard called and asked if we wanted him to bring The Help over so we could see it with him.  When I said no he asked if I didn't want to see it again..again, no!  I loved it, but I'm not one to watch movies more than once.  There are a few exceptions.  Dinner last night went well.  Richard seemed better than he has in a long time.  The family living with him is proving to be a positive thing.  They did all of his decorating and even decorated the outside.  I have a few things to do this morning and if I finish in time I'll do the gym...later...

Brrr

The tree is up and decorated but I need to dust and vacuum.  Richard, Jr. is coming over today for dinner.  I still have a few decorations that I can't find a place for.  I really don't have anything new this year and I can't figure out why.  One is a large Christmas plate that just doesn't match with my table and I can't find a place for it.  While it's really cold this morning we should get up into the high 40s.  We finished off the eggnog that R. made yesterday..delicious.  We'll make more for our party next week.  Linda and Jim don't drink, but the rest of us make up for them.  Tonight's menu is..ham, scalloped potatoes, roasted asparagus, arugula greens with pears and walnuts in a rice wine vinagrette.  I bought a key lime pie for dessert.  ....later...

Quick Blog

Today's plans call for decoraing the tree.  Googy us stayed up until 2 last night listening to Christmas music.  We got up at 8 and R will first make eggnog while I get out the ornaments.  Yesterday we had lunch at Cheddar's and then went to Lowe's, Michaels and K-Mart.  Just let me say..I really do not like Michaels.  The aisles are so crowded you can't get by and I can never find what I want.  We were in need of some trees for our mantle and did find a bag of trees of assorted sizes..just what we needed, but it was 21 dollars.  We left without any and decided to go to K-Mart.  We found the exact same bag of trees for 11 dollars.  I also picked up a poinsettia there.  Now I need to get busy on today's chores...later..

Today's Plan

I just finished wrapping all of my Christmas presents and have yet to put everything away, but I'm working on it.  From here our plan is to go out to lunch and then to Lowe's to get a new bird feeder and then to Michaels for a few things I need for the mantle.  When we get home we're going to spread pine needles along the back of our yard which is currently a muddy mess.  That part gets no sun due to the woods in back and every winter it is messy.  Since we have tons of pines in our front we also have tons of needles and that works well.  It's currently cold, but by this afternoon it should be around 50.  Tomorrow is decorate the tree day...later..

Sunshine and Very Cold

We Tgot around to putting Cds on our player.  It's a 5 cd player and I picked out 5 of our favorites..Judy Collins, Josh Groban, Kathleen Battle and Winton Marsallis, The Roches and The Chieftans Bells of Dublin which is a compilation of many greats.  I'm not sure how many Christmas cds we have, but well over 50.  Some we never play and I don't really like.  When I was teaching I always played cds in the classroom and the kids really liked it.  Since we won't be here for Christmas we're having Richard, Jr. over on Sunday for dinner.  We'll put up the tree on Saturday.  I was thinking of doing something Italian, but R. wanted a ham so we'll do that.  I really need to start wrapping the gifts, but maybe will start that tomorrow.  I guess we'll go to the gym this afternoon...later..

Yukky Weather!

I had an appointment this morning and from there started at Target.  I was able to finish the grandkid shopping there with J.J.'s gifts.  From there I went to the mall and just let me say I only go to the mall when Max is here and I take him to bungie jump.  After that I went to Hastings where they were out of what I wanted and then to the Post Office to mail my holiday cards and finally to the library.  It rained buckets the whole time I was out.  I was going to the gym this afternoon, but I've had it.  I'm going to start a new book and read all afternoon!  It looks like the rain is subsiding, but it's getting colder and snow is predicted for the mountains.  We're just supposed to get flurries.  R. has to redo the lights on the deck.  Last night when he was bringing in the bird feeders he caught one of the light cords and snapped it in half.  Tonight will definitely be a fireplace night.  It's been too warm for the last several days. ...later..

