Butternut Squash Soup

Bruce and I have a new favorite soup these days. We started buying President's Choice Autumn Squash soups in those small boxes at the grocery store a couple of months ago. The boxes only hold about one large or two small servings....why can't they make them bigger? But we have been enjoying them anyway. The squash soup is our favorite however we have tried the other kinds and they are pretty good also. Now to the point of this. I decided I could make my own squash soup from scratch pretty easily since I often make home made soups anyway.
I bought a large butternut squash. This is what took the most time in the preparations... peeling and dicing the squash. But other than that it is fairly easy to prepare. And it is a most delicious soup.
Here is the recipe I used...............

Butternut Squash Soup
Serves 4

2 1/2 C Butternut Squash*
4 Cups of Chicken or Vegetable Broth
1 Medium Onion, diced
1/2 tsp Sage or 1 Tbsp of Fresh Sage
1 tsp Thyme leaves (dried)
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1 Tbsp Butter

In a medium saucepan saute the onion over medium heat until translucent in a little butter (about 1 Tbsp). Add the Butternut Squash and cook 10-20 minutes until tender. If it starts to look like the onions are burning add 2-3 Tbsp of broth. Add sage, thyme & nutmeg and saute for 1 minute. Add remaining broth & simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool and puree in a food processor or blender (allow to cool first). Return to stove and re-heat. You can add a little cream or milk if you like.

* There are a couple of options regarding Butternut Squash. You can buy a whole squash (1 med. squash equals about 2 1/2 cups), peel it, and cube it OR you can also buy a bag of already peeled & cubed butternut squash. Another option if you can't get your little hands on a fresh squash is to buy a bag of frozen cubed squash. If you go the frozen route, just thaw it and put it into the onion mixture.

Bon Appetit!

Thursday Thirteen

It's Thursday again.... Man, do the weeks ever fly by. This week I am doing "E". Not an easy letter by any stretch of the imagination but I did manage to find 13 "E" things.

1. Earrings.... I like earrings. I don't wear earrings all the time anymore but I do when I want to feel dressed up. My favorite kind are small dangling crystal earrings. I like small gold hoops too.

2. Eucalyptus... I now love the smell of eucalyptus. Especially in candles. It has a slight medicinal smell and I never used to like it but otherwise it smells interesting and it has grown on me.

3. Eggs... I am an egg person. I love eggs for breakfast. Especially scrambled with a bit of cheddar cheese in them for flavor. Deviled eggs rock too.

4. England.... This is a place I would love to visit. Most of the ancestors on my Mother's side came over to Canada from England. There is so much history for me over there; I would love to go one day and explore all the villages and towns where they lived, the streets they walked on, and the graveyards where they are buried.

5. Easter.... I love Easter. I revere the religious aspect of Easter but I also love it because it symbolizes spring for me.

6. Evergreen Trees... I love evergreens. It is nice to see some green among all the bare deciduous trees in the winter. I love how evergreens peek out after a heavy snowfall.

7. E.T..... The movie. This was a great movie about E.T. the adorable alien and the kids who tried to hide him out in their bedroom. Drew Barrymore was so cute in this movie. It was such a feel good movie.

8. Elizabeth: The Golden Age... Another good movie which I saw over Christmas for the first time. I really enjoyed it and Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth was great as was Clive Owen who portrayed Sir Walter Raleigh. It was based on events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

9. Early Morning Rain... song by Gordon Lightfoot... love it.

10. Elves... They are a creature of Germanic mythology according to Wikipedia. They have been portrayed to be long-lived or immortal and as beings of magical powers. They were featured in many of my most loved stories and fairy tales as a child.

11. E-Mail... My link to the world. Without it I would be lost.

12. Eagles... The bird and the band. Eagles are such a majestic bird. They are a fascinating, larger than life bird. I also love the musical Eagles. I have been a fan of theirs for most of my life.

13. Economy.... Not really a fan right now since we are in such a global economic slump and when times are good the economy is something we mostly take for granted. I look forward to when times improve and we can resume living our lives without fear for our future.
...........................................................................................................................................................

I am going to list again the last 13 songs I listened to on my Ipod because I find it fun to do.

