"For purple mountains majesties..."

One thing Michigan does not have is mountains.

When we were in California, we didn't go TO the mountains, but we got to SEE them. I realized how much I miss seeing mountains.

I took a picture, but it really doesn't do justice to them. Kevin took pictures with our camera, and I'm hoping that his turned out much better than mine. (We have to get the film developed.)

Today's a coffee day

Last night I was just about to head off to bed when I saw that a dear friend was online (through instant messaging). So I ended up talking to her late into the night. (Ummmm, actually early into the morning.) So now I'm functioning on little more than five and a half hours of sleep. I'm headed off to get some coffee, which, incidentally, doesn't really seem to wake me up. It is, however, very successful in keeping me awake at night if I've had it any time after 2 p.m. Maybe it will do the trick this time?

Thank you notes

I always write thank you notes for gifts that I've gotten. Right now, I am a little behind, since I haven't written my thank you notes for my birthday presents. I need to do that! Now I can combine them with my Christmas thank you notes!

One year when I was a teenager, I wrote and sent all my thank you notes the day after Christmas. My grandparents got theirs the next day. My grandpa asked me if I had peeked at my gifts before Christmas, and written my thank you notes before Christmas! LOL

When we were stuck in the LA airport for 3 hours this Christmas, I was wishing that I had thought to get a pack of thank you notes. It would have helped to pass time! It was a boring 3 hours, because nothing was open! I don't know if they typically close all their stores at 9 or 9:30 p.m., or if they closed early because of Christmas. I just know that looking IN the store windows wasn't as entertaining as browsing in the stores!

Valentines Day is JUST around the corner!

My sister Holly and I went shopping before Christmas, and when we walked into one of the stores, there right inside the door was a whole section of VALENTINE's stuff. How crazy is that??? Do you want to know when I think of Valentine's Day?

February 14th!

Certainly, I've never thought of, or bought anything for Valentine's Day before Christmas!!!

Our wonderful technology...

Cell phones are great. I admit it, when we had cell phones, it was so handy. But they are annoying when other people use them in stores and hold up lines, or when drivers chat on their phones and don't pay attention to the road. People tend to abuse them in public.

Last night though, I just had to laugh. We landed in the Los Angeles airport and I went into the restroom. There was a lady in a stall chatting on the phone, amidst the WHOOSH of toilets flushing around her. She didn't seem embarrassed at all, she was having a nice little chatty conversation. *giggles*

Some people...

Sunny Side Up

My sister Holly told me to make this post "sunny side up". She said, "You were sick, but you didn't die!"

True.

"You didn't have to go to the hospital!"

True.

Tuesday and Wednesday I spent in bed and laying around the house, either at my grandparents or my parents house. I got sick! What a way to spend my Christmas vacation with my family! I wasn't dreadfully ill (as Holly sweetly pointed out! *grin*), but I certainly didn't feel well either. I guess I had the flu or something. I don't know. So far, nobody else has gotten it. I don't think it was food poisoning, because I ate the same meals everyone else was eating.

I was super glad to wake up this morning and not have a sick stomach! We were going to have lunch at my grandparents yesterday, but since I was sick, we ended up going there today.

We had a nice lunch with them, and then we watched some home videos. Kevin had never seen any of the videos from when I was younger.

Here's a "sunny side up"--the weather here is gorgeous!!! It's been in the 60's all week! There isn't any fog, and the mountains are very visible. This morning I picked a bowl of raspberries from my grandparent's raspberry bushes. I was surprised there were still berries out there! It has been unseasonably warm for this area, but I am glad, because it's a nice respite from the cold snowy weather of Michigan!

Safe and Sound in California!

We arrived in California last night. Whew! We had two connections, so the travelling time was drawn out. It was worth it though! =)

Tracy wanted me to rub in the fact that it is warmer here (right, Tracy??? Hehehe). We realized how much we are acclimated to Michigan winters when we were at the LA airport. We had to be shuttled over to another part of the airport, and before we went outside, we heard two of the workers talking. "Is it cold out?" "Oh, yes, it's COLD out!"

We laughed when we walked outside. It was a "balmy" 60*. We took our coats off and enjoyed the "cold" weather. Hahaha All the men who were working outside had heavy coats and stocking caps on.

We've enjoyed our time so far with our family. Of course, we got in late last night and had church this morning, but we have had some time to talk. My little sisters have grown so much!

I plan on taking lots of pictures, which I will share when I get home!

Tomorrow!

I'm really excited! Tomorrow night we will be in California!!! We are going home for Christmas. We won't have a white Christmas, but who cares!!! I've had enough of the white stuff for a while! LOL

While there, we will get to see each set of grandparents and my great grandma, and of course, my mom, dad, and siblings too!

I'm so excited. I have a ton of stuff that I need to get accomplished today, in order for us to leave tomorrow. And why must I be coming down with a sore throat now? My colds always start with a whopping sore throat. I've been taking all kinds of things to keep it at bay, but so far they aren't working! Boohoo...

I'll try to update my blog from California! If not, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!

