Book One, Chapter Nine

Well, we've been having typical East Tennessee weather lately: on December 22 we had a low of 12 degrees with a high of 27, and yesterday the high was 69.

Dad took this picture of my great-nieces. They are a couple of cutie pies! Taylor in pale pink and Chloe in white and hot pink. Or as my Dad says "the blue-eyed one and the brown-eyed one."

Taylor Jay will be 4 1n January, and Chloe Elizabeth will be 10 in May. They are both real sweethearts and they like to spend a lot of time at their great-grandparents house. They all live in Florida.

Book One, Chapter Eight

It seems there is not much time for blogging during the holidays. Or perhaps I just didn't have anything to say.

I did think of something one day last week. My copy of Time arrived in the mail - the Person of the Year issue. They also list other people of note for the past year and I was pretty upset that they devoted almost an entire page to a picture of Heath Ledger and Tim Russert's photo wasn't much more than a thumbnail - makes me wonder about their priorities! I would have given Tim a whole page. I wish I could be more eloquent here, but Tim made such a huge contribution to the betterment of mankind because he made politics much easier to understand for a whole lot of us. He was a great man and he will be missed greatly.

Christmas was delightful this year. I didn't have to cook huge meals for lots of people while they all sat around and had a good time. I got to have fun too. Breakfast was biscuits and sausage gravy (Sean helped.) Dinner was 7-layer salad (Sean helped), loaded baked potatoes, t-bones (Jerry grilled the steaks) Thelma's dinner rolls and sugar cookies (Sean helped.) I only make her rolls at Thanksgiving and Christmas and I don't know why because they are very easy.

I will be making Louise's dinner rolls for New Year's Day. Sean prefers them and they are even easier! Slice a loaf of frozen bread dough, lay them on their their cut sides in a greased glass cake pan, let rise, and bake. I have to admit that I like them better too - big, soft, fluffy - what's not to like.

Book One, Chapter Seven

Looks like I haven't been here in a few days.

We have some exciting news. I took a picture of Jack standing in the snow last January and the Daily Puppy wants to feature that picture on Chirstmas Day. Check it out through the link on this page.

We've been very busy around our house as I'm sure you've been around yours. We did a thorough cleaning job, and we finally got all of the decorating done. Jack isn't sure how to take all of the new stuff. He was only 10 weeks old last Christmas and I have no idea how much a dog remembers from that young of an age. Anyway he's not very happy. He can't play with the tinsel, or the ornaments or the packages, or the nativity tableau. Rats!

Next it's on to baking. There will be the requisite Party Mix of course; two kinds of fudge: very dark with black walnuts and white with pecans; sugared walnuts; spiced pecans; sugar cookies; Sophie's forgotten cookies; peanut brittle; and I may try peppermint bark.

But first, I must get the Christmas cards in the mail.

"Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up." ~Unknown

Book One, Chapter Six

What a day! Today was 'haircut day'. First I gave Jerry his usual burr. (3/8" blade.)

Then it was Jacks turn. I would rather take a beating than groom Jack, but 1) I can't afford a professional groomer, and 2) they wouldn't cut him the way we like him anyway.

So I oiled the blades again (5/8" for his body, 3/8" for his legs and bootie) and got a bag of his favorite treats (Zuke's - Z-Filets Glazed Chicken) while Jerry tried to comb out some of the mats. Jerry does this every night, but he never gets all of them. Jack's hair is so fine that if he lays down and rolls over he gets four or five mats.

It takes about two hours, with stops for treats, cooling the blades, and more combing. When we are done we are all three worn out (Jerry helps me hold him.)

Tomorrow I will finish: clean his ears (pulling excess hair out) and trim his nails. At least I have found an easy way to trim his nails. I use my Dremmel. I asked for it for Christmas a few years ago and it is a handy little gadget.

We did not get to Trevor's pageant last night. The weather was very bad and we decided not to risk it. It's 30 miles one-way.

"A woman who reaches half way gets no more than she reaches for." ~Unknown

Book One, Chapter Five

It has been raining here all day. It did the same thing 3 or 4 days ago. We got 2.5" that day and today we are already up to 3". I think Mother Nature is trying to make up for this year's shortfall all in one week. Wish it were snow!!!

