End of November

I just got back from a going away party for Riva's sister and mom. They are going back to Taiwan on Wednesday. I feel sad for Riva, I know she will miss them very much. The last time her mom was here, was 3 years ago.

There may be a verbal language barrier, but actions speak louder than words.

I will post pictures tomorrow.

Sayonara

Riva, me, Riva's mom, and her sister Tina


Well, I don't think I made it quite through posting every day, even with my extra posts on the same day.

Tonight

Hubby took me out for a nice dinner tonight. Not quite sure why I was so hungry. I am still on Thanksgiving overload, but it was SO yummy! Now to curl up with the newest issues of my favorite mags!

Vanity

Here is the vanity my husband refinished. It had blue antique paint which had been covered with black paint. Now it is back to it's original maple. It was my father's first bedroom set. He is now 75.

Normal work day

Pumpkin Pie and Apple Tarts

Today

It's been a day of "What Not to Wear" marathon. I love this show. Today they FINALLY showed someone with my figure (or lack thereof). Since gaining 30 lbs, I feel like a total frump woman.

I did find a cute shop in town that has some nice clothes at reasonable prices. It's hard transitioning from midwest weather to texas weather. I'm at a loss......

Thanksgiving Day Menu

Menu:
Turkey Breast
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Cornbread Stuffing
Homemade Noodles
Salad
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Dumplings
Nap

What are we thankful for?
Our daughter
Our parents
Each other
Our friends-face to face ones and blogging friends
Family
A safe place to live
A great job & co-workers

Our hopes?
World peace
Freedom
Self Sufficiency

Wishing everyone a WONDERFUL and safe Thanksgiving.

We are going solo. We have a small turkey breast, salad, mashed potatoes and cornbread stuffing. I will make a pumpkin pie and MAYBE some apple thingies for hubby.

Speaking of, I am so excited, as he is going with me to our book club tonight. He will get to meet all of my new friends.

If it is rerun again, watch the history of the first Tahnksgiving onthe History channel. very interesting.

Wine of the Week

OK, last week it was Smoking Loon, a California Merlot. This week it is Gato Negro, a Chiliean Merlot. Smokey and warm. Not bad for 7 bucks. The BIG bottle for us perimenopausal women.

Interesting nothingness

My JC Penney sheets (bought at the same time as my designer sheets, and used equally) have out lasted the designer sheets.

I have an ancestor who was a witch hunter. My husband has an ancestor who was a Scottish witch tried during the Scottish Witch trials.

Craft Show

So J and I went to the craft show yesterday and then a quilt shop and Goodwill then Salvation Army. I got a couple of things for me, 2 clay ornaments for a buck a piece. Got my mom a gift from another potter. Dad a little stocking stuffer and the same for hubby. And scored a couple of things for DD.

BEST things I got were at Goodwill and Salvation Army. Can't describe them because said DD reads Momma's blog, but I can say one of them is marked "Japan" in red and it may be from Occupied Japan (1940's). Waaaaay makes up for the Kimono I missed at my Goodwill Store.

Ugh!

Why oh Why did I go to the Anthropologie website? I found an awesome blazer I'd LOVE to have. *sigh*

Good news! My friend Donna and her BF are coming to see us in December. I haven't seen her in four years. It'll be a treat to catch up and go out to diiner.

So I went to the quilt store to see if they have the new Wizard of Oz fabric in yet. Late December. But I did snag a really cute purse kit with the sock monkey fabric I have been coveting. it'll be so cute!!!

Journal

Off to a craft show, but I wanted to show you all the new journal I got from Sublime Stitching (sublimestitching.com). It rocks!

Faery Mail

My friend Gemma has posted something to me. I can't wait to see what it is! I love it when the faeries drop gifties into my mailbox.

And now that I have my camera phone, I can start taking pictures of stuff.

Reading Group

I joined a book club so to speak here in town. So far we have been bringing poetry. It's at Formosa Art Tea house and it's a lovely place. Riva is an artist and she runs her own tea house. She serves traditional Kung Fu tea as well as many other yummy blends.

It's a great group and growing. It's so nice to have a wide variety of people there. Youngsters, teachers, singers.