I left the key on the counter...

Today was the last day I cleaned for the office manager at Kevin's work. After we get back from our Christmas vacation in California, she's going to be my office manager too! I'm going to be the new receptionist/adminstrative assistant. Since I will be working full time, I won't have the time to clean her house.

Every time I went to clean, I had two happy greeters in the house. "Moody" and "Snitch" were just sooooo excited to see me every time I came in. Well, let me amend that. They weren't excited to see me the first time I came in--but every time after that they knew me and came bouncing over to me for their petting. They are Australian Terriers, a very "cute" little doggy. =)

I considered keeping the key so I could go in and see what she has done differently to the house each week (LOL I'm just kidding). Every time I went to clean, something was different--rugs, pictures, decorations moved around from room to room, new renovations in the kitchen, new furniture. I talked to her about how she's always moving things around, and she said it kind of bugs her husband. Hahaha he doesn't like to get up in the middle of the night and bump into things that she's moved around. Anyhow, it was so interesting to see how she was always moving things around. I tend to put something in one place, and that will be where it stays until we move. =)

Now that I've cleaned someone else's house, it's high time for me to get my own house clean and ready for our departure! I'm so excited! We're leaving for California in two days!!!

Look!!!

I realize this picture is kind of blurry, but it's the best I could get.

That is an actual snowflake! I don't know if the snow is dryer than usual, or what, but when I left the grocery store and went out to my car, there were snowflakes all over my car. Most of them had distinguishable 6 points too! I've never seen snowflakes like this! It was just so neat, had to share it!

Gift Ideas

I've compiled this list of gift ideas, and have it filed in my computer. It comes in handy sometimes, when I need a little gift for a lady, or perhaps a small collection of gifts. Most of the items are things that we ladies like to use but don't necessarily like to buy for ourselves. I thought perhaps this list might come in handy for stocking stuffers, or little gifts that you might need to pick up.

Barrette, hair stuff
Bath stuff
Bookmark
Books (fictional)
Calendar
Candleholders
Candles
Candy, Candy bars
Cassette Tape—personal message
CD—music
Chocolates
Coffee mug (with tea bags or coffee packet in it)
Coffee—trial size
Decorations—welcome sign
Devotional book
Dish towels/hot pads/dishcloths
Doily
Gel pens
Gum—double mint—“I hope all your blessings are doubled today”
Highlighters
Journal/notebook
Key chain
Lotion
Magazine(s)
Magnets
Mirror for purse
Night light
Note cards, Note pads/list pads
Organizer
Pencils
Pens
Photo album
Picture frame
Pin
Potpourri sachet
Puzzle
Recipe box
Recipe cards
Shower gel
Socks (slipper socks for around the house)
Stickers
Sticky notes
Tea

Smarter is better than harder...

My smart husband reads my blog on a daily basis. He read my previous post about the gloves and said to me, "Well, if you would have turned one of them inside out, it would have fit right."

Too bad he wasn't around to give us that advice. It certainly would have been easier!

But then again, I don't know if either my mom or myself would have put the "dirty" side of the glove next to our skin, and cleaned with the fleecy side of the glove out. Hmmmmm

Mom? would you have???

Two Left Gloves

Doesn't sound very comfie, does it? I've been using gloves to wash my dishes with lately (trying to keep my hands in decent shape! This weather does bad things to my hands!) and as I was washing my dishes a few nights ago, I recalled an incident that happened when I was around 15 years old.

My mom and I cleaned house for an old lady and her adult son. The house was kind of yucky. We put our gloves on before we even got in the house! One day when we went, we discovered that we had 3 left gloves and 1 right glove. It was my fault, since I had grabbed the gloves. We weren't about to clean without the gloves (did I mention we even used them to vacuum? hehehe). So we took turns having a set of gloves. My mom cleaned half the time with two left gloves, and I took them for the last half.

They weren't comfortable at all! The expression "fits like a glove" is true. The right hand is made a little differently than the left hand! =)

A pet peeve of mine...

Tonight Kevin and I went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner--their cheese fries. Even though it's an appetizer, it's quite filling.

Anyhow, the waitress was one who uses "we" frequently. "How are we doing tonight?" (Ummmm....WE are doing fine, how 'bout you?) "Are we getting low on drinks?" (Ummmm...you aren't drinking out of my glass are you???). She was a sweet gal, and did a good job waiting our table, but that "we" thing is just a little annoying!

Is that something waiters/waitresses are trained to do? It seems more and more common.

Well, "we" enjoyed our cheese fries tonight! ;-)

And the mystery dinner was...

Steak, kabobs (mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes), and twice-baked potato casserole.

MMMMMMMMMM It was so good!

How popular is your last name?

Kim posted this website a while ago. It's fun to see how popular your last name is in the United States. Click on: The Sweetest Sound and type in your last name. My maiden name was in the 4000 range, which actually surprised me. I didn't expect it to be that common. My married name came is in the 700 range. So if it's so popular, why do people always want to misspell it? =)

A Mystery

That's what dinner is: a mystery. At least, for me it is! Kevin just called me and said he's making dinner. Since he has to get the ingredients, he will be home later than usual. I have NO idea what he is making!

