HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The New Year is about to be born!!

And we are here to encourage and welcome it with open arms and heart!
We give it our blessings so it
grows wise and wonderful
ages peacefully and quietly
and
enriches lives all over the world.

Wake up little one.
We are here all waiting for your
eyes to open.
We await your
first smile, first word and
first step.

We also respectfully say good bye and thanks to the old year
who worked so hard for the world to survive
so it could pass it's staff to the next one in line.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE!!!

--------------------------------

2011 we lost a cat and a dog to old age.
Tatty was close to 18 and Nugget was 15.
Now we still have Precious who my son found down town and brought home
She stayed in the bathroom 5 days before any one noticed she was there lol
She was a tiny thing.
She grew up in Tatty's shadow and loved him so much.
If ever there was another cat near her she would scream blue murder and Tatty would come running to her rescue. He was her hero.

Well Tatty is gone and she has only herself to depend on now.
She was always a timid cat and never listened to anything anyone said to her... till today.
Now when she wants to eat she meows at the front door to be let in and meows to be let out.
When its cold she comes to the back door to scratch on it like Tatty did and then the back window.
When I wave to her to go to the front door, it took her a while but she figured it out and runs back to the front door to be let in.
Amazing.
When one has to, even old dogs can learn new tricks.
:)

A man is stumbling through the woods totally drunk when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river.

The drunk walks into the water and bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of booze.

Whereupon he asks the drunk, 'Are you ready to find Jesus?'
'Yes I am' replies the drunk, so the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the river.

He pulls him up and asks the drunk, 'Brother have you found Jesus?'

The drunk replies, 'No, I haven't.'

The preacher, shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again, but for a bit longer this time. He pulls him out of the water and
asks again, 'Have you found Jesus, my brother?'
The drunk again answers, 'No, I have not found Jesus.'

By this time the preacher is at his wits end so he dunks the drunk in the water again, but this time he holds him down for about 30
seconds.

When the drunk begins kicking his arms and legs, the preacher pulls him up.

The preacher asks the drunk again, ‘For the love of God, have you found Jesus?’

The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher,
'Are you sure this is where he fell in?’

A Designers' Dream

click to enlarge

Gucci Jolt starts the New Year with a colorful array of beautiful designer

motifs on their dresses suits and accessories.

Makes you feel alive just looking at the clothes.

Some would argue with the fur collar but I saw a program where an older gentleman

picked up road kill and made beautiful hats and collars out of the fur .

I should not think animal lovers would complain about the use of already dead animals.

The gentleman did not say what he used to treat the fur or if he sent it away to be done for him but his finished hats were beautiful and he had no problem selling them.

Have a Great Day!

-------------------------

A young man went to a lake for a swim but when he got there, he realised he had forgotten his swimming trunks.

Since there was nobody about, he decided to jump in naked. An hour later, he climbed out and was just about to get dressed when he saw two old ladies approaching.

He hastily grabbed a small bucket, held it over his privates and breathed a huge sigh of relief. But when the old ladies started to stare at hi, he felt decidedly awkward.

One said to him: "You know, I have a special gift. I can read minds. And I bet I can read yours."

The young man scoffed: "So you reckon you know what I'm thinking, do you?"

"Yes," she said. "Right now, I bet you think that the bucket you're holding has a bottom."

The New Year Kick!

The New Year always needs to kick start with a few new things.

Just because we are aging, doesn't mean we can't look a bit young and trashy lol

Now I love those leg warmers . Even without heals they will slim line any leg.

The leather jacket is just devine, I can see this brightening up the look of every woman added with a new haircut.

I love the fashion bug look for home entertaining

and with catherines you can mix and match the top with different skirts and pants.

The maggie barnes is for the romantic evening out with your loved one.

Makes me wish to take out my sewing machine although for these prices they are very affordable and not worth the effort to make at home unless you like the dresses with a lining, which I do.

Once you shed the old look, the new you, will walk into a brighter future, a new era, the Mayan Calendar set forth for us.

