You have been filled with both joys and sorrows, 2012. Today is your final day. Tomorrow begins a brand new year. I’m ready!
MM and I may be able to stay awake and watch the ball drop in Times Square, but maybe not. We will definitely be safe at home, and probably sound asleep when 2013 arrives. No party animals around here, that is for sure.
How are YOU celebrating New Year’s Eve? Do you have any special traditions?
Whatever you do, be safe, y’all!
Be careful what question you ask kids…out of the mouths of babes can bring the house down!
A Baptist pastor was presenting a children's sermon. During the sermon, he asked the children if they knew what the resurrection was. Now, asking questions during children's sermons is crucial, but at the same time, asking children questions in front of a congregation can also be very dangerous. Having asked the children if they knew the meaning of the resurrection, a little boy raised his hand. The pastor called on him and the little boy said, "I know that if you have a resurrection that lasts more than four hours you are supposed to call the doctor."
It took over ten minutes for the congregation to settle down enough from their laughter for the worship service to be continued.
Hat tip: Cuzn Pat Lewis
Look who we ran into yesterday at lunch…Empress Bee’s sweet Ayla! Loved getting her hugs, and seeing her new “do.” Adorable! Did you tell your mama HI for me?
So Christmas decorations are all put away for another year. I don’t like taking them down this soon, normally leaving everything up until Epiphany, but we have to now get ready to pull out next week. Priorities. We haz them. It is three weeks till the blogger’s cruise, and we have places to go and people to see ahead of that.
If you are of a mind to, please say a little prayer for a sista’s DH (dear hubby). Bruce underwent a liver transplant last night in Atlanta. I haven’t heard any updates this morning, so I assume and pray that all went well. As with any transplant, someone lost his/her life in order to make that transplant possible. God bless all those grieving their loss.
Organ donation is very important, and this is just another example. I am the lucky recipient of a ligament, so I am especially aware of this need for parts no longer in use. Be a donor!
And be happy today; hug your loved ones. Life is precious, y’all!
Here is Maytag Man looking fetching in MY new blue scarf. He agreed that it was warm.
Two shy gals:
And a cutie pie showing off his new Superman jammies:
Queen Haley:
Next up, MM and I stopped next door to see the Christmas explosion for the wee boys. Santa brought this whatever-it-is that had seventy eleven decals that Jason carefully put in place. Good dad! Two boys and frequently a dog actively supervised.
After oohing and aahing over all the new loot, we all wound up at Haley’s house for a delish Christmas brunch.
I then spent a good bit of the afternoon putting over 800 songs on MM’s new iPod Nano. He loves, loves it! I ordered him a protective case for it today, and found my old unused phone case with a clip on it for him to tote it and the ear buds inside. He’d better not lose this!
Yep, he’s wired for sound now…and the beat goes on!
Everyone lived happily thereafter.
The end.
Here are a few photos from Christmas Eve here in Mayberry. Enjoy while I do a little cleaning up today, since NONE of it got done yesterday!
These kids all cleaned up pretty well. Somehow I didn’t manage to get a (good) group photo of Brian, Faith, and Haley2. Bugger, but here is proof they were here. Did I mention it was chaotic? Don’t look at the mess.
Haley made a big hit with her gifts of a variety pack of beer for all the big guys.
More photos and stuff later. Somebody has gotta clean up that mess! Guess who?
Have a great day, y’all!
To all our friends who celebrate Christmas, we wish for you good health, happiness, the warmth of family and friends, as well a multitude of God’s blessing upon you and yours.
From our hearts to yours, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Santa has already been cleared to land tonight under cloudy weather conditions. There will be no White Christmas for Mayberry, and that’s just dandy. We want Santa to be safe.
So the tortellini soup will get made and simmering while we all attend the family service at our church, then our family gathers here for dinner and opening presents. We will skip midnight mass tonight. I do love that service but am not up for that just yet. I definitely hate missing out on singing Christmas carols, so I will just sing in my heart.
