Back to the Chalet tonight for 3 stories of Christmas decorations galore! This arch pictured here had purple, rust, green and golden hydrangeas, large white daisy-like flowers, white doves, and green foliage. Flecked with iron rust butterflies. The crystal white snow globe hanging in the center set it off just right. This began the labyrinth of the enormous selection that they have.
I was drawn to the blue tree section. I would guess there were 50 different blue ornaments to choose from on that tree. And about 10 different strings of lights, and 10 different strands of garland. All in hues of blues. This theme was repeated constantly around the main floor. Greens, pinks, purples, golds. Not to mention the enormous snowman and Santa sections. This year for the first time I saw the Red Hat lady section. Wow, that was vibrant.
I took 200 pictures tonight, but I couldn't get it all. I was very surprised they let me take pictures at all. I asked first, they said "sure". I was able to get snowman gifts I have picked out for someone in mind. I couldn't find an angel I liked though, for someone else. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of angels, they just didn't catch my eye. There were cowboy themes, football, firemen, roosters, fruit, bears, fish, Victorian, ballerina, jalapeno peppers, oh - the list goes on.
The atmosphere was bright and cheery inside, but outside it was a cold, drizzly end of November rain. It was coming down in sheets, seeping into our bones. We ate at a wonderful Amish restaurant where the noodles, mashed potatoes and sweet potato fries are home made. The Amish would never serve a dish without noodles. I don't like noodles. I had no problem finding other delicious delights, though. And, the desserts! Red raspberry cream pie, grape pie, peanut butter silk pie, coconut cream pie, pumpkin pie, on and on...
With my tummy full, my shopping bag full, my wallet (not empty but dented) I headed home through the steel cold to a nice, cozy, warm, glowing home. I am so very, very blessed.
Here is Sable being ambiguous. She really doesn't know what to think of me. I call her name, she looks at me and sees a blinding flash of light. And I do it over and over again. Maybe this is the look of patience.No school or work today. Leftover day off from the holiday. I did take my daughter to the doctor for antibiotics. She has strep throat and an infection in her ear. There was a long line at the drug store at the Pharmacy counter. And, there were a lot of people coughing and sniffling.Speaking of babies, I caught part of one of my favorite movies the other day. Raising Arizona. I didn't realize it before, but Frances McDormand is in the movie. For some reason that movie just makes me want to hold a baby. Not have a baby. When people say they want to have a baby or another baby, I don't think they mean they want to go through labor again. I like bonding with little babies. I like to see them smile at me. I like to win them over. It dawned on me a while ago why politicians hold babies. It is a matter of trust. Well, I have about two dozen blue satin Christmas balls to hang this week. I will probably get a live tree this week-end. I hate to put it up too soon. It seems like it dries out, even though I keep it watered well. I have mostly blue lights. I am just a blue sort of person. The color relaxes me. My living room is chrome, blue and light oak. Kind of like this. I hope I can get the kids to decorate the tree. I did so many at my Mom's house, I really don't mind turning that job over to other people. I recall one of my daughter's little friends always helping us decorate our tree. Her Mother had to have the perfect tree. No child was allowed to help decorate it. One year it was purple and gold, one year red and gold, one year blue and gold - you get the picture. Every ornament strategically placed on the tree. Nice, but at least let the kids decorate one for themselves. One of my favorite Christmas carols, Christmas Was Meant for Children.
Here is another of my sister's cats inside the box I brought my goodies in, and another picture of him outside the box. I had sat the box down and I don't think it was more than 30 seconds and he was curled up inside. Snap, snap went my camera. Or whirr, whirr. Whatever noise a digital camera makes.
I fixed a complete Thanksgiving dinner on Friday and did not go shopping. I spent Friday afternoon cleaning up the mess that a complete Thanksgiving dinner makes. My crew went shopping. I guess they couldn't resist the specials. And, from what I heard there were some. Oh, well. I also resisted shopping on Saturday, but I am not sure I can hold out much longer. I sorted through all my purchases yesterday and took inventory and hid them. Now, I am ready to hit the stores for more.