:)

------------------------

New Year Clean Up

We can begin the new year by developing a new world free of garbage.
This new plastic is biodegradable and safe and the old bags can be melted at home and reused.



If all plastic was made bio degradable, which we know can be done today,
we would not need to worry about our environment.
This includes replacement of all stero foam used for meat packaging.



A great project to promote as a New Year resolution.

:)
-------------------------

I recently asked a friend, "Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?"

"Yes, he wants to be a garbage collector," my friend replied.

I had to think about that one for a moment! "That's a rather strange ambition to have for a career." I finally managed to reply.

"Well," said the boy's father, "he thinks that garbage collectors only work on Tuesdays!"

Fill Err UP lol

A little fun for New Years lol





==============================================================================

I have to try this and then sue the car manufacturers if it works lol




Have a good one :)

Another Christmas Story

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front.. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer..

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

This is a great story.

The Perfect Christmas

This was a perfect Christmas for me this year.

I love blogging because I can share in why it was a perfect Christmas.

I made this picture which is a personal card I can send to all my friends and relatives

as well as my blogger friends.

My son made his gingerbread house on Christmas Eve and we all took part watching him do it.

The candle he gave me for Mother's Day and it smells so good

The egg I of course drew from a Christmas card my cousin sent me.

And Mary Joseph and Jesus was a gift I got from my son for Christmas.

I don't know how he knew I wanted one or where on earth he found it cause I never saw any around the stores.

I put it all together with a Picture I got from Bali . It was painted by a group of children sitting in a circle and this picture was passed around from 5 year olds to older children until it was finished and framed.

Each had a job to do on it.

This is why it is very special to me.

So now I put all the good meaningful things together and made this post card with a story to tell.

I had a perfect Christmas and

This is my world.

:)

May Each Day Be A Good Day!

JOY TO THE WORLD!!!



Hope you are all enjoying a Blessed Day with Family and friends.
:)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Jesus Christ was born this day
So many years before
He came a servant to the lost
Though he was Lord of Lords

We celebrate this joyous time
Reflecting on His birth
Not born in a mansion, but a stable
As if He had no worth

He came so He could identify
With the human heart of man
And gave His life as a sacrifice
Offering a better plan

A plan that reconciles us back
To our loving Father God
Bringing hope and redemption from
Sins ruling iron rod

For this is the only reason that we
Should celebrate this day
To become focused on anything else
Would take the meaning away

So let’s arise with joy in our hearts
And share it with everyone
The meaning of Christmas will always be
The birth of Jesus – God’s son

© By M.S.Lowndes

Goat Humor

Goats always make me giggle.
I love them because they are so mischievous
and always on the look out as to what they can do.
I had one who just looked for my behind to butt with his head
so when ever I was around it I had to make sure there was a wall or a column
or something behind , other wise he would go around and head on in.
No matter what you did though he would find something to bother you with.
If he couldn't get your butt, he'd begin chewing on your pants lol
He knew you did not belong in the barn
and was helping you to decide to leave.

I guess goat milk would make great mozarella cheese Its so easy to make at home.

Today I made rice and meat stuffed phyllo dough and a dish my Mom always made out of eggplant, carrots tomatoes onions and garlic.
The eggplant is baked and skinned.
Then you fry chopped onions garlic carrots in a bit of oil adding tomato and the eggplant.
Simmer everything. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
Once it is cooled its great as a spread with crackers or bread for a snack or to add on the plate with other things.
I love it.

This kept me busy the whole day. Cooking is not an easy job. So many dishes result from it.
Best not to cook lol
Have a good one. :)


The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While
they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their
son what they were having.
"Goat," the little boy replied.
"Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Today is just as
good as any to have the old goat for dinner.'

Christmas Deli

This was my first attempt at making home made sushi.

I finally didn't forget the sea weed.lol

The sushi had sticky rice (which really is sticky) which is really needed

to hold the sea weed wrapped. Inside I had thinly sliced cucumber , avocado,

crab .celery, and of course fresh salmon.