1. A Lot of Love by Nicolette Larsen

2. I Need a Hero by Bonnie Tyler

3. Sacrifice by Sinead O'Connor... love this version

4. First of May by the Bee Gees

5. Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg

6. Sweet City Woman by the Stampeders

7. Always Something There to Remind Me by Naked Eyes

8. The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens

9. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses by U2

10. Avenue A by Tom Cochrane and Red Rider

11. Hooked on a Feeling by B J Thomas

12. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John

13. Sing by Theo Tams (2008 Canadian Idol)

It's That Time Again...Thursday Thirteen

Here we are back to Thursday again... wow, did the week ever go by fast. Just to refresh your memory, I am doing the alphabet and am at "D" this week. Here are some of my favorite "D" things..................................................


Decorating.... I love to decorate my home. I am always visiting decorating sites and other blogs where decorating is featured, decorating shows etc... I am always trying new ideas in my home and it really gives me pleasure.
Ducks... I love ducks swimming on the water. Mallards are a particularly pretty breed. I love wildlife photos and especially duck photos, framed and hanging on a wall.
The Dragonfly... one of my favorite restaurants in this area. Really interesting decor and a great menu... we have always enjoyed our visits there. We are going there for Valentines Day.
Dillweed... the spice. Love the smell and the taste. Where we used to live in Alberta we were driving somewhere and this overwhelming smell of dill enveloped us. We came upon a huge
field full of dill. The smell was intoxicating.
Diamonds... a girl's best friend!
Desserts.... what a great way to end a meal.
Danielle Steel... one of my favorite authors. I love to lose myself in one of her romances whenever I need an escape.
Dances With Wolves... I love this movie. I love Kevin Costner in it... what a hottie!
Daisies.... Aren't they a beautiful and friendly flower? I just love a field full of daisies and other wildflowers.
Dollar Store... I love to shop at the dollar store. You can always find lots of things you need for around the house and I love paying so much less than anywhere else.
Desperate Housewives.... One of my favorite shows. Those ladies on Wisteria Lane are a hoot.
December.... I love this month and how it is filled with everything Christmas.
Lastly but definitely not least... Dogs.... I love dogs. I have had some really great dogs in my life. I currently do not have a dog but I am sure I will not be able to live without one for too much longer.

I had so many other D things that I love it was difficult to choose only thirteen. See ya next week and thanks for visiting!

Unbridled Beauty

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

By Request

One of my new blogger friends, Barb, requested that I post my photos of a mosaic table top I crafted a few years ago. I decided to add in photos of a few of my other projects. I have not done any crafts since we moved to Elliot Lake but I would like to get back into it again. So here they are Barb... I hope you enjoy them and thank you for your interest!
The above is an angel I made at a ladies group in Redcliff, Alberta one Christmastime.
The next two projects were plain wooden trays I bought at Michaels Craft Store in Medicine Hat. The top one I spray painted black and the bottom one I stained. Then I glued broken floor tiles which I had first smashed with a hammer and pieced together into the tray in a random pattern. After the pieces had sufficiently dried I grouted over top which is simply applying grout compound and using a trowel smoothing the grout until it had evenly covered in between the tiles. After that dried, using a wet cloth, I polished the tiles, removing the excess grout. Lastly a few coatings of a form of shellac is applied to harden the grout and to give a bit of a shiny appearance to the tiles.
I made several trays as Christmas presents in 2005. Money was a bit tight that year and I needed a project to do to keep my mind occupied. It was a perfect diversion at that time. The stained tray I kept for myself.
The above is my mosaic table top... I used one of those wooden plant stands and in this case the table top screwed off which was perfect for me to be able to work with it. Using the same technique as the trays, this is how it turned out. It now sits in my living room.

The above is my dragonfly stepping stone. This was a fun project. First you mix the cement for the stone and place the mixture into a form which was supplied in the kit. Once you have the mixture placed and smoothed out satisfactorily you start placing the polished stones into whatever pattern you desire with the center being the dragonfly. After finishing placing the stones I cleaned them off with a wet cloth and then allowed the project to dry and harden for a few days. Once hardened you remove from the mold and voila... you have a perfect stepping stone.

