Where's our snow?

Snow was promised.  There is no snow.  Not here in the valley, that is.  I am sure the mountains are all beautiful and frosted over (this is an old photo), since we had rain during the night...but it is ABOVE freezing here on the lake, therefore, no snow.  Yet.  It's coming, so we are warned, and the skies are definitely looking snow laden. 

One of the local churches is presenting their Christmas Contata tonight, so I'd like the weather to cooperate so I can attend.

I have made a little Christmas prep progress--a couple of gifts made, packages mailed, Christmas cards almost finished...now I need to find my list and check it twice.  Time is running out!  There is still much to do...where has the time gone???

Stay warm.  Enjoy your Sunday, y'all!

Polar express is coming to Paradise!

This was our view two days ago before it got above freezing.  That is ICE forming along the edges of our cove.  Rain and falling temps are coming in tonight, with the promise of snow tomorrow, even in Atlanta.  We’ll be below freezing until Wednesday.  At least.  And the irony is that we probably won’t have a white Christmas in two weeks!  That’s just wrong, I tell you! 

Dick and I will attend a Christmas party tonight…tomorrow is Haley’s scrapbook club final gathering for the year…so that is my weekend.  I plan to put on a pot roast in the crock pot before heading over to Haley’s house.  I love crock pot cooking!  Easy peasy, and done when you want it to be.

Ho, ho, ho…enjoy your weekend, y’all!  Stay warm…

Of health and other things...got yours?

Having a sense of humor sure helps with this particular test.  December is health month for this gal.  Guess where I'm heading today?  Got yours (gals only)???

And then the Dell Dude arrives this afternoon to replace my snaggle-tooth keyboard, and my BFF in India calls me tomorrow to make sure all is well, and we are D fer done...to live happily ever hereafter.  And if you believe that, you don't know computers!

Last night was the first of two Christmas band concerts for Ansley.  It was awesome listening to the progression of ability from 6th graders on up to the high school students.  We are mighty proud of our gal, and of all the students.  Umm, wonder how many of these concerts we've sat through over the years?!  Love it.

So, after my big test, it is a trip to the post office and other Christmas related stuff.  Not 'holiday' related stuff.  Christmas.  Make no mistake about that.

Have a great Friday.  Life is good...but COLD!

Of wine and winners…

winemaker's notes:

"Bright red.  Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by candied licorice, dark chocolate and zesty minerality.  At once silky and lively, with impressively complex cherry and dark berry flavors joined by an exotic floral pastille quality on the finish.  This boasts remarkable focus and persistence for the price."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
89 Points

So this is the bottle of wine that got rated Best at the wine tasting last Saturday (note the rubber band holding the voting slip). 

There must have been a dozen different reds for our sipping and tasting pleasure—and NO duplicates!  I’m sure there were an equal number of whites upstairs, but I never ventured up there, being quite satisfied with the variety on the lower level—and the food.  This little number cost under $7 at Costo, according to Maureen.  Quite the bargain!  Garnacha de Fuego.  Let me know if you try some.

Runner up was a bottle of red that had a big orange question mark on it.  That’s right—no name—just a big orange question mark!  Easy to remember.

We are currently enjoying a California merlot from Bogle Vineyards that sells for just under $10.  And an old fave: Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon (even cheaper than the Bogle).

We always enjoy trying something new and different, so tell me:

What’s your favorite ‘cheap’ wine? 

Got fever...poor baby!

Just peachy

Everything went just PEACHY yesterday with my procedure.  I got a good report, was all the doc told Dick.  Guess he didn’t want to tell Dick how cute my colon looked!  Beautiful snowflakes were falling on us all the way to the hospital, making everything  a pristine white for our ride home.  I can see a few spots left up in the woods and on the carport roof, which makes for a perfect snow, in my humble opinion…here today; gone tomorrow!

I wound up sleeping all afternoon, so I need to kick it up into high gear today and get a few things done.  Boy howdy is it cold this morning—20.  I’m staying inside till lunch time.  Brrr…come on, sunshine.  Warm us up!

The plan for today is to get out our small fiber optic tree and a few other decorations and call it DONE.  Everything has to be put away by 12/29, and I want to actually MAKE some gifts, so that is taking priority over decorating this year.  Period.

Everything in life is a balance, right?  And setting priorities.  There will be no Christmas stress allowed around here!  No sirree.

Stay well, warm, and stress free, y’all!  Life is good…

Monday stuff...

I sure hope I'll hear these sweet words this morning.

To the over-50 crowd:  Got yours yet???