After getting my orders as to who wanted what inside them, I made 5 sheets until I ran out of rice and avocado. I should have bought more than one avocado. The thing, is they were all green and I needed a ripe one.

My husband said don't make too much to try it out.

I have to say, it was a hit in my house.

Now my son is telling me to teach him how to make it.

Next time, my son the chef, will become a sushi pro.

He still did not make the ginger bread house and it is getting dangerously close to Christmas already.

Sushi goes great with hockey and midnight snacks :)

------------------------

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began.

The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact, I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing."

The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trash cans. After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. "This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on,

I'll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans." The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.

"Look," he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?" "A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!" And the old man enjoyed peace.

What is Love?

There are no words
To express my feelings
The heart that lived
became a cerebral hemisphere

I used to feel and
Now I think and
In words
So nothings' real.

I used to feel
Without the words
And now I think
With words,
That have no meaning

And what is love?
A thought or feeling?
A heart pierced by Cupids' arrow
Or a mere conscious recognition
That loves' a word
A word
Without a meaning.

I once was love
A Cupids' heart
A feeling without words.
And now I rest
Attached to words
Which can't be seen or touched or heard
But they are valued more than love
Since they express the great
I AM.
Philosophers say words exist
But
Without feelings
Where is love?
Where can I touch it
See it.
Feel it.
It's lost, to words,
Found in a brain,
That lives totally
Alone.

My heart's my soul
My soul is one
With all the heavens and all the suns
My soul is love
A wordless feeling
That needs no thinking
To be real.
Oh tis true that love is blind
It's quiet, peaceful , speechless
Absorbed in all it is,
In life, in breath and feelings
A Lady's Life

What Teachers Teach

(click to enlarge)

These beautiful stones are from our beach here in Tsawwassen.
They looked so nice when wet but when they dried, they looked like regular rocks

But we had the greatest teachers at Gray Elementary and during the summer they would travel
and then come back to teach their kids new things.

Rock tumbling was one of them.
They did a project at school and the kids went home with beautiful rocks to show their parents.
Now we can buy ready made stones like this but to know how to make them is indeed Something.
Of course they get Moms like me interested in such projects lol
There is nothing I love more than to learn about such things.

So we went to Cloverdale where they had the local flea market and Western apparel, since we were getting into horse country.
There I found a little store with tons of little things and one of them being these little rocks.
They also sold the rock tumblers.
I couldn't help myself and bought one to try and these beauties were the result.
Who would have thought regular rocks could turn into something so special.
The thing about rocks is that what you find on the west coast is different from what you find on the east coast, so you never get the same stones.

These kids at Gray, were so lucky to have such wonderful teachers who actually went out of their way to teach them what they learned over the summer holidays.
(As well as their Moms lol)
---------------------------------
If I were ol' Santa, you know what I'd do
I'd dump silly gifts that are given to you
And deliver some things just inside your front door
Things you have lost, but treasured before.

I'd give you back all your maidenly vigor,
And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure.
Then restore the old color that once graced your hair
Before rinses and bleaches took residence there.

I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted
So things now suspended need not be uplifted.
I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back
Till you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks.

I'd remove all your wrinkles and leave only one chin
So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease on your skin.
You'd never have flashes or queer dizzy spells,
And you wouldn't hear noises like ringing of bells.

No sore aching feet and no corns on your toes,
No searching for spectacles when they're right on your nose.
Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny,
From a doctor who thinks you're a nervous old granny.

You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you take.
And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache.
Yes, if I were Santa, you'd never look stupid,
You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of a cupid.

I'd give a lift to your heart when those wolves start to whistle,
And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle.
But alas! I'm not Santa. I'm simply just me,
The most humble of helpers you ever did see.

I wish I could tell you all the symptoms I've got,
But I'm due at my doctor's for an estrogen shot.
Even though we've grown older, this wish is sincere,
Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year.