The picture above was and is my best work and Bruce's favorite. I started with a wood square piece which is divided into nine squares. I spray painted the wood blue. Once dried I used a page from an old Thomas Kinkaid calendar. I decoupaged the page onto the wood piece and made sure it was nice and smooth with no bubbles.
Once placed and smoothed to my satisfaction I used an exacto knife to trim around each square so that the photo was now divided into nine separate pieces. And to finish a very hard shellac was prepared and poured onto the picture and sat in place until hardened. It has an almost plastic surface to it. And it sits in a brass photo stand on my dining room buffet.



I must make mention of the fact that most of these crafts were done with my very dear friend Connie. Not having ever really done any crafts I was so happy to have her around to guide me and we had so much fun shopping for, planning and making these crafts together. Had she not moved away to the Calgary area we would have likely made many more crafts together. I miss Connie and our times shared being creative.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Things I Love Beginning With The Letter "C"

Hi All.....
Today I have decided to do two lists. I am continuing on with my alphabet theme but am also going to do another theme.... the last 13 songs I listened to on my IPod. But first my "C" list.....

1. Corn on the Cob---- so yummy dripping with butter
2. Cloud Formations----I love to see different cloud formations in the sky. Great for photographing
3. Coffee----the best cup is the first one of the day which I wish was never ending
4. Carrot Cake----So decadent--- I make a pretty good home made version my Hubby loves
5. Chocolate---- What woman doesn't love chocolate
6. Christmas---- I love the idea of an old fashioned Christmas and the decorations and the food and getting together with family and friends
7. Clocks--- I love clocks, the way they add to different types of decor, I love the gentle tick tock which I find very relaxing when there is no other sound in the room. I have a gorgeous mantle clock that I just love which was a birthday gift from hubby one year
8. Computer---- I love my computer because it keeps me in touch with the rest of the world; I would be lost without it
9. Candles--- Oh my, I have a real love for candles and have so many I could open my own candle shop. Don't you just love the soft glow of candles?
10. Crab Cakes
11. Cereals--Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Cream of Wheat and so on.....
12. Cooking--- I love to cook when I have lots of time and can be creative, I love trying out new
recipes and love cooking for my family and friends.
13. Crafts---- I never used to be a crafty person but became interested in crafts just a few years ago. I have made a few things... I made a lovely picture which sits on my buffet, I made a mosaic table which is sitting proudly in my living room. I have surprised myself with what I can do.

The general theme of the "C" blog would be "Creativity".

Now... on to my list of the last 13 songs I listened to on my IPod.......
1. Might As Well Be On Mars...The Pukka Orchestra... from the 80s.
2. One---U2... the live version which is great
3. Have I told You Lately... Rod Stewart
4. Love is Coming... A Foot in Cold Water... Canadian band from the 70s
5. Strange Animal... Gowan... another Canadian band from the 80s
6. Cruel to Be Kind... Nick Lowe... 80s song
7. Beautiful Goodbye... Amanda Marshall... Canadian artist
8. Rain, the Park & Other Things...the Cowsills
9. Last Night I Didn't Get to Sleep at All... the 5th Dimension
10. With You I'm Born Again... Billy Preston & Syreeta
11. Still You Turn Me On... Emerson, Lake and Palmer
12. Little Sparrow... Dolly Parton
13. Mary Did You Know... Kalan Porter version... Canadian Idol a few years ago

And that does it for another week. Hope you find my lists interesting.
Happy 13!

Longing for Spring

I have been feeling so blah lately... no ambition... short on ideas for my blogging. I am hoping it is just a momentary creative slump brought on by this very long winter. As you know yesterday was groundhog day and the two groundhogs that have been predicting spring for as long as I can remember... Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie, both saw their shadows and therefore that means we have six more weeks of winter left to enjoy. Except in our case up here in the frozen north, where we have eight to twelve more weeks of winter since that is pretty much the norm for here.
Nah... I am not bitter. Just bitterly cold!
Seriously, I am feeling quite cooped up and very tired and listless these days. We have been fortunate though to not have had any more major snowfall, since we were heavily hit in December with 59 inches of the white stuff and I don't mean cotton balls. Although we have remained snowless, we have been experiencing quite a few cold days but with that comes the sunshine and that definitely helps my mood. But still I am anxious for spring to arrive. To see the snow melt away and the grass begin to green up, the leaves on the trees begin to sprout, and all the lovely spring flowers poke their graceful heads out from beneath the cold and damp ground.... what a delicious dream.
I have already noticed the days getting longer. It is still fairly light at 5:00 now and even a little lighter at 6:00 than it was a month ago. That in itself gives me hope, although it makes me even more impatient for spring to arrive.
I have not been doing much this winter. As I mentioned I am feeling at loose ends. I should be doing something productive instead of hibernating but I can't seem to bring myself to do much of anything. I did get the house cleaned up and organized after Christmas and I am presently scanning some of my Mom's old photos from three of her photo albums which I "borrowed" to bring home and work on. I am saving the photos on my computer and will be organizing them soon and then hope to make back up CDs to store the photos. If anyone in the family is interested in copies I can email them.
Oh and I almost forgot....... the 1911 british census came online a few weeks ago and so I had fun perusing that which I intend on getting back to one day and see if I can come up with any more ancestors who were alive at that time.