When the kids were little it was so hard for them to wait on opening all that loot from family and friends tempting them under the tree, so my birthday marked the day that each child could open (and enjoy) one present, beginning that night until Christmas Eve. All the presents under the tree were opened then, leaving a clear spot for Santa to place the unwrapped gifts that night. Before heading to bed, each child carefully claimed their turf for Santa to place the goodies for each one. Santa never failed.
Now on Christmas morning, Haley has a brunch for all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…whoever! That’s where we’ll be in the morning. It is always delish…and more fun family chaos. Love it.
What are some of your family traditions? Or happy memories?
These happy memories are some of those things that will keep us smiling in our dotage.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all from our hearts to yours!
Three of those “ants” are our girls, singing sweetly the other night. Love those girls!
Today confirms that the Mayans are not in charge of the Earth. I wasn’t a bit concerned. The world would not end on mine and Barb’s dad’s birthdays! No way!!! Sending hugs to my birthday buddy.
Nature is spitting a bit of white in parts of our county, but none here at the house thus far. I can live without that, thankyouverymuch.
So the laryngitis is still with me. Bugger. You don’t realize how much we speak till you can no longer do it. I am grateful that this is at least temporary. One guy at lunch yesterday asked me to please breathe on my wife.
Apparently if I could bottle this stuff, I could make a small fortune!
Have yourselves a ginger peachy day. I sure will, even though I am speechless!
Since Amy and Jason were going to a “kiddie” Christmas party last night, she ordered a pizza cake for J’s birthday that the kids thought was WAY COOL:
So this morning I am still the whisperer. I had to take one phone call yesterday and felt sorry for the lady on the other end. I spoke slowly, so she was able to get the info she needed. I hope. Texting, emails and hand signals work best for me for yet another day. Bugger. I’m sure tomorrow will be a better voice day.
Today, I need to get back to my messy desk that was totally neglected yesterday afternoon, due to feeling crummy. I hate feeling crummy and will take the no-voice over crummy.
The cold front is almost upon us…gray and drizzle…25 tonight, 23 tomorrow night expected. I have the kitties locked inside. They don’t need to bring in wet kitty tracks for me to clean up…again.
So who is worried that tomorrow is supposedly the end of the world? Not me. It is going to be a good day!
Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here, we might as well dance!!!
…even in the rain!
Life is good, y’all! Smile.
Please join me in wishing s-i-l Jason a happy birthday today!
I have NO voice today. Literally. What began as husky went to downright croaky by nightfall yesterday.
Today, I can barely whisper. I may need a whistle to get MM’s attention…if needed. Does my new phone have a foghorn on it?!
I typically get laryngitis about once a year, and I was long over due. It will pass…and all will be well.
We had a major scare with KC yesterday. He didn’t come inside the night before, nor arrive for breakfast…not typical for our boy. MM and I both searched for him, shaking the food container, which normally charms him from wherever he is. No boy. Lots of worries.
He finally waltzed in totally unconcerned but hungry by late afternoon. The sun had been out all day, so he was simply enjoying life, somewhere in the woods, after three days of gray. I can’t blame him for wanting to be outside, but his parents were sure worried about him. A fox was spotted in the yard earlier in the day, just to add to our concerns!
It’s just another ginger peachy, but happy day in Mayberry!
Joy set a mighty purdy table for us five gals last week, and served a tasty luncheon of a hot chicken salad, asparagus, homemade biscuits, and a great spinach salad. Yum-my.
She sent me the recipe for that chicken dish that I will get around to posting over on dyerdining. It is a good casserole dish that can be done ahead of time. I like those, and this one is a keeper.
Miss Eva wasn’t with us that day, but I couldn’t resist showing her off, along with Grammie Joy!
Thanks again. It is always fun having some girlie time.
And now back to the year-end stuff…that is not a whole lot of fun. Bugger. The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and we have to have a lot of paperwork finished before we can head to Florida.
