Happy New Year

On this last day of 2010

I'm going to make lots of snack food for tonight

Update my new 2011 calendar

Maybe buy the new Jane Fonda workout DVD for old people baby boomers.

Think about taking my Christmas decorations down

Maybe watch a movie

Eat too much of that snack food

See if Dick Clark makes a show on New Year's Rockin Eve

(I secretly think they prop him up like in that movie "Weekend at Bernies")

Fall asleep in the chair before the ball hits the ground.

Life is Good.

I'm so thankful for my family and friends like you!

I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year

Many Hugs!

Christmas 2010

 Christmas Decorations at Our House

Thomas Kinkade Village

I have collected miniature ornaments for years.  I found this little silver tree last year at Target and I thought it was the perfect way to display them.

Some of the miniature ornaments up close.

Snoopy

From The Wizard of OZ - The Good Witches Crown and Wand

Cinderella's Slipper

Bluebird

Mr and Mrs Clause

Santa on his way

The Mantle

I had to get new stocking hangers because the old ones wouldn't sit on the new mantle.  I found these cute boot ones at Hobby Lobby.  The colors are perfect.

Pier One had these cute ornaments and when I saw this one, well it had to be mine.  It has a picture of a black and white cat with angel wings holding a Christmas tree.

Sweet Charlie (big sigh)

Our tree is all about family and friends.

I've been collecting the ornaments for years now.

It's decorated with all kinds of ornaments.

Candy canes, apples and garland.

One of my favorite books was Eloise at Christmas

from friends

Made by my hands



and the most cherished - made by little hands

This ice cream cone is "real" and more than 10 years old!

A bell from Prancers harness because that's all she wanted.

Treasured memories all gathered in one place.

I wish you peace, love, health and happiness this season.

Thanksgiving Pics

We had a nice Thanksgiving with the traditional turkey dinner.  I think I washed pots and pans at least 10 times that day!  So much preparation but the outcome was worth it.  Molly wanted a picture of us at the table.  Here is my attempt of setting the self timer. 

Here is Molly's attempt after my botched ones.

Jackson is on his phone, Molly's hand is hiding mom and the expression on Tom's face pretty much tells it all.  Forget the group pic it's time to eat!

So after stuffing ourselves, cleaning up the mess and a couple of hot games of Apples to Apples, It was picture taking time again.

I always try to get a picture of the kids hoping for at least one decent one.  This is how it played.

Finally.

Enough turkey.  Bring on the Mexican food.  I'm thinking enchiladas or tacos tonight!

Ole'

Unwanted Paw Prints

Yesterday I stepped out on the front porch and saw large paw prints.

I have seen large paw prints in the dirt around the house before.  I saw a bobcat behind our house one morning and I know coyotes wander the creekbed.  There are always reports of missing small animals and between the above mentioned critters and the hawks it's why I keep my cats cat inside. 

When I saw them on the front porch I checked the lot next door for prints.

Behold!  There were many.

And on the porch.  I think I know what it was interested in.

Cornered!

Ceramic replicas of my cats.  Rosie, Charlie and Skipper.  I used to have a halo on Skippers head and of course Charlie needs one now. 

I'm weird that way.

No meal for you Mr. Evil predator whatever you are.

My Sweet Charlie

16 years ago he found us.

He captured our hearts and fit very comfortably in our lives.

I have tried to find the words to tell you how special Charlie was to us.

It's just too hard.

and right now

It hurts too much.

My Sweet Boy

16 years wasn't long enough.

First Frost And Old Cats

We had our first frost today. 

Fall is my favorite season. 

It's about:  cooler temperatures, sweaters, comfort food, fluffy blankets, holidays and family.

It's also about the color orange.

I'm not big on the color orange but I love pumpkins.

This is a little pumpkin in my house.

Looks like a kitten doesn't she.

She's 20.  That's 96 in people years!

And can do tricks!

My other kitty child is 16 (80).

Sweet Charlie

He is very sick right now. 

 He's lost a lot of weight, not eating, and did not respond to antibiotics.

We think he's almost to the end of the road.

I think he's growing angel wings.

I'm waiting for a sign to tell me when it's time.

What do you do when you know they are declining

 but still purring?

Family Visit

This past weekend we spent visiting with my brother and sis-in-law and my cousin Jeff and his wife Angela whom I haven't seen in 40 years!  Steve and Judy came first.  Here is Judy showing mom pictures she has on her laptop. 

Jeff and Angie came all the way from Chicago to visit.  I was about 18 the last time that I saw them.  Jeff is my mothers nephew and is originally from California.  We got to see each other every few years usually when our family was moving from once place to another.  Here is an old picture I found of us.

From left to right -  Me, Leslee (Jeff's sister), Jeff (short guy), and Steve.

Front - My brother Dick (the dog whisperer) and Buff (the dog)

I thought it was pretty cute.  Jeff and I are looking at each other and I imagine I said something like "Leave it to my brother to kiss the dog."

Jeff still has his sweet baby face but he's not so short anymore!

The cousins and mom.

We had a great visit and spent the whole weekend talking, catching up and vowed to see each other much more often.

She's Back

Most of you know that my mom has been through quite an ordeal.  Three weeks ago, the morning after my last post, she was hospitalized with a stroke and a heart attack. 

She was sedated and put on a ventilator to help her breath for a few days. 

She developed pneumonia, and a intestinal bacterial infection.

She went to a rehabilitation hospital.  Five days later she had another heart attack.

She went to the Heart Hospital. 

 I should say she made sure she went to the Heart Hospital after instructing the paramedics to take her there several times!

One Stroke

Two Heart Attacks

Three Hospitals

Three Weeks

and

now

HOME!

Before she came home she told my nephew Chris that she has not been able to read any blogs or twitters for two weeks!  I told her when you get home you will have to tweet something.  She said I could say

"I'm Back!"

She Certainly Is! 

First Days Of School

The first day of school is always exciting.  Picking out what to wear, buying new supplies, the anticipation of who will be in your class and especially who your teacher will be.

The hardest part as a parent was letting go of their little hand as they walked into the classroom.

This is the little girl that had to practice her spelling words over and over and was not interested in doing homework. 

1st Day of Kindergarten

1st Day - First Grade

My little girl is not so little any more.

She graduated from college in May 2009

Last summer after graduation she had a "light bulb moment" and found her direction.  She moved home and took over our computer and dining room table. 

10 months later, with much determination and a lot of Red Bull,  she finished her course work for her Masters Degree with a 3.88 3.9 GPA.  (I have to brag!) 

This is the young woman who will have her "First Day" of teaching her own class tomorrow.

I won't get to see this "First Day" but I did get to help with buying lots of school supplies and clothes.

She will be taking many hands in hers tomorrow and my heart is just busting with pride!

"Mother's hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." -author unknown