Well.. that is my update for now. I hope to begin to feel more like blogging very soon and can come up with some interesting posts. I am also hoping to get more creative and start photographing more instead of looking for internet photos. By the way, these photos were all taken by local photographers here in Elliot Lake and they are posted on our local website... Elliot Lake Online. Once spring finally arrives I will be getting outdoors with my camera and try to capture springtime in all it's wonderful glory!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you will return on Thursday for another edition of "Thursday Thirteen". I will be doing a list of my favorite "C" things.

Ta Ta for now!

Thursday-- Thirteen "The Letter B"

Okay... so here is my 'B' list of things I love.

1. Banana Bread
2. Blue Jays... the Bird
3. Blogging
4. Bruce... my significant other
5. the "Bob" Hairstyle
6. Bagels
7. Berenstain Teddy Bears
8. Books
9. Blue... the color... royal being my favorite shade of blue
10. Brothers... I have two and they are the best
11. Beauty which is in the eye of the beholder
12. Boughs of Holly
13. Bailey... my beloved yorkie who passed away last June

This was easier to do this week. I could have gone on and on! BOOYAH!

We Are Off

Tomorrow we are off to the big city... Sudbury (tee hee) for a medical appointment. BUT... it is a chance to get away for the day and see something different. One tends to get so bushed in the winter time. We will most likely, time permitting, do a bit of shopping and also have a bite to eat at either a restaurant in Sudbury or along the way. We haven't decided yet which one. Perhaps my favorite... The Dragonfly... in Massey!
I like the drive to Sudbury, even in the winter. We pass through several small towns along the way and get to see what they are up to.
Sudbury itself is pretty nice, we are even getting to know our way around. We will stop at Espanola for gas... it is always about 10 cents cheaper than here in town. We will be leaving very early in the morning and returning early in the evening. A long day but I am looking forward to it.

The photo above is of the Big Nickel at Dynamic Earth in Sudbury.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN--Thirteen Things I Love Starting with "A"

Hi and Welcome to Thursday-13.com!

What’s the Thursday 13?
The Thursday 13 is a weekly meme. Every Thursday you blog a list of 13 things. What kind of things? Any kind! Just come up with a list theme and run with it. One week you may list “13 things on my mind” and maybe the next week you’d list “my top 13 favorite movies”. Back in early 2007, Janet came up with the idea of going through the alphabet; “13 Things I Love that begin with the letter A”, etc. That gives you 26 weeks of ideas!

As a blogger sometimes ideas and inspiration wane, therefore in my travels I have come across this idea for Thursday postings........................

Thirteen Things I Love Starting With "A"

1. Abba
2. Apple Pudding
3. Aromatherapy
4. Angels
5. Appetizers
6. Apple Computers
7. Antiques
8. Autumn
9. Angela's Ashes (the movie/book)
10. Animals
11. Algonquin Park
12. Act II Popcorn
13. Art

Whew... that was harder than I thought!

http://thursday-13.com/

SPIRIT FILLED SUNDAY

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (NIV)

A GREAT FIND!

Finally I remembered to get outside and snap some photos of the snowbanks on our street. They are pretty impressive, aren't they? The first photo is one our neighbors and friends, Debi & John took of two squirrels having a meet and greet :-)

The weather so far this January has cooperated and although is quite cold right now has been sunny and there has been very little additional snow. Let's hope it keeps up.

