Where has 2009 gone?

I just can't believe we are one week away from Christmas 2009 already. I've said it before - the older we get, the faster the time clicks away. I hate that.

But I do love the Christmas spirit and season. I actually decorated again this year! Yea for me! Zippy loves to lay underneath the tree...maybe it's the warm lights keeping him warm. Like he needs help with that will that fur his has!

As you know, I had a Great Blue Heron steal two of my koi this summer. Thanks to a very dear friend of mine, I had one of my "fish" replaced today. Albeit - it was a beautiful glass blown goldfish - but nevertheless. It is beautiful and I thank Thing 3 for that.

Hope everyone has their shopping done (not me) and their gifts wrapped (not me) and you are ready to just slow down a bit and enjoy family, friends and good cheer.

Bocce Ball - Game On!

The Sandbridge Bocce Ball Team (aka Team DNS) had opening ceremonies yesterday....and what a great day we had! Of course, I lost my first two games but the only way is up! Today we got rained out but not before I was able to win back my first two losses...so I'm 2 for 2 or an average of .500. I'll take it! We're gonna try again tomorrow if Mother Nature will let us have a couple of hours of fun! BTW - Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband...

Only 363 days to go!

Until we get to do it all again! I hope everyone had a happy Christmas and you were able to be with family and friends.

And I hope you're ready for the new year that's upon us. Let's all pray that the economy will turn around, that we'll get some of our life savings back into the bank and that none of us looses our jobs. It's a tough world out there - keep your fingers (and toes) crossed that the new year will be prosperous, rewarding, happy and healthy.

Enjoy your 2009 celebration. We're staying at home like we do most years, it's safer and cheaper that way! I have a prime rib ready to roast that night and I'm hungry for it already!

Happy New Year.

My Thanks...

Here is a re-print of my Thanksgiving post last year. I don't think any of the sentiment or meaning has changed - so I"m leaving it as is. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.



As we approach the holiday, we are suppose to reflect on what we're thankful for and pray that we have the same things next year that we can brag about. I wanted to post in this space a Thanksgiving "blessing" if you will, that I wrote from my heart probably 10 years ago expressing my thanks for everything in my life that I'm so very thankful for. But I cannot locate the paper copy. So I'll try to recall some of it from memory. I read this "blessing" as everyone was standing around the dining room table, hands joined, and mouths watering for the feast presented before us. I can remember my brothers, who are two of the most sensitive, grown men I know, sniffling and trying not to let anyone hear them. I recall saying that I was thankful and grateful for my extended family as we never turn anyone away when it comes to family fun and traditions. I had a fairly new sister in law at the time who has grown to become the true big sister I never had. And while my parents had been long divorced with Dad on the "left" coast, we never really lost touch of what family really means. It means accepting our loved ones despite their shortcomings, their faults and their bad habits - because we have them too. It means opening your heart and your home to those less fortunate - because we've had to do without at some point in our lives. It means accepting people for who they are - because you can't, or shouldn't, try to change anyone. Family to me is a feeling that no one else can take away. And for that - my family and my friends, I am forever grateful.

Have a wonderful, safe and happy holiday.

Belated Happy Fourth

Had a real nice Fourth of July long weekend. I took an extra day off last Thursday and enjoyed every minute of it. Hubby and I went to see the new movie Hancock. It's no Oscar winner, but it was very entertaining. Will Smith makes a funny super hero. Friday was a cookout at Mom's, Saturday was a cookout at the neighbors and Sunday was - about my favorite day of all. Rainy to boot! I gave equal time to both the sofa and my bed and never got out of my jammies. Loved, loved, loved that day! I did manage to cook us a steak for dinner in between rain storms, but that was about the highlight of my day.

The plants and grass are happy not to be burning in the afternoon sun today. The rain yesterday really helped. But it won't last long and I'm sure we could use many more days just like that to get us out of the negative on the rain gauge.

Is it July or August they call the dog days of summer? It sure is humid, I know that. We're thinking of a camping trip at the end of the month. I think we're a little crazy too. But they say it's a really cool campground located on the Chesapeake Bay up on the eastern shore. We'll see - we haven't quite made up our minds yet.

When is the next holiday?

Memorial Day

I just realized that I have put a post up for almost a week - geesh! Where does all my time go? Am I really THAT busy? Hard to say sometimes. I do know I come home tired each night and wait for it to get dark so I can go to bed. Silly rule, huh? My sister-in-law coined that phrase years ago - as long as it's dark outside, you can go to bed!

My favorite show had its season finale this week and what a trip! I just hate when they leave so many cliffhangers - come on, it's just not fair! They left us with a dead director of the unit and Gibbs with an entire new crew. And we don't like the new director - Leon. I agree with my friend - he has to go! And we can always hope that they do get rid of Leon and put Gibbs in charge of the unit. Now that would be fun! They didn't tell us what happened to Abby, so I assume she's still with us for next season.

My other favorite show did the same thing with the cliffhangers - but then again, if they didn't do that, how would they get you to come back in the fall? ER had it's season finale last week but unlike NCIS, we don't know which staff member bit the dust in the ambulance. September seems so very far away.

It's a holiday weekend and we're supposed to have wonderful weather! Might even go get my toes wet at Sandbridge on Monday - that will be the warmest day of the three.

Remember the reason for our holiday (that treasured day of sleeping in) and shake the hand of a serviceman when you see them and tell them Thanks!

Happy Memorial Day.