It's so nice to have a place to get away and talk. Traditional Chinese music in the background and people to discuss things with.

Please send healing light and prayers (or whatever your spiritual path tends to do) to my friend KansasRose as her mother is having some health issues. Though we have never met face to face she has been with me through thick and thin for over 5 years. THAT is a friend!

Reading Group

Just got back. It's late so I will post more on this tomorrow.

Croning Ceremony

I am PROUD to say I was a part of my friend Robyn's croning ceremony. Even though we both live on separate ends of the earth, it was an honor to be a part of the ceremony. And an honor to have her as a friend. I hope to someday, hopefully in this lifetime, to meet her in person.

I lift my glass to Robyn!

Christmas Meme

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog-NO alcohol, I like mine nekked!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Both, when I was little. Now all of them.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored!!! I am old fashioned. No themes on the primary tree please!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I never have but my Aunt does.

5. When do you put up your decorations? AFTER Thanskgiving

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Mmmmm, my aunt's Salad with veggies and peas, mom's oyster dressing, Aunt P's green bean casserole

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Getting our family picture taken on the steps of my aunts house.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 8 from one of my uncles. HE LIES!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Depends on who's house I am at.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Every stinkin' ornament!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

12. Can you ice skate? Yes but I haven't in ages

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Age 8, my Mrs. Beasley doll

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin Pie and Aunt S's cookies

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Watching It's a Wonderful Life. When I was little going caroling.

17. What tops your tree? Usually an angel that was my grandma, it was made inthe Philipenes

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? BOTH

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Hark the Hareld Angels

20. Candy Canes? On the tree

21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? YES

22. Real tree or artificial? I prefer real, but can't bring myself to do that anymore.

23. Do you put lights up on the outside of your house? I did one year and it looked awesome, but I got grief about it.

24. Do you do a Christmas Dinner or Supper and who cooks? Supper, always at Aunt S's

25. Is your family the everyone unwraps gifts at once sort or do you do it one gift at a time as the others watch? All at once!

26. Do your pets share in the festivities? But of course, they are family!

Movies

I love My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Watching it now.

Wizard of Oz

is on tonight! YAY! I LOVE this movie....

Today

was a better day. Not normal but better. I felt I had been, I don't, "talked to" at work today. My boss was concerned about something I messed up. It's relatively new to me and I can see how it could concern him, but I also just learned it in my own self defense. I guess I am just still feeling sensative because of the BIG problem we had yesterday with the electricity and our landlord, blah, blah, blah. That's another HUGE story I won't go into right now.

So my boss talks about Pagan things kind of frequently. He's a hippie working for a big company. And I like him and his wife (artist). It's funny how people react to Pagan things.

To me we all came from a Pagan religious background, especially if we are decended from England, Scotland etc. (My opinion)He commented about my Stonehenge wallpaper on my computer. I told him I've seen every Druid ring in England. Not really, but at the time it felt like it! lol! My favorite was Meg and her Sisters.

Anyway, with my glass of Alice Whiter Merlot (not bad). I'm feeling better and have a couple of new magazines to look through.

Penny Lane is another good merlot, in case you are interested.

I am excited to receive the reading my friend has so generously said she will do.

Crappy day

enough said. Leftover sushi, yum!

Sushi

Went to Hakat Sushi and Asian Grill for dinner. YUM! hakatasushi.net

Quick post

and I am off to bed. Chloe has recovered and so have we! Thank heavens for the time chsnge!

And for you Harry Potter Fans

my daughters link for her Harry Potter inspired hats and scarves!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5209233

Here is a pic of Sis in law and our NEW Great Niece:



OK, I am over compensating for NaBloMoPo. What can I say!

Recent news: Hubby has agreed to new Sushi place in lil' ol' Pflugerville. They have other things to eat. Also agreed to go to book club meeting on Wed to meet my new friends. Very small group and I like it that way.

PS

Go to my frineds blog (at sidebar) Croning Ceremony and see the beautiful birthday wishes, my dear friend wrote in honor of my chosen Goddess-Nicneven.