The sun just came out after two days of gray, so Tuesday will surely be a ginger peachy day, and a haircut will also happen this afternoon. I need it!
Life is what you make it, and I declare it good, y’all!
It's a cold winter morning; a woman texts her husband:
"Windows frozen."
Husband texts back:
"Pour some lukewarm water over it."
Wife texts back 5 minutes later:
"Computer completely screwed up now."
Have yourself a ginger peachy day, and don’t screw up, y’all!
Meet the “new” big guy…this white thing:
It will replace the old Freddie, in case anyone remembers it:
Son-in-law Jason found this truck, after a year of looking. It is an automatic, much preferred by everyone but MM for driving! Slight complication, in that it was located in Boise, ID. Dear MM volunteered to fly out and drive it home, even asking if I wanted to go with him…NOT!
MM left Mayberry early Monday morning to fly from Atlanta, then pointed Freddie east Monday evening. It’s only 2,200 miles, so MM arrived home 46 hours later, just in time to go to WingNuts (a 12-year tradition of wings and beer) with the guys on Wednesday night.
Other than 5 degrees and blowing snow in WY, the trip was uneventful. Jason found a cheap motel for Tuesday night east of Kansas City so MM could get a few zees before hitting the road again. Google maps says it is 32 hours of driving, so it was not a big deal to do it in 46. MM says the secret is to keep the driver’s door closed and the pedal to the metal. It also helps to have a “camel’s bladder”...and 200 gallons of fuel onboard!
No, MM is NOT available for any more long hauls…except to drive the moho to Florida after Christmas.
Anyone wanna buy old Freddie?
The end.
Have a fabulous Friday. We sure will!
But first, I have to show off Ansley’s sweet smile. She is sitting next to friend Kelle:
And then tell you that she had her “fun” Christmas piano recital yesterday afternoon, and did quite well, but of course:
Tis the season for concerts (instrumental and choral), and pageants. Our wee kids are involved in them all, which means I REALLY have to keep an accurate calendar of events.
Speaking of events, last night Jennie hosted our annual “Wingnuts” Christmas party for seven couples. Our guys started meeting for wings/beer on our sorority night about a dozen years ago (invitation only!). One guy moved away; new members have joined over the years, but these guys are still going strong and still having fun. Cheers to all of you great fellas!
The calendar today reminds me of the Advent Wine party this afternoon (ladies only), and TWO different Christmas events tonight…at the same time…at two different churches. Yikes!
That’s life in Mayberry, y’all. Choices…we haz them.
Keep on smiling…and add red wine!
Look what arrived at my house…hello, Siri!
Can you address Christmas cards???
Oh. Never mind.
We shall get acquainted, now that you are all updated with my stuff. Oh the places we’ll go!
But first…since it is birthday month, we have to go to the driver’s license bureau. Won’t that be fun…NOT!
Passport, two pieces of mail in my name, SS card. Check.
Off we go!
That’s life in Mayberry on St. Nicholas Day. Smiles and miles, y’all!
On Saturday, 18 gals drove from Mayberry to Babyland General Hospital for the annual Christmas luncheon with 
Joan won this big basket, filled with kitchen gadgets and stuff, a pretty wine glass, as well as a pound cake!
Our group all went separate ways after the luncheon, some to shop, some to go back home…but Joan’s car of 6 headed to Unicoi Lodge for the festival of trees and gingerbread houses. Here is a first place adorable snowman tree named Frosty:
Betty’s Country Store got a first place for The Peppermint Twist:
And of course the jolly fat man and his wife were there:
All in all, it was a mighty fine day, getting us all jumpstarted into the Christmas spirit.
I am now in the mood to pull out our wee tree from the attic, as long as my two assistants are outside. Their help I do NOT need! KC got shut in our bathroom already this morning, bless his (nosy) heart.
It’s just another day in Mayberry, y’all!