My nephew found a great deal on a home theater system. I can't recall the exact model he said, but I think it was this one. When he left Saturday evening to return to Columbus, I asked him if the stereo would be connected first or would he get his week-end chores of changing the oil in his car, first? He laughed. I may never know. I am thinking he watched the recordings from his new Replay.
My daughter had her friend overnite last night and I watched the younger sister, who is six years old. I forgot how bored six year-olds get. They must be entertained every hour or so. Drawing, cartoons, and Nintendo. I participated in the drawing, but I don't do Nintendo. I did enjoy a good run of Spongebob. At one point I laughed outloud and the kids just gave me this strange look. It has been a while since my daughter wanted to watch cartoons.
Okay, she is bored again. She is standing here leaning on me twirling her hair. How did my Mom manage eight?
Remember the fake picture that went around on the Internet a couple of years ago, with that guy holding that huge cat that looked to be as big as a dog? I think I found the cat at my sister's house. Did he swallow the turkey? Maybe.
He is a very shy cat, my daughter finally snapped him during a repose. She has other cats, not as large as this one. My big cat (Casper) actually lost some weight. He is only 11 pounds, now. He used to be 13 pounds.
What a beautiful, wonderful Thanksgiving I had. My niece came up to visit from Louisiana and she brought her friend and her two daughters. This is the first time they saw snow. We had a dusting this morning, but it was wet and stuck to the trees. I met the 10 year old. She was very excited.
Most of the family was present at my sister's house. Out of the 8 children only one sister and one brother could not be there today. Out of 12 nieces and nephews, 4 were absent. And various friends came with all of them, making for a joyous houseful. My daughter has been ill with a sore throat and congestion. She had aches and pains yesterday. I am keeping her stocked up with popsicles, ginger ale and apple sauce. She prefers ibuprofen over acetaminophen.
Watched Stuck on You last evening. Now, I used to work in a hardware/automotive store so I have seen a paint shaker. I thought that was funny. I know - this from someone who doesn't like bathroom humor, but I don't mind a dirty joke now and then if it is approached delicately. Not in your face, raunchy humor.
The kids are watching the third Harry Potter movie. Prisoner of Azkaba. I might watch it later this week-end if I get the chance. I fix the turkey and trimmings tomorrow or Saturday. Depends on my energy level. I liked the idea I read about tomorrow being "Buy Nothing Day." What a concept. Does that count purchasing on-line? Of course it would. I guess in the U.S. it is held the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday and in the U.K. it is on the last Saturday in November. We'll see how I do. If I buckle down and fix the dinner, I should be okay, since I purchased all the items a few days ago.
I hope this season found all my readers safe and warm for the holiday. Cheers.
I don't know. I was shopping on-line and looked at hats. This is a picture of a Garbo hat. When I saw the model's hand, I was like, "huh?" Has the picture been touched up? Elongated? It just didn't look normal to me.
I went home for lunch today. Yes, I finally found a job that allows me to take a full hour for lunch! Not 30 minutes. Not 45 minutes. An hour! Have I made the big time? Anyway, I was late getting back to work. I am in my house, thinking "where is my purse? Maybe I left it in the car." I walk out in the rain and look in the car. No purse. I wheeled around on my foot, turning to go back into the house when something heavy struck me on the thigh. My purse. Huh. Hanging on my shoulder all along. Bad purse!
Remember the old Mad magazine? "You know you're getting old when..." That is about how I felt. Geesh.
My cat, Jasper seems to express how I feel this morning. Sleepy, lethargic, want to be left alone. Wasn't feeling well again yesterday. Took a couple of naps before I realized that I forgot to drink coffee that morning. Also went to a pancake breakfast and the food didn't sit well with me. I took my daughter and three of her friends and we went to the park next door after the breakfast. I swung on the swings. That could have contributed to the sick feeling.