Chloe update

Thank you to everyone who inquired about Chloe. She is doing very well. They think it was just an intestnal bug or she got into Fire Ant Killer. They say it is not toxic in the fact it could kill her, but enough to give her and upset stomach.

She's on 2 meds, got her ears MEGA cleaned, which we found out was a yeast infection AND a bacterial infection. Doggie good bugs for her food when everything is back to normal and some weight loss food which will help her lose weight, plus eat more. Chloe tidbit: her nicknames are Booger Bear, Ms. Beauregard, Butterbean, Chloer, and Stinky.

So we delayed our trip to Waco and instead went to Craft-O-Rama. Hubby is a good sport, but he thought it was like Hobby Lobby: ie. model cars, trains, etc. Nooooooooooooo. They have a large selection of Amy Butler Fabric and patterns, a Craft Lounge, among other things.

I got Amy Butler's In Stiches and 2 Sublime Stitching embroider patterns. Then we took a little tour through downtown Austin so hubby could see.

Went through a bunch of cllothes and I have decided to make a T-shirt quilt. I have a plastic bin and a 1/2 of t-shirts from places I have been and fromplaces friends have traveled to. I was going to send them off to Goodwill and Hubby said, but wait...? So, as they are all too small, I will make a toasty quilt for those cold Texas evenings (40's) LOL!

We were both able to sleep in after a long Thursday night/Friday morn.

I am thinking dinner at the Sushi place tomorrow to celebrate the ol' birthday, but unsure if Hubby will go for it!!

What a day!

The past 12 hours have not been the best. Fell asleep on the couch, as usual. Woke up at 1 am with DH saying that Chloe has been up chucking. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad gas and diahrrea to boot. So I made a 2:30 am trip to Walgreens for some popsicles, Gaterade and Pepto Bismal. Gave her a PB tablet. After about a 1/2 how it started to help. Still yacking and dry heaving. Must more graphic but I will spare you the details.

So I was up from 1-4:3o am. DH up off and on. We all finally got to sleep around 4:3o only to have the alarm go off at 6 am. Thanks heavens I had a 1/2 day. Stopped at a vet's office my frined takes her puppers to and made an appointment. Probably just a case of the stomach flu. Got some meds for her, new dog food and doggie "good bacteria" to get her on the straight and narrow.

Weight loss food, new kind, she can eat more actually and lose weight. YAY for her!Ends up she has bateria andyeast in her ears so they treated that and cleaned 'em out REAL good and she back next Friday for follow up on her ears.

We ALL are tired, she stinks, like most do when they have been sick. Resting comfortably now and she has perked up quite a bit.

Like I said what a day!

ps: 2 new books for my birthday!! Treat to myself: Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing and The APron Book, by EllynAnne Geisel.

Giving

My friend Junie Moon has this posted on her blog. I think it's a great idea and there is a drop off place in my new town!


Here is the link: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/default.asp

NaBloPoMo

According to my friend Sacred Suzie, it is National Blog Posting Month. Here is the link:
http://nablopomo.ning.com/

So I am up for the challenge! Especially, since I have a lot of things I'd like to accomplish in the next year.

As my birthday (OH! Noooooo!), I am taking a 1/2 day tomorrow. I plan on buying myself a couple of books on sewing crafts and useful items. I am gearing up for the challenge of making a new project every 1-2 months like my friend AfricanKelli.

I will also stop and get a gift for my daughters birthday in a month. I already got her an autographed copy of Laura Stamps recent book, but have a couple of other things in mind. This way they be all ready to wrap and send off in a timely manner to where she lives.

I joined a book club at Formosa Tea House (drinkarttea.com). Riva is delightful. We meet every Wednesday. This past Wednesday we brought some poetry to discuss and I enjoyed a lesson in a Kung Fu Tea Ceremony. It is very relaxing and I hope to by a complete set soon.

Saturday we are planning a day trip to Waco Texas to see the Texas rangers Museumand the Dr.Pepper Museum. If we can stay awake that night, we will head over to a local bar to see a band. One of the band members is a friend of my co-workwer and her husband. Jazzy-blues mix.

Much more to tell, but I will spread it out, so I can meet the challenge of a post a day!!