I'm painting again

I decided to get the hallway done. It's right off the kitchen, and leads to the bathroom, so I'm painting it the same color as the kitchen (a creamy buttery yellow).

I told Rebecca that I love to paint, and she actually called me a liar! *GASP* LOL Well, in this case, I do believe she was right. I do not like to paint. I'm too much of a perfectionist, and too bad of a painter to get it done the way I want it done. Oh well.

This morning I'm going to put another coat of primer on it. The previous owners painted it a muddy greyish brown. (And I might add that they didn't paint with my standards! There is paint splashed all over the woodwork.) The kitchen took four coats of paint to cover, so I'm assuming this will be the same.

I need to hurry up and get it painted because all our coats are in a heap on the recliner. We don't have a coat closet, so this hallway doubles as one during the winter.

I'm skipping off to have fun in paint land! *Grin*

Playing with fire

Well, maybe that should be "playing with candles". :-)

When I was little, my mom got drippy candles several years in a row. She remembered them from when she was little. Her mom had used them at Christmas time, and she had such fond memories of them, that she wanted to give us the same memories.

What she wasn't counting on was sibling rivalry. BIG time sibling rivalry. You see, the candles never dripped as much as the box showed. When they would drip, it was a huge deal. The person who could not see the dripping ended up feeling quite left out. So they would turn the candles in order to see the drip. Then the fighting would break out.

Finally my mom issued a decree that no one was to breath on, blow on, or touch the candles. That was great. We obeyed. Then came Dad. Of course, he was under no such stipulations, and he would bump the table to get them to drip. When that didn't work, he would take his fork and make a little indentation to get the candles to drip. We loved it when Dad was at the table (at supper time--we burned them at both lunch and dinner--I suspect it was to get rid of them as fast as possible)! Hahaha

Several years ago, I saw a box of these candles, and thought I'd burn them at Christmas. I forgot about them each year for several years. This year, I finally remembered them.

Kevin and I are having great fun with them. For the most part, they are pretty drippy on their own, but a little table shoving and blowing on them helps them along quite well. LOL Even though my candles were together in a box, they are burning differently, as you can see from the picture.

It's a Snowglobe outside

Shake up a snowglobe, and it will look exactly like what it looks like here. The snow is falling fast, in huge, soft clumps. It's beautiful! But...I did forget my boots today. This California girl isn't used to the boot thing. *Grin*

"Normal"

When things are going haywire, or things are just stressful, or new, or different, I make sure I have two things: a book and a project. If I have those two things, I feel somewhat normal in the midst of what I'm going through.

Whenever I've moved, the second place I find is the library. (The first place I look for is a grocery store! Food is slightly more important than a good book!)

When something is up, I find something I can crochet, or more recently, something I can knit. It keeps my hands busy during my spare time (however little of it I may happen to have at the time).

When we had just moved to a new church in California, I was way in over my head with things to do. I didn't find the library for three weeks--after the dust from moving had finally settled. I found a good book, and I got started on a doily.

Some people turn to food--they have to have their chocolate, for instance. Now, I like chocolate, don't get me wrong! But it doesn't do for me what a good book will do! :-)

Wedding present

I'm showing off again. *Grin* I love to make things with my hands, and I love to share what I've made with others.

When Kevin's mom got married, I wanted to give her something very special. This was my gift to the happy couple (click on the picture to enlarge it):



This was a fun project to complete. I bought it as a kit, and the kit included beads and gold thread. The gold thread that came with the kit didn't really work, so I bought something else to use, which worked up much nicer than it would have with the thread from the kit.

What's wrong with the picture?

OK--the blogger spell check has left out a few important words.

Blog
Blogs
Blogger

Um, those are words now, right? I spell-checked my last post, and it was wanting to change "blog" to "bloc" (What is a "bloc" anyhow???).

Hmmm...their dictionary is so obsolete. LOL

Christmas posts

Rebecca is posting facts about Christmas this month. I've been watching her blog for new updates--learning this way is easier than finding the facts myself. *grin*

Holly wrote about cutting out snowflakes, and posted an interesting website, where you can go to get patterns for your snowflakes. They have many different ways to cut them out. I always enjoyed cutting snowflakes out when I was a kid (and even as an adult--but I did it under the guise of "helping" a child! Hehe).

Melody also posted a snowflake website. This one is neat, it is animated, and goes step by step.

Me? I'm sipping hot apple cider, reading every one else's blogs. *smiles* My Christmas enthusiasm started earlier this year, for some reason. I haven't seen too many bloggers writing about Christmas stuff.

So far this year, I've got my Christmas tree up, and the decorations around the house. Oh yeah, I forgot. I bought lights and wrapped them around my bed. It's so pretty. That was my creativity for this year! I'm still hoping to get a garland for the doorway in between the living room and dining room, but I haven't had the chance to go shopping for it yet.