:)

Beaudeer

Yesterday we went shopping to the mall.
Many stores were closed and replaced with offices which seems apropo since they built a huge building attached to it which has part of a college in it.
It's easier to get a passport now and to get fingerprinted with the RCMP lol

Things change very quickly.Sears was replaced by Winners, and T&T a Chinese grocery store, which was fun to go to but expensive.
The other stores were more or less just a whole bunch of racks with clothes hanging on them and
people were looking through them probably thinking the same thing I was thinking.
If I brought all my second hand clothes and hung them on the racks, they would sell like brand new and no one would know. The stores all look more like thrift stores.
In fact, thrift stores are better organized than these stores are today.
There were many items for Christmas like chocolate and candy and Christmas trees but
no decorations like we are used to in the past. No window dressings, no celebration
which makes this holiday special as it used to be in the past.
So we looked around got a burger and came home with only a hat my son got which looks kinda cool on him and very warm.
We got home to find Beau ready to help Santa pull his sleigh. Even though he seems to have a gray mustache, he was eager to get started lol
Then we watched nice family Christmas movies to finish the day.
We'll have to try another mall next time.
Maybe it will be brighter and more fun to shop in.

Hope you had a good one.
:)

Bears Hunger and Christmas

My Cousin used to sell these bears and he brought my son one.
We dragged it along everywhere we went. lol

I remember when we first got married and I was a young wife wanting to please my hard working hubby.
He got me a cook book before we got married and I treasured it. It was a Betty Crocker one and it had the best recipes I was dying to try.
I lost it or it was stolen or both and I am so sad because it meant a lot to me.

So I would prepare a romantic candle light supper and he'd come home, at first very obliging but as time passed , he was not always so romantic.
Finally he said : "Don't you know I have to unwind when I get home?
And you force me to the table right away."
Well of course my feelings would get hurt and I'd lash back: " Well I am not giving you supper at 10PM. You eat when you come home or forget about it."
Honey moon over lol

So to make a long story short, he got into the routine of eating when he got home.

Time went by and one day I thought, would be nice to make some entrees, have some wine etc.... unwind before supper.
It takes a while to make things just right and I was quite proud and happy with my
achievement and couldn't wait for him to get home.

Finally he walked through the door, sat down to eat and when he saw what I did he proclaimed:
"What's this? I am hungry! I want to eat!"

Oh boy. Again hurt feelings.
Don't you want to unwind?
I thought I'd treat you to the unwinding part. lol

No, this man came home a hungry bear and was not happy about this unwinding part.

Geez!

It was almost as bad as when we'd go to sleep, I'd like my windows open and he wanted them closed. We would spend the whole night opening and closing the windows.lol
Could be called irreconcilable differences lol.

Then I would wait till he fell asleep and inch my way to the edge of the bed so as not to wake him, to open the windows and he'd grab my hand just as I got up and we'd laugh.
This was our nightly adventure. Trying to get out of bed. lol

I still like to sleep with my windows open and he likes them shut .
Thank God he had business trips when I could sleep how I wanted.
I still think sleeping with open windows is the best.

In winter my room had electric heating, I'd turn the thermostat down and open the window, just a smidgen.
Curled up under my toasty blankets, I had the best sleep ever.
In the morning I'd wake up with a red nose and I'd go to the window to see it full of snow.

This was the best part cause I'd watch the snow flakes and look at the fresh crystals in a powdery white mountain collecting up the window but not disturbing the place where it was open.
These are good memories of my youth. I wonder why my Mom never closed the window?
She always made sure I slept on time but she never complained about my open window.
My husband made up for it though.
We are still children lol

Are you on Santas' Good List?




A Canadian salesman checked into a futuristic hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
Realizing he needed a haircut before the next days meeting, he called the desk clerk to ask if there was a barber in the hotel. The desk clerk said no but down the hall is a vending machine that will serve your purposes. Intrigued the man found the machine and inserted 15 dollars and stuck his head into the opening. The machine began to buzz and when he pulled his head out he had the best haircut ever.
Two feet away was another machine giving manicures. So he thought why not. He paid 20 dollars and 2 minutes later he had an excellent manicure. He was really impressed.
The next machine had a sign reading: This machine provides a Service Men need when away from their wives. The price was 50 cents.
The salesman looked both ways and seeing no one was around he unzipped his fly and with some anticipation stuck his manhood into the opening.
When the machine started buzzing , he let out a shriek of agony and almost passed out.
15 seconds later it stopped and shut off.
With trembling hands he pulled out his tender unit........which now had a button sewn neatly at the end.