Today Bruce and I went to one of our local second hand stores. Bruce was looking for something he wanted and I went along for the ride. In looking around I came across what I considered to be a phenomenal find. It was a children's book called "365 Bedtime Stories" by Nan Gilbert.
I had this book as a child but like all my books from my youth it was given away at some point.
As an adult I have been collecting books from my childhood memories... that book being one of them. I did find a few copies on ebay but they were always quite expensive and therefore I would pass them by. But this book has simmered on the back burner of my mind. Well... today I found it at the second hand store. I couldn't believe my good fortune! And to add the icing to the cake, they were having a bag sale on books... $2 a bag. I discovered a couple more old books from the early 1900s which I added to my bag and came home to see what I could find out about them... hoping they would turn out to be antique and valuable. Still researching them. My "365 Bedtime Stories" book although worth around $60 according to ebay, will not be sold. It is a wonderful memory from childhood which I am going to happily add to my collection.

SLOW DANCE

Slow Dance
-Author Unknown

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Do you run through each day on the fly
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
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I have been really struggling the past decade or so with how fast time is marching on. I find the above poem very inspirational because it illustrates for me just how fast time is passing and how many special moments I am missing out on because I am in such a hurry to keep up with passing time. It helps to be retired because there is more time to spend on the details than before.

Some ask me why I am not bored at home. How can I possibly feel fulfilled. I remarked to Bruce just the other day I do not know how anyone can be bored, even if they are not in the workforce. There are so many things I enjoy doing I still do not have enough hours in the day to do them all. Thank goodness I do not work anymore....how on earth would I get everything done?

Life can be as busy as we make it... or as slack...... depends how much we choose to do, or not do.
I am happiest when I don't feel overwhelmed and stressed out, wondering if I am going to make that deadline. Inevitably I would have to prioritize and not do some of the items on my mile long to do list. Then I felt I was cheating someone or usually myself because I could not be superwoman.

I am much more relaxed and happy and fulfilled because I can now pay attention to the details
and take more time to participate in the slow dance.

HAPPY NEW YEAR... I AM BACK!

Wow... it has been a month or more since I posted last. I was so busy before Christmas and then went down to visit Mom and my family over Christmas and spent more than two weeks away and had a very good visit with my Mom who is doing so marvelously. This past year has been a total growing experience for us all... learning how to live our lives without my Father. Mom especially has had a rough road to travel, learning how to live without her husband after 56 years of marriage. But she has come so far and despite the loneliness at nighttime especially, she is amazingly independent and has settled into a groove of sorts. So many have been so wonderful to her by helping out where and when they can. I know my Mom is so grateful to them for all their loving attention to her.
Mom amazes me with all her activities... she puts me to shame. She is so busy all the time, and keeps her body young and healthy by moving around and bowling in three leagues a week, as well as constantly stimulating her brain by doing puzzles and word games. I hope to be in as good shape as she is at her age. Bravo Mother!

Another highlight of my time with family was the arrival of my brother Dave. Dave and I were so close when we were still at home and into our twenties, before I moved away out west. I had missed the bond we shared and so getting the chance to spend time with him was so special. It was like going back in time and we had a lot of laughs. We even did something so crazy when both of us almost adopted puppies from the Toronto Humane Society via Dave's wife Mayra. Mom was flabbergasted at the possibility of having a puppy running around peeing and pooping all over the house during Christmas. In retrospect it was probably a bad choice but it didn't come to pass anyway.

My other brother Mike and my sister in law Debbie arrived on the Monday night before Christmas and they stayed until Christmas Eve morning. It was great having all us kids back together again... much different circumstances than the last time when we gathered to see our Dad for the last time. We had a good visit and did quite a bit of reminiscing and laughing.

Since my return home to Elliot Lake I have had lots to do to keep myself busy, getting settled back in and getting the Christmas decorations put away for another year as well as putting the house back to rights. Not to mention mountains of laundry!

