Let the Joyous Season begin

 

 

Folks either love or hate this time of year.   That doesn't necessarily make you a Bob Cratchett or Ebenezer Scrooge.  While I am a bit of a Pollyanna, playing the glad game each and every day, I do not have my head in the sand.  I choose to look for the silver lining in gathering dark clouds.  I like to smile and vehemently resist saying Bah! Humburg! 

Fall is my favorite time of year, climate wise.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays. I declare over half of my caloric intake for the year is eaten during this season.  How I miss both of granny's and their cooking.  I have a few of their recipes - nothing tastes as good or the same as when I was a kid.

 

I am married to a man that loves Christmas.  He is the Clark Griswold of our family.  We keep a grateful heart open on Thanksgiving for the blessings of the Lord.  However,  Luscious Larry  loves Christmas.  It wouldn't matter if there were empty boxes wrapped under the tree.  He thoroughly enjoys the lights, music, look and feel of Christmas.  I can pretty much guarantee our tree will be up by tomorrow night.  The Christmas CDs and DVD's will be out, front and center.  He has every remake of A Christmas Carol that is available.  Notice I say available.  He is currently awaiting the release of the Jim Carey one from last year.

Each night we will sip our hot chocolate or egg nog and watch the same old movies including It's A Wonderful Life and Home Alone (one of my personal favs.)

But for now, I need to finish the dinner preparations for Turkey Day.  I won't forget to say a proper thanks for each of my online sisters and brothers who  add so much to my life daily, weekly, yearly.   I hope each of you gets your fill of all the yumminess of the goodies.  

This and that and Christmas, too

I, for one, cannot believe it is the middle of November.  That Thanksgiving is next week, fully aware that Christmas is coming on strong.

How did this happen?  Everyone has the same amount of seconds, minutes, hours, days in the year. I used to be pretty good at juggling and multi tasking.  I never paid attention to the time thing. But these days, it just zips by and I am standing here, mouth open, shaking my head saying What???

So I am not even close to being prepared this year. I normally shop and sew all year for the Holidays.  Not this year.  I haven't even figured out what's being served at Thanksgiving down at the folks. Oh yeah, Big Bird.  That's a given. What else?  I don't enjoy the cooking like I used to. I think I need to surf for inspiration or even dig out some of my old notebooks of recipes and ideas.   That should help spur me on.

But what can be done about the time passing so quickly?  Why can't  I jar it like I use to the little fireflies? 

So, ButterflyChic, my only baby girl, is having a Followers Giveaway!  You really need to hop or click on the picture above to bring you to her page.  She gives all the caveats there.  Oh, and the giveaway consists of a nice gift for you, or would make a nice stocking stuffer for someone needing a last minute gift!

This is an adorable set of four flip flop coasters!  So hurry - this giveaway will end on December 1 !!  

Hmmm, wonder why I feel like saying aflack?

Click now! http://sayrahterry.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday, Paul

You don't have to read this post.  I am certain that it will embarrass my son if he were to read this.  Thankfully (for me), if there is one thing I am certain of, Paul will not be reading this.  So I reckon I can write all sorts of embarrassing things relating to his childhood.  I don't think I will though.  Let me say that I am proud to be the Mom of this bright man.

He entered this world in a big hurry - three months preemie - basically sent home when he weighed just a smidgen over 4 pounds.  He walked at 10 months and spoke intelligently at 18 months. He still has the curiosity of a kitten.  When he was in high school, I actually had a teacher send me a letter Thanking Me for giving birth to Paul.  He was the one student she had waited a career for.  He was always a hard act for his younger siblings to follow.

Gosh Moms, do you remember the absolute awesome love you felt with your first born?  There was never a love so grand.  I couldn't take my eyes off of him.  I would actually vacuum while holding him in my arms!  Talk about smitten!

 The song playing now, You are my sunshine was his first favorite song.  I used to sing it to him when I would rock him - along with loads of other songs.  It would calm him down if he was fussy.  When he was about 10 years old, he came down with a horrible flu.  I was putting cold cloths on his feverish forehead.  I started to sing You are my sunshine to him.  He put his hand over my mouth and said,  "Never sing that song again.  It is too happy sad for my heart. "   Was it the bittersweet words, his fever or gasp! my voice that compelled him to make me stop?   I am still pondering that one. I guess for me that now whenever I hear it, I weep a bit.  Perhaps it is too happy sad my for heart as well?