Have a good one!

Lights to Enlighten

These lights indeed enlightens the soul to watch
but here Is Cary Grants story to bring tears to your eyes.



Love of family leaves us with so many memories.
It is sad to see there are more people choosing to
live the single life and will never witness
what a Mother and Father do.

The birth of a sweet angel, puts
everything into perspective.

Children and childrens' children will call him blessed,
whose birthday we celebrate each year

Jesus, the son of a loving Father,
brought into this world, to help resolve all its' woes,
To wipe away tears and hunger and pain.

Some would say he is succeeding and some would say
we still have a long way to go.
But as long as he lives in our hearts
he brings to life a conscious soul
and harkens it into action
to do good and so show love and kindness
so others may pass it forward.

Santa gets milk and cookies but we have lights to replace candles
we send out into the heavens, in hopes
they spread, enriching the word ,as the stars become aware.

Once upon a time, a midnight light
showed the way to a lowly manger
wherein the son of God lay
kicking his tiny feet and smiling into the eyes
of love.

Such beseeching beauty lies in this story and it is repeated
in every family not just at Christmas but every day.
A new birth. A fresh breath. A new beginning.
A new desire to live, explore, protect,
And so much heart break and suffering when a loved one is lost to us forever,
resurrected in the memories of his kind words, deeds and generous life.

Indeed. So many memories to unfold and teach future generations,
on so many stars and galaxies
as well as a hidden manger, in a poor lowly stable.



Have a good one.:)

Walnut +Christmas Tree

(click to enlarge)

Today I had fun setting the tree up.
I have two trees I use every year. One is 20 years old and the other one is smaller and younger but I use it on my front porch.
Usually the indoor one I leave bare now that the kids have grown. I like it all with white lights and watch it turn in the front window.
It looks nice from the outside this way too.

This year I had a little fun.
I got a few little birds, such as the ones I have in my back yard and attached them to the boughs.
And I had a few clip on butterflies, so I clipped them on.
I found an old artificial flower branch so I clipped off the flowers and stuck them in.
The Cat in the Hat likes to stay in the tree year round. Once I had the tree full of these small stuffed toys but I packed them away and do not want to go looking for them.I want to make shelves for the toys and then they will all be displayed and used when they need to be.
Then I found a string of bells but I don't like how they hang on the tree so I clipped them apart and threaded them so I have many bells all over the tree.

But the most fun I had was with the walnuts.

The walnuts are so easy to open, I will never use a nut cracker again.
I used tweezers which I stuck between the two halves from the bottom wide side of the nut.
I twisted the tweezer and the nut cracked open, in half. Its easy to take out the insides from the two halves this way.
Then I cut a piece of thread and placed a piece inside one of the halves, leaving the rest hanging outside.
Then I put tacky glue on the other half and glued the walnut back together.
It looks as good as new except now I could hang it from the tree and no one will know it's empty.lol
I thought maybe to spray it gold but they look so nice natural. I am tempted to make more to hang.
They don't even need a ribbon on top.
I wanted to make some paper cranes for the tree but I don't know how to make them so I guess I will try to get some nice wrapped candy to hang.

I do have some nice acorns I can also hang off the tree but I think they too are packed away.
What I like about BC is you can collect so many acorns around here. They would look nice silver tipped hanging off the tree.

I got a Ginger bread house to make and want to see if I can get my son to take part in it. It used to be something he loved doing at school. and then at home.
I would love to keep the tradition going.
We do so little together and he is still my baby lol.

Well have a good day every one.:)

P.S. Michael Moores exerpt on Capitalism is enough to make you want to puke.