FYI

For anyone interested in gifts from Bath and Body Works there are some printable coupons on line today.  One that I know of is make a 10 dollar purchase and get at 13.dollar gift.  There are others as well.  Other news..it's pouring down, but still pretty warm.  I'm hoping it will stop by tomorrow morning as I plan to go out and do errands and get in some shopping.  Other than that I have nothing..I was cutting up veggies for snacks today but was interrupted when R. got up and needed breakfast.  That was my chance to blog and get online.  Now I'm going to finish..later...

Christmas Chores

We got the outside done yesterday and I got most of the inside done.  The tree may go up next weekend.  This morning I started the laundry and then started baking.  I have one banana nut bread baked and one orange/cranberry nut bread baked.  I'm going to do another orange, but ran out of eggs.  R. went to the store this morning and I'll finish that when he gets back.  He had tons of stops to make.  I did the mantle yesterday, but wasn't satisfied with it so started to redo it this morning.  We also need to put up a garland and I need R's help for that and then I'm going to start over on the mantle.  We're supposed to get loads or rain, but it hasn't started yet.  I'm hoping it will wait until R. gets home.  It's after 12 and I haven't even started to fold the laundry.   Christmas is a lot of work!...later..

Good Movie

We had lunch at O'Charley's and then saw The Decendents.  I really liked it..great cast, great music, funny and sad.  After the movie Jim said he was going home and taking an anti-depressent.  We came home and watched some golf and watched Va Tech get murdered!  Very sad!  Today we have a lot to do..decorating, etc.  Muir..make sure you read your email..news there.  When we got home yesterday our leaves had been done and everything looked great!...later....

It's a Process

I got quite a bit done yesterday..decorating wise.  I still have the mantle to do and all of the outside stuff, but that will happen tomorrow.  Today we're meeting Jim and Tommie for lunch and a movie in Knoxville.  We're seeing the Decendents..can't wait.  I'm hoping to finish my Christmas shopping this week and get the package to Cincinnati sent.  Muir, I'll send it to you since everyone will be at your house on Christmas Eve.  I was at Kroger's this morning by 7:30 and home by 8.  I got gas for 2.87..Hoping for Tech to play their best tonight!...later..

Decorating has Begun....

I's a long and slow process, but I have started.  So far I swept the front stoop and changed the welcome mat from fall to Christmas and brought down the Christmas fireplace rug.  I pulled out the bin with  soft things in it such as throws, place mats, etc.  I've also begun to put away my pictures and things on the tables.  My dressing room becomes a repository for many things as does our bedroom.  Later I'll get out my Santa collection and put them on the buffet.  R. is ailing.  He has chest congestion and I gave him a pill last night for congestion.  I got into bed before he came back and when he came back it became clear to me that if I wanted a good night's sleep I would need to relocate.  I went upstairs and slept well.  He is feeling okay today, but not great.  I'm hoping he is up to putting the lights on the deck railing.  That shouldn't be too trying.   Tomorrow we're planning to go to Knoxville, meet up with Jim and Tommie for lunch and a movie.  Va. Tech and Clemson play tomorrow night...Go Tech!!...later...

Critters

Since last year when we had no dogs we started getting various critters at our bird feeders.  When possums and raccoons started coming and destroying things we had to bring in the feeders on the deck every night.  That was a pain, but we got used to it.  We also had gotten corn to feed the squirrels, but why would squirrels eat corn when they have sunflower seeds.  Anyway, R. decided to put corn out last night.  I was against it as I was afraid it would just draw unwanted critters to the deck.  I was right!  I put an ear of corn on the corn holder and this morning  the cob was off the nail and all the corn gone.  That's the end of that!  I got up early this morning and cleaned my kitchen and need to put my Christmas sheets on the bed and try to find legos toys for Max on line.  The guys who do our leaves should be here either today or tomorrow as it is finally dry and will get to 54 both days and warmer over the weekend.  I want to get to the movies, but we also have out Christmas stuff to get up...;later...