He was the right child to be the first born.  He was just knowledgeable enough to be bossy enough.  His brother and sister still adore him, and quite frankly feel that they will never be his equal.  Now don't go asking me where that comes from!  I sure don't feel that way about my older brother!!

He is a married man now with a lovely wife of his own.  He is no longer my boy.  I remember all my life hearing the adage, "a son is yours until he takes a wife, a daughter is yours all of your life."  Paul was not mine from the time he left home for college.  I never have quite gotten over the fact that he grew up and left me.  I knew from the time he was born that he would never be mine for long enough. 

So to complete this terribly personal piece, I want to say that I have thanked God each day for presenting me with what I consider the first of many, Many blessings in my life.  Happy Birthday, Paul.
I only have one question - how come we don't celebrate Moms on the kids birthday?  We're the ones who carried that weight, were exultant in that final push into this world and spent years helping you to become who you are.  Oh well. I am a middle child. We middle children generally think this way.

Thank You Veterans. God Bless the USA

100 Quilt Blocks!

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Election Day

~ To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain. ~ Louis L’Amour

I got up at my usual time this morning at dark thirty.  I was not as lethargic as I normally am before my first cup of coffee.  I got up full of ambition and one goal in mind.  Today I get to vote.  Now I have already forgotten how many elections I have voted in.  Some are milestones for me.  I have grown over the years, and remember some votes that I cast that I long regretted in many years past. 

Politicians are like diapers.  They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.  ~Author Unknown

I stood in line at 6:30 a.m., waiting for the polls to open.  Surrounded by a few dozen other folks, staunchly standing in the cold breezy morning air, there was a feeling of anticipation.  Normally, I vote later in the day, but not this day.

People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people.  Of course, that is not true.  Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing.  ~Walter H. Judd

I stood there praying for all the candidates, for America, our leaders, but mostly for the citizens of this great country.  I prayed for those younger generation who have not voted for the first time, and wonder if they will ever know the freedoms we have already lost.

Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.  ~Richard Armour

 I am registered as an Independent.  I like to think that I stand neither right or left.  I like to think that I have common sense.  I do my due diligence and study up on the issues at hand, research the incumbents to see their voting record, and learn as much as I can about the up and comers.

~ Millions of votes are thrown out  in election after election in this country. Now that's a story. ~

One great concern of mine this mid term election should be of concern to all Americans.

If illegal aliens are allowed to vote in this country, does that not diminish the voices of those who are not only born citizens but those who became American Citizens through the very machinery that was put in place to protect all of us?  And what of our military who are stationed overseas? http://tinyurl.com/26mdevd Their votes are cast out while illegals get a voice?  Wake up, people! 

I hope that each person reading this in America has a stirring to vote their convictions and conscious.   Pray for this country.  Pray for it’s citizens.  Remember those who have given their lives to keep your freedom and the right to vote alive.

George Washington is the only president who didn't blame the previous administration for his troubles.  ~Author Unknown

Oh My, It's November!

I cannot believe it is November already!  Why does that strike a fear of being late deep inside of me?
Perhaps it is because Christmas is right around the corner?!  I have been busy, I promise that I have.  However, it seems as if there is never enough time to feel totally prepared for "the day".

I recently completed a very special lap quilt for my dear Daddy.  I was thinking of saving it for a Christmas giftie.  Unfortunately, he got a glimpse of it beforehand and nagged me and nagged me until I finished it and gave it to him.

Here he is with it.  He is quite pleased to have something keep his toe-sies warm.  It turned out larger than a traditional lap quilt but smaller than a twin size.  Now, what do I make him for Christmas?

You see, it is a tradition for me to make most of the family gifts.  I purchase what nots and small gifts through out the year to add to their haul.  I need to get that sewing machine humming again.  Hmmmmmm, goes my brain. Stay tuned.