Sean (my son) came over to put up the Christmas tree up today. It is a 7.5 ft pre-lit artificial Frazier Fir. It's a beauty, but it's a lot of work to drag up from the basement and then spread all of the tips. My COPD prevents me from doing much and Jerry, (my husband) buggered-up his hip the other day. I get to do the fun part, hanging the ornaments and setting up the creche. Where's the eggnog?

We are going to Trevor's (our grandson) Christmas pageant this evening so I have to cut this short and get ready.

Book One, Chapter Four

Sorry I missed yesterday. Too much going on and unfortunately none of it was very productive.

My husband if off playing golf today. When we were younger I was resentful of the time he spent with his buddies on the golf course. Now, I am greateful for a little alone time! Isn't life funny.

I got some Christmas pictures in the email yesterday. The first one is of my sister Lindy's new puppy. Zoe is now a year and a half old and a real cutie pie. I haven't seen Zoe since she was about six months old but Lindy says she has her tongue hanging out like that all the time. Very funny. She is part Maltese and part Shih Tzu. She wasn't very strong when she was born and they were not sure she would make it. Love will overcome anything.

The second picture is of two of the daughters of some very close friends and their puppy. TJ is about 13 years old now and has some serious medical problems - although you wouldn't know it from her bright, alert, happy eyes in this photo (it's that love again.) When TJ was young she excelled at doing tricks and won several competitions. You are in my prayers TJ.

Just heard the garage door open. Time to leave the reverie behind and make dinner.

Book One, Chapter Three

Well it's Sunday and I spend time with my family on Sunday so I am going to cheat a little today. I watched You've Got Mail last night for the 20th (?) time and cried again as usual. I like all of the songs in that movie but I especially love The Puppy Song, both the music and the lyrics. It makes me happy. Since I can't sing to you on a blog, I will just post the lyrics for your enjoyment.

The Puppy Song
lyrics by Harry Nilsson

Dreams are nothing more than wishes
And a wish's just a dream you wish to come true

If only I could have a puppy
I'd call myself so very lucky
Just to have some company
To share a cup of tea with me
I'd take my puppy everywhere
La la la la I wouldn't care
Then we'll stay away from crowds
With signs that say no dogs allowed
Oh we... I know he'd never bite me
We... I know he'd never bite me

If only I could have a friend
Who sticks with me until the end
And walk along beside the sea
To share a bit of moon with me
I'd take my friend most everywhere
La la la la I wouldn't care
And we'll stay away from crowds
With signs that say no friends allowed
Oh we...we'd be so happy to be...
We...we'd be so happy to be together

But dreams are nothing more than wishes
And a wish's just a dream you wish to come true
Dreams are nothing more than wishes
(Your wish will come true)
And a wish's just a dream (Your wish will come true)
You wish to come true (Your wish will come true)

This one's for you Jack.

Love, Momma

Book One, Chapter Two

Well it was a pretty short night. Only about 3 hours sleep.

I thought having my own 'handmade' business would be fun. Right now it is a LOT of work.....admin kind of stuff. Not the actual fun part: designing, creating, being arts- crafty!

I did take time out this morning to make my husband a pecan pie. They are sooooo easy to do and they make him sooooo happy. Men are just sooooo easy. lol

I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to make my latte, but I have one now and it is just so creamy and warm and tasty. It's my favorite treat of the day. The best pruchase I've made recently is my Breville Cafe Roma Espresso machine (Amazon, reconditioned, $95.) After a little practice I now prefer my latte to Starbucks. At almost $5 each, I already have my $95 back. I like Dunkin Donuts coffee best. I buy whole beans and grind up three or four days worth at a time. I also love lots of foam....and I can make all I want now.

Jack , our Maltipoo, is all snuggled up in the chair with me. It's his favorite place - unless I find a mat and start working on it. I have to make time today or tomorrow to groom him. When his hair gets long enough to mat, it's too long.

Break time is over. More later.

Shari

Take only pictures...leave only footprints.

Book One - Chapter One

This is my first blog.

This is my first post.

Wish me luck.

Be happy.





Next game: v MTSU, Dec 11, 7pm

GO LADY VOLS!