We had an incredibly snowy December here in Elliot Lake. We have way more snow than we had the entire winter last year. Everyone in town has been kept very busy cleaning up the snow and our snowbank out front is humongous. Larger than last year. Bruce had to build steps in it so that he could climb up to add more snow to the very top. He noticed people walking past and pointing at it. It is a sight to see for sure. It has pretty much blocked our view of the homes across the street. Our own little fortress!
Since I have been back we have not had too much more snow and even a couple of days of much needed sunshine. I know I am not totally alone in this but I hope we have a snow free January... enough is enough.
When I arrived down south they had no snow to speak of but it started snowing the very next day and several more times after that and there we were out shoveling my Mom's walkway and driveway. I had thought I was going to be having a wonderfully balmy holiday away from Elliot Lake aka the North Pole, but it turned out to be almost as much of a winter wonderland as what I had gleefully left behind. Shortly after Christmas it turned very mild and we had a day of heavy rain and it washed away most of the snow and there was even one day that felt very springlike with sunshine and mild temperatures. It was so enjoyable!!!!
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For many years I have made some pretty pointless resolutions... very quickly discarded. I have decided not to set myself up for failure this year. Instead I plan on quietly making some changes in my life... hopefully for the better. Trying some new things and making some much needed lifestyle changes. So many times I have resolved to lose my excess baggage... my weight, by starting some crazy diet and workout plan but I am not going to focus on my weight this year. I am going to try to make some small changes, one step at a time, in order to start leading a healthier life. Hopefully the weight loss will naturally follow.
And other changes that might produce a healthier emotional state and a stronger spirit.
I am not going to impose stringent time limits on myself and will work towards small improvements, one day at a time.
The two photos are of a beautiful sky one evening at my Mom's. I am really intrigued with sky for some reason. It had just turned dusk and I was in awe over the cloud formations amongst the sunset. I quickly ran to get my camera and stood out on the front porch trying to capture the beauty before it turned to dark. I don't think I really managed to capture what I saw... likely didn't have the camera set properly. One of my changes this year is to try to learn more about photography and in that attempt I have ordered a couple of books with the intention of teaching myself. Hopefully my photos in my blogging will show a vast improvement over the coming year.
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Happy 2009 to all my faithful readers!!!

Look At How Much Snow We Have Now!

I am amazed at how quickly the snow is accumulating, already. I am sure we didn't have this much last year at this time.
I took these photos today.
If you compare them to the ones I posted below you can see the difference.
Especially in the one below, which was taken from inside the patio door. That is our bbq and chairs buried beneath that mountain of snow.
All this snow wouldn't be so bad if we owned a snow machine of some kind, or at the very least a pair of snow shoes. You have to be a winter sports fanatic to see the joy in all this, don't you think?

Christmas Edition of Getting To Know You

This is one of those email things that goes around... it is silly but a fun thing to fill out. Here are my answers..........................

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?............. I prefer Gift Bags... so much less muss and fuss

2. Real tree or Artificial?................... Artificial

3. When did you put up the tree?................... The last week in November

4. When will you take down the tree?.......... As soon as possible... usually right after Jan 1st

5. Do you like egg nog?.................. Sometimes

6. Favorite gift received as a child?.................. Easy Bake Oven... that is what led me to be the excellent cook I am today...teehee. I also really liked my Lite Brite and Spirograph. Just a little blast from the past to all the baby boomers.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?........ I do have a couple of Christmas decorations that are nativity scenes

8. Hardest person to buy for?............ Just about everybody these days

9. Easiest person to buy for?....................... Me

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?.................... I do both

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received?.............. Hard to say. I am grateful for every gift I receive because it meant that person was thinking about me

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?............... It's a Wonderful Life......... I watch it every year. Poor Bruce.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?.................. Well... Maybe

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?......................... Dressing

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?.......... Every year is different...depends on how I feel

16. Favorite Christmas song?.............. Oh Holy Night... brings me to tears every time I hear it

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?............ This is our first time in years that we are going to spend Christmas with family so for this year I would have to say travel

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?............ Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Cupid, Comet, Donner and Blitzen and Rudolph. I had to really think

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?................ Christmas morning

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year?............. Commercialism and Greed

21. Favorite ornament, theme or color?............ In years gone by I have fond memories of a roto wheel which my family used every Christmas.. it had four colors on it and it turned and the colors would illuminate the room. I love the lights and colors of Christmas. Now I would have to say my ceramic Christmas tree and my animal ornaments I bought for my dogs Bailey and Dylan

22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner?................. Turkey and the trimmings

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Good Health and Peace for my family members and I... you cannot put a price on that

24. Who is most likely to respond to this?............... Doesn't matter................... The End........

To all my dear Friends and Family Members I wish You all a very Merry Christmas. May Your lives be filled with the joy and beauty of the season and may You experience a prosperous and peaceful New Year!

Much Love,

Karen