No one could explain derivatives to him lol

A Primer: Understanding Derivatives/trading in securities

Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit ...

She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar.

To solve this problem, she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later.

Heidi keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around about Heidi's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in Detroit .

By providing her customers freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages.

Consequently, Heidi's gross sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit.

He sees no reason for any undue concern because he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral!

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make huge commissions, and transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS.

These "securities" then are bundled and traded on international securities markets.

Naive investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as "AAA Secured Bonds" really are debts of unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb - and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.

One day, even though the bond prices still are climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar. He so informs Heidi.

Heidi then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons. But, being unemployed alcoholics -- they cannot pay back their drinking debts.

Since Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and Heidi's 11 employees lose their jobs.

Overnight, DRINKBOND prices drop by 90%.

The collapsed bond asset value destroys the bank's liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community.

The suppliers of Heidi's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the BOND securities.

They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds.

Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.

Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multibillion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government.

The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, nondrinkers who have never been in Heidi's bar.

Now do you understand?

Crochet Sweater Dress for Baby

This is a sweater dress for a baby I made over 30 years ago . I either did not do the sleeves on purpose or didn't finish it.
Now I don't know where the pattern booklet is stored lol
In front it has holes for tie ribbons
It also has holes to put a ribbon through the bodice so as to tie up the waist.

It is more for a girl than a boy.
Vintage crocheting is still the nicest because you cannot really buy them in the store.
In Italy they have beautiful stuff but it is very expensive as the lace is hand made.
It pays to find silk thread, which is what they used in the 40's and 50's.

This one needs a little soak so get the age out of it.
Its never been used. lol
-------------------------------

We brought our newborn son, Justin, to the pediatrician for his first checkup. As he finished, the doctor told us, "You have a cute baby." By smiling, I said, "I bet you say that to all new parents."

"No," he replied, "just to those whose babies really are good-looking."

"So what do you say to the others?" I asked. "He looks just like you."

-------------------------------

A woman came from a large family of five sisters and four brothers.

One day she was looking through the family photo album when she noticed that in picture after picture, all of the children were dressed i matching outfits.

Later, she asked her mother why everyone - even the baby - was dressed identically.

Her mother replied: "When we had just four children, I dressed you alike so that we wouldn't lose any of you. Then when the other six came along, I started dressing you alike so that we wouldn't pick up any that didn't belong to us!"
------------------
The father of a school boy in New York City wrote to the boy's teacher a letter of complaint. Possibly he welcomed the advent of prohibition--possibly not! Anyhow, the letter was as follows:

"Sir: Will you please for the future give my boy some eesier somes to do at nites. This is what he brought home to me three nites ago. If fore gallins of bere will fill thirty to pint bottles, how many pint and half bottles will nine gallins fill? Well, we tried and could make nothing of it all, and my boy cried and said he wouldn't go back to school without doing it."

"So, I had to go and buy a nine gallin' keg of bere, which I could ill afford to do, and then we went and borrowed a lot of wine and brandy bottles, beside a few we had by us. Well we emptied the keg into the bottles, and there was nineteen, and my boy put that down for an answer. I don't know whether it is rite or not, as we spilt some in doing it.

P. S.--Please let the next one be water as I am not able to buy any more bere."

Cool In Pink

I just finished crocheting this scarf in double crochet

and my darling son is modeling it for me. :)

It looks good with the Santa hat and looks somewhat Mexican once it is worn wide covering the shoulders.

Everything looks great when you are young. lol

(click to enlarge)
The white thread is sparkly Christmas wool used for babies.(it's Either Bernat or Red Heart)

I mixed it with the Bernat hot pink to create the squiggly look and then I used a Bernat,multicolored baby boucle thread in between with pink and mauve

It turned out very warm.