Didn't get much accomplished after that. I rented two movies for the girls. Shrek 2 and White Chicks. I really have to tolerate the second one. I have mentioned before that I am not a big fan of "bathroom humor." This movie is full of that. I saw the Shrek2 at the theatre, so I slept through this running.
My nephew stopped in to visit. Took his sister to a movie. This is the first they have visited since she got her speeding ticket. Which, by the way I have not received in the mail, yet. We don't know when the court date is or anything.
After the movie, he and I talked technology. He is upgrading his computer again and building a server for home. He builds servers for work all the time, and he finally will get the chance to build one at home. He got a new toy, a Replay. He was showing me remotely all the stuff he can do with it. I am thinking about getting one. I want to be able to record movies and dump them to my PC for later viewing. My nephew is so far into this stuff. He is a true sci-fi fan. All his set recordings were sci-fi programs.
My Mom was a big original Star Trek fan. The original series from the 60's. I would sit and watch them with her. (I think she had a crush on William Shatner). I don't have a problem with that. We also watched Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Time Tunnel together. And, one of my very favorites: UFO. I think it was their snazzy cars with the doors that opened up instead of out. My Mom and I shared this twisted and strange dramatic interest. We also would watch some horror movies on Saturday afternoon together. This was as close as I could get to watching scary movies - on a Saturday afternoon with my Mom. How safe is that!?
This special time my Mom and I shared turned into eventually watching PBS together on Sunday afternoons. This was before cable television or just around the beginning of it. We lived in a small town where cable had not reached us yet. Our t.v. viewing was very limited. Two stations and a PBS station. I was deprived of the ABC channel when I was growing up because our antenna was positioned a certain way. Living in a huge two-story home, nobody was brave enough to venture to the roof to turn the antenna.
For those of you too young to remember before cable television, we had three major networks. ABC, NBC and CBS. And there was PBS. On Sunday afternoon the PBS network began playing Brideshead Revisited. My Mom and I began watching it because the scenery was so pretty. Horses and lush green grass. Then we became intrigued with the British accents. After that the story line hooked us and we became fans. I got the book by Evelyn Waugh from the library and read it. Evelyn is a man.
Omigod. Quizzilla even has a "What Brideshead Character Are You?" quiz. I am Lord Marchmain. Goodness me. I never would have guessed that one. But, then again...
nativity 6
nativity 5
nativity 4
nativity 3
nativity 2
nativity 1
upstairs view
white tree
ivy wreath
horse head
green and white tree
deer balloon
blue tree
I moved my bird back into my room for the winter. I get her out more in the evenings when she is in my room, because she is right here by me. I chased her around my bed this evening trying to get a decent picture of her. She is camera shy.
Rainy, cold day. I wanted to sleep all day. At work we had our big Thanksgiving feast over the lunch break. It actually spread out over a 90 minute session because we had a retirement to celebrate. Such good food. I think everyone should put recipes by their dishes, so if someone likes it they can give it a try. Of course I cut up way too many vegetables, but was able to bring the surplus home. We can munch on veggies over the week-end.
Precious, our semi-Siamese cat received her second set of diptheria booster shots today. I almost forgot about it. I have scheduled Casper (the big, fat one) for Monday to get his first set for the year. Friday - this is the day we put the ear drops in. I have to get the skittish one (Jasper) first, because if he sees any of the other cats getting drops, put in the pet carrier, or a bath - he is gone like a rocket. Not to be seen for 24 hours or so. He hides in between the basement ceiling and the stairwell. I always do him first. I usually do Casper last. He is so fat and lazy, he just walks to the middle of the living room and plops down.
After work one evening soon; a group of us gals are going shopping to Berlin, Ohio. Last year a group of us went to 'Tis the Season and out to dinner afterwards. I think about twice as many are going to go this year. It should be fun. This 3-story round chalet offers just about any Christmas ornament, light, tree, trimming and Nativity scene you could imagine. I get mesmerized by the beauty of it all. They don't mind me taking pictures at all. I did last year. I'll have to post them.