------------------------------

Three cowboys were hanging out in the bunkhouse. "I know that smart aleck Tex," said the first. "He's going to start bragging about that new foreign car he bought as soon as he gets back." "Not Tex," the second cowboy replied. "He'll always be just a good ol' boy. When he walks in, I'm sure all he'll say is hello." "I know Tex better than either of you," said the third. "He's so smart, he'll figure out a way to do both. Here he comes now." Tex swung open the bunkhouse door and shouted, "Audi, partners!"

------------------

What do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a detective ?
Santa Clues !

Father Christmas win a saucepan in a competition.
Now thats what you call pot luck !

What do the reindeer sing to Father Christmas on his birthday ?
Freeze a jolly good fellow !

What do you call a man who claps at Christmas ?
Santapplause !

Twinkle Twinkle chocolate bar
Santa drives a rusty car
Press the starter
Press the choke
Off he goes in a cloud of smoke !

Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas ?
Santa Jaws !

The World In Christ

No one knows the true date of Jesus's birth because the celebrations began about 300 years later. It took that long for word to spread that there had to be a better way to live and Jesus showed the way.

Christmas was designated December 25th by some scholars.Bishop
Hyppolytus of Rome believed Jan 2nd should be his date of birth and still others believed March 25th should be celebrated as his date of birth, since they believed this was the day of creation.
This was the time the return of the sun or winter solstice was celebrated.
Pagans in Rome exchanged small gifts. Britain and Scandinavia burnt a Yule log whereby dancers danced around the fire to waken the sun.
As belief in Christianity grew , in the 4th Century Pope Julius the first recognized Christmas to be on Dec 25th. This complicated things because people followed two calendars the Julian and the Gregorian and the Gregorian celebrated Jan 7th which some people still do.

Gift giving first began in Rome, then it was followed with the Magi and St Nick and then Santa Claus.
Adam and Eve plays were performed in the middle ages where they put up a tree designating the tree of life and this tradition, was adopted became the Christmas tree we put up.
In Italy St Francis of Assisi liked to do his sermons in front of a creche which also was incorporated into the Christmas celebration.

The Poincettas came from the 17th Century from Mexico.
Legend has it a boy wanted a gift for the Christ child, so he gathered some green branches from the side of the road, and as he laid them beside the creche, the branches sprouted into red star shaped flowers.

Candy canes symbolize hard rock representing God's promises and Jesus' sinless birth and the red stripes represented the gashes before he was crucified. The Candy cane was a contribution added the Christmas from a candy maker in Indiana. He even shaped it into a J for the name Jesus with a long shaft representing the cane he walked with.

Many nations celebrated Christmas differently.

England added Christmas carolers.

Spain began celebrating Dec 8th, the immaculate conception where boys danced the the Cathedral steps. The children get presents on Epiphany when the Magi journeyed to Bethlehem.

They left straw on the window sills for the wisemens' horses.

Sweden has the eldest daughter in the family wear an evergreen wreath with candles on her head, remembering St Lucia who carried food to Christians hiding from persecution.

Greece has 40 days of fasting before Christmas and the women bake special Christ bread for the feast which follows.

In Iraq they read the Christmas story around candles and then burn a thorn bush.
If the thorns burn to ashes this is good luck and every one jumps over the ashes three times and makes a wish.The priest then blesses one person with his touch and that person touches another and that one touches another and so on till everyone feels the touch of pace.

Poland waits for the first star in the sky to eat, to remember the star of Bethlehem.
Then a 12 course meal is put on the table, one for each apostle and an extra chair for a stranger or the Holy Spirit.

In Russia St Nick was replaced by Father Frost but people celebrated quietly behind the back of the government.

China added light to the tree and children waited for the arrival of Dun Che Lao Ren or Old Christmas Man.

India celebrated with mango and banana trees and placed oil burning lamps on roof top edges.

Venezuela has roller skaters through the streets for early mass or Mis de Auginaldo.

Australia had their first Christmas in 1788. Convicts were shown leniency on that day.
It's still down under so today we can find Santa on the beach.

Ethiopia plays a game of Ganna with hooked staffs remembering shepherds who guarded their flock at night.

But no matter how many ways Christmas is celebrated, the message is the same.

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

It is indeed a message sent to the world so all may know that we have someone in our corner to help us help ourselves, with kind words and positive teachings, promoting love and peace between mankind.
-----------------------------
Bottle of Wine
(Women will LOVE this one!)

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways.

After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers.

The woman says, 'So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days.'

Flattered, the man replies, 'Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault...women shouldn't be allowed to drive.'

The woman continues, 'And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune. She hands the bottle to the man.
The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.
The woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man.

The man asks, 'Aren't you having any?'
The woman replies, 'No. I think I'll just wait for the police...'



Have a great day.

Christmas and Babushka

http://www.notquitenigella.com/2011/09/13/babushka-cupcakes/

The recipe how to make them can be found on the above site.

Babushka is a nice old story I heard growing up.

It's not just Santa that makes children smile.

It was the night the dear Christ-Child came to Bethlehem. In a country
far away from Him, an old, old woman named Babushka sat in her snug
little house by her warm fire. The wind was drifting the snow outside
and howling down the chimney, but it only made Babushka's fire burn
more brightly.

"How glad I am that I may stay indoors," said Babushka, holding her
hands out to the bright blaze.

But suddenly she heard a loud rap at her door. She opened it and her
candle shone on three old men standing outside in the snow. Their
beards were as white as the snow, and so long that they reached the
ground. Their eyes shone kindly in the light of Babushka's candle, and
their arms were full of precious things--boxes of jewels, and
sweet-smelling oils, and ointments.

"We have travelled far, Babushka," they said, "and we stop to tell you
of the Baby Prince born this night in Bethlehem. He comes to rule the
world and teach all men to be loving and true. We carry Him gifts. Come
with us, Babushka."

But Babushka looked at the drifting snow, and then inside at her cozy
room and the crackling fire. "It is too late for me to go with you,
good sirs," she said, "the weather is too cold." She went inside again
and shut the door, and the old men journeyed on to Bethlehem without
her. But as Babushka sat by her fire, rocking, she began to think
about the Little Christ-Child, for she loved all babies.

"To-morrow I will go to find Him," she said; "to-morrow, when it is
light, and I will carry Him some toys."

So when it was morning Babushka put on her long cloak and took her
staff, and filled her basket with the pretty things a baby would
like--gold balls, and wooden toys, and strings of silver cobwebs--and
she set out to find the Christ-Child.

But, oh, Babushka had forgotten to ask the three old men the road to
Bethlehem, and they travelled so far through the night that she could
not overtake them. Up and down the road she hurried, through woods and
fields and towns, saying to whomsoever she met: "I go to find the
Christ-Child. Where does He lie? I bring some pretty toys for His sake."

But no one could tell her the way to go, and they all said: "Farther
on, Babushka, farther on." So she travelled on and on and on for years
and years--but she never found the little Christ-Child.

They say that old Babushka is travelling still, looking for Him. When
it comes Christmas Eve, and the children are lying fast asleep,
Babushka comes softly through the snowy fields and towns, wrapped in
her long cloak and carrying her basket on her arm. With her staff she
raps gently at the doors and goes inside and holds her candle close to
the little children's faces.

"Is He here?" she asks. "Is the little Christ-Child here?" And then she
turns sorrowfully away again, crying: "Farther on, farther on!" But
before she leaves she takes a toy from her basket and lays it beside
the pillow for a Christmas gift. "For His sake," she says softly, and
then hurries on through the years and forever in search of the little
Christ-Child.

-------------

"My life is all arithmetic", the young businesswoman explains. "I try to add to my income, subtract from my weight, divide my time, and avoid multiplying..."

---------------

A mathematician organizes a raffle in which the prize is an infinite amount of money paid over an infinite amount of time. Of course, with the promise of such a prize, his tickets sell like hot cake.
When the winning ticket is drawn, and the jubilant winner comes to claim his prize, the mathematician explains the mode of payment: "1 dollar now, 1/2 dollar next week, 1/3 dollar the week after that..